If I Fall for You [Harry Potter: Next Generation]

20. Dresses, Glitter, and Lots of Other Bullshit

"Hold still!" Farah Tourneaux commanded severely, wielding the hairbrush in a threatening manner. "This is the most delicate part!"

"Sorry," Rose apologized quickly, straightening her neck and fighting down a smile, for fear of appearing not sorry at all.

"Keep your eyes shut," Farah instructed. "We can't have you getting glitter in your eyes and tearing up and ruining your makeup!"

"Um, but you said — "

"That makeup was unnecessary? Of course it is, dear," she explained patiently. "But of course I put some around your eyes, just for definition, you know."'

Rose honestly didn't know, but chose to keep this information to herself. Makeup and the like had always seemed awfully trivial to her — a waste of time and energy. So naturally, allowing this delicate matter to be handled by Rose herself was completely out of the question, or so Cynthia had decreed. No, only the most talented hands could be given the job of dressing Rose up for the Yule Ball, as she was going — to quote Cynthia directly — "with her future husband".

Lily had volunteered, but in the end Farah Tourneaux, diva of all divas, sister to the Ethan Tourneaux, got wind of the plot and wasted no time in offering up her wholehearted services — free of charge, satisfaction guaranteed.

That was how Rose had ended up here, half an hour before the big event, enduring Farah Tourneaux the Snorer's endless fiddling and gossip, while Cynthia took charge of her own makeover at a nearby mirror. Cynthia was going stag, by choice; she allegedly would have nothing to do with the boys who had made plays for her hand.

Rose heard the gentle swishing sound of the glitter near her ear and kept her eyes shut tight. Presently the sound of a bottle being set down on the vanity reached her ears, and she opened her eyes.

After a few more minutes of chattery touch-up, Farah came around to the front of Rose and stood back, surveying her with an air of distinct satisfaction.

"Gorgeous, that's what you are," she informed Rose cheerily. "Well, take a look at yourself, dear!"

Rose gulped and turned hesitantly towards the mirror, having no idea what to expect — Farah had kept her in the dark for the duration of the experience.

When she finally caught sight of herself, Rose had to blink a few times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Then she had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. When neither attempts offered any altering results, Rose was forced to conclude that the stranger in the mirror really was her.

Farah had somehow managed to reign in the copper mess that was Rose's hair. It had been pulled up and back, and, craning around, Rose saw where the glitter had gone to work — curls tumbled from a fancy knot in perfect sequence, and could've been lightly dusted with sparkling, silver, unmeltable snow. A large dark green ribbon had been masterfully incorporated. Purposely stray curls framed her face too, in an I don't even have to try to be stunning sort of way.

But it was her eyes that really made the difference — what was up wth all Farah's "you don't need makeup" gab? Clearly, that catchphrase had been employed solely in order to suppress a rebellion. She's done something subtle with eyeshadow that gave off a smoky yet pretty look. Here glitter had been applied in tiny amounts, so it seemed as though Rose's very eyes sparkled if she positioned her head just so. Mascara had been dealt generously. Looking closer, Rose noticed a faint shimmer about her lips, too. All in all, she looked pretty awesome.

"Well?" Farah queried proudly.

"It's... I'm... I'm..." Rose scrambled for the right words. "...sparkly," she finished lamely. In truth, she did think Farah had really outdone herself, but there were no words currently available in her vocabulary useful for expressing the feeling. She'd probably gone into shock, or something.