A Simple Dress

Disclaimer/Claimer: These are not my characters, they belong to JK Rowling. However, the scenario and storyline is 100% mine, and this writing belongs to me.

Ginny ran a hand down the front of her outfit, appreciating the way the fabric slipped through her fingers. The first layer, a plain silk dress under everything else, was a solid dark blue, and very loose from the bodice down. It had a modest neckline, the top centered between her shoulders, and comfortable sleeves that ended at her elbows. Over that was a white cover of lace, trailing over the skirt. It was worn from the waistline to the bottom of the dress, and had designs of starbursts and moons with tiny silver beads arranged artfully throughout.

The final layer was another blue, this one a soft periwinkle, and it was a matching silk. It was shaped somewhat like a very long vest, and clipped in the middle at the base of the bodice with a simple silver clasp. Instead of ending at her hips like a normal vest though, it separated into two wide halves that hung over the sides of the dress like petals.

Her red hair was pinned up with a long mother-of-pearl clip that separated her locks into front and back. The front was left bare, but the back was done up with so many tiny pins that she had lost count, each ending in a small, rounded bit of mother-of-pearl. The light shone off her, and bits of hair had escaped to trail down her face at the cheeks, framing her freckles.

Looking in the mirror, she felt like a fairy princess, only missing the wings. Of course she knew that the dress hadn’t cost much, but it was gorgeous, and she felt very lucky to be wearing it. Her shoes were a dark blue to match the base dress, with little triangles of lace over the tips to match the second. Her face wasn’t overdone, but a line of glitter at her hairline and a trace of silver eye paint made her look ethereal. A faintly silver lipstick and dark blue eyeliner completed the look, and she felt the need to twirl at herself in the mirror.

Lavender had left her to dress, going down to the Main Commons with Parvati. She’d have to thank them again for helping her with her make up. Her mother was a firm believer in natural beauty, and had only taught her daughter the basics, saying that any more than that was excess.

Hermione was in the bathroom putting lotion on her arms before getting her own dress on, so Ginny picked up the necklace she’d had to take off earlier and clipped it on, struggling with the clasp for a moment before cool fingers came up behind her and latched it easily.

“There,” Hermione said, smoothing it down the front of her girl’s neck and smiling at her in the mirror. She had come up silently from behind, seeing her friend fighting the small chain. Feeling a sudden swell of sisterly affection for the older girl, the redhead leaned back against her, the smell of vanilla making her head warm.

After a moment, Hermione pulled back and turned Ginny around, gasping when she saw the full image of how pretty she looked.

“Oh, Gin! You love wonderful!” She murmured, tucking a loose bit of hair behind the girl’s ear fondly. With everything that had happened this year, it was good to get a bit of happiness with everyone.