Lily gasped, hands over her mouth in mortification. Snape stood in front of her unmoving, seemingly waiting for a reaction other than horror. Students returned to their revelry, uninterested in the statuesque scene.
"You've got some nerve, you know that," Lily yelled, running toward the balcony.
Snape pushed his way through the crowd, searching for a door along the side wall.
Remus gave Felicity's arm a gentle squeeze. "I need to talk to you later," he whispered before setting off after Snape. He weaved between, bursting through the bathroom door, and smack into the back of whom he could only assume was James.
"It's about time Goyle," shouted the silver-masked Slytherin directly in front of him. "What the hell is going on with you two?"
Remus jerked his head between his two counterparts, "I—sorry. What," Remus asked blankly, trying to maintain his Goyle voice. "I just came in to use the loo."
"You seriously are a moron. And now Crabbe has apparently lost any hold that he might have once possessed over his tiny brain! You, you—kissed Lil-that mudblood?" Snape's eyes were now glittering with malice from behind his mask.
He drew his wand, "Something tells me that you aren't Goyle."
Suddenly, a burst of yellow light sent Snape flying, a shower of mirror shards tumbling to the ground around his motionless form. Sirius Black stepped out of from a stall, laughing to the point of tears.
"Wondered when we'd be seeing you, mate. I really thought Snape was going to kill James for a second there."
"I'd like to see old Snivellus try," James boasted, chest swelling like a pincushion. "He's just jealous."
"So you really kissed her then, Prongs," Sirius asked, rapping the stall next to him with his knuckles. "I'm going to be so disappointed if she slapped you, and I missed it."
Gilderoy Lockheart emerged from the stall Sirius had just knocked on, tucking his wand back inside his robes.
"That's the best part of it," James gushed. "She thinks it really was Snivelly that laid one on her!"
"Sorry, but how does that help you at all," Remus asked, stepping aside to let Lockheart pass.
"It means she'll think he's even more pathetic! After what he called her the other day, and now this-she won't think I'm so terrible for always giving him such a hard time."
"Oh yeah, she'll start calling you St. Potter," Remus mumbled. He rounded on Lockheart, "You won't be telling Lily any of this, right?"
Gilderoy furrowed his brow, "Not bloodily likely! In fact, I'm headed out to see if I can console her. Ta ta!" His light blue robes barely fluttered out the door as it closed behind him.
"Like she won't see right through that smarmy smile of yours," James said-trying to sound as if he wasn't bothered by the idea of Gilderoy Lockheart consoling Lily.
"Don't worry Prongs, I think Lily knows an imbecile when she sees one," Remus said comfortingly.
"Does she," James asked, a little concerned for what this meant for himself.
"If it'll make you feel better, you can drag that greasy-haired, git over to the toilets. Last thing we need is someone finding him before we take care of Lucius," Sirius explained. "I'll get the mirror." He strolled over to the sea of shards on the floor, "Repairo."
Small glassy pieces soared upward, each finding their previous place until a smiling reflection of Sirius was looking perfectly back at him. He ran his hands through his hair, pulling it back into the emerald ribbon that matches his cohorts. "You know Mooney, you might try the long hair look. It sort of suits you."
"I'll stick to growing a mane once a month mate," Remus said with a chuckle. "James looks pretty awful with it though."
"Hey," James protested with a grunt. "I didn't think it was so bad!"
After a final heave, he closed the stall door on a very unconscious Severus Snape. "Colloportus," He said quickly, tapping the doors lock with his wand. With a soft CLICK the door had locked by itself. "I do not feel bad in the slightest for the massive headache he'll have when he wakes up, but at least he won't remember how he got it." He turned to see Sirius pull on his Slytherin mask, giving a shudder as it slid in place.
"Looks like I'm stuck with this thing the rest of the night," Sirius noted complacently. "I'll be glad to get rid of it as soon as possible though."
"Tell me about it," Remus agreed. "But let's make sure we've all got this straight. I'm still Crabbe, James is still Goyle, and now you're going to be Snape."
"Right," James nodded. "Who's getting the girls out once we set off the prank?"
"It's not like it matters what we say, you'll do what you want anyway Prongs. So make sure Lily gets out," Sirius said with a sigh. "Mooney or I will get 'Licity, and we'll all meet up in the Astronomy Tower afterward."
"Smashing," James cheered. "Let's do this."
Sirius withdrew a folded parchment from his pocket, opening it for all three of them to see at once. Footprints moved and shuffled across the diagram of the Great Hall, and scrollwork markers bearing the names of the owners of each set of footprints bumped around beside one another.
"There they are," James noted, jabbing a finger into the small rectangle aside the Hall.
Two pairs of footprints stayed motionless beside one another on the balcony, the markers above them reading 'Felicity Stewart' and 'Lily Evans.' Remus pointed to a small group of floating names near the middle of the dance floor being pushed from one side to the other by one 'Lucius Malfoy.'
"Looks like Lucius is looking for us."
Lily felt a delicate hand rest on her shoulder, and breathed a sigh of relief. It would've cost her something to admit that she was slightly disappointed that her best friend had been the one to follow her to the balcony.
"Felicity, you really should probably be checking on Severus."
"He made a bee-line for the bathroom after that—well I'm really not sure what to call that," Felicity said as she leaned against the rail to face Lily. "I mean, could you even feel the kiss through his mask?"
The red-headed girl suddenly became very intent on the beading around the edge of her dress straps. The color that flushed her cheeks nearly matched her hair. "Dumbledore must have been serious about the masks becoming an extension of the person's face. It was just as if he was kissing me without it."
"Really…wow. I'm not sure if I should say I'm sorry for you or not," Felicity said in the most even tone she could manage. She knew Lily and Severus had been friends for some time, but after he fell in with Lucius all of that had changed. "I mean, I wouldn't want to be kissed by Snape."
"After what he said yesterday, I'm pretty sure I would've slapped him if he had been the one to kiss me," Lily mused, turning her attention toward the lake below.
"Um…did Lockheart hit you with one of his memory charms Lil'? Because that is exactly what just happened in there!"
Lily laughed loudly, "No! The most Gilderoy is guilty of is vanity, to the last degree. But the kiss…. he has either underestimated my intelligence, or overestimated the effectiveness of his acting if James Potter thinks that I believed he was Severus Snape for an instant."
Felicity felt her jaw drop open, "WHAT?"
Any further discussion about the matter was brought to an immediate halt by a flash of brilliant powder-blue.
"Lily, there you are," Gilderoy gushed as he swept over to her side, taking her hand and kneeling. "Words cannot express how very sorry I am that I wasn't there to defend you against that despicable ruffian."
Felicity nearly put her fist insider her own mouth trying to keep her laughter from spilling out into the night air. It was all she could manage to make it to the opposite end of the balcony, abandoning Lily to fend off the gallantry of Lockheart alone.
"And why aren't you with Severus," asked a drawling voice from the doorway leading back into the ballroom. "Or are you hiding in shame?"
"What would I have to be ashamed of Lucius," she quipped in a voice that was just as icy.
"He prefers the company of a filthy mudblood like Evans, over you—a perfectly stunning girl, and perfectly pureblood. I know plenty of girls that would be in tears over such an insult."
The brunette smiled maliciously at the boy responsible for all her current suffering. "Lesser girls, perhaps. I can assure you I haven't shed a tear, but while we're on the subject—where is Narcissa?"
Lucius took a step closer to her, causing her to back toward the stone banister once more. "Not that it's any of your concern my dear cousin, but she happens to be dancing with Crabbe—or Goyle. It's so hard to tell one idiot from the other in these masks."
"I've been having the same issue all night," she spat vehemently. She could feel the heat in her skin rise as all the anger she had felt over the entire situation boiled to the surface.
"Why do we have to be like this Felicity," Lucius asked, his voice dripping with civility. "We are family, we are blood you and I. That makes us perfect, compatible even—right in so many ways. Yet you take the side of a cursed half-breed …over me?"
He watched as her eyes began to narrow, glaring at him—willing him dead with each passing moment. This was his game, and he was winning.
"Oh I see—it all makes sense now. You feel sorry for the pathetic animal," he laughed, taking a final step forward.
"He isn't like a stray puppy you know, like the ones you used to bring home when we were little. Though your parents won't let you keep him around either. He's a monster Felicity, and he will hurt you given the chance. Kill you even… All I'm trying to do is protect you."
His voice trailed off as he reached up to place a hand on her cheek, brushing a strand of hair aside. She stared into the cold eyes looking down at her through one of many silver masks that had haunted her that evening. This was a side of Lucius she'd never seen, a voice he never used. It scared her.
"My god, you're serious," She muttered in shock. "You actually believe all of this crap you're saying. You really do think we—belong together." Her stomach turned at the last words she spoke.
"I don't know why that's so outrageous of an idea for you to comprehend," He whispered incredulously. Felicity watched as his masked face leaned closer to her own, barely throwing her hands up in time.
"Stop! This is NOT happening," She hissed, trying not to draw any unwanted attention. "Besides the fact that I don't remotely have the tiniest ounce of warmth toward you, and that we are blood relatives— I will always care about Remus, and do what is within my power to help him."
Stunned, Lucius looked feverously between her hands on his chest and up at her face, "You can't do anything to save that disgusting creature."
"You're wrong. And one day, he won't be a monster—but you always will be."
Felicity jumped as blaze of yellow light pushed Lucius into her. She struggled to keep them both from tumbling over the edge of the balcony, his unconscious body weighing her down. Panic started to seize her, until someone pulled them both forward. She let herself sink to the cobbled stone, mind buzzing at what had just happened.
"Felicity, are you alright," a voice asked lovingly. He knelt next to her, and hugged her tightly. "I got here as soon as I could find you. You're okay?"
"Aside from having the creeps, and a small problem with height—I'm great," she said with a small laugh, glancing up to find a familiar pair of fathomless gray eyes behind a Slytherin mask. "Sirius! I take it this means that Snape has been dealt with too?"
"Indeed," Sirius stood up briskly, offering a hand to her. "But I'm more concerned about you."
She took his hand, and allowed herself to be pulled up to her feet. Glancing over at Lucius' form on the ground, she shook her head. "Oh I'm much better than he'll be in a little while."
"So I believe this means that Lily and I will be off to finish what's left of the ball," Lockheart asked, flashing another grin in Lily's direction.
"Err, I guess so," Felicity said hesitantly, looking to Lily for confirmation.
Lily rolled her eyes, but nodded. "Well of course. I mean after you've been so kind to help us I wouldn't dream of not having at least one more dance."
"Splendid," Gilderoy exclaimed, rocking back on his heels. "Shall we go?"
"Sure, there's just one thing I have to do first," Lily smiled widely, and pulled out her wand. Without a word, she tapped her wand on his head. The final yellow flash of the evening went off, and Lockheart didn't move.
"I think I would like to dance with you Gilderoy," Lily said sweetly. "After all, you've been such magnificent company tonight."
"You would? I have? I mean…what," Lockheart asked blinking furiously. "I don't remember even coming down for the ball."
"Oh no," Lily exclaimed. "I knew I shouldn't have let you drink that punch for me! You offered to test it to make sure James or Sirius hadn't spiked it!" She looked over at Sirius, glaring disapprovingly.
"Guilty as charged," Sirius said flatly. "I put some of the Prewett Brother's Forget-Me-Not Elixir in the whole bowl."
"Well I never," Lockheart shouted angrily. "People are going to be popping up with missing memories all night! What kind of person would do something like that?"
"Roy, let's get going. I'm so sorry this has ruined our date," Lily said genuinely as she could manage. "This is just awful."
"The only place we're going is straight to the headmaster! I hope you get detention for the whole next term Black!"
"Oh, no—not that," Sirius begged with a convincing frown. "Please!"
Lockheart hadn't stayed to listen, and Lily was after him with a contented wave toward her friends. Felicity waved in return, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"And why is it called 'Forget-Me-Not'," Felicity questioned.
Sirius laughed, "I'm not sure why Gideon and Fabian call it that. I think they just liked the ring of it actually. You could ask Molly, though. Sure their sister would have some idea."
"Did you actually put the potion in the punch?"
"James was doing it when I came to look for you actually. And poor Remus got stuck dancing with Narcissa," Sirius snickered, sticking out his tongue in repulsion. "But you know, we could go get at least one dance in." Felicity slanted her mouth knowingly as she felt his arms slip around her waist.
"I think I'd like that actually," She mused, inching her face closer to his. "Unless you had something else in mind?"
"Oooooooh!"
James' voice cut through the tension in an instant, but neither of his friends moved from their embrace. Even a small glare from Sirius didn't stop him from continuing on his jibe.
"Well if you two are done playing kissy face, Moony needs to be rescued from the Ice Queen in there. And we have one last prank to pull off this evening."
"I almost forgot! You know I want a good spot to watch this from too," Felicity exclaimed.
"Just make sure you stay close, because it's going to get crazy in there," Sirius pulled away, grabbing her hands quickly, and kissed them both. "Okay?"
"Come on Padfoot," James begged impatiently. "Let's go!"
Felicity rolled her eyes, and nodded. "I'm right behind you two. Now, go!"
She watched them go before walking toward the still prone Lucius. "If you can hear me in that wonderful memory-loss nap you're taking…I want you to know that I sincerely hope you and Narcissa have awful, bratty, little blonde babies. After all, you're perfect for each other."
With that Felicity mingled her way through the crowd inside, which proved to be no easy task. Though she had a very good idea of what they were all gathering to see. She made it to front edge of the circle just in time to see three boys in silver and emerald mask, each with long black hair tied in a matching ribbon standing back to back.
What everyone else saw to be Lucius, Crabbe and Goyle—she knew to be Sirius, Remus, and James. They pointed their wands to the ceiling, and smiled.
Gasps filled the hall once more, making their spell casting impossible to hear, but the jets of silver light were warning enough. In an instant the enchanted ceiling turned dark and cloudy, and lightning ripped from one end to the other. A downpour of rain started, and students scrambled madly. Some professors were trying to calm the panicking throng, whilst others struggled to find an appropriate counter-curse.
Felicity was knocked in every direction possible as students, instruments, chairs, and candles went off in every direction. Suddenly a hand grasped hers pulling her along, out of the Great Hall.