Lily
Five summers have gone by since she met the cute boy with glasses that day on the train. Now it is near Christmas in her sixth year and something big is happening. For the first time in a decade the Tri Wizard Cup is being held at Hogwarts. If that wasn't exciting enough, Lily was a prefect and next year had a pretty good chance of becoming head girl. In Lily's life everything was perfect, except for one thing. The Yule ball was coming up and she still didn't have a date. Of course she'd been asked but not by the guy she wanted to go with. Snape asked her a few times already and each time she declined. They no longer hang out and she lost all respect for him that day in third year.
~ Flash back ~ James and his friends, the Marauders as they called themselves, were tormenting him Severus once again. Oh how she loathed that boy, James was just so mean to Snape. Now she knew why. Anyway, Snape was dangling upside down and she tried to help him when she couldn't beleive her ears, Severus, her friend, called her a word so low even most Slytherins never utter it.
Snape called her a Mudblood. Can you believe it? A mudblood! Lily was so upset she just turned and ran. She had no clue where until she found herself in front of the Quidditch shed. Quickly, she ran in and cried and cried. For the first time, in her sixteen years Lily wished she was never born a witch. Why did Great Grandma have to pass the gene to me? Why didn't Petunia become the witch? The air grew really cold and light flooded the room. Someone had just walked in, not just anyone James Potter. Lily hastily wiped her tears. He couldn't see her cry, he probably thought she was weak already. James just came in, sat on the bench next to her, put his arm around her and let her cry. He never once uttered a sound. All he did was let her cry and be her shoulder to cry on. Lily had never seen this side of James before. He was serious and compassionate, and well not James. Lily liked this side of James, the side he keeps hidden under the metaphorical invisibility cloak. After she stopped crying Lily finally spoke clear words and jokingly said " This isn't another one of your asking me out attempts is it Potter?"
James removed his hand and said just as jokingly "Evans. I am suprised at you. Do you think I am that much of a monster? I honestly came in here because I heard what Snivellus said to you. Sorry I was so late though, I had to beat snivelly to a little grease filled pulp first."
For the first time since the incident Lily laughed. ~ End flashback~
As Christmas soon approached, Lily started losing hope of being invited to the dance. About a week before the ball an announcement was said at dance lessons. All the males who aren't the champions will be required to wear a mask to give a sort of masquerade feel. Of course, a large majority of the room let out groans all except a certain animagus boy with glasses. The day before the Yule Ball Lily found a hand written note hidden on her bed. The writer must have used an enchanted quill because the hand writing was neat but impossible to discover the writers identity. All the note said was Meet me at the dance by the back table. I will be wearing a blue mask.
There was no signature. All Lily did was go to her dorm and try to figure out who the mystery man was. This reminded her of a game her and Petunia used to play when they were little. The game was mystery date and you had to pull cards and try to match your cards to the date at the door.
The next day came way to quickly. Thank goodness it was a half day. All of the girls espescially Lily needed so time to get ready. Lily first got into her dress. It was borrow from one of the richer girls in the Gryffindor tower. The dress was the same green as her eyes with a sweet heart neckline and it reached just above her knees. One of the girls in her dorm, Alice actually, helped her with her hair. She put it in a bun but left curled ringlets to frame her face. All Lily could think was " I hope I don't look like a leprauchaun."
When she finally arrived at the ball, Lily was flooded with attention. She really wasn't used to this. Obeying her mystery man, Lily went and stood by the punch ball. After about fifteen minutes she realized her "date" was running late. Not a very good first impression. Still, she refused all of the invitations to dance. As the clock struck ten Lily started losing all hope in her mystery man. There was only a half hour left in the dance and he hasn't even shown up yet. Defeated, Lily went and sat at the table nearest to the punch bowl where she began to lightly cry. Then she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.
"Would you like to dance?" The voice asked.
"I'm sorry but I am waiting someone." Lily said almost robotically. " I know, sorry I am late." The voice apologized. With that Lily looked up. She had mixed emotions when she saw a tall skinny gentleman in a blue mask. Her date! Swiftly, the man held out his hand and led Lily to the dance floor. Just in the moment they got to the floor, a slow song played. It was so beautiful. Then they danced. Lily had never seen such a smooth dancer in her life. He had grace, balance, and he wasn't pulling her. It was like she was floating. "You're quite a dancer." The mysterious man complimented.
Before responding Lily looked up and looked deep in to the eyes of the mask. It wasn't until she caught a glare in the man's eyes that she realized who her mysery man was. " Why thank you Potter. You aren't too bad yourself." Just for a moment the man was stunned. Then he laughed. " Wow! You really are the brightest witch of your age. How did you figure out my identity." James said obviously amazed.
" Hmm. It was tricky at first but then you showed up late, you were very smooth, and I caught the glare in your glasses behind the mask."
" Curse these glasses the only flaw in my disguise. Of Course without these, I would be as blind as Helen Keller." That earned a few laughs from the two who were still dancing effortlessly across the floor. That is how they spent the rest of the night just laughing and getting along better than they had for the six years they'd known each other. It was one of the few times James wasn't being his annoying, obnoxious self. She was actually having a good time instead of arguing with the boy. The two were often at each others throats due to one of James oh so common pranks. Lily found them rather amusing but she wouldn't dare let James know that. No sooner would she drop hints about possibly liking him. Merlin knows how many more times a day he would ask her out. With one final spin the ball was over. Lily politely thanked James and went to find Alice but got no more than three steps before James grabbed her wrist. " Geez Evans, I didn't think you would want to get rid of me so quickly. At least let me accompany you to the Gryffinodor common room." James said. His voice was so suave and his messy hair made him look so darn cute how could Lily refuse.
Earning looks from everyone they walked to the common room enjoying each other's company and laughing at the occasional " Was that James and Lily?" " Oh my Goodness they aren't trying to kill each other." Of course that was soon replaced with the gossip like " Did you know Emily was caught snogging a Durmstrang in one of the carriages outside?" " Didn't she go to the dance with a Hogwarts student though?" Far too soon, they reached the Fat Lady's portrait and said farewell.
"Thanks for the night James. I can't believe I am saying this but I actually had a great time." Lily said blushing furiously. Before muttering the password and entering the portrait hole she gave James a friendly hug and turned around. " Aren't you coming? You are in Gryffindor last time I checked. " Lily stated " It's the full moon. I usually go for a walk around the grounds before turning in." James answered convincingly. " Alright, well see you at breakfast. Good night James." Lily then muttered the password and entered the portrait hole. Before it closed, she distinctly heard James yell "Not even a good night kiss." This caused Lily to chuckle to herself. Same old Potter.
James
I quickly enchanted my quill and it scribbled what was one of the most important notes I had ever writtien. Before anyone saw me i discretely gave the note to Alice, who is one of Lily's friends, and she was going to put in on Lily's bed in Gryffindor tower. The one thing about the note is that you never know what the answer was. James couldn't believer it, he just asked Lily Evans out. The day of the Yule ball had arrived and it hadn't dawned on James that it was a full moon until too late. Mooney was starting to go through his transformation before James had even put on his dress robes. Sirius came in and said " Prongs, why aren't you getting ready to go stag? Mooney's almost completely gone. We have to get him to the woods." James coudn't leave Sirius like that so he quickly grabbed his invsibility cloak and followed Padfoot to the forbidden forest. "Sorry Padfoot but I have to go back to the tower. I have a date to the Yule Ball tonight. I asked Lily Evans and I was supposed to meet her about an hour ago."
Sirius just nodded knowingly in his dog form and nudged his head towards the castle telling him silently " You better hurry. Mooney and I will be fine." With one swift motion James disappeared under the cloak and was off towards the castle. When he arrived at the ball he realized that he had only a half hour with Lily. Dawning the blue mask he made his way through the labryinth of dancing couples and made it to the punch bowl. It took him a while but he finally found the fiery red locks of Lily and was disheartened to find her crying silently in her hands. Quickly he apologized and he guided her to the dance floor. Halfway through the dance he complimented Lily only to discover that she knew who was hiding behind the mask. He was never more thankful to have the mask covering his face because he was sure his cheeks were redder then her hair. He was finally dancing with the love of his life. James spent most of the night listening and laughing with Lily and that lasted all the way to the common room. She even hugged him. Usually the only contact he got from Lily was a slap in the face. He then remembered Mooney and as soon as she closed the portrait door took off.
He couldn't resist turning back and yelling " Not even a kiss goodnight!" He was rewarded with claps when he reached the forest. Mooney was back to normal and he assumed Padfoot had told him where James was all night. "How was your date with Evans Padfoot?"
"Brilliant." James replied before turning into his stag form and letting all the scenes of the night replay through his mind.