Author's Note: Hey everyone. It's now been over a year since I last posted anything. I've been so busy. I'm now in my final year of secondary school so I'm doing my GCSE's atm so I'm super busy. I had a few chapters that I just found though, so I thought I might as well put them up. Love to you all.
Chapter Five - No One's Perfect
Cold Scottish weather took over and soon it wasn't just the top of the mountains covered in snow. Gloves and scarves in the house colours were now adorned when anyone went outside and were frequently lost when the wind picked up and pulled them from the students grasp. Hogsmeade had now turned from a watercolour painting to a Christmas card as the holly wreaths and bright lights were put up by festive feeling villagers. The school also took on a festive feel. Professor Flitwick went around decorating happily much to the annoyance of the care taker. Now the coldness was seeping in there was a roaring fire blazing in all of the many fireplaces. Sirius, James and Remus were sat by the one in the Gryffindor common room one evening discussing trivial things when talk turned to the fast approaching Christmas dance.
"I can't believe I'm going with Lily." James said smiling from ear to ear. Sirius and Remus sighed simultaneously. James hadn't stopped talking about the phenomenon of Lily asking him to the dance. "Who are you two going with?"
"I've had a couple of girls dropping hints, but I don't know if I'm going. We all know it's going to be lame." Sirius casually lay back on the arm of the sofa, crossing his long legs in front of him.
"Who's Maria going with?" Remus asked out of the blue. Sirius tensed at the question and waited for someone to answer.
"I heard that she was going with Adam Barker, that muscley guy in our year. I've seen them talking a couple of times." At James' revelation both Remus and Sirius' hearts dropped. Sirius knew even if he asked her it would be unlikely Maria would say yes. She had told him so many times how they couldn't go out. He would show her though, ask someone really hot to the dance. Make her jealous, he thought. Remus on the other hand decided he would ask Maria if she really was, it could just be a rumor after all. He hoped anyway.
Sirius found it was easier than he thought it would be to find someone that met his criteria to ask to the dance. He cornered Becky Waters as she walked out of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Play it cool, he thought as he leaned against the wall.
"Hey Becky." He nodded as the blonde walked closer to him.
"Hey Sirius." She giggled flicking her hair over her shoulder.
"So gorgeous, got a date for the dance yet?" He asked quietly leaning close to her. Giggling again she batted her eyelashes.
"I don't actually. Why, are you offering?" She leaned in even closer and Sirius could smell an artificial strawberry scent wafting from her.
"How about it then?" His eyes took in her curves and her long legs that she showed off by wearing an outrageously short skirt even though it was the middle of winter and deathly cold. He looked up to her pretty face as she answered.
"Sure. Love to." Her lips curled into a smile and Sirius kissed her lightly on the cheek, his hand running up her thigh before he walked away.
Back in the common room that evening Sirius decided to tell the others about finding a date. Making sure Maria was in earshot he told James and Remus about who he had asked and how hot he thought she was. He was disappointed when Maria didn't react to his words in the slightest, just kept writing her essay, quill scratching across the thick parchment. It was then that Lily joined the boys, and sat next to James. Using the distraction, Remus walked over to Maria and sat by her. Her hair was falling in her face, hiding her features.
"Hey. What are you writing?" Remus asked, choosing to make small talk before tackling the subject of the dance. Maria looked up and smiled at the sandy haired boy. She really did like him.
"Potions essay. I forgot all about it and it's due tomorrow. Slughorn will kill me if it's not done well." She sighed looking back at the scattered pages around her.
"Oh yeah, I did that a few days ago. Need any help?" Remus offered, working up his confidence.
"No thanks. I'm almost done. Just the conclusion to go." Maria's quill made its way across the parchment again.
"Maria... Are you going to the dance with Adam Barker? It's just I heard that you were and I was just wondering." Remus babbled not able to stop himself.
"No, where did you hear that? Never mind. Anyway, no, just a rumor." Maria answered, her quill not leaving the paper. Just go for it, Remus thought.
"Well, are you going with anyone? If you're not would you like to go with... Go with me?" He blurted. He couldn't take the words back now. He avoided looking at Maria and he heard her quill stop moving. Maria's brain seemed to work at hyper speed as she thought. Well, Sirius was going with someone else, there wasn't officially anything going on between them, and Remus was just so lovely, and really quite handsome. If nothing else, he was a great friend.
"Yeah, that'd be great Remus." Maria answered and Remus released the breath he didn't realise he was holding.
"Great, yes, OK. I'll let you get on with your essay." Remus smiled as he stood, and walked back to the group sat by the fire.
Lily was ecstatic to hear that Maria and Remus would be going to the Christmas dance together as she knew Remus liked her and wanted her friend to be happy. Also she knew about Sirius' tendencies to mess girls around and didn't want to see Maria get hurt. Remus was also pleased that Maria had accepted him and regretted mocking James when he couldn't stop talking about Lily asking him now that he knew what he felt like. The dance this year would take place on the night before Christmas Eve and the students that were returning home for the holidays would leave the next day on the Hogwarts express. The five of them: James, Sirius, Remus, Lily and Maria, would be traveling to Potter manor from Kings Cross station to spend Christmas there. As the days passed the excitement in the air grew.
"I have found the prettiest dress." Lily beamed as herself, Maria, Remus and Sirius sat in the Great Hall. James, unsurprisingly, had a detention.
"I'm sure you'll look great whatever you wear." Remus smiled; always the gentleman.
"Thanks." Lily smiled back. "Have you found a dress yet Maria?"
"Yes, nothing amazing though." Maria's mother had sent over a dress from Paris the moment Maria had told her she was going to the dance. Her mother loved all things pretty and elegant, and was glad to be able to get Maria into a formal dress. When Maria was younger she would always rather go out and play quidditch with her brother than play tea parties and dolls with other girls her age. Most of all though, her mother was glad for the distraction. She and her husband, Maria's father, were living at a relative’s house but she spent most of her time next to her son's hospital bed. Talking to him, holding his limp hand. There was still no response from him. His body was unharmed, but his mind was blocked somehow. No one could get in; he couldn't escape.
"You'll have to show it to me later." At that moment James bounded up to them, finally released from his detention for enchanting a suit of armor to attack a Slytherin student. He kissed Lily on the cheek before sitting down and a blush crept up her cheeks. Even though she was looking down to hide her flushed cheeks a smile was visible on Lily's face. Not bothering to acknowledge anyone else James piled mountains of food on to the plate in front of him and then stuffing it in his mouth.
"How was the detention Prongs?" Sirius asked, frowning at his friend.
"Boring," James said with his mouth full. "She let me go early though because I was annoying her so much." Lily had recovered from her embarrassment at James public display of affection and now looked disgusted at his lack of table manners. She looked at Maria and rolled her eyes. No one is perfect, Lily thought. Making their excuses, the girls left the Great Hall and made their way to the common room to show each other their new dresses.
The night of the dance finally rolled around. Tension was in the air as professor Flitwick went round applying last minute decorations to the Great Hall, which was where the dance was to be held. The house elves busied themselves preparing mountains of delicious food and warm drinks whilst the suits of armor sung carols merrily.
Lily and Maria had spent the last hour getting ready with Elizabeth, Daisy and Beth, three girls who they shared the dorm with. Beth was a loud and funny girl with long light brown hair and a pretty, heart-shaped face. Daisy, on the other hand, had even lighter hair than Beth and was small and dainty. Elizabeth was very tall with a skinny frame. Her hair was blonde and fell to her shoulders, framing her face.
The five girls laughed happily, all troubles forgotten as they pulled on their dresses and helped each other do their hair. When Beth, Elizabeth Daisy were sat in front of the vanity table adding the final touches to their make-up, Lily walked over to Maria. She was stood looking at her dress in the floor length mirror that was propped against the wall.
“You look amazing.” Lily told her, looking at her refection. Lily was wearing a long dark green dress that hung off her slender figure. Her red hair was up but soft ringlets fell around her face, framing her eyes.
“No, you do.” Maria told Lily, hugging her tightly before turning back to analysing her own dress. It was a deep navy blue, which suited her olive complexion nicely. It had a fitted bodice with subtle tiny flowers and vines embroidered on it. The bottom part flowed around her, showing off her long legs. Maria’s hair, unlike Lily’s, hung down in its natural curls which bounced when she moved.
“Time to go!” Said Beth excitedly, a smile glowing on her face. Together, the five girls set off towards the entrance hall where they were to meet their dates.
Author’s Note: This is my shortest chapter, but I just needed to get one out there. The next one is already written so it'll be out soon. Please review my pretties. THANK YOU.
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