It has been way too long, and I am sorry. Thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed despite my absence. I promise I have not stopped writing this story and as always I would love to hear your feedback. Here we go with another chapter…

I felt like death. Leaning against the bath to hold myself up I glanced at Lily who was still leaning over the toilet, her face deathly pale. Looking down I realised I was still wearing the same clothes I had worn the night before. Everything was in such a mess.

"I am never drinking fire whisky again," Lily groaned as she brushed her hair away from her face in annoyance. Pulling myself up I scrunched my nose up at the foul smell in the bathroom. We stunk.

"Agreed," I croaked as I gripped onto the edge of the sink to stay standing. My eyes widened as I caught sight of myself in the mirror. My blonde hair was sticking up in hundred of different directions and smelled suspiciously like vomit. Dark circles were prominent beneath my blood shot eyes and my face almost seemed to lack colour. I looked sick.

"What the hell did I do?" Lily whispered as she pressed her eyes shut. I winced as I remembered James's anger as I threw up all over his shoes and Issac's knowing smile as I had spilled all my worries to him. It had been a hell of a night.

"LILY POTTER."

We both flinched as we heard the sound of thunderous footstep coming up the stairs. A horrible feeling wormed itself into my stomach as I spotted Mr and Mrs Potter through the open door, James was close on their heels. Of course he was smirking, I narrowed my eyes as I realised the stupid drink had absolutely no effect on him. Figures.

"Mum. Dad," Lily said weakly as they pushed the door open with a grimace. James wafted his hand in front of his face as he peered inside, his eyes seemed to narrow as they landed on me. Sinking back down to the floor I curled myself into the smallest ball possible. They had let me stay in their home and I had royally screwed up.

"What the hell has gotten into you?" Ginny's eyes flickered between the two of us as Mr Potter continued to frown, "Drinking enough to make yourself sick is just unacceptable."

"Drinking at all at their age is unacceptable," My Potter said with a glance at his wife. I held back a grin as I saw her smile sheepishly at the floor.

"You are both grounded for the remainder of the holidays," Mrs Potter's voice was firm as Lily cowered away from her serious stare, "Well, after tonight's party that is."

"Idiots," James hissed under his breath as he went to leave the scene.

"Hold up. I have a feeling you had a part in this too," Mr Potter smirked in James direction, "I cant exactly ground you but I'm sure I'll think up some sort of punishment."

"I should just move out like Albus did," James muttered under his breath as he turned and stomped away from the scene. I couldn't help but smile weakly at his childish antics. He was continuously surprising me and I was never sure how he was going to react to anything, it made me wary.

"You have just under two hours to get ready," glancing up I noticed Mrs Potter's hair was already a lot tamer than it normally was, "And then you will help set up. I expect you both to be on your best behaviour tonight. Understood?"

"Mum," Lily whined as I nodded, "I don't even think I want to go to the stupid party."

"Are you feeling alright Lils?" James shouted from the end of the hallway. I was almost certain that I could detect genuine concern beneath his sarcasm.

"I'm just not in the party mood," she whispered. A sharp pain stabbed me in the stomach as I remembered her vulnerability from the night before after she had dumped Ralph. He was going to be there. Lily was so more complex than I had ever realised, I was a terrible friend.

"You'll be fine," I whispered. Her eyes were wide as she turned to look at me and I could see the tears shining in them. Grabbing her hand in mine as I had done all those years ago at the sorting ceremony, I squeezed it reassuringly. James caught my eye from the end of the hallway, his stormy eyes left me momentarily breathless.

"I'm sorry Lily but I don't think your Grandmother would be very happy if you just skipped one of her parties. Besides it's Christmas Eve, enjoy yourself." Mrs Potter's voice was soft as she gazed down at Lily and I could see the worry in her eyes. I glanced up as they turned to walk away.

"Mrs Potter," I croaked, "I am so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

"It's fine Nattalie," Mr Potter smiled softly, "Just don't do it again, okay?" It constantly amazed me that the Potters could be so kind when they were obviously still angry. Back at the Malfoy Manor I would have most likely been locked in my room for coming home drunk and embarrassing the family. My mouth suddenly went dry as I realised they could find out, why had I been so stupid, in the Leaky Cauldron of all places.

"I suppose we better get ready," Lily's voice was almost emotionless as she stood up and held her hand out to me. Both of us let out a burst of laughter as we stood side by side in front of the mirror.

"We are pathetic," I smiled as Lily reached up frantically in an attempt to flatten her hair. All I wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep for hours. The Potters hectic lifestyle was draining me.

"I cant argue with that. If any of last nights antics gets in the Prophet my father is going to kill me," she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye as if deciding whether to ask me something, "W-was it Teddy that brought me home last night?"

I watched as my reflection frowned back at me. Lily's face seemed to pale a little as she reached up to run a hand through her tangled hair.

"Yeah," I told her, watching as she grew even paler.

"Crap," Lily murmured as she caught sight of the clock out in the hallway, "We do not have nearly enough time to get ready. Come on."

Her abrupt personality changes was giving my whiplash.

"You look beautiful."

Scoffing I turned to look at Lily as she appraised her work of art, or in other words, me. I felt awkward and exposed, not beautiful. I was pretty sure the word beautiful was never used in the Malfoy household, ever.

"You are just missing one thing."

Startled I turned to look in the mirror as Lily came up behind me. My blue dress, so similar to the blue colour of my house made me smile. I thought of my brother's green coloured room at home and the sneak peek I had of James's red room. Never had I purposely bought something that reminded me of my house, that reminded me that I belonged somewhere. It was strangely comforting.

My breath caught as Lily pinned a broach to the front of my dress, it was in the shape of the Ravenclaw eagle. it's bronze colour seemed to glow in the sunlight coming in through Lily's bedroom window.

"Lils," I whispered, "Where did you get this?"

"It was part of your Christmas present," she shrugged as she glanced at her own short, black dress, "but I saw you in that dress and just knew you had to wear it with it."

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice catching on the word, "for the broach. Thank you for letting me come here this Christmas and for standing up for me and-"

"Hey," Lily's hand was soft on my arm as she turned to face me, "Don't get all sappy on me Malfoy. This is what best friends do. Now don't make me cry, I just spent ages doing both of our make up."

We both burst out laughing as we glanced at out tearful eyes in the mirror. Sometimes we were so stupid.

"Now," she continued, "Let's find you some heels."

"No," I held my hands up as I backed away from her towards the door, "No way am I wearing those death traps."

"Oh come on," she smirked as she advanced towards me, "Only a teensy little heel?"

Letting out a scream I swirled around and ran out of the room and down the hallway. I heard Lily let out another round of laughter behind me. I groaned as I banged into someone. A hard somebody.

"Do you ever watch where you are going?" James growled in my ear. Stepping backwards I felt slightly dizzy as James's eyes swept over my dress. I felt like I was on fire as his eyes continued to drink in my appearance.

"James?" I whispered as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His hand stopped in mid air as if he suddenly realised who I was. My heart sunk.

"I uhm..you look- Mum said," he scratched at the back of his head as he searched for words, "We have to go now."

I watched in silence as he turned his back on me and walked away. Lily appeared beside me gasping for breath as she dangled a pair of heels in front of me.

"What was that about?" she gasped clutching at her side.

"I don't know," I whispered, "I don't know."

But I was pretty sure that I had just rendered James Potter speechless.

Thoughts?

Sorry it's a little short, I promise the chapter about the party will be longer.