Princess Pariah [open]

She shouldn't have come.

She knew that. Lily Potter was the school pariah - she knew it, she didn't mind it, she had accepted it. She had spent almost the entire day lying in bed reading while all of her dormmates ran about, yanking tights and dresses on, magically curling and sleeking hair, helping each other with their makeup and nails. Twice, Lara Engels had scurried over and timidly asked Lily if she wanted any help and then was she sure she did not want to go to the Ball?

Lily had declined and Lara had continued on, doing her own thing. All of the other girls filtered out, leaving Lily alone to silence. Five minutes had not gone by when Lara suddenly came back in, looking flushed. Lily sat up.

"Lara?"

The girl shook her head. "I can't do it. All of my friends look so good and are with their boyfriends, and I'm just going with my brother's mate Collie. No, no, no, I can't do this." She picked her nails. "Can I stay here with you?"

Lily blinked. "But it's your last year."

Lara nodded. "I know. And... And I'm still a nobody. I just feel worthless, okay?"

Lily stared at her for a long time and then sighed. "Would you go down if I went with you?"

Lara's face transformed rapidly, from anxiety, to confusion, to hope, to distaste. "Wait... Dressed like that?"


It wasn't the fanciest dress, but they had stolen it out of Ellie Franklin's trunk, so beggars couldn't be choosers. It had fit, and Lily had pulled on tights and a pair of Lara's black heels. Lara had quickly pulled Lily's hair up in a cute updo, thrown some makeup on Lily's thin face, and the two had made it downstairs in time for the second dance. They entered the room relatively unnoticed, while Lara clung to Lily's arm. Two months ago, Lily would have said Lara was just another girl she went to school with. But being awkward and uncertain seemed to have brought the two unlikely Gryffindor's together and it was at least comfortng to know that Lily had Lara to depend on-

"Lara?"

An awkward, but handsome man of about nineteen was standing in front of the two of them, in nice clothes and dress robes. He blinked and smiled, looking absolutely surprised as he pushed his hair back. "Wow, you look great!"

Lara beamed. "Thank you, Collie!"

"Do you want to dance?"

She nodded eagerly and released Lily, turning to her. "Thank you!" she whispered, hugging Lily, while the brunette's arms dangled at her side. And soon, Lara twirled off, feeling like the belle of the ball in the arm's of her brother's best mate.

And Lily was left in the middle of a ball she had never wanted to attend. She blinked a few times and scratched the back of her hand, letting out a sigh.

Where was the alcohol?