"Is that a grey hair?" Remus asked Sirius as they stood in front of the bathroom mirror. They were trying to tame their hair before the Winter Formal, and it was safe to say that the hair was winning.
"Well, it's not exactly brown," Sirius replied, paying more attention to his own dark hair which he was mussing to look like he hadn't spent any time on it. "The last full moon was a bad one though," he said thoughtfully. In fact, Remus was still looking a bit peaky from the full moon a few days ago which worried him but Sirius didn't say anything. He knew Moony was sensitive about his lycanthropy.
Remus didn't say anything. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he stared at the offending piece of hair. He gave a sigh and left Sirius in the bathroom grumbling about his appearance.
James looked up as Remus entered the room and then went back to staring at his dress robes disdainfully.
"Honestly! Do they have to make them so..."
"Frilly?" Remus suggested. James nodded silently, glaring at his dress robes which were lying on the bed.
"Mine aren't so bad, actually." Remus said with a half smile. His dress robes were actually his fathers, and it seemed that frilliness wasn't the style back then.
"Well boys, half an hour left." Sirius declared as he strolled into the room.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Peter said from his side of the room. In fact, he did look a little green tinged.
"You're going to be fine!" Sirius said cheerfully and patted him on the back, prompting Peter to grab his stomach as if it were going to explode.
"It's just nerves," James said offhandedly as he struggled to pull his dress robes on. Sirius watched him with amusement before crossing the room and giving him a hand.
"So, you're meeting Emily at Ravenclaw?" Sirius asked Remus as he picked up his own black dress robes.
Remus nodded as he adjusted his robes.
"Good, I'm picking up Myra. We can go together."
"I'm picking up Virginia at Slytherin," Peter said quietly. He still looked a bit ill.
"Wormtail, you're going to be fine!" James said impatiently.
"Here," Remus said and all three looked over. Remus held out a dark red rose for Peter.
"Whoa, Moony. I thought you were going with Emily!" Sirius teased with a grin.
Remus scowled at him. "It's for Virginia. I just transfigured it from a piece of paper."
"Clever, clever," James nodded and looked around as if trying to find something else to transfigure. He grabbed something on the floor.
"Hey! That's my sock!" Remus exclaimed and tried to get it back.
"Not for long," James said with a grin. He pulled out his wand and four seconds later a long stemmed red rose was in its place.
"Smooth," Sirius grinned.
"Wait," James said, indicating the rose. Its petals retreated into the centre and soon it was just a bud. A moment later it had bloomed again. "Everlasting."
"Great, now I don't have a sock," Remus grumbled, but there was a smile on his face.
James transfigured two more everlasting roses and gave one to each Sirius and Remus.
"Time to go," Remus said, glancing at the timepiece which hung on the wall. Suddenly he was overcome by what felt like bludgers in his stomach. He took a deep breath and the four of them left, closing the door behind them.
Meanwhile, a similar scene was going on in the girls dormitory.
"Are you sure this is going to stay up?" a doubtful Sarah Finnigan asked Lily Evans.
"Yes!" Lily said exasperatedly. "I've charmed that dress three times with a sticking spell, it's not going anywhere!"
"Okay," Sarah said and pulled up her violet strapless dress.
Lily gazed proudly at her own emerald green dress. It had taken a couple weeks, but it was finally finished. She had charmed the emerald jewels on the hem of the dress to sparkle in a way that was quite much brighter than normal. Her hair was done in a casual up-do, but charmed to stay in place. She smiled at her reflection nervously before waving goodbye to her dorm mates and leaving the room. James was already waiting for her in the common room.
"You look gorgeous," he breathed as he took in his girlfriend's appearance.
"Is that for me?" Lily asked, pointing to the forgotten rose he was holding on to. He blinked as if coming out of a trance.
"Yes, yes it is. It's everlasting," he said proudly as he handed it to Lily.
She smiled at him and kissed him quickly before motioning that they should go.
"Take care of my best friend," she called down the hall to Sirius. He flashed her a grin that did nothing to ease her fears.
"She'll be fine," James said reassuringly as he patted her hand.
"Well, you know his reputation...," Lily argued.
"Don't worry. Padfoot will take care of her, and I'll take care of you." He slipped his hand around her waist and lead her down the stairs. She sighed and surrendered herself to his care.
"Breathe, Moony," Sirius said in a low voice.
Remus looked over at him sharply.
"You look like you're going to faint."
"I'm fine," Remus insisted, but reminded himself to breathe nonetheless.
They waited somewhat impatiently for Emily and Myra to appear from the Ravenclaw dormitories. A couple other boys had arrived and were leaning against the wall with Sirius and Remus. They nodded at each other in camaraderie. The door suddenly opened and four girls filed out. Remus didn't recognize the first one, but the second one was Leah, Myra's roommate. Behind Leah was Myra.
Remus felt his breath catch in his throat. Breathe, was all he could think frantically. She was dressed in a strapless velvet navy blue dress. Her usually straight hair fell into loose curls that fell along her shoulders gracefully. Remus' eyes fell down her dress to scattered stars that sparkled at him, entrancing him.
"You look beautiful," Sirius told her, stepping forward. He offered her the everlasting rose which she took, blushing. She blushed further when he leant down to kiss her hand before escorting her down the stairs. He winked at Remus who smiled back before shifting his attention towards the door once again.
Emily Ravenclaw had stepped through, picking up her long cornflower blue satin dress as she went. She gave Remus a grin before taking the rose he offered and kissing him on the cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You look beautiful," he told her, which was the truth. The blue in the dress accented her already bright blue eyes. Blue ribbon was intertwined in her long locks which ran down her back in curls.
"Shall we?" she asked, taking his arm.
"We shall."