What's up?
I know it's really late but I just can't sleep, I'm way too excited for tomorrow. We're meeting the kids from the other schools, well you know, properly. They're holding some kind of gathering. It's not compulsory but I think I might go with Lily and Kris.
Also Alexis' diary got confiscated, can you believe that? I know, but she was doodling on it in class so I guess she won't be able to write again until she gets it back, and with it being Professor Ambleton , it might be a while.
Well, I'm going to attempt sleep. Ciao,
Leonie x o x o
***
The last of the rain slowly crawls down my window, the sun is just beginning to shine, and I smile stretching.
"Morning Lee," yawns Beatrice - a sweet girl I share my room with - in the bed across from me, her sheet tangled around her legs.
"Morning," I say in a sleepy voice, making a noise like a strangled cat as I stretch.
I slowly make my way into my favourite, well, cleanest pair of robes and slip my feet into my plain black shoes, I wish I had something more stylish really I've heard these Beauxbaton girls are gorgeous, I mean do I really need more competition?
Well, that's a joke I mean, I'm not even in the competition. But it's not against the law to wish/hope/pray, is it?
I look over to my other roommate’s bed to see she's still asleep, I guess I should probably wake her up.
Alice, She's super sweet but really the only thing she talks about when she's awake is Frank Longbottom, her boyfriend and it really gets on my nerves. Actually I think I'm just jealous, they're together as much as possible and it's just like, Get a dorm
I look down to see Rosa, my kitten, throwing herself on the ground in front of me, I laugh.
"Sorry Rosey but I can't get these robes dirty; Dumbledore insisted we have immaculate clothing for the guests." I whisper tickling her stomach.
I place some food and water on my chest, which she had taken over as her domain; Merlin only knows how she gets up there, she's so tiny.
"So Lee-Lee," says Beatrice, using the nickname I hated, a lot. I turn around and she's sitting on her bed trying to stop Neveah from scratching her sheets.
"I told you two to get owls," laughs Alice, appearing next to me. I jump, Placing a hand over my heart and willing it to slow down.
"I didn't know you we're up," I exclaim, taking a deep breath. She laughs again, putting on her shoes and waltzing out the door. I laugh lightly, still in shook and look over at Beatrice my eyes wide.
"Well come on then," she chuckles, putting Neveah on the ground, "Let’s go get some food!"
I nod and we walk out.
***
"I can't believe they're cutting our breakfast time in half for this," I whisper while we walk through the Common Room, our large Hufflepuff flag hanging proudly above the mantel piece of our cosy fire, out of all the dorms, I reckon we have the best.
We quickly exit through the barrel, crouching and rush down the hall
"This is so exciting!" squeals Beatrice, clapping her hands together.
As we enter the great hall, I realise something is different, as well as the Gryffindor red there's also a darker flag hanging next to it, I figure it must be the Durmstrang boys.
Maybe I will get a date to the Masked Ball?
No probably not.
"Wow," whispers Beatrice, pointing at something to the right.
I turn and follow her finger to see a school of gorgeous girls waltz into the halls - apparently they've had the same routine for years - You could almost hear the boys sigh and see the girls’ faces, jealous I'd presume. Mine certainly was. The girl at the front was, I imagined, Apolline Delacour, she was smiling and conjuring butterflies, the other girls almost dancing along behind her.
It was at that point I noticed a tall - Giant more like - woman walking up behind them, I raise my eyebrow.
"That's their head?" asks Alice, looking almost as surprised as I was.
"I guess-" I shrug and we quickly take our seats, I look over to the Gryffindor table and see Lily squashed in between James and Sirius, trying not to look pleased, Lucky B-
The giant-like woman coughs loudly, cutting through my harsh thoughts and suddenly I feel ashamed, Lily was my best friend; is my best friend!
"Thank you girls for that wonderful performance and to Madame Renes Ch'teal for agreeing to come to Hogwarts," bellowed the Professor over the deafening cheers, mostly from the boys.
The Beauxbaton girls went and sat at an empty table in the corner, smiling at everyone as they pass. I roll my eyes.
Suddenly there's a sound like drumming coming from the hall, it's getting closer, the doors burst open and the whole room is filled with all different colour fireworks, the drumming is done by a boy on a float surrounded by a massive group of dancers, all dressed in glitter causing them to look like shooting stars, a little boy of around twelve is there, dancing in the centre and he is amazing! A girl in the back ground is juggling fire and then she drops it, her float is surrounded by flames, licking at the sides of the object but never burning it.
This is truly a spectacular sight and there was no doubt in my mind that this was the Wizarding Academy of Performing Arts.
Once they'd finished, the hall erupted into cheering and whistling, but in amidst it all I noticed the Headmaster pull the boy Dancer out of the crowd and tell him off, rather harshly as well. I wonder what he did; I mean he was one of the best, in my opinion.
The Head, I observe, doesn't look a thing like I expected. She's got a mean face and her hair is pulled back in a tight bun. Her clothes don't do much for her either, a long black skirt and long grey coat over a white blouse, now what's fun about that outfit?
I'm interrupted by a tap on my back, "Yeah?" I ask turning around coming face-to-face with Wil Avery's smug grin.
My eyes widen and I back away a little, "W-What do you want?" I murmur looking for means of escape.
He laughs, "My sister just wanted to introduce me to you." He shrugged and Marcia stepped forward looking sheepish.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," she says looking over at Wil, "Actually you wanted to meet her."
Wil nods, "Why wouldn't I want to meet your charming new friend?" He winks and extends a slender hand out to me. I reluctantly take it and we awkwardly shake.
I think a about my predicament and try to force back a laugh, the most un-noticed girl ever shaking hands with the most feared guy in school?
Who'd of thought it?
I look over at see Marcia smiling a tad. At least she seems pleased that he's trying to be friendly, even if it is a little suspicious.
“Take a seat!” he shrills, in an, almost demanding way. I swallow and take the invitation, quickly sitting at – Wait? Did he just invite me to sit and my own house’s table?
I sigh, of course he did. I mean why wouldn’t he? Wil and Mulciber practically owned the school, they could do what they liked, when they liked and no-one was stupid enough to try and stop them.
I give Marcia a side-wards glance: do I trust her not to land me in it with those two? Do I really even know her? Am I being played?
These thoughts race through my head, but soon come to a halt when I heard these ten, toxic words come from Wil Avery’s ghostly lips:
“Will you go to the masked Ball with me, Leonie?”
I shake my head violently “What?” I gasp looking from him to Marcia. The look for pure shock is plastered over her face and I realise this wasn’t planned.
“I said,” sighs Wil, “Do you want to go to the dance with me?”
“No!” I blurt out, of course I don’t.
Wil’s facial expression flickers from smug to deadly and back again, tuts.
“Wrong answer,” he laughs maliciously and picks up his wand from the side, twirling it in his lanky fingers.
I pale as I realise what he’s doing, is-is this blackmail?
“Now,” he whispers, “Let’s try that again. Will you go to the Masked Ball with me Leonie Hope Williams, Half-Blood, daughter to a muggle Father and Witch Mother. Born and raised in London.”
“H-How do you kn-“ I ask, bewildered.
He rolls his eyes, “I have ‘contacts’. Now answer the questions before I get impatient and start to want to hurt someone,” is his cool reply.
I look over Marcia, who hasn’t said a word the entire time, her eyes are trained on the ground; determined, I expect, not to get involved.
“Uh-Um-Well-It’s-I-" I falter, then gradually give in. “Okay,” I manage to choke out.
He chuckles. “Good,” then looks at Marcia.
“Come,” he calls and they glide off.
Marcia only looking at me once, her eyes glazed over in complete nothingness, and then quickly whips her head back around before scampering back to the Slytherin table.
I rest my arms on the table and give into my sobs.