Crimson Feathers

"Oh, come on, Katie, at least this time!" Angelina looked at her pleadingly, but Katie shook her head. "No, you know exactly that I don't like things like that. Just go there, but leave me here. You surely remember that we have to do Charms. If I don't have the essay by Monday, I'll not only be chopped off the length of a wand by Flitwick" she ran her hand trough her hair, sighting, and approached the desk. The book that was lying on it was almost starring at her with a grim look and Katie pulled a face. Maybe she could just go to the common room and read something instead of doing Charms. That wouldn't be really bad either...
But she has not reckoned with Alicia. Already after she had gone two steps, a hand was lying around her wrist and with one jerk she was pulled on the claret four-poster bed. Katie's eyes widened for a short moment, but then she was already turned on her belly and her face was pushed on the cover. "Guys", she chuntered and tried to release herself, but her hands were immediately held on her back with a strong grip. "So, Katie, now explain us once again what are your plans for tonight?" Alicia asked and Katie could hear the grin in her voice.

"I'll write my essay tonight and maybe play some Wizard Chess. Honestly, I'm tired. Just go to this party and tell me tomorrow about all the excesses and the new rumours", she murmured and wheezing fought her face free of the pillow. Angelina clicked her tongue once disapprovingly "That you can forget really quickly. When was the last time you went to a party?" Before Katie even had a chance to think, Angelina continued.
"Exactly, many moons ago. Merlin's filthy underpants, you've gotta get out of here once again. And this time it's nothing ordinary. We're celebrating something...different." Saying the last words, Alicia began to giggle and Katie evaded her hands as quick as a flash so that she could with just one jerk sit on the bed opposite Alicia. Angelina leaned on the cupboard, grinning lost in thought. Katie shook her head like mad.
"Oh, come on, please", Alicia murmured and pouted, leaning a bit towards Katie. "Just this once. You'll like it, I promise" Her big brown eyes starred at the blond girl. Angelina too battered away from the cupboard and came to the side of the bed. "Please. Us three, we haven't been off gallivanting in Hogwarts for ages. The snakes are starting to think they wouldn't need to be afraid of us any more", she blinked and cocked her head.
Snorting with rage, she let herself fell backwards into the bed. "Why, why am I always persuaded by you over and over again?" she moaned but before she could turn round, Alicia launched herself at her screeching loudly. Angelina cheered as well loudly and threw herself next to them on the four-poster which creaked menacingly. But none of them was bothered by that. Alicia suddenly began to tickle Katie and Katie could not help but giggle unrestrainedly.

After what felt like an eternity, Katie could not really tell how much time had passed, her friends let go of another and they wiped away the tears of laughter. Still grinning they looked at each other as Angelina suddenly jumped up and clapped her hands once. "Well, ladies, that was enough fun for now. We still have a lot to do but not much time left" She looked meaningfully at Alicia who smiled knowingly and then turned to Katie.
"So...we've already told you that the whole thing tonight will go off a little different", she began to explain and Katie nodded confusedly. What was this special thing the both of them wanted to tell her? "You remember Cho's experience with Montague, don't you? That, what everyone's talked about..." "Yes", Katie murmured, still being suspicious sliding back and forth on the cover. If they had planned something, it could only be dreadful.
Alicia grinned reassuringly. „That's why we've all come up with the idea of avoiding such things from now on" Katie burst out laughing. "And how do you intend to do this? Forbid kissing and more, or what? Alicia, that would not only for you be a great punishment" Alicia knit her brows in a huff and fold her arms. However, everyone in this room and probably half the people of Hogwarts knew that Katie's statement was right. Alicia liked having fun, that's what she called it herself.
"No", Angelina said and bit her lip because she otherwise would have burst out laughing. She stood up and hurried to the cupboard. "The whole grade level has thought of something else" And with these words, she turned around once more and pointedly threw something black at Katie's lap. Alicias bad mood had suddenly worn off. She jumped up giggling and went into the bathroom, Angelina followed her. But Katie just looked at the mask that lay on her legs.
It was black and seemed rather ordinary though the edge was piled with crimson feathers. If she put it on, it would only cover her eyes and nose. "What am I supposed to to with this?" Katie asked and lifted the mask a bit. It shone darkly in the dim light of the bedside lamp. Angelina appeared at the bath door sighing and craned her neck outside the door. "Well, what do you think? We'll give it to the first years and then we'll let them go into the forest to the centaurs", she said snorting and Katie grimaced. "Everyone will wear masks. So one cannot recognize anybody and can confidently let oneself go. A party without any effects", it sounded loudly from the bathroom and Katie slowly nodded. Without any effects...Although it was never her intention to do anything that would have consequences, but better safe than sorry.
Smiling contentedly she stood up and went to the others. Alicia was just whipping great curls and Angelina too seemed to be very engrossed in her mirror image, so Katie just leaned relaxedly at the door frame and watched the both of them. They were an interesting trio indeed, even she had to admit it herself.
On the one hand, there was Alicia the most quick-witted of all of them. Always laying it on the line and if there were any arguments at all, usually with the snakes, she did not have a problem sorting it out with curses or fists. Angelina was a lot like that, though not this bad. Furthermore, Katie just had to admit it, she was the one who probably paid most attention during the lessons.
Katie herself was a lot different. She was often called a dreamer who rather backed off. Maybe that was because she was the youngest, she simply did not know. But it was also - "Katie? Did someone cast a sticking-curse at you or why are you standing there like this?" Alicia who had meanwhile had softly falling curls looked questioning at Katie. She just shrugged her shoulders and came grinning towards Angelina."So, have you already thought of what you're gonna wear?" she asked, laying one arm around Katie's shoulder. Without minding her protest, Angelina vehemently pulled her to the cupboard.

The air was cold on the corridors and Katie took a surprised breath. It was dark and all one could hear was the clicking of heels. While the three of them were darting through the corridors, Katie fiddled with her dress. It was short, in her opinion definitely too short, but Alicia wouldn't let her go with another one so that's why she was now wearing this whiff of cloth.
The whole way through, they didn't see a single teacher, luckily. Dark shadows had covered the corridors and only occasionally the moonlight shone through the windows. A goose pimples formed on Katies arms and she was glad as Angelina suddenly stopped in front of her. A stony door was growing out of the masonry and immediately it was all too clear where they were. The Room of Requirement.
Alicia stood opposite Katie and pulled the mask over her face. The little golden embroidered threat were lighting up in the soft silver shine and Katie bit her lip for a moment. Was all of this really a good idea? But before a thought had occurred to her, Angelina was standing behind there, pulling the mask over her face with a flip of her fingers. Contentedly, she put on her own mask as well and then stood in front of the door
Once more, Alicia took a deep breath and cunningly smiled at Katie. One could see the sparkle in her eyes and Katie knew for sure that Alicia would take advantage of this namelessness. She rolled her eyes though some kind of anticipation was creeping over her. No noise drifted out of the room but as they briefly opened the door, slipped inside and then immediately shut it firmly, they all felt as if they were in a completely different world.
There was no actual light, only flaring rays that swept across the crowd. The music was ear-battering and all Katie could see was people. Lots of people, everyone hidden behind masks. Bodies twitching, no one stood still. With an excited though nearly shocked smile, she wanted to turn to Alicia but as she looked for her, she was gone. And Angelina wasn't there any more either.
Katie stood at the edge of the room all alone, looking through the crowd. No one she noticed on first sight. Everyone hidden behind masks. An evening without any effects.