Chapter One

The Preparation Begins

Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity

~Henry Hartman

It started slow at first; the signs were posted throughout the common room to start off. Then they began showing up in larger areas frequented by larger populations of the student body. Finally, they showed up in the Great Hall, classrooms, and nearly every spare piece of wall throughout the entire school. Soon it was all the school could talk about.

Rose was less than interested in it herself. She, much like Alfie though to a lesser extent, was not much of a 'joiner'. Rose focused on academics and only really socialized with a select group of people. For her, a dance was the last thing she wanted to spend time at. It was a waste of good studying time; plus she was positive she wouldn't enjoy herself.

There was only one person in the entirety of Hogwarts that she was knew she would enjoy the dance with. That person, Rose was nearly 100% certain, would not be caught dead at the dance. He was much too cool for such a thing.

Rose was walking through the halls, heading to her class, and consumed with thoughts about the dance and the one guy she wished she could go with. She was so oblivious to the outside world that the high-pitched laugh that reverberated throughout the stone halls caused her to jump several feet in the air.

Standing a few metres down the hallway, surrounded by the usual gaggle of girls, was the individual who had been occupying her thoughts only seconds before. Without thinking, Rose ducked behind a knight statue and observed the small group.

The male was tall, slightly muscular, and blonde. He had the deepest, most mesmerizing grey eyes she had ever seen. He was one of the most attractive guys she'd ever laid eyes on. From the collection of blonde bimbos surrounding him, it was obvious the rest of the female population agreed with her assessment.

She rolled her eyes as the four girls took turns flipping their hair, batting their eyelashes, touching him, and pushing their breasts against him. For his part, the male seemed unphased by all that was going on around him. Instead, he was focused on one of the posters announcing the dance.

Rose's heart rate quickened. Was he interested in the dance? She thought he would be against it, above it. After all, he was one of the most popular boys in school. He didn't need a school dance to socialize with the student population; he could do it any time or day he wanted. A party would be a waste of time for him. But his focus on the poster suggested otherwise.

"What cha doing, Rosie?" a voice to her left startled her and she turned her focus from the male. Standing off to her right, a confused expression clear on his face, was her cousin Albus. Rose wished she could melt into the wall behind her and be out of the situation all together.

"Just ah- just standing here, Al. What are you doing?" she responded, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.

"Oh, I was just walking down the hall to potions when I saw my favourite cousin ogling my best friend," Al commented, giving Rose a knowing stare.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rose commented tugging on her ear, her nervous habit. Al gave her a look of derision, but turned to continue down the hallway.

"Everyone knows about your infatuation with Scorpius Malfoy, Rosie! You should just admit it. You'd be so much freer," he called over his shoulder, just loud enough that Rose could hear it but not the group down the hall.

Rose simply stood in her enclave, absolutely mortified.

The Rose that arrived at dinner that night was different than the one who ate breakfast with her small group of friends, and every single one, even aloof Alfie, noticed it. However, as always, it was Carly that vocalized it first.

"You seem chipper, Rosie," Carly stated as she put down her sandwich and gave Rose a look that clearly expressed Carly's desire to know why. Instead, Rose chose to ignore her inquisitive, sometimes to the point of invasive, friend, and busied herself with filling her plate. She could feel Carly's glare boring into the side of her head. However, Rose continued to ignore Carly until the dark haired girl began incessantly poking her.

"Fine Carly! God, you're so annoying! Scorpius may be going to the dance," Rose muttered the last part, but Carly was still able to hear it. Rose figured it was from years of overhearing conversations and listening through the doors for the latest piece of gossip.

"Eeeeee!" Carly squealed. Both Rose and Ella covered their ears at the high-pitched sound.

"Would you keep it down, Carly? I don't want people to know about these things!" Rose spoke through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry, Rosie. I'm just so excited for you! This could be your moment! Both of you in masks, meeting on the dance floor and spending the rest of the evening together! It's so magical and romantic and eeee! I just can't contain myself! I'm so so so so so so excited for you!" Carly wrapped her arms around Rose and pulled her tight, rocking back and forth in the process.

"Dear god, Carly. Take a chill pill. Nothing like that will happen. He's way out of my league," Rose retorted after extricating herself from Carly's tight embrace.

"No one is out of your league, Rosie. You just need a confidence boost and a fantastic dress. Then all the guys will be falling at your feet!" Carly clapped her hands excitedly, grabbed her sandwich and Rose and pulled her out of the door.

"Carly! What about my dinner?" Rose called as she was unceremoniously dragged from the Great Hall.

"We'll visit the kitchens after I find the perfect dress for you!" Carly stated, shutting down all further conversation.

"I look like a cupcake," Rose deadpanned as she stared at herself in the mirror. Carly had insisted that Rose try on the tulle filled pink monstrosity against Rose's numerous and loud protests.

"But a very cute cupcake!" Carly tried to persuade Rose that the dress looked good on her, but Rose was having none of it.

"The dress, and the other twenty over-the-top ones you've shoved me into are so not my style and therefore, I will never choose them. Do you own anything simple and understated? I know it's not your style, but it's definitely mine." Rose then stepped off the small pedestal Carly had created from her trunk and began taking off the dress. Carly looked thoughtful for several seconds, then bounded off towards her section of the room and began digging though the pile of clothes on her bed.

"Ah ha," Carly exclaimed after several minutes of silent searching. She then returned to Rose's side, her hands and whatever was in them behind her back. "Now I know this is a little more revealing than your usual fare, but it's the simplest dress I own." Having prefaced the dress in such a way, Rose was hesitant about seeing it. If Carly was calling it revealing, it was probably two thin strips of fabric that covered the breasts and butt.

Carly slowly and carefully moved her hands to her front and revealed the most gorgeous, and not all that revealing, navy blue bandage dress Rose had ever seen. Instantly, she moved towards it and grabbed it in her hands.

"This dress is-" Rose couldn't finish her sentence and instead moved to put it on.

"I know, Rosie; I'm fantastic!" Carly stated, her already large ego growing even bigger. Rose just rolled her eyes and put on the dress.

In the hour before 7:30 pm on October 31, the doomroom of the seventh-year Ravenclaw girls was thrown into utter chaos. The normally calm Ella and Rose were swept up in Carly's frantic preparations and were busy running around the room like chickens with their heads cut off. Carly was, as usual, running back between the large floor length mirror and her large collection of make up in the bathroom. Ella was busy digging through the communal pile of dresses and other fancy clothing, trying to figure out what to wear that night. Rose was going through Carly's large collection of shoes trying to find the Goldilocks pair, the pair that were not too high, not too over-the-top, and matched her dress.

Finally, at 7:30 pm, Ella removed herself from the chaos by sitting on her bed and opening her book. She'd chosen a flowy emerald dress that belonged to Carly and quickly finished off her outfit and makeup. Rose wished she could have been as quick and decisive, but as Ella sat and quietly read her book Rose was still wading through the shoes that had been piled to one side.

Finally, Rose found the shoes that she'd been looking for and turned to look for Carly. The dark haired girl was, by far, the best of the group at girly things like makeup. Rose sucked at makeup and wanted this night to be perfect so she had made Carly promise to help her.

"Carly!" Rose's pleading voice halted the frantic progress of Carly, "I need your help. I can't do make up half as well as you." Rose made her best puppy dog eyes, hoping Carly wasn't to far gone into her preparation psychosis and could actually help. As soon as Rose finished her request, Carly became alert and focused.

"Of course I can help, Rosie. Come to the bathroom; there's better light." Carly then turned to her heel and disappeared up a small set of stairs that led to the adjoining bathroom.

Alfred Hughes sat in a plush navy chair in the Ravenclaw common room, awaiting the arrival of his three best, and if he was being honest, only, friends. If he had a choice in the situation he would be spending the evening alone or with a book. Sadly, his hormones had decided his evening for him and now he was forced to go to a dance that he most certainly wouldn't enjoy. Now, all he wanted was to get through the night, not make a complete fool in front of her, and then curl up in bed with a book.

Suddenly, a light, tinkling giggle sounded from the girls' stairs. Alfred looked up and felt his mouth drop open. Coming down the stairs, looking absolutely stunning, were Carly, Ella, and Rose. Alfred was lucky they didn't notice him at first and he was able to recollect himself.

"You-you-you look amazing," he managed to get out. She blushed bright red and then quietly responded.

"Thanks."

To be continued