Sorry, about the late update. Local major flood crisis and all that.
Valentine often seemed like she was paying little to no attention. Sometimes this was in class or while her friends were being their usual neurotic and or prejudice selves. She was very good at glaring off at nothing, appearing to be a million miles away from whatever was going on around her, and yet, unless she chose to selectively ignore a lesson or conversation, she heard everything. She remembered everything.
She remembered the first thing McGonagall ever said directly to her; 'Miss Lestrange, you seem quite intelligent but such a thing alone will not make you a complete person. I suggest you focus on your behaviour if you find yourself with so much free time during class'. She remembered when Draco barely ate the night before they first left for Hogwarts because he was too nervous about leaving home for so long and he said; 'I'm not bloody nervous, I'm annoyed that I'll have to be mixed in with all the filth! Father said they'll let anyone in, you know'. She even remembered being four years old, sitting at the dinner table with the Malfoy's, Narcissa and Lucius discussing old stories about the Lestrange's. Somehow the topic had fallen on Bellatrix's ability as a mother and Lucius had said; 'She wouldn't have made it past a month if Bella had been left to handle things alone'. At that point, Narcissa shot him a sharp look and quickly tried to cover it up with a tale from her school days. Valentine had been seemingly focused on her porridge, spreading out the honey evenly. But she heard. She remembered.
She remembered all that, she'd heard even when others didn't realise she could. That's why, when Darcy and her friend's owls dropped off packages that morning at breakfast, Leah didn't need to shake her so damn hard. She could see that their Yule Ball dresses were here, the screaming in her ear really wasn't necessary. Darcy was kind of hard to miss, as we're several boxes falling from above them and almost knocking a toast rack off the table.
"Shut the hell up." Valentine elbowed the excited girl away. "I have eyes. I can see what's happening."
"Then you should be more excited!" Leah clapped her hands, near-hysterical with anticipation.
The boys each had a package as well and were sorting through them to see who's was who. When Draco found his, he reached for the string holding it together and Leah slapped his hand away.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"You can't open now, in front of everyone!" Leah hissed. "That'll ruin the surprise!"
"What surprise? They're black and white dress robes from Madam Mal-"
"No, don't tell me!" Leah clapped her hands over her ears. "I want it to be a surprise!"
"Leah, we're going to be wearing nearly the exact same thing." Said Liam. "I know you've seen me and Draco in dress robes before. It won't be much of a surprise."
"Nooooo!" She shook her head firmly. "Don't throw your logic at me! I hate logic!"
"Well, that's good." Said Blaze. "I doubt it likes you very much either."
Draco pushed a large package with Valentine's name on it towards her.
"I figure if you're going to destroy it, you may as well get started."
"No lecture, cousin?"
"Right." He snorted, as if that ever stopped her. "Because that's ever stopped you before."
Valentine picked up the rather hefty package and turned it over in her hands. On the other side, there was an envelope addressed to her attached. She removed it and ripped a strip down one side. Unfolding the letter she and seeing what was written, she rolled her eyes;
Valentine Lestrange Destruction revention Measures include: Anti-Fire Protection charm, Anti-Water Protection charm, Anti-Freeze Protection charm and Anti-Transfiguration Charm.
Also enacted are counter curses for the Severing Charm, Exploding Charm, Gouging Charm and Shrinking Charm.
I know you'll look lovely in this if only you'd give it a chance.
It wasn't signed but Valentine didn't need all her intelligence to know who had written it or to recognise the handwriting. She was, however, somewhat surprised that there was no mention of anything prevented Valentine of changing the colour.
She recalled a dress Narcissa had once tried to force her into over Easter when she was five. It was cute white and yellow frock and Valentine was beyond horrified of it. One tantrum and a bout of accidental magic later and the dress was black and near shredded to pieces. Since then, Narcissa had had the foresight to stop that from happening again.
This was actually good news. It meant that whatever was in the package just might have been a colour Valentine would approve of.
When she and Leah had written home with their suggestions and ideas, Valentine had been predictably firm about colour. Well, Leah had written her suggestions and ideas. Valentine had threatened violence and a mass case of arson should her colour needs not be met.
She tried to ignore how much it made her sound like Draco.
Leah was still chattering on, hugging her package to her chest.
"Tomorrow night is going to be the best night of my life!"
--Pretending To Live--
"Should you not be getting ready for tonight's festivities?" Dumbledore watched Valentine as she petted Fawkes'head gently.
"I'll be honest, I'm not feeling all that festive. Besides, it's not for another four hours."
Dumbledore laughed.
"I didn't expect you would. I'm rather surprised you're attending at all. Harry should be perfectly safe after all."
"If only Harry was the reason I was going." She scoffed. "Leah almost had an aneurysm when I even suggested that I was considering not going. It was this or listen to her whine about it non stop."
"Yes, Miss Lovat does seem to be in higher spirits as of late." Dumbledore's eyes glittering all knowingly. "I assume Mr Zambini may have something to do with that."
Valentine rolled her eyes and trudged over to the Head Master's desk.
"I'd ask how you knew but I'm pretty sure the isolated native tribes in the Amazon Rainforest have already heard about it."
"Love is a fine thing, my dear. A fine thing to be a witness of and even finer to be apart of."
"That's nice, sir but I'll pass. Love makes me itch."
Dumbledore laughed again.
"It's not for everyone, I suppose."
"It sure as hell ain't."
"But that shouldn't stop you from enjoying the Ball." His gaze softened. "You're young and you work tirelessly for an end known to so few. You should be with your friends and dance the night away."
"Is it something I did, Professor?" Valentine pouted like a guilty child. "Why are you punishing me like this? Is it all the times I called Snape a gutless slug with more slime then brains? Because I stand by that."
Dumbledore smiled that all-knowing smile.
"One day, Miss Lestrange, you and Severus will be glad that it is each other you share this secret with. You will find an equilibrium and be much better off for it."
"Is that a threat, sir?"
"Consider it a...friendly observation."
"You need to get out more, Professor."
--Pretending To Live--
When Valentine entered the common room there was a large group of boys in formal robes and a handful of girls ready and waiting in their dresses and jewels. The noise was enough to rival dinner time in the Great Hall. The boys showed off their nicely pressed bow ties with mockingly debonair smiles thrown at the not quite impressed girls.
It's like a circus in here.
She recognised Meriton, standing off two the side from the crowd with another boy in dark blue robes, separate from the playful scene. Meriton's long bangs had been pushed back and Valentine realized that she had never actually seen that much of his face before. She noticed what looked like a faint birthmark in his hairline and wondered if he always wore his bangs down to purposely hide it. His robes were slate grey, formal and suitable like everyone else but nothing spectacular that would stand out. She thought they fit him quite nicely.
Valentine planned to make a beeline right through the group the girl's dorm so Leah could make her deaf via screeching as they got ready. Predictably, the students parted the second they saw her and she made her way across unhindered. Just as she was about to start up the stairs to her doom, a voice she knew all too well called for her.
"Val!"
She paused and turned back around. The boy that had been with Meriton was walking towards her.
"Draco and Liam are still getting ready. It's almost been two hours! I don't understand what the hell they could possibly be doing up there! Buffing their toenails?"
Valentine blinked twice at this boy who had waltzed so boldly up to her. Similar to her in height. Dark skin. Shortly cropped hair. An unfailing straight nose...
Holy crap. I'm staring at Blaze Zambini.
"What?" He glanced down at himself. "Is there something on my face? Those two beauties were hogging the mirror but Hasani said I looked fine."
"You look..." She took in his spotless dark blue robes again, smooth black undershirt and glossy dress shoes. "...like you actually tried."
"Ouch." Blaze slapped a hand over his heart. "Do you guys really forget that I'm a high born Pureblood as well? Looking good in formal wear is in my heritage! I mean, okay, I could be more comfortable without the bow tie but Draco and Liam insisted and again, this is in my blood, Val."
Valentine caught the glint off something at his wrists as he adjusted his bow tie.
"Are you wearing cufflinks?"
Blaze's eyes bulged from his skull and he immediately tucked his hands behind his back.
"No!"
She arched a brow at him.
"Gah, don't do that! I've already been judged enough and the damn ball hasn't even started yet!"
It really did just feel so bizarre to her that Blaze was all dolled up. And she had seen him dress for the occasion before. But this...She never thought she would see him look so well put together.
"What's there to judge about cufflinks?"
"Ah...they're my fathers. I have to wear them on pain of death."
"And?"
Blaze heaved a great sigh and slowly relaxed his arm.
"Well, you're going to see them sooner or later." He held up his wrists for her to see.
And there, clipped to each cuff sleeve, was a matching cufflink. Matching, jewel-encrusted, orange, crab-shaped cufflinks.
And now I just regret asking. Why crabs? And why are they so sparkly? What even is Blaze's father?
"You don't even want to know." Said Blaze, distress painted across his face. "Trust me. My dad is a verified freak from a long line of verified freaks. I didn't even get a choice in how I turned out! You know what weird energy I constantly give off? Yeah, well now you know who to blame! And guess what? I'm the most normal out of my family. Me, Val! Me!"
"Blaze, I'm about to have possibly the worst night of my life and you just made it worse."
"See! My dad still manages to annoy people and he isn't even here! I'm going to grill that bastard the next time I see him, I swear!"
"That's nice. I'm going to try and make a mild attempt at not killing Leah now."
"Oh. Have fun with that. By the time you guys are finished, I'll probably still be here waiting for the other two divas to finish gelling their eyebrows or whatever the hell Liam was doing to his face with that tube."
--Pretending To Live--
"There you are!" Leah leapt at Valentine the moment she saw her enter the dorm.
Valentine dodged at the last second and Leah ran headfirst into the door frame. She shook it off, seemingly unbothered by any pain or the red line now cutting her forehead into two sections.
"Where were you? We have to get ready and I was starting to get worried!"
"We have plenty of time. Why didn't just start without me if you were so damn worried?"
"But the getting ready together bit is part of the fun! I even told Anna and Chloe that we'd do our hair and makeup with them!"
"No one is going anywhere near my face with makeup."
"I'll nag you into submission later, right now it's time for dresses!"
Leah rushed over to her bed and hurriedly tore her way into her package. She'd stuck by her pledge to keep it as a surprise and if her excitement was anything to go off of, it had paid off.
She pulled the lid of a glossy white box and gasped like she'd been kicked in the chest. And then carefully, as though handling a baby, she lifted out the garment and held it against her frame.
"What do you think?" Leah turned to Valentine, beaming.
Valentine paused to study the dress. The first thing she noted was the odd design that had the length much shorter at the front than the back. The next thing she noted was its colours. An airy pastel blue, slathered in shimmering embroidered flowers. The heart-shaped neckline was far lower then Valentine had ever seen Leah wear, and the thin straps were something new as well. It was far more revealing than anything either of them had ever been allowed to wear in their young lives. Narcissa and Rose had always insisted on them being covered appropriately at all times. They were repeatedly told that when they were older, they would be able to dress as women.This hadn't ever really bothered either Valentine or Leah as they were fine dressing as they did.
Well, if Leah's dress is anything to go by, perhaps they think us women now?
"It suits you." Valentine offered dully.
"Oh, come on!" Leah cried. "Is that really all you have to say? It's beautiful! I'm going to look a fairy princess in this! WHY ARE YOU NOT MORE EXCITED!"
Valentine grumbled out a sigh at Leah's dramatics.
"I said it suits you because it does. It's sparkly and obnoxious. Just like you."
"Aweeeeee, thank you!" Leah's bottom lip dropped. "I'm going to ignore the obnoxious part because you said I was sparkly and that's all that matters."
"Uh-huh."
"This really is the prettiest thing I have ever seen though. And it's so soft! Oh, and look at the cute little flowers. Val, I'm so happy I could die!"
"Funny you should say that." Valentine muttered under her breath.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
"Oh. Okay. And there's shoes too!" Leah turned her attention back to the package and pulled out a pair of dusty pink heels. "Just look at them, Val! They have real high heels and everything!"
That sent a bolt of apprehension straight to Valentine's stomach.
She'd never worn real high heels before in her life and prayed that Narcissa hadn't sent her a pair. Chunky heeled boots were one thing, but standing several inches taller on what were basically stilts, didn't sound like something she would have a natural talent for. She could just see herself tripping in front of the students and teachers of not only Hogwarts but two other schools. She didn't want to think about all the threats she'd have to dish out to keep her dangerous demeanour after a literal slip up like that.
"Open yours now." Leah grabbed Valentine's package and thrust it at her. "I can't wait to see what you got!!
Valentine frowned down at the silvery grey box, tied smartly with a wide black ribbon. She placed it on the ended of her need, pulled the bow away and slid the ribbons off. She lifted the lid off and peered inside.
"Well, at least Narcissa stayed within my colour palette."
"Right, so it's black then." Leah understood immediately. "But I need more than that! Show me, show me!"
Valentine reached in and touched the smooth material. She lifted the dress from the box and held it up for them both to see. It was floor-length, the top half mostly glittering black beading.
"Val..." Leah crept forward carefully as if she would soil the dress from coming to close.Which she probably would.
"Please, no more scre-"
"It's so gorgeous!" Leah burst like a cannon, clapping her hands together. "Quick, put it on! I'll put mine on as well."
Valentine glanced back down at the black garment as Leah hurried to rip her school blouse from her body. Valentine dropped the dress on top of the box and undressed with fair less enthusiasm then Leah. By the time she'd stripped to her underwear, Leah was already struggling with the buttons on the back of her dress.
Valentine grabbed her shoulders to hold her still.
"Your hopeless." She told her and swiftly buttoned the dress up with deft fingers.
"Thanks." Leah beamed and did a quick twirl, the dresses skirt blooming out around her, shimmering as it moved. "I'm so pretty I could cry!"
You were always suited to these things, Leah. The glamour of it all was meant for you. Blaze had better be ready for competition. Even if you are annoying, tonight you'll manage to let them all see the beauty that is hidden beneath your many layers of loud, obnoxious ridiculousness.
"Why haven't you got yours on yet?" Leah grabbed the dress and held it out to her expectantly.
Valentine sighed and took it. She stepped into it and slid it up her body. The velvetine material was smooth against her skin and clung to her waist, hips and thighs. She slipped her arms in and didn't feel the scratch of the beading she'd been expecting. She ran her fingers over the glittering black beads, forming floral patterns that stretched from beneath her bust, up to the high neckline and over the capped sleeves. The dress moved with her like a second skin until it reached just above her knees and flared out elegantly to the floor. She looked down at herself and resisted the urge to smooth out wrinkles that weren't there.
It's...okay...
Valentine almost wished she could find something meaningful to fault. It wasn't something she would have picked for herself but it certainly wasn't something she had the urge to burn and or obliterate. It really was...okay.
She felt the cool dungeon air against her open back and reached behind to feel for the buttons, but Leah was already there. She could have snapped at her and said that she knew how to dress herself just fine, seeing how a multitude of her own dressed had buttons down the back like this, but she didn't. She had already decided that this wouldn't be a night that the dark intentions of Valentine Lestrange would taint.
"Let's see you now." Leah turned Valentine towards her.
Valentine then got the first real sight of Leah in her Yule Ball gown. The pastel colours that to someone else might have seemed too 'low-key for Leah's personality, suited her just fine. Valentine suddenly realised that Leah had grown an awful lot. Not in cases of height. Leah had always been tall. No, it was more like she seemed so grown up, despite being chatty and completely crazy. The thin straps showed her petite frame, shoulders and neck that was always buried beneath her robes. Unlike Valentine herself, who was all curves. Valentine could vaguely recall being jealous of Leah's lithe willowy frame when she'd been very young. She'd wanted to look just like her, but nowadays, she's didn't have the time to worry about whether or not her thighs were larger than her friends.
And speaking of thighs, Leah's were barley hidden beneath the flowing chiffon that hung from her waist.
"I'm surprised your mother is finally allowing you to show your knees in public." Said Valentine and then she caught the absolutely bewildered expression on Leah's face. "What's that look for?"
Leah blinked rapidly as a smile rose on her lips.
"You're so beautiful is all. I'd give anything to look like you. I mean, I'm pretty and all but your body...I just...WHERE DID IT EVEN COME FROM? I'VE BEEN YOUR FRIEND SINCE WE WERE FETUSES! HOW DID I NOT REALISE THAT YOU SUDDENLY HAVE BOOBS? LIKE BIG ONES? AND HIPS AND JUST- EVERYTHING? I SWEAR THOSE WEREN'T THERE YESTERDAY!"
"Bloody hell." Valentine snarled, cringing internally. She'd never given much thought to how her body was perceived by others, but didn't welcome Leah screaming at the top of her lungs about her hips or any other part of her anatomy. "Shout a little louder next time, would you? I don't think the morons in Ravenclaw Tower heard you."
"But it's just so absolutely unfair!" Leah stamped her foot like a child. "Your figure, it's all...you know..."
Leah scrambled to find the words and resorted to mimicking an over-exaggerated hourglass shape with her hands that quickly devolved into nothing but mindless flapping.
"It's all rounded and stuff!"
"Calm down, idiot. Don't worry about what I look like. I'm not the one Blaze is going to be staring at the whole night."
"Oh, my, god! You're right! I mean, of course, you're right! You're always right!" Leah was once again in a panic. "What if he hates my dress or my shoes or my makeup and hair and says something mean and then I have to hit him because, um, rude? And then-"
Valentine quickly clapped a hand over her friend's mouth.
"Just- shut up for two seconds. Listen to me. If he says anything negative about how you look tonight, tell me and I will pull his vocal cords out through his ears."
She slowly moved her hand away.
"You'd do that for me?" Leah whimpered, tears glistening in her eyes. "Like, I don't actually think that's possible, but you'd do it?"
"If it'll get you to shut up for ten minutes. Sure." Valentine replied flippantly, trampling what could have been a moment by Leah's standards. "Don't you have shoes that need your attention?"
"Yes! I forgot!" Leah cried and spun back towards the bed, near dislocating a knee in the process.
Valentine retrieved her own shoes, moving aside a layer of white crepe paper to reveal a pair of black, high heeled shoes.
They were mercifully shorter and a little thicker then Leah's, that Valentine had guessed to be at least four inches high. They were simple and sleek, designed to show her toes.
Leah had hopped about the room as she pulled hers on. Valentine sat on her bed and did the same.
She stood up in them hesitantly, even with her recent growth spurt, height was something she was used to being in short supply of. She wondered if someone could get light headed from this and if anyone would notice if she wore her boots instead.
Meanwhile, Leah was practically crying, sniffling as she gazed down at her feet and wriggled her toes.
"They're so pretty. I'm never taking them off. Never!"
Leah's dusty pink heels were adorned with a flower constructed of the same swade as the shoe itself and the thin laces that crisscrossed over her calves in an almost ballerina fashion.
Valentine knew her feet would be killing her by the end of the night. No matter how pretty they were.
"Oh, my, God! Look at this, Val!" Leah shoved a flower crown, a pair of earrings and a pearl necklace in her face. "If Blaze says anything mean I'm going to make him swallow these earrings!"
Valentine peaked back onto her own box where she found a silver bangle and a pair of earrings.
The earrings dripped with glittering black stones to match her dress and the bangle was designed into the shape of a circular branch with realistic notches and knots engraved into the metal. She decided she liked it the most out of everything Narcissa had chosen. And to be fair, Narcissa had done a rather good job.
They both put on their jewellery as Leah swayed and hummed in her dress like some kind of forest nymph. Valentine could admit, she did actually look like a fairy princess.
When she saw Leah clasp the short string of pearls around her neck and caress it gently, she said;
"Right. Dress. Shoes. Jewellery. So, we're done-"
"What? No, no, no!" Leah shook her head firmly. "There's still so much more! Remember? I told you that we're going over to Anna and Chloe's dorm to finish up."
"Presuming I retain any of the crap that comes out of your mouth is a grave mistake."
Just then a knock came at the door and Leah bounded over it. She threw it open and there stood Chloe Connelly, one fist still raised to knock again.
"Wow..." Chloe blinked, clearly taken aback. "You guys look amazing. Really. Wow. I feel like I'm looking into some kind of royal chamber."
"Why thank you!" Leah curtsied smoothly in a manner that would have made her mother proud. "I look so beautiful! I seriously want to be buried in this dress. And look at Val! I told you she's so pretty when she's not scowling like I know she totally is right now even though I can't see her."
Valentine crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her fingers on her upper arm impatiently.
"Yep, she's scowling alright." Leah nodded, still facing Chloe.
"I think you both look just fantastic." Chloe shot Valentine a meek smile.
"Enough about us our glowing beauty! You look adorable! The pink looks so good on you! And your hair! See. We told you that it would look great like this!"
Chloe herself was wearing a pale pink chiffon dress, flowing down to just under her knees. Her long blonde locks hung free around her face in graceful waves, a thin golden chain hanging from her neck with a small heart-shaped pendant. It was a simple and sweet look that complimented the girl well.
"Thanks, I thought I couldn't really go wrong with pink. And yeah, I'll admit, my hair looks nice. I'm not really used to it though." Chloe pulled her hair across over one shoulder. "Are you both ready?"
"Apparently not." Valentine shot a dull glare at the back of Leah's head.
"Come on." Leah reached back and grabbed her arm. "Some genuine female bonding awaits!"
"No one is touching my hair." Valentine said coldly.
Leah ignored her and pulled her out into the hall and along behind Chloe. Chloe's shared dorm with Anna Henley and Parkinson was only three doors up.
Three older Slytherin girls scurried past them, gawking like fish before quickly rushing by, whispering as they did.
Chloe pushed the door open to reveal the sight of Anna pulling laces on the back of Parkinson's dress tight. Which, while really not unappealing it in its own right, was quite an extravagant affair. Perhaps too much so for a school dance. It was completely strapless and white with heavily detailed golden embroidery on the silky skirt. And much larger than anything the other girls were wearing, flaring out from her hips in a dome shape to the floor.
What is she wearing? It's a school party, not a wedding. Is she hunting for a husband or something?
"Pansy! That dress!" Leah immediately latched herself on to the girl. "It's so POOFY, LET ME TOUCH IT!"
"Be careful!" Pansy snapped at her. "Don't step on it!"
"Oops, my bad." Leah quickly jumped back, hands up in a surrender.
As Pansy glowered at her, she caught sight of Valentine over Leah's shoulder and looked as though she was about to pass out. Valentine ignored her.
Other than the fact that this dorm had three bed instead of two, it was near identical to Valentine's own dorm. Beds, bedside tables, trunks, desk. Everything awash in that lavish Slytherin green.
"So, who's up for hair first?" Asked Anna as she finished off practically strapping Pansy into her dress. "Chloe?"
"I...I think I'll leave it like this actually."
"I told you so." Anna gave her a triumphant grin. "But one final touch."
Anna opened a wooden box that had been sitting atop a trunk. She pulled out a bejewelled hairpin and motioned for Chloe to stand in front of her. She pushed back one side of Chloe's hair and pinned it in place.
"There. Now you're perfect." Anna tapped her cheek affectionately, blushing lightly.
"Thanks." Chloe touched the pin tentatively, smiling in a calm, sweet manner that reminded Valentine far too much of Olivia.
As the two girls lingered for a moment longer, Valentine took a moment to observe Anna's dress. It was sleeveless, black and belted with a stiff collar at her throat. It was certainly formal but lacked the sparkle and beading of the other girl's dresses. It suited her, not that Anna seem too concerned about that, she was too busy actively trying to break eye contact with Chloe.
Okay?
"Um, who's next then?" Chloe managed to break away first with some effort.
While Pansy fell into a long spiel about not wanting to trust someone else with her hair, Valentine stood apart from them. Watching silently. Leah was now flitting around Anna, showering her with praises on her 'fancy dress that made her look so mature and grown-up'. Valentine assumed this was the kind of life she could have had, of course in a different world she would have ended up in Gryffindor and wouldn't have been here with these particular girls but that wasn't the point. She shifted a little awkwardly in the heels and was pretty sure that Gryffindor or not, she still wouldn't have had this exact life.
Then Leah suddenly shouting yanked her from her thoughts.
"I want to cut my hair!"
"What?" Chloe blinked.
"I want to cut my hair. Short." Leah explained. "It's only ever been the exact same as it is now. Right Val?"
All eyes turned to her and Valentine planted a hand on her hip.
"Yes, I suppose it has. And cutting it would probably give your mother a heart attack. On that note, I say go for it."
"YES! I'm cutting my hair!" Leah giggled manically.
"Don't do that." Pansy interjected. "You'll probably hate it after. And I heard that there was this girl in Hufflepuff who had really long hair like yours and then she cut it and ended up looking like a pig."
"Parkinson." Valentine snapped. "Leah has the right to do whatever she wants with her hair, so keep the petty comments to yourself. Besides, pig coming from a pugged faced rat doesn't mean much."
Pansy turned red and then white and then green much quicker than what should have been possible.
Anna and Chloe both stared on in amazement without a word of defence.
Once Pansy had control of herself, she quickly gathered her things and left just like that.
"You couldn't be nice for one night?" Leah pouted.
"Shut up. Hurry up and get the hair over with or it won't be the only thing cut tonight."
"Rightio!"
"Uh...okay, so...anyway, you're in luck." Anna returned to her wooden box. "I keep a pair of scissors for my own hair. I can't stand it getting too long."
"I am so ready for this!" Leah practically vibrated on the spot.
"Sit." Anna pointed to the floor in front of her as she sat on the middle bed. Leah dashed over, smacking into the side of the bed, but not seeming to care or even notice.
"Val, come hold my hand!" Leah reached out for her.
"Why?"
"Please?" Leah widened her eyes, trying her best to look innocent and small on the floor. Valentine felt the distinct need to kick her.
She didn't say anything else, but she groaned and glared and trudged over. She sat on the floor next to Leah and took her hand, squeezing a little too tight as pennancefor all of this. She had to shift around a bit, finding the only way she could sit in her dress was to pull her knees up to her chest.
"How short?" Anna asked, running her hands through Leah's long expanse of hair.
"Right here." Leah slapped a hand on her shoulder. "Like right above my shoulder."
Valentine's heart skipped a beat.
That's how Olivia always wore her hair.
"Oh, are you sure?" Asked Chloe. "That's a lot off in one go. You don't want to ease into it?"
"Nope. Bye-bye hair!" Leah gave her a thumbs up.
"Well, then." Chloe laughed. "Bye-bye hair."
"Let's do this." Anna gave a few practice snips in the air.
Then she grabbed a lock of Leah's hair and poised the scissors to cut. Valentine felt Leah's hand tighten around hers but she remained excited, biting down on her bottom lip. Anna cut through the first piece of hair and then held it out for Leah to see.
"Keep going! Keep going!"
"Okay, okay!" Anna mimicked her with a chuckle.
"So, Lestrange." Chloe swallowed. "What about your hair?"
"Do not touch it." Valentine bit out.
"Oh, sorry. I wasn't trying to say you need to do anything to it...sorry..." Chloe trailed off, looking damn near traumatised.
"I don't worry about that." Said Leah. "Val never lets people mess with her hair. She hates it. Always has."
"Um, okay, that's...fair enough. Makeup then?"
"Oh, yes! Please, Val? Please?" Leah begged.
"Hold still, Leah." Anna scolded.
"Sorry." Leah squeaked, holding as still as she could. "But please Val? Please? Please, please, please? I'll love you forever. And I even won't decorate your headstone with glitter like I was planning to do."
"Will you shut up if I do?"
"I can absolutely guarantee that I cannot guarantee that."
"You're a pest."
"A pest that's going to have really cool hair though!"
Valentine grumbled for a moment. Then she sighed and look over at Chloe with a less than impressed expression.
"I don't care what you do, but if I end up looking like a clown, you won't live to see the Yule Ball with your own eyes."
"O-okay." Chloe gave an awkward laugh, trying to ignore that very real threat sitting on her dorm room floor. "No problem."