Disclaimer/ A.N: J.K. Rowling her peoples and her peoples peoples own the characters that you recognize, I own everything else except the Dave Matthew's Band song, "So Right" off of their brilliant album, Everyday. I believe I've already given several shameless plugs to them but let me add another. Go buy it and every other album ever made by them. And while you're at the store, pick up the Harry Potter books and a few novelty items. There. Now they can't sue me. I'm giving free advertising. J
*Men in black suits whisper to author *
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'VE ALREADY BROKEN FIVE LAWS? I haven't even gotten to the story! Best do that now before the police come… Enjoy!
Chapter Ten
The Bloody Ball
Roll out down to midnight
Then roll on downtown 'til it's light
Because tomorrow we may die
Oh, but tonight we're dancing in the faint light
Don't you rob yourself of what you're feeling
Don't rob yourself of all that you could be
Roll hard 'til midnight
Roll 'til it's light
Come on now
Stay up and make some memories
Yeah, with us now
Roll the red carpet out with friends
To whom, to love, and roll on now
So life continued in a rather boring vane, school, more Quidditch practices, meals, sleep, and ball planning were all our hero's knew. And indeed, that was enough. With their O.W.L.'s coming the teachers were being just plain mean about home work and Mud, possibly driven mad by his N.E.W.T.S.'s, had assigned two extra Quidditch practices a week with the promise of another after Christmas, totaling in five all together. Meals were taken in speedily while everyone forgot their manners and tried to plan the ball with their mouths full. Sleep, thought short, was never interrupted or light after the long tiring day, which ended closer to the next than the first. But no matter how tired they all become they faithfully remembered the mission statement of WW3 and remained calm. The only exception to this was when Sirius charmed a bowl of porridge to follow Snape around, routinely dumping its contents on his head and refilling itself in two-minute intervals. Then again, as Thalia said, that was perfectly normal behavior.
The full moon was their only break that month, having figured out that Snape was no longer tailing them, they put aside their "trap" and rather took over Hogwarts and its grounds. The refrained, despite Lily's protests and at Midnight's request, to leave the elves alone for a little while longer and Clio dutifully kept a list of discovered passageways. It was just the break they needed and when Remus woke up the next morning, groggy and weak as usual, he found only one bandage on his arm. By the far his most calm transformation ever, remarked Madame Pomfrey in awe. And though Professor McGonnagal was disturbed when the Gryffindor house was called upon to explain itself as a tagging charm seemed to have been placed upon Goyle and the Slytherin common room subsequently turned pink, no blame was ever laid on anyone and the general consensus was that the Mauderers had done it again. (This, in fact, was not true. Thalia was the evil genius behind it all, Lily was the color-changing expert, and Clio placed the tagging charm. The boys had virtually nothing to do with it.)
During this time Snape loomed over his cauldron, per order of his father, acting under the orders of Voldemort, a potion to once and for all, destroy that pesky Potter line. Meanwhile, Lucious Malfoy ignored Snape and tried to persuade his father to partake in a display of pureblood pride on the night of the ball. Snape kept his word and stayed as far away from it as humanly possibly.
Isabelle, much to her chagrin, was kept on the same assignment and reported to her aunt weekly and the growing order of Phoenix monthly, but didn't have much to say. Unfortunately, nobody did. "All these stray threads have a purpose, we have to wait to see how they weave themselves together." Isabelle, despite Dumbledore's words, wasn't sure she could wait.
It was now one week exactly before the ball. Voting day. The Prefects were stationed by the voting booths in their common rooms, ready with quills, ink, ballots, and smiles. Lily and James spent the majority of their day encouraging the nervous first years to vote and discouraging the rather hormonal seventh years from voting on the basis of looks alone.
"Told you it would just be a muggle popularity contest."
"Shut up and help organize, Potter."
"As you wish, Madame. Right this way ickle firsty!"
Clio and Thalia ran themselves silly doing errands and after lunch that day were stopped by a panting Isabelle, "I have to get back to voting, I'm a prefect, could you give this to Lily?" She dumped a colossal bundle of cloth in Clio's arms, gave a mock salute to Thalia, and sped off in the other direction.
"Sure can run for such a tiny thing, I'd completely forgotten she was a Prefect!" Thalia said looking at Isabelle's rapidly retreating form in interest.
"Me too… wow, she really did do a good job on this!" Clio murmured, turning over the shining iridescent fabric in her hands, which had been sowed into perfect ripples for draping around the halls and tables. "Let's get back to Lil, she'll be so happy!"
The rest of the boys, meanwhile, spent the day under the supervision of the DADA teacher, Mrs. Figg, working on extra protection spells for the great hall and rigging up the rest of the décor. Meanwhile, Midnight spent her time that day having rigorous talks with the fairy's about what they were and were not supposed to do while charmed in the great hall. Needless to say, there were some miscommunications on both sides.
At dinner that evening, each house head carried, the carefully calculated results to Professor Dumbledore and during desert he stood up to announce the winners. An immediate hush fell over each house table and Dumbledore, delighted at having a captive audience, virtually twinkled as he stalled from announcing the results. Midnight had to threaten disembowelment before he got to it.
"Please hold your applause and comments until after I have made then announcements, thank you. And the house representatives are… Ravenclaw: Jeremy Boot and Cassandra Claire. Slytherin: Lucious Malfoy and Narcissi Jackson. Hufflepuff: Stacey Stanley and Frank Longbottom. Gryffindor: James Potter and Lily Evens." After the noise of the applause died down, Dumbledore, beaming, said, "Well, I'm sure each of you will do your house a great justice, please come see me for instructions as to your duty, we'll see you in your splendor in one week!" Dumbledore sat down, the hall, if it was possible, grew even louder with the talk of hundreds of excited people and the house reps made their way to Dumbledore.
Sirius, after giving an I told you so to Thalia (out of the house reps, Lily, James, Severus, Jeremy, Stacy and Frank were all Quidditch players and everyone was, in some way, good looking. Muggle popularity contest indeed), clapped James on the back and almost knocked the shocked boy over. "Knew it'd be you mate!"
James sputtered, "You did? Well why didn't you tell me!"
"Hey, don't blame us, you're the one who was too stupid to notice the obvious!"
"Yeah James, even I knew!" said the delighted Peter.
Across the table, the girls were having a rather similar conversation with Lily. "Come on Lils! You'll do a great job; you're the muggle-born pride of Gryffindor! Everybody loves you!"
"They do?" Lily asked incredulously
"Oh goodness gracious!"
Remus looked at James and Lily, smirking, "I think we need to leave our two house reps alone so they can plan their evening together and talk to Professor Dumbledore."
"My dear Moony, I think you're right. Ladies, Wormtail, would you accompany these old dogs in a jolly old game of exploding snap?"
Peter joined in the mock accent, saying, "Why do believe I shall Padfoot old boy. I say, is that a fireball or is Lily mad?"
Thalia looked over at the indeed angry Lily, "I'd say a terribly dangerous combination of both, wouldn't you, my dear Clio?"
"Why yes, Thalia, I would. Best be off boys. Cheerio you two, ahta ta!" And with that, the five of them sped off laughing out of the great hall, abandoning their friends to all of the multitude of well meaning school mates who came to congratulate them. They were both patted on the back, shaken, hugged, and generally pawed on and fussed over until, accidentally speaking in unison, they excused themselves and went to see Dumbledore. Who, in turn, promptly told them that as he had already explained everything to everyone else and since they drew up the rules in the first place, that there was no need for him to repeat it all back. He congratulated them and sent them on their way and so it was a bewildered James and Lily that somehow made their way towards their common room.
As the two passed the library, James paused and asked if Lily wanted to go in.
"Why?"
"Well, I don't fancy going back to the tower just yet… and we can finish looking up stuff for our Maurderer's project."
"Oh, right, sure…" So they went in, James chivalrously opening the door and lily characteristically rolling her eyes, but going through anyway. They quickly found Madame Prince and Lily produced a piece of paper signed by Professor Midnight, stating that Lily and James could read any books they wanted to for their "Extra credit Prefect Thesis."
Grumbling, Madame Prince led them back through the restricted section, On their way they overhead such things as, "If it weren't for the headmasters insistence…" and "Honestly! That Professor Pixie, as if people should just go and read books all the time!" and finally, "Ludicrous!" Controlling their snickers, Lily and James sat down and thanked the stricked old librarian who nodded absently and left them to their work.
A half-hour later Lily got up from the table and stood to look at the shelf, her backed turned to James who was still bent over a dusty old volume. "Er, hey Evens?"
"Yeah Potter?"
"Do you have a date for the ball yet?" James couldn't see her reaction, as her back was turned, but figured that might be a good thing. Stupid idea though, girls like Lily weren't left dateless until a week before a ball. He sped on, "I mean, I know I should know… but with planning the ball I forgot to ask…"
"Ask who?" She still wasn't turned around.
"Erm, anybody…."
Dang it, this was Sirius' department. It might have surprised many to know that James hadn't ever had to ask a girl out before. Since third year, many a girl had asked him to share a butterbeer, but in reality, her had never done the hard part himself. Lily found the volume she'd been looking for and sat down. To James she looked perfectly calm, had he been slightly more observant he would have noticed her hands shaking slightly.
"Actually, I do have a date for the ball."
"Oh." James stomach made an odd falling motion.
"You."
"Huh?" he asked stupidly as his dating conscious kicked in, "You are, without a doubt, the dumbest person alive."
"Remember the rules we drew up? The two house reps go together…."
"Oh yeah!" James' face split into a grin. "So you have to go with me! Er- I mean…."
"Hmm, I know what you mean James. As a matter of fact I'm free anyway, I've been rather busy myself."
"Well, good. I'm glad you're going, er, we're going, I mean, that is, together, yeah."
"James, you don't have to try be romantic, I know you're only asking 'cause you have to. Its cool." Lily said nonchalantly, shrugging.
James gaped at her; Lily was far too smart to be that clueless, right? "Whoops!" said his dating conscious, "Looks like I was wrong, you two are tied for dumbest person alive, you're made for each other! Correct her NOW, or so help me I quit! I should have been a cricket conscience, my cousin Jimminy says its good business… but no, I had to help people fall in love."
For once James listened to his rambling brain and spoke up quickly, "Lily, that's not true," but Madame Prince cut him off as she demanded that they leave now before closing and ushered them out.
On the so far silent trip to the tower James, driven crazy by his Dating Conscience (D.C.) stopped her again. "Lils, did you hear me? I said the requirements aren't the reason why I asked."
"Then why did you?" snapped Lily, turning sharply around to face him, her hair whipping them both in the face.
James did his best impression of a dazed goldfish before saying, with a flourish, "Because… because we'd have fun!"
"Fun?" Lily echoed confused, whatever fun meant, it wasn't answering her question.
"Yeah, we know each other well and stuff… besides, we'd make a rather dashing couple, wouldn't you say?" He wiggled his eyebrows. The look on James' face was so stupidly that of a naught little boy that Lily's stern countenance broke and she laughed the few remaining feet to the common room.
"Hello dears! Congratulations!" said the overly jovial Fat Lady, Lily suspected her friend Violet had been visiting, as there seemed to be a little left over party evidence in the bottom of her portrait.
"Thanks." James said.
"Will you two be going as friends or…?"
James' D.C. spoke up again, "Wow, direct hit! My kind of portrait!"
"Er," James offered in response, "I guess its up to you," he said, turning to Lily.
"Me?" she squeaked.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"'Cause you're the girl, it's always up to the girl!"
"Interesting, because from this angle the balls in your court."
James gaped for the second time tonight, why was she making this so bloody difficult, he'd already asked her twice, what more did she want? "Look Evens, do you want to go or don't you?"
"Well!" Said the affronted, tipsy Fat Lady, "That's not a very gentlemanly way to ask!"
"Can it!" Lily and James yelled in unison.
"Frogswallow. I'll see you at the ball, friend." And with that, Lily disappeared through the hole and James stood, confused, until the picture shut and said gently, "dear, I think you need to decide what you want. Why don't you write it out? That always helped me."
James, still in a state of shock and wondering what a portrait would need to sort out, nodded and headed for the owlry.
…*…
Lily weaved her way through the supportive Gryffindor's, smiling, nodding, and generally being very receptive and looking very happy. From their chairs by the fire, Clio and Thalia had just enough time to register that this meant something was wrong before Lily was shut inside their dorm. They both quickly came up with blatant lies and excused themselves from the Exploding Snap game, racing into their room as soon as they were out of eyesight. Having rather burst into the room, they found Lily with her face buried in pillows and not moving. After several seconds, Thalia said, "Ok. Well. She's either succeeded in suffocating herself or she's crying." Thalia smiled as she was rewarded with a muffled snort from Lily, proving, at least, that she wasn't dead. Clio and Thalia sat on either side of Lily's bed and Clio leaned forward to pat her on the head. "Lily?"
A muffled sentence was emitted from the pillow.
"Ah, honey, we need you to roll over dear." Thalia said poking her.
Lily did as requested. Once rolled over, the face that looked blankly at the ceiling was not tear stained. "He asked me to the ball."
"Isn't he supposed to?" Thalia asked, knowing exactly who "he" was.
"Well, when I said of course I'm going with you… and that he didn't have to bother, you know?"
"Yeah?"
"He said he wanted to go with me 'cause we'd have fun," Lily smirked at the memory, "And apparently because we'd look good together."
Thalia snorted, "Sorry."
"Its ok. So, when we got up to the Fat Lady she said, "Are you two going as friends or…"
"Or what?" Clio asked patiently.
"She didn't finish, but we both knew what she meant. Anyway, James said it was up to me and I said it was up to him but by the end I just gave up and told him we'd go as friends… I told him rather meanly too…"
"Why did you do that?" Clio asked gently, Thalia was so aggravated she didn't dare speak.
"Because the Fat Lady was sitting there, staring at us all… knowingly. I hate that!"
Thalia stood up and walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" Lily asked, sitting up in surprise. It wasn't like Thalia to walk out in the middle of the conversation.
"I'm going to kiss the Fat Lady."
"What?"
Thalia, seeing what a difficult situation she was in, decided for the first time in her life to sincerely use some shred of tact and chose her words carefully. "Lily, when a portrait that spends ninety percent of its time with its back to you can figure out that you might want to go to the ball with James as something more than a friend, then maybe its time you examine that as an actual possibility instead of staring blankly at the ceiling!" So much for tact, ah well, that was Clio's job.
Lily, thinking Thalia was being sarcastic as usual, looked at Clio. Who, much to Lily's annoyance, had the same look the Fat Lady was wearing a little while ago. "How do I do that?" she asked after a moment's silence.
"You just do it." Thalia said as if that was obvious. Lily didn't seem to think that was a good enough answer. "Look, Lily, out of the three of us I'm the dumbest- oh shut up Clio, I know I'm smart but you two are ruddy brilliant. Now, take all that brilliance and shove it aside, its standing in your way. You're using your instincts and your emotions here. I figured it out when I was 13 and you two have wasted two years pondering! No more logic. What are your instincts saying, Lily?"
Lily, staring bewilderedly at Thalia, never said what her instincts were, as at that moment a brigade of house elves appeared at the foot of her bed.
…*…
Up in the owlry, which was really a rather large place, James wheeled in and out of the many beams, shelves, and cases that made the owrly look like such a good home to its bird inhabitants. It was very brown, any Hogwarts student could tell you. It felt brown, not a mucky, dingy brown, but a homey, fresh brown; like bread.
James looked over the letter he was writing to his grandmother, whom everyone called Grand. As a baby, James had been incapable of pronouncing her full title and squealed "Grand!" instead when he saw her. Everyone else adopted the knick name, and it had stuck. This was partially because James was the first grandchild, but mostly, James suspected, it just fit the grand old woman.
Dear Grand,
How are you? I'm fine. Thanks so much for inviting Gryffindor to the Eden. It was very… surprising when Professor Dumbledore told me, but I think it's the right thing.
Regardless of attacks, Peter, Sirius, and Remus are coming to stay with us and their parents have all accepted the invitation to come to Christmas day, but I'm sure you knew that.
How is Claire? Tell her I got her letter and that, of course, she's still my little sister even if she gets put in Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or "that other place." Not that she has to worry. Any more untamed magic? She's a lion for sure. Have you heard from mum and dad? What about everyone else? Are they safe, for now at least?
I mentioned in my last letter our Professor Midnight, she and the girls are staying in the castle together for Christmas. Thalia and Clio's parents are Unspeakable's (imagine not being able to talk about work with your spouse and best friends, while working on the same stuff!) and are stationed in Greece this Christmas. Lily's family are muggles, so she's safest here anyway. Speaking of which…we both just were elected as the Gryffindor House Representatives for the Ball. Its going to be great Grand, Fae sculptures, house colors, dancing. And we're going together, as friends, I think… I just hope it isn't "interrupted" by anything or anyone. And before you jump to conclusions, it isn't the Maurderer's I'm talking about. We're saving our pranks for home! I have to go Grand, homework. Tell Claire hello and give her a hug, I'll be home soon.
Love,
James
This wasn't exactly a lie; he did have a lot of homework to do. The real reason, though, was that James wasn't even sure why he was writing the letter. He had the vague idea that the Fat Lady was trying to set him up, but to be honest he wasn't sure. He owled the letter and waded his way through the supporters in the common room, eventually finding his way up to his dorm, which was empty, and into the passageway. Sighing, he laid down on one of the huge pillows Clio had summoned, but his rest was disturbed by a multitude of voices coming from the girl's dorm. "Note to self," he mumbled, "soundproofing." He leaned in for a listen, ignoring his conscience, dating or otherwise.
"Ok, so what exactly is the problem?" That was Sirius
"Oh! No problem, no problems at all, house elves is very happy sirs and miss's! House elves is just wondering what sirs and miss's is want us to do for ball sirs and miss's are planning?" That was the unmistakable voice of a house elf, probably Toby by the sound of it, it was hard to tell though. They did sound a lot alike.
"What do you mean Toby, we gave you the menu list, didn't we?" Aha, so it was Toby, thank you Remus.
"But Sirs! Miss's! You cannot be thinking that is all house elves do?" That was a new voice, but still a house elf.
"Are you saying you want to help put up the decorations?" That was Lily, she sounded… calm. Damn.
"No miss, begging your pardon miss, but Toby and Toby's friends would like to do it all!"
"Sounds good to me!"
"I don't know, shouldn't we ask James about this?" asked Clio cautiously
"Probably, were is that sad sack anyway?"
"Here, and I resent that Sirius." James said appearing jovially as climbed through the hole to see a group of 13 elves standing in front of Lily's bed, which held her, Clio, and Thalia while the bed next to it held Peter, Remus, and a grinning Sirius.
"You guys want to decorate the great hall for us that day?" Thirteen exuberant heads bobbed yes. "And you understand that it has to be very, very, secret? So the hall has to be shut down all day?" Again, the thirteen heads bobbed yes. "Do you still have the sketches Lily?"
She seemed to gulp, "Sure, hand me my bag Cli'? Thanks, here James." James took the drawings, which had been charmed to move. With a jolt, he realized that the happy couple dancing in red and gold were now he and Lily. He quickly handed the sketches to Kebby, Toby's friend. Both had snuck the boy's food on countless occasions. James smiled as the elf ohed and ahed at the pictures that Lily had sketched and charmed and Thalia had colored with pastels, they really did look good.
"Thanks you guys, we really appreciate this. A couple of hours before the students arrive, Midnight is going to come in with about five thousand Fae's to be sculpted, but don't let anyone else in except the teachers or… the house reps."
"Yes sirs!"
And suddenly the room was quite empty, as the house elves left with a loud crack.
"Wow…. I guess we just came across some free time." Said Clio slowly; she was obviously grappling with the words, "free time." But she seemed to have gathered her wits quickly, as she followed with, "I guess we'd better finish our homework. Oh stop groaning! The teachers are bound to know the house elves are helping, they're not going to be lenient anymore."
"I hate it when you're right," Thalia grumbled.
"I'm always right," Clio said indignantly.
"I spend a lot of time hating."
"You know," Sirius said, sitting down with Thalia and working on a potion essay, "they say that's bad for your immune system."
The rest of the evening was spent lazily doing homework, quite refreshing for a group of people who were used to running around frantically trying to get several things done at once. Also for the rest of the evening, James and Lily sat far apart.
…*…
The general sound, emanating from all girl dormitories' today, speculated Sirius Black, is "EKE!" It was the day of the ball, meals were served in the common rooms, and friends spent the morning together, lazily drifting from room to room or having snowball fights out on the massive grounds. (It had snowed last week and, in true Hogwarts fashion, forgotten to melt.) But at twelve O'clock there was a noted decrease in females as they retreated to their rooms to get ready ("giggle," said Peter) and by three O'clock there was not a female to be found.
It was now five (the ball started at six and ended at one) and all that could be heard or seen of "the girls" was yelps, giggles, thuds, and the occasional groans and subsequent murmurs. Lily, Thalia, and Clio had locked the passageway and told "Gryffy" to bite the boy's ankle's if they made it through. After half an hour of trying to get through James and Sirius realized they too had to get ready and had very little time to do it in. James went flying through the boy's loo trying to get his hair to lie down as the shorter Peter stood on his toes and used insane amounts of Sleezy's on it. Sirius was howling at James because his little sister Claire had stolen all of his matching socks last summer and Remus, already dressed, pressed, and holding a flower for Clio, sat on the bed smiling. He silently counted down the seconds to when his watch would match his schedule, which read, "5:30 PM: James and Sirius panic, Peter follows their lead. Be ready." Four-Three-Two-One, "REMUS!" The three boys shouted in unison. Sirius was standing in a virtual mountain of lurid colored socks, none of which matched. Peter was next to James with gobs of Sleezy's on his brand new robes, courtesy of the James standing before him, hair tamed in the front (sort of) but even worse than usual in the back. Remus grinned, oh how fun this was! "You have to say it first…."
"Remus!"
"Come on…."
"Say it…."
"Fine. Scheduling is a great idea and we should all be so lucky as to have a girl like Clio to do it for us."
Remus blinked, "Actually, I was going to have you say you'd die without me, but points for creativeness. Ok Sirius, I washed a pair of my matching socks in black for you, and here's deodorant, use it. James, wonderful new invention, called the comb. Here's one. Dip it in goop and run it through three times and leave it. If you tame your hair a little Lily will like it, if you do it too much, she'll freak. Peter, hold still while I use a scouring charm, then tie your shoes. Oh, and I assume you guys were at least smart enough to follow my advice and summon flowers?" The three boys nodded and Remus breathed a sigh of relief, "Good. Or else I would have lost my three best friends tonight to very bloody deaths."
Twenty minutes later they were in the common room, waiting for the girls, Peter already having found his date, a bubbly fourth year who was cherub cute and quite funny and loved the pink rose he gave her. When asked by the other fourth years why she was going with Peter she was the type to answer, "because he's such a sweetheart!" Peter's mum approved, to say the least. Five minutes after that the girls descended, beautiful and jovial, completely different from what they had been forty five minutes ago in their dorm.
…*…
Forty five minutes ago in the girls dorm:
"Where's my hairbrush?"
"Forget brush, where's the Sleezy's?"
"Ah! My Dress! It's… Oh, never mind!"
"Stupid boys, all that banging. What do they want to get in for anyway?"
"I would think that was obvious, Clio."
"Shut up, Thalia, and do my hair."
Thalia grinned cheekily and began twisting Clio's chin length, blonde locks. Lily sat at her dressing table, makeup, and hair done, and stared at the light gold, silk robes that hung from her mirror. Thalia and Clio ceased their banter and looked at her and for a moment or two no one spoke and when Lily stood up and slipped the fitted dress robe over her head, Clio and Thalia were there to hug her.
"I'm confused." She muffled into their group hug.
"Hey, we just do what we do right? Nothin' else to it."
"Right," said Clio.
After a long pause, Lily echoed her strongly, "Right."
"Good. Now, let me get my bracelets on and we can go."
"More bracelets?" said Clio in disbelief, looking at the large amounts of golden bangle's on Thalia's wrists, "You already had… 21!"
"I know, but a girl's gotta jingle when being twirled by her dog."
"Oh sheesh." Said Lily, laughing at the two of her friends from the doorway. Thalia and Clio, balls of nervous energy, bounced over and put their hands together, "We're going to enjoy ourselves no matter what, right? Everything can be funny! On the count of three… one, two, three!" And in unison, they shouted, "Natural's rule!" and charged down the stairs to the common room where James, Peter, Sirius and Remus all waited.
…*…
Peter and his date were already talking by the fire, Pete wearing simple black robes and his date in lovely pastel pink. But James, Sirius and Remus turned and stared as the girls made a boisterous entrance and then stopped at the bottom of the staircase and looked in shock. It was quite a sight indeed. The Maurderer's well groomed and the girls dolled up. Their Quidditch mate, Anna, who was fond of photography (wizarding and muggle) managed to click several photo's of the stunned group before they collected themselves and came together with their hello's and you-look-nice's.
Clio and Remus shyly hugged and kissed on the cheek. Clio was wearing brilliantly white robes and a pearl necklace and earrings, hair down with three front pieces on each side twisted back and held with little peal owl clips, the jewelry all being an early Christmas present from her mother. Remus was in simple warm black robes, and his hair (in slight need of a haircut as it fell slightly into his eyes) was perfectly groomed, until Sirius tousled it after he gave Clio a white rose, which Thalia promptly put in her hair. Thalia and Sirius, per their usual style, had French kissed in greeting, earning catcalls, which they were both very pleased about. Sirius (having been persuaded by Remus not to buy the neon orange ones) was wearing fun "pine striped" black robes, the stripes being red and gold. He said it sent a subliminal message ("Slytherin Sucks"), but that was never verified. Thalia was in deep purple, almost black, robes with golden trim and an embroidered gold lion on collar, made from silk. They were delighted that Clio thought they clashed, "It'll attract more attention!" said the giddy Sirius as he gave Thalia and iris that was charmed to bite Slytherin's who asked her to dance. Unfortunately, as it bit, she couldn't put it in her stylishly upswept hair, and instead summoned a ribbon from her dressing table and tied it to her wrist.
Distracted by the spectacle that was Thalia and Sirius, no one noticed Lily and James giving one another quiet hellos. They watched Thalia and Sirius until Remus, noticing their silence, gave James a good kick in the back of the leg, sending him forward and he mumbled an apology to Lily. Lily was, of course, more than slightly taken aback by this and told him he had nothing to be sorry for and hugged him, demanding he show her a good time or else he'd have to apologize while being chased by hungry Hippogriffs. Grinning now, James handed her a tiger Lily, ("It seemed appropriate somehow.") and offered her his arm as the gang jauntily called out to Peter to introduce his date. Her name was Shannon, she was cute and smiley, and though she seemed a little in awe of her company, Lily decided she was well meaning. So it was a happy group decided she was well meaning and a happy group descended to the great hall.
…*…
Their house heads awaited the students at the entrance to the Great Hall. "Is everyone assembled?" called out Professor McGonnagal, "Good, Midnight, if you would."
"Certainly Minerva, welcome students, to the Break from the War Ball, we are in tragic times; however, we are also in a time of hope. Let us remember this by celebrating tonight and having, as I believe one of your fellow students put it, a ruddy and bloody good time. Thank you, Mr. Black. Would the house representatives please step forward, place your wand on your partner's hearts, and repeat after me: I solemnly swear I am up to no good. Oh! Ahem, excuse me." While the house heads glared at her, Midnight literally glittered in amusement and attempted to "rephrase" herself. "What I meant to say was, I swear I will represent my house to the best of my ability's and ensure everyone, inside of the Hogwarts walls will be included and allowed to enjoy themselves, regardless of house, parentage or hideous dress robes. And, if it pleases my headmaster (which it does) dance like a fool. There, you are now sworn in as the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin house representatives, you may lead your houses in to the ball!" Midnight popped into her small self as the great doors swung open to reveal enough spender to make the usual Christmas feast look downright boring.
Glittering white fabric was wrapped numerous times around the hall, draping itself over every surface, as translucent house colors shot across it like rainbows. No house tables were present, but circular tables seating about eight were looped around the dance floor, which rested directly bellow the staff table. The Hogwarts banner still hanging proudly above it, with Sirius' profound words directly above it "United we stand, divided we fall, until that day comes, lets have a ball!" Fae sculptures rested on every available table (each being molded after everything from house animal's to peace signs). In the center of the dance floor stood a towering thirteen-foot sculpture of a dove in the midst of a snowstorm. The Fea's at the dinner tables changed from house color to house color and the airy music coming from the giant dove's mouth was actually colored red, gold, green, silver, gray, blue, yellow and black.
The overall effect was dazzling and there was something new to look at constantly. Oh's and ah's actually climaxed into applause and when everyone sat down some time later, Dumbledore stood up. "Ah, my dear students, I hope that tonight your belly's will become full, your hearts desires come true, and your mind exposed to new things. Therefor, I have only one word: Enjoy!" As Dumbledore finished, his speech Thalia nudged her friends ("See, I am as smart as Dumbledore!) and menu's appeared before everyone, handsomely bound in rich smelly leather, the instructions reading, "Choose and request it aloud, the house elves are delighted to serve you this evening!"
So for the next hour it was eating to ones heart's content and cherry talk as Sirius drank two too many Butterbeers and Thalia three too many Mocha's. Remus ate a little too much candy and he claimed that wolves were more susceptible to sugar. Clio claimed he just like the buzz. Lily and James were back to their normal selves and made fun of one another continually. But even Sirius didn't fail to notice that James was dully impressed with how Lily's light gold robes cascaded off her shoulders in ripples, pooling about her feet. Her hair was even more like fire than ever as the crystals Thalia had weaved into her simple half pulled back hair caught the light. Lily also kept a close eye on James in his dark red robes and though his hair wasn't tamed, it wasn't half as wild as usual. After examining how really black it was for probably longer than was necessary ("I think I almost drowned!" she later told Clio) she decided she liked the way it shot out. It was one thing about James that was totally him, almost perfect, with it's own mind.
Peter and his date actually talked to each other the most, finding they had a lot more in common than Peter originally thought. It was a nice break for him, mentally, to talk about things other than full moons, the war, and ways to earn detention. Shannon was amazed by Peter and hung on his every word. She even told him he was cute, which, of course, was greatly appreciated.
After an hour or so (no one was bothering to keep a close count) the house reps were signaled by Dumbledore to go onto the dance floor for the first dance and, amid catcalls, they obliged. There was only one problem, there was no band. Sirius, noting this, stood up, marched to the middle of the floor, transfigured a stunned fairy into a mike, and began to rock out. James, for the sake of his ears, tackled Sirius. Lily, for the safety of her fellow students, froze them both, banished Sirius back to Thalia at the table (where he was promptly smacked upside the head) and summed James to her. The crowd was entertained, to say the least. Perhaps that's why none of them noticed Professor Malfoy and his son slipping out per their Slytherin way. No one, that is, except Isabelle, who notices everything, and signaled to her aunt that something had just gone wrong. In the midst of all this, seemingly from nowhere, a chord was struck on a guitar and out of what most had assumed was a utility closet, bloomed a stage, instruments and last (but certainly not least), the Hobgoblins playing their latest balled, "Dear Hogwarts." The house reps quickly took center stage and began to dance, and invited others to join them as the "Gobs" stepped it up with "House head Lane" and ripped through "All you need is Alohamorah." The Maurderer's surprised the girls with their knowledge of swing dances and Sirius cleared a wide path as he swung and flipped Thalia over, under, and through. The house reps weaved their way through; cheering on dancers and encouraging the shy to cut lose. Things were going better than the gang had dreamed and the Hobgoblins were only on their fifth song with seven more to go in this set and another ten after intermission. Remus, Clio, Thalia and Sirius nudged one another, rolling their eyes, as Lily and James danced every dance together. They seemed to enjoy the slow ones in particular, where they revolved slowly around, talking and laughing, completely relaxed and absorbed in one another company.
But for Isabelle, the night was a large ball of nerves as her aunt reported that Professor and son seemed to have disappeared into the forest and Midnight had left to follow them. Four songs into the second set, Thalia, Clio and Lily all received a "message" from Midnight. She had stopped ten death eaters, but three were still lose, and though Professor Fig had supposedly apprehended Professor Malfoy, she didn't know where they were. "Shit." Was their collective statement as the "Professor's" son, was already sitting innocently at the dinner table, apparently having abandoned his father. There was no way to prove his guilt in trying to aid 13 death eaters into breaking onto the grounds. But of the remaining three and the "Professor" the collective agreement was roughly something like, "fresh meat." The three girls excused themselves from their dates and ran out of the hall. Only when the boys got back to their table, discussed the odd behavior of their dates and thought for a moment, finally noticing Professor Malfoy's absence and the smug look on his sons face, did they understand.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir!" James yelled at the twinkling man in high collar midnight blue robes, with winking moons and stars.
"Yes, young mister Potter?" He asked and making his way over.
"Sir, we believe that Lily, Thalia, and Clio have left to help Midnight fight Death Eaters on the grounds… we don't know where they are but they left five minutes ago and probably transformed on the spot…" James was just beginning to realize how odd this sounded.
"Transformed? Ah yes, Clio informed me that you were aware of their situation. Thank you for informing me James, thirty points to Gryffindor. Please do not follow your friends, I will send our DADA teacher out…."
"Professor Figg has been gone longer than the girls have, we think she went after Professor Malfoy sir."
"I see." Dumbledore's eyes flashed and he turned and walked purposefully toward the stage and called everyone's attention to himself. "Students, its seems several people, likely with hostile intent, are on the grounds, we must ask you not to leave this room and to please inform us if someone already has. House heads, see that the students still in their Dormitory's are safe and report back to me. We will update you on the situation soon, and I beg for your cooperation. Thank you."
…*…
Immediately after Dumbledore finished his statement and a swarm of concerned students came forth, a giant ginger cat, a unicorn, and a phoenix suddenly slammed the door open and tore their way into the hall. The phoenix circling its way, vulture fashion, downward towards Lucious Malfoy, the unicorn (with three prone people on its back) running towards the staff table and the large ginger cat (or was it a small tiger?) jumping onto the boys table and spinning around with a hiss. And as if on cue, the hall went pitch black Students screamed, a thud was heard and anyone who had seen the cat's position before hand knew that it had slammed into the wall. An unidentifiable voice shouted a cruel sounding incantation and a shimmering green skull floated into the air, oddly menacing, even to those who didn't know what it meant.
Words are slow, all of this happened in seconds and the screams that came after it were deafening. Finally, several things then happened at once, a glowing dot flew into the room and froze everyone into place and Professor McGonnagal lit the hall. Dumbledore, looking more terrifyingly angry than any student had ever imagined, banished the Dark Mark and stood before everyone, somehow managing to radiate both calm and danger at the same time. Anyone who doubted Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard living quickly changed their minds in that awe inspiring moment.
The quick sensing Isabelle observed several things in the few seconds of silence that followed.
Thalia was on the floor next to the end of the table and seemed to have a very bloody nose. Sirius had a broken wrist. Snape was standing near, and Malfoy junior had been smirking at the end of the table, before being frozen in his current position. Lily was frozen in the process of choking Lucious Malfoy. Remus had his hands clutching his head and Isabelle suspected the wolf's senses were crushing his human mind with too much information, too fast. Peter and Shannon were under the table. There were three men in Death Eater guise on the floor before Professor McGonnagal and next to Clio, who was frozen, in the position of passing on some urgent information. Professor Malfoy and her aunt were both lying, stiff, prone and vacant eyed at the entrance to the hall.For the first time since entering Hogwarts halls, Isabelle forgot what she looked like, where she was, and her duties to the wizarding world. For the first time in five years, Isabelle began to cry.
…*…
Midnight unfroze all the Professors, who immediately went to their college's sides, the Prefects, the house reps, and finally the students. Isabelle drew attention to herself for the first time in years, screamed, burst into tears, and ran for her aunt. Lily let go of Malfoy's neck and punched him full on in the face; Malfoy made to return the gesture, but James preempted by clobbering him. Sirius swore at Snape for breaking his wrist and Snape swore at Sirius to for once in his life get all the facts before he accused people. Thalia just swore in general and healed her indeed bloody and broken nose with a spell that, had anyone been listening, would surely have given away her ability's. Clio, all in one breath, told Professor McGonnagal about the men at their feet, ran over the Remus, charmed his head clear, hugged him, and apologized for leaving. The rest of the students continued to scream, stood silently in awe or confusion, or simply cried. Some students followed James, Sirius, Snape, and Malfoy's example and fought. Midnight gave up trying to sooth everyone at the same time and froze them all again, telling each house head to escort them back, group by group ("Starting with the Slytherin's") to their common rooms. Malfoy was escorted to the Headmasters office for questioning and Isabelle was allowed to follow her aunt and only family up to the hospital wing. House by house, the students went to their common rooms and cried, were comforted, and given explanations by their house heads, and left to a restless night sleep.
…*…
The next day, a little calmer, each house was given Portkey to their hiding places for the remainder of winter holl's, while their Professor's tried to recover from the horrific task of questioning the Death Eaters all night long. The Gryffindor's in particular arrived at Potter mansion, getting their first glimpses of what those in the beginning of James' family legacy had called, "Eden."
Roll out down to midnight
Then roll on downtown 'til it's light
Because tomorrow we may die
Oh, but tonight we're dancing in the faint light
Don't you rob yourself of what you're feeling
Don't rob yourself of all that you could be
Roll hard 'til midnight
Roll 'til it's light
Our love is so right
Forget the clouds that rain on your light
Our love is so right
I'll not forget how you look right now
I'm going crazy
And it's all 'cause of you (it's all 'cause of you)
I'm going under, over you, over you...
A.N. Yes, I uploaded according to schedule, aren't you all so pleased? To see the rest of my schedule, just click on my author profile. I'm really enjoying writing the next chapter and the special mothers day fic, I've had them on my mind for a while and as previously discussed, if my muse doesn't see some work getting done, I get beaten. ;-P Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter and is looking forward to the next one, R&R!
