Lost. Harry Potter's sister

chapter eighteen

I stand in front of the mirror, admiring the stranger before me. I look completely different. Not like me at all. My hair is braided into a half up-do and the remaining pieces of hair fall in neat curls around my back. My nails are painted white to compliment my dress and around my neck is the necklace, Draco gifted to me this morning. My eyelashes are coated in a thin layer of mascara and my lips are brushed with a clear lip gloss. My dress falls smoothly around my body, flowing slightly at my ankles.

My insides were swarmed with butterflies. I was so nervous I felt sick. There was so many things that could go wrong, so many ways I could humiliate myself, so many things that could happen, the list was endless. I tried to calm myself down by drinking some water and sitting down for a bit, but I can't stop the fidgeting and end up pacing back and forth.

It was seven thirty and Hermione and I were the only ones in the dormitory. She was wearing a floaty dress of a periwinkle-blue colour and her hair was tied into a sleek and elegant knot at the back of her head, courtesy to Lavender. She did look really beautiful and we both didn't look like our usual selves in the slightest. But it was nice being someone different just for once, you know?

I knew Hermione was going with Krum and she knew I was going with Draco, which she was not happy about at all, so it was only the boys that didn't know. I was so nervous about Harry and Ron's responses to finding out I took Draco, the only thing I can do is hope they don't cause a scene.

"Right." Hermione says, after spraying herself with some perfume, peering at the clock on the wall. "I think it's time to go down to the Entrance Hall, don't you think?"

"Yeah." I reply in a shaky voice, trying to conceal my nerves. I obviously didn't do a very good job, as she put her hand on my shoulder.

"You'll be fine! You have nothing to worry about! It'll be fun!" She says cheerily.

"Yeah, you're right." I say, standing up and heading towards the door, with her. "It'll be nice. Let's go then."

We walk along the almost empty corridors, chatting about anything we can think of. The tap tap tap of our shoes against the stone floor was the only sound that filled the slightly awkward silences. It felt weird walking around the Halls dressed up like this, I'm so used to walking around in school uniform or jeans, I feel really out of place. The feel of my dress brushing against my ankles was extremely foreign. The chatter, coming from the Entrance Hall grows louder as we approach the large, marble staircase. I stop in my tracks.

"What is it?" Hermione asks.

"I don't know, I guess I'm just nervous." I say, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and folding my arms.

"Look." Hermione says, "I'm supposed to be meeting Krum, right this minute. I'll go down first, you take a couple of minutes to calm down and then come down. That sound good?"

I nod frantically, "Okay." I say, "You go then. I'll see you in a minute."

She gives me one last smile and disappears around the corner and down the marble staircase. I take deep breaths and wait there a minute or two, tapping my foot against the stone underneath me. Draco's probably waiting for me. I'm already late enough, I can't stay here any longer. I take one last deep breath and step around the corner.

It was strange. Rather than being filled with the large mass of black robes, it was filled with every single colour you could imagine. People gathered, waiting for dates or friends, eagerly waiting for eight o'clock, when the large doors would be swung open to begin the ball. I stand, stationary, at the top of the staircase for a second, before taking the first step. People's heads turn to face the stairs. Face me. I continue walking down, very slowly, but as elegantly as I could. I see Hermione and Krum, standing together, and Hermione gives me a thumbs-up of encouragement. Harry and Ron are stood together in the corner with Parvati and Padma, they all look at me in bewilderment. Everyone's eyes are on me and time seems to be moving very, very slowly. People are whispering frantically to their friends, and I wonder what people are thinking of me. Then I see him. He is looking right at me, from the foot of the staircase, smiling brightly.