As It Was *Complete*

83. Dress Shopping

"How am I supposed to walk in this thing?" Laurie complained as she came out of the changing room, in a full length, mermaid tail gown. It was beautiful and she looked gorgeous but very, very uncomfortable.

Laurie's grandmother ended up coming as well, leaving Laurie's grandfather in the shop to watch over things. "I like it," the lady smiled. "Although the colour is wrong for you. It clashes with your eyes."

Laurie rolled her eyes. "It's cream, grandma. How can cream clash with blue eyes?"

"I don't know, it just does."

They had a sales assistant helping them shop. A lovely man by the name of Connor. "She's not wrong," he said tilting his head sideways to get a better look. "It washes you out. I think cream against your pale skin is a no-no. You need a pop of colour."

"I would like to pop something alright," Laurie huffed turning to look in the mirror.

"Alright, Astra dear, it's your turn to come out," Connor called. He had been so excited to see the two girls come in to shop. He loves helping – especially with ball attire. And as soon as he saw the girls, dresses flashed before his eyes and he knew exactly what he wanted them to try on.

The gown he had handed Astra was not her style at all. It was tight fitted, dark green and covered in sparkles. She could picture Pansy in a gown like this. One that showed off every curve in her body. But Astra wanted something less sexy and more elegant.

She stepped out of the changing room and immediately Connor shook his head. "Oh no! All wrong for you. Wrong style, wrong length, and definitely wrong colour."

"I agree Connor. It is beautiful but it's not Astra," Grandma Laurie smiled.

"Can I take this one off yet?" Laurie pouted.

"I think we still need a neutral colour for you Laurie. Your hair is fab, but it eliminates a lot of colours," Connor rubbed his stubble chin. "Oh, I have an idea," he smiled standing up out of his chair. "May I?" He gestured to his wand and looked at both girls.

Both nodded.

He flicked his wand, like the scene in Cinderella and Laurie's dress began to change. The cream turned to black. The sleeve on one side disappeared and the other grew, moving down her arm. This mean that she was wearing a one sleeved dress that didn't sit tight to her legs as there was a split right up to the top of her thigh. It was simple, yet elegant, and classy.

"This is much more you," Connor smiled and he muttered a spell and Laurie's hair seemed to pin itself into a low bun. "Black won't clash with her hair, it's sexy, sliming and very classy."

Laurie gave a little squeak when she looked in the mirror. She wasn't even aware that she was smiling as she began to sway back and forth, exposing her skin on her leg as she moved. "I actually don't hate this," she said quietly. "At least I can move."

"You look beautiful Laurie," Astra grinned.

"So gorgeous," her grandmother said sounding a little emotional.

"OK, beautiful, it's your turn," he smiled to Astra. "I have a dress in mind. It's very fitting for New Year's Eve and will compliment your brown eyes so well." He moved his wand in a circle gesturing for Astra to twirl. As she did, the dress she was wearing began to change. The green turned to a nude, slip style dress and Astra was pleasantly surprised. "I am not done hot stuff," he smirked.

A gold/nude a-line sleeveless tulle fabric wrapped itself around Astra's body and on top of the slip. The thin little spaghetti straps were sequin and throughout the tulle were very small sequins which just made the dress shimmer in the light.