Anthony looked up at her and said, "No, I have no other pressing matters. I can take care of it straight away." He took the files from Simone and asked, "Will you be needing anything else?"

 "Yes, this week seems to be a little hectic as far as obliviating goes. If you finish those before Friday, please come talk to me. I will be needing all the help I can get." She smiled at him, "Thanks, Anthony."

 "No worries. This is what I am here for," he said as he returned her smile. He opened up the first file and while glancing at it spoke, "Well if that is all..."

 "Yes, that's all- oh Tracey, hi. Come in, come in," she said seeing Tracey at the door. She rose from her desk and walked over to where Tracey was standing. "Tracey Davis, this is Anthony Goldstein. He's one of our top Obliviators." 

 Anthony shuffled the files from one hand to the other as he held his hand out to Tracey, "Nice to meet you." He turned back to Simone and smiling said, "I'll be off then." He rose the files in his hand and said, "I will take care of this right away," as he walked out of the door giving one last nod to Tracey.

 Tracey nodded and smiled as the man walk out of the office. When she turned to her friend after the door closed she smirked at her, "You sure you want to date Potter when you've got someone perfectly fit right there in your department?" Simone rolled her eyes and Tracey walked toward the window, fingering the glass. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I hope you really didn't have anything very important planned for this afternoon. I've been really looking forward to today."

"Who, Anthony?" Simone thought about it for a moment. "No, he's not really my type. Besides, we work together and it wouldn't go well; I'm his boss." She leaned on her desk while looking over at Tracey at the window, "Don't worry about yesterday. I had a bunch of stuff that I had to do anyway." She smiled, "Turns out today was the better day after all." Simone grabbed her jacket and purse and opened the office door. "Shall we head off then? I'm not sure what luck I will have in finding a dress. We might need the whole rest of the afternoon," she said sighing.

"At least the whole rest of the afternoon will be spent out of the office, spending lots of money and having people cater to us hand and foot. It's one of the main reasons I started shopping with Pansy... she gets people to fawn all over her and now they do the same when I walk into the shops. They couldn't bare having one of Miss Parkinson's friends unhappy with their service. I was thinking Paris... is that all right with you?" she asked as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and adjusted the scarf around her neck.

"Wow, I didn't even think of going out of London... When you shop, you really shop," she said as she laughed. "Sure that's no problem." As they walked off the lifts and towards the Apparition point Simone asked, "Where in Paris? I haven't been there in years, you might have to Side-Apparate with me." 

Tracey grinned. "I don't make it there as often as I'd like to. Usually I just shop for things I don't need... so I just stay close to home. This is a special event. I pride myself on being the best looking girl in the room at my parties. I can share that title with you this time, but only because you're you."

As they stepped into the chamber, Tracey softly took the other woman's arm and after a few uncomfortable seconds they found themselves in a cavernous stone room. "You'd think they would upgrade to something a little more 21st century, wouldn't you?" Tracey muttered under her breath to her friend. The Lumière Magique shopping district in Paris was notorious for having the most fashionable shops in wizarding Europe, but their main Apparition Point looked like something out of the Middle Ages. "Shall we, then? I know there is an entire boulevard dedicated to formal wear."

"Yes, it is a little... dank." Simone looked around, "You'd think if they were trying to get people to shop here they'd lighten it up a bit." They walked out onto the street and toward the first shop. "Do you want to look here? Or do you want to go someplace in particular first?" She looked into the window and saw some particularly drab dresses. "Maybe not here... I don't know. You pick, this is your trip," she said to Tracey smiling.

Tracey shook her head and smiled, "This is our trip. But yes... I have an idea. The Oeillet is just down here and it's where I found this gorgeous back dress that was deliciously  low cut and shocked the hell out of Blaise when I wore it to the Baddington Heights Memorial Dinner last year." In order to clear up any possible confusion, she added, "Blaise Zabini is my best friend and was, up until now, my only date to these things. Oh, the temper tantrums he'd throw when I'd pop over to the Manor and tell him about another event I'd need a date for. They'd rival Draco's tantrums, and that's saying something." Tracey smiled thinking on it and guided Simone toward a small shop that looked like it had no business to belong among the other more flashy stores.

 "Blaise Zabini? Yes, I think I've heard of him before." Simone smirked in Tracey's direction and said, "All the girls in Ravenclaw talked about him constantly."

Tracey giggled, "He's every bit as good a kisser as they said... though I only did it the once." Stepping up to the door, she held it open and allowed Simone to walk through ahead of her. She whispered, "Don't let it's facade fool you. Inside it houses one of the most talented witches in France. She'll take one look at us and know what we ought to wear to this thing."

Entering into the small shop, Tracey's shoulders went back and a calm professional manner took hold of her. When among the staff she was no longer 'Tracey-the-friend', she was 'Miss Tracey Davis of Whittom Park here to spend money and have people fawn all over her'. She managed a quick smile at Simone before looking positively bored at the salesclerk.

 "You KISSED- oh." Simone turned to the salesclerk and smiled. "Yes hello, we have a ball to attend- that we are actually planning I mean, and we need proper gowns." She nodded and looked to Tracey.

Tracey glanced at the head clerk. "Is Madam Fournier in the shop today?" At her nod, Tracey continued, "Then tell her that Miss Davis is here from London and I insist she help us personally."

The little woman hurried into the back, speaking rapid French in a flurried tone as soon as she heard Tracey's name. Not a moment later, a large woman with an infectious smile walked through the small doorway with her arms held out. "Mademoiselle Tracey, you've come back!" She kissed a now smiling Tracey on either side of her cheeks and then moved to do the same to Simone. "And you've brought such a pretty friend with you. What can Madam Fournier help you ladies with this afternoon? Pretty sleepwear? Ah non... I can see it, you need a ball gown. Oui, oui, a ball gown. I know just the thing for both of you. Colours, colours. What is the event? What are your escorts wearing? Will there be dancing?"

Tracey grinned as the woman nattered on and looked toward Simone as if to say, 'I told you she'd know' "This is Simone Capper. She and I are planning the hottest Ministry event of the season and as usual, we need to be the most stunning women in the room. Why don't you just tell her what you had in mind for a dress, Simone? It will help Madam understand what you're looking for before she tells you it's all wrong and that you must actually wear something else."

Simone smiled at Madam Fournier. "I think that I want something black and form fitting. I'm the one behind this whole thing, well along with Tracey here," she glanced at Tracey, "and I need to be able to walk around in it comfortably the whole time. So I don't think a huge ball gown will work."

 Madam Fournier smiled and nodded. "Oui, oui madam. Je comprends tout. Something black." She leaned to her assistant and whispered in her ear. The assistant nodded and hurried off to the back of the store. Madam ushered them into a private room, "Now, have a seat, s'il vous plaît." She motioned to the seats opposite a walled mirror. She turned to her other assistant and said, "Bring these lovely ladies a bottle of our finest champagne, oui?" The second assistant hurried out of the room. "Now for you Mademoiselle Tracey, what would you like to wear to your ball?" Madam asked.

 Tracey hadn't thought about designs but she knew she wanted light colours. Theo would be wearing dark colours, it seemed he always wore dark, and she wanted to shine next to him. "Light, Madam Fournier, the only thing I ask is that it be light. You tell me what I should wear. I learnt a long time ago to defer to your very excellent judgment."

 The first assistant rushed back in with a few dresses floating behind her. "Ah, mademoiselle Simone, would you like to step into the room to your left and try these on? Merci beaucoup."

 Simone stood up and looked nervously to Tracey while she walked into the small room to change into the dresses that had been placed in there by the assistant. She closed the door and thought, Where to start? Hmm. Well, might as well start at the top. She took off her work clothes and pulled the first of the dresses off the hanger. After she had it on she walked out into the room to glare at Tracey. Tracey suppressed a giggle and Simone turned to Madam.

 "I am sorry, Madam, but I don't really think this one will work out..." Simone managed to say nicely.

 "Oh, don't fret mademoiselle. Please go back and try on another." Madam Fournier said as she smiled. 

 Simone sighed and walked back into her room. Taking off the hideous dress, she tried on another that looked suspiciously like the first one. She returned back outside and said, "I don't think this one will work either. Maybe strapless?" She looked to Tracey as she nodded. "Yeah... I think I want strapless." Anything to get rid of these ugly dresses with the weird neck-things. I don't care if they are in style. They are ugly and uncomfortable...

Madam Fournier nodded and snapped her fingers as an assistant shot out of the back room. Madam whispered to her and she was off running into the other room. The second assistant returned with champagne and glasses on a silver plate. She set them down on the table in-between the chairs and poured them each a glass. "Please, take a glass," Madam Fournier said, gesturing to the glasses." Simone sat down in her uncomfortable attire and drank champagne while waiting for her new dresses. The assistant with Tracey's dresses returned, and the brunette managed to roll her eyes and grin as she was ushered her into another room.

Normally Tracey didn't like being manhandled while dressing but some of the suggested designs required extra help. As another piece of sheer organza was wrapped around her, she managed a whisper to the clerk, "I know I told Madam 'light' but I did mean a little colour. These are are a bit billowy and they're all gray. Would you mind sneaking in something a little more classic... maybe light blue or pink?"

The clerk nodded quickly and murmured that Tracey ought to present herself to Madam while she rushed into the back unnoticed. "I may have just zee thing. Madam will think I brought it to you by mistake but I promise you, it will be perfect." 

Nodding, Tracey walked out into the mirrored room and gave Simone a brief wide-eyed look of horror before smiling at Madam Fournier. The designer took one look at Tracey and waved her back into the dressing room. "Non, Non. You are all washed out. Try again."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Tracey happily found the assistant clerk back in the small room with a subtle pink dress over her arm. "Try zees one, Mademoiselle. I designed it myself. I'm sure you'll be beautiful in it, even Madam will see." 

Tracey stepped into the dress and sighed happily as the silk brushed her skin. The neckline was low and accentuated her long neck. With a flick of her wand her hair cascaded in curls down her back and she swirled a bit. The skirt flared and Tracey ran her hands over the puckered fabric. It's perfect! she thought happily. 

As she stepped out of the dressing room she could tell that Madam thought so as well. "Magnifique! You must wear that one, my dear. Mitzi must have anticipated my whim and brought you that pink, though I don't think I've seen that dress in the shop before.." The woman continued fawning, adjusting things here and there on the shoulders and at the hem. Tracey turned back to the doorway and gave little Mitzi a brilliant smile and mouthed, 'Thank you.'

Tracey happily returned to the dressing room and got back into her tweeds just as the first clerk returned with an armful of black strapless gowns for Simone. They looked much better than the last round of dresses. Hopefully Simone would find something... there were still shoes to shop for and pastries to eat sometime today.

She stepped out into the main room just as Simone was allowing herself to be ushered into the small dressing room. "It was lovely. Really perfect, Tracey," Simone said with a smile. 

Simone sighed as she looked at the new pile of dresses. Just perfect that Tracey would have an easy time of it. She shook her head. she stepped out of the old dress and into the new one the assistant held for her. Great. this seems to be missing a few pieces...

She stepped out of the dressing room as Tracey snorted. "No," said Simone, "Just... no." She returned to the dressing room and glared at the assistant. "Seriously, you have nothing normal? No ruffles, no gaping holes, no weird attachments or whatever that is," she said pointing at an object hanging off a dress.

The girl's eyes widened, "Oui mademoiselle, oui! She ruffled through the hanging dresses and came out with one. "Here mademoiselle. try this one," she said shaking a bit. She opened the new dress and held it for Simone. Simone took off the old dress and stepped into the new. Looking down at herself she thought not bad... no weirdness. This might be it. She stepped out of the room and twirled for Tracey. "What do you think?"

Tracey breathed a sigh of relief. It was stunning. So much better than the tiny pieces of fabric that she'd come out wearing earlier. "That's the one, Simone. You look brilliant. I won't let you try on another... that one is too perfect. Tell me you love it?"

"I do, and if I didn't, I'd still buy this one. It was getting a bit ridiculous there for a while," Simone said as she returned to her room.

While Simone was dressing, Madam Fournier took Tracey's measurements and information on when the dress had to be delivered. When her friend walked out she got the same treatment. It felt like hours before the two women were finally able to leave the store. Tracey grinned. "Patisserie? I've been dying for a proper French profiterole for ages."

After they walked out of the patisserie that Tracey had gone on about with their prized pastries, the two wandered in and out of several different shoe stores. "Honestly, I don't think we are ever going to find the right heels to go with our dresses. Honestly, I must be cursed. That's it, someone cursed me. First the hideous gowns now there's the monstrous, brake-my-ankles shoes that every fashionable boutique is trying to sell to us." Simone groaned in frustration. "Do you have any other suggestions of where we might find proper heels?" She asked Tracey as they walked down the street. 

Tracey thought for a moment. She hadn't found any shoe store that she loved as much as Harrod's but she wasn't about to suggest a Muggle shop to Simone. As they wandered a bit longer Tracey's eye stopped on a pretty little out of the way shop with a large wooden shoe over the door. La Chaussure Cachée - The Hidden Shoe. This looks promising, Tracey thought. Simone looked up at what Tracey was gazing toward and smiled. It was as if they both knew that this was the store to save them from shopping all afternoon. It had to be 'hidden' for a reason.

A bell tinkled as the two witches walked through the little shop's door and a little wizard popped his head up from behind the counter. He smiled happily at them and gestured that they were to look at their leisure and he would help them if they called on him.

Fingering the straps on a pale blue pair of heels, Tracey looked up at Simone, "So... are you going to ask Potter to the ball then? You haven't said how things were going between you two. You did meet up again, I suppose?"

"Not yet," Simone responded. "I'm giving him space, you know? Don't want to scare him off." She smiled at Tracey. "Besides, I have a little while to go before I have to ask him." She shrugged as she picked up a pair of strappy black heels. Too much strap. She rolled her eyes and put them back down.

"I'll be going with Theodore, of course. I think he's only coming to please me, but at least he's coming." At Simone's questioning look she explained, "He hates crowds and the last time we went out together he came home with black eye. Well, that's not entirely true. The last time we went out in public together we set people on fire.... It was Guy Fawkes and we were in Muggle London. But Halloween was dreadful. Please tell me you had an enjoyable night. It would have had to of been enjoyable- you still owled me about planning the ball. If you'd had a bad night you would have avoided me like the plague, I'm sure. I even missed the spectacle in the sky. I was disappointed about that."

"Oh, I didn't go to that. Too much paperwork. Seems I swim in it sometimes. I didn't see the mark either." She shrugged again. "I don't care either way about that. If it was a joke, whatever. If it wasn't, well I hope who did it will improve on the efforts of Voldemort, if that is what they meant by that. I mean, a peacock eating his mark? Seems a little symbolic." She broke off when Tracey pointed out a pair of heels to her.

"Oooh look at that pair, Simone." Tracey pointed toward a soft black pair with just a hint of dark sparkle at the heel. At her excited tone the little wizard came rushing over.

"I see the Mademoiselles have found my création principale. These shoes are not just ordinary shoes. They contain crushed carbonado and occamy eggshells." 

Tracey raised her eyebrows, she had no idea what he was talking about but she smiled and nodded and hoped Simone would do the same.

 "Yes, I do like them... I only hope they fit as comfortable as they look." Simone replied to Tracey. She sat down to try them on and sighed. Finally, she was done with her search. These were definitely the pair. She looked up at Tracey and smiled. "Now, all we need to do is find you a pair."

"I'll be taking these blue ones. They'll be grand against the snow. I told you about the snow, didn't I? We're charming the ceiling to snow... just like Hogwarts. It will be lovely." She smiled as the clerk handed her a quill to sign over funds from her Gringott's account for her shoes. "Shall we go back then? I hadn't any idea we'd take so long. You didn't have anything planned for tonight did you? You can always come back to the Park for dinner, if you'd like."

"That is a fantstic idea. I was worried that we wouldn't have anything interesting for decorations. I am glad you thought of it." Simone said gratefully. She signed for her shoes and then they exited the shop. "You know, I think I will do dinner, I am too tired to prepare anything myself. That sounds lovely," she replied as she smiled at Tracey.

The women wearily walked toward the Aparition 'cave'. Other people wouldn't believe that a day of merry making and shopping would be tiring, but both Tracey and Simone were exhausted.  They Apparated out of France content in knowing that, thankfully, they were now both set to be the prettiest birds at the ball.



(Summary: Tracey and Simone condescend to save the world from bad fashion... or save the ball anyway.)