traceebby- I'm glad you really like the story! And yes, I shall update your highness lol.

Per Totalus- Well I'll tell you if James and Jemma get together yes?.. And I'm sorry to announce that Lily/Scorpius but they WILL get together, just not YET :) Keep reading and reviewing!

ariabby- I hoped this is DUN DUN DUN enough lol! And yes, i loved that james has a sweet side too. Hes a sweetie lol. In fact I might like James Sirius more than Scorpius.... Nahh :P

RenieBean- Lol, no if you reviewed 4 times it wouldn't count haha. Anyway, I'm delivering Scorpius now, hope you liked it :)

Keep up the good work and the reviews guys!

The Ministerial Ball

Brushing my hair, I watched myself in the mirror. I wasn't ugly, I admit, but I was not the definition of beautiful, the definition of beautiful was my cousins; Dominique and Victoire, they were just born beautiful, like my aunty, Fleur. The definitions of beautiful also apply to my best friend, Amelia, whom, I think, is still sleeping and that Seeker who won against my brother James last week, Jemma. They were beautiful, or at least extremely pretty.

Why are you even thinking about this Lily? I scolded myself and I shrugged it off; I just had a weird dream about going to a Muggle beauty pageant with my parents while watching extremely pretty, possibly anorexic Muggles wear fashionable, if not very minimal clothing on a flashy looking runway.

"Lily? Are you in there? I need to brush my teeth!" Amelia called from outside in our dorm, knocking on the door smartly. Glancing at the mirror one more time, I opened the door to reveal a very disheveled and sleep-ridden Amelia. Her hair was unkempt and her eyes were droopy, not to mention she looked like she was going to drop any moment without food.

Slipping past her, I slid on my school robes, packed my bags with all the necessary books and did my bed (with magic of course). Amelia emerged fifteen minutes later looking much better. Her hair was done and she had washed her face of sleep. "Come on, I'm starving." I yawned, pulling her towards the stairs.

"But you're always hungry!" She joked, and I threw my bag at her.

"Ehh shut up you." I grinned, grabbing my bag and racing her for the hall. I was running so fast I didn't see where I was heading. I ran straight into a tall-looking black cloak.

"Watch where you're going!" A cold voice snarled. Pulling myself up, I was face to face with the pale boy I didn't exactly plan on meeting. His expression changed from annoyance to pompous in just one second.

"Why, it's Potter." He sneered. "I saw you're magnificent defeat on Wednesday."

Giving him a fake smile, I picked up my bag and said. "Yeah, you Slytherins should watch and learn how to lose with grace- I heard you all started a massive fight against Hufflepuff last year at the finals. And you lost. Embarrassing?"

His smile wiped off like Stinksap, quickly replaced with a cold, hard look. Smiling again, I wished him a good day, and headed over to where Amelia was waiting at the doors victoriously.

"What was that about?" She asked at we swung it open to reveal a half-packed hall with lots of food and hungry students.

"Oh, he was nagging about how we lost so epically."

I didn't know why it bothered me so much, but I felt strangely empty and, well embarrassed when he brang it up. In fact, I heard about our loss all week and it didn't bother me at all until now.

Sliding next to Hugo and Liam, I grabbed an apple thoughtfully. James entered after, followed by his friends, of whom I didn't know names to and sat themselves by us.

"Did you see the notice board this morning?" He asked.

"Nope." Amelia replied.

"You mean the one about the Exchange Program?" Liam asked, buttering his crumpet.

"What exchange program?" I rounded on him.

"Something about how schools can exchange students for a year." Hugo said simply.

"Yeah," said James, grabbing a jam toast, "apparently you can exchange to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons for a year, and they can exchange over to us as well."

"Maddest! I heard that Durmstrang is always snowy." Liam said happily. "Wonder if mum will let me exchange…"

Amelia gaped at him. "You're planning to exchange?"

"N-no, I mean I might, if you guys are." He said, watching her expression hopefully. She smiled slightly.

"You just have to finish the term first, and you need to have a parent's verbal consent. You also need to talk to the Headmaster of this school and to other one if you're a fourth year or younger. Guess that means us James." One of James' friends said, sipping his grape juice.

Amelia and I exchanged looks. "Imagine going to Beauxbatons for out first year…"

I knew however, that there was going to be certain people I'd miss if I was allowed to transfer, not that I was planning to if Amelia, Liam, Dominique or Hugo don't come too.

-

'Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm not sure if Albus has told you yet, but there is an International Student Exchange Program happening at our school. It's between Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. What do you think about it? Amelia and I think it'll be really cool to be a student at Beauxbatons for a year… But we need parent permission. Oh, and I think James is planning on Durmstrang, just so you know.

School has been very, well kind of boring so far. But Quidditch is extreme fun, and I'm glad you guys came to my first ever game. My best friends, Amelia and Liam say hi, and so does Hugo and Dominique haha. Anyways, Easter holidays is in two weeks, and I'm coming home for that party, so I'll see you then :)

Oh, I'm enclosing a copy of my timetable so you can see for yourself how much my subjects on day one and five truly sucks.

Love, your daughter, Lily.

Ps. You should already know it's me though :P

Pss. I'ts really cold here at Hogwarts, how is it at home?

Psss. Still missing you guys lotsies hehe.

xoxoxoxoxoxox'

Folding it neatly, I slipped it into the envelope labeled 'Harry and Ginny Potter' along with my timetable, rolled it up and tied it to my brother Albus' owl, Hedwig. Taking her to the window, I watched the snowy owl fly away into the pitch black of our nine pm.

Sliding back onto the lumpy couch, alongside Liam, I started work on my Transfiguration homework, clearly explaining how the Switching Charm should be used.

The fire crackled merrily and lazy Gryffindors were lounging around, either playing chess, doing homework, gossiping or reading various wizarding magazines and newspapers.

Amelia, who had already finished off her Transfiguration homework to a seventh graders standard was reading a Muggle romance novel her mum was so fond of 'Gone with the Wind' by the fire, her eyes wide with anxiety every time she flipped a page.

Hugo too, was done and was writing to his parents about possibly exchanging. When he was done, he slipped it into his bag, "I'll use a school owl tomorrow, mum and dad have Charles at home."

Watching us do homework or reading in silence for a while, he asked "Are you guys staying over the break?"

Pushing her homework to the side, Dominique shook her head. "Nah, we're going on a vacation to France- to visit mum's family."

"Same," Amelia said, "I'm going to Australia with my parents."

"I'm going home." I said. "Dad has this Ministry party to attend to, the whole family is invited."

"I wasn't planning on going home, but since you guys are, I might as well." Liam shrugged, getting back to his unfinished Muggle Studies assignment.

Watching the fire, I couldn't help but feel relieved that the holidays were nearly here it's been one hell of a first term.

-

"Have you packed yet, Lily?" Albus asked as he spooned his tropical yoghurt over breakfast.

I nodded, grabbing a banana, watching all the students bustle busily around, grabbing food, pulling their luggage and exclaiming random things like 'oh no! I left my cloak in the dormitory, come with?' or 'darn this stupid Muggle design!' when their bags ripped due to many students over packing.

We were all eating a hurried breakfast because then we'd have to go back up to the dormitory to bring our luggage down. I personally couldn't be bothered to lug it down to breakfast with me. Looking around, I caught sight of silver hair. Over at the Slytherin table, Scorpius was wearing a black coat, buttoned to the neck, and his hair was spiked up kind of funny-cute funny though. I watched as Emilie squeezed her way past the rest of his goons and sat right by him, giving lovey-dovey looks. It made my stomach want to push back everything I ate already.

"Come on," Hugo said, standing up, "let's get our bags."

Peeling my eyes from the Slytherin table, I followed suit, eager for the holidays now more than ever.

The dormitory was packed too, with students who were staying the three weeks at Hogwarts. They were happily lounging around, swapping Famous Wizard Cards, reading books, playing chess or were watching us crankily gather our belongings.

"I can't find my Chucks!!" Amelia gasped, emerging from under her four-poster bed.

"Is that it?" I asked, pointing to a pink pair by the door.

Squealing happily, she kicked off her sneakers, stuffed them into a bag then slipped on her Chuck Taylors. "Thanks Lily."

Looking around for anything else we might have left and seeing nothing, Amelia and I finally emerged from the girl's dormitory carrying our bags, looking very happy to go home indeed.

The carriage out of Hogwarts was exceptionally boring and tiring considering we got there late and had to sit with fussy Slytherin seventh graders who didn't hesitate to bring up how quickly we had lost to Ravenclaw on Wednesday.

Amelia and I retaliated by talking very loudly between ourselves about how right now, Slytherin were coming last in points for the House Cup, and how Gryffindor is in the lead- by at least one hundred and sixty points too.

Smiling between ourselves when they had finally shut up, we watched as the sceneries from Hogwarts disappeared to reveal a magnificent looking station, already filled with excited students boarding a scarlet train.

Pulling our bags off happily, we roamed the Hogwarts Express for a spare apartment, finding Hugo, Liam and Dominique in one.

Setting our bags in the compartments overhead, we chatted excitedly as the train rolled out of the engine.

"France is going to be so much fun!" Dominique exclaimed, her bright blue eyes gleaming.

"I can't wait to see the Sydney Opera House…" Amelia sighed, glancing out the windows to see the woods flashing by.

"At least you guys are going somewhere; I'm probably going to just end up helping mum with the chores." Liam said, groaning jealously at us.

"We're not going anywhere either, just a stupid Ministry dance thing." I said, nodding at Hugo.

"We'll write to each other. A letter a week. All of us, 'kay?" Amelia declared, smiling.

"Deal." We chorused, and spent the rest of the long trip trading Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldron Cakes and other various sweets after the Food Trolley has passed.

-

"Mum!!!" I squealed, seeing her flaming hair over everyone elses'.

"Dad!" James said happily.

We all ran into their waiting arms, so hard that I knocked dad's glasses off.

"Hey you…. " they crooned, embracing us like there was no tomorrow- it would actually be really embarrassing if it wasn't such a special moment.

"Harry, Ginny, hey guys." A soft voice said from behind us. I turned to reveal a beautiful Asian woman with long black hair and pale skin, next to a tanned man with sandy hair and wicked blue eyes. Amelia was smiling at me.

"Cho! Michael." Mum exclaimed, shaking their hands, smiling warmly. Dad did the same too. If I had known our parent's past then I'd be surprised at how casual everyone looked together. They were chatting happily, mum and dad's hands locked together while Amelia's parents had their arms around each other. I picked up certain words like, 'how's Quidditch?' or 'Muggle Affairs is so tiring'.

"I didn't know our parents knew each other." She whispered quietly, and I had finally noticed the little boy who was holding her hands so tightly. He had wide blue eyes and sandy hair, looking exactly like his dad. The little boy was staring at me fearfully to tell you the truth, and he was trying to hide behind Amelia.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, picking up her the little boy into her chest. "This is Thomas, my little brother. Say hi Thomas!" He looked at me again, but hid his face in Amelia's black hair instead.

"He's adorable." I said truthfully, watching his little fingers entwine with hers.

"He's going start at Hogwarts in three years. Really small for your age though. Aren't you Thomas, aren't you?" She crooned and he looked up again. Showing her his white teeth.

"This is Lily. Say hi to Lily." She said sternly, and he mumbled a 'hai Lily.'

"Aww, well, I gotta go, so bye Thomas! Write okay?" I nagged her. She laughed, walking back to her parents who were now talking to Liam's. I watched as Liam said something to her and she laughed, showing him Thomas. He looked up, saw me looking and waved. Amelia and Thomas waved too.

Smiling, I waved back and followed Albus out of the crowded station and into the bright afternoon light along with many other students too. If I was looking, I might have seen a pair of not-so cold grey eyes looking my way.

-

Two weeks passed by that involved many Quidditch matches against the Weasley's, lots of letters, more Quidditch, more letters, some chores and even more letters. Finally, the Annual Ministry Ball (ever since Harold Gyynier became Minister) came around. Amelia told me that her parents (since they worked at the Ministry) were invited, but they had been planning on Australia for months ahead already, so she couldn't come. Liam told her about how his neighbors' dog had brutally murdered his soccer ball, and Dominique bragged about her French shopping spree with Fleur.

The night of the official ball, I was trying on this new dress that I had chosen with mum. It was light blue, slightly huggy from the waist upwards and was strapless. Rose wore a stunning bottle green number with hugged from top to bottom, with little frill at the front. She did my hair while I did hers. Mum was fixing Aunty Hermione's and dad, Uncle Ron and the rest of the boys were gruntingly putting on their suits. They even looked slightly stunning in the matching black suits, even though James hid his tie- 'I'll never wear it!'. Albus and Hugo had sleeked their hair back whereas James had spiked it up.

"You little rebel." I whispered as we gathered in the living room. He grinned. We were all wearing huge cloaks because dad told ups the only way in was with Floo Powder beacue we couldn't all Apparate there and mum didn't want soot on our clothes. Rose gripped my hand slightly. "You think there'll be anyone at Hogwarts there?"

"Possibly, lots of their parents work at the Ministry." I whispered back as James and Albus disappeared through the green flames. Dad smiled at me and took my hand.

"Ready Lily?" he asked. I gulped nervously, I never took Floo Powder transportation before.

"Ministry of Magic." He said, stepping into the fire with me by his side. Instantly everything whipped out of sight, and I could of sworn I could see through other fireplaces as well.

Wssshh, instantly the cold hard marble floor came up to meet my feet, but because I was in heels, I tipped over instantly.

"Come on darling." Dad said, and I grabbed his hand, walking over to the receptionists desk where the rest of my family and the Weasleys were waiting.

"Right, so that's Harry Potter and co. and Ronald Weasley and co. Step through there please," she said boredly, gesturing towards the brilliant glass doors which swung open by itself as we approached, revealing a huge room, with banners, glittery balloons, floating candles, singing faeries, floating chandeliers and a huge dance floor. The Weird Sisters (the new version, with new artists) were playing in the corner, and loud music blasted from the walls, which, I noticed, were glittery too.

We walked over to a table named 'Potter and Weasley' and instantly a pretty nymph came out from the crowd and asked in a perfectly harmonic voice, "What would you guys like your service to be today?"

"What?" I asked Hugo over the music. He shrugged.

"Order from plate. Thanks." Uncle Ron said, and she smiled, bowed to a little and took off.

"Have fun kids, we're going to talk to the Minister about the magnificent ball he's hosting." Aunty Hermione said, leaving with Uncle Ron and mum and dad.

"Well. Now what?" Rose asked. I shrugged, leaning back against my seat watching the guests swing to the beat.

The doors swung open again, but no-one really noticed except our table, (because we were bored). In stepped a pretty Chinese woman in a sparkly red dress accompanied by her husband and two other people, a woman in a purple dress and a man in a grey tux. Following afterwards was the Ravenclaw Seeker, Jemma and her escort, the Ravenclaw Keeper, but I didn't know his name. Looking around again, bored, I noticed that all eyes were on the dance floor except James'. He was looking in the direction of Jemma and the other Ravenclaw with a small scowl on his face.

Rose spotted her too and waved her over. James groaned quietly. "Jemma! Tristain!"

Albus and Hugo were now talking about the subjects that they had to do this year, "Transfiguration, easy!"

"Hey." Tristain said, smiling at us. "Are those seats taken?"

I shook my head, looking at Jemma's gown. She wore a red strapless which wasn't glittery, but silky, cashmere looking. It was also hugging. She smiled a shy smile and sat down next to Tristain, and ended up beside James'.

Watching everyone talk about something, I got bored and stood up to stretch my legs. "Getting a drink." I said to Rose.

"But you can do this!" She grabbed a glass, said "Orange juice!" and it instantly filled up with orange juice. "That's what Order from Plate means."

"Nah, I'll just go get it by the drinks table, you guys talk."

Walking around to the far side of the ballroom I finally spotted the table, laden with many glasses of different drinks and assorted treats. Grabbing a glass, I filled it up with something that looked like punch and leaned against the table, watching the dancers.

"I wouldn't drink that. It's Firewhisky." A cold voice drawled. Gasping, I jumped and spilt half my glass onto the floor.

Spinning around, I saw his smirking face, but I was instantly distracted. He was wearing a black tux, with the collars up and his hair spiky again. It was kind of hot. He saw me looking and smirked.

"You look good Potter." He nodded at the strapless number I was wearing. I mumbled a thanks.

"Wait, what are you doing here?" I blurted out.

He raised his eyebrows. "My mum works here. Head of the Accidental Magic Reversal Unit. You?"

"My dad works here. Head Auror." I said triumphantly, smiling over my nearly empty glass of Firewhisky.

"Oh, I see." He said shortly, sneering. "Anyway Potter, I just wanted to ask you to a dance, considering the last time we did, it didn't turn out too well." His eyes narrowed at 'last time' and I knew he remembered everything as did I.

"Fine. One dance. Malfoy." I said, but just as those words blurted out, the song changed to a slow one called, "Bewitching my Heart."

He smirked, watching my reaction. "One dance it is." Reaching out, he took my hand with his surprisingly warm ones and whisked me off to the dance floor. Wrapping his arm around my waist, we swung around a bit. Being so close to him made my breath catch in my throat. The music slowed down even more and he pulled me even closer. Now I could smell the cologne that he used, his hair gel, everything. Unwillingly, I looked at his eyes. They weren't grey at all, they were blue, and it was piercing straight through me. We stared at each other silently for a while, and I ate up all of his features, he pointy chin, the carved nose…

"So, I hear from McGonagall you're getting worse at Transfiguration. Now is that even possible?" He smirked.

"What? Hey I could be better if I had a tutor..."

He grinned. "I could stil-"

Bam! A small, stout little man was standing by the glass doors. His face was red due to running here and his hat was lopsided. "Minister! Oh, Minister!"

The music stopped instantly, but all I noticed was that Scorpius was now holding me very tightly against his chest.

-

[James' POV]

"Are these seats taken?" that Ravenclaw by the name of Tristain asked, but I wasn't really paying attention. Jemma was standing by him, and my eyes narrowed onto their entwined hands. Someone must of said yes, because Tristain sat by Rose and Jemma sat by me. I noticed that the red dress she was wearing hugged her well.

Clearing my throat, I turned around, facing the table instead. "You're James Potter right?" A small voice asked me. I looked up into her hazel eyes.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"You fly real well." She smiled now, showing me her white teeth.

Grinning, I ignored looks from Tristain, I replied. "You fly real well too. Jonathon says it's because you're Australian."

She laughed, not giggled, but laughed. I always hated it when people giggled anyway- it means they're either gossipy or loud. When she laughed, something bubbled inside me. Brushing the black hair from her face, she joked "Oh did he now? I guess I just have to show him by flogging you guys when we get back. Again."

I laughed. "You guys won by luck!"

She mocked hurt. "What? Are you sure it wasn't because I'm Australian?"

We laughed together, and I noticed that when she laughs she looks really carefree, like nothing bothers her anymore. Right then 'Bewitching my Heart' began to play, and I noticed that she began to tap her fingers to the beat.

"Wanna dance?" I asked loudly and quickly before I knew what I was doing. Rose raised her eyebrows at me knowingly and Tristain narrowed his eyes. Jemma Li smiled. "Sure!"

Taking her hands, I gently pulled her onto the dance floor. She had pulled her hair up in a Chinese bun today, and her pale skin glittered like ice under the floating chandeliers. Her skin burned into mine, but I pulled her close and began to sway along with the music. She smiled under the light, "So James, do your parents work here?"

"My dad's Head Auror." I said, watching her impressed reaction. If I wasn't so stolen by her presence I would have noticed by little sister swaying right past me with that Malfoy git.

"Wow. Head Auror, that's impressive."

"Yeah, it is." I said, feigning being pompous. She laughed and looked my green eyes with her brown ones.

"What about you?" I asked swaying her around. She wasn't short, only half an head shorter than me.

"My mum works in the Department of Muggle Relations and my dad's an Auror. But of course, that has nothing on Head Auror now does it?" Her eyebrows raised mockingly.

"No, no it doesn't" I said slowly, pulling her closer when the music slowed. She rested her head on my shoulders and I was desperately hoping she couldn't hear my heart, which was probably giving me away.

"So your in third year?" I asked, tracing a circle on her dress with my finger. It felt smooth underneath my skin.

"Yeah," She pulled away, smiling again. "How come I never see you?"

"What you were looking?" I asked, my eyebrows rising tauntingly. She hit me gently and rested her head on my shoulder again.

"Nah, I always got detention."

She laughed, "What for the whole of the last week of term?"

I was going to reply but bam! the glass doors swung open, and I saw a little man run over to the middle of the crowd. "Minister, Oh, Minister!"

The crowd quitened dramatically and the music stopped.

"There's been a mass breakout from Azkaban! All of the prisoners!"

The atmosphere changed abruptly. Jemma slid her hand down to mine.

"Every single prisoner, even the top security ones! The followers of You-Know-Who!"


And that's another Chapter yee, and as per promised the reviews came in so I'm uploading it :)

I realised it might/probably does seem a bit rushed, but I had to get the story moving at some point.

Hope you liked it, and if you did, pweasee review, yes? My demand still stands *wink wink*.

Hated/loved couldn't care less or suggestions for coming chaps?

xx Kate