• Thanatophobia ~ {HP} • Discontinued

1.35: The Yule Ball

Cedric and Cassiopeia went out onto the grounds in the afternoon; the snow was untouched except for the deep channels made by the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students on their way up to the castle. A couple of snow angels and a snowball fight, it was five o'clock said she was going back upstairs to get ready for the ball.

"What, you need three hours?" said Cedric, looking at her incredulously

"This needs time, Brother," she replied with a smirk and disappeared up the stone steps into the castle.

Lavender, Paravati, Padma, and Cassiopeia changed into their dresses in their dormitory, all of them looking very self-conscious, but none as much as Cassiopeia. They all took turns styling each other's hair and doing their makeup.

"I'm heading down to meet Harry," Paravati called out.

"Alright, can you tell Ron I'll meet him at the entrance hall," her sister asked?

"Yeah, Can you tell Nico to wait for me there as well?" Cassiopeia asked while putting on her earrings.

"Will do," said Paravati.

The common room looked strange, full of people wearing different colors instead of the usual mass of black. Parvati was waiting for Harry at the foot of the stairs. She looked very pretty indeed, in robes of shocking pink, with her long dark plait braided with gold, and gold bracelets glimmering at her wrists. Harry was relieved to see that she wasn't giggling.

"You — er — look nice," he said awkwardly.

"Thanks," she said. "The Padma's going to meet you in the entrance hall," she added to Ron.

"And Cassie said she'll also meet you at the entrance hall," she said to Nico, who was wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. He was wearing a white collared buttoned shirt with a black robe draped on top, paired with simple black pants. He was in a rush.

"Right," said Ron, looking around.

The entrance hall was packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another. Parvati found her sister, Padma, and led her over to Harry, Nico, and Ron.

"Hi," said the Padma, who was looking just as pretty as Parvati in robes of bright turquoise. She didn't look too enthusiastic about having Ron as a partner, though; her dark eyes lingered on the frayed neck and sleeves of his dress robes as she looked him up and down.

"Hi," said Ron, not looking at her, but staring around at the crowd. "Oh no . . ."

He bent his knees slightly to hide behind Harry, because Fleur Delacour was passing, looking stunning in robes of silver-gray satin, and accompanied by the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies. When they had disappeared, Ron stood straight again and stared over the heads of the crowd.

"Where is Cassiopeia?" Nico asked.

"She was waiting for her cousins,"

A group of Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar, which in Harry's opinion made him look like a vicar. Pansy Parkinson in very frilly robes of pale pink was clutching Malfoy's arm. Crabbe and Goyle were both wearing green; they resembled moss-colored boulders, and neither of them had managed to find a partner. Theodore and Nataniel came down, looking freshly styled and dressed, with their arms hooked together.

The next person who had entered made Nico's jaw drop, along with many others. Cassiopeia came down the stairs, looking very nervous. Her hair was her natural black hair, cascading in perfect curls, down to her waist. She had decorated her eyes with gold eyeshadow with black eyeliner to emphasize it. She had chosen a ruby red lipstick and used bronzer to highlight her already prominent cheekbones.