The clock struck midnight at the New Year's Ball in Hogwarts. Couples kissed as alarms and sirens went off, celebrating the New Year. Everyone was happy.

Well, not everyone. One boy sat in the Entrance Hall, head in his hands, as the students in the Great Hall celebrated jubilantly.

He had been sitting in this spot for four hours now, waiting for his date. She never came.

I was stupid, he thought. I mean, why would Lily suddenly say yes to me?

She had stood him up. James felt like his heart was breaking over and over again. For one day, he'd been the happiest man alive, and within a few short hours, his heart and soul had been crushed.

"Mate?" Sirius's voice came from the door to the Great Hall. James didn't bother looking up as his best friend crossed the Hall.

"Shouldn't you be with your date?" he asked, still not looking up. Sirius just sat on the floor next to him.

"She's not worth it, mate," he said quietly to James. "You can do so much better than her."

James took in a quick breath. "No," he said, in a choked voice. "I can't. I can never do better than her. Don't you get it, Padfoot? I need her... but she doesn't need me."

James then buried his face back into his hands, while Sirius tried to console him. "Come on, Prongs... why would you want a girl that deliberately stood you up?"

The hazel-eyed boy let out a choked sob. "Because she's the most beautiful girl in the world," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Sirius's eyes hardened. He grabbed his friend's shoulders, making him bring his head out of his hands. "Listen to me, you prat," he snapped. "She doesn't deserve you. She never did, and she never will. She made the wrong decision tonight by standing you up. Any girl would be lucky to have you." At the end of his speech, Sirius fell silent, looking at James thoughtfully. James hung his head, tears falling fast.

"Thanks, Padfoot," he whispered, looking up.

"No problem, mate," he said, standing up and offering his hand. "How about you join the party? There's still a good deal of food left."

James shook his head, smiling weakly. "I'm tired... I think I'll just go to bed..."

Sirius looked at him, concerned. "Alright, then, mate," he said, turning and walking back to the Great Hall.

Yeah, that was short... dunno why I wrote it, but whatever. Review.