A/N: So, to my reviewers, thanks a ton, I think I may get to have two chapters put out before I leave for New Mexico, but my friend just told me that she has no internet up there, how much does that stink? So, yeah, I'll keep writing while I'm gone and post everything the day I get back. High School starts on the 16th for me, so I may get behind for a while…don't expect updates everyday once school is started. Oh, and I forgot to include a description of Tanya, so here goes: She has curly dark brown hair; her dad was born in Spain and her mother in England. Her skin is darker than most peoples' in England because of her Spanish heritage. She's really pretty and has dark brown eyes that almost look black. She's average-weight, about 145. She's average-height too. So, besides the exotic look she has to her face, she's pretty much average. Long note, huh?

The rest of the month passed in much the same way, Claire and Sirius became inseparable, much to Lily's dislike. Lily and James were constantly whispering to each other and kissing in the middle of corridors and when the teachers weren't looking, even in class. Remus and Tanya considered themselves the good influences that no one bothered to follow and took charge of everything. When the before a Hogsmeade weekend came, the student body received some news that gave everyone a different opinion.

Dumbledore came to the platform during dinner and everyone turned his or her eyes to him.

"We have made some changes to the Halloween feast this year, my friends!" he said happily. "This year it is not just a feast…but a ball, a masquerade ball! The next Hogsmeade visit, tomorrow,will be for the students to retrieve their clothes, dress robes, masks, you know what I mean, at the stores. Hogsmeade has been informed of this change and have brought in some amazing styles that we teachers think you will enjoy. You can choose just a mask or go in a theme or even a costume if you want!"

There was an eruption throughout the Great Hall, some of dismay, some of excitement, and some of plain horror, and even yet of anger. Lily, Claire, and Tanya clapped their hands together excitedly, the boys, on the other hand, groaned in dismay.

"You boys can dance can't you?" asked Lily jokingly,from across the table, pointing at James.

"Yes, I can,"defended James grabbing Lily's hand and kissing the back of it. Lily blushed and pulled her hand back, leaning across the table and kissing James for a few seconds before getting back in her seat.

"I ain't going, mates," said Sirius defiantly.

"Why?" asked Claire angrily.

"Because…um…it sounds…stupid," he said.

"I don't think that's your reason, do you, Moony?" asked James conspiratorially.

"Not at all, Prongs, not at all. I think our dear Padfoot may be hiding something from us, what do you think ladies?"

"I agree with you, Remus," said Tanya, getting in on the joke.

"Oh would you all just shut up, I can't dance like…at a ball kind of dancing, okay? I am a fine dancer, I can't waltz or dance to that classical trash," said Sirius, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I can teach you," volunteered Claire.

"How do you know how to waltz?" asked Sirius warily.

"My mom, she used to be a professional dancer. Now she owns a studio somewhere. I never go, but she's taught me everything she knows," answered Claire.

"I…I guess maybe you could, I don't know, teach me to dance," conceded Sirius.

"Um…you forgot the magic word," said Claire jokingly.

"Please?"

"Deal."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Now, Remus, what about you?" asked Claire, turning to Moony.

"I am a fine dancer if I do say so myself," said Remus proudly. No one bothered to ask Peter, they knew by the way he walked that he probably wouldn't even bother going. He didn't want to be taught either, probably afraid of embarrassing himself.

"I hope so," said Tanya, because between these four, you'll end up my only partner. "One thing left to do is to figure out our costumes. I think we should surprise each other."

"Good idea," said Lily enthusiastically. "You boys don't tell us either."

"But…wait, we don't agree to this," said Sirius, sharply, pushing Claire's waiting hand away. "I'm not shaking on this."

"You have to, or Claire won't teach you to dance," said Tanya jokingly.

"Not fair!" James chimed in.

"Perfectly fair," said Lily haughtily.

"Alright, alright," conceded Sirius, shaking Claire's hand. Lily held out her hand for James to shake, but he raised his eyebrows, looking at it.

"You can't blackmail me or take something away, I am not agreeing to this," he said confidently.

"If you love me, you'll do it," said Lily sadly, sticking out the bottom lip and putting on a pouty face. James saw her face for a split second and looked away angrily.

"No, not that face, no, it's not fair," he said angrily.

"As I said before, it's perfectly fair," she said in a whiny voice. Sirius put his hands on James's head, turning it around to look right at Lily.

"If I'm going down, you're going down with me, mate," said Sirius in an in-your-face-manner.

"Fine," James sighed. "Just stop with the face." Lily relaxed her face and the three girls turned to Remus.

"I agree," he said before Tanya and Lily could mention blackmail (remember Lily was like a sister and Tanya was one of his really good friends). He held up his hands in surrender.

"Good," said Tanya proudly. So, it's settled then. We can start out the Hogsmeade visit with you boys and then we'll have to part ways and go shopping. And absolutely no cheating, peeking in bags, listening in on private conversations, etc., okay?" asked Lily forcefully.

"Yeah, fine," muttered James.

"So," began Lily in a whisper, turning away form the boys and making sure they couldn't hear. What do you thin we should go as?"

"I think we should all go with a theme involved," whispered Claire softly. "How about like elements. Lily, with that hair, you have to be something involving fire."

"Okay," said Lily, "Tanya, you have an earthy look about you, I mean look at that tan and that hair, so I guess some creature to do with earth."

"Fine by me. Claire, with eyes like yours and hair like that…water, most definitely," said Tanya as softly as she could.

"You don't expect me to go as a Grindylow or something, do you?" asked Claire with a grimace.

"No, something pretty, something graceful. We'll figure it out when we get there, don't worry," said Lily in a whisper. They all turned around, folding their hands on the table and looking at the boys who were whispering amongst each other too.

"We all need a theme," whispered James. "I think something a group would wear. Let's think, here, mates."

"I know," said Sirius sarcastically. "How about three wizards?"

"Padfoot, stop being an idiot," said James jokingly.

"How about…oh I know, Prongs, I've got it. The Three Musketeers!" sais Sirius excitedly.

"Padfoot, you're a genius," said Remus.

"I know…I know," said Sirius, prolonging the moment.

"I like it, sound good, boys?" asked James.

"Sounds good," the other two echoed back. They also turned around and placed their hands on the table, looking across the table at the girls.

"So, you have your ideas?" asked Lily.

"Yes, we do," said James proudly. "And you?"

"Of course." Lily didn't know how hard it would be not to ask their costume ideas, but now that she did, she wasn't sure if this deal was a good idea. The boys were thinking the exact same thing.

A/N: Next chapter…the Hogsmeade visit the next day…Saturday, and the Halloween bash is going to be the chapter after that, the next Friday. So, in two chapters, we'll cover a week. So, you know what to do, right?