Chapter 35
I didn't do anything. I didn't do anything! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! Fuck! I wish I could scream at all of the people who keep staring. Deja vu floods through me everywhere I go. The whispers filled with the word "slut." The glares coming from Slytherins that I don't know. And the teasing comments I get when I'm around anyone who isn't Draco. Not that he'd let me within fifty feet of him. It's just like last year.
Unlike last year, I'm not hiding it as well as I was able to. The hurt shows more on my face and it's making everyone weary about me. Hermione gives me a pitying look whenever I walk into a room. Fred has been hanging around me more than he was earlier in the year. I'm not going to do anything but I can understand where they are coming from. Well, I want to slam my head into a wall so that might count as "doing something."
Because of all this bullshit, I have been sticking to my room and reading more often than I usually do. I actually used to read a lot but when my dad died, that changed too. Just like a lot of things about me did.
Like most days lately, I find myself in the astronomy tower tonight. Although I came alone, someone followed me. They haven't shown themselves yet.
After a few minutes of waiting for something, I turn around and scan around the astronomy tower until I spot some form of human life. That form of human life happens to be a bit of bushy brown hair.
"Why do you feel the need to hide, Granger?" I question with a laugh. She steps out from behind the pillar, her face is coated with embarrassment.
"I didn't know if you wanted company or not." I can imagine her face is red. "I didn't want to be rude."
"You're not being rude." I reply in confusion. Why would this be considered as rude? I don't mind her company anyway.
"Ok. I just wanted to see how you were doing?" She creeps over to the railing and looks over the view. I watch her the whole time, not bothering to look at a view that I've seen a million times now.
"I don't know." I admit. "I'm trying to give him space and neither of us are trying to talk to each other. I feel like I'm stuck on a rollercoaster and I can't get off the ride."
"I don't know why you are still with him. You two are in a very toxic relationship." She sighs as if she is defeated by something. "There are so many other people that would love you better than he ever could."
"Like you?" The words come out without meaning to. I haven't thought about the fact that she could possibly like me since Parker told me. Other things have been plaguing my mind, so I don't know why it came out now. Hermione's cheeks turn a beet red and she avoids any eye contact with me that she can.
"I- I'm not going to answer that."
"You don't have to." I shrug.
"How long have you known?"
"I didn't. I had a feeling though." I don't want to throw Parker under the bus so I'm just going to act like I had a feeling she liked me. "I'm sorry though."
"For what?" She looks at me confused and surprised.
"That I don't feel the same way." I close my mouth before I can say that she can do better than Ron. I don't know if she has feelings for him at this point. Honestly, in the movies, it never seemed to me that she had feelings for him until the 6th one. Even after that it never felt like she actually had feelings for him. There was no shift in their dynamic. Just them kissing in the Chamber of Secrets during the Battle of Hogwarts.
"I wasn't expecting you to. But thanks for the clarification."
"Maybe in another life." I mumble. In my case, that could be a possibility but I don't think I want to shift to a different world after this one. I would probably compare that one to this one and I don't want to do that. Plus, I won't have the relationships that I do here. I'm too attached to this world.
I lay my head on Hermione's shoulder. I can imagine how her and I would go. I could get her away from Ron. She wouldn't end up being sad due to the things they did to each other. Maybe in another life.
Once our time together comes to an end, we say our goodnights and split ways for the night. We are going to see each other tomorrow since we are going dress shopping for the yule ball with Parker. I have a dress in mind that I would like to wear, so hopefully I can find something close to it. I know I want to have a corset bodice and the color scheme to be black and green. I know, not very festive but it matches my House colors. And it matches my hair.
With some sort of luck, I get to my common room without getting caught and head to my dorm for the night. My bed looks so comfortable tonight so it's no surprise that I pass out as soon as my head hits the pillow.
"Wake up!" Someone shakes me awake. "I've let you sleep in for far too long." My head is groggily but I know it's Parker.
"Parker." I groan. "I'm tired."
"Well, you wouldn't be if you weren't going to the astronomy tower in the middle of the night." She grabs a pillow and smacks me with it, trying to get me up.
"Do you have to be so violent this early in the morning?"
"It's noon." I groan, planting my face in my pillow. Reluctantly I get up and grab my clothes for the day. While Parker goes and waits in the common room, I get changed in my normal clothes. Jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie thick enough to keep out the cold.
Nearly half of the slytherin students were in the common room when I finally left my dorm. Including Draco and his posse. Pansy is sitting dangerously close to Draco. I have to fight every urge in me to go over there and drag her away from him. I don't and won't ever trust her. Especially not near him.
Like he is doing to me, I ignore Draco and meet Parker at the door to the common room. With a wide smile, that says I don't have a care in the world, we leave the common room and head to the great hall where we promised we would meet with Hermione. Mcgonagall is hosting dance lessons for the Gryffindors in there so we are waiting for her to get done with that. I can see the scene play through my head. Ron getting embarrassed because he has to dance with Professor McGonagall. Damn I wish I could record that so I could embarrass him so bad.
When we get to the great hall, we can still hear the music playing so we take a seat on a bench and wait for Hermione.
"How was dancing with Mcgonagall?" I yell to Ron as he, Hermione, Fred, Harry, and George walk over to us. Ron glares at me. Parker and George embrace each other like they haven't seen each other in years.
"I wish I had a muggle camera to record it." I continue. Ron looks as if he is about to say something but Fred beats him to it.
"Wizarding cameras do the same thing."
"Yeah but muggle cameras are quieter."
"Touché." Fred smirks before looking at his younger brother, who is red in the face. He looks like a cherry tomato.
"Don't you have to go ruin someone's life right about now." I scowl at him, before twisting my face to look like I've seen something terrifying.
I point to the top of his head, while everyone stares at Ron wondering what I could possibly be looking at. "Ron, there's a spider above your head." With an ear-piercing squeal, Ron jumps almost ten feet in the air. He swats above his head fighting something that's not there. I know that it is cruel to play into his worst fear but I cannot stand him anymore. If he sees me as this horrible person bent on destroying him then that's what I'll be. No more Mr. Nice Guy.
"That's not funny Wilhite."
I smirk. So this is what it feels like to finally snap. "What's not funny are all the snide remarks I get from you. I'm just giving you a small dose of your own medicine. Now I think Hermione, Parker and I are supposed to go dress shopping. Are you guys ready?" Finally, looking at everyone's faces is surprising. Everyone looked at me shocked, almost. Like they didn't expect me to do that. Well, there is a reason I am in Slytherin. The "most evil" house.
Well everyone except Fred and Parker. They seem to be trying to hide smirks.
"We're ready." Hermione says, taking Parker and I's arm. As we walk to the great hall, we plan our little trip to Hogsmeade. First we are going to head to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop to pick up some hot drinks. It's December and has been snowing since the first day of November. And with the heavy rain in September, it is way too cold for me. Way too cold. Next, we plan to find some sort of dress store. I didn't think Hogsmeade had one but apparently Hermione found one.
"So, who are you going with Felicity?" Hermione asks. Her and Parker already have dates and since I seem to be in limbo with my boyfriend, she probably thinks that I'm going to go with someone else.
"Hopefully, my own boyfriend but if he decides he wants to be a pain in the ass, then I'll just go by myself. I don't need a date." I shrug. It's true. If he doesn't want to, I'll just enjoy the ball by myself. Well maybe not enjoy it. I'm not really a party girl. But the Yule ball does look very fun.
Even though the cold weather makes me want to turn back, I head into the carriage with Hermione and Parker. The thestrals seem to shiver as we take off towards Hogsmeade. I feel bad for them. They are basically skeletons and they have to deal with this cold.
"So why did you do that?" Hermione asks, staring at me as though I am a book she is trying to read.
"Do what?" I ask, acting like I have no clue what she means.
"Why did you say that there was a spider above Ron's head? You knew he was scared of spiders."
I shrug. "Maybe he should stop acting like a dick with ego problems, then I would be nicer to him."
"Besides," Parker chimes in, "That's not the first time he's made a comment like that. Usually Felicity just lets it slide." Hermione nods her head. I don't think it's in understanding but I don't think that she is judging either.
A few minutes later, the carriage stops just before we get into Hogsmeade. We all hop out, immediately shivering from the cold. Fuck the cold. The snow crunches underneath our shoes as we walk through the town. Water starts to seep through my shoes making me curse under my breath. Only walking for a few minutes has made my feet numb. Maybe I picked the wrong shoes for this. It doesn't help that Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop is all the way at the edge of town.
We try to get there as quickly as we can but we still end up frozen by the time we walk into the shop. Students sit at the pink tables huddled together and trying to keep warm. Most of them are drinking hot chocolate or some sort of hot tea.
"There is too much pink in here." Parker grumbles. I silently agree as we pick a table while Hermione goes and orders our drinks. A few seconds later she comes back and tells us the drinks will be brought out in a second with some biscuits (cookies).
"So do you have any idea what your going to wear?" I ask to both Parker and Hermione.
Hermione answers first. "If I find something that I think looks good on me then I am fine with that."
"Anything looks good on you Hermione." I comment. Her frost bitten cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red.
"Hey maybe you two should go together." Parker jokes.
"Maybe in another life." I comment way too quickly. I don't mean to but I feel my cheeks heat up at the thought. "Besides, I'm sure people would have some things to say about it if we did." I give Parker a look that says "can't change anything remember?" She rolls her eyes in return. "Anyway, what are you looking for in a dress, Parker?"
"Maybe something silver or green. Something that I think matches my house."
"Not something to match your boyfriend's house?" I joke.
"Red's not my color." She brushes her hair to the side with a faux sass that makes her look like she is offended by my words.
"And you, Felicity?" Hermione asks expectantly.
"Same concept as Parker. Something that matches my house. Most likely silver though so I can match the theme as well." I haven't really given much thought to what dress I'm going to wear to the ball. In fact, for the most part I forgot we were going to have a ball. The fact that Parker is in the Tournament has been bugging me, so I haven't given much thought to anything else.
"Make sure George doesn't try to do anything weird."
Parker's face drops. "What do you mean?"
"I heard," I say it like this so Hermione doesn't realize that I shouldn't know this information yet, "that the champions are supposed to be the first to dance in front of everyone. You know how George is."
"Yeah." She bites her lip anxiously. "I do." As if on cue, the cups of hot chocolate and plate of biscuits come floating to our table and settles down in front of us.
I take a quick sip of mine. The hot liquid burns my tongue but it warms my body up to a degree that I can deal with so I'm happy.
We take our time drinking our hot chocolates and eating our cookies, before finally heading back into the unbearable snow to find the shoppe Hermione was talking about. We walk down the road, a little farther past town and getting closer to HogsHead Inn.
Hermione leads us to a small building that doesn't necessarily look open. We walk in anyway. As if by magic (most likely by magic), we walk into something very different. The walls of the place are lined with dresses and suits, robes and dress robes as well. Almost all seem to be for formal events.
"What can I do for you lovely young ladies, today?" A lady with a deep voice, asks from behind the counter that is at the front.
"We have a ball coming up," Hermione states, "and we need dresses for it."
The lady smiles brightly. "I love dressing up young ladies like you three." She then points to Parker, "Let's start with you. What's your name?"
"Parker Sallow."
"Oh, are you a descendant of Sebastian Sallow?" I look at Parker confused. I've never heard of Sebastian Sallow before. Parker picked that last name because it is her last name.
"I've been told that I am." Parker shrugs. I don't think she knows who that is either but has heard the name.
"Were you put in Slytherin like him?"
"I was, yes." Nerves start to cloud Parker's face, but the woman only smiles on.
"What size are you?"
"Medium." Parker has an athletic build, so that is not very surprising. The lady nods, before grabbing her wand and waving it around. Dresses from all across the room, float down to a rack that I didn't notice before. The color scheme seemed to be mainly green, black, and silver. The lady pulls out a beautiful green dress off of the rack and motions for Parker to go try it on.
She comes back a few seconds later, looking stunning, but I can see it on Parker's face that it's not the dress she would want to wear to the yule ball.
"You look beautiful." Hermione smiles. Parker nods her head, but doesn't respond otherwise.
"I think I want you to try on this one." The lady says, noticing Parker's expression as well. She picks out a stunning black dress and hands it over to Parker. Parker looks at it with an excited expression, before going back to the dressing room to try it on.
Parker walks out and everyone including myself is completely in awe. She looks so absolutely amazing. The bodice hugs her waist perfectly. It splits down the middle, as if the designer took two square panels and sewed them together creating a slit for a tiny bit of cleavage to show, although that bit is covered by a bit of nude colored mesh. The sleeves fall way off the shoulder and the skirt is so long that it reaches a few feet behind her. It matches her so well and makes her look like the Queen of Darkness. All she needs are a few jewelry pieces and the look would be complete.
"This is it!" Parker exclaims, "This is the dress."
"You look amazing, Park." My smile is so wide that it hurts.
"You honestly do." Hermione adds on to my sentiment. Her smile is wide as well.
"Perfect." The lady claps her hands excitedly, "I will make sure to package that up for you." Parker nods her head and goes back into the dressing room to change back into her normal clothes.
Once she is done, the lady packages up her dress, then turns to me.
"Your turn." I nod my head in response. "What is your name?"
"Felicity Wilhite." Why does this feel like being interrogated?
"Daughter of Mandy Lafoi?"
"Unfortunately." I grumble. The lady smothers a laugh.
"Fair. Are you a Gryffindor like she was?"
"No. I'm a Slytherin."
"Size."
"Small." Not like in my real life. I'm technically a large in my real life. Medium clothes do fit me but depending on where I get them, they are tight on me.
The lady nods her head, before waving her wand. Dresses of green, black and silver float down to the rack where the dresses for Parker just were. She looks through the rack carefully, before choosing a light silver one. She hands it to me and motions for me to go try it on.
I go to the small dressing room and get changed. The dress she handed me, seemed to be made out of satin and is a long slip dress that goes past my ankles. It's a cute dress but not something I would necessarily wear to the yule ball. I walk out of the changing room. Parker's face is what I notice first. I think that she agrees. This dress isn't meant for the yule ball.
"Ok. Maybe not that one." The lady mumbles. She goes through the rack again. This time she picks out a black, glittery dress and hands it to me. I go back into the dressing room and try it on. The sleeves on this one are off the shoulder and it hugs my body a little too much for my liking.
I walk out of the dressing room, not feeling very confident.
"One more." The lady says before anyone can say anything. "I think it would be a little too much if you two matched in color." She picks out a dark green dress this time and hands it to me. Hopefully this is the last one. I walk into the dressing room, noticing the other dress has disappeared. It was probably magically put away. I put on this new dress and immediately smile.
This dress has one sleeve that is a bit puffy. The satin bodice hugs me tight. And the skirt is made up of several layers of dark green tulle and it has a slit down the side. I love it. With a necklace and some earrings, I think this dress will work wonderfully.
I walk out of the dressing room. "I think this is it." Parker and Hermione nod their head in agreement.
"Perfect. Then let's get that bagged up for you." I walk back into the dressing room and get changed. Once I'm done, I hand the dress to the lady.
Once she is done packaging my dress, she turns to Hermione and starts asking her questions like she did for Parker and I.
"Name?"
"Hermione Granger."
"What is your house?"
"Gryffindor."
"Size?"
"Medium." The lady nods her head before waving her wand. Red, pink and gold dresses float down to the rack. The first one the lady grabs is a pink one but from where I am I can't see exactly what it looks like.
Hermione takes it and walks into the dressing room. She comes back and I smile. The dress is a dusty shade of pink. The cups on the bodice look as if they are made up of the three triangle pieces all connected together. The skirt has chiffon ruffles that start from light pink and end in dark pink, like an ombre effect. It's the dress from the movie.
"I think that it's perfect." I say out loud. The movies don't do her justice. Seeing this in real life is so crazy. Hermione looks so beautiful. But in my opinion, it doesn't make her look older, it makes her look younger. She looks amazing nonetheless.
"Then I'll take it." Hermione states with a wide grin on her face. Hermione goes back to the dressing room to change while I pay for the dresses. Well, I paid after arguing with Parker that it's fine and that she doesn't owe me anything if I paid for all three dresses.
Hermione comes back and hands the dress to the lady for her to package. We each grab our respective packages, then walk out of the store, thanking the lady on the way out.
The rest of the day goes by quickly. When we left Hogsmeade, we all went to our common rooms to put our dresses away. Then we head to the Great Hall for dinner. After dinner, we all say goodnight and head to the common rooms for the night.
The Slytherin common room is cold and dreary but most of the students inside seem cheerful. The fire in the fireplace is burning bright and warming a bit of the room. Draco and his posse of goons take up the leather couches like they own the place but nobody bothers them nor bothers to say anything to them. Noticeably, Draco has an open seat beside him that no one seems to be occupying. Not even Pansy, who seems to be eyeing the seat with disdain. Even though he refuses to look at me, or even acknowledge my presence, I feel (or at least hope) like he is saving that space for me.
I ignore it though and head to my dorm. If we were to make up, I would want it to be in private. Not where everyone can see. I hate how fast rumors spread around here. Nothing ever seems to be private.
I change into my pajamas and get into bed for the night, hoping that I don't get any nightmares.
Spoilers, thankfully I don't.
I surprisingly, wake up early, feeling rested and fresh. I don't trust it. Nothing good ever comes from me having a good night's sleep. Since it is so early, no one is awake, other than me. So I decide to go take a quick shower.
I grab my clothes for the day out of my dresser, then head to the bathroom. I turn on the water. letting it heat up the cold room. Steam fills the air as I get undressed.
I just take a quick shower because I don't know how much longer Pansy will stay asleep and I want some alone time from her.
Once I'm done getting changed, I walk back into my dorm and put my clothes away. Parker is sitting up on her bed, reading her charms textbook.
"Astoria came in and told me that Snape isn't able to do dance lessons tomorrow, so we are doing it with the Hufflepuffs today." Parker states as I sit on my bed. I nod my head, then rest my head against the head board.
"Yay!" I mumble sarcastically, "Ethan and Draco are going to be in the same room together." I hear Parker snort a laugh.
"That's going to be fun." I nod my head again. I don't want to know what that interaction is going to be like. Ethan is probably going to end up punching Draco on the nose. Draco isn't great at fighting back physically so either he'll take out his wand and hex him or he'll walk away saying that his father will hear about it. Even though we all knew Draco probably started it. Ethan doesn't hit without reason.
Parker and I stay in our dorm until it's time for the lessons. We didn't have school today anyway, so we didn't have much to do. Pansy has been in and out of the dorm all day, not that I really cared. Surprisingly, she just left us alone. I don't know how much I trust that either.
When the time comes, Parker and I head to the classroom where the dance lessons are being held and take a seat with the other Slytherin and Hufflepuff girls. Professor Sprout is at the head of the room, fiddling with an ancient looking music player. The boys from Slytherin and Hufflepuff sit directly across from the girls on the opposite side of the room.
While the Slytherin and Hufflepuff girls seemed to be all mingled together, talking and chatting, there is a distinct line where the Hufflepuff boys end and Slytherin boys begin. I didn't think anyone could be that petty, but here we are.
Once everyone has shuffled in, Professor Sprout clears her throat and smiles at everyone in the room.
"Right," She claps her hands together, "let's get this started. As most of you probably know by now, the Yule ball is a dance. I am going to have a student come up with me to give a demonstration and then you will split up into pairs to practice. After about 10 minutes, you will switch partners." She looks around the room, trying to pick out someone for the demonstration. Finally, she stops on one of the Hufflepuff boys and has him come up to the front.
The music starts to play, while Professor Sprout gives instructions on how to properly dance. Boys put one hand on the girl's waist, while the girls put one hand on the boy's shoulder. The boy and girl are supposed to hold each other's hands as well. Professor Sprout counts the steps out loud. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.
Once the demonstration is over, Professor Sprout has us pair up. Draco goes straight to Pansy, so I go to someone that I know will piss him off. Ethan.
"You don't mind us dancing do you?" Ethan smirks at me.
"Trying to make dickhead jealous?"
"He started it." I bite my lip awkwardly. Ethan only smiles and takes my hand, leading me to an empty place in the classroom. He places his hand on my waist and I place mine on his shoulder just as instructed. The music starts to play. Ethan takes the lead, taking the first step of the dance. I try to follow his direction but I seem to have two left and can't seem to get the steps right.
"You're overthinking the steps." Ethan whispers into my ear. "That's why you're stumbling."
"What do you expect me to do?" I huff.
"Relax. You're supposed to be having fun." I stumble again. I wish that I could just get this over with. If I didn't already have my dress, I would skip the Yule ball all together so that I wouldn't have to dance.
Ethan tightens his grip on my waist and pulls me closer.
"That way you won't stumble as much." He whispers. His body feels too close. I hate that small part of me that doesn't mind. We haven't been this close, distance wise, in a long time. He found the person he loves and I became nothing to him for so long. I hate falling for his actions again.
Here I have Draco Malfoy (I hope). This isn't my real reality. Once we go back there, I can go back to hating him.
The music stops and I stumble one last time.
"Ok, switch partners." Professor Sprout announces.
Ethan takes my hand in his and places a kiss on my knuckles. "Thank you for allowing me to dance with you." I nod my head as he walks away. Cold eyes filled with anger, replace the warm eyes I was just staring at.
"Would you let me have this dance?" Draco's words were a question but it didn't sound like I had much room to argue or say no. He extends his hand out in an invitation. Against my better judgement, I accept it and place my hand in his.
Like before, the music starts. Draco places his hand on my waist while I place my hand on his shoulder. He squeezes my other hand tight as he takes the lead.
"You know, dancing with someone else doesn't help your case." Draco whispers in my ear. Just like before I stumble over my own two feet. As if instinctively, Draco tightens his hold on my waist so I don't fall.
"I could say the same to you." I say angrily.
"I'm not the one who's been said to have cheated publicly."
I roll my eyes. "I can't believe you actually believe Rita Skeeter. She's a liar and is just trying to start drama."
"Is she now?" A smirk catches on Draco's lips.
"Yes. She is." I mutter. He moves closer to me so that his breath skates across my throat.
"It seems you're the one who's been starting drama a lot."
"Speak for yourself." I mutter. He laughs under his breath before pulling away.
"So, I assume you don't want to go to the Yule ball with me." There's still a bit of anger in his eyes but most of it seems to have been replaced with humor now.
"Are you going to apologize for accusing me of cheating?" I say, seriously.
"Yes, I apologize for accusing you. I know I shouldn't have." He meets with the same seriousness that I had in my tone. I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting him to hit back with why would I ever apologize to a half-blood. Like usual.
"Then yes I do want to go with you. But you are going to have to do more than use your words to apologize."
"I'll do whatever it takes." The music stops. We bow to each other as we separate. Professor Sprout dismisses everyone, saying how everyone did well.
In an orderly fashion, everyone leaves the classroom, chattering about how fun the Yule ball is going to be.