Alya took in her reflection with a careful eye as she stood on the pedestal. The blackest of robes, near shimmering, to offset her porcelain skin and chestnut hair; the highest of heels and straightest of posture to make up for her lack of actual height; everything was as it should be. It was summer, soon it would be fall and her final year at school. Life was rolling steadily along and soon she would finally have the absolute freedom she craved. Not that freedom was ever denied with how busy her parents always were, but she would finally be an adult. Make her life completely her own. Make something of herself, for herself. Move out of the shadow of being ignored by her family and starting working towards what she wanted.

Her daydreams were interrupted by the most irritating of voices, coming from inside the shop. She couldn't help but roll her eyes. Of course he was here, ruining her afternoon with his comments. "While he's here why don't you give him back his shirt?" God, why did she put up with him? They had been friends forever, he was practically the first person she had met and one of the reasons she never expected to end up in gryffindor. He was ridiculous, if she was to be perfectly honest, overly loyal to a fault, and cared too much what others felt. But he was smart and fun to fight with so she had put up with him over the years. For some unknown reason, she somewhat enjoyed his presence, though she had yet to figure out why. He had very few redeeming qualities but those that he possessed would never be admitted to him. His head was big enough as it is.

"Please, I was polite. She's lucky I didn't make her cry." Honestly, what she did wasn't even that bad and it wouldn't be the first time she made a store clerk dissolve into tears. "So, Potter, why have you decided to darken my day? Shouldn't you be off.. I don't know, saving a puppy from a runaway broomstick or something the noble do?" Surely he had something better to do. "Though I commend you for working on your wardrobe, or lack thereof. It's about time." Alya smiled and turned back to the mirror, fixing the hair around her face and awaiting his next snarky comment.

God, why did she even bother talking to him? Albus was unnecessarily difficult at all times. They were from two different worlds, held two completely different world philosophies, different mindsets, different temperaments; they were two magnets constantly pushing against each other. But she did enjoy their time together, their quick banter. His barbed wit and attempt at humanizing her was entertaining to say the least. Alya knew she could always get a rise from him no matter what, which was appealing. It was a friendship that, given enough time, one of them would most likely end up dead. How she'd love it to be him.

"Who wants to read up on something so dreary? If I wanted a page out of the Albus Potter Handbook I would have fished it out of the clearance bin already, thanks." What a dreary piece of work that is, a bleeding heart memoir to those with poor little rich boy syndrome. Why did he always try to deny his pedigree? He came from good stock, had a sharp mind, what a waste it all was. So much potential, squandered. With a job. At a bookstore. Though it was good to know where he was at all times, in case Alya ever had the sudden urge to ruin his day. Boys on leashes were so much fun to play with.

She made a face of disapproval at his words. "Road trips? Come now, Potter, the fact that you mentioned that points to your obvious status as a clique." Alya relished using his last name there, torturing him with it when she could. Why he never just took advantage of the power his name commended was beyond her; James often did, but he screamed scummy golden boy who likes to sleep around. Lily understood and used it sparingly, but she had been trained well. Alya had seen to that and she was a bright one, his sister. Somehow Albus missed that gene.

"Leaving so soon, handsome?" She watched him attempt to sneak away in the mirror with a smile. Oh no, he was not getting away that easily. "As much as it pains me to admit it, I was to soon come looking for you. I need your assistance in something I've been cooking up." If there was anything they did agree on, it was a good scheme. It was painful, but he was a good ally in the field and just the man she needed for the job.

Alya grinned inwardly as he took the bait. Yes, as much as he pretended to be boring and that he liked being "invisible," she knew he enjoyed a good adventure now and again. Something devious and out of his ordinary scope of fading into the background with his raggedy clothing. No, he got the same sparkle in his eye when the various plans were enacted and, as much as she hated to admit it, he was very useful in those situations. Good at thinking on his feet and typically stayed cool-headed. "Come now, Albie, don't get yourself wet with excitement."

Sliding off the half finished robe and fixing her dress, she sighed before spilling the story. "So… I think my father is having an affair." She focused on her own image in the mirror and ignored the semi-sympathetic, bleeding heart expression that was most likely plastered on his face. "I broke the code to his social planner and found out he's going to some gala tonight sans my mother. A gala, interestingly enough, which your mother is part of the board." She finally gave up on her hair and turned to face him. "Your mother is getting an award, I hear. Wouldn't she be proud if, for once, you were properly dressed AND had a girl on your arm?" She walked over to him slowly, a smile on her face. "So, what's it going to be? Help a girl out figure out if her father is a rover and suffer an evening with me? I have the perfect tux picked out."


Outfit here

Alya watched him debate this plan, hoping he would say yes. Then again, she hadn't planned on accepting no as an answer. No, this was absolutely happening but it would make her life easier if he just agreed to it now. Because she was not giving up on this idea, it was the only way she could think of. The entire plan seemed too perfect; her cracking the code and the event in honor of his parents. Hopefully this was just a sneaking suspicion of hers, that her father was simply taking a coworker because her mother had something else to do on that night. Her instincts though were rarely wrong but she pleaded with the universe, begging for this to be contributed to the wild imagination of a bored teenager.

Pretend like it's a date? A warm smile found its way onto her face as she slowly sauntered over to him. Her face was a mask of faux happiness, the kind of look one would expect from a girl in love. Alya wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in with her hips and slowly closing the distances between their mouths. Only a few moments before contact would be made she dropped the mask and smirked. "I believe in both of our acting abilities, don't you?" She dropped her arms and moved away from him, grabbing her purse.

She nodded as he agreed, the disapproval in his voice clear. "Thank you," she said earnestly, for once truly meaning it. Damn him, for somehow always finding a way to make her a little nicer. She turned to the door, opening it and waiting for him. "Come on, we need to make sure that tux will fit you." Leading him through London to her house and up to her room, Alya pulled the garment bag out of her closet and handed it to him. "If that's not the most perfect tux for you I'll eat a shoe. Put it on, I'll be just a few minutes."

Walking away, she quickly put on an appropriate dress for the occasion: one that was nice enough for the benefit but also inconspicuous enough to blend in with the crowd. It was, as usual, perfect. Bought on a recent shopping binge, Alya was glad that it could be worn so soon.

Minus the zipper sticking. Why did Ralph Lauren zippers always stick? Usually she'd just call Jezebelle to help her but if Jez found a boy in her room she would never hear the end of it. No, there was really only one option. The fact that it required her asking for his help for the second time today was driving her insane. "POTTER! Get in here! My zipper is stuck and I need to check your tux."


Room: Click here
Dress: Click here 
Changing room vanity: Click here

Alya despised everything about his smug, high and mighty face as he walked into her dressing room. God, he was completely insufferable in every which way possible. Why was she even bothering with this? Even dressed up like a gentleman he would never be one. He was an ass, in all aspects of the word. There was no way this was ever going to work. No one would be believe that they were a couple, they despised each other way too much to be able to act through it. Not without vomiting. Nope this was never going to work. The two of them were going to kill each other before the night was over, that much she was absolutely sure about.

But stars above he looked great in a tuxedo. She couldn't help but admire how well it fit, even while hiding behind a critical eye. Like it was made for him, but if he had any taste designers would kill each other to make clothes for him. Too bad he was still into that homeless, disheveled look. Useless waste, in her mind. Albus could be the most handsome of gentleman, if he tried a little bit. But Merlin forbid. That would never happen.

Her expression went from haughty to curious as he zipped her dress, his hand teasing the skin on her back. Alya allowed herself to weight to shift so she was making contact, instinctually leaning on him as his touch trailed down her arm. What was he doing? She kept her expression clear of the doubt that was running through her mind before grinning. Getting into character? She could do that.

Turning back to face him, she straightened his tie with a smirk. "Well, you certainly look the part, dear." Oh, god. Terms of endearment. Did that have to be included? They should probably leave them out or else she might actually start laughing. Despite how wonderful his hands felt. No, they were good but they weren't that good. "Ready when you are, maestro." This was certainly going to be an interesting night.