A Hogwarts Cinderella

By: Tiger Lily21

Chapter Ten

Author's Note: Hey guys! This is chapter ten, making this the longest fic I've ever written. And I have over 300 reviews, making this the most popular fic I've ever written. All I can say is thanks so much to all you guys who have been with me since the beginning and those of you who joined later on. I owe 95% of this fic to you guys because it is your reviews that stop me from just throwing the fic out. 2% goes to my muse, Lily, and 1% to J.K. Rowling for making the characters. (She gets the least because of what she did in OOTP. I really don't like the chapter Snape's Worst Memory. )

Okay, enough from me. You guys want the fic. So, here you go!

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As December grew closer the days and nights grew colder. Students began wearing sweaters even ion the classrooms. On November 27th it was so cold it began to snow lightly. Professor Dumbledore announced the masquerade that same day.

"On Christmas night we will have a masquerade ball for students in fourth year and above. Younger students would be advised to spend their holidays at home. That is, unless you can get a date with an older student in which case you will undoubtedly wish to stay. If you have any questions please ask our Head Boy and Girl, James Potter and Lily Evans. They are in charge of planning the entire ball. Thank you."

As soon as he finished a crowd of students gathered around Lily and James.

"Do we have to wear a costume?"

"Is there a dress code?"

" If we're fourth year or above do we have to have a date?"

"What decorations are you going to have?"

Lily covered her ears. James, who had been pondering Dumbledore's

riddle, looked up at the many students and yelled, "QUIET!!!!"

There was immediately complete silence in the Great Hall.

"Cool, it worked," James whispered to Lily. She giggled then stood up to speak.

"Thank you James," she said. "Now, to answer most of your questions, I hope, the rules of this ball are very specific. You must have a costume including a mask. But you don't need a date unless you are younger than fourth year. The decorations, food, and music are going to be a surprise. Oh, and one more thing. If you attended the ball three years ago you can't wear the same costume you wore that time. You have to be someone or something different."

She sat down and smiled at James. He smiled back but then her last words hit him like a ton of bricks. He tapped her on the shoulder.

"What did you mean, no one can wear the same costume as last time?" he asked.

Lily's smile became mysterious. "I'll tell you later," she whispered.

"Later" turned out to be an hour after dinner. Lily and James sat in a corner of the common room.

"I said that no one could wear the same costume so you'll know who Lady Gryffindor isn't," said Lily. "If you see a girl in a dress like that you'll know it isn't Lady Gryffindor."

"But then how will I know who the real one is?" asked James, bewildered.

Lily smiled another mysterious smile. "Look with this," she pointed at his heart, " not with these." Her finger was pointing at his eyes.

"And how exactly do I do that?" asked James.

Now he was annoyed.

"Don't worry," said Lily, " you'll know when the time comes, I promise."

With that she stood and went up to her dormitory.

" So, what will you do now, Cinderella?"

Violet was sitting on her bed, smirking at Lily.

"Violet, you have just given me that answer. But if you think I'll tell you, you are dead wrong."

Then Lily put on her nightgown and climbed into bed, a great idea forming in her mind. As she fell asleep she was happier than she had been for a long time. This costume wouldn't require any magic. Just a bit of imagination and lots of soot.

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James, in his own dormitory, wasn't so happy. He still hadn't solved the riddle and now he didn't even know what Lady Gryffindor's costume would be.

"One is a friend with a secret.

Two are hidden beneath your nose.

Three are one.

All are your love."

"Maybe if I solve it backwards," thought James.

He spoke the last line out loud. "All are your love."

"First sign of madness, talking to yourself about nonsense."

Sirius stood in the doorway, grinning.

James looked up at his friend and blushed.

"I'm not going mad!" he muttered.

"Sure you're not," laughed Sirius. "That's why you were muttering about 'all are your love'. Has that Lily girl pushed you over the edge?"

"Hey! Don't talk about Lily like that! She's been more help than you ever were so just shut up!"

Sirius's expression didn't change. He was still grinning. He came over and sat on the edge of James's bed.

"Yep, I was right. You like her, don't you?"

"No, I…"

"Don't say you love Lady Gryffindor," said Sirius. He barreled on. " I know that. But tell me something. Wouldn't it be better to love a real girl instead of one who you still aren't sure even exists?"

James didn't say a word. But Sirius's question bothered him. How did he know Lady Gryffindor was real?

"Because Lily says she is," he thought. " And Lily wouldn't lie to me."

"But what if she doesn't love you the way you love her?" asked an annoying little voice.

"She does," James thought at the voice. "I know she does. She kissed me!"

"How do you know that was her?" asked the voice.

"My heart says it was," he told the voice.

Another voice, rather like Lily's, said, " Look with your heart, not with your eyes."

"I am," thought James. " I know how now. Thanks, Lily."

Unintentionally he said this last part out loud.

"There you go again, talking nonsense," said Sirius. " I'm telling you Prongs, you're going mad."

"No I'm not," said James in a slow voice. "I think I'm more sane than I ever was before."

And with that he closed his eyes and let sleep claim him. As it did an image filled his mind. A girl with red hair stood in a corner with Remus. It wasn't Lily. Or was it? He couldn't tell. Maybe it was "Remus's red-haired friend". Or… were they the same girl?

James sat straight up in bed.

"Hey Padfoot?"

"Yeah?" asked Sirius from his own bed.

"Whatever happened to Moony's red-haired friend?"

Remus came in just then and answered the question.

"James, that girl you're talking about is Lily."

A/N: And that's where we stop. So, I made things a little harder on James. Lily won't be in the same costume. But that makes it easier for her and for James since Violet has the dress. This means Lily doesn't have to get a new dress, which would be more than she could afford, and that James will know Violet isn't Lady Gryffindor. Plus James has part of that riddle solved, even if he doesn't know it yet.

I'm only planning a few more chapters for this fic but for certain reasons (coughJameswon'tproposeinthiscough) there will be a sequel. (All readers cheer.) Now I have another review bribe for you guys. (Even though you don't need one.) The readers here are pretty much omniscient. Do you know the answer to James's riddle? Look back in the fic if you don't and send the answer in a review. Or, if that's too lame, tell me what you think Lily's new costume will be. There are hints in this chapter.

Well, that's all for now! Review and remember God made you special and He loves you very much! (Veggie Tales reference :-P) Toodles!

--Tiger Lily