"I really don't think this shirt is appropriate," Lily complained as Marlene brushed her hair, curling the red tresses around her wand. "It's cold outside!" Lily sat on the edge of Alice's bed in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory, letting Marlene and Alice prep her for the upcoming evening. Her stomach was filled with butterflies, not that she would ever admit that to the girls. She thought she was nervous when James asked her to the Hog's Head to see a potential band for the ball, her stomach fluttering at the thought of spending time out of school with James and breaking school rules, but it was nothing compared to how she felt now. She was nervous, anxious, excited, and she refused to acknowledge or examine those emotions.
Alice rolled her eyes as she surveyed the pile of makeup products on the bed. "You're going to check out a band at Hog's Head with James bloody Potter. You cannot wear a sweater there," she said, exasperated.
"But-"
"Besides," Marlene interrupted. "Maybe with this top, James will finally work up the nerve to ask you to the ball. He's taking his damn sweet time for a boy who chased you for years. There's only three weeks until the ball."
"Marlene!" Lily exclaimed, blushing bright red. She glanced down at the blue top she wore, her hands running across the velvet material. The cap-sleeved top wasn't incredibly revealing, its sweetheart neckline showing off her collarbone and only hinting at her womanly assets. But after weeks of being bundled up in uniforms and jumpers, the clingy top left her feeling somewhat naked. Paired with Marlene's skin-tight jeans and her knee high boots, Lily felt out of her element.
Alice tsked lightly, tilting Lily's face up to her as she dusted it with powder. "Don't bother with Marlene; you know she lives to rile you up."
Marlene shrugged her shoulder as she finished curling Lily's hair, tying it back with a hair tie. "Just a little bit," she admitted. "It's more that I live to see Lily and James get together. You lot are killing me inside honestly."
"We are not getting together," Lily retorted. "We're just mates. I don't understand the obsession you and half the school have with us getting together."
"I'm not saying you have to marry the bloke," Marlene chuckled, handing her a tube of lip-gloss. "But you'd make a nice couple for the ball. And I'm sure he'd be good for a song in a broom closet."
"Marlene!" Lily exclaimed.
"And I know you don't have a date and I know he doesn't have a date even though multiple girls have asked him already," she continued.
"They have?" Lily asked, immediately regretting the interest in her voice as Alice and Marlene grinned triumphantly.
Alice nodded, brushing a light layer of blush across Lily's cheeks. "Oh just a few," she replied, feigning nonchalance. "Samantha in our year-"
"Marissa, the sixth year Ravenclaw," Marlene added.
"I was surprised to hear she asked him; it doesn't seem like her," Alice commented. "Anna from Hufflepuff, the one on the quidditch team."
"I think Cynthia from Hufflepuff asked him too," Marlene added. "Or she's planning to. What about Maria? The sixth year in our house?"
"Oh yes, she asked him too. Cornered him in the owlery a few days ago," Alice laughed, carefully applying eyeliner to Lily's face. "I don't know what she said to him, but according to Sirius, James was red as a tomato."
Lily snorted in disbelief. "Maria's always been too bold," she said tartly. "She got drunk at the last victory party and danced on the table, remember? James would never go for her."
Marlene laughed excitedly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Why Lily Evans, is that jealousy I detect in your voice?" she teased.
"No!" she replied quickly, her cheeks turning red. "Besides, there's nothing for me to be jealous of. I was just making an observation."
Alice sighed dramatically, sitting down next to Lily. "You know you could just ask him to the ball and go as friends, right? That would be alright."
Lily groaned, barely resisting the urge to run her hands through her hair, a habit she picked up from James. "No, I couldn't," she sighed. "Not unless I want to become the gossip of the castle. Lily Evans finally caves to James Potter."
"Oh bugger the school and everyone in it," Marlene said fiercely, her hands resting on her hips. "I swear Lily Evans, if you're keeping yourself from being happy with that bloke just because of what stupid, ignorant people will say, I'll-"
"OY EVANS!" Sirius shouted from the bottom of the staircase. "Hurry up!"
"Count on Sirius Black to ruin a moment," Alice murmured as she stood. "Put on the lip-gloss and let's head down before they try to come up."
Lily nodded in agreement, swiping on the lip-gloss before checking her reflection and grabbing her coat. "Alright," she said, taking a deep breath. "I'm ready."
Marlene took Lily's hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Think about what I said, Lily," she said gently. "We could all use a little more happiness in our lives. Don't keep yourself from it because you're scared. It'll be great."
"Thanks, Mar," Lily replied, smiling. "Come on; James is waiting for me."
James paced near the foot of the staircase to the girls' dormitory, looking up the stairs every few seconds. His palms were sweaty and he had run his fingers through his hair half a dozen times; Sirius threatened to glue his arm to his side with a sticking charm if he touched it again.
"Was that really necessary, Padfoot?" Remus asked, looking up from his book as he lounged on the couch.
"Of course it was," Sirius answered gleefully, plopping into an empty chair. "Prongs is gonna wear a hole in the carpet with all his pacing. I did it for the aesthetic of the common room."
James stopped abruptly at Sirius's words, running his sweaty palms against his jeans. "You, my friend, are a prat," he said without heat. "Aesthetic, my arse."
"And you, Prongs, are a nervous wreck," Sirius chuckled. "Merlin, if this is how you are before a not-date date with Evans, imagine what you'd be like if she had actually agreed to go out with you all those times you asked."
Peter threw an empty chocolate wrapper at the side of Sirius's head. "Don't listen to him, James; it'll be fine," he assured him. "Lily likes you now."
Sirius nodded in agreement, walking over to James. "Honestly mate, don't worry," he said as he draped an arm over James's shoulders. "You and Lily are mates now, really good mates. She'd have to be mad not to fall for you."
James's response died on his lips as he heard footsteps on the stairs. He felt his jaw slacken as he looked up at Lily, barely noticing Marlene and Alice walking behind her. He thought she looked beautiful in everything, but was always awestruck by the sight of her in regular clothes, revealing skin previously hidden by her uniform. Her hair was curled and tied away from her face, her cheeks rosy, and her lips shiny. He swallowed roughly, smiling up at her. He knew he was staring but he couldn't stop himself.
"Alright there, Potter?" Lily asked as she reached the bottom of the steps, a smile tugging at her lips.
James nodded jerkily, his grin widening. "You look great, Lily."
A light blush flitted across Lily's cheeks. "You clean up pretty well yourself," she answered. "Are you ready to go?"
"Absolutely," James replied, offering her his arm. Lily accepted it without hesitation, her gentle smile causing a wave of affection and pride to wash over him. He was going out with Lily Evans alone and she was holding onto his arm; what more could he want. "Mom, Dad, don't wait up for us," he called over his shoulder as they stepped through the portrait hole.
Alice sighed as the portrait swung shut, leaning against the back of the couch. "You think those two will every get together?" she questioned. "They've got something between them."
"Once they both get over themselves," Marlene replied. "Which may take a while. Merlin knows we've been waiting long enough."
Sirius grinned, rubbing his hands together as he turned toward the girls. "Shall we take bets on it?"
"You would place bets on your best mate's and closest female friend's love lives?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He's being driving us mad chasing Lily for years, might as well make a profit off of it," Sirius answered easily.
Remus shrugged, "A galleon that Lily asks him to the ball within the next week."
Peter shook his head in disagreement. "A galleon that James tries to ask her out tonight."
"A galleon that James asks her out within the next week," Marlene added. "Those two are ridiculous."
"What about you, Alice?" Sirius questioned. "What do you think about our love birds?"
"I think they'll take until the night of the ball to get together," Alice sighed. "Bet a galleon."
Sirius groaned loudly, flopping back onto the couch. "Don't say that."
Marlene snorted, "It would happen. Pair of idiots, they are."
"Here's hoping for the best then," Remus murmured.
"I still can't believe your dad gave you an invisibility cloak," Lily laughed as they entered the Heads' dormitory. They made it out of the castle easily, thanks to James's invisibility cloak and his vast knowledge of the castle's secret passageways. Conversation flowed easily between them as they walked arm in arm through the village, making it to the Hog's Head in time for the band to start. She was thrilled the band was actually good- she didn't know what they'd do if they weren't- and with a little charming from herself and James, convinced the band to play at the ball.
"Dad probably knew I'd be a handful at school," James said nonchalantly. "He figured it'd be best if Mum wasn't getting an owl every day from school."
Lily rolled her eyes playfully, pulling off the glove she wore. "Thanks for lending me one of your gloves," she chuckled, handing it back to him.
"Couldn't let one hand freeze while I held the other," James teased lightly. "Have to let our first hand-holding experience be a good one."
"Oh it was," she replied, shaking her head in amusement, before turning to go up the stairs to her room. "I'm off to bed, James."
"Hey Lil?" James called as she reached the bottom step. He ran his hand though his hair, giving her a nervous grin as she turned toward him.
"Yeah James?" she answered.
James took a deep breath before shaking his head. "Nothing, never mind. Good night, Lily."
"Good night, James," Lily murmured, hesitating for a second before pressing her lips lightly against his. James's eyes widening in surprise, barely having enough time to reciprocate the kiss before Lily hurried up the stairs to her room.
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