𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙳 || Original Story

twenty | gala

Mrs Mayall's gala was as spectacular as ever and the majority of the village had attended, all dressed up so wonderfully in their nicest clothes and with their brightest smiles.

It was held in the playing fields near the outskirts of the village, which were the perfect size to accommodate all the stalls and their visitors.

The trees were almost decorated as if for Christmas- fairy lights of all different colours were hung from the branches, creating little twinkling eyes that poked through the leaves.

Colourful silk bunting was strung up between each of the stalls and on each of the stalls there were people selling a wide variety of things ranging from food to hand-made jewellery. All the locals loved this time of years as it was good for their small businesses and it gathered tourists in from in an around the county.

There was a live band playing all sorts of upbeat tunes. The atmosphere created by such wonderful music that reverberated through the warm evening air was incredible.

Midway into the evening, I was stood talking to Mr Peyton (a cheery man who made his own cheese, which always attracted punters at the gala) when I saw Douglas approaching with a wide grin on his face. He wore a blue shirt with a grey blazer and what looked like a brand new pair of smart-looking shoes. His lovely dark curls had been slicked back and made him look rather dashing, indeed.

"Evening, Kate," he said chirpily. "Fabulous gala, isn't it?"

"Well, it wouldn't be fabulous if you hadn't arranged all the big and little details," I smiled in return. "I especially like the flowers you've got."

Douglas laughed. "How very modest of you. And you look stunning this evening."

"Oh, thank you," I replied, embarrassed, my smile becoming crooked in a nervous manner.

I was wearing a flowy, knee-length dress that was white in colour but decorated with big, bold blue flowers. Of course, I had matching flats as I thought heels wouldn't be suitable on grass.

"And you look wonderful, too," I added, them gesturing to his shoes. "They look new."

"You noticed!" He exclaimed. "What do you think?"

"Very classy. They're not just for the gala, are they?"

Douglas laughed. "I wouldn't just buy a pair of shoes to wear a couple of times a year. No, my other ones had a hole in the sole and when I was watering my plants, I stepped in a puddle of water and the bottom of my sock got soaked."

I couldn't help but laugh at his misfortune. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that."

"No, you're not. You just laughed!"

"Okay, fine," I sighed in mock exasperation. "It's because you're a daft sod who somehow never realised he had a hole in his shoe."

"I'm stripping you of your innocent Hufflepuff title and making you a Slytherin."