Minerva and I made our way back to the castle with our new costumes in our gloved hands. All the while back I could not stop thinking about Finn. His sleek blonde hair and dazzling smile just caught me off guard. Minerva could see by all my blushing that I fancied him and would not stop talking about Finn
"He really is a handsome young man," she said, smiling over at me.
"Hmm." I said, not looking at her, but pretending to be admiring the bare trees. Even as a friend, Minerva could pry.
"His shop is all over the world, and he earns around a thousand galleons every three months."
"How do you know him?" I asked, trying to push the subject off of Finn directly.
"Oh, Albus and I are regular costumers and good friends. He left his family in France to come and start his own Magical Line. But he sends them half of his spoils every year to support them. As if they needed any help." She snorted. I nodded and pushed open the main door to the castle. It seemed that Finn was a kind and generous man and willing to work even though he was already rich.
Minerva and I went our separate ways to go get ready and I quickly ran up the stairs to my room. Xavier was flouting outside and opened up, sneering.
"Very pretty dress you have there." He said as I quickly ran inside. It was already ten at night and I had to get ready. "Going somewhere special?"
"Dumbledore's Halloween party." I answered, running into my room. "And I got a summer job down at Finn's Emporium."
"Oh, how fascinating!" Xavier said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at him and turned the photo of him on my desk around so he could not see me changing. I did this every day. "Now you can go around like a sissy and sell pretty cloths all day! Every girl's dream!"
"You're just jealous because I actually have legs and I'm not a painting." I said, undressing and picking up the dress."
"Now that is a little harsh don't you think?" Xavier said. "And anyway, why would I want legs?" I picked up the picture and turned it back around so he could see me. The dress had magically fitted me and shortened rapidly so most of my calves were revealed. The sleeves disappeared so I was wearing a white ballerina suit. The golden shoes had turned into slippers and some white feathers were sewn onto the fabric. "Oh," Xavier said, stunned, "That's what legs are useful for." He said, starring at my revealed white skin.
"Xavier!" I said, blushing and trying to pull it down more. I looked down at the slippers and wiggled my toes. I had not been in ballet slippers since I was a little girl. I had danced for most of my childhood; I stood up on my tiptoes and did a few steps. "Wow! This is amazing. Though the back itches," I said, trying to reach the middle of my back. But the scoop went all the way down to the small of my back, so the itching could not have come from any fabric. I turned around and tried to find out what was itching, when Xavier let out a yelp.
"Merlin's beard! What on earth is on your back?"
"What?" I said, alarmed. I stretched really far and felt two large things coming out of my back. I let out a scream and found two very large wings coming out of my back. "So this is what Finn was talking about." I said after trying to calm down. "He said each costume came with something extra. I wonder if I can fly." I found that I could not but I was able to move them. "Minerva will be so surprised!" I said with a giggle. Xavier to had gotten over his shock and rolled his eyes. "And now for the mask." I said dramatically, pulling out a white box. I opened it and revealed a golden mask that Finn had given me.
"It will bring the rest of the costume together." He said. I put it one my face and curled my hair. I had never really learned how to put it up but managed a graceful bun with a few curls falling down.
"How do I look?" I asked Xavier, twirling around. Again he was looking at my white legs. "Xavier!" I snapped, blushing red. He jerked himself out of his daze and cleared his throat looking at my face.
"Well enough." He said a tint of pink coming to his rather green cheeks. I rolled my eyes and quickly put a robe on over my costume and left the office. The rest of the castle was quiet and I did not hear any noise coming from the teacher's lounge when I reached it. But when I opened the door, a flood of noise came over me.
I had only ever been in the teacher's lounge a few times with Minerva, but I had never seen it quiet like this. It had widened at least sixty times and a stair case (which had certainty had not been there before) lead its way down to the dance floor. Masked people were all around, laughing, dancing and talking. I found my self with my mouth open and even though I was wearing a mask of my own, I was utterly embarrassed. I wasn't ready to take off my robe. Maybe the wings were too much. Well, it wasn't like I knew there were going to be wings on it!
Maybe I could just go down in my robe, but a small house elf walked up next to my elbow and held out his hand.
"Your robe please Madame." It squeaked, hand outstretched. Oh great. Well at least I wasn't getting an introduction. "And I will need your made up name so I can introduce you to the party." The house elf added. Really? What did I ever do to deserve this?
"Couldn't I just give you the robe and my real name?" I muttered.
"Sorry Madame, Dumbledore insists that everyone is to have an introduction and a made up name. Says it is part of the fun." The elf said, making a face, questioning Dumbledore's sanity when it came to fun.
"But I didn't make up one!" I protested.
"Well then, I suggest you make one up." The elf said grimly. I glared at him and thought. Something simple. It was only for one night any way. I hade always like playing pretend after all. I found one and whispered it to the elf. He nodded and turned to the crowd.
"Wizards and Witches, I would like to present Elizabeth Swan!" and he took my robe. The costumes wings spread out wide and I tried to bat them down. The stupid things were making this worse! I quickly started me way down the steps, trying not to look anyone in the eyes.
"Elizabeth!" I heard a familiar voice said. I turned to find Minerva running towards me, eyes wide. "You look wonderful!"
"Thank you Miner-"
"No, no, my name to night is Amanda." Minerva said, waving a hand.
"Thank you then, Amanda," I said, smiling back at her. I could tell that she was also having fun with this dress up thing. "Tell me," I said, lowering my voice, "What do we call Dumbledore tonight?" Minerva tried to hold back some snorts of laughter.
"Well, you might die from laughter."
"Try me." I said grinning.
"Well, all right. He decided to call himself Runell Wazlib." I snorted and started to laugh like crazy. Dumbledore did have some cheek. Only he and I knew that that was a name from the sixth Harry Potter book. Minerva was right; my ribs were starting to become very sore indeed.
"Come," Minerva giggled, "I think you need a drink." I nodded and we made our way threw the crowd. This time I dared to look up. People in masks were starring at my costume's wings drawing lots of attention. I blushed and quickly swiped up a glass of butterbeer and swallowed it whole.
The room was filled with people, way to many to all belong to Hogwarts. A few spare bodies indeed, I thought smiling to myself.
Minerva coughed and covered her hand with her mouth. "Oh good Lord, here comes Albus." She whispered trying not to laugh. I looked up and blinked a few times. Dumbledore was wearing a bright red, orange, and yellow feathered costume. I looked at the headdress he was wearing. It was a very large head of a bird whose beak came down to the tip of his long crooked nose. He was dressed just like a Phoenix. I smiled widely at him and he returned my smile.
"Hello Runell." I said jokingly. Dumbledore grinned back.
"Good evening Elizabeth. You made quite an entrance with that beautiful costume of yours." I blushed and quickly turned the subject away from me.
"I am rather disappointed that I missed yours." I said with a ruthful grin.
"Really? Well, it was not as glamorous as yours. You have much prettier wings than will ever have."
"Not true!" I said, "Your wings are very…um,"
"Homemade." Dumbledore said kindly. "I made them in my first year of office. But I am afraid that I did not come over here to talk about my costume." He turned to Minerva who was giggling furiously, but stopped when Dumbledore turned to face her.
"Miss Amanda, I would love to have a dance with you if you consent." Minerva fanned herself and said, trying not to beam.
"I would love to Runell." I watched as they walked off to the dance floor. Did Minerva McGonagall like Aldus Dumbledore? I was starring wide eyed as they danced that I did not see the figure next to me turn as I turned. We collided and butterbeer flew all over our costumes.
"Oh!" I spluttered as I watched the masked man stagger and look at his soggy suit. "Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't," but he just held up a finger and pulled out his wand and murmured a spell. His suit was just as crisp and clean as it had been a few seconds ago. I blinked and grinned nervously. "Oops?"
The man simply looked at me. He was wearing a black mask which covered his entire head. There was a silence.
"Why have you not dried yourself off?" he asked. His voice was mid-level and it had a strange wavering to it, as if it was all a dream.
"I uh, forgot my wand." I said, stupidly. The man simply looked at me.
"May I?" he asked. I nodded and he pointed his wand at my chest and a second later my costume was butterbeer free.
"Thank you." I said, looking back up at him. Again, there was a silence. I blinked and cleared my throat. "Would you like to dance?" I asked, gesturing to the crowded dance floor. The man looked at me, rigged. Then he stepped forward.
"I would love to." He said in a dream like voice. We stepped out onto the dance floor and I put my gloved hand to his but he caught my wrist. I looked at him with some confusion. He slowly pulled off the glove and I touched his palm with my fingers. It was as if an electric shock went up my arm and butterflies were dancing in my stomach. I blushed scarlet and his long, beautiful white fingers curled around mine and we danced.
It was the most magical dance I had ever…well, danced! I did not once look away from the mystery man I was dancing with and he did the same. When the song ended, we did the next one and that's when we started to talk.
"So, Elizabeth," he said coolly, but I cut him off.
"Don't call me that." I said quickly. The man seemed to draw back. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I just hate that name."
"Then why did you choose it?" he asked as we spun around.
"It is my older sister's name." I said quietly. "It reminded me of her. Not that I like her at all, I just miss her." The man drew closer, interested.
"Tell me more."
"Well, she was always better than me," I said, for the first time looking away from him. "My family thought so to. I had…have an obsession with something that they think is silly. They just always seemed to hate me and love her." The man was silent and we danced some more.
"Well, if I am not to call you Elizabeth, what should I call you?"
"Lily," I said, "That's my real name."
"Lily." The man said softly. I loved the way it sounded when he said it, so tenderly and sweetly. "What a pretty name." My heart jumped at that.
"And what's your name?" I asked. He paused.
"Ares S. Penevus."
"You real name." I said.
"That is my real name." He stated matter of fact.
"Oh," I said, looking back at him. We were silent and suddenly he pulled me out of the crowd.
"Before I have to leave," he said, holding my hand, "will you do something for me?"
"Where are you going?" I asked, confused. Again he paused.
"I do not know when I will return to Hogwarts Lily. Perhaps never." My heart seemed to scream against it.
"What?" I whispered. But he ignored me.
"Do you trust me?" he asked, sounding frantic. I looked at his masked covered face. I had only known this man for one evening…but I did trust him. I nodded and he pulled outside the party room in the dark corridor. He pulled me along and ran into a classroom, shutting the door.
There was silence. "Ares?" I called.
"I'm here." I heard his voice say. He must have been right in front of me. I felt my mask come off of my face and I suddenly found a pair of lips upon mine. He was kissing me. His mask must have been off to but I closed my eyes. I felt is soft hands on my shoulders and I kissed him back.
I do not know how long it was. But I enjoyed every minute of that kiss. Then, suddenly, I felt him draw away, hands off my shoulders and lips gone from mine. Again there was silence.
"Ares?" I called. There was no answer. Ares, the man that I found I loved…was gone.