Undeniable Truths

35~ Shopping With Friends

"Just come out already, I'm sure you look amazing. In fact, you look amazing in everything, including sweatpants, which is hard to do. So anything better than that, will just add to your beauty," Percy calls from outside of my dressing room.

I continue to stare at myself in the mirror, just like I have been for the past two minutes. This dress is beautiful, but it's not correct. I'm not sure what about it isn't right, but it's just wrong. It's a gorgeous, cream colored ball gown, with a corset top, and lace sleeves. It also has a black satin sash around my waist.

"I can't come out," I reply.

Percy sighs, "And why not? Did your legs suddenly stop working?"

I shake my head as I continue to look at myself, "It's not right."

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"I dont know what it is, but the dress doesn't feel right."

"Just come out here and I'll tell you what I think," he reasons. "I'll give you to the count of three and I'm coming in."

"Fine. Fine," I sigh as I open the door. 

He stops and studies me, "I really like that dress. The shape is great, but I agree, it's not quite right." He takes out his wand and grins, "I've got an idea."

"You can't change it, we haven't payed for it," I protest.

He chuckles, "I'll put it back, I just want to try something that could fix it."

I turn and look at myself in the mirror again, "I agree that it's a great shape and I really like it. So, if you can give it the extra push to make it perfect, who am I to tell you no? As long as you promise to put it back when we pay."

"Of course, love," he muses.

He then starts flicking his wand at various areas of the dress. His movements remind me of the fairy godmother from Cinderella. I close my eyes and wait for him to give me the word that he's done.

After a few seconds, "I'm done. Go ahead and look, I think it's perfect now."

I open my eyes and examine the dress. He kept the shape of the dress, but put a cut up the left side of the skirt that stops mid thigh. The black sash is gone, and so are the sleeves. Instead, he replaced the sleeves with a pair of long, black kid-skin gloves, that stop just above my elbows. The dress was finally perfect.

My hands fly over my mouth, "Oh Merlin, it's perfect." I glide over to Percy, and fling my arms around his neck, "Thank you so much!"

He leans in and kisses me, "No, love, you're perfect."

"Oh, Percy, you're so dreamy. Be my guy," Ginny teases as she walks into the dressing area.

Blaise follows closely behind, "No, be my guy," he teases in a girly voice.

I chuckle, "Oh shut it you two. He's mine."

"Oh, we know, Hermione. You tell us every time they joke like that," Luna chimes in.

"You look lovely in that dress, 'Mione," Harry contributes.

"Oh yes, very lovely," Luna agrees.

"Where's your dress, Luna?" I ask.

The blonde shrugs, "They don't make any maternity dresses that I like. So, I decided I'd get together with Hannah and design one with her."

"That sounds lovely," I reply.

"So, now that everyone has a dress, I think it's time to got get the boys their dress robes. What d'ya think?" Ginny chides.

All the girls agree as the boys groan. We pay for our dresses and accessories and leave the dress shop. 

"So, where do British men get their dress robes?" Percy asks.

Blaise laughs, "Madam Malkin's of course. It's the best place to get dress robes in the whole world!"

Percy looks over to Harry, "Is that true?"

Harry nods, "Yeah, trust us, we've brought so many dress robes from so many different shops. Yet, we always come back to Madam Malkin's."

"Where is it?" Percy asks.

"Right over there," Harry points to the shop.

"Can you not read the sign, mate?" Blaise jests.

"Oh leave him be, he's newish. He probably hasn't had to buy as many dress robes as you two. It's understandable that he doesn't know these things," I scold.

"How many is that, by the way?" Percy inquires.

Harry thinks out loud, "Well, at least two balls a year for five years. So, that's ten. Then all the award ceremonies, how many of those were there?"

"At least twenty, if not more," Ginny responds.

"So that's thirty. Then there was two graduations. So, somewhere in the ball-park of thirty-two," Harry shrugs.

Percy looks appalled, "And you couldn't reuse a dress robe?"

"Not with the Daily Prophet all over me," Harry rolls his eyes.

"It would be an abomination," Blaise exclaims. "Harry Freaking Potter, wearing a set of dress robes more than once! Gasp! So unheard of!"

We all laugh with Blaise as we enter Madam Malkin's. This place brings back so many memories. Every Diagon Alley shopping trip with Harry and the Weasleys. My very first experience in the wizarding world and coming in here to get my robes. The robes that confirmed that I was, in fact, a wizard.

I follow Percy to the rack of fabrics, "I think you should get the robes in cream, with black stitching. It would look very classy."

"Wow, who knew Hermione Granger knew something about fabric," Blaise jokes.

"Oh, piss off, Blaise," I chuckle.

Ginny chimes in, "I agree with Blaise. I used to have to dress you daily so you could leave the house and not look like a bag lady."

"It was not that bad," I correct.

Harry seems to choke, "Whatever you say, 'Mione."

*+*+*

Percy and I apparate directly into our house and drop our bags.

"Your friends are exhausting," Percy sighs.

I chuckle, "You get used to it after a while."

"Will I get used to it by the ball? Because we have to spend all evening with them," he pleads.

"Harry and Luna aren't that bad. Right? Is it okay if we hang out with them?"

"Harry and Luna are great. Except for the constant paparazzi. But I can handle that," he shrugs. "It's just Blaise and Ginny. The constant teasing, it's hard to keep up with."

"I know, I'm sorry, honey. I should've warned you," I say as I wrap my arms around his waist.

He leans down to kiss me, "It's okay, I just know for next time."