- Chapter Fourteen -

~ A Fairy Flying By ~

Lily had to admit, after paying her two sickles to enter, that the Great Hall looked spectacular. There were orange and black tinsel-like decorations hanging on the ceiling, stuck with fake bats, flapping wildly, but unable to move. The Hall was lit with dim, green-tinted lanterns, and music reverberated within. The refreshment tables were pushed against the walls, so as to give more room for the much-anticipated dancing.

Some of the Chief Guests, Lily saw, were standing in a huddle off the centre of the Hall. She led James, Sirius and Vanessa over to them to greet and welcome them.

'Hi, I'm Lily Evans,' she said boldly, holding out her hand to Lester Heaney, the Captain of the Irish Quidditch team. 'This is James Potter –' James nodded his head coldly, '– Sirius Black –' Sirius grinned, '– and Vanessa Gills.'

'Pleasure to meet you all,' Lester said warmly, shaking Lily's hand and beaming his wide beam, revealing dazzlingly white teeth.

They continued shaking hands several seconds afterwards, Lily bedazzled by Lester's face. James coughed loudly, probably in an attempt to remind Lily of his existence. She immediately snatched back her hand, as though Lester was on fire.

Lily wasn't the only one all gooey-eyed for him; Vanessa was still taking in Lester's muscular figure, his beautiful, swishy, blond hair, his cute smile –

A musical 'hello' broke Vanessa's reverie. The beautiful sound came from Selena Warbeck.

'Wow,' Vanessa said blankly, blinking. 'You're going to be singing tonight, aren't you?'

Selena nodded her beautiful head.

'Hi,' James said softly, holding out his hand. 'I'm James Potter. I'll be your server tonight.'

Selena laughed and allowed James to kiss her hand. 'Quite the handsome joker you are, aren't you? Ah, wait! You're James Potter and Sirius Black – the pair of jokers my cousin talks about so often!'

'Who's your cousin?' James asked interestedly, still holding her hand.

'She owns the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade,' Selena smiled.

'OH!' James half-shouted. 'Madam Rosmerta?'

'Indeed,' Selena said.

'I see the resemblance,' James joked.

It was Lily's turn to cough pointedly.

James snatched his hand back rather slowly; Sirius and Vanessa smirked.

'Anyway,' Lily said, 'where's Stanley the Skeleton and co?'

James and Sirius looked around from side to side. Vanessa gasped and said, 'Oh, no! We've got skeletons loose in the school?'

'Nessa, they're safe,' Lily said reassuringly.

'Yes,' Vanessa said, 'but we're not!'

'It's not like they can eat you or anything,' said Sirius casually.

Vanessa paled and stood stiff instantly.

'Nessa, they don't even eat!' Lily said a little impatiently, shocked at Vanessa's little knowledge. 'That's common sense.' She was a little embarrassed by her friend.

Before Vanessa could reply, a spine-quivering, bone-chilling, deep, evil laugh echoed around the room. A laugh so cold, it made even the hairs on Sirius's arm stand on end.

The little light there was, was extinguished, following gasps and squeals from the crowd.

The doors of the Great Hall eerily creaked open, revealing cracks of light. The evil laugh sounded again.

Vanessa instantly held tightly onto Sirius, closing her eyes and squealing rapidly under her breath. Even Sirius didn't notice he was clutching onto Vanessa with more force than necessary.

'Presenting,' the voice said, deep and clear, 'Staaaaaaaaanley the Skeleton and co!'

The lights were re-lit and many students – witches in particular – sighed in relief and began laughing. Someone had started a round of applause and a tremendous amount of cheering.

Vanessa, however, realised what she had done and was doing, and immediately released Sirius, her cheeks reddening. It was Lily and James's turn to smirk.

There were about fifteen skeletons, excluding their head, Stanley, who entered the Great Hall, just then, looking around impressively. They suddenly broke into song:

'We are spooky skeletons,
Like the evil one inside of you.
We sleep and walk,
We scare with our talk
And have you screaming, too.

Our heads stand on our shoulders,
Our necks between the two,
We've got no eyes, no nose and no ears,
Just to frighten you.

We're skeletons, your enemies, you'll soon realise,
We're here to take over your school, so be afraid of us!

We've got bony bodies,
As it clearly shows,
Two bony legs, two bony feet
And ten tiny bony toes.

We've each got two big bony knees
To help us sit or stand,
Five bony little fingers
Are on each big bony hand.

We're skeletons, your enemies, you'll soon realise,
We're here to take over your school, so be afraid of us!

We're skeletons, your enemies, you'll soon realise,
We're here to take over your school, so be afraid of us!'

An enthusiastic applause followed, with some howls and whistles from the students.

'WOOOOO!' Sirius shouted, louder than the crowd.

Vanessa glared at him, her arms folded.

Lily smiled at her, knowing what was going through her mind. 'Nessa, they're only joking. They're here to entertain, not for you to be afraid of them.'

Vanessa glared at the wall opposite her; Lily, James and Sirius smirked to themselves.

Dumbledore stood up in front throne at the opposite end of the Great Hall just then; the babble subsided almost immediately.

'After that highly entertaining entrance, I would like to call the first couple to the dance floor,' he said clearly. 'They know who they are. Come now, we're all waiting,' he added, when Lily, shy, stayed fixed to where she was. After about ten seconds, she moved – but to fiddle with her hair.

'Come on, Lily,' James breathed. 'We're in this one together – you fall, I'm there to catch you. It's only a dance.'

Lily swallowed hardly, her breathing uneven.

'My first dance –' she began.

'Don't worry, it'll go okay.' He extended a hand towards her.

'Yeah, but no, but to have it with you.'

James's hand immediately dropped, and Lily realised what she had said.

'No, but yeah, but what I mean is –' Lily tried explaining.

'Just go,' Vanessa said wearily, giving her friend a shove in James's direction.

Lily offered her quivering hand to him, which he took somewhat unwillingly, his hazel eyes betraying hurt. He led them to the centre of the Hall, where a crowd full of shocked faces made way for them.

Some of the green lights turned scarlet, and the music began playing, soft and slow with Selena Warbeck's soothing voice occasionally going 'ooh' over it.

James gently grasped Lily's right hand with his left and held it up so it was level with his shoulder. He then placed Lily's limp left arm on his shoulder, and began steering the two backwards and forwards, left and right, with the occasional graceful twirl. It didn't seem too bad.

It was.

Lily felt herself liking the warmth and softness of James's hand, felt her tummy tingle from the moment he touched her, felt herself enjoying her first dance – with James Potter. And he was actually quite good at this.

As much as she tried to avoid James's eyes, staring from green light to red light, from decoration to decoration, his eyes still managed to captivate Lily's, but for how long, she neither knew nor cared. She could easily read the promise of her safety in his hands for the whole dance; she completely forgot that they were in the middle of a crowded hall, full of students andadults watching with an air of interest, breaking many hearts.

In fact, she didn't remember until she heard Sirius whisper audibly to Vanessa, 'Check them out.'

Lily immediately turned to look at him, at the hundreds of people watching them, some of whom had their jaws dropped.

James momentarily removed his left hand from her waist to softly redirect her chin back so that she was again looking at him.

'Don't,' he said firmly, but quietly. 'Ignore him.'

Under his reassuring gaze, Lily automatically nodded, and kept facing towards him – she now had a reason to look at him and not turn away.

She had never noticed how good-looking James really was; she was too caught up in disliking, almost loathing him. His untidy hair suddenly appealed her, his protective charm likewise.

Lily Evans mentally admitted that James was good-looking? But Lily couldn't mull on this much longer – the floor was finally getting invaded by others.

Lily and James watched, with amusement, Dumbledore pulling McGonagall to the floor and Professor Sprout with Professor Flitwick. To Sirius's content, Darktoff seemed to be the only teacher without a dance.

When the song ended, there was a light scatter of applause, which Lily took to be her cue to get off the dance floor sharp and find Vanessa.

'She was right here,' Lily said crossly. 'Black, where did she go?'

'… iunno,' was Sirius's helpful response.

Lily rolled her eyes and made to walk away, when something was tugged on her, pulling her back.

James's watch had gotten caught on Lily's wing.

'Oh, no,' she moaned quietly.

'Don't worry, I've got it,' James said in an even quieter voice, fiddling with the knot created. Lily assumed he still hadn't forgiven her.

'Thanks,' she mumbled, embarrassed, before setting out to find Vanessa on her own.

'I will never understand girls,' Sirius said easily, shaking his head and helping himself to some pumpkin juice.

'Hm?'

'Well … Lily looked like she was having a great time over there – with you – and now she's acting like it didn't happen, and …' Sirius said. 'Girls are so confusing! Prongs, I'm confused.'

'Mate,' James sighed, clapping a hand on Sirius's shoulder 'if you ever find any answers, tell me.'

'If I live that long,' Sirius muttered darkly.

'It's not that hard,' Vanessa said clearly, appearing from behind them with her chocolate frog – Sirius jumped.

'Oh?' Sirius said, raising his eyebrows.

'Lily's looking for you, by the way,' James threw in. 'She was wondering where you went.'

'I just went to get a Chocolate Frog …' she said blankly. 'Anyway, Lily obviously was having a good time, but she didn't want to admit it, because she's not only confused about her feelings, but this is James Potter, a boy – sorry, man – who she never thought she'd even like, so she naturally doesn't want to like him and she's trying to prevent it by keeping her distance from you, James, with the hope that you'll get bored and leave her alone eventually.'

She said this as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

'… huh?' Sirius said. 'Mind saying that slower?'

'Basically,' Vanessa snapped, 'she doesn't want to like James, although she can't deny she does, because –'

'Okay, understood!' Sirius said hurriedly.

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

'Fancy finding Lily?' James said, trying (and failing) to sound casual.

'We all know you do,' Vanessa grinned.

'Prongs, what about Moony and Wormtail?' Sirius reminded him. 'I saw them somewhere … while you and Evans were dancing,' he said, searching the Great Hall on tip toes.

'Padfoot,' James said in a hushed voice, 'I think it's his time of the month … full moon.'

'Again?' Vanessa gasped.

'Yes,' James said slowly. 'Once a month.'

It was Sirius who found Lily and Remus – surrounded by first-, second- and third-years, all of whom were eager to play some sort of a game. Sirius dragged James to where Lily and Remus were; Vanessa tagged along, getting caught up in the crowd.

'… no, you spin the bottle, and whoever it lands on has to choose between a truth or dare,' they heard Lily explain.

'OH!' a first-year squeaked. 'That's why it's called Dare the Bottle.'

'No, dumbnut,' a hard-voice third-year said harshly. 'It's called Dare the Truth.'

Lily grinned and said, 'Whatever you like.'

She then turned around and said to Remus, 'Thank Merlin that's over.'

The two laughed cosily until they saw James, Sirius and Vanessa.

'Hi, guys,' Remus said brightly. 'Lily was just teaching me how to play Dare the Truth. I mean, Dare the Bottle. No, I mean … Truth or Dare!'

'Sounds interesting,' James said mildly. 'Moony, we need to get you out of here. Sharp.'

'Why?' he said innocently, his grin fading.

'Moony,' Sirius said darkly, 'it's full moon tonight – you're in a hall full of vulnerable people, students and adults alike –'

'But I've got time,' Remus said, checking his wristwatch.

'That's a little bit out of character,' Sirius frowned. 'I'm arguing in your place and you in mine.'

'I know, right?' Vanessa said quietly. 'Remus, I think you should go … if something happens …'

'Nothing's going to happen, Vanessa,' Remus said jovially.

'What if something happens -?'

'But nothing will happen.'

'But what if -?'

'Remus, I hate to say this, but …' said Lily cautiously, 'what if we have another Aaliyah?'

She knew him well, she knew that phrase would hurt him deeply, but she knew it would be the only thing which would work. Remus winced as though he had received a static shock. He gave Lily an agonised stare as he, James and Sirius began to make their way out of the Great Hall. But before they could reach the door, a shout was heard, Sirius's, perhaps.

Lily stood on the balls of her feet to get a better view, but everyone was crowding around. The music had ceased and the hubbub diminished; the Skeleton crew's trick, perhaps.

The lights suddenly blew out all at once; the trick was getting spookier and spookier. The sound of something tearing echoed in the Great Hall, loud and clear; maybe someone had been holding on too hard to a table cloth out of fear. That sounded like something Vanessa would do.

And then … a growl, menacing and bloodcurdling, deep and hair-lifting.

Vanessa clutched onto Lily's arm so tightly that the latter flinched, but was still staring towards the door, although, due to the darkness, she could see nothing. In a clap of thunder and lightning, Lily saw three figures wrestling. In the second clap of thunder and lightning, Lily saw nothing in the same place.

The growl sounded again, followed by ear-splitting screams and shouts. Lily and Vanessa felt themselves being pushed in contrasting directions, until a voice recognised as Dumbledore's called for silence.

The lights were re-lit and everyone froze again – Dumbledore was chuckling.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, Ghosts and other beings,' he said, beaming, 'I hope you enjoyed my little surprise to you all. Indeed …'

While he spoke on, Vanessa hurriedly turned to look at the door of the Great Hall. They were closed, and James, Sirius and Moony were nowhere to be found.

'Lily,' Vanessa whispered, but Lily was paying attention to Dumbledore. 'Lily,' she repeated, tugging on her friend's arm. 'Lily, they're nowhere to be found.'

'Good,' Lily whispered back.

'But what if they're in the crowd?' Vanessa hissed frantically.

'They'd stand out,' Lily breathed. 'A werewolf and two boys – how easy can it be to blend in?'

'I think we should find them,' said Vanessa flatly when Dumbledore had finished talking.

His little "surprise" had earned a round of applause.

'I think we shouldn't.'

'I think we should.'

'Should what – let that whole thing with Aaliyah happen to us?'

'There you go again, playing the Aaliyah card,' Vanessa said crossly, but she argued no more.

'Can I have your attention, please?' McGonagall said in her crispy voice, tapping her goblet with a spoon. 'We will be announcing the Hallowe'en Prince and Princess later. Remember, the candidates are only for fifth-years and above, so if you're too young, you cannot enter – I know what year you're all in.'

'She sounds like a creepy stalker,' Vanessa said in a hushed voice. 'What's next? "I know where you live".'

'She probably does,' said Lily lightly.

'Hey – we've got to find James – for the Hallowe'en Prince! You two would just be so good tog –'

'No. Way,' said Lily flatly. 'There is no way I am going to become a Hallowe'en Princess – especially not with James. There are so many other more glamorous girls who –'

'Are extremely stuck up and have neither brains nor personality, only appearance.'

'But this is what it's all about,' Lily argued. 'It's all about who's got the best outfit – and me in this –'

Lily looked down at herself. She quite liked her scarlet silk dress, what with the pretty ornamental roses and gems on the top half and the simplicity of the bottom half. Her maroon wings also added to the graceful fairy effect, and the colours went well with Lily's hair, but still –

'JamesPotter, Nessa.'

'You had a nice time with him out on the floor,' she said cheekily, and, with a wink, she left Lily to her extremely confused feelings.

'Ah, Miss Evans,' Professor McGonagall said, trying to get through some students. 'You don't appear to be doing much. Can you please go downstairs to the kitchen and see what is going on down there – the house-elves need to bring in more snacks, but they're not.'

'Yes, Professor,' said Lily obediently.

'Thank you, Miss Evans.'

On her way down, Peter walked straight into Lily.

'L – L – Lily, I'm so sorry,' he mumbled frantically. 'Do you know where the others are? I've got an idea, but that's it.'

'If I knew, you know I would tell you,' said Lily gravely.

Peter seemed to be thinking hard about what Lily had said, as though he was trying to decode a new language. 'If you knew, you know I would … if you knew … you know you would … if you knew, I know you would tell me? Does that make sense?'

Lily rolled her eyes and made off. She was pleased to see many students had dressed up rather enthusiastically; she saw someone dressed up as the curly-haired heroine, Amata, from The Tales of Beedle the Bard – The Fountain of Fair Fortune, and the Greek God, Neptune, and even a banshee, skeletal, pale and with long, dark hair.

'Great Banshee outfit, Erin,' Lily called, smiling widely.

'… it's not an outfit …' Erin replied. 'All I did was dab on loads of eye liner.'

'Er … erm … er …' Lily ended up just walking away, blushing deeply.

She managed to bump into Alice and Cassie, who looked as though they were having tons of fun – well, at least Cassie was; she was surrounded by boys, boys and more boys.

'All right, love?' Cassie called.

'Mm,' Lily replied. 'What're you guys doing?'

'Having the time of my life,' Cassie replied, tipping Lily an unnecessarily enormous wink. 'I owe you one, Lils.'

'Having the worst time ever,' said Alice sulkily.

Lily wanted to continue with the favour McGonagall had delegated, but her friend-in-need senses were tingling.

'Why, what's up?' she asked.

'It's Adam,' Alice replied sadly. 'You know that Ravenclaw boy? Well, Frank said it would be all right if I had a dance for tonight, and I want him.'

'Then go up to him and –' Lily began, but Alice interrupted.

'I swear, James is rubbing off on you,' she said, frowning. 'That's such a Potter approach.'

Lily blushed slightly. But then perked up immediately. It was like a candle had flickered above her head – she had a great idea.

'… what's up with that smile?' said Alice cautiously.

'Oh … nothing,' Lily said a little too innocently.

'I don't like it – tell me what you're thinking. Now.'

*.*.*

The house-elves backed away in fear as the werewolf growled again. Moony leaped forward at a house-elf which squealed, panicked and Disapparated, reappearing as far from the werewolf as she could manage.

The dog bounded forwards and knocked the werewolf over, growling fiercer still. It was lucky one of the elves had cast an Imperturbable Charm on the doors and walls.

Moony, outraged, roared like a lion, a furious lion. He leapt up with enough force to throw Padfoot off him. Prongs galloped out of nowhere. He head butted the werewolf with enough strength to knock it over.

Moony roared yet again.

In the depths of the kitchen, a little something was scurrying around, screeching the occasional, 'EEEK'. When it wasn't doing this, it was nibbling on the food the house-elves were preparing; teeth marks were visible on the cheese and crackers. Typical Wormtail. Amidst the trouble his friends were going through, he could only scuttle around and eat.

*.*.*

'Attention, please,' said Professor McGonagall, crystal clear.

Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat and said, 'Can you all please get into groups of sixteen – eight ladies, eight gentlemen.'

'Why?' a Slytherin called from the crowd.

'Miss Evans came up with the most marvellous idea,' Dumbledore said cheerfully. 'In groups of sixteen, we shall do the Clockwise Dance. Allow me to explain for some confused students – please forgive me if you're already knowledgeable in this dance.

'The Clockwise Dance requires eight gentlemen in a large circle with eight ladies,' Dumbledore explained. 'The dance between a pair will last for a certain amount of time – when the word "change" or some variation is shouted, the lady must then move on to the next man in the circle, and so on, until she returns to her original dance.'

A murmur of understanding was scattered amongst the crowd – followed by scrapings of chairs and shouts of, 'Come over here! Over here!', as people realised they were supposed to be getting in groups.

'Lily, you're a genius,' said Alice fervently, awestruck as she gazed at her group. She was with Amelia Bones, an irritating Hufflepuff, Cassie, Lily (of course), a sixth-year Gryffindor girl, Vanessa and a girl she didn't recognise. Then there were the boys – Evan Rosier, Adam, Severus Snape (much to Lily's distaste), and a boy she didn't recognise. Alice was glad to see the girls Adam was previously dancing with had disappeared.

'Four boys?' Cassie said, annoyed.

'Yeah, we want the Marauders,' said Alice. 'Where are they?'

'Well, for now, four of us girls can sit out,' said Lily. 'I need to go down to the kitchen, anyway – I still haven't done what McGonagall had asked me to do.'

'Fair enough,' said Cassie, shrugging.

'Wait, what – why – what?' said Vanessa quickly.

'… what?' Lily blinked in confusion.

'Not the Marauders!' Vanessa said horrifically.

'It'll be okay,' Lily smiled. 'Sirius won't … it's one dance, Nessa, come on. For Alice?'

'Oh, fine,' she said sulkily.

After instructing her friends to keep an eye out for the Marauders, Lily left for the kitchens – where Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs were …

She crept to the kitchen and creaked the door open slightly.

'Is there a problem down here?' she said, poking her head in.

She saw such as sight that she jumped slightly in surprise and hit her head hard on the door.

Monday 31st October 1977

A/N: Try saying this at normal/fast speed: Irish Wristwatch. Can't say it? Try this: Irish Ristwatch. I was completely thrown at first :')