Chapter 4: Perfect Knight In Shining Armor

The Halloween dance. A phenomenon which turned Hogwarts corridors into a battlefield between girls of all ages. Lux had kept out of that battle until now. She'd kindly helped Rose get the boys she wanted, but then she hadn't hoped to be asked or ask someone herself. Since she'd been considered odd until this year. She'd usually spent the evening alone in her dorm, eating cheeseballs and reading sappy muggle romance novels.

But not this year. Rose and Dominique made sure that she knew that. Somehow Dominique had figured out that Lux liked Anthony (cough, Rose told her) and now the two of them made a plan how to get him to ask her.

"It's an impossible task girls, just give it up" Lux exclaimed to the two cousins, who where talking simultaneously as they looked through Rose's closet (when you where only two people in a dorm you could fit a closet in). Dominique turned around with a frown.

"How many times do I have to tell you? You're going to the dance with Anthony Corner!"

"But how? I'm not pretty and I'm not cool" Lux gestured at herself, it was Friday night and she was wearing light blue jeans and a oversized t-shirt, her blonde and blue hair up in a ponytail. No makeup.

"Tomorrow, you're going to borrow some nice clothes by Rose, you're about the same size, and some makeup from me, and then you're going to look gorgeous. Okay?" Dominique used a sweet voice as if she was talking to a six year old kid and not a sixteen year old teenager.

"I'm not wearing Rose's clothes, they're slutty"

"Hey!" Rose pressed one of her mini-skirts to her chest like a teddy bear, stroking it lovingly while glaring at Lux.

"That's the point!" Dominique waved her hands in the air, looking slightly crazy. Lux had noticed that Dominique wasn't as intimidating as you thought, actually she was slightly weird and very funny.

"Okay okay, but nothing too slutty"

"I'm still here" Rose said sourly, neither Lux nor Dominique glanced at her.

"Nah, we'll be going for cute or classy, or sexy, I haven't decided yet"

"Ehm, skip the last one will ya?"

"We'll see…"

"It sounds like you're plotting my death" Lux shivered.

"Don't be silly, I'll come by tomorrow morning, see you then" Dominique waved slightly at Rose and then shut the door behind her, leaving Lux and Rose alone again.

"So have you talked to Albus yet?" Rose asked, with her back against Lux.

"Nope"

"Your brothers?"

"Not since the Goyle-incident"

"Hm… you know that Albus is going with Mary Spinnet right?"

"Uhm, no, but why should I care?" Lux managed to conceal her sudden urge to jump from the bed.

"No reason" Rose sounded extremely secretive, and Lux rolled her eyes.

"You haven't told me which boy who's going to be your victim this year?" Lux mused, and Rose finally turned her head away from her closet.

"Victim? Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"You date 'em, you dump 'em. I'd call it a victim" Lux grinned, it was true. Rose had a history of breaking nice guys heart. But she only did it on Halloween, so they should know by now to be careful.

"I'm going with Scorpius"

Lux choked on the air in her lungs.

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, so what?"

"He's- he's… actually perfect" Lux lit up to Rose's big surprise. "He's known for being a playboy and then none of you will get hurt after your one night stand"

"It's not a one night stand"

"One night snog then" Lux rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, he's hot and I'm angry with my dad so I thought it would be a good punishment to him too"

"Merlin Rose, you're truly evil. Maybe you're the next Dark Lord"

"I'll be happy as your right hand"

"Ah, my loyal servant"

"Second in command, not servant"

"Okay okay"

The next morning Lux was woken outrageously early by Rose and Dominique, hovering over her. Lux dragged her covers above her head.

"Go away"

"Don't you want to look pretty?" Rose chirped.

"Are you saying I'm ugly" Lux gave her best friend a look as she squinted up over her covers. Rose sighed.

"No, I'm saying that you'll have to make some effort if you want to go to the dance with Anthony, and you're going to hurry up because a guy like him isn't free for long"

"Ugh, just… go easy on me, okay?" Lux begged the two cousins, who smiled too innocently for Lux to fell entirely comfortable.

"Of course"

Lux should have known better then to rust Rose Weasley. Or anyone with the same last name.

An hour later she was staring at herself in the mirror, feeling highly uncomfortable. It wasn't that she didn't look good, she just wasn't used to showing so much skin, or feeling so… fixed.

Her hair had been blown out in light waves, the blue a nice contrast to the light blonde. She was wearing a v-neck top in black, and a blue way to short skirt to that. Knee-high stockings and a pair of black boots. They'd painted her with mascara and eyeliner to frame her grey eyes, and Lux had to admit she liked the effect. It made her look bad and feminine on the same time. She'd promptly refused the red lipstick or any other makeup, the eyes was enough.

"You look dangerously good" Dominique grinned, looking over her as if she where a good piece of painting, Lux blushed and tugged at her skirt.

"Does the skirt have to be so short? If I bend down I'm going to show my knickers" And they where pink, with teddy bears on them. She liked teddy bears okay? So showing them would be very awkward.

"Then don't bend down, simple mathematics" Rose grinned, Lux made a face at her best friend.

"So, what do I do now?"

"Now you go down to the great hall, eat breakfast, and wait for Anthony to ask you out" Dominique pushed her towards the door, and Lux where too surprised to resist.

"And you think that's going to work? I thought only smart people where supposed to be in Ravenclaw"

"Then how did you get here?" Rose smirked, and Lux rolled her eyes. She'd asked for that one.

"Trust me, I know this stuff" Dominique smiled, and Lux couldn't argue with that.

Together the three girls walked down the stairs, and Lux was glad they hadn't made her wear heals. It probably would probably ruined the effect if she toppled over in the middle of the great hall. Not that it hadn't happened before. Because it had. Many times.

"Take a deep breath" Rose ordered as they got closer to the door, and Lux nodded.

"You ready?" Dominique asked. Lux nodded again.

"Then show them what you've got girl" Dominique grinned and pushed her forward, Lux glanced back once to see that the two cousins where right behind her. Then she walked through the door.

The effect wasn't immediate, it wasn't like in the movies when everyone turn around and gasp simultaneously. But she did stop for an instant in the doorway, and Rose mumbled something about 'dramatic effect' behind her. But she only let her eyes flow over the Ravenclaw table, and noticed Anthony and Cody at the far end. She started walking, concentrating not to fall over.

That's when people started staring. They turned around in their seats and openly stared. How rude.

But it was different. The way the boys raised their eyebrows in silent approval and the girls narrowed theirs, as if noticing a new enemy. Lux couldn't help but glance over towards the Gryffindor table as she passed them, Albus jaw was dropped, and he looked astounded. Henry was blinking repeatedly together with James and Fred. Her brothers where looking thoroughly annoyed.

But none of that mattered when she slid down next to a very surprised Cody, and stole a glance at Anthony across the table. He was looking at her like he'd never seen her before, she smiled tryingly.

"Morning" She said, trying to make her voice normal and indifferent, as Rose and Dominique slid down as usually and started piling food onto their plates as maniacs. Weasley genes.

"Morning" Anthony mumbled, barely audible.

"Who are you and what did you do to Lu?" Cody said, his eyebrows raised, Lux blushed slightly.

"What?"

"Nothing" Cody shook his head in amazement and then returned to his food, grinning to himself.

"So, has everyone got a date to the dance yet?" Rose asked casually, and Lux gave her a warning look. Wasn't that too obvious? But apparently it wasn't, because Cody shrugged.

"Some Hufflepuff girl"

"Not yet" Anthony answered distractedly, still looking back at Lux frequently.

"Dominique?" Rose elbowed her cousin, who made an apologetic face.

"I'm going with Lorcan"

"WHAT?" Lux forgot that she was trying to look mysterious and cool and dropped her fork with a clatter, staring at Dominique. "You've got to be kidding me?"

"What? He's cute!"

"He's annoying!"

"To you yes, but no to me…" Dominique smiled faintly, and Lux leaned back with a defeated sigh. She shouldn't be so surprised, Dominique was related to both James and Fred, and she knew Lux liked Anthony, the other seventh year boys weren't much to talk about.

"If you snog with him I never want to hear about it, ever!"

"Yes Captain" Dominique brought her hand to her forehead in a strict motion, and everyone laughed.

When Lux was about to leave, Anthony caught up to her in the corridor. Rose and Dominique continued ahead and Lux smiled up at him with her heart beating wildly in her chest.

"Uhm…I… I was just wondering…."

"Yes?" Should she bat her eyelashes? Ugh, that would be so tacky.

"I was wondering if you would like to go to the dance with me?" Anthony finally said, only sounding slightly nervous. Lux was pretty sure her heart skipped a beat.

"I'd love to" She grinned, not caring if she ruined her bad girl look.

"Great, I'll see you around then"

"Probably at lunch" She joked, and he laughed.

"Of course, bye Lu"

"See you later" Lux waved slightly and the moment she turned around she saw Rose and Dominique hiding behind a statue, looking at her with big eyes. She grinned widely at them and they threw their fist into the air, dancing around on the spot silently. Lux looked back to see that Anthony was gone and joined the other two in their dancing.

Lux Scamander where going to the Halloween Dance. With Anthony freaking Corner. She stopped abruptly.

"Girls…" The other twos topped, looking at her wonderingly "I don't have a dress"

A few hours later the three girls entered a robe shop in Hogsmeade. Lucky it was Hogsmeade Weekend.

"Here" Rose piled dress after dress in every colour available onto Lux until she staggered.

"Uh Rose"

"Yes?"

"Nothing pink and fluffy"

"Uh…. Well, then you don't have to try on half of those" Rose grinned apologetically as Lux glared and dropped the pile on a chair to look through it. There was pink extremely short dresses, bumblebee yellow strapless ones and purple long ones. Lux didn't even look twice on them. She wasn't getting into one of those, no way.

Dominique had drifted off by herself and Lux followed her example and started filing through the rows, leaving Rose chattering to herself. Maha.

She'd almost given up when she suddenly caught sight of something shimmering grey. She dragged the dress out and eyed it for a second. This one might actually work she thought to herself. Lux quickly took a changing room and stripped out of her clothes so that she could pull the dress over her head. It fit perfectly and she stepped out to show Rose and Dominique with a grin.

"What are they doing here?" She exclaimed as she stepped out, only to find that Albus, her brothers, Henry, Fred and James where lounged on the chairs outside the changing rooms. They all looked up at her surprised as Rose squealed.

"Aw that one's perfect! If you don't buy it I'll haunt you when I die"

"Dang, I'd planned on haunting you" Lux replied, as Dominique circled her.

"It's great, right guys?" Dominique glanced at the boys, and Lux followed her gaze. Once again they looked at her like they'd never seen her before. And she saw Lorcan elbowing James beside him.

"Stop staring idiot"

"I wasn't staring" James held his hands up, as Lysander also glared at him.

"I still don't get what they're doing here" Lux said coldly, as she checked her reflection in the mirror. The dress was floor length, strapless in a shimmer grey material that was in the exact same shade as her eyes.

"Well, they're actually our friends" Rose said matter of fact "And they saw us in here and thought they'd stop by, apparently they're looking for dress robes"

"Then why aren't they doing that?" Lux glared at the group of boys, and everyone shot up except Albus.

"Yes mum" Lysander smirked as he passed her and she pointed her tongue at him.

"I better help Lorcan, so we don't mismatch completely" Dominique dashed after Lux's brother.

"I need to keep looking for a dress" Rose wandered off before Lux had the time to stop her. And suddenly she was alone at the changing rooms with Albus Jackass Potter.

"Why aren't you leaving?" She snapped.

"I already have dress robes" He muttered back just as angrily, crossing his arms and slouching down lower on the chair. She glared down at him.

"Can't you go away anyway?"

"You can't make me, it's a free country and I'm allowed to do what I want to" He sounded defiant and she took a ragged breath.

"Jackass" She said under her breath, not loud enough for him to hear.

"I didn't know you where going to the dance" He suddenly said, as she was hitching her skirt up to walk back to the changing room.

"I didn't either until today" She answered truthfully.

"Who are you going with?" He looked up at her lazily, looking like he didn't care either way.

"Anthony Corner"

"Corner?" Suddenly Albus had shot up, his jaw clenched. She raised her eyebrow.

"Something wrong?"

"No" He said shortly.

"I'm going to change" She walked back into the changing room, and closed the curtain harshly behind her.

"Just call if there's anything I can do to help" Albus said, and she could almost hear the smirk in his voice. She poked her head out and glared at him.

"Don't you dare peaking!"

"I would never" He held his hands up with an innocent look, and she grunted before once again pulling the curtains closed.

"It's not that I wouldn't want to…" Albus voice was right outside her booth, and it was thick with sarcastic humor. She growled at him, as she tried to work the zipper on the back.

"You're an ass Albus"

"So you've said before"

"Does those lines ever work?"

"Surprisingly often"

"Moron" She was thoroughly annoyed when she realized that the zipper was stuck. Crap.

She opened the curtains with a swoosh, and Albus who was leaning against the wall beside the booth looked surprised.

"I need your help" She muttered darkly, and for a second Albus face showed even more surprise before he smoothed it over with a grin.

"I knew you would"

"Oh shut up, the zipper's stuck" She turned her back towards him, and then pressed her hands to her sides to keep the dress up as it was unzipped. She'd glanced at him over her shoulder as he didn't move.

"I'm not liking this, but I want to get out of this dress so get your damned arse over here and unzip me!"

"Oh right" Albus twitched and took one long step towards her, she turned to look ahead and took a deep breath. A jolt went through her as Albus fingers made contact with the bare skin on her back, and she tried not to twitch. He struggled for a second, his hands warm against her back before it smoothly went down. She felt him hesitating at her lower back, and instead of opening all the way down left it half way.

She'd expected him to be grinning as she turned around blushing, but he was also looking a little out of place and stepped away a step.

"Thanks" She mumbled shortly before darting into the booth again. She heard him mumbling something but not what. She was too preoccupied trying to calm her breath. It wasn't the fact that it was Albus, it was the fact that it was a boy. She didn't have very much experience on that area.

Oh god, she was going to die. Anthony was going to think she was completely stupid.

But she could still almost feel Albus hands on her back, and it was hard not to think about how it would feel to kiss him.

Rewind. She didn't think that. She'd never think hat. That never happened.

She quickly stripped out of the dress, and pulled her clothes on. When she was done the changing room area was once again filled with people, Dominique was phrasing Lorcan on a dress robe and Rose where telling Henry that he'd fit better in blue then grey. Albus was looking mildly amused.

"I'm done, who wants to go to the three broomsticks?" She asked, and Rose looked up with a grin.

"I'm on"

A few days later Lux was once again dressed with both makeup and hairstyling. Rose had made some complex braids in her hair and then pulled it up into a bun, letting single strands frame her face. Lux felt nicer then she'd done in a long time, she actually felt beautiful, not insecure like she'd done in the short skirt.

"Anthony is waiting for you down in the common room" Dominique plopped her head in through the door. Lux caught a glimpse of the swishy golden dress she was wearing.

"If Lorcan doesn't tell you how beautiful you look I'll personally kill him" She grinned at Dominique, who smiled ruefully.

"If he don't then I'll just dump him, Dominique Weasley doesn't dress up for no one"

"You go girl" Rose said randomly as she came out from the bathroom. She was dressed in a deep green classically cut short dress, but she'd let her hair hang and had small white earrings on, and matching high heeled shoes.

"Wow Rose, you look incredibly classy" Lux blinked, and Rose made a little pirouette.

"I do don't I?" Rose smiled charmingly, and Lux understood why boys went out with her even thought they knew she'd dump them. She was just that girl.

"Well then, I'm going down to Anthony, pray for me and hope I don't trip before we even start dancing" Lux said, slightly grim.

"You won't, and if you do, Anthony will gladly act as your knight in shining armor" Rose pushed her towards the door, witch Dominique held open with a grand gesture. Lux took a deep breath.

"You look amazing, go get him" Rose gave her a final scuff that sent her stumbling down the stairs. Let's say she didn't exactly make the entrance she'd wished, but instead she toppled into the common room with a flushed face and pushed strands of hair out of her face.

"Hi" She breathed as she saw Anthony, trying to steady herself. Well, lets hope first impression wasn't very important when it came to dances.

"Hi Lu, you look great" Anthony grinned, and held his hand out. She blushed before linking her arms with his.

"You too" He did, he was certainly prince charming in his black dress robes and perfect mahogany hair. He was as handsome as ever.

They walked down to the great hall together, chatting about nothing in particular, and Lux didn't trip once in the stairs, even if she kept stepping on the dress. She felt secure with Anthony beside her. When they entered the hall it was beautifully decorated as always, and the tables had been taken away.

"Well hello beautiful" Suddenly Cody slid up on her other side, grinning widely. Anthony rolled his eyes while Lux gave Cody a reprimanding glance.

"I'm not sure your date will be very thrilled when you go around telling other girls they're beautiful"

"Bah, she was boring" Cody rolled his eyes, and ambushed another of their teammates a few feet away. Anthony looked amused.

"Seems like I won't be the only one requiring dances from you tonight"

"Ah, but then I'm not going to dance" Lux said, and he stopped.

"Why not?"

"Have you met me? I can't cross a smooth surface, what makes you think I can dance?"

"Oh right, well I'll help you" He grinned, and she pouted. She didn't trust him that much. She'd just been crushing on him for years, nothing huge.

"Hi guys!" Rose chirped, dragging a slightly sour looking Scorpius behind her. Lux and Anthony nodded towards him and he nodded back. Lux hadn't talked to the guy but she didn't have anything against him either.

"Hi Rose, how's life rolling since we said goodbye fifteen minutes ago?" Lux said, and Rose rolled her eyes.

"I'm trying to hide from Albus and James, they keep being mean to Scorpius"

"Which I can handle" Scorpius added, and Rose patted his arm.

"I'm sure you can darling" Then she stage whispered "He can't!"

"Rose!" He exclaimed, sounding very un-slytherinish. Lux chuckled, she had no doubt that he could handle the two Potter brothers.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want you getting hurt-"

"Let's just dance or something okay?" Scorpius yanked a giggling Rose with him out on the floor and Anthony exchanged a look with Lux.

"Well there's a sight I'd never think I'd see"

"Amen to that" Lux said in a deep voice, and Anthony chuckled.

That's when she saw Albus. Well, more exactly she saw Mary sucking his face of. Okay passionately kissing was more the right word, but you get it. Lux stomach ached uncomfortably as she saw Mary's hands go through Albus already tousled hair, as they backed further and further into the corner until they where completely in the shadow. Lux swallowed hard, trying to ignore the strange aching feeling.

"He's such a man-whore" Anthony said darkly from beside her, and she nodded in agreement.

"Yeah"

"Wanna dance then?"

"Sure" She answered despite herself, everything to get the picture of Albus and Mary out of her head. Mary was one of the best looking girl in school, with strawberry blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Tonight she'd been wearing a daring deep red dress that made Lux want to shrink together in comparison.

But why was she thinking about Albus when her knight in shining armor where leading her onto the dance floor, placing his hand on her back like a perfect gentleman? While Albus was snogging in the corner with Mary. She was just comparing the good guy to the bad guy. Okay?

"This is going good" Anthony said as they started moving to the music, as more and more couples filed onto the floor. She caught sight of Cody and the Hufflepuff girl, who was glaring at him. Lorcan and Dominique, and judging from Dominique's dreaming look he'd passed the test. Rose and Scorpius where laughing together about something as James passed them glaring. Henry sat at the side, glaring intently at Scorpius too. Mental sigh, did she have to do everything around here?

"Sorry, but there is something I have to do, is it okay if I leave for a second?" She asked apologetically to Anthony, who nodded. She mentally grinned, now she got away from the dancing too. She really felt uncomfortable on the floor, despite Anthony.

"Sure, I'll see ya soon"

"Bye" She turned around to leave, but he caught her arm and dragged her back. Suddenly she was trapped inside his arm, dangerously close to his face.

"Uh-"

"Just to make sure someone else won't steal you away" He mumbled, and bent down to give her soft kiss on the lips. Lux forgot to close her eyes in shock and was still staring straight ahead as he let her go.

"Bye" He grinned at her stunned look and gave her a little push. She managed to take a few dizzy steps before she was able to form coherent thoughts again.

Anthony Corner had just kissed her. She'd been kissed by Anthony Corner. Lux Scamander had just had her first kiss. Holy fucking shit.

Then she remembered why she left in the first place, and slightly dazed she walked over to Henry, and sat down on the chair next to him. She saw Lysander flirting with some sixth year Gryffindor's on the other side of the room and rolled her eyes. Henry looked surprised at her.

"Hi Lu"

"Hi Henry" She answered smartly. "Why don't you go and tap Scorpius shoulder, and ask if you can borrow his date for a second" She added in one fluid sentence, and he stared at her.

"Oh Merlin, is it really that obvious?"

"To me it is, but I've known you since we where babies" She grinned. She actually missed Henry, he had been a great best friend once upon a time. She knew Rose was having a blast with Scorpius, but they wouldn't last for long. Lux could actually imagine those two as close friends strangely enough. And the way Rose was laughing, it wasn't the flirty laugh she used when she was interested in someone, it was genuine and happy.

"I don't- I mean she'll be angry and-"

"Just do it politely, and just be really straightforward about this not being about Scorpius but about Rose, okay?"

"O- Okay"

"Go get her dude" She elbowed him, and he reluctantly stood up from the chair, and took a few steps. Then he looked back at her over his shoulder, she nodded encouragingly and he continued.

Just as he was about to tap Scorpius shoulder someone dump down on the now empty chair next to her.

"Aren't you supposed to be dancing with Corner?" Albus said, leaning back lazily. His tie was askew and his hair ruffled.

"Shouldn't you be off snogging with Mary?"

"Been there, done that" Albus grinned wickedly, and she felt the urge to hit him. She gave into the urge.

"Ow!"

"Shut up and watch your best friend get the girl he's been fancying forever!" She pointed towards Henry, who was now dancing to a surprised looking Rose. As Scorpius was walking away amusedly, eyes on a new girl already.

"Henry fancies Rose?" Albus exclaimed in shock, staring at the couple. Lux face-palmed.

"Well duh! Haven't you seen their bantering?"

"Yeah but… Rose, she's my cousin"

"And she deserves someone like Henry, he's a really nice guy" Lux gave Albus a look that said 'unlike you'.

"Well, then I'm happy for him, he needed some action" Albus leaned back again, dragging a hand through his hair.

"Is that everything you think about?"

"What more is there?"

"I don't know, actually liking the person, having fun with the person! The person being special" She exclaimed angrily, not knowing why Albus was upsetting her so much.

"That's a load of bullshit" Albus rolled his eyes. "But you never answered my question, why aren't you up there dancing with Corner? I mean, that's probably the only action you'll be getting"

"I don't like dancing. And for your information that's not only the action I've been getting" She snapped, and shot up from the chair, starting to walk away. Albus followed her.

"What? You've got to be kidding me, he kissed you?"

She didn't answer.

"Corner kissed you?" This time his voice was a little more quiet and uncertain. She whirled around to glare at him, and realized that they where in the middle of the dance floor. Couples swirling around them. Albus jaw was tight as he stared down at her. She pushed her chin out defiantly.

"Yes he kissed me, and now I'm going to go kiss him"

She left him there, in the middle of the floor, and didn't look back to see the expression of hurt that crossed his face before it was replaced by anger.

"There you are, finally" She sighed as she found Anthony outside in the yard a few minutes later, enjoying the clear night.

"It was so nice outside, I thought I'd wait here"

"Yeah it's cold too" She shuttered, and Anthony wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in towards him. Lux smiled up at him, she wasn't going to let Albus Potter ruin her night.

"I'm sorry I had to take off"

"I'm sorry I let you" Anthony mumbled, and she grinned before she placed her hands on his chest and stood up on her tiptoes. He leaned down towards her.

This time she didn't forget to close her eyes, and it was nice, a lot nicer now when she was prepared. Her arms wrapped slowly around his neck, and when he straightened out she was almost lift of her feet.

She'd finally gotten her perfect knight in shining armor. But how come something still ached inside her?

AN: Thanks for all the reviews and fav's and stuff! Keep going and I love ya all!