"It's perfect!" Ellie cries as Aline comes out of the dressing room in yet anouther dress at Madame Malkin's dress shop. It seems she likes anything Aline puts on herself. At this point, she's probably ready to get a sweet treat at Honeydukes and get on home.

"Yeah?" Aline twirls around. Madame Malkin gushes nearby.

"Flawless, my dear! The green goes well with your hair!" she cries.

Aline has to admit, the dress is beautiful. It's a ball gown made of a forest green tulle that drapes in what feels like fifty layers on the skirt. The top is a bodice with green gemstones. It is far more beautiful than anything she owns at home. But it is a little much, and the shoes?

"Perfectly paired!"

Aline hate the shoes. They're high heels of the same green color and the most uncomfortable things she's ever worn.

"Get them Aline! They're so pretty!" Ellie gushes.

Aline scoffs, it's her Yule Ball. And she's already eyed a beautiful pair of white high top sneakers at the doorway. "Actually, I'd like those shoes?"

Madame Malkin all but scoffs. "You are sure my sweet? They don't exactly match the dress."

"But they're more me." Aline tries to say as sweetly as she can. And in the end, she gets the dress and the shoes.

-x-x-x-

Aline and Ellie are eating in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop when Harry, Hermione and Ron walk in. Aline takes a long sip of her tea and swallows down her strawberry cake. The three haven't noticed them, but are sitting in the booth across. Aline hears them talking.

"Mate, you never said you were going to the Ball with Aline Lupin?!" says Ron.

"Err, didn't I? I must have forgotten," Harry says quickly, rustling with the menu.

"You didn't," Hermione points out. "See Ron? It's not that hard to invite a girl. You need to choose someone you know."

"Blimey, you're a genius. Why didn't I think of that," Ron mumbles sarcastically.

"Because you have the emotional range of a spoon," she retorts.

"Can you both be quiet!" Harry says. "Come on, I invited you here because I need help with the second task. Hermione, is there any potion or spell out there that helps you breathe under water?"

Hermione goes silent. "There are some. But they are super advanced. I'd have to look in the Restricted Section of the Library, if you lend me the Invisibility Cloak."

They continue to chat about the competition. Aline and Ellie finish eating and pay and begin to leave. Harry and Aline exchange shy glances as they pass each other by.

"What's that about?" Ellie asks. "Those faces."

"What faces?" Aline pretends.

"You know. The googly eyes-"

"-I'm not making any eyes..."

"- you have a little crush!" Ellie teases, butting her sister.

"Do not!"

"Harry and Aline sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-"

She doesn't finish because Aline throws a fat snowball straight into her face.

"You'll pay for that sissy!" she squeals and begins to roll a bigger one.

Suddenly, Aline's wolf senses perk up. "Hush-"

"-You can't get me-"

"-SHUSH! STOP!" Aline cries and rushes over to Ellie. They're not alone in the street. I mean, they aren't because tons of witches and wizards are shopping, but there is anouther being here and it's watching them. And it's not a human.

"Stay down," Aline says, and slowly rounds the corner of an alleyway. She grabs a nearby piece of wood as a makeshift weapon.

"Who's there?" she calls out.

Suddenly, a figure emerges from the dark and Aline nearly screams. "Remus?"

"Hey girls!"

It's just their father.

When Ellie sees him, she jumps into his arms. "We missed you!"

"Not as much as I missed you," Remus says, pulling them in for a big hug. "Listen, what have you girls been up to?"

"We were shopping. Oh! And Aline has big news. She's got a date!" Ellie blurts.

"Oh really," Remus says slowly, grinning.

"It's just Harry," Aline says with a sigh, "Because we're both champions...it's nothing else."

"Well, I'm happy it is Harry. He's a nice boy," Remus approves. "Listen, I'm here to speak to Dumbledore. Nothing urgent. I want to make sure of some things. Are you good to get back to the castle on your own?"

"Of course."

"See you inside."

Aline has no idea what he means by that. parents aren't allowed in the school. Only profesors.