The next morning, Benji and Hermione spent time primping in front of the mirror. They were both happy to have a friend that was a girl that each felt comfortable enough to talk to and hang out with. They soon headed off to a punch meeting, (Tropical was decided) and then to their classes. Benji scraped through all her classes with just a brief nap in divination, and a minimal amount of effort in potions. That night she fell into her bed, exhausted after a lengthy transportation meeting.
Benji woke up late the next morning and ran to breakfast and found the only seat left at her table – the one beside Harry. She contemplated skipping breakfast, but the grumbling in her stomach held her back and she plopped down beside him and began eating.
After devouring two eggs, three sausage patties, and some toast, Benji paused while the mail came. Her mask was delivered and she ran upstairs to lock it in her trunk until the night of the party that was fast approaching.
The weeklong holiday finally arrived. The lazy December days were filled with trips to Hogsmeade for some Christmas shopping and lazy hours of lying about. Impromptu Quidditch matches were starting all over the grounds for guys, and girls, with ego problems. Even though it was snowing, when you put on extra layers and charmed your clothes the weather was quite comfortable. Girls with artistic abilities were set up in deserted dormitories creating costumes for others.
Hermione figured out that your mask didn't come until you figured out what you were going to be, so some Gryffindor girls stayed in the dormitories sewing ballerinas, medieval princesses, Victorian ladies, unnatural numbers of old fashion witches, and gypsies and Greek goddeses.
The nights during break were filled with parties. Every evening at about seven thirty, every single girl over third year would mysteriously disappear, normally being found crowded around various pictures. Hermione took Benji into the Head Girls' bathroom and they both filled a tub with steaming water. Hermione chose vanilla, lavender, and freesia scented bath soaps, while Benji picked kiwi, mango, and apple.
When Benji was clean, she picked up her pretty party robes she had bought with a friend back in the States. It was a pale, pink short-sleeved dress, coming about midway to her knees. The black robe that went over it came about a hem length lower than the pink and buttoned all the way down the front. She had switched the buttons with pretty black bows and was fully satisfied with the look.
She had rinsed her long black hair with a straightening potion, so all her waves and curls that usually twisted in her hair were gone. She was putting on eyeliner when Hermione came out wearing a similar dress, only hers was a mint green and black that offset her tightly curled brown hair.
Benji and Hermione squeezed Benji's invisibility cloak her mother had given her and Joel on their sixteenth birthday, and they made their way up to the Gryffindor tower without their fashionable outfits being seen by anyone. Once there, the guys were nowhere around and they lingered around until about eight, when the school began to come to life.
The room of requirement was turned into a huge wizard club - a band of Slytherin seventh years were playing on the stage; and smaller parties began popping up everywhere.
Benji and Hermione went down the stairs with Ginny, who was going with Joel. Hermione was going with Harry, and so that left Benji to go with Ron. The group first headed to the room of requirement, and after a little dancing, Joel, Ron, and Harry all disappeared.
"No offense Ginny," Benji began, "But your brother's a bore."
Hermione indignantly exclaimed, "Oh, he is not I like him and Benji the only reason your not stuck with Harry is because you two would probably kill each other!"
Ginny giggled and nodded, then replied to Benji, "I know, and yours is so quiet! It's almost creepy."
Meanwhile – the guys were sneaking into the Slytherin common room, Harry and Ron leading, trying to remember the way. Each had a pocket full of dung bombs itching to be used. They waited by the entrance to the Slytherin dormitories until a Slytherin walked by. Finally – their man came and they followed . . . whoever he was into the Slytherin common room.
The three tossed the dung bombs into the room and ran back to the room of requirement in tears of laughter. Ron found Benji dancing with another guy, but she quickly saw him and rushed to his side. He was in such high spirits that he didn't even notice Benji's bored expression and looks of longing toward the dance floor.
Joel did though, and quietly asked Ginny if it was alright. She nodded, almost pushing him out of his chair, surprised he was talking, and he walked around the table to Benji's side and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey – you wanna dance?"
She looked surprised, but very grateful, and after one quick glance to Ron, they both headed out to the center of the room.
"So lovely brother of mine," she said lightly, "What makes you decide I'm okay enough to dance with?"
She grinned as the band began playing a Latino song and they sambaed across the floor. When they were young and had lived with their Grandmother, she had insisted they learn all kinds of dances.
"The very fact that you looked incredibly bored with Ron. He kind of thinks you're a little too interested in other people. Maybe you should slow down a little." Joel said in his soft voice.
She nodded. "He should loosen up too, and Ginny says you should talk more."
She laughed and they went back to the table. Benji momentarily contemplated sliding back into her seat, but gracefully sat herself in Ron's lap instead.
"Come on Mr. Weasley. Aren't you going to live up to the bar my dear brother has set?"
Ron's face slowly turned scarlet, "Okay," he said reluctantly.
A slow song came on and Ron was surprised to see Benji still wanted to dance. "Uh – Benji, I'm not that great of a slow dancer."
She shrugged her shoulders and sat back down, leaning in close and whispered, "This party's getting dull. Let's go somewhere a little . . . quieter." She suggested cryptically.
He nodded and they said goodbye to their friends and headed for the common room. Hermione glaring at Benji's back.
Once there, Benji easily excused herself, feigning exhaustion after a quick little kiss/make out session, and went to her room. The girls at Traxel would never believe what a total skank she was being. There, she changed into a dark green spaghetti strap robe that flared out at her waist to about her knees. She used an antidote for the straightening potion in her ponytail, tying a matching green satin ribbon in her hair and around her waist. After changing into green lace up stilettos, she grabbed her invitation to the Slytherin common room party. It had come in the mail that day.