Chapter 23 ~ Preparations.

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Maxine awoke with energy and excitement as the reminding thoughts rushed into her head. Hogsmeade morning, the day she and Stefan would meet Nick in the Hog's Head!

The letter on Augen's leg had been in reply, and the positive answer had put a new excitement into both Maxine and Stefan's bodies. Finally a connection with the new world, the world they longed to explore but had to stay away from - or rather, the world Maxine had to stay away from. Maxine's head was full of questions, questions that only Nick could answer. And Stefan, he too needed answers and explanations that neither Maxine or the Wesen book could provide. Yes, both of them had been waiting in anticipation for the past week, and now, that day had come.

Maxine leapt out of bed with unusual flourish - usually it took several minutes of stretching for her to climb out of her warm bed, but not today. Rose and Fauna also seemed surprisingly sprightly, slipping out of bed promptly at quarter to eight to prepare for their day. After a few minutes before completely adjusting to being awake, a conversation began between the three girls, although it did not include Ava, who, though up, simply sat on her bed and brooded.

"Hey Maxie, which colour eye shadow - grey or marine?" Fauna asked, presenting both for decision.

Maxine raised her eyebrows. "You're asking me? The person who knows nothing about make up?" She laughed and looked from the grey to the blue. "I dunno...marine?"

"Do the grey, Fauna." Rose told her friend after grinning at the ignorant Maxine. "It suits your pallor."

Fauna nodded and began to apply, squinting worriedly in the mirror beside Rose, who carefully applied eyeliner before asking;

"Maxie aren't you going to put on anything?"

"I don't know if you noticed, but I'm choosing clothes right now." Maxine answered, bemused. "And I have no intention of walking into Hogsmeade naked."

Rose laughed. "I don't mean clothes, you idiot, I mean make up."

"Oh right." Maxine's brow cleared. "But no, I'm not going to put on any."

"But don't you want to look your best, Max?" Fauna entered the conversation. "That silver eyeliner you've got is absolutely gorgeous."

Maxine shrugged. "I'm not on a date so there's really no need." 

"Yeah, but some guy might see you whilst your there." Rose insisted.

"The only boy who's going to see me is Stefan, so I'm not going to bother." Said Maxine, pulling on her boots. "Really guys, I'm fine."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "Really Maxine, you're not fine. Come here and we'll give you a make over."

Maxine, rather than 'coming' backed away against her bed. "No, no, no, no, no..."

Fauna laughed and together she and Rose advanced, waving eyeliners and foundation tubes with menace. "Aww, don't deprive us of some fun." Rose said as she sat down next to her friend. "It's really satisfying doing makeovers."

"Yeah, come on Maxie." Fauna added herself to the persuasion, although Ava in the corner rolled her eyes and went on with reading the Daily Prophet.

Maxine raised up her hands. "Okay, okay, do it." Rose and Fauna exchanged grins and began to work as Maxine sniffed in disapproval. She could feel eyeshadow and eyeliner being applied, that stuff you put on eyebrows, cover up and liquid liner, even an alarmingly red lip balm. However, she rebelled to Mascara and instantly refused foundation. It was after her face was 'done' that her two friends insisted on choosing her clothes, and though disappointed that none of them were really fashionable, they decreed the ones they had chosen 'the best'. The boots were approved, tan lace-ups that extended to just below Maxine's knee, fur lined and suitable for the damp walk to Hogsmeade in the light drizzle. Finally, after fifteen minutes of fussing, Fauna and Rose pronounced her, 'complete', and Maxine, with dread, approached the full-length mirror by the door.

She looked very overdressed compared to before, eyes bold and flashing, circles around her eyes eliminated, wearing a slick blue scarf that made her look dainty and fashionable...yes, she looked very overdressed but also very nice. Maxine turned to her friends after a few bewildered seconds, face a mixture of grateful, surprised and slightly awkward.

"Thanks guys...I look, er..."

"Really pretty?" Offered Rose, admiring her handiwork.

Maxine turned back to look at herself. "Not pretty, exactly - just not like myself."

Fauna sighed. "You look great, Maxie, don't fuss. I'm sure Stefan'll love it."

Maxine laughed. "Stefan won't recognise me, and as for loving it, I think he's intimidated by girls who wear make up."

"It's no secret, Max, all boys are and that's why we do it; to make us look pretty and to give us the upper ground." Said Rose patiently, turning back to adjust her hair.

"I dunno, you could say I didn't want to intimidate my best friend." Maxine answered, turning back to look at her reflection. "Can I take a bit off?"

Fauna and Rose exchanged glances. "Look, Maxine, just try it for this once. I'm sure Stefan'll survive. Take off the blusher if you like but keep the eye makeup." Rose ordered her friend as she began to braid her own hair.

"Yeah, keep on the eyeliner especially. It makes your eyes look larger and really goes with the colour." Fauna added, trying to decide which jacket she was going to wear.

Maxine nodded but looked slightly uneasy, and took a step towards her friends. "Erm...could you tell me how you get it off?"

Both Fauna and Rose looked surprised, lifting their heads. Rose was just about to answer, however, when a sneering tone spoke words that cut like a knife.

"Honestly you are a joke, Lestrange! Acting all Miss La-di-da and you don't even know how to remove make up! I suppose you can't expect more from a jumped-up homeschooler who's face resembles that of a chimpanzee!"

Ava's words were biting and surprisingly vicious, for although Maxine didn't give a fig about her looks, being called ignorant was one thing that really got to her, and the look on the Golden Girl's face drove her into another temper. She took a step towards Ava with menace, but, predicting what could happen, Fauna grabbed Maxine's scarf whilst Rose answered the taunt, cutting across as Ava continued.

"I suppose you feel you should be up on the wall with a brass plate for success, besides the names such as Lena Fairweather and Alex Matton - for honours and intelligence - when really you lack them and attractiveness. Yes, you-"

"At least she knows how to be generous, Ava, or kind, whereas you will never feel or use these emotions." 

Ava scoffed. "A boy isn't looking for generosity or kindness. A boy is looking for looks and experience, flirting and knowledge."

"Perhaps that is what you think, Ava, but do you believe that me or Fauna possess the ability to flirt, or are that good looking? You must have been through a lot of trauma to acquire that dark view of love." Rose retorted, ending it with a sad tone.

Ava's pale brown eyes flashed angrily. "You're right, you know, and that's why your relationship will never last, because you have no redeeming qualities."

Maxine's anger had faded, and now she sighed as they entered a cat fight and the usually cool Rose became hot and angry. 

"My god, Ava, you've really overstepped the mark there. I tell you what, why don't you go and ask Jack out, and see if he says yes to you!" Rose's cheeks flushed red and her fists clenched alarmingly. Ava, however, who smirked now that she'd got some one wound up, answered coolly;

"Why should I when-"

"Guys, just stop!" Maxine halted Ava and caused the arguing girls to stare back at her. "Rose, Ava's not worth it, and Ava, you have no support here, so both shut up because this is turning in one bitchy environment. - I mean, we're acting like Muggles!"

Rose looked slightly ashamed, and opened her mouth to speak, but Ava got there first.

"The one who's always fighting now has the cheek to patronise us! The high-and-mighty Maxine Lestrange who gets into a duel every five minutes-"

"A duel I usually win." Maxine interrupted, trying to keep her cool. "Please be quiet now, Ava."

Eyes glittering dangerously, Ava did not 'be quiet', instead throwing more insults at Maxine. "You just can't stop boasting, can you, death eater? Well you can't boast about your love life, can you? Has a boy ever liked you, Lestrange? Ever shown any interest at all? And the answer is..."

Maxine opened her mouth but Ava continued after the pause. "...No. Because you're a weirdo; an ignorant, selfish, vile weirdo. And if anyone ever did ask you out - you wouldn't have a clue what to do!"

And with that last heated insult, Ava stalked to the door and flounced from the room, flashing one last taunting glare at the three girls who watched her go in silence.

There was a pause as the noises of Ava stomping down the corridor and into the common room sounded loud and deliberate. It was after a few seconds, however, that Maxine turned back to her two friends.

"What on earth is wrong with her today? She's never been this bad before, has she?"

Fauna, eyes coming away from the door, nodded. "No. I mean, she's always hated you but never has she insulted you on that level."

"As soon as you realise she's just thinking of whatever comes into her head, she doesn't bother you, just exasperates you." Answered Maxine. "Thanks for holding me back there."

Fauna gave a slight smile. "No problem. I could see you were gonna blow." She turned her head to look at Rose, who had now moved to sit down. "You okay, Rose?"

"Oh yes, I ow you thanks, too, Rose." Maxine said to her friend. "She didn't get to you, did she?"

"No, just got me hyped up a bit. For once you had to call me to order." Rose looked across and Maxine. "My thanks to you, too."

Maxine shrugged. "It just reminds me of those Muggle high schools, the ones you see in the films and hear about in the newspapers. We just can't become like that."

Fauna looked confused but Rose nodded. Being a muggle born she knew what Maxine was getting at. "Yeah, I know what you mean, that's why I felt ashamed."

"If anyone should feel ashamed it's Ava." Said Fauna. "Though she won't, unfortunately."

Maxine nodded sadly. "Come on, let's get on and put the stupid thing behind us." She picked up a hair brush and advanced towards Fauna. "You want me to do your hair?"

"No, it's fine, I've only got to do a pony tail." Fauna answered. "But I'll use the brush, anyway." She took the object off Maxine, who nodded and went to fetch her cloak from where it hung over her bed frame. There was more silence as the girls hurriedly finished their toilette; Fauna sweeping her waving red hair back  into a pony tail before touching up her blusher; Maxine removing the cat hairs from her dark cloak and fastening at her breast; Rose pulling on her shining new shoes and making sure the heals weren't coming off. It was once the girl had done this, however, that she sat up and began another conversation.

"You know, I think I know why Ava was so over reactive today." She said, brushing back her low fringe. 

Maxine looked up from plucking a cat hair of her hood and raised her eyebrows. "What is it?"

"Well, I heard Avery talking with his friend in the library last night. I was't trying to eavesdrop but what I clearly heard as I passed was; "I don't have enough money, Theon, you know what happened to Dad."" Rose looked up at her friends. "I mean, does anyone know anything about the Golden Twins' father?"

Maxine remembered the photographs in Avery's dorm. "Only that he's just as blonde and just a sickening."

Rose looked at her, bemused, but Fauna commented before Rose could question Maxine. "Doesn't he work with Gringotts or something?"

"It would explain why they're so rich." Answered Maxine.

"Yes, ut probably not so rich now. He must have lost some money or something and now their in financial trouble." Rose said, tying her laces. "It sounds like it from what I heard in the library."

"That looks to be the case. Still, the Golden Twins do kind of deserve it." Maxine concluded.

"Yeah, they really are sickening." Fauna agreed. "I don't know how they get away with everything."

"It's because they look perfect to the teachers, and never do it when any staff are around." Said Rose, fastening her belt. "And no one ever snitches on them."

Maxine nodded again. "Yeah. Shame though. Still, I don't believe in telling tales, and there isn't much the professors can do." She checked her watch and turned to her friends. "Anyway, let's stop discussing the Golden arseholes and get down to breakfast, otherwise there'll be none left."

Fauna looked up from tying her shoelaces. "What's the time."

"Half eight." Maxine answered.

Fauna gave a half-squeal and Rose's head poked out from behind her chest of draws at a considerable speed.

"Oh my god - we have to get going!" Rose said desperately, finding, abandoning the earrings she had been contemplating and dashing to the door. Fauna completed the last knot in her shoelaces and Maxine paused in the opening of the door to pull a beret onto her head and follow her hurrying friends. Grabbing bags off the common room chairs and slipping out of the Ravenclaw quarters, they only stopped to greet the silent as ever Helena Ravenclaw as they raced down to the Great Hall. They caught a glimpse of the huge flocks of owls swooping into the hall as she slowed on the stairs, all panting slightly and walking, rather than jogging, once more. 

Fauna saw her date, a ginger-headed Hufflepuff with smiling mouth and eyes, and raced off down to him again, making both Rose and Maxine laugh as she almost took him down. He didn't seem to mind, however, and planted a kiss on her cheek before leading her off into the great hall, talking excitedly as they went. Maxine watched them, smiling as they disappeared, and then turned to Rose.

"Where are you meeting Jack?" She asked, pulling her gloves on and taking the bannister to descend the stairs. "Here?"

Rose shook her head. "No, outside near where the carriages run." Her usual exited smile returned as she thought of her date. "I can't wait!"

Maxine grinned, stepping down. "I'm so glad for you, Rose. He's so handsome and so nice. You two are right for each other."

Rose hugged herself slightly, following Maxine down the stairs. "I'm even gladder! I never thought he'd ask me, but here we are!" She turned looked at her friend. "Where are you meeting Stefan?"

Maxine shrugged. "Just in the Great Hall. We'll have breakfast then go off. We haven't really set anything." The image of Nick came into her head as she uttered the last words and Maxine hoped she hadn't blushed.

Rose apparently didn't sense the lie, and only nodded, mood slightly calmer. There was a slight silence as they reached the end of the stair case, but as they headed for the Great Hall, Rose turned back to Maxine worriedly.

"Maxie, what Ava said, did it bother you at all?"

Maxine raised her eyebrows. "Which insult?"

"The one about you being ugly, ignorant in relationships and all that." Rose said in a low voice. "It really isn't true, you know."

Maxine smiled at her friend affectionately. "Ah, but it's true. perhaps not the me being ugly bit, but the part about me and relationships. She was right, I would totally fail at one."

Rose shook her head. "No you wouldn't. Anyway, have you ever tried?" But after she'd spoken, Rose wasn't so sure. She could see a clear example of Maxine's failure at that very moment.

"It's very nice of you, Rose, but I know I would. I have never had a boyfriend before, let alone anyone like me, and I just wouldn't know how to act." She approached her seat at the Ravenclaw table and stopped. "But thanks anyway."

Rose, surrounded by people, did not persist any further, and moved to sit on the other side of Stefan. Her mind soon wandered off the subject, but it did not feel satisfied as she realised she hadn't actually helped her friend. Still, Maxine, talking away at Stefan, seemed perfectly happy, smiling as she spoke. 

In fact, the table was a crowd of smiles, with the exception of one stormy expression. Ava, seated next to Avery a little way down from Maxine and Stefan, had heard every word of Rose's last conversation. She sniffed, unsatisfied. The last thing you wanted your enemy to do was admit their attacker had been right.