Emerald Waters

Chapter Seven: The Future & The Past

Draco and I talked well into the night and decided it'd be best to move slowly on telling people. By the time the Yule Ball came in a month, it wouldn't be such a shock to everyone that we were going with each other. We figured this way we'd hopefully enjoy our night and not worry about the impending gossip. We decided our first outing together would be to the library on Monday. I had spent Sunday morning and afternoon half the time wallowing in self pity of how much my friends were going to possibly hate me and half the time stuffing my face with everything pumpkin flavored I could get my hands on. Pumpkin flavor foods bring me comfort.

Just as I was getting ready to go down to the kitchens for a quick dinner, Ginny and Hermione entered the common room. "Hi stranger" Hermione said, smiling at me. "We are going to go dress shopping for the Yule Ball, you have to come!" Ginny exclaimed. I beamed at them, "I'd love to!!" I grabbed my jacket and followed them out the door. The walk to Hogsmeade wasn't very long but it was pretty cold so we walked as quickly as possible.

We talked along the way about what kind of dress we'd like, how we should do our hair, and who we'd hope would ask us. I kept quiet for that last part until Hermione caught on "do you have anyone in mind? Ive seen Seamus Finnigan looking in your direction more times than not." I made a scrunched up face. Ginny chuckled. "Maybe I will go solo if no one asks me" I suggested. Hermione shook her head, "someone will ask you, Im sure of it" she said confidently. I smiled and changed the subject. "Are you going to say yes if Victor Krum asks you Hermione?" She blushed and smiled. "I think so," she started "but Im sort of waiting for Ron to ask me first." It wasnt really a secret both Hermione and Ron fancied each other but neither had admitted to it. "Lets see if he has the whits about him" Ginny said giggling.

We arrived at Gladrags and hurried inside as the snow began to fall down faster and faster. We walked in to find a beautiful row of dresses. The store was practically empty so Hermione, Ginny, and I grabbed all the dresses we could carry and went into the dressing rooms. I tried on about 3 dresses I didnt like until I found the one. An a-line emerald green satin long sleeved gown. It was more fitted at the top and flowed down my body perfectly. When I came out of the dressing room to show Hermoine and Ginny they had stunned looks on their face. "Wow!!" Ginny shouted, grinning hugely. Hermoine kept her jaw open for a few seconds "Juliette!" She exclaimed, "you look beautiful! You must get that one". I smiled and gave them a spin they both beamed at me with excitement. They chose their own beautiful dresses and we were back on our way to Hogwarts.

"I find it hard to believe you don't have one single person you'd want to take you to the ball Juliette" Hermoine pressed. I sighed. "I guess I sort of do." I mumbled. Ginny looked over at me as we continued walking, "Do tell!" I immediately felt a little nauseous. "Im not sure if I am ready to talk about it yet." I said quietly. Both girls were quiet while they pondered that. "Do you have a secret love affair you're not telling us about?" Hermoine said, jokingly. I gulped. She looked over at me bewildered. "Oh my!" She exclaimed. "You do don't you?" She asked, pressing me even more.

I took a deep breath and let the silence fill the air for a moment. "Its not something either of you will be happy about". I couldn't tell if I was ready to go as far as telling them right now. "We are not here to judge you" said Hermoine cautiously now. "I dont think you will feel that same way if I told you who". I said even more quietly now. Hermoine looked at me and shook her head, "I mean honestly, Juliette. No one here is that terrible except for maybe a slytherin or Draco Malfoy himself."

My stomach was twisted in every knot it could be. I was way past nauseous now. I was full on my way to vomit. My face felt hot as can be and it was still frozen outside as we walked towards Hogwarts. I could tell they could sense my silence. "Okay so its a Slytherin then" Ginny said as lightly as she could. I tightened my lips into a thin line. Ginny went on, "not all of them are that terrible. Your brother Graham is nice". I wanted to hug Ginny for making light of the situation. Hermoine didn't speak. I think she knew when I had no response who I was talking about.