Author's Note: My first attempt at a Lily/James fic! I hope you'll like it.

It was ridiculous, the whole idea.

It was early November when Albus Dumbledore announced that there will be a Christmas Ball the following month to celebrate the joyous season. Lily Evans knew she was not the only one thinking it was mad to pretend anyone was in the mood for ballgowns and dress robes when the Wizard World has been plagued with nonstop news about the Dark Lord. Fear-mongering rumors have been spreading like wildfire, Muggleborns were being targeted and killed, and Death Eaters were being recruited by the numbers – Hogwarts students, no matter how safe they felt inside the castle walls, have felt the repercussions of these events and were terrified of what the future holds when they step out of Hogwarts for good.

Yet their headmaster with his all-knowing smile hushed the growing noise of the crowd and said, "I believe a little change in decoration might help change your minds."

He changed the scenery above their heads into a winter wonderland and left everyone mesmerized and excited for what was to come.

So there they all were, two nights before they return home for the winter holidays, distracted by fancy robes and dresses, heels and bobby pins, placing bets on whether or not Sirius Black can come equipped with firewhiskey from Hogsmeade, and placing even bigger bets on whether or not their Head Boy and Head Girl were indeed dating – their minds far from the cruelty of the world.

Maybe it is a good thing then, the stupid ball, Lily thought to herself as she struggled with the zipper at the back of her dress. The yuletide celebration was something happy and light in the midst of all the growing hate and darkness.

Letting out a frustrated groan, she threw herself back on her chair and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was flawless, her hair perfect – the only thing keeping her from getting the whole thing over with was the uncooperative zipper. If she were back in Gryffindor tower with the girls, getting ready would be a breeze. But she wasn't there anymore. Given her position as Head Girl, she resided in the Head Students' dormitory with no other than James Potter himself.

Another ridiculous, utterly maddening Idea that Dumbledore came up with that boggled not only her mind but the entire student body – and quite frankly, Potter himself.

James Potter, Head Boy.

Lily almost laughed when he announced himself in the Head compartment of the Hogwarts Express in the beginning of that school year. She waited for the punchline but it never came. Instead, he delved – quite professionally – into the matters at hand, even answering Severus Snape's testy questions with a calm demeanor, surprising everyone in the room especially Lily. But, of course, it wasn't Potter without a witty answer or two, and she quite unsuccessfully tried to keep herself from smiling.

Lily hated to admit it, but it was brilliant. It was as if Dumbledore knew it would happen when he appointed him Head Boy. Potter was acting the way a Head Boy should. In the beginning, his seriousness frightened her because after years of knowing him, there was always something behind that charming smile. Mischief bound to surprise her around the corner or something. But there wasn't. He was cordial, kind even. Of course, there was the occasional pranking and jokes with his friends – as there should or Lily might lose her mind – but never anything harmful. He coordinated meetings with her and led them with ease and authority, arranged duties and timetables with her during their free time, led the Gryffindor Quidditch team as Captain, and did well in his NEWT classes.

Even she was jealous.

Included in the number of things that changed, there was one tiny, little thing that she won't admit bothered her. He stopped pursuing her. He didn't look at her the way he did before – with that annoying grin and that glint in his eyes. No more "All right, Evans?" echoing across the hallway, no more cringeworthy proclamations of love with Sirius and Peter throwing flower petals at her and Remus dragging her way in embarrassment, no anything. Her friends certainly noticed without her having to say anything and congratulated her for living to see the day.

"Your wish finally came true," Marlene McKinnon winked.

Huh.

Shaking her head to rid herself of such thoughts, Lily stood up again and attempted at the zipper.

She did not miss the old Potter, she did not miss the screaming matches, and she did not – did not at all – fancy James Potter. Alice Prewett was wrong about that, her judgment clouded by her own romance with Frank Longbottom. Sure, she had the occasional daydream of what it might feel like to have his strong arms wrapped around her, to have her hands run through that messy hair of his, or to have him pull her into a secluded hallway and have him snog her –

"Oi, Evans! Are you still alive in there? We're going to be late."

Speaking of the devil.

Lily huffed. "Just a minute!"

She resumed to her struggle before accepting once and for all that it was indeed stuck. And she needed another hand to help her. Lifting her eyes up towards the ceiling in a silent plea to the gods to preserve her, she added with a cringe.

"Can you come in here?"

There was a pause at the other side of the door. "Are you all right? Are you decent?"

"… Sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, just get in here, Potter."

The door creaked open. "All right, all right, no need to go all Evans on me."

"I am not even going to ask what that meant."

Her stomach churned at his silence, and she dared to look at his reflection in the mirror. He looked handsome, really handsome, the kind she refused to admit but the truth was hard to deny when it's standing right in front of her. The first two buttons of his dress shirt underneath his robes were undone and his hair was slightly tamed – having been miraculously combed back somehow. There was a look in his eyes that she had never seen before but it was enough to leave her breathless.

"Can you zip me up?" Lily asked, hoping her voice was stronger than what it sounded like in her ears.

He took a couple of steps forward then carefully tugged the stuck zipper. When her dress was finally, properly zipped up, he rested his warm hands lightly on her shoulders before murmuring, "There. You're perfect."

At his words, she looked up at him in the mirror and was startled to see how perfect they looked together.

Damn it, Alice.

"I got you something."

Her eyes widened when he pulled out a gold chain from his pocket and held it up for her to see. "Thought you deserved a little something for putting up with me this year."

Lily couldn't help her smile at the sight of the small, oddly-shaped pendant now hanging on her neck. "Is that a Quaffle?"

He grinned. "I knew you'd get it."

"What is this? Some kind of way of marking your territory, Potter?" she teased, making his grin impossibly wider. Before, she might have gone ballistic with his gift, but at that moment she found herself thrilled with the whole thing. The gift, the banter.

"Perhaps," he said quietly before meeting her eyes in the mirror. "Or maybe I just wanted to give you something to remember me by. It is our last Christmas together."

Her heart felt unnaturally heavy at his words. It was, wasn't it? Their last year, their last Christmas at Hogwarts before venturing out into the great, scary unknown that lay beyond the castle walls. Something shifted in that moment, she couldn't pinpoint what triggered it – was it their close proximity, the new necklace hanging around her neck, or the realization of an ending that was about to come. Whatever it was, she knew – with sudden clarity – that the one thing she will miss the most when she leaves Hogwarts is him.

Bloody hell, Alice, look what you have done.

"All right, Evans?"

"We should get going," she replied, ignoring the chill that went down her spine at the feel of his lips on her ear. "We are the ones to open the dance."

Her grimace must have looked amusing because he had a silly grin on his face as he took her hand and gently placed it on his arm. "Don't worry, Evans. I won't let you fall."

The sight of the two Head students coming down the stairs together was nothing short of surreal. Lily felt beautiful in her shimmering dark green gown that caught the light every time she moved. James looked dashing in his dress robes, and it was further confirmed by the soft sighs she heard from the girls loitering the corridor when they arrived. But it wasn't the clothes that had her knees weak, it was the smile on his face, a warm glow of happiness that affirmed he liked having her on his arm.

And it was enough to make the butterflies in her stomach go wild.

"Prongs!"

The sudden shout made both of their heads turn towards its general direction. Sirius Black was grinning madly at the sight of his best friend. "You're here!" he placed his arm around James with a force that was enough to pull him away from Lily. "What is up with your hair, mate?"

"It's called magic, Padfoot."

After messing it up and dodging a punch in the stomach, Sirius turned to her with a whistle. "Evans! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"

Lily laughed at the exaggerated bow he made and the kiss he placed on her knuckles. "Aren't you the charmer?"

"Okay, that's enough flirting," James said, pulling her away. "Don't you have your own date to entertain?"

"Lily!"

Her friends, Alice Prewett, Dorcas Meadowes, and Marlene McKinnon were briskly making their way towards her the best they could in their dresses and heels much to her amusement.

"You look gorgeous!" Alice gushed.

"We didn't know you were coming with a date, Lils," Dorcas glanced meaningfully towards James.

Marlene added as Sirius placed an arm around her. "Is there something we should know? People are placing bets, you know."

"I'll have you know I have your back, Prongs," Sirius interjected enthusiastically. "I've already won 10 Galleons with the stunt you two pulled just now with that entrance. Brilliant. Just brilliant!"

"Evans! Potter!"

Minerva McGonagall had a strand of hair falling out of her perfect bun, giving the hint that she was already harried. "Where have you two been? We are already running late. Are you two ready? You are to open the dance with a waltz. I sincerely hope you remember what we have been practicing. Now, Professor Dumbledore has already…"

Fatigue suddenly washed over her as her professor continued her instructions. They have been working nonstop, her and James, having been the ones in charge of the decorations, the food, the musicians, everything. And now, they still have to open the dance. James, observant as he was, placed his arm around her waist in support and murmured in her ear, "Not too late to bail."

She laughed incredulously. "What?"

"What?" McGonagall and he asked her simultaneously, her with confusion and him with concealed amusement.

Lily must have looked like a deer in headlights.

"Professor," James swiftly intervened, moving closer to her side. "You've already taught us everything we need to know. All you have to do now is lead the way. We'll take it from there."

The older woman looked at them over her spectacles before relenting, "All right then. Come with me."

The Great Hall looked spectacular. The walls looked like they have been iced over and there were gigantic icicles and snowflakes coming down from the ceiling. The huge windows of the hall were covered by silver and white curtains. There were ice fountains serving drinks, and there were smaller ice sculptures glowing on the tables. The three Christmas trees Lily specifically picked for the occasion stood in glorious formation at the head of the room, completing the whole theme of a Winter Wonderland.

All of the faculty and students were dressed to impress, talking amongst themselves with the lively music as their background. Dumbledore was talking to another faculty member when the two Head students walked in, and he immediately turned to formally announce the start of the dance. The whole atmosphere shifted as the music changed into a slower tune and the crowd quieted to watch them.

She could hear whispers as James led her onto the middle of the dance floor. Her heart seemed like it had jumped up to her throat and was beating quite wildly. James, whose hair had been messed up by Sirius but was still able to pull it off, gave her a comforting smile before they bowed. When their heads were close to one another, she whispered frantically, remembering the fact that they neither took the rehearsal with McGonagall seriously, "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Yes," he gave her a wicked grin. "Just follow my lead."

She knew something mischievous their way came when she saw his smile. And instead of the ancient music that she and James danced to with their professor, the organ started to play. She looked at him in a panic while he returned it with a calm demeanor. The romantic tune faded when James suddenly pulled her close. They weren't doing the waltz McGonagall taught them. What he was doing was much more intimate, closer, and it was enough to make Lily's head spin.

He took advantage of the spacious dance floor, surprising her with a twirl and pulling her closer than before. His rough hand was warm, enclosing around her small one, while his other rested on the middle of her back. They were close enough for her to wrap her other arm around his neck, which she did, and it made his eyes shine.

"James Potter knows how to dance," Lily broke their silence.

He chuckled. "My mother insists that I know how to waltz properly. She's hired a tutor to teach me all these silly things during the summer. Sirius doesn't let me hear the end of it, but it makes my mother happy."

Lily's heart melted. "Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?" the words tumbled out before she had a chance to think it through.

He grinned. "I don't think you have."

"Well, you look handsome," she told him sincerely.

He caught her eye, smiled, before whispering, "Watch out."

A gasp escaped her lips when he suddenly dipped her, his strong arm supporting her back as she fell backwards. The crowd erupted in applause, making her remember that they were not the only ones in the room. Slowly, he pulled her back upright. She felt dazed as her heart pounded in her chest. His warm hazel eyes looked into hers as she blinked lazily.

"Lily?"

Their intertwined hands were resting on his chest, and she could feel his heart racing.

She felt breathless. "James?"

"I'm not – I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Lily wasn't sure if it was his words or it was his vulnerable tone that snapped her out of her daze. "Dreaming about what?"

He searched her eyes. "This. Us. Tell me I am not hoping for something more when I don't even have a chance with you."

Her heart skipped a beat when the meaning of his words sunk in. "You still have feelings for me?"

He let out a surprised laugh. "You're quite daft, aren't you, Evans?"

She hit him on the chest, making him laugh harder. "I'm not joking."

"Neither am I," he smiled, looking absolutely delighted with her. He placed her other hand on his shoulder so he can place both of his on her waist. "And if you'll let me, I'll prove how sincere I am."

Lily stopped breathing the moment she saw his eyes dart down to her lips before going up to her eyes again.

"Lily," he whispered her name, moving closer.

Her eyes started to close.

"Mind if I cut in?"

Lily immediately hid her face on his neck in embarrassment, startled that they were being interrupted. One look around the room, and she saw that they have been joined by their other classmates on the dance floor. Others were even looking over at them in interest. She pulled away just enough to see Severus looking at her expectantly, a curious looking expression on his face. He was wearing dress robes and had his hair pulled back neatly in a bun.

"Snape," James cleared his throat, tightening his hold around her waist. "Impeccable timing as always."

Lily lifted her head up from James's shoulder, hoping she didn't look as flustered as she felt. "Severus."

His lips twitched. "May I have this dance?"

"She's with me," James muttered darkly.

"I wasn't talk to you, Potter."

Lily sighed, not wanting a fight. "Fine."

"Lily," James said in concern.

Snape looked triumphant. "It's one dance, Potter, but I doubt your company will be missed."

James growled and was about to retort when Lily placed a hand on his chest. "James, I'll be fine. I'll catch up with you later."

He looked at her in shock before hurt settled in his features. "All right then, if that's what you want."

"James…"

Worried, Lily watched him walk away, then jumped when Snape took her in his arms. "Lily."

"Snape." It felt wrong, calling him by his last name.

Her former friend chuckled darkly. "I see the tables have turned. He's James and I'm Snape now. Charming."

"It wouldn't be that way if you didn't choose them, if you didn't choose him," Lily answered spitefully.

"I sincerely doubt that. His feelings have always been reciprocated. You're just too blind to see it."

Lily looked up at him in bewilderment. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, please. Potter this, Potter that. You never shut up about him," he answered her reproachfully.

She chose to ignore his statement. "Wouldn't your friends hate to see you with a Mudblood?"

"Don't say that word."

"You did."

His features darkened. "How many times do I have to tell you that I'm sorry?"

"Sorry isn't going to change anything. You've chosen your path, and I've chosen mine."

His eyes swam with pain. "It doesn't have to be like this, Lily. We don't have to fall apart."

"We do. Because we want different things, Severus."

"But I love you."

Lily studied him before shaking her head. "You don't. Your words are different from your actions, Severus. And I'm done. I'm done being used by you so you can feel better about yourself. Just leave me alone."

She started to pull away from his grasp, but he kept a tight grip. "Lily, please."

"Let me go, Severus."

"He was going to kiss you," he told her desperately, as though he was trying to keep her with him. "When I cut in, Potter was going to kiss you."

She blinked. "I know."

He looked at her in disbelief. "Don't tell me you were going to let him."

"I don't think that's any of your business."

He looked like someone stabbed him as he loosened his grip on her. "That's… that's ridiculous, Lily."

She found it so odd that she laughed. "What? What's ridiculous?"

"You hate him!" he cried. "You're supposed to hate him."

She was surprised with his outburst before slowly shaking her head. "No, I don't."

Lily found James throwing flat stones onto the frozen lake. After the whole debacle with Snape in the Great Hall, she found herself needing some fresh air and needing to explain herself to James. It took a while for her to find him, having raced down some corridors left her lungs burning and her feet aching. By the time she was dragging her feet towards the waterside, her hair had fallen out of the pin that was holding it up, her feet was bare – her heels thrown carelessly somewhere in the castle, and her arms ached from carrying the length of her dress. The only thing protecting her from the cold was the heating charm she casted on herself.

She noticed that even his dress robes weren't able to conceal the muscled arms underneath as he threw the stones onto the hardened surface. She tried to remember how they felt around her while they were dancing earlier and decided that that short time with him wasn't enough. She needed more. She wanted more.

Alice was right. But Lily wasn't going to tell her that.

"What are you doing?" she called out.

James turned around. "Lily, it's freezing."

She felt the warmth around her double as he casted another charm on her.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked when she stopped beside him.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Lily told him. "Why are you throwing stones during winter?"

He didn't answer her immediately, opting to throw another stone. They watched the stone bounce and listened to the sound it made when it connected with the ice. "You once told me that the Giant Squid had your heart. I'm trying to get it from him. Less competition, that sort of thing."

Lily didn't fight the smile on her face. "I see. Any progress?"

"He's still in love with you," he murmured. "Won't let you go."

She had a feeling that they weren't talking about the squid anymore. She let out a slight shiver that had nothing to do with the weather, but James couldn't seem to take the idea of her being out there without a coat on. He quickly got rid of the stones in his hand before shrugging off his robe and placing it around her shoulders.

"Still cold?" he asked, rubbing her arms over the material.

Her heart jumped at his proximity. "No, not anymore."

"Good."

Lily placed her hands on his forearms, stopping them from moving. "James."

His eyes met hers. "What?"

Her hands slowly traveled up to his shoulders. James seemed to have frozen on the spot at her actions, and it thrilled her to have that effect on him. When her arms settled around his neck, he placed his hands back on her waist, a soft smile lighting up his features. Her eyes searched his then traveled down his long nose before settling down on his lips.

It only took a second for James to react. His lips captured hers in a passionate kiss that sent Lily's heart in a frenzy. He tasted like firewhiskey and chocolate, and his lips were soft and warm against hers. She reached up to run her hands through his hair and smiled when she was rewarded with a groan. His hands slid onto her back as he tried to pull her closer to him. Lily wanted nothing more to continue, but air was quickly becoming a necessity.

"James?" she murmured.

"Hmm?"

"You're not dreaming."

His lips slowly stretched into a smile. "I'm not?"

"You're not."

"Good."

He gave her another kiss, the second time more gentle and loving, more expected, but it was still enough to make her head spin and her heart thud wildly against her chest.

"Be mine," James whispered afterwards, leaving his forehead against hers. "Please."

It's ridiculous, really, that she, Lily Evans, would fall for James Potter, the Chaser, the Head Boy, the Marauder.

But sometimes the most ridiculous ideas make the most sense.

"I'm yours."