#( Charlie and Nell are all I care about right now everyone leave me aLONE... ;___; )

[endexe]

               ❝   I'm trying my best and it's not good enough .   ❞                                                                    —   @herhaunt​​

THEIR GAZE SOFTENS AT NELL’S DOUBT ,   a blade to herself , finding the sharp familiarity through the c r a c k s of her words , what bleeds in desperation to be seen   /   to be known   —   ONLY FOR THE WORLD TO SPIN FASTER WITH MORE FIERCENESS , her existence left behind in the dark with the stars that can not ever burn ENOUGH for her to remember what it is like to be in the lights   —   TO BE LOVED , JUST LOVED .   “   Nellie . . .   “   Charlie whispers , looking over to make contact with her eyes , the saddest constellation in them .   Even when it hurts to see Nell with her wept out stars , slowly , with all gentleness , they hold on her cheeks , as if they are holding her constellation despite how deep it burns endlessly into their skin , flesh , soul .   (   I would carry the whole world and more for you .   )   “   You are here sti- still .   “   This is what Charlie always try to tell themself with at least once a day   —   I am here still , I am here , I am , I  —   despite everything , anything .   [   The world is ever silent to you when it is afraid of what you are capable of doing   ;   it fears of your hope , God’s greatest weapon   —   OH , LORD , HOPING IS VIOLENT , AND YET , I WILL MAKE IT A HYMN TO I   ;   DESPITE , DESPITE , DESPITE   —   ]

THUMBS GENTLY RUBBING OVER HER CHEEKS ,    Charlie continues in a still soft tone ,   “   That might not - that might not mean much to you , but it does to many people   —  to me . . .   I - I - I . . .   ”   They slightly glance down , their brain buzzing with so much more they want to tell Nell from her sentence , but they do not wish to overwhelm her as their love never knows when to stop consuming   ;   it can devour the universe itself .   “   . . . You are just try- try- trying at least and I do - I do think that is good en- enough .   You are good enough , Nell , al- al- always .     “   Finally , they leave their vocal comfort on that statement before they pull her into an embrace , holding her tight enough for her to feel her life flickering , right in their arms , hoping that the pain that comes from this will remind her she is still here , ACHINGLY ALIVE AND REAL , just as Charlie themself is terribly so , that they always try to believe they are .  Though it is okay if Nell does not see anything of herself as good enough , they understand .  Charlie can help her see the lights in herself again .   (   We can take the stars and make a new constellation , make it mean M O R E , and one day , it will kindly take us to home , home , LOVE FOR YOU AND I AND US .   )

[missnight0wl]

A night to remember

Summary: It’s finally time for the Winter Ball, and the whole curse-breaking gang is having fun. They deserved it.

Note: You can also read about Helena’s “Ups and downs” on the day when Charlie asked her to be his date.

Words: 2780

December 24, 1988

“Come on already, Helen!” called Andre, leaning on one of the chairs in the Ravenclaw Common Room. He was waiting for his friend for some time now. When he hoped she’s finally getting down, the girl decided she didn’t want to go to the ball at all.

“I feel stupid!” she whined.

“You’re overdramatic. I’m sure it’s fine.”

There was another moment of silence, and then Helena eventually appeared in the door, stepping a bit shakily. She was wearing a light blue dress made of tulle, finishing a little below the knee. Her hair was twisted in a bun with soft curls framing her face. She spread out her arms presenting herself.

“Lovely,” remarked Andre contently.

Helena stared at him sceptically. “For real, or you’re only saying that so I won’t cry and ruin my make-up?”

“It’s kind of both if I’m being honest,” he replied and thought for a second. “Just try not to frown so much, and keep your back straight…” he added, adjusting his own posture. “Oh no, why are you crying anyway? It’s really good, I’m telling you!”

The girl’s eyes indeed glistened with tears. She was breathing deeply in an attempt to hold them back. Andre approached her quickly and held her shoulders in a supportive gesture.

“It’s…” Helena stuttered out. “It’s just so normal, y’know…”

“What do you mean?”

“Just… just getting ready to a party, instead of curse-breaking…” Her voice started to tremble.

The fellow Ravenclaw seemed to be surprised by those words, but almost immediately this look was replaced by compassion. “Oh my. Oh… Come here,” he said, hugging his friend affectionately while also being careful to not wrinkle her outfit. After a while, he glanced again at her now slightly embarrassed face. He reached for a tissue to fix some mascara smears. “Tonight, you’re the most extraordinary normal girl at Hogwarts,” he continued comfortingly. “There will be no curses, no mysteries, and no tears, all right? We’re gonna have fun, I promise you.”

Helena sniffled. “Thanks, Andre,” she said quietly.

“Now, I believe you’re missing one more thing.”

The girl’s hand automatically went to her neck, as Helena was mostly worried that she could’ve forgotten her necklace. But grandma Queenie’s pearls were in their place. “What is it? I took everything you told me.”

Andre was watching her carefully. “I’m not sure… Like, one redhead by your side maybe,” he concluded, trying very hard to stay serious. Helena rolled her eyes, yet she couldn’t help but beam. “Really though, don’t hold him any longer. I believe most people went to the Entrance Hall by now.”

“What about you? Will you be ready in time?”

Andre threw his Pride of Portee scarf over the shoulder. “Darling, I’m always ready.”

“But you’re not going like that, right…?”

“Of course not. But don’t worry. I’m good at being fashionably late as well,” he said, winking at her. “Just go now! I’ll see you there.”

Helena embraced him once more and obediently left. Charlie was waiting for her on the fifth floor, near the staircase leading to the Ravenclaw Tower. They had decided to meet there so they wouldn’t have to search for each other in the crowd. The Seeker’s eyes were wandering around the corridor until he noticed her.

“I hope you didn’t wait much,” she greeted him.

He grinned instantly, his eyes twinkling. “You look amazing, Nell.”

“Why, thank you! And you look very handsome.”

Charlie blushed a little hearing the compliment, but then he apparently remembered something causing his enthusiasm. “Oh, check it out!” He turned around, glancing back over his shoulder. On his dark pewter robes, there was a silhouette of an icy blue dragon. The picture was glittering in the warm light of torches. “Isn’t it brilliant?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty great,” Helena replied with a mysterious smile, focusing more on Charlie’s face than a dragon.

The redhead eyed her with the sudden understanding. “You did it, didn’t you?”

“Perhaps…”

“I thought that maybe it was Ben.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking at the ground. “But I just realised how well it matches your dress...”

“Ben helped, actually,” Helena hurried with an explanation. “And Badeea. She told me she’s not sure if it’s permanent because of the fabric, though it should survive the night.”

“Well, I love it anyway. And I love your dress,” he said, bringing back his excited expression. “Shall we now?” He approached nearer and bent his arm so his date could grab him.

By the time they went down the ground floor, the Front Hall was full of students in beautiful formal robes: boys looking around nervously, girls shrieking with laughter. Seeing that, Helena felt even happier that she already had her Gryffindor besides when they stepped among the people. The first pair they spotted was Penny and Ben. The Hufflepuff had decided that she’d rather spend that event with a friend, rejecting the same invitations from a good few boys she barely knew.

“We don’t have to dance, Ben, if you don’t want to,” they heard Penny saying when they got closer, still remaining unnoticed themselves.

The boy smiled diffidently. “Actually, I was taking some classes back in Muggle school. My teacher claimed I was quite good…”

“Really? You’ve never talked about it!” said surprised Penny. “I guess we all needed this ball, even if only to learn more about each other.”

They both cheered up even more, finally seeing Helena and Charlie. Their group was getting bigger and shortly after everyone gathered, the door to the Great Hall opened. The room looked really breath-taking, decorated in the winter theme. Frosty ornaments were shimmering thanks to many floating lanterns, and the centre of the Hall had been cleared to create a dance floor. Along one of the walls, there was a stage with the instruments ready for the band.

After Dumbledore’s short speech, it was time for the opening waltz. The musicians started to play a pleasant, quite ceremonial melody, and the first couples proceeded to step forward. Charlie turned out to be a better dancer than Helena expected. He was steering quite confidently, and even though his hand on her waist felt awkward for a very short moment, the girl could tell they both were becoming more comfortable with each song. She wondered if the Gryffindor looked more mature thanks to the formal outfit, or she simply missed that change in him recently.

When they had finally decided to rest, they found the table occupied by their four friends: Penny, Ben, Tonks, and Tulip. It wasn’t long before Andre also joined them.

“No way. You’re disappointing me,” he said dramatically, taking one of the chairs. “Did you really come here to sit?”

“Don’t worry, we’re only taking a break,” Penny explained on the group’s behalf.

Andre rolled his eyes jokingly. “We’ll have all the holidays for that, though. By the way, Penny. I hope you’re staying till the end of the ball.”

“Of course I am! I mean, I miss Bea terribly, but you all were so engaged in saving her that I couldn’t leave without spending this time with my friends. She’s safe, and we’ll still be together on Christmas Day…” The Hufflepuff paused abruptly because apparently, something near the entrance drew her attention. “Wait, is that Talbott? He told me he’s not coming!”

They all looked in the same direction, where indeed was standing the quietest Ravenclaw boy. He seemed to feel rather lost, yet he was very elegant. He was searching for familiar faces in the crowd and brightened up as soon as he saw their group. Helena might have something to do with his appearance, nevertheless, she kept it to herself.

“Would you mind if I go to him for a moment?” asked Penny. Not hearing any objections, she smiled at Ben and said before going away: “I’ll be right back.”

Andre decided that it’s a good moment to make the company move. “In that case, it’s time for me too. Tulip Karasu, will you do me an honour to accompany your fellow Ravenclaw?” he asked, reaching out to his classmate.

“Well, Andre Egwu, how could I say no to that?” replied the red-haired girl, taking his hand.

Tonks wasn’t exactly pleased with that. “Hey, and you’ll leave me alone?”

“You could dance with me,” Charlie suggested playfully.

“I don’t know, Weasley…”

“Oh, c’mon! You won’t dance with your best mate?”

“It’s nothing personal, Charlie. I’m just worried about your feet,” clarified the Metamorphmagus. “I don’t think you use them much in Quidditch, but I’d hate to damage Helen’s dance partner.”

The Seeker glanced at his companion, maybe making sure she’s fine with that, so she answered him with a grin. “I think I should be fine.”

“She’s not that terrible!” Tulip shouted over her shoulder before disappearing with Andre.

Charlie and Tonks stood up as well, the boy briefly touched Helena’s shoulder, and soon she was left alone with Ben. The Gryffindor appeared absent. Something was clearly on his mind.

“How’s it going, Benny?” she asked solicitously.

Her question woke him up. “I’m fine, actually. Really,” he added, seeing her worried expression. “I was just thinking how much has happened since I got to Hogwarts, how much has changed.”

“Like, you abandoned your hobbies?”

“Yeah, among other things,” he said with a pensive smile.

“Do you still feel you don’t belong here?”

“You mean at Hogwarts? I don’t know, maybe less often. A little. To this world though?” Ben pressed his lips and shook the head. “I don’t even know what I could do after school. Maybe I’ll stick to Astronomy…”

“Oh no, my dear, you’re not gonna waste your talents like that,” Helena stated with determination. “Come on, who did you want to be as a child?”

The boy frowned in the silence at first but quickly gave in. “I wanted to be a doctor,” he mumbled.

“Brilliant! You’d be a great healer!”

“Helen, I’m scared of blood…”

“Yeah, but you’ve proven me more than once that helping others is more important than your fears,” the Ravenclaw said cheerfully. “I mean, it’s just a suggestion, but maybe you’d like to think about it. Just… You can do whatever you want, Ben.”

“You know, Charlie told me pretty much the same thing some time ago.” He took a deep breath. “All right, I can think about it.”

“Well then, it’s a good place to end that serious talk,” the girl summed up. “So, are you going to invite me to dance now? For the sake of following the past passions,” she added encouragingly.

Ben blinked blankly. “Oh! Of course! Um… Shall we dance?”

Helena chuckled. “I’d like it very much.”

Even if Ben wouldn’t take her career advice, it was good to see him on the floor. He seemed way more relaxed, and actually self-assured. Before the girl noticed, though, Andre showed up nearby, asking politely for a change, and even later, Helena found herself in a pair with Barnaby. Finally, she switched with Rowan to dance with Bill while her best friend returned to her original partner. After one or two other pieces, Head Boy made a bow, so the girl tried to curtsey gracefully. She was expecting that Weasley would escort her to the table, however, he leant towards her instead.

“I think someone is missing you already,” he said, indicating direction behind her back.

She turned around. Charlie was sitting alone, drumming his fingers on the tabletop, though his red cheeks suggested he hadn’t spent there much time. He beamed when their eyes met. For the rest of the night, the two of them were inseparable.

They danced a lot, fooled around, and simply enjoyed themselves. Helena was grasping each moment of that, when she was looking in Charlie’s bright brown eyes, laughing at his jokes, smelling that unique scent of grass and honeysuckles – and something new - whenever they got closer during slower songs. And although the redhead was clearly giving her his full attention, his sense of duty overtook at some point – in a way, at least.

“Don’t you think they have a little too much fun?” the Seeker asked, embracing Helena after the spin. He actually looked quite amused himself.

“What now? Who are you talking about?” The girl followed his sight.

“The mischievous trio.”

At one of the tables, Tonks, Tulip, and Jae were having the time of their lives. They were also partially influencing Rowan and Barnaby sitting next to them. “I don’t know. Aren’t they always like that?”

Charlie drew nearer. “Wanna sit down for a bit?” he proposed, smiling softly. She nodded, intrigued by the situation.

When they approached their friends, Tulip was chatting with Rowan.

“You’re just so smart, and I’m proud you’re in our house, Rowan Khanna,” the first girl proclaimed. “We’re making a great intellectual duet, don’t you think?”

The other Ravenclaw exchanged looks with Helena, holding back a laugh. “Yes. Yes, we are, Tulip.”

“And you have such a great impact on Barnaby! He advanced so much with you!”

“I know, right?” Barnaby joined the conversation. “I could be a prefect if I met Rowan earlier.”

Rowan flushed with a shy grin. While Helena was thinking how adorable this short exchange was, Charlie apparently focused on something else.

“Hey guys, what are you drinking?” he asked, glancing at the glasses in front of his suspects. The three of them fell silent.

“Just drinks,” replied Tulip, regaining her focus.

“Oh yeah? Can I try some?”

Tonks jumped on her feet immediately. “Sure, I’ll bring you some! Do you want too, Helen?”

The girl didn’t get a chance to respond. “There’s no need, I’ll only take a sip,” the prefect interrupted.

“No, really, I’ll get some…” Nymphadora insisted.

“It’s alcohol, isn’t it?”

The Hufflepuff bit her lips and the Ravenclaw peeked nervously at her associates. The Gryffindor, however, tried to act cool.

“You can’t prove it,” he said with a serious face.

“Really, Jae?” Charlie leaned back, resting his hand on the back of Helena’s chair. “I was starting to have some hope for you.”

“Hey,” his roommate protested. “Why you assume I’m behind it?!”

Tulip chuckled, patting Jae’s shoulder as if she just heard a very good joke.

Tonks stared at Weasley with innocent eyes. “So are we in trouble?”

“No, you’re not. Yet,” he answered grimly, although his expression sort of ruined the effect. “Just, be responsible, okay? Do you know what this word means? And try to not be too happy about it around Bill.”

“Happy about what?” Head Boy emerged out of nowhere and took one of the seats. “Are you talking about booze?” He didn’t get any answer, so he went on. “Oh, I know about that. I keep an eye on Jae longer than you, brother.”

“Oi! Maybe it was the girls’ idea, huh?”

“Oi!” the girls barked at Kim, clearly not appreciating his suggestion.

The boy seemed to be defeated. “Great. So why I’m even hiding?”

“Well, I’m pretty sure the teachers still don’t realise, so you know…” Bill put his finger to the lips.

Helena raised her eyebrows. “William! What happened to you? Have you been drinking yourself?”

“Of course not!” he replied with a weird gleam in his eye. “I’m simply in a good mood.”

“Is it because of that dance with Rakepick?” Charlie teased his sibling.

“She’s a great dancer if that’s what you’re asking about. Not as good as McGonagall, but still,” Bill said with a smug smirk. “Besides, I’m just glad to see my friends happy for a change. It’s like all the stress from the past months was left somewhere outside the castle. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not planning on changing that at least until the end of tomorrow.”

Bill often put into words what his fellow Curse-Breaker in the making had in mind. Yet at that point, the girl felt his words were especially accurate. Until the end of the event, Helena was watching all those people so important in her life. Rowan, Penny, and Chiara chatting at the table. Ben trying to stop Barnaby from making a deal with Jae. Badeea marvelling at the decorations and explaining something to Talbott. Tonks and Tulip acting suspiciously, surprisingly accompanied by Merula. The eldest Weasley looking conflicted after he noticed the said trio. Andre being very proud of the stylisations he had helped create. And… was it Diego dancing with Ismelda?

Penny was right, they all needed this ball. For one night, to forget their sorrows and worries. For one night, to just be teenagers.

Charlie perhaps needed it the most - just so he could finally steal Helena’s very first kiss.

[alexsfictionaddiction]

Review: The House Of Hidden Wonders by Sharon Gosling

You’ll know that I absolutely adore quirky middle-grade adventures and so I was really excited when Charlie at Little Tiger Press agreed to send me a copy of this brand new one!

Zinnie and her sisters Sadie and Nell live in the depths of Old Town Edinburgh where they spend most of their time keeping out of the way of the law. But when rumours of a ghost haunting the tunnels that the girls call home start circulating, everyone starts investigating including some less than savoury characters...

I couldn’t help but fall in love with Zinnie. She is one of the most caring and astute characters I’ve read in a long time and she was so easy to attach to. She also has a fierce determination and drive, which is deemed very atypical of women of her time. This is very much a theme amongst all the female characters, who largely defy their assumed roles as submissive wives and mothers.

There is also the inclusion of a young Arthur Conan Doyle, who is a medical student with a fascination for investigating. It’s very obvious that he should write detective fiction and half of me was expecting him to introduce us to Sherlock by the end of the book! I really loved this little insertion of a real historical figure because despite the fictional plot, I felt like I got to know him at a vital stage of his development. 

Dastardly Phineas MacDuff is a wealthy newcomer to Edinburgh, who is planning on opening the darkly mysterious House of Hidden Wonders tourist attraction. I pictured him as a sort of Governor Ratcliffe character -power-hungry with absolutely no moral barriers. His archaic (but typical) views on women travelling and doing things alone are shown in the above quote. Lady Sarah is an affluent society woman who goes on incredible epic expeditions all over the world. She’s also immensely kind, sassy and unafraid of what men like MacDuff think of her lifestyle. 

Zinnie actually gets her involved in a vital part of the plan to expose MacDuff’s slippery past and the truth about the House of Hidden Wonders and Lady Sarah doesn’t even ask too many questions. She just instinctively trusts that Zinnie knows what’s best and gets on with her part in it. From the moment I met her, I knew she’d make a great mentor for Zinnie because despite their vastly different backgrounds, they’re incredibly similar in so many ways. 

Zinnie and her sisters are all marginalised in some way, other than the fact that they’re destitute street kids. Nell is a very young black girl, which of course comes with all of its expected Victorian prejudices. Sadie is of Irish descent and is an expert at concocting teas and treatments for any ailment, which leaves some believing that she is a witch. Later, Aelphine comes on the scene and it’s revealed that she has Down’s syndrome. Even Zinnie herself could be considered as possibly genderqueer due to her tendency to appear as male. If this were a contemporary novel, would this have been explored a little more? Maybe! However, all of this means that Zinnie is fiercely passionate about standing up for and protecting those who are different or vulnerable and this is what drives her to justice.

The House of Hidden Wonders is a wonderfully charming mystery adventure novel that is the perfect tonic to the terrors of today. I had the most fun reading it over the course of a lazy afternoon and closed it feeling satisfied that things always work out for those that deserve it. Full of loveable characters, page-turning intrigue and a healthy dose of girl power, it’s ideal to curl up with right now.

[missnight0wl]

Ups and downs

Summary: Someone said “Celestial Ball”? The Yule Ball? No, it’s the Winter Ball coming to Hogwarts. It’s still quite stressful, and rather confusing.

Note: I assumed that it happens during year 5 after Bea was somehow freed without breaking the curse. It doesn’t really matter for the plot. I just feel the need to specify it. Also, I think it’d be a pretty interesting and mysterious plot twist for the game, but never mind that.

There’s also a continuation where you can find out what happened during “A night to remember”.

Words: 2650

December 1988

Nobody was expecting that Beatrice would simply enter the Hufflepuff Common Room on one evening in December. The girl was shocked and very weak, she didn’t remember much, but most importantly – she was alive. Penny wasn’t the only one overwhelmed with joy because of that reason, although, only she was allowed to accompany her sister to St Mungo’s Hospital. The older Haywood was absent for two days and then she came back for the last classes before Christmas. Helena hadn’t seen her so happy in months. But even though the aspiring Curse-Breaker wanted to join her friends in cheerful celebration, the mystery of that rescue wouldn’t leave her in peace.

“Nell! Wait!” Someone called her one morning in front of the Great Hall when she was in deep thought. It was Charlie. “Do you have a moment?”

“Sure, always,” she said, more focused. She noticed that Charlie is stepping on the side, letting her know that he wanted to talk more privately, so she followed him. “What is it?”

“It’s about the ball.”

Oh, right. There was also that. Helena’s classmates were excited not only because of the upcoming holidays and Haywoods’ situation. Apparently, the school had planned the ball at that time as well. The Winter Ball on the Christmas Eve, to be exact. It was supposed to be cancelled, however, taking into account the recent circumstances, everything was back on track. Truth be told, Helena forgot about it already. Or at least she wasn’t thinking about it. She was thrilled at first, of course, but how many things one can have on the mind at once. Still, Charlie got her curious again, thus she encouraged him to speak.

“So,” he started haltingly. “I know it’s a rough time, considering… well, everything really. And I know you’re worried about Bea, we all are, and it’s kind of weird with that ball now, you know… But even Penny said it’s fine, right? She’s staying longer only for that… And I think we should do something fun too…” The girl was watching him carefully. The Gryffindor prefect rarely was acting like that. He clearly didn’t know what to do with his hands as he was speaking. He rolled up his sleeves and crossed his arms on the chest, just to let them loose right away. He took a deep breath and continued: “Anyway… I was thinking…” He looked her in the eyes. “Would you like to go to the ball with me?”

“I’d love to!” she replied enthusiastically. After the event’s announcement, she had hoped that the younger Weasley would invite her, although, she definitely wasn’t anticipating it to happen so soon. As far as she knew, most of their peers hadn’t made such decisions yet.

“Really?” Charlie grinned. Helena couldn’t find another word to describe his expression than a relief. “That’s brilliant!”

They were standing there for a moment without a word.

“Well, I guess we could discuss some details,” Charlie eventually broke the silence, blushing slightly. “The thing is, I don’t know much about that ball yet…”

She chuckled, pulling her hair behind her ear. “Me neither, actually.”

“They didn’t tell us much, did they?”

“No, not really,” Helena admitted.

“Well, I suppose there’s still time, so…”

“… we’ll be in touch,” she finished for him.

“Exactly,” the redhead said thankfully. “Anyway, I promised Ben to meet him before classes…”

His words disappointed her a bit, but perhaps it was better to have time to think about what had just happened. “It’s okay. I’ll see you later then?”

He nodded, not stopping to smile. They entered the Great Hall together and went separate ways to their tables. Suddenly, Helena felt very light and optimistic about everything. Even Merula’s usual scowl couldn’t ruin her humour - or possibly she was getting used to that after all these years. Still beaming, she took her place next to Rowan, Tulip, and Andre. Tonks was also there, seemingly doing her homework.

“It’s too early for you to be in such good mood,” remarked Rowan, chewing a toast.

Helena hesitated. Should she tell them? There were only close people there, after all. She leant forward. “Charlie asked me to the ball,” she said in low voice.

At that moment, her best friend started choking on orange juice.

“I know, Rowan,” said Tonks, scribbling in her notes while Tulip was patting the fellow Ravenclaw on the back. “They’re growing so fast! But what you gonna do? We have to accept it.”

“You agreed, right?” asked Andre next. They all appeared more eager than she expected. Well, maybe besides Rowan who was still coughing.

“Yeah, I did…” Helena replied. She didn’t have a chance to continue, because Tulip interrupted with a glint in her eyes:

“Did he stammer?”

She tried to analyse their conversation in memory. “A little, I guess… Wait, is it bad?”

Her roommate laughed. “No, it’s not bad. I’d say it’s on the contrary.”

Helena wanted to ask what exactly did it mean when she got distracted by Bill entering the room and waving to her as he was passing by. A couple of girls stared back at him and giggle. And then, she realised something. The eldest Weasley had the natural talent to look good. Helena though? Not so much.

“Oh God, the dress!” she panicked suddenly. “The accessories! And my hair? It’s terrible, everyone knows it, you can’t do anything with it… Andre, you need to help me!”

The Ravenclaw best athlete seemed to be waiting for this moment. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve told you I’ll take care of you. All of you,” he added glancing at other girls.

“This is a bad idea,” Helena concluded gloomily. “All of it. Why do we need a ball in the first place? I can’t even dance!”

Tonks finally completed her task, so she could close the books. “Calm down, Helen,” she said blithely, looking at her friend. “Just remember what Diego always says: if you can duel, you can dance!”

As she was sharing this valuable knowledge, she put her hands on the chest and reached out one arm in a dramatic gesture. Unfortunately, she hit a jug doing so, and therefore spilt its content. The pink haired Hufflepuff cursed, collecting her recently finished work while the rest of the group was sniggering. Nonetheless, Rowan pretty quickly grabbed her wand to stop the small flood, and she proceeded to help Tonks repairing any other damages. But then, Helena heard someone else – Bill.

Bill’s laugh was very pleasant, kind of resonant and melodic. It always made her feel better because it sounded honest. She could also see why it was making some of the students swoon. However, why was he laughing right now? The Weasleys were always sitting together during meals, today probably wasn’t different. Did Charlie tell him about the ball? Were they… making fun of her? No way, they would never do such a thing… wouldn’t they?

Helena’s mood changed once again that day which barely had started. All excitement left her body like the air from a popped balloon.

“I have to go,” she announced abruptly, standing up.

“But you haven’t even eaten anything…“ noticed upset Rowan.

Yet, the other Ravenclaw was already gone. Helena went straight to classes, and she was just grateful that none of them was shared with Gryffindors. She was also glad that Rowan thought of bringing her some sandwiches. Still, it wasn’t enough to make her want to interact with anyone.

After the last period, she was standing in the corridor by the window, watching white crystals slowly covering the whole castle. It was snowing gently the whole day, making everything seem more and more magical. Some decorations started showing up also in the inside. It was a perfect time to feel festive spirit.

“What’s wrong with you this time, Ellis?” Merula walked to her from behind. “In the morning, you looked as if you overdosed Elixir to Induce Euphoria, again. And now? More like your pet died.”

Helena glared at Snyde. “Why do you even care?”

“I don’t,” the Slytherin responded. “So it’s about the pet, isn’t it?”

“Are you actually concerned about my feelings?” Helena asked incredulously.

“No, you idiot,” Merula rolled her eyes. “I want to know if it has anything to do with the Vaults.”

“Well, that’s reassuring… And no, it’s not about the Vaults.”

“What is it then?”

The Ravenclaw leaned against the wall, looking away from the intruder. “Just leave me alone, Merula. I’m not in the mood to deal with you today.”

“Oh, but you will have to. We have a meeting with Rakepick, remember?”

Of course, she didn’t. She would probably stay here watching the snow, without a reminder. Their mentor wouldn’t take well such an insult.

Right on cue, the current Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher appeared in the corridor as well, and she quickened her pace as soon as she saw her apprentices. Helena could swear sometimes that Patricia cast some kind of spell summoning her every time she’s mentioned anywhere in the building. She was a little scared by this ominous thought.

“Miss Ellis, Miss Snyde. Good to find you here,” said Rakepick hurriedly. “I’m afraid I have to cancel our plans for this evening. There’s an emergency that needs my attention outside of Hogwarts. Can you meet me tomorrow instead?”

Merula didn’t seem to be delighted about it, yet she agreed, whereas Helena just shrugged her shoulders.

“Is something wrong?” asked Rakepick, looking at the second student.

“Ellis is heartbroken,” Snyde answered with contempt. Was she being sarcastic or did she in fact know something?

The professor raised her eyebrow and sighed. “Well, would it still allow you to pass my message to Mr Weasley? I don’t really have time to search for him, I shouldn’t even be here by now…”

Helena shrugged again, and Patricia apparently took it for confirmation, because in the next moment, she was gone.

“She can do with us whatever she wants, can’t she?” Merula snapped. “I wonder what she’s up to this time.”

“Maybe you should ask her,” Helena proposed a little waspishly.

The Slytherin gave her the stink eye. “Get yourself together, Ellis. I assume you’ll take care of Weasley. I don’t have time to be a messenger.”

And just like that, she walked away too, leaving her companion with no real choice. The girl didn’t feel good about the perspective of the confrontation with Bill, but she couldn’t be avoiding him forever either. Her first guess turned out to be correct, and she found Head Boy in the library, preoccupied with the stack of the books.

“Hey, Bill…”

He glanced at her with a rather absent expression. “Helen, is it time already?”

“No, actually Rakepick had to reschedule it for tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s great. I can finish my revision for today in that case!” He opened back his notebook when he noticed his friend’s troubled face. “You know, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’re upset about that cancellation. What’s going on?”

Helena hung her head, avoiding his eyes.

“Is it about the ball?” the Gryffindor persisted. She looked at him briefly and went back to staring at the table. “I was quite happy for you and Charlie, but perhaps I shouldn’t have. Do you want to talk about it?”

This drew her attention. “Wait, you were?”

“What? Happy? Of course,” said surprised Bill. “Why wouldn’t I be happy about two people I care about getting together?”

The Ravenclaw wasn’t convinced. “Why were you laughing at breakfast then?”

Now he also looked confused. It took him a while to understand. “Oh, that…” he smiled, realising finally. “Yeah, I might be making fun of Charlie a tad. He was pretty nervous if you didn’t notice. I honestly thought I’ll have to ask you for him. I guess it’s just that stupid age when talking to a girl you like is the biggest challenge. You remember me in my fifth year…” Bill must’ve realised that Emily Tyler is not the best memory, because he quickly added: “At least Charlie chose better, and he’s smart enough to actually get know his crush first.”

“So… it wasn’t a joke?” Helena asked to be sure.

He shook his head. “No. Not on his part at least.”

“You idiot…” the girl muttered under her breath.

Bill was staring at her blankly. “It might be because of too much caffeine in my system, but I don’t think I follow anymore...”

“No! It’s not about you!” she assured him quickly. “I have to find Charlie though.”

“Training, probably,” suggested Head Boy, frowning.

“Of course. Thank you, Bill!” She ran out of the library before he could answer.

It started getting darker already, the cloudy weather sped up that process. There was a thin layer of snow laying on the ground. The practice must’ve just ended when Helena finally reached the Quidditch pitch because she got past a couple of Gryffindor players. Soon, she spotted Charlie landing, so she walked in his direction. He noticed her too.

“Hey, I don’t see you here much,” he greeted her, grinning. He was still a little out of breath. His face was flushed from the cold wind and exertion. “I hope you don’t spy for the Ravenclaw team,” he added jokingly.

“Of course not!” she said, pretending to be hurt by his assumption. “I wouldn’t dare.”

The redhead took the Golden Snitch out of his pocket and put it in the wooden chest, closing the lid next. He grabbed it in one hand, his broom in another. “Really? Sounds like something a spy would say. Besides, I’ve heard you’re quite good at this job,” he teased her.

“Are you making fun of me?” the girl gasped.

“Of course not! I wouldn’t dare,” Charlie replied, his eyes twinkling. She couldn’t help but giggle. “Seriously though, let’s go inside. You’re freezing, and I don’t have anything warm here to give you.”

Driven by the emotions, Helena hadn’t thought about dressing up before going outside, and it was indeed rather cold. She only now realised it. She pulled down the sleeves of her robes and tried to not think about it while Charlie was walking by her side. The entrance to the changing rooms wasn’t that far off.

“So, did something happen?” the Seeker went back to the conversation.

“Um, no, not really. I was just wondering…” The Ravenclaw’s mind became blank. She didn’t know what to tell at all. She simply wanted to let him know that she wasn’t ignoring him the whole day, and she’s actually looking forward to their time together. Still, she couldn’t admit to her terrible misunderstanding. “Do you think… I should have a corsage for the ball?”

She was never really interested in the balls, so she didn’t know if it’s a part of the tradition in the wizarding world. She had seen it once in some American movie, and she didn’t even like it much. However, for some reason, it was the first thing that came to her mind.

Charlie was clearly caught by surprise, perhaps not knowing what’s she asking about. “I have no idea, to be honest. But I’m pretty sure Andre will gladly tell us what’s fashionable this season,” he chuckled. “Bloody hell, he’s gonna be so annoying now…” He changed his voice a bit to mimic their friend. “No, Charlie, you’re not wearing red and gold. You won’t be so dull to pick your House colours. I don’t care that’s how Chinese Fireball looks like, you won’t dress like a dragon either!”

Helena laughed. “Are you actually considering a dragon outfit?”

“No,” he said innocently. “Maybe… Would you mind that?”

“Not at all.” The girl noticed she’s definitely warmer. “Just let me know earlier, so I could find something matching, all right?”

“Deal,” Charlie promised. “Now wait here. I should have my scarf in the locker for you on the way back to the castle.”