thick skin and an elastic heart

Chapter 15

The Gryffindor Girls' Dormitory was a disaster zone Christmas night. Clothing, shoes, makeup, and hair care products were strewn across the floor, the beds and nightstands hours before the Yule Ball. All five girls rushed around the room in various states of undress.

Juliana stuck to her corner of the dorm, carefully applying makeup in front of her vanity. Juliana didn't usually wear makeup for practical reasons. Makeup was an unnecessary luxury that costs money - lots of money. Juliana's life was about necessity. Her sketchbook was her only indulgence because it provided her an escape. Even though she didn't have any makeup, after seeing her beautiful dress robes carefully laid on the bed, her dorm mates were all too eager to lend her their makeup.

Makeup was a different type of art but one she was unfamiliar with. She thoughtfully used the brushes and colored powders to make her eyes pop, paint her lips red, and highlight her features.

Val never saw me with makeup. I hope she likes it.

Clashing perfume scents permeated the dorm, making her nose scrunch. She wondered if the scents would attach themselves to the fibers of the dress.

Juliana scrutinized her appearance in the mirror, frowning as she rubbed her chin dimple with her thumb. It was her least favorite feature, and no amount of makeup would take it away. She twisted her hair into an updo and pulled on her red dress robes. She loved how confident she felt and how she looked in her dress. Valentina was on her mind the entire time she dressed, and Juliana couldn't wait to see her.

The Gryffindor girls traveled downstairs as a group. Juliana wobbled slightly in her heels. She grimaced and kept her eyes on her feet so she would fall face-first on the ground. That would be a sight. She could see it now: Juliana Valdés, Tri-wizard champion, breaks neck falling downstairs, unable to compete in the rest of the Tournament. As soon as they reached the ground floor, Juliana head Valentina shout, "Juls!"

Valentina shouldered her way through the crowd to wait for her at the base of the stairs. The crowd fell away for Juliana. Everyone stared up at her, but she only had eyes for Valentina.

The dress robes looked so stunning on Valentina. Her dress was long with a flowing skirt, but form-fitting up top with a high collar. Valentina pulled her hair back, showing off her long neck. After hours of trial and error, Juliana's efforts had paid off. The once ordinary cloth now shimmered, ethereal looking, magic was interwoven, giving it the appearance of constant motion. The color shimmered between deep blue and purple, swirling together with distant lights like a small galaxy. It was beautiful, but it was nothing compared to her beauty.

Valentina's beauty.

Juliana stumbled on the last step of the staircase, catching herself before she fell. Val's mouth hung open like back in the store, but her expression was complicated. It was a mix of stunned, wide-eyed, and like she'd never seen Juliana before in her life.

"What is it?" Juliana asked, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. Why was she looking at her like that? Was her dress on right? She thought, looking down at her body and tugging the fabric.

Valentina's mouth snapped shut. She smiled, bright and uncontrollable.

"You look so beautiful." Valentina wrapped her tightly their whole bodies connecting, with her head resting on Juliana's shoulder. Juliana felt the last, lingering bit of tension drain away, relaxing into the hug.

She pulled back, looking Juliana up and down once again. "So, so beautiful! The prettiest Tri-Wizard champion by far!"

Juliana hoped her concealer hid her flushed cheeks.