The Pureblood Princess | Sirius Black

|62| DATE?!

"I can't do this." Adelaide groaned in despair.

"Addy! I did not spend two hours helping you get ready just for you to back out now!" Mary said, brandishing some mascara.

"I'm going to throw up." Adelaide said matter-of-factly. "It's going to happen. I'm going to throw up and then I am going to crawl in a hole and never come out." she nodded to herself. "Yup. That's my future and I've accepted it."

"You will not throw up and I refuse to let you crawl into hiding— we have the damn quidditch season to finish! Now you listen to me Adelaide Rose Fawley! You are going to go down there, you are going to hug your date—"

"DATE?! He never actually said it was a date!"

"Oh ho ho! It is most certainly a date!" Mary said a bit aggressively, causing Adelaide to make a face of the utmost despair.

"I can't do this. Just go down there and tell him I got the flu again—" Adelaide murmured, trying to hide in the wardrobe.

"NO! FOR MERLIN'S SAKE ADDY!" Mary yelled, pulling her out of the wardrobe by her forearm. "GRYFFINDOR UP AND GET YOUR ADORABLE SELF DOWNSTAIRS BEFORE I HAVE TO DRAG YOU DOWN MYSELF!"

This was just about the time Marlene Mckinnon walked in wearing her own party gown (she was going with a Ravenclaw slug clubber), looking at Adelaide with annoyance. "You realize it's like 6:45, right?" she said raising an eyebrow. "He's been down there for the past half-hour bugging me to come check on you— asked me to make sure you didn't have the flu again or something."

Adelaide looked back at her in horror. "I can't do this."

"Good Merlin. Why are you always so dramatic. You two are literally just going to hang out and make fun of people while being all dressed up. It's seriously not a big deal." she said rolling her eyes.

"But Mary said it was a date!"

Marlene wondered why she couldn't be in Ravenclaw with her brother, where all the logical people live. "That's what's bothering you? Fine, it's not a date! Just go downstairs." she said impatiently. "He's your best friend. I promise you'll be fine."

"Yeah Ads! You two hang out together all the time! Just pretend it's like when you sneak out to go to Hogsmeade!"

"MARY!" Adelaide exclaimed, making a pointed look at Marlene.

Marlene waved her hand dismissively. "Oh I know all about that. You are literally the most un-sneakiest person alive."

Adelaide blinked a few times.

"Addy. You look absolutely beautiful, and I'm not just saying that because I'm the one who dolled you up." Mary said sweetly. "You are going to have so much fun, I promise! And if you do happen to throw up, you can always obliviate him." she said with a smile, but completely serious.

Adelaide thought this over, and it seemed to do the trick. "Okay, I'll go." she said, as if this was actually up for discussion.

Marlene rolled her eyes and sighed, "Finally!" she exclaimed, running down the stair to finally catch up with her own date. 

Adelaide took one last look in the mirror: Flowing light-blonde hair fell down to her waist in loose curls; Bright red fabric of her sleeveless gown cascaded down to just above her knees, flaring at the waist, with intricate glittering beading and lace in the form of poinsettias, ending with matching kitten heeled shoes; Make up, elegant and graceful, without being harsh as Mrs. Fawley's. No, her make up highlighted the delicate features of her face, and brought out the forest green in her eyes.