A week before Christmas ball, Hogwarts seemed to have gone mad. On Saturday, girls rushed to Hogsmeade, at once buying up all possible perfumes, lipsticks, mascaras, hair balms, skin creams and other cosmetic goods. Their cavaliers looked at that madness with perplexity and slight apprehension, and those who haven't asked the girl to the ball exhaled with relief.
Marauders spent days at rehearsals, almost completely ignoring lessons and visiting only Transfiguration so as not to irritate McGonagall even more.
Sirius continued to concoct his revenge plan, still not sure whether he chose the right path. Since that day, they haven't spoken with Narcissa, not experiencing any need for it.
James after Lily's refusal was ruffled and nervous, although he tried to pretend that everything was fine. What he had in mind, Black imagined vaguely, but didn't try to find out, for he himself was busy reflecting on the impending ball.
However, all that was pale in comparison with recent performance with participation of Serena and Beata Sprinkles. Students kept whispering about this event, following the Slytherin prefect with curious glances. She completely ignored the gossip, not paying attention to her own mother, who looked thoughtfully after her but didn't intend to impose herself. Malfoy was now seen much more often in Beata's company, which was maddening for Sirius, Parker and all Lucius's admirers.
Finally came the long-awaited moment of the opening of the ball.
The Great Hall once again amazed students: filled with sparkling snowflakes, silver candles, hovering in the air, located under the ceiling and folding into a florid "H", icy statues decorated with patterned drapery - all at once made forget about those weeks of student bondage, about which they complained. Girls shone in their stunning outfits of all possible colors and styles, and it was flashing in the eyes because of sparkling necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets.
Despite the holiday, Emily didn't betray herself, preferring an elegant floor-length black dress and a minimum of jewelry. As her roommate told her, lending her shoes: "The floor-length dress will hide your crooked legs." She didn't find it necessary to say that walking on heels and not clinging to the hem of the dress is a much more complicated art than Parker originally expected.
Remus met the girl with a joyful smile, bowing and kissing her hand. Admiration was frozen in his eyes, which made Emily embarrassed and forced to step back. They uncertainly shifted their feet for a while, then almost simultaneously concluded that they urgently needed a drink. Because this was the only way, as James put it, "to untie their legs" and make them dance.
The advice turned out to be handy, and after half an hour they both danced briskly in the middle of the dance floor, absolutely not feeling the rhythm and steeping on feet of people around them. But neither Remus nor Emily cared.
Next to them Lily and Severus circled. Against traditions the girl was wearing a bright green lace dress with a pleated skirt. Some teachers glanced disapprovingly, because already short - just above the knee - skirt with each turn revealed tanned legs of the Gryffindor.
Severus was somewhat shackled, feeling mocking glances of Slytherins. He wasn't so graceful in dancing as his well-educated fellow students, and the dress robe left much to be desired. Together they looked like notorious "Beauty and the Beast". But a smile played on Lily's face and that was enough for Severus.
The appearance of Beata before celebrating crowd could be called almost triumphal. Lucius, who had been waiting for the Slytherin in the Great Hall for an hour, turned to the roar of voices and froze with a twitching eye. Sprinkles busily passed by students and professors, coming straight to Malfoy, and with a half-smile tilted her head.
To be honest, Sirius was very curious about how Beata would look in a ball gown, heels and with a neat hairdo. Actually, he was still curious, because neither that nor the other nor the third was on Sprinkles. Not that it was so unexpected... But Malfoy and Black, until the end, believed in prudence of the Slytherin. In vain.
Ragged purple-red jeans with leather inserts on the sides, loose black hair on one side and put almost upright bright red hair on the other and the same long-suffering "Led Zeppelin" t-shirt created the feeling that Sprinkles opened the wrong door and instead of the bar of bikers got to the ball. Known throughout the school, heavy grinders were in perfect harmony with the rest of the clothes, but not with a solemn event. When Beata turned her back to Sirius, he couldn't suppress a painful moan: on Sprinkles' back, right on the studded leather jacket, were the words "I smashed the bike of Sirius Orion freaking Black!"
"Really?" Narcissa approached Sirius, staring at the last death rattle of fashion named Beata Sprinkles.
Sirius turned to the voice and peered at his loving cousin with an appraising glance.
Grafted since childhood exquisite taste and style coupled with impressive wealth of Black family allowed the girl to create a perfect outfit for Christmas ball. Black was well versed in all sorts of fashion trends and couldn't help but appreciate subtle ridicule of Narcissa - neckline, which advantageously opened fragile shoulders and neck, captured by heavy platinum necklace with emeralds, merged into corset, and the latter into a mermaid skirt, belted with a snake skin strap. An elegant bracelet on Narcissa's hand, if look closely, depicted a very entertaining picture: frightening cobra gripped helpless pike in its belly,* the clasp was supposedly made in the form of a narcissus flower.
* Lucius - translated from Latin means "pike".
Malfoy, still stunned and discouraged by the sight of his companion, turned his eyes to Narcissa. His gaze lingered on her skirt and then slid on her arm. Lucius narrowed his eyes as he examined the pattern and immediately turned pale with rage. His look didn't promise anything good, but the girl just raised her head proudly and turned to her cavalier. Black grinned knowingly and gave Narcissa a hand, inviting her to dance.
Together they looked amazing - graceful and refined Narcissa and elegant, confident Sirius Black, perfectly feeling both himself and his partner in the dance. Black smirked and, for a second, thought that he heard the grinding of Malfoy's teeth, who was currently closely watching their dance.
Sirius was still not sure what he wanted to achieve. Make Beata jealous? Unthinkable. This girl didn't know words like jealousy and affection. Make Malfoy angry? Well, he did. But what's next? Challenge to a magic duel? A bloody battle?
Narcissa, judging by her detached glance, was thinking about the same. She has dealt her blow and couldn't help but understand that her celebration would be short-lived - Lucius wouldn't tolerate that, and if the family knew that their beloved daughter had rejected such an advantageous candidate for a loafer and a rebel, Narcissa would get into trouble.
But there was no fear in her eyes. Sirius first noticed what he hadn't noticed before - Narcissa Black has ceased to be a fragile homegirl. She slowly but surely became a confident woman - Black's blood was thicker than water and some Malfoy can't so easily subjugate a girl like Narcissa Black.
Dumbledore clapped his hands, interrupting Sirius's reflections and attracting everyone's attention. After the epic with the ball, students rightly feared that cunning and pensive smile playing on headmaster's lips.
"I'd like to introduce you," headmaster smiled broadly, "a new band known to you under the name Marauders."
Headmaster paused, waiting for the reaction from students, but they were still digesting what they heard.
Dumbledore casually waved his hand, causing the huge curtains to part ways, revealing a roomy stage. James and Peter were already climbing the stairs. Remus gaily winked at surprised Emily and hurried after them. Sirius, for some reason, stayed in the hall with everyone.
James picked up the guitar, tossing the strap over his shoulder and carefully grasping the grip with his hand. Remus took a place just behind him, also picking up the guitar. And Peter sat down for the drums with sticks in his hands.
The third guitar appeared on stage with blond Eliza. Swaying slightly from alcohol, the girl climbed to Marauders and, cheekily winking at flushed Pettigrew, took her place.
"We are, of course, not the Beatles," James said cheerfully, watching Eliza skeptically, "but we can try to pretend."
Students were stunned and silent. Few of them knew muggle music, and so Marauders, in fact, introduced most of them to a new band.
The Fake Beatles started off with a cheerful and unobtrusive "Hello Little Girl" and if Lily Evans at first still doubted that this entire concert was dedicated to her, then with the next song her confidence acquired monolithic strength. "A Taste of Honey", performed by Marauders and Eliza, definitely found its listener.
James, cheerful, never ceasing to show off before the crowd and making funny faces, from time to time sent Evans a burning look.
After another verse Lily sighed wearily, avoiding looking into the eyes of her numerous giggling and winking girl-friends:
I dream of your first kiss and then
I feel upon my lips again
A taste of honey,
A taste of honey
Tasting much sweeter than wine.
Some looked pointedly at Lily as if asking: "First kiss? We don't know something?".
Then came "Help!", during which James became more insolent and confident. He wasn't ashamed to show his affection openly and entire song was sung for blushing Lily.
After "I'm a Loser", the Gryffindor only rolled her eyes, shaking her head, and crossed her arms over her chest, mockingly watching Potter. The final and very telling song "I'll get you" ended James's public love confession to Lily Evans.
Severus, stiff as a statue, looked at his enemy with hatred, knowing full well that he had no such charisma, no voice, no skill in playing the guitar. The only thing he couldn't understand was how James Potter managed to turn the only joyous moment in Snape's life into hell.
"Before we finish our magnificent performance," the roar of approving laughter rolled through the crowd, "I want to say something to an old... friend of mine."
James sighed, closing his eyes and gaining courage. Now the students looked at the stage star in surprise - uncertainty was not among known traits of James Potter.
At last, he announced loudly, "I publicly apologize to Severus Tobias Snape for all the abominable acts committed by me and Marauders. I understand that these words won't pay off all that he suffered through our fault, and certainly we won't become friends. But let the fight be fair and let the worthiest win."
Potter looked around the room with a confident winner look and stopped at amazed Lily.
A rumble of surprise swept through the hall: everyone was staring at James in amazement. Slytherins - with a slight skepticism, Gryffindors - with admiration.
Remus looked incredulously at James, trying to understand that this was: another trick or serious words. Sirius Black, with his arms crossed over his chest, froze with a stunned expression. His raised eyebrows seemed to be unable to regain their usual position.
Even Dumbledore seemed to be moved by what was happening. He looked at James with an unusually serious look and shook his head, either expressing his approval, or simply in time to his reflections.
Lily just couldn't find the words. She looked fascinated at James, forgetting about huge crowd around her. Of course, she understood that all this was just a beautiful gesture, another attempt to gain her trust. But she also understood that James publicly refused to abuse Snape. And if he breaks his word, he will lose not only Lily, but respect of entire school, too.
Evans looked uncertainly at Severus, who was barely suppressing his anger. Snape didn't want to admit that Potter was capable of such actions and sincerely believed that all this was just a cheap trick.
But, clenching his teeth, he said in a strained and quiet voice, "I accept your apology, James Potter."
And what else he could do?
✨✨✨
The excitement after the speech of newly-born band was still boiling. Plus, everyone was extremely worried about grand piano, standing in the corner of the stage and still untouched. Although the instrument was very unattractive but charms casted on it didn't give reasons to doubt its usability.
Students were guessing what other surprises Christmas ball was preparing and what role the long-suffering grand piano played in all this. But the question remained unanswered, although the time was already approaching midnight. However, students had enough events for one day.
Sirius, Remus and Peter immediately after the speech surrounded James.
"What on earth has gotten into you?"
James shrugged, "Needed to change something."
When Peter departed with Eliza to get some privacy, and Sirius with Narcissa continued to push Malfoy, Lupin went to pensively smiling Emily.
"I know that smile," he said warily. "Last time it meant that I had to blow Slytherin common room up with all its students."
"Don't be so boring, Remus," Emily was blushing because of quick dancing and a couple of cocktails. Blush suited her, reviving usually pale and gloomy girl. The curl fell down on her eye and magical snowflake, tangled in her hair, shimmered in the light, winking slyly at Lupin.
"Is it me, or James and Lily case hasn't been without Emily Parker?" Remus for a second admired graceful curve of her neck, slid his gaze to her breasts...
"Were you staring at something, Remus Lupin?"
Emily's voice was insinuating and quiet, foreshadowing all the torments of hell. The guy immediately looked up, Parker smirked.
"Apparently, your horned friend liked that 'pshycho-approach', as he called it. The one Beata used on Black," she explained.
"So?" Remus asked dully.
"So he came to me, at first hesitated, then mumbled something, then decided to play in a self-confident boob. Anyway, I thought that I would need an interpreter for special Potter language, but after incoherent 'Lily, I make up, she's not', I caught the gist."
"I bet it wasn't so miserable," Remus smiled.
"Pff, details," Emily said casually. "I explained him how to act."
"I think he was furious when he heard about public apology to Severus."
"He was, until I explained the essence. Strangely enough, it reached him almost immediately. And actually, I wasn't talking about public apology... I was talking about the usual - tete-a-tete."
"And what was this for?"
"James have the last six months at school, Remus. It's much easier to suffer six months without daily abuse of the Slytherin, but to do a worthy deed and get a girl with whom, perhaps, you will spend the rest of your days."
"It was a good idea, but you should've realized that it would hurt Severus's and Lily's friendship."
"They have no friendship, Remus. She sees him as friend. Sev is madly in love with her and always will be. I don't believe in them, Remus. A girl like Lily will never love someone like Severus. He'll always be a cute little animal for her, who must be protected, and he'll be running after her, remaining a victim. He needs to become a hunter, and for this he needs to... leave something behind."
"Lily, for example," Lupin frowned. "I don't like these ideas, Emily. You acted behind your friend's back."
"I told him that it's time to change something. That Lily is not for him."
"But they started to work. And it's not for you to decide."
"I was watching them since the third year - they just returned to where they started."
"I don't understand how you can make such decisions behind his back. Tell him about it, at least."
"I did," Emily shrugged and winced. "Now two of my friends ain't talking to me. Do you wanna join their club?"
Remus looked at Emily thoughtfully and shook his head slowly.
"No. Someone must explain to you why you're wrong. If those two didn't make it, then maybe I have a chance?"
"Thank you for believing in my... sanity, Lupin," it was unclear was Parker sarcastic or serious.
"Someone must. Besides, you believe in me," Remus smiled, but uncertainty flashed in his eyes. "Let's dance."
Fast rhythmic music was just replaced by a slow one, and the toughest couples, including Emily and Remus, wandered around the dance floor. But when the first melody ended, headmaster got up again.
"Another little surprise, my friends!"
Students looked at Dumbledore with interest, some of them only sighed in futility.
"Our beloved Marauders and, of course, their assistants," headmaster bowed to Eliza, "showed us how wonderful and talented muggle music can be. Also, we can't deny that muggle classics have made a huge contribution to art, equivalent to both humans and wizards. One of us here would like to demonstrate this to you, my friends. And," Dumbledore smiled slyly, "probably, dedicate this composition to someone special, isn't it, Mr. Black?"
If earlier half of the girls of the school were completely taken with Sirius Black, now each of them, literally everyone, wanted to feel Sirius's eyes on herself and find out that the song was dedicated to her.
"For the one who will really appreciate," Black said shortly and sit down at the piano, straightening his back.
He threw back the lid and closed his eyes for a second, then slowly lowered his fingers to the keys. Melody, that so suddenly burst into the quieted hall and filled it, didn't leave indifferent even the most fastidious Slytherins.
Sirius's long fingers literally fluttered over the keys, forcing them to come alive, weaving a delightful melody, touching the listener's soul, fascinating and not letting to come to senses.
Black's face was calm and focused, only a flickering glint in his eyes betrayed the inner tension and incredible strength of the soul that he invested in his play. The music was disturbing and exciting, growing and accelerating, gaining strength with each new touch, causing listeners to freeze and watch the way Black's fingers were already "crashing" into the keys. Then it died down for a moment, giving the viewer a brief respite.
Probably, many people knew about talents of Sirius Black, but could anyone at least has guessed that he could play like that?
"Prelude and Fugue in a Minor," Beata said, fascinated by beautiful play. "Talented."
"Who?" little Hufflepuff asked her in an uncertain whisper.
Contempt and haughty surprise in Beata's glance would be enough for ten Malfoys.
"Bach," she nevertheless answered. "Composer, not the one who's playing now," she added mockingly. The girl just frowned and turned away.
Most of Slytherins, including Malfoy, looked at Sirius with genuine respect. No matter what they said about muggle world, even purebloods appreciated the works of genius classics, although they refused to admit it.
Music bewitched listeners and Beata's eyes for the first time lost all their mockery, leaving only a pensive interest and a gleam of admiration. No matter what she was wearing now and how ridiculous she was looking. With a straight back, tightly compressed lips and gaze filled with inspiration and almost euphoric pleasure from the play, she looked more pureblood than all Slytherins combined. And only the blind didn't see who was "the one that will appreciate".
Serena looked at Sirius with genuine interest. She wasn't charmed by the young man, but looking from the Gryffindor to her daughter, Mrs. Sprinkles smiled mysteriously.
A few more moments of an incredible play, and Sirius exhaled with relief, lifting his hands from the keyboard of the piano and putting them on his lap.
For a minute the crowd was silent and then exploded with a deafening ovation. This music touched listeners much more than the performance of James. However, Prongs didn't take it personally. He didn't know that Sirius could play like this. Black occasionally mentioned that the only thing for which he was grateful to his mother was learning the art of playing the piano. But what was the real meaning of these words, Potter had no idea.
Absolutely everyone was applauding. Some of those, who was sitting, stand up and expressed their respect and admiration for skill. Only Beata remained motionless and mute, but her gaze, confronting with Sirius's eyes, said a lot.
Calmly coming down from the stage, Sirius walked straight to Sprinkles and then, quite suddenly, turned away and headed for his companion, Narcissa Black. Beata arched a brow.
Narcissa, meanwhile, having unraveled Black's plan, gave him her hand and, when he leaned down for a kiss, said softly, "I really enjoyed it, Sirius. I didn't expect that you'll be so precise in choice of composition dedicated to me."
"How could I be wrong, dear cousin?" Sirius returned the smile.
He was trembling a little, still tense after a difficult play, but he was holding on confidently, despite Beata's burning look on his back.
"It's nice to know that there is at least one girl who can appreciate my efforts on merit."
The crowd exhaled. Beata inhaled. If she was a fire-breathing dragon, then in a moment the hall would be filled with screaming and students set on fire, but, alas, her glance wasn't so effective.
"Let's dance?" Black smiled innocently. Narcissa nodded, and together they went out into the center of the hall.
Beata and Malfoy didn't move, their eyes burned with fire of revenge, but as you know, revenge is a dish best served cold. Lucius wasn't going to hurry. He carefully grabbed Beata's hand, who was ready to rush into battle, and shook his head. "Not now," his eyes said, "you need to calm down." Sprinkles retreated, silently agreeing with her companion.
"Perhaps," Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore thought, "it wasn't quite what I planned. But a little spice won't hurt this evening," and smiled cunningly.