9. The Winter Solstice

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I THINK THAT the peach dress looks better the next time I put it on, when I'm standing in front of the mirror with my heels on, earrings in my hands while Jane puts them in for me.

"Merlin, Des!" She grumbles, struggling. "Where did you get these torture devices?"

I just giggle as we start talking about the amount of piercings I have in my ears (it's three, I don't know why they exaggerate it).

"What d'you think if I get a belly button piercing?" Debbie asks, taking out her heat rollers beside me.

"That'd be bitchin'." Jane clasps the last earring. "My parents would freak if I got one."

"How often do they see your tummy?" I ask and she ponders for a second, giving me a devious look as she thinks about defying her parents.

"Maybe Lorraine would let me." I say, admiring myself in the mirror once again. "Convince my dad, too."

I suggest I can claim it as a birthday present, and Debbie tells me I'm already getting a ball. Jane reminds her that the Winter Solstice dance has nothing to do with my birthday, and I help her with her makeup.

The two of us are ready on time, and Debbie tells us to go without her because she needs another minute for her hair. Her hair skills aren't the best, so she needs to put the rollers in, then use her wand; if she doesn't have the guides, her hair ends up frizzy and she doesn't like it. The barrels out the common room are quite difficult in our heels, but we manage. The staircase up to to the other floors, however, is a different story. Jane is smart in that she takes off her shoes, but mine have more straps than you can count and so I wobble up with one arm on the rail and one around my friend.

"You know we have to go down now too, right?" She reminds me and I groan, but I see our dates waiting at the base of the staircase in front of the archway to the Great Hall and I have an idea.

"OI!" I shout down to them and get David, Sirius, and Remus' attention. "Remus, come help me down, please!"

He takes one look at my heels and smiles wickedly.

"I'm good," he says, "kinda wanna see you try yourself!"

I huff at him, Goon.

But I try and assess my options anyway. The rail is unfortunately stone, so I can't slide down it, and I can't find any other choice besides walking. Luckily, Janie - ever the gentleman - holds out her arm for me and we descend. I'm awkward and holding on for my dear life, and I can hear the boys laughing at me.

I greet them upon the final step, and Jane sits down to put her shoes back on. I thank her, and David tells us we look great, but he's still snickering at my entrance so I give him a childish look.

"Remus, you're looking beautiful." I comment with my nose turned up.

"Desdemona, handsome as always." He holds out his arm, still amused by me.

I grab it regardless as Jane plants a kiss on my cheek, tells me to behave, and goes off with David.

"Debbie will be another minute." I say to Sirius and he shrugs.

"It's casual." He says. "You two go ahead."

"Nah, mate, we'll wait with you." Remus objects.

"Peter find a date?" I ask and Sirius smiles.

"Thanks to me, and my new found power." He gloats and I raise an eyebrow.

"Ever since you told him he's good with the ladies he's been barking mad." Remus whispers to me and I can't help but giggle.

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