Sophie was on a mission, she only had a short window of time to find her target and set Operation Fairy Godmother into action before she had to be at her next class. Luckily, for Sophie anyway, the probable location of said target was one of two places, and having just left the Great Hall that meant a one Miss Katy Bevans would most likely be in the Library. Rumor had it that the young one had acquired a rather hunky Beauxbatons Beau and had been granted special permission to attend the Yule Ball. A nameless little birdy had also told Sophie that the poor girl was planning on wearing a very darling sweater to the biggest social event of her life and the sixth year couldn't let that happen. There would be lots of other dances and parties to come for Katy but...there was nothing quite like the first formal. It seemed only right that someone help Katy find her way to a proper dress.

Slipping into the vast room, she scanned nearby spaces for the mop of curls she had come to associate with the fourth year before finally landing on the right one. She knew that the girl could be some what abrasive and put distance between herself and others (at least that was what she had gathered from watching the fourth year and listening to people talk). The thing was... Sophie knew how lucky she had been when her first big dance rolled around. She had had dotting parents and two big sisters to help her navigate hair, make up, and most importantly the dress situation. She had felt like a princess and had a whale of a time even sans a date. Passing on the tradition was the least she could do, even if Katy was a loner.

Sliding into the seat across from the brunette she offered a small secretive smile, "Alright Bevans, time for girl talk. Word around the castle is that you've not only managed to land a very interesting and deliciously handsome date for the Yule Ball," she paused resting her chin in her hand, voice even softer as she continued, "the same little birdie might have also mentioned you don't have a dress. What would you say if I told you maybe some sixth year just happened to have a dress she's never worn hanging out in her trunk and also happens to be fairly handy with a needle and thread"? Eyeing the other girl she tried to gauge her reaction, Katy was known for a somewhat explosive temper and the last thing in the world Sophie wanted to do was make her feel like a charity project. She just wanted the Fourth year to have the same wonderful experience she'd had.

Katy was just in the library, doing her homework under the watchful but distant supervision of Mister Morgan, when she was surprisingly and rudely interrupted by a bright and bouncing Sophie Flickwick.  Katy heard her words but it took a few moments for her to understand what the other girl was saying.

"What?" she asked with blunt confusion, just staring at the older girl. 

She twisted in her seat to look over her shoulder at the other students in the library.  There were no eyes on her save Sophie's, but she still suspected this might be some kind of nasty trick or careless joke.  "I'm not sure what you're talking about," Katy brushed it off.  She bowed her head and went back to her homework, trying to ignore the Gryffindor.  Her predicament had certainly traveled quickly.  A few people had asked about the ball, and she'd only briefly and off-handedly mentioned just wearing her uniform skirt and a sweater.  Was her social life really such big news?  Being talked about behind her back made Katy severely uncomfortable.

So being playful and coy obviously wasn't going to work with Katy. Sophie's cute coy appeal wasn't for everyone. Actually her bubbly effervescent nature used to annoy a lot of people. She liked to think she had mellowed considerably since the previous year (what with all the carnage in her life and all), but obviously her phrasing had caused the fourth year to prickle more than slightly. Glancing down at her watch she gave a small sigh, "I overhead you mention that you're planning on wearing your uniform skirt, and I thought maybe I could help".

She pursed her lips to the side and folded her hands on the table top, "This isn't just your first formal dance, it's the only Yule Ball - real Yule Ball you'll probably ever get to go to. I know we're not close but when I heard that it made me remember how lucky I was that I had two older sisters..." her voice trailed off as she played with the ring around her middle finger, feeling a little sad at the thought but quickly pushing it away and focusing back on Katy. "I happen to have a formal dress that I've never worn. The Bonus is it happens to be one of the few things that doesn't scream red and gold pride. It's simple, classic even, and with a couple quick alterations I think it would look lovely on you. A girl's first formal should be special. You have the boy, now I'm offering you the dress - no strings attached".

It was against Katy's nature to accept help in this manner.  Clothing and appearances were really far down on her list of priorities, especially after everything that had happened.  Besides, Katy had never really interacted much with Sophie Flickwick.  Her motivations might not be as innocent and fanciful as she claimed. 

But Katy really  did have a boy.  For the first time in her life, Katy had a date to a school function.  Jay seemed really interested in spending time with her and although part of her balked at the notion that a dress might make him like her more, a small and guilty part of her actually wanted to look nice for him.  Maybe even surprise him, given hopeless she was at this sort of thing. 

With a speculative look, Katy pursed her lips and shrugged.  "I suppose it couldn't hurt to look at," she conceded at last. 

Sophie waited, unaware she was holding her breath until it all came out when the fourth year agreed. The thing about Christmas, at least for Sophie, was that it was a time of year to do for others. As career driven as her mother had been the holidays were spent doing as many good works as possible. Number 12 St. Mary's was a haven for lost souls and orphans this time of year. Ramona Flickwick had instilled in her youngest child a desire to take care of other people in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas. It was going to be different this year but if Sophie was doing things for other people she might not notice the gaping void left by her family's absence.

As she focused her attention on the Hufflepuff in front of her, it seemed to be working. The heavy ache she had been carrying around in her chest the last week lifted a little. She offered a genuine smile as she gave a small nod "Good, meet me in the girl's lavatory tonight at six. I know you're on lock down but I'm assuming they let you out for meals. If I work fast I can figure out how much needs to be taken up or let down and you'll still have time to eat. I'd say we could do it now but I have to get to class. You do have shoes right? Anything black and simple should be fine. I probably have some earrings or something you can borrow if you want - we'll talk more tonight. If I'm late who knows what theatrics Kesali will throw at me," she rolled her eyes a little before shaking her head and offering a small salute to the other girl "See you at six, don't be late if you want to eat".

Katy was a little overwhelmed by the whirlwind of plans that the other girl spat out.  Letting down, pinning up, shoes, colors, earrings, etc.  She could hardly keep up because she'd never been particularly interested in girly things like clothing.  It all just went right over her head and mostly she was content to do so.  But since she'd been asked out for the first time (and been given special permission to go despite her punishment) she felt obligated to give the whole thing her best go.

"I have shoes," she said finally, if somewhat despondently.  They were old and scuffed, hand-me-downs long before they came to Katy, but she could probably spend a little time on them and with luck, elbow grease, and probably magic, they could be halfway decent.  With a faint wave of farewell, Katy shook her head and tried to concentrate on her homework again.  It was difficult though, because all she could think about was whether or not Sophie Flickwick's castoffs would look atrocious on her.