Hey guys! I know that it's seriously been forever! Don't hate me but my friend finally had her baby a week ago and I've been over there with her. He's the cutest little thing ever!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER…I hate these things.

Lily stood outside a five story white building standing next to Sirius. He was politely making small talk with a top auror's wife. Lily looked around and was impressed with the view. There were beautiful flowers lining the pathway up to the stairs. White Christmas lights were wrapped around the trees lighting up the area.

Sirius grabbed hold of Lily arm and led her up the stairs and to the entrance. Sirius chuckled when Lily lost her footing because she was too busy looking at the flowers. He held her arm tighter and helped her slip back on her shoe. They walked into the entrance and Lily was careful to watch where she was walking as she looked around. They walked into a big hallway with many doors leading off to rooms. A man in a black dress robe stood at the door getting the guests coats. Lily slipped off her sweater; a coat really was not necessary since the weather was so warm.

She followed Sirius and the other aurors into the grand ballroom, red rose's filled gold vases all around the room. A huge chandler hung from the ceiling in the middle of the room, and underneath was a huge dance floor. Waiters in the same black dress robes as the coat check man walked around, some of them were carrying little appetizers. Lily noticed that more and more people started to fill the room making her a little nervous.

"Hey Frank," Sirius said, "I thought you were on duty tonight?"

Lily turned to face Sirius and realized he was talking to Frank Longbottom. Lily remembered him from her Hogwarts days. He was the head boy in her fifth year when she was a prefect. They used to patrol the corridors together when no one else wanted to.

"Yeah, I am but not for a couple hours. I thought I'd stop by," Frank said.

Sirius nodded, "Is Alice around?"

Frank nodded, "Yeah," He noticed Lily and smiled, "Lily Evans! I have not seen you in years and you are just as pretty as ever. Do not tell my wife hear I said that. How are you?"

Lily smiled, "I'm great. How are you?"

Frank nodded, "Not bad." He looked down, looking back up he eyed the two of them, and "You two are together?"

Lily and Sirius laughed and said, "N-"

"Frank, there you are. I swear I'm going to need to put a tracking device on you!" His wife Alice came hurrying over.

"Sorry dear, I was just talking with Lily and Sirius."

"Lily!" Alice said, "It's so nice seeing you again!"

"Thank you, you as well."

Alice eyed the two of them the same way Frank did, "I didn't know you two were together."

"Oh, no we aren't. We're just friends," Lily said.

"Oh," Alice said looking down at Sirius arm that was still wrapped around Lily's.

Sirius pulled away clearing his throat, "So…"

Two seconds later, a man with brown hair walked up to Sirius and Frank and clapped them on the shoulders. The three men all exchanged greetings while Alice and Lily carried on a conversation about their own jobs. It seemed like more men started to join their group and Sirius introduced them all to Lily as they came up. She could not help but notice how they were staring at her. She tried not to squirm under their gazes but it was becoming hard. Even though they were talking to Sirius, they all were staring at her. Is there something in my teeth? No, there couldn't be I haven't eaten anything since we left…maybe something's in my hair? She tried to ignore it thinking that maybe it was because she was a new face.

Sirius started a conversation about some case that was going on and Lily tuned out. The man with the brown hair commented on the latest breaking news in the case. Sirius took this opportunity to lean over to Alice and whisper something in her ear. Alice caught her eye, rolled her eyes, and smiled. She grabbed Lily's arm, "Want to go find some drinks?"

Lily nodded her head grateful, "Yes, please."

As hey walked over to a long table with flutes of champagne Lily could feel their stares on her back "Don't let them get to you. Trust me there are going to be a whole lot of them trying to star down your dress tonight."

"Do they do that to every girl?" Lily asked grabbing a champagne glass.

"To all the under twenty five year old women who aren't with their husbands," Alice said.

Lily looked around and found that the party was hardly lacking beautiful women. In fact, she felt dressed down in compared to them. All of them were dazzling with jewelry and fancy dresses. She rather felt stupid for picking a simple dress.

"Sirius looks to be on his best behavior tonight. I am actually surprised that he asked me to get you away from them instead of just punching them in the face. He was very violent at Hogwarts," Alice said, "You must have some affect on him."

Lily almost choked on her drink, "What? No, we really aren't together. He's just a good friend. He helped me through some pretty rough times."

Alice gave her a blank look and Lily couldn't tell what she was thinking. She could not actually believe that anyone would think Lily and Sirius were together. He was like her brother; it rather disgusted her a little bit.

"It's your business," Alice said, "I can understand."

Once again, Lily was confused, "What can you understand?"

"Well that you guys are keeping your relationship a secret, I mean with James Potter being here and all," Alice said, "Frank told me how Sirius and James don't talk anymore. It is only natural not to want to add fuel to the fire. You are not the type of girl to date a person's ex-best friend for revenge so I do not think that is what you want to do. Don't worry though I won't say anything."

Lily's ears were ringing, "Wait…James…he's here?"

"Uh, yeah, he is an auror. I mean you knew that right. I have not seen him or Jessica yet but I'm sure he'll show up. Jessica will use any excuse to dress up and be the center off attention," Alice said rolling her eyes. Then in a whisper added, "She's not the nicest girl in the world but James seems to love her."

Lily almost groaned; she couldn't believe her luck, how could she not remember that James was an auror? She swallowed the rest of her champagne and grabbed another one. She tried to keep up with what Alice was saying. She was telling her about past balls but Lily was too busy thinking about James and Jessica. Sirius couldn't have possibly brought her here thinking that they would run into James. I have to find Sirius.

James stood staring at Lily and Alice talking, many thoughts ran through his head. When he first walked in with Jessica, she was standing with Sirius and a bunch of the guys from work. He couldn't figure out which one she was with and it was driving him mad but he was trying to tell himself he was only concerned for her. He studied her face, there was something there. Fear? Worry? Shock? He couldn't contemplate it for much longer because a friend of his slapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey," Mark said.

"Hey."

"Didn't think you'd show."

James raised his eyebrow, "Did you forget who I'm dating?"

Mark laughed, "No but you were later than usual so I thought that you got off the hook. Speaking of which, where is she?"

"I don't know, the boss took her for a dance a while ago and she hasn't come back," James looked around at the dancing couples and the chatting aurors, "Man I hate these things. My parents used to make me come when I was younger."

"Yeah?"

"This one time Sirius and I got really bored so we turned all the ladies hair green. You should have seen the look on my mother's face, she was so pissed," James said laughing. He stomach gave a slight pang at the mention of Sirius but he ignored it.

Mark laughed, "Too bad we can't do anything like that now, anything to liven up this party."

James nodded, "Yea-"

He felt his heart drop. Sirius was leading Lily out to the dance floor.

Their just friends…maybe he's just having a dance with her…

"Uh, you okay, James?" Mark asked.

"Huh?" James said, "Oh yeah…fine."

"Okay. Listen gotta go find Mary. She'll kill me if I leave her over there with those women."

Those women were what they called the old auror's wives. James nodded not paying attention. He was watching Lily and Sirius. He was waiting for the song to end so he could see who her date was but when the song ended, they didn't let go of each other…they kept dancing! He watched for five more minutes before Jessica came over annoyed.

"Where were you?" Jessica asked in a huff, "I was trying to get your attention! Your boss would not let me go! I swear I think he felt me up to!"

James chuckled a little, "What do you want me to do kick his ass?"

She narrowed her eyes, "James, It's not funny. Are you going to do anything at all?"

James stared at her. Was she being serious? By the looks on her face, she was, "He's my boss, Jess. I can't go over there and punch him on the face."

"Whatever. Are you going to ask me to dance?"

He was about to say no but then stopped himself. She would kill him. So he grabbed her hand and led her out on to the dance floor. He tried to stay a good distance from Sirius and Lily. He still wanted to figure out whom Lily was with. He was sure that if she were coming with Sirius Remus would have said something.

"Hey, James, Jessica," A woman's voice said.

He turned to his right where Frank and Alice were. James stopped dancing and loosened his hold on Jessica. Frank nodded over to a nearby table.

"I'm going to get some drinks. What would you guys like?" Alice asked.

"I'll go with you," James asked remembering that Alice was talking to Lily earlier.

Alice smiled, "Great."

They walked slowly over to the bartender. Saying hello to the people they passed.

"So?" Alice asked once they got at the bar.

"Uh, So what?" James asked while they were waiting for their turn.

Alice gave a little knowing smile, "I'm not an idiot."

"Uh, good to know," He said confused.

Alice rolled her eyes, "I saw you staring at Lily the whole time we were talking."

His eyes grew big, was he that obvious?

Alice laughed, "Don't worry, she didn't see you. But she was always like that. At school, she was never aware of her beauty either. Some things just don't change." That last sentence James had a feeling was aimed at him. He choose to ignore it.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please, James. You were staring at her the whole time you were dancing with Jessica to. I swear if looks could kill, Sirius would have dropped dead on the dance floor. I wouldn't be mad at him though. I really don't think they're trying to hurt you."

"What do you mean?"

"James, you're either really stupid or trying to play dumb. This is why you came with me right? To talk about Lily?" She asked.

He waited to answer while she ordered their drinks, "Well…sotra."

"Sorta? I will take that as a yes. Listen I told Lily that I wouldn't tell anyone but you look really conflicted. Sirius and Lily are secretly dating but you can't say anything because no one is supposed to know."

James' heart dropped. Lily and Sirius? Together? They wouldn't…couldn't do that to him. He searched for them in the crowed and found them laughing together. His stomach jumped. He knew that he was a jerk and that he wasn't the best friend he should have been but he honestly didn't think Sirius would sink that low and go out with Lily. He knew their history, he was right there next to James while it happened.

"You okay?" Alice asked grabbing two of the drinks.

James nodded and grabbed the remaining two. He followed her over to the table, put down the drinks and left the table. Jessica, Frank and Alice watched him walk off in confusion. He didn't hear Frank ask Alice, "Did something happen?"

All he could hear was ringing. He was so angry and he didn't even understand why. Sirius and Lily were unattached and had no obligation to him. Lily and him weren't friends and he could certainly understand why Sirius wouldn't want anything to do with him. He scanned the crowd looking for them…where were they?

Lily and Sirius sat at a table off in the corner hiding from all the other aurors. Lily couldn't believe how many people actually wanted to talk to Sirius. Sirius told her that half the people wouldn't even have come over if it weren't for her. She rolled her eyes at that comment.

"Ugh, my feet hurt so bad," Lily complained.

"Yeah, it's a good thing a decided to go with this suit instead of the dress and high heels," Sirius said grinning.

Lily laughed, "But I thought you looked so sexy in the dress!"

"Yeah maybe I'll wear it on my next date!"

"Yeah sure," She said, "Hey I got a question. Why have you been so good?"

"Huh?"

"Well Nicole said you make these things fun. Not that you haven't but she made it seem like you did something."

Sirius nodded, "Yeah. Remember that one ball James took you to when we were sixteen?"

"Yeah, he said his parents always made him come," She said nodding.

"And remember when we turned all the women's hair green?" Sirius said grinning.

Lily nodded grinning. She remembered. She scolded James and Sirius for an hour when they got back home, "Oh yeah. Mrs. Potter was so angry."

Sirius nodded, "Our first ball as aurors here we did it again. That was the ball Nicole went to with Nathan."

"You're horrible."

Sirius grinned, "Yeah but I'm on my best behavior tonight."

"Yeah? Why's that?" She asked laughing.

"Because I'm out with a lady tonight," He said.

Lily laughed, "Puh-lease, Black, you can't fool me. What are you planning?"

"Puh-lease? Have we traveled back to our fifth year?"

"Come on, you can tell me. I promise I won't blow it."

"I'm insulted. Why won't you believe me that I don't have anything planned?" He asked.

"Because you're grinning like a mad man!" Lily said, "Tell me!"

Sirius shook his head, "Nope. You'll just have to wait like everyone else!"

"I don't wanna!" She complained.

Jessica was seething in her seat. James had just walked off with no explanation and Alice was swearing that nothing had happened when they went off to get drinks. Jessica did not buy it. James had been acting weird all night. She was not stupid. When she was trying to get his attention before he was staring at that red head, the one she had met at the zoo. Then while she was trying to talk to him about his boss, he was off staring at her again! She could have sworn he was staring at the woman while they were dancing to but she wasn't sure.

How dare he just walk off and ignore her calls? Who did he think he was? She got up and walked away from the table without saying goodbye. James must learn that she wasn't going to be ignored like that. That's not how it worked. She was in the middle of the dance floor and people were bumping into her. She glared at them even though she was in their way. She demanded respect. She couldn't' find James anywhere but she saw the little red head and the trash she was with.

She didn't feel sorry for what she did to Sirius. He had to go the moment she heard him talking crap about her to James. She wasn't stupid. Guys listened to their best friends. It would have been only a matter of time before James came to his senses and got rid of her. So she did what any girl would have done in her place, she got rid of him first. It wasn't that hard either. She never liked him anyway. He was always playing around, making stupid jokes and he was just plain annoying.

When she couldn't find James anywhere, she decided that she would stay close to the red head. She had a feeling that he'd show up there eventually. If not lucky him. She stared at the red head. She wasn't going to deny that she was pretty, beautiful in fact. It really made her sick that she got along with James' friends. If James started to talk to Sirius again. It would only take a matter of time before he realized that this girl fit better in his life than she did. She wouldn't let this happen. James was hers and she would let this little witch know it.

James was stopped by his boss and his wife. He didn't even try to pay attention to what they were saying. They were way past drunk and not making any sense. Anytime he tried to leave, they would grab his arm and say something else. It was getting ridiculous. All he wanted was to find Sirius and let him know how he really felt about him. He knew he shouldn't be this angry. He had a girlfriend who was probably pretty pissed now but he did not want to think about that.

"Oh there's Jessica. I think I better go. She said something about having a headache. I better get her home," James said excusing himself.

"Oh okay, safe home you," The boss' wife said.

James shook his head, walking off. He really did not see Jessica but he needed to get away from them. He turned around and spotted Sirius and Lily sitting at a little table in the corning. It made his blood boil. He stomped over. It seemed to take forever to pass the annoying people who wanted to talk but he just blew them off. He finally got over to the table and stood over them making Lily jump.

"James!"

Ha ha ha…I'm so mean! I guess you'll just have to wait to see what a happens. I swear I'll try to update quicker than this! Thanks to everyone for who reviewed. Oh and you'll find out what really happened between James and Lily soon, promise!