Leonora Potter knew from a young age that she was rather... different, from the rest of her family. The secret opinions she held regarding Muggles, her reserved nature in comparison to James. As she grew, her parents seemed to cast her aside, her br...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
In the two weeks leading up to the Winter Ball, the halls of Hogwarts practically pulsed with anticipation. Every corner buzzed with excited chatter, mostly from groups of girls deep in discussion about dresses, hairstyles, and who they'd be attending with.
Leonora was no exception.
It was the main topic of conversation between her and Illyria, with Thalia, much to their surprise, occasionally joining in. Despite the quiet suspicions the girl still held about the shifting loyalties within their trio, it was hard not to be swept up in the excitement.
For the first time in what felt like ages, things between the three of them felt almost normal. It was foolish, Leonora knew, how something as simple as a school ball could distract Thalia enough to laugh with Illyria again, to talk like old times... if only for a while.
December 15, 1978 - Friday
After weeks of waiting, filled with anticipation so thick it seemed to stretch time itself, the Winter Ball had finally arrived.
It was the last evening before students would head home for the Christmas holidays, and classes had been let out earlier than usual. The younger students, who weren't permitted to attend, scattered in different directions; some went to cram in one final study session in the library, while others hurled snowballs across the frosted grounds.
The older students, however, particularly the girls, rushed straight to their common rooms to begin the lengthy process of getting ready.
Leonora had rushed excitedly out of Defense, cheerfully wishing the professor a Happy Christmas as she was swept into the corridor, surrounded by a wave of excited students. She weaved her way through the open gaps, frowning each time someone bumped her or shoved past.
Finally reaching the grand staircase, she descended floor by floor, the crowd beginning to thin into only Hufflepuffs, heading into the basement, and Slytherins, heading toward the dungeons. The buzz of excitement followed her like a hum in the stone walls, and for the first time that day, she felt her nerves catch up with her.
As she reached the Slytherin common room, she made a beeline for her dorm, her heart fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement. She shoved open the door, only to find Illyria already seated at her vanity, fussing with her hair. The sudden entrance made the girl jump, her wide eyes flashing toward the door.
