Such Sweethearts

By Lily Orange

Summary: How did James Potter and Lily Evans fall in love? And how did their friends fare romantically? Will Sirius "I have rampant hormones" Black ever settle down? Will Lizzie and a certain Marauder ever admit their feelings for one another? And will Rebecca "Sexy French Girl" Villade ever find true love?

Disclaimer: Sadly I'm not JK Rowling and don't own any of the characters, locations or general things you recognise from Harry Potter.

A/N: Here is the chapter of what goes on at the Masquerade Ball! Thank you to wannabe witch11, bluesmidge101, Alana and Litira for reviewing, thank you to BubbleLove1234 for adding this story to alert and thank you to BubbleLove1234 and Lilith Volturi for adding this as a favourite story, it means a lot to me :) And, to answer bluesmidge101's question, Rebecca Villade will be making an appearance quite soon, but don't worry, she's not just a random girl in my summary! Thank you so much, please enjoy this and review!


Chapter Eleven

POLYJUICE POTION

Friday the twenty-third of April was a day of much excitement and gossiping. We got on rather well with the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff girls, and most of us began to chat by the lake at lunchtime about who we had as our partner for the ball. Rhiannon was very happy to find out that Verity Oldham had to go with Lucius Malfoy.

I felt sorry for her – Lucius Malfoy was not a boy I would want to spend more than a minute in the company of, and that would be as long as he kept his mouth closed.

"Who did you get, Alice?" Eden asked to our friend Alice Little.

"Frank," she smiled. Alice Little and Frank Longbottom made the perfect couple – they were both sweet, kind and caring and cute. I knew how much Alice liked him – obviously she, like Rhiannon, was using this as a way of impressing him.

"I got Peter Pettigrew," Martina Ellis said, completely unimpressed with this fact.

"He's not so bad," I said soothingly.

"He is!" Martina retorted, but then she laughed. "Who are you taking Lily?"

"Sirius," I replied emotionlessly.

"Oh, Sirius is very good looking and charming, of course, but I would have thought that James would make a better date for you," Martina remarked.

"Well, I couldn't exactly see through the paper, could I, Martina?" I smiled.

"Exactly – if I could have, I would have picked either Sirius or Jasper. Who got Jasper and James, anyway?" Martina continued.

"I got Jasper," Rhiannon said proudly.

"Lucky you, you'll have such a good time, he's so lovely," Verity told her. Rhiannon forced a smile at her.

"I got James," Lizzie announced.

"Oh, that's ironic, isn't it? I would have thought Sirius would be better for you, Lizzie, and James for you, Lily," Martina commented.

We managed to suppress a blush or a smile.

"Yeah, I suppose," Lizzie replied.

"Just don't tell Sirius who everyone has got," Eden said, "he keeps coming up to us and begging to tell him who they will be with for the ball. It's rather funny. James got in on the act yesterday and they knelt to the ground and practically begged Lizzie and Lily to tell them. It was hilarious, especially when they told them no and they pretended to cry."

"Who've you got, Eden?" Verity asked.

"Remus Lupin," Eden answered, "he's not the best looking boy in the world but he's kind and funny, and he's intelligent so you can have a good conversation with him. I don't know who else I would have wanted, anyway."

"I wouldn't have minded Remus," Charlotte Rivers said in a small voice. "I got Rhys Wilkes."

"So who got Edward Kennedy and Matthew Charles?" I asked, puzzled. We turned to the only two Ravenclaw girls left, Patricia Lewis and Veronica May.

"Edward," Patricia said.

"Matthew," Veronica said.

We looked towards the Hufflepuffgirls. We only knew so far of Alice and Frank – Eden asked them who they all had. It was quite intriguing finding out about the prospective dates!

"I'm going with Harold Ogden," Daisy Reid told us. "Like Eden said, he's not the best looking boy in the world, but at least you can talk to him!"

"Unlike Peter Pettigrew," Martina inserted scornfully. She really wasn't happy about that match.

"Regulus Black," Emmeline Cuthbert told us. "I quite like him, actually, so I'm pleased about that!"

We all giggled girlishly, despite the fact that she was attracted to a Slytherin; it was, after all, practically mandatory to giggle if a girl announces a crush on someone.

"Is that a giggle I hear?" I heard James' voice. He and Sirius had ventured over from their tree to beg us yet one more time for details on their prospective partners for the ball.

"It might be," I answered, grinning at him.

"Giggles only occur when you're up to something, or discussing boys," Sirius remarked wisely.

"And how would you know that?" Lizzie asked him, interested.

"Oh, we conducted a survey," Sirius nodded.

"Will you tell us who you're going with?" James pleaded.

"Nope," I replied, smiling sweetly. Sirius groaned. Then he and James looked at each other, grinning.

"Then it looks like we're going to have to do this the hard way," Sirius said.

"I agree. One, two, three..."

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT, WON'T YOU TELL ME, WE WANT TO KNOW IT, AND CAN'T YOU TELL ME? OH WE DO, WE DO, WE DO, WE DO, WE DO!" they sang, extremely tunelessly and extremely thunderously, modifying the words to the song to fit their useless request.

"No."

"Pleeeaaaaseee Lily!" James begged. I shook my head. Sirius jumped into the middle of the group, knelt down and pleaded to us all.

"No chance," Lizzie said.

"Looks like we're gonna have to go for Plan B, James," Sirius said.

"Couldn't agree more."

"What's Plan B?" I asked nervously – but James just picked me up and ran off with me, so I had to hold on to him to avoid being dropped. Sirius did the same to Lizzie. I could hear her squealing, but I knew she was enjoying it really. I know I was.

"Put me down, I am not going to tell you!" I screeched.

"Alright then," he said, and he put me down on the ground. He stood there, looking at me lying still on the ground for a few seconds, then he started tickling me.

"No! No! Nooooooo!" I heard Lizzie screaming – she was really ticklish.

"Will you tell me who I'm going with?" James asked.

"No."

"Will you say yes or no to some people's names?"

"Maybe."

"Right then, are you my secret date?" he asked, hopefully.

"No," I shook my head reluctantly, and blushed.

"Is Lizzie Sirius' secret date?" he continued, looking at his best friend, who was making the normally perfectly composed Lizzie writhe around on the floor from him tickling her.

"No," I answered.

"Was that honest and truthful?"

"Yes, it was, James."

"Alright then, I'll take you back. Can I carry you?" he grinned.

"I am capable of walking," I laughed.

"Can I carry you anyway?" he smiled.

"Go on, then," I replied, and he picked me up. This time he walked slowly. I was truly savouring the moment – I was in danger of falling hard for James Potter.

*

"It's definitely ready!" Lizzie called. I heard her down the stairs and in the common room. I was sat by the table with Rhiannon, poring over my Arithmancy book.

"What's ready?" James asked inquisitively, from his armchair behind mine.

"My outfit. I'm off to get ready!" I told him.

"Bet you look great!" he shouted after me as I bounded up the stairs.

I entered the dorm room. Being the organised people we were, we had laid our outfits and things out on our beds. On my bed was my beautiful lily dress with the mask and shoes; on Rhiannon's was the cream lace dress; on Eden's was the midnight blue ensemble, and on Lizzie's was the red flapper dress and her accessories.

"Right, Lily, I think we should put a strand of hair in, drink it, and then get ready, what do you think?" Lizzie asked. I nodded. I pulled a strand of my long red hair out and put it in the glass in front of Lizzie. She did the same with mine. The potion in Lizzie's goblet turned a lovely, syrupy colour and in mine, it turned the colour of strawberries.

"Before we drink it – we should really make some more and put it in some flasks. Then we can drink it every hour – how many shall we make, six each?" Lizzie questioned. I nodded. We did the same, putting some potion into little hip flasks.

Then we drank it.

Two minutes later, we observed ourselves in the mirror. I now had bright blue eyes, blonde hair down to my chest, and rosy cheeks. Lizzie now had waist-length fiery red hair, emerald green eyes and pale skin.

"Let's get ready, then!" I said enthusiastically. I couldn't wait to get into the dress Lizzie had picked.

An hour later, we were properly ready. Rhiannon and Eden were dressed in their beautiful dresses, shoes on, hair and makeup done, and masks on. Lizzie – or rather, Lizzie as me – looked amazing in the forest green flowery dress, sandals and mask. And when I surveyed myself in the mirror, me as Lizzie looked amazing too. We drank a bit more Polyjuice potion, and then Eden nipped down the stairs to see if the boys were out of the common room. I looked at myself in the mirror again. The red, knee-length, fringed dress looked so perfect, and with the red peep-toe heels and feathered and jewelled mask, it looked amazing. I was so happy.

"All clear!" Eden called. We followed her down the stairs. A couple of the sixth- and seventh-year boys looked at us in a whole different light as we emerged out of the dormitory stairs. I guess we did look rather different – we were normally in school uniform or jeans, so dressing up was a rather altered look for us.

I really couldn't wait to see the look on the boys' faces. We were at the top of the stairs, and we could see all the boys lined up, tentatively, in dress robes. James looked so handsome in his.

"Sirius looks so good," Lizzie whispered in my ear. I smiled.

"Down we go, girls!" Eden ordered. We followed her out of the little gallery we were hiding in and descended the stairs. I quickly observed the look James was giving Lizzie as me. It was such a nice look, that I almost ran into his arms. Then I remembered, that I was Lizzie, and I couldn't do that. I also looked at the look Sirius was giving me as Lizzie. It was pretty much the same.

"So, girls, who are our dates for this evening?" Sirius asked cockily.

Rhiannon walked to Jasper. He lifted off her mask, and smiled at her. I remember thinking that she would have an amazing evening with him.

Eden walked towards Remus, and they went into the Great Hall, discussing Transfiguration or something.

James and Sirius now looked hopeful. I hated to disappoint them, but we went and stood by them. They didn't look too disappointed, but looked longingly at the other's partner.

"So, Lizzie, how are you?" James asked as we entered the Great Hall.

"I'm fine, thank you, you?" I replied.

"Good, yeah. Shall we dance?"

"Okay," I said. I noticed how many looks Sirius and James were flashing each other.

After we had danced for half an hour, we sat down at one of the tables.

"James..." I drifted off.

"Yes, Lizzie?" he asked.

"What do you really think of Lily?" I quizzed him.

"Well... promise you won't tell her?" I nodded. "I think she's amazing. She's clever, pretty, beautiful, kind, nice, caring, lovely... she's just perfect. I just wish she'd like me back," he said, slightly sadly. We got up to dance again.

"Maybe she does," I hinted. His ears pricked up like a little puppy. "But I think because you used to ask her out so much..."

"Two hundred and forty six times in one day was my record," he smiled.

"... I don't think she thinks that you mean it, that it's just become a joke," I told him earnestly.

"You think?" I nodded. "What should I do then?"

"Leave it for a while, carry on with your mischief and then ask her again in a really special way. She'll appreciate that," I told him.

"Thanks, Lizzie... can I ask you something?" James said.

"Uh, okay," I replied.

"Does Lily think I'm stupid and immature?" he asked. Gosh, he looked really worried and concerned, whilst watching Lizzie (as me) dance with Sirius.

There was no way I thought he was stupid. Yes, his jokes were childish but I found it – yes, I'll admit it – kind of charming. There was no way I thought him, his actual person, stupid or immature.

"No, she doesn't," I replied.

"Sure?"

"Positive. And you should pick her up again like you did yesterday, she loved it," I told him cheekily.

He grinned. "Thanks, Lizzie."

"Don't mention it. Shall we sit down?" I suggested. He nodded.

We were soon joined by Lizzie, Sirius, Remus and Eden. Me and Lizzie remembered to drink out of our hip flasks. It was lucky, normally we would have forgotten!

"You know, the music is getting a bit slow," Sirius remarked. "Whaddaya say? Shall I liven it up a bit?"

I remembered Sirius' several disastrous attempts at singing over the past few years. Christmas fourth year, 'All I Want For Christmas Is You', and his rendition of 'I'm Too Sexy' reduced me to tears. Tears of laughter. And this year? He had already stamped his name upon 'Somebody To Love' and 'I do, I do, I do'. How else could he ruin our favourite songs?

"Uh, Sirius, I don't think that's quite such a good idea..." Lily, or Lizzie, said, reading my expression.

"Nonsense!" he cried. "Prongs, Moony?"

"Yeah, Padfoot, you'll definitely liven it up," James smirked.

"I'm sure the rest of our year desires to hear your magnificent singing voice," Remus grinned.

"Oh definitely," Sirius said, "couldn't agree more."

"Sirius, really, it's not–" Eden said. We looked over at Rhiannon and Jasper, who were dancing slowly to the romantic tune that was currently playing.

"Rhiannon, and her gorgeous date, will love my singing voice! I am totally outstanding! Bravura! Dazzling! Exceptional!" he exclaimed.

Suddenly he did something we were totally unprepared for – he stood up on his chair, and started banging his wand against his goblet, showering me and James with gold and red sparks.

Everybody turned around.

"Now, people of fifth-year, prepare yourselves for a show of brilliance! An event of complete and utter entertainment! Now, everybody, listen whilst the Marauders rock you!"

"Oh no," I murmured, watching Sirius suddenly cast a spell on the speakers so they were emitting a loud, guitar tune that I vaguely recognised – Sirius seemed to be a big follower of Muggle bands.

"GET YOUR PARTY GOWN, GET YOUR PIGTAIL DOWN, GET YOUR HEART BEATIN' BABYYYY!" he screeched. I could see the other fifth-years present either covering their ears, or laughing in enjoyment of Sirius' spectacle. At least it was something amusing – which was what Sirius had intended it to be.

"You have to hand it to Padfoot," Remus laughed, clapping along with the other Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. The teachers looked slightly bemused, but also quite entertained.

"IT'S GOTTA BE TONIGHT MY LITTLE SCHOOL BABE!" he continued. It was now only the Slytherins who didn't seem to be enjoying themselves. I also observed that Verity Oldham had left Lucius Malfoy by himself to join Sirius' adoring crowd.

"TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN, TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN! LOCK YOUR DADDY OUTTA DOORS I DON'T NEED HIM NOSIN' AROUND!" Sirius bellowed.

At this, McGonagall got up and walked over to break up his little singing session.

"Mr Black, whilst we agree that you have an admirable voice, could you please refrain from standing on top of a table and bellowing obscenities in the Great Hall?" she asked.

"Oh, alright then, Professor," he said reluctantly, getting down, whilst Rhiannon, Martina and Jasper yelled "ENCORE, ENCORE!"

"Sorry guys," he yelled, "tour dates'll be up next year!"

You had to hand it to him, he knew how to control a crowd.

The events of the Masquerade Ball certainly livened up my revision schedule. But getting back to the common room at one in the morning certainly disrupted it. Sirius had continued to sing in the common room – there were a few sixth- and seventh-years left in the room. They brightened up considerably when they saw us girls walk in. But when they saw we were followed by the Marauders, any interest diminished within nanoseconds.

"How about a little more singing? Lizzie, Lily, I know you like it especially!" Sirius beamed at us.

"No thank you," I said. "I just wanna go to bed."

"Aww, is ickle Wizzie tired?" Sirius mocked. I suddenly remembered that I was still Lizzie.

"Yes, definitely," I replied.

"I'll carry you, if you want," Sirius offered.

"No thanks," I laughed. "G'night, though."

Sirius hugged me. Lily – or rather Lizzie as me – looked at me incredulously. Obviously she had been telling Sirius the same sort of things I had been telling James.

"G'night all!" I said, then I waited for Lizzie – still me – who was hugged by James.

We were quickly followed by Rhiannon and Eden. Rhiannon was babbling on dreamily about her magical night with Jasper – he had asked her to the next Hogsmeade weekend, so she was ecstatic.

"Sirius likes me!" Lizzie sang happily – we had finally turned back to ourselves. "So I told him a few things... and I reckon it's going the right way!"

"Similar with James," I said. I was still wearing Lizzie's dress. I changed into my green pyjamas and gave Lizzie her party clothes back – she passed me my outfit back and I carefully placed it back in my trunk under my bed.

"What about you and Remus?" Rhiannon asked Eden. "You were dancing the night away until Sirius' little concert!"

"We were discussing academic subjects, actually," Eden replied, sticking her tongue out at Rhiannon childishly.

And so we went on discussing these things until half-two.


I hope you enjoyed Sirius' little concert! I forgot to say, I don't own the lyrics to the songs I have used, which, so far, are (with dates, which aren't exactly authentic, but let's pretend they are better than Professor Trelawney at Divination): "All I Want For Christmas Is You", by Mariah Carey (1994); "I'm In The Mood For Dancing", The Nolans (1979); "Heaven Is A Place On Earth", Belinda Carlisle (1987); "I'm Too Sexy", Right Said Fred (1991); "Delilah", Tom Jones (1968 - yay, a song which they actually might have known!); "Holding Out For A Hero", Bonnie Tyler, 1984; "Somebody To Love", Queen (1976); "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", ABBA (1975); "Tie Your Mother Down", Queen (1977). Phew, that's a lot of songs!

I hope you liked how the chapter panned out, please review to tell me what you think and to get the next chapter, which includes OWLs and a surprise for Lily!!!! Thank you for reading!

:) x Lily Orange x (: