different | h. potter

19

Cassia and her friends spent the rest of the morning in the Slytherin common room, enjoying their new presents and the brief repose before the ball's affairs began, then returned to the Great Hall for a magnificent lunch, which included at least a hundred turkeys and Christmas puddings, and large piles of Cribbages Wizarding Crackers.

Rather than going back to the common room, which was undoubtedly packed by now, they made their way to the library and found themselves a table in a secluded corner. The room was unoccupied to be begin with since no one in their right mind would fancy a visit to the library on Christmas day; unless, of course, one needed a place to speak without being overheard.

"So what's the deal with Skeeter?" Theo whispered. "Do we go ahead and list Potter's flaws?"

"As tempting as that may be," Blaise replied, "it doesn't make for much of a story."

Cassia nodded. "He's right. She'll want something to make headlines and I doubt his tendency to be a git will do."

"Don't underestimate her," Pansy said, "I'm certain she'd find a way to twist it perfectly."

"I'd imagine it'll be more like an interview; she'll ask us questions to get the information she wants," Draco suggested.

"And it's up to us to lay it on thick?" Theo asked.

"Precisely," Draco answered.

"Are we forgetting a slight detail?" Blaise chimed in, "One which entails meeting in a rose garden that doesn't exist?"

"Maybe it's something they'll add for the ball?" Cassia proposed.

For next few hours, they continued to hatch their plans until Pansy glanced at the clock on the wall and jumped to her feet. "Cassia, we need to get ready!"

"It's hardly four o'clock," Theo said.

"And?" Cassia countered, now standing as well.

"The ball isn't 'til eight," Draco stated with furrowed eyebrows.

"Which only gives us four hours!" Pansy said over her shoulder, dragging Cassia out of the library by the wrist. From a distance, she could have sworn Blaise said something about Draco and Theo 'not understanding the effort it takes to be beautiful'.

Their dormitory was empty when they arrived; Daphne, Tracey and Millicent apparently required less maintenance than them. Pansy wasted no time retrieving her assortment of beauty products from her trunk, scattering them across her bed and beginning to style Cassia's hair. She must have used at least three different hair care potions, including Sleekeazy's Hair Potion to keep it neat and shiny all night long. After an hour, Cassia was left with dark, voluminous, elegant waves, which cascaded down her back. She returned the favor and styled Pansy's short hair to curve inward to frame her face and slightly curled her fringe for added volume.

While Cassia was navigating Pansy's fleet of cosmetics, their other roommates arrived. None of them appeared even slightly surprised to see the mess and chaos of perfecting each other's appearance.

"Daphne!" Pansy called out, "Theo is thrilled to go to the ball with you!"

"Really?" Daphne asked, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

Cassia chuckled. "He was mostly shocked, actually-"

"-But happy, nevertheless!" Pansy said. "Why don't we help you do your hair?" 

At last, they got dressed. Cassia's black dress robes fit as perfectly as the day she visited Madam Malkin's shop; Pansy wore pale pink robes, which had many frills; Daphne had purple robes; Tracey deep blue; and Millicent olive green. Cassia accessorized with her new diamond earrings and necklace and slipped on her short black heels. Finally ready, the five girls walked to the common room together.