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"I don't like these… they're all so old and just…. I dunno… 'eww' I guess…I'll have mum order something for me." Isabella whispered. Angela nodded and ran her hand along an old-fashioned blue gown covered with lace. The manager at Gladrags had enthusiastically shown them into the back room where they'd just received a shipment of Muggle formal attire, ordered especially for the upcoming ball at Hogwarts.  They smiled at him now and a small bell rang, calling him to another customer.

"Honestly, that looks like a hospital gown." Isabella added in a normal tone once he'd left their side. They examined a long, hideous frilly dress that was as shapeless as a muumuu. The manager was observing them keenly now that his other customer had gone.

"I think Granny used to wear the pink version to bed back in her glamorous days." Angela remarked thoughtfully. Isabella stifled a laugh and they quickly made their way out of the shop when the manager had turned his back. They walked along the high street and stopped in front of Honeyduke's where an employee was handing out samples of their newest chocolate. Isabella and Angela both took a handful and popped one into their mouths.

"Mmm… these are great. Forget it, I'm not saving any for Lily." said Isabella, stuffing a few more into her mouth.

"Yeah. I can't believe she didn't come. As if she even has to study for that Charms test. She'll ace it anyway!" Angela said while throwing her chocolates into her bag.

"She doesn't need to study for anything, let alone Charms." Isabella agreed, "I mean, it's the last Hogsmeade trip before the ball, you'd think she'd want to shop around. Oooh look! It's Daniel Brady, he's so cute… look, look, he's coming our way!" she exclaimed excitedly, completely changing topic. Angela looked around and spotted the Ravenclaw sixth-year walking towards them and smiling at her. He stopped to stare at the shop's display window, ran a hand through his dark blond hair and winked at his reflection before continuing their way. Isabella giggled and Angela snorted.

"Hey ladies…" he said in his usual cocky tone, a confident smile on his face.

"Hey Danny, what's up?" Isabella returned with a flirtatious smile. Angela, put out by his arrogance, settled for a cold smile. He turned to her.

"So Angela, you got a date for that ball yet?" he asked, widening his smile.

"No…" She raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Well how about going with Yours Truly, eh?" he winked. Angela resisted the urge to slap him and ignored the appraising look Isabella shot her.

"Nah, I don't think so." she replied flatly. Isabella gaped at her and Daniel looked like he'd been punched.

"What? Why?" he asked, looking worried.

"Yeah, why?" Isabella demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

"Oh you know, you're just not my type. See you Monday Danny." she added, grabbing Isabella's arm and pulling her away back towards the end of the street. Isabella stopped and turned to her when they were a few stores away.

"What was that? Why didn't you say yes?" she asked, looking astonished.

"Because he's annoying and full of crap. If he takes me to the ball, I'll end up punching him several times before the night ends. Therefore, I did it for his own safety." she replied, beginning to walk again.

"Yeah, right. You don't plan on turning down everyone who asks you, do you?" she asked is a hopeless tone.

"So what if I do?" Angela's obstinate side kicked in.

"What, are you going to sit back wait for Remus?" Isabella started, knowing that this was a sore spot.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Angela answered mildly; she wouldn't allow herself to get worked up by Isabella's tactless comments.

"You know what I mean. Listen, Angie, no offense but what if he doesn't ask you? You know how he is, it always seems like he'll do something but then everything changes… he's weird around you…" Isabella said carefully.

"What do you mean, 'weird'? He'll ask me. I know he will." she added stubbornly in response.

"You don't know that!! No… I mean…" she sighed at the murderous look Angela shot her, "I mean… Oh Angela, I really hope he does and all but why are you so bloody confident? Did he tell you anything?"

"No."

"Then why? Ugh! I don't understand you! I don't get why you like Remus. He's so.. so… he makes you so miserable! You should just screw Remus and find someone else to like. A lot of guys like you and-"

"Izzy!" Angela interrupted exasperatedly, "Will you just drop it? I'm not in the mood to talk about my pathetic love life."

"But-!"

"No! I don't need guys falling over me all the time, Izzy! I'm not you!"

"What are you trying to say?" Isabella cried heatedly.

Angela opened her mouth to yell something offensive but instead she sighed. "Forget it. Just… let's not talk about this."

"Fine." Isabella said shortly. They walked in silence past the Apothecary, the local Hog's Head Inn, and past Dervish & Bang's joke shop where Sirius, James and Peter waved to them. Both Sirius and James carried a small bag of merchandise while Peter was laden with five, most of which were probably his friends' purchases. Isabella shook her head at them when they started making rude gestures at the manager behind his back and was just about to comment when she realized Angela wasn't next to her. She looked around and spotted her up ahead, walking past the last store. She caught up with her.

"Where are we going?" she asked curiously, watching her stare into space.

"Hmm?" Angela started and looked around as though she was lost. "Oh… I dunno…"

Isabella raised an eyebrow and turned to the direction in which she had been gazing. She frowned as she spotted Remus standing about twenty feet uphill, facing the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted house in England.

"Go on then." she stated, giving Angela a mocking look.

"What?"

"Go talk to him. Maybe he'll ask you to the ball now." she added sardonically. Angela narrowed her eyes.

"Do you honestly call yourself a friend after you say things like that? Aren't you supposed to support me through all?" she asked, injured.

"I'm not going to support you when you do stupid things. Forget about Remus, he's not right for you." Isabella said edgily. Angela grit her teeth and took a deep breath.

"And you know what's right for me, huh? You don't even know what you want, Izzy, so don't think you do for me. I'm going to go talk to him, and I bet he'll ask me."

"A galleon." Isabella challenged, crossing her arms over her chest smugly.

"I'll bet two." Angela replied haughtily before stomping up the hill towards Remus. She reached his side noisily and patted his arm.

"What's up?" she asked, reaching up to kiss his cheek ostentatiously. He blinked and looked a bit irritated, as though she had interrupted something. He sighed.

"Nothing really." he answered blandly, looking at the haunted house to see what havoc he'd wrecked two nights ago. Angela looked up at it too.

"I wonder how ghosts do so much damage to that thing? They can't even touch anything solid, let alone destroy a house." she said airily, not expecting an answer.

"Maybe it's not ghosts." he said quietly. She looked up at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Not ghosts? What else could it be? They say that they howl and scream like mad but no one sees them… they must be invisible." she argued, confused at how affected he looked at her words.

"Well how can ghosts do so much damage to that thing?" he retorted, repeating her first comment. She looked back at the Shrieking Shack thoughtfully.

"I don't know…. maybe… Maybe the house was abandoned or something, and then raided or robbed a long time ago, so people damaged it… and then ghosts came to live in it. Yeah, so the house was already broken up and stuff before the ghosts got here." she answered ponderingly.

He shook his head and peered hard at the second floor window where the panes were shattered completely and a broken shutter hung precariously, threatening to fall on anyone who got too close. "No. That's new, that window… it wasn't like that before…" he said distractedly and then immediately winced as if he'd said too much. He set his jaw and swallowed hard, his eyes darting around and then to her with a paranoid suspicion.

"Really? I dunno… hasn't it always been there?" she asked curiously, not noticing the sudden change in his manners. He shuffled his feet, brushing fallen leaves into a small pile in front of him, trying to find the best opportunity to get away.

"I don't know… Yeah you're right, it's always there." he said quickly, hoping that she'd just go away now. Instead, she walked a few steps ahead and narrowed her eyes in scrutiny at the window. He wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand and swallowed again, knowing that she intended to stay. When she took another step forward, he turned to run as fast as his legs would carry him right back to where he'd left his friends but then noticed Isabella watching him intently from the foot of the hill. He casually pushed his sweaty hands into his pockets and strode down instead, looking nervously over his shoulder to make sure Angela didn't see him. He threw Isabella what he hoped was a winning smile as he passed, and broke into a run when she was well behind him.

"Actually… I think you might be right. It does look new… do you come here often, then, if you can spot something like that?" Angela asked incredulously, surprised that anyone could find such a minor difference in the appearance of the Shrieking Shack without being told. He didn't answer so she backed up a few steps and turned around,

"Remus…?" she asked and then stopped when there was no one behind her. She turned around again and realized she was alone on the hilltop. There was a pile of dried, dead leaves on the ground in front of her and she stomped on it, furious with herself for whatever she'd done wrong this time. Why had he gone? She had just thought of a way to ask him who he was taking to the ball, which would hopefully lead to his asking her to the ball and he just left, sabotaging her plan. She looked to the bottom of the hill and saw Isabella giving her a worried look. Seething at being pitied, she trudged right down to where she stood, made as if to pass right by her and then stopped. She dug around in her pocket and threw something at Isabella, who caught it instinctively.

"There, happy?" she asked cynically before turning around and continuing back towards the castle. Isabella looked shocked and opened her palm to see two gold galleons glinting viciously.

"Wait, Angie. Stop!" she called to the retreating figure, clenching her fist over the coins and pushing through the suddenly thick crowd towards her. She stopped when she'd lost her and, cursing loudly she turned around and came face to face with Remus, Sirius, Peter, and James. They stared at her when she stomped on an innocent ant.

"Did you see Angela?" she asked angrily and without preamble, looking daggers at Remus.

"She went that-a-way." James said cheerfully, pointing vaguely up ahead on the cobblestone path. Sirius looked curiously between her and Remus and Peter shifted some of the bags he was carrying.

"Yeah, she looked real miffed about something." Sirius commented warily.

"Hmm, I wonder why…What did you do this time?" she snapped at Remus. Without waiting for an answer, she turned around disgustedly and marched in the direction of the castle, determined to get back and find Angela. The four boys exchanged looks, taken aback and Remus avoided their eyes.

"Well… that was uncalled for."

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Okay, I added this chapter in because I realized that in later chapters I don't make a lot of things clear between Remus and Angela. I hope this helped and that you enjoyed it.

Review!