The Sins of a Father

Chapter 8

My fingers thumbed through all the different dresses, letting all the colors slip through my fingers. I had only a week before the Yule Ball arrived but wasn't even sure if I would be going. I knew Cedric had to go because he was a champion but did that automatically mean that I had to go? I wasn't sure but just in case I wanted to pick out a dress. Isla and Grace both had dates and dresses so they went with me to pick out my dress.

"What about this one Rave?" Grace pulled back a Royal Blue dress that had looked like it once belonged to Marie Antoinette with lace that outlined the front and ended with a big bow. I gave her a look that said , 'really?' Grace looked at it again, shrugged her shoulders then put it back. I had tried on lots of other dresses that either had a really pretty style but ugly color or beautiful color and uncomfortable style. Hope was beginning to fade and I started thinking up excuses to use for when Cedric asked me to the ball.

"Whoa, whoa wait! I've found it!" Isla exclaimed for the fiftieth time.

"That's what you said the last hundred times," I sighed hopelessly, not paying the slightest attention to her or the dress.

"Actually Raven this one looks really pretty ," Grace agreed, I released a deep green dress from my hand to look at the one Isla held.

It was a Navy blue satin color that had fake jewels embroidered from the very top of the neckline, which was semi sweet-heart and the crystals faded towards the tummy section. It was finished off by a ribbon that was sewn on the back. The skirt wasn't super princess poofy but it had volume to it and connected to the ribbon was a sheer layer that split in two. The hem brushed the floor in a flowing manner. The sleeves were long and opened up wider towards the bottoms.To me it was breathtaking, and I knew that I had to try it on.

In the dressing room, I hoped that it would fit. Cautiously, I pulled the dress over my head, still holding my breath with high hopes that it fit. The dress went over my head and down my body until it stopped and I let out my breath to find that the dress fit so comfortably. It felt like I was wearing a glove on my body, I couldn't help but smile.

"So how does it fit?" Isla asked urgently. I opened the door then slowly walked out with a half smile crawling onto my face. I gazed at Grace and Isla's excited face as the saw how the dress fit on me.

"I would just like to say that I'm a genius," Isla boasted loudly for the whole shop to hear. Grace and I both shushed her while quietly giggling at her loud voice.

"Yes you are, now let me get it off and buy it so we can leave." I stepped back into the dressing and quickly stripped off the dress and returned to my comfortable clothes. We went up the front desk and paid for it then walked back to Hogwarts.

"Hey Raven," Cedric greeted me in the Hufflepuff common room. I quickly handed Grace the dress and she took it up stairs.

"Hey Cedric," I greeted back. Cedric put his hands into mine and smiled down at me and I of course returned the smile.

"I need you to come with me right now," Cedric ordered. I furrowed my eyebrows, baffled by his order.

"I can't Cedric I have to finish my Potions assignment, I've got to write a five page report about Bezoars and I've only got a page and a half of it done," I argued. Cedric sighed while shaking his head.

"Okay but don't get mad at me when it's dinner time," he teased. I rolled my eyes then headed for one of the tables to start on my paper but didn't get much done, my thoughts kept wondering away from Bezoars and towards what Cedric had said earlier and different thoughts ran through my brain about what he meant but when it came right down to it, I was completely lost. Finally I forced the thought to the back of my brain and concentrated on my paper until it had been done. I glanced at the clock and realized that I was late for dinner. Quickly putting things away I jogged to my seat and sat down next to Cedric.