A/N: OKAY! I know it's been FOREVER and a day since I uploaded and I know a lot of you are upset by that. I had crap going on and blah blah blah. But since it's the holidays I thought I'd throw this chapter up. I'm going to start writing again for this because I DO want to finish it. But being a full time student really takes a toll on the creative mind. Plus playing City of Heroes and such XD ANYHOW! I hope you enjoy. Oh, and if you want updates on stories and stuff, I have them on my profile...not consistently and all the time, but they're there.
With the looming danger of the sheer possibility that Fenrir Greyback was at the school, Mac was more on edge than ever. So were a lot of students, but not because of the werewolf; they had no idea about that. No, they were on edge whenever Mac was around. After her attack on Draco, many were too afraid to even walk past her in fear that she might attack them as well. It didn't help that Draco was also milking the fear for all it was worth. Every time he would get near her he would cringe and shout something crazy for everyone within distance to hear. Mac had gotten used to it, even though it bugged her. Now only having the Gryffindors to talk to and hang out with; although she didn't really do it as often as before. Most of her time was acting the same way she had when she first came to Hogwarts; grouchy, quiet and alone. Sure Harry, Ron and Hermione hung out with her a lot, but it was still like she wasn't even there.
A turning point came when, in order to calm everyone's nerves, Dumbledore told the entire student body that they would be holding a special Valentine's Day masquerade ball. The rules would be simple: you must dress in evening wear and you must wear a mask (decorated to your liking). It was out of season for sure, but he felt it would give people other things to think about and put everyone at ease. That certainly did do the trick. Instead of worrying about possible dangers or Mac, the students focused on the ball. It was an ingenious plan on Dumbledore's part. Even Mac was a little excited about it; now she could have something else to worry about than thinking Greyback was constantly over her shoulder.
She could worry about it, but she didn't want to do it. "Are you going to go Mac?" Hermione asked with a smile.
Did she have to? "Do I have to?"
"Well, no I suppose you don't…But it would be fun!" Again Hermione smiled, trying to convince the stubborn girl to go with her.
"Yeah, everyone will be there. You'll have a great time!" This time it was Harry who had spoken up.
Mac looked over her shoulder at the Slytherin table, then back at them with a dead expression. "Everyone?"
"Don't worry about him, he probably won't even come just so he can milk it even more," Harry dismissed with a lazy wave of his hand. Mac chuckled against her hand a little.
That weekend the students, third year and up, were allowed to go to Hogsmeade to shop for anything they wanted for the ball that was the very next weekend. The day was wet and misty. While there may not have been snow on the ground, it was cold and the chance of rain was high with the dark clouds looming overhead. Kids were dressed in warm clothes as they were escorted to the little village that sat beside the castle. All of them chatted about the ball that was the following weekend and who they would bring, or what they might wear. Girls giggled and gossiped, while boys were quiet and curious. It was the same with any school dance, be they muggle or otherwise. However, Mac was not in a tizzy about what she would wear and/or who she might go with. In fact she found it all quite dumb! She felt that you shouldn't get a dress just because it may get you noticed, you should get it because you like it, looks good and feels good as well. As for bringing someone along, there was no shame in going by yourself! If you did, then you have more to choose from and no one gets jealous over anything. And if you do bring someone then it should be someone you like and who likes you, or just a friend because you think it'd be fun for the both of you. She didn't get why people made a big deal out of something as silly as a only reason that the ball was even being held so quickly was because Valentine's Day falls on a Monday, and they can't miss their classes; or at least that was the student's reasoning for it.
Once the quartet arrived in the snowy village, they split into two groups. Hermione wanted to find a dress and was dragging Mac along with her, while Harry and Ron wanted to check out Zonko's and Honeydukes. The whole way to Gladrags Wizardwear, Mac protested about having to go. Hermione wouldn't hear it and dragged her along anyway; saying that they would have fun trying on dresses. Blue eyes rolled in defeat, seeing as how she wouldn't be able to get away from the scarily talented witch. Mac was dragged through the red painted, wooden door, which chimed upon their entrance, of the clothing store. She was dragged through isle after isle of clothes; mainly strange socks. It became clear to Hermione that Mac wasn't all too thrilled with this fun day of shopping.
"Mac, what's wrong? You don't seem too happy," Hermione probed, sitting down on a nearby ottoman.
Mac flopped down beside her with a sigh and long face. Staring at her black leather, slouch buckle boots she picked at the zipper on her purple plaid fur ski coat. "Mmm, there are a lot of things, but right now…" she paused to look up, "My cousin and I used to do fashion shows at places like this. We'd try on everything just for fun…"
"You miss your family don't you?"
"Yeah, I do. I mean they're all that I've got."
"If I may, where are you going after school is out for the summer?"
"Oh, I'm staying at my old house…"
"By yourself?"
"Uh…yeah?"
"No, you should stay with me over the summer. By yourself in a house all summer long is utter rubbish!"
Mac looked at her strangely, "Uh, how? I like being by myself."
"Oh come on, you can't honestly believe that. No one likes being by themselves, why do you think they hang around other people so much?" Hermione replied with her infinite wisdom. "Well, if you'd like, we could try on all the clothes here and make a show about it…" she added, trying to change the subject, seeing how slightly uncomfortable Mac was feeling.
For once Mac smile, though it was small, "I'd like that. And I've got the right thing to make this really fun." Mac took out her wand and with a flick of her wrist, playful, fun dancing music started to play throughout the store!
Hermione beamed with excitement as she grabbed Mac's wrist and the two went racing through the sea of clothes. Grabbing as much as they could carry, the two girls hopped into a dressing room and started showing off what they had picked out and how they put it together. First to go was Hermione, dressed in a nice, short, cocktail dress that was completely black on one half and black and white striped on the other with a single shoulder strap. To go with the dress, she put on long black gloves, green tights and put her hair up in a messy bun. The sixteen year old strutted out of the dressing room with her lips pursed, a serious look, one arm folded in and the other hanging out like a guy was supposed to take it. Mac was next. She threw open the curtain and posed against the threshold of her dressing room wearing a cute white sundress with bunched black trim. Her boots thumped against the wood floors as she put on a matching sun hat, and tilted her head down with her hand holding one side of the rim. She struck another pose when she came up to Hermione, some of her multi-colored hair falling over her eyes. The two girls erupted with laughter as they turned around to try on more clothes.
A couple of students passed by and noticed the girls rocking out to the music that came from nowhere while they tried on dresses. They stopped and stared as the girls continued on without noticing their audience. Mac drew the curtain and walked out wearing a pitch black Lolita like dress. Its long sleeves led to a square neck line, which led to a fitted top and slightly rounded out bottom. With black lace sown to the hem of the sleeves and skirt, the only other part that was lace was what separated the black fabric from the deep, dark crimson fabric. Hermione followed after her in a pink, floral print princess like dress. With a square neck line, puffed sleeves, layered skirt and added pink lace trim, the brunette looked positively stunning in her dress. They struck a couple of poses before running back to change into something new. By now a small crowd had gathered to watch them show off the many dresses they had selected; which the girls were still unaware of. The crowd even included some of the teachers that were tagging along.
When the two had finished their play, the crowd dispersed of its people and the girls were left on chairs, laughing at their fun. Their laughter died down a bit as Ron and Harry entered the shop to see about their own clothes and check in on the girls. Pressed together, still giggling, they went to get out of the dresses and put on their own clothes while the boys looked around.
"Is that really all you're getting? That tiny piece of fabric." Hermione questioned as she noticed what Mac was buying.
Blue eyes looked down at the fabric she was handing the clerk to wrap up and bag, "Yeah. It's all I need for the dress I already have."
It didn't take long for the night of the ball to come. A week went by fast at Hogwarts, especially for older students due to the sheer amount of work they had to do. That entire day was filled with nothing but chatter about the dance and last minute dates being set up. Mac, on the other hand, didn't think about it. Everything for her was completely set and ready to have someone or something ruin her night somehow, like she knew it would be. Lately it seemed that nothing wanted to go right in her life. Why? She didn't know and probably never would. Finishing up some homework in the library with Harry, she helped him finish and then the two left. Walking down the halls together, Harry was constantly glancing over at her like a nervous puppy.
"What is it Harry?" she asked, finally getting fed up with the staring.
"Well, I was wondering…" he paused and suddenly seemed to become even more nervous. "That is if you want to. I was wondering if you would go to the ball with me?"
"Harry," Mac stopped suddenly; Harry had to double back when he realized she had. "Why don't you just ask Ginny? We all know you like her…except maybe Ron," she paused again, blinking with a curious look before she began walking again, "Which is a little frightening if you think about it."
"Well you see, I would. It's just that…that she's already going with Dean," he answered as he jogged to keep up with her.
The two reached the common room and Mac spun around to face him, walking backwards, "Sorry Harry, but I'm not going with anyone." She gave him a friendly smirk and shrugged her shoulders as she jogged up the steps to the girl's dormitory.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked as she ran into Mac coming up the stairs.
"Hm?" she looked at her curiously before realizing what she was talking about. "Oh, nothing."
Finally, as the time for the ball drew closer and closer in time, both Hermione and Mac began dressing for the event. Of course, not wanting to ruin their hair or make-up, the girls got dressed first. Mac pulled out a short dress made from different colors of blue. Slipping into it, feet first, she wiggled it up her body and secured it around her bust. The strapless blue dress had fabric that over lapped, ruche on her left side to create a large bow, covered head to toe in glittering garnish and stopped mid thigh. Her two sparrow tattoos on her chest were visible for the first time since she arrived at Hogwarts, but Hermione didn't say anything about them. Pulling the item she bought from Gladrags, she tore off the price tag and slipped it on over her shoulders. The dark blue sheer fabric made her shoulders and arms look blue as it hugged her upper body. The bell sleeves hung low and just like the dress, it sparkled. Black tights were slipped over her legs as she slid her feet into dark blue heels. The entire outfit made her look like the night sky against the moonlight; it was a very unique look. Wanting to go with a different look from her Yule Ball dress, Hermione took out the eye popping number she bought at the same shop.
Mac came up behind her to zip up the black, jersey one shoulder dress with an illusion back and front slit. Against her figure, Hermione looked like a sexy brunette goddess! Her curls fell against her back as she let go of her hair that she had moved so Mac could zip up the back. Mac had to admit that she looked damn good! It was a look that she should do more often than she does. Hermione slipped on a pair of black sling back heels and a silver bracelet then moved over to a mirror to do her hair and make-up. Mac only put on a small amount, just to make her natural beauty stand out more before she grabbed her wand.
"What are you using that for?" the brunette asked as she began applying eyeliner.
She glanced at her friend from the corner of her eye as she stared at the mirror, "My hair is too noticeable. I don't want to be noticeable." Waving the wood above her head, she got rid of her dye job and changed it to a reddish blonde; just for the night.
"Why don't you want to be noticed?" Hermione asked, now moving onto the eye shadow.
"Hm, well with the way I acted a few days ago…Freaking out at Draco and all, I don't want to be the butt of jokes sitting by myself tonight," she answered with a shrug as she picked up the silver eye mask lying on her bed.
Finishing up her make-up, Hermione agreed, reluctantly, with her and picked up her own mask. Putting it on, hers was simple and black to match her dress and made her look like an elegantly sexy heroine; it suited her. Mac's mask was a simple silver with pointed ends and fit snugly over the bridge of her nose. Once she put it on she fixed her hair into a messy half up do; which looked really nice with hair framing her face. The last thing she put on was a sky blue snowflake choker and the two were descending the spiral stairs. Arm in arm, they strode through the common room and headed towards the Great Hall for the Masquerade Ball. As they walked through the halls, there were light Valentine's Day decorations on the walls but nothing was like the decorated Great Hall! The enchanted ceiling was a dusty rose, swirled with a little orange and purple to make it look like a sunset while the lights were floating, flaming hearts. Enchanted roses hung on the walls while their petals lightly sprinkled the floor, never running out of petals. Everything was different shades of reds and pinks to signify the holiday; one Mac never cared for.
Hermione and Mac wandered into the Great Hall and up to Harry and Ron. "You look nice," Harry said, throwing a slightly uncomfortable point her way.
"Yeah, nice…" Ron added nervously. Both of them taking obvious note of Hermione's choice of dress.
She smiled and blushed a little, "Thanks."
"Hermione, who's that?" Harry asked curiously, obviously not recognizing her.
Hermione looked at Mac then back to the boys, "Guys, this is Mac!"
They looked at her. There was no way that the girl standing next to Hermione could be Mac! She looked too much like a girl, while Mac…well kind of didn't. "Are you sure?" Ron asked, looking like he didn't believe her.
"Yeah well it is," she spoke up, slightly annoyed. "All I did was change my hair. Well I guess I know now that I won't be recognized."
"Why change your hair just for a dance?" Ron asked a little confused about why she did it.
She gave him a sharp look, silently telling him he was stupid, "I didn't do it just for a dance. I did it so I won't get bothered by people." She lied. There was a long, slightly uncomfortable, pause, "Well, I suppose I have myself some pumpkin juice." Mac walked away from the trio and towards the giant glass bowl of juice.