1 Chapter 11

A week after the rest of the school came back; Dumbledore stood up in front of the feasting students and made an announcement.

"Students, teachers, if I may have your attention. I have decided, that due to the decreasing school morale, that a school dance will be held. This dance will be held the day after the first Quidditch match of the term. This way, morale will be doubly raised. And this ball will also be Fancy Dress; so let loose next time you are down at Hogsmede and buy an interesting costume. Thank you for your attention, please resume your feeding." Dumbledore sat down again.

"A dance! That'll be something!" Alex, a boy from 3rd year said to Nitrotic. Nitrotic ignored Alex, although the dance made him think as he sipped slowly at his pumpkin juice. He had never been a fan of the Hogwarts dances, preferring to stay in his room or go home, depending on the circumstances. But this dance, he didn't know. Something inside him was niggling at him, something told him that this dance would be different. Nitrotic turned to one of his few friends, Haer'Dalis.

"Reckon I should go to this thing?" Nitrotic asked. Haer looked shocked for a second, before finding his voice and kindly asking if perhaps he had spiked his drink a little too much. Nitrotic was irritated.

"Look, I'm serious. I haven't had a spiked drink in two days. So, SHOULD I GO?" He put emphasis on the end of his statement.

"Umm… Sure, why not? You got a costume for the occasion?" Haer'Dalis asked.

"Uh, I'll bet that's important, isn't it?" Nitrotic said, confused. Haer'Dalis laughed at Nitrotic, as he was such a comical sight at the moment. Haer slapped Nitrotic on the back, and dragged him out, literally kicking and screaming. A few people turned to look, but most continued eating. Aurora spotted the commotion too late, and Nitrotic was out the door.

"Aurora, hellooo!" A girl next to Aurora waved her hand in front of Auroras face. Aurora shook her head and turned to face Beth, who was the one attempting to get her attention.

"Huh? What were you saying?" Aurora said, in a daze. Beth sighed.

"I was saying, which boy do you like? If you don't want to tell me, just give me a description." Aurora sighed, and then gestured helplessly towards the Great Hall doors, where Nitrotic was desperately holding on to the doorframe.

"See that guy being dragged out yelling and kicking. That's him…" Beth looked kind of shocked, opening and closing her mouth a few times before speaking.

"Him? Uh……… You have strange taste in men Aurora!" Beth's face changed to mischievous as she continued. "I heard this rumour that you liked Snape…" And thus was provoked a long argument.

"Do I have to do this?" Nitrotic complained while examining a costume Haer'Dalis was holding up. Haer'Dalis was the son of a travelling performing group, his father also bearing the name Haer'Dalis. As such, he had inherited a lot of his father's love of acting, and was responsible for the creation of the Actors club at Hogwarts. He had a large stash of costumes in his room, always on hand if needed.

"Only if you want to look presentable at this Ball." Haer Dalis insisted.

"What if I want to go unrecognisable to this Ball?" Nitrotic moaned.

Haer laughed.

"I'm sure we could manage that too!"

Nitrotic was silent for a short time.

"Just shut up, Haer."

Aurora too, was picking out a costume, whilst down the road at Hogsmede. She sighed.

"I wish Nitrotic would had told me what he was going to go as… Then I could find something good to wear that somewhat went with his costume… Should I find something like a warrior girl outfit? Nah, don't want to look too plain or too slutty… hmmm..." Aurora paused, as she was talking to herself in the store's halls where they displayed the clothes…

"Hey, I know! I can find something pretty and elegant to impress Nitrotic and other people… but not so much that it would go overboard…" Aurora paused again, as she thought of something. " How about an princess outfit similar to that one Muggle movie, called Labyrinth… Yes! That's perfect!" She said, displaying her tendency to talk to herself, when she thought she was alone.

Beth looked at her, in a curious manner. "Uh, Aurora. Who ya talking to?" Aurora's face grew red. "Uh, I didn't know you were there...erm, nobody."

Beth giggled, "Are you talking about that Nitrotic guy again? Geeze, I never knew you could get this ditzy"

"Shut up!" Aurora growled. Beth sighed, and then she pointed at a dress.

"How about that one?" Aurora's eyes seemed to literally shine, as she said. "That's perfect!!" Beth looks at the price tag.

"Can you afford this? It's 25 Galleons!"

Aurora giggled "of course! How am I supposed to shop every chance I get if I don't have plenty of galleons saved up?" Beth glanced at Aurora, amusement in her eyes

"I figured as much..."

Aurora just shrugged, and grabbed the dress before somebody else laid eyes on it, and headed for the counter to pay for it. The store clerk smiled pleasantly at her, before asking "Big date tonight, little missy?"

Aurora blushed as she thought of Nitrotic. "Hehehehe… Not really...."

The store clerk was unconvinced, and grinned in amusement "Of course not. Would you like some perfume for that big date you're not having?" Aurora looked up suspiciously. "How much is it?" Her penny-pinching ways were the reason behind her three hundred Galleon stash, and she wasn't going to spend more than necessary.

The store clerk seemed to notice this "It's only 12 Galleons" Aurora pondered, and then agreed. The clerk wrapped the dress and the perfume up, and Beth walked with Aurora back to the castle. Beth was silent for a lot of the trip, until blurting out

"I have a question. Exactly what do you see in Nitrotic?" Aurora was caught off guard, and thought before answering.

"Well...let's see… He's cute, funny, and knows how to show me a good time. I don't go for the really mushy stuff like most girls do, I just like it when a guy treats me like a good friend, and on occasion more than that. You know? Nitrotic seems to know exactly what I like and don't like." Beth thought about that for a second. "Really? Wish I could find somebody like that. Is it true that you two made out in the Library?"

"WHAT?! Who told you that?? We just had detention… Besides, how stupid do you think I am? If we were making out instead of dusting all those books in there, we wouldn't be doing our tasks, and picture it if Snape caught us if we were making out! More detention, and losing more house points!" Aurora snapped. Beth giggled, and Auroras eyebrow twitched in anger.

"What's so funny?"

Beth explained. "You act so strange when you talk about Nitrotic. You really MUST be more than friends. I wonder how he feels about it" Aurora looked down to the ground, blushing.

"Me too… I'd like to know how exactly he thinks about that..."

Beth grinned mischievously. "We could always slip him some Truth Serum I borrowed off Snape... He talks in his sleep, so he doesn't even have to know he's told you!" Aurora was a bit angry at those words.

"Hey, how do you know that? Have you been in his room?!"

"I asked Haer'Dalis. He's his best friend. Also, he's kinda hunky, for a Tiefling" Beth looked mortified as the words slipped out, and Aurora's face became mischievous. "Oohh, so, are you two, like, TOGETHER?"

Beth blushed furiously. "Uh, NO! We're just really good friends! I joined the Actors Club, and he was so helpful!" She finished, flustered.

Aurora giggled, turning the tables on Beth. "Hehehehe, SURREE! Just like I joined with Nitrotic for the potions class!" Beth continued, perhaps unwisely

"And he has that thing, where he gives everyone a bird name, have you noticed that? He calls Nitrotic a raven, and I'm a swan!" Aurora retaliated.

"Ooh, that means he must really like you! To call you a graceful swan...

Y'know, I don't really see you as a graceful swan, I had you pegged for a pigeon!"

Aurora finished on that teasing note, as Haer'Dalis was spotted walking towards them. Haer'Dalis spoke, in that melodious voice of his.

"Aha! My darling swan, and her eagle companion! Hello Beth, and Aurora."

Aurora was stunned as Haer labeled her. "I'm an Eagle?"

Haer'Dalis laughed. "But of course! You move with his grace, but you have his fire, and his swift, unstoppable attack! You are like a kindly predator, so therefore, an eagle" Aurora kind of understood, then bent to whisper in Beth's ear.

"He seems a little fruity in the head to me, if you ask me." Beth just glared, and then put on a smile towards Haer'Dalis.

"Say, want to go and check out what the ballroom looks like? I'm sure the teachers wouldn't mind us having a little peek." Beth said, addressing all present.

Aurora declined, to try on her dress, and Haer'Dalis volunteered to instead. Beth stammered.

"Oh, I... Umm" As she desperately glanced at Aurora, who grinned a rather large grin.

"Oh I'm sure you two will be fine..." She proclaimed loudly. "After all, Beth likes you so much!!" Then she giggled and walked into the castle. Haer'Dalis waved.

"Farewell, kindly eagle!" He shouted, as Beth and Haer strolled towards the theatre.

Once Haer'Dalis got back, Nitrotic had run through his entire wardrobe of costumes, and Haer'Dalis was astonished to discover that he hadn't found a single one he liked.

"Thanks for your help anyway buddy, but I don't think I'll be able to find anything here." Nitrotic said, apologetically.

"In my extensive range?!" Haer sounded shocked. "The only thing I don't have is an angel costume, and a Manticore."

Those last few words rang true in Nitrotic's head.

"That's it! I'll go as an angel!" Nitrotic proclaimed.

"Not going in character then?" Haer'Dalis grinned.

"Shut up!"