Chapter 36

Hardly anyone went home for Christmas when the term ended on the 17th December. However it didn't seem to matter because the entire school was caught up in the excitement of the Christmas party.

It had been arranged that it would start at six o'clock and that third years down would have to return to their common room by nine. While the older ones could stay out until eleven thirty.

The twenty fourth came faster than anybody thought it would and at six o'clock the younger members of the school had headed down to the Great Hall. The group of friends though had decided to head down for seven thirty.

So as seven o'clock showed itself the boys were all down in the common room sitting around. A lot of girls they had seen were all dressed up for the night in dress robes that were very tightly fitted.

The boys themselves were all in their black school trousers and shirts. Joe had gone for a gold shirt while Frank had gone for a soft blue one. Remus was in a light green one while James was in red. As for Sirius he had on his black shirt with SB stitched in and Peter in a dark blue one with PP on it.

By seven fifteen they were fed up with waiting but to their surprise the first of the girls headed down. Amanda walked slowly down the stairs and as she reached the bottom she caught Joe's eye. She grinned as he wolf whistled.

The others all turned to look and Sirius frowned. She looked beautiful very grown up but the corset had pushed her chest up so that they could all see it and the splits in the dress were rather long. Her hair was falling in lose curls and he growled causing them all to look at him.

"You are not going out in that."

"Watch me."

She had turned on her heels and had left the common room before he could react. The rest of them looked at him as he sprinted off after her and James looking at them all shook his head and followed.

James looked down the corridor he could see Amanda turning the corner and Sirius chasing after her; quickly he ran and found them facing each other just around it.

"There is nothing wrong with the way I'm dressed."

"Amanda you're beautiful enough when you're dressed down. If the rest of the male population see you like that then I'll never be able to let you out of my sight."

"It's not that bad Sirius, wait till you see Branwen. Now that's the one you'll have to worry about. I think she'll give Pete and Ddraig a heart attack."

"That's not the point. You're not going dressed like that."

James could understand what Sirius meant he was having a hard time focusing on Amanda's face. As he looked at her his eyes kept drifting downwards and Sirius was right all the guys would do that same if they saw her.

"James do you think that this is too much?"

He gritted his teeth and shook his head and she smiled.

"Good now lets go to this dance."

Amanda started to walk away and Sirius shot James a killer look. But James just moved forward and offered Amanda his arm.

"May I escort you down to the Great Hall?"

She smiled and took his hand in hers as laughter sounded from behind they all turned to find the others standing behind them. Sirius and James looked the other girls up and down and Sirius quickly moved to Branwen taking her hand.

"You look beautiful; you're going to kill your father when he sees you."

She blushed and smiled as Sirius took Alice's hand.

"Your brother is going to have something to say about you when he sees you in that dress. You look gorgeous."

Then Sirius moved to Lily and Ginny and took their hands each.

"As for you two well you're going to be fighting the boys off. So if you need any help you know where I am."

James smiled as Sirius stood aside and Joe spoke up.

"You all look gorgeous tonight. Should we get going?"

"I haven't got anyone to escort. Frank has Alice; Joe has Ginny and Pete well he won't be letting go of Branwen tonight. You've taken Lily Re and James you've got hold of Mandy."

"Oh come here Si you can hold my other hand."

He smiled taking Amanda's other hand obviously relaxing slightly seeing that the others were dressed up to the same extent. They quickly made it to the Entrance Hall and were surprised to find people queuing.

As they reached the front they saw a banner hanging over the door.

'Merry Christmas all and welcome to the Hogwarts Christmas Ball combined for one year only with the Pure Ball.'

They stopped just as a man dressed in purple dress robes looked at them all.

"Please can I have your names?"

James could see Amanda and Sirius looking at each other shooting looks behind them at Peter. James spoke up quickly.

"James Potter."

"Enter."

He didn't move as Sirius and Amanda stepped aside to let the others passed.

"Joseph Wild and Ginny Dunn."

"Enter."

They looked back and both entered the room. Alice, Frank, Lily and Remus quickly followed them and Pete looked at Branwen and James.

"James will you do me a favour and escort Branwen for me tonight."

"Of course."

James took Branwen's hand away from Peter and the two entered. They found the rest of them standing in a corner with Ted and a girl named Trinity looking unhappy. They quickly walked over and Ted looked at Branwen.

"Oh they took Peter too did they?"

"What do you mean?"

"They asked you for your name?"

"Yeah."

"Well –"

Ted was cut off as a trumpet sound echoed through the hall and the mass of adults that James had only just spotted looked towards the door along with many of the students.

"May I introduce the only son of Simon and Chloe, Peter Pettigrew."

The hall was silent as Peter stepped forward he stopped just inside the door. He stood in a manner that was totally different to his normal one as he looked straight ahead standing to his tallest with his shoulders back. The trumpet sound went again and the man's voice sounded for a second time.

"May I introduce the oldest son of Bootés and Chu'si, Sirius Black."

The hall was again silent as Sirius stepped forward and walked in the same manner that Peter did so different to his normal self. Like Peter he stopped just inside the door and James got the feeling they weren't suppose to since people were beginning to whisper as the trumpet sounded for a third time.

"May I introduce the youngest daughter of Alistair and Aquilina, Amanda Dixon."

James' breath caught in his throat as she entered. Like her two friends she didn't look like herself in a matter of seconds her composer had completely changed. Her shoulders were back as she walked into the hall slowly one foot in front of the other head held high. She didn't smile just looked ahead.

She stopped by her friends and looking sideways at Sirius kissed his cheek taking his left arm and then turned and kissed Peter's cheek taking his right arm. Then the three not looking at anybody walked forwards towards the mass of people.

James looked sideways at the group but they were all staring as the two boys bowed to the adults and Amanda dropped low into a curtsy.

Music played and people moved on the dance floor. James smiling at Branwen led her to the floor along with the others and they danced around happily. He pointed her father and grandfather out to her and she ran over blushing and then came back.

An hour passed since they had arrived when the trumpet sounded again…