Chapter 24

The forest was dark and cold as usual, but Peter knew that. He was very familiar with the forest, due to the countless full moons he experienced with his friends each year.

The Invisibility Cloak felt alien to him when he was wearing it all by himself. However, the boys were getting older, and they found it increasingly harder to all fit underneath it together.

Dead leaves and snow crunched beneath Peter's feet. His wand was in his left hand. Surprisingly enough, Peter wasn't afraid. With the Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders, his wand in his hand— he felt like nothing, nothing in the forest could possibly harm him.

Sure, Peter didn't know the exact spot the Death Eaters would be meeting up. But they'd probably make a ton of noise or somehow carelessly give away their location. The forest wasn't as big as everyone thought it was. He'd find them eventually.

There was a noise to his right. Peter froze, fear suddenly gripping hold of his heart. He couldn't breathe.

It was Severus Snape, who was wearing a black cloak and blending straight into the night, and was standing next to him, still as a statue. He seemed to be listening. Probably for Peter, who's footsteps had disturbed the deep silence of the forest.

When Snape seemed satisfied that he had only been hearing things, he continued deeper into the forest. Peter quickly cast a muffling charm on his loud feet and hurried after him.

Snape was unnaturally quick in the blackness. Sometimes Peter couldn't see him, and then the moonlight would reflect off of his sallow skin and give him away.

Soon, they reached a large clearing. Snape stepped into it, apparently held up his hand, and murmured something. He disappeared.

Peter's eyes were as large as saucers. Now what was he going to do?

Quickly, he went over to the place Snape had been standing. Uncertainly, he held up a hand, out of the Cloak so he could see it. It disappeared in front of his eyes.

Peter's eyes lit up. He pulled the Cloak closer to him and stepped into the clearing.

When he opened his eyes, he was standing in the same clearing, though it seemed blacker and stinking of rotten magic. He wrinkled his nose and tried not to gag. Black magic was known for having a sickly sweet scent. It reminded Peter of the medicine his mother used to give him when he had the cough.

The entire clearing was completely crowded. Everyone was wearing black cloaks and talking animatedly with one another, eating and drinking. It seemed almost like a party, except for the grotesque symbols drawn on tree trunks and the same glint of insanity in everyone's eye.

Peter quickly moved out of the center of the clearing, closer to the edge of it. Snape was standing near a tree, sipping something. He watched the masses of people with a clear, calculating eye. Peter recognized it. It was the same look Snape gave his Potions book, when a recipe was particularly challenging.

Peter also looked over the crowds of people, and to his horror and slight disgust, recognized many of the students. Most were from Slytherin house, though he saw quite a lot of Ravenclaw, and a fair share of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.

Bellatrix Black was obviously living her best life. She, out of all of them, was wearing a beautiful blood-red gown. Her hair was combed (for once) and lay around her shoulder in an array of beautiful black curls. Her lips were painted the same blood red as her dress.

Peter also noticed Lucius Malfoy among the younger recruits, and the frightened girl hanging onto his arm. Narcissa looked terrified and tired and resentful all at once. Peter wished that she was hanging onto his arm, not Malfoy's.

"Oh, shut up, he's coming!" Bellatrix suddenly hissed excitedly, and the voices faded to a buzzing murmur.

Who's coming? Peter thought, craning his neck so he could see.

A figure made their way out of the trees. His gait was elegant, poised, sophisticated. Very unlike the unruliness surrounding him.

He had black hair, blacker than James or Sirius or even Bellatrix, and skin as white as moonlight. He was thin and tall, and wore a Muggle suit. He waved his wand, which was as white as bone, and a tree crumpled into itself and morphed into a chair.

He sat, idly twirling his wand between his fingers. A lazy smirk curled onto his face. He was a very handsome man, so starkly and coldly good-looking that it made everyone nervous.

He had very dark eyes, almost black. And Peter looked into those eyes, seemingly soulless, and was not afraid.

"Everyone is here," Bellatrix said, coming forward and curtsying.

"Hmmm?" The man was smiling. It was a very beautiful smile, though there was something sick and disgusting hidden in it. Peter was fascinated.

Bellatrix curtsied again, gave him a simpering smile, and then skipped off to join the ranks. Everyone was suddenly very quiet and respectful, looking down at the ground.

Voldemort, for it was Lord Voldemort, stood up from the chair, waved his arms, and created seats for everyone else.

He smiled sweetly, angelically. "Sit." he said, gesturing towards the chairs he had created, and Peter sat, too transfixed to realize that Voldemort had created a chair for him as well.

"We have gathered here for one purpose," Voldemort began silkily. He had a very quiet voice, rich and dark and smooth. Almost hypnotic.

He held up one long white finger. "And that is power."

An excited murmur swept across the masses of people, and Peter himself felt excited. He glanced over at Snape, who looked dead, as usual.

"Each one of you is crucial to the turning of the tide," Voldemort said, stressing his words. He glided over to the opposite side of the clearing, touching a young woman's face like she meant everything to him.

He pulled away from her. "Each one of you will get your share of power." he promised, face shining. His sweet smile radiated over them.

"However, I shall not order you to join me. Your freedom is ensured both before and during my reign." he said, nodding his head almost humbly. "Your choice will earn my respect, no matter what it is."

He returned to his throne and sat, still sprawled elegantly on it. He grinned roguishly. "So what'll it be?"

A loud chorus of whoops and excited shouts filled the clearing, only permeated by his joyous laughter. Peter almost forgot that he was standing with Death Eaters, instead of friends.

When the meeting was over and everyone began to disperse and sleepily head home, Peter felt as if he had been shaken out of a daze.

As he fell asleep that night, he wondered why he hadn't caught the Death Eaters, and instead celebrated with them.

"Hey, bitch," Marlene called to Lily as way of a greeting.

Lily didn't stir. "Whassup?"

"No, get up, we're going dress shopping," Marlene said, hauling up her friend, despite her protests.

Lily glared at her best friend. "I can't! I have this whole essay due for Astronomy tomorrow—"

"That's nice," Marlene interrupted uninterestedly. "Okay, come on! If we don't leave now, we can't leave at all."

"But Marleeeeene," Lily whined. "I don't want to go dress shopping."

Marlene continued doggedly dragging her out the door. "I'm sorry Lily, but I don't care."

Sirius watched them leave, loudly eating a cookie. "Where you guys going?" he asked.

"If you give me a cookie I'll tell you," Lily said hopefully.

Sirius tossed her one. She caught it. "We're going dress shopping."

"Oh." Sirius munched thoughtfully. "Can I come?"

"No!" Marlene said, looking appalled at the very idea. "Boys can't go dress shopping. That's crazy. Besides, Lily's your date. You can't see her in her ball-gown before the dance."

"Why not?" Sirius asked.

"Because that's how it is!" Marlene snapped, annoyed. She grabbed Lily's hand and attempted to pull her behind her.

"Marlene just doesn't want you to see how hot she looks in her dress before the dance," Lily whispered fake-loudly, just as the portrait slammed behind them.

"Lily!"

"It's true!"

Lily was very poking at a rack of dresses in an enormous store that was probably too expensive for her liking.

She had just pushed one dress to the side when she saw a familiar pair of eyes through the rack. Her own eyes widened. "Black?"

"Shh!" Sirius hissed, putting a hand over her mouth. "Shut up, McKinnon's going to hear you!"

"Are you following us?" Lily asked incredulously.

"No," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. "I just want to see how hot McKinnon looks in her dress, obviously."

Lily glared at him. "Why haven't you told Remus about you two yet? You're being an ass, and you know it."

"We haven't fucked or anything," Sirius said crudely, but Lily could tell that he only said it because he felt uncomfortable and guilty. It was written all over his face.

"You're being a pathetic excuse for a friend." Lily said, lifting her chin haughtily. "You don't deserve to see how hot Marlene looks in her dress."

"That's not fair!"

"It is too fair!" Lily shot back. "You're the one that's creepily following us around!"

Sirius looked outraged. "Creepily?"

"Aha!" Lily shouted victoriously. "You admit you're following us!"

"All my friends have ditched me!" Sirius said piteously.

"Don't tell me lies, Sirius Black!" Lily said sternly, wagging a finger in his face. "James Potter cannot leave you alone."

"He's probably somewhere looking for you instead of me," Sirius moaned, throwing his hand to his forehead in mock-sorrow. "I've been replaced, Evans."

Lily frowned, now slightly grumpy at the mention of Potter. "He's probably looking for Dorcas Meadowes, not me."

"Then we've both been replaced! We can be in misery together!"

"Oh, shut up," she growled, turning away to look for her aforementioned best friend.

Sirius hurried after her. "Lily, don't leave me alone in here," he hissed, grabbing onto her cloak. "The scary clerk lady keeps on eyeing me— I feel so violated—"

He hid behind her. Lily glared at the scary clerk lady, who looked about fifty years old. She smiled creepily at Lily, making her way towards her.

"Hide," Lily hissed, and they both dropped down to their knees, crawling behind a rack of clothing.

"We're safe," Sirius whispered, mopping his forehead with his shirt sleeve.

"Wait, I'll take a look," Lily muttered to him, and bravely stuck an eye out behind the rack. The clerk lady's shoes were visible beneath the tassels and ribbons of various dresses.

"Not safe!" Lily muttered, and the two of them crawled as fast as they could towards the opposite side of the room.

"That was close," Sirius whispered, looking visibly terrified.

Lily was staring at the pair of shoes in front of her, then looked up, wincing.

Marlene stared back at her, her left eye twitching.

"Oh, hello, McKinnon," Sirius said, also looking upwards at her.

"The hell are you doing?" Marlene demanded.

"We're hiding from the scary clerk lady." Sirius explained.

Marlene took a deep breath and count to thirty. "I have a couple dresses, Lily." she said finally. "Could you come help me out in the dressing room?"

"I could come help you out in the dressing room!" Sirius volunteered.

Lily smacked him in the back of the head, getting up and patting down her skirt in embarrassment. Marlene shook her head at her, looking like a disappointed mother.

Wait here, Lily mouthed at Sirius when Marlene turned around. Sirius gulped.

What if the scary clerk lady comes back? he mouthed back desperately. Lily shrugged apologetically. He watched the two of them disappear into the masses of color and fabric.

Marlene was holding a whole bunch of dresses. Lily sighed loudly upon seeing them all, and Marlene gave her the evil eye.

The evening went by slow and torturously. Marlene tried on different dresses, Lily made an 'it's okay, I guess' face, and Marlene went back into the changing room.

Lily was picking at her nails when Marlene came out for the twenty-eighth time. "Lily? What do you think?"

Lily looked up, uninterested, and then her jaw dropped to the floor.

Marlene was wearing a beautiful cerulean gown that hugged her in all the right places, but fell down her body like a waterfall. It trailed behind her, elegant and simple and so, so very Marlene. Tiny flowers and crystals dotted across the bodice.

Marlene was looking at Lily hopefully. "Yes?"

"Yes." Lily breathed. "Goddamn, I'd do you."

Marlene snorted. "That's reassuring." But the sarcasm was only halfhearted. She looked giddy. "So it's nice, right?"

"That's the one, Mar," Lily said, nodding, and the two giggled and squealed together like real girls.

"Wait, what?" Sirius appeared from behind the racks.

Marlene positively screamed. Lily jumped heroically in front of her friend, blocking her from view, and Marlene practically sprinted back into the changing room.

Lily punched Sirius in the chest. "YOU. CAN'T. SEE. A. GIRL. IN. HER. DRESS. BEFORE. THE. DANCE!"

She punched him again, just for good measure. "YOU. ASS!"

Sirius blinked, rubbed his chest, and sadly went back to where he was.

Lily nodded, mentally giving herself a pat on the back. "That's it, Evans, kick 'em to the curb," she said.

Marlene hurried out of the dressing room, wearing her normal clothes again, but clutching the blue dress. "Is he gone?" she whispered, eyes flitting around like she thought he'd pop out of a dress or something.

Lily nodded proudly. "Of course."

Marlene breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Good. Now it's your turn!"

Lily's proud expression quickly turned to one of horror.

And the process began again, except with Lily inside the changing room and Marlene sitting outside, making vulgar comments.

Lily came out, visibly more grumpy than she had been half an hour ago.

"Strike a pose!" Marlene demanded. Lily struck a halfhearted pose.

"Next!" she barked. Lily filed back inside, robotically picking up the next dress.

This one happened to catch her eye. It was green, almost the same color as her eyes. It was cut mermaid style, and the straps fell around her shoulders. The embroidery was silvery and dotted with sparkling gems. It was a dress meant for a princess.

She stepped outside, visibly holding her breath.

Marlene looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

"My BABY!" she shouted, and hugged Lily so fiercely. "You look so grown-up and beautiful! That's the one!" She did her own little dance.

They squealed and giggled a little together, and then Lily changed out of the dress and back into her old clothes, clutching the dress in her arms.

They paid for the dresses, (they were a lot of money) and went to retrieve Sirius at Lily's request.

He was where they had left him, sitting on the floor behind a rack of clothing, twiddling his thumbs together.

"Dress shopping sucks," he commented, as they returned to Hogwarts together.

"Tell me about it," Lily sympathized, rolling her eyes.

"Okay. Dressing shopping sucks."

"Both of you are so annoying," Marlene said, shaking her head, but there was a smile on her face.

Lily glanced at Sirius, who was looking at Marlene with a soft expression. It was a beautiful expression, and she smiled secretively to herself.

When Sirius saw Marlene at the ball, he was going to shit his pants.

A/N: Lily is so damn cute. Also, can I just say that I ACTUALLY AM SIRIUS BLACK. LIKE, HE IS ME. I AM HIM.

Shoutout to xxRainSongxx. Our bee conversation gives me hope to live.

Okay byeeeee I have a shitload of chemistry to do. Only reviews can save me now. *makes puppy-dog eyes at you*