Hi all! Hopefully, the frequency of my writing will be increasing now, so you can look forward to more chapters soon. But, in the meantime, here you go...
Oh, also, it's been brought to my attention that I wasn't very clear as to Charlotte and her and Rune's strop. To clarify, Charlotte was the one who dobbed on them to Dumbledore when they went to the Forbidden Forest.

In almost no time at all, it was the day before the Ball. Friday dawned a clear, crisp morning, and Rune got up feeling cheerful. She was feeling optimistic towards the Ball; it was a setup she had never experienced before, having never been interested in mundane Wizarding events.

As with the day before, Charlotte dressed at top speed and left quickly for the Great Hall, but Rune didn't actually mind so much today. She had other friends.

Rune abruptly remembered that the last time she had seen two of these "other friends" she had shouted at them and run away.

Oh dear, Rune thought. I hope they're not too mad at me...

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Sirius was just having the same thought. He pulled on his robes in the Gryffindor dormitory and went down to the Great Hall with James, Remus and Peter, who had finally been discharged from the Hospital Wing.

Though Sirius wasn't quite sure what they had done to make Rune so angry, and felt a little guilty for it all the same, his pride had still been pricked, and he wasn't going to approach her if she didn't approach him – them.

"So," said James. "All got your dates for tonight?"

"No," said Peter miserably. "I didn't have time to ask anyone, and the person I wanted to ask is already going with someone else."

"Ooh, who did you want to ask, Wormtail?" Teased James, laughing.

Wormtail went pink and didn't answer.

"Who are you going with?" Remus asked James, sparing Peter more embarrassment.

"Mary Macdonald," said James impressively.

"How did you get her to say yes to you?" Said Sirius in amazement. "That's Lily Evans's best mate!"

James grinned. "It took a while, I'll admit. But I'm hoping this'll make Lily…you know…"

"Jealous?" Sirius supplied.

"Well, yeah…" James cleared his throat. "So, Padfoot, who're you going with?"

"I…ah…I'm not as yet…well…"

"Spit it out."

Sirius glared at him. "I don't actually have a date…"

"You're kidding!" James laughed, astonished. "Why not?"

"Just never got round to it, I s'pose," said Sirius uncomfortably. "Anyway, Moony, you taking anyone?"

Remus looked up, a ghost of a smile playing on his face. "Yes, actually, I am."

"Outflanked, Black!" James roared with laughter. "Who is it, Remus?"

"It's Rune." Said Remus openly.

There were a few moments of shocked silence.

"What?" Asked Sirius, noticing an uncomfortable twisting feeling in his stomach.

"Well, she was upset yesterday, so I went to find her and asked her." Remus looked directly into Sirius's face. "You don't mind, do you?"

Wrestling with the vicious desire to shake Remus like a maraca, Sirius jerked out the words; "No, of course not."

"Right, breakfast!" Cried James, a little too loudly than was necessary. "I'm really … erm … hungry. Aren't you hungry?"

"Yes." Said Sirius in a surly voice. "Let's go."

There was a brief moment when Sirius thought Remus actually smirked at him, but he brushed the thought away. No matter what Sirius was thinking, Remus would never be as infantile as that. Never.

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Rune felt it wiser not to push it with the teachers, and sat at her own table for breakfast. She looked over to the Gryffindor table once, and saw that Sirius was staring moodily at his food, stabbing at it but not eating anything. Remus saw her looking and winked. Maybe he had been right all along.

The day flew by in a whirl of lessons, until they were finally all over. Rune went to the library to read for a while, and soon the sky began to darken to a deeper blue, flecked with the weak first stars.

At about seven, the library doors banged open and Darcy came rushing in, out of breath. "Oh, I thought I'd find you here," she panted. "Why the heck aren't you getting ready yet – you do know the Ball starts at seven-thirty?"

Rune nodded. "I've got half an hour. I had a shower this morning so I only need to really brush my hair, and then –"

"No, no, no." Darcy shook her head, exasperated. "I'm glad I came to find you now. Come on, get your dress and meet me in the girls' bathroom on the sixth floor, okay? And hurry!"

Nonplussed, Rune got up and ran to her dormitory, then back to the toilets where Darcy was waiting for her, surrounded by cases of various potions and implements. The bathroom was deserted, probably due to Darcy's reputation.

"What took you so long?" Darcy demanded. She already had her hair up in ceramic curlers, her green eyes flashing imperiously. "Never mind, come here."

And in the next ten minutes, Rune found herself being scrubbed, plucked and powdered to within an inch of her life. When her face was done, Darcy set to work on her hair, casting various enchantments on it until she finally decreed that Rune was done. Then Darcy instructed her to get into her dress while she, Darcy, got herself ready.

Rune locked herself into a cubicle and shimmied into the dress. She felt ridiculous, like a painted marionette, but she supposed she'd just have to trust Darcy's judgement.

As she came out, she saw Darcy, and her jaw dropped. Darcy looked utterly transformed.

She was wearing a pale pink strapless dress that stopped just above the knee and billowed out behind her in a controlled ruffled, feathery train that swept the ground just behind her rosy high heels.

Her honey-coloured hair glossy and organized into delicate waves, with the sides pinned back with a jewelled clasp.

Rune felt a twinge of jealousy, and thought herself utterly inadequate, for Darcy was probably the prettiest girl in the year, if not the school. It was so unfair that one person should have money, brains and beauty.

Darcy swept her eyes appraisingly over Rune. "You look good," she said, sounding almost surprised. "Go look in the mirror, see?"

Rune turned slowly to the large yet cracked mirror, not quite sure if she really wanted to see her reflection. But the moment she did, her eyes widened in shock. Rune's pale skin had been made up to look almost luminous. Her eyes were smoky, the brown of here irises accentuated and her lips looked fuller, and a natural yet pretty shade of reddish-pink.

"How did you do that?" Rune demanded.

"It's called makeup," said Darcy drily. "You may have heard of it."

"Why don't people wear it all the time?"

"Some do, but it looks stupid if you have that amount on every day. Makeup only accentuates the features that you already have, it can't make you much prettier if you're not vaguely pretty yourself. How do you like the hair? I saw it in Witch Weekly."

"It's lovely. Thank you," said Rune honestly.

Her dark hair had been eased from a French plait at the back into a wavy loose side-ponytail, adorned with one peacock's feather's head. The dress was ncie as well, considering that Rune hadn't worn one since she was about five. It was a glossy dark blue – off the shoulder and clinging to Rune's torso before flooding outwards a little more into wide ruffles, like a waterfall at midnight.

She looked … good. Not as beautiful as Darcy, of course, but nice nonetheless.

"Haven't you got any jewellery?" Asked Darcy.

"Nope."

Darcy let out a long-suffering sigh. "Never mind. You'll look pretty without it."

Slightly surprised at the compliment, Rune smiled slightly.

"I could probably even get you a date at this short notice, if you like."

"No!" Said Rune, too quickly. "I mean," she added hastily, noting Darcy's raised eyebrow, "I already have one. I'm going with Remus Lupin."

"Lupin?" Darcy was incredulous. "Why would you want to go with him?"

Rune drew herself up, stung. "He's kind to me, and I like him."

"But I thought you were on the run for Balck?" Not that I'm disappointed you're shifting your gaze, but there are much better people you could shift your gaze onto."

Rune went pink. "Firstly, there's nothing going on with Sirius and I. At all. And secondly, me and Remus are just going as friends."

Darcy still looked doubtful, so Rune quickly suggested they go down to the Ball.

"Oh my Goodness!" Darcy squealed. "We're ten minutes late! Ah well, we'll have to be fashionably late. Come on!" And she ran, full pelt from the bathroom.

They must have made an odd sight; Darcy's ruffled, feathery train streaming out behind her as she ran, and Rune picking up her skirts and giggling as she followed.

Finally, they reached the staircase before the Entrance Hall. Darcy flung out an arm to grab Rune. "You don't want to go running in there like a five year old." She warned. "You'll be laughed at. Follow me."

Darcy descended the steps first. She turned many heads, drawing a mixture of appreciative and jealous murmurs from the surrounding crowd. She revelled in the attention, and strode confidently down to where Regulus, a good-looking boy in flattering dark blue dress robes waited.

Rune wasn't feeling quite so self-assured. She peeked around the corner. The people in the Entrance Hall had gone back to their previous conversations.

Rune was suddenly very conscious of her bare shoulders, and the wispy curls framing her face that had escaped Darcy's hairstyle as they ran.

Swallowing hard, and trying to ignore the anxious twisting feeling in the pit of her stomach, she stepped around the corner and walked down the steps.

And heads turned. People looked at her and whispered a little, almost insultingly shocked by her appearance. Rune made her way as quickly as possible over to the corner where Remus, Peter and Sirius stood. All three were goggling at her in unflattering disbelief.

"Um … hi," She offered tentatively.

Remus smiled at her, while Peter goggled. Sirius just gazed at her.

"You look lovely," said Remus politely.

"You look nice too," said Rune shyly."Um, all of you do." She looked down quickly.

While Remus did look nice, though his dark brown dress robes were a little frayed in places, it didn't really, in her mind, hold a candle to Sirius.

He wore inky black dress robes that had obviously been fitted professionally. His hair was in its usual state of careless grace, curling down past his ears, and Rune thought he looked … well, as Darcy would say, he looked hot.

"Shall we go in?" Asked Remus, gesturing towards the doors of the Great Hall.

"Yes," said Rune, quickly looking away from Sirius.

Remus linked arms with Rune, and they entered the Hall together. Rune glanced behind her before the doors swung closed and saw Sirius, looking thoroughly bad-tempered, storming out of the Great Hall.

"Going well, don't you think?" Remus smiled hesitantly at her. Rune didn't smile back.

"I don't want him to be upset." She blurted.

Remus chuckled kindly. "Nobody does – but to be perfectly honest, I think it could be good for him."

Rune turned back to the Hall – and was greeted with a sight that banished Sirius Black from her mind. The Great Hall had been … well … transformed. Hundreds of bats of all sizes fluttered from the ceiling that reflected the deep blue, starry sky above. Giant pumpkins carved into glowing grins were lacing the edge of the Hall, replacing the usual burning torches.

Delicate tables covered with red velvet outlined the open space in the middle of the Hall, which formed a massive, jam-packed dance floor.

A band Rune didn't know was playing something rock-ish to the crowds of writhing dancers.

Rune could see Darcy sitting at a table with Regulus, but for some reason, she didn't look to happy about this seating arrangement.

"Hang on a sec," Rune told Remus. She walked over to Darcy, standing vaguely close until she, Darcy, got the message and came over to her.

"What?" She asked, looking a little irascible.

"Are you okay?"

Darcy shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Regulus is being a bit –"

She was cut off by the beginning of another song. It was a Muggle pop-song called Ultraviolet, which Rune had, for once, actually heard before.

She noticed Remus suddenly at her shoulder. "Dance?" He asked tentatively.

Rune grinned at him and took to the dance floor, leaving Darcy staring after them, looking a little jealous.

Both Remus and Rune were terrible dancers, but for some reason, that just made the whole thing funnier. A few songs later found Rune doubled up, laughing so hard that her belly was aching, her arm around Remus for support, who was laughing too.

The song ended soon, and Remus left to go get drinks, still laughing. Rune saw Regulus leave Darcy to get drinks also, looking glad to leave. Darcy started to come over, but then suddenly halted and turned around, walking in the opposite direction. Rune's eyebrows drew together, confused, until somebody tapped her on the shoulder.

"Dance, milady?" Sirius stood there, offering her a hand.

Rune tried (unsuccessfully) to quench both her involuntary smile and the butterflies dancing enthusiastic conga around her stomach, and said, "I'm a terrible dancer."

Sirius grinned, letting out a barking laugh. "I know. I'd better help you stop embarrassing yourself."

And so he took her waist in one hand and her hand in the other and they danced.

Laughing, they tangoed at top speed around the dance floor, much faster than the song required. Sirius picked her up at one point, swirling her around in a breathless circle before setting her back down gently on the ground.

Rune's brain was on fire. She couldn't think about anything else but his hands burning on her waist, and was startled when the song finished – surely it could end so soon?

But before the band could start another song, an enraged cry sounded, piercing the Hall, and washing throughout the crowd.

"What?!"

The crowd hushed silent.

Sirius and Rune, still holding onto each other, turned their heads to see who the voice belonged to.

Darcy was standing by the Hall doors, just in front of Regulus, who resembled quite accurately a rabbit who has suddenly found itself in the fast lane of the motorway.

"Darce, calm down," he begged in a quiet voice that nonetheless carried clear as a bell around the silent Hall. "It's for the best. I just think that we –"

"Oh yeah, we have different views on different things, I heard you the first time!" Shouted Darcy, too upset to realise that she was making a spectacle of herself. "So you waited until now? You coward!"

Darcy was screaming randomly, trying to find more reasons to be angry with Regulus, while also attempting to provoke Regulus into an answer – which she did.

"Don't call me a coward!"

"Why?" Does it make you sad? Oh, poor spoilt Regulus with everything he wants!"

Regulus turned red under his shock of dark hair. "Oh, Darcy, you're on very thin ice just there. Look at you, strutting around school like you own it, putting people down just because you can, wanting to look cool in front of all your wannabe Death Eater friends."

Darcy, in comparison, went bone white. "Oh, hark who's talking, Mr. My-family-have-been-Dark-Wizards-for-generations!"

Regulus's eyes flashed angrily, his resemblance to his brother suddenly very apparent. "Whereas your family simply bribe everyone in their way."

Darcy completely lost control. "My family is respected! I am proud to be a Rathmore! Are you proud to be a Black?"

Sirius's eyes stiffened around Rune. Instinctively, she put her palm against his cheek; a non-verbal gesture for him to calm down. He turned his head, dark eyes flashing into hers. Rune dropped her hand as if he had burnt her and looked away quickly at Darcy and Regulus, cheeks flushed.

Regulus's voice had gone deathly quiet. "I will not have this argument with you." His voice was calm, but with a subtle edging of scorn. "Goodbye, Darcy."

And Regulus left the Great Hall.

Scandalized muttering set the Hall alight. Darcy stood, still as a stone, staring out into the empty Entrance Hall through the slightly parted doors.

Then she gradually seemed to come aware of all the eyes upon her. Her own flickered around the Hall. They fell pleadingly on Snape and Malfoy, who looked uncertainly at each other, then down at the table again.

Darcy's lower lip quivered, and she fled from the Hall, her dress's pale train whipping around the edge of the door.

Sirius and Rune looked at each other in amazement at what had just occurred. Then,agonizingly gradually, they began the realise that they were still holding onto each other. Neither drew away.

Sirius pulled her slowly closer, his eyes not leaving hers. Her face tilted up of it's own volition, just as his lowered.

But, even in her befuddled, electrified state, Rune knew – this was not the right time, or even the right thing or either of them. She broke away from him.

"Rune –" For once, his voice was completely serious.

"I – I need to make sure she's okay." Rune said, averting her eyes.

"Rune –" But she pulled herself away from him and hurried away to the Entrance Hall, trying to banish her light-headedness.

A gaggle of young girls were crowded around the doors, trying to see Darcy through the crack between them.

"Clear off!" Said Rune fiercely, venting her feelings on them. "Get lost; this is none of your business!"

They scurried away, muttering insults under their breaths as they went, giving Rune a brief flash of satisfaction.

She pushed aside the doors. Darcy was sitting alone on the stone steps, her hands clasped together so hard in her lap that the knuckles were white. Tears were sliding silently down her cheeks, but she made no move to brush them away.

Rune walked slowly over to sit by her, and put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently against her own.

Darcy was stiff, but then something seemed to break inside of her, and sobs ripped out of her throat. She leant heavily against Rune's shoulder and cried.

They sat there for quite a while, tears sliding out from under her closed eyelids, dampening Rune's skin and the top of her own dress, but she didn't push her away. When the worst seemed over, Rune asked uncertainly, "Do you want me to go get someone for you?"

Darcy shook her head. All of her toughness and superiority had been stripped away from her – washed away with the tears, and Rune felt sure that for the first time, she was seeing the real girl behind the pampered Slytherin faҫade, and the result was something far more vulnerable than she would have expected or believed.

"I – I'm sorry," Darcy hiccupped.

"Don't be silly."

"No, not that. I mean, I'm sorry that I made friends with you." If anyone else had said this, at any other time, Rune would have considered it an insult, but now…

"Why would you be sorry?" Rune asked.

Darcy looked so much more helpless than Rune had ever seen her. "I promised Severus that I'd make friends with you. He asked me that I'd try to get you to act more 'befitting of your blood', but I suppose he meant more, well, like me."

"What?" Rune said slowly.

"I'm sorry." Said Darcy. "I really do like you. And I don't think you should be like me anymore. Being me sucks."

At first, Rune wasn't sure if she should be angry of sympathetic, but with one look at the girl beside her, she instantly decided on the latter.

Darcy, who never let anyone in, was reaching out to a friend for comfort – how could she refuse her?

"We all think that sometimes," said Rune. "But life goes one, you know?"

Darcy nodded, looking like a small child in need of reassurance.

Rune brought her hands down onto her knees with a clapping sound. "Come on, Darce. There's a Ball going on in there."

"Actually," Darcy sniffed, "I think I'm going to go to the Common Room. When the Ball's over I'll come up to see how it went, okay?"

"But you were so looking forward to it, and you prepared so much!"

"Yeah," Darcy shrugged her shoulders, fragments of her old independent self coming back together. "But you know what? It's just a party. I'll see you at Midnight, yeah?"

"Okay," said Rune doubtfully. "If you're sure…"

"I am." Darcy said. "I really am."

And she vanished down the stairs to the dungeons.

Rune twisted her mouth to one side in worry, then straightened her dress and rejoined the Ball.

Ooh, look, that was a long chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and REVIEW, please. I know you're reading this, I can see you on my Traffic Polls. RUDE.