Masquerade!
Chapter One: Invitations
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the Worthington Masquerade ball and Jasmine Stagamonte. Yeahh... sad eh?
A/N: ANOTHER NEW STORY! WOOT! So yepp, I was definitely listening to the song Masquerade when I wrote this story, and I'm still listening to it now, haha. Phantom of the Opera rocks my sockerz off! Woo hoo! So anyway... I'm on chapter 4 of this now, and since it'll only be 5 chapters anyway I figured I should post it. So review and I shall update soon! Because I've got the next chapter done. So yes. Read and review kiddies!
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Lily's P.O.V.
60 invitations. 60 invitations were sent out that summer to talented witches and wizards throughout Europe. 60 invitations to a Masquerade ball held for only the brightest students. Only 60, and I am holding one of them in my hands.
Dear Miss Evans,
I am pleased to inform you that you have been invited to come to the Worthington Masquerade ball. This is an annual ball that has been held every year for the past 34 years for the 60 brightest witches and wizards of the time. It is held only for students who will be entering their final year at their respective wizarding school, with students ranging from 16 to 19 years old. Countries where the students will be coming from include, but are not limited to, Great Brittan, France, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, and Italy. This is a great opportunity to step outside of your normal routine and make connections with people in other wizarding communities throughout Europe. The ball will take place on July 26 from 7:00 to midnight at the English ministry of magic, in the department of international magical cooperation. Please send an owl with your reply by June 30th. You will be contacted with details on appropriate attire and travel information if you are able to attend. Have a nice holiday.
Jasmine Stagamonte
Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation
I stare at the invitation in my hands unbelievingly. Am I really one of the 60 brightest magical students in all of Europe? I mean sure, I had gotten perfect scores on my OWLs, as well as almost every exam I had taken since entering Hogwarts (the exception being an E in Divination 3rd year. I dropped that course). But in all of Europe?
Well, I suppose there is no use arguing with them now. I have the invitation, and that is all that matters. This ball really sounds like a cool event. There will be people there from all over! Denmark? Ireland? France? Wouldn't it be amazing to meet someone from another country like that?
I scan the letter one more time before jumping off of my bed and running down the stairs.
"Mom! Dad! Look what I've got!" I say as I dash into the living room. Mom isn't there, but Dad is. He is reading the paper, just as I suspected he would be. Throughout my entire childhood, he could always be found sitting in the living room reading the paper on Sunday mornings. He told me that it payed off to be aware of what is going on in the world. I used to sit on his lap and read with him when I was little. Perhaps that is where I got my love of reading from.
"What is it darling?" He asks, folding the paper and setting it down on the table in front of him. I take a seat on the couch next to him.
"Here, read it!" I say, thrusting the invitation into his hands. He reads it and just as he is about finished my mother comes hurrying into the room, drying her hands off on the apron around her waist.
"What is going on, Lily? Is something wrong?" she asks.
"Not at all," I say, "You can read the invitation after dad is finished.
"Invitation?" She asks. However, before I have a chance to respond, my father finished reading and handed the invitation to Mom before leaning forward and giving me a hug.
"Congratulations Lily! This is quite an honor," he says. My mother finished reading it then too and looked up at me, smiling as well.
"Oh, this is so wonderful! I'm making a pudding just for the occasion," she says. I smile. Mom's puddings are fantastic.
"So, does this mean I can go?" I ask, ecstatic. I had honestly been expecting at least one of them to insist that I don't go.
"Well, we'll have to talk it over Lily, we never said you could necessarily go," my dad says. I can feel my face fall at his words.
"What? But what about this being an honor and everything that you just said 2 minutes ago?" I say.
"Well, it still is a wonderful honor. The top 60, that is truly amazing. But as I said, we will have to talk about it," Dad says.
"But what is the point of being honored like this if I don't even get to go to the ball?" I ask poutingly.
"I said we'll talk about it Lily. I didn't say no or yes yet. Now go up and brush your teeth, you have morning breath."
I sigh in frustration and stomp up the stairs and towards the bathroom. They had better let me go to this ball. I don't know what I'd do if they say no! And they had really better talk about it quickly, because we have to send an owl back by a week from now.
When I finished brushing my teeth, I set off down the hall for my room. I get out quill and ink, and begin to write to my friend Shana on a spare bit of parchment on my desk, but then I pause. Shana, although a complete beauty, has always had a bit of trouble with school. It is doubtful that she would have gotten invited to the ball, and I don't want to make her feel bad.
I sigh and crumple up the parchment I had addressed to her and throw it against the wall in frustration. My life always seems to be like this. Whenever it seems like something good happens, it turns horrible. I am invited to a wonderful ball and I may not even be able to go. I have a cute boy 'crushing' on me, and it turns out to be James Bloody Potter. And oh, don't even get me started on him.
I lay down on the bed and stare up at the ceiling as I hear my sister stomp down the stairs, mad at my dad for not waking her up earlier. I sigh and turn over. This is my life. And it sure as hell isn't any fairy tale.
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James's P.O.V.
"Ohhhh JAMSIE BOY!" What the hell? I roll over and put a pillow over my head to block out the annoying sound of Sirius's voice.
"James! Come on, get up! Look what came for you," he says, walking into the room and sitting on my legs, making it hard for me to kick him, which was originally my plan.
"What?" I groan, pulling my legs out from under him and blearily sitting up.
"Look," he says, shoving an envelope under my nose. I frown. It is much too early for our Hogwarts letters to come. We just got home a week ago for heaven's sake!
I grumbled and opened it, unsure of what I was going to find, the only thought on my mind going back to sleep. I found a formal-looking letter inside the envelope and I read it, my interest growing with every word. A ball?
"What do you think? Isn't that cool?" Sirius said. James nodded.
"Yeah. You got one too?" I ask. Sirius and I would rule this thing!
"No, are you kidding me? I am definitely not one of the top 60 students on the continent. But Remus got one," Sirius said. I smiled. At least I would have one friend. Then a sudden thought hits me.
"Lily!" I say. Sirius rolls his eyes.
"Good God, is that woman all you can think about?" Sirius says exasperatedly.
"No, well yes, but I mean, she probably got invited too! She's so frickin smart. I could go, and win her love! And the good thing is that she won't even know that it's me, because she can't see me," I say. The whole plan forms in my head instantly. I know exactly what to do. Sweep her off of her feet and get her to fall in love with me without really knowing it's me.
"Good plan mate. That'll surely work!" Sirius says. I can't tell if he is being sarcastic or not. I turn to look at his face. Oh yeah, he is being sarcastic.
"Shut up. And let me go back to sleep!" I say, suddenly remembering that I am in fact still in my pajamas, lying in bed.
"No, your mom wanted me to get you up anyway, it's 10:30," Sirius says. I sigh and complain as he drags me out of bed and towards the door. As soon as I make it into the kitchen I am assaulted by some screaming thing that turns out to be my mother.
"Oh, James! I am so proud of you! You got invited to the Worthington ball! I didn't even go to that," she says. I sigh and mumble that its not a big deal as Sirius smirks at me over her shoulder.
"I'm making eggs!" she says, moving away from me and over to the stove where she begins loading a plate up with scrambled eggs. My favorite. I smile and begin eating, still thinking about my new plan to win over Lily Evans. Only this time it's different– it'll work.
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Okay, done! Will James's plan work? Or will it all go to hell in a nice pretty little handbasket? Hmm? Well, review and the next chapter will come soon! REVIEW!