Chapter 10 – Hogsmeade

The next several weeks seemed to fly by and suddenly it was October. The Halloween Ball was coming up in one week and the first Quidditch match only days after. Ginny had shocked her new friends by out flying every other comer to take her place as chaser on the Gryffindor team. The girls had settled down into the routine of school and classes that they had both bonded over long ago. Luna and Ginny thought it was amusing to listen to the boys make excuses for Remus the days they moon was full and accepted their lies without a flicker. Although they had watched them from their avian animagus forms. It was now the last Hogsmeade Weekend before the Ball and Ginny, Luna and Lily were planning to go out to buy their costumes. The day had dawned bright and sunny, and the light pouring into the room made Ginny groan as she heard Luna's bright singing from the other side of the room.

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Do you have to be so bloody cheerful in the morning?"

Luna snickered at her friends surly tone. "No," she said sweetly "I just do it to annoy the hell out of you."

Ginny opened her eyes in time to catch Luna's smirk. "Bite me" She returned as she dragged her body out of bed and towards the shower that would unfog her mind. 20 minutes later she emerged feeling almost human again. She threw on her clothes and robes and headed down to the common room still scowling. Luna was sitting on one of the couches laughing at something that James was saying to Lily, while the rest of their little group were deep in a conversation about something.

"Good to see you awake and chipper Gin." Luna said an evil glint in her eye.

"Oh Bugger off Loony! You know I don't do well with mornings." Ginny returned.

"I know, that's why I tease you so much… It's just so easy." Luna laughed.

"Yeah just wait, you'll get yours you sick chipper wench."

Luna stuck out her tongue at Ginny who gave her the finger as the boys who had been watching the whole thing like a tennis match, burst into laughter.

Remus pulled himself together before the other two did and gasped "They're as bad as the two of you" He said to James and Sirius.

Sirius pulled himself up and said with mock hurt. "I am not that bad. Take it back Moony! It's not my fault Prongs here is an arse."

"Oh no not your fault at all since you provoke him, and everyone else at every opportunity." Lily said chuckling.

James punched Sirius lightly on the arm and shot a grin at Lily for defending him. "Awwwww… she loves me."

The blush that flashed across the red heads features and the look of utter joy that suffused James' face brought a smile tugging at Ginny's lips.

"I need coffee." She said briskly trying not to let the smile show. "Before the Love Fest makes me ill."

The rest of the group followed the surly girl to the great hall for breakfast still laughing. Three cups of coffee later and Ginny was finally able to take part in the good mood that prevailed among her friends. The sextet headed up to the common room to get ready for their trip to Hogsmeade. Lily led the girls through the portrait of the Singing Goddess to the Heads Rooms after they had grabbed some clothes so they could get ready together. They had decided they would wow the guys and match. Well with a few changes. Lily had chosen a long flowing skirt in a vibrant green and a black tank top that read in green letters 'I live in my own little world' and faded to 'But it's ok they like me here.' Ginny's skirt was black and rode down on her hips, her half shirt was also black and read in gold and red letters 'I'm the girl your parents warned you about.' Luna's skirt was a deep cerulean blue, her tank top was silver with dark blue letters spelling out in a flowing hand 'Run with me through the night.' And changed to 'Howl at the moon and be free.' And pictured shapes of a pack of wolves running along it under the words. She was very proud of that shirt as she had enchanted it herself. Each of the girls had donned the necklaces they had bought in Hogsmeade on their first trip a velvet choker in each of their favorite colors for Lily green, for Ginny black, and for Luna deep blue with a triquetra that sat at the hollow of their throats. After brushing their hair and doing a little makeup they headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room to meet the boys. They entered the common room and found it empty. Ginny walked to the stairs that led up to the boy's dorm and called up to them.

"Are you guys ready? Or should we go on without you?"

"Coming Mother!" James replied as they bounded down the stairs, the other two laughing at his remark. All laughter came to an abrupt halt as they skidded into the room and got their first look at the women in front of them. Three jaws dropped simultaneously, and three hearts sped up at the sight before them. James recovered first and took a trembling step closer to his girlfriend.

"Are you ready to go, My Lady?" He said in a soft tone extending his arm to her. His usual ebullient attitude subdued by the effect of her beauty.

Lily snickered softly "That would be lovely Sir James." She replied with fake hauteur, and with one swift glance back at her two friends they swept out of the room together.

Remus and Sirius stared after their friend shocked at this turn of events, before turning back to the two radiant beauties in front of them.

"Well I guess that leaves us to go walking around." Remus said "Unless the two of you would rather be alone?"

"Oh no Remus we would love the company." Ginny replied placing her hand gently on his arm, and adopting the same tone Lily had used "Good Sir Knight, Wouldst thou please show us the village that lies below the castle?" She asked simpering up at him and batting her eyes. Luna snorted and Sirius cackled at her teasing, as they all turned to leave the common room arm in arm.

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The small village was bustling with Hogwarts students enjoying their day out and searching for the perfect costume for the ball. The prefects along with Lily and James had decided to have a party for the 1st , 2nd and 3rd years in one of the secondary halls that would begin after the annual feast and run until 8 pm. While the Great Hall was reserved for the dance which would begin at 9 for 4th years and above. Remus and Sirius explained that they already had their costumes as the Masque was one of their favorite running traditions at Hogwarts and they had planned it all out long in advance. Ginny and Luna really wanted to get started looking for a costume but they also wanted to wait for Lily so the group decided to hit Honeydukes first.

"Good Morning Remy, Darling!" A tall but rather plump witch called out from behind the counter as they entered the sweets shop.

"Good morning Ameila." Remus answered sweetly.

"We have some of that Muggle chocolate you like so much." She cooed to him "Edwin went special to Glasgow to get it before the start of term."

Remus's eyes went wide and he breathed in a reverent tone that Ginny had only ever heard come out of Luna. "Godiva."

Luna's ears perked up from where she was standing perusing a display of Licorice wands. "Godiva? Where?" and she rushed over to where Remus was standing in front of the display. Her small hand reached out to stroke the golden packaging with awe. Her hand brushed Remus' as she did so and they both looked over at each other and blushed. Totally caught up in their mutual adoration of chocolate that they never noticed the other two members of their quartet were laughing so hard there were tears in their eyes and they were holding each other for support. Finally coming out of their private reverie Luna and Remus turned toward the laughing hyenas their friends had become.

"Oy Moony! I do believe you have finally found someone who likes chocolate as much as you do." Sirius gasped out between fits of giggles.

"I was just going to say the same about Luna." Ginny finally got out.

Luna filled her arms with chocolate and grabbed Remus' hand and pulled him toward the counter to pay. Turning back she spat out "Oh Sod off the both of you." But her blush at holding Remus' hand took the sting out of her words.

Ginny continued to giggle while she went shopping for her own sweets. Licorice Wands and Sugar Quills and Chocolate Frogs and of course Luna and Remus' Godiva packed into their bags they left the store and headed off to meet Lily and James at the Three Broomsticks.

After sharing a few Butterbeers and the Story of Remus and Luna and the Muggle chocolate with Lily and James, the girls went off to shop for their costumes for the ball while the boys headed off to Kibbling's Quidditch Store and Zonkos.

"Blessed Merlin! That's perfect for you Lily!" Ginny exclaimed pointing in the window of the shop as they approached it. "You have to go try it on."

The three entered the shop and Lily immediately flew over to the suggested garment fingering the fabric. She turned at Luna's startled and ecstatic shriek of joy.

"Oh they have it in other colors too! This is too perfect."

The three of them put their heads together and came up with the perfect plan for their costumes as they tried on and bought the dresses, leaving the store to pick up the remaining items they needed.

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Remus sighed as he watched her dance across the road a bag in her hand heading into another store with Ginny and Lily. It was getting harder to control himself when she was around. He wanted to go and grab her, claim her, possess her. He shivered at the thought.

"Moony, you are too hard on yourself. Just tell her how you feel." The deep silky voice came from behind him.

"Yeah, like that's working really well for you Padfoot." He said his voice dripping with bitterness.

"She won't let me near her alone," Sirius growled "Otherwise I would have told her by now. You on the other hand are running from someone you want… who I might add wants you. You need to give yourself a chance, Moony, give her a chance."

"Maybe…" he replied to his friend "When did you get so wise Siri?" He asked looking up as grey eyes met hazel ones.

"I dunno maybe that last bludger did me in at practice." Sirius joked gaining a small smile from his friend. "Come on, James and Zonko's await."

Sirius linked his arm through his friends and steered him out of the store and across the square in the center of the village toward the joke shop that had become like a second home to the boys. They saw James as they entered and jumped apart at his quickly raised eyebrow. "Something the two of you need to tell me?" He asked with a snicker. Sirius glared at his laughing friend.

"Oh bugger off you bloody Prat!" Sirius muttered at his laughing friend.