My friends and I walked around Hogsmeade, wrapped up in our warmest sweaters and scarves as the winter wind blew against our small bodies. The snow on the ground crunched under our boots as we walked through it, trying to find the little boutique that we had just shopped at a few weeks before.

"I found it!" Dani finally exclaimed after minutes of searching. We all looked in the same direction as her gaze and saw that the dress shop was straight ahead.

All four of us rushed towards it, excited to go shopping for the first time in what felt like forever. Personally, I was also just excited to finally feel my freezing fingers and toes again when we'd enter the warm building. This winter weather was no joke.

I hoped that the store would have a good selection of ball gowns, considering I would only want to wear the best dress available. That can't come as much of a shock to anyone. I didn't want any other girl to out do me, of course. I had a reputation to keep up and that would just be bloody embarrassing.

Maggie fell in love with the dress on display in the window as we were walking up. Just a simple white ball gown. She said she didn't want anything too fancy, and didn't even bother to try it on before she went ahead and bought it in her size.

It took the other three of us a lot longer to find dresses that we all liked. Eventually, Dani and Aria both seemed to find something that they thought was reasonable, leaving just me who didn't know what they wanted.

Dani's dress was navy blue, with lace sleeves, and a long flowy skirt. Not really my taste, but it did look perfect on her. Ari's dress was blush pink, and accented her body perfectly. It had small flowers on the top of it that continued to run down to the bottom of the train in the back.

"This seems hopeless you guys." I huffed as I stared at the 200th dress that I've had on. I was starting to feel defeated. None of the dresses that I had put on had come close to catching my eye yet. Maybe I was just being too picky. Or maybe they just needed to get a better taste in fashion and up their game here.

"Don't think like that!" Aria started, trying to make me feel better about it. "They all have looked great! I just don't think they have been, the ONE, y'know?"

"Totally," Maggie agreed while pointing at Aria and still staring at the dress I had on. I was growing impatient. It felt like it had been hours of this. I was about ready to just call it a day and go back to the castle empty handed.

"You are just so hot." Maggie laughed, "Not your fault, but man, it is hard to find something that suits YOU," she gestured towards me. "It's like nothing does you justice!"

"I agree." Dani nodded. A small smile pulled at my lips from her compliment. Ironically, I agreed. These dresses haven't done my beauty any justice.

"We do have something in the back." A worker stepped in and interrupted our conversation. "I've heard about you, you're the Brown girl, correct?" She asked, looking at me in curiosity.

"Yes." I confirmed with her. I stared at her in confusion and a little bit of concern. I really hope she's not stalking me or something. That would be so weird.

"I figured. Many other girls have come in here talking about you this week. Wondering what you would be wearing. They seem to think you have the best taste," she chuckled, "Do you have a budget? The one I'm thinking of might be a little expensive."

"No budget," I told her knowing that my father was paying for whatever I picked out. He wouldn't have a care in the world what the price tag said as long as I was happy.

"Ahh Daddy's money ahh ahh" Maggie joked between fake coughs. Merlin.

"Don't start." I flashed her a quick glare that quickly turned to a smile. As annoying as it was, she was 100% right. I tried to keep the comment from getting too far under my skin because I knew she meant no harm by it.

"Great! I'll be right back." The young girl working the dress shop said as she left the room.

She was gone for a few minutes, leaving my friends and I to sit and wait in anticipation. I was nervous to see what she would bring out, and also a bit worried that it too wouldn't meet my high expectations. When she came out empty handed, my stomach dropped slightly, a look of disappointment surely taking over my face.

"Follow me to the dressing room." She smiled at me. I looked at her in confusion before I followed her to the back where I had been changing into different dresses all day long.

"It's waiting for you back here," she explained, "I just figured you would want to surprise them." She said, referring to my friends who were still sitting out in the main area waiting.

I looked at the dress that was hanging on the rack. It was a champagne colored romper with long, tight fitted sleeves. It had raindrop jewels hanging off of it at all angles. It was covered from top to bottom in glitter and gems. Over top of it there was a sheer, detachable skirt that could go over the romper, giving it more volume and a classic look.

"Wow." I breathed when I first glanced at it. I was stunned by its beauty. It was more than I would've imagined. I wasn't expecting anything close to it to be coming out of this store.

I put the dress on with the sheer overlay on top of it, and I absolutely loved it. It was everything I had been hoping for. I walked out to meet the rest of them in the main room where the giant mirror was with a beaming smile on my lips.

"You look gorgeous!" Maggie shot up out of her chair shooting her hands up in the air as she was the first one to see me. "WOOOOO!" She screamed, gaining attention from others who were in the store around us.

"Oh my goodness, Juliet. I love it!" Dani yelled, jumping up and down with Maggie. I giggled softly, loving the reactions I was getting out of them. I could only imagine how Draco would react when he saw me in this.

CEDRIC. I can only imagine how Cedric will react. Why the hell am I thinking about Malfoy... I can't believe I just got them mixed up.

I gulped suddenly, not sure where my thoughts were at. I was getting sidetracked now, forgetting about the dress in front of me in the mirror. I was... utterly confused.

"You already know what I think," Ari winked at my reflection that was looking at her in the mirror. Her words brought me back to reality, my smile returning to my lips.

This was definitely the one. I nodded my head to the worker, signaling that I wanted to buy it. I couldn't wait to show everyone at the ball how gorgeous I looked in it.

•

We all hung our dresses up in our room when we got back to the castle. We kept them in their plastic bags, making sure that they would be safe until the ball next Friday.

I had a letter sitting on my bed that was waiting for me when we had returned to our dorm. I wasn't sure had it had gotten here; but I instantly ripped it open to see who it was from since I didn't recognize the seal on the back or the handwriting on the front.

My Juliet,

I hope you had a great day today. I've missed seeing you and our conversations. I hope you're doing well.

I cannot wait to see what kind of dress you picked out for the ball. I think I might be the luckiest guy that will be attending the dance— not that I'm biased or anything...

I just wanted to thank you for all of your help the other day. I know that there is no way I ever would have been able to solve the riddle of the golden egg without you or your brain.

I had to put the egg in the giant bathtub in the prefect bathroom to hear the song that it sings, can you believe that? Moaning Myrtle got a kick out of that one. It seemed a little strange to me, I will not lie. However, I now get to start coming up with a plan, so I guess I can't complain too much.

You're the best.
Yours truly,
Cedric

I held the note against my chest tightly and fell back on my bed with burning cheeks and a content grin. I can't wait for the dance with him. To get to spend all night with him and get his attention without any interruptions. I rolled over and noticed all of my friends staring at me, wondering what was putting me in such a good mood.

"Cedric." I said in a dreamy voice as I looked at them.

"Yeah, I think we could've guessed that," Aria burst into laughter at the way I was acting. I giggled along with her, knowing that I probably looked like a fool right now.

"So, Maggs and Dani, did you ever decide who you wanted to go to the ball with?" I asked them out of curiosity. I haven't heard them mention anything about it, however I could've just been so caught up in Cedric that I missed the message.

"We've just decided that we're sticking with Ari so that we can all be in the same group all night. Blaise set us up to go with Crabbe and Goyle as friends to make it easier on everyone. Then he can be with his friends as well," Maggie responded. Dani nodded along, agreeing with the plan she had said.

"Oh," I said, realizing that I was the odd ball with the Hufflepuff. All of the Slytherins around me were sticking together.

I was a little upset about it because I knew Cedric wouldn't fit in with any of them, so I probably wouldn't be hanging out with them very much. It made sense for all of them to go as couples, but I guess I couldn't complain about being left out. I was the one going with the Hogwarts champion, after all.

"Well, if you would have just gone with the mangy little ferret boy that nobody else can seem to stand except for you..." Dani began, but I threw a pillow at her face to muffle her. I knew who she was referring to instantly, and there wasn't a chance in hell I would've gone with him.

I don't think so, at least.

Maybe if Cedric wasn't around and we didn't have a relationship forming I would've considered it. He was the only boy around us that would've fit my standards in dates, but it didn't matter.

"First of all, he's just.. a friend." I told them, pausing to think of a word to describe him. "Second of all, I have told you a million times that I don't like him like that. At all. Third, he's taking Pansy, we already discussed it." I told them, not seeing the issue with it.

"Ahhhh. So he had to explain to you why he was going with her so you wouldn't be jealous? Or he told you so you wouldn't be upset?" Maggie tried guessing, a laugh escaping her lips. I grew annoyed at her prying for answers. Mine and Draco's business didn't concern her at all. It didn't concern any of them.

"No." I huffed. "We just had a conversation about who we were going with, that's all." I explained. Aria shook her head, trying to hold in a laugh.

"You two are awful close suddenly, are you sure you're just friends?" Maggie wiggled her brows. "Just seems a bit suspicious to me. Picking on each other all the time, your sudden friendship, how comfortable you are so quickly..." She started picking on me, accusing me of fancying Malfoy. Or vice versa.

"Positive." I huffed and rolled over to lay in the other direction, not really sure what the real answer to any of her questions really was.