A/N: Sorry so much for the long wait I've been giving you! I just finished up my midterms at school and everything was all hectic and shit, and then I was sick. Lol. Hope you guy's enjoy this next chapter!
Disclaimer: Just incase you guys forgot… I only own the characters that you've never heard of in the book and this plot that's slowly unfolding.
Chapter Twelve~ Winter Winds, Hogsmede and Dresses
Before the students and teachers of Hogwarts knew it, the Christmas Holiday's were upon the gang. Everyone was excited for the holiday break that was coming up, and furiously kept working so that everything would be done.
Soon it was December 14th, the date that everyone would go to Hogsmede so that they could shop for dress robes for the upcoming ball.
"The ball is next week and I still haven't found a date for it!" Gabby cried as she entered the girl's dormitory that afternoon.
"Neither have I, but you don't see me complaining about it." Lily said, not looking up from her desk where she was writing a list of songs for the band they would be getting- Magnificent Potions.
"You guys will find dates soon enough, I promise." Vivian said from the bathroom where she came out her hair wet, and in a dressing gown.
"That's easy for you to say Miss. I'm-Going-With-Sirius-Black." Gabby said, plopping down onto her bed.
"Why don't you ask Remus?"
"And risk the humiliation when he says no? I think not."
"C'mon, he'd say yes and you know it!" Lily said, spinning around. "You guys have been after each other since the beginning of the year!"
"I wouldn't be the one talking Mrs. Potter."
"James and I are not together! He just likes me as a friend."
"Yes, and that's why he's turned down every girl that has asked him to the ball." Vivian said, brushing her hair out.
"Sod off." Lily said as someone knocked on the door.
"See? You do like him!" Vivian said grinning as she opened the door.
"Who likes who?" James asked poking his head.
"No one." Lily said, eyeing her two friends. "What's up?"
"You're coming with me tonight to get the butterbeer, right?"
"I thought Alan was getting it."
"He said he'd rather go spend time with his date." James said rolling his eyes, "So you up for it?"
"Sure." Lily said grinning. "I'll meet you in front of the Three Broomsticks around five?"
"See ya then." James said and he disappeared.
"Oooh, someone's got a date!" Gabby squealed.
Lily shot her an evil glare, and went back to working.
* * * * * *
"What a lovely afternoon!" Sirius said as the group entered Hogsmede, all bundled up in their winter gear.
"The town looks so pretty with the sun setting and all." Gabby sighed.
"I'm ready to buy my robes!" Vivian cried. "You girls ready?"
"Yep." Lily and Gabby said together.
"We'll meet you in front of the Three Broomsticks at five, 'kay?" Lily asked.
"Sure thing." The boys said and headed off in the direction of Zonko's."
The girls walked quickly through the brisk air of December and soon they were in the warmth of the store, Gladrags Wizardwear.
"How may I help you, dearies?" An elderly woman said, coming out from behind the front desk of the store.
"Um, we're looking for some dress robes for the ball our school is hosting." Vivian said.
"Ah, Hogwarts students?"
"Yes." The three said in unison.
"Well, lets go see if we can find something for you."
And with that, each girl was measured about a thousand times from head to toe. Pretty soon Marge, the woman that was helping them, came from the back of the store holding piles of dresses for each of them.
"Thank you." The girls chorused each taking their pile and separating into different compartments.
* * * * * *
"Well, boys isn't it time to choose who you're going to the ball with? Wormtail and I already have our own dates… what about you lot?"
"Who's Peter going with?"
"Wendy Carroll." Peter said blushing, "She's a seventh year Ravenclaw."
"Good for you Pete." Remus said slapping him on the back. "And you're going with Viv, Padfoot?"
"Of course!" Sirius cried, "Who else would I go with? Snape?"
"I never know these days." Remus said smirking.
"Hey, at least I have a date."
"The ball's not for another week."
"So? Before you know it everyone's going to have a date already. Just go ahead and ask Gabby, you know she'd say yes."
Remus muttered something and started looking at the new pranks that had just come in from France. "What about Prongs? He doesn't have a date."
"Yeah, ask Lily!" Peter said grinning.
James just shook his head, laughing.
"My date is my buisness." He said smirking.
* * * * * *
"You ready in there yet Lily?" Vivian called from her dressing room. They had decided to come out at the same time so they could see each other's reactions.
"Yeah, hold on." Lily said and looked at herself one more time in the mirror. She had chosen a strapless, satin red dress that flowed all the way down to her feet. Along with it came a shawl, the same color and the same material of the dress. "Okay, here I come."
Lily grinned as she looked at her friends.
Gabrielle had chosen spaghetti strapped sparkly dress, the color of a deep purple. It ended just above her knees, and kind of ruffled out, the back going just a bit longer than the front of the dress.
Vivian had chosen a satin silver dress that had one strap that went across her right shoulder and then to the armpit of her left arm. The dress went just a little bit past her knees so it ended at the top of her calf.
"Spectacular!" Marge said grinning.
"Let's get them." Gabby said.
"Yes, lets." Vivian said grinning.
* * * * * *
"Hey, girls. Successful trip?" He asked grinning at the bags each held in their hands.
"You bet." Vivian said grinning. "Where's Sirius?"
"He's with Peter and Remus at Honeydukes, I told them Lily and I would meet you guys in the Three Broomsticks in a half hour."
"Cool." Gabby said, "See you guys then." And with that her and Vivian headed off in the other direction of the pub.
"So, lets go get that butterbeer, shall we?"
"Yes, lets." Lily said grinning.
* * * * * *
"Hey girls." Remus said, looking up from the Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
"Hey." The two said grinning.
"What took you so long?" Sirius asked, kissing Vivian on the lips.
"Buying the dresses took longer than we thought. After we had found them we realized we needed shoes too." She said and kissed him again.
"So you guys have everything you need then?" Remus asked as he watched Gabby spit out a grass-flavored jellybean.
"Yeah." She said making a face. "What about you boys?"
"I'm all set, I don't know about them though." Remus said gesturing to Sirius who was currently snogging with Vivian.
"I do." Peter said grinning, "Yuck, grass."
The other two laughed.
* * * * * *
"So Lily," James said as him and Lily sat at the bar at the Three Broomsticks, waiting for their order of the butterbeer for the dance to come. "I've been thinking-"
"Uh-oh, that's never good." Lily said grinning. James laughed and shook his head.
"No, really." He said and ran a hand through his hair. "I was wondering, do you want to go to the ball with me next weekend?"
"As in a date?" Lily said smiling softly, as James nodded. "I'd love to."
"Phew." James said.
Lily burst out laughing, "You were really that nervous?"
"Well you would be too if you were me."
Lily just rolled her eyes, and lightly shoved James.
* * * * * *
"C'mon guys, lets head over and meet James and Lily." Sirius said as Remus finished buying his chocolate frogs.
"Okay." The others said and with that they all bundled up and headed out into the freezing cold together.
"Ugh, the wind has picked up." Gabby muttered.
"C'mere." Remus said and he wrapped an arm around her, shielding her small body against his- the wind no longer making her cold.
"Thanks." Gabby said, eyes sparkling.
"Hey Gabs, do you wanna go to the ball with me?"
"Sure." She said smiling.
"FINALLY!" Sirius said from ahead of the pair.
"Can it, Padfoot." Remus yelled.
* * * * * * *
A/N: Ah, another chapter over and done with! Finally! It feels so good to be writing something other than essays again! Hope you guys enjoyed it… don't forget to review! I love reading your thoughts and comments about the story.
A.L.S.O.- I didn't send this to you because I wasn't sure how you were and I hadn't been able to reach you online… hope everything's okay.
