The Fifth Marauder

Chapter 31.

"Lily! That's enough." said Samantha. Lily Evans, her room met and good friend, had been pulling at her hair, putting stuff on her face, and making her try on loads of jewelry.

"Just a little more." Lily said, pointing her wand at Samantha's hair and saying some charm.

"You've said that at least five times before. Please let me see myself."

"No, that would ruin the effect." said Lily.

"Effect of what?" said Sam. "I'm only going to be dancing. What does that have to do with make-up and hair?"

"You have to look good for him." Lily said with a wink.

Sam rolled her eyes. "Anyways," she said. "Don't you have to be getting ready?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "I don't want to, but I have to." she grumbled. "I don't want to go with stupid John Buckwell, he's a creep! I just couldn't say no, though...."

"You should have said yes to James! You only had twenty chances..." said Sam.

"He stalks me! He asks me out at least five times a day." exclaimed Lily. "Anyways, here's your dress. I'll work on your make-up after you get dressed." Lily held out Samantha's dress. It was made of golden silk. Strapless, flowing to the floor, the back trailed behind her a bit. Sam sighed, and started changing.

"Perfect!" said Lily, cheerfully, once Sam was in her dress.

Lily applied golden brown eye shadow and a small amount of mascara.

"Now for the hair!" Lily said.

Lily made Samantha's frizzy, light brown hair as straight as can be, then weaved small stripes of gold through her hair.

Lily smiled. "Shoes!" she said, handing a pair of golden heels to Samantha. Sam sighed and put them on, standing up.

"Can I see myself now?" she asked.

"No way!"

Samantha looked down at what she could see without a mirror. Her golden dress flowed down to the ground, gripping her torso, then falling off the rest of her body.

"Walk down the stairs," said Lily. "Just to make sure you don't fall."

Sam did as she said and walked down the stairs, making it five steps from the bottom without falling.

"Good enough. Now go! Have fun, and see you later." Lily said, smiling broadly.

"Thanks so much, Lily!" Samantha hollered up the stairs.

Sam made her way down to the Great Hall where she was going to meet Remus, only falling once.

Once she got to the last stretch of stairs, that happened to be solid, Sam could see many other students. All hanging around at the bottom, none on the staircase. Sam suddenly got butterflies in her stomach when she noticed some had turned to watch her.

Closest to the bottom Samantha saw her three best friends waiting, but not looking at her. A few steps down she saw them turn and look. One of them, her date, had trouble keeping his mouth closed.

"You don't want to drool on her, do you?" said James, elbowing Remus in the side.

Sam slowly made her way down the stairs, trying not to fall and ignoring the stares.

When she reached the bottom it seemed as nobody recognized her. Sam didn't look at all herself. A lot of people didn't think it was her because they never thought Sam would wear a dress.

Remus watched Sam walk down the stairs, his mind racing.

"You sure that's Sam? Doesn't look like her." Remus heard James say.