Disclaimer: I do not own the main characters such as Lily, James, Sirius and Lupin (they belong to J.K obviously) but I do own the others. I don't own, you don't sue!
This is my second Harry Potter fan fic. If you enjoy please read 'I Will Dare' my first one.
This story contains 15 chapters so far. Next chapter is 'Like a Virgin' chap 8.
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Chapter 7: Save The Last Dance
'This takes the biscuit! Even for you Black!' Lily hollered the next morning, looking in the mirror of the Knight Bus with wide eyes. Ducking behind James to avoid the staring students that were entering the doors, she glared resolutely at Sirius.
'Come on Lily Flower. It's not that bad,' Sirius chirped, sipping on his pumpkin juice.
'Sirius are you even looking at me!' Lily yelled, attracting more attention.
'Yes I am. You know red never really was your colour,' he smiled timidly, his eyes scanning her features as Lily visibly flinched. Coughing loudly before she could explode, James turned to Sirius.
'Really not helping,' he said pointedly through gritted teeth.
'I don't know what the problem is.' Sirius shook his drink, spurting it over a very disgruntled Cherry who was sitting next to him before turning back to Lily.
'The problem. THE PROBLEM! I'M ORANGE! THAT'S THE PROBLEM!' she shrieked, tugging on her now golden hair with disgust. Sirius sighed.
'Not orange. It's more of a yellowy gold,' he said mildly, giving Cherry a toothy grin while ignoring Lily's protests. His head swung backwards and forwards with the jerky movements of the Knight Bus but he didn't seem to notice.
'It's the ball tonight! What am I going to do? We've tried everything to get it off,' Lily yelped, shrinking into James and attempting to hide herself in his robes. All it did however, was attract more glares from the girl's nearby. Her electric blonde hair and yellow tinted face made her easy to spot, even when she was trying to conceal herself.
'Just from curiosity, did I get everywhere gold?' Sirius asked, absently staring at a Satin who was blushing furiously. Lily gave him a questioning look that caused Sirius to glance down at her lap as she recoiled in disgust.
'Oh my god Sirius. That is so gross and so none of your business,' she replied angrily, not liking the idea of Sirius wondering about that kind of thing. Her naked body was her concern and nobody else's, except perhaps her boyfriends. At this her mind instantly flashed to James.
Leaning up towards him she pressed her lips against his ear. Breathing nervously she made sure that James couldn't see her blushing face as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
'Do you want to check for me?' she whispered seductively, surprised by her own confidence. James' eyebrows shot up and he looked at her uncertainly before replying back.
'Check what?' he said innocently, just checking that they were talking about the same thing. If she was implying something completely different then he would be in trouble. It wasn't often Lily made offers to flash in front of him or anybody else for that matter.
She glanced down at her lap pointedly as he followed her gaze. A small blush crept across his face as he looked at her, his eyes skimming over her features, attempting to discover any signs of her joking. She locked eyes with him and grabbed his hand, putting it around her.
'Is there a right answer to that question?' he smiled, trailing a finger up her waist.
'Don't you want to?' she murmured her eyes brimming with unshed tears. James had never resisted a girl before so why her? Didn't he find her attractive?
'I do but I know your not ready,' he muttered, fiddling with the cotton material of her top absently. She looked up at him, trying to ignore Sirius and Cherry arguing behind them.
'I want to be,' she said softly, tracing the delicate features of his face, savouring the touch. He had been so good to her recently. He had saved her from Malfoy, been considerate, been understanding and had not tried to push her. She knew that she had to trust him or she would never be able to be close to him.
'Hey lovebirds!' Sirius cried before they could continue. Looking around they saw Cherry, Satin and Sirius all watching them intently, eyebrows raised and heads cocked. Lily coughed uncomfortably.
'What did you hear?'
'A lot.' Sirius grinned, winking at Lily comically before casting a wary glance at Satin, who seemed intent on avoiding him.
'I'm not talking to you! You're the reason I look like a Christmas Cracker!' Lily sneered. Sirius waved his hand at her dismissively, his attention now fully focused on a blushing Satin just as Cherry elbowed him in the ribs. He shrieked in pain and clutched his side.
'What was that for?' he yelped.
Cherry looked at him in disbelief before looking pointedly at Lily.
'Are you seriously asking me that question Black?' Cherry said incredulously, jabbing her finger into his chest. Sirius rubbed it soothingly, pouting all along.
'I feel so bad,' he muttered, wincing in pain at his hurt torso.
'As well you should.'
'I wasn't talking to you Cher,' Sirius drawled, his eyes narrowing. Cherry poked her tongue out before turning to Lily.
'We'll sort it out Lils, I promise. I mean it's not as bad as you think,' she said supportively, although even to her own ears, it was unconvincing. Hoping Lily did not notice this, she began to look out the window as trees jumped from the Knight Bus's path. Coming to an irrupt halt once more, all passengers were flung forward, Satin mysteriously landing on top of one very happy Sirius.
Scrambling away from his warm lap, Satin stared at the floor, feeling Sirius' piercing gaze upon her as the Knight Bus gathered speed once more. Setting herself back in her seat she looked at Cherry, hoping that she would rescue her. But unfortunately her friend was to busy contemplating Lily's makeover to come to her aid. Sirius had obviously realised this as well for he staggered over to Satin, trying desperately to remain upright in the Knight Bus's rocking aisle.
Before he could speak however, Lily, Cherry and James' conversation caught their attention.
'So what is our level to confidence in this plan?' Lily was saying. James shrugged.
'Well out of ten- ten being you are returned to your former glory and one being everyone laughs at you as you walk into the ball looking like David Dickinson-'
'-Maybe you should lie to me,' Lily interrupted, smiling uncertainly. Entering the ball looking like a fairy light was not something she was going to enjoy. Looking over at Sirius she smiled guiltily, wondering how much of the conversation he had actually heard.
'What are you talking about?' Sirius chirped, attempting to look at Lily without having to shield his eyes. She was mad enough already; he did want to live to see his 20th birthday.
'What do you think were talking about dumbass? We are coming up with a plan to remove this… curse from Lily,' Cherry said acidly, rolling her eyes at his stupidity. He was supposed to be clever.
'Yea except it can't be done. I enchanted her it couldn't be removed until ready ,' Sirius replied, surveying the effects of his spell with interest. Lily seemed to glow in the sunlight, like bright yellow. And not just her hair either, her whole body. It was as though the gunge had permanently stained her. Despite everything he had to admire his skills.
'We have some ideas,' grinned Cherry.
'What do you mean? What do you have up your sleeves?' Sirius asked suspiciously, suddenly wishing that he hadn't joined the conversation half way.
'Hello, sleeveless,' commented James, holding out his bare arms.
'I don't trust you. What's going on? You can't get rid of it you know. Lily just has to look like Marge Simpson until it wears off,' he replied absently. Lily glared.
'If I could reach, I'd kick you.'
'Yea Sirius just because Lily is on the brink of committing social suicide tonight does not mean she has to lay down and play dead,' Cherry piped.
'I don't think she's going to have to play,' said Sirius, looking at Lily's yellow cheeks and golden eyelashes. Having selective sight, he did not notice the look of extreme annoyance that had crossed her face.
'I am still here!' she cried.
'Don't worry the plan will work,' James said, massaging her back lovingly. Instantly she relaxed, her positively golden face turning only a soft yellow. It was surprising that her would be red face was still being portrayed despite the spell. But instead of going scarlet with rage or embarrassment, she now went orange.
'What plan?' Sirius yelled, distressed that nobody appeared to be listening to him.
'All in good time,' Cherry muttered evilly.
'I don't like the sound of that…'
OoooooO
'Where the hell where you two?' Mandy shrieked, being one of the later people to board the Knight Bus. Lily and James grinned.
'We got lost,' James said innocently, fluttering this eyelashes subtly. Mandy's face softened for a moment before being replaced once again with her hard exterior. She gave Lily a look of utter disgust as she looked at the previously red head.
'What happened to you?' she sneered, eyeing Lily up and down.
'Sirius is what happened,' Lily answered through gritted teeth, throwing the guilty party a glare. Sirius shrugged carelessly and continued his 3000 piece puzzle he was struggling to put together on the violent Knight Bus. As you can imagine he was not having much success. He had finally given up on trying to figure out what the plan to save Lily was. After constant badgering everyone had shouted at him and he had decided to leave it be.
'How can you get lost for two days? I was on my own,' Mandy continued, ignoring Sirius's grunts of annoyance behind her.
'Well we kept each other company,' Lily smiled, threading her arm through James's. To her immense surprise James didn't seem to pleased with this for the cold hollow look that she had seen only days before, flickered in his eyes.
'He doesn't look to happy about it,' Mandy sniped, obviously realising the same thing Lily was. James didn't come to Lily's defence as expected and remained silent.
'The only thing he's not happy about is you being here,' Lily choked, finally regaining her voice. Mandy however, did not look convinced.
'He can speak for himself. Speaking of… James I was wondering if you would escort me to the ball tonight?' she simpered, flicking her hair over her shoulder and trying to edge closer to him elegantly on the swaying bus. Lily looked at them in horror. She hadn't actually confirmed with James that she was going with him, she had just assumed she was.
'Uh…' James began, casting a sideways glance at Lily before turning back to Mandy. Lily watched him closely as his eyes flicked over his ex-girlfriends body, obviously needing what she had not yet provided him. A pang of hurt flooded through her chest but Lily needed to focus on what was going on before her.
Even Sirius was watching now despite his puzzle flying in all directions. Everyone was now anticipating his answer.
However before he could reply the bus swivelled to a stop once more in the last destination and everyone was thrown out their chairs or in Mandy's case the air. Once calm had been restored Lily, Cherry, Satin and Sirius all looked up to find James straddled to the floor, Mandy perched on top of him.
Her legs were wrapped around his waist and her hands pinned his arms up above his head as he tried to work out his surroundings. It was obvious that Mandy had conveniently threw herself in James' direction. Though before anyone could speak a new arrival announced his presence.
'O-K! What have I missed?' Lupin asked, surveying the scene before him before plopping his luggage down in a seat nearby.
'Nothing,' Sirius said quickly, jumping to his feet and trying to take some of the attention off his best friend and his whore. It worked to some extent, but Lily still remained staring at a struggling James as he threw Mandy off him.
'Yep see this is what happens when your not here to keep control over your friends Remus,' Cherry said mildly, waving a dismal hand at James and the cursed Lily.
'Yes well they excelled themselves this time,' he replied, glancing in disgust at Mandy and staring at Lily with interest.
'You can say that again,' Cherry exclaimed tartly, angry at both James and Sirius for hurting Lily, both in the same day. Sirius had permanently labelled her 'FREAK' and James was screwing his latest conquest beneath her nose. Did the Marauders have any compassion?
'It wasn't my fault! It was her!' James indicated to Mandy accusingly who was smiling sweetly.
'If you wanted me to be on top James all you had to do was ask. I'll see you tonight,' she laughed, turning on a heel and strutting to the front of the bus for a seat. It would have been a dramatic exit if the vehicle hadn't made a sharp turn and sent her flying onto her ass. James let out a bark of laughter and approached Lily cautiously, who was still on the floor.
'Um… you know it wasn't me right?' he asked timidly, heaving her to her feet. She smiled weakly.
'I know,' she whispered 'but why did you look angry when I said all that stuff to Mandy?'
'Because it was like you were using me to get back at her,' he answered, trying to ignore all their friends watching intently. Lily silenced him with a quick kiss on the lips, not wanting to attract more attention from the crowds around them. Cherry sighed in pleasure and watched the couple lovingly as Remus tried to piece together what had been happening.
'Ok I'm not even ask why your painted gold Lily?' he said, his eyes flashing over her.
'That's probably best,' Sirius said nervously, suddenly diving to the floor and beginning to retrieve the pieces of puzzle that that scattered there. Lupin glanced down at him suspiciously before shaking his head and turning towards Satin.
'So how was your weekend?' he asked as Sirius's head popped up immediately.
'Fine Moony thanks for asking?' Sirius chimed, grinning timidly.
'I wasn't talking to you Pad,' Remus replied as Sirius choked out a strained laugh. Satin looked at him, her face blank and expressionless. Why was Sirius intervening?
'So who you going to the ball with Satin?' Sirius asked, choosing to ignore Lupin's comment. Colour bloomed in her cheeks and she looked at the floor, fiddling with her hands unconsciously.
'Nobody. I don't want to go with anyone. I prefer to be by myself,' she murmured, not able to lock eyes with everyone around her.
'Oh.' Sirius was unable to stop the evident disappointment that was etched in his voice, gaining a curious look from Lupin. Sirius had never been to bothered about taking a particular girl to a dance before. He just always took the fit ones.
'Don't worry. I don't think she'll want to go with you tonight Sirius. Nobody will,' Cherry smiled, a evil glint dancing in her eyes. Sirius groaned.
'What does that mean….?'
OooooO
'You think it will work?' Lily sighed, pulling on a beautiful green satin gown that she had transfigured. It hung loosely from her neck, showing a small peek of cleavage to anyone lucky to get close enough. It clung to her stomach downwards, falling into a silky puddle on the floor. It was so tight on her small hips that you could see every small movement that she made. It would have looked gorgeous if her face wasn't yellow.
'Yes it will work. Sirius said that the spell can't be extinguished so were not going to try and reverse it. Were going to move it,' Cherry grinned, spinning around in the mirror, checking for any flaws in her dress. Unlike Lily's, hers was short and electric red, revealing her tanned body. She showed no cleavage but other flesh was available. It hooked down in a small V-neck and feathered over her thighs.
'Don't you think that's mean?' Satin spoke up, sitting on the edge of the bed and watching the others add their finishing touches.
She was wearing a lace black dress that showed her long lean legs and her pearly skin. It was clasped together at the front, causing her to look more curvy than she actually was. Her long black hair was curled into soft waves that fell down her back and her eyes were tinted with silver eye shadow. Small diamond earrings and necklace brought life to it. She looked stunning and she secretly hoped that Sirius thought she did too.
'You only think it's mean because you want to go with Sirius,' Cherry answered, cocking her head and placing a hand on her hip. Satin smiled slightly but shook the feeling away. The last time she had felt this way for someone they had broken her heart and Sirius was famous for doing exactly that.
'Come on, we better go,' Lily said, casting one last look at her golden appearance before picking up a silver cloak James had left her. The invisibility cloak would hide her until she was back to normal. She didn't want the whole school seeing her in all of her golden glory.
Smiling the girls set off down the stairs, coming up to James at the bottom who was clutching his wand tightly…
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'James! Remus! I'm not walking to the ball on my own! Where are you?' Sirius called into the now empty common room.
He did not notice the throng of people hiding in the shadows. James, Lily, Cherry, Remus and Satin stood watching as Sirius grew increasingly agitated.
'Ready?' James whispered to Lily, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her forward as Sirius exited the portrait hole. Following suite James started muttering a soft incantation under his breath, waving his wand slightly towards Lily.
As they moved along the deserted corridors, being sure to stay a certain distance away from Sirius, Lily began to glow. Seeing that it was working, James's voice became faster and more urgent.
'What was done, now undo, until the spell is finally through, the pain you caused you now will know, that you cast upon her foe. Make you see what you have done, return back to who it was from.' James chanted, hoping that the lyrics he had thought up quickly while trying to get ready would work. It had to do it quick for they were steadily approaching the Great Hall, but it was taking far more magic than he realised. The spell was obviously powerful. His mind cursed Sirius.
The golden aura that that surrounded Lily was beginning to move, taking the spell with it. As the yellow cloud floated away from Lily her natural face was revealed once again, smiling happily. As James continued the curse flew towards an unsuspecting Sirius who had just entered the Great Hall.
Unfortunately for the victim the curse finally hit him just as he stepped onto the dance floor, scanning around for his friends. The golden light absorbed into him and stayed there. Unknown to him he had turned orange with the whole school watching his every move…
To be continued…
A/N I'm sorry it took so long to update but I really didn't feel like writing although I did anyway. I wanted to do other stuff but I still found time to write it. You should be proud because if I had my way I wouldn't have updated in ages. I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can be bothered.
Next chapter: Like A Virgin
