A Hogwarts Cinderella
Chapter 9
By: Tiger Lily21
A/N: Hey, first of all, thanks to all you voters out there. You really did a lot for the story. Unfortunately none of you had the same idea for what to do to Violet so I have to come up with my own idea. Don't worry, I already have one and it's really, really good! But you have to wait until the chapter with the ball to find out what it is! (Hee-hee, I'm so evil!) But anyways, here is the long awaited chapter nine! Read on! **************************************************************************** **************** Of course, when they compared lists they had some explaining to do. Lily had no clue who The Weird Sisters were and James didn't know any of the composers she'd named. But after a few explanations and several long discussions they finally came up with this list.
Music: Weird Sisters playing classical music (if possible) Food: Chips, Cheese, and Desserts Decorations: Typical Christmas, no mistletoe Prank: To be decided at a future time
This worked for both of them. The prank they left for a later time because Dumbledore had not yet approved the list (sans, that is without, the prank). James agreed to bring the list to the headmaster personally partially because he wanted to see the office again and partially because he had something he wanted to discuss with Dumbledore, something he felt he couldn't discuss with Lily.
So, the next day, which happened to be Sunday, James headed for the gargoyle entrance to the staircase, which would take him to the headmaster's office. He gave the password (Chocolate Frog) and climbed onto the moving staircase, list in hand. Once at the door to the office James listened to see if Dumbledore had a visitor. That didn't appear to be the case so he knocked and entered when bidden to do so. "Good morning, James," said Dumbledore pleasantly. "Please sit down. I understand you have a list for me involving the Christmas ball?" James was taken aback. How had Dumbledore known? Dumbstruck he pushed the list across the desk and waited while Dumbledore read it. "Very good, very good indeed," said Dumbledore. "I'll have to look into booking the Weird Sisters though. Why don't I get back to you on that at a future date? You may go now, James. That is, unless you have something else you would like to discuss with me?" James was again struck dumb by Dumbledore's apparent power to read minds. However he recovered himself and said, " Uh, yes sir. You see it's about Lily. First off, she can't sleep in her dormitory anymore. Violet won't let her in. I was hoping you could deal with the situation since Lily won't take my bed." Dumbledore smiled. "I will do my best. Is there anything else?"
"Yes. I also wondered if you could, um, help me with a problem. I've been in love with Lady Gryffindor since I met her at the ball three years ago. Now I've met Lily and I don't know how I feel about her. And I'm wondering whom the last girl who didn't get to try on the shoe that day was. I never knew her name. She was just Remus's red-haired friend and she seems to have vanished off the face of the earth! You see? I'm all mixed up about all these girls!"
James finished his schpeel and put his head down on the desk in frustration. Dumbledore looked kindly at the poor, mixed-up teenager who was supposed to be the leader of the students. Right now he seemed like a child, crying in frustration after not being able to put together a puzzle. The headmaster took pity on the poor boy.
"James," he said, " I cannot help you on this puzzle that is your lovelife. But, if you think about, I think you can solve it. This riddle may help. 'One is a friend with a secret. Two are hidden beneath your nose. Three are one. All are your love.' Figure it out."
James looked up. "Sirius is right," he muttered." You are off your rocker! But thanks anyways, sir. I just hope I don't make another mistake. I was so stupid to think Violet of all people was Lady Gryffindor! Why didn't I listen to what my heart said? Lily's right. I am hopeless."
He left the office still muttering. Dumbledore sighed. It was going to be a while before James even solved part of the riddle. Oh well. There was nothing he could do but watch and wait. Oh, and hope too. Now, to get to work on the problem of Miss Evans and her rooming arrangements.
A/N: Well, is that enough for you? Should I stop here? (Crowd of readers cries, " NOOOO! And don't leave a big empty spot either, evil writer!") Okay, no stopping. No big empty spot. Just more story. Now will you shut up? (No, just kidding. But please, read on. I won't pop in again until the real end of the chapter. Toodles!) **************************************************************************** ****************
"So, how did it go?" asked Lily when James returned.
"Good," said James. "He'll try to get the Weird Sisters for us."
"It must have taken you a while to convince him. You've been gone nearly half an hour."
James blushed. "Oh, sorry about that. But I also took care of your bed issue. Dumbledore said he'll work on getting you off the couch."
Lily smiled at him. " James, you sweetheart!" she cried. "You didn't have to do that for me! Thank you so much!"
"That's what friends are for," said James, turning away to try and hide his now extremely red face.
"I wish we were more than friends," thought Lily.
"I wish that now you would help me with this riddle," James thought. " That's what friends are for."
But before James could tell Lily about the riddle and before she could do anything who should come waltzing down the stairs but Violet.
" Hello James," she said in a sickly sweet voice. " I hope you don't mind leaving for a moment. I have something private to discuss with Lily here. "
Lily mouthed, "Go, I'll be fine," at James. He mouthed back, " Yell if you need me," and left, scowling and still very red.
The moment he was gone Violet demanded, " Give me the dress!"
"What dress?" asked Lily innocently.
"The Lady Gryffindor dress, idiot!" snapped Violet. "Give it here!"
"And what if I don't?" asked Lily.
" Let's not discuss that," said Violet. "Just give. me. the dress." She spoke slowly, sounding out every syllable as if Lily were dumb enough to need to hear it that slowly.
" N.O. spells. no," said Lily just as slowly. "And that is my answer to you."
Violet's face became as red as her hair. She shrieked in fury. " ACCIO DRESS!" she yelled, pointing her wand at Lily's trunk. The Lady Gryffindor dress flew out of it and into her hands. She repeated the spell for the other shoe, which she also got. Lily watched this passively as a rather cruel thought grew in her head. The dress wouldn't even fit skinny Violet anymore. And Violet, she knew, couldn't perform the Engorgement Charm to save her life. This could be almost exactly the kind of test she'd need for James at the ball. Would he pick the girl in the original dress or the girl who his heart told him was his love? Lily or Violet? Hmm.
A/N: Well, this is a good stopping place so that is the end of chapter nine. I hope you liked it and I'm sorry if it was too short for some of you. Tough beanie-weanies. Now review, please, and make me happy so I can write chapter ten before November 15th when I want to get it out. I have a four-day weekend this week so I might get it out to you sooner that I thought I could. Toodles!
-- Tiger Lily21 P.S. Check me out at Fictionpress.net! My pen name is Silver Song21. I don't have much up there right now but I think you'll like what I do have. Toodles for real!
Chapter 9
By: Tiger Lily21
A/N: Hey, first of all, thanks to all you voters out there. You really did a lot for the story. Unfortunately none of you had the same idea for what to do to Violet so I have to come up with my own idea. Don't worry, I already have one and it's really, really good! But you have to wait until the chapter with the ball to find out what it is! (Hee-hee, I'm so evil!) But anyways, here is the long awaited chapter nine! Read on! **************************************************************************** **************** Of course, when they compared lists they had some explaining to do. Lily had no clue who The Weird Sisters were and James didn't know any of the composers she'd named. But after a few explanations and several long discussions they finally came up with this list.
Music: Weird Sisters playing classical music (if possible) Food: Chips, Cheese, and Desserts Decorations: Typical Christmas, no mistletoe Prank: To be decided at a future time
This worked for both of them. The prank they left for a later time because Dumbledore had not yet approved the list (sans, that is without, the prank). James agreed to bring the list to the headmaster personally partially because he wanted to see the office again and partially because he had something he wanted to discuss with Dumbledore, something he felt he couldn't discuss with Lily.
So, the next day, which happened to be Sunday, James headed for the gargoyle entrance to the staircase, which would take him to the headmaster's office. He gave the password (Chocolate Frog) and climbed onto the moving staircase, list in hand. Once at the door to the office James listened to see if Dumbledore had a visitor. That didn't appear to be the case so he knocked and entered when bidden to do so. "Good morning, James," said Dumbledore pleasantly. "Please sit down. I understand you have a list for me involving the Christmas ball?" James was taken aback. How had Dumbledore known? Dumbstruck he pushed the list across the desk and waited while Dumbledore read it. "Very good, very good indeed," said Dumbledore. "I'll have to look into booking the Weird Sisters though. Why don't I get back to you on that at a future date? You may go now, James. That is, unless you have something else you would like to discuss with me?" James was again struck dumb by Dumbledore's apparent power to read minds. However he recovered himself and said, " Uh, yes sir. You see it's about Lily. First off, she can't sleep in her dormitory anymore. Violet won't let her in. I was hoping you could deal with the situation since Lily won't take my bed." Dumbledore smiled. "I will do my best. Is there anything else?"
"Yes. I also wondered if you could, um, help me with a problem. I've been in love with Lady Gryffindor since I met her at the ball three years ago. Now I've met Lily and I don't know how I feel about her. And I'm wondering whom the last girl who didn't get to try on the shoe that day was. I never knew her name. She was just Remus's red-haired friend and she seems to have vanished off the face of the earth! You see? I'm all mixed up about all these girls!"
James finished his schpeel and put his head down on the desk in frustration. Dumbledore looked kindly at the poor, mixed-up teenager who was supposed to be the leader of the students. Right now he seemed like a child, crying in frustration after not being able to put together a puzzle. The headmaster took pity on the poor boy.
"James," he said, " I cannot help you on this puzzle that is your lovelife. But, if you think about, I think you can solve it. This riddle may help. 'One is a friend with a secret. Two are hidden beneath your nose. Three are one. All are your love.' Figure it out."
James looked up. "Sirius is right," he muttered." You are off your rocker! But thanks anyways, sir. I just hope I don't make another mistake. I was so stupid to think Violet of all people was Lady Gryffindor! Why didn't I listen to what my heart said? Lily's right. I am hopeless."
He left the office still muttering. Dumbledore sighed. It was going to be a while before James even solved part of the riddle. Oh well. There was nothing he could do but watch and wait. Oh, and hope too. Now, to get to work on the problem of Miss Evans and her rooming arrangements.
A/N: Well, is that enough for you? Should I stop here? (Crowd of readers cries, " NOOOO! And don't leave a big empty spot either, evil writer!") Okay, no stopping. No big empty spot. Just more story. Now will you shut up? (No, just kidding. But please, read on. I won't pop in again until the real end of the chapter. Toodles!) **************************************************************************** ****************
"So, how did it go?" asked Lily when James returned.
"Good," said James. "He'll try to get the Weird Sisters for us."
"It must have taken you a while to convince him. You've been gone nearly half an hour."
James blushed. "Oh, sorry about that. But I also took care of your bed issue. Dumbledore said he'll work on getting you off the couch."
Lily smiled at him. " James, you sweetheart!" she cried. "You didn't have to do that for me! Thank you so much!"
"That's what friends are for," said James, turning away to try and hide his now extremely red face.
"I wish we were more than friends," thought Lily.
"I wish that now you would help me with this riddle," James thought. " That's what friends are for."
But before James could tell Lily about the riddle and before she could do anything who should come waltzing down the stairs but Violet.
" Hello James," she said in a sickly sweet voice. " I hope you don't mind leaving for a moment. I have something private to discuss with Lily here. "
Lily mouthed, "Go, I'll be fine," at James. He mouthed back, " Yell if you need me," and left, scowling and still very red.
The moment he was gone Violet demanded, " Give me the dress!"
"What dress?" asked Lily innocently.
"The Lady Gryffindor dress, idiot!" snapped Violet. "Give it here!"
"And what if I don't?" asked Lily.
" Let's not discuss that," said Violet. "Just give. me. the dress." She spoke slowly, sounding out every syllable as if Lily were dumb enough to need to hear it that slowly.
" N.O. spells. no," said Lily just as slowly. "And that is my answer to you."
Violet's face became as red as her hair. She shrieked in fury. " ACCIO DRESS!" she yelled, pointing her wand at Lily's trunk. The Lady Gryffindor dress flew out of it and into her hands. She repeated the spell for the other shoe, which she also got. Lily watched this passively as a rather cruel thought grew in her head. The dress wouldn't even fit skinny Violet anymore. And Violet, she knew, couldn't perform the Engorgement Charm to save her life. This could be almost exactly the kind of test she'd need for James at the ball. Would he pick the girl in the original dress or the girl who his heart told him was his love? Lily or Violet? Hmm.
A/N: Well, this is a good stopping place so that is the end of chapter nine. I hope you liked it and I'm sorry if it was too short for some of you. Tough beanie-weanies. Now review, please, and make me happy so I can write chapter ten before November 15th when I want to get it out. I have a four-day weekend this week so I might get it out to you sooner that I thought I could. Toodles!
-- Tiger Lily21 P.S. Check me out at Fictionpress.net! My pen name is Silver Song21. I don't have much up there right now but I think you'll like what I do have. Toodles for real!