Authro's notes: Thanks to moonlit severus for the review for chapter seven, Wistful Sage for the review for the prologue, and Disco Inferno1 for all the wonderful reviews of every chapter thus far (glad you're all caught up, babe). I really appreciate the support, and I'm glad you're all enjoying the story so far.
Additional thanks go to Peggy (Medieval Mystic: USER ID: 796384) for doing such a wonderful job beta'ing.
Chapter Eight: Endless Possibilities.
By the time I'd sat down at Ravenclaw table for dinner, I was so anxious about what might happen at Professor Slughorn's party that I couldn't manage to eat a thing. Even the temptation of apple pie and custard for dessert didn't stop the nervous churning in my stomach.
"Jenn, stop worrying. You're going to be fine," Stephanie reassured me as I took long sips of my water in an attempt to calm myself down.
"Yeah, Steph is right. You've got nothing to worry about," added Michelle. "I'm sure you and Remus will have a great time at Professor Slughorn's party."
I looked at my friends, desperately trying to believe they were telling the truth, but I couldn't force my mind to stop coming up with terrible scenarios.
"What if Remus changes his mind and doesn't show up? Or what if I tell him how I feel and he just laughs at me? Or how about if I accidentally trip and make a fool of myself in front of everyone?" I blurted out in a panic. "And don't even ask me what I'm going to wear. I've never been on anything remotely like a date before, so I have no idea what's appropriate and what isn't."
Despite my sudden out burst, my friends looked at me and giggled. I knew they weren't laughing at me in a malicious way and the sight of them making light of the situation caused me to smile too.
"I'm being melodramatic, aren't I?"
"Just a little," giggled Heather.
"Seriously, Jenn, none of those things are going to happen," Michelle continued. "Remus will show up, you'll have a wonderful time together, and I'm sure if you do tell him how you feel, he'll say he feels the same way. As for you accidentally tripping and make a fool of yourself, when has anything like that ever happened in the past?"
I nodded in agreement, realizing I'd worked myself up over Professor Slughorn's party because I was so anxious about what might happen between Remus and I. In reality, I knew the chances of me accidentally tripping and making a fool of myself were minimal. Additionally, I had no reason to believe Remus would change his mind now and not show up to meet me. When I'd spoken to him earlier, despite his shyness, he'd seemed as eager about this gathering as I was.
"As for what you're going to wear, I'm sure I can help you out there," said Stephanie, winking.
With nothing else to fret about, I managed to eat a small serving of apple pie for dessert, then my friends and I made our way out of the Great Hall.
When we reached the doorway that led to the Entrance Hall, I chanced a look over at the Gryffindor table. Remus smiled at me as our eyes met, then rose from his seat slightly.
"I'll see you in about an hour, Jenn," he called.
I blushed deeply as my friends giggled, then I turned to leave. Though not before I saw Remus sit back down and then the other three Marauders began teasing him.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Upstairs in our dormitory, Stephanie began rifling through my trunk to see what robes I had with me.
"Haven't you brought any dress robes or something?" she asked after a few minutes of searching.
"No, it didn't say on our school letter that there's going to be a ball or anything this year, so I didn't think to," I justified. "Won't one of the robes I've got there do?"
Obviously wearing my plain black school robes was out of the question. However, I had brought a small selection of casual robes to wear at weekends and during holidays.
"Well, they're okay for just hanging around the castle, or going to Hogsmeade with us lot, but I'd hardly call them appropriate for trying to impress a boy."
"Remus isn't like that. He won't care what I look like. We're going to Professor Slughorn's party to have a good time together, not to enter in a fashion contest."
"Every boy cares what a girl he's interested in looks like. They may not say it, but guys notice these things. Plus, if you turn up wearing any old thing, and Remus has made an effort to look good, he might start to think you're not interested in him."
While I wasn't convinced that Stephanie was right in her assumption, I had no experience with boys and she did, so I chose to say nothing and nodded my head instead.
"I guess you'll just have to borrow something of mine, then," she continued, turning from my trunk to her own. "If it doesn't fit, we'll just transfigure it so that it does."
Again, I silently nodded and allowed Stephanie to take control.
Ten minutes later, she laid three sets of dress robes on her bed.
"I always pack a few, just in case there's an unexpected social event," she explained, answering the question I hadn't even asked.
I surveyed the presented garments, instantly turning my nose up at the first one. It was teal blue in color and looked like something my Grandma would have worn. I was actually a little shocked that Stephanie even owned dress robes like that one, as she prided herself on being up to date with the latest wizarding fashions.
"No, I don't like this one either," she agreed, as if she'd read my thoughts. "I only packed it because it was a present from my Grandparents."
"It's lovely, really," I said hastily. "Just maybe not something I'd wear to impress Remus."
"It's okay, I understand. How about this one?"
I turned to look at the robes Stephanie was gesturing to and a small gasp escaped my lips.
This one was deep, rose red, and was very revealing for a set of robes. I was sure the hem line wouldn't cover my knees. I didn't even want to think about it's plunging neckline.
Again, sensing my hesitancy, Stephanie said, "I brought this one over the summer while I was on holiday in Paris with my parents. Apparently, it's all the rage over there, and I thought it might catch Sirius' attention."
"Well, it'd certainly do that," giggled Heather.
"Yeah, you're right there. But I think I'll give it a miss, if you don't mind."
Stephanie nodded in understanding, and held up the final set of robes. "Okay, how about these ones?"
"Oh, those would really bring out your eyes," said Michelle.
I looked over at the garment, which were a deep, midnight blue, and smiled.
"They're perfect," I agreed.
Fifteen minutes later, I'd returned from the bathroom, now wearing the robes Stephanie had loaned me. They didn't fit perfectly, as she had a curvier figure than I did, but they still looked very nice.
As I walked over to the bed – where Stephanie was showing the contents of her make up case to Michelle and Heather – they all looked up at me and grinned.
"Wow, Jenn, you looked amazing," Stephanie said, the other two nodding in agreement. "All we need to do now is fix your hair and make up, and you'll look perfect."
"You really think so?" I queried. The last time I'd ever worn anything as fancy as this was for Sarah's naming ceremony when I saw six. I really didn't have any experience with social functions - especially not dates - and I couldn't help but worry that I looked silly being so dressed up.
"Seriously, if Remus isn't interested in you already, he will be after tonight," Michelle added, trying to elevate my fears.
I smiled back at them and nodded my head. However, inside I was beginning to wonder if getting so dressed up was a good idea. Of course, I wanted to look nice. Not only for Remus but for myself, too. The most important thing to me, though, was for Remus to like me because of the type of person I was, not for what I looked like. I wanted him to have feelings for me based on the friendship we'd built up over the past three years, not simply because he thought I was attractive.
Seeming to take my lack of words as an indication that I'd stopped worrying about my appearance, Stephanie rose from the bed, drew her wand and walked towards me. After a few quick swishes, I felt the robes tighten – though not uncomfortably – around my figure, and my hair fall loose of the usual bun I styled it in.
Then, Stephanie led me to the bed and gestured that I should sit down. I followed orders, wondering what she was going to do next, when she opened her makeup case and took out a few brushes.
"Close your eyes, please?" she asked.
"Wouldn't it just be easier to transfigure makeup onto my face?"
"Well, yes, it probably would be. I just think the effects look more natural done the Muggle way."
Knowing nothing about make up, I simply closed my eyes as I'd been told to and allowed Stephanie to take control.
Five minutes later, she announced that she was finished and that I could take a look in the mirror.
I rose from the bed and crossed the room to where a full-length looking glass was situated – my face feeling oddly tight and heavy as I moved.
When I reached the mirror, I looked up hesitantly, then was utterly shocked by what I saw.
The robes Stephanie had loaned me were now clinging to my small figure, amplifying it so that I looked like I had curves I didn't possess. Additionally, my usually neatly-styled hair was now curling around my face in wispy tendrils. However, it was the make up that most startled me. My eyes were lined in black, the lids dusted in a shimmering silver. My lips we glossy and faintly pink, and my cheeks had a rosy glow to them.
"Erm... Stephanie, are you sure this isn't too much?" I questioned hesitantly, not wanting to offend my friend after all the effort she'd gone to. "I look like someone from a Sacharissa Tugwood advertisement."
My friends giggled at the quip about the witch who had first invented a number of cosmetic potions and also discovered the ability of bubotuber pus to cure pimples. Her epitaph credits her with having made the world "a more beautiful place."
"Honestly, Jenn, you really don't know anything about guys do you?" Stephanie replied with a laugh. "You can almost quote Hogwarts: A History, yet when it comes to how to dress for a date, you're clueless."
Again, I remained silent, trying to put faith in the fact that my friend seemed to know what she was doing.
Finally, with nothing else to do in preparation of Slughorn's gathering - and only ten minutes until I was due to meet Remus in the Entrance Hall - I gathered my wand and prepared to leave Ravenclaw tower.
"Have a great time and tell us all about it when you get back," Michelle called, as I made my way to the dormitory door.
"Will do," I answered, the butterflies in my stomach now beginning to flutter wildly.
Taking my time, I walked through the semi-deserted corridors of the castle, willing my body to stop shaking. I knew really, I was probably making way too much out of going to Professor Slughorn's party with Remus. Though, honestly, there was a little part of me that couldn't help but hope this might be the start of something between the two of us.
As I reached the first floor, my heart rate quickened and I began imagining all the things that might happen tonight. Remus and I laughing together, him complimenting me on how I looked and... Remus kissing me.
Images of the dream I'd had a few nights previously flitted through my head and the butterflies that had been dancing in my stomach all day now felt wild with excitement.
In just a few more corridors, I would be face to face with Remus. A night that held endless possibilities stretched out before me.
When I reached the Entrance Hall, the clock above the oak doorway struck eight, so I looked around to see if Remus had arrived yet. He hadn't.
I waited quietly, growing more anxious as each minute passed. Had I been right in my earlier fears and had Remus changed his mind? Or worse, had something terrible happened to him in the hour since we'd last seen each other.
My foot drummed impatiently on the cold stone floor as I waited for Remus to appear. I tried desperately to calm myself down. However, as each second ticked past, I grew more and more frantic.
Finally, at quarter past eight, I was about to go in search of Remus when I saw him walking down the main staircase of the castle.
His usual tattered robes had been replaced by obviously new ones in a shade of chocolate brown, and his jaw length hair was neatly combed.
My heart fluttered as he approached me – a bemused smile on his face – and I could feel my palms growing sweaty.
I opened my mouth to greet him, only to find my throat uncommonly dry and my brain lacking anything witty to say. So, instead, I stood gawking at him like a goldfish.
At last, Remus was now less then a meter away from me. His gaze traveled over the dress robes I was wearing and then to my face.
"Hey, Jenn," he said pleasantly. "You look different... erm...I mean...you look nice. The robes... They're new, aren't they? Well, whatever the case, they look... they look good on you."
I smiled at the compliment, still unable to say anything, while inside thinking how sweet Remus was when he became all shy and bashful.
A few moments silence passed between us, then finally Remus extended his hand and said, "Shall we?"
I nodded my head vigorously, and managed to squeak out a, 'Yes', before taking his outstretched hand and following him as he led us both up the staircase.
To Be Continued...