Rating: PG-13 (Naughty, naughty teenagers)

Chapter Eight: Masquerade Balls and Eavesdropping

"Don't be so humble - you are not that great."

- Golda Meir (1898-1978) to a visiting diplomat

November 1

Is it so horrible a deed to listen in on other conversations that one of Them upstairs has to punish us with so much torture? Can I not live in peace, knowing I can focus on hearing another's dialogue without being forced to listen to terrible, terrible words?

- Delayna Warbeck

Thoroughly Disgusted

The Previous Day...

"Layna! Stay still, damn it!"

"I'm staying still as a board! May I remind you that it is you, my friend, who is tugging on my costume like there is no tomorrow?"

"It won't tighten any further!"

"Yes! I know that! However, you seem firm in insisting that 'No, Layna, you can get it tighter than that!' I can't bloody breathe!"

"Yeah, well, why would you pick this costume in the first place?"

"I chose it because I did not see this damn corset!"

"How could you not see it! It's bloody white!"

"I couldn't see it because it was under a white shirt and a long brown overcoat!"

"Why couldn't you have dug? Breathe in!"

"I can't bloody breathe, and you expect me to inhale? Ow! It was a spur of the moment thing; let me be!"

"There! All set! Now, put the shirt, overcoat, and hat on."

"Yes, Mum."

"Shut up, nitwit!"

"Hey, it's me who's from the Ravenclaw family, not you, so don't you call me a nitwit, you half-brained Gryffindor!"

"Why couldn't you ask Sandy to do this instead of putting me through this torture?"

"I asked you because Sandy needs to get in her own costume."

"Why couldn't you get in your own costume?"

"I did. I just asked you to come up here to show me your costume, and you ended up fixing up mine."

I must look a little odd to the innocent bystander, standing here in this garb, arguing with one 'Princess' Lily Evans.

Lily had chosen to be Cinderella-like with her costume. She was wearing a lacy dress, bell-like from the waist downward. There were layers upon layers of silk on the dress, nonetheless it was splendidly beautiful. Lilies of the valley had been crystallized and carefully placed on the dress on even intervals. The sleeves were also lacy and reached from her shoulder to her wrist, adorned with the lilies of valley. Her hair was curled and tied back from her face, bouncing elegantly every which way. Her beret gleaned in the lamplight, and was lined with what looked like diamonds. Her shoes were made of glass, and looked to delicate to walk in. Yet, Lily had practically run up the stairs in them without an issue (she had the right, as Head Girl, to go into any dormitory she wished). Her mask was curved at the tops and covered her eye area, leaving her actual eyes exposed. Lily looked indeed like she had leaped out from the pages of a fairy tale.

I, however, was dressed totally opposite of her. I was decked out in full pirate garb, from the tricorner hat to the cutlass. The cutlass was real; I had received it from Henry the previous night after I owled him. Henry is the sword master of the family. I, on the contrary, don't know a blasted thing about handling a sword. So, really, it's just there to complete the outfit.

I had black boots on that ended just where my breeches started. They were originally shiny, but with the help of Sandy, I had them looking like they were worn from use. My breaches were brown and reached just above my ankles before curling in. I had a weapon's belt snug around my waistline, holding the cutlass, rapier, and various knives I had stolen from the armor displayed in the corridors. A pistol was at my waist. Though it was heavy, it wasn't real. It had come with the outfit. My white shirt was tucked in on one side, loose in another, and cut in several places. With some assistance from Sandy, I had made it dirtier than the blinding white it originally was. The brown overcoat was easy to muck up. All you had to do was throw mud at it for a while, then wash it. The stains from the mud stuck to the coat, and it looked very completing to my costume.

The tricorner hat was the special part of my costume, which had inspired me to buy the outfit in the first place. On it was a powerful Glamour Charm. It would change my hair style into a short, layered cut and into a bluish-black shade to symbolize the sea. My eyes stayed the same color, but the hat provided smudges of kohl over my eyelids and underneath my eyes. This successfully hid my identity, and finished off the costume.

"Well, I must say, I am proud of my work," Lily said with her hands on her hips. She scrutinized my costume with narrowed eyes before grinning. She continued, "The corset pushes up your bosom sufficiently."

"What?" I gasped, astonished. They were supposed to push my breasts up? "I thought they were only there to make sure your waist is small enough, or to suffocate a person to death!"

"Your waist is small enough as it is ("Thanks, Lily, that makes me feel so much better.") but you should notice you're a bit more developed in the upper part than more than half of the school's female population, right?" Lily pointed out bluntly. "You have to use that to your advantage!"

"Unlike others, Lily-doll, I don't like shoving my breasts in men's faces!" I argued. I knew this little spat is fruitless. Lily is stubborn as hell, and she sure won't let me take this dastardly thing off.

"Come on, we're going!" Lily finished the argument. She tugged on my arm and dragged me downstairs, where doom awaited me.

"Who would serve drinks in dances?" I muttered under my breath. "Everyone knows it's bound to get spiked at one moment or another. Why still have it? Personally, I think punch and punch bowls should be removed from all events because of the lack of security it gives a drinker. What if I get drunk? What if I just want some damn punch? I don't want that firewhisky mixed in with my drink! And-"

"Merlin's beard, will you shut your bloody mouth?" Lily yelled in aggravation. I glanced at her with raised eyebrows. Lily very rarely curses.

"You never curse..." I repeated my thought out loud. Lily glared at me in an irritated fashion and continued dragging me by my elbow past other Gryffindors. We had decided to change in the Gryffindor Common Room, where prejudice was still high, but Lily wouldn't get in so much trouble if she brought me there than I would if I brought Lily up to my dorm.

Lily suddenly ceased her movement, and I lurched as her hand clutched my arm in a vice-like grip. We had stopped in front of the entrance of the Great Hall. In front of it was Professor Flitwick, stationed and dressed as a herald. Lily stepped towards him and muttered, "Princess Cinderella and Commodore A/N Grace O'Malley" discreetly in his ear. Flitwick nodded eagerly and slipped inside. We heard his squeaky voice echoing in the Great Hall as he announced our presence. Silence greeted our entrance, and all eyes were hooked on Lily's figure. I discreetly slipped away from her side, smirking. Trust Lily to gather the attention of a crowd.

I raised my eyebrows at the display of drunkenness in front of me. A finely dressed boy was dancing on the balls of his feet on top of the Head Table. That's why punch bowls should never be in Balls. They turn gentlemen into drunk bastards.

I grinned to myself as I spotted a familiar figure. I sneaked behind him and reached up to touch his shoulders. This thoroughly shocked him and he whipped around. I snickered at the stunned look on his face.

"You should've seen your face!" I crowed triumphantly. I giggled a bit more and then gazed up into his face, noticing he was staring at something. Something lower than my neck... "Kindly raise your eyes to see my face?"

"Sorry, did you say something?" Sirius inquired innocently as his gaze snapped to my face. "I was just admiring the scenery..." I rolled my eyes and resisted the urge to slap him. "And it's beautiful scenery, at that..."

"Please pick your mind out of the gutter and straighten it, unless you wish for me to do it for you." Sirius beamed widely as he picked up another innuendo.

"Will you please do it for me?" Sirius returned smoothly. I groaned and ran a hand down my face frustratedly. "Do be careful. You're going to smear your makeup." I glared at him and tugged on his elbow as I heard one of my favorite songs come on. I had also noticed James struggling with Lily, trying to persuade her onto the dance floor.

"C'mon, we're going to do a bit of stalking..." I tugged persistently. Sirius stood up straighter and bowed towards me.

"After you, Commodore," he said with a flourish. I took his proferred hand and he led me to the floor, glancing every now and then at the Head Boy and Head Girl's positions.

"Move slightly to the left," Sirius whispered softly as he twirled me to the music. "They can feel us looking at them. Put your head on my chest and close your eyes." I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at this but followed his instructions, placing my forehead onto his chest. I inhaled his scent, which was sweetly masculine, and shut my eyes. Sirius is a whole head taller than I am, and he put his cheek against the tip of my head.

I peeked through one eye at the couple we had been spying on. James took Lily by the hand and had whisked her off the dance floor. I echoed the information to Sirius, who frowned slightly. Both our eyes trailed after the couple and then met each other. A silent agreement was formed, and we sweeped off the dance floor to follow.

It's somewhat hard to be discreet with all these weapons hanging from my belt, but we managed to follow them silently. The four of us, separately, glided down the many corridors. As we did so, I mentally groaned as I realized the path that Sirius and I were following. We were heading to the Gryffindor Common Room.

The Fat Lady opened for Lily and James, and Sirius put his finger to his lips and looked pointedly at the painting. The Fat Lady nodded and moved to close, but left it open for us to pass through.

The familiar sight of the Gryffindor Common Room met my eyes, and I saw a flash of Lily's dress heading up the Gryffindor Boys' Dormitories. I tugged at the hand Sirius had wrapped around my elbow and sent a silent message through my eyes. He ignored me and the two of us climbed the stairs.

Like nosy children, we pressed our ears to the wooden door. We stared at each other as we listened carefully.

"James..."

"...Lily..."

Our eyes widened as the moans floated through the door. In a flash, I grabbed his shoulders and led him downstairs, my eyes still wide. I forced him through the portrait hole and then let go. Have mercy on my soul, they were doing... It.

Author's Note: Hehe. Bet you weren't expecting that. It's been about a month, but forgive me! I've had lots of things going on. For those who didn't understand the last part, you probably shouldn't be reading this...

This chapter is just like a shorter interlude. The next one will be more serious and darker.

On the "Commodore" part of Grace O'Malley, I researched a bit about her and she was said to have led a fleet of ships, so I figured "Commodore" would suit her. It's much better than Captain, anyways...

- Cerulean Asphodel