The Ball, Part One

Lily and James stumbled into the common room, to find Remus and Sirius chasing Ailia around the area, firing tickling charms at her, she in turn kept ducking and firing stripping spells at them. Ailia jumped behind a sofa giggling, as a half dressed Sirius jumped after her, with an equally undressed Remus following. They pinned her down.

"Get off of me!" she screamed

"No! We are having way too much fun" yelled Remus.

She managed to kick Sirius off of her; he landed at Lily's feet. Looking up he grinned

"You alright guys?" he asked standing, before looking for the rest of his clothes. "Yeah you look a little pissed off" agreed Ailia pushing Remus off

"You'd look pissed if had just had your work load doubled over the next two weeks"

"What do you mean?"

"Dumbledore has decided that he wants to "boost moral" within the student body, by having a Halloween Ball"

"Sounds good, but why are you pissed?"

"Because Lily and I are the chosen ones to organise and decorate the whole thing!" he said falling down on the sofa pulling Lily with him.

The rest of the group sat down in the couches opposite them.

"Don't worry it will be fine, if you need any help I am sure we will help, wont we boys?"

They looked at each other warily

"Uh...yeah I suppose"

The next two weeks, went by in a blur, while James and Lily spent most of their time preparing for the Ball. Ailia and Severus spent most of their time in the library, searching for the manuscripts. They were sat in the usual room on the Thursday before the ball, having both decided to skip their potions class.

"So have you asked anyone to the ball yet?" Ailia asked Severus while she collected a few more books to search through. When she received no response she turned to see Severus hiding behind his hair. "You have haven't you...?"

"And if I have?"

"Oh, go on tell me who, please..." she sat down staring at him

"Sarah, Sarah Brown from Hufflepuff" he groaned at the grin on her face

"Good choice"

"What no comment?"

"No! No comment from me!"

"So what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Who asked you to the Ball?"

"Um...nobody asked me, but I am not really that bothered"

"Are you okay though?"

"Yeah, but really I'm not that bad am I?"

"Well your face does offend most people, in general most people think you are grotesque" he grinned at her

"Well at least I didn't inherit our father's nose!"

"Hey, that's below the belt!"

"Not really, I could start talking about your date's bad hair!"

"I knew that one was coming!"

"Have you snogged her yet?" she grinned as he blushed again

"Once or twice"

"You sly dog!"

"Shut up and get back to work"

Ailia woke on Saturday morning excited, not only was it the Halloween Ball, but she got to go shopping today. She still had her dress, shoes and accessories to buy. Deciding that she wasn't going to get anymore sleep, she crawled out of bed to her shower. Drying herself off, she slipped into her favourite jeans and sweater, just as she was about to sort out her hair, Lily came storming into the room.

"Those fuckers! If I find out who did it I will kill them!"

Ailia looked at Lily in shock; she had rarely heard her swear.

"What's happened?"

Lily flopped down on to the bed dramatically, groaning into Ailia's stuffed bunny. Ailia sat next to her.

"Those fucking little shits. You know last week James was warned by the Slytherins that if the Gryffindors in the quidditch they would do something, well lets just say they did it!"

"What did they do, it can't be that bad?"

"They ruined it!"

"Ruined what?"

"My hall, I have spent the last two weeks, sorting out the decorations, and last night they ruined them"

"Oh my god, does Dumbledore know?"

"He knows, but we can't prove who did it"

"What are you going to do?"

"It looks like I have to stay here and sort it out"

"No you don't, let me do it"

"You can't do it?"

"Why not? But I will do it on one condition"

"What would that be?"

"You have to pick up a dress for me, and shoes and jewellery"

"Are you sure, I really do appreciate this"

"Its fine, now does James know?"

"I am going to tell him now, wish me luck"

"Good luck, now go shopping!"

Lily gave Ailia a huge hug and then practically skipped out the room. Ailia looking in the mirror decided there was no point sorting her hair and shoved it in a loose bun, walking to the fireplace she threw in some floo powder.

"Dumbledore's office"

The headmasters head appeared after a few seconds.

"Can I help you Ailia?"

"I have offered to sort out the Great Hall for Lily and James, as I am sure I can do it quite quickly, and I was wondering if you could possibly keep all areas of the Great Hall and the gardens off limits to the students. I don't really want anyone to see what I am doing, if you know what I mean"

"Of course dear, I will let the first and second years take a trip to Hogsmead, I am sure they will enjoy it"

"I am sure they will"

"Will you need any help dear?"

"No I should be fine, when I am done, will you need to check it?"

"No I am sure if you are anything like you grandmother everything will look beautiful. But if you need any help you will have to contact Professor McGonagall as I will be collecting my Nephew from London"

"Okay professor, see you tonight"

She waited in her room until she was sure that everyone had left the castle. Making her way downstairs she looked around uneasily, never had she experienced the school so empty it seemed strange and for once, peaceful. Opening the doors to the Great Hall she breathed a sigh of relief it seemed that the house elves had been busy in tidying the mess that the Slytherins had made. She walked to a side door that led to the kitchen, finding the correct door she walked in to the bustling room. House elves were running around everywhere, it seemed they were as stressed out as Lily had been. Coughing gently a few turned around, the head house elf walked up to her

"Can we help you miss?"

"I will be decorating the Great Hall today, could you make sure that I am not disturbed please?"

"Of course madam, would you like anything to take up with you?"

"I could do with a drink"

Before she had even finished her sentence there was a tray with a jug of juice, glasses and small sandwiches making their way to her. Thanking them she made her way out, back to the Hall. Setting the tray on the floor, she moved all of the tables around. The four house and staff tables had gone and in their places stood smaller round tables and a rectangular table. She moved the round tables to the edges surrounding the hall, and placed the rectangular one to one end. This was their for the food, James had decided on a buffet lunch after Sirius had spent four days constantly talking about mini sausage rolls and finger food. Satisfied that the tables were where she wanted them she sat for five minutes trying to figure out what to do. Transfiguring one of the glasses into a bucket she made her way to the gardens. Filling it with earth she brought it back into the hall spreading a thin line of the dirt around the edge she gently laid a finger down, after a few moments something started to happen, vines start to grow up the walls to the ceiling, as they touched the grand arches flowers started to bloom, all different colours and different kinds, from roses to carnations.

Looking up she smiled, before doing the same to the stage, weaving curtains out of the vines. The stage was set for a band that Dumbledore was keeping secret. With the room almost done she took another break. As she sat she tried to figure out what to do for the table decorations. Then it came to her. On her way out to the garden she made small balls of fire of varying colours, from warms oranges to cool greens and blues. They cast beautiful coloured shadows across the walls. Moving outside she knew exactly what to do. The garden was in a large circle, all of the rose bushes had been moved to the outside, making a ring shape. Opening her hands, she walked around the edge making some of the earth disappear causing a ditch. She then filled it with clear water; using branches of willow she made three small bridges over the stream to the main circle. Tables filled the inner circle. She filled the stream's surface with different coloured flowers, encouraging the water to make a living kaleidoscope.

Making sure that everything was perfect in the garden, she then went back into the Great Hall. The Hall did look good, she thought to herself. She hoped everyone would have a good time. Finishing the last of the juice and food, she left the hall, taking her tray down to the kitchens then back up to her room. She realised that she still had around an hour before everyone would be coming back. She made her way into her bathroom, she loved this room, originally it had been built for around four to five people. But as she was the only on in the seventh year dormitory she had made it her own. Sinking down into the vanilla scented water she thought back to the past two months. Before she knew it she had dozed off, waking only when she heard Lily banging on the bathroom door.

"Come on Ailia wake up, or do I have to get Sirius to come and get you!"

"Okay I am up, I'll be out in a second"

Wrapping herself in a fluffy towel she walked out into her room, squeaking when she realised Sirius and Remus were in her room. Clutching the towel tightly around her

"What are you two doing in here?!"

Remus turned

"We were helping Lily carry up the bags, we didn't think you would be half dressed" Sirius who had been looking out of the window all of the time turned quickly eyes and grin widening

"and I am glad we did, hey are you wearing that tonight Ailia, cause if you are I am sure Ruth wouldn't mind me dumping her for you!"

"Not a chance Black, I will be wearing a dress, wont I Lily?" she asked looking at her

"Yes, now I suggest you two get out while we get into our underwear and have a pillow fight!"

If possible Sirius eyes grew wider, as did Remus'

"Do girls really do that?" asked Sirius, Ailia walked over to him, running a finger along his jaw line.

"Of course"

"Can...can we join in?" asked Remus

"Not a chance in hell, now leave we have to get ready"

Both girls hid their giggles until the boys had left

"Oh did you see Sirius' disappointment?!"

"I thought he was going to get on his hands and knees and beg to stay!"

Still giggling they started to get ready. Lily had decided that she wanted to get ready in Ailia's room.

"Come on then, let me see my dress!"

She gasped as Lily pulled a royal blue dress from the bag. It was made out of silk, and reached just below the knee. Both the back and front plunged; Lily had managed to find matching shoes and fabulous jewellery. Lily's dress was a forest green number, a skirt and a matching corset style top. It took them an hour and half to get ready, when they finally had, they realised that the majority of the house had already left. Making their way down the stairs they saw three out of the four boys waiting for them. James grinned when he saw Lily, pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply.

"Where's Peter?" asked Ailia

"Oh he's meeting his date at her common room"

"So what do you think?" asked Ailia twirling

"I preferred the towel myself!" grinned Sirius, avoiding the playful slap that came from Lily.

"You look very nice" said James "your date will be very happy!"

"Oh I don't have a date" said Ailia smiling "nobody asked me"

The boys looked shocked "well then Ailia my favourite towel model I shall offer one dance tonight" said Sirius bowing deeply

"Why thank you Sirius, you kind gentleman"

"Come on guys lets go party!" cried Lily as they started making their way.

Remus waited and offered his arm to Ailia.

"Thank you" she smiled at him

They made their way down towards the Great Hall, as they neared the Ball Remus leant into Ailia

"If I forget to tell you later, you look beautiful"

"Thank you, you too...I mean...um...thank you"

"I think I preferred your original statement"

They smiled at each other as they entered the hall.