Shopping!

Right before everyone went home for the Christmas holiday, all the girls went shopping for dresses to wear at a ball that the Malfoy's were having. It was the annual ball, and the girls thought it would be fun to go shopping without their mothers. It was just Ara and Mary going though because the other girls were not old enough to go to Hogsmead. They were disappointed at first, but then their mothers said they could go as they got back from school, which made them excited. 

"So what are you going to get?" James asked Ara as they walked to the entrance to meet Mary. 

"I'm not sure. I think I want to get something different, but I don't know what that really means. I am sure Mary is going to have to help me again."

"Well, you know that anything you get, you will look beautiful." James pulled his girlfriend close and kissed her forehead. Ara blushed and smiled into his chest. She really enjoyed being with James, and he really did make her feel special. 

"Ready to go shopping?" Mary had just walked up with a huge smile. She loved shopping. It had grown on her over the years, and how she really loves it. 

"Yes, Mary, are you ready to help me find something to wear again?" 

"Of course!" Mary took Ara's hand, and they started walking out the door but not before James kissed her head one more time.

The girls talked a bunch while they walked, and it felt good to catch up with one another. 

"Here it is Mary, are you ready for tule, lace, diamonds, and more?" Ara smiled at how excited her friend looked at this.

"Yes, I am." 

The girls went into the store and started to look around at everything. There really was so much tule, lace, crystals, designs, and everything else you can ever want in a dress. Mary was thrilled, and Ara was a little overwhelmed. She looked around for a while 

"So Ara, do you think I should get something short or long?"

"I was thinking long. We are older now; it could be nice to wear something long." 

"I was thinking the same thing," Mary looked around again until she found a red dress that she really liked. It was 2 pieces, and the top was off the shoulder, and the bottom was all tule.

"Wow, Mary, that looks great!"

"I think so too. Should I try on some other things to see if I can find something better?"

"No, that is awesome. I love it." Ara smiled at her friend. She liked the two-piece dress and thought maybe she could find something like that, but she also didn't want to copy Mary either, "Mary, would you be upset if I got a two-piece dress too?"

"No, of course not! Don't be ridiculous."

"I think I like that style; I might try and find something like that."

"Alright, I'll get changed, and I can help you look alright," Mary went into the dressing room and got back into her clothes before going back toward Ara. She was holding up a few different dresses. None of which Mary really liked at all. One was a purplish color that seemed too old for her, and another was black. Ara had worn black the past few years, and Mary was determined to find something with color for her friend.

"What about this?" Mary held up a gree bottom. It was satin and plain, but it looked beautiful.

"I like it, but there is no top," Ara clearly needed a top to the skirt. 

"Well, we can find one." Mary took the dresses from Ara and put them back before handing her the skirt so she could find some tops that would match. Hopefully, she or Ara would find something she liked and that matched well. 

They had a few different options, and Mary hoped one of them would work. 

"I like this white one, Mary, but I don't think I can wear white. I am so pale, to begin with, plus I have blonde hair. Isn't it going to wash me out?"

"Ara, your hair is getting darker every year. It isn't nearly as blonde as when we were younger, plus out of the three of you, you are the least pale. I think it looks great. Plus, look at all the beading. It is awesome. "

Ara looked at herself in the mirror more and more, and the longer she stood there, the more she finally liked the dress. It wasn't as hard to find something as she thought it would be, and she was grateful for Mary for being such a good friend. She really always pulled through for her, and it made her really happy. 

"Can you believe that we found dresses so fast?" Ara asked Mary as they walked back to the castle, bags in hand.

"No, it is great because I have a lot of studying to do actually."

"Me too; what classes do you have to study for?" Ara thought that maybe they could study together. But Mary had the opposite subjects to study, then she did, and they both knew that if they went to the library together, they were going to talk and not get any work done. So Mary went to the library, and Ara went back to her common room before dinner. She was excited to show Scorpius her dress; she thought he was going to like it. 

"Scorpius look at the dress I got for the ball," Ara showed it to him with a smile on her face. He looked at it curiously and then up at her. He was her older brother by a couple of minutes, but not really. However, he took the title very seriously. 

"Where is the middle section of it?"

"What?"

Ara held the two pieces up in front of her and frowned. She loved what she had decided on and thought her brothers were going to like it too.

"I mean, it is beautiful, but why is it not connected?"

"That isn't the style dress I got, and I could have gotten something far more revealing." Ara frowned harder. Sometimes she hated being a girl with an overprotective father and two brothers her age. She just wanted them to like it.

"It is gorgeous; I didn't realize that was a style now."

"Milly and Margret wore dresses like this a couple of years ago, and they were far younger then than I am now." Ara was still upset, and Scorpius was sensing that. 

"Ara, I'm sorry. I should have told you how pretty it is because truthfully it is a great dress. Great color too. I shouldn't worry about you. I do because you are dating James. And James is, you know."

"No, I don't know."

"Well, he's such a boy."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, I don't want him to get the wrong idea and hurt you or do something that would make you uncomfortable or anything. I am not sure how to explain it."

"Scopriusy James doesn't act like that around me; he is respectful and treats me like a lady. Plus, if he didn't, I could handle it myself."

"I know you could. I don't want your friendship to be ruined either because the two of you are dating. Forget I even brought it up. The dress looks great."

"That you Scorp." Ara hugged her brother. She rarely got upset with them and instantly felt guilty about being mean about it. She just knew how to handle herself and wanted everyone to realize so. Just because she had two brothers the same age as her didn't mean she couldn't do things herself. She was glad the younger set of triplets there were two girls. Maybe things would be better for her little sisters. She sure hoped so.