Forever&Always

Chapter Twelve

Juliet's P.O.V

The ball is in three days and so far I've been asked to go by two boys. A Gryffindor sixth year and a seventh year Ravenclaw. I declined both invitations because if I was going to the ball, I wasn't going with just any random person. I know that sounds pretty stuck up, but you can't blame me. I'd been expecting Sirius to ask me, but he hasn't, so I don't have a dress yet. Lily and I are sitting in the library studying for our ancient runes test and let's just say it's not very likely that I'll be passing it.

"How much longer do we have to stay here Lily? You and I both know that I hate studying and the library " I say

"We can leave as soon as you understand how to translate these runes"she says

"Oh well, that should be fine. I expect we'll be out of here by the end of the year" I say sarcastically

She continued trying to explain it to me for the next hour or so, but I was lost in my own thoughts.

"You know what? We're leaving now. You're hopeless Juliet" she said closing the textbook

I threw my arms up in the air "Hallelujah! We could have saved a lot of time, because I didn't hear one word you said"

She chuckled "Alright let's go eat dinner, we're already late"

I packed my books into my bag and walked out the door behind Lily

"You'll have to figure out the ancient runes soon because obviously my help isn't working. Maybe you could ask Remus to help or somethi-"

"Oi! Juliet" someone called from behind us. It was the kid from The Three Broomsticks. What was his name?

"Hey, it's Jake right?" I asked

"Justin actually" he laughed

"Right" I said waiting for him to get to the point

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the ball with me, assuming you didn't already have a date" he asked

"Oh, I don't really thin-" I started, but Lily cut me off

"She'd love to" she said sending me a warning glare

"Great, meet me outside the great hall that night" he said not even giving me a chance to protest before swaggering away like he owned the place

"Lily! I can't believe you. You can't just accept invitations for other people. And in case you weren't listening to what I told you last week in The Three Broomsticks, he's a jerk!"

"It doesn't matter how much of a jerk he is, you didn't have a date" she retaliated

"And I was perfectly content with that"

"Then just tell him tomorrow that you've decided you don't want to go with him"

"I can't do that, I'm not that much of a horrible person" I whined

We walked to the great hall in silence. I was mad at Lily, but I guess she was right. As much as I tell myself that I don't want to go to the ball, I really don't want to miss it and if going with Justin Grant is my only option at this point, I guess I'll have to stick it out for the night. When I got to the great hall, I plopped down in my usual seat and sulked.

"Don't be such a sour patch Juliet, it won't be that bad" said Lily

"You're not the one going with the most annoying and bigheaded Ravenclaw" I said

"I have the Gryffindor equivalent, so I get it" Lily said referring to James

"Juliet, do you have a date to the ball?" Sirius called from across the table

I looked over at Lily and she shrugged "Ten minutes" I said

"What?" He asked

"If you'd have asked me ten minutes earlier, maybe I would have agreed, but you waited until the last minute and now I have a date"

"Wait are you saying you would have said yes?" He asked sounding hopeful. I hate to burst his bubble, but I really don't like him. He's only a better choice than Grant.

"If there were no other options we could have gone as friends" I said

"Well who's lucky bloke?" He asked putting his head in his hands

"Justin Grant" he didn't say anything so I assumed he didn't know him "Ravenclaw, yea high, blonde, very hot-"

"Yeah, yeah I know who he is. How could you say yes to him? He's conceited, bigheaded and he thinks he's all that"

"Your one to talk" I said "and besides it wasn't me who said yes"

"Don't worry about it Juliet, Padfoot hates just about anyone who has a list of exes as long as his. And let's face it, Grant dates around" said Peter. His nose was slightly crooked and it made me feel guilty, but it wasn't my fault he snuck up on me when it was past curfew.

"Sorry about your nose Peter" I said sending him a sympathetic look

"What happened to it anyway?" asked James "when I woke up, I saw you laying in your bed and I thought you were dead. Your face was all bloody and it looked like a thestral attacked you" James joked

"I just tripped... and fell... into a rock" Peter said. I caught his eye and he quickly looked away.

"That's one big rock" James said "but I wouldn't expect anything less from you wormtail"

"Did I say rock? I meant boulder" Peter said. He's hiding something from his friends and I'm going to find out what it is.