I found Marcus in the hallway just after dinner. He was taking a short cut up to the common room.

I stepped into his path and smiled cheerfully.

"Hi." I said.

"Hi." He replied sullenly.

I frowned mockingly. "Is this a bad time?" I asked. I was planning to get to know Marcus before I turned him. I also wanted to wait until the summer holidays, so that I would have more time to train him and let him get used to the differences between mortal and immortal life.

He shook his head. "No," he sighed. "I don't suppose it is a bad time..."

"Good." I replied, grinning. "I have decided to take you up on the offer to go to Hogsmeade with you."

This brightened his outlook considerably. He grinned at me. "Really?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Great!" He laughed. "So..." He paused, unsure of what to say. I slipped into his mind, undetected, and read the question there.

"Let's wait until after this Hogsmeade trip before we go any further than friends okay?"

He frowned. "How did you know I was going to ask?"

"You're fairly easy to read." I replied, smiling and slipping my arm through his. "Walk me to the Common room?" I asked.

He nodded and began walking.

Finally the day of the trip arrived.

I arrived in the common room dressed in a pair of charcol grey slacks, a black, long sleeved blouse, and knee high, black suede boots. I also wore a black wool cloak, I would have worn jeans, but, being a princess, my father had refused to allow me anywhere near jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes.

Marcus was dressed in blue jeans, a dark forest green turtleneck, and scarred work boots.

"Ready?" He asked, holding his hand out to me.

"As I'll ever be." I replied, slipping my arm through his, we walked through the portrait hole. I noticed Raye following us, at a safe distance. She was talking to a girl I recognised as an elemental. Her name was Arirose.

Grinning, Marcus and I walked down to the village, talking about things that were unimportant, and trivial.

I found out that Marcus was from Waterford, Ireland. He was the son of Catarina and Bowen Smith, and stayed with his parents during the holidays. He spent the majority of his time in Ireland farming, or wishing he was off on an adventure somewhere. Both of his parents were muggles, and he planned to be an explorer when he left Hogwarts and the farm. He enjoyed exploring and getting into mischief, along with playing chess.

I told him that I was from Stirling, Scotland and traveled with my parents during the holidays. My parents were very important people, and while we traveled I enjoyed watching the world around me. I told him I wanted to be an archeologist (even though I knew this would never happen, seeing as how I would end up ruling my people, against my will) and that history fascinated me. I enjoyed watching the night sky, and playing the piano.

It was then that I realized that we were perfect for each other. He was normal and wished he wasn't, and I was way past not normal, and wished to be normal. He looked to the future, and I looked to the past. We were literally two halves of the same soul.

Perfect for eachother.

Once back at the school I went back to the library and removed Restless Creatures of the Night from the library, under the disapproving scowl of Mrs. Crabbe.

Back in my dorm I flipped it open to the chapter I wanted.

How to Turn Your Chosen Lifemate.

I rolled my eyes.

My mother should have known better than to put this in her book. Especially seeing as how I would be reading it eventually. With or without her knowledge.

I looked up as Raye entered and waved at me, followed by Arirose.

Raye sat down on the end of my bed cheerfully.

"So." She said, taking my book from me and slamming it shut. "Arirose and I have decided that we are going to crash the Yule ball this year. You are coming." She grinned wickedly at me. "No choice."

Arirose stood next to my bed holding a catalog from some mall in the United States.

She tossed it on my lap. It fell open to a page and the first thing I saw was a simple but elegant black satin floor length prom dress. It was strapless, and the bodice was imbellished with clear beads that created an extravagant scroll design.

I loved it.

I grinned up at Raye and Arirose.

"Let's do this." I said cheerfully, pulling out a pen and marking my name next to the picture of the dress. I then dug through my trunk until I found a pair of black, strappy four inch heels. "And look, I even have the perfect shoes to go with the dress..."

Raye flipped through the magazine and pointed to her choice of dress. I smiled. It was a royal blue satin, and black tulle netting with spaghetti straps, and it was imbellished with iridecant beads and sequins across the front, to give it the look of the night sky.

Then Arirose showed me her choice of dress. Hers was a light apple green. The straps were made of tiny iridescent beads, and it was adorned with small pink, yellow, and green beads, giving it a beautiful spring look.

I could tell, this was going to be a very interesting month.

As Raye and Arirose began comparing notes on all of the cute guys in the school I silently rehearsed how I was going to ask Marcus to go with me to the Yule Ball.

A/N: These are the dresses.

Rayne's: the links don't show up then PM me and I'll send them to you!

Read and Review!!! Or I won't update!!!!! I need feedback so I'll know what to fix!!!