A/N: I'm am so going to get this story done before school. Please review after reading to help! I know I randomly bring in something to this chapter that I haven't mentioned before. I plan on fixing that when I revise the story. Forgive me if I mess up much, please. I have no clue how to do kiss scenes. HELP me if you can!

As the two walked down the stairs to the dance floor, a group of girls pointed and giggled at them. A few of them smiled dreamily afterwards. Lily leaned toward James and asked, "I there a reason for that?"

James smiled back at her and said, "A few of them had asked me to the dance. I turned them down."

Lily decided not to ask why. Talking about other girls around James might make him feel awkward. James didn't agree. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I turned them down so I could ask you."

This was a partial truth. James had turned them down, but that was because he couldn't get his feelings sorted out for Patty. When he sorted them out though, he did ask her.

Lily blushed at the compliment. He is very charming. They reached the bottom of the steps. James turned toward her and swept into a deep bow.

"Would you like to dance, fair maiden?"

Lily blushed again. "Why, I was waiting for you to ask, Prince Charming." Lily took James' arm as he spun her toward himself.

"Oh, so stylish, aren't you?" teased Lily.

"Only the best for you," he teased back. The group of girls sighed dreamily again. The two started dancing to a slow song, as the dance hadn't quite warmed up all the way.

There were still only a few couples dancing on the floor. Among them were Alice and Frank. Those two's eyes were locked and they were dancing very closely. Remus could be seen from the side of the room looking at the pair dreamily. I wish I was allowed to have something special like that. He thought.

Sirius was sitting on a chair next to the buffet table, still looking gloomy as he stared at the dance floor. Many chairs had been pulled up around him which were rapidly filling with hopeful females. The words, "OMG! Electra is such a bitch," "He's so handsome when he's upset," and "Oh, I wish I could have just one night..." were all heard around him. He ignored them all. Only one female had his attention tonight- Electra Greek, the one girl who ever rejected Sirius Black.

Peter was sitting next to Remus, although Remus had no idea Peter was there. Am I really not at all important? Am I worthless? Do I just drag my only friends down? Peter asked himself, full of self-doubt. He didn't remember how he had really been the one to give the whole group ideas. He didn't remember how he had always been loyal to the marauders even when he knew they still poked fun of him behind his back. He didn't try to remember anything that would make himself feel better about himself. What is the point?

Meanwhile, all the rest of the guest had arrived and were joining the couples on the dance floor. The music sped up, and the coloured lights were flashing. The teens were having the time of their lives and the (non-alcoholic) (At least not yet) punch-bowl was drained. Suddenly the lights dimmed and a spotlight went to the front of the room, centred on a young witch, who happened to be a second year student.

"Hello everybody, and welcome to the Minister of Magic's annual Christmas dance! This year, although Hogwarts students were exclusively invited, we will be doing the King and Queen of the dance. The voting will be done right here, to my left, and beware of the anti-cheating spells. I hope you all enjoy the dance and I'll be back to you in half an hour when the votes are counted!" the young witch announced then walked out. The music and lights turned back on and the dance boomed once again.

"Do you mind if I go talk to the marauders while you vote?" James asked, praying that the answer was "yes".

"Of course, James. I'll meet you back over there," Lily said, then walked off to vote.

"Vote for me!" James called after her. She smiled back over her shoulder in return and continued walking.

James turned around and walked over to where Remus and Peter were standing. Sirius was trying to get rid of the fan-girls so he could reach the marauders, but they could see that it was going to take a while for him to escape if Sirius didn't get any help. James motioned to the group of fan-girls and said to Peter and Remus, "Watch and learn."

"Oh, look! It's Gilderoy Lockhart!" James called out to the fan-girls as he pointed in a random direction. As the fan-girls were distracted, James threw a silvery item to Sirius, who hastily put on the invisibility cloak. The fan-girls looked around confusedly until one girl pointed and squealed, "I think he went that way!" A few minutes later, Sirius appeared next to the marauders.

"They're gone," Sirius said, obviously relieved, "Thanks, James."

"No problem. We only have a few minutes though until the girls, I mean, Patty, is done voting," James said.

"Alright, I vote on Alice," said Remus.

"Well, I vote on Patty," said James. The two turned toward Peter and Sirius.

"I don't care," said Sirius, "Let Wormy make the last say."

The pressure was on for Peter and he didn't know which side to pick. James was more influential than Remus, but Remus' girl really was prettier. I'd better stick with the truth.

"I'd say, Alice is prettier."

"Yes!" Remus cheered.

"What, but Patty was obviously prettier," argued James.

"Sore loser! Sore loser!" teased Sirius. Seeing as Sirius seemed to be feeling better, James settled with a gloomy look.

"Voting is closing in one minute!" announced the young witch.

"We better go," said Peter. The marauders each finished their voting just as the booths were closing.

The young witch went back to the centre of the room.

"The votes have been cast and the results are being counted. I'll be back in five minutes so don't get restless in your seats!" She said then walked off the stage. Needless to say, none of the students followed her last instructions.

Lily joined the marauders at their corner. She was nervous around all these popular guys, but smiled nonetheless. James, seeing her nervousness, asked her, "Would you like to take a walk to the garden for a few minutes. We can come back once the votes are cast."

"Please."

The two made their way to the garden. Lily was in awe of how beautiful it was. There was low lighting and fountains sprinkled amongst the flowers and trees.

"You live here?" she asked, still in awe.

"Yes."

"It's beautiful!" Lily sighed.

"No more beautiful than you," James said. He did not think it a lie.

Lily blushed at the compliment. He's so perfect! Wait, does that mean I do love him?

They walked around for a few more minutes until they heard the young witch start announcing the winners. James and Lily waited in the doorway between the ballroom and the garden for the answers to who won.

"-so I am pleased to inform you that the King and Queen of this years annual minister's dance are..."

I hope it's me... thought James.

I hope it's Sirius. It might bring his spirits up, Thought Peter.

I hope it's Alice and Frank. They are so beautiful together, thought Remus.

Please don't be me. I'm sick of the spotlight. Leave me in my misery. Please don't be me Thought Sirius.

"...Sirius and Electra. Please come up to the front and say a thank you speech while you receive your crowns!"

Electra smirked and strutted up to the front and stood next to the young witch with her hip jutted out. Sirius got a resigned look on his face as he walked up to the front, his gloomy demeanour over.

Electra grabbed the mike and started her speech right away, "I'm pleased to inform you that Sirius and I will be getting back together. Thank you all for voting." She walked up to Sirius, who had now arrived at the front, and wrapped herself around him, "Won't we, dear."

"No."

"What?" Electra said, in shock.

"No I won't be getting back together with you," Sirius said, confidently.

"Why?"

"You've just been using me, haven't you?" Sirius said, then his tone turned apologetic as he faced the girls in the crowd, "I'm making this my formal apology to all the girls in the crowd I've ever dated. I'm sorry for all the times I've used you, or cheated on you, or dumped you for no reason. I now know how it feels and am explicitly apologetic. From now on, I will only date girls I am truly into. This crown, "he said as he took the crown from the young witch, "Should go to a more honourable person. I will not accept it." Sirius said, then walked promptly out a door.

The crowd burst into murmuring. Sirius appeared next to Lily and James, as they were still in the doorway. Sirius held out the cloak for James, "I'm returning it. I'm going back."

"Keep it so you can sneak back to your room. Don't go," James said. Lily knew all about the cloak and was awed be how easily James gave it back to Sirius. It was a valuable possession. Lily was even more surprised be the fact that Sirius must live at James' house.

Sirius gave a nod of thanks to James then put on the cloak and disappeared.

"That was very sweet of you."

"What? You know about the cloak now. Shoot," James scolded himself.

"I knew about it before," Lily admitted.

"Do I want to know how?"

"There's a lot of stuff you don't know about me, Mr. Potter," Lily said playfully. The two started leaning in for a kiss.

That's it. I'm fully in love with him and can't help it. He is the most perfect man in the world. Thought Lily.

I wonder what it's like kissing a girl I actually like for a change. thought James.

Luck wasn't with them that day. Voldemort took that on moment to attack.

Voldemort had one death eater on his right. That one death eater pushed forward a shorter, masked death eater who was obviously younger. Voldemort summoned the young witch to him and said, "Kill her."

The young death eater raised a shaking arm toward the girl, but lowered it and said, "I can't,"

Lily recognized the voice of the young death eater and her vision went red. How dare Snape raise a wand against someone. How dare he.

James was scared of the rapid change in Lily's demeanour. He could feel the power radiating off of her.

"Leave this place, Voldemort," ordered a voice.

James' head spun back toward the ballroom at Professor Dumbledore's voice.

"I'll be back again," Voldemort warned, and quickly apparated away with his two death eaters. Dumbledore also left, yet through a door instead of apparation.

James' eyes were wide at the recent events and turned toward Patty to see if she was alright. He was not expecting to see the most beautiful girl he had ever seen by his side.

A/N: Sorry guys! The chapter was just getting too long! I promise the next one will be out shortly. It will be a very short chapter, but I have it all planned out. Review if you have any preferences on what should happen next if you think it may be better that mine! Thank-you for reading and for my reviewers of the last chapter!