Chapter 7: Masquerade (Part 2)
Lily should've stayed where she was in the ballroom and should've kept an eye out for Lyra or Petunia. After all, she hadn't come to gawk at quidditch players or marvel at broomsticks-that's what got her into the mess she was in. Still, Lily couldn't pass up a chance to see Potter's acclaimed racing broom collection. Even Sophie had said it was impressive and she didn't even really know a racing broom from a sweeping broom. Lily mentally kicked herself as she followed the group of younger adults out of the busy ballroom and through the doors of a room adjacent to the ball room.
The room was smaller and had clearly been an office at one point based on the desk opposite the fireplace. Lily's eyes had to adjust to the torchlight but when they did, she gasped along with all the other quidditch professionals. Broomstick after broomstick lined the walls of the study, each of them carefully hung diagonally across the wall. It looked like they'd been ordered by date of service and Lily's mouth practically dropped open when she realized she was standing next to a Ficus Lightening Bolt model from 1856.
Most of the others who had followed the other bloke into the room were crowding around the centerpiece of the room, a table with assorted quidditch memorabilia, but Lily's eyes were too busy taking in every last broomstick. She read each plaque below the bristles of each broom, loving how Potter had incorporated history into each one. Lily knew now why Sophie said Lily would fall in love with James just for his broom collection. Lily would die and go to heaven if she could even fly just one of the hundreds of broomsticks lining the walls.
She was in there so long she didn't notice when everyone else had left. Instead, she continued looking at each broom carefully, judging it's capabilities and flight times. She was so lost in thought that she hardly noticed when someone peeked around the open door in confusion. She was so wrapped up in drooling over the models that she barely register when someone came to stand directly behind her.
"Was the door open or did you just waltz yourself in here to stare at my broomsticks?"
Lily winced and didn't turn right away, allowing her brain time to process the husky voice right next to her left ear. She knew that voice, even if she'd only heard it a few times, she could've picked his voice out of the crowd because of the way it made goosebumps rise on her skin.
James Potter had found Lily all on his own.
Lily whipped around in a rush, embarrassed at being caught, only to recognize the tilted smile and messy black hair with a little shock that ran from her toes to her heart. Even with the golden mask on his face that reflected orange from the fireplace flames, Lily could practically see the curve of his cheeks when he smiled at her so playfully. Even though his eyes were taking her in like he was seeing her for the first time, Lily still felt the familiar bubbly sensations in her gut that traveled to her brain, making her whole mind hazy.
Sophie would be devastated if she knew that Lily's heart was thumping wildly as James stared at her, awaiting an answer.
James was wearing a mask that appeared to be some sort of tarnished gold. The really cool thing about it was the fact that the artist had somehow etched hundreds of deer running in a stampede across the bridge of James' golden nose. The mask covered most of his face but did nothing to hide his unruly black hair. Lily had seen him enough times to know that his wild curly hair was completely and one hundred percent unique to him. She was even bold enough to admit the look suited him. She wasn't aware she hadn't spoken yet until she watched his face falter.
"Sorry," He cleared his throat, "Do you not speak English? I only assumed...er sorry if I butcher this...parlez-vous français?"
Lily giggled into her hand and he turned red around his ears, "No," she said quietly, "I'm English."
James itched his neck awkwardly in response to her giggle, "Of course you are."
He looked at the ceiling as if he were cursing himself and Lily chewed on the inside of her lip to keep away her own shy smile. He looked handsome, dressed in black dress robes and a bowtie decorated with gold etchings like his mask. Lily tried to remember Sophie's warnings, tried to remember why she was supposed to be keeping him at a distance but it was hard when he was looking absolutely fine.
"Sorry for not answering right away, I was taken aback." she played with her skirts so that she had something to look at other than his face, he looked way to nice for someone she couldn't like as more than a friend.
"No, sorry for startling you." James said quickly, almost sounding relieved, "It's just, this room was supposed to be closed up."
"Quick question before we leave," Lily turned to point at one of his brooms, "Weren't these bamboo prototypes burned by the original maker because he thought they'd break in too much rain?"
"The bamboo was great in theory since bamboo grows like a weed but awful in practicality since bamboo also soaks up water like a sponge." James snuck up to her side to stare at the bristles of the broom Lily had pointed out, "Arwin Sharmwood didn't burn all of them. You see, he'd given out some prototypes to friends before he scrapped them and I spent years tracking this particular one down."
"Where's you find it?"
"In Mongolia."
"Wicked." Lily breathed, "And what about the one in the corner? With the rainbow wood? What type of wood is it and does it fly durably?"
James looked at her like she had four heads, "Are you a player on the circuit?" he asked, "I've haven't met a professional flyer as passionate as you in a long time."
Lily froze in her spot, under his spotlight stare, realizing she'd done something stupid...she'd been too much of herself around James. She didn't know what to say to him without ruining anything. Luckily, they were interrupted by a familiar voice coming from the door.
"Prongs your parents were looking for-oh."
Behind James, Lily spotted Sirius, of all people, staring at Lily with intimidating grey eyes from behind a black mask that hardly covered his face. Sirius' wand was out and she saw he was scanning the rest of the room for potential threats like a guard dog on duty. At Sirius' side was another bloke. The unfamiliar guard wore his mask entirely on one side of his face and it was decorated in bright red jewels. He looked kinder than Sirius did, at the present moment, because he at least smiled at Lily. Lily felt rude for not smiling back but she ducked her head the minute Sirius turned his eyes onto her, examining her.
Leave it to Sirius to ruin everything, Lily didn't know why she didn't write him and tell him the plan. Now she had to hope he didn't catch her lying and accidentally let the truth slip out.
"Sorry James," the bejeweled masked man spoke up when nobody talked, "We didn't realize you were in here with someone."
James' eyes were still sparkling behind his mask as he brought Lily's attention back to him with a wave of his hand in her direction, "I found a friend." he said, "She was admiring my collection."
"Your parents are looking for you." Sirius repeated, "your mum wanted a dance."
"Well," Lily whispered, "Don't let me keep you..."
Lily didn't dare look at Sirius so she started to walk out, head down, so her eyes were locked on the floor. In her head, she was praying Sirius was more oblivious than his normal observant behavior. That's when James caught her hand. Lily winced and stopped trying to escape the room without another word, but she didn't turn to look back at James.
James' voice was strict and posh when he ordered Sirius to go tell his mum he'd get to their dance in a moment. Lily looked up through her lashes to see Sirius actually follow the direction given. Lily knew Sirius must've really respected James if he took orders from James without balk. The other guard must've followed Sirius because she and James were alone again.
"Sorry." James tugged on her wrist a bit more, "I didn't want you to leave quite yet."
Lily turned again as she withdrew her hand from his, "you didn't?"
He shook his head, "How did you know this room was here?"
Lily messed with her mask, "Oh, uh, one of your party guests mentioned it and I wanted to see it for myself after my friend Sophie raved on and on about it."
"Sophie?" James cut Lily off with surprise, "Sophie Turner? Are you friends with her?"
"Yes," Lily looked into his eyes and saw guilt written on his face, "We're very good friends."
James seemed puzzled, "And she raved about my collection?" his forehead wrinkled, "I was under the impression she couldn't tell a racing broom from a family broom."
Lily cracked a smile, "I guess Sophie didn't rave about the broomsticks per say...just that you owned a lot of them."
James shrugged, "That does sound more like Sophie." then he took a step closer, "You know, I don't remember meeting you in France."
"Well that'll be because I've never been to France." Lily snorted and James looked even more puzzled.
"You've not one of her model friends?" and then he turned red, "Erm, I mean, you're gorgeous, so I assumed."
"Thank you." Lily was glad the mask was hiding the steady red blush on her cheeks, "But I'm nothing compared to Sophie."
"She's beautiful." James agreed, "But you're only the third woman I've met in my entire life who knows a thing or two about broomstick model history and that's impressive enough in it's own right."
Lily shrugged and clasped her hands in front of her, "What can I say?" she sang, "I'm a woman of many talents."
James put his hands on his hips and looked her up and down, as if deciding something.
"So what do you think?" he asked, startling her from admiring his shoulders.
"Of what?"
"My collection?" James gestured around the room proudly, "Did it live up to Sophie's hype?"
Lily shook her head yes, "You've got a good eye for racing brooms." she said, "I'm actually impressed."
"I live to impress the ladies." he bowed humorously.
Lily couldn't help but giggle again at his wit like some dimwitted schoolgirl. She was as bad a Sophie. James opened his mouth to speak again but was interrupted by a man in a dark green mask coming into the room with a whole group of well dressed and buzzing friends. The bloke spotted James and waved eagerly with a wide white smile.
"James! Your guard Black said you'd be in here!" the man in the green mask stopped at the sight of Lily, "Oh, sorry mate. He didn't say you were with a girl."
"I expect that's exactly why Sirius sent you my way." James laughed as he clapped the newcomer on the back diplomatically, "Nice playing last game, Art. Sorry I missed it, though. The job kills my game time."
"Thanks Potter!" Art said jovially., his ice blue eyes wide behind his green mask, "But you didn't miss much, just the Holyheads getting their knickers in a bunch."
Art Buckley, Pemberly Puffin's best player, was standing only inches away from Lily. She'd seen him play more than once but he looked shorter in real life and much stockier. He had sandy hair and freckles that appeared to covered every single patch of skin showing through his fancy robes. Even with the mask on, Lily didn't like his upturned nose and glinting blue eyes. She especially didn't like his comment about the Holyheads so, she put her hands on her hips and frowned at Art to show her dislike. Next to Lily, James shifted so that he stood right next her and when she crossed her arms he glanced down at her with a cocked brow.
"It's no surprise we won." the man, Art, continued proudly with a little glance of interest at Lily when he realized James was slightly distracted, "It was only the Holyheads."
Art's dismissive tone made another flash of anger course through Lily's blood and she immediately jumped to defend the team, "Only the Holyheads?"
Art and his friends glanced at her. One girl snickered into her mask, her red lips curved in disbelief. The bloke directly behind Art looked at lily like she had three heads. Meanwhile, James looked at Lily like she was the brightest star in the sky. Art simply stayed as dismissive as he had been since he entered the room.
"You only like the Holyheads because it's an all-girls team." Art assumed, with a motion to Lily's self, "Not because they're the best players in the league."
"The Holyheads are shaping up to beat everyone in the league this season. They might even represent at the World Cup." Lily said heatedly, "I've watched every game they've played and their defense is top notch."
"No way," Art rolled his eyes and spoke to Lily like she was a child, "The Tornados are the champions this year, they've got the best chasers in the league."
"Tornados might have decent chasers but Holyheads have a strong Captain and the best beaters in the league." Lily shot back, "They've been undefeated in street quidditch competitions the last year and a half."
"Street quidditch doesn't count." Art rolled his eyes, "It's rules are flexible."
"Flexible rules maybe," Lily said tautly, "But street quidditch produces better players because it requires players to think on their feet."
James interrupted the argument, hazel eyes glowing in wonder at Lily, "Are you in the Holyheads?"
"Clearly not," Art scoffed before Lily could answer, "she doesn't have a quidditch bone in her body."
"Shut up, Art." James shot at the quidditch player before looking at Lily, "Are you a player?"
"No," Lily admitted, "Art is right, I'm just a well informed fan. Why?"
James quirked his eyebrow and it lifted his mask a bit off his face, "I don't know many people who've been following Holyhead's progress during off season."
Lily pushed a strand of her hair away from her ear, "It's important to follow all the teams, to make the right bets and win the right gambles. if you only watch teams after they win, you miss the best games. Its the teams who have everything to win and nothing to lose that play the best."
"You're very perceptive." James was impressed, but Art was not.
"It's cute that you think you know Quidditch, honey," Art drawled at Lily, "But you should read up a bit more on your teams if you want to impress men who are paid to play quidditch."
"I'll have you know," Lily snapped, her tone laced with poison, "if you want to earn he respect of other players on other teams, you really shouldn't start your conversation by dragging down a team full of witches who fly better than you do with your eyes closed."
Art's face grew red, "Do you even know who you're talking too?" he gasped, "Do you know who I am?"
"Art Buckley, Pemberly Puffin's seeker." Lily looked at her nail beds casually, faking a cool air despite her hot blood, "You've caught 23 snitches out of the 57 games you've played and you lean left a little too much during your dives so you tend to crash. A lot."
The others burst into laughter and Art turned beet red, opening his mouth to tell her off. Before he could get the chance, Lily turned on her heel and stalked away with a dignified huff.
"Seekers." she hissed to herself as she gathered her skirts up to making walking easier, "Arses, the lot of them."
Lily made her way back into the ballroom where the party was in full swing. People were dancing in the middle of the ballroom while throngs of people stood on the outlines of the room chatting and laughing. It was while allowing her eyes to scan the room for Sirius that Lily spotted her stepmother and stepsister.
A little bit of fear shot through Lily when she recognized the purple dress Petunia had been shoved into against her will. Lyra had her hand stuffed into her daughter's arm and she was toting Petunia around, introducing the girl to every man they passed. Petunia held her mask to her face, likely to hide her cold expressions. Lyra wore no mask, and her face was calculating as she weaved her way among the other party-goers. Lily knew Lyra was looking for James and thanks to the masks, it was taking her longer than she liked to find him, clearly.
Lily made sure her mask was still on correctly and hastily checked her hair in a mirror on the wall. Despite Sophie's intricate bun supposed to help keep the color in check, Lily thought the hair looked less black and more brown now. Lily hoped the spell would hold longer, she had to stay as long as possible to watch Petunia and Lyra. Lily made her way along the edges of the ballroom and settled next to the two bay windows at the end of the room. The windows looked out into a pretty tea rose garden lit up with fairy lights. Lily almost went looking for a door so she could explore the gardens but she knew she had to keep an eye on her stepmother and stepsister.
"So, would it be weird if I asked you to marry me?"
"Excuse me?"
Lily whipped her head around and saw James, standing right behind her with a goofy grin. He was flanked by Sirius and the bejeweled masked man again, both of whom were watching nearby partygoers with little interest. Lily had a feeling their ears were aimed at her and James. James' eyes were mischievous, littered with golden flecks that seemed to sparkle at her when she swept around fully, hands folded into her skirts.
"Sorry," but he didn't look it, "Too forward?"
"A little." Lily said with wide eyes and a pounding heart.
"I was just really, really impressed by you back there." he confessed, "I've never seen someone shut Art Buckley up before."
Lily made a face, "He's a sexist arse."
"He was wrong." James shook his head, as if embarrassed by Art's behavior, "Sex shouldn't determine ability on a pitch or the quality of the team."
Lily adjusted the mask on her face again before saying gently, "Thanks for saying that."
James flashed one of the smiles that made her knees shake under her skirts, "I just wanted to make sure you didn't think I agreed with him."
"Why?"
James' hand shot to his hair and he looked down when he said, "Well, I don't want you thinking any less of me."
Sophie was right, he was damn good at making someone feel like they were special. He was charming but somehow very witty. He was mysterious but also very open. And his smiles? Lily thought his smile lit up the whole room, like her own personal chandelier. She was fucked and Sophie was going to murder Lily once she found out exactly where's her mind was headed when James licked his lips before speaking again.
"I'd love to go flying with you sometime." James drew her mind away from Sophie and his lips, "You sound like you really know what you're talking about."
"Not as much as the great, James Potter, I'm sure." Lily said, smoothly, dropping all previous attempts to stay neutral.
If she was going to Hell, she might as well do it properly and have a bit of fun.
"So you do know who I am." he seemed disappointed, "And here I thought maybe the mask saved me from the formalities."
Lily's eyes swept across the ballroom, noting that Lyra had yet to recognize James, "I hate to tell you but anyone with a keen eye could pick you out of this crowd."
"It's my dashing good looks isn't it?"
Sirius actually laughed and Lily almost joined him, had James not shot Sirius a glare. Begrudgingly, James gestured behind him to his bodyguards.
"My friend and bodyguard," James said of Sirius, "Sirius Black."
"Pleasure." Sirius grinned at Lily with a small wave, "I'm here to make sure he doesn't get into trouble."
"He does a piss poor job." James joked, "That's why I keep Remus around."
The man next to Sirius, the one with a bejeweled mask, waved politely at Lily before leaning in and whispering something to Sirius. James caught the exchange between his guards and worry lines appeared on his forehead. Before Lily could really analyze his expression though, James flipped his mood back to polite and flirtatious.
"How do you know me?" he asked, "Sophie, I presume?"
"Sophie," Lily smirked, "and I've seen you around, once or twice."
"It's a shame we weren't formally introduced by Sophie." James snorted, "But then again, she's not the best at sharing."
And just like that, James managed to remind Lily exactly why Sophie had warned Lily about him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily said with a frown.
James heard up his hands in defense, sensing Lily's sudden anger, "Nothing, it's just Sophie, she doesn't like competition."
"Sophie doesn't see any one of her friends as competition." Lily defended her friend, "Do you even know why she's not here tonight?"
"Honestly, I didn't even know she wasn't." James was flushed about the ears, clearly displeased with the direction the conversation had gone.
"She was worried about how you would act-and now I see why." she said coldly, "You really can be a oblivious git, can't you?"
"Excuse me?" James glanced behind him, only to find his guards had gone off to grab a drink together before the fighting had started, James turned back to Lily, "two seconds ago you were flirting with me and now suddenly I'm a git just because I said one negative thing about Turner?"
Lily scornfully sniffed, "For your information, Potter, Sophie is one of the kindest and smartest girls I know."
James quirked his brow, "I never said she wasn't any of those things." He challenged, "It's just-Sophie and I have a complicated relationship, you wouldn't understand."
"You slept with her as a one off thing and she thought it was more." Lily stated cooly, "I understand it perfectly."
James' jaw flexed, "how do you know that?"
"I told you," Lily said, "Sophie's one of my closest friends and as her close friend, I have to tell you that you really broke her heart playing her like that."
"She's making it out like I tricked her." James defended himself, "But I told her it wasn't going to be a thing."
"She's a good person."
"She's incredibly nice." James countered, "But she misunderstood me...us...it."
"Well that's just sad." Lily said cooly, "Because she seems like she'd do anything to make you happy."
"You know what, I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with a total stranger." he snapped irritably, "I just came over to talk quidditch-not argue with you about a very complicated situation."
Lily uncrossed her arms, "it wouldn't have to be so complicated if you didn't shut her out."
"I can't believe this is happening." James shook his head at Lily in disbelief, "Most of Sophie's friends aren't so quick to defend her."
"Then they aren't really her friends."
James whistled softly, impressed by Lily yet again, "I certainly hope Sophie knows that she doesn't have to hang around with witches like Hattie Gamp when she's got someone like you waiting around to fight her battles for her."
"Sophie knows I'm on her side." Lily frowned, "And Hattie Gamp is a bitch."
Surprisingly, Lily's blunt hatred for Hattie Gamp made James laugh out loud. In fact, it made him throw his head back and offer her the loudest laugh he'd given that night. Unsure of what he found so funny, Lily just stood there awkwardly smiling and holding her skirts. James stopped laughing and offered her a reinstated smile.
"Sophie definitely needs more friends like you."
Lily squared her shoulders, "Well, I need more friends like Sophie."
He was still smiling as he shook his head, "can I ask you a question?"
"I suppose."
"Did you come all the way to this masquerade just to talk Sophie up to me?" he asked, "is this like some sort of girl code shite?"
"No."
"Then why are you here?"
"I just came for the free wine." she deadpanned.
James laughed again and, finally, Lily joined him. When her laughter died, she glanced at her feet. James held out a hand as a sign of friendship. Lily stared at his outstretched hand through her eyelashes.
"Can I interest you in a drink?"
"Bold." Lily cocked her hip, and offered him with a challenging smile, "I don't know if I drink with someone who doesn't love Sophie Turner."
"Well," James smiled, "that's where you're wrong. I do love Sophie, as a friend, which I made very clear from the start."
Lily knocked her heels together contemplatively, "Did you?"
James shook his head, "Did I really hurt her that much?"
"Yeah," she softened her tone to seem less threatening, "I wasn't kidding when I said you broke her heart."
He offered a form of an apology next, "I really am sorry, then, please tell her that for me when you see her?"
"Why not tell her yourself?"
James shrugged, "You've made it sound like she doesn't want to see me ever again."
Lily finally took pity on him, he looked so put out, "I'm sure if you reached out, she'd be willing to talk things through."
He considered Lily through the eyeholes of his mask. He seemed mesmerized, almost as if she had suggested he do something completely out of the ordinary. Lily hated how quick and reasoned he could turn. He was as dangerous as any politician, he knew how to win himself an audience.
He spoke again, his voice considerably softer, "Can we start over?"
"What?"
"Do you think you could pretend I didn't offend you or Sophie within the first thirty minutes of meeting you?" James suggested, "because I'd really like to be friends."
Warning signals went off in her head and Sophie's voice was practically yelling at Lily to not shake his hand but the next thing Lily knew, her fingers were squished between his. When he didn't let go of her hand she grew suspicious, even more so when he started tugging her to the dance floor.
"Fancy a dance?"
"You dance?"
Lily knew that this wasn't exactly how she had planned to keep James from Lyra but hey, when did any of her adventures ever go according to plan?
"You sound surprised." James flicked his eyebrows up as he guided her through the bodies of witches and wizards.
"Sorry," Lily put one hand on her hip, "you keep catching me off guard."
He flicked at his mask, "I'll take what I can get."
James swept her through a group of witches in hijabs while asking nosily, "Did you go to Hogwarts?"
"Yes." Lily nodded, "a long time ago."
He grinned jokingly, "You don't look that old."
Lily pursed her lips, "Well, I am wearing a mask."
"Touché." James laughed before jumping into the next question, "were you disappointed when you realized who I was?"
"Surprisingly, no."
She earned a smile from him and she wished she could memorize the way half his mouth quirked up, like he was sharing a private joke with himself. James offered her his arm and she took it, letting her hand wrap around his forearm. James led her to the middle of the dance floor, eyes trapped on her.
"You seem very familiar." he said, "I just wish I knew why."
"I dunno." Lily laughed nervously, her eyes looking back to the floor.
When she looked back up James was sliding his mask off his face. He tucked the mask inside his robes and a few people dancing around them stared as they realized who had swept into the middle of the dance floor. Lily tilted her head at James, a question forming on her lips that James answered quickly.
"The mask was itchy."
Before she could stop herself, she teased him, "Are you sure you can dance without your glasses?"
James stopped pulling her in by her waist so he could stare at her suspiciously, "How do you know that I wear glasses?"
Realizing she'd just said too much Lily blurted out quickly, "Sophie, erm, she mentioned offhandedly once that you were blind as a bat."
James blinked but didn't argue as he set them up for a quick waltz. With one hand on her waist and the other hand holding hers in an gentlemen-like fashion, James began twirling them in time to the music. Her skirts flew out behind her as they twirled and slid across the slick ballroom floor. James' fingertips dug into her waist as he pulled her in closer for tight turns, leaving her breathless.
"Did you take dance lessons in your spare time?" Lily laughed as James bowed her over his arm dramatically.
"Why?" James wrinkled his nose playfully at her as he pulled her back up, "Am I impressing you?"
She couldn't answer because she started laughing when he put both hands on her waist, lifted her up, and twirled her in the air like a princess. In the crowd, she saw all eyes were on them. Some people were whispering behind their masks as James placed Lily back on her feet, dragging her back into his grasp with his persuasive fingers. As he continued dancing her across the ballroom floor Lily even spotted her stepmother and stepsister watching. Lyra looked peeved, Lily held onto James even more closely.
"Everyone's looking at you." she whispered to him as he dipped her low.
"Nah, trust me," he swung her up again, "They're all looking at you."
Lily felt like she was glowing under his adoring gaze. They danced faster, swirling under the giant chandelier that made diamond rainbows appear before Lily's eyes whenever she looked up. Lily knew why Sophie had her hands all over James whenever she had the chance. Here, wrapped up in his warm embrace, Lily didn't want to ever let go of the minister's son. He was positively enchanting.
Once James' pace slowed Lily thought she might have to flirt to keep him in her grasp-and out of Lyra's-but instead of leaving her politely like she expected once the dance was over, James led Lily out of the dance floor with one of his hands at the small of her back. Hundreds of eyes watched as they walked past the guards at the ballroom entrance and into the hallway where less people wandered. James passed the room where he'd found Lily and he continued on, leading her to a pair of glass doors at the end of the hall. Lily's face heated as she realized James had danced her into a daze that had him sweeping her away from onlookers.
Lily was kind of pleased they were no longer dancing, her feel were starting to hurt from the heels. She wondered if it would be impolite to take them off at such a fancy party. Someplace in the back of her mind, Sophie's voice threatened to injure her if she dared take even one shoe off.
"So, did you vote for my father in the last election?" he asked conversationally as they neared the double doors.
"Is that how you lead all your conversations?" Lily teased and at the sudden horror-filled look on his face she smiled, "Yes, I voted for your father."
James looked relieved and his returning grin lifted his lips enough to crinkle his eyes, "Do you prefer Pumpkin Juice or tea?"
"Tea."
"Gillywater or firewhiskey?"
"Firewhiskey." Lily raised a brow, "Why does that matter?"
"Well," James' wink was wicked, "If I get you a drink, I want to make sure you'll like it."
He was nothing like what she'd expected him to be at such a fancy party. Instead, he was the same playful and conceited boy he'd been the few times they'd talked before.
"You want to get me a drink?"
"I want to keep dancing with you but that's just me being selfish."
"Selfish?"
"I don't want anyone to ask to dance with you because then I'd have to do the polite thing and give you away." he replied impishly and she blushed under his suggestive gaze, "You've caught the eye of every person in this party."
James pulled a pair of square shaped frames from his pocket and placed them on his face as they neared two guards by the glass doors. His hand wrapped up into hers, their fingers interlocking. James waved at the guards and they glanced at each other before opening up the doors. Lily glanced over her shoulder and saw they weren't being discreet, everyone nearby was watching James walk away with her.
Including her stepmother.
"Where are we going?" Lily asked James as he led her through the doorway into a long hallway accented by giant moonlit windows.
"On an adventure."
She shrugged and then asked, "So, why didn't you go to Hogwarts?"
James led her along the hallway slowly, "Mum wanted me to go to her school and dad's wrapped around my mum's finger, so, I became a star student of Drumstrang." he passed her a glance, "I wish I had gone to Hogwarts though."
"Do you?"
"The quidditch league is better."
"Pity." Lily said, just as boldly, "We could've been friends."
Lily lifted her eyes and James whistled softly as their eyes met.
James clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, "You'd think I'd remember those eyes." he whispered, "So green."
She blushed and her entire body suddenly felt like it was on fire. Her fingers dropped the edges of her gown and she was frozen under his gaze. His hand held tightly to hers, with a grip of a chaser, he could've led her anywhere he wanted. She wanted to follow him. She was taken aback when he lifted one hand to brush against her waist where her wand was wrapped casually around her belt.
"Do you often wear your wand in your clothes like an accessory?" he teased, his fingers reaching to trace the wooden stick she'd kept close.
Lily's own hand shot up to her hair and she grinned sheepishly, "Normally it's in my hair but Sophie told me not to ruin her masterpiece."
James chuckled, "You know most girls would keep their wands at the door during a ball."
"I'm not most girls." Lily responded wittily.
"No, you are not." James agreed with a pleased smile.
Lily chewed her lip and stared at the edges of her robes, the silvery fabric barely touching her toes.
"I can take care of myself." she said finally, looking up and finding that somehow he'd gotten even closer, their noses were about to touch, "I was captain of the dueling club at Hogwarts."
"Impressive." he murmured, "I'd like to duel you sometime."
"Before or after I whip your arse in quidditch?"
James' hand pinched her side impishly, "Why you little-"
"Mr. Potter!"
James wined and look a step back from Lily, straightening his robes. Lily turned her head to see Lyra, of all people, rushing towards them. Petunia was in tow, but her feet were dragging. Lily cursed inwardly as her stepsister was shoved in front of a bewildered James almost seconds later by a beaming Lyra. Lily hated that Lyra's smile didn't reach her cold eyes as she introduced herself to James.
"Erm, hi." James said awkwardly, "Can I help you ladies?"
"Lyra Evans, Mr. Potter." Lily smoothed her skirts, "I wanted to thank you for buying a broom from my shop."
Recognition flashed in James' eyes and he took an even farther step from Lily, "Oh, you must mean Quality Quidditch Supplies."
Inwardly, Lily was panicking. He kept her head partially bent and was tucking her hands into her skirts to hide how much they were shaking as the conversation continued. Lyra appeared happy that James remmbered.
"I wanted to reacquaint you with my daughter."
James' body posture cheated quickly from casual to rigid, "your daughter is here?"
Lily looked up through her lashes and saw James' eyes frantically glance back at Lily, as if she were, suddenly, a problem. When he turned his attention back to Lyra, something flickered on his face that Lily didn't recognize. James glanced behind Lyra, as if expecting someone to come 'round the bend of the hallway.
Lyra motioned to Petunia, who looked miserable, even hiding behind her mask, "My daughter, Petunia Evans…"
Lily was frozen in fear as she watched James look Petunia up and down. His brow was furrowed and he was thinking really hard.
"I could've sworn you had red hair." James said to Petunia, rather bluntly, "Do you have a sister?"
"I only have one daughter." Lyra said hotly, her face flushing pink and Lily knew Lyra was cursing Lily to Hell and back again, "Petunia Evans."
James was clearly confused. Lily knew he was remembering the shop. He was remembering the girl with red hair because he was remembering Lily. Of course, Lily should've known Lyra wouldn't give up until she'd spoken to James and Lily had to get James away from Lyra before anything else happened. before anyone else said anything that would ruin her life. Lily only knew one way to get a mans attention beyond quidditch.
She had to flirt.
Batting her lashes, Lily reached forward and looped her fingers through James' again, tugging him slightly. James turned his confused eyes to Lily. She wasn't letting anything else slip out. Not with Lyra now staring daggers at Lily for interrupting James' focus.
"Mind if we go outside, James?" Lily whispered in a lower, less recognizable tone, "Alone? Please?"
If Lyra could've sunk her nails into Lily's face to draw blood, she would've. James nodded carefully, smiled once at Lyra, took another (long) look at Petunia, and then led Lily through another pair of glass doors in the middle of the hall that led out to a balcony. The sky was cloudy and figures drifted in and out of the one garden. One couple was entangled together by the fountain.
Lily was grateful for the fresh air as it hit her face and she took in a deep breath.
Thankfully, Lyra had enough act not to follow James out on the balcony.
James was quiet as Lily leaned against the balcony and looked down into a garden with a pond that was filled with white and orange fish. She watched the small fish swim around and around, creating ripples in the water that reflected off the moon etched into the water. Lily lifted her hands and looked at the wand she'd kept hidden from Lyra in the folds of her robes. The ivy vines that were etched into the wood tickled her fingertips as she traced her wand out of nervous habit.
James leaned next to her. At first he too, had been staring out at the garden, lost in thought. Now though, James' hazel eyes were trained on her wand in her hands.
"All out of questions?" he teased as he brushed his warm shoulders to hers.
Lily asked the only other one that her mind when she racked her brain for a question that took him away from broomsticks and redheads, "How did you become a famous curse breaker?"
James sucked in a breath, "Oh uh, that. I've always been a dab at magic." he said conversationally, tucking her wand back into her belt as he talked, "My mother had me tutored from the moment I showed accidental magic. She wanted to raise me right, you know?"
"My father wanted to raise me right, too," Lily spoke fondly of her father, "He taught me everything he knew or remembered from school so that I'd be ahead of the other kids when I started and he's the reason I love quidditch."
James chuckled, "Sounds familiar. My parents pushed me, politely, in the direction of magical enforcement. I didn't mind through, I wanted to be just like them when I was little. It was either curse breaker or auror for me-nothing else really sang to be besides quidditch."
"Why didn't you pick quidditch?"
James pushed his glasses up his nose, "Because I wanted to make my parents proud." he sighed, "But then I didn't get into the auror academy and dad pulled some strings so that the curse department took me in three months out of school."
"Well, anyone that's good with a wand can be an Auror," Lily offered helpfully, "But only a few people can actually be curse breakers."
"True," he flashed her a grin, "My job does do wonders for the confidence."
"As if you needed help on your confidence." she prodded his side playfully and he laughed, throwing his head back like what she said was hilarious.
"Me?" James disagreed with her pointed jab at his arrogance, "I need all the help I could get. I was a gangly kid in school and didn't have many friends..."
"So you're a loner." Lily smirked, "you don't really like to be social?"
"I mean," James reasoned, "I have friends."
"Yeah?"
"Mhmm," James nodded, "Like five."
Lily laughed, "Impressive."
James chuckled, "Quality over quantity. I have some pretty cool friends."
"Yeah?" Lily stretched in her heels, her feet were aching, "Witch Weekly models?"
"Ha, ha." James snickered, "No. One of my best friends is a werewolf."
"Is that meant to impress me?"
"It should."
Lily's eyebrows flickered up, "You're really friends with a werewolf?"
James nodded, "He's one half of my protection detail. The other half is Sirius, who thankfully took the hint and let me be alone with you."
"Why did you want to be alone with me?" she asked and he shot a look, as if she very well knew the reason why.
"You caught my eye."
"Before or after I broke into your broomstick collection?"
"After. That was the moment I knew I wanted to know who you were."
"Have you always been this persistent?" she teased, "To get a woman's attention?"
He considered, "Only when the woman is smart, kind and brave."
Lily eyed him, "How so, smooth talker?"
"I don't know many women who'd look Art—Pemberly's best seeker by the way—dead in the eye and tell him that his opinions are shite." he grinned widely at her, "You defended Sophie like it was your job, giving me the impression that you are incredibly loyal and you came here tonight alone, even after your friend bailed because I was an arse to her."
"I aim to impress." Lily quoted James, her fingers brushing against the mask covering her face.
James took her hand again, pulling her so that her body turned and her hip was leaning against the balcony. She swallows thickly as James' step into her pushed their bodies together in a more private way...a less friendly way. James' fingers left Lily's to reach eagerly for her face, only for him to drop his hand quickly, nervously letting it fall to his side.
"I was expecting tonight to go very differently?" he muttered, truthfully, "You are not what I was expecting, not at all."
Lily wondered why he looked so conflicted, "Are you ok?"
James' fingers brushed hers again, looping their hands together against the folds of her dress. Lily looked down at their hands as James turned her once more, now so that her back rested against the balcony handrails. The cold black iron dug into her back but Lily didn't mind as she stared into his warm gaze, entranced.
"I want to kiss you." he murmured, his eyes hazy and dark, "Can I?"
Lily found herself shaking her head yes, even though she should've said no.
James leaned down, cupping her cheek against his hand. His lips were barely brushing against hers, politely waiting for her to respond. Without even second-thinking, Lily leaned into her toes and pressed her lips more firmly to his. She could feel the flicker of the smile beginning on James' lips right before he let go of her hands so that he could wrap both hands around her waist. If passerby in the garden noticed the minister's son passionately kissing a stranger in a mask, no one said anything as Lily fell into a daze against James' brazen mouth.
His lips were soft and they tugged on Lily's mouth gently but with enough intention to make her hands, loose at her side, find their way into the hair at the nape of his neck. The silky strands of James' hair slipped through her fingers as she met James kiss for kiss. His fingers tugged insistently at her waist, like he wanted her even closer and Lily felt her wand jostled by his firm grip. She let her fingernails sink into his neck as his hips nudged her impatiently, pressing her into the rails even more. Lily couldn't stop, she was too caught up in the soft tug of his warm mouth.
And then she felt his fingertips lifting at the edges of her mask.
Lily almost fell backwards off the balcony, she ripped her face away from his hands so fast. Her own hands had left him and were now protecting her mask from James' prying fingers. He looked disappointed at her blatent avoidance.
"Please." she begged, her breathing ragged from his kissing, "Please don't."
She wanted to remove her mask but then he'd know and she didn't want him to know. Not after everything. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she had to see him process all the lies he'd been told. All the lies she'd led him to believe were already starting to unravel and she didn't want to be around when he pieced everything together.
instead of facing the truth Lily turned and fell to the ground, her robes fanning around around her. The action made her wand slip lose from the belt and she picked it up and began playing it, running her fingers over the small vines over and over again. James was quiet for some time and then he sighed, falling down into a sitting position next to her on the ground, his back pressed agains the iron like hers.
"It's a pretty wand." he muttered, watching her trace the patterns, "Has it always been yours or was it passed down in your family?"
Lily lifted her eyes to meet his, "It's mine." she said, "I got it from Ollivanders when I was eleven."
Acknowledgment in his expression calmed some of Lily's nerves. James reached inside his own robes to pull out his wand. It was shiny and looked hardly used. Lily stared at it as he rotated it through his fingers.
"I get a new one every other month it feels like," he chuckled at her bewildered look, "Curse breaking doesn't always work out the first time. My job comes with a lot of broken wands. I've been through five, officially, since I started."
He traded wands with Lily and she felt a shive shoot up her spine as his wand fell into her fingertips. Where as Lily's wand had rough edges and intricate designs, James' wand was smooth and rounded at the handle. His wand was lighter than Lily's but longer at the tip and it was clear he polished it a lot.
"This is your fifth wand?" Lily asked of the wand in her hands.
"Technically, that's my first wand." James said, "That's the wand that chose me in Ollivanders when I was eleven."
James and Lily shared secret smiles before Lily asked, "So what wand do you use when you're working?"
"I have a spare wand." James said flippantly as he tested her wand by swishing it through the hair and making bubbles appear, "All curse breakers have a spare wand-the curse breaking magic is so tricky that sometimes wands break and a lot of us are too sentimental to use our chosen wands."
"Interesting." Lily said, turning James' wand over in her hands, "What's it like when a wand breaks?"
James groaned, "It's a bloody mess." he admitted, "My third spare, it was a finiky thing. I tried breaking a curse on this old family home in Scotland as a favor to my mum's friend and it split that wand right down the middle. There were splinters everywhere, let me tell you." when Lily offered a small, curious giggle he sent her a glare, "You think I'm joking," he shook his head, "Listen, it took me three whole days to get pieces of wand out of my thumb."
He mimicked picking small splinters out of his hand and wincing as he plunked each one out and she laughed harder, placing one of her hands on his shoulder. He leaned against her touch and their heads fell closer to each other as they laughed together. When his nose brushed against her cheek their laughter slowed and his expression shifted. She saw the hunger in his eyes and it was more and more mind boggling with each passing second.
"Tell me more about you?" he asked, no, begged her to share more with him, "You must be tired of hearing about me."
"You don't want to get to know me." She brushed his cares aside, "I'm nobody special."
"I disagree." he said slyly, with a encouraging wink "You're really, bloody amazing and pretty and clever and..."
He leaned in for another kiss and Lily sobered, "Is that what you told Sophie too before you swept her off her feet?"
His expression darkened, "That's a low blow, but if you must know, I was drunk when I was flirting with Sophie."
"So?"
"So, tonight, the only thing I'm remotely drunk on...is you..." he countered smoothly, and goosebumps rose on her arms, "so tell me what I can call you besides pretty or clever or brave.
His lips found her again and he kissed her slowly, carefully, like he was working her up for something more. She laughed into his mouth when he nipped playfully at her as she tried to pull away and his fingers were dancing at the edges of her mask.
"What's your name?" he whispered again when he finally pulled away.
Lily could barely think, James' wand fell into her lap as her hands cupped his face tenderly, "My name?"
"Won't you tell me who you are?" he pleaded huskily and she felt his fingertips tracing her chin as a ghostly reminder of the mask on her face, "At least give me a name."
"If I do, I think everything might be different." she confessed sadly as his thumb tucked back under her chin.
"I don't understand." he murmured.
"You aren't meant too."
"Why do you have so be so frustrating and mesmerizing at the same time?" his hazel eyes were smoldering, "What do your friends call you?"
"I don't have friends," she took a shaky breath because his thumb was now tracing her lower lip enticingly, teasing her.
"Do you really not want me to know?"
"I don't want you to be disappointed."
"Impossible." James' fingers angled her face up, "Merlin, did you know your eyes are so green that even in the dark they seem to shine like bloody fairy lights?"
His face was seconds away from hers and Lily urged away the idea to kiss his thumb, which was actively still tracing her bottom lip while she held his gaze so intimately. He really was a curse breaker. He spoke to her so eloquently, drawing her name from her secretive depths like he'd draw a curse from it's dark ward.
"My name is-"
Her words were cut off by red, green, and orange fireworks shooting into the night sky. They lit up the world around Lily and James. The fireworks reflected off the french doors and Lily caught her reflection in them. She hoped her hair looked red only because of the red fireworks. James was glancing up at the fireworks lazily before he returned his attention to Lily expectantly, wanting to hear her name, wanting to know her…the girl behind the mask.
Lily didn't even wait to say anything, her eyes were locked on her image in the glass, her heart pounding.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"If the fireworks are going?" James said, on of his fingers sliding along her collarbone suggestively "Midnight, probably."
"Midnight?!"
Like the girl in the muggle fairytale about pumpkins, Lily had played Princess too long. Lily jumped up and James did too, both of their wands clattering to their feet. Lily bent down and swiped her up, shoving it into her bun.
"I have to go."
"What?"
Lily pulled back quickly, right out of James' reach, eyes wide. James was confused, already he was stepping towards her, ready to pull her back into his arms.
"It's hard to explain." Lily said, lifting her skirts to move faster, "Curfews, and uhm, and quidditch."
"Quidditch?"
She turned and placed her hand on the door that led into the hall, yanking it open. James stalked after her, a line forming between his eyebrows.
"Wait," he half laughed, as if he was expecting her to be joking, "where are you going?"
Lily didn't even offer him a smile. She raced into the window lined halls and made her way to the ballroom, praying Petunia and Lyra were both still socializing the night away. Lily saw a flash of her hair a window. It was turning red again. That wasn't the worst of it, Lily's feet were dying in the heels and only making her run slower. She cursed rather loudly as she pushed through the second set of doors only to run right into Sirius. He was no longer wearing a mask and his expression was stone cold when she nearly slammed into him.
"Woah." he held onto her shoulders and then got a good look at her, "Where are you going? Where's James-holy Agrippa-Lily?!"
"Fuck, let me go, Sirius."
Sirius narrowed his eyes even more, "What the hell is going on, Evans?"
"Cover for me." Lily begged before looking back to see James was gaining ground, "He cannot know that I was here."
"A bit late for that."
"Sirius, just do it!"
The moment she pushed out of Sirius' way she ran, kicking off the damned heeled shoes off as she went. Sophie might murder Lily for losing the shoes but at this point she didn't care. Her bare feet hit against the floor and the cold marble froze her toes. Lily was able to keep several paces ahead of James, he was fast but it appeared she was faster. She loped across the hallway for the regular doors, waving her wand and being totally disappointed when the doors did not swing open like she tried to command them to do. instead she stumbled into one of the doors, shoving at it desperately as a guard grabbed her wrist.
"Sorry." Lily said breathlessly to the guard as she ripped herself from his grasp, "Lovely party, got to go."
Lily shoved her shoulder into the door to open it and descended down into the massive front gardens. Her feet dug into the mud and grass as she ran for the apparating zones outside of the front gates of the mansion. She heard echoing footsteps close behind her, and voices calling t her to stop. A stunning spell narrowly missed her and she cursed, throwing up a weak shield charm in retaliation. She definitely couldn't stop now, not if they were aiming to stun.
Still letting out a string of curses Lily slipped through the gates just as they were closing and entered the lamp lit street lined with trees. Lily raised her wand in the air, ready to disappear into thin air and that's when she finally realized that the wood shaft was longer than she was used too and the dark grain was polished beautifully. It was too late to apologize, too late to do anything but watch the tree lined street disappear and her familiar townhome took it's place moments later.
Lily stumbled forward in shock, feeling rather sick to her stomach as she grasped the door handle and made it into the house. She was relieved to find Lyra and Petunia hadn't made it back, at the very least. Lily stayed propped against the front door in shock, her entire body shaking as she stared at the wand grasped firmly in her hands.
In the confusion and rush to escape with her masquerade in place, Lily had made one very detrimental mistake. Instead of picking up her wand from the floor of the balcony, Lily had accidentally grabbed James' wand.
"Lily?"
Lily's head shot up and she stuffed the wand behind her back. Sophie had suddenly appeared at the top of the staircase, dressed in one of Lily's old shirts and looking sleepy eyed.
"Sophie?" Lily squeaked, "You're still here?"
Sofie stretched as she nodded, "I need to make sure that dress gets back to the office before Mildra Vane gets there tomorrow morning." she yawned, "So, was it a success? Did you keep James away from Lyra?"
"Yup." Lily managed, "Lyra has no idea."
"Great." Sophie saw Lily face stay frozen and immediately grew suspicious, "Wait a second, why do you look you're about to pass out?" Sophie looked closer, "And why are you barefoot? What did you do with my shoes, Lily Evans?"
"Losing the shoes is the least of our problems." Lily said weakly, "Because by tomorrow morning, I'll likely be thrown in Azkaban."
Next Time:
"Remus is easily persuaded but that's not the point."
Lily winced, "Sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cover it," Sirius snapped, "I need answers. What the Hell is going on?"
Lily pushed back her hair miserably, "I did something stupid."
"Already noted." Sirius rolled his eyes, "But I'm sensing more."
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xoxo
Petals
