Overprotected

Chapter 14: Ball Facts

"Miss. Evans, please see me after class," Minerva McGonagall called to her fifth year Prefect as the rest of the students were filing out of the door. Lily looked up suddenly from where she was putting her books away. Slowly, she put her bag on her shoulder and made her way over the Transfiguration Professor. Every movement took effort, her body still aching from the night before, and Minerva regarded this with worry.

"You really should get more sleep, Lily," the professor said, as she looked Lily up and down, her eyes straying to the scrape on her forehead. Lily hadn't had time to clean it up completely, and there was a lovely bruise forming around it.

"I'm alright, Professor," Lily tried to assure her. "I just had a difficult time falling asleep last night."

Minerva didn't look completely convinced, but she continued on anyway. "Alright. Well, if you and Mr. Lupin – either of you – are up to it, we will be have a meeting tonight in my office. Eight o'clock sharp. I understand if neither of you show up. It seems like it's been a long day."

"I'll be there," Lily vowed as she began to turn away. "Good day, Professor."

"Good day, Miss Evans."

After leaving the classroom, Lily walked down the corridors to the Hospital Wing. They all had a free period, and she knew that this was where she'd find James, Sirus, and Peter. She heard their voices as she got closer, Remus definitely the most chipper but the other three doing their best not to let the toll show.

"There was a deer in the Forest last night," Sirus was saying.

"A doe," James cut in.

"A doe, a deer, what does it matter – hey," Sirus cut himself off, "how do you know it was a doe?"

"I'm a stag; I have antlers. She didn't. Therefore, she is a doe. Besides, she was a lot smaller."

"Ah, what does it matter, there was another one there."

"We've never seen her before," Peter added suddenly.

"No, we –"

Lily made her entrance, and Sirus stopped talking. He hastily tried to start a conversation about Quidditch as Lily walked over, but it never got off the ground.

"You don't have to stop on account of me," Lily said as she collapsed into a char in between Sirus and Peter. "I do know what you're up to."

None of the boys answered, and Sirus just pulled her towards him. She winced as her forehead hit his shoulder.

"You okay, Lily-Flower?" he asked, pulling her head up and fingering the cut.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she tried to snap.

"What happened to you head?" James asked, eyeing her wearily.

"I – I hit it on my nightstand this morning getting up."

None of the boys said anything; Sirus just pulled her closer. She tried to suppress a wince as he tightened his grip on the bruise that appeared on her ribs that morning. When he was trying to rid the Forest of her, Prongs had slammed her against the oak which had come in painful contact with her ribs. However, if any of the boys noticed anything, they stayed silent on the matter.

"So yeah, there was a doe in the Forest," Sirus took up again after a few moments of silence, "one we've never seen before. You remember her, Remus?"

Lily was still leaning on Sirus, casually looking at Remus the whole time. He refused to meet her eye or even glance in her direction which told her that he knew exactly what had happened the night before.

"I remember a new smell," Remus said carefully, practically evading the question entirely.

"It was probably her. We didn't take you anywhere new."

Madam Pomfrey took that moment to make her entrance. On cue, Sirus stopped talking, and everyone turned to look at her.

"Alright," she said, "visiting time is over. Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, Mr. Pettigrew, Miss Evans, if you'd like your friend to get out today, he'll need his rest."

The four tried to protest but stood up all the same. They had Charms next period anyway, and with that being Lily's favorite (and best class), they wouldn't miss a minute of it.

"There's a meeting tonight, Remus," Lily called as they were turning to leave. He met her eyes for the first time that day. "Professor McGonagall said to come if you feel up to it; she'll understand if you're not there."

"I'll be there."

Remus was at the Prefects' Meeting, and he was even the first one there. He had been dismissed from the Hospital Wing half an hour before the meeting and didn't have time enough to do anything else before the start.

"Good evening, Mr. Lupin," Minerva McGonagall said to him as he entered her office. "I trust you are feeling better."

"Much, Professor, thank you."

After that, the other students began to drift in. Remus didn't see Lily enter, but one minute the chair next to him was empty, the next, it was occupied.

"I think we will begin now," Professor McGonagall announced once everything had settled down to a low murmur. "As you know, the Headmaster has, for some time, been planning to have a ball. Your Heads have met with him, and they have picked a date. So I believe I will let them tell you the details."

The Head Boy and Girl got up in front of the Prefects and began to talk. The ball was scheduled for the last Saturday in February. There was a Valentine's weekend Hogsmeade trip so that would allow everyone to buy dress robes. With the help of Professor McGonagall, they had assigned committees to everyone, taking care of food, music, decorating, and the like. Lily was put on the decorating committee; Remus on the food.

Lily knew exactly the reason for this. The day before the ball was a full moon. The Head of the Gryffindor House had purposely put Remus on a committee where everything would have to be finalized at least a week before the actual dance. He would be able to take his time without anyone becoming suspicious. As for herself, there was no way that she would be able to make the moon in February. Decorating would take place all night and maybe even into the morning. She had the feeling that Remus was secretly glad of this, even though he'd never admit it. He may pretend to let Lily in on more than James or Sirus, but really, he was just as overprotective as either of them.

"The ball will be announced tomorrow at breakfast. You should all have your first committee meeting by early next week. If there are no questions, you're dismissed."

There were none, and Remus and Lily quickly left their seats to begin their journey back to the Tower.

James, Sirus, and Peter were waiting for them when they returned, sitting in the chairs nearest the fire while playing Exploding Snap. All three looked up when the Portrait swung open, causing Peter to burn the tips of his fingers.

"So?" Sirus asked eagerly as Lily plopped into the chair next to him, and Remus collapsed into the seat across from James.

"It'll be announced tomorrow at breakfast," Remus replied wearily, running his hands over his face. It had been a long two days, and he just wanted to sleep. However, there would have to be lengthy conversations on the matter, he knew, before anyone would be allowed to depart.

"Who will you go with, Lils?" James asked cautiously.

"Don't you dare," she spat back. "You're already committed so don't even think about it."

"I wasn't. I know…"

"Good." There was a slight pause as if she was readying herself for what was going to happen next. "I was thinking of going solo. I'll end up dancing with all of you anyway, and that way you won't be tied up with me all night. The moon's the night before; I don't want you to have to say on my account."

"We've pulled multiple all-nighters before," Peter stated matter-of-factly.

"I know, Peter, but I just feel like going alone. It really won't make any difference except that none of you will walk in with me on your arm. We all go together anyway."

They let the matter drop and moved on to other aspects of the ball. The four Marauders got mischievous glints in their eyes when they found out that Remus was on the food committee, and everyone knew what that would mean, just not in front of Lily. However, she was asleep by the time conversation got around to this, and James gently took her off to bed. When he returned, they began their plans, and it was hours before Remus too could enjoy the luxury of sleep.

The next morning found the four boys up long before Lily. At the moment, James was at the door attempting to get her up – with little success.

"Flower, it's time to go down," he called through her door.

"No," she grumbled back.

"Lily, you have to come eat something!"

"No, Potter." The grumble was louder and more defined this time.

"Here let me try," Remus muttered and walked over to where James was standing. "Lily, it is your duty as a Prefect to come down to breakfast because the ball is being announced, and people may have questions which it is your duty to answer."

There was no answer for a few seconds, but then the bed squeaked.

"How did you do that?" James asked with wonder. "She's stubborn as anything."

"Mention duty and Prefect in the same sentence," Remus replied offhand.

"That's low," Peter breathed, but all four boys burst out laughing. Fifteen minutes later, Lily was out of her room, and the five of them headed down to breakfast.

The Great Hall was filled with excited chatter when they entered, and it seemed as if the word had already gotten out. Just as the five Gryffindors sat down, Professor Dumbledore stood up. The Hall fell silent at once.

"From the sound of your voices," the Headmaster began, "it seems as if you have already heard the news. However, if you will give the old man the privilege of announcing it anyway…" He paused for a moment, and Sirus filled the gap with a "go for it Professor." The Headmaster smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Black. It has been decided that there will be a ball the last Saturday of February. It is for Fourth Years and up; any younger student may attend with an older one." The chatter began again softly. "Check your Common Rooms for the Hogsmeade dates. Any questions, please see your House Prefects or the Head Girl or Head Boy. Thank you." He sat down once more, and the noise overwhelmed the Hall.

"So, Flower," Sirus started, "you still going to deny one of us the honor?"

"Black," she replied, "you are quite aware of my stand; it's still the same as last night."

However, a new presence at the table drew everyone's attention and kept both Sirus and Lily from saying anything more. They all immediately recognized the tall blond girl who stood behind James. He moved over, and she sat down on his left.

"Guys," he said, "this is Cassandra Rosaland. She's in Ravenclaw."

"Cassie," she said with an almost apologetic smile, "please, call me Cassie; everyone else does. My grandmother is Cassandra."

The whole table exchanged greetings, even if some were a bit strained (to say the least).

"Cas, this is –"

She cut him off gently. "I know who your friends are, James. Who doesn't?" She pointed to each of the other four in turn. "Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, the one and only Sirus Black, and of course, Lily Evans. My whole house talks about you. No one's done what you have in a least a century, entered early and skipped a year. You've got brains. Why weren't you in Ravenclaw?"

Lily smiled weakly and let out a strained laugh. It wasn't that this girl was mean or overbearing or the jealous type; no, she was probably one of the nicest people in the castle (and a Prefect, Lily suddenly remembered). However, her just being there – being with James – was throwing Lily off. There were knots in her stomach every time she thought of it.

"James," Cassie spoke once more, "you are going to take me to the ball, won't you?"

"Of course," he replied without a second glance at the rest of them. "I was just about to ask."

"Great. I'm really excited."

Lily was dimly aware that Sirus and Remus were trying to engage her in conversation, but she paid them no attention.

"I have to get ready for class," she said as if in a trance while standing up. The others all bid her farewell, Cassie definitely the most energetic, but Lily still didn't notice anything and just kept walking away. She actually didn't have anywhere to go besides a class that didn't start for forty minutes, but she had felt the overwhelming need to escape. So, with nothing better to do, she headed for History of Magic, which, she realized bitterly, they had with the Ravenclaws.