Chapter 6

Revelations of the Weirdest Kind

Halloween.

A happy time in which teenage girls run into Hogsmeade to raid all the clothing stores in order to find the most borderline-appropriate, seductive costume they can find, in hopes that it will attract the attention of a certain boy, and they will end up in a dark corner at the end of the night. But this year it will be different.

For one, James isn't taking me, as he always does. Instead, he's taking Queen Bitch.

Insert vomiting fit here.

But since Brian Tyler asked Paige to the dance this year, her usual escort, Fin, is taking me. However, since Fin is a better dancer than James, I'm not too heartbroken about it.

And this year my costume is a complete secret. Only I and Phoenix, who is helping me make my own, one-of-a-kind costume. I doodled this great design during History of Magic a few weeks ago, and Phoenix thankfully agreed to sew it for me. Slytherin she may be, but the girl is gifted. And she's a great secret-keeper, so she's the perfect choice for this task.

So here I am, standing on a stool in the Room of Requirement, with Phoenix Malfoy sticking pins into my outfit – and occasionally my skin.

"So, why the sudden secrecy and specific choice of outfit?" she asked. "Is there a boy I should know about, Lia? Like James Potter?" I rolled my eyes.

"Why does everyone think that I like James, or that we are secretly dating or something else to that effect?" Phoenix looked at me through the mirror. "Because you're always touching, or making sexual jokes, or something like that. Plus, I'm not blind, Lia. I see the way you look at him."

I scowled at her reflection in the mirror. "I don't like James. He's my best friend, and that's all."

Phoenix rolled her eyes at me. "Oh please. Don't give me that 'best friend' excuse. The last time I heard that I ended up finding Claire and Chris in a dark, secluded corner, three days later."

I stuck my tongue out at her. "The only time you'll find James and me in a dark secluded corner is if we're hiding from Minnie."

She looked at me with an evil glint in her eye. "Are you implying that you and James have been in a dark secluded corner before?" I glared at her.

"I liked it better when you were poking me with needles."

~Lia~

Taking a deep breath, I looked at myself one last time in the mirror.

The costume was cerulean blue and white, which Phoenix chose to "bring out your gorgeous eyes". It had a corset top, revealing white under the blue silk criss-crossing across the front of the blue corset, with a sweetheart neckline and ending with a V-line waist. There were off-the-shoulder shortsleeves lined at the top and bottom with the same silk as in the corset. The skirt flowed down to my knees, the same blue as on the corset, except for a triangle in the middle which Phoenix cut out, revealing the pure white underskirt. The hem of the skirt and the corset was decorated with a stitched royal blue floral pattern.

Phoenix magically attached fluttering white, cerulean, and royal blue wings to the back of the corset. The same silk from my dress was around my neck, with a single sapphire hanging from it, and my face was elaborately decorated with blue and silver glitter instead of the usual mask. Phoenix had magically extended my hair (temporarily, of course) and arranged it so that it was straight, except for the bottom, which curled gently. A crown made of faux blue lilies and white roses sat atop my head. Dark blue flats were on my bare feet, yet somehow I looked taller instead of shorter like I usually do.

Staring at my reflection one last time, I turned around and made my way out of the dormitory and into the Great Hall. Pausing outside the doors, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, and slowly walked into the hall. I sought out the giant pink dress Belle would be wearing as Marie Antoinette, with her white wig going about a mile into the air so there would be no way to miss her. She was sitting at a table with Ethan as her "lover" Count Fersen - she thought that whole thing would definitely fuck up with everyone's heads - Emma as herself, a.k.a. the Devil (yes, I did suggest it), Fred as a pirate, Paige was a rag doll, Brian as a vampire, and Fin, the Angel of Death, walked up to me and took my arm.

Oh, we looked as freakish as ever, the Midget Fairy of Dreams, and the abnormally tall Angel of Death. I looked towards where Minnie was sitting at the teachers table, and saw her looking at Fin take my arm, trying not to burst out at the sight of us. I winked at her and nodded my head at her choice of robes: Black lined with pumpkin orange.

Quickly scanning the room, I found James and Queen Bitch. And almost threw up.

They were dressed as King and...I couldn't tell whether she was supposed to be the Queen or the King's mistress. But the fact that she was trying too hard to stand out, and the abnormally large crown on her head, it was obvious. Fin leaned down and whispered in my ear, "You look gorgeous love."

I rolled my eyes. "You do know that in order to get the girl you want, you have to tell her she gorgeous. So," I said, stealing a glance in the direction of the mile high wig, "have at it...Angel."

He sent an incredulous look my way. "Michael Dean Finnigan, I may be lot of things, but blind is not one of them." I said, winking at him. "Besides," I said, "I have to use the loo anyway. So here's your chance."

I left him on the floor as I walked out of the Hall and up the stairs, right into a sight that made me want to puke.

James and Queen Bitch.

Against a wall.

Snogging way too much.

Rushing back down the stairs, I bumped right into Belle. "Lia, why do you look like you're about to be sick?" I looked at her with desperate eyes.

"Because I just saw James and the Devil's concubine snogging a bit too enthusiastically."

"...Emma's got a concubine?"

"No! Queen Bitch!"

Belle's eyes widened.

"Oh. In that case, by all means, be sick."

"Thank you, Belle. I'm so glad that I have your approval."

~Lia~

The rest of the night passed in a similar manner. Phoenix, dressed as Cleopatra, joined the party later on with Claire and Chris dressed as a Greek god and goddess.

We all danced to the music as the night went on, although James and Queen Bitch didn't return.

Ew.

Sadly, no one managed to get any firewhiskey smuggled in, but all in all it was a good night. Especially when Fin and Belle danced together…more than once or twice.

Paige even gave into temptation and actually kissed Brian at the end of the night.

Emma wouldn't shut up about her match-making skills.

A/N: As always read & review. Also, Special thanks to Jessie and Arielle, as always, and VERY VERY VERY SPECIAL THANKS to Emilyyyyy, who thought of Lia's ABSOTIVELY POSOLUTELY AMAZING costume =) love you guys!