”What about this one Matilda, it would look fabulous with your hair.”[i] Allegra asked, holding up a dress in a vibrant green color. This wasn’t an emerald green, or mint or even kelly. If pressed, the only world that came to mind was pea soup. If she said those words aloud Allegra would scowl. Then buy the dress anyway just to spite her.
Chartreuse… that was the color.
While it was true that Matilda looked great in green, this shade didn’t look good on anyone. Thankfully it was a summer cut, so she had a good excuse to leave it on the rack.
”We’ve found a lot of summer dresses, I was hoping for some more fall and winter options. I’m sure there will be occasions over the Christmas holiday.”
Allegra nodded, putting the offending fabric back on the rack. Drago would be so proud of her. No swear words were said, even though a few choice ones came to mind at the site of the dress.
Look at that… being all lady-like.
[i]”I’m sure you will need a few for Hogsmeade visits. A nice rust orange could be nice.”
For the love of all things holy, this woman must be color blind. For Merlin’s sake, SHE was also a red head, why would she ever think that rust orange would look good with her flaming red hair.
Not wanting to fight, Matilda kept her mouth shut. Being magical gave her the advantage of transfiguration. The color could be changed. And it would be.
"What about this one, Matilda? It would look fabulous with your hair," Allegra asked, holding up a dress in a violent shade of green.
This wasn't emerald. Or mint. Or even kelly.
If Matilda had to describe it, the closest comparison that came to mind was pea soup. She wisely kept that observation to herself.
Chartreuse. That was the word.
While she generally looked wonderful in green, this particular shade looked good on absolutely no one. Thankfully it was cut for summer, which gave her the perfect excuse to leave it where it belonged.
"We've found quite a few dresses for summer," Matilda said pleasantly. "I was hoping we might look for something for autumn and winter instead. I'm sure there will be plenty of occasions over Christmas."
Allegra nodded approvingly before returning the offending garment to the rack.
Drago would be so proud. Not a single sarcastic remark had escaped her lips. She was practically becoming civilized.
"I'm sure you'll need several for Hogsmeade weekends. Perhaps a lovely rust orange."
Matilda smiled. She smiled because Mrs. Beaumont had spent an entire afternoon explaining that ladies did not visibly shriek in horror. She smiled because apparently she was now an expert in self control.
She smiled because if she opened her mouth right now, she might accidentally ask whether Allegra had recently become color blind.
Rust orange. On a redhead. Merlin save her.
Instead, she tried to look anywhere but at her grandmother.
"That would be... memorable." It wasn't a lie. Fortunately, transfiguration existed.
If the woman actually bought the dress, it would mysteriously become emerald green the first chance Matilda got.
As they continued through the boutique, bolts of fabric and racks of dresses surrounded them in every direction. Silk, lace, velvet, chiffon. Enough clothing to outfit a small country.
Matilda's attention drifted toward the front of the shop, more interested in watching the people passing outside than another lecture on proper sleeve lengths. Without looking where she was going, she stepped backward.
Directly into someone.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she said automatically, turning to face her victim.
Her eyes widened. For just a heartbeat she simply stared. Then every lesson about composure, manners and the appropriate way to greet a friend nearly flew out the window.
"...Kate?"
Chartreuse… that was the color.
While it was true that Matilda looked great in green, this shade didn’t look good on anyone. Thankfully it was a summer cut, so she had a good excuse to leave it on the rack.
”We’ve found a lot of summer dresses, I was hoping for some more fall and winter options. I’m sure there will be occasions over the Christmas holiday.”
Allegra nodded, putting the offending fabric back on the rack. Drago would be so proud of her. No swear words were said, even though a few choice ones came to mind at the site of the dress.
Look at that… being all lady-like.
[i]”I’m sure you will need a few for Hogsmeade visits. A nice rust orange could be nice.”
For the love of all things holy, this woman must be color blind. For Merlin’s sake, SHE was also a red head, why would she ever think that rust orange would look good with her flaming red hair.
Not wanting to fight, Matilda kept her mouth shut. Being magical gave her the advantage of transfiguration. The color could be changed. And it would be.
"What about this one, Matilda? It would look fabulous with your hair," Allegra asked, holding up a dress in a violent shade of green.
This wasn't emerald. Or mint. Or even kelly.
If Matilda had to describe it, the closest comparison that came to mind was pea soup. She wisely kept that observation to herself.
Chartreuse. That was the word.
While she generally looked wonderful in green, this particular shade looked good on absolutely no one. Thankfully it was cut for summer, which gave her the perfect excuse to leave it where it belonged.
"We've found quite a few dresses for summer," Matilda said pleasantly. "I was hoping we might look for something for autumn and winter instead. I'm sure there will be plenty of occasions over Christmas."
Allegra nodded approvingly before returning the offending garment to the rack.
Drago would be so proud. Not a single sarcastic remark had escaped her lips. She was practically becoming civilized.
"I'm sure you'll need several for Hogsmeade weekends. Perhaps a lovely rust orange."
Matilda smiled. She smiled because Mrs. Beaumont had spent an entire afternoon explaining that ladies did not visibly shriek in horror. She smiled because apparently she was now an expert in self control.
She smiled because if she opened her mouth right now, she might accidentally ask whether Allegra had recently become color blind.
Rust orange. On a redhead. Merlin save her.
Instead, she tried to look anywhere but at her grandmother.
"That would be... memorable." It wasn't a lie. Fortunately, transfiguration existed.
If the woman actually bought the dress, it would mysteriously become emerald green the first chance Matilda got.
As they continued through the boutique, bolts of fabric and racks of dresses surrounded them in every direction. Silk, lace, velvet, chiffon. Enough clothing to outfit a small country.
Matilda's attention drifted toward the front of the shop, more interested in watching the people passing outside than another lecture on proper sleeve lengths. Without looking where she was going, she stepped backward.
Directly into someone.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she said automatically, turning to face her victim.
Her eyes widened. For just a heartbeat she simply stared. Then every lesson about composure, manners and the appropriate way to greet a friend nearly flew out the window.
"...Kate?"
If you tell a redhead
NOTto do something
She’ll do itTWICE
and take pictures....
TWICE
