━━ 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬;
The wizarding world is facing their darkest period of the war, led by the formidable Lord Voldemort. Despite his efforts to plunge the Order of the Phoenix into eternal night, Octavia Cunning's prophecy offers stars...
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❛ big bolt of lightning hanging low ❜
· ━━━━ · ✣ · ━━━━ ·
December 15th, 1996
The night of Slughorn's Christmas party has finally arrived. In the hours leading up to the event, students were eagerly discussing its reputation and hoping for someone to ask them. Parvati and Lavender were envious of Octavia, sprawled across their mattresses as they watch her ready herself.
"I wish someone asked me." Parvati sighs hopelessly, "I heard Slughorn can set you up with really good connections there."
"Even members of the Weird Sisters will be there!" Lavender exclaims.
"At least Ron won't." Octavia snorts, leaning close to her mirror to put in her earrings, "Speaking of, what happened between you two?"
She grumbles in reply with a roll of her eyes, "What didn't? We argue every day and I'm tired of it."
"Just break it off already." says Parvati, "It's doing neither of you any good. Honestly, I think he'd rather be with-"
She cut off instantly as their dorm room door swung open, revealing Hermione in the entrance. Her hair is bushier than ever as she bustles inside, setting down a large stack of books she'd been reading in the library.
"I have to get ready now," she murmurs, digging through her trunk, "You look great, Octavia!"
"Who's your date?" Parvati asks, "I thought you were going with Neville but he told me he asked Loony Lovegood instead."
"Luna." Hermione automatically corrects, mumbling an aha in triumph as she found her dress, "I asked Cormac McLaggen."
Octavia whipped around to raise a brow at her, "McLaggen? He's no better than a rodent! You can't be serious, I thought you had standards!"
"I didn't know who else to take, believe me I wish it were anyone else..."
Hermione and Octavia finish their hair and makeup eventually and departs the dorm. Lavender and Hermione exchange tight lipped smiles as they leave. Their tension has risen and fallen over the past few weeks, though they made an effort to be civil to one another (Parvati and Octavia were very thankful for this).
They emerge from their dorm stairs and into the Gryffindor common room, which is relatively crowded for this time of day. It's the last night before the winter holidays, so students are spending their last moments of the year together. Part of her wishes to be curled in her bed with a good novel, listening into her dormmates' discussion occasionally, but another side of her looks forward to the mingling and connections she'll make tonight.
