The Yule ball was in full swing — the magnificent decoration of the large hall in white and blue tones, sparkling with icy glitter tinsel and number of lush Christmas trees in the corners of the hall, long tables were removed to make room for dancing, dressed-up students in carefully selected outfits were waltzing to live music, and those who were not spinning, they stand at small round tables with glasses of punch, which was supposed by the professors to be non-alcoholic, but you can be sure that certain marauders have long corrected this unfortunate omission.

Lily was fine, really, but Severus, with whom she was as a date, said the mean words (once again), and the mood to have fun disappeared, so right at the moment she sticks out at one of the punch tables, pretending to be very carried away by a glass with strawberry floating in it, so as not to talk to anyone.

She's upset.

And it was doubly insulting with the way she was messing with the preparations for the ball. Curled her hair, gathered it with myriad of hairpins, messed with hairspray and, according to feelings, sat in front of the mirror for at least three hours! And this is if you miss the fact of choosing a dress, emerald, in the color of her eyes, with a leafy pattern and a lush, airy skirt. And the emerald stilettos, the damn pumps that had already chafed her feet.

Another time, Lily would have tried to find positive sides in what was happening, but one couple danced very close to the table where she was almost hiding, and they were smiling so widely that Lily was completely and radically convinced that the evening was disgusting and nothing would fix it.