Disclaimer: I own nothing Harry Potter related. Any terminology, places or people that you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Six

True to her word to Marlene, Dorcas woke up early on Saturday morning. Her parents were hesitant to let her go to the shopping street, but decided that since it wasn't in the wizard world it would be, not completely safe, but a little more safe anyway. She tiredly rubbed her eyes and walked over to her closet. She was glad she remembered to shower the night before. She tried on a couple outfits before she decided on a pair of dark blue bell bottom pants and a loose, off the shoulder gray shirt. She curled the ends of her hair and pulled it into a side ponytail, teasing it so it was just a little bigger. She took a multicolored bag out of her closet that she hadn't used for a while and put some essentials in it, including her wand. Her parents had told her that if she felt threatened in any way to use it and they would make her excuses to the Ministry. She slipped on a pair of gray moccasins and headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

Roxanne was having a less leisurely time getting ready than Dorcas. Her sister Olivia had gotten into the bathroom first and refused to leave it, saying she was getting ready.

"What do you need to get ready for you little brat? I'm actually leaving the house and I need to shower!" She shouted irritably into the door, knowing it would just make her sister go slower.

"Roxanne? What on earth are you yelling at?" Her mother asked, coming around the corner and looking confused.

"Will you please tell Olivia that I really need the bathroom and that taking forever in there won't make me like her more?"

Her mother shook her head. "Olive? Get out of there. Your sister really needs to get ready or her friends are going to be waiting for her."

"MOM! I'm getting ready!" Olivia screamed childishly.

"Stop it Olivia. Get out of the bathroom. You can get in after Roxanne is done and you can stay in there all day for all I care." The bathroom door opened suddenly and Olivia stormed out of it, making sure to bump into Roxanne's shoulder, or the part of her arm the girl could reach. Roxanne made to follow her and smack her upside the head, but her mother stopped her. "The bathroom's open dear," she said warningly.

Roxanne glared in Olivia's direction before thanking her mother and heading into the bathroom.

Marlene was humming as she set the table up for her and her friends. She had gotten up extra early to get everything ready. She had prepared a big breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast. She lovingly made an iced lemon tea that she put a small dose of firewhiskey in for taste. She also put out her mother's champagne glasses so her friends would feel pampered. She had even dressed for the occasion, putting on a white strapless cocktail dress that was tight around her midriff and flared out on the bottom. She had just started lying out the silverware when her doorbell rang. She looked around excitedly, hoping she didn't forget anything and went see who had come.

"Lily! Hey!" She said happily seeing her best friend. The girls hugged and Lily stood back. "What do you think? My mom helped me pick it out," Lily asked holding out her arms so Marlene could see her dress more clearly, the girls had decided they wanted to match. It was a cocktail dress as well, a v-necked dark brown one with pleats on the bottom that went a little above her knees.

"Oh Lily. You are just too gorgeous!" Marlene told her.

Lily smiled hugely. "You really think so?"

"Yes. Of course. That dress is so pretty." Which made Lily smile again. "Come in Lils, wanna help me with the silverware? I'm almost done."

Lily nodded and they made their way into the decorated dining room. "Oh Marlene, you did such a good job. The other girls are going to love it. You obviously put so much thought into this!" She told her while she laid out some silverware.

Marlene blushed. "Thanks Lily. I really wanted this to be something we all remembered. I wanted to make it special seeing as we don't really do much girl bonding."

"It's amazing, and you are so right. I don't really see it getting any better either. You know, getting older and more interested in boys and all that."

"Boys? Or a certain boy?" Marlene asked knowingly.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Just boys."

Marlene laughed. "Yes, I know what you mean. So you decided to join us at James's huh?"

"Yeah. I figured I need as much time away from Petunia as I can get. You know she still won't stop calling me a freak?"

"Really?" Marlene shook her head. "I'm sorry Lils, that's terrible."

"Oh, it's fine. It makes me sad sometimes remembering how close we used to be, but if she wants to be like that I can't change it so I might as well forget about it."

Marlene nodded. "Yeah, I understand. Well, don't worry about that today. We're going to have fun. Oh and I have a surprise for you girls after we are all done shopping."

Lily's eyes widened. "A surprise? You don't have to Marley. You've already done so much, this is really great."

"I know I don't have to, but I want to," Marlene told her, shrugging.

Lily smiled at her best friend. "Okay. You convinced me."

The girls laughed and the doorbell rang again. "Oh, right on, another guest. Sit down Lils and help yourself to whatever you want." Lily nodded as Marlene left the room. A couple minutes later she came back into the dining room, Dorcas behind her.

"Hey Lily!" Dorcas said kindly. "Oh that dress is so pretty!" She told her, making Lily smile again.

"Thanks Dorcas, it was Marlene's idea to get all dressed up."

"She had the right idea, you guys look great," she smiled at the both of them. "I hope I'm not too under dressed."

"No, of course not, you look great too. Those moccasins are so cute!" Marlene told her.

"Oh thanks, my mom picked them out last Christmas, they are really comfy."

The girls took seats around the table. "Try the tea, my moms recipe. Iced lemon with a shot of firewhiskey. Really gives it a kick." Marlene told her friends.

After about ten minutes, Marlene looked at her watch. "Did Roxy tell you when she was planning on coming?" She asked Dorcas.

"No, but I'm sure she won't mind us starting without her. I'm pretty hungry."

Marlene nodded. "I hope she's okay. But yeah, let's eat, the bacon just smells too good." The girls laughed and served themselves.

Five minutes later, the doorbell rang again. "Oh that must be her. Awesome." Marlene went to go let Roxanne inside.

"Hey guys," Roxanne said as she walked into the dining room. "I'm really sorry I'm late, my airhead sister wouldn't get out of the bathroom." The rest of the girls shook their heads.

"Don't worry about it Roxy. I hope you don't mind, we started eating, we kinda couldn't help it." Marlene told her.

Roxanne laughed. "No worries, I understand hunger."

The girls laughed again and Roxanne took her seat. She too was wearing bell bottoms, but she had on a tight dark blue shirt that had loose long sleeves.

When the girls finished up with their breakfast, they took their leave, heading to the shopping street.

"What do you think Dorcas? Red or yellow?" Roxanne held up a couple of sundresses for her to look at. Dorcas considered each one. "I like the red. I think that bright yellow would wash you out." Roxanne looked the yellow one and nodded. "Agreed." She put it back on the rack and sighed. It had been a couple of hours since they had left Marlene's and Roxanne was already getting tired. She wasn't a huge shopping fanatic and really had to be in the mood.

"I think I need some coffee or something," Dorcas mentioned. "I've been sleeping in all holiday except for today and I'm pretty tired."

Roxanne nodded her understanding. "Yeah. Where did Lily and Marlene get off to? I wonder if they would be opposed to stopping by that coffee shop we saw on the corner."

Dorcas shrugged. "I doubt it, let's go see if we can find them."

The two girls went hunting and tracked Lily and Marlene down while they looked at shoes. Marlene was critiquing Lily in a pair of black flats. "I love those Lily, you should really consider them." Lily looked at them thoughtfully, not answering.

"Hey girls, you mind going for some coffee after this? Dorcas and I are about to fall asleep." Roxanne asked them.

Marlene looked thoughtful. "I don't really want any coffee, but you guys can go. How about we meet you wherever you're going when we're done here."

Dorcas nodded. "That sounds great. You guys don't mind?"

Marlene shook her head while Lily stared at the shoes in the mirror. "You guys going to the coffee shop on the corner?" Marlene asked. She knew where every store was on the street.

"Yeah. Take your time and we'll be there." Roxanne said.

The two girls nodded, Lily finally taking her eyes off the shoes. "I think I'll take them," she said happily. "We will see you guys in a bit. Don't think I see much else I like here."

"Okay, sounds like a plan," Roxanne told them. She walked up to the cashier, paid for her red sundress and her and Dorcas made their way to the coffee shop.

"You heard from Sirius at all?" Roxanne asked as the girls settled themselves at a patio table with their coffee's.

"Just once," Dorcas told her. "He said he missed me a lot."

"Well that's cute," Roxanne said, taking a sip.

"Yeah," Dorcas said flatly.

"Okay, you don't seem very happy about it. Something happen?" Roxanne asked concerned.

"No," Dorcas sighed. "Nothing happened, its just... well, it's not important."

"Oh just tell me." Roxanne said rolling her eyes. "It's obviously bugging you."

Dorcas sighed and tried to figure out how to word her worry without sounding like a bitch. "At the end of the letter I got from him, he told me... 'love ya'."

Roxanne looked confused. "Yeah. So?"

"I don't love him," Dorcas said bluntly.

Roxanne's eyebrows shot up. "Not even kinda? You guys have been going out for awhile."

"I do care for him. Deeply. But no. I really don't think I love him. Is that bad?"

"No... it's not bad. Do you think you could ever reach the point where you do love him?"

Dorcas looked thoughtful. When she received that letter from Sirius, she couldn't really think of much else. Would she be able to love him one day? She wasn't sure, and that didn't make her feel much better. She shrugged to answer the question.

Roxanne looked troubled. "Okay, that's kinda bad. Think, five years from now, would you be able to love him then? If everything was great between you two and he told you in five years that he loved you. What would you say?"

Dorcas thought about it for a minute, and Roxanne shook her head. "There's your answer then," she said regretfully.

"Huh? What?" Dorcas asked confused. "What's my answer?"

"If you have to think about it, then it'll never happen," Roxanne said wisely.

Dorcas sighed. "I like Sirius. I like him a lot, and it's hard to imagine my life without him. So of course I could love him someday."

Roxanne just looked at her with her eyebrows raised and sipped her coffee. A silence fell over the two friends, each lost in her thoughts. Roxanne couldn't really believe her ears. She was sure that Dorcas was head over heels for Sirius, but now she wasn't so sure. Every time she had mentioned Sirius before Dorcas would get all misty eyed and say how much she adored him, but now... Now it just seemed that Dorcas was waiting for a good enough excuse to kick him to the curb. Maybe the love word just scared her. Maybe she wasn't ready for the type of commitment Sirius seemed like he was ready for.

Across the table, Dorcas was battling with herself. She knew she adored Sirius, she kinda always had a thing for him. Maybe she was just being shallow. She wanted him when she didn't have him but now that she did, she didn't want him. Dorcas rolled her eyes internally. What an idiot she was being. They were just two silly words and she was letting it ruin something wonderful. She just needed to stop worrying and take it as a complement. It was Sirius Black for goodness sake. She knew he didn't mean 'love ya' as something so serious. He was probably just trying to be funny anyway. She was dragged out of her thoughts when she heard Marlene's voice behind her. "Hey girls. It's about time for my surprise. Are you guys ready?"

Dorcas nodded and took the last couple drinks of her coffee, and Roxanne did the same. "Did you end up getting anything else besides the flats Lily?" Roxanne asked curiously.

"No, I couldn't find anything else I wanted."

The girls walked a few blocks and stopped in front of a fancy spa. "Surprise!" Marlene said happily with a giggle.

Dorcas gazed at the spa confused. "Marlene, I really don't think I have the money for this."

Marlene waved a hand dismissively. "It's on me and already paid for."

The three girls looked at her in disbelief. "What?" They exclaimed in harmony.

"Yeah, I had some money saved up and decided I wanted to treat my friends. Come on, we're going to miss our appointments."

Lily looked shocked. "I just can't accept this Marley, this had to be crazy expensive!"

"If you don't come in Lils, I'm going to cry. So we might as well just skip the scene and get some quality relaxation." Marlene said with a smile. The girls kept stammering their thanks and Marlene waved another dismissive hand. "It's nothing. My pleasure. Now come on!" She said holding the door open for them. The girls went into the spa, ready for some facials, massages and manicures.

About three hours later, the four girls were relaxing in Marlene's living room, very rested from their spa day. They had all changed into some comfy pajamas and were lounging around, just gossiping. Dorcas laughed at something Marlene had just said and took a sip of lemon tea. "So when are you guys planning on going to James's?" She asked everyone.

"Probably not until Wednesday or Thursday," Roxanne said as she adjusted herself on some pillows.

"Same I think," Lily looked thoughtful. "I told him sometime after today."

Marlene looked surprised. "You didn't tell me you talked to James."

"Once. He sent me a letter asking me to stay, and I wrote back telling him okay."

Everyone smiled. "Well that was nice of him. Personally inviting you." Marlene said.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't make to much of it. I'm sure he just thought I wouldn't go unless he did personally invite me. Besides he has eased up a bit on the egotism."

Roxanne nodded. "He really has Lily. Ever thought of giving him a chance? He obviously adores you."

Lily looked embarrassed. "He does not."

Dorcas shook her head. "Oh Lily, I know you don't believe that. It is way to obvious and you are way to smart to let it get passed you."

Lily looked even more embarrassed at that. "Okay so maybe he likes me. Fine. I concur. Are we done talking about me? Let's talk about Marlene and Remus."

The three girls looked Marlene's way and she blushed crimson. "There is no Marlene and Remus, so let's not," she said edgily.

Dorcas laughed. "Okay, we won't embarrass you. Change of subject."

"Thank you," Marlene told her, and she smiled.

Roxanne stretched out on the couch and yawned. She looked at a clock on the mantle and it said 6:00 pm. "Oh, I better get going so I can make it home for dinner." She stood up and started gathering her things. She then turned to Marlene. "Thank you.. for what you did. It means a lot."

Marlene smiled. "Of course. We will really have to do it again sometime. I'll see you at James's here in a few days."

Roxanne smiled too. "Sounds great. Thanks again." Marlene nodded and the two girls hugged. "I'll see the two of you soon as well." Roxanne told the other girls.

Dorcas nodded. "Okay, see you at James's. Or I might stop by the store before then too."

"Okay, that sounds great. I'll see you later. Bye Lily, I'll see you at James's too."

Lily nodded too. "K, see you." Roxanne hugged them all and waved. She went to the door and let herself out.

"Okay, well I better go too," Dorcas said. "Thank you so much Marlene, you really didn't have to do all this."

Marlene smiled. "Of course I did, anything for my bestest friends."

Dorcas laughed. "Okay, I'll see you guys at James's. Bye!" She too gathered up her things and left.

"Wanna go to my room Lily? We can lounge around in there and talk. You're still staying over right?" Marlene asked her best friend.

"Yep," Lily smiled. "Lets go, I wanna see how you redecorated. Remember you were telling me?"

"Oh right! I forgot that you haven't seen it yet. Come on, I'll show you. You'll love it."

The girls made their way upstairs, very satisfied with how their day went. It was sure nice to know that even though there was a war raging all around them, they could always make some girl time.

A.N. Well that was kinda filler. I'm not exactly happy with this chapter, but there is a reason I included it. Hope you guys like it.