Chapter 14 ~ The Ball

LPOV

The great hall, as usual, looked amazing. Pumpkins replaced the usual candles that littered the enchanted ceiling.

I looked longingly at the food table as we passed but thought better than to embarrass myself and Johnny, even though I could feel my tummy rumbling.

'Would you like to dance?' Johnny asked awkwardly. It was the first time we had spoken since our greeting on the stairs. I agreed more out of politeness that actually wanting to, and we made our way over to the dance floor where a slow melody was playing.

I placed my hands around his neck, and looked anywhere but at him while we began swaying gently to the beat, feet rooted in place.

Everything was going well until I felt Johnny's hand slip lower than my waist. I passed it off, but then it dropped lower again, to the small of my back. And kept going...

'I'm thirsty.' I burst out. 'I'm going to get a drink.' I hurried away from the dance floor and out of his invasive grasp. I dived for the pumpkin juice, grabbed a glass and took a hearty swig, hiding my burning face in the cup.

This was a bad idea. I could smell the rich aroma coming for the food, and felt my hand slipping towards a platter.

'So, how's your arithmancy coursework coming along?' I blurted out, trying to distract myself.

'Umm, alright I suppose' Johnny shrugged. 'But really I'm concentrating on quidditch at the moment. You know I am captain of Hufflepuff. I nodded away as if I had known this. I can't truthfully say I had. 'Yes, well, I'm sure I'll get signed professionally' he bragged loudly. I had to conceal my laughter as a coughing fit when I remembered James telling me that Hufflepuff had lost every single game last year.

I downed another cup of pumpkin juice to avoid Johnny's questioning gaze.

After half an hour on the breakdown of one of his magnificent saves in training, I found I had drunk four more cups of pumpkin juice, just for something to do.

Eventually, Mary having finally noticed me stuck in the corner, came over to rescue me, and made up an excuse to drag me away.

I nearly strangled her in my hug of gratefulness, before it quickly turned to anger. 'What the bloody hell took you so long?' I asked in outrage, but she wasn't even looking at me. Her eyes were focused off somewhere behind me.

'Lily' a familiar voice said 'you look...beautiful.' I turned around. James was standing behind me, looking extremely sophisticated.

'Well look at you' I teased. 'Muggle clothes?' I asked, for James was wearing black polished shoes, pressed trousers, a white shirt with a bow tie, and suit jacket. His hair had clearly been attempted to be gelled, or magically held down, but it was popping up in places. There was even a white handkerchief sticking neatly out of his suit jacket pocket, and a white Lily in his buttonhole.

'May I have this dance?' he asked, politely extending his arm.

I smiled brightly and stuck my hand out to accept his offer, but he suddenly went falling backwards, arms wind milling wildly, his face a mask of comedy.

I ran forward to see if he was alright, but then I was in someone else's arms, being twirled away from James. Hands began dropping down my back. 'Johnny. What are you doing?'

'Dancing with my date.' He replied nonchalantly. Now that we had stopped spinning I could see that we were at the other end of the Great Hall, dancing in a darkened corner. I looked around at some other couples, and quickly looked away, embarrassed at how they were dancing with each other. I trained my eyes on Johnny's chin, refusing to look again.

Is the music getting louder? It feels like they've turned up the bass. I can feel it throbbing through my head. I felt my arms tighten around Johnny's neck to keep my balance.

'Hey, I'm just going to step outside for a moment' I told Johnny, letting my arms drop from his shoulders. I staggered a few steps away from him. The walls were beginning to throb in out in my peripherals.

He looked at me in concern. 'I'll come with you.' I hesitantly agreed, not really wanting him to go with me, but not wanting to waste time. Everything was closing in on me.

Johnny actually came in pretty handy, he's a useful walking stick.

The cold air hit me as we stepped out of the castle. I stopped, letting the cool air rush over me. I fought an insane impulse to laugh, but couldn't.

Johnny looked down, questioning me with his eyes. I shrugged. I didn't know why I was laughing. I just felt like it.

'Hey, let's go for a walk.' Johnny suggested, I hesitated, uncertain. 'Come on, it'll be fun' he persisted.

I nodded and smiled. 'Why not?' We walked down the steps. Johnny grabbed my hand as we reached the grass and steered me away from the direction of lake, and out towards the forbidden forest.

JPOV

I jumped up from the floor, where I was then crushed. By the time I had convinced all the hyperventilating girls I was fine, Lily was gone.

'Crap' I mumbled, making my way over to Peter, who was standing watching Sirius dance with his date.

'Alright?' I mumbled at him, rubbing my butt from its impact on the floor.

'Mmm. Where's Lily?' he asked me. I ignored his question and stalked away. How the hell should I know? It's not like she's mine. And whose fault is that? You've been ignoring her. What did you expect? She wasn't going to pine after you for the rest of her life.

I wandered over to an empty table and plonked myself down, desperate to be alone in my grief.

I watched as Lily left with Johnny. I knew exactly what he had in mind for her. I grinned manically, sending two 4th years scuttling away from me, as I imagined how Lily would react to that. The smirk quickly vanished as I thought that maybe she did want that.

'Prongs!' Sirius yelled, throwing himself into the seat next to me. 'Got a perfect seat to enjoy the show I see' he smirked, pointing toward the food table.

I raised my eyebrows at him.

'You mean you don't KNOW?' he whispered dramatically.

I groaned. 'Pads, just tell me' I demanded moodily. Sirius didn't seem to notice, but then, he was pretty oblivious to other people's emotions at the best of times.

He was practically bouncing up and down with excitement. 'We spiked the pumpkin juice with firewhisky.' He smiled brilliantly at me, looking like he was waiting for a round of applause.

I just nodded and watched all the prefects dutifully avoid the butterbeer, and take cups of pumpkin juice instead. Some were already beginning to stumble around.

Sirius was chuckling in anticipation next to me, no doubt picking out which girls he would later chase.

Finally what Sirius said sunk in. He spiked the pumpkin juice with firewhisky... And all the prefects were drinking it...

Lily. And Johnny.

'Prongs! Where are you going?' Sirius yelled after me, but I was already belting across the Great Hall, leaving a path of destruction in my wake. Furniture and people alike were flying every which way. I didn't care. All I knew was that I had to get Lily. A drunk Lily. And Johnny.

A/N: Review?

Anna-Cate xxx