Part One: Memories of Hogwarts

Sixth Year

Chapter 5: Masquerade Man Hunt

For once, ever in all the six years I've been at Hogwarts there was a Masquerade Ball. As soon as students saw the notice outside the Great Hall…some were overjoyed and some were miserable. The odd thing about the ball was though that it was happening for really no occasion, Valentine's Day had passed, it was late April and there was really no event to celebrate or remember. I guess the fact that our practice exams were coming to a close..but ack we had our N.E.W.Ts next year. But it was still just a Masquerade ball that came out of nowhere. It was in a week's time and that was one of the hardest weeks of my life.

It was Katrina that started off by making things difficult. We were at a mini slumber party, just to discuss stuff and scoff sweets with our fellow dorm. Girls. Me, Lily, Kat, Cassie (Gryffindor Keeper) and Daisy were sitting in a circle munching away at Honeyduke's finest and sipping butterbeer.

"Well girls…we all know what important stuff is coming up!" Katrina said grinning.

"Exams?" I said. Kat looked at me in disapproval and slapped my leg.

"Ow"

"No! Is that seriously all you think about Celeste Demesne? No! I meant the Masquerade ball…next Saturday"

"Oh" all of us said together. Well sometimes I wonder if guys is all that Kat thinks about.

"What about it?" asked Daisy fiddling with her goldie locks of hair.

Kat sighed and exaggerated sigh and said.

"Have you guys found dates to go with yet?"

Yup, all that Kat thinks about is guys.

"I'm going with Dave Johnson", replied Cassie smiling.

"Really? That's Great!" all of us said together…almost robotically.

"Ya! You guys are wonderful together! That's fantastic Cas," said Kat beaming. Cassie didn't say anything but blushed deeply.

"What about you Daisy, I'm sure you've got no probs at all finding a guy to go with," asked Kat to Daisy, a twinkle in her eye. It was true, everyone practically adored Daisy well she had a sweet innocent look to her, like she was extremely delicate and had to be handled with care. Daisy was a very sweet person too.

"Well, actually I haven't found anyone to go with yet, I'm not at all sure right now" said Daisy thoughtfully.

"I think you have thought about it Daise…you're going with Mckinash are you not?", asked Lily scoffing…guest what? Fudge.

Roy Mckinash was very popular; he apparently made you melt by looking at him. Sounds kind of freaky if you ask me…not dreamy.

"Oh yes…Roy did ask me, but I don't about that either" replied Daisy who was obviously confused about the whole concept.

"Well he is a pretty cute Slytherin, for a slytherin…so If I where you I would take the opportunity of going with him" replied Kat causally.

"He's a Slytherin?…people are put into that house for a reason" said Lily frowning.

"Yerrr…but he's still cute"

Lily, me, Daisy and Cassie all rolled our eyes.

"He's probably one of those snobby pureblood fanatic playboys" said Cassie chewing on something that looked like a deformed Sugar Quill. Lily snorted at the comment.

"Oh you girls are just so boring! Come on, you must care a little about taking a date to the ball.

"Ah! It's Armageddon if I don't have a date! I'm shall die or commit suicide hath I go alone" I said dramatically doing a very Juliet like death scene.

"Exactly…well done Celeste, my point exactly, you're catching on!" exclaimed Katrina.

"God Kat, she was being sarcastic!" said Daisy laughing lightly.

"Oh"

"Your so blonde" Lily said laughing.

"I am not blonde!"

"You sure?"

"Hey…don't go all red head one me hone-"

"Guys…cool it, I said trying make peace (once more), "Okay maybe we should try and have decent dates for the ball"

"I think we deserve more than decent"

"Well if they're nice, okay looking and are not completely thick n sick I think that's mostly what counts, I replied.

"Aim a little higher darling I'm sure we could get peeps who are funny, cool and fit for us all…I'm positive we can find a couple around here" said Kat bouncily, she was pretty excited.

"Whatever" said Lily flinging herself on her bed and cuddling up with her soft toys "I'm sleepy anyway" she added and gave a big yawn.

"It's only eight Lily," said Daisy looking at her watch. Kat just ignored everyone completely.

"We will call it…Masquerade Man Hunt!" she announced all starry-eyed.

I started choking on my butterbeer, Cassie hit me on the back.

"What the hell?" I said after I recovered.

"Masquerade Man Hunt…the search for the perfect man", carried on Kat dreamily.

This time Lily choked on her pumpkin juice and we all started laughing.

"Sounds like you're about to decapitate a poor boy" said Daisy giggling.

I immediately had the image of the Marauders having their heads chopped off; this could be true apart from the fact that they were neither poor nor innocent.

"Well, nobody's perfect", I said thoughtfully to Kat.

"Yes…but some can be close" she replied still in her "perfect man" trance.

"Well maybe we should have a go at this man hunt" said Lily sitting up. I turned to stare at her; she usually wasn't so bothered about all this kind of stuff about guys.

"I mean it would be cool I guess to have some decent dates to the ball" she added smiling.

"What is it with you girls and this decent thing…think a little step higher wouldya…I'll make you bring out your inner shine so no boy can resist you!" said a very over excited Katrina dancing in her muggle Hello Kitty pj's.

"Well I don't think all of us need it, Cassie's already got a date and Daisy already got suitors, hey Sella do you think we need to be worked on?" asked Lily to me. Daisy and Cassie both turned beetroot at their comments.

"I guess you don't really Lily, you're pretty fine as you are" I mumbled looking at my red haired friend. It was true, Lily was quite pretty really even though she didn't really give a damn anyway. She had these almond shaped bewitching green eyes which really stood out as well as of course her red-head-red-temper auburn hair. I was slightly different on the other hand. Actually complete opposite. I had dark hair, that hid my face most of the time (self-conscious I guess) and my eyes were dark too and my skin odd…just odd. But I was happy with one thing, I had gotten better and more confident in my appearance over the years I had learnt it wasn't everything.

"Oh come on Celeste girl, I'm wrong you don't need you're inner shine it already beams out from you" said Kat giving me a great cheek-to-cheek smile.

"She's right, you don't need to change you're wonderful the way you are," said Daisy.

"And if any guy thinks you're not good enough for him…" added in Cassie.

"…Well then he can just go ta hell" finished Lily promptly.

"Thanks guys" I said laughing and hugged all my friends, so very grateful I have them. They all knew about my little secret, it still didn't bother them.

"But I still agree with Lily actually, lets do this man hunt and have some fun with it" I added grinning.

"Ya! We're gonna do it! Cassie I know you got Dave but will you help us anyways?" said Kat.

"Anything for my sisters" replied Cassie.

"You girls in?"

"We're all in!"