ME (as usual): I don't own these characters.. Etc, you've heard it before. Do I really need to keep repeating myself?
So. I have a quest. My goal (not quest) is to finish this story within the month. My schedule is (finally!) cleared up, and I actually have time to write now! My questis to get 300 reviews, so I guess I'll have to get writing. ALSO, I've decided to start responding to your reviews (well, the more descriptive ones), starting from the ones based on the last 2 chapters. Off I go!
Barnabus Cuff: Thank you thank you thank you! Your review keeps me going!
CrazyMonkey (or should I call you Jordie?) : Soon is coming, I promise.
Lizzle09: You know, my computer actually knows your screen name now, because I've had to type it so many times. I owe this story to you and your amazing reviews.
Bookworm678: I ask the same thing. I'm so sick of this fic (and have been since chapter 20) so I sort of started throwing out chapters. But I'm almost done.
A little corniness in this chapter, for which I'm apologizing in advance. Onto the story!
The dinner, despite the overly-loud munching and much-appreciative sounds coming from a guest who looked oddly like Vernon Dursley, ended up being very enjoyable. Lily rubbed her stomach, feeling stuffed, and looked up at James.
"What's next?" She asked, struggling to sit straighter in her chair.
James flashed her an uneasy grin, anticipating the events to come. "Well, erm.." He ran a hand through his unruly black hair, laughing nervously. "Just relaxing, I guess. Some dancing, some snacking, etcetera."
Lily eyed him- why is he anxious? she wondered a little suspiciously. He had been so.. Mature, almost, and she was getting a nagging feeling due to his recent tone that it couldn't last. Or maybe it's the fact that Lucy discovered Remus's secret. That would have been a shock. Lily shook her head, tucking away the thoughts for later dissecting.
The reminder of Lucy brought Lily's gaze to swing over to her friend, who appeared to be staring at her uneaten food.
"Lucy?"
The blonde jumped in response. "Yeah?"
"Dance with me?" Lily asked, trying to look as open and friendly to her as possible. As if on cue, a string-quartet struck up a slightly familiar classic tune, signifying the end of dinner.
The side of Lucy's lips curled traitorously into a smile, giving Lily the answer she wanted. She nodded, standing and making her way to the redhead.
James, who had been completely disregarded during the two's interaction, turned Sirius while muttering, "wasn't that my line?"
Sirius smirked in answer.
James, frustrated and bewildered, glared at him as the girls walked away (Lily almost falling over on her heels). "Sirius, what's wrong with me? I'm.. I feel.. nervous," He choked on the last word, surprised at himself.
Remus, who had been listening in, smiled a little. "That, dear friend, is called the beginning of maturity."
Lily kicked off her shoes (rather aggressively, I might add), accidentally sending them into Vernon Dursley's look-alike's large behind. The man squawked, whirling around, his face a furious red.
"Sorry, sorry!" Lily yelped as he marched over to the dining table, hoping to maintain any dignity that he had left.
Lucy snickered, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind an ear. "I can't believe you just did that!" Her snicker rose into a laugh, and the tension that had formed between them from the 'Remus incident' evaporated. Lily blushed brightly, hiding her face in her hands.
"It was an accident!"
Lucy's delicate eyebrow rose. "Next time, you might want to be more gentle when ridding yourself of footwear," She advised.
Lily couldn't help but crack a grin at that, even though her face stayed a faint maroon color (which went oddly with her hair).
After Lucy slipped off her shoes (in a much daintier and more careful fashion than Lily), the girls walked barefoot on the cool marble floor to where the quartet was playing a lilting, fast song.
Lily froze when a sudden (and very delayed) realization washed over her.
"Oh, Lucy. I have no idea how to dance!"
Lucy stared at her, surprised. "You didn't remember this until now?" She chuckled lightly.
Lily shrugged, tilting her face up to the ceiling to hide her embarrassment.
"Would you mind if I got someone else to teach you? I'm not very good anyway," Lucy asked, fingering the hem of her dress.
"Sure, that'd be fine," Lily's eyes drifted back to the white walls.
"Kay, I'll go grab someone. Just wait here."
She did just that, letting her eyelids fall shut as she listened to a viola solo dive into deep, dramatic notes. When she opened her eyes again, the room's light had been dimmed to rely on candles along the walls, setting a low, romantic atmosphere. She blinked to clear the black spots in her vision, and jumped when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
Lily turned slowly, only to find herself in front of a very familiar person.
Lucy will pay for this.
"I heard you could use some help dancing," James wore an almost sheepish expression.
It took her a moment to absorb what he'd said. "Oh, yeah. I've never really danced in my life," she admitted, twining her fingers together.
After a moment of standing, James stepped closer to her and glanced at her hands.
"I don't think we can dance if you keep your hands like that," he told her, laughing.
Lily quickly separated them, knowing her cheeks were beginning to match the color skin of a tomato.
James tentatively reached out and rested a palm on her waist, while using his other to bring Lily's arms to where his shoulder and neck met.
"We're starting easy, I promise," He said, his voice quiet near her.
They began to rock from foot to foot, and the quartet, being close to where they were (attempting at) dancing and noticing their struggles, started a slow song that went with their steps.
Despite this, Lily found, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, she kept stepping on James's leather dress shoes with her bare feet.
"Sorry!" She winced when her foot came down on his, quickly pulling it back.
James chuckled, not really even feeling her weight because of his shoes, and bent to her ear. "I'm going to do something that might help," he whispered.
Without warning her, he pulled her closer, all the way up onto his feet. "This is much better," He grinned, proceeding back to dancing.
Lily, shocked, looked up at him. "Are you sure?"
"I've never been more sure in my life."
I'm ending it here. Sorry if it's not great, I've got writer's block.