Chapter 7: Madam Malkin
McGonagall's irritated voice that sound like a whip in Holly's transfiguration class that Thursday startled her from her book. She was not paying attention herself to the lesson as she knew the material already, she knew the material past the seventh year. School bored her, not because she didn't enjoy learning but because she loved it. But the material they were teaching her already knew which left her with little interest to learn. She and Hermione were tied for the highest marks for their year, at this point, they would both end up being prefects next year.
They had been changing guinea fowls into guinea pigs for the lesson, which those were now shut away in a large cage upon McGongall's desk. Homework had been copied, which Holly already had completed during class after she showed McGonagall how she could perfectly transfigure a guinea fowl into a guinea pig. The bell rang and Holly started to grab her bag when McGonagall started talking.
"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age and Porter has rejoined us from the world of reading." McGonagall appeared furious with Harry and Ron as she spoke directly toward them and not Holly. "I have something to say to all of you. Mrs. Banks will give a more formal announcement this Saturday at the feast following your return from Hogsmeade, but we were also allowed to inform our students beforehand as well."
"What could it be?" students around her whispered.
"Porter, would you like to share the news?"
Holly looked around as all eyes were on her. She sighed standing up and walking to the front of the classroom, she turned to face everyone. Her eyes fell immediately on Draco sitting in the back of the classroom with his Slytherin gang. She quickly averted her eyes to the back of the classroom, "The Yule Ball is approaching — this is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament. It will give us all a chance to socialize with our guests. The ball is typically only allowed to seventh years, no one below unless asked by a seventh year but this year the rules are changing to welcome our year as Harry —" She looked at him, who was sitting bright red in embarrassment. " — he is a champion. Therefore we need to be accepting and welcoming to our year. You are still allowed to ask someone from another year if you wish…or house. You are not limited to who you may ask."
"Thank you, Porter. You may take your seat."
As Holly walked back to her seat next to Hermione, McGonagall continued talking. "Dress robes will be a requirement. The ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day and conclude at midnight in the Great Hall. If you are going back home to visit your families, but still wish to attend Mrs. Banks will have more details regarding that. She will share those on Saturday."
The girls in the class began to giggle and speak in not-so-quiet whispers. McGonagall stared at the class deliberately.
"The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to — er — let our hair down," she spoke in a disapproving tone.
The girls giggled ever louder, that Lavender had to cover her mouth to prevent the sound from escaping.
"That does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be seriously displeased if a Hogwarts student, especially one from my own house, embarrasses the school in any way."
When the bell rang, the students scuffled to gather their things.
She left the room with everyone, Ron and Hermione walking ahead of her as she stayed back. She knew the ball was a tradition in the Triwizard Tournament to have the Yule Ball, but she knew no one would ask her and she would be forced to watch Draco dance with Peri.
She turned a corner when a paper dove floated in front of her, she grabbed it from the air opening it, "Dove, meet me in the Astronomy Tower - Robin."
Holly scanned the corridors and found a glimpse of blonde, hair and Slytherin robes disappearing up the marble staircase.
She followed after it.
Once at the top, she found Draco leaning against the railing. The air in the Astronomy Tower was crisp as the wind blew through.
"Hey…" she spoke softly approaching him.
Draco turned to face her, "Peri asked me to the ball."
Holly frowned stopping steps away from him, "I figured you would go with her anyway."
"She asked me last month when the other schools arrived."
"Of course, you said yes. She's your girlfriend."
He groaned in frustration running a hand through his hair, "Holly, I don't love her. It is all for the papers. That is all my relationship with her is."
"You aren't going to choose me, are you? You are going to choose yourself and the traditions of a pureblood."
He looked back out at the world around them through the Astronomy Tower window, "I don't know. I want to please my family and they really like Peri."
"Because she is famous at the moment."
Draco was silent for a moment the only sound being the wind blowing around them, Perhaps, but it doesn't change the fact that I still want to."
Holly took a couple of steps back, "Draco, I told you I wasn't going to waste my time."
"You don't understand, Holly."
She scoffed, "No, Draco I do not understand because I care for you and you just push me away. Continuing to choose my sister over me but saying you want me. Only in secret though."
"Ok…ok when you put it that way no I don't sound great, but my family is a certain way."
She shook her head, "I promised you till Christmas, so the Yule Ball but it is looking like you be choosing me. I will remain in this take relationship as promised, but I am done after that."
Holly turned at her heel leaving.
Two days later, it was a cool, November Saturday. The students had been granted permission to go to Hogsmeade, including some of the younger students if they had older siblings as the Banks family did with Mallory, Alicia was allowed to go due to her not being a student yet.
Cassie had given the date they would be announcing the Yule Ball to the public, which she would announce officially at dinner that evening.
Holly was getting her bag together to go to Hogsmeade with Ron, Harry, and Hermione when Alica came running into the common room.
"How does she know the password?" Ron asked.
They ignored him, "Hey, Alicia. Ready for Hogsmeade."
"We are not going."
Holly pushed back her blonde curls out of her face, "What do you mean?"
"Mom and Dad said we are going to Diagon Alley."
"What for?"
The auburn-haired girl shrugged and then left, "Bring me back some sweets?" she asked the trio.
"Of course," Hermione said, "See you later."
They exited the portrait together and went their separate ways.
Cassie and Richard's suite was located on the fifth floor, she approached the painting guarding the suite. "Peri!" The witch in the painting said. The witch was a medieval Princess who had the happiest personality she had ever seen.
"Afternoon, Princess," she gave a curtsy to the princess.
She gave a graceful, low curtsy herself, "Everyone else is inside," she spoke rising out of her curtsy.
"Ruby slippers," she said, then entered the suite.
The suite was decorated with rich, dark shades of red with gold accents. Reminded her a lot of the Gryffindor common room, she walked the dark wooden floors to her family, everyone stood around the fireplace.
"Wonderful! Everyone is here!" Cassie announced, "Girls! The Yule Ball is upon us. This is a dance, I believe I informed some of you of this when we first announced the tournaments. If I did not then you might have noticed I asked Madam Malkin to take extra measurements…more form fitting for you three," she looked at her older three daughters.
"Are we going back to America for the annual Christmas Ball that grandmother and grandfather have?" Alicia asked. Cassie looked at her with a sigh wiping the dirt off her youngest's face, "No…we did get invited to my parents' annual party. They want to introduce…" she looked at Peri, "to society. Make her a debutante."
Peri took a step back, "Excuse me? These are the people who disowned you for having me. You fled the country to escape them and Voldemort's rise."
Hallie and Holly sucked in breaths hearing his name, "Peri…please. It is one party, and I would like to not cause more drama in the papers. We will go, and you will dance with the eligible young bachelors at the party. A toast will be given by Richard and he will walk you into the ball, you will both share a dance. The evening will end and we will go home."
"What about Hallie and Holly?"
"Peri! Please. We will deal with these another time, right now we are about to be late for our appointment."
Holly was more than happy not to become a debutante, although Cassie seemed quite on edge at the mention of her parents.
She sighed as Cassie pulled Mallory into the fireplace with her, tossing the powder on the ground, "Madam Malkin's!" The two disappeared with a fiery green light.
Hallie and Holly followed them.
"We are missing my husband and eldest," Cassie said as the twins exited the fireplace.
"Yes…yes…well let us begin with these four here."
Madam Malkin waved over her assistants, "Please take care of these four, I will be personally taking care of Ms. King."
Hallie dragged her twin over to the fabrics, "Look at all the choices!"
Holly nodded remaining quiet as she reached for a shade of pink.
"There you two are!" Cassie said as the fireplace rumbled and out stepped Peri with Richard. She crossed to them, grabbed Peri's arm, and pulled her to a stool to stand on to get her accurate measurements.
Madam Malkin approached her, "What are we thinking? We had an idea back in August for the dress, but with her being a champion perhaps something more elaborate?"
Cassie tilted her head to the side examining her eldest, rubbing her chin as she thought about the style of dress, "I think we should stick to the a-line style for all the girls, but make her color a royal blue. It is the color she has worn since an infant. It was how I kept the girls' clothes separate growing up."
"May I suggest that instead of a dark blue royal blue, we use a light icy blue? Bringing out an innocent look to her…she could look like a snowy angel or Princess."
"Lovely idea," Cassie agreed looking at the swatches of fabric Madam Malkin pulled from her table of fabric samples. "Let's do this…with this," she was grabbing different fabric samples.
Madam Malkin gave a flick of her wand, and fabrics of sky blue and white spun around the room. Needles and threads stitch each piece together, creating a beautiful dress. It resembled a version of a Cinderella dress. Hallie gasped, "Wow! That is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen!"
"Thank you, Hallie," Madam Malkin said, forming a privacy curtain around Peri as she slipped the dress onto her.
She removed the curtain, everyone gasped at how beautiful Peri appeared, "You look like Cinderella!" Mallory commented.
"Who?" Madam Malkin asked, confused.
"A muggle fairytale," Cassie informed her, "Can I make some adjustments?"
"Certainly."
Cassie came closer to the dress, "Let's do an off-the-shoulder look, corset back giving her a more form-fitting look, and let's bring the neckline into a sweetheart neckline."
Holly watched Peri, who was looking in the mirror. This wasn't her, this is how Hallie dresses, like a modern-day princess. Peri prefers to wear dark colors. She prefers jeans over dresses, sneakers over heels, and her hair in a braid instead of being down. Although she had been wearing it down more lately. Peri looked at Cassie who was discussing her dress with Madam Malkin, "Mom…I would prefer something darker in color. This is more Hallie or Holly or even Mallory. I like my dark blue…or even green or black."
"No…you can wear green to the Christmas ball...or the New Year's Eve Ball instead since they changed the date to allow the guests with children at Hogwarts to attend the Yule Ball. We should do gold sparkles…No! Silver. A nice New Year's color and gives a Slytherin touch."
She looked down at her shoes, still wearing her casual sneakers, "Yes, ma'am."
Peri glanced over at Holly who had been assigned pink, her usual color. Holly had taken interest in the dress Peri was wearing, but looked back at the different shades of pink fabrics before her. Holly gave her twin a side-eye glance to see what she was doing, Hallie usually seemed overjoyed to pick out a new dress, especially in her assigned color, purple, which happened to be her favorite color. Her expression did not appear thrilled at the options before her, "Cassie…" Hallie spoke up looking at the fabrics.
Cassie turned her attention from her conversation with Madam Malkin, "Yes?"
"Can I wear gold to the ball? The Yule Ball."
She looked surprised, but nodded, "Certainly. Pick what you want."
Hallie smiled to herself moving to one of the assistants in the shop to help them as she picked the fabrics she liked and picked the fabrics for their other sisters as well as designed the sketches for their dresses.
"Design something for me, Hal?" Holly asked.
"Of course!"
They returned to Hogwarts for dinner that evening, where Cassie approached the podium. The entire hall instantly grew silent, knowing anytime she spoke there was exciting news coming their way.
"Good evening! Hope everyone enjoyed their day at Hogsmeade. I always enjoyed going there as a child. I worked briefly as a waitress at the Three Broomsticks," she gave a slight laugh to herself mostly. "I am not here to discuss myself though. I am here to discuss an upcoming event that is part of the Triwizard Tournament. The Yule Ball… will take place on Christmas Day at precisely eight o'clock ending at midnight. The Yule Ball is a tradition held by the hosting school, this provides an opportunity for everyone to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish. With this ball occurring on Christmas Day, it is not required for anyone to attend except the Champions themselves. If you wish to return, a signup sheet will be made available to those who choose to leave for the break and want to return for the ball. We will provide a train and carriages to bring those of you back in time. Then the train will leave the following morning for you to be with your families again for the remainder of the break or you can remain here till term begins in January."
The Hall erupted in excited chatter, with the girls discussing their dresses or quickly writing on pieces of parchment to write dress requests to Madam Malkin. Holly sighed opening her book and listening to Hallie Lavender and Padam discuss their dresses.
A week before the ball, Holly was outside in the snow walking with Hallie and Ida Noir, "It is freezing here!" Ida shivered as she wrapped her cloak more around her.
"It is a bit colder than New York," Hallie said looking up at the snow falling. She was dressed in a bright shade of pink allowing her to stand out. "I am almost done with my dress, but Fred still has not asked me yet."
"Isn't it a guarantee he will be your date? He is your boyfriend," Ida said as they walked up the steps to the castle.
Hallie huffed, "Doesn't mean I don't want to be asked. Have you gotten asked, Ida? I know Holly hasn't gotten asked."
"Thanks, Hal," Holly said sarcastically rolling her eyes as they entered the warmth of the school finding Fred, George, and Lee talking to Peri on the marble stairs.
"Anyway yes, I was asked," Ida said, not sounding thrilled by her date. "Harry asked me to be his date…I think that is because Uncle Remus asked him to. I could have said no, but I wanted to make him happy. My brother is being allowed to come, he asked Mallory to be his date."
Hallie glanced over at Fred, George, Lee, and Peri standing by the stairs then back at her sister and Ida, "I have not been asked. What about you Holly?" She spoke loud enough for the entire hall to hear.
Holly gave her a confused look as they stopped by the staircase, "No…no one has asked me."
"Hallie?" Fred tapped Hallie on the shoulder.
She turned around, "Yes? Have something you would like to ask me?"
"Hallie…will you…" Peri magically made a large bouquet of pink roses appear then shoved them into his back, where he grabbed them from behind. "Oof…" he looked over his shoulder then back at her, "Hallie, will you go to the ball with me?"
He offered her the roses, and she accepted them with a squeal, jumping onto him, kissing him passionately, "Yes! Yes!" He held her melting into the kiss.
Those around them looked at each other till George cleared his throat, "We are still here…"
The two released laughing, "Sorry," Hallie turned a bright pink and then pulled Fred up the stairs near them.
"Thankfully we will be done with that for the break," George commented.
Peri laughed, "We live about a twenty-minute walk from one another, quicker by broom or Floo."
The sudden realization hit him, "You had to remind me. We will be surrounded by their hormonal love forever."
The group laughed with Lee saying, "They are going to be pregnant before at least one of their seventh years."
The girls looked at him, "Hallie might not be the sharpest quill, but she is not stupid," Holly defended her twin, "Plus she is only fourteen I highly doubt she will do anything."
The two boys laughed, "That is not what Fred told us."
"What?" Peri and Holly both said exchanging looks with one another.
George looked at them, "Yeah…he told us that they decided they were both ready."
"She is only fourteen!" Peri informed them again.
He eyed her, "And you are fifteen."
She shot him a glare and then pushed past everyone making her way to the Slytherin common room.