A few weeks passed and it was soon the middle of October. They found that Peter was becoming more and more withdrawn from them. At first they just thought it was because of Hannah because of all the stuff she yelled at him and the fact that she cursed him at every available opportunity, but there was something about his behaviour towards them that wasn't quite right.
Everyone in the school was looking forward to the Halloween ball. It was being planned for by the Slytherin 7th year, there were four balls in total – Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's and End of year and each house planned a ball. Usually Gryffindor planned the Halloween but they had decided that they wanted to do the End of Year one instead.
So they were quite eager to see what the snakes had come up with. Every one had been whispering that it would be hard to beat the Gryffindor's seeing as they had the marauders but every one knew that the Slytherin's would definitely try. They knew it would be inspired and brilliant but it wouldn't compare to it. And they were right. The dress code was costumes (always had been) but the costumes were outshading colours everywhere.
"They'll never do it." One Hufflepuff whispered to a friend as they walked past the marauders.
"I know they won't." Sirius added to the others silently.
"Listen James." Remus said, "Who are you taking to the ball?"
"Rachel." He replied "Rachel Buckley."
Rachel was a 7th year in Ravenclaw; she was also one of these girls that guys couldn't help but notice. She was tall and slim with green/blue eyes. She also had black hair with red streaks – some people associated her with being Goth, especially her best friends although no one would ever say it to her face. She was friends with Hannah and Carolyn but didn't know Clare and Lily well enough to be their friend. Hannah was scared of Rachel as she knew too much about her and would spread if provoked. Carolyn wasn't however. Carolyn and Rachel held a high respect for each other but could count on each other for a laugh, a good prank and advice.
They saw her talking to the girls.
"You need to do something with your hair Hannah." Rachel commented
Hannah snorted
"If Remus lets me."
"Oh my god!" Lily and Clare said, "Why do you need his permission?"
"Just lets say he ain't too happy with me after I bought a motorbike."
"You bought a motorbike?" Rachel and Carolyn asked
Hannah nodded
"Cool!"
"It's metallic blue. And it flies." Hannah added "Shame I can't keep it."
"Why not?"
"He won't even let me ride it!" Hannah exclaimed "So I'm giving it to Sirius, I mean he wants one really bad."
"I reckon you should just ride it." Rachel said
Hannah laughed
"Oh look who it is." Rachel sneered "Natalie!"
Rachel despised Natalie. It was just one of those things. It didn't help that Natalie always looked down on her – literally. Natalie was too tall and it annoyed everyone that she used her height to intimidate people. Everyone had to hate someone. With Hannah it was Peter, Lily it was James and Rachel it was Natalie. It was hard to keep track of who Clare and Carolyn hated.