Welcome to Hex Me U-- Oh Dear.

[crazedxxcreevey]

Date: August 4, 2000
Time: 9 PM
Location: Hex Me Up! at Diagon Alley
Character(s) Involved: Colin Creevey and Lavender Brown; a little of NPC Madam Lorelei
Rating: Between PG and PG-13 -- No, no, nothing's going to happen, but this is Lavender Brown we're talking about.
Status: Complete

Comments

[mslavenderbrown]

When do I get to work with unicorn hair and dragon heartstring? Lavender wondered, walking to her flat in a foul mood. It was nearing dusk. Diagon Alley wasn’t as crowded as it had been this afternoon, when a few people had been watching through the greasy window as Ollivander berated her for not disposing of the doxies properly. He’s working me like a muggle…

As she got nearer the Leaky, she noticed Hex Me Up. That was right - she had told Colin she’d try to come in. She looked down at her dust and dirt covered robes, and decided to go home, first. She took a quick shower and jumped into a teal tank top and short muggle jean skirt. There would be nothing like shopping to cheer her up. She sprayed her lavender scented perfume, and put on some lip gloss. This would be the fist night she had spent out of her hotel room since coming back to England. She needed some fun.

She made her way to Hex Me Up whistling, running her hands through her hair. Lavender liked the way Diagon Alley looked at night. She felt calm inside,

[crazedxxcreevey]

The young salesman couldn't help but wonder how women were able to work with such laces, but forgot that this was the wizarding world. They could do it with magic, can't they? Goodness, how convenient magic can be! It could do so much more than electricity, along with not being the source of pollution. Fuel was needed for electricity and the like.

When he finally managed to get the dress off, Lavender was right there, winking and waving to him. The poor boy nearly went agape, but grinned to hide his embarrassmant. He collected the dress that the doll was previously dressing into his arms, making a gesture for her to come inside, and that he'll be right with her.

However, before he could start putting on the other dress, the mannequin soon jerked back into motion. The arm swung back suddenly, knocking Colin backwards. Few people witnessed this and began to laugh. Colin scrambled back to his feet, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm all right!" he said, laughing himself. "I'm all right."

[mslavenderbrown]

Lavender went ahead in, tilted her head to the side. "You sure you're alright, Colin?" she asked. "Need some help?" She let out a musical laugh. "The mannequin seems to think you're getting a bit fresh. Remember that she's a lady, and be gentle." She pursed her lips together to keep from grinning.

She started looking through the racks nearby the window, keeping half of an eye on Colin. Well, she thought. He grew up pretty well...

"Once you're done giving that mannequin back her modest, Colin," she said. "Are you going to help me find some new robes?" She hadn't really planned on flirting when she came here. Sure, she had seen Colin grow up, along with the dozens of other Gryffindors, but she had still had that image of him running after Harry his first year, the camera in hand, puffing and panting to catch up with his hero. Now, without the camera in his hand, Lavender decided to replace that image with this new one, and she watched him as he fiddled with the mannequin.

[crazedxxcreevey]

"I'm fine," Colin said, giving Lavender a reassuring smile before casting another freezing spell on the mannequin. "And of course. I'll be happy to be of assistance." He couldn't prevent the flush that crept upon his cheeks at the mannequin comment. It took weeks to get used to dressing mannequins, but he was glad it doesn't happen often. The dummy was finally clothed, and he began to fumble with the laces. The outer robe was straightforward, for he just had to slide it on and button a few buttons.

A small sigh of satisfaction passed through parted lips when he stepped out of the showcase area, approaching Lavender. Indeed he had grown, reaching to a height of 5'9 and a half -- he wasn't going to grow any taller than that, though. Still, at least he was taller than Lavender.

And Lavender.. she certainly has grown, as well. Colin kept his eyes on her face, beaming. He always kept his eyes on the customer's faces, because.. well, that's where they should be looking! "Robes for your job, yes?"

[mslavenderbrown]

"Yes," said Lavender, giving a brisk nod, leaning in a bit closer than she had to. She clasped her hands together and held them at her chin. "Some nice new robes for work. And some especially nice things for the Hogsmeade Carnival." When Ollivander had told her that they would be going there a few days ago, she had been angry and upset, though she hid it. She hadn't been to Hogsmeade in ages, and was afraid she'd have even more memories of her Mum in the place that she died. However, as long as she could keep herself busy, and a bit tispy throughout the carnival, she should be fine. Nice new robes would help her find some of the attention that kept her distracted from her own demons

[crazedxxcreevey]

As inexperienced as Colin was, especially with dating, he was still boyfriend material. He could go shopping with girls, for instance, and help them pick out clothing. He would have more than an insincere 'Yes, that'd look wonderful on you.' or 'No, you don't look fat in it.' Well, he won't go calling his girlfriend fat, though. That would be a little too honest, and that particular word was very offensive.

"I think a light, papyrus brown would look nice on you," Colin suggested, plucking out the robes from the racks. "That color along with white, and the golden seams." He eyed the dress that Lavender selected, continuing to smile. "That's a lovely dress, but you should go for something a little paler that'd contrast nicely with your complexion."

He held out the dress he had selected. "I was thinking that Mr. Ollivander liked being traditional, I thought this dress would suit the Carnival," he said. The dress looked like something one would see in Renaissance Italy, but a tad modernized.

[mslavenderbrown]

"I'll have to try it on then," said Lavender. "Where's the dressing room?" She went to take the dress, accidently brushing her hand against his. Tilting her head to the side she shrugged. "Yeah, he is a bit traditional. I don't think he'd pay much attention to what I would be wearing, anyhow. He's obessing over Abraxan feathers and holy right now. Not much time for anything else." She fingered the fabric of the dress. "So, you'll be honest and tell me which one looks good on me, right, Colin?" she looked up into his eyes, giving a toothy smile. "I want to look really nice for the Carnival. I haven't seen most of the old Hogwarts crew. It'd be terrible for them to see me looking shabbily, wouldn't it?"

[crazedxxcreevey]

The brush of the hand didn't bother Colin, actually. It had happened several times, and he dismissed it as, well, accidental. He smiled, nodding his head in the direction of the dressing rooms. "This way," he said, then found Lavender looking at him in the eyes. Colin found it odd for Lavender to look at him that way.

Like Parvati, they'd give him the look as if he wasn't worth their time. Anyway, he was busy idolizing Harry to pay too much attention to girls. "Of course, and I'm positive you'll look just fine for the Carnival. Madam Lorelei makes the nicest outfits."

[mslavenderbrown]

"Hang on just a second," Lavender said, pursing her lips so that the right side of her mouth tilted into a bit of a smile. She felt a little disappointed that Colin didn't seem interested in her. Why? she wondered as she closed the door. It wasn't as though she knew him well. He had always been a kid, right?

"How long have you been working here, Colin?" she asked as she slipped off her clothes. The skirt came down, and she looked at it. She grinned, and then bit her lip to keep from laughing, slipping half of the skirt out through the slit between the floor and the door. "It seems like a nice place to work. How is your employer?" She started slipping the clothes on, and gave herself a critical look in the mirror.

[crazedxxcreevey]

"Take your time," Colin said cheerfully, folding his arms over his chest as he stood outside the stall in the dressing room. As for him being a child, Lavender was half right. Despite his usual jovial demeaner, he has matured over the years. He just hasn't wisened up with... dealing with women, due to his lack of relationships -- more like being devoid of them. He hasn't dated anyone at all.

"Since the last week of April," Colin responded, then blinked when Lavender's skirt was sticking halfway out from beneath the narrow opening of the stall's door. He gave it a curious look, a brow raised. "Madam Lorelei's a nice woman," he said. "Um, are the hooks up? It broke the other day, but I'm sure I put them back up.."

[mslavenderbrown]

"Damn," said Lavender suddenly, "Oh, sorry, Colin, not about.. That's good she's a nice woman." There was a bit of shifting in the dressing booth. Lavender couldn't quite reach the lacings in the back. "Hey, Colin," she said in a sweet voice, opening the door a bit. "Could you help me with these laces? I just can't reach them... I had a bad experience a few days ago doing it by magic. Lost my breath for a few minutes." She leaned forward, giving him a bit of a smile. The neckline, she knew, was a little loose since she wasn't strapped up, so she didn't lean too far forward. "I can't really tell how it looks without it tied properly. Sorry to be a bother.."

[crazedxxcreevey]

Colin just blinked at the sudden use of profanity. Perhaps something was wrong with the dress, or.. And then he was asked to help her with the lacing. He looked at her through the small opening she made, nodding with the usual smile. "Of course, Lav," he chirped, clasping his hands behind his back for a moment.

"And you're not a bother at all! Helping people's my job, afterall."

[mslavenderbrown]

"Thanks," she said, turning. Her bare skin was evident, but she didn't really mind. There was a small blush on her cheeks, as she imagined what Parvati would do if she saw her, practically barebacked with Colin Creevy. Oh well. If Parvati thought anything, she ought to take a closer look at Colin. "Now that you've had practice on the dummy," she teased. "This should be a snap, hm?"

[crazedxxcreevey]

"No problem." Colin moved inside, stepping behind Lavender. He has never done this on a real person before. A real woman. Usually the lady would do the dressing up herself, and sometimes come out of the stall to ask Colin of his opinion. It always made him happy whenever he gave them a more sincere answer than the typical guy. He looked at Lavender's back. ...Lavender's back. He immediately thought of Ron -- had he got to see this? Of course, Colin has seen the bare backs of women before.. Y'know, on beaches where they'd wear bikinis or backless swimsuits. This didn't seem to be any different.

And so he began to work on the laces, glancing up at the back of Lavener's head. "I think this would be a little easier," Colin said with a small chuckle. "The mannequin hits me." And it's only the laces he's dealing with.

[mslavenderbrown]

His touch was light and quick, and Lavender felt a clenching in her stomach. He doesn't think I'm pretty, she thought. Well, fine. She bit her lip, feeling both angry and frustrated. Wasn't she pretty? Plenty of boys told her that she was. And here was Colin, lacing her up as though she was some stranger. She gave a sigh, and forced a smile on her face. "Well, what do you think?" she said, turning. She lifted a hand in a pose, and gave Colin a wink. Do you think I'm beautiful? was what she wanted to ask.