~ROAC~ (incomplete)

"The world is at her best, you know,
When people love and care."

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Chapter image art by the incredible @elyon-x on Tumblr (check out their blog here: https://elyon-x.tumblr.com/)!

"Hold still, Marlene-"

"Just let me get the cane first-"

"Marls-"

Bell's lips turned up at her friends' bickering. James wasn't exactly the best when it came to style, so there was certainly some irony to be found in that he was helping Marlene, the most fashion-forward of the friend group, fix her hair this morning. As it was a day off from classes, the seven had congregated once more in the Marauders' dorm to prep for their little trip today. St. Mungo's might have been a whole country away, but through Professor McGonagall's permission and a little help from Floo Powder and the Gryffindor Common Room fireplace, they would be heading there in less than an hour. Since the day happened to be Halloween, all had dressed up in costumes. Bell had packed two pieces- a white pashmina and gloves -of Lily's costume in the care package they had all assembled for their recovering friend, just in case she wanted to join in on the costume fun.

"Hand me the little flowery thing- no, the one for the pocket- yeah that."

"You mean a corsage?" Remus corrected from across the room, adjusting his sleeves to a suitable length with a bit of magic.

"Carriage- corset- whatever it is, it matches my suit, and that's what matters."

Marlene went all-out this year, strutting her stuff around the room in a full-fledged suit in the style of a Victorian nobleman. She had even created a cane from scratch (with magic, of course) that she could tuck her wand into. The suit was all black, except for her cravat, which was a pale purple, and the sprig of lavender flowers she tucked into her breast pocket as a corsage- an homage to Lily, as purple was her favorite color.

"Remus- could you zip me up?"

Bell glanced over her shoulder from brushing the left side of her hair to see Remus drawing the zipper up on his girlfriend's dress. Her small smile grew to see how gentle he was with her and the sweet kiss she placed upon his cheek once he'd completed the task. It hadn't been long since the couple had become official, and yet, it seemed to everyone around them that they must have been together for longer, at least in spirit. There were all these little things they had already picked up on about each other and respected and adored. Bell hoped she and Sirius could grow to have such a relationship someday. As it often did in the last day or so, her heart gave a twirl when her gaze, following her train of thought, trailed to said fellow, who was adjusting the collar of his shirt.

"Merlin, James, we have ten minutes and you're still coat-less."

"And shirtless, if you'd somehow forgotten."

"Maybe he should just go like that- Lily'd appreciate it."

Laughter, not so loud as it might have been had Lily been with them, traveled among the friends, and Bell put down her hairbrush. She took a moment to appraise the costuming around her. Remus and Persephone had, in a move so cheesy it was adorable, decided to do a couple's costume. When they'd told their friends, James, after fangirling for a solid five minutes, demanded that they go as a fairytale princess and her prince- but in reverse gender roles. Although Remus had been so-so about wearing a dress, Persephone had reassured Bell- between just them girls -that next year, she would persuade him to follow through on James' idea. This holiday, however, the couple was satisfied being Marius and Cosette from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, a novel favorited by both.