Disclaimer: I only own my characters and plot. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Sorry for the delay folks, but my computer has been down and I don't know how long it'll take to get this up. Thank you for the support by the way. On with the story...I have a slight idea of where I'm going but I don't know how I'll get there. ahahha. Hey look...a cookie...I want a cookie..ok sorry I'll shut up and type now. sorry but this chapter is a little short..and kind of stupid...but nevertheless I need it to introduce the next chapter.

Chapter 5: Costume and Luck

A week before the Halloween costume ball and I still could not find a sewing machine. I decided to ask Hermione. True, we weren't very social with each other, but I figured I had no other choice. I would like to be her friend along with Harry and Ron, but I don't think they like anti-social people like me. Stepping outside into the cold, brisk autumn air, I lifted my head and searched for Hermione. Her, Ron, and Harry were sitting on a bench near a tall bulky oak tree. I walked up to them and coughed. Hermione looked up from the book she was reading and greeted me.

"Hi," I responded, "I was wondering if any of you knew where I could find a sewing machine."

Harry glanced up at me and opened his mouth, "I think you might be able to find one in the hospital wing."

"No," Ron jumped in, "You can surely find one in Filch's posession. He probably has one in his office.."

Hermione laughed and shook her head, "No way are you sending her into Filch's office! What, are you trying to get her into trouble, Ron? Maranda, there's a wonderful sewing machine in Hagrid's hut. He uses it for mending things and I'm positive he'll let you use it. May I ask, what do you need the sewing machine for?"

"I uhh, just need it for a project I'm trying to initiate. A kind of experiment." Phew, I just hoped no one would ask what the 'project' was.

"Oh, well good luck with your project." Hermione lifted her book and continued reading. I said goodbye to the three and walked down to Hagrid's hut.

Sure enough, he did have a sewing machine, and he had no problem letting me use it. I had to use it in his hut though. He told me he didn't want it out of his hut so I showed him the outline of the costume. Smiling, he told me I would catch a lot of people's eyes wearing a costume that would show a lot of skin. I told him that was the point, that I wanted to show people that I didn't always have to be a goody-goody. I left his hut so I could retrieve my sewing materials and the black fabrics I would use. Black satin, lace, and a thicker fabric for the corset. The black lace and satin would make most of the ballerina-looking-skirt. The thing was, I had to think of a way for the skirt to puff up a little giving the gothic ballerina look I wanted. I guess if I bought some black wiring I could put it through the lace and satin, pushing up the skirt myself. Either that or layer a lot of lace on top of the satin so it has no choice but to puff up.

My plan for Halloween was to enter the Great Hall with my black combat boots clunking. I had more to the plan, obviously, but i wanted to think about my costume and take one step at a time. The funniest thing in the world happened to me on the way back to Hagrid's hut. I saw a storage closet adn it was unlocked. How lucky was I to find a nice little black boombox with perfectly working batteries in it. Now all I needed was a cassete tape or cd with metal music like Rob Zombie or something. I brought the boombox to the Gryffindor common room and put it in my trunk. Fishing through another suitcase of mine, I remembered that I did have a tape with a bunch of music on it. I would look for it later though, I wanted to start on my costume.

Entering Hagrid's hut, he greeted me and showed me a little table he set the sewing machine on. It was clean and had enough room for me to place my belongings on it. My notebook with the plans in front of me and the fabric beside the machine. I turned the sewing machine on and started to work. Scissors snipped some of the fabric and then I mended some tears in the satin. Hours went by without me noticing. Hagrid was in a corner by the fire just reading a book. I didn't notice what though, for my attention was on my work. I figured that within a few days I would be done my whole costume completely. The corset would take the most time because of the decorations and ties I had to add to it. That's why I was saving it for last.

"Maranda," I jumped as I heard Hagrid say my name, "I don't want to disturb you, but it's supper time, so if you want to come back later you can.."

I wasn't going anywhere, "I'm almost done, Hagrid. If you don't mind, could I stay here and put the finishing touches on the skirt?"

"I have no problem with that. I'm going off to supper though, but I'll be back. Would you make sure no one comes in without me here? And watch fang for me."

"No prblem, Hagrid. I'll make sure fang doesn't go anywhere and make sure no one comes in here." I looked at Fang, Hagrid's dog, and saw that he was asleep. It wouldn't be too much trouble watching a doggy.

Hagrid smiled and left the hut, closing the door tightly behind him. I stared at the mess of fabric in front of me. I was almost done the skirt. Almost done..

0o0o0o0o

Adding the last layer of lace onto my skirt, I sighed in relief. I looked at my creation about twenty times before realizing it came out just the way I wanted. The lace was layered enough to create a puffed-up look as though it belonged in a ballet. it was short, true, but not too short. It was a few inches above my knees, and that's exactly what I wanted. Looking at Hagrid's clock, I realized it had been a half hour since Hagrid left for supper. My stomach rumbled loudly at the thought of food. I would live though; I had gone without a meal before. it didn't bother me one bit.

Placing the finished skirt on a wire hanger I brought down with me, I saw the door handle jiggle. Hagrid walked in and stared at my finished skirt.

"That's beautiful..." He complimented as I blushed.

"Thank you..I'm almost done the costume, but the corset will probably take a whole day to do. Do you think I could come back tomorrow?" Picking up my belongings, Hagrid nodded his head.

"Sure, Maranda, come back whenever yeh' want in the mornin' and I'll clear another space for you." He helped me pick up the remains of my fabric, including the thick fabric I'd be using tomorrow, and opened the door for me.

"See you in the morning Hagrid! Thank you." I left his hut and noticed how dark it was outside. I widened my eyes and saw the castle. Why did it seem to be so far away at night?

0o0o0o0o

No one noticed me dash into the gryffindor common room with bundles of fabric and other things in my grasp. I spilled everything onto my bed and sorted through it. I placed the completed skirt in my clothing trunk and locked it shut. The rest of the fabric was pushed under my bed along with the notebook which held my plans. It was eight o'clock and I was ready to sleep. Hours of sewing must have taken all my energy. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over my head. I closed my eyes and thought about my plan.

This was my plan; I would burst through the doors of the Great hall with boombox in hand. I would place it on the floor near the door and press play. after that, I wasn't sure yet. What if they already had music playing? I would have to play it louder than them then. As stupid as it sounded, I thought the plan would turn out to be a success. Maybe...As long as I made my corset in the morning and found a perfect song to enter with. I wanted to show the school that I wasn't a weak little girl. Nobody knew who i was...Or how I acted. I could be daring and loud if I wanted, but I never had the chance to be. Now this was my chance to show the school who they were messing with.

If I could just think of the rest of the plan... I had a slight idea of what to do after putting the music on, but I wasn't sure if it would work. Closing my eyes tighter, I forced myself to fall into a deep sleep.

0o0o0o0o

As usual, birds awoke my dreamless sleep. I have to get an alarm clock soon. What will I do when birds fly south for the winter? I can't count on Hermione to wake me up. She doesn't like me.Oh well. Getting up from the comfy bed, I happily went to breakfast. I sat in my normal seat at the end of the bench closest to the teacher's table. I studied the hall. Perhaps it would give me an idea for my plan. only five days until Halloween. It fell on friday, which meant the dance would be held at night.

I ate the rest of my toast and flew out the Great Hall doors and back into the Gryffindor common room. Without any delay I ran to Hagrid's hut with the thick black fabric and some black ribbons. I knocked on Hagrid's door and he opened it.

"Well, good morning, Maranda! I wasn't expectin' yeh' so early. I guess yeh' really are determined to get this costume done." Hagrid let me in, and I sat at the table with the sewing machine on it.

"Yeah," I laughed, "I really want to go through with this. No more Miss Nice Girl."

"What are yeh' talkin' about?" He asked.

I started to cut a piece of the thick fabric, "I'm planning on doing something that everyone will be in awe over, but I'm not quite sure what yet."

"Just don't get hurt." He warned, as though I were a child.

"Don't worry Hagrid." I cut some more fabric and then started to sew.

Maybe it was just because I was busy, but the day passed by quicker than normal. I didn't expect to be done my corset so soon. It came out pretty awesome. The front had ribbons that criss-crossed and tied at the bottom into a beautiful little bow. The top had a tiny bit of lace on it as a border. I figured I would use the rest of the lace I had from yesterday. Sighing, I noticed it was almost supper time. Man, time did fly today. Once more, I looked at my creation. Hagrid complemented it and said that it was 'very beautiful.' I put the corset on a hanger and said my farewells to Hagrid as I left his hut. My notebook had been left upstairs in the Gryffindor common room today. I didn't need it to make the corset. I only wanted it to make my skirt because I wasn't sure how to make it puff up.

After placing the corset in my trunk next to the skirt, I headed to the Great Hall. It was supper time. I casually walked in and sat in my seat. As some chicken and potatoes appeared on my plate I heard Hermione whispering to Ron and Harry.

"What do you think she's doing with that sewing machine?" Hermione whispered.

"I don't know...Maybe she's making some new clothes or something." Ron responded.

"No," Harry said, "She's probably mending something."

"She," Hermione stuck her nose in the air, "is still suspicious."

So they thought I was up to something no good... Something evil...Well, truthfully I was flattered. At least I was being payed attention to. I chuckled to myself as I took a giant bite of mashed potatoes.

If only, I thought to myself, If only they knew what I was up to.. Hell, If only I knew what I was up to.