Chapter Thirty Four
The following Hogsmeade weekend the girls did their dress shopping. Arianna found it quite relieving and slightly odd that she wasn’t with the Marauders. She put the memory of her and Sirius at the clearing at the back of her mind. It wasn’t something to give emphasis on, she would tell herself.
“So who’s your date Arianna?” asked Alice, the night before the ball as she did her homework in their dorm, Arianna just smiled as she tied her hair in a high pony tail
“No one,” she said “You?”
Alice looked at her in surprise
“Impossible!” Alice cried in disbelief “I’m sure someone asked you!”
Arianna laughed
“Yeah but no one survived until the ball,” she said as she got her books from her desk “I’m guessing Frank is taking you?” Alice blushed a deep scarlet and nodded Arianna smiled
“Good for you then,” said Arianna as she headed for the door “Well I’ll just be in the –“
“Library.” Alice finished for her, Arianna laughed
“Yeah.”
Arianna finished up the last of her homework and stretched, she finished quite early for tonight. She wasn’t staying up late in the library for this night due to Marlene’s orders. “You wouldn’t want to have eye bags on the ball now do you?” she scolded Arianna over and over that afternoon.
She headed out of the library, passing a surprised looking Madam Pince; obviously surprised that she wasn’t camping out in the library for the night as usual. As the library entrance closed behind her, she then headed for Gryffindor Tower. She wasn’t even half way through her walk when somebody approached her,
It was Bertram Aubrey of Hufflepuff. He was tall, had brown hair that fell to his eyes and baby blue eyes. Arianna had heard of him, he was a prefect according to Lily and Remus. Arianna smiled pleasantly at him
“Good evening Bertram,” she said. Aubrey smiled at her, his pearly whites seeming to shine under the moonlight
“Good evening Arianna,” he greeted back, Arianna then started to continue heading to her way when Aubrey called her back
“Uh Arianna?” Arianna stopped
“Yeah?” she asked turning back to Aubrey who was smiling sheepishly. He looked around and saw that no one else was near them; the jinx wouldn’t be able to work if no one was around right? Aubrey then took a breath and smiled more sincerely,
“I was wondering if you would like to go to the ball with me?” he asked, “that is if you don’t have a date yet.” Arianna smiled, maybe she could say yes? She thought of her chances. The ball was tomorrow night. No boy would be available tomorrow right? That was when she knew what she was going to say,
“I’d love to go with you.” She said smiling, as she said this she remembered Sirius and her at the woods. She ignored the memory and snapped back to reality. Aubrey grinned from ear to ear, he eerily reminded Arianna of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.
“I’ll pick you up by your common room –“
“Let’s just meet up by the Entrance Hall.” Arianna cut in. Aubrey smiled once more and nodded
“See you tomorrow night then.”
Arianna nodded,
“Yeah see you.” She said, feeling slightly guilty.
The following day was quite a hectic day. For the girls at least. Everyone was panicking with the ball just about to be held in a few hours. Even the teachers seemed to be fussing. Instead of teaching they kept talking about the ball, running in and out of the classroom because of last minute arranges and other things that needs worrying about.
All day Sirius has been trying to get a hold of Arianna but Lily and her other roommates won’t let her go. Saying she doesn’t need “stress” for the day because of the ball being held that night.
“Seriously guys,” said James as they sat down at their last class, Sirius who was beside him was waiting for Arianna to enter the room “who do you think is Evans’ date?”
“I dunno Prongs,” said Sirius, still staring at the door “maybe she isn’t going with anyone.”
James snorted
“She’s the prettiest, smartest, and kindest –“
“Woman you know besides your mum.” Sirius finished for him “Yes we know Prongs. We know.”
James rolled his eyes and then turned to Remus, seeing that his best lieutenant was too busy, he went to his second best lieutenant.
“What do you think Moony?” he asked, Remus put his book down and sighed. James obviously knew Remus knew something. Remus always knew something.
“Well….” He started, trying to think of the proper words to use.
“Well?” James prompted, practically avoiding personal space now because Remus was onto something; Remus pushed him back a bit and took a deep breath
“Just promise me you won’t do anything rash alright?” said Remus, James nodded
“Yes! Yes I won’t!” said James excitedly, “What is it? What is it?! TELL ME MOONY!”
Remus shushed him and pulled James back to his seat before he could start flailing his arms excitedly like he always did whenever he was going to find out about something.
“Do you promise you won’t do anything to the person I am about to say?” said Remus, James nodded excitedly
“Yes, yes, yes!” he said “Just tell meeeee!”
“I think if you have an intention of getting that person killed Moony,” said Sirius, still staring at the door their teacher and so was Arianna and co. wasn’t there yet. “Anyone in the right mind would never tell James Potter who Lily Evans’ date for the Yule Ball is. That is just suicide. For Evans’ date that is.”
'“IGNORE HIM!” James cried “Tell me now!”
Remus who was now covered in James’ spit, he wiped his face using his sleeve and tried calming James down again
“Take a deep breath Prongs,” he instructed; James did as he was told “now breathe out.” Once again James did as he was told and Remus then prepared for James’ reaction at what he was going to say next
“I’m not sure if this is true but… I think… Well… Maybe it is…. Lily was the one who told me….” Remus said, fumbling with words as James stared at him his eyes wide as he waited for the main point “She told me,” Remus took a deep breath “shewasgoingtogowithsnape.” He said in a very fast and low voice. James of course heard clearly and felt his jaw drop,
Remus then started to take cover, so did Peter; Sirius who was now looking back at his friends instead of the door then grabbed a book to use as a shield as he looked at James, thinking of what words to say
“It’s okay mate,” Sirius started, keeping a book nearby and his wand at hand. Peter and Remus were currently preparing to get up and make people evacuate in case James starts throwing things around or something “I’m sure she –“
But before he could finish, James started laughing hysterically. Remus, Sirius and Peter and well everyone else in the room looked at him in worry
“Are you alright Prongs?” asked Sirius, James then straightened up
“This is just some kind of sick joke right?” said James, looking at each of his friends “I mean Snivelly? Seriously guys. Snivelly?” he then turned to Sirius “Do you honestly believe this?” he asked him, Sirius thought about it for a moment; looked back at James and grinned like him
“You know what Prongs?” he said, now holding back laughter like James “You do have a point.” They both then howled with laughter, the rest of their classmates weren’t minding them now. This was a usual occurrence: For James and Sirius to burst out into laughter. Even in the middle of classes.
As their laughter was starting to subside, Sirius stared back at the door which opened. Arianna then emerged entering the room with her friends, Sirius then straightened himself up as she passed by him, he pulled her wrist and set her down on the chair next to him. Peter took this as his signal to switch seats, and James and Remus then straightened themselves up,
“Hi Riddle!” Sirius greeted happily, Arianna did her best not to smile back. Lily was about to fire out on them but James handled it, just as Flitwick entered the room. Lily had no choice but to let it slide. Sirius turned to James who was grinning just like him, James gave him a thumbs up and Sirius turned back to Arianna who was now jotting down notes.
“Why were you late?” asked Sirius in a low voice, so no one else could hear them. Arianna looked up at him, her eyebrows raised
“I came a few minutes before class started,” she said “you just came in early.”
Sirius chuckled
“No I didn’t,” he argued “I never come into class early. Earliest I’ve got in was ten minutes before class.” Arianna then shrugged and went back to jotting down notes
“You must’ve been waiting for someone;” she said simply “time seems a lot longer when you’re waiting for someone.” Sirius smiled as he looked up front
“Yeah maybe you’re right” he said smiling “actually, scratch that. You are right.”
The bell rang and signaled classes were now done for the day. As soon as the bell rang almost practically all of the girls ran for the door which was now currently jammed of girls trying to get out and get to their dorms. Lily, Alice and Marlene were also hollering at Arianna as she swung her bag over her shoulder, but as she was about to walk up to them, Sirius pulled her back.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked, James, Remus and Peter were now heading out too. Sirius had told them to leave him.
“Sure,” said Arianna, she then told her friends to leave her and that she’ll meet up with them, they didn’t agree at first but gave him after a few minutes,
“What’s up?” asked Arianna as Sirius shoved his hands deep into his pockets;
“Well seeing as that you have no date to the ball,” Sirius started “due to them not having the guts of a man to survive a few hexes,” he said grinning “I was wondering if you could go with me?”
Arianna was surprised. She never thought he would actually ask her. She did her best to control her jaw from dropping. She looked down at her feet, not able to look him straight in the eye “Why am I feeling so guilty?” she asked herself. She then took a deep breath and looked up at Sirius who was still smiling,
“I’m sorry I can’t.” she said, Sirius looked taken aback. There was an awkward silence
“Why not?” he asked, breaking the silence
“Someone already asked me,” said Arianna “last night. I said yes.”
“Who?” asked Sirius
“Bertram Aubrey.” She said quietly, she looked up at Sirius who looked like he was contemplating something “Er I think I’d better get going. See you later Black.”
“Yeah see you later…” said Sirius still deep in thought
Arianna stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was beautiful. Her hair was half tied, letting her hair frame her face beautifully, she wore just the right amount of makeup and her dress was just beautiful. Her dress was a beautiful white one, which fitted her perfectly.
“You look like an angel,” Marlene gasped from behind her, Arianna smiled
“So do you.” Said Arianna, Marlene looked nice too. She wore a nice red number and her hair was tied in an elegant French knot. Alice who was bouncing up and down in excitement was wearing a midnight blue dress, and her hair was actually down, instead of being tied in the usual bun. Lily was as equally beautiful too; she was wearing the dress she was admiring outside that robe shop Sirius feared.
“Shall we go?” asked Lily, all of them nodded as they excitedly went down to the common room. Arianna was half expecting the Marauders to be there but they weren’t. She just smiled as Alice happily went with her date Frank Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor Fifth Year.
Once they were out Marlene and Lily then met up with their dates, Lily with Severus of course, who was looking quite decent for the night. The seven of them then headed for the Entrance Hall.
Everyone was already by the Entrance Hall when they arrived. Arianna tried finding Bertram but he was nowhere to be found. Everybody was already entering but she stayed outside, still waiting for him Lily told her to get in and just wait for him there but she declined.
It was a good twenty minutes since everyone had entered the Great Hall when a, what seemed to be Third Year approached Arianna
“Are you Arianna Riddle?” the boy asked panting, Arianna nodded
“Yes why?” she asked confusedly
“I was sent by Bertram Aubrey,” the boy said, panting “he says he’s sorry. He won’t be able to come.”
“Why not?” asked Arianna
“He’s… Head…” the boy panted “it’s so big! It’s getting even huger actually. He’s been hexed by someone…”
Arianna then sighed. The jinx got him. She never really thought of the jinx was a big deal; heck she didn’t believe it was real! She thanked the boy and then walked up to the Great Hall’s doors. She took a deep breath better late than never right? She then opened the doors.
Dumbledore was in the middle of his opening speech, Arianna did her best to walk in unnoticed but it was impossible because everyone stared at her in awe. Dumbledore smiled at her, stopping his speech
“Good evening Miss Riddle,” he said pleasantly no note of sarcasm in his voice; his blue eye shining “You are fashionably late, but anyways you look lovely for tonight.”
Arianna smiled back at him
“Thank you professor.” She said, Dumbledore then nodded and went back on with his speech, everyone was still staring at Arianna as she headed to where Lily and her other roommates sat with their dates.
“I think you won’t have any problem getting a dance or two tonight.” Marlene giggled as she discreetly pointed to some boys who were staring at Arianna, Arianna laughed
“Yeah maybe.” She said, she craned her head a bit to find The Marauders, but she never did. The dancing wasn’t starting yet so she had a few minutes with her friends before their dates could whisk them away,
“Hey have you guys seen Potter and company yet?” she asked, Alice laughed
“Potter and co.? They always come late to these type of things.” She said, Lily and Marlene nodded, but Arianna raised her eyebrows
“Really?” she asked
“Yep,” said Marlene “they think it makes them look ‘superior’ or something like that.”
Lily nodded vigorously in agreement, just as Dumbledore announced the dancing to begin
“It doesn’t change anyone’s opinion of them though!” she said as Snape took her hand, Arianna just laughed as she watched her friends dance. Once her friends were gone from the table, one of the boys who were staring at her asked her to dance, Arianna sighed but agreed. She might as well enjoy the night.
Marlene was right. Arianna didn’t have any trouble getting anyone to dance with her; after she finished dancing with one person another one would come up. She occasionally still tried looking out for the Marauders and eventually found them when it was already about thirty minutes since the ball had started.
They made a Grand Entrance of course. When they entered everyone practically stopped and stared at them, they of course were looking their very best. All of them in their best robes, looking quite handsome indeed especially James and Sirius who were one of the richest kids in school. People actually didn’t notice that they didn’t have any dates; if they did then their dates might have as well as blended into the background.
They all had grins on their faces, Arianna had a feeling they were up to something. She continued dancing with the boys who asked her to, glancing to where the Marauders were from time to time; they didn’t dance much, they kept close to themselves making Arianna’s feeling that they were up to something even more prominent.
When Dumbledore asked the dancing to come to a stop for a while for the feast, Arianna went over to Lily and their dates; she found it quite awkward considering she was the only one without a date. Once she was finished with her meal, she got up from the table and watched Lily and the others go back to the dance floor. She looked up at the enchanted ceiling and saw the starry night sky; some snowflakes were falling from it too.
As she stared at the people dancing, someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw Peter; she felt a little bit surprised but smiled at him,
“Oh hey Pettigrew,” she said; Peter smiled a shy smile
“Uhm…” he looked around nervously “Want to dance?”
Arianna found this a bit – Very awkward. But still smiled and nodded
“Er, sure.” She said, Peter then took her hand and they joined the people on the dance floor. It was a bit hard to dance with Peter considering Arianna was quite taller than he was, and well he wasn’t the best dancer.
“So… Uh why were you guys late?” Arianna asked trying to make conversation
“We had to do some… Er… Stuff…” said Peter lamely, avoiding eye contact. Arianna then decided to drop the conversation as Peter tried to spin her, after she was spun she was surprised once again to see that she was now in front of Remus instead of Peter, she looked back and saw that Peter was now gone, she looked back at Remus in front of her who smiled
“Good Evening Arianna,” he greeted pleasantly, Arianna smiled
“Good evening to you too Remus,” she greeted back, Remus held out his hand
“Care to dance?” Arianna smiled and nodded
“Sure,” she said, taking his hand. Remus was quite a better dancer then Peter was and it was quite easier to dance with him because he was a bit taller than she was. Remus glided her nearer to the center of the dance floor and just swayed with her with the music.
“Why don’t you have a date Remus?” asked Arianna curiously, Remus shrugged
“I had no time to ask anyone,” he said simply, “I heard you had no troubles of getting anyone.”
Arianna laughed
“Yeah well there was this jinx on me,” she said, Remus raised his eyebrows a smile on his face, a knowing smile to be exact.
“Is that so?” he asked “What do you mean by this ‘jinx’?”
Arianna sighed
“Whenever anyone asks me to the ball, they somehow get hexed or something like that.” She confided “Which lands them a cot in the Hospital Wing.” Remus laughed
“And do you believe this ‘jinx’?” asked Remus, Arianna shrugged
“Not at first,” she said honestly “but now… Yeah I think it is…” Remus just smiled
“I don’t think it is.” He said, Arianna raised her eyebrows; she was about to ask him why but then Remus spun her and she found herself in front of James now instead, James grinned his famous lopsided grin as he crumpled his hair
“May I have the pleasure of dancing with you Miss Riddle?” he said bowing a bit and holding out his hand, Arianna laughed and curtsied as she took his hand
“Why of course Mr. Potter,” she said, James then laughed and they both danced.
“Hey Potter can I ask you something?” Arianna asked, James who was stealing a glance at Lily looked back at her
“Sure,” he said looking back at her “What’s your question?”
“Should I be worried?” she said half laughing, James laughed himself
“About what?” he asked
“Because Pettigrew asked me to dance, and then when he spun me I was with Remus and when he spun me here I am with you.” She said, raising her eyebrows “I know you boys are up to something.”
James just grinned
“I have no idea what you’re talking about Riddle.” He said, Arianna was about to continue interrogating him when he spun her, she now stood in the middle of the dance floor, she looked back to where she stood with James but saw that he was gone. When she looked back in front of her, she saw Sirius.
He smiled at her, as some snowflakes fell between them. He held out his hand
“May I?” he asked, Arianna smiled
“Yes you may,” said Arianna as she took his hand. Just as she out her hand on his shoulder, a slow song started to play. Couples all around them were practically hugging each other now. From a few feet she saw James asking Lily to dance,
“Hey Evans wanna dance?” she heard James say, Lily rolled her eyes; she was about to say something but James had already grabbed her hand “Cast the spell now!” James called to Remus and Peter, signaling them to make them float in the air like in the woods, but before Remus and Peter could even raise their wands,
“My date is here!” Lily cried, James’ grip loosened as he looked to where lily was pointing, his jaw dropped as he saw Snape standing behind him
“Snivelly is your date?!” he cried in disbelief “I thought that was just some kind of sick joke!” Lily got off James and walked over beside Snape
“No it wasn’t!” she cried, glaring at James like Snape.
Arianna laughed to herself, Sirius raised his eyebrows and looked to where James was standing and couldn’t help but to smile himself,
“Ooh that’s got to hurt.” He said, Arianna raised her eyebrows as Sirius looked back at her
“How do you know?” she asked, Sirius grinned
“Well because he’s my best mate, he’ll be whining to me about it all night long,” he said simply “That and I know how it feels to be turned down.”
Arianna laughed again
“Oh really?” she asked in disbelief, Sirius nodded as he pulled her closer to him,
“Yep,” he said “it happened to me yesterday, when you told me you were going with someone else tonight.” Arianna felt herself go a little pink. She then rested her chin on his shoulder,
“Yeah well that didn’t work out obviously.” She said, putting her arms around his neck instead “That jinx you guys said. I guess it’s real.”
Sirius laughed
“No it isn’t.” he said, Arianna just smiled as she lifted her chin and looked back at him
“Yes it is,” she said “I thought Aubrey was going to last but that jinx of mine got him just earlier tonight.”
Sirius grinned
“Well what can I say?” said Sirius as he spun Arianna, not letting her go unlike what James, Remus and Peter did earlier “I have a way of eliminating the competition.”
Arianna felt her jaw drop. Sirius laughed at her expression, his bark like laugh tempting her to laugh too.
“It was you!” Arianna cried, hitting him on the arm “And you told me I had a jinx!” Sirius continued on laughing, James, Remus and Peter who were watching couldn’t help but laugh themselves
“Well I had competition!” said Sirius smiling as she stopped hitting him, “I had to make a way to take them out.” Arianna just let it go and danced with him again
“Can you ever forgive me?” said Sirius playfully, Arianna smiled
“Yeah sure,” she said, Sirius then grinned
“You look perfect tonight.” He said, as she rested her forehead on his “Actually scratch that, almost perfect.” Arianna raised her eyebrows as Sirius took out something from his pocket, he took her left hand from his shoulder and waved the hand where he was holding onto something on her left wrist, Arianna blinked and there she saw her missing bracelet.
“Now you’re perfect.” She looked up at Sirius who was grinning; Arianna didn’t know what to say
“How did you –?”
“When the first time I bumped into you on the train.” He said simply, as he pulled her closer to him again “I picked it up and kept it safe, I was finding the right timing to give it back to you.”
“I guess you have great timing then,” said Arianna, as she rested her forehead against his “Thanks Sirius.” Sirius smiled, she actually called him by his first name.
The moment was perfect. Their faces were only inches apart, the bracelet was returned, they were both happy; James and Remus took this as their cue. They casted the Hovering Charm towards them, and they both floated in mid air like in the forest, spinning slowly just as some snow fell above them.
Arianna smiled as she looked down below them, she looked back at Sirius who was smiling too. She rested her forehead against his again and slowly their lips met.