Slytherins, Kisses and Other Disasters
Copyright© 2026 by Caroline Stanton
Chapter 10: Getting Ready
Saturday morning arrived considerably sooner than Victoria Crabbe would have liked.
She woke at seven, stared at the ceiling for several minutes, and considered the possibility of going back to sleep. Unfortunately, every time she closed her eyes, she remembered that she had a date with Harry Potter in three hours, and her stomach performed a peculiar little movement that had nothing whatsoever to do with hunger.
She’d faced Quidditch matches against Gryffindor with less anxiety. At half past seven, she gave up, climbed out of bed, and went to wash. When she returned, Draconia was already awake, sitting at her dressing table and brushing her hair. Georgina, meanwhile, was still buried beneath her blankets, determined to sleep until noon. Victoria looked at the pile of clothes she’d arranged on her bed the previous evening. Then at the mirror. Then at the clothes again. Draconia caught her reflection.
“Good morning, Victoria.”
“Morning.”
“Sleep well?”
“Not particularly.”
Draconia smiled.
“I thought as much.”
Victoria scowled.
“Don’t start.”
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You’re smiling.”
“Am I not allowed to smile on a Saturday morning?”
“Not like that.”
Draconia laughed softly and set down her brush.
“Well, you’ve got plenty of time. We can decide what you’re wearing after breakfast.”
Victoria looked at the clothes.
“That’s the problem.”
“What is?”
“I haven’t got a bloody clue what to wear.”
From beneath the blankets came a muffled voice.
“Something with sleeves.”
Victoria turned.
“Shut up, Georgina.”
“Something with a skirt, then.”
“Go back to sleep.”
“Can’t. You’re being too bloody loud.”
Georgina threw back her blankets, sat up, and yawned extravagantly. Then she looked at Victoria. A grin spread across her face.
“Oh, Merlin. Today’s the day.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Please don’t.”
“Victoria Crabbe’s first date.”
“Georgina.”
“With Harry bloody Potter.”
Victoria picked up a pillow. Georgina immediately raised both hands.
“All right! All right!”
Draconia sighed.
“Could we perhaps get through breakfast before you two start throwing things?”
By half past eight, the three girls were back in their dormitory. Victoria stood in front of her bed, surveying the clothing that had accumulated since Thursday’s extraordinary gathering. Some of the garments were hers. Others had been lent by the girls who’d helped with the makeover, and a few had been given to her outright.
There was the fitted red jumper she’d received as a gift, a dark-green jumper, several tops, a couple of skirts, and the two dresses she’d tried on during the afternoon. Draconia examined the collection.
“Right. We need something suitable for Hogsmeade.”
Georgina picked up the light-blue sundress.
“This?”
Draconia looked at it.
“It’s October, Georgina.”
“So?”
“So Victoria might prefer not to freeze to death.”
Georgina considered that.
“Fair point.”
She tossed the dress aside. Victoria caught it before it hit the floor.
“Oi! Be careful with that. It’s borrowed.”
Georgina grinned.
“Listen to you.”
“What?”
“Two days ago you were throwing your clothes everywhere. Now you’re worried about creasing a dress.”
Victoria scowled.
“Because it isn’t mine, you idiot.”
Draconia picked up the fitted red jumper.
“This would be lovely.”
Victoria looked at it.
“Really?”
“Yes. The colour suits you.”
“Definitely.”
Victoria held it against herself and examined the mirror. She liked it. It was soft, comfortable, and fitted without being excessively tight. More importantly, it didn’t make her look as though she’d borrowed clothing from a much larger person.
“All right,” she said. “Red jumper.”
“Now, the skirt.”
Georgina immediately selected the short black one Victoria had worn during the makeover.
“This.”
Victoria looked at it.
“Again?”
“Why not?”
“It’s bloody short.”
Georgina grinned.
“You’ve got nice legs.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what’s the point?”
Victoria hesitated. She wasn’t entirely certain. She’d liked the skirt when she’d worn it on Thursday. She’d liked how it looked with the red jumper, and she’d particularly liked how the other girls had complimented her. But that had been in the dormitory. Then the Slytherin common room. This was different. She was going to Hogsmeade. With Potter. And he was going to be looking at her. Draconia seemed to understand.
“Victoria, you don’t have to wear anything you’re uncomfortable in.”
Victoria looked at her.
“I know.”
“We can choose something longer.”
Georgina nodded.
“Or trousers.”
Victoria considered the options. Then she looked at the black skirt again. She’d spent years hiding her figure beneath oversized clothes. She’d enjoyed discovering that she could dress differently, and she’d promised herself she wouldn’t retreat into her old habits. Besides, she’d looked rather good in that skirt.
“Fuck it,” she said. “I’ll wear it.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Draconia nodded approvingly.
“With tights, I think.”
Victoria looked relieved.
“Yes. Definitely.”
Choosing the rest of the outfit took another twenty minutes. The tights were easy enough. Draconia suggested opaque black ones, which would keep Victoria warm and work well with the skirt. The shoes were more complicated. One of the girls had lent Victoria a pair of pretty shoes with a small heel, but Victoria regarded them with deep suspicion.
“I’m not wearing those.”
Draconia glanced at them.
“Why not?”
“Because I’ll break my bloody neck.”
“They’re hardly high heels.”
“They’re heels.”
Georgina picked one up.
“Could be worse.”
Victoria stared at her.
“You’re not helping.”
“Just saying.”
Victoria took the shoe from her.
“Besides, I’m already nearly six feet tall. I don’t need to be any taller.”
Draconia considered that.
“Fair enough. What about your black ankle boots?”
Victoria looked towards her wardrobe. Her boots were comfortable, practical, and familiar. They had a low heel, but nothing that would make walking difficult. She’d worn them around Hogwarts countless times.
“Those?”
“Yes. They’ll look very nice with the skirt and tights.”
“Finally. Something sensible.”
Georgina laughed.
“Merlin forbid we make you wear anything sensible.”
Victoria gave her the finger. They settled on the boots. Then came the coat. Victoria owned a heavy winter cloak, of course, but Draconia suggested a dark fitted coat she’d borrowed from another girl, which would keep her warm without hiding the entire outfit. Victoria tried it on. It fitted well across her shoulders and waist, although the sleeves were a little shorter than she’d have preferred. She turned towards the mirror.
“Not bad.”
Draconia smiled.
“Not bad at all.”
Georgina nodded.
“Potter’s going to swallow his tongue.”
Victoria blushed.
“Oh, fuck off.”
By nine o’clock, Victoria was dressed. The red jumper fitted her beautifully. The black skirt and opaque tights gave the outfit a neat, feminine appearance without making her feel overdressed, and her boots were comfortable enough for walking around Hogsmeade. She stood before the mirror. Turned slightly. Then looked over her shoulder. Georgina watched her.
“Well?”
Victoria smiled.
“Yeah. I like it.”
Draconia nodded.
“Good. Now sit down.”
Victoria turned.
“What?”
“Your hair and makeup.”
Victoria stared.
“Oh, bloody hell.”
“You didn’t think we were finished, did you?”
Victoria looked at the dressing table. Draconia had already arranged several brushes, a small eyeshadow palette, a lipstick, and a few other items. Victoria groaned.
“How long is this going to take?”
“Not very long.”
“That’s what they said on Thursday.”
“And you survived.”
“Barely.”
Georgina pulled out the chair.
“Sit.”
Victoria looked at her.
“You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“Absolutely.”
Victoria sat. Draconia began with her hair. Victoria had washed it that morning, and it was still slightly damp. Draconia brushed it carefully, working through the long black strands until they fell smoothly over her shoulders. Georgina stood nearby, offering entirely unnecessary commentary.
“Could put it up.”
Draconia shook her head.
“No. I think she should wear it loose.”
“Could braid it.”
“Perhaps a little at the sides.”
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