What Does This Feeling Mean

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A/N: This one was meant to be a bit silly.


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Sixteen - Girls Will Be Girls

I jumped as a small knock echoed from my door.

"Jewel? It's us," Hermione called through.

I ran to the door and swung it open. "Pansy! Hermione! I'm so happy you guys are here!" I yelled as I hugged each girl into my room. "Here, give me your gowns so I can hang them up, and have a seat anywhere," I gushed. I carefully put each dress into my closet, and turned around to see the two of them still standing where I left them. "Are you guys that uncomfortable?" Hermione nervously started to fidget with her hands, while Pansy kept to her scowl.

"Okay. Hermione, bed." I pointed to the corner of my bed, and Hermione sat, both feet still on the ground. "Pansy, chair," I stated and she took her seat in a chair that sat near my dresser. I looked at them as though I was going to scold a couple of children who couldn't play nice. Then I followed with a smile, which got the reaction I wanted. "I must say that I am very proud to have you girls here. I mean, look at us! Hufflepuff aside, we have the cream of the crop here! The best from Slytherin," Pansy smiled proudly, "the best from Gryffindor," Hermione shyly smirked and nodded, "and last, but not least... me!" I said, giving a dramatic diva pose. Pansy was the first to laugh, shortly followed by Hermione.

As time passed, everybody slowly let their guard down, and it wasn't long before we were all sitting on my bed, acting like silly girls at a slumber party.

"So who's your date tonight, Hermione?" Pansy asked, taking a bite of some chocolate that she had brought.

"Ron Weasley," Hermione answered. Pansy stuck out her tongue in disgust, which made me laugh. Hermione giggled and shook her head. "He's really quite charming when he wants to be! Who's your date then?"

Pansy cracked a small smile. "Gregory Goyle," she smirked. Hermione stuck her finger in her mouth as though she was trying to throw up, and I laughed twice as hard. I was quickly forced to stop when a couple of pillows told me to.

"I'm sorry! Okay! You guys are just so funny!" I laughed. They relinquished their attack and went back to the chocolate. "You should've seen the look on your faces. Ron Weasley... oh... Gregory Goyle!" I exaggerated, batting my eyes, and putting my laced fingers by my face in an angelic pose.

"Oh come off it!" Pansy giggled. "So how would you look talking about... Draco Malfoy?!" she smiled as she copied my pose.

"Don't even get me started! I could write a romance novel when I'm talking about him!"

Hermione started laughing, while Pansy looked at us, quite confused. "What the bloody hell is a romance novel? Is it what it sounds like?"

Hermione chimed in. "It's a popular type of muggle book about unrealistic romances," she stated. I gave Hermione a look of slight shock at her bluntness of the subject. "You know. Like guy meets girl, they fall in love, his hair blows in the wind that's not there, and her body is always heaving somewhere or another."

I exploded in laughter. "And the sexual tension stays ever so intense through the entire bloody thing! Basically they're either a happily ever after kind of story, or just a book with some well written sex scenes loaded with innuendo."

"It sounds duff to me," Pansy stated.

"True," Hermione agreed. "Some of them are pretty stupid. There was one that I did like though. What was it called? Oh! Warriors Woman!"

I screeched. "I've read that one! It is good! He basically holds her captive, and sexually teases the hell out of her through most of the book!"

Pansy shot up in her seat. "Is the warrior you're talking about that muggle man who wears that loin cloth thing to cover his willy?"

Hermione and I looked at each other and broke into laughter again. Pansy threw another pillow at us while giggling herself.

"That's Tarzan, but actually, I think the warrior did!" I managed to say above our cackles.

"Oh shit! We have an hour to get ready!" I said as I realized what time it was. We took our giggles to the bathroom, where we proceeded to put on our faces and perfect our hair.

Hermione and I had a hell of a time helping Pansy into her dress, magic or no. It was a beautiful sleeveless green gown, that couldn't be worn unless the two feet of buttons in back were fastened. Hermione's dress was much easier. She wore a purple long sleeve dress that had a plunging neckline, and more importantly, a zipper. I grabbed my dress from the closet, and smiled as I finally got to put it on again.

"Are those real?" Pansy asked, pointing at the diamond accents.

"Yeah, they are," I said as I put on my shoes, and switched my normal gloves with the ones for my dress. "You haven't seen anything yet!" I walked to my trunk, released the charm on the lock, and took out my box.

"Merlin's beard!" Hermione gasped as I set each item carefully on the bed.

"Those are ace Jewel! Oh, put them on!" Pansy exclaimed as she picked up the bracelet and put it on my left wrist.

I snapped on my anklet, and put on my earrings while I stood in front of my dresser mirror. "Now the necklace."

"I've got that," Hermione said as she placed it around me, and clasped the hook behind the cascade of curls that ran down the middle of my back. The chain seemed to disappear against my olive skin, and the diamond laid to rest slightly above my cleavage.

"Beautiful!" Hermione sighed, stepping back.

"Me, or the diamonds?" I chuckled.

"Pish! Both!" Pansy laughed.

I looked at the time, and took a deep breath. "You guys are wonderful. Thanks, both of you, for doing this."

"You're so very welcome Jewel! Happy birthday!" Hermione grinned.

"Yeah, your worth it."

"Okay, gimme hug!" I yelled. Pansy sprung up, and we all gave each other a quick bear hug.

"Alright! Party time! Let's go, I'm starving!" Hermione said making her way to the door.

"We really have to do this again sometime," Pansy stated as we walked through the common room.

"I agree. Maybe when school's out or something!"

"You're not going soft, are you Pansy?" Hermione asked.

"Hell no! And if you guys tell anyone about this, heads will roll!"

I laughed. "Don't make threats Pansy. I'll tell Goyle about your fascination with loin cloths!"


We continued laughing through the halls, while getting a variety of looks from students who were roaming around. Pansy strutted proudly in the fact that she was invited, while all the on-lookers were not. We rounded the last corner and saw Professor McGonagall with Argus Filch, the castle caretaker, along with Mrs. Norris, his cat, waiting in front of the Great Hall.

"My, you three look stunning!" McGonagall gushed as we walked up. "You girls go ahead in," she said to my companions. Hermione and Pansy smiled at me, and then stepped by the door to go inside. "Wouldn't Cassie be so proud," she said taking a good look at me. "Such beauty in a young woman."

"Thank you Minerva. You've been more than gracious to me."

"Oh stop," she smiled. "Now lets get to your party! Filch, only an emergency opens these doors, okay?"

"Sure," he responded, never changing his demeanor.

I peeked around the door to see the hall so beautifully decorated. I slowly walked in as I took in the sight. Huge Christmas trees lined the hall, but they were now tinseled with glittering party hats and bows. The bewitched ceiling rained confetti from it's heavens that never quite made it to the ground. In the far corner of the hall, a small orchestra filled the entire hall with beautiful music. Finally, two long tables sat on each side of the room filled with food, and up near the front, stood a very big, six tier birthday cake.

As I started to look at the people inside, the doors echoed in their closing behind me. The entire hall hushed as everyone turned at once to look in my direction. I felt my face flush as I peered at all the gazes that had now found me.

"Hi," I giggled.

The crowd erupted in applause, and many of them leaped from their seats to welcome me. After a gaggle of hugs to my various friends, Harry made his way through with his date.

"Harry!" I smiled, hugging him tight. "And who is this lovely lady?"

"Oh, Jewel. This is Cho Chang. We're just friends actually."

"Very nice to finally meet you formally Jewel," she beamed as she shook my hand.

"The pleasure's mine Cho. Ravenclaw right? Yes, and you didn't take Divination, no wonder! Just make sure this one stays out of trouble!" I winked, referring to Harry. They grinned at each other as Ron and Hermione approached.

"Wow!" Ron exclaimed, mouth agate as usual. "You look cracking Jewel!"

"Thank you Ron. You look very handsome too I must say," I gushed. As he smiled and looked at Hermione, I quickly put on the angelic face that I had made in the room. She swatted at me and left explaining to a question filled Ron that it was nothing.

Pansy smiled as she walked up to the side of me. She stood for a second, and simply pointed to the middle of the room. I followed her finger and my heart skipped a beat. There he stood. My present. Gift wrapped in a tux, and waiting to be opened. The only thing I really wanted, no matter what day it was. My date, Draco Malfoy.

TBC...