The seventh years settled down into their routine. They had what Sirius referred to as a 'ridiculous' amount of work that he and James mainly completed at the dead of night or mealtimes with a little 'help' from Remus.
Lily had, for the most part, managed to avoid James except at meetings and the few lessons they had together. She was still very disgruntled that he had made head boy after six years of delinquency, but she had tried, and mainly succeeded, to be civil.
So she was more than a little surprised when, as she, Carmen and Spikes were sitting in the Great Hall at breakfast, they found themselves surrounded by Sirius, James and Remus.
Carmen sighed.
'Fuck off Black.'
'Why, might I ask, was that comment directed only at me' said Sirius, pretending to be offended.
'Because you're about ten times more offensive than James and Remus'
Sirius pouted. James laughed. The world kept spinning.
Spikes turned to Remus.
'So why are you annoying us? Did you just think we were looking too happy today or what?'
Sirius recovered from his sulks.
'Aha!' He said mysteriously ' We, your knights errant, have come to invite you to a most fantastical thing'
This statement was greeted by disbelief. And some rather odd looks from Remus, who was trying to add up exactly how much sugar Sirius could have consumed without him noticing. His conclusion was not comforting.
' Sir Sirius and I' James announced just quietly enough for only them to be able to hear 'Have planned what can only be described as….'
He paused for effect, and leant in close.
'A Hootenanny!'
Lily blinked.
'A what now?'
'It's official' said Spikes 'You are actually quite literally dangerously insane'
'No, Fair Maidens of Gryffindor!' cried Sirius ' We are holding a grand ball in our erstwhile common room on All Hallow's eve and request your delightful presence at the same'
'He says we're having a fancy dress party in the Common Room on Halloween' Remus translated. He shot a look at Spikes 'You guys are coming right?'
Spikes blushed and seemed not to be able to get the words out, so Lily leaned across the table.
'Of course we'll come Remus'
Sirius and James cheered. A little too much. Remus wondered where they had got all the sugar
'We go now on a great quest in search the fabled Butterbeer of which legend tells' Said James, and he and Sirius 'galloped' out of the Hall on imaginary steeds. They disappeared through the doors.
Remus was still talking to Spikes.
Sirius and James reappeared in the doors. They seemed to have realised they had forgotten something. They 'galloped' back to Remus firmly took hold of and arm each, and dragged him out. He waved wanly back at the girls.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Later that evening the girls were sitting in the Common Room. Remus came over hesitantly.
'Um, I don't think I said, the theme for the party….'
'HOOTENANNY' yelled Sirius 'jeez…'
Remus smiled. '…..Hootenanny is knights and damsels. You know, medieval type stuff.'
'Ok'
'Uh..Spikes? Could I have a word?'
She looked nervous and stood up
'Sure'
They moved away slightly.
'Do you, um, want to go with me, to the thing, you know?
She smiled suddenly.
'Of course'
She went back to sit down, leaving Remus wondering what she meant by 'of course'.
………………………………………………………………………………………
It was Saturday. The Saturday of Halloween and the great Hootenanny.
James and Sirius were walking uncomfortably through the tunnel from Hogsmead under the invisibility cloak.
They were uncomfortable because under the cloak they had their own not inconsiderable bulk, two sets of chain mail, three crates of Butterbeer, two huge bags of sweets and chocolate and the odd bottle of Fire Whisky. Many people in the Village had thought the ghosts from the Shrieking Shack had been about as an apparently untraceable clanking and swearing had been heard wondering around.
Lily came out of the fitting room in the Robes for Hire shop dressed in a deep green dress cut out of some kind of silky material. It had a v-neck and a wide full skirt. Lily twirled for the other two.
'What d'you think?'
'Definitely' Said Carmen, who had come out a little before, 'How 'bout this one?'
She was wearing a sort of pirate dress in a bright, dark red, with the skirt looped up to reveal layers and layers of black frills.
'It looks great' said Spikes sadly ' I can't find anything.'
'We'll help then'
They all began searching, Carmen making Spikes try anything even in the right size on.
She came out dressed in a cream puff type thing. They didn't even say anything. She went back in.
They had run through nearly all the dresses, one too shiny, another a very violent shade of yellow, and one hideous thing that changed colour in ripples, until Spikes sat down and began too cry.
'I'll never find one' she hiccupped 'And Remus will hate me…..'
She carried on like that, rambling slightly but, hey, the girl was upset.
Lily comforted her while Carmen kept walking down the shelves. Lily couldn't see what she was doing but something was rustling behind her.
'This one!' said Carmen triumphantly about a quarter of an hour later 'Its perfect!'
It was silvery grey velvet, cut with a pointed bodice and wide rustling skirts.
Lily and Carmen bundled a protesting Spikes into the fitting room with many cries of 'this is the last one' and 'you said that last time'.
She came out grinning sheepishly.
Carmen and Lily wore identical satisfied grins.
'Perfect'