Promise

-L O V E O F M Y L I F E-

*Adealia's Dress is pictured above in title and at the bottom of the chapter*

Adealia's POV

"You three look AMAZING." Lucy gushed, clapping her hands lightly as she looked at Hermione, Luna and I. 

Hermione wore a chiffon gown with light flowy sleeves and ruffles of pink that darkened in shade as they went down. Luna was wearing a sequin jumpsuit that was all watercolor rainbow pastel hues melted together. And I wore the dress Ro had given me. 

The dress. 

I hadn't gotten to talk to Ro about the dress before the ball. I hadn't seen him at all. He and Hermione spent hours and hours in the Room of Requirement practicing spells. Lucy and I in the library and at Hagrid's trying to learn everything we could about dragons. We were all exhausted, which to a point was relieving, because my body became too tired to feel the impending doom I had grown accustomed to. 

But tonight was a break from the anxiety and the fear of the future that loomed before us.

"We'll see you downstairs," Hermione said as Luna pecked both sides of my face. 

Luna was truly wonderful. Hermione glowed whenever she was in the room. She had a strange way of putting us all at ease with her airy views of the world. Lucy absolutely adored her and wanted to learn all about her magical creatures- whether we believed in them or not. 

I turned around to put the last pin in my hair and take a deep breath before leaving when there was a knock at the door. 

Lucy ran to get it and I heard her gasp in surprise, "Oh! Erm... Hello" she sounded so unsure that I protectively grabbed my wand and came to the door behind her. 

In front of us stood a small, grumpy looking goblin wearing a suit and holding a brown wooden jewelry box with a large golden clasp holding it closed. 

"Adealia Wildes?" He grumbled, he looked very displeased. I thought he wrinkled his nose in disgust but I honestly was having a hard time deciphering his face under his wrinkled skin. 

"Uh, yes that's me..." I said uncertainly. 

He grumbled to himself as he stuck his long fingernail into the keyhole and the latch popped open. He then groaned softly while handing it to me, his long bony fingers and dirty fingernails wrapping around it made me uneasy. I tried not to show my emotion in my face as I studied the box before I committed to taking it from him. 

"...What is that?" I hesitated. 

Do I just take a strange magical box from a stranger? A strange unpleasant goblin?

"Oh...ehhh...uurrrmmm..." he grumbled as he dug through his pockets. He fished out an envelope and handed it to me. It was stamped closed in deep green ink with the Malfoy crest. 

I opened the letter and read it slowly, 

Please wear this and do not take it off. 

Make sure it is touching your skin at all times. 

I'll explain soon.

-D.M.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I studied the letter. I sighed and took the box slowly from the goblins long boney hands. I suddenly took note that Lucy was almost hiding behind me.