𝕄𝕪 𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥

CHAPTER 8

Y/N Pov

8:00

   Most people were starting to leave the dining hall. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to a grinning Eleanor behind me. I grinned back and got the hint.

"Let's go!" I got up and grabbed my things.

"Byee!" I smiled at Viv and she shot me a smooth wink with a smirk, mouthing 'Have fun'. She raised an eyebrow and turned back to the table.

   I gave Draco one last look, expecting nothing more than his usual cocky smirk. But he beckoned me over. Ellie saw him and nudged me forwards. I took a subtle deep breath and walked towards him. His friends eyed me up and exchanged glances over the table. One of them whistled, I'm pretty sure it was Blaise by the look Draco shot him. 

   I stood by his side. He gestured for me to lean closer and he sat up to whisper something in my ear. My stomach flipped with butterflies as he spoke. I could feel his breath warm against my cheek. He slid a hand around my waist to pull me closer.

"Wear red lipstick."

   A smirk grew across my face as I stood up straight. He winked at me and I turned and walked away confidently before grabbing Ellie's arm and whisking her away to start getting ready.

"He wants me to wear red lipstick."

"Oh my god", Ellie exclaimed with an over-the-top head roll. 

"Where's Cedric?"

"He's just getting his stuff; he'll be at your room in a bit." She let out an excited squeal and a small clap.

"You're so excited! What happened over dinner??''

"Well, who wouldn't be ecstatic after securing a date with the most beautiful Ravenclaw girl in the entire world?? "

"Oh my god, Ellll!!!! You spoke to her!?!"

"Well, it turns out that the boy I was sat next to, Asa, is her best friend. She came and sat next to him for a bit and he introduced us. Her name is Hazel- how pretty! And she's so nice. She mentioned needing someone to study with before lessons start and I don't know how I got the confidence but I offered!! She seemed really excited; we're hanging out tomorrow afternoon."

"Ahhhh!! I'm so proud of you and so happy for you. You have to tell me all about it afterwards!!"

"Only of you promise to tell me everything about what happens tonight!"

"Well, duhhhhhh?!"

   We got to my room and immediately the door swung open. 

"Ah ha! I thought I heard voices. Come, come!"

   We walked in and I was honestly taken aback by his vast collection of cosmetics. He had every shade of everything you could possibly imagine, it was amazing. He had laid everything out on the bed and hung my outfit on the bathroom door. 

"Wait, I know what this needs." Ellie said. She rushed out of the door to her room and returned with a cute little CD player and a bunch of CDs. Cedric hopped over the bag of scary looking hair tools to Ellie. 

"Ooooo, play that one, play that one!"

Ellie placed the stereo on the floor and inserted the CD Cerdic chose. She pressed shuffle and looked at Cedric with an exaggerated grin. 

"Ohhhh! I LOVE THIS SONG!!" Cedric and Ellie Immediately knew all the words and began singing to each other, using makeup brushes and hair straighteners as their pretend microphones. I stood watching and laughing with them. I had never heard the song but they loved it and were almost offended I had never heard it. The song changed to the next track and they calmed down (a bit).

"Ok. Now we can start." We all laughed and I put a chair facing the mirror. I took a seat and we all got to work. Cedric started on my makeup, Ellie was putting my hair in rollers and I painted my nails: red, to match the lipstick.

The next two hours went by in a flash: a flurry of setting powder and hairspray. I'd kind of drifted off into a dreamy state of curiosity, wondering what the hell was going to happen tonight. Every now and again, my thoughts were disrupted by sudden squeals of excitement over favourite songs, arguments over 'what shades suited my eyes better' and play fights when they got in each other's way. My excitement grew as theirs did, my nervousness melted away and I was buzzing.

10:40

They were finally done. They had covered the mirror in front of me so that they could do a 'big reveal' and, with a dramatic countdown, they lifted the cover. I was honestly shocked at how different I looked. My skin was glass and my eyes were carefully lined and shaded to perfection. I twisted a curl round my finger as I stared at my reflection in amazement. Ellie and Cedric double high-fived in front of me, startling me out of my daze.

"Ok! Get changed." Cedric ordered, holding my outfit in front of me.

With a grin I grabbed it and hopped into the bathroom. I hung it on the other side of the door and began getting undressed. I was taking my skirt off when I glanced at myself in the cracked mirror over the sink. I thought for a moment, noticing the threads hanging off my bra and the lace coming away from the top of my underwear. Oh hell no. I was not wearing my shitty underwear for this date. I remembered something I had unpacked earlier.

"Ellie!" I shouted.

"Yeahhhh?"

"At the back of the top drawer in my dresser, there's a black box, could you pass it here?"

"Okkk..", she said suspiciously.

"Don't open it!"

I knew that was a pointless thing to say as soon as I heard the gasps and shocked sounds coming from the other side of the door.

"OMG! If Draco isn't on his knees after seeing you in this, then he needs help." I laughed at Cedric's comment, poking my hand out the door. I grabbed the box out of his hands and continued getting changed.

I was saving this set for a special occasion, I'd only tried it on once, surely this occasion was special enough? I secured the clasp of the bra and slid the underwear over my hips. As I tightened the straps around my thighs, I sighed in gratitude for past me having shaved my legs the night before. I smoothed the black lace over my breasts and suddenly got a boost of confidence,  noticing my figure in the mirror.

"Hurry uppp!!" I heard Cedric shout.

"Yeah, we still have all the finishing touches, and Draco is never late!"

"Ok! Ok! Gimme a sec!" I replied, hurrying up and slipping into the dress.

I stumbled out of the bathroom, trying to put my heels on. Ellie and Cedric jumped up, perfume and jewellery at the ready. As Ellie fastened the diamonds round my neck and wrist, Cedric showered me in perfume and dabbed what he called 'fairy root' on my collarbones, to make them 'sparkle in the moonlight'.

I grabbed a little black purse and stood in front of the mirror, making sure everything was right and touching up the red on my lips (that bit had to be perfect). Ellie passed me the little bag from earlier, containing Draco's ring.

"Ah! Thank you." I put the ring on and took a deep breath. Everyone went quiet as we looked at me in the mirror.

Suddenly, our silence was interrupted by a knock on the door. I looked dumbly at Ellie and she just looked back in the same bemusement.

"Bitch, open the door." Cedric whispered as he nudged me towards it.

As I placed my hand slowly on the door handle, I looked back at my support team for reassurance. They were holding hands and jumping around like excited children. I smiled and then quickly told them to move so Draco never knew I needed a support team in the first place. They hurried into the bathroom and I whipped my head back round, taking in one more breath and opening the door.