22
The Announcement
Somehow, as it transformed into December, the sixth year's workload increased dramatically. They had so much homework that their free periods were completely consumed by it, and they still had to spend hours working on it afterwards. They were sitting in the common room working on a essay for Herbology, and it was taking forever.
" Doe, love," Sirius said, " can you move your arm? It's covering the next line"
She looked over at Sirius, who was copying her essay word for word.
" Are you cheating off of me?" she asked him.
" You said I could" Sirius said innocently.
Doe raised her eyebrow. It didn't sound like her.
" When?" she asked him.
Sirius smiled, "About 15 minutes ago. I said 'Doe can I copy your essay' and you said 'Mm sure'"
" I obviously wasn't paying attention then" she told him.
" Well you're sitting across from Moony so I doubt you were" Sirius said copying the next line.
Remus, who was sitting across from her at the coffee table, winked at her.
" You kill me, Padfoot" Remus said.
" Hey Evans" James strode over to Lily, who was sitting next to me in a large armchair.
" What, Potter?" she demanded.
" So I've come to the conclusion that I am sick of chasing you all the time" James snapped, " I've made it very clear how I feel, so if you don't want to go out with me then fine. I'm going to stop asking"
" Fine" Lily said turning back to her book.
" Fine, then" James said sitting down next to Peter on the couch.
" We have Transfiguration in five minutes" Doe told them all, " and if we're late, McGonagall will favor the Hufflepuffs"
Begrudgingly, everyone got up and went to Transfiguration. It was the only class that Doe had that she sat with Remus. They took their usual seats at the desk and waited as McGonagall walked into the room and stood in front of the board.
" Before we start our lesson today," she began, " I have a small announcement"
She crossed her arms tightly, " This year, Hogwarts is participating in a tradition that we do every 75 years. During the Christmas Holiday, on Christmas Eve, we will be having a Christmas Ball"
Everyone began chatting eagerly. They hadn't ever had any sort of dance at Hogwarts.
Professor McGonagall raised her hand to get everyone to stop talking.
" Now, the ball will only be open to fifth years and above, and appropriate attire is mandated, Dresses for the ladies and Dress Robes for the gentleman"
The chatter in the classroom had now grown louder as everyone talked excitedly amongst themselves.
" Wow, a ball" Doe said in disbelief.
Remus blinked, " I've never been to a ball before".
" It should be fun, it'll be new" Doe said excitedly.
" Would you do me the honor of accompanying me?" Remus asked.
She shrugged, " I guess so".
Remus frowned slightly.
" I'm kidding" she told him.
" I know, Dorcas" he said shaking his head.
" Gah! Whats with the name?" Doe said.
He laughed, " Sorry, I won't use it again"
" Use of it is punishable by Azkaban" she warned him.
" I'll keep that in mind" he said.
McGonagall cleared her throat, the whole class had been talking amongst themselves pretty loudly.
" Now, honestly. We have a lesson" She said walking back to the board and writing something on it.
All anyone was talking about for the next two weeks was the Christmas Ball. All of the fifth years and above were all staying at school for the Holidays because of it. Much to the sadness of Doe's parents, she had written to them telling them that she wouldn't be coming home.
All over the school, people were trying to find dates and picking out outfits. Doe's mother, upon reading her letter, had sent with her father's owl, a light pink dress from home that she thought would fit the occasion.
It's the only formal dress she owned. It was long and made of chiffon with sparkled straps.
The biggest stress that had come from this ball, was who everyone was taking.
Remus and Doe were some of the only few who weren't not forced into finding someone to go with.
Mary had been asked by Benjy Flitwick, and James had asked a Hufflepuff fifth year named Shannon.
They were all sitting in the Great Hall eating lunch a few days before the ball, when Amos Diggory came over and sat down next to Lily.
" Hey, Lily" he said with a wide smile.
Color rose in Lily's cheeks, " Oh, hi Amos" she said smiling.
" I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come with me to the ball?" he asked.
Lily nodded eagerly, " I'd love too!".
Amos smiled, " Great. I'll meet you outside the Great Hall around seven?"
" Definitely" Lily said.
Amos smiled once more at her and then went back to the Hufflepuff table.
" I told you!" Doe said to Lily the second he was out of earshot.
Lily was smiling widely.
" So Mckinnon," Sirius started to Marlene, " what if you and I went together to the ball"
Marlene looked up at him through her thick eyelashes, " Are you asking me, Black?"
" It seems I am" Sirius said flipping his hair out of his eyes.
" Then, sure" Marlene said, a small smile on her lips.
" Great" Sirius said and smiled.
Doe rolled her eyes. Marlene had already been asked to the ball by three boys and had turned them all down in the hopes that Sirius would ask her. Doe was glad he finally did, because if he hadn't Marlene would have complained about it, until he did.
" I think I'm going to go to the library" Doe told Lily and Remus, " I'll be back later".
She left the Great Hall and walked down the corridor heading towards the library.
She walked around the corner of one of the halls and almost turned around in irritation.
Leaning against the wall, was Rabastan Lestrange.
" Hey there, Doe" he called, smiling widely.
She tried to ignore him and walk passed him, but he grabbed her arm and stopped her.
" Don't leave so quickly, love. Why don't you stay and chat" he said.
" I don't want to chat" she said pulling her arm away from him.
" Fine, no chatter" Rabastan said, " how about an invitation then? Come to the ball with me. I told that Narcissa girl I would go with her, but I can blow her off"
Doe scowled at him, " I already have a date, but even if I didn't, I wouldn't go with you"
She walked away from him and headed towards the library.
Severus was sitting in the usual spot where they both studied. She sat down and joined him.
" Hey, Severus" she said opening up her potions book and sitting down.
" Hello" Severus said not looking up from his book.
They did the certain sections of the homework they had agreed on and then switched so they could both finish it.
After a little while she turned to him " Are you going to the ball, Severus?"
Severus practically laughed, " No."
" Sorry, I didn't mean to pry" she told him.
" You're not prying" Severus said, " dances are just stupid"
" I'm going" she said quietly.
" Well you're a teenage girl, you're easily susceptible to the moronic traditions of those around you" Severus said.
Doe laughed, " Always such a joy you are, Severus"
Severus just shrugged, " Not all of us are thrilled by the idea of putting on a moronic costume and pretending to be having fun"
Doe laughed again, " and on that note".