Back to the story... And by the way, the founder of St Mungo's was named Mungo Bonham... So I did my homework.

The Management of St. Mungo's

Requests the pleasure of your company at

The Annual Black and White Charity Ball

In Bonham Hall

October 31st

At 8pm

"Oh no," Ally said.

"What?" Lily replied, "This sounds like fun!"

"We have to dress up!" Ally groaned.

"You guys are so lucky." Pria said. "That's supposed to be really elite and sophisticated."

"So how did you get an invitation?" Carla asked, "And why is Lily invited?"

"My uncle, Haley's dad, is the owner," Ally said, "He probably invited Lily for me because he didn't want me to invite a guy."

"Makes sense," Pria said, "Can Carla and I pick out your outfits?"

"Have fun," Ally said, then she picked up a pillow and stuffed it over her face, muttering something that sounded like swears.

"You guys can pick out mine too," Lily said, "I honestly don't care what I look like."

"Yay!" Pria said and jumped up, Carla followed suit.

"We'll see you both tomorrow!" she said and then they were gone.

Lily pulled the pillow off of Ally's face and tossed it back on her bed.

"Did it say anything else?"

"Which letter," Ally replied dully.

"Haley's, she's more affectionately known as Hal."

"No," Ally picked up the white letter and skimmed through it again. "Life...Hal...envelopes...wear black and white... Nothing else."

"It left out how we're going to get there."

"Floo powder probably," Ally said, "We aren't old enough to apparate, I'll write my uncle, he'll arrange for something."

"Yeah, I guess." Lily smiled.

"What are you so happy about," Ally exclaimed, "We're going to have to wear dresses and—and heels!"

"So what!" Lily cried, "I've never been invited to a wizard's ball! I've never even been to a muggle ball."

"Oh yeah," Ally said, "I forget your muggle born sometimes."

"Hmm," Lily laid her head back on the floor and fell silent. "Want to flip a coin for who wears black and who wears white?"

The third week into October...

Ally and Lily had agreed to keep the invitation to them selves. One week had passed since they received the envelope and Ally had written the letter to her Uncle asking about how they were going to get there. Other students whose parents had upstanding roles in society had gotten invitations and word had traveled who was going. Ally had heard of a girl and boy Ravenclaw going and one Hufflepuff. She wasn't pleased at all when she heard that Lucius Malfoy, a very obnoxious Slytherin seventh year, was also going.

(A/N I have no idea if Lucius was a seventh year, but I just wanted to call him obnoxious.)

(A/N and rude...)

Like all Hogwarts gossip, the news disappeared in a few days, and Ally and Lily were relieved when the buzz died out.

They were walking from Transfiguration to Charms, talking about their last class.

"I can't believe we've got to do an entire report on the effects of veritaserum! What are we supposed to say? It makes you don't lie." Ally said stupidly.

"Now that is one heck of an essay, Al!" James appeared in the middle of them and slung her shoulder around Lily.

"Ew, Potter!" Lily exclaimed and pushed him away.

"You're getting violent as of late, Lil!" James said.

"You're not allowed to call me that!" Lily fumed.

"Don't be concerned, James," Ally countered. "I thought you liked her for her mind, not her temper."

"True," James said, "And she's hot."

Lily's went from annoyed, to shocked and disgusted.

"Don't start Potter!" she said as her face turned red with anger. "Not in the hallways."

James and Ally swiveled their heads around, looking for any other students.

"Lil, there's no one in the hallways."

Sure enough, they were the only ones around.

"Well... It's still the hallways!" She replied, disgruntled.

"You just can't ever deal with the fact that you aren't always right, can you?" James argued. He turned back to Ally when Lily took on a murderous look.

"I think you should write that essay," He said. "I'm sure the student body would support you. At least, the marauders and I would."

"Marauders?" Ally asked curiously while Lily was muttering curse words under her breath.

"Sirius, Remus, Peter and I, all call ourselves the Marauders." He said, "Do you like it?"

"Love it!" she exclaimed, "I was just thinking Lily and I need a name."

"Really," he glanced at Lily, "So what have you come up with?"

"So far nothing," Ally replied, rather disappointed, "The only thing I have noticed about our names is that they both have two L's, and they rhyme."

"That is a coincidence," He said, "Perhaps a play on words?"

"Nah," Ally said, "I'm not good with riddles or puzzles."

"Tell me about it." Lily grumbled under her breath.

"I was thinking..."

Ally suddenly jumped and snapped her fingers in realization. The two other students stopped to look at her with interest.

"I've got it!" she said, "Lally!"

"Lally..."

James exchanged a look with Lily. That's a first. Ally thought.

"That's creative..." Lily said, "But perhaps it's best if... we don't have a name for our selves, Ally."

Ally sighed in disappointment.

"Well... if you say so."

Ally could have sworn she heard a sigh of relief from Lily.

"Well, girls, onto the subject of why I have contacted you." James said as they continued walking.

"You mean it's not to harass Lily?" Ally said.

"Whatever gave you that idea!" James exclaimed, and then continued, "No, has the matter of the annual charity ball for St Mungo's come to you attention?"

Ally and Lily looked at each other, each knowing what the other was thinking. Does he know we're coming? How? Pria and Carla must've have let it slip! I knew we should have opened the envelope privately! Oh, this is horrible; he'll be bugging us about this forever! Lally, going to a ball! James looked at them oddly, probably wondering why they were looking at each other so oddly.

"Well," he said, "Have you?"

"Have we what?" Ally said, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Heard of the ball."

"Oh," she glanced at Lily, "It's been mentioned in passing."

"Well great!" he said grinning, "Then you will be pleased to know that I have received an invitation."

"You what?" Lily said sharply.

"I've gotten an invitation!" he said, "You see, my dad is very good friends with the president of the board of advisors for St Mungo's, and he managed to get an invitation for my entire family... and I get to invite a friend!"

He looked purposefully at Lily when he said that last part. She shirked it off and ignored his looks at her.

"Well," Ally said, "Good for you."

"So..." He was still looking at Lily. "Don't you want to go with me, Lily?"

"I think you know my answer by now, Potter," she said stiffly.

"Er—right then," He messed up his hair, "Pick you up at eight."

Lily turned on James quickly.

"Listen Potter," she said, fuming, and stabbed a finger at him "I have never been interested in going out with you and I never will be! I'm not impressed that your father got tickets and I'm not impressed with your Quidditch skills. So just... Leave. Me. Alone."

James looked crestfallen.

"Guess I'll invite Sirius to go with my family then. We'll probably have more fun crashing the party anyway."

"Sounds like fun," Lily said uninterested and turned on her heel. She entered the Charms classroom a few feet away of where they had been talking.

"Riiiiiiiight," Ally said, more to herself than anyone else, "I'm just an innocent bystander... And I didn't see anything."

James and Ally entered the classroom after Lily. James made toward the front of the classroom and Ally went to where Lily was sitting, in the far corner.

Class started soon after they entered and Lily and Ally focused on turning their rat into a throw pillow. From where she was sitting, Ally could see James talking to Sirius in the front of the class. She saw James and Sirius turn to look at Lily and when they saw Ally looking back at them, they quickly turned their heads back at the blackboard.

Flitwick was in the middle of his lecture on the importance of enunciation, when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The class turned to look at the door. A small boy, he looked to be about first or second year, was admitted. He had brown messy hair and looked rather afraid of entering a classroom full of upperclassmen.

"P-Professor," he stuttered.

Ally saw some of the Slytherins in the back snicker and she threw her throw pillow at them to shut them up. Seeing this, the boy continued on a bit more confidently.

"The Headmaster has sent me to get Ally Pierce and Lily Evans."

Everyone watched as Lily and Ally picked up their books slowly and followed the boy out of the room.

"Must've thrown too many throw pillows," Ally heard before the door closed behind her.

Five minutes later after walking in silence...

"Excuse me." Lily said politely as they were walking down the hall. "Did Dumbledore say why he wanted to see us?"

The little boy looked up at her.

"He didn't tell me."

"Oh, okay, thank you."

They reached a great stone gargoyle in the middle of the hall. The boy stopped in front of it and addressed the gargoyle shakily.

"Eye poppers?" he said.

(A/N Eye poppers were a brand of very sour jawbreakers in the 1970's... Yeah, that's right, I took muggle studies.)

The gargoyle jumped aside to reveal a stone staircase, leading up beyond their sight. The little boy led them up the staircase. When they reached the top, they found a small hallway. The boy ran and sat down on one of the waiting chairs next to another, older, girl. She had dirty blonde hair that blended with her grey eyes.

"Sit down." She said, smiling at them, "Dumbledore told us to wait out here for a moment while he speaks to the Divination Professor."

They sat down on the other side of the hallway, facing the boy and the girl.

"Why are you guys here?" Ally asked.

"We're being introduced to the school," the older girl replied, "Dumbledore has allowed us to join in the middle of the school year."

"What year are you going into?" Lily asked.

"My little brother," she placed a hand on the shoulder of the little boy next to her. "...is going into his second year."

"And you?"

"I'm going into my sixth—"

"Stand up." Ally demanded.

"Wh—"

"Stand. Up."

She looked at Ally as if she was insane, then finally conceded to her and stood up from her seat. Ally stood up at the same time then shouted.

"Damn!" she exclaimed.

The other girl looked offended.

"What did I do to earn—?"

"You're three inches taller than me!" she whined then turned to Lily. "I'm still so short!"

The other girl looked puzzled for a moment, then burst out in giggles.

"I thought that was some sort of sixth year initiation." she laughed. "Being home schooled, I'm not used to having peers."

"Don't mind Ally," Lily said watching Ally bounced her head repeatedly against the wall, "My name is Lily."

"Hi," she said, "My name is Samantha. Sam for short."

Ally looked up from bashing her head.

"Sam? Sam? A guy nickname!" She shouted. "What is with the guy nicknames? First there's Al, then there's Hal, and now Sam has joined the bandwagon. We should start a club - girls whose parents secretly wish they were guys! It's like fate is slightly gender confused!" Dumbledore opened the door behind her while she was talking and stood silently smiling, waiting for her to finish. Professor Trelawney traveled down the stairs and out of view. "—and that's not all of it! What? Is there another world where we are all the opposite gender trying to contact us!"

"Excuse me, Miss Pierce?" Dumbledore said.

She froze and then spun around to face him.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked, with his eyes twinkling.

"Because it confuses people?"

He looked around the room.

"Ah," he said, "I see you have met our Miss Howell. But sadly, introductions must end here; I need you two," he pointed to Lily and Ally, "In my office."

He went back through the open door.

"Nice meeting you." Lily said kindly.

"Yeah, just don't eat anymore vegetables." Ally added.

Ally and Lily walked through the door into the Headmasters office. The walls were decorated with the previous Headmaster's of Hogwarts; the portraits stared down at them as they walked by. Oddities decorated shelves and tables around the room. Lily was stuck to looking around her and Ally had to pull her along as she got stuck staring at things.

"Please," he motioned to two seats in front of a large oak desk, "Sit."

He himself took the large seat behind the desk and folded his hands.

"First, it has come to my attention that you both have merited an invitation to a ball. And secondly, Poppy Pomfrey has alerted me that last month you two visited a very furry little friend of mine." He smiled down at them through his half moon spectacles.

"Which topic would you like to address first?"

"Er—"

"Well—"

"Professor," Ally said, "Wouldn't you like to decide? I'm sure you don't get many students asking you for things."

"I think I'll leave this to you, but tomorrow it would delight me if you would ask me a question." He said.

"Right," Lily said. "Let's talk about the hospital visit first. Get it over with."

Dumbledore looked at her and Ally.

"I assume you both know why this issue is very important to everyone. Not only Remus, but his parents, the professors and I." He continued, getting up to pace the room. "It is also extremely important that Remus and I know you will not reveal to anyone what you found out. The other students are not as forgiving as you two, they are prone to name calling and prejudice. Not only that, but I'm positive their parents would make sure Remus is less than welcome at Hogwarts. Now... I assume Remus knows you two are aware of his condition?"

"Yes, Professor," Lily said.

"And how did he take it?'

"He first thought we would think of him as a freak." Lily replied.

"Stupid git." Ally said.

"Ally!" Lily exclaimed.

"Well he was being a git! He thought we would think of him differently, and all this time I thought he was smarter then most of the class."

"So you have no intention of alerting anyone of his condition?"

"Nope." Ally said.

"No, Professor." Lily said.

"Good. And you have no intention of treating him as an inferior, spreading a bad rumor, or hinting others toward what he is?"

"Not a chance!" Ally said.

"No, Professor." Lily said.

"Good, good." He stroked his beard in thought. "Now, what was our other subject of discussion?"

"The invitation." Lily replied.

"Oh, yes." He seated himself behind his desk again.

"Your Uncle," he pointed at Ally, "Has arranged transportation from Hogwarts to the upstairs of Bonham hall."

"How?"

"You will take floo powder from Professor McGonagall, your Head of House, and use the fireplace in her office." He drew out a letter from his desk and handed it to Ally. "After you wrote to your Uncle he sent me a letter to arrange you arrival, he also included this for your eyes. You can read it later." Ally placed the letter in her robe pocket. "Since I'm the most informed on the latest gossip, it has come to my attention that you have not publicized the fact that you are going to the ball."

His eyes twinkle for a moment before he continued.

"That was a wise decision on your part. Although, I'm afraid Mr. Potter will be in for a rather nasty surprise."

"Some things must be sacrificed." Lily said cryptically.

"Yes... Some things. Well, I'm afraid I've kept you from your classes for far too long. Your teachers will be displeased with me."

He stood up and ushered them out of the office kindly.

"I believe you have your Potions class right now, send my apologies to Professor Slughorn for keeping you, and make sure you get your Charms homework."

They walked out into the hallway.

"Mr. and Miss. Howell, I will see you now. But please permit me to tidy up my office, if you would also bring that tattered old hat on the shelf with you." He eyes twinkled and he turned and went back into his office.

"You guys are going to be sorted?" Lily asked when the door had shut.

"Yeah, what do we have to do?" Samantha asked curiously.

"It's a secret," Ally said, "We aren't allowed to say."

"Shame," she replied as she picked up the old hat from the shelf.

"Would you mind if I see that for a minute?" Ally requested.

"Sure," Samantha handed her the hat.

Ally placed it on her head and a voice near her ear whispered.

What is it now Miss Piece? Have you come to argue more about your house placement? I told you a thousand times when I sorted you I would not put you in Hufflepuff because your favorite color is yellow.

Actually, Ally replied, I was wondering if you have had any recent contact with your brother.

My brother? The hat said, No, I haven't seen him since we were made.

Oh, because I recently bought him at Zonkos.

She smirked at the baffled hat and pulled him off her head.

"I believe I won that round," She whispered to Lily.

The door opened and Professor Dumbledore guided Samantha and her brother into his office. He stood in the doorway smiling.

"What?" Ally asked, and she tugged Lily's arm. They descended the stone stairs and entered the lower hallway.

Dumbledore's POV

Dumbledore smiled as he watched their retreating backs.

I wonder if she really will ask me a question... He thought and closed the door.

The Next Day, Dinner Time...

The great hall was crowded and students were talking loudly over each other. Lily and Ally were sitting in the middle of the table next to the 'marauders'. It had gotten to be habit for Ally to sit in between Sirius and Lily. Lily had turned around and was talking to some Hufflpuffs while Ally talked to Sirius.

"What happened that Dumbledore needed to talk to you about?" he asked.

"Er—" Ally said.

Lily turned around and the Hufflepuff she was talking to left.

"We were asked to take care of some Hogwarts business." she said.

"Yeah," Ally agreed, "Top secret Sirius, I'm afraid I can't tell you."

"Yeah, right," he scoffed. "Why would Dumbledore trust you?"

"You'd be surprised," Ally said superiorly, "Dumbledore and I happen to be very good friends."

"Oh, really?" Sirius said, and the rest of the 'marauders' picked up on their conversation.

"Would you like to prove it?" James challenged.

"Absolutely!" Ally said.

"She would be delighted." Lily added, trying to give Ally a hint. For the first time in forever, Ally picked up on it.

Ally stood and flipped back her hair. She marched up to the teachers table. Lily's and the marauder's eyes were on her as she walked up to Dumbledore. She approached the head of the table and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me, Professor?" she said.

Dumbledore leaned forward in his chair and smiled at her with the same twinkle in his eyes that he had yesterday.

"Yeeeees..." he said.

"Yesterday, you said that you would be delighted if I would ask you a question tomorrow."

"And?" he said, his smile growing.

"Today is tomorrow." she said simply.

"What is your question?"

"Could I kiss you on the cheek?"

"Why...Certainly." he said.

She leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek. When she turned around she smirked superiorly at the marauders, who were looking at her astounded.

"Come Lily," she said as she passed them by, "They obviously don't respect how close I am to Dumbledore."

Lily huffed and followed Ally out of the Hall.

As soon as they were outside of the hall, the doors closed behind them and they burst out laughing.

"D-did you see their faces!" Lily said.

"That was sooooooo funny!" Ally giggled.

"Come on, let's go open your Uncle's letter." Lily said, still laughing.

"Yeah." Ally replied and started to race Lily to the Common room.

They ran up the castle, their laughter echoing off the old stone walls.