ethereal | tom riddle.

seductively

Theodore sat down in the common room with Rosier, Orion, Abraxas and an irritated looking Eliza.

"What happened?" Theo asked, turning himself unaware of why she seemed to be in such a frustrated mood.

"I hate Poppy." Eliza huffed.

"Yes, my dear, we already know that. What happened now?" Theo asked again.

"Poppy smiled at Tom." Abraxas said, fighting off grin.

"It wasn't just a smile." Eliza defended, glaring at Abraxas.

"Oh yes, Brax, you forgot the most important part." Rosier sarcastically said, mocking Eliza. "It was a seductive smile."

"Oh, shut up Rosier." Eliza said as she reached over to smack the back of his head. "It was! You should've seen the eyes she made at him. In front of me, at that."

"So what if it was in front of you?" Theodore asked, the boys reacting too late to stop him.

"He engaged to me, are you forgetting? We might not be in love or anything but she cannot be making eyes at him in front of me." Eliza spoke as though it was basic sense, and something that they should all understand. "Oh, oh and especially because she thinks I am with his child."

"But you are not." Orion confirmed one more time, almost as a question.

"I am not. It's almost as though you didn't believe my answer the first twenty times you asked me that."

"You sure behave like it." Rosier muttered as a joke, not intending for her to hear.

"Shut up, Rosier. One of these days I will get Tom to Avada you, okay? We all know he wouldn't hesitate to do that."

"It's true. I wouldn't hesitate." Tom remarked, sitting down beside Eliza. "What did Rosier do now?"

"He's just being irritating as usual." Eliza replied.

"Well you were the one mad at Poppy for makin-," Roiser groaned as Eliza interrupted him by kicking him in the crotch.

Tom turned to Eliza. "What was Rosier trying to say, darling?" He tilted his head to the side just slightly in amusement.

"I'm not telling you anything."

"You don't need to." Tom said as he turned away from Eliza and to Rosier. "If you love your life enough, finish the sentence."

Eliza was about to kick Rosier again, but Tom reacted faster. He held her legs down with one hand, giving Rosier time to speak as Eliza squirmed under his hand.

"She was mad at Poppy for making eyes at you." Rosier said, inching away from Eliza's thrashing feet.

"Don't forget the seductive smile." Theodore coughed, holding a hand over his mouth to control his laughter. Eliza glared at him, her ability to hit any of them taken away by Tom's grasp.

"I hate all of you, I hope you know that." Eliza grumbled, giving up in defeat.

They all laughed as she gave them the cold shoulder, glaring at them until the topic of the Ball came up. Then, she couldn't avoid joining the conversation.

"We have to go dress shopping soon." Eliza quipped up, looking at them hopefully as they all just agreed enthusiastically. They all decided on going later that evening, having to buy themselves tailcoats as well.

A few hours later, they all met back in the common room wearing their coats and dressed up more proper. They headed down to Hogsmeade in the train, going to their usual boutique at the end of the Hogsmeade stores.

It was the fanciest place in all of Hogsmeade, meaning it was never overcrowded, making it their favourite place to shop.

The new stocks had come in since the Ball was around the corner and students would shop their heads off. The lady at the store greeted them, leading them to the private dressing rooms (a/n: imagine it to be like the wedding dress trial areas) in the back of the store where she already had racks of her best waistcoats and tailcoats for the boys and dresses on the other side hanging up for Eliza.

The boys had an easy time choosing what they wanted, all just taking something similar to what they wore every year. Eliza made comments on whatever they chose, and despite acting like they were irritated by how she hated almost everything they picked up, everyone knew that they valued her opinion. When they all finally had selected and finalised a tailcoat she'd liked, they sat down on the couches as the lady bought down glasses of their favourite champagne.

Helping Eliza choose a dress was always an extremely elaborate process. All of them would look through the racks and toss her something to try on, forcing her to wear it even if she hated it.

Eliza walked out in a red dress, liking it quite a bit as she walked out smiling. Her smile dropped when all of them groaned.

"Are you trying to look like a Gryfinndor?" Orion asked, squinting at her.
"It's almost like you don't like being a Slytherin." Rosier remarked, knowing very well it wasn't true.
"Do you want to seduce Dumbledore?" Theodore said finally, satisfied with his comment.

"I hate not having friends that are girls. They're so much kinder." Eliza complained, intentionally loud enough for all of them to hear as they mocked offence with loud gasps, clutching above their hearts.

She went back in, coming out with a spin every time she showed them an outfit. It didn't happen that they were all happy with a dress. If Theodore thought she looked like an Angel, Abraxas would say she looked too much like a bride. If Orion said it was a sweet looking dress, Rosier would say she looked like a nun. If Zabini said it was perfect, Theo would say the material looked cheap.

They would have little arguments, trying to convince each other that their own choice was the best. That was until Eliza finally walked out wearing the most gorgeous black silk dress, the draping absolute perfection, as their mouths dropped open.

"Perfect." "The best." "I will never talk to you again if you don't buy this." "We'll all be matching." They spoke all at once, entirely approving on it as she grinned brightly.

Eliza smiled as she looked in the mirror, unable to find anything wrong with her dress in the slightest.

They spent around another hour shopping for a necklace to go with the dress, but all of them agreeing that diamond would suit best. The boys had their own fun by helping her shop and finding themselves a ring or chain as well.

They all went back to Hogwarts with big bags of things, loving everything they bought with their whole hearts.

*
a/n: i know i wrote it and maybe it's just me but it actually kills me