Now a full-on scowl emerged on his features, "Because I'm a boy?"
"Yes" the man replied, matter-of-factly. "But not just because you are a boy. You are our son, you are going to be surrounded by adults far older than you, and you don't have much, if any, experience dealing with these types of people."
Harry let out a huff, "Then why can't one of you go with me instead."
"Because we weren't invited, and even if we were it is important for you to show up independent of your parents. It will help your image and not look like a helpless child that needs to have their mother and father around them at all times."
"Instead, I'm just a helpless child that needs to have a chaperone?"
James shook his head, "No, you are a young boy who is going to an adult party that while he doesn't need to have his mother and father hold his hand, he still needs someone to look out for his best interests. That is one of the things Professor Riddle is here for."
"And the makeup?"
Harry swore his father smirked, "Just wanting you to make a good impression, what's wrong with that?"
He didn't pout, because Harry Potter did not pout, but his response did come out a bit grumpier than he intended, "Guys didn't wear it in my world."
"Really? They didn't care about looking their best?"
It was a trick question, one he would've expected from a Hermione type, "They did but it never involved girl stuff."
"Girl stuff…"
The boy managed to gesture at the array of creams, powders, and tiny applicators lining the bathroom counter in front of the mirror. "All of this would be girl stuff."
"Well, I guess that means another point for this world, because it isn't really 'girl stuff' or 'boy stuff'. True, boys tend to wear it more often, but it isn't uncommon to see any woman with lipstick or eyeliner on."
Nearly ten minutes later and they had finished. It wasn't what the boy-who-lived had expected. No lipstick, nothing extreme with his eyes or nails, just a bit of coloring to bring out the green of his irises and cover a few blemishes on his skin. His hair, while still a bit messy, had been tamed and looked presentable.
"Harry, I think you should consider wearing the necklace." A further explanation wasn't needed, there was only one necklace and up until that moment he had done his best to keep the object from his mind. It represented too many things he didn't want to think about, too many things he wanted to forget. "I know you still don't like the whole contract idea, and that's fine, but it was a rather nice gift. It would be nice to wear it at least once."
He was right, and it wasn't as if doing so would condemn him or anything. Thus, with a sigh, followed by a nod, he waited for the man to retrieve it and a minute later was slowly placing it around his neck.
Looking in the mirror had Harry not wanting to move, with how his outfit seemed to fall perfectly on him. Unfortunately, the decision was taken from him when moments later Lily called from the hallway informing them that Riddle had arrived.
He wasn't sure where the sudden jitters had come from. Why he was suddenly nervous about spending an evening in a stuffy room full of stuck-up pricks with a woman over fifty years older than him? Regardless, he followed his father back into the room where she stood, speaking with his mother in what he would call a 'respectfully distant' manner.
The woman was wearing a black dress, not 'ball room dancing' fancy but still elegant, nonetheless. The sides had slits running up the lengths to show off a bit more than a hint of leg when she walked, and the front had a cutout positioned to show off quite a bit of cleavage. Her hair wasn't quite up to her usual 'teaching' appearance, though it was still tied up.
Harry's experience with women in dresses amounted to the Yule Ball and the one party his fifth year so yes, he stared at the outfit longer than what would have been considered appropriate.
"Presenting, Harry Potter for chaperoning to the ball." James Potter joked from his position, shifting the attention in the room, and earning him the scowl of the youngest.
Lily immediately gushed at his appearance, moving forward, and examining him for a few moments while making some last-minute adjustments. His 'date' on the other hand watched him with an almost hungry expression.
Seconds later and his two sisters entered the room, clearly drawn by the conversations. "Harry?" Amaryllis inquired, taking a step forward before halting at the warning in her mother's eyes, "You uh, you look good-nice, you look good and nice."
Harriet merely nodded in agreement.
"Unfortunately, we need to be going else we will be more than just a little late." The oldest woman's voice brought them all back to the situation at hand, and with a gentle nudge Harry walked forward to where she stood. They stepped into the floo a moment later.
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A/N— I have some people request this so let's say since we've reached 50 chapters, I'd like to add a new tier to the patr*on where you'll get 15 chapters ahead for 5$. Enjoy!
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