❝ Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten. ❞ — Neil Gaiman

"So, what do you think?" I asked, stepping out of the fitting room in a glittering white dress that reached just above my knees.

Sibi face-palmed and shook her head.

"Absolutely not," she said curtly. The  grin on my face dropped.

I huffed. It was the tenth dress that she turned down.

"Oh, come on, Sibi," I whined. "This dress is nice."

"Yes, nice," she emphasized. "But not fabulous. We didn't just sneak out of school and came all this way to Diagon Alley for you to buy this dress."

I rolled my eyes. Yes, we'd just sneaked out of Hogwarts. We used some help from Rena, Ralph and Melvin to use the Floo Network so that we could come to Diagon Alley. They created a complete hullabaloo in the Hogwarts corridors that made almost the whole school come out of their common rooms to check out what was going on. Meanwhile, Mike was standing just outside the portrait of the Fat Lady and keeping an eye out for people. If somebody came, he'd make a signal to warn us.

The plan went smoothly and we didn't have any trouble using the fireplace in the common room to get to Diagon Alley. As soon as we arrived, Sibi and I went to Gringott's to get some money from our vaults. I took about 200 Galleons, ashamed to be taking such a big amount as if it was nothing much, but the vault I owned hadn't been used in years, so now all the wealth belonged to me. But the fact I was taking the money like I was just borrowing a book from a library, almost felt wrong how 200 Galleons were nothing to me.

Shaking my head with a sigh to push these thoughts away, I noticed Sibi disappearing inside the shop to probably go find another dress for me. I entered the fitting room and waited for her to return.

"Here," Sibi said, and I was glad that it didn't take her long.

I opened the door of the fitting room and reached for the dress kind of absentmindedly. But as I saw the reflection of the dress into the long mirror, my eyes widened. The dress was absolutely beautiful. So far, I had tried out many and each of them were cute, but this one was simply mesmerizing.

It was a lace, creamy white gown, with gathered sleeves and a low cut neckline. It resembled an ancient dressing gown, with a feathered hem, as well as oversized sun and moon embroidery that added a modern touch.

"Sibi. . . " I said shakily, still spellbound by the beauty of the dress. "I-I can't buy this. It's too much."

"It's only 85 Galleons," she replied from the other side of the door. "I mean, it still costs an arm and a leg, but you're a freaking millionaire. You can surely afford this, Polly."

"It's not about the price," I said. I felt even more ashamed when Sibi mentioned the fact that I could easily buy something that seemed expensive to normal people. "This dress is . . . a bit too attention-grabbing."

"Then that's why you have to buy it," she said.

"Sibi, I can't," I insisted.

I didn't want all eyes to turn to me because of my outfit. I had never liked being the center of attention. Also, there was no reason for me to get togged up in such an elegant dress. That knee-length white one that I had tried on earlier was perfectly fine. It wasn't as beautiful as this one, definitely, but I'd be more than pleased to show up at the party in that one, rather than look like I had just borrowed one of Queen's gowns.

"Polly, don't be afraid of what people will say," Sibi said. "You're gonna have fun tonight and I'll make sure you look your best. You deserve it, Pol."

The corners of my mouth rose to form a smile. I looked at the dress in the mirror again.

"All right, I'll try it on," I said.

My words were followed by a squeal of happiness from Sibi and I couldn't help but laugh.

I put on the dress carefully and then stepped out of the fitting room, asking for Sibi's help to zip it up. Then, I took a good look in the mirror outside, which was wider than the small one inside the fitting room.

I was astounded to see how well-fitted the dress was. It wasn't too tight, nor too loose. The soft, creamy white fabric draped around my body and pooled near my ankles. Sibi caught my gaze and her eyes twinkled as she gave me an approving nod, smiling warmly.

"It's perfect," she said, clasping her hands together as she took in my appearance. "Just what we were looking for."

"Sibi, are you—are you sure?" I asked, biting my lower lip.

Though I couldn't help but admire my reflection. The dress made me look . . . beautiful. I never felt beautiful. People often complimented me on my eyes, because they were unique, but that was the only beautiful thing about my appearance.

My hair was bushy almost all the time and that was the reason I usually straightened it. I hated my hair. It wasn't the color I minded, I didn't have anything against blonde hair, but why couldn't it have been naturally straight instead of being so frizzy and unkempt? People got the wrong impression of wavy-haired people like myself. They thought we woke up everyday with luscious shiny curls. If only.

Besides, I wasn't long-legged and tall like Sibi. Also my skin wasn't naturally tanned like hers, but pale as a ghost, which made me look undernourished.

"I am one hundred percent sure," Sibi said in a determined tone. "Now let me go find a pair shoes for you."

She walked away quickly and reappeared faster than I thought with a pair of short-heeled white sandals in her hands. I slipped them on, surprised at how well they fit me.

"You look amazing, darling," A middle-aged woman said as she was passing by.

I gave her a weak smile.

"I told you," Sibi said, proud of her choice of clothes as she examined my look once again. "Let's go pay now."

After about ten minutes, I was dressed in my regular clothes once again and was at the cashier, ready to pay.

Madam Malkin was dumbfounded when she saw the dress I had chosen, her face whitening even more when I paid her 100 Galleons, both for the dress and the shoes.

She carefully wrapped them and placed them inside shopping bags. I smiled at her before leaving the shop. Madam Malkin didn't return the gesture, her mouth still hanging open in pure shock.

"I shouldn't have bought this dress," I said hesitantly when we left the shop.

"Well, too late now," replied Sibi with a smug smile. "Shall we head back now before anybody realizes we're gone?"

I was about to nod my head, when something caught my eye. In the shop window of the store Quality Quidditch Supplies was displayed a magnificent broomstick that I had seen way too many times during my stay in Diagon Alley. The Meteor.

I got closer to the store and stopped in front of the shop window in stunned silence, marveling at the sight of the broom.

"I have to do something first," I told Sibi. "Hold my bags, please. I'll be back in a second."

"As you wish, madame," Sibi said.

And I did keep my promise. I didn't spend a long time inside. I bought the broomstick I had always wanted to buy and the cashier gave me a manual that explained how to use it and handle it with care.

I nearly screamed once I put my hands on The Meteor. It was mine! As tempted as I was to ride it and start flying around Diagon Alley at full speed, I held myself back from doing so.

Instead, I insisted on carrying the box that contained the broom in my arms, although Sibi argued that I could use the Locomotor spell to levitate it and make it float behind me. Finally, she gave in and accepted to carry my shopping bags as I held The Meteor guardedly, as if somebody would try to snatch it away from me.

We returned to Hogwarts, fortunate that nobody had noticed us leaving. When we reappeared in the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room, Mike was still there, glancing at the portrait hole in case someone would enter.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, smiling broadly when we appeared.

He rushed over to us and helped Sibi out by carrying her bags. She stepped out of the fireplace, sweeping some dust off her robes. I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks for the help, Mike," I said sarcastically.

I stepped out of the fireplace and carefully placed the box on the ground with a smile. Mike looked at me expectantly.

"Open it," I told him. Sibi furrowed her eyebrows at me.

I watched Mike as he unwrapped the broomstick from the box. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he took in the sight of The Meteor.

"Bloody hell!" he cried. "You bought this, Polly. This . . . this is the fastest broom ever. Merlin's beard! You're so lucky. Stanley will be very, very happy."

"That's yours, Mike," I said.

"What?!" he yelled, goggling at me. "No way. Absolutely not. This is— I can't accept this. This must have costed a bomb. No, just no. I won't be able to pay you back."

"Who said I'll be asking for you to pay me back, Mike?" I asked, then shook my head. "This is my Christmas gift to you. I know it's a bit early, but I don't care. I don't need your money. I have a lot of that already, more than I need, actually. I have given this to you and I won't accept objections. If you don't want it, you can throw it away, burn it, make it vanish, whatever. I won't take it back."

"Polly . . ."

His lips quivered, his brown eyes shining with tears as he pulled me in a firm hug. I wrapped my arms around him and smiled to myself. Sibi's face was still puzzled but she gave me a smile too. I pulled back and looked at Mike's still bewildered face in amusement, ruffling his hair.

"Stop doing that," he groaned. "Seriously, though, Polly. Is this really for me?"

I nodded. "All of it."

"Thank you so much again," he repeated. "But what about yourself?"

"Yeah," Sibi said. "I mean, this was such a pleasant surprise and it's very kind of you, Polly, but I thought you wanted to buy this for yourself."

"Well, just think about it," I said. "What would the shop assistant think? It's weird enough for a fifteen-year-old girl to buy the fastest and most expensive broom of the century. Buying two would be completely bizarre."

I took out my wand from the pocket of my trousers and smirked.

"So, I decided to use a smarter tactic instead."

I pointed my wand at the broomstick and muttered, "Geminio." An exact replica of The Meteor appeared right next to the original.

Sibi and Mike's eyes became wide as they looked at the two identical brooms in amazement. Sibi looked startled, yet fascinated at the same time.

"Wow," she said. "That was . . . amazing! Very smart of you, Pol. But it's sort of cheating though, isn't it?"

"I know," I replied with a smile. "But Stanley will never find out, will he?"

"The Richards have had a bad influence on you," Mike said with amusement. Sibi and I both laughed.

I grabbed my duplication of the broomstick and traced its polished wood with my fingers. It was very smooth, and for the first time since I came here, I couldn't wait for our next Quidditch practice to come. The dumbfounded expression on Stanley's face when he'd see that two of his teammates owned the latest release of a broomstick would be priceless.

I checked the time on my wristwatch: 5.30 pm. Sibi and I decided to head up to the girls' dorms to get ready, as Mike decided to prance outside and enjoy a ride on his new broomstick. I headed for the shower first, since Sibi said she'd had one earlier that day.

When I got out, Sibi was standing in front of the mirror, curling her golden brown hair with her wand.

"You're just in time to get ready," she said. She finished curling the last section of her straight hair and turned to me with a smile. "I'll make you look very, very pretty tonight."

Sibi was stylish and really skilled at makeup, which I barely ever used, so I was glad she'd help me get ready. She applied some foundation on my face and then added powder blush to the apple of my cheeks. Then, she curled my lashes with her wand before applying a coat of mascara as well. She finished off the look by adding a dab of salmon pink lipgloss and instructed me to roll my lips together.

"Perfect," she said when she was done, observing my face with a huge smile. "Take a look."

I stood up and approached the mirror. Somehow, I expected to look ridiculous. But I was surprised at what I saw as I observed my reflection. Sibi had used soft and natural colors that really suited my pasty complexion. I didn't look ridiculous in the slightest; if anything, I looked . . . pretty.

"Wow," I whispered, unable to believe I was looking at my face. "Y-you've done a great job, Sibi."

Her face lit up.

"Thanks," she answered brightly. "Vicky has taught me well. She wanted to become a makeup artist in the beginning, you know. Before she took an interest to journalism."

"I remember her," I said as Sibi ran a brush through my hair. "She's really nice."

I remembered meeting Victoria during that week I spent on Sibi's hometown in August. We went out for ice cream together, and one day, they took me shopping to a big department store that sold nice wizards' clothes.

Sibi told me that she worked as a journalist in Germany, but was engaged to an Englishman, who Sibi didn't like—I remember her telling me how deeply she despised the guy's family.

"Polly, you have such beautiful hair," Sibi said, pulling my hair to one side as she started to braid it. I guffawed at her sudden statement.

"You have beautiful hair," I told her. "Mine looks like a rat's nest almost all the time."

"There are many ways to treat messy hair," she answered. "But you never take proper care of it, Polly. You're so negligent of yourself."

She placed an elastic band around the end of my braid when she finished and let a few tendrils frame my face. Afterwards, she sprayed some rose perfume on my neck and leaned back to scrutinize my face.

"I don't want to boast, but I've done an amazing job," she said, smiling from ear to ear.

I got up to take look in the mirror but Sibi didn't let me.

"Get dressed first," she said.

I put on my dress and my short-heeled sandals and finally looked at my reflection in the mirror. I didn't even know it was possible for me to ever look like this.

"You look spectacular," she said, wide-eyed. I turned to her with a bright smile and hugged her.

"It's all thanks to you. You really are a fashionista, Sibi."

Sibi's smile grew bigger and her cheeks turned red.

"Well, I should start getting ready too," she said.

She applied some dark makeup on her face before slipping on her dress and shoes. She decided to wear a little black velvet dress and a pair of high-heeled platform sandals.

"Trying to look like The Woman in Black?" I said with a smirk. Sibi turned to me with a confused look.

"I'm kidding," I laughed. "You look amazing, you really do."

"Thanks," she said hesitantly, putting on a pair of sparkly earrings. "But who's The Woman in Black?"

Oh, right, Sibi had no idea.

"Nobody," I replied, fighting the urge to laugh. "Just the villain from a muggle horror movie. But I was just joking, you look nothing like her. You look beautiful."

"What's a movie?"

This time I didn't suppress a laugh. Sibi's face remained puzzled for a few seconds, but then she just shrugged it off, grabbed her purse and we both left the dorm room. As soon as we stepped out, we came face-to-face with Christine and Rosalinda, who were about to enter the dormitory.

"Well, don't you two look lovely," said Christine as she took an appreciative look at us.

"Yeah," added Rosalinda brightly. "Your dress is amazing, Polly."

I smiled and murmured a simple 'thanks'.

"Coming to the party, Christine?" Sibi asked.

"Nah, would rather relax in the comfort of my bed," Christine said, waving her hand in dismissal. "Rosa will be there, though."

"Alright then, have fun," Sibi said. "See you at the party, Rosalinda."

They both entered the dormitory, while Sibi and I walked down to the common room, which was surprisingly very quiet. Just at that moment, I saw Mike descending the stairs from the boys' dormitory.

"Hey," he said with a smile, walking towards us. He was wearing a dark suit and tie, and his usually unkempt hair was parted and swept over to one side of his head. "You girls look really great."

"Thanks, Mike. So do you," Sibi said.

"Yeah, it's good to see you take care of yourself for once," I added, smiling. Honestly, it felt so different to see Mike dressed in a suit instead of his usual baggy and shabby clothes, without his unruly hair falling on his forehead and almost covering his eyes completely.

"Says you," he said with a funny look.

"Well, you've got a point."

I glanced over at the wall clock that hung above the fireplace. There were only ten minutes before the party began. We walked out of the portrait hole and headed downstairs. The corridors were packed with students, all of them dressed in fancy clothes, heading to the Christmas party in the Great Hall.

Even the people in the portraits seemed to be in a cheerful mood and the Hogwarts ghosts were floating around, arms linked, waving at the students as they passed. I noticed Nearly-Headless Nick floating alongside the Grey Lady. He inclined his head in a bow when he saw us.

It took about five minutes to get to the Great Hall, because the corridors were overcrowded and we had to walk slowly. Finally, we reached the big oak door that had a floral wreath placed on it.

Filch stood there with a grimace, holding mrs. Norris in his arms.

"Alright, children, step back," he drawled.

We did as we were told as Filch opened the door of the Great Hall to let us all in. I could feel my palms begin to sweat. Noticing my sudden unease, Sibi reached down and squeezed my hand. She offered me a gentle smile as the both of us made our way inside the hall, with Mike following behind.

A sense of excitement built up in my stomach, my mouth crinkling up into a smile. The Christmas party was just about to start.