Rosie ⎮ Tom Riddle

Twenty One

The Ball

  Rosie and Lily stood amidst a flurry of fabric.

  "What about this one?" Rosalie yelled from across the room, picking a rather casual blue dress out from her bag and holding it up against her body. Lily paused what she was doing and looked over it, disgust written all over her face.

  "Throw it out. You aren't wearing that to the ball." She yelled back, resuming her frantic search through her own bag to see if there were any fit contenders to wear that night.

  The door of Lily's bedroom creaked open, and William and Coriolanus, holding a large black bag, reluctantly walked through, careful not to step on any clothing thrown across the floor, covering it like a rug.

  "William, please. We're not in the mood to speak right now, we're very busy if you can't already tell for yourselves." She screamed slightly, completely wound up by the fear and anticipation of it all.

  Coriolanus and him chuckled, looking over at Rosalie who had all but given up on choosing anything she had bought. 

  "It can't be that hard to choose, can it?" Coriolanus's voice rung through the air and Lily paused and looked up at him with death shrouding her mind.

  "You were the one who gave us A DAYS notice to find a ball dress that neither of us own!" She screamed even louder, looking as though she were about to run over to him and strangle the man herself.

  Rosalie looked up and smiled, though still feeling her frustration.

  Coriolanus's exasperated gesture and the resounding thud of the bag hitting the floor signalled his frustration. With a pointed glance at the girls, he delivered his revelation as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  "Well, I wouldn't leave you empty-handed. Mother went shopping and brought at least ten dresses for the both of you to choose from each."

  Lily's eyes widened in surprise, quickly discerning the sincerity in Coriolanus's tone. Without hesitation, she darted towards the bag, her eagerness palpable as she unzipped it and began unfurling the array of dresses within.

  Rosalie, more cautious in her approach, approached the bag with guarded curiosity, her gaze meeting Coriolanus's with a newfound determination.

  "And who will be there tonight?" She inquired, her tone cool and composed, betraying none of the fear that simmered beneath the surface.

  Coriolanus observed silently as Rosalie sank to the floor, her fingers grazing over the delicate fabrics in search of the perfect dress. He noted her swift selection of a silky white fabric, a choice that spoke volumes about her taste.

  "Everyone, I meant it," he reiterated, his voice tinged with a hint of gravity. "That does mean you'll see a few people who sit at your father's table."

  Rosalie swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling uneasily in the pit of her stomach. With practiced composure, she pushed aside her apprehension, burying the unsettling revelation deep within her mind.

  "I'm taking this one!" Lily screamed at the sight of an olive green wide skirted gown, she twirled it around the room and winked at William, who smirked at her, happy to see her finally happy.

  Rosalie admired the ethereal white dress, its delicate straps and flowing silhouette enveloping her in a soft embrace of silk. A smile played at Lily's lips as she observed her friend's reflection in the mirror.

  "If you don't snatch it up, I just might," Lily teased, playfully nudging Rosalie with a wink.

  Coriolanus chimed in, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. "Mother had a feeling that one would catch your eye," he remarked, a smug grin tugging at the corners of his lips.