Disclaimer: All characters (that you recognise) and settings belong to J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter. Anything you don't recognise belongs to me.
Story title: In the Beginning
Chapter 8: Show time
Lily almost gasp out loud as she entered the great hall with her date, a third year Gryffindor called Stephen Malcolm.
The reason for this was that the hall had been specially decorated in honour of the ball and looked like a wintertime fairyland. Glittering never- melting icicles hung from the ceiling, while the stars on the ceiling shone peacefully, illuminating the students.
In addition to this the hall was alight, from all the coloured dress robes worn by the female students.
As Lily stared around in awe, her date gently took her elbow and led her to one of the many round tables that had replaced the house tables in the hall.
He came to a stop at a table in the centre of the hall, that was filled with Gryffindors that Lily recognised as being in third year.
"Lily, these are David, Louisa, Rebecca, Samuel, Carmella and ..." began Stephen before he broke off with a questioning air.
"Wayne" replied the brown haired boy that Lily didn't recognise, "I'm in Hufflepuff. I'm Carmella's date." He added.
"Right" replied Stephen nodding, "I'm afraid she didn't mention you." He added.
"Yes I did!" interrupted an olive skinned girl with short black hair, "Don't blame me if you didn't listen!" she said angrily.
Stephen chose not to respond and instead pulled out a seat which he motioned for Lily to sit in.
As Lily sat down, the conversation at the table resumed, though Lily felt somewhat out of place at the table with people she'd never spoken to before. In addition to this, the occupants of the table were somewhat tense to each other, and Lily quickly noticed that her date avoided conversation with Carmella and Wayne, though he did spend a majority of the time staring at the former, and glaring at the latter.
'Great' thought Lily with a sigh, as she ate her dinner of roast pork in silence, 'just my luck to choose the guy, whose after another girl.'
By the time dinner was finished, Lily was more than ready to leave the table where tension and silence seemed to be the guests of honour. Unfortunately for Lily this didn't seem to be what her date had planned.
Adriana
'I cannot believe I'm here' thought Adriana bitterly as she sat rigidly in her seat.
How she, Adriana Hathway, had ended up going to the ball with that slimy Lucius Malfoy was as much a mystery to her as it was to her co-Slytherin first years.
He had asked her, two days after the announcement of the ball, and as much as she desired to say no, she knew that she couldn't risk it, especially since she was asked in Riddle's presence.
So, here she was dressed in shimmering red dress robes, seated at a table where the main topic of conversation was their dislike of mudbloods.
'DAMN that Riddle," thought Adriana angrily, "DAMN him to hell". If it hadn't been for him, Adriana would be seated peacefully in her dormitory, minding her own business, rather than pretending to agree with the views of the others at her table.
Remus.
"This collar is too tight," moaned Remus loudly as he pulled at the material that enclosed his neck.
"Don't look to us for sympathy Rem" replied Sirius, who was presently scratching his right arm, "this thing itches like hell."
"Oh do stop complaining you two," interrupted James, "Can you see Lily, I want to see if the dress robes mum chose suits her."
The four boys craned their necks and stood on their tiptoes in an attempt to see past the sea of heads, but all was in vain.
"Aargh. Why is that stupid git in blue so tall, he's blocking me. Exactly how big can someone's head be?" moaned Peter.
"I don't know Peter." Replied Remus with a cheeky grin, "Maybe you should ask Sirius, he's the expert!".
Remus ducked expertly, as Sirius swung his fist at the sandy haired boy. This playful fight would have continued had James not suddenly called out in delight.
"I see her! There at the centre table talking with the third year Gryffindors" he explained, indicating in her direction.
The three other boys however needed few directions, once sent in the right direction, it took little effort to spot Lily, with her luscious red hair and her emerald green dress.
Lily
Lily sat there, idly imagining all the places she could be other than sitting at this infinitely boring table.
Her thoughts were interrupted however when she felt someone tap her shoulder, and glanced up to see Carmella and Wayne leaving the table to dance.
"Would you like to dance Lily?" asked a voice, which she took a moment to recognise as Stephen's.
' Finally!' thought Lily in relief as she accepted his offer. 'Anything to get away from this table and the tension.'
Once they'd reached the dance floor however, Lily quickly realised that this was not to be the case. Clearly Stephen, had only asked her to dance in order to keep an eye on Carmella who was presently dancing very closely with Wayne.
Lily sighed inwardly resigning herself to her fate. Clearly tonight was not meant to be her best ball ever, shame though, considering it was her first ball.
As she danced slowly, Lily allowed her mind to drift off, although she occasionally registered Stephen rotating them, no doubt to ensure Carmella stayed in his line of sight.
James
James smiled as he watched Lily and her date dancing slowly on the dance floor. He only hoped she was having fun, after all he had only come to the ball because of her, as he didn't want her date to mistreat her.
As James stood there staring at Lily, he suddenly realised that Lily and her date seemed a lot more uncomfortable than the other couples on the dance floor, in addition to this Lily looked rather bored, while her date he just looked....
James frowned in annoyance as he realised that Lily's date was staring at another girl across the dance floor.
Forgetting his friends, he quickly manoeuvred his way across the dance floor, until he was standing just behind Lily, facing her date.
"You wouldn't mind if I cut in would you?" he asked loudly, managing to drag Stephen's attention from Carmella across the room.
Lily started as James' voice jerked her away from her thoughts. Without waiting for her date's response, Lily turned to face James a grateful smile gracing her features.
Worried, that her date might object to James' cutting in, especially as it left him partnerless, Lily quickly wrapped her arms around James' neck as he snaked his arms around her waist.
"You looked like you needed some saving" whispered James, a mischievous smile on his face.
Lily returned the smile eagerly before declaring in hushed tones, "OH James, my knight in shining armour, however can I repay your kind deed?"
"Worry not, fair Lady, Sir James expects no repayment but this dance" replied James laughing at her attempt of medieval speech.
The two lapsed into a comfortable silence, as Lily leaned her head against James' chest tiredly.
Both were barely aware of time passing, or even of the music to which they were dancing, and it was only at the end of their fifth dance that the couple separated and decided to get something to drink.
Caty
"Aww look at those two," Caitlin Potter remarked to Cassie, "You just wait they'll become a couple, I guarantee it."
"Don't let James or Lily hear you say that" interrupted a new voice, " They'll have your head for it." Pointed out Sirius
"But, I have to say I agree with you." Remus added thoughtfully.
"NO WAY!" cried Sirius and Peter in unison.
"Lily's just his friend" continued Sirius, "Anyway why would he want to go out with anyone, pranking's so much more fun!" he added causing Caty and Cassie to laugh.
"Oh, just you wait Sirius Black, you'll change your mind in a few years." Argued Cassie despite Sirius' adamant declarations.
"Good evening Miss Potter, Miss Flitwick, Messrs Pettigrew, Lupin and Black." Greeted Professor Cattalica, who was passing with Professor Dumbledore. "If you will excuse my inquiry, but I believe that this was a third year and above ball. Younger students were allowed to come if, and only if, they were invited by an elder student."
Silence followed the potion professor's statement until Cassie finally spoke up.
"Oh but they were Professor. Sirius is here as my date" she lied smoothly, thankful that in fact her actual date was sitting at the table, discussing quiditch tactics.
"I see," replied Cattalica. "and I suppose Miss Flitwick is here with Mr Lupin, so how is it that Mr Pettigrew is also here?"
"But Professor, I invited him also. You mean I'm not allowed two dates?" cried out Cassie feigning surprise.
Professor Cattalica sighed tiredly clearly buying Cassie's response. "How you pass your end of year exams Miss Flitwick is a mystery to me. One may find it hard to believe you are really Professor Flitwick's niece." She added before stalking off through the crowd leaving Professor Dumbledore to follow her.
Dumbledore turned to smile and bid good evening to the five students the fact that his blue eyes twinkled merrily, telling the students that he was well aware of their lies, before hurrying to catch up with the other professor.
No sooner were the two professors out of earshot, that Cassie and the three boys burst out laughing. Sirius, laughing so hard that he leaned on his Peter, who promptly fell over bringing his black haired friend down with him.
The Slytherins
"Look at them, dirty gryffindor scum that they are." Remarked Snape snidely to Lucius Malfoy.
Adriana bristled slightly, how snape had gotten invited to this ball as a 3rd year's date was beyond her, but she wasn't going to let him insult her friends was she...?
Adriana took a quick glance at Riddle's stony face before sighing to herself, well that's the answer to that then.
"Don't you think so Hathway?" asked Matthew Braddock, a 3rd year who was obviously unaware of the underlying tension at the table.
"Err...wat?"
Adriana realised with a start that she had zoned out on the table's conversation, allowing it to flow meaninglessly around her.
"Don't you think we have to teach them a lesson." Repeated Braddock, a nasty sneer on his face, "You know it was them that pulled that prank."
"Ahh but the lovely miss Hathway wasn't here to experience that, fortunately for her she was otherwise occupied" interrupted the head boy, with extra emphasis on the last two words.
Adriana thought fast, to not say anything would cause trouble, to disagree would cause even more trouble, she suddenly realised how trapped she was, she had no choice...
"I think we should get revenge." She announced boldly, clearly surprising both Riddle and her date, Malfoy.
"Why, Adriana, I believe there's hope of turning you into a Slytherin yet." Smiled Riddle sinisterly.
'Please God, if you're up there, please don't make the revenge to terrible, let them forget....' Prayed Adriana desperately.
"In fact I have a plan already."
Adriana winced immediately at Riddle's words, 'what had she done?'
Both Lily and James took one look at their friends, before raising an eyebrow.
"What is going on?" he demanded of Cassie, the only vaguely sane one of the group.
"It's a long story" chuckled Cassie, "speaking of which, I think I better get back to my date, me and Cassie have been gone a long time."
With a smile, and quick wave, Cassie walked away dragging her still laughing friend behind her.
"Nice dancing you guys," complimented Sirius with a wink, once he had sufficiently recovered from his laughter.
"SIRIUS!" cried James indignantly glaring at his best friend, while Lily merely blushed embarrassedly, before sticking her tongue out.
"I hope you're all enjoying yourself." commented a new voice from behind Lily and James.
The group were once again joined by a professor but this time it was Professor Potter, James' mum.
"I've just spoke to Caty and it seems that she's going to Cassie's this summer. Mickey's moving out next weekend so that leaves us with a lot of free rooms. I was wondering if you'd all like to come and stay with us this summer, of course your friend Adriana is invited also."
"Wow, they can ALL come?" Exclaimed James excitedly, "This is gonna be soo koool. We're all going to have so much fun!"
"Hold on there James, your friends' will have to ask their parents I'm sure. Let's just wait and see what happens ok?"
"Oh.. ok Mum" replied James slightly dejectedly.
A loud voice abruptly cut through their conversation "I'm sorry to say that all good things must come to an end" announced the stout form of Professor Dippet, "This will the last dance of the evening."
"You're going to miss out on the last song?" asked Professor Potter with a gentle smile, noticing that none of them had made any move to find a partner.
"Lily, would you like to dance" interrupted a new dance from behind Lily. Lily spun round to discover Stephen, Lily's date for the evening.
"Sorry Malcolm, she just agreed to dance with me." Intejected James, sparing Lily from a dance of torture and tension.
No sooner had the James finished speaking, that slow music began to fill the hall.So,
with a grateful smile at her partner, Lily took James' hand and they joined the other students on the dance floor.
How
do I,
Get through the night without you?
If I had to live
without you,
What kind of life would that be?
Oh, I
I need
you in my arms, need you to hold,
You're my world, my heart, my
soul,
If you ever leave,
baby you would take away everything
good in my life,
and tell me now
How do I live without
you?
I want to know,
How do I breathe without you?
If you
ever go,
How do I ever, ever survive?
How do I, how do I, oh
how do I live?
Without you,
There'd be no sun in my
sky,
There would be no love in my life,
There'd be no world
left for me.
And I,
Baby I don't know what I would do,
I'd
be lost if I lost you,
If you ever leave,
Baby you would take
away everything real in my life
Sorry for the lateness of this chappie, its still not complete but im dividing it in half, or ill never update. The next chapter should be shorter, I kno ive sed that before.. but ye well I tried!
Clearly the song is "How do I live" by Leann Rimes, and I think it's a really beautiful song, one of my faves.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Review!!!
C ya soon
Luv tripletrouble
btw I have started a marauders community. I think u can get there via my bio page. Hopefully there will soon b loadsa fics in it, but I do really need staff for it! so if anyone's interested email me, or say so in a review.
