A/N: A warm thank you for all of last chapter's reviewers: All Things Magickal, Lenners, emandem, belly84, and the potter family!

Lenners, thank you so so much for all of your grammar help! I hope my writing is slowly improving.

Disclaimer: Only the plot and Greg Jackson are mine. Everything else is Rowling's, m'dears.

The next morning at breakfast, the Marauders sat with Mary, Marlene, Alice, and me. Remus, I noted, shyly took a seat beside Mary, and she blushed. Sirius, who sat next to Marlene, put his arm around her shoulders. She did not blush, because Marlene McKinnon had been involved with many, many boys and did not blush for just anyone.

"So," Alice commented, "now that most of us are paired off, what you are planning on doing, Lily?"

"Why, I'm going to date Peter, of course!" I said, throwing my arms around the small, mousy boy that was sitting next to me. He blushed almost as much as Mary did with Remus.

"Ouch, Evans, that stings," James said, who was on the other side of me.

I grinned. "So, what classes have you all got first?"

As it turned out, I had Charms first period with everyone. Next was Transfiguration, which everyone except Mary was in. She had Ancient Runes.

Potions narrowed it down even further, with Alice, James, Remus, and me.

After Potions we had a free period, then lunch. After lunch was Care of Magical Creatures, which Marlene, Sirius, James and I had continued with this year.

After Care of Magical Creatures, Remus, James, and I had Herbology, and then Remus and I had Arithmancy, which was our last class of the day.

I had chosen to drop History of Magic this year, partly due to the fact that I had already read the entire textbook.

I poked Alice on the arm. "Since you're done eating as well, do you want to head over to Charms?"

She stood, and we walked towards the Charms classroom, chatting about the things we planned to do this year.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

By the time I reached the Heads' dormitory that evening, I was exhausted. Our classes were more demanding than ever before.

Collapsing on a couch in the common room, I set my bag down, yawned, and told myself that I would just rest my eyes for a few minutes before dinner…

"Lily, wake up," a voice said while someone gently shook my shoulder.

"Nngghh," I groaned and rolled back into my pillow.

"Lily, wake up! Flitwick is giving out extra credit assignments as we speak!" the voice said.

I shot up off the couch. "Where? Why didn't he mention it in class? Oh, I'm going to be so late!" I exclaimed, grabbing my bag.

James stood in front of me. "Lily, I wasn't serious. I was just trying to get you up," he confessed.

I shot him a look and smoothed my tangled hair. "Git," I mumbled.

"Well, it worked, didn't it?" he reasoned.

I ignored him. Oh, how I hated it when he was right.

"Do you want to head down to dinner?" James asked hesitantly.

"Sure," I said.

As we walked down to the Great Hall, he asked if I was actually mad at him.

"No, I guess not," I admitted.

"Good. I hate it when you're mad at me," he said.

I sighed. "James, I was constantly mad at you for the better part of six years."

He nodded sheepishly. "I know, but it still bothered me all the same."

Not knowing what to say, we were silent as we entered the Great Hall and sat down at our usual spot on the long Gryffindor table.

I decided to ask him about Ashley as we waited to be joined by the others. "So, have you seen Ashley since—er, yesterday?

He grinned. "No, but we have a little something planned for her and Ethan West," he told me. I assumed Ethan West was the Hufflepuff we had found her snogging.

"Do I even want to know?" I asked, doing a very bad job of hiding my smile.

"Probably not," he replied, matching my grin. "Just make sure you're in the Gryffindor common room tomorrow night, if you want to see it."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The next day, classes were just as grueling, but I was looking forward to seeing the Marauders' prank. I made sure I was in the Gryffindor common room after Arithmancy ended, and worked on the three essays I'd been assigned that day.

Waiting for some big fiasco to take place, I looked around. I saw people studying, playing Wizards' Chess, and Ashley Kanto and Ethan West snogging each other senseless. Nothing was really out of the norm.

"Hey, Evans," a voice whispered beside me. I jumped and looked around, but no one was there.

"It's me, James. I'm under my invisibility cloak," he whispered.

I gasped. This explains so much. "What are you doing under there?" I asked him.

"You'll see," he said, and I could picture the smirk on his face.

Hearing him mutter an incantation, I looked expectantly at Ashley; however, nothing happened.

James hid behind the couch and pulled the cloak off, smirking just as I had suspected.

"Just watch," he said.

"Oi! West, I've got to talk to you about something!" Sirius shouted from across the room.

Ethan pulled away from Ashley. Or rather, he tried to pull away from Ashley.

"Sticking Charm?" I asked, bursting out in laughter.

He tried to control his own guffaws long enough to nod his head.

"Nnnghhh!" Ashley shrieked, realizing that they were stuck.

"Don't worry, Ash! I've got you!" her equally blonde and equally dumb friend, Genevieve, said to her. Genevieve pulled out her wand and tried to perform the counter-jinx, but instead of unsticking them, there was a bang!

After the blue fog had cleared, there were red letters floating above their heads: Cheating slag was above Ashley, with an arrow pointing to her head. Whipped and desperate was above Ethan's head, also pointing to him.

At that point, I couldn't control myself anymore. Tears streamed out of my eyes, and I clutched my stomach, trying to get a hold on myself.

"Lily, insist on taking them to the hospital wing to be separated," he whispered to me. "They'll have to obey a Head, and I obviously can't do it."

Me, partake in a Marauder prank? Normally I wouldn't, but I was finding this hilarious. "Oh, all right," I said, standing up.

"Ashley and Ethan, I insist that I escort you to the hospital wing so that you may be…separated."

Neither of them could protest, although they tried to. I grabbed Ashley's hand and led them out of the Common Room, walking behind them as they shuffled along slowly.

"Madame Pomfrey?" I called as we entered the Infirmary. "I have two students here that need to be seen."

Madame Pomfrey bustled out of her office, "What do you—oh dear!" she exclaimed as she say Ashley and Ethan. "What happened?"

"A most peculiar occurrence," I said solemnly, "they became stuck suddenly while, er, engaging their mouths, and when someone tried to separate them, the words appeared above their heads."

"I see," she said, and then winked at me. "You are free to go, Ms. Evans. Thank you."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The days quickly turned into weeks, and before I knew it, October was only a few days away.

One night while studying in my dormitory, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it and saw James.

"Dumbledore wants to see us in his study," he told me, and we set off to meet him.

"What do you think he wants us for?" I asked nervously. "We haven't been doing anything wrong, have we?"

He frowned slightly. "I don't think so," he trailed off. When we reached Dumbledore's study, James looked at the gargoyle sitting outside and said, "Caldron cakes."

The gargoyle leapt aside and allowed us to gain access inside.

"Ah yes, Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans, do come in," said Dumbledore from behind his desk. "You are probably wondering why I have called you here. No need to worry, you've done nothing wrong."

I shifted on my feet.

He continued, "I would like to have a formal Halloween dance, to change things up and differ from tradition a bit."

James and I both nodded, not understanding why we'd been called.

"And I would like you two, with the help of the prefects and some of the staff, to organize it," he finished.

"Sir, are there any guidelines you would like us to go by?" I asked him.

"No, no, that won't be necessary. I trust both of your judgment to plan a grand event. Now, I think I might go to the kitchens in favor of some warm cider…" he wandered off.

James grinned at me, his hands in his pockets. "He's nuts, that one," he said fondly.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Dumbledore made an announcement about the dance at dinner two days after James and I had been called to see him. After two weeks of careful planning, the dance was in order. Now all we had to do was see that all of the plans were properly carried out.

"Hey, Lily?" James asked me one night while we were sitting in our common room.

I looked up from my copy of Standard Book of Spells, Grade Seven. "Yes?"

"I was thinking…since neither of us have dates, do you want to go to the Halloween dance together?" he said.

I cleared my throat. "How do you know I don't have a date?"

He shrugged. "Well, I just thought…"

"Don't assume you know everything about me. And don't just invite me as a last resort, either. I already have a date," I snapped at him.

"Who are you going with, then?" he asked me.

"None of your business," I scowled, slamming my book shut. "I'm going to bed."

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

"James Potter asked you to the dance, and you said no?" Mary exclaimed at lunch two days after.

"Of course I did. I'm already going with Greg Jackson, remember?" I reminded her.

Greg Jackson was a Ravenclaw chaser in our year. In fourth year, Marlene had a crush on him for a few months.

"Right, you did mention that," said Alice.

I looked at them. "Who are you all going with?" I asked.

"Frank," Alice answered quickly.

Mary looked at her lap. "Well, Remus hasn't asked me. Yet."

Marlene said airily, "I'm keeping my options open for now." I laughed.

"Are we allowed to go without dates?" Mary asked me nervously. "If Remus doesn't ask me, I don't want to go with anyone else."

I nodded. "Dates are not required, merely suggested."

"Good," was all she said in response. "Now, Hogsmeade is two days from now. We should go to Gladrags and find dresses, and let's get there early, before any of the other girls."

We all nodded in agreement.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Between classes and Head duties, I was very busy, and therefore was surprised when I realized the dance was the next day.

At dinner that night James whispered in my ear, "Would it bother you if I brought a date?"

Surprised, I said, "Why should it?"

"Don't evade the question, Lily," he said.

I shrugged. "I dunno. Whatever you want, I guess."

He stood to go back upstairs. "Well, it's settled then."

Curious, I asked, "Why? Who are you bringing?"

James smirked at me. "I'll be sure to save you a dance."

A/N: Don't they remind you a little of Hermione and Ron about the Yule Ball? So sweet.

PS- Tomorrow (or today, rather) is my birthday! It would make it extra special if I got ten reviews for this chapter!

PPS- I figured out the horizontal ruler thingy, yay! (don't judge.) Should I keep using my "/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\"s and use it to signal A/Ns, or use it in place of the "/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\"s? Decisions, decisions.

PPPS- I finally saw Deathly Hallows Part Two- I cried. I cried more than Fawkes did with Harry in the Chamber of Secrets, that's how much I cried.

Oh, well, enough with my sob story. (Pun!)

Mourning over the bittersweet moment,

sevendeadlyquinns