Prompt: G58 "Give me one good reason why I should wear a dress!"
Not my Bingo number, but I put together a few words anyway.
Ginny Potter raised her eyebrows as the back door of the Potter Cottage opened, and her daughter Lily Luna trudged into the kitchen, her face and shirt smeared with dirt and her broom slung over her shoulder.
"Lilu! Where have you been?" Ginny called angrily. "Our guests will be arriving in an hour, and you still look like you've just degnomed Grandma Molly's garden."
"It was just flying," the girl replied, giving her mother a careless grin.
"Today is Albus' birthday. Why can't you show your better side for once? Go take a shower right now and change into something nicer. I've got your green summer dress out for you."
"Give me one good reason why I should wear a dress!" said Lily Luna indignantly. "I don't like dresses."
"It's your brother's birthday," Ginny repeated, staring at her daughter, her eyes sparkling with anger. "Now go. I have other things to do than argue with you."
Lily Luna made a face and marched up the stairs, not without grumbling from a safe distance, "I didn't ask you to argue with me."
"Lilu, let me through. I need to talk to Mum," came Albus' voice as he ran down the stairs. "Mum. Mum. Sebastian is coming to my party."
"Sebastian Smith is coming?" came Lily Luna's voice from the top of the stairs.
"Yeah. He sent me an owl," Albus called back and beamed at his mother. "He convinced his parents to come back home from holiday a day early so he could come to my party."
Ginny smiled at her son. "That's great news. So we have twelve guests now."
"If you referee, we could play Quidditch," Albus suggested enthusiastically.
"And what if I want to join myself?" Ginny asked, faking a pout.
"Then Dad wants to play too, and we don't have a chance against you two," Albus rolled his eyes. "Come on, Mom. Don't be a spoilsport."
Ginny chuckled to herself. "Let's wait for our guests. Then we'll see. Get dressed first."
As Albus trudged back up the stairs, Ginny looked out the window where her husband was pottering around with their eldest son. "Have you set up the tables?" she called out to them.
"We just need the tablecloths, then we can set the tables," Harry replied.
"The tablecloths are lying on the chair here in the kitchen. James, would you come get them?"
It didn't take long, and the first guests arrived. First, of course, the cousins of the Weasley clan, who had apparently met at the Burrow so that they could step out of the Floo one by one. A little later, at 3 o'clock sharp, the school friends Albus had invited to his party arrived.
There was a big commotion as they congratulated Albus, and he opened his presents. The racket was just at its loudest when the back door opened, and Lily Luna stepped out in her green dress, her hair braided over her shoulder. Ginny even thought she'd spotted some lipstick and eyeliner on her face. She gave Harry an astonished look, who returned it and stepped next to her, putting his arm around her waist so they could enjoy the spectacle together.
Lily Luna stood next to the door and watched the spectacle when a tall, slim boy broke away from the group and took a few steps towards her.
"Hi, Lilu. How are you?" he asked a little shyly. "Long time no see."
Lily Luna beamed at him. "Hi, Sebastian. You missed my snarky comments, admit it," she said with a broad grin.
"Of course," the boy chuckled. "And your angry look when something doesn't go your way, and the way you grimace when you forget to pour milk into your tea, and..."
"Come on. Stop it already. I get how much you missed me," Lily Luna replied, laughing.
"You're wearing a nice dress," Sebastian stated.
"My favourite dress," Lily Luna said without batting an eyelid.
Ginny couldn't stop giggling at that. She had to cling to Harry's shoulder and missed her daughter giving her a withering look and dragging Sebastian back into the crowd.
"Now we know why Sebastian talked his parents into coming home earlier." Ginny couldn't stop chuckling.
