The Turning of Time ~ Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fourteen

When I wake up I find the bedroom empty. Good they probably went to Poppies room. I get up and decide to let Violet roam in the room while I get ready. I get dressed in normal clothes then head out to run a last minute errand. I floo powder into hogsmeade and head into the dress store, then the accessories store. It takes me all of an hour, this time I know exactly what I'm looking for, before I'm heading back to school. When I make it back the room it's still empty. Perfect. I grab the different packages out of my bag. My new dress, new shoes, different makeup and new jewelry besides a necklace. I go to the bathroom and take another bath, this time with some new bath oils. When I get out I put my hair into curlers, and let it dry this way. I pull out the packages of makeup, a palette of eyeshadow with dark colors, mascara,  red lip stain, pale powder and light pink blush. I put on the makeup as I contemplate my new plan, crazier than the last. 

I will become the harlot they apparently think I am.

I'm starting to think my plan is getting a little out of control. But at this point it doesn't really matter. They like me or don't I won't be here after Halloween anyways. After putting on the makeup, I slide my new dress out of the package. A tight red silk gown, it's floor length with a small slit to my knees. It comes with a matching red silk scarf. I won't be wearing the necklace Garreth picked out with me. No, it's outlived it's usefulness. I take out the long silver and crystal earrings, and a matching silver and crystal bracelet. Lastly, I pull out my new black stilettos. After I get everything on, I pull out the curlers, and pin my hair back with a silver clip. I look myself in the mirror stunned and a little remorseful, I look seductive. This isn't me, not really. I look at the pink dress hanging up in my closet. I go over to it, I wish I was wearing this one, I wish I was going with Sebastian. I quietly put the protective package on it and slide it in my bag. I'll either return it, or keep it for something else. But I don't want to look at it, it reminds me how fast things have changed in just four days. How I have or will have burned every bridge and relationship.  Not that I was given many choices, still. I transfigure my purse into a matching red handbag. I look at the clock in the middle of the room and it says 6pm.  I contemplate leaving Violet by herself then change my mind and put her in the Nab-Sack. I then floo powder to the address that Natty had told me about before. 

As the smoke clears I realize I'm on the mountain that overlooks the Quidditch pitch. I see a giant cream white tent in the middle of the open mountaintop. I find Garreth almost immediately, he's off to the side of the giant tent. I thought the staring and whispering was bad yesterday with the common room. This is worse. It's all the seventh years from every house, plus whichever lucky younger kids were allowed to come. I see Maria without her sister over in a corner, but no Natty, Poppy or Cressida. I guess the other Quidditch teams were invited as well. The silence stretches, as I slowly start to walk towards Garreth. His eyes are gleaming with mischief.

"I thought you were going to wear a pink flower dress?" I try and crack a smile

"I changed my mind." I turn to look at all the people still staring at me. Garreth steps in front of me, and everyone slowly goes back to what they were doing. He turns back towards me.

"Seriously, y/n. What happened?" The gleam is gone and is replaced with worry. The monster is trying to release, but she is being fought by another monster, self consciousness.

"I found a note on my bed last night. That's all." He looks like he wants to press more, but then the tent flaps open. Orchestral music suddenly floods the open air. Garreth looks like he still wants to press but changes his mind and takes my hand instead and leads me into the tent with the flood of people. The inside of the tent is gorgeous, they brought the outside inside. Plants are everywhere and the tent somehow has a skylight  with red colored panes that lets in natural light, but it changes the light to a deep red. It looks like a whimsical place. Somehow my dress doesn't look as out of place as it might have if the setting was different. Garreth guides me deeper into the room. The monster inside was starting to lose and I was feeling more and more like I wanted to leave, I wanted to "break up" with Garreth and apologize to the girls. That was until I see Sebastian sitting on an all black "throne" in the back of the room and theres a girl on his lap. A girl in a red and black dress. I stop in my tracks, and let out a whimper. Poppy is sitting seductively on Sebastian's lap. And I'm the harlot? I shuffle back a half-step, Garreth turns to look at me then at where I'm staring. He gasps and stops trying to keep walking. We're just staring there for at least a minute, people pushing past with no worries. It's not until I look down that the air really gets sucked from my lungs. Natty and Cressida are sitting at the table nearest the throne, with the rest of the Slytherin Quidditch team, not an empty seat to be had. My emotions numb out. I grab Garreth's hand and guide him to the refreshment table. It's laden with everything from finger sandwiches,  to a fancy soup I don't know the name of, and a three tier birthday cake decorated to match room. I grab a cupcake, as I scan the table for what I'm really looking for. But not a single drink is on this table. I scan the room more thoroughly and see a table tucked back a ways that has a fountain with what looks to be Butterbeer. I drag Garreth over there and try and find what I'm looking for. On my way over someone bumps into me, almost making me drop my cupcake. I look up to see no one, how odd. Now at the table I find what I'm looking for it's next to the pumpkin juice, Fire Whiskey. I knew they would have alcohol. Mischievous Slytherins. I go to grab one, when Garreth stops me.