Happily Ever After?
By: TheFifthCharmedOne
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the fairy tale Cinderella; they belong to J.K. Rowling and the Brothers Grimm respectively.
Summary: "This year the Christmas Ball is going to be slightly different," said Dumbledore. "There is going to be a theme. You're familiar with Muggle fairy tales, correct?" L/J implied Sirius/Marlene and Alice/Frank
-X-X-X-
Chapter 1: Duties and Dances
I was sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room looking out the window when I came to a sudden realization.
Christmas had its hold over Hogwarts like a snake's talons could hold you in a vice grip.
…..All right, not the best analogy, but you get the point, right? Christmas has completely taken over Hogwarts. I have to keep my head permanently arched at the doorways to look for mistletoe. The last thing I need is to get caught under that accursed holly plant with the wrong guy. I mean, for the love of Merlin, tradition dictates that if two people are caught under the mistletoe it means that they are supposed to kiss. A very perverted tradition, in my opinion. Who's to say I won't get caught with some first year bloke who's never even looked at a girl without running for the hills? Or even worse, what if I got caught with a teacher? Sweet Godric, that would be bad….
"Lily?" the voice of none other than James Potter interrupted my odd thoughts and musings about mistletoe. I looked at him and he sat down next to me. "We have to work on the rounds schedules." he told me, and I nodded.
"Okay," I said. "Edith Perkins told me she can't do rounds tomorrow because of some sort of family emergency."
"Perkins…Ravenclaw, right?" he looked at me and I nodded. He made a mark on the paperwork he had been holding. We had all the Prefects organized by House and their name in alphabetical order. It had been my idea, and I was quite proud of how organized and easily our meetings went by because of it. We were sitting by the fire, and the Common Room was relatively empty considering a lot of people went home for the holidays. As far as I know only forty or so Gryffindors are still here, and that includes me, James, my friends and his. I feel bad for anyone who had to stay behind without their friends, it's hell to be alone on the holidays.
"Well, isn't this all nice and cozy?" I heard a sly voice say from behind us. That would be my supposed best friend, Marlene McKinnon. She enjoys making my life difficult, I know it.
"It's nothing Marlene." I said, glaring at her. "Just Head duties."
"I'm sure," she said with a tone that implied she didn't believe me at all.
"Don't you have homework to do, or a quiz to study for?" I nearly growled, I was getting close to my breaking point, and she had barely said anything. Marlene, dear Merlin I love her dearly but she just gets under my skin so easily…
"Yes, but this is more fun." she said, plopping down between us. I could have punched her. We had been working on rounds schedules, but if I told her that, she would just twist it around and make it into something that it wasn't.
"What is?" James inquired to know. I felt my face turn light pink, which earned me a smug smirk from Marlene. I glared at her.
"Well James, I'll have you know that-"
Before she could continue, Sirius Black's voice broke through our eardrums.
"Prongs! Evans!" He ran over to us, tripped on the carpet and fell face first, making all of us crack up. He stood up and dusted himself off.
"What is it Padfoot?" said James worriedly, he seemed to have forgotten what had happened.
"Dumbledore wants to see you and Evans in his office, now!"
James and I looked at each other.
"I'll be right back." I told Marlene. She smirked at me and nodded. I rolled my eyes and we left Gryffindor Tower to go see the Headmaster.
-X-X-X-
As we walk toward the statue that held the staircase to Dumbledore's office, I'm going to admit something. Something that may be very bad, or very good, depending on how you look at it. I'm not sure how to look at it, so I'm just going to come out and say it.
I fancy James Potter.
Now before you freak out, whoever you are, I don't know why I do either. Well I do know why, it's just that I don't know how. How I came to fancy him is beyond me. But the point is that I do. I do like him, I like him more then I really should, considering he used to be the bane of my existence. Heh.
It's his fault really. He had to go and change his entire personality, to become a downright fanciable (not sure that's a word but oh well) bloke. He was always handsome, I was never one to deny that, but all he did was constantly bother me. It was as though he enjoyed getting yelled at, or getting a rise out of me. And what made matters worse was that he constantly asked me out; and I rejected him every time because I wouldn't let him hurt me. He was an arrogant, conceited prat that only cared about himself and his dumb friends.
For the first few years anyway.
Then something happened during sixth year, I don't know what, but he changed. A lot. He didn't hex people for the hell of it anymore. He and his friends hardly ever pulled pranks anymore, only on certain days or people depending on their moods. And he matured. He became more… (I'm going to use the word again) fanciable. And I'll be damned if I didn't fall for him, face first.
But I could never tell him. If Lily Evans is anything, it's proud. I could never relinquish my pride enough to tell him how I feel. It would also be extremely hypocritical considering he's over me. Oh, I didn't mention that? Sorry. Right, so right as I figure out how I really feel, he goes and gets over me. Just like that.
Just my bloody luck really.
I would rant more, but we reached the statue of the gargoyle, where McGonagall was waiting for us, presumably with the password. Knowing Dumbledore, it's probably changed in the last five minutes.
She nodded to each of us once and then walked to stand in front of us.
"Lemon drops." she waved her hands and the gargoyle hopped aside. We both stood on the staircase and waited for a few minutes as it led us toward the Headmasters' office.
-X-X-X-
"Ah, I see Mr. Black reached the two of you quickly," said Dumbledore when we came in.
We each nodded, and James barely held a smirk back at how Sirius had come in. I almost giggled myself, but I have more composure then him, or at least I like to think so.
"Why did you want to see us Professor?" I asked politely.
The Headmaster stood up and we both tensed. Though his eyes were twinkling merrily, so I'm hoping neither of us (James more likely; to be honest) is in trouble.
"I am sure you know that the Christmas Ball is quickly approaching," (The Christmas Ball is a tradition that has been going on since before I ever got to Hogwarts. It's for fourth years' and up though, so I had to wait for a while before I could see what all the fuss was about) (1) "There are preparations to make, things to do, it's all very complex. Thankfully your Prefects have taken on most of the work," he cracked a smile at us, which lit up his aged face.
"All right," I said unsurely. "But sir, no disrespect, but what does this have to do with us?"
"What it has to do with you Miss Evans," he said patiently, "Is that you two are required to go together as dates, seeing as you are Head Boy and Girl."
I think my heart just stopped beating. Did Dumbledore just say what I thought he said?
"That's not all," he smiled at our gobsmacked faces (Or, I'm assuming James's face was gobsmacked, I didn't look to find out) "This year the Christmas Ball is going to be slightly different," said Dumbledore. "There is going to be a theme. You're familiar with Muggle fairy tales, correct?"
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
A/N: Do not ask me what possessed me to write a Christmas story in late summer, but I was watching an episode of Charmed from my complete series set and something inspired me to write this. It wasn't originally Christmas, but I thought it would be better if it was.
Anyway, this is going to have maybe four or five chapters at the most, but I'm thinking closer to three or four. Anyway (again, I tend to say that a lot) I hope you enjoyed, and I promise there will be more fluff in the next couple of chapters.
Review please and tell me your thoughts! (No flames though please, I worked hard on this. For the love of God it's after 2:00 AM. That's dedication folks.)
(1) I'm just going to say that maybe the Christmas Ball thing died out before Harry and the Golden Trio. Don't tell me it wasn't in the books. For all we know it could have happened during the Marauder Era. That's the best part about this couple. You don't have all the facts! :)
~Charmed