CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Winter Ball

Lily, Ophelia and Talia were in the girls dormitory, getting ready for the night.

Lily had enchanted her record to play at twice the normal volume.

She danced around the room, her emerald-colored dress skimming the floor. "Said there ain't no use in crying. Cause it will only, only drive you mad. Does it hurt to hear them lying? Was this the only world you had?" sang Lily, coming to a stop in front of Ophelia.

She was sprawled out on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"What's the matter with you?" she panted.

"Dunno." Ophelia sat up. "What time is it?"

"Seven-thirty. Half an hour to the Ball."

Talia came into the room and collapsed into a chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "James just called me Evans for the third time tonight."

A slow blush crept upon her. "He's a prat, don't think on it."

"I think their planning something for tonight." Talia continued. "They were talking about some.. plan they had in mind for Severus."

"Trust them to ruin the formal." said Lily.

"Ah, give them a break. They haven't done anything in a while, I think it'll be good for them." Talia chuckled.

Ophelia pulled her violet robes from their hanger, and traced her finger along the pattern. "Do you think Sirius would be horribly disappointed if I didn't go?"

"I would." Lily replied. "Why don't you want to go?"

She shrugged. "No reason, I just don't feel like dancing tonight."

"Come. Leave Sirius to his little prank and you and me can dance."

Ophelia gave in and changed into her robes, while Talia- running off the mood of the others - ran around the dorm in a frenzy.

Once they were all dressed they descended the stairs into the common room. A fire had been lit, making the air thick.

Sirius, James and Remus were wearing the same shade of black dress robes, while Pete stuck out like a Squib in his golden suit.

"Just for the record," Talia began, "I'm only with James out of pity. And if you call me Lily one more time..."

"Sorry Lily." he smirked.

Ophelia made her way over to Sirius, her wand aloft. "Indigollian." she muttered, turning his robes a dark blue. "Had to be done."

"You look... beautiful." said Sirius.

She took a step back. "Wow, two compliments in one year. What do you want? Help studying for your OWLs or something?"

"I have to have a reason to compliment you?"

"Yes."

"Hullo little sister." said Remus, joining them. "Do you have a... sweater you can wear over that? A shawl maybe?"

"Your date's showing more than I am."

"I can hear you, you know." cried Lily from the other side of the common room.

"You weren't offended, don't pretend to be." Ophelia hollered back.

"Shall we go?" asked Sirius.

"Yes."

They linked arms and made their way to the Great Hall, which had been decorated for the occasion.

Strings of lights floated throughout the room and a stage had been erected at the far side of the room.

James led the group to a table in the back. "Not to worry, ladies." he said loudly, running a hand through his hair. "There's enough James to go around. I'll save you all a dance."

"Give it a rest, Prongs." Sirius muttered. "She's not listening."

"Good evening all." said Professor Dumbledore, once the Hall was seated. "And welcome to the Winter Ball. I had the idea of calling it the Snow Ball, but Professor Caery dismissed it rather quickly. The band will begin playing shortly once dinner has commenced. I sincerely hope all of you have an enjoyable night. Let's eat."

The meal of roasted turkey was spent with the Marauders quietly whispering amongst themselves.

"I swear on Merlin's tomb," Ophelia warned. "If this little prank of yours in anyway backfires on us, you won't be able to ride a broom for a very long time."

"It won't." Remus promised cryptically. "Unless..." he shook his head. "It won't."

As the music began, David Cohen cautiously approached the table. "Er.. Lily? Would you care to dance?"

Remus stood up quickly. "Sorry chap. But the first is promised to me." he said, leading Lily onto the floor.

"'Would you care to dance?'" James mocked. "She's on the list, mate!"

"What list?" asked Talia.

"The Off Limits list."

Ophelia frowned. "You've made an Off Limits list? That's disgusting. that's immature.. that's... who else is on it?"

"Just Evans right now." he replied quickly.

"We should make a list." cried Talia excitedly.

"Tal, we don't even have boys to put in a On Limits list."

"Right, right."

Peter stared into his goblet.

"This is so boring. Who am I going to ask?"

Ophelia got to her feet. "Do you want to dance, Pete?"

"Sure." he grinned. "I mean, if Sirius doesn't mind."

"Not at all."

Pete took her hand in his and they headed onto the dance floor.

"Are you having a good night so far?" he asked.

She wrinkled her nose. "Oh yeah. Best of my life."

They danced in silence for the next few minutes, until James cut in.

"I think Talia's mad at me." he said, throwing a look back at the table.

"It may help if you call her by her own name, and maybe... this is just an idea, pretend you're enjoying yourself."

"I am! She just took something I said in the wrong context." he explained, adjusting his glasses. His eyes lit up, remembering something. "Hey Phe, do you remember when Helena taught us to dance? And how she made Moony and Sirius be partners because you refused to dance with all of us."

Ophelia giggled. "I completely forgot about that. Oh hush, Sirius will beat you if he hears you talking about that."

"I could take him. I can take anyone." he hollered.

"What are you guys planning to do?"

He shook his head. "Sworn to secrecy, sorry. But you'll find out soon enough."

James and Ophelia danced the next few songs away, until Sirius came and James felt it safe to return to Talia.

"Finally." said Sirius sarcastically.

"Remember when you danced with Remus?"

He stood completely still. "I have no recollection of that ever happening, thank you very much."

"Right."

"Remind me again why you wouldn't dance with me?"

"I wouldn't dance with Remus because he was my brother, I wouldn't dance with you because you kept calling me Osmellia, so James was left." she explained.

Sirius howled. "I forgot about Osmellia."

"Believe me, I haven't."

They continued turning in slow circles.

Ophelia squinted to make out the band."Have you ever heard of the Gringotts Reformation before tonight?" she asked, as an ensemble of goblins played everything from harpsicorts to guitars to wax paper flutes.

"Unfortunately yes." grumbled Sirius. "Regulus has been to all of their shows." He craned his beck to find his little brother in the crowd. "There he is, dancing with Aloise."

"Aw, they'll make a fine, pure-blood match." said Ophelia, rolling her eyes. "Hecate will be oh-so proud."

"Don't remind me. I have to go back there once more to collect what little I have left there."

"I don't mean to be a mood-turner, Sir, but what are you going to do for money?"

Sirius heaved his shoulders. "It's not a concern right now."

"It will be once you leave here. And come August when you need to buy your school things."

"I have a vault at Gringotts, I'll be okay for a bit. Can we... not talk about this right now?" he suggested, glancing at his pocket watch. "I have a lot on my mind as it is."

"Four more minutes."

Ophelia stared at her dance partner. "Four more minutes until what? Your little prank?"

"It's not a little pr-" he stopped mid sentence. "Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes." she said quickly. "You muttered it under your breath. Four minutes 'till what, Sir?"

"I'm not supposed to say anything." he said, sounding like James only moments earlier. "You'll find out in three minutes."

"I'm not a patient witch, tell me now." Ophelia demanded. She looked around the Great Hall for something- anything -out of the ordinary.

Her gaze fell upon Severus Snape, sitting alone in a chair against the far wall with his head in his hands. His normally greasy hair was more so now, slicked back into a ponytail.

"Snivellus?"

Sirius grinned. "Snivellus. You were right; he's getting too cocky."

"What are you planning to do to him?"

"I'm doing you a favor, you know. Patience is a gift."

"Virtue. Patience is a virtue." said Ophelia, leading Sirius back to their table.

"It's time." whispered Remus.

The music stopped playing as the Gringotts Reformation took their first break.

Sirius and Remus looked around excitedly as James made his way towards the bare stage.

"I would like to call everyone's attention, please." said James, standing importantly in front of the students. "I hope you're all enjoying yourselves. I know I am."

Ophelia leaned into Sirius. "What's he doing?" she whispered.

"However," continued James. "I have noticed that one wizard out of everyone has not yet danced even one solitary dance. Now, this is a tragedy. And I would like to help this young man out. So who's with me?"

A round of applause echoed around the Great Hall, urging James on.

"Alright, that's the spirit everyone! So which one of you lovely witches would like to dance with Severus Snape?"

The room went silent and several girls actually backed away from the stage.

What little color Snape had in his face before James' announcement drained away as he stood in front of three-hundred pitying stares. It was as if he was glued to the spot, being forced to endure this torture.

"Come on, do we have any takers? I know he may look a little bad, and smell just the same, but it can't be that horrible right?" chuckled James. "Any ladies from Slytherin want to help out this poor guy? Any ladies at all?"

Snape wrenched his feet loose and broke away from the door.

Professor McGonagall forced James away from the stage, as waves of laughter filled the Hall.

"That is quite enough, Mr Potter. I will deal with you later." she cried angrily. "Will everyone return to their dormitories at once. Make no stops along the way. The Prefects shall lead in a quick and calm manner. Leave now."

The students milled about the hall, waiting for an explanation of some sort as for why the Ball was ending early.

"I said move!" McGonagall screeched.

All of the students slowly began heading out of the main exit.

Ophelia frowned as Sirius led her from the others. "All this for a silly prank?"

Sirius shook his head. "It wasn't silly. And I don't think this has anything to do with the dance."

They left using the entrance nearest the staff table.

"Well then what's going on?" she asked.

A dull scream was carried into the castle from the grounds outside. It was high-pitched and unnatural sounding.

Sirius and Ophelia exchanged a look and pressed themselves against the nearest window, peering outside.

Professor Dumbledore was running across the snowy grass with Caery and and the grounds keeper, Hagrid, at his heels.

Another scream, closer this time, came from the stone courtyard.

Ophelia took Sirius' hand, out of a childhood habit. "I don't want to be here. Let's go." she muttered.

He nodded, feeling the same fear that now plagued his friend. "Y-Yes."

They quickly made their way to the Gryffindor common room, where the others were already gathered.

James was grinning like mad. "Can you believe it Padfoot? All this fuss over Snivellus being a prat."

"I keep telling you," Lily sighed, falling back onto the soft couch, "It had nothing to do with your prank. It's much bigger than that."

"And I keep telling you that you don't know what you're talking about."

Sirius ran a hand through his hair, unintentionally mocking James. "I think Lily's right. Phe and I... we, er, heard a scream outside. Two screams actually."

"Who was it?" Remus asked.

Ophelia shrugged. "It was dark, I didn't see anything. Did you?"

"No, nothing at all. Except Dumbledore and Professor Caery running back to the castle." he replied.

"I never really pictured Dumbledore as the running-type." grinned James.

Remus elbowed him in the ribs. "This is serious. They obviously saw it important enough to send us back to here. And McGonagall looked unusually upset."

Following a few minutes of clueless discussion, they retired to their dorms for the night, anxious to find out the next morning what exactly had happened at Hogwarts.