Chapter 10

"Rory! Alice! Have you seen this?!"

I looked over at Marlene who was walking towards the two of us waving a piece of paper around in her hand. I glanced over at Alice who just shrugged looking just as confused as I was. Figuring that we wouldn't be getting any more work done I closed my textbook and gave the blond my full attention.

"You know that we can't read it when you're waving the thing around." I smirked and Marleen huffed at me but then plopped herself on the couch in between the two of us with a large smile on her face.

"December 15th, Hogwarts first winter ball. For 5th years and up.. come in your formal wear."

Oh bloody hell.

My whole body froze after registering what Alice just read aloud. A winter ball? A ball in the winter… A ball? This had to be a joke right?

"I can't go to a ball." I whispered and the two girls looked over at my face. There was a moment of silence before the two burst out laughing at my misfortune. I rolled my eyes at them though wasn't able to keep the slight smile off of my face.

"James is going to make you- there's no denying that." Marlene chuckled and I just sighed, knowing that she was right.

"James is going to make you what?" I looked up and grinned to see James standing behind me with the rest of the Marauders at his side. Marlene scooted over to make room for him and while he plopped down and wrapped his arm around me, the others sat in the cushioned chairs around us.

"The ball that's going on in two bloody weeks." I groaned leaning my head on his shoulder.

The boys immediately started talking about it while my head was spinning. Maybe I would be able to convince Mother to send me a dress because there was no way I was going to be shopping at Hogsmead. Shopping during a rush is hell- for those of you who don't know. Girls are vicious.

"-You're alright with going right love?" James asked and I found myself nodding, unable to say no to the adorable expressionon his face. He seemed so excited about it… I couldn't just say no.

Even if I was a complete and utter clutz…

"You'll be fine." He whispered in my ear giving me a small squeeze and I just smiled to myself at that. James...he made my heart melt.

"Ouch! Alice come- ALICE!" I shrieked as my friend stabbed me with the mascara brush. The three of them had decided that they were going to make me over for the dance so they took me from dinner, three hours before the ball, and started to get us ready. To say that I was getting irritated was an understatement. Luckily they all took turns so that in between they'd have time for themselves...

How did it take three hours to get ready for one event!?

"I think she's done girls!" Alice called and then I saw the three crowd around me, quirking an eyebrow, I couldn't help but to grin at their looks of approval.

"Finally. Now you can see." Lily said and thrusted the mirror into my hands. I looked at it and immediately my mouth fell open.

The three had piled my hair to one side and had it curled, free falling over my shoulder. The black was broken up by crystal details that hid in the layers here and there. They had pretty much thrown my glasses away and given me contacts so I couldn't hide behind them. My brown eyes were lined with eyeliner and there was a thick layer of eyeshadow that Marlene claimed was "smoky". My cheek bones seemed to pop and eyelashes were lengthened. My lips looked bigger than normal and were a deep red and...

I couldn't recognize myself.

This girl looked confident… sexy. The girl that the marauders would associate themselves with. It wasn't me. I was the nerdy girl who liked to read. The one who never went to a dance, who did her own thing… who wasn't the center of attention. This wasn't me.

"Do you like it?" Marlene asked eagerly and I quickly plastered a smile onto my face. I knew that Lily saw me frowning at myself but i wasn't going to bother her. She would be bored anyways.

"You guys all did wonderfully. Thank you. Now why don't you all head down while I get dressed? Just tell James that I'm running a bit late will you?" I asked and the three of them nodded before piling out of the room all chatting to themselves.

Once the dorm room closed I took a deep breath before pulling the dress off of my bed and sliding into the soft fabric. The dress itself was stunning. Mother knew her way around the fashion world and because of that she tended to go overboard on these things. And for once it was looking good.

The dress was a deep red with a sweetheart neckline that fell all the way to the floor. It was tight on the top but flowed out a lot. There was gold beading on the top of it and though I wasn't much of a girly person… I was absolutely in love with it. Glancing at myself in the mirror once more I felt a bit light headed.

This was just too out of my comfort zone but… I needed to go. Quickly throwing on my sneakers (despite the fact that the girls would kill me if they found out), I made my way out of the dorm and down to the Common Room.

The whole room was rather crowded. There had been quite a few of the underclassmen sitting around, wanting to see all of us off. Most of the upperclassmen were already down in the Great Hall but there were a few still here. The Marauders included.

I looked over at the group to see them laughing with the girls. Remus and Lily had decided to go together as friends and Sirius had Marlene clung onto his arm. Alice had already gone down to meet Frank so that just left Peter as the odd man out.

Sometimes… I really felt bad for him.

"Hey guys." I smiled as I entered the group and everyone went silent.

My smile fell and I felt palms grow clammy.

"Did… is there something on my face?" I asked nervously and was about to wipe at it when James caught my hand.

"You… look stunning." He breathed looking honestly surprised and he laced his fingers between my own. Blood rushed towards my face at that and I found myself looking down sheepishly.

"You're too sweet…"

And… Silence.

After a minute or so Lily cleared her throat and suggested that we all head down to the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was… stunning. The lights were dimmed and the whole place looked like a winter wonderland. They had charmed snowflakes so they floated around in the air and there was Christmas trees every which way. It looked like it was right out of a fairy tale.

Everyone in the group kind of went off doing their own thing and it left James and I awkwardly standing by the punch bowl.

"Do you want to dance?" He asked after a moment of awkward silence and I just gave a shrug letting him pull me onto the dance floor.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and he placed his hands on my hips. As much as I… liked James- it was hard to socialize with him sometimes. We didn't have much in common so it felt like all of our conversations… were about our friends.

"You really do look stunning Ror." James grinned and I looked up into the hazel eyes of his.

"Oh really? You think so?" I asked cheekily as he swayed us back and forth and he gave me a crooked grin before leaning down closer to my ear.

"I would say… sexy almost." He whispered and I felt chills go down my spine. I wanted to smack him on the side of the head but I almost felt oddly pleased by what he said.

"Do you mind if I cut in for a bit?" We both turned to see Sirius standing there with is signature arrogant grin on his face. Despite the fact that he kind of ruined the moment, James and I both agreed and James went to go grab a drink while the two of us danced.

"Just don't steal her from me mate." James stated giving Sirius a pat on the back before making his way to the punch bowl.

"You having a fun night here?" Sirius asked quickly placing his hands around my waist. I gave him a look before putting my hand around his shoulders as lightly as possible. Merlin this was uncomfortable…

My mind was spinning. As much as I liked Sirius I didn't like him like that. I mean I was dating James for Merlin's sake. But usually you wouldn't ask your friends' girlfriends to dance...right? I felt like I was crossing a line with him though. A line that I didn't want to cross.

"I don't feel like myself." I stated after a moment and he just looked down at me, his eyebrows pulled together. "I mean I am having fun! Dancing with James is great and all but I don't feel like myself. And I don't think that's a good thing."

Sirius nodded as if understanding and I just sighed, looking around the dance. My spirits were falling and it felt like there was a weight in my stomach as I caught sight of James. He was over talking to Lily, wearing the smile that she always seemed to bring out… the one that I rarely saw from him.

I was starting to get attached to James and that was what scared me. Me falling for him when it was uncertain if he was falling for me.

"Rory…" Sirius asked, something hesitant in his voice. My stomach felt like there was a dead weight in it. The music was pounding in my ears causing my head to spin as I watched them. As I watched them laugh… looking comfortable together. As I watched him brush a hair out of her face. As I watched them together.

"Sorry… I'm fine. I'm fine!" I stated and plastered a smile on my face. He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head but dropping it.

"If you insist. Do you want to see something?" He whispered in my ear and I felt curiosity stir.

"I… sure?"

He grinned wickedly at me, his eyes shining and then let go of me then put his hand in the air. Almost the moment he had done that, a loud pop filled the air and a red fizzing light caught everyone's attention. We all watched as it flew towards the ceiling and then popped- a ton of other lights blowing out of it. The fireworks continued to explode, one after another until they formed the words, 'Merry Christmas, from the Marauders'.

I couldn't keep the smile off of my face as I stared at it, after they fizzed away, the whole Great Hall burst into a cheer and I joined on in.

"You guys are brilliant." I yelled to Sirius who was laughing and he just nodded, his eyes sparkling brightly.

"Oh you don't have to tell me that. We know." He winked causing me to laugh even harder.