Dark Magic

Dates. Dates. Dates.

The first of my many gifts were some more muggle books from the shop Remus worked in. Sirius had made me a gift, this year; a beautiful pair of leather slippers with soft wool inside and a pair of small feathers adorning the box atop (no doubt, Buckbeak's).

They kept my feet warm in the cold dungeon as I grasped another gift; this one the single present under the tree in gold and red colours; warranting a few grimaces from the other students. A note sat inside from my brother, my eyes scanning the parchment decorated with his messy handwriting;

Can't wait to escort you to the Ball, Sis.

Love,

Harry

Peering inside, I found a beautiful corsage; the bracelet made from pearls and a beautiful, white rose sat in the middle. Holly and acorns surrounded the flower, and the bracelet looked as though it had been enchanted as a blanket of frost had been sprinkled over it. Smiling, I fought to move my attention onto the next gift from Hermione.

Eventually I came to the ebony wrapped present I had made a tradition to leave for last, each year. And knowing that all the other students were far too preoccupied with their own gifts, I snuck back to my empty dormitory and opened my present alone; curtains drawn and just how I liked it.

Inside the box was a pair of lilac evening shoes embroidered with butterflies and a pointed toe with straps around the ankles. They were small and looked as though I would be comfortable in them for the evening ahead; besides, they matched the dress Severus had gifted me beautifully.

There was no gift from Draco, that year. Although, I had asked Crabbe and Goyle to leave my gift for him on his bed, for I had already bought it before I knew about his indifference towards 'my kind'. It was a simple gift; a vice-captain quidditch badge with the Slytherin crest. I was planning on asking him to take up said position so he could assist me with Quidditch, the following year. My decision still stood on the idea.

The day passed with snowball fights spent outside with Harry, Ron and his two older twin brothers who were a little too rough for comfort. Luckily, when we teamed up it was Harry and Ron versus Fred, George and I. We won, of course; building the best snow fort ever! But it turned cold and dark outside very quickly, the snow soaking through our clothes signifying it was time to retire to our dorms.

The rest of the girls in my room, including Pansy, had already bathed and were getting ready. But, I ultimately decided I would take my sweet time; instead of using the communal showers, I found my way to the Prefect and Quidditch Captain's bathroom; taking a long soak in the water. It would be another while before I returned to Slytherin's chambers; the girls now rushing to get their hair and makeup finished as I still stood in my robe with a towel atop my head.

"Oh, Potter! Someone left something on your bed." One of the other girls, Daphne Greengrass, informed. Rolling my eyes, I found her words to be true as I found a box situated next to a sleeping Pearl on my bed. Confused, I tilted my head to the side curiously and opened the silver box with a green bow. Inside, was the returned vice-captain badge and a note that simply read;

Sorry

Not for even a split second did I give Draco Malfoy the satisfaction of my tears, channelling my irrevocable hurt into anger; my magical abilities outweighing my mortal ones as the note burst into flames in my hands. As its embers fell to the floor the girls around me had turned silent. Drawing the curtains around my bed, I casted a muffling charm and began to get myself ready in peace.

I didn't know too much about makeup, but along with face painting at the Quidditch World Cup, I had learnt some tricks from Ginny during the summer holidays and listened to the girls in my dorm who could afford to wear makeup every day. So I got to work, applying concealer and foundation to the recommended parts and some eyeliner to highlight my green eyes even more than usual. Due to it being a formal event, a red lip was in order and I used some blush and bronzer to remove some paleness from my complexion. I was the prettiest I had ever seen myself, happy with my work.

Next, my hair. Where I finally plucked up the decision to remove the enchantment on those auburn locks I had so adored, the new 'me' was finally comfortable enough to show herself. The auburn paled a little to a lighter red and a few, silver streaks of hair remained, having grown out since the year prior. Using my wand, I dried and curled it, tying it into a high. half-ponytail atop my head.

Deciding the necklace Severus had gifted me my first year would not match the colour of my dress, I removed the chain for the first time in two years. I wore my mother's earrings and ring from both Severus and Remus.

By the time I was finished, all of the other girls had dressed and left the room, giving me time on my own for a moment before putting on my own gown.

Reaching under my bed, I found the box with my dress inside and took it out, beginning to put it on. To say the mauve and nude did not compliment me would be a lie. And to say I felt beautiful was a huge understatement. Every time I moved, the diamantes on my dress would catch the light and cause sparkles to dance across the walls in the room. Some sea creatures were even attracted to the light as I made my way out of the empty common room and towards the grand staircase, readying myself to enter the eyes of hundreds of other students and Professors. But there were now only one pair of eyes I even remotely cared about, belonging to the very man who had gifted me such a beautiful ensemble...