"They're so beautiful..." Luna said, watching the Beauxbatons girls strolling along the shore.
"Yeah..." Harry, still catching his breath after a run through the Forbidden Forest (where else to run when everything's occupied? And at least it's not boring—just try dodging an Acromantula and outrunning a Centaur). "What about it?"
"The ball is coming soon," she replied.
"Oh, damn, right," Potter sat down, hugging his knees. "And what exactly are we supposed to do there?"
"What do people usually do at a ball? Most importantly, as a champion, you must attend," Luna said serenely. "With a lady of your choosing..."
"So, with you, basically," Harry cut in. "What am I supposed to wear?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "I can ask the older girls if you want. But I heard Viktor Krum invited Granger..."
"Bloody hell!" Potter shot up. "Right! You are not asking the older girls, no way, we'll ask... Oh, I know just the person!" He grinned wickedly.
*
"Terry! Oh, mate, I see you crystal clear!" Harry laughed upon spotting his friend. "But first, give the line to Mama Hen!"
"Harry, I'll give you a smack instead of a line!" Mrs. Higgs threatened. "What's going on over there?"
"Oh, Mrs. Higgs, please, I beg you—just take a look at this girl and tell us how she should dress for the ball, yeah?"
"Step back, I can't see her properly," she instructed. "Hmm... Can we get rid of this awful robe? Aha! Much better! I'll send some fashion magazines through Mr. Lovegood. You do have someone who can sew, right?"
"I have no idea..." Potter muttered.
"You just need to ask the house-elves," Luna smiled. "You didn't know?"
"Never thought about it!"
"Classic Potter!" Terry quipped from the background.
"I swear, I'll ask my godfather to bite you, then we'll see who's laughing!" Harry chuckled. "Right on the—well, you get it..."
"Alright, dear," Mrs. Higgs continued, "dark blue or grayish-blue would suit you. Ideally, a lighter shade on top, darker at the bottom..."
"Got it," Luna said calmly.
"Stockings!"
"Oh..."
"Look here... Harry, Terry, both of you, turn around immediately!"
"Alright, alright!"
"Petticoats... Harry, Terry!"
"We already turned away! Eyes closed too!"
"Shoes! Can you get a pair? Can you walk in heels?"
"I'll learn," Luna said with rare determination.
"Mum," Terry interjected, "you can't stay on the mirror this long, it's bad for you! Harry, Luna, good luck!"
"See ya!" Harry replied, while Luna smiled.
They exchanged glances.
"That's not all," Luna said. "You're a champion, and I'm your date... you understand?"
"You mean you need Aunt Bella now?" Harry smirked. "Let's get the dress and shoes sorted first, then she can make adjustments, deal? Also, call a house-elf—things got complicated with them after Dobby."
True enough, the rebellious elf had been disliked and quickly sent back to his master.
"Alright," Luna tapped the table. "Hello, Willy!"
"Good evening, miss," the house-elf bowed. "What do you need?"
"Soon, I'll give you some pictures," she said absentmindedly, "can you make me a dress based on them? We'll get the fabric if needed. Right, Harry?"
"Not a problem," he replied.
"We can, miss," the house-elf's ears wiggled. "Call me when you have the pictures—the ball is very soon!"
He disappeared.
"See?" Luna smiled. "They're adorable!"
"That's one way to put it!" Harry agreed.
*
«Apple Codling Moth...
I'm going to die here...
Not only do I have to deal with this ball, but now people keep shoving fashion magazines at me! Women's magazines! It's a nightmare! I know some girls will wear dress robes (tailored and all), but others—full-length ball gowns. Horrifying! At least Luna's wearing something normal—puffy, eighties style, just like in the magazine...
And dancing?! I asked the guys for a couple of lessons... and got caught by the headmaster. Waltzing. I nearly died on the spot. Draco too... But no punishments, thank Merlin.
P.S. What the hell is Hannah packing in your parcels, bricks?!»
*
«Hey, Lemon Eater!
Haha! I wish I could've seen that! Hannah actually described it—she saw you two twirling so properly... I think the old man was watching just like she was.
You better learn! You skipped dance club at our school, so now you suffer. Waltzing should be enough!
P.S. No fair! You got yourself a girl, I want one too!»
*
"Wow..." Harry murmured, seeing Luna in her new dress for the first time. Light at the top, darkening toward the hem, which ended just below her knees. "Honestly, I could just drop dead right now."
"Something's missing," she said strictly. "And you promised!"
"Yeah..." Potter touched his mirror. "Aunt Bella! Hi! Sorry to bother you, but take a look at Miss Lovegood... Luna, stand up straight! What do you think is missing?"
"Ah," Bellatrix said grimly. "The girl did something with her hair? Good. Pin it back at the temples, Miss Lovegood, as I advised. Though you can curl the ends a little. A little! Next... Eyebrows—pluck them. Can you manage? Good. They and the lashes—lightly darken them. Not too much, or it'll look unnatural. Do you know how to apply eyeshadow? Use grayish-blue... Lips..." She pondered. "A soft pink shade. You're still practically a child. Nails the same color or just clear polish. And still, something's missing!"
"Jewelry, Bella," Sirius said, appearing in the mirror's view. "You're being dense!"
"Right! A string of pearls and earrings," she pointed at Luna. "Harry, don't even think about ordering them—I'll send mine. I once opened a ball in those."
"Auntie, I can't possibly—"
"If you're planning to marry the girl, she may as well wear them," she sniffed and vanished.
"You planning to marry me?" Luna asked calmly.
"Merlin, who else would I marry?!" Harry exclaimed.
"Oh, well then," she nodded. "That's fine. You're fun to be around."
*
«Hey, Apple Codling Moth!
That was... a complete disaster! So, the champions open the damn ball!
First, Cedric with his date, then gorgeous Fleur, then Krum with—ta-da!—Granger! Turns out, if you style her up, she's quite decent... Then I step out. With Luna. You saw the picture: stunning dress, tons of petticoats for extra volume, heels, neckline... Not much to reveal yet, but Auntie sent her pearls! And Luna's no fool—she did her hair properly, curls at the ends, pinned at the temples, looked amazing! Put on some makeup too, since she's naturally quite pale.
And then, all hell broke loose. I took her hand—and off we went... Honestly, I can barely waltz, but that didn't matter anymore. Five different people tried to steal her from me!
You-Know-Who probably almost ate his sleeve from laughing. The old man was stunned. McGonagall's eyes nearly popped out. My Head of House spent the entire night giggling with Flitwick.
P.S. Hannah danced with Cedric a lot.»
*
«Hey, Lemon Eater!
You're absolutely wild! Almost makes me wish I were one of you. (Wiping tears from laughter, then back into battle!)
Make sure to keep weirdos away from my Hannah...
Where are the pictures?!»
*
«Oh, Codling Moth, I forgot!
Here you go. Some guy's running around with a magical camera—I already confiscated one from his older brother, remember? But whatever, at least we have our own reporter!
Although, you'll see what kind of shots he took...»
*
«Wow!!! Lemon Eater! So that stylish guy in the suit and the girl in the blue dress—that's you and Luna?! Didn't even recognize you at first! Holy crap! I'm jealous! Can I show these to my mum? Especially the one where you're twirling her and her curls sweep the floor?»
*
«Ha! Show me, you codling moth! But first, imagine how I trained on Draco… He's convenient, small.
And stop sending all those… I don't even know, these aren't bricks anymore, they're cinder blocks or something! Doesn't Hannah have her own owl?! No, I don't mind, but double the weight for the poor bird… Have some conscience!»
*
«Ugh, Lemon Eater, I really didn't think—Hannah does have an owl. And my dad actually works at Gringotts… Alright, I'll stop pestering you, we'll handle it ourselves now. Just tell her where to write!
Or, actually, never mind—let her ask Luna…»