'So.. Ebony, which house are you in?' Lily asked tentatively. The dark haired girl looked over at Lily, her stormy eyes almost amused. Lily hoped James and Remus would be back soon with drinks.

'Gryffindor. Why?'

'I've never seen you before... Are you a sixth year?'

'No,' Ebony said, looking puzzled. 'I'm a seventh year.'

'No you're not!' Lily said bewildered. 'I'm a seventh year and you are certainly not in my dormitory.'

Ebony cursed. 'Oh, damn, you are too. Right, well I'm a sixth year then.'

'What's the password to the Gryffindor common room?' Lily asked, not believing this girl one bit.

'Cocoa,' Ebony sniffed, now thoroughly disinterested in the conversation. 'So, you and James?'

'Yes,' Lily said frowning a little, 'Why do you ask?'

'Curious I suppose... have you gone further than snogging?'

'This isn't any of your business!' Lily said, blushing.

'Is that a yes?'

'No! No, we haven't done anything other than snogging.' Lily desperately wanted to change the direction of the conversation. 'How do you know Remus?'

'Sirius Black introduced us,' a soppy look covered Ebony's face, 'I really like him. He's so funny, and smart and good-looking, don't you think?' Her thin eyebrows were raised in a questioning way that was almost teasing.

'Umm... sure.' Lily doubted the girl would react in a positive manner if she said no.

'Ha! I knew it!'

'Knew what?' James asked, coming over with Remus. Lily sighed in relief.

'Your girlfriend thinks Sirius Black is attractive.'

James laughed. 'Not as attractive as me though, I'm sure.' Lily smiled gratefully. 'Don't you think I'm attractive, Ebony?' Lily's eyes narrowed.

The dark haired girl thought for a moment. 'Well... once you get past the arrogant mask, the obsessive hair ruffling, the funny glasses, the know-it-all attitude and the whole prankster thing then yes, I would say I find you quite attractive.'

Lily expected James to be angry, or pull out his wand and hex the supposed-Gryffindor, she did not however, expect he and Remus to start laughing. But they did.

'And – and w-what is it,' James gasped, 'that you like about dear Remy?'

Ebony laughed as if the question was some sort of personal joke between the three of them, 'His shy, yet joking manner, his studious qualities, his soft, sandy tresses... and his mysterious aura.' Ebony sighed almost wistfully. Remus was finding this all very funny. Lily was quite uncomfortable; she didn't know anything about this Ebony girl... yet somehow Ebony knew about her and was on joking terms with the marauders.

'James, can I talk to you?'

'Sure, Lils. We'll be right back, Moony.'

'You kids have fun!' Ebony called. Lily shuddered.

'James, who is that girl?'

James laughed, 'You haven't figured it out yet?'

'Figured what out?'

'Nothing,' James said innocently.

'James Potter, I-'

'Let's dance,' James said quickly, before Lily could draw her wand. He twirled Lily onto the dancefloor, into line beside Remus and Ebony. They were dancing quite strangely, both holding onto each other's shoulders. In comparison, James' hands were quite low down Lily's back...

Lily caught a snippet of the other couple's conversation, which sounded more like an argument:

'Remus, I want to lead.'

'Girls don't lead and you're a girl, remember?' Remus said laughing. Ebony pouted.

'I still think I should lead- ouch! Remus, I taught you better than to step on my feet! Merlin, it's hard to find a good date these days!'

'I could say the same,' Remus said dryly, and stomped as hard as he could on Ebony's foot. He grinned at James as they danced past. James laughed. Lily was shocked to see Remus treating his date this poorly.

'Oh, James! Good!' Ebony said loudly, 'I cannot dance with this oaf anymore! You've always been a far better dancer! Switch!'

James rolled his eyes, 'Sure.' He smiled down at Lily, who he reluctantly let go of. She pouted up at him, almost getting him to change his mind but Remus came and danced away with her.

Lily watched as Ebony and James tangoed through the middle of the dancefloor, quite elegantly, but also quite roughly; they knocked over several other students and Professor Flitwick in the process. Remus laughed.

'Who is that?' Lily asked, grinding her teeth. 'If I didn't know better, I would say one of you has a long lost relative come to visit.'

'Not quite,' Remus laughed, 'but you're getting closer.'

Lily sighed. 'James seems to like her.' Remus snorted with laughter, but didn't comment. 'Remus!' Lily said, sounding quite hysterical now.

'He likes you better, Lils,' he assured her. 'Remember when you asked us to come to this stupid party, you said you wanted James to have fun, and not get bored. Does he look bored to you?'

'No,' Lily said sulkily. 'Speaking of asking you, where's Sirius?'

'He couldn't come... I like to think he's here in spirit though...' Remus looked down at Lily as if expecting something. He sighed when she looked confused. 'Never mind.' He looked back out onto the dancefloor and snorted quietly.

Ebony had left James and was now performing a rather inappropriate dance in the middle of the floor. Several students were beside themselves with laughter (like James and Remus) and several were quite disapproving.

Then, Ebony did something quite unexpected. She grabbed the bottom of her dress robes and started to hoist them up. Lily covered her eyes and turned away, but James voice was in her ear, whispering, 'It's all right, Lils, look.'

She peeked out at the girl through one eye, to find her still fully clothed, having been wearing another set of dress robes underneath. She tossed the discarded pair at Remus, who dropped them immediately.

'James, unless you were looking, how did you know it was safe to look?' Lily hissed. James grinned.

'Trust me, and watch.'

Lily watched and was soon laughing as the antics unfolded: Despite having not looked bulky at the beginning of the night, Ebony stripped off layer after layer of dress-robes, ball gowns, Quidditch robes, school robes, a cocktail dress and finally a long white wedding dress. She then opened the pocket of her fallen school robes, climbed inside, and disappeared.

Everyone was quiet for a few moments and then anxious chatter broke out. 'Where did she go?' Lily asked James nervously. James grinned, and a few moment later, Ebony Grave walked in through Slughorn's office door. She was greeted by a large round of applause.

She then pulled out her wand and cast two spells loudly: 'Caninus Morphus! Staglino Assumance!' James and Remus yelled loudly, and then there was a flash of blinding white light.

When Lily was able to see again James and Remus were gone.