Sirius Blacks Sister

Chapter 15

The ball was getting closer and closer. It was now only a week away and El still didn't have a date, or a dress, or her transfiguration homework done. She supposed her homework should probably have been highest on her list of priorities but it was just so boring. Besides did McGonagall really expect her to be able to focus on her transfiguration homework when Christmas was only a week away? Probably, but that's besides the point. The point is, homework is boring and Elektra didn't want to do it.

"I give up!" She said and dramatically fell back on her bed.

Lily looked up from the book she was reading and rolled her eyes. "Its been five minutes."

"Doesn't feel like it." Elektra grumbled. "I want to do something."

Lily put her book down. "Okay, what do you want to do then?"

Elektra shrugged. "I don't know."

"Why don't you show us your dress for the ball?" Marlene piped up from her own bed.

"I don't have one yet."

The screech that came from Marlene was ungodly. Lily wasn't much better as she slammed her book closed and said, "I'm sorry you what?!"

"Merlin Marlene are you trying to burst our eardrums? And I said I don't have a dress."

"And why the hell is that?"

Elektra shrugged again. "Just kinda forgot to be honest."

Marlene looked as if someone had just told her the Ministry of Magic had been overthrown by pygmy puffs. "How do you forget about something as important as this?"

"It's really not that big of a deal." Elektra mumbled.

"Not a big- Merlin give me strength. Get up we're getting you a dress." Marlene said. "NOW! Why are you still sitting there? Lets GO!"

"Okay, okay," Elektra said getting up. "Can I at least get shoes first?"

"No. Lets go, we're on a time crunch here people!"

"Marls she does kind of need shoes." Lily said gently.

Marlene sighed. "Fine. But I'm timing you!"

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"We've been here for hours, can't we go yet?" Elektra said after trying on the twentieth dress so far.

"Not until you find one you love." Marlene said.

"What about this one?" Lily said pulling a dress out from one of the racks. "It looks exactly like the one Audrey Hepburn wore to the Oscars in 1954."

"No clue who that is but okay." Elektra said taking the dress from Lily. One more dress couldn't hurt.

"Do you have it on yet?" Marlene called from outside the dressing room.

"Just a minute!" Elektra replied looking at herself in the mirror of the dressing room. The dress truly was lovely. It was white and sort of lacy but looked just classy enough that it couldn't be mistaken for a wedding dress. Whoever this Audrey Hepburn person was, she sure had good taste.

"What do you think?" She asked stepping out of the dressing room and did a twirl which resulted in a wolf whistle from Marlene making her blush.

"I love it." Lily said once Marlene was done with her antics. "I think you should get it."

El smiled. "I think so too."

"I think I know someone who would also love it." Marlene said with a smirk nudging Lily who quickly caught on.

"Ooh yes I bet he would."

Elektra smiled. "I have no clue what you're talking about." Of course she knew exactly who they were talking about but she would never admit it. Although she would never say it outloud she hoped he would like it. He was the real reason she didn't have a date to the ball yet. She had been asked by plenty of people but she had declined all of them in hopes that he would eventually ask her. Of course, she really should have just asked him herself but there was that voice in her mind that just wouldn't shut up. 'What if he rejects you?', 'what if he doesn't feel the same?', or even worse 'what if he likes you back so you start dating but then things start to go downhill and you two break up but it's a really messy break up so it ruins your friendship and it tears your friends apart and things will never be able to go back to the way they were?'. It was just too risky.

Of course she shouldn't have been letting her fears control her. After all, was she not a Gryffindor? And what are Gryffindors if not brave risktakers? But Elektra didn't feel very brave, in fact she rarely did. Maybe she should just shoot her shot. What was the worst that could happen? Yes, she decided, she would do it. As soon as they goot back from Hogsmeade she would march right up to him and ask him to the ball. Good plan, she told herself. Good plan.

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Elektra stood outside the door of the boys dorm. Was she really about to do this? Yes, yes she was. She opened the door and took a deep breath. "Re- what's going on?" She said as she noticed Remus sitting on his bed with a very red face and the others dancing around the room and clapping him on the back.

Sirius looked up at her with a massive grin on his face. "Moony here got a date."

"Really?" Elektra said taken aback. "Good for you Moony. Who is it?"

Remus' face somehow got even more red when he saw El. "Um, her name's Grace. She's a Hufflepuff." He said quietly.

"The one from Herbology? That's great!" She said forcing a smile. "Well, I um have to go, Lily wanted me for something." She said hurriedly before rushing out of the room. She rushed down the hallway back to her own dorm which was thankfully empty for once. She plopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her hear felt like it was breaking for some reason. It was stupid really. He had every right to go to the ball with whoever he wanted. She couldn't be mad at him for asking someone out. It was her own fault really, she should have mustered up the courage sooner than a week before the dance.

Besides, she couldn't blame him for asking out Grace. She really was very nice and she was extremely pretty. She couldn't be mad at Grace for accepting either. Who wouldn't want to go with Remus, he was nice and funny and the two already got on well from Herbology class where they had been paired together a few times. They would probably have a great time, and she hated how jealous it made her feel.

She sat up abruptly. Jealous or not she vowed not to ruin this for Remus. He deserved to be happy, and if Grace makes him happy then so be it. Besides, the little voice said in the back of her head. It's just a ball, who's to say if they'll actually decide to go out properly afterwards. As much as she hated to admit it, she really hoped they wouldn't end up dating.