𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 || hogwarts various x reader

9

I brush through the curls in my hair carefully, sighing and looking at the beautiful dress that I have scrapped enough money together to afford.

Hermione comes up behind me in the mirror, trying and failing to put on mascara because her hands are so shaky.

"Hey, don't be nervous. We've done this since third year." I say gently, now curly my eyelashes delicately.

"Yes, but it's the third time I've had a real date." She says, once again trying to out mascara on.

"A real date? Are you and Ron planning to to out?" Lavender cuts in.

"No! No I mean, we're not. Of course it wouldn't be awful if we did have plans, but we don't." Hermione clarifies. I think Ron really messes with her head sometimes, and the funniest thing is that he has no idea that he is doing it.

I finish my hair and makeup a few minutes later and go down to the common room, not wanting to sit because I may somehow ruin this perfect dress.

My eyes wander, taking in the Gryffindor common room once again. And that is when what Lupin said to me resurfaces.

I have so many questions. Why the headmaster? Why did his employee reveal this? Isn't he supposed to protect me? It makes my head hurt.

No. I won't worry about this right now, especially today.

Once Hermione, Lavender, and Ginny are finished, us three make our way to the Great Hall where there celebrations are to commence.

One by one, my roommates are whisked away by their dates and finally I am left to myself.

I look around the room, and I finally see where Kathy is sitting. She's got a gorgeous yellow dress on, it's floor length, with transparent sleeves and gold accents. I make my way toward her.

"Hey, Kath." I say as I sit beside her. "Where's Blaise?"

She smiles at me and points across the Hall. Blaise is sitting on a table, leaned back leisurely. Pansy, Draco, Fern, and Neville sit around him. Neville, may I add, looking like he's disagreeing with the food we had for lunch.

"Well, you look beautiful." Kathy says, smiling at me more brightly.

"Why, thank you." I say and return her smile. Just then, Gio comes up to the table. He looks nice, he cleans up well, and he offers me a hand.

"[Name], do dance with me." He flashes a very gorgeous grin and I have no choice but to comply.

Gio is definitely the leader, and he spins and dances me across the ballroom. I have never been a very exceptional dancer, but Gio makes it feel. easy.

"Where is Lavender?" I ask as he twirls me.

"She went to go touch up her.. makeup?" He answers.

"She won't be angry that we're dancing?" I ask, and he takes me back and clasps his hands to mine.

"No, I don't think she will."

A few more minutes pass. Professor McGonagall takes the stage and announces the next band, and suddenly everyone is partying instead of waltzing.

Which I have no issues with.

I end up dancing around Cedric and Cho, Harry not too far away. Everyone is hyping Cedric and Harry up so much that I'm surprised they aren't floating on their backs as the crowd carries them.

Harry is awkward, of course, but it's fun all the same.

One particular song comes to an end, and I only have a few seconds to breathe before the next one starts. It only takes me a moment to recognize it.

My favorite song. They're playing my favorite song!

I run straight into Cedric because I'm so excited. He catches me by the waist. He leans in slowly, and my thoughts are running wild by the time he asks,

"Woah, are you alright, love?" He steadies me and releases me, returning to Cho and Harry.

I stand and grin for a moment before someone taps me on the shoulder.

Hermione pulls you out of the crowd unexpectedly.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure, 'Mione, we can always talk."

"Ron is such an idiot!"

"Oh, this kind of talk." I sigh, rubbing my forehead and sitting down on a random couch. Hermione flops onto the seat beside me.

"I mean, he asks me to the ball- and then dances with other girls the whole night! It's like, it's like he doesn't even want me here."

"Oh, 'Mione, I'm sure that's not true."

"I'm quite sure it is." Her voice starts to waver, and I grow scared that she may start to cry in front of everyone.

"How about we go to the restroom?" Hermione nods slightly, and I help her up and lead her to the nearest girl's bathroom.

I don't normally use this bathroom because it makes me feel uncomfortable. It has showed up in my dreams before- a more run down version of it, anyway.

Hermione rushes into one of the stalls.

"Hermione, is it okay if I wait outside for you, Hermione?" All I get is a sob in return and I take that as a yes. I don't want to spend any more time here than I need to.

I walk out of the empty bathroom, the other sound being Hermione's distant sniffles and my heels clicking on the cobblestone.

It can't help but feel eerie, the silence in these halls. I soon hear another pair of feet, and I look over.

It's Dumbledore, walking the halls- seemingly monitoring them.

"Good evening, Headmaster." I greet him, though his presence puts me on edge.

"Good evening, Miss Haley." He comes to a slow stop in front of me and I want to dig a hole and bury myself in it.

"Say, it's been a late night.. don't you feel tired?"

Now that he says it, I do feel tired. Really tired. I wobble on my heels, and I reach out behind me for the wall because I feel like I'm about to collapse.

I am just so, so tired..