I felt like I should separate this section into two chapters. Adding this on felt weird after what just happened. I have pictures coming up soon for those who like that kinda stuff. 10 points to those who know where "the room" is from. I actually don't expect anyone to. Unless you know the rooms in the Whitehouse. OOPS!

"Now Marguerite I want it curly and pinned back out of her face. With these pins tucked in. Oui?"

"Oui madame. Je suis très heureux être de marche avec toi encore. "

"Et toi Marguerite. Have fun Lily dear!"

"So, you're going to a ball with Madame Potter?"
"Yes Madame…?"
"Please, call moi Marguerite."

"Then yes Marguerite."

"Fabuleuse Mademoiselle."

Lily leant back and reviewed what she had learned over the past few weeks. The dancing had not been as wretchedly horrible as she thought it would be. James had been right about the instructor however. Arnold Cockeney was the most arrogant, conceited, self-centered git to ever walk on the planet. He was a brilliant dancer, but he just made to many moves. (Sorry, sorry!)

"There we are Mademoiselle Lys. Madame Potter should be here soon. You may wait in the lobby for her."

"Thank you Marguerite." Lily replied getting up out of the chair stiffly.

"Aren't you going to look, Mademoiselle?"

"There wasn't much to work with in the first place Marguerite. I'm sure you did your best," Lily reasoned.

"Mademoiselle Lys! You must nevar sat zhat again! Though your beauty is not like zhat of zhose around you, you are a beautiful Papillion in your own way."

Lily gave the kind French woman a big smile. "Thank you Marguerite, for everything."

"Well, if you are not going to for you, look for moi," the kind lady reasoned.

Lily gave a good natured eye roll and turned to look in the mirror. What she saw surprised her slightly but made her realize the long wait had paid off. Her hair was style was more Grecian then anything else, with soft curls pulled up into a large bun at the back of her head and loose strands falling down gracefully. Yes, she could get used to it. Eventually. But for now her it felt like a strange weight had been taken off her neck and put onto her head. Strange, but not received badly.

"Thank you so much Marguerite!" Lily said turning around and giving the petite French woman a big hug.

"Vell, I couldn't have you giving moi a bad name. No go and vin them all over!"

"Lily! Lily dear, we have to go now!"

Lily heaved a good natured smile before walking out to meet Geraldine.

"Yes, oh yes indeed Lily dear, but that walk! Shoulders back and down, no hunchbacks here. Good, good, now on to the beauty parlor."

"What?" Lily asked, confused and dazed.

"Make up and the like dear, can't forget that!

Lily gave a little sound of discontentment and her shoulders fell.

"Shoulders!"


"Miss, please stop blinking, it's making it terribly difficult to apply your eyeliner."

"I'm sorry, bit I'm not used to someone doing my make-up. I'm not really used to make-up at all," Lily apologized for the umpteenth time.

"What do you mean by that?" the young woman asked, working quickly while Lily was distracted.

"I normally don't wear much make-up. Concealer and a tiny bit of mascara mainly. I can't remember the last time I wore eyeliner."

"I can't remember the day I didn't."

"I'm not your typical teenage girl."

"That much I gathered miss."

Lily chuckled. This girl was the closest thing she'd had as female friend in a while.

"Close your eyes for a tick?" the girl asked. As Lily complied, the girl asked, "What year are you in Hogwarts?"

"Seventh, then it's off into freedom."

The girl gave a light chuckle. "Same year as my cousin Remus then, do you know him?"

Lily raised her eyebrows. "He's an acquaintance," she answered, trying to keep her voice light.

"Oh Merlin, what has the boy done now with those friends of his?"

"Not anything too out of control."

"Well if they get out of hand tell Remus that Sasha will come beat his backside with his broom."

"Thanks," Lily said, laughing.

"Anytime miss," Sasha answered.

"Except now that you've given me the downfall to Remus you can't call me miss anymore. You have to call me Lily."

"As long as my boss doesn't catch me, then okay Lily. Now just part those lips slightly, and," she said drawing out the and as she swiped the lipstick on, "done!"

"Sweet, because I think I've officially lost feeling in my butt," Lily commented wryly. Sasha laughed and pushed Lily towards the mirror.

"Well wake it up by walking over to that mirror and telling me what a fabulous job I did."

Lily grinned broadly and stepped up to the mirror. Gone was the scholarship student Lily Evans, hair messy in a low ponytail or braid, with pasty looking skin. Staring at her was a rich looking, elegant young woman who looked like she could belong among the wizarding worlds finest.

"Holy guacamole. Is that me?"

"This is the inner Lily, the hidden sexy goddess that only runs ramped when bad boys anger her." Sasha commented lightly, cleaning up her work area. Lily blushed bright red and ducked her head.

"Lily? Are you done? Oh my, if only you were born into a pureblood family, you would have been a wizarding model! Well, it's their fault they don't accept muggleborns. Let's head back to the house now. Thanks Sasha, I'll make sure to say hello to Remus for you."

"Please do Geraldine and tell him I still will do it if doesn't behave, even if he's a seventh year."

"I will," Mrs. Potter chuckled gaily. "Come Lily."

And uttering a spell under her breath she and Lily were whisked away.


"Now, we have half an hour to get you dressed and reviewed for tonight. You may want to try to take a light nap as well, these events can drag on."

Lily opened her eyes. There they were outside what seemed to be the Potter house. Scratch that, mansion.

"Now come along dearie."

"But, Mrs. Potter, how could we just apparate in here. You must have some sort of spell that keeps people from doing that? How come nobodies thundering down the staircase,"
"Come now Lily. I know you're a smart girl. There are ways of being able to apparate somewhere with anti-apparation charms. It's not very well known, but it is out there."

"Oh," was all Lily could say, a blush blooming on her cheeks.

"That's quite all right dearie, shows that you have a head on your shoulders. Now come along," Geraldine said cheerfully.

Lily gave her a quick smile, hustling up the stairs behind her. "Smart Lily, real smart, she's just being nice. Way to be an idiot, idiot."

"In here dearie," Geraldine called, lightly pushing Lily into a room. Lily looked around when she first stepped in, awed buy what was around her.

Sure, the room was pretty much all pink, but with the balance of other colors was quite pretty. It had a large four poster bed, ladylike couches that looked like they were from a different era, a desk/cabinet with china in it, and was topped off with a chandelier, all in various shades of brown, cream, pink, and green.

"It's lovely Geraldine," Lily said softly. Geraldine gave her a warm smile.

"It was the room I stayed in the week before my wedding. Loved it then and still love it now. But enough with old memories now, we have to get you dressed."

Lily nodded and couldn't smother the flutter she felt when Geraldine pulled her dress out of the closet.

"For Christ's sake Lily, you're not a little girl playing dress up. Get a grip!"
"I must say, this was a rather good find, and bargain priced! I don't know who else could wear it, especially with that color of green. Now just one minute," Geraldine stopped, rifling through a bag attached to the hanger. "Ah-ha! There you are you pesky thing!"

Geraldine pulled something out of the bag and tossed it to Lily. As Lily caught it she noticed it was a strapless bra, more elaborate then any others she owned. She gulped, staring at it in all its black, lacy, brilliance.

"Well, put it on in the bathroom dearie. And to adjust the size, they've fixed it so al you have to say is 'Reparo' and it fits!"

"Sounds great…" Lily trailed off stumbling into the bathroom.

Once in there she took a good look at herself. Gone was Lily Evans, Shy, reserved, know-it-all. In her place was some sort of Greek Goddess. She realized after wearing all this make-up she would not be able to go back to go back to no make-up, and would have to stop at the pharmacy and grab some things. Shaking herself out of making plans, she tugged off her coat, shirt and regular bra. Strapping herself into the other one she aimed her wand at the band and muttered "Reparo" before pulling her arm reluctantly away from her chest.

"Lily? If you're done there's a robe on the back of the door you can borrow to come out!"

Geraldine's voice snapped her back to reality. "Be right out!" she called back.

Giving herself one last look, she threw on the robe and walked out of the bathroom.

"There you are! Turns out we don't have as much time as I would like, but just enough. Come dear, get into your dress."

Lily couldn't help but let herself smile a little bit. The dress was quite good. A dark green, almost like a leaf green in color. At the 'v' in the neck was a flash of a lighter green. A broad black sash went around the empire waist and from it fell a sheer black skirt like covering.

"Normally I wouldn't like this color Lily but I must admit right now it looks quite fetching. Come look in the mirror," Geraldine coaxed, pulling Lily over to the full length mirror in the corner of the room. Lily peeked in cautiously. She looked like one of the girl in the murals of ancient Greek or Roman walls.

"Mrs. Potter? The Gentlemen are all ready downstairs," a female voice called through the door.

"Thank you Isabelle. Tell them we'll be down in a minute."

"Now dear, what topics do we steer clear of?"

"The mysterious disappearings, economy, and petty gossip."

"How many counts does the waltz have?"

"Three."

"Who is sitting on the left of you at dinner?"

"James."

"And the right?"

"Penelope Bertrold?"

"No, she's sitting across from you."

"Cordelia Atwood?"

"Yes. Well let's head down."

"Um, don't I need shoes?"

"Oh, dear! What can I say? Age is stacking up against me."

Taking them from the closet, Lily slid them on. Nodding to Geraldine, she began following her down the hallway. When they neared the top of the stairs, Geraldine stopped.

"Now I'm going to go down, and when I call you come down. I want the full effect for James."

Lily gave her a nervous look. "To do list Lily. One: Smile at top of stairs and not grimace in doing so. Two: DO NOT trip going down the stairs. Three: DO NOT embarrass yourself!"

"You look lovely dear." Lily heard a deep voice say. That must be the father, Harold Potter.

"Thank you dear. James you look very handsome!"

'Thank you mother. You seem to be missing someone. I think her name is Lily?"

"Be patient James. Sirius, your bow tie is crooked," Geraldine chided.

"I think it adds character."

"Just fix it Sirius. Now, Lily! Come down now dear!"

Lily gulped, straightened her shoulders and stepped to the top of the stairs. Looking down she saw Geraldine, a man who she suspected was Mr. Potter, Sirius, and James. James was giving her a strange look. She began her descent down going slowly as not to trip. The only sounds she could hear were her heels on the carpeted stairway and her own breathing. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she stopped, unsure of what to do next.

Sirius looked at James, who still had that facial expression on. Rolling his eyes, he took his size ten and a half, newly shined shoe and delivered a well placed kick to James' shin.

"What the," James started but noticing the glare from his mother quickly changed his words. "Where has Lily gone and who is this person that's standing here?"

"James!" Geraldine cried out admonishingly.

"What I meant is, you look so different from the Lily I see everyday, and the Lily I know doesn't like dressing up like this."

"A girl can keep her secrets," Lily replied lightly, shrugging her shoulders.

James smirked and walked forward, proffering his arm to Lily whispered, "How do you get my mother to love you so much?"

"Have you ever heard the rhyme 'Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice'?"

"Well, then what are little boys made up of?"

"'Boys are made of snakes snails and puppy dog tails'. Do you catch my drift?"

"Yes. When I grow a tail and begin living in a shell you can go bake yourself in an oven and be served for tea."

"You're maniacal."

"Comes with the name."

"What, Sir Pompous Idiot of the Idiots of wherever we are?"

"We are in the country side, with the closest city being London."

"Ah, I see Mr. Pompous Idiot of the Idiots of 'the closest city being London'. I am Lily of the Evans of,"

"Suburbia?"

"I'm surprised you even know the word Mr. Pompous. It is quite the muggle term."

"You'd be surprised at what I know," James said wryly, a smile on his face.

"Mr. Pompous! Such a scandalous comment! How ever shall I not faint at your forwardness."

"If you do, I will catch you."

"I very much doubt that."

"You doubt me a lot Miss Evans, something very foolhardy in my personal opinion."

"When have you given me reason to not doubt you?"

"Ouch, the pain your arrow has caused me. Really Miss Evans, I may need a kiss to make it better."

"Or a good whack in certain place we shall not mention in conversation that your parents could overhear."

"Oh, my mother isn't straining to hear our sweet nothings. Trust me; she has other things to think about. Now about that kiss…"

"No, no, and no again. Not in front of your paren-omf!"

Lily's protests were cut short by James lips crashing onto hers. For a moment, a few seconds only, Lily let herself kiss James back. Just for a few seconds her girlish fantasy could run off wild. But a few moments later found Lily smacking James in the chest, and ripping her lips off hers. To her embarrassment, they made the suction noise she so detested hearing. She turned to see Mr. and Mrs. Potter staring at them, eyebrows raised. Lily turned beet red and turned back to James.

"Jamesie you know how I feel about public displays of affection. It's my night to remember. Try not to make me regret it," Lily ended with and "affectionate" hand squeeze.

"I'm sorry Lily, but you just look so ravishing that I couldn't resist. You'll have to blame my mother for that," he replied, returning the "affectionate" hand squeeze.

"Oh will you two lovebirds quit it already? I'm gagging in my mouth. Annnnd," Sirius cut in, dragging out the 'n' ever so annoyingly, "we're going to be late."

"Quite right Sirius. Seeing as Geraldine insisted on taking the car. Now come along!" Mr. Potter said in an almost bored tone.

Lily stared down as she walked thinking over the blur of the last few weeks. They were almost to the end of the walk when Geraldine cried out, "I forgot my purse! Just wait here while I run in and get it," and rushed back inside. Everyone stood awkwardly for a moment before Mr. Potter spoke, "So what do your parents do Lily?"

Lily looked up, startles that he would be asking her a question. "My father's a banker and my mother works as a librarian."

"Hm, your father works at Gringotts?"

"No, he works for Intelligent Finance."

"A muggle bank?"

"Yes sir."

"And your mother perhaps the library at the ministry?"

"No sir, She works in the public library in my town."

"Oh, how interesting," Mr. Potter said disinterestedly.

"Lily hopes to be a medi-witch though, or perhaps an auror," James cut in. Lily looked at him in -what she hoped was- hidden astonishment. She was almost completely positive she had not told anyone, other then Jess, that she was planning that. She actually was completely positive.

"James, how did you find that out?"

"Looking at you schedule, it's easy enough to find those things out from that."

"That's slightly creepy."

"What? You can do it to anyone's schedule!"

"True, but the fact that you took the time to do it? Creepy." Lily told him straightforwardly. She ignored Mr. Potter's stare at their conversation. Well, not all relationships are 'honey-bunny' Mister!"

"I'm back! Let's go!" Geraldine said walking down the path determinedly.

"Finally," Sirius muttered. Geraldine heard and slapped him across the arm with her purse. He whined and gave her a hurt look.

"Oh stop being such a baby, I wouldn't be able to hurt a fly let alone you."

Lily grinned widely and stepped into the car waiting for them. The night had started off with only a few mishaps but other then that, it was going splendidly.

Oh how wrong she was.

Okay, I have had little to no motivation to write recently and I have figured out why. I had almost no reviews last time! PLEASE review. It does help! Here's and excerpt from the next chapter:

"Who else knew you were going to be here Lily?"

"No one."

"Are you sure? There was no way he could have found out?"

"No. I know the other person." Lily answered looking at James with wide eyes.

"Who?!" he asked quickly.

"…"

More next time!! Review!