I do apologize that this chapter came late. I have been extremely busy, so thank you for the wait. I hope that you will be just as patient for the next chapter; believe me, it contains more drama, romance, and laughter. And only now do I regret, so listen before I forget. To all those who sent reviews to me, I really thank you that you like this story. And now, let us continue where we left off, as we see the lives of the three strange ones...

Chapter 6- Rage and Preparations

Atara stared at the costumes through the dusty windows of Dame de la Damned. She grinned, staring at the costume she wanted to try on. She entered the dark store and a bell clang dully somewhere, echoing through the store eerily. She glanced back at the cracked door, which could hardly show the half-empty street of Hogsmeade outside.

'Yes, is someone there?' croaked a female voice. A wizened witch wearing a dirty shawl around her shoulders and a torn robe emerged from the darkness. She peered at Atara carefully.

'I would like to buy that costume over there,' said Atara quietly, afraid that if she spoke to loudly everything would collapse into dust. She pointed to the costume directly behind the old witch, who smiled at her with a mouth full of broken teeth.

'That's a fine choice, Miss,' whispered the witch, bowing her white head. 'Best quality of satin, exported from France. Do you wish to try it on?'

Atara took a step forward. 'Of course.' Let's see Malfoy's expression when he sees me in this dress... He'd die with delight...

Dawn examined Dame de la Damnedwith interest. 'Why'd Atara go into that creepy store?' she asked aloud.

She cradled the brown package containing her brand new princess costume, which she had purchased from Magical Dresses Inc. She giggled, imagining herself at the Halloween ball, dancing with... Dawn tilted her head upward in thought. She didn't have anyone to go with yet. Though many had already asked her, she had pointedly refused each of them.

'Nobody in the school is smart enough for me!' she wailed to no one in particular. 'Still, so many are asking me! I'm so happy... but it's not much to ask really. All I want is a straight-Outstanding student to be my date! Is that too hard?'

She began walking down the damp street, clutching the package tightly. Who could she go with? With the ball being just a fortnight away... Too enraptured in her thoughts, she didn't notice the hard wall she bumped into until she looked up. Marcus Flint stared down at her with a surprised expression. Then he gave her a smug grin.

'What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?' he asked casually. He licked his cracked lips. Dawn wrinkled her nose in disgust. Gross...

'Oh I don't know, Mr. Flint,' she replied innocently, widening her eyes as far as she could, 'but it's not a crime to wander around by myself now is it?'

Flint reached out to touch her head, but she took a large step backwards.

'I just fixed my hair,' she said icily. Eee... 'Sorry, but I have to go now. I have lots of things to do before the Halloween ball comes.'

'By the way,' drawled Flint, as though he hadn't heard a word she said, 'speaking of the ball, would you like to go with me? It's okay with Millicent, she won't mind if a third person joins...'

Dawn gave a small chuckle, slowly drawing out her wand. 'Marcus Flint is asking me to the ball? And you consider me as second best? I've never been so insulted.' She narrowed her eyes and quickly thought Reducto!

Immediately Flint was sent flying backwards, and he slammed into a brick wall with a groan. He dropped to the ground, unconscious. Dawn walked up to him, and pocketed her wand.

'I'm sorry, did my reply come out wrong?' she asked, bending down. 'I haven't even perfected the Thought spell yet. I'll work on it! Say, are you sleeping or not?'

Flint's eyes remained closed. Satisfied, Dawn giggled, adjusted her sleeve and began skipping towards Honeydukes.

As soon she reached the pub, she swung open the door, only to hit someone on the other side.

'Oh, oh, I am so sorry!' she cried, and let out a gasp. She had hit the boy, that boy, from Gryffindor. He rubbed his nose, his auburn hair scattered about his forehead. Dawn immediately formed the widest, most innocent smile she could muster. He's a lot cuter up close...finally, I find someone worth looking at Hogwarts... besides Harry Potter.

'Hey, you're that guy in my Care of Magical Creatures class, and also Charms class, right?' she asked eagerly, forgetting the fact that she had just smashed his nose.

'Um, yes, I am,' replied the boy uncertainly. 'You're Dawn... Adelheid?'

Dawn nodded her head. Much to her delight, the boy blushed.

'I- I, uh, am Cole S- Sephton,' said the boy. 'You're really intelligent, Adelheid. Um, I mean, I've seen you be, uh, intelligent in class.'

Dawn bit her lip to keep herself from shouting back an insult. 'Oh, you can call me Dawn. I really don't get that whole surname-calling thing anyway. Is it okay if I call you Cole? Thanks, anyway, oh yes, I'm sorry I hit you just now.'

Cole stared at her with a mixture of awe and curiosity. His nose was a pale red from his rubbing. 'No, it's okay, really. Wait a minute, why are you even talking to me?' He stepped back in alarm.

'Why shouldn't I?' asked Dawn, tilting her head sideways. 'I'm only a human witch, I have rights to do whatever I please. Are you feeling scared because I'm in Slytherin or what? Or are you scared of me?'

Cole shook his head vigorously. 'I'm not s- scared. It's just that... well, Slytherins and Gryffindors don't get along like... like friends. I was just wondering that's all.'

Dawn giggled. 'Say, what kind of grades do you get? I mean, for school, in general?'

Cole gazed at her in confusion. 'What kind of... grades? Well, I'm not as smart as you, that's for sure, but at least I get a few Acceptables, and some Exceeds Expectations...'

'That'll do!' cried Dawn happily. 'Now you're officially taking me to the Halloween ball!'

Cole blinked slowly, obviously bewildered. 'Oh... oh, alright... I think...'

'Meet you in the Entrance Hall, at exactly seven o'clock sharp, okay? See you then!'

Dawn skipped out of Honeydukes, singing and smiling with satisfaction. I finally have a date...

'Where could that girl have gone?' muttered Maria to herself.

She leaned against the window of Dame de la Damned, then straightened when she heard it creak.

'Stupid old window... Where's Atara? She's taking such a long time...'

She groaned with impatience. Oh yes, I forgot. I don't have anyone to go with yet. Why can't Hogwarts have real men like Durmstrang?

She gazed around the streets of Hogsmeade, watching each person carefully. Suddenly, she saw Harry Potter come out of Zonko's, together with a red-haired boy and that not-so-know-it-all Granger. Maria examined Potter. He seemed well built, and he wasn't bad-looking either. Strange how she hadn't noticed him before.

Interesting, she thought. He'd be perfect for a date. He's even more famous than Krum could ever be. If I could get him to be my boyfriend...

'Hey Maria!' called out a distant voice. Maria turned and glared at Atara.

'Where have you been? You've been in that shop for ages! Honestly, what was the costume you bought that was so special?'

Atara flashed her a mysterious smile. 'You'll see before the ball.'

Maria rolled her eyes. 'That's just great. You won't tell me what you're gonna wear, typical of you, Miss Secretive, and plus, I don't have a date!'

'What, no man satisfies you here?' asked Atara slyly. Maria's head slumped in reply.

'Sadly, yes. Every single guy has asked me, but all of them have achieved a rating of minus hundred on my scale of one to ten! There was this half-Chinese half-British guy who managed to get a rating of 2, but that was it! But, I do have my eyes settled on Harry Potter.'

Atara raised her eyebrows. 'Harry Potter? Interesting choice. Think you can get him?'

Maria grinned, watching Potter walk towards Honeydukes, laughing with his two strange friends. 'Of course.'

'He's in for a big surprise,' laughed Atara. 'By the way, what are you wearing for the Halloween ball?'

'Muggle clothes.'

Atara gazed at Maria with an amused expression on her face. 'You're going as a Muggle? That's... original. But I don't think the other Slytherin people are gonna like it. You do know that they hate Muggles.'

'That's why I'm wearing it,' replied Maria smugly. 'Besides, people already consider me high superiority. In fact, they'll probably think that I look good as a Muggle! In any case I don't care whatsoever what people think. I'm going Muggle whether they like it or not. And plus it's cheaper.'

'Ah yes, just like you to defy other people's beliefs.' Atara grinned and the two of them began walking in search of Dawn.

'You know what,' continued Maria, taking out her wand and lazily waving it about, 'I don't even know why I'm in Slytherin in the first place. I wanted to be in Ravenclaw!'

'Ravenclaw?'

'Yeah! I mean, I'm smart enough to be one, and I'm not so evil as to be in Slytherin. I'm not even evil. I'm misunderstood. Something's wrong with this world. It's like someone invisible person is writing my entire life story and completely taking advantage of it, giving things I don't want! Maybe that's why I get the strange feeling that every time I talk, my words feel somehow rehearsed... as if they're not my words...'

Atara shook her head in amusement. 'Okay, Maria... maybe it's just some stage you're going through. Just try and be happy with what you have.'

Maria threw up her hands, accidentally setting off sparks from the tip of her wand. 'Weren't you even listening? I said I wasn't happy with what's being given to me!'

'I said try and be happy.'

Maria frowned, then looked up as if a thought struck her. 'Say, ever wondered what happened to the Chasers we replaced on the Slytherin Quidditch team?'

'I don't know,' answered Atara with a shrug. 'I never thought about that. I guess they were thrown off the minute we were chosen. Now I feel sorry for them! And what about all the other people who wanted to try out? They didn't even get a chance to show their moves!'

'You're too soft to be in Slytherin yourself, Atara,' said Maria. 'Besides, we're too good as Chasers that's why. No one can beat us! We outrank anyone and everyone!'

She stopped in her tracks to look at Zonko's. She could just see two red-haired twins battling with the shopkeeper, probably for a bargain. Hogwarts will never regret the day I came. I think it's time I start taking things for myself. I'll get Potter later. Now, where's that Chinese guy?

Draco drummed his fingers on the arm of the couch in the Slytherin common room, his forehead creased in thought.

I wonder what will happen in the Halloween ball, he thought with a frown. A vivid image of Lilith came into his mind, and his heart gave an unexpected leap. Draco straightened in surprise.

'Interesting. It's been a long time a girl has made me feel like this,' he muttered, his mouth forming a sly grin. 'Pansy was amusing for a while, but then she never really was my type.'

He stood up lazily, stretching his arms above his head. Suddenly, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he resisted the urge to groan when he saw it was Pansy.

'Hi Draco...' she crooned. She took a step forward and dared herself to move her face closer to his. He rolled his eyes and backed away slowly.

'Hello,' he said pleasantly. Great, I'm doomed to have her follow me for the rest of my life. Maybe she's actually a ghost... she died centuries ago and she's gone back to haunt me...

'Draco, here's your costume! I finished making it!' said Pansy, her voice going childish again. Draco held out his hand impatiently. Pansy gave him a folded black cloth that she had been hiding behind her back.

'Good,' said Draco, smirking. It better be good... What a sucker she is. One of the advantages of having her as a 'girlfriend' is that she'd do anything for me...

'Draco, what are you thinking about?' asked Pansy, giggling loudly. He hated it when she giggled.

'Just wondering if you actually made the costume look like a Dementor,' replied Draco casually, letting the black cloth unfold between his fingers.

'Ooh, you're going as a Dementor?' squealed Pansy in excitement. Much to Draco's annoyance, she drew closer to him.

'Stupid woman, I told you I was going to,' spat Draco, his temper rising. He examined the hooded, torn robe carefully. 'Well, it's not perfect, but it'll have to do.'

'I'm so sorry, Draco!' cried Pansy, clutching his arm tightly. Draco resisted the urge to curse her away. 'I'm sorry it's not perfect! I'm sorry-'

'That you're a complete idiot?' said a voice behind Draco. He turned his head, seeing Tempestt, Adelheid, and –he raised an eyebrow- Lilith. Tempestt, who had just spoken, folded her arms calmly. Meanwhile, Pansy strode forward and roughly pulled Draco behind her.

'Hey, watch it!' snapped Draco, but Pansy ignored him.

'What do you three want?' she demanded between clenched teeth, and whipped out her wand. 'No one asked for your opinion!'

'Like anyone ever does, Parkinson,' said Lilith quietly. Her eyes fell on Draco, then travelled down to the Dementor costume. Draco threw it behind him with a shrug. I'm gonna fix that stupid costume myself. No way is she gonna see in a thing that makes me look like a gothic table cloth.

Pansy began making strange growling noises. Draco, disgusted, backed away from her. Tempestt and Adelheid burst into laughter.

'You look like a mutilated pug, now you sound like one too!' screamed Tempestt.

'Honestly, Parkinson, how crude could you possibly get?' retorted Lilith quietly. Pansy's shoulders shook with rage.

Ah, another fight approaches, thought Draco, smirking and sitting himself down on an armchair.

'STUPEFY!' roared Pansy, violently waving her wand at Lilith's face. Much to Draco's amusement, Lilith avoided the spell with a simple tilt of her head.

'Is that the best you can do?' whispered Lilith. She slowly took out her wand, and pointed it at Pansy's chest.

'And she says we can't hurt people,' Draco heard Tempestt mutter to Adelheid, who nodded in agreement. He chuckled, but Pansy, seeming that she had heard Tempestt too, gave out an ear-piercing wail. Her eyes flared with hatred at Lilith, who remained surprisingly calm.

Suddenly Pansy was flung backwards, and she toppled over the velvet couch, narrowly missing Draco. He stared in confusion at Lilith, who hadn't uttered a single word. She noticed Draco's puzzled expression.

'Thought spell,' she said flatly. 'Pansy should have been on her guard. Isn't that what prefects do?'

'We haven't been taught Thought spells yet...' mumbled Draco in awe. Interesting combination... mysterious and dangerous...

Tempestt and Adelheid burst into applause. 'Hey, I did the same thing with Marcus Flint yesterday!' cried Adelheid. Lilith glared at her and shook her head in exasperation. Draco stood up, turned around and peered over the couch to look at Pansy. She was unconscious, and there was a nasty bruise on her forehead.

'You gave her a bruise. Now she'll be happy to know that she'll be humiliated at the ball tomorrow.'

Lilith pocketed her wand carefully. 'Oh yes, that reminds me, I'll meet you in front at the stairs leading into the Entrance Hall at seven. You don't have to do prefect duties, do you?'

Draco shook his head and smirked. 'Not to worry. Everyone listens to me anyway, so it makes the job easier. Oh yes, Tempestt and Adelheid, who are you going with?'

'It's a surprise!' exclaimed Adelheid excitedly.

Tempestt raised her eyebrows. 'You'll find out tomorrow. Why do you even want to know? You're going with Atara anyway, so what, she's not satisfying enough for you?'

Lilith whirled around and glared at Tempestt, who shrugged. 'What?'

'If you must know, Tempestt,' replied Draco, shaking his head in amusement, 'I was merely curious. And to answer your question, Lilith's agreement to go with me is already satisfying enough.'

Lilith rolled her eyes, but gave him a half-smile. Draco bowed politely, then turned towards the boys' dormitory, smiling in satisfaction.

She's mine.