AAAIH: Chapter 7: Sixth Year: Mystery Masquerade Girl
"Trust me darlings, these ones are fantastic" exclaimed Katrina Lavinstone running her fingers along the silky material of three gowns.
"I trust you Kat, but I don't think Lily or me have ever worn stuff like this" I replied still anxious about the ball which was only a few hours away.
"Ah don't stress too much it's only a ball" commented Lily who was drying her hair with a towel.
"Only a ball?" retorted Kat.
"Let's just have fun okay?" replied Lily who didn't really care at all.
"Okies!" said Kat brightly.
"Now it's my job to make all of us look perfection, so our dates cannot take their eyes of us" added Kat smiling dreamily.
"Whatever"
"Right, now lets do these dresses" said Kat gazing at them in awe.
"They're so beautiful," I said smiling.
"It's a good thing I've already sorted out what we're wearing," added Kat.
Lily groaned,
"My dress better be good," muttered Lily who had now turned to face us.
"Yeah! Check out your outfit Lils" replied Kat joyfully and held up Lily's dress. I couldn't help but grin when I saw Lily's face. Complete and utter surprise. The gown or dress was of course gorgeous, as Kat had constantly told us. The intricate bodice was soft lavender with floaty lilac silk material coming from it that touched the floor.
"Wow" stated Lily.
"Told ya so! It's soooo gorgeous!" exclaimed Kat.
"What about your dresses?"
"They're right here Lily" I replied and held up mine which was a pink satin gown with a gold patterned bodice with a laced back. Then I held up Kat's that was powder blue, with a pink pattern and a plait laced back.
"We are going to look so wonderful!" said Lily smiling.
"Totally"
"Now let me dress you all up, hair and makeup of course, when Katrina Lavinstone's finished with ya, you won't even recognize yourself!"
"Now I'm scared," said Lily to me, but she couldn't stop smiling still.
After about five seconds of quick charms, without Lily even noticing Kat had finished up her hair.
"I thought I'd let your lovely rogue locks loose, and give them a tiny flick of gold and some natural makeup not to ruin your colour" announced Kat, and showed Lily the mirror.
"Nice"
"Now slip on that pretty lilac gown of yours while I do Sella's hair, Lils".
"Don't order me Ms. Lavinstone, I am your customer!"
"Where's my money then?"
Lily laughed,
"The only problem is you don't get paid"
"Shut up and get dressed Lily Evans! I must go to Ms. Demesne now!"
"Okie dokie"
"Please don't make me look like a slut Kat," I pleaded her.
"I won't…just vivacious like that dress of yours!"
I groaned. But the hair was actually quite nice; Kat had made my messy long hair into a carefully crafted twisted dark bun on my head. My eyebrows had been painfully plucked and my lips slippery with "non sticky" gloss. Kat insisted she liked my "cherry pink lips". I guess I looked alright, very different though.
"Fabulous"
"Now you Kat" said Lily grinning mischievously, she got out her wand and did this odd charm on Kat's hair. It looked pretty though, it became wavy and was in a low ponytail just past her shoulders held together with a gold butterfly clip, it made her highlights stand out.
"Great guys, thankies! We're all ready let's go! Daise and Cass have been waiting like ages for us" exclaimed Kat; still super excited we all went down the stairs to the common room.
Oddly enough, Daisy and Cassie were waiting for us.
"I love your dresses guys," I said
"Yeah they're soooo pretty" commented Lily smiling. Daisy was in a soft silky jade coloured gown and Cassie's was bronze and gold, which looked wonderful against her skin colour as Kat rightfully said.
"Oh I almost forget" said Kat and ran back up the stairs.
Cassie rolled her eyes.
"What did she forget?" asked Daisy.
"Why it's a masquerade ball of course so she forget the-" Cassie was interrupted in her reply by something elaborate, pink and very feathery landing in my hands.
"-masks" finished Cass smiling. And she strapped her glittery gold one round her face.
"Masks…how mysterious" said Daisy.
"I think it's a fantastic idea to wear masks, so you don't know who your secret admirer is and that romantic dance partner you have" said Kat smiling dreamily.
"How we supposed to recognize our dates then?" asked Lily, dragging Kat out of the portrait hole and into reality.
"Ah good question…our sixth senses shall know" replied Kat.
"Cool"
"Ah not cool! We're going to be late if we don't hurry" I cried and we all immediately rushed. Lily tripped over Kat's dress.
"You okay?" I asked her.
"Fine" she replied laughing.
"Come on girls…let us make our dazzling entrance down the gold staircase," exclaimed Kat and we walked in, I held my breath for the reaction. They'd surely notice us since we were pretty late. We slipped on our masks. I certainly did not wish to be noticed.
The Marauders were seated coolly nearby the gold staircase. It was an odd place to sit, but Sirius had insisted he wanted to watch all candidates arrive.
"But aren't you already going with someone Padfoot?" asked Remus curiously.
"Remember what we decided Moony? Too many girls asking so we're bachelors for the ball so no need for attachment"
Remus rolled his eyes and looked up.
"Hey James looks like Lily's coming in"
"At last" commented Sirius not entirely happy at James's love sickness.
James did not reply. He was entirely fixated on Lily.
"She looks so beautiful, he whispered in complete awe.
Lily walked down the gold luminous step slowly her lilac gown with her flame auburn tresses let loose in soft curls. Her almond shaped emerald eyes alight.
"Katrina doesn't look to bad either, said Remus meeting James's gaze at the trio.
"I'm sure you and Lavinstone would make a lovely couple Remus" started Sirius grinning. Remus gave a half-blush.
"Anyway who is the…bloody hell!" Sirius said pretty much out loud.
"What?" cried Peter jumping up jerkily.
"That's…Demesne" finished Sirius faltering for a moment. They all looked up at the third girl who was coming behind Lily and Katrina her face hid partially by a feather pink mask.
"Are you sure?" asked James surprised. Celeste walked very elegantly down the gold staircase in her dark pink gown but her eyes were filled with timid ness and a fear. The gown shaped her curvaceous figure and made her skin seem like the silk.
"Sure as hell…when did she become-"
"Pretty gorgeous" finished a voice. The Marauders turned around to see Andy McKinley standing in a dark red suit behind them.
"McKinley?" queried Sirius raising an eyebrow.
Andy raised an eyebrow back,
"Black…she's my date" he replied dryly, pulling out a rose from his suit pocket.
"You are going with Celeste, whose going with Lily then?" asked James.
"My mate Sam Dorset" replied Andy looking at James's face he laughed coldly, "Sorry to disappoint you Potter…oh and Lavinstone is going with Joshua Lawley another friend of mine"
"Liar" said Peter
"Whatever, any way I'll see you later I've got to greet my flourished date" said Andy McKinley and went away to meet Celeste at the stairs.
"Sorry James" said Remus gently patting him on the back. James just was in complete and utter shock.
"What? Dorset? What the hell has the Hufflepuffie got what I haven't?" retorted James.
"Well" began Sirius, Remus gave him a dangerous look. "He is a meant to be sweet and kind of sensitive slush guy and he's the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain and Head Boy"
"Lily's in sixth year just like us, she probably likes older guys" said Peter, not helping.
"I'm Gryffindor Quidditch Captain and I'm…sensitive and good with animals," said James miserably.
Sirius snorted,
"Sensitive? Good with animals…Prongs you're an animagus"
"Shut up Black"
"Look sorry mate, but you've got to get over the fact that Evans is an untouchable to hot bachelors like me…I mean us, go dance with some nice girls" replied Sirius who was already getting up and eyeing some blonde fifth year.
"Go ahead I'll come later"
So Sirius left without a word. James depressed. Remus half-asleep. Peter eating.
Meanwhile the three girls were sitting with their dates at a table only a few away from the Marauders. That really helped James seeing Lily happy with Sam Dorset.
Joshua and Katrina were already dancing and Lily and Sam randomly chatting away about muggle roller-skating. This left Celeste, slightly uncomfortable and the unavoidable conversation with Andy.
Andy slipped an arm around my waist, I flinched a bit. He didn't notice obviously, instead slouched in his chair.
"So, you can play Quidditch, be popular and smart and look gorgeous tell me something you can't do?"
I forced a laugh.
"Loads of stuff…I'm not all the talented"
Andy raised an eyebrow and grinned,
"Sure…Sure I bet you're good at plenty of things I'm sure"
There was a silence; I didn't exactly get what he meant though.
"Ummm…shall we dance then?" I suggested shrugging my shoulders.
"Excellent idea"
He took my hand and swept me onto the dance floor at a particularly dancey Weird Sisters number.
I let him take the lead. I wasn't enjoying it too much. He was kind of creepy. Oh damn, i thought as she saw Sirius and some random girl in a revealing outfit dancing nearby.
"Hey Demesne enjoying yourself?" asked Sirius over the girls shoulder winking.
"Yes" I replied trying not to look at him, the jig had become a slow dance I didn't exactly want to rest my chin on Andy's shoulder but I had no choice.
Sirius's dance partner gave me a death glare and I looked away. If looks could kill I'd be drop dead on the floor.
I guess any communication with Mr. Black was forbidden unless you were his date. But Sirius didn't have a date…he was going as a bachelor and all so.
Okay I was thinking about Sirius Black way too much.
"Babe? I've been calling you three times. Off on a daze are you?" a voice snapped me from my thoughts.
I smiled weakly at Andy,
"Sorry just a little tired"
"Lets take a walk outside for a while"
I nodded and gulped. I knew what this meant. Kat had often jabbered in my ear that when I guy asks you to go to the Hogwart's Rose Gardens he is being particularly romantic and will probably ask you out or kiss you.
Ack! I've never bloody kissed a guy in my life before.
Wow my life is sad; I need to get out more.
Andy and me sat down (yes by a rose bed) I noticed he was staring at me. I looked at the moon.
"It's a beautiful night" I commented trying to make him look up instead of at me.
"Just like you gorgeous", I think I was vomit with all his slushiness. I mean ewwww how cheesy?
I just gave him my best smile. He laughed.
"I wondered why I never noticed you. I first doubted going with you in the first place! You were just that quiet clever girl with acne. Now you're the tall hot girl who guys are gawking at, like you are the mystery princess!" exclaimed Andy.
I could not believe what he just said. He was going with me because he had finally…noticed me? Huh this was not right. That jerk, because I decide to wear a dress I become a contestant.
"Errr Andy." I began but he put a finger on my lips and grinned at me.
"Sssh mystery princess, the night is young and you are mine"
His hands began to creep up my cold legs.
I suddenly slapped him then and there. The perve! How dare he? What did he think I was some kind of cheap slut?
I got up to leave but I felt something tight grab my arm.
"You're not going anywhere bitch"
McKinley had grabbed both my arms by now, he was stronger than me. I screamed, McKinley slapped his hand around my mouth. I was petrified. I glanced at his face, flustered and with a red hand mark across his cheek. I felt a rush of pride. I had hit a guy.
"Gerrofff me!" I said, words muffled and bit his hand. He immediately let go of my mouth.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
" I should ask you the same question, let go me!"
If I expected him to let go of him at that I was completely wrong. He shook my shoulders aggressively trying to take control.
"You can't bloody talk to me like that you-
"Levicorpus!"
Suddenly McKinley was hanging in the air by an invisible hook at his sock, his red suit flapping over his face and a river of swear words coming out of his mouth.
I turned around to see who had jinxed him.
Oh. My .God
"You were really having fun weren't you Demesne?" said a familiar roguish voice and I almost heard the smirk.
I was not hearing things.
Sirius was standing there his wand still pointed at McKinley, an I'm-the-hero-grin smothered across his face.
"Okay I guess that was a lie"
"You are not a very good liar"
"Shut up Black"
"Hey don't get all assertive on me! When did that attitude of yours flourish smarty-pants! I could have well just saved your life!"
I fell silent, he well could have I had no right to shout at him I should be pretty much grateful. I felt myself going crimson; it is just not good having such palish skin.
"Well…thank you then" I said smiling.
Sirius clapped me on the back.
"Ouch!"
"That is more like it! Now what do we do with this jerk?"
A sudden thought flashed my mind. I grinned mischievously.
"I have an idea…"
And of course next thing you know Andrew McKinley is being catapulted into the dead centre of the lake, with an added dose of slime and hippogriff manure.
"Not bad if I say so myself" commented Sirius. I grinned, I was pretty happy myself. It's true what they say: Revenge tastes honey sweet.
"We'd better go"
"How long are we going to leave him there"
"He'll figure a way out by tomorrow"
Sirius laughed and we began walking back to the castle, alas I didn't have a date now. Well I wasn't too bothered I'd rather go with no one than McKinley any day.
As we reached there, walking through the gardens I realised my dress was torn at the bottom and the beautiful dark pink material was ripped. Oh Kat probably spent forever knowing her picking and buying that dress for me.
I felt terribly guilty.
"You know I'm impressed Demesne" said Sirius suddenly I turned to face him and raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't think I could be like that do you?"
"Nope I was completely surprised. I guess you're not a complete bookworm after all"
I gave him my best scowl. Wow, I had really changed over night.
"Well at least I'm not the same still idiot"
"Hey remember I just saved your life sweety"
"You did not save my life, however much I hate that jerk McKinley I doubt he would have really done anything to harm me, he's just a womaniser like someone else I know" I replied huffily.
"I am not a womaniser, so I like girls well guys do! Well most guys anyway…." said Sirius grinning.
"You are twisted Black"
"I am not"
"How did you know I was talking about you anyway when I said womaniser? It could have been someone else"
Sirius tugged my hair,
"Ow!"
"We both know well Demesne, that I am the only one that women look at"
I slapped his hand away,
"Don't you start, or you'll find yourself joining McKinley and the giant squid"
"Okay okay relax"
Sirius took his jacket off; he was wearing a nice white shirt and bow tie. Okay forget I said that, I am going nuts it's the punch. He flung over my shoulders. I took it off immediately.
"What are you doing?"
"Proving I am a gentlemen, you'll be cold in that dress"
"We're about to go inside anyway, take it back"
I threw it to me but he just with no effort flung his jacket back over my head. I rolled my eyes, giving up and put it on.
"Why I am wearing this again?"
"Because you're ragged, wet n cold" replied Sirius.
"Jeez I give up"
When we got inside, Lily and Kat had been looking all over for me. I told them what happened.
Lily was furious.
"Are you alright then? Where's McKinley…oh wait till I get my hands on him"
"It's okay Evans, we hanged him in the lake" commented Sirius from the side. Lily stared at him. Kat just burst out laughing.
"Oh you should've taken a picture. I never liked him"
"It's not funny Kat, what if something had happened to Cele?"
"I'm fine"
"Thanks to me of course!" said Sirius majestically. Remus forked him on the head.
"Don't get so full of yourself Padfoot"
"He's right Black, big head and all you could compete to James" I said laughing.
"Hey I do not have a big head!"
"Wonder why I hate you Potter, your damn ego," replied Lily smirking at him.
"Oh"
"Why didn't you use your wand Celeste?" asked Peter.
"Well Pete, most people don't carry around wands in balls" Remus replied thoughtfully.
"Yeah its not like we exactly have pockets or anything in gowns, where would we keep them?" said Lily shrugging her shoulders.
"I know a dear place Evans," replied Sirius waving his hands round his chest.
Lily smacked him round the face. We all laughed.
"You are seriously twisted Sirius especially if you think you can say that to Lily and get away with it" I said smiling.
Well the Masquerade hadn't been so bad after all. A bit weird, but I guess we were all on a friendlier plane with the Marauders now, I was grateful to Sirius and we had fun in the end. Kat ditched Joshua Lawley because he stuck up for McKinley. Sam and Lily are going out, I wasn't exactly too happy about it; of course I was secretly trying to build the bridge between Lily and James. I'll just have to wait and see, of course Kat is in with my discreet little plan so together we have to get Lily to like James somehow. And who knows the Marauders may change from one-girl-a-week idiots to actually good fun friends.
A/N:
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