Life choices (Remus Lupin Marauders era)

Chapter 14

I pull on my favourite black coat and wrap my Gryffindor scarf around my neck. I pick up the money mum gave me and slip it into the small shoulder bag at my side. I find the girls waiting for me in the corridor, franticly discussing what type of dresses they want to buy.

"Ok. Everyone ready to go?" Mary smiles. "Come on."

We head down the stone steps and join the excited throng of people waiting to go. Alice catches up with her boyfriend and is about to go along with him before Mary drags her back, insisting that we have to have some girl time.

"Fine but I said I'll meet up with him at the three broomsticks for a drink."

"As long as we get to go dress shopping with you, that's ok." She grins and links her arms through ours. "Come on weirdos, let's go buy some gorgeous dresses that have all the boys drooling at our feet."

We laugh along with her and join the throng of students waiting in the courtyard. McGonagall tells all the third years what's expected of them and finally were allowed to go.

We head down to Hogsmede and go straight for the dress shop, thankfully getting in before all the other girls. We excitedly skim through the racks of clothes and try to find something that suits each of us. I pick out a floor length dress, pale pink and decorated with fabric flowers, definitely something that suits my personality.

Lily sidles up next to me and looks down at the dress lying in my arms.

"It's absolutely gorgeous. So you." She grins and takes hold of soft fabric. "It goes with your golden-ish hair."

Luckily I'm the only person in my family to not have red hair. No offence. I smile at her.

"None taken." She says and continues looking at the garments. "Red hair isn't for everyone."

I carry the dress down to the changing rooms and slip it on. I turn around to look at myself in the mirror and smile, lifting up the skirts so they aren't dragging along the ground.

"Come on Immy! We want to see what you look like!" Mary shouts at me from outside.

I slowly come out from behind the fabric curtain and do a little twirl for them. They smile and nod in approval.

"Beautiful, but you do need heels, you're really short, not to be rude or anything but the dress is dragging. We also might need to take up the hem a bit." The dressmaker observes, raking her eyes over me.

I nod and she whisks away to get some suitable heels. I slip them on and take a couple of wobbly steps forward.

"You'll need to break them in a bit, get used to walking around in them otherwise on the night it'll be unbelievably painful and you'll be taking them off after an hour or so. I'll alter the hem and send it up to the school."

Thank you.

The other girls try on a load of different dresses and eventually settle on styles that suit them. I offer constructive criticism when necessary and help pick out their accessories and shoes. We head out with our purchases tucked under our arms and make a beeline for the three broomsticks. Alice abandons us to go and join her boyfriend and I spot Gideon and Fabian sitting in one of the booths. I excuse myself and head towards where they wait.

"Hey Im." Gideon smiles warmly. "Wanna drink?"

I nod and they call a waitress over for a butterbeer. She hands one over and I take a long drink, licking the foam moustache off my top lip.

"So, what've you been up to?"

Dress shopping for the Christmas Ball.

"Oh, yeah, the Yule Ball. I can't wait." Fabian drawls sarcastically. "Our dates can't shut up about it."

You guys have dates already? I ask in surprise.

"Don't seem so surprised. We are actually quite attractive and popular." Gideon says, smirking and looking very pleased with himself.

And full of yourself. I finish off their list.

They start defending themselves and telling me about their dates. I just sit back and try not to laugh at them both. We continue to chat (them talking, me writing) about trivial little school things and rumours travelling throughout the years.

I tell them all about my dress and the idea of Lily, Mary and I going as a group because we doubt we'll get dates. I leave out that I highly doubt I'll get a date and they're just being kind.

We say goodbye and I join the girls again as we head up to the castle. As I walk up the path with them I can't shake off the feeling of being watched. I try to ignore it and continue having fun with the others. We reach the room and I finally feel like I can relax.

We each pull out our dresses and have a mini parade before safely storing them away in the wardrobe. We decide to go and mingle in the common room, something which doesn't happen often, and nab the sofa in front of the fireplace before anyone else can.

The marauders saunter in, their arms loaded with different sweets from honeydukes. Lily frowns and turns to face Potter.

"How did you get them? You know you're not allowed to go to Hogsmede, Slughorn banned you for the rest of the term because you made an exploding potion, on purpose."

"We didn't go to Hogsmede. Ask anyone." He smirks. "Our names were never on the register. We never left through the front door."

"So where did you leave through then."

"That'll cost you a bit more, Lily flower." He smirks. "Liquorice wand?"

She wrinkles her nose up in disgust at the offering and turns away from him, looking into the fire. He just smirks and bites the top off the sweet, walking away with his group.

I think the fact that she brought it up and even went to talk to him proves that her feelings are changing towards him. No matter how much she tries to deny it.