Disclaimer: As we all know, most of these characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The song from Libby's music box belongs to the writers of Music Man, and the original characters and the plot belong to me.. I'll give you another disclaimer perchance things change (and, by some miracle, I'm granted the rights to the Harry Potter characters..)
"What the hell are you doing in a dress?" A familiar female voice spat accusingly, and Libby's eyes, which were downcast, slowly rose to meet the girl's.
"Reggie!" She cried excitedly. Reggie was dressed in an ensemble not at all like her drab and stiff wardrobe, but more like the aristocratic, timeless classics Lily's yearbook photos often showed her wearing. Libby smiled at Reggie's change of luck. But all of a sudden her head hurt. How was she supposed to answer questions? She just arrived in this world an hour ago.
James, fortunately, answered her. "Oh, you know, the routine meeting with Dad."
Reggie nodded and looked at her watch. "Geez, girls, we have to get ready for dinner."
Godric looked at his own watch. "You girls have three hours!"
"Only three?" Ruby shrieked in fake shock. "Come on, ladies, we have to go put on our faces."
Reggie looked down at her chest. "And other parts."
Libby and Ruby laughed and the boys scowled.
"Let's go raid Libby's closet." Ruby said excitedly. "I heard you got some new shipments from the States."
Libby nodded and threw a helpless glance towards Harry before following the girls to her room.
"Have you guys heard about the Muggle book, Eight Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter?" James asked as they started working on Chaser plays.
The boys shook their head and James smirked. "I could write that book and have a best-seller, yes I could. It's easy. James's One Simple Rule For Dating My Sister. On the first and only page would be, in very fancy writing, mind you, James's one simple rule for dating my sister: Don't."
The boys laughed, looking first at James and then back to Harry, and then they'd laugh more. Harry grinned embarrassedly and flew up as they began their Snitch exercises. He caught a glimpse of the girls, Ruby, Reggie and Libby, watching their game from a corridor. Reggie and Ruby were keeping their eyes on the Chaser plays down below, but Libby was staring straight ahead, her eyes glazed over.
She seemed to be friendlier now. Not that Harry minded. She was always so flustered, so angry. Now she didn't have to compete with him. After all, there was James…
He looked down at her poor, oblivious brother. Boy, would he find Libby hell for the next few days.
Harry would miss it. He would miss her pointed insults, and her rude periods of the cold shoulder. He would miss her 'accidental' sabotage, and most of all, he would miss their fights- she was gorgeous when she was flustered. But, looking back at her now, she was even more attractive when she was calm, cool and sophisticated.
"Snap out of it, Potter!" Harry muttered, shaking his head violently. "Libby Black, attractive?"
"Oy, Your Majesty!" Godric called teasingly. "You just missed the Snitch. Frost got it."
Harry looked from the field to Libby and his eyes widened. "Oh, damn."
Libby smiled as Harry flew down to join the boys and they got into a fake scuffle. A memory flashed before her eyes, but it wasn't really one of her own.. It was Lady Black's.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where is he? Where the fuck is he?"
"Calm down, Jamie!"
"You're not old enough to date, you aren't!"
"I'm not a little girl, Jamie!"
"You're only fourteen!"
"So are you!"
James let out a strangled shout. By now, they were both standing up, inches away from each other with only a Hogwarts library table between them.
"You're not mature enough to handle dating!"
"Like you are? FYI, girls are more mature than boys!"
"Then I don't want you dating anyone dumber than you are!"
"That pretty much leaves out fourth years, fifth years, and sixth years. What, do you want me to start a fling with the Head Boy?"
"Argh, Libby!"
There was a pause. James turned his head away and crossed his arms in frustration and then he faced her again. "If he ever.."
Libby smirked, crossing her arms. "Royal or not, I'll make sure he has no little heirs."
James still wasn't satisfied, but he knew he wasn't going to win. He snorted and turned his back on her, and she gave him the same treatment.
Harry Potter stood at the library entrance, frozen in shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on, Libs. We have more than clothes to handle." Ruby said, rolling her eyes in what seemed to be true-Ruby fashion. Libby shook her head. Where did that come from?
Ruby led them to a whimsical blue door towards the end of the hall and opened it.
Libby's eyes widened as Ruby revealed a room larger than Libby's father's apartment. The room had a simple pattern, dark cherry wood with different shades of light blue, ruffled silk all over the place, and the furniture were all made in a Victorian style. There were dolls and stuffed bears and pillows all over the place, with a lot of photo frames on the mantle of her grand fireplace. Most of the photos were processed in the Muggle style, which Libby liked. They were black-and-white and in silver photo frames.
And the sight of the three ladies, a four-piece string quartet began playing Moon River, and the surprise made Libby jolt. She turned back to a few of the photos. There was one of her, Ruby, Reggie and, to her relief, Hermione and Ginny, playing on the bank of the Hogwarts lake. There was another of James, Harry, Fred, George, Seamus, Katie and Alicia on the Quidditch field. There was a larger one of Draco and Godric; with Dite in Draco's arms and Jadelyn in Godric's. And the largest was of her, looking at the camera with affection, hugging her knees in a profile shot and her dark curls were loose and framing her face in a beautiful, but non-sexy way.
"Harry took that one." Reggie reminded her, pulling Libby out of her reverie. "He's becoming quite the photographer."
"Outfits, ladies!" Ruby reminded them, and she crossed to a pair of white French doors near the fireplace and opened them. Reggie rolled her eyes and Libby tore her eyes away from the photo.
Libby gasped as she entered her 'closet'. It was like a two-story department store, everything in sections and on display. There was even an assistant.
"Hello, Roz. We've got to get ready for a semi-formal supper." Ruby explained and the blonde witch nodded. "We'll help ourselves and call if we need you."
"Dresses take up the second floor, right?" Reggie asked innocently. Ruby thought about it for a moment. "Dresses and blouses. T-shirts, pants and skirts are down here, scarves are upstairs, hats are down here and jewelry.. Well, those are in Libby's boudoir."
Libby took in the huge closet and shrugged. She might as well play the part. Besides, there was this really, really cute pale blue dress upstairs.
Meanwhile, James had led the boys to Harry's room, which happened to be on the other side of the palace. James and Draco went straight to Harry's desk and began writing.
Harry looked at them skeptically. "What're you doing?"
Draco shot him an odd look. "First you ask us to write your speech, and then you completely forget about it? Some friend you are."
"Hey, cut him some slack." James commanded. "I mean, how would you feel if you were forced to give a speech on how happy you were to be finalizing plans for your wedding, which isn't for another three years, and why you wanna marry your girlfriend? In front of your guardians, and her father?"
Draco, if at all possible, paled. "Sorry, Harry."
"It's okay." Harry whispered, still a little confused. He put two and two together and..
Shit! He and Libby were getting married!
Well, it couldn't be too bad. She seemed to be the only one who knew about the other world.. And he was rather attracted to her.
Maybe that's what she was trying to say to him earlier. He murmured his thanks to his friends and looked at some of the pictures on his desk.
There was a large one of Libby, black-and-white, and processed in the Muggle fashion. She looked at the photographer lovingly, hugging her knees in a profile shot.
"Still proud of that one, aren't you? Eh, I would be too. It's rather nice." Rhett commented. "She's beautiful, if you don't mind me saying."
Harry raised one eyebrow. "Well, it's the truth."
There was another one, same coloring and processing, equally as large, of Libby in his arms. Both were smiling, but at each other rather than the camera.
He would piece things together if it was the last thing he did.
Libby stepped out of the changing stall, wearing a sleeveless pale pink satin dress, with a crossover neckline with small ruffles lining it. Her slim skirt stopped two inches past her knees and she slipped into a sparkly, pale yellow, short-sleeved crossover v-neck sweater with pale yellow silk ribbons that she secured in a loose bow in the back.
"Tsk, tsk, Libby. You've fallen for my brother. Such a shame. Such a waste. And we thought we raised you well." Ruby said, wearing a sedate, sparkly and light gold slip dress. She patted Libby on the back, a false look of disappointment on her face.
"Where did we go wrong?!?!" Reggie shrieked from upstairs, still undecided on what to wear.
Libby raised her eyebrows knowingly. She hadn't actually fallen for him. Not yet.
She shook her head violently, trying to get her subconscious to change it's mind. It didn't.
Reggie bounced down, wearing the pale blue silk dress with hanky-hem skirt that Libby had eyed earlier. "Make-up, ladies?"
They turned to Roz, who nodded and led them into another room, with colors such as champagne, light gold and cream for the theme. It looked, at least to Libby, something straight off of Mount Olympus.
Libby sat down at the largest mirror, and a midnight blue box, covered with silk, embroidered with silvery-blue stars and its facets made of silver, caught her eye. She opened it and a little singer, dressed in a flimsy white dress with a whimsical blue satin sash and the darkest hair and reddest lips Libby had ever seen, spun around in front of the mirror. The music was vaguely familiar, and the tiny tinkle of a music box was charming.
Good night, my someone.
Good night, my love.
Sleep tight, my someone.
Sleep tight, my love.
"Oh, is she playing that bloody thing again?" Ruby demanded impatiently and Reggie rolled her eyes.
"It's her favorite." She reminded the sarcastic princess.
"It is?" Libby whispered softly and Reggie cocked one eyebrow upwards.
Our star is shining its brightest light,
For good night, my love, for good night.
"Are you kidding me? Liberty Black does not know what her boyfriend got her for Christmas? Honestly!" Reggie snorted.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear, if dreams there be --
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might.
Now good night, my someone, good night.
"Boyfriend?" Libby whispered, picking up a tiny photo frame,
probably about an inch tall, and eyeing the black-and-white Muggle photo
inside.
"True love can be whispered from heart to heart,
When lovers are parted," they say.
But I must depend on a wish and a star
As long as my heart doesn't know who you are.
"Harry, you forgetful, silly bird!" Ruby said, rolling her eyes at Libby's antics.
The photo was of Harry, with her in his arms. They looked.. In love.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear, if dreams there be --
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me
Libby's eyes glazed over and suddenly, a memory flashed in front of her eyes. Again, it wasn't one of her own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Harry, where are we going?"
"Shh.. McGonagall's going to catch us for sure if you don't be quiet."
"Harry, if you haven't noticed, we're under an Invisibility Cloak."
"That doesn't stop her from hearing us, does it?"
"Harry, this Christmas is really not turning out so well. First that peace conference on.. Grr, I wish we were home."
Harry laughed at his girlfriend's frustration and he led her up the stairs, thanking Merlin for probably the eightieth time that Libby's nightclothes were so short. Except this time it was for a different reason. She couldn't see her own feet, what was to stop her from tripping on something and falling face forwards?
"Harry, I'm freezing. Are we there yet?"
"Almost, Libs. Almost."
Suddenly, they stopped and soft light from a hundred different candles with a soft vanilla, cookie-like scent made Libby gasp. Harry threw the cloak off of them and got down on one knee.
"Libby, my angel, Merry Christmas." He pulled out a well-wrapped box from behind him and Libby gasped.
"Oh, Harry.." She murmured, but he stood, putting a finger to her lips.
"Just open it, alright? I don't need a thank you, it was my pleasure." He said, planting a soft, romantic kiss on her lips before pulling away.
She pulled at the bow, and the box vanished only to reveal another. About four inches long and half a foot wide, it was covered with midnight blue silk, embroidered with silvery-blue stars and facets made of silver. The top of the bottom half and the edge of the lid had ornate silver links. Libby looked up at Harry, her eyes bewildered and his eyes encouraging.
She opened the box, and it was lined with silver blue silk. A mirror was in the lid and on a tiny stand stood a little spinning singer, with dark hair, red lips, a white chiffon gown and a whimsical blue satin sash. A little lullaby escaped her lips, with charming, tinkling music.
"Oh, Harry!" Libby whispered in delight. "Thank you.. This has made my Christmas worth it!"
She set the box down on the ground and threw her arms around Harry's neck. "Thank you." She whispered again, kissing him softly. "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wish they may and I wish they might.
Now good night, my someone, good night.
Libby shook her head violently. Where were these images coming from?
"I helped him set up the candles." Reggie recalled in reminisce. "It was gorgeous."
Good night! Good night!
Libby closed her eyes as Roz darkened, curled and lengthened her eyelashes, and brushed a light, golden shimmer across her eyelids. Roz let her curls hang loose and just lightly brushed Libby's lips with dark pink gloss.
Libby looked down at her feet, and she was shocked to discover diamond slippers on her feet.
"Another gift from Harry, how appropriate your attire is tonight, Libby." Ruby commented with not a hint of sarcasm, which was a surprise.
Libby stood up and admired her reflection. A simple choker of diamonds had found it's way to her neck and on her left ring finger was a simple band of platinum with an elaborate star.
This must have been her engagement ring.
"Funny, you normally have that thing on that silver chain.. Where is it?" Reggie asked innocently, but she just had to look over in Libby's music box to find it. "Picturesque. Absolutely picturesque."
Ruby's eyes swelled with tears. "You're going to be one pretty queen, Libs."
"Queen." Libby repeated in a low murmur.
The dinner went off smoothly, though Draco and James, across the table from Harry, had to mouth his lines to him, and he hadn't seen Libby all night. He did, however, see Sirius, who, for the first time in a long time, looked like his name. Harry barely caught a glimpse of his parents, let alone talked to them. What he did notice, however, were the people eating in the balconies above them, observing the table with fascination.
"What are those?" Harry asked, jerking his head towards the tables above them.
Rhett shrugged. "I always thought the tradition was silly. People come in and pay to see the royals eat, having dinners of their own. Only at supper, thank Merlin. What was that Muggle book about Big Brother? 1984, was it?"
Harry laughed, but still eyed his observers uncomfortably.
What happened to you, Sirius? Harry asked himself as he and the boys left the dining room.
There were three giggling girls standing ahead of them. As the boys came closer, it was clear that the girls were Reggie, Ruby and Libby. Libby looked the most nervous out of all three, and Reggie threw her cigarette to the ground.
"Nasty habit, Reg." Ruby commented as the boys neared.
"I'll quit before summer vaca, promise." Reggie half-snapped. "You and James go off and have your little talk."
Ruby turned the color of her hair, but didn't disobey. "Jamie!"
Harry chuckled as the pair went off. "Lucky I'm not their Prince Harry, else I'd have to punch him."
Libby didn't say anything to his whispered joke, just took his offered arm and led him into a dimly lighted chamber. "Harry, I'm seeing things."
Harry took a step back and appraised her. "Fashionable things, I'd say."
Libby didn't laugh or smile. In fact, she looked a bit sick. "I'm seeing her memories."
Harry looked at her oddly. "Who?"
"Me, well, her.. This other girl, Lady Liberty Black. I'm seeing things from her past and it's so odd.." Libby hugged him, to his surprise, her arms around his neck. She buried her face into his shoulder. "I remember how James reacted to our relationship, and how you gave me my Christmas present.. And look!"
She stepped back and flashed him her engagement ring.
He took her hand inspecting it. "Wow, I have rather nice taste in jewelry."
She glared at him, taking her hand back slowly and thrusting out a foot. "And look at that."
Harry bent down and squinted, and Libby got an eyeful of his Quidditch-shaped backside. And what a nice backside it was.
Libby shook her head violently. She shouldn't have thought that.
"Damn, I'm spending a fortune on you." He commented with wide eyes.
"Yeah, your parents' fortune." Libby spat, but her scowl softened into a worried expression. She took both of his hands and looked down at them. "Soon, I'm going to completely morph into her. I'll have her personality, her memories.. And her fate."
Harry knew what she was talking about and gulped back the lump in his throat. "Yeah. You know we're getting married in three years, right?"
"Amazing, isn't it?" Draco Frost's loud voice interrupted their private reverie. "Absolutely amazing. You two didn't even like each other.."
"Three years ago." They both chorused in a poignant whisper.
"Yeah, well, we got to get back to our rooms. Tomorrow's the last day of leisure here at the castle and then we have to go off to Hogwarts." Draco reminded them. "C'mon, you two. Save the snogging for Hogwarts. They don't allow cameras there anymore."
Libby softly let go of one of Harry's hands, but still clutched the other. For safety, for support.. And for many other reasons she didn't quite want to face up to right now.