tradition

07

Briar stood in front of the full-length mirror in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory, her brow furrowed in concentration as she rummaged through her wardrobe. Eloise sat on the edge of her bed, watching her friend with mild amusement while Georgia lounged in a nearby armchair, flipping through a book. "You know, you really ought to wear something that'll make Harry jealous," Eloise suggested with a sly grin, her eyes glinting with mischief. Briar shot her a half-hearted glare, tossing aside a plain black skirt that suddenly seemed too dull for the occasion. "Eloise, it's a dinner party with Professor Slughorn," she replied, her voice laced with uncertainty. Eloise shrugged nonchalantly, still smiling. "Well, it's still Harry Potter. Might as well make the most of it."

Georgia, ever the voice of reason, glanced up from her book and raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to show up in something too revealing—it's not appropriate for a dinner party with a professor." Briar sighed, knowing Georgia had a point. She let out a small groan as she rummaged through her clothes once more. "I just want to look nice, not scandalous," Briar mumbled under her breath, though Eloise's teasing suggestion still lingered in the back of her mind. After another moment of indecision, her hand landed on a magenta dress tucked away at the back of her wardrobe. "How about this?" Briar asked, holding up the dress for inspection. It was simple yet elegant, with a modest neckline and just enough shimmer to catch the eye without being over the top.

Eloise raised an approving eyebrow. "I like it. It's classy but not boring." Georgia, who had already envisioned Briar in something more traditional, closed her book and nodded in agreement. "That's perfect," she said, walking over to help Briar with her hair. Briar slipped into the dress, feeling the soft fabric fall against her skin, and then turned to face her friends. Georgia carefully gathered Briar's dark hair and began pinning it into an elegant updo, her fingers working with practiced precision. "You'll look stunning," Georgia remarked as she secured the last pin. Briar smiled softly, her nerves settling just a little. "Thanks, Georgia. I just... I want tonight to go well. I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of Slughorn or, you know, anyone else."

As Briar stepped into her black heels, a gift from her aunt, she took a final glance at herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared back with wide eyes, her magenta dress shimmering softly in the candlelight. She looked poised, yet there was a nervous energy just beneath the surface, a slight tremor in her hands as she adjusted the hem of her dress. "You look fantastic, Briar," Eloise reassured her, giving a playful wink. "Harry won't know what hit him." Briar laughed lightly, but her mind wasn't entirely on Harry at the moment. As she said goodbye to her friends and made her way down to the common room, she felt a tightness in her chest, a knot of anxiety that she couldn't quite shake.

Just as she reached the portrait hole, something caught her eye—a flash of movement across the room. Briar paused, her gaze locking onto the figures of her younger brother, Adam, and Luna Lovegood. They were standing close together, hands intertwined, smiles on both their faces. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" Adam asked, his voice soft but clear. Luna nodded, her long, blonde hair swaying gently as she tilted her head up to look at him. Briar blinked in surprise as she watched Adam lean in and kiss Luna on the cheek, his expression filled with affection. A grin spread across Briar's face. "Adam! Was that Luna Lovegood I just saw?" she asked with a large smile, stepping closer to her brother.

But instead of the warm response she expected, Adam turned to her with a frown, his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice clipped and cold. Briar's smile faltered, confusion washing over her. "I was just... heading to Slughorn's dinner party. The Slug Club," she explained, her tone hesitant as she tried to understand the sudden shift in her brother's mood. Adam's frown deepened. "So, it was just a coincidence, yeah?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. Briar blinked, caught off guard by his tone. "Well, yes... of course, it was," she replied, unsure of where the conversation was headed.