Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling. They are used without permission, and no money is being made from this story. All original characters are my creation.

Lessons Taught, Lessons Learned

Chapter Nine: The Halloween Costume Ball

"I should really go get ready," Trista said.

"Oh, but Trista," Patrick fake-whined, "We're having so much fun."

"I know," Trista replied, "And I'm sorry, but I really should get ready."

"I don't understand why you girls need three hours to get ready," Patrick replied.

Trista smiled and shrugged before hurrying to the sixth year girls' dorm to get ready. She hopped into the shower again and washed from head to toe. The other girls were probably going to come in and start getting ready too, so Trista had to hurry this shower. She just couldn't risk being seen with her wings out without being in her costume gown.

As soon as her shower was done, Trista scrambled into her underwear and applied lotion to her skin as quickly as she could. Then, she used her wand to dry her hair, but did nothing else to it at the moment. Now, all she had to do was get into her gown before the other girls came in and-.

Oh no.

In a moment of panic Trista realized that she had forgotten to bring her gown into the bathroom with her. It was hanging in her wardrobe where she had stashed it away under an invisibility spell so the other girls wouldn't see it. Now she either had to risk her secret being revealed or wrap her wings up, dress in plain robes, and come up with a lame excuse not to go to the ball. And at the last minute, no less.

Trista had to think fast; she could wrap her wings and put on plain robes long enough to go get the gown. That was a good idea, but there was still the matter of getting into it before the girls came in. If they saw here halfway into her gown with her wings protruding from her back, they would figure out her secret. No, she had to be in that gown by the time they came in so she could tell them that the wings are part of the costume.

Seeming to have no other choice, Trista carefully pulled open the bathroom door and peeked out. The girls weren't back yet, thankfully, so if she hurried, she could grab the gown and get back into the bathroom before they did get back. Assuming, of course, that they weren't in the common room at that very moment.

Trista took a deep breath and dashed out of the bathroom and to her wardrobe. She threw it open, took the invisibility spell off her gown, grabbed it, and ran back to the bathroom. She hadn't timed herself, but as she took a short moment to catch her breath, Trista guessed she had done it all in fewer than ten seconds.

There was no time for dwelling on it, however. Trista hung the gown up on a hook used for hanging bathrobes or towels with the back side facing out. She pulled out a wand and cast a charm that would allow the material on the back of the gown to become intangible temporarily. That would allow her wings to go through without having to rip the gown. The charm would wear off after about ten minutes, so Trista hoped she could be in the gown within that amount of time.

When she pulled the dress on, Trista felt like a completely different person. Having an excuse to have her wings out and let people see them was a freedom she hadn't experienced in a long time. She smiled to herself and walked over to the vanity to figure out how to do her hair.

"Oh, Trista!" a voice gushed.

Trista spun around, her eyes wide and panic rushing through her when she saw Isabella standing there with her mouth gaping. Was the intangibility charm still working? Did Isabella know her secret?

No, idiot, a voice in Trista's head said, Intangibility and invisibility are two different things.

Trista relaxed slightly, "Hey, Isa," she said. "I was really hoping I would be ready before anyone saw."

"I was coming up to take a shower," Isabella began, "I-but-you. Wow."

"Well, now that you're here, I could use help deciding what to do with my hair," Trista replied.

"I'll go get the other girls," Isabella said.

"Do you have enough time?" Trista asked.

"Oh, sure," Isabella replied.

Isabella turned and disappeared from the bathroom and returned a few moments later with the other girls in tow. They all gasped at Trista who, instead of feeling more and more confident, began to feel nervous. What if they hadn't gasped positively? What if something was wrong with her gown? What if she had put an invisibility charm on it by accident?

"Trista needs our help," Isabella said, "What should she do with her hair?"

Trista breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that she indeed had not put an invisibility charm on the gown. The other girls surrounded her and began to discuss ideas about her hair.

"I appreciate this," Trista said, "But if you need to get ready, then by all means go do so. I can manage this."

"Trista, this costume is far too beautiful to just wear any old hairstyle with," Allie said.

"Right," Gertrude agreed, "We have to find the perfect hairstyle for this."

The girls set to work taking turns waving their wands around Trista's head in a myriad of styles. Up do's, curls, straightened, chignons, twists, tendrils, waves all one right after another. Trista turned them all down; she did want to have the perfect hairstyle for this too after all.

"Let me try one more," Amy said and waved her wand.

It was Trista's turn to gasp as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair had been done in a half-up half-down romantic style with soft curls cascading down her back that complemented the gown and her wings perfectly.

"What about this," Isabella began, but Trista had to cut her off.

"No," she said holding her hand up, "This is it. This is perfect. Thank you so much! Now, please, go get ready. I want to see your costumes!"

"Well then," Isabella replied with a smile, "I guess that all that's left is your make-up. We can help you again when we're down showering."

"I can handle that," Trista replied with a smile.

While the other girls showered, Trista turned back to the mirror. She had planned from the beginning to go simple with her makeup. A natural look that would highlight her features without taking away from the gown. She applied her foundation and powder first followed by blush and lipstick. Then she applied eye shadow, liner, and mascara after using a charm to curl her eyelashes.

Trista went back into the dorm room to get the mask and brought it into the bathroom. She sat in front of the mirror and held it up near her face without actually putting it on. The effect of the whole thing put together was amazing. If the gown alone made her feel like a different person, the entire costume made her feel…special. Like she would turn heads and make people wonder who the mysterious girl no one had ever seen before was.

After the other girls had finished their showers and were in their costumes, Trista had her chance to gasp appreciatively. They had each chosen a costume that not only looked good, but also suited their personality. Trista helped as they all decided how to do their hair and makeup.

And then it was time.

It was time to go down to the common room to meet Patrick and see his costume. Trista's heart began to flutter in nervousness, and she felt suddenly ill.

"Are you all right, Trista?" Isabella asked.

"Fine," Trista replied, "Just nervous. I've never been to school ball."

"You'll be fine," Isabella reassured her.

"Yeah, you look amazing," Allie added.

"Thanks," Trista replied, "You guys look really great too."

"Yeah, but you, you look beyond great," Allie replied.

"I think maybe we should stand behind Patrick in case he faints," Amy teased.

"Stop it, you guys. He wouldn't faint," Trista replied laughing.

"You know what?" Gertrude said changing the subject, "This is one of those times when you can't just go downstairs like a normal day. In that costume, you have to be introduced."

"Oh, she's right," Allie replied, "Like in the movies when the guy comes to pick up the girl for the dance and she walks down the stairs and…" her voice trailed off into a sigh.

"What's a movie?" Trista asked.

"We'll tell you later," Isabella promised and guided Trista to the door. "Now, you just wait here until we give you the signal and. - Oh, put your mask on. – Then, when we give you the signal, come out."

"What's the signal?" Trista asked.

"You'll know it," Isabella replied.

"Okay," Trista replied and stood next to the door as her friends filed out and went to the common room.

She waited and listened for the signal as the fluttering in her heart took on a new meaning. There was still nervousness there, but now she felt more excited than nervous. Maybe it was the dress, maybe it was her hair, maybe it was the freedom of letting her wings out, or maybe it was the introduction the girls were giving her. Maybe it was Patrick; maybe.

"Now, you just turn this way and wait."

Trista looked up at the sound of Isabella's voice from the common room. Was that the signal? She waited for a moment to see if she heard anything else. When she didn't, she realized that it must have been the signal, and she took a deep breath and she walked to the common room.

Patrick was watching the archway that led back to the girls' dorms, and when Trista came into the room, his mouth dropped open and he stared at her in awe. He was dressed like a Roman warrior, complete with a shield. Trista didn't quite know what to do, so she smiled softly and nervously touched her hair.

Behind Patrick, the girls were grinning at Trista, but when thirty seconds went by and Patrick still hadn't said anything, they started to grab pillows and cushions and toss them into the floor behind Patrick. Trista covered her mouth with her hand to hide her giggle, but it proved pointless when the little giggle turned into a full out laugh.

Patrick finally seemed to snap out of it, "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," Trista said in between laughs.

"See you two at the ball," Amy called as she and the other girls left the common room.

Trista walked closer to Patrick and as she did, she realized that they were the only people in the common room. They smiled nervously at each other and then laughed.

"You look great," they both said at the same time.

"You too," they replied in unison.

They laughed again, and Patrick smiled a genuine smile at her. "You look wonderful, Trista," he said.

"You do too," Trista replied.

"So, umm, should we go now?" Patrick asked.

"Sure," Trista replied.

Patrick straightened his helmet and then offered Trista his arm, which she accepted, and they headed for the Great Hall. The entrance hall was filled with students milling about outside, mostly people going to the ball, but there was the occasional fifth year and younger trying to sneak in.

Trista and Patrick made their way through the crowd and into the Great Hall. Trista had to yet again gasp because the Great Hall had been completely transformed. The house tables were gone, and in their place were several round tables that seated six. The centerpiece of each table was a flickering mini jack-o-lantern that floated a few inches above the table. There were also small bags at each seat, but Trista didn't know what they were for. Regular sized jack-o-lanterns floated near the enchanted ceiling casting a flickering glow over the whole scene.

Trista and Patrick found a table that no one had sat at yet and claimed it. They sat and watched the proceedings as other students came in wearing their costumes, which ranged from elaborate to just plain silly. Patrick's hand brushed Trista's and then took hold of it and gave it a light squeeze. He looked over at her, so she smiled and squeezed back.

Soon, when everyone was in the Great Hall, Headmaster Grinkleby made a short speech explaining how dinner would work and then waved his wand so that menus appeared in front of everyone. Trista looked over the choices and chose roast and potatoes, which appeared before her as soon as she said it.

"Now that's service! Steak and eggs!" Patrick exclaimed, and a plate of steak and eggs appeared before him. "Amazing."

When dinner was over, Grinkleby asked everyone to stand in the middle of the Great Hall, and then he waved his wand so that the tables flew over the walls where they settled back down. A band of musical instruments floated into the room to gasps of delights and cheers. They set themselves up and then began to play a slow waltz. Everyone began to groan and shout for more modern music.

"This isn't modern music?" Grinkleby asked.

"Of course it isn't," a boy shouted back. "Play The Fantastic Dragons!"

"Or Conjuring Merlin!" a girl called.

"How about a band called 'The Perplexing Pixies'?" Grinkleby asked. "I hope you know them because, well…"

He stepped back and five people walked into the Great Hall from a room that was near the head table. The students broke out into tumultuous applause and screams as they realized that Grinkleby hadn't tricked them and that The Perplexing Pixies were actually setting up their instruments to play.

The band began to play and everyone started to dance. Trista and Patrick danced wildly, never letting go of each other's hand. The ball was alive with energy and music.

"Okay, now it's time for a slow song for all you couples," the lead singer announced. A few people groaned, but he laughed and continued, "Don't worry, just one. Use it to catch your breath."

A large handful of people walked back over to the tables. Trista looked at Patrick wondering if maybe he wanted to skip the slow songs, but he shrugged and squeezed her hands again. Relieved, Trista stepped closer to him and, as the music began, they began to turn in a slow circle.

"Trista," Patrick said.

"Yeah?" Trista replied.

"Are you my girl?" he asked. "Can I call you my girlfriend?"

Trista smiled and nodded, "Of course you can."

No other words were said, but Patrick tightened the arm around her waist slightly and they continued to dance in slow circles even as the slow song ended and faster ones started back up. Eventually, they both started dancing to the beat until they were exhausted and had to go sit down.

"What do you suppose these bags are for?" Trista asked looking into one, which was empty.

"Don't know," Patrick replied, looking into one as well. "Candy?"

They sat holding hands and watched everyone dance and have a good time. Trista had to keep biting her lip to keep from squealing. Two months ago if anyone had told her she'd have a muggleborn boyfriend and be excited about, she'd have laughed at them. Now, it was possibly the best thing in the world.

"Hey, you want to go for a quick walk?" Patrick asked, "For fresh air."

"Sure," Trista agreed.

They left unnoticed like the several other couples that had already snuck off. They walked to the courtyard where they'd had breakfast that morning and Patrick held out a handful of puffapod seeds. They took turns throwing them against the stone floor and watching them burst into bright pink flowers.

Trista threw the last seed and laughed as it burst into bloom. She noticed Patrick turning to face her, so she turned as well. She was still laughing slightly, but when Patrick's hand came up and touched her face lightly, her breath hitched slightly. His hand caressed her face lightly and she watched as he leaned his face closer and closer to hers until she had no choice but to close her eyes.

Patrick pressed his lips to hers in a soft, almost experimental kiss. Trista was surprised by it at first, but then she relaxed and returned it. It was a short kiss, but Trista knew she wouldn't soon forget it or the entire day. This had been, by far, the best Halloween ever.

(Author's Notes: This was a long chapter and one I've been looking forward to writing since I began the story. Thanks to everyone who's been reading so far, I hope you stick around for the rest of the story.)