The Canis Major

C h a p t e r 2 6

"Have you asked your crush yet?" I casually asked Melanie while placing my knitted hat on my head. I looked over at her to see her reaction. Her face went red and she shook her head.

"No!" She cried out. I snorted and rolled my eyes. "And I still don't understand why I have to go with you if I'm not going!"

"Me neither," Lily muttered from beside me. They both were grumpy as they walked beside me to Hogsmeade. I smiled, satisfied that I managed to get them to come.

"Weren't you going to come anyways?" I asked innocently.

"No," they both answered at the same time. They both looked fatigued.

"I wasn't planning to wake up this early to go either," Lily commented before yawning. I shrugged.

"It's good to get out of the castle. You guys should be thanking me." They both seemed to glare at me simultaneously. "You guys were meant to be friends. I hope you know that." They grunted.

We walked in silence and on the snow covered ground till we reached town. I didn't see the boys and assumed they had taken the secret to get to town. I walked in a cheerful mood with a smile on my face, which was very uncommon for me this early in the morning.

"You're never this cheerful," Melanie commented.

"And you're never this grouchy. Maybe it's a result from being single," I whispered the last part to her. She scowled ahead of her, ignoring my gave. "That's fine, ignore me."

The first shop we went into when we reached town specialized in gowns and dress robes. Lily and Melanie sat down as soon as we walked inside, but I had immediately encouraged them to stand back up. I told the ladies who were measuring in the store that they were being fitted as well.

"Del-" Melanie exclaimed as the ladies pulled her up onto a platform to be measured. I stood on my separate platform, smirking at the two of them as they got measured similarly to how I did. The ladies took note on our measurements before heading off to receive racks to hold the dresses. "I told you I wasn't going!"

"My treat?" I said in hopes that they'd at least take the dresses with them. They both immediately grimaced and shook their heads. "I'm going to buy them for you, so I hope you won't make me waste my money..."

"Fine!" Melanie cried out. She slapped her hands over her face. "I'll go to the stupid dance and buy my own dress."

"You sure? I can buy it since I'm making you-"

"Shut up, Del." I grinned triumphantly and turned towards Lily. She pouted like a child and refused to meet my eyes.

"Fine," she muttered. I held my smug smile as the ladies returned with the dresses. Melanie immediately groaned when she saw the large selection there was. There were dresses of every length, style, and color.

The ladies had no problem taking their time and having us try on each and every one. Lily was quickly fed up and settled for a short, red one. The dress had fit her almost perfectly, so she bought it how it was and refused any adjustments.

"This isn't fair," Melanie complained as she came out with another dress on. "And my chest is falling out..." She was constantly pulling the top of the strapless dress up. "I'm going to take it off."

"I regret this entire day," Lily said grouchily. I rolled my eyes.

"Why don't you bring us some butterbeer? Or hot chocolate!" She stared at me before sighing.

"Fine." When she stood up, I nodded towards my bag that held my money in it. She waved it off and left the store.

"Where'd Lily go? Did she leave? I'm going to kill her," Melanie said when she came back out with another dress on. "How come she gets to escape Hell, but I don't. She-"