Chapter 1:
Lily Evans was sitting on her four-posted bed, reading her History of Magic book.
She was reading it for the 10th time in the last month and couldn't help letting her mind wonder off.
Lily was 14 and it was her fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"I'm so exited about the Ball next week." Came a female voice from the staircase leading to the girls' dormitory.
"So am I! What are you guys going to wear? I'm going to buy a dress at Mandy's Place, the best and most expensive new shop in hogsmeads. And the mask, don't forget it's a masquerade" Said another female voice as the door of the Dorm flow open and three figures emerged in.
"My mother is sent me a catalogue with the most beautiful dresses there are in London, it has a thousand pages in it so I don't have such little choice as you do" Said a pretty girl with blond hair and blue eyes.
"I already have my dress sent to me from Paris," said the first girl, she had dark chocolate brown hair and the same colour of eyes.
"From Paris? But what's the fun, it much nicer going shopping then getting it mailed to you." Said a girl with black hair and sparkling brown eyes.
"What do you know, Jean, you never bought anything by mail." Said the blond girl, popping onto her bed and opening a catalogue, "now shut up, I need to concentrate"
"Fine, Rachel, whatever you say" Said Jean with impatience, "Hey, Kirra, did you get Sirius to ask you to the Ball?" she asked teasingly.
The girls continued to chat and ignored Lily. They never noticed her, nobody did, she thought to her self bitterly.
Lily was an outcast; her only friends were her books and teachers. She had long silky dark red hair that reached her lower back, and emerald eyes that were covered by big round glasses that made them look fish-like, her skin was pale and tender, for she spent most of her time indoors, reading and studying.
It was a day before the beginning of Christmas brake, but most of the students in fourth to seventh year were staying at Hogwarts for the holidays, because of the Yule Ball that was planned for Christmas Eve.
Lily was one of the many in her year that stayed at school for the holidays, but she had a different reason, she didn't have a home to return to. After her father's death, her mother remarried to a man who took joy in her pain, he abused her and hurt her both physically and mentally, and her mother was too blind to see that.
Lily started to think about the chances she would go to the dance.
Why not, it's a masquerade, nobody would recognize you, have some fun for a change, said a small voice in her head
Be reasonable, what is fun in going around in circles and getting yourself tired, Said another voice.
It is fun, and you get to met some people, get to know them, your life won't be just about grades you know, said the first voice
Books and grades are the most important things there are, said the other
No they are not; it's time you get socialized with your peers, the first voice said, as if the decision was made.
Fine, said the other voice in defeat
Lily looked at the clock on the wall. It was eight thirty am, at nine the gates to hogsmeads village would open and she would be able to go get a simple dress and a mask for the dance.
She got up from her bed and got ready for the shopping trip, knowing it wasn't going to take long, she would just go to the second hand shop, grab the first dress that she looked okay in, just to make sure it didn't clash too badly with her hair and eyes, and she's done. It would probably take her half and hour.
When Lily was finally ready, she walked down to the Entrance Hall, to stand in the line to go to hogsmeads. She strolled over to the second hand shop, when she bumped into someone and her money bag fell to the ground. She mumbled an apology and bent down to collect the coins that spilled out of the bag. When she straightened up, she saw the person that she bumped into. It was a girl of her age, with curly hazel hair and a friendly face; her crystal blue eyes, were hidden behind a pair of glasses similar to Lily's.
"Hi, are you from Hogwarts? I'm a fourth year, in Revenclew house." The girl said.
"I'm in Gryffindor, a fourth year as well. My name is Lily Evans, By the way." Lily said.
"Nice to meat you, I'm Roxanne Taylors." the girl smiled, showing off her pearly whites. "Are you going to buy a dress for the ball?" Lily nodded "So am I, let's shop together, I need someone's advice about my dress, but I don't really have many friends…"
"Neither do I, in fact, I don't have any." Lily was looking at her shoes as she said it.
"Well, come on, let's try and find dress robes." Roxanne grabbed Lily's arm and pulled her into the shop.
Lily giggled at Roxanne's excitement and let her drag her into the shop.
The shop was a little dark, and there were piles of clothes and robes all over the place, not even hanging, just on the floor.
Lily and Roxanne wet to the back of the room, and found a small pile of the cheapest robes, both knowing they couldn't afford anything too expansive.
"Hey, look at this dress, it matches your eyes." Lily held up an ankle length, strapless dress with beautiful silver patterning at the bottom. It was almost white at the neckline, and as it went done, the colour darkened until the material was the same colour as the night sky.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" Roxanne exclaimed, her hand over her mouth. "Now we have to find a dress for you and we can try them on." She squealed.
The two girls talked and laughed, getting to know each other more as they searched for a dress that would look good on Lily.
After an hour with no success, Roxanne and Lily walked over to the counter.
"Excuse me; do you happen to have any dresses what so ever that would look good on me?" Lily asked the saleslady, "We didn't find any."
The woman behind the counter looked up at Lily and gasped. "W-Would you mind taking off your glasses for a moment, please?" Lily nodded and did so. "are you in Gryffindor?" Lily nodded again. The woman gaped t her, muttering something like 'I never thought I'd live to see the day.'
"Wait her." She ordered as she walked to the back of the shop. Moments later, the saleslady came back into view, holding to packages, one bigger then the other a piece of parchment and a small painting.
The saleslady handed Lily the packages. "this," she said, "is something that has been in my shop since I remember my self. The shop is a family business. I got this from my mother, saying she got it from her mother, and so on. She also gave me this parchment." The woman handed Lily the old parchment.
Lily read it.
This dress is to be handed to the new queen of Gryffindor.
The girl that would wear it, must look just like lady Gryffindor herself, and if not, the person who wears it shell be cursed.
The dress is full of magic, and cannot be fooled by anyone trying to look like lady Gryffindor, using polyjuice potion and such.
Legend says it is the dress Lady Gryffindor wore when Godric Gryffindor fell in love with her.
"Well, that's just weird" Roxanne said. Lily nodded in agreement "What's Lily got to do with it all anyways?"
The woman handed the two girls the painting she brought with her. Both of their jaws fell open.
The painting was of a pretty young woman that looked identical to Lily, just a few years older. At the bottom of the portrait Lady Gryffindor was written in golden letters.
"So… you- you mean I'm the next queen of Gryffindor?" Lily couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yes, I guess. You look just like her, you are a Gryffindor, so yes, you are." The woman said, and sat back in her sit, opening her magazine.
"Come on, Lily, Let's try the dresses on." Roxanne said as she ran over and closed the curtain of the changing room. Lily rolled her eyes and got into another changing room and got changed into the dress she pulled out of the bigger package.
"Ready?" Roxanne asked.
"Okay" Lily called at her. They both got out of the changing rooms together.
"Roxanne, you look great!" Lily exclaimed.
"Wow…" Roxanne looked at Lily "You look so stunning!"
Lily was wearing a scarlet dress that reached down to the floor, with a medieval styled skirt and off shoulders, short puffy sleeves. A thin golden ribbon was tied around her waist loosely.
"Thanks," Lily said shyly.
"What's in the other package?" Roxanne eyed the second package curiously.
"Dunno, haven't opened it yet."
"Well, what are you waiting for, open it." Roxanne said.
"Okay." Lily slowly opened the package. In it was a golden mask, some gold hair clips decorated with rubies, red elbow length gloves and jewellery made of gold and rubies.
"God, how am I going to pay for this?" Lily wondered aloud. But she had just enough to pay for it. The saleslady said she would never sale that dress to anyone else anyway, seeing as it has been over a thousand since the dress has been worn last.
"Hey, Lily, would you like to go to the Three Broomsticks to get a butterbeer?" Roxanne asked.
"Sure, why not." Lily said, smiling. She had a feeling she is going to have a great friendship with Roxanne.
Later that day when Lily and Roxanne were walking back to the castle, a group of four boys pushed passed them.
"Hey watch it!" Roxanne snapped at them.
The boys, about their age, turned around to face the two girls.
"Or what? What would you do?" one of the boys asked. He had slightly long black hair and stormy gray eyes and was very handsome.
"Yeah, what would you do, try and hit us?" another on said and made the other boys laugh. He had black messy hair and amazing hazel eyes and wire glasses. He was as good looking as the first boy.
"Good one, James." A short boy, with dirty blonde hair and watery blue eyes, said. He was chubby and had a rat like face.
"Thanks Peter."
"Guys, leave them alone. Let's just go." Said the last boy, he had sandy blonde hair and deep bluish- gray eyes. He looked very sickly, but still was good looking.
"You're no fun, Remus!" the first boy exclaimed.
"Come on Sirius," Remus said, grabbing the dark haired boy by the wrist and dragged him to the castle.
"Hate those boys, especially that arrogant prat, James Potter. He sat on me once, didn't even notice I was there! Stupid git." Lily told Roxanne, nodding towards the messy haired boy, when the four boys were out of earshot.
"Yeah, it seems the only one of the marauders with a straight head is Remus Lupin, but he doesn't bother to stop them while they're playing pranks, or bulling others. And that Sirius Black is so annoying and immature; I can't see why so many girls are all over him." Roxanne said, glaring at the tall boy with the black shoulder length hair. If looks could kill, Sirius would have dropped dead on the spot.
"What I don't understand is, how come they let Peter Pettigrew hang out with them, I mean, he hasn't the looks, nor the brains, or even the courage they have. He's so much like a rat." Lily commented.
"Well come on, let's get to the castle, I'm starved" Roxanne said eagerly.
"Coming" Lily mumbled as she watched Roxanne raced to the castle.