Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

137. Getting Ready

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but I love getting ready for a night out more than the night out

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The first night of Christmas break had given Bel a clear picture of what the entire break would consist of.

Such a nightmare was not an anomaly.

Each night she was awoken in a cold sweat, having to swallow down panicked screams, after experiencing everyone she cares for berating her ruthlessly.

The only way Bel got through it was to remind herself that they were just nightmares, and that they would go away soon.

But no matter how many times she calmed herself, she would be lying if she said it wasn't affecting her at all.

Most certainly her mind was straining trying to keep herself composed.

And the most chilling thing that she took away from these nightmares was the fact that Tom Riddle was present.

Why was Voldemort in her dreams?

Was it like what Harry had experienced earlier that year?

Why did he keep telling her the time will come?

The time for what?

Bel put these questions to rest in her mind. There was no point stressing about questions that arose from a figment of her imagination.

Using her Occlumency training from Professor Snape, Bel even managed to give herself a few nights of nightmare-free sleep.

But whilst she may be a natural Occlumens, something about these nightmares fought against that power.

Again, a symptom of the curses.

Her mind weakening.

But luckily, Bel didn't have to solely rely on Occlumency. She had the perfect distraction.

The Yule Ball.

It was all anyone could talk about, and finally, Christmas Eve arrived.

Bel had been woken that morning, not by one of her nightmares, but rather by a very excited Riley Ewans screaming 'Merry Christmas Eve!' in her face.

The Hufflepuffs had spent that morning dressed in their pyjamas opening presents they wanted to gift one another in their common room.

Small pieces of jewellery to accompany their outfits, matching Christmas jumpers, desert cookbooks, and whimsical little trinkets from Hogsmeade that had been sold in the Christmas markets.

Ollie had returned back to school, and so he was able to join them too.

It was truly peaceful. Just a group of friends all enjoying Christmas Eve together and being barely able to wait for what was in store that night.

The excitement really came out when it was time for the girls to get ready for the ball.

"Hold still, May! If you move again you'll smudge my artwork", Riley complained as she stood in front of Bel, doing her eyeshadow.

After fifteen minutes of begging, Bel had allowed Riley to do her makeup.

Of course, a very simple charm would have taken care of it. Bel was also in possession of some magical products that would have gotten the job done perfectly in seconds.

Not to mention Narcissa Malfoy had taught her a thing or two in the time she spent getting Bel dressed up at Malfoy Manor. 

But Riley was insistent on doing in herself. Apparently she had a 'vision'.