Twenty minutes into the dance.

James was rather surprised at the amount of people that had showed up. It seemed the Slug Club had grown over the previous year. Either that, or people were showing up uninvited.

Currently James, Sirius, and Alice were sitting at one of the tables drinking punch and enjoying the sound of the music. Sirius's date, a gorgeous Hufflepuff, was sitting at the bar engulfing one butterbeer after another. Sirius said she had mentioned something about disguising firewhiskey as butterbeer for the dance about two days ago. Sirius had at first thought it would be fun but realized that if he got expelled then he would have to return to James's house, where he was currently staying, for the rest of term. And there was no way he was going to be living with James's parents without James around. However, it seemed that even though Sirius had backed out of the plan, his date had carried it through successfully.

"Psst, Prongs!" James looked up at Sirius's nudge. "Look under the table."

James did as he was told, though he wondered why Sirius was hiding whatever it was under the table. It's not like anyone was paying any attention to them, and Alice, the only other person at their table couldn't care less at what it was.

Straightening back up in his chair he turned back to Sirius, "I can't believe you brought that!" he hissed.

Sirius grinned proudly.

"Honestly, Padfoot. You refuse to help your date bring in firewhiskey to the dance but you'll set off Dungbombs?"

Sirius gave him a quizzical look. "Aw come on Prongs. What's wrong with you? It seems you've given up on having fun this year. And besides, firewhiskey could have gotten me expelled, but what's a few Dungbombs going to do?"

James looked at Sirius knowing that he was right. They were the Marauders after all and people expected something like this to happen. It would be a shame to their name if they were unable to cause a disturbance at a school event.

"Fine," James said, making up his mind. "But, don't set them off till I say so."

Sirius clapped him on the back, "Welcome back Prongs!"

James nodded and then turned his attention to his surroundings. Slughorn's room had gotten really hot and muggy once so many people started arriving. The smell of so many perfumes and colognes mixing along with a few potions Slughorn had set around his room had made the air thick and stiff. The room itself was decorated with shining green and silver banners supporting Slytherin, something, James noticed, that had not been removed for the dance.

In the back corner of the room, away from most of the crowd were two people occupying one of the tables. Remus and his Ravenclaw date, Marissa. Though Remus had insisted that he didn't want to go to the dance, he really wasn't given much of a choice. Like he did for James, Sirius had made sure that Remus was also going. Marissa only agreed to go with Remus when he suggested that they bring a few books with them to the dance and then study there for the N.E.W.T.s. It seemed that Remus and Marissa had interpreted the professors' lack of proper teaching and their hint at 'something massive coming up' to be a few major exams. So since they arrived at the dance, the two had been absorbed in studying, trying to memorize each and every detail in their books, while not giving the slightest care to the people around them.

Sirius had begun chanting "Moony has gone loony" when he saw Remus step out of the common room holding books. The chanting had continued the entire way to the Ravenclaw common room from where they were picking up Marissa. But at the sight of Marissa herself coming out with a few books clad in her owns hand, Sirius's chant ended only to be replaced with an uncontrollable burst of laughter.

Though James himself was intrigued at what the professors had in store for them, he was rather sure that even the professors couldn't be so cruel as to set them to exams a week after school started.

The only Marauder missing was Peter. Peter had been unable to find a Slug Club member who was willing to take him. Sirius had searched night and day, and it had been with a very defeated and apologetic look with which he left Peter in the Gryffindor common room tonight.

Turning his mind over to his date, James felt guilty as he watched Alice absentmindedly running her index finger along the rim of her cup.

"Uh, Alice?" Alice looked up from her daydream and smiled up at James. "Would you like to dance?" he asked.

"Sure," Alice replied. He led her over to the middle of the dance floor. James noticed people were beginning to look at them. Well, they did make a strange pair. James was known for being loud and obnoxious while Alice was always shy and quiet. They should thank matchmaker Sirius Black.

After about five minutes, James realized that Alice had been looking over his shoulder the entire time they had been dancing. James slowly turned his neck and saw the person who was the attention of Alice's thoughts. Smiling softly, he turned back around.

"You know, if you like someone you should tell them," James said.

Alice broke out of her reverie and looked up at James, "What?" Her voice was soft and unsure as if she hadn't heard him right.

"Go. You should tell him right now how you feel about him."

Alice shook her head. "I can't. I don't know whether he feels the same way about me."

James sighed dramatically. "Alice you'll never know how he feels until you ask. Honestly! I had assumed you were smart enough to figure that on your own."

Alice smiled sadly and continued shaking her head. "Thanks for trying James, but I honestly don't have the courage."

James tugged on the Prefect badge that was attached to her scarf. "You're a Gryffindor; you have all the courage you'll need."

Alice looked at James for a long time, contemplating what he was saying. Finally she asked, "How do you feel when Lily rejects you every time you ask her out?"

James took in a sharp intake of breath feeling like a knife had stabbed him in the stomach, "Wh-What do you mean?"

"I've seen you asking out Lily many times in the previous years. In the hallways, in the library, in the Great Hall in front of the whole school. Don't you feel embarrassed when she turns you down like that in front of so many people?"

James remained quiet for a long time, thinking it over in his head.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It was rude and –"

"No, you're right," James assured, cutting her off. "And no, I don't feel ashamed. I really liked her and I wanted a chance with her. So I kept asking, hoping that someday she'll say yes and I'll be able to show her who I really am. But after two years I realized she really didn't want this. She didn't want to give me a chance, and now I'm fine with that. I'm happy knowing that I had at least let her know how I feel, and now what she chooses to do is completely her decision. I can't force her to like me."

"But you, Alice," James said, grasping her shoulders and giving her a little shake, "You still need to take the first step. You need to go and tell him how you feel, and then hear what he has to say. Just because Lily and I didn't work out, doesn't mean you and Frank won't."

Alice looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thank you, James. I really needed this push."

James smiled and let go of her shoulders, "Don't mention it. Now go and get him off that seat and ask him to dance."

"Are-are you sure?" Alice asked.

"Positive"

"Again, thanks James," And just as she was about to go, she turned back and took a hold of James's hand and softly squeezed it.

"And if you like someone James, you should never give up on her," James saw her look over to her right. He followed her gaze to where Lily and Marcus were dancing.

"I'm taking your advice. Please take mine," She said solemnly. And with that Alice dropped his hand and began walking towards the table where Frank was sitting.

James was back sitting at the table with Sirius, and the two were bored out of their minds.

"This is the lamest party ever," Sirius grunted.

Nodding in approval, James shifted his attention to the couple that was now dancing ten feet away. Alice and Frank seemed to have eyes for no one but each other. James was relieved at the huge smile on Alice's face. He was glad he had a part in making that happen.

James hadn't forgotten about Alice's advice. And now he was thinking that maybe she was right. Why had he given up? He still liked Lily and he shouldn't have given up without getting the chance that he deserved.

James looked over at Lily and watched in horror as her face began leaning towards goat-face. No! She's going to kiss him! James felt a thousand emotions run through his mind as he saw them get even closer…and closer…too close!

James ran his hand through his hair in frustration at being unable to do anything to stop them, only to look down and see Sirius holding out a Dungbomb towards him. "Come on, it's now or never!"

Without giving it a second's hesitation, James picked up the Dungbomb and lit it. With a loud bang, the room erupted in the most disgusting smell known to mankind.

James watched as Lily wrinkled her nose in disgust, and drew away from the puckered up lips of goat-face just in time. James sighed in relief and then he and Sirius bolted out of the room as fast as they could, fighting through the crowd, to reach some clean air.

They were about halfway to the Gryffindor common room, when Sirius finally broke the silence. "That was bloody brilliant!" he screamed. "Perfect timing and everything!"

James smiled, "Yeah, but that was really close, too close in fact. Good thing you had brought those Dungbombs."

Sirius was about to reply, when Remus ran up to them, "James, there's something you should know."

The way Remus was looking at him led James to know that this wasn't going to be good.

"I overheard Lily and Marcus during the dance. They came towards the back of the room where Marissa and I were studying and I couldn't help but listen in on their conversation. And mate, Marcus, he asked Lily out." Remus paused, but James already knew what was coming. "And Lily, well she said yes."

Without another word, James continued walking, leaving Sirius and Remus staring after him looking guilty even though none of this was their fault.

James couldn't believe it. He had completely let Lily go, deciding that he wouldn't interfere in her life this year. But the one day that he realized he couldn't let go of the girl he liked, and that he wanted to be a part of her life, she had gone and chosen someone else. Honestly, why was life always so complicated?

As he neared the head common room, only one thought occupied his mind. So much for following Alice's advice.

Ok, so just heads up: time is going to start flying by in the next chapters. This was just the start of term, and in order for this story to expand through the entire seventh year, I will be skipping around with the months.

Also this chapter is truly where the 'battle of love' has sparked. In the later chapters we will see the battle take place :)

And of course please do REVIEW!