Petal in the Rain

by pratty-prongs-princesse

Entrapped in a snobbish boarding school, Lily Evans mischievously escapes for one night, fatefully encountering London's most eligible bachelor, Lord James Potter. Set in 1940 during the Battle of Britain. A story of love, war, magic and deception.

36. Chapter 36

Petal in the Rain

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Chapter 36 – The Halloween Ball

"Whoever fights the monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

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The wind howled like a hungry wolf against the glass of Lily's bedroom window, making the pane rattle in its casing. It blew the last remaining multi-coloured leaves off the trees, leaving them shivering and bare. Lily's willow tree was now reduced to spindly limbs that clawed at the navy sky.

Night cloaked the landscape, days coming to quicker conclusions as October neared its end. To defend against the autumn chill, Lily curled by the crackling fire in a crocheted blanket, hair pulled back in an elaborate half-up, half-down hairstyle and face painted with intricate, smokey make-up—the product of Mimi's talent for cosmetics instead of her own.

She nursed a glass of firewhiskey—snuck in by Sirius earlier that afternoon—as she stared at the flickering flames in the hearth, her little owl asleep where he was perched on her desk chair. James and Frank had pursed their lips when Sirius had pushed the drink into her hands; yet they'd chosen to remain silent as he advised it would help settle her nerves.

The days leading up to the Halloween Ball had been spent in the company of James, Sirius, Frank and Remus. Once James had accepted that a rare chance had presented itself to the Order due to Lily accompanying Regulus to the festivities—something she knew he continued to struggle with—they'd assembled their inner circle and set to work planning.

Lily had been given so many rules and instructions they'd left her head spinning. James and Frank were taking no chances with her safety. In addition to conferencing with Dumbledore on the plan, the four wizards had laid out a coordinated blueprint for keeping an eye on Lily throughout the evening, ensuring she wasn't tricked, trapped, or otherwise endangered by Regulus and his goonies.

They'd all had to accept that their unique opportunity for spying was also a unique opportunity for the Slytherin boys to prove their worth to their Dark Lord. It was clear from the whispered conversations she'd overheard between Regulus and his lackies, Thorfinn Rowle and Evan Rosier, that they needed to perform some grand gesture to land a spot in his death eater ranks. What better way to do so then get to the niece of Voldemort's greatest foe?

Lily downed the rest of her firewhiskey, shrugged off her blanket and climbed to her feet, heat travelling through her core and roosting in her midsection. Though James and Frank were tense, she felt strangely confident. As well as their preparation, she wasn't some shrinking violet who couldn't take care of herself anymore—she'd proven that in her duel with Regulus. If anything, she felt excited at the prospect of contributing to the Order, even if it was in an unofficial capacity. She hoped after all their efforts something came from tonight, whether it be intel about the Slytherins' malicious plans or perhaps even catching one of them in the act…

Securing the belt of her silk robe, Lily eyed her dress for the evening, hanging from a curtain rail above one of her windows. She folded her arms, taking in its exquisite design: it was an ink-black ballgown threaded from bust to hemline with overlapping feathers. The dress was sleeveless, with a brave v-cut bodice and a chapel-length train. The gown had been delivered with a pair of elbow-length gloves trimmed in black velvet, a beaked mask covered in the same feathers as the dress, and a vintage necklace with a staggering emerald pendant.

The costume had been sent to her with a note signed R.A.B: another non-negotiable detail of their precarious agreement. It was clear Regulus had very definitive ideas about the design of the night: from their costumes and the timing of their shared entrance to the number of dances she was required to participate in with him. In exchange for her playing nice until the stroke of midnight, she'd further negotiated that Regulus wouldn't condone any harassment of Nymphadora by his lackies either.

Lily sighed, fingering one of the delicate feathers on the dress. When it had first arrived, Remus—who everyone agreed was best suited for the task—had set to examining it, employing several spells to determine if any part of the costume had been cursed, charmed or in any way altered. As he'd explained, it wasn't unusual to find poisoned garments or cursed jewelry meant to incapacitate their wearers in certain shops in Knockturn Alley. According to Sirius, some pureblood households like his own even had cursed artefacts on hand, incorporating them into priceless jewelry collections to dissuade—or exact revenge on—potential thieves.

Her contemplation about Sirius' warped upbringing was broken when Mimi apparated into the room. "Mistress Aurora, Mimi has collected the friends she asked for!"

"Thank you, Mimi. Please let them in," Lily requested, straightening her robe and settling on the edge of her bed as the house-elf led Rudolf and Alice into the room.

"Wow," Rudolf crowed upon entering, the bronze-skinned boy clothed in a deep-red suit complete with a ruby-encrusted mask and saucy devil's horns. "So, this is how the headmaster's niece lives? Look at this place…"

Behind Rudolf followed Alice, dressed in a dazzling white ballgown with crystal beading and illusion sleeves. Her blond tresses were gathered up on the crown of her head, diamond earrings dripping from her ears. On her back were a pair of ethereal angel wings.

Though Lily had forgiven Alice for snitching on her to James and Sirius about her duel with Regulus, the girl still seemed timid around her.

"You're so lucky to have your own suite," Alice said, her blue-tinged eyelashes fluttering like the wingtips of a hummingbird as she looked about the room. "Thank you for inviting us to come see it—it's so warm and cozy for such a big space."

"It's not every day I'm invited to a lady's rooms," Rudolf wiggled his eyebrows in agreement, walking over to plant a kiss on Lily's cheek. "Why aren't you dressed yet? I thought we'd head down together."

"I'm falling behind as per usual," Lily kidded, motioning for her friends to take seats by the fire. "I wanted to catch you both before I ran into you at the Ball."

"Is everything alright?" Alice asked, accepting a flute of champagne from Mimi as she appeared with a tray of them. Lily guessed the clever elf had borrowed them from the party downstairs.

"Thank you, Mimi. Everything is fine…sort of. I want to let you know who I'm going to the Ball with, so you aren't shocked."

Rudolf put his glass down, eyes sparkling. "Sirius?"

Alice remained mute, knowing what her answer would be.

"No…now, I have my reasons, and I assure you they are good ones…but I'm going with Regulus Black."

"WHAT?" Rudolf bellowed, nearly spitting out his champagne. "No…Aurora…no! The guy is an utter scumbag. Why would you want to go anywhere with him, the Slytherin creep?"

To hide the fact that she knew the reason—Lily having asked Alice to keep the duel a secret—she cleared her throat and added half-heartedly, "I can't believe it…I don't think I've ever seen him escort anyone outside of Slytherin to an event. I didn't think his family would even allow it…"

"Why would you be caught dead on his arm?" Rudolf continued to roar, unable to hide his disgust with Lily's choice in partner. "He doesn't deserve the honour of being in the same room as you, never mind parading you around at a party like some kind of trophy!"

"I need you to calm down," Lily pleaded, putting a soothing hand on Rudolf's shoulder and coaxing him back into his chair. "If I tell you why I'm going with him, you must promise not to say a thing. It'll jeopardize the whole thing."

Rudolf frowned, "Jeopardize what?"

"Of course, we promise," Alice shot Rudolf a reprimanding look.

"I've made a deal with Regulus," Lily began, looking between them. "I can't stand the way he treats Nymphadora. I've told him I'll go to the Ball with him if he promises to leave her alone for the rest of his time at Hogwarts. Letting him parade me around is a small price to pay to give her some peace. I don't want her to know—she's too proud—and if Regulus finds out I've told you, he'll call off the whole thing. He'll want everyone to think I'm going with him because I want to. We all know what a prideful ass he is."

"That's so kind of you, Aurora," Alice played along, though her disquiet shone through her careful smile. "But what about your reputation? What if he tries something inappropriate with you?"

"Alice is right," Rudolf agreed, vehement. "If the school thinks you like him, he could use that to his advantage, twist it into disgusting rumors to try and debase you, try to…"

"I need you to trust me," Lily assured, all the possibilities already discussed with her inner circle. "I have a plan—and I think you're going to like it."

---

Lily's feathered train followed in her wake as she descended the grand staircase. Grasping the bannister with a gloved hand, she steeled herself for the evening to come—one of delicate deception, heightened alertness and a daring game of cat and mouse. She was determined to be the cat.

Regulus waited at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in an all-white morning suit, coattails and all. The light colour contrasted against his noir hair, slicked in its typical style, as well as dress shoes buffed to a high shine. He grasped a beaked visor mask like her own, mounted on a stick with white feathers dipped in gold.

She swallowed. He looked like he was going to a wedding and she, a funeral.

Sensing her presence, Regulus' smile warped as he watched her steady descent, the Entrance Hall vacant save for the two of them. Lily recognized that he wanted them to be the last in the Dining Hall, allowing every pair of eyes to watch them enter together arm-in-arm.

"Well look at you," Regulus cooed when Lily reached the last step, his eyes ablaze with dark mischief. "I must say, black is your colour."

"What am I supposed to be exactly? A raven?" Lily asked, doing her best to stay collected despite his obvious smugness.

"With that pretty neck of yours, I thought a black swan would be a better fit," Regulus tormented, continuing to drink in her lavish appearance. "Perhaps you'll actually enjoy taking on that role tonight."

Lily grimaced, the tight corset and heavy ballooned skirt already making her back ache. "And you're the white swan? Are you trying a reversal of roles tonight too?"

"Not a chance," Regulus derided, confidence exuding from his every pore. "Just trying to throw your transformation into deeper contrast, my lady."

Regulus held out a hand decorated with gold rings. She paused, heaving a relenting sigh as she gave him her own. "What will Narcissa say when she sees me? You've dressed me like the blooming princess of Slytherin. She won't like the competition."

Her ire seemed to please Regulus. "I will certainly be looking for her reaction. It may be even better than seeing the horrified faces of your House mates when they see you on my arm, a duchess of darkness."

Lily rolled her eyes, her lengthened lashes feeling foreign to her face. "Shall we get on with the performance then?"

Regulus tucked her arm under his own and led her toward the double doors of the Entrance Hall. "Remember, you're mine until midnight. Behave yourself or our deal is nullified and I set my dogs on your half-blood friend."

Lily dug her nails into Regulus' arm in retaliation, making him smirk. "And just so you know, I like a little pain. Keep that up and I'll show you just how much."

"You really are a beast," Lily ground out between clenched teeth, Regulus pushing open the double doors to the Dining Hall to herald their presence.

Lily's silent fury melted away upon entering the party, replaced by unadulterated wonderment as the spooky scene before her unfolded.

The hall was dimly lit, yet alive with energy, the only source of light coming from the streaks of lightning that stretched across the enchanted ceiling and the hundreds of jack-o-lanterns floating above party guests like bobbing apples, each carved with a jagged, malevolent smile. The house tables had been removed and replaced with smaller dining tables spread with ginger-coloured tablecloths, all positioned around a colossal dancefloor. On the raised platform where the professors' table usually resided was a stage, dozens of musicians positioned behind brass and string instruments, as well as four microphones for the band's singers—a real-life goblin, identical-twin witches and a wizard dressed as a ghoul. They were singing along to a big-band tune with a heavy drumbeat, enticing students onto the dancefloor with their friends and dates.

I'm your boogie man, that's what I am. I'm here to do, whatever I can. Be it early mornin', late afternoon…

Hogwarts' ghosts floated in, among, and in some cases through magnificently dressed students channeling their inner daemons and faeries. Charmed by the many eerie sights and sounds, Lily had to remind herself not to smile too brightly, should onlookers think she was pleased to be on the arm of Regulus.

Though dance music pulsed, mingling with audible laughter and enjoyment, Lily could hear sharp gasps—as well as see eyes bulge behind masks—as students became aware of their arrival. She suppressed a grimace, spotting Rudolf and Alice near a champagne tower with other seventh year Gryffindors, her friends unable to hide their sulks. In comparison, Emmeline lowered her masquerade mask—part of an ostentatious unicorn costume—to openly gawk at the coupling.

While her fellow Gryffindors looked alarmed, Regulus' Slytherin brethren looked positively contemptuous, as if their intrepid leader had betrayed them monstrously. The most mutinous appeared to be the female Slytherins, outwardly enraged their most powerful and desirous lord dared to stray outside of their worthy ranks, and for her. Some of the male Slytherins seemed a bit calmer, their expressions more of impressed amusement than outrage.

When Lily locked eyes with the feral glare of Narcissa Black among the crowd of leering Slytherins, she felt an actual pang of fright. The aristocrat was dressed in a green-scaled dress that clung to her lithe figure like a second skin, with matching gloves that had long silver nails affixed to them. She'd spelled her eyes to a starling yellow and elongated her eye teeth into viper fangs.

As Regulus pulled her toward a large table of seventh year Slytherins, Lily squeezed his arm, seizing his attention. "Can we get a private table?"

Regulus shot an entertained glance towards his peers. "Scared, Rockford?"

"Your fan club looks ready to rip me to shreds—and your delightful cousin ready to sink her fangs," Lily murmured to him, wondering if she played up her vulnerability and his power if he'd be easier to manipulate. It was a strategy that had worked well during their duel when she'd pretended to be hurt and caught him unawares. "Please, Regulus?"

Lily watched as he raised a questioning eyebrow at Narcissa, who looked ready to devour him whole too. It was an understatement to say she was unimpressed by his choice of date. "Perhaps you have a point. I'll have no one to dance with if I feed you to these she-wolves. We're awfully territorial in Slytherin…"

Letting his insinuation slide, too relieved not to have to endure Narcissa, Lily allowed Regulus to lead her to an unoccupied table, doing her best to ignore the gapes, glares and glowers coming their way from the entire student body.

Regulus pulled out Lily's chair for her to sit. He then snapped at a passing house-elf, "You, champagne. Hurry up."

"Do you have to speak to them like that?" Lily protested.

Regulus glared at her. "Do you want to go sit with the cobra after all?"

Glowering, Lily muttered as she looked towards Narcissa again, "I know it's Halloween, but did she have to dress like that? She'll have the poor first years all wetting themselves."

Regulus released a reluctant chuckle, though he tried to cover it up by taking a swig from the champagne the house-elf passed out to the two of them. "Tell me Lady Rockford, what was your dear uncle's reaction when you told him you were going to the Ball with me?"

Lily took a sip of her champagne, briefly looking past Regulus to observe a wizard with a jester mask sauntering nearby, inconspicuously pouring himself a glass of pumpkin punch. "I never told him."

"Afraid he wouldn't allow it?" Regulus' eyes were like obsidian—a chasm of sparkling darkness. "I wonder what he would say—what all of them would say—if they knew you were making deals with me in the shadows, sneaking off to duel in the middle of storms. Not the perfect little society witch everyone thinks you are, are you?"

"Is that a threat?" Lily said coolly, narrowing her eyes over her sip of bubbly.

"Relax…" Regulus' teeth gleamed. She could tell he thought he had the upper hand, adoring the sense of supremacy it gave him. "There's something delicious about being one of the only ones to know who you really are—to see behind the perfect façade. Your dirty little secrets are safe with me."

Play into his arrogance and desire for dominance. Make him think he's winning so he'll bring down his guard, make a mistake…

"I find that hard to believe…" Lily leaned back in her chair and clutched at her necklace. Regulus' eyes slid to where she played with it, her fingers occasionally stroking the emerald. "I shouldn't have dueled you…should have known you'd hang it over my head…use it to get me to do what you want."

His eyes flickered back up to hers, cloudier than before. "And how do you imagine I'll use that against you again?"

"I don't know…" Lily blew out a breath, leaning her elbow on the table and arching closer to him, thereby amplifying his view of her cleavage. His bald-faced ogling made it clear he was no gentleman. "I won't pretend to know what goes through that depraved head of yours…"

His chuckle was low and seductive. "Which one?"

Her gasp was barely louder than a whisper as she feigned outrage, his hand snaking around one of her wrists. She put in minimal effort to pull away from him from beneath the table, sensing he liked the battle. "I could think of a few things, but perhaps you'll agree to them of your own free will by tonight. Unless you prefer a little inducement so it makes you feel like you have no choice…keep your veneer of innocence intact?"

"You are such a beast," Lily hissed.

"So you keep saying…"

Lily breathed a silent prayer of relief as Thorfinn Rowle and Evan Rosier appeared at their table a moment later, pulling up chairs to join them. She was already sick of playacting in Regulus' sordid game, indulging his vanity and perverse desires. There was a line she wasn't willing to cross, no matter what information he provided.

Regulus glared daggers at the two lords, looking ready to chew them out for interrupting their power struggle. He relented to releasing her as they offered them both a new glass of champagne.

Don't drink anything they give you.

"Rowle, Rosier, you're acquainted with Lady Rockford," Regulus said dismissively, watching as the two wizards merely nodded in her direction, unsure of how they were supposed to act. "Where are your dates?"

Lily watched as Rowle straightened, clearly wondering how candid he could be in her presence. "Narcissa has…well, forbade the other ladies from sitting here. As Lucius couldn't be here to keep her company, she's keeping them close."

Regulus scoffed, Lily remaining tight-lipped. "How petty women can be. Perhaps she's feeling threatened by how resplendent Lady Rockford looks tonight."

Surprised to hear him compliment her in front of his goons and go against his cousin, Lily pretended to dismiss his mischievous look.

Rowle cleared his throat, looking over his shoulder at the tables filled with Slytherins still gaping at she and Regulus. "She's also furious you've let—er—Lady Rockford—wear your family's pendant."

Lily raised a brow as she looked down at the necklace Regulus had asked her to adorn for the evening. She was surprised that Sirius hadn't realized it was a family heirloom when her inner circle had appraised the costume for curses. "This is part of the Black family jewels?"

"It is—what of it?" Regulus brushed it off as a trivial detail. "I'm heir to the Black family, not Narcissa. She'll be a Malfoy soon enough. She should keep her mouth shut and know her place."

Lily didn't care for Narcissa, but that didn't mean she liked how Regulus spoke about her either. His lackies chuckled at the comment, cementing all three of them as pigheaded chauvinists.

The attention of the hall was pulled away from dancing and merriment when Lord Dumbledore commanded the lead singer's microphone, Professor Merrythought—her wiry grey hair poking out in every which direction—at his side.

"A Happy Hallow's Eve to one and all. Welcome to Hogwarts' 955th annual Halloween Ball," Dumbledore started, dressed in deep magenta dress robes and a matching hat. "The faculty and I were discussing how wonderful the array of costumes is this year. Now, before we begin with our opening dance, might I offer my appreciation for tonight's music, provided by Howard & The Harpies, as well as our spectacular décor, spelled once again by Professor Flitwick's Beginner's Charms students. Well done all."

After some modest applause, Dumbledore continued: "As you know, we traditionally have one of our Advanced classes open up our Halloween Ball with a dance with our professors. This year, Professor Merrythought would like to call upon the students of her Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class to commence the festivities alongside the two of us. Students, if you please."

Horrified, Lily watched as Dumbledore lead Professor Merrythought onto the dancefloor, who—with one hawkish look—beckoned her class to the emptied dancefloor.

"Get up," Regulus urged, hooking Lily's elbow to get her to rise from her chair. She and the three occupants of her table made for the dancefloor, where the rest of her Defense class awaited, including Rudolf, Amelia and Nymphadora. While Rudolf offered her a stealthy wink, the look of pure revulsion that Nymphadora gave Lily upon seeing her with Regulus only rivalled Narcissa's.

Now she's going to hate me…I wish I could tell her the truth…

Lily was momentarily distracted by sad thoughts of Nymphadora and Amelia revoking her invitation to join them for morning runs when she was brought back to reality by Professor Merrythought, who was arranging them in a line facing professors waiting to be chosen as dance partners at the edge of the stage. When Merrythought moved her to the end of the lineup, Lily realized the infuriating woman had put them in order of perceived talent—with Regulus, Rudolph, Nymphadora and Amelia at the beginning and her at the very end.

So not only do I have to dance in front of the entire school, now they all think I'm bullocks at Defense, Lily thought, torn between wanting to faint out of embarrassment or grind her teeth out of anger.

When Lily looked up at the collection of professors waiting for a partner, her stomach flip-flopped; for the first time that evening her eyes found James, dressed in an impeccable tuxedo that made him look even more striking than usual. He was watching her with a knowing look in his eye, as if he could guess exactly how she was feeling. Connecting with those chocolate eyes, she felt an immense sense of reprieve, knowing he could expertly steer her around the dancefloor without her even having to try. The chance to speak with him—to hold him—was exactly the break she needed from Regulus.

He offered her a subtle smile, perhaps recognizing the yearning in her eyes to be in his safe embrace. She broke eye contact with him, realizing onlookers might find their unshakeable gaze suspect, but when she looked up again it was to see Nymphadora claim him as her partner.

Her throat went dry as she watched Nymphadora pull James—who was doing his best to seem unruffled—onto the dancefloor, followed by Amelia claiming Professor Flitwick, Rudolf claiming Professor McGonagall and Regulus claiming Professor Sinistra. After the rest of her male classmates took their turn choosing from the female faculty, Lily was left to select from Professor Binns—the ghost professor who would be impossible to dance with, even if he'd been awake—Professor Kettleburn—who seemed precarious on his peg-leg at the best of times and would have trouble steering her with one missing hand—and Professor Snape.

Snape looked near murderous when she beelined for him, offering him her hand. He accepted it begrudgingly, leading her to the middle of the dancefloor where the other couples were poised to begin. Lily did her best to ignore the loathsome look James shot them as the band struck up a cord.

"Potter looks like he's about to burst a blood vessel," Snape murmured, his pleasure at the thought slightly waning as he hesitantly placed a hand on Lily's waist to assume the proper dance posture. She had to suppress a snort of hilarity due to his awkwardness: she guessed he didn't dance often, never mind publicly. Somehow it had the effect of calming her.

"And you look like you're bracing for me to give you the dementor's kiss," Lily goaded, giving his clammy hand a reassuring squeeze as they began to move to the mounting musical number. Blessedly, it was a dance Frank had taught her long ago.

Snape stiffened, but Lily coaxed him into the dance as much as possible.

"I've never been picked for one of these dances," he revealed, though he seemed to prefer it that way. "I don't dance."

"Consider it a hazard of the job," Lily stifled a chuckle at his look of annoyance. "You're doing fine. All the students will want to ask you next year."

"You're not amusing."

"Yes, I am—and careful, don't step on the feathers."

"Why are you dressed like an owl," Snape grumbled, taking in her sumptuous ballgown with a frown. Lily did her best to keep him talking, knowing it would help keep them both relaxed and distracted from onlookers for the duration of the song. "How many birds had to die so you could go to a Ball?"

Lily snorted, making him cringe. "Apparently, I have a pretty neck. Regulus wanted me to be a black swan. Cue my eye roll."

"Repulsive," Snape muttered, making Lily raise a questioning brow. "Him, not you. Your neck is…fine."

Lily coiled into a spin that Snape seemed wholeheartedly uncomfortable executing; however, they somehow pulled it off, though decidedly less gracefully than the other experienced dancers. Regaining his composure, Snape continued, "And I don't care what you've promised him with regards to Miss Tonks—you blast him across the room if he dares mishandle you again. No deal is worth your integrity."

She swallowed, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. Lily wasn't sure which instance Snape was referring to—the forced kissed during her duel with Regulus, or the way he'd grabbed her wrist under the table just moments ago. She couldn't imagine how anyone could have witnessed that, never mind from across the room.

"I've got it under control," Lily replied, the two of them coming to a stop as the song finally wound down. "But I appreciate your concern. Thank you for the dance, Professor."

"Don't ever ask me again," he warned, though a smile ghosted his features.

As the room broke into applause and professors returned to their seats, a new tune was struck up by the band—an evocative ballad heavy with violin and the uncanny voices of Hogwarts' choir that made shivers travel up Lily's spine.

Regulus caught her elbow as she began to return to their seats, instead summoning her into a dance with him, other couples joining the fray. Though there was plenty of room on the massive dancefloor, everyone seemed to give them a wide berth, watching them out of the corners of their eyes.

"It looks like you've won yourself another Slytherin, Lady Rockford," Regulus purred, smirking in the direction of a retreating Snape as he effortlessly led her in a choreographed waltz. He leaned into her ear, "However do you manage it?"

She swallowed, willing herself to relax despite their proximity. It was difficult not to go rigid under his greedy touch. "Perhaps you've all spent too much time in darkness and now you find yourself drawn to the light."

Regulus chuckled in her ear, whirling her around. Even though they were in a sea of dancers, she felt oddly alone with him—totally apart from the gaiety. "Aren't you afraid the darkness might blot you out, Rockford? Overcome you?"

"No," Lily breathed, meeting his gaze and matching the challenge in it. "You see Regulus, you're the moth and I'm the flame. The closer you get to me, the likelier it is that I'll set your wings on fire."

Taken aback, Regulus guffawed, the sound mirthful. Lily hadn't detected it before in their exchanges. She realized that his laugh, when genuine, wasn't so unlike his brother's…

He's just a man. Break through the pretense—make him trust you.

"I think you're the only lady I've ever known who doesn't quiver in my presence," Regulus maneuvered her into a twirl.

"Does that irritate you?" she raised a brow, a grin slipping through.

"Don't look so proud," Regulus ordered, though it held no ire. "It becomes tiresome to always get who I want when I want them. The slavish ladies from my circle who throw themselves upon my feet constantly are exceedingly tedious."

"You circle must be very small if it only includes Slytherins," she pointed out, trying to ignore the way his hand played at her waist.

"Pureblood Slytherins," Regulus corrected, his countenance imperious. "It means something to be a Black, just as it does to be a Dumbledore. With that comes specific expectations."

They let the music seep between them momentarily, filling the void left by Regulus' testimony. He seemed suddenly lost in thought, executing each dance move perfectly according to the song. Lily imagined he'd danced just like they were now a dozen times over—just another part of the aristocratic upbringing that so many in the Hall shared in. What to think, how to act, who to fraternize with…so many aspects of their little enclave of magical society was tightly delimited. It was no wonder Regulus craved complete control; he had very little of it.

The song concluded, the classical composition transitioning to an upbeat piano number. Regulus tucked Lily's arm under his own and led her off the dancefloor, seemingly above the frivolity. She followed without a word, her mind working on what to do next.

"Rowle, Rosier, go fetch us some food," Regulus ordered once they returned to their table, his temper returned. Lily saw indignation flash in both the boys' eyes at the rude request, and in front of her to boot; yet they obediently rose from their seats to do as they were bid.

"See what I mean?" Regulus breathed, watching his cronies scurry away to accost a house-elf. "Everyone knows their place, knows the pecking order. I could march up to Narcissa's table and demand any one of her ladies go upstairs with me—and they would."

"It's pitiable," Lily's voice was tinged with gloom, rather than the fury he'd expected. She knew his nastiness was a show meant to get a rise out of her—though to what end she wasn't sure.

"Yes, they are," Regulus scooped up his champagne flute and downed the contents.

"I meant you," Lily rectified, the lord's eyes narrowing enigmatically in response. She continued, not breaking eye contact. "Perhaps it was your parents who instilled in you that air of superiority you wear like armor and wield like a sword. Perhaps it's expected of you to act the way you do, or perhaps you truly prefer malice to the alternative. But I know either way it must be a very lonely feeling…it prevents you from making true friendships, perhaps even from finding love at all."

Regulus looked flabbergasted. "What would you understand about it? Don't pretend to know me, Rockford, or assume that such things are of any importance to me. I don't need your damnablepity."

Lily sighed, wrapping her arms across her chest. Too far, too soon. "Fine. Which of these delightful Slytherin girls have your parents selected for you then? Since love and friendship mean nothing to you and the magnificence of your last name gives you pick of the litter, whoever will be given the honour?"

"Careful Lady Rockford," Regulus warned; her change of conversation seemed to reinvigorate his wickedness. "Any more insolence on your part and I may choose you. Show you just how Black this heart of mine truly is."

Lily shrugged him off, her own smile haughty. "I'm afraid I'm the one person on this side of the room well outside of your command, Regulus. A life of disappointment with one of your Slytherin girls will have to suffice."

Rowle and Rosier returned with four plates of food, which they grudgingly placed before she and Regulus like servants. In their presence Regulus turned hard again, summoning more champagne from a nearby house-elf.

The table lapsed into silence as the boys ate, Lily pushing the food around her plate. She watched the students on the dancefloor, longing to join her housemates in their merriment. It was such a different atmosphere with the Slytherins; tense, formal and positively joyless. How could they stand it?

Lily's gaze befell Narcissa's table again, where the white-haired beauty and her posse continued to shoot death glares at her. It was as if Regulus was their axis, their whole world—and thus attention—spinning towards him.

She jolted when Regulus snatched the fork out of her hand and stabbed at her untouched roast, putting a piece of meat into his mouth. He chewed slowly, his glower indignant, handing it back to her. "See? They haven't poisoned your food. Now eat."

Her eyes flickered to Rowle and Rosier, who seemed equal parts surprised and disappointed that they hadn't thought of it.

"It's hard to eat when your cousin could be muttering a curse under her breath. I swear she hasn't broken eye contact since I sat down," Lily muttered, playing with the pendant on her neck again—an attempt to deepen Narcissa's rage from afar. "I thought you demanded the respect of your House? They seem to be questioning your choice of date."

"You are proving to be more trouble than you're worth, Lady Rockford," Regulus uttered silkily as he rose from his seat, dabbing his linen napkin at the corners of his mouth. He turned to his sidekicks. "Keep Lady Rockford company for a moment. If you so much as see a Gryffindor look toward this table, stun them. And I mean that—she's mine tonight. I have an impudent cousin to reprimand."

Lily's concealed shock at Regulus' willingness to go scold his cousin overrode her fury at his claim of ownership over her to his imbecile friends. What she'd said to him had clearly been perceived as a direct challenge to his authority over the Slytherins, as well as the female members of his own family.

As he strode over to Narcissa's table, the girls seated with her swooned, perhaps thinking he'd finally ditched his date for greener pastures. However, Lily could tell by Narcissa's expression it quickly became evident that wasn't the case. In fact, whatever Regulus was saying to his cousin had her so unmistakably incensed that lava could have poured out of her ears.

When Rowle and Rosier turned in their seats to take in the show, Lily felt a whisper against her ear. It was Sirius from beneath James' invisibility cloak: "Change course, Reg isn't biting. Persuade him back onto the dancefloor to separate him from the others. I want to get these two alone."

It was an uncanny feeling knowing Sirius was always close by, watching as his brother made slimy moves on his best friend's girlfriend. Lily suspected it was taking a great deal of self-control on his part. She hoped James was well away, socializing with other professors as was expected of him; he'd never let her go undercover again if he was privy to every philandering comment and controlling caress Regulus was subjecting her to.

Lily nodded, signaling to Sirius that she understood; however, she wasn't sure how she'd entice Regulus away from his cronies without crossing a line that could lead to disaster.

Regulus returned a moment later, coolly slipping into his seat and swallowing more champagne. In the distance, Lily watched as Narcissa yanked her mask off and threw it on the table, rising from her seat. She braced, thinking Narcissa was going to strut over to their table and curse her after all, but instead the blonde marched for the exit through a crowd of startled fourth years, a flurry of flustered Slytherin ladies on her tail.

"You had her leave the party for me?" Lily asked, her disbelief apparent as the scene progressed.

"For me," Regulus corrected her. He turned his attention to Rowle and Rosier. "It wasn't my intention to scare away your dates, but I can't have our women thinking they have the power to challenge my decisions, whether they like them or not. You understand."

"I couldn't agree more, in fact," Rowle answered indifferently, Rosier nodding as well. "Ladies ought to stay out of the business of gentlemen."

"Something tells me Lady Rockford could use training in that area too," Regulus smirked, Lily's mouth falling open to argue. "Boys, see if you can't unearth some firewhiskey from one of our friends. I grow tired of champagne. Go."

The duo of thugs disappeared again, leaving Lily to selfishly wonder if Sirius would choose to follow them or remain with her.

"You were going to debate with me in front of them, weren't you?" Regulus' grin oozed menace as he leaned forward in his chair. He grabbed one of Lily's hands, playing with her fingers; when she tried to pull away, he gripped them harder. "If you were my girlfriend, I'd have to spank you for defying me publicly."

"Your girlfriend?" Lily choked out, her cheeks reddening as she tried to brush his roguish comment aside. "Unfortunately, your deranged daydream is doomed, Lord Black."

"And why is that?" Regulus asked, his eyes predatory. He was like a jackal playing with his food.

"Let's see," Lily began, taking a glass of champagne proffered by a house-elf touting a large tray. She took a long sip, bracing herself. "First, there's my aversion to servitude."

"I think you'll find succumbing to my demands can be quite satisfying," Regulus countered, Lily rolling her eyes in return. He tightened his grip on her hand. "Remember what I said about spanking? Roll your eyes again and you'll find out."

"Second," Lily continued, attempting to thwart his budding antagonism. "There's my belief that pureblood mania is utter nonsense."

"This coming from a lady from an ancient pureblood family," Regulus shook his head, bemused. "Your uncle's liberalism has spoiled you. I can fix that too."

"Third, I find cruelty, arrogance and entitlement wholly unattractive."

"Anything else?"

"I'll conclude with this last point then," Lily said, playing with the necklace at her throat to drive home the argument. "You'd be burned off your family tree for even considering pairing with a Dumbledore."

Regulus straightened, jogged out of his sexual sporting. "How do you know about my family tree? My dolt of a brother told you?"

Lily's hand slipped out of Regulus' grasp as he loosened it, something she was thankful for. She considered what cards to play next. "He told me your mother burned him off it some time ago. That Nymphadora's mother was too when she married a muggle. Sirius said it's wallpapered across an entire room in your London house."

"So it is—and they both deserved it," Regulus replied evenly, his volatile gaze flitting to a spot over her shoulder. "Rejecting his duty, his family, his legacy—how nice for Sirius to have the freedom to gallivant about society, taking from it what he wants and leaving behind what he doesn't. Leaving the mantle of familial duty to me, the second born. How respectable."

"You resent him for that, don't you?" Lily tried, tiptoeing around the lord to see how far she could push him. "Now you're stuck with all the pressure from your family."

"And it's just wonderful," Regulus ground out.

Lily considered it a win—that tiny admission by an aggrieved younger brother. A minor glimpse behind the curtain. Either she was beginning to wear him down or the alcohol was doing its job. How many glasses of champagne had he drunk so far?

"You may begrudge your brother for his decisions, but there's one thing he has that you don't," she said lightly, leaning forward so Regulus' face was closer to hers, her body language coy.

"If you're going to say you, I'll have to remind you that you're here with me this evening, not him," Regulus said, unapologetic about his wandering eyes, practically welcoming the trap.

"Don't tell me that's why you wanted to come with me tonight?" she pursued, running her fingers through her hair, drawing his gaze to her neck. "Because you want to get back at your brother?"

"Tell me what he has that I don't," Regulus demanded, though with less aggression than typical, ignoring her question. "I'm dying to prove you wrong."

"I'm going to hold you to that, Lord Black. Are you sure you can compete?"

"Tell me."

"What Sirius has that you don't—in fact, which not a single soul from Slytherin has shown me tonight—is a good time," Lily emphasized, perking up in her seat. "You don't laugh, you don't relax, you don't dance."

"We danced tonight," Regulus seemed equal parts perplexed and annoyed by the accusation. "You made a clever remark I laughed at earlier."

"If you gave up your controlled image for even a second, you might actually have a good time," Lily chided, a demure smile breaking across her face—her attempt at persuasion. "Now that your snooty cousin and her snooty friends have gone, and now that your cronies are skulking somewhere in the shadows, perhaps I can convince you to loosen up and let me show you how to have fun at a Ball?"

"Make a fool of me you mean?" Regulus grew serious, though she could tell she'd piqued his interest.

"Why would I do that? You're my date—you'd make me look bad too," Lily rose from her chair and extended her hand to him. "Come, you're going to have fun for the first time in your life and I'm going to teach you how. Or does Sirius win this round?"

Lily could hardly believe it when Regulus took her hand and led her towards the dancefloor himself. She was laying it on thick in her attempt to captivate him, yet she had the feeling it had been the nerve she'd struck concerning his brother that had him surmounting his normally difficult, dispassionate demeanor. He did not like to lose—and from the looks of it—least of all to Sirius.

As they neared the edge of a crowd of swaying and twirling students who had yet to notice their arrival—revelers diverted by the electrifying dance music—Lily felt Regulus' grip on her tighten. She saw hesitation flicker across his debonair face, a rarity.

"This is ludicrous. I won't disgrace myself by fraternizing with this lot…" Regulus started, his exacting gaze scanning the crowd.

"Lady Rockford, is something the matter?" Hector Dagworth interrupted, turning away from his partner, Laurentia Fletwock, to assess the exchange between the mismatched couple hovering at the periphery of the dancefloor. "Can I offer some assistance?"

"No, that won't be—"

"If you had any sense, you'd mind your own business, Dagworth," Regulus narrowed his forbidding eyes at the Ravenclaw lord, ready for a fight. "As it happens, I know it's totally hollow between your ears."

Hector snorted indignantly, the exchange catching the attention of nearby students, including Basil Horton and Barnabus Cuff. The two aristocratic Hufflepuffs sauntered over with their dates, presumably to defend their friend. "Is that your weak attempt at a threat, Black?"

Shit, shit, shit…Lily swore inwardly, deliberating how she'd pry Regulus from the situation without a wand battle ensuing between the testosterone-laden lords.

Just as Regulus opened his mouth to eviscerate Hector, a server in an elaborate jester mask appeared bearing a tray of miniature liqueur glasses filled with glistening amber liquid. "Lord Black, sir? The firewhiskey you ordered."

The group seemed momentarily surprised—Regulus included—as hard alcohol was prohibited at school events. Lily not only knew who the disguised server was, but immediately recognized he was hand-delivering a break in the action she was meant to use to her advantage.

"Brilliant, thank you," Lily broke the group's stunned silence, taking a glass and passing one to Regulus. She played to his vanity to further diffuse the situation—and his budding mood. "Go on everyone, take one before professors spot us. Regulus can only pull so many strings."

Loathe to pass up such a golden opportunity, no matter the animosity shared with the Slytherin lord, Hector, Basil and Barnabus all grabbed for a glass, turning to friends dancing nearby—including Rudolf and Alice—to encourage them to take one before the tray disappeared.

"Happy Halloween," Lily turned to Regulus, smiling devilishly as she clinked his glass with her own. He raised an exasperated brow, waiting for the other lords to retreat before he swallowed back the contents in one foul swoop. Hoping to keep him in good humour now that the quarrel with the other lords had dissipated, she did the same.

As the liquor slowly burned down her throat, Lily felt a rush of elation, as if gravity had given way and she was lighter on her feet than ever before. Confused by the strange bolt of bliss, she looked to Regulus, who seemed equally staggered by the impact of the alcohol.

"Wow," was all she could muster, her legs and arms beginning to tingle pleasantly.

Regulus blinked a few times, grabbing her hand as if to steady himself. "I don't think that was just firewhiskey…"

Precipitously, music from the band swelled, instruments growing louder and more urgent. Lights began to dim, making leering pumpkins glow brighter. Then, all the colours in the room seemed to explode in hue, unpretentious laughter abounding. Her mood was near meteoric in response.

Dazzled, Lily dreamily observed the seventh-year students who had partaken in the drink alongside she and Regulus dancing again, their polished moves now hot and frenzied. She closed her eyes, feeling an intense necessity to join in the fun. When she opened them again, ready to plead with Regulus to participate—to have fun— she found he'd somehow already whisked her to the middle of the floor.

Lily yelped as Regulus unexpectedly spun her and then dipped her low, his once-menacing eyes now full of mischief. "I'll show you a better time than my brother ever could."

---

"What the hell am I witnessing right now?" James said out of the side of his mouth, brows knit together as he leaned against a wall near the punch table, arms crossed.

Beside him, Remus busied himself by magicking away his serving tray, sandy-blond hair his only perceptible feature behind his jester's mask and costume. He turned toward the spectacle James was referring to: a collection of seventh year students partying in the middle of the dancefloor like it was on fire, including Lily and Regulus.

"Sirius' idea to separate Regulus from the rest of the Slytherins," Remus replied, the two friends watching as Professor McGonagall shooed younger students out of the Hall, afraid they'd be trampled by the hyperactive dancing of Hogwarts' senior students, now come alive. "A couple drops of Elixir to Induce Euphoria in every shot of firewhiskey."

"What?" James straightened, arching his neck to find Lily in the crowd.

"Regulus was resisting Lily's attempts to get him to dance. Sirius thought it might loosen him up. We also intensified the music and dimmed the lights—a false sense of privacy that might help Regulus get into the swing of things."

"Did you really have to slip Lily some too?" James muttered, finally catching sight of Lily dancing with Regulus, who looked equal parts jubilant and smug. Jealousy twisted his stomach like a soggy dish rag: he wanted to be on the receiving end of her smile, something Sirius' younger brother mightn't deserve in this lifetime or the next.

"I couldn't take a chance that Regulus would select the wrong glass," Remus replied cogently, though he added, "Sorry, Prongs."

"Why does she have to make her performance look so convincing?" James ran his hands through his hair, frustrated. "Anyone looking on might actually think she can stand him."

"She'd make a good spy for the Order," Remus agreed, his expression unreadable behind his mask. "She has a talent for earning trust."

"Over my dead body," James countered. A group of sixth-year girls giggled nearby, watching their exchange. One sharp look of annoyance in their direction had them scattering. "She's in enough danger as is, though you wouldn't know it from this outlandish display."

"Regulus' motivations may still be unclear, but my instincts tell me he doesn't wish her danger," Remus assured him, crossing his arms too. "Elevating his status, inciting jealousy from other lords, humiliating Dumbledore—it could even be an attempt to spite his brother. There are many potential reasons for tonight."

"You forgot to mention he may actually like her," James growled, the idea making him see red. "She's so damn beguiling and she doesn't even know it. She's even managed to charm Snape. It was probably the highlight of his life when she chose him to dance with. Thank Merlin I was too distracted with my own dance partner to watch…I don't need the nightmares."

"She only chose him because you were already spoken for, Prongs," Remus said, shaking his head at his friend's envy. "She doesn't have the inherited biases we do, the ingrained conventions. That freedom and open-mindedness makes her captivating, even to the most cynical Slytherins."

"That's precisely what I'm worried about, Mooney," James sighed, catching a glimpse of Lily squealing with laughter. He hoped it was just a product of the elixir. "She doesn't have the armor we do…and it could mean her downfall."

---

Sirius thought he really should be congratulated for his brilliance.

From beneath the hoary invisibility cloak—a tool of disguise the Marauders had perfected using during their school days—Sirius could see that his suggestion to drug his younger brother had achieved both of his aims: separate him from his cronies and cause a show that would provoke their ire.

"What is he thinking?" Thorfinn Rowle snarled at Evan Rosier, the two boys awestruck by the scene of Regulus and Aurora dancing amidst a boisterous crowd of seventh years—none of whom belonged to Slytherin. "It's bad enough her took her to the dance, but this? Narcissa would scream if she were here to witness this."

"Maybe he has a plan?" Rosier tried to rationalize the behaviour, in denial that the most respected member of their House—and more importantly, a member of one of society's oldest and most dignified pureblood families—could be breaking with tradition.

"Then why wouldn't he involve us?" Rowle spat, his anger intensifying. "If his desire was to kill the girl, he'd need us to help him. How else would he get away with it? And there have been so many opportunities already…I could have brought with me any number of poisons if I'd known."

"Perhaps he doesn't want to involve us because he doesn't want to share the glory?" Rosier muttered, hunching forward in his seat. "That could be why he won't discuss a plan of action with us—why he always dismisses us when we bring it up."

"It is possible," Rowle conceded, though his thin face remained etched with hostility. "Father does tell me that Orion Black likes to remind everyone of his superiority in the ranks—that he enjoys special access to him. But the old man will croak any day now…perhaps he is priming Regulus to take his place? Instructing him to do something that will cause him to rise in favour faster than the rest of us?"

"And you think it has to do with the Dumbledore girl?" Rosier mused.

"It may…or he may just want to fuck her," Rowle grunted, a malicious smirk appearing. Sirius was tempted to set his pants on fire, turning his manhood to charcoal, but knew flaming testicles might distract them saying something important. "Debase the little whore. That could be just as sweet a victory. It would certainly please Narcissa."

"You're not still hungry for Narcissa, are you? She'll be married to Lucius within the year—you haven't got a chance."

Rowle brought his fist down on the table, rattling the silverware. "The Malfoy name is no more important than my family name. If I prove myself to the Dark Lord, perhaps it will win her over too."

"She could be married by the time Regulus deigns to involve us in his plans," Rosier sulked, scowling as he spotted their ringleader dancing amongst the crowd, exultant.

"That's why we go ahead without him," Rowle breathed, his fist balling around his butter knife. "It's time you and I made our own plan. No more waiting for Regulus to man up. We will take our legacies into our own hands. Hogwarts won't know what hit it when we're through."

---

Lily was in a crush of fervent dancers and absolutely loving it.

She held her arms above her head, closing her eyes as she allowed the music to grip her, leading her body to move as the song bid it. Around her, seventh year students were as emancipated as she, free from inhibition and alive with excitement.

When she opened her eyes, it was to find Regulus dancing with fervor, his body loose and responsive, feet, arms and even hips moving in sync to the buoyant music. She'd never seen him so uncaring, so spontaneous—and yet, he was anything but out of place in the swell of avid dancers. Nothing about it made any sense—and when he locked eyes on her it felt completely natural for her to grab his hands and continue the dance.

"Is this fun enough for you?" Regulus had to holler over the music for her to hear him. She laughed as he twirled her and she bumped into another dancer, a lord who merely smiled blearily and continued to revel.

"You can actually dance!" Lily exclaimed, experiencing a sense of déjà vu as she watched him sway his hips.

"You bet your pretty ass I can," Regulus mocked, pulling Lily against his chest and then flinging her outwards, causing their arms to extend and Lily to elastically come rolling back in along his arm, their palms meeting in a swanky dance move.

"You're shocking your Slytherin friends!" Lily cried out as Regulus pulled off yet another clever move that had her twirling beneath his outstretched arm. The thought of him dropping her or sending her flying didn't even cross her mind.

"Fuck 'em," Regulus said easily, his merriment showing in his laidback movements rather than the pitch of his voice. "About time a Slytherin showed up the rest of these losers on the dancefloor!"

"Can I cut in, Lady Rockford?"

Lily turned—the movement making her a bit dizzy—to find Lady Fifi LaFolle of Hufflepuff tapping her on the shoulder, her misty eyes fixed on Regulus.

"Um…?" Lily looked to Regulus for his response.

"Get lost," Regulus rolled his eyes, pretending the girl didn't exist. "Nobody in this room is good enough to dance with me except you."

Lily felt a pang of pity for the girl behind her—an emotion that proved a real buzzkill for the inner ecstasy that had her feeling so carefree. "You're attracting female attention with those dance moves, Regulus. Dance with her and let's see if you can't make me jealous."

Regulus lifted an arrogant brow, the kittenish look Lily flashed him rosing his interest. She knew he couldn't resist a game.

"As you wish," he smirked, releasing her hand and yanking Fifi to his side, taking the lady by surprise. Her eyes widened with girlish glee.

Lily backed up, watching as Regulus commanded control of Fifi, making the girl's body move in fiery harmony with his own. Within moments he seemed to have Fifi totally entranced, his movements sensual and suggestive. He was taking Lily's dare to heart, his eyes regularly flashing back to hers to garner her reaction.

She felt a lump form in her throat, wondering if she'd taken it too far by involving others. Yet, Fifi didn't appear to be complaining—in fact, other Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff ladies were flocking around them, similarly spellbound by his intensity and prowess. A gloved hand flew to Lily's mouth as she watched him dip Fifi, plant a flippant kiss on her lips, then cast her off like a rag doll into a group of goggling girls, who haphazardly caught her flushed form. In a blink, he'd replaced her with a dark-haired Ravenclaw, his next willing participant.

He so resembled his older brother in that moment it was uncanny.

---

Sirius found a discrete corner of the Dining Hall to remove the invisibility cloak he'd been donning for hours. After tucking the rare artifact into his pocket, he fastened a black visor mask to his face and combed his fingers through his laidback hairstyle, readying for the next act of the night.

Attempting to draw as little attention as possible, Sirius sauntered across the hall in his suave tuxedo towards another masked wizard lingering near the buffet table.

"Well?" the wizard asked from behind his Venetian plague mask. Frank Longbottom always was straight to the point.

"No concrete plans in motion," Sirius divulged, cracking his knuckles. He knew no one could overhear their hushed conversation above the pulsing music, so continued: "They reconfirmed what Lily's already told us: they're prospective death eaters looking to prove themselves to earn a coveted spot in his ranks. Rowle and Rosier aren't aware of any plans Reg has against Lily, and that's got them angry. They had no idea he was taking her tonight."

"Unusual. Didn't you say those two were your brother's closest friends?"

"Underlings more like. Regulus doesn't keep friends," Sirius snatched a glass of champagne from a serving tray as a house-elf passed by. "Rowle and Rosier are branching out on their own now. Whatever they're planning, it's going to happen at Hogwarts."

"And your brother? It was his plans we wanted to learn tonight."

Sirius clenched his jaw, his gaze finding Regulus in the crowd of dancers. He noticed a gaggle of girls surrounding him, waiting their turn to dance with him. He wondered what had caused him to abandon Lily, knowing his brother had a patent distaste for being seen with anyone below the status of a Black.

"Regulus remains an enigma," Sirius replied, a sinking feeling in his gut. It seemed to him that Regulus' lackies thought he was procrastinating from becoming a death eater—something their father clearly wanted for him. He felt a flicker of pity for his younger brother: there'd be no denying Orion Black for much longer unless he too wanted to be burned off the family tree.

"If that's all, I'll relay the information to Dumbledore and the others," Frank said, rubbing at the back of his neck. "You best get ready. Don't let her dance another moment longer with him, the slimeball. No offense…"

"Mine is a family that deserves insult," Sirius sighed, Frank squeezing his shoulder before slipping out of sight.

As Sirius set out to find James and Remus to convey the same information, he found his footfalls cease when he came upon Nymphadora sitting by herself at a table near the back of the room, her chin resting in hands.

"And what, pray tell, has you looking so glum on this fine Hallow's Eve?" Sirius sidled up beside her, causing Nymphadora to right herself in short-lived surprise. She wore a knee-length cocktail dress with multiple folds of lace—likely something his cousin Andromeda had sewn together for her. "Can't you transfigure your face into a smile?"

"Why would I care to do that?" Nymphadora glared at her cousin, realizing it was him within moments of his arrival despite his mask. "Balls are stupid. The only reason I'm still here is because I promised Amelia we'd walk back to the dormitories together. Gilbert Wimple still has her out on the dancefloor."

"You're upset no one asked you to dance?" Sirius attempted, earning a scowl from her. He'd never understand women.

"No," Nymphadora maintained. "I couldn't care less. There aren't any wizards here that I find remotely attractive."

Sirius rolled his eyes, equal parts exasperated and amused by the spirited girl. "Have you ever found another wizard attractive? The day I see you with a boyfriend is the day I fall over dead, I swear."

"You're an arse," Nymphadora poked out her tongue. "Set me up with your friend Remus and I'll have you dead and buried in short order."

"Remus?" Sirius gasped, a chuckle rising to his throat. "You think I'd let one of my best mates get his paws on my little cousin? Not a chance. I'd sooner send you to a nunnery."

Nymphadora sighed in defeat, settling her elbows on the table and cradling her chin in her hands again. "What are you doing here, anyways?"

"Come to wrestle Aurora out of the grips of my brother," Sirius revealed.

"Tell me you don't actually like her?" Nymphadora demanded, coming alive again.

"Yes," was all Sirius offered, though his cousin's visible annoyance intrigued him. "Afraid I'm going to corrupt your friend?"

"She's not my friend," Nymphadora retorted, this time making Sirius grimace. "I'm looking out for you, not the other way around."

"I had it on good authority you were friends—what changed your mind?" he probed.

"No friend of mine would be caught dead going to a Ball with Regulus," Nymphadora hissed. Sirius detected disappointment behind her veil of anger. "Aurora has proven tonight she's just like the rest of them. Fake, fame-hungry and all for show."

Sirius sighed, regarding his little cousin with wretchedness in his heart. As the daughter of a pureblood witch from a prominent family who'd betrayed her upbringing to marry a muggle, her world was a hard one to live in. The prejudice she'd faced, the constant taunting, the feeling of not fitting into either world—wizard or muggle—had left emotional scars, he was sure. Though she'd parried every insult and jeer with great expertise, the ones that had landed had come from her own cousin, his brother, who was hellbent on making her feel rejected so he could put as much distance between his name and hers.

It certainly hadn't been a banner day for the Black family at Hogwarts.

"Aurora made me swear not to tell you this, but I'm going to because I can't stand the thought of you walking away from a genuine friend," Sirius exhaled, leaning back in his chair. Beside him, Nymphadora's eyes swam with startled curiosity. "Aurora made a deal with Regulus: in exchange for going to the Ball with him, he has vowed to leave you in peace for the rest of your Hogwarts days. She's risked her reputation tonight—and losing you as a friend—to protect you."

"What?" Nymphadora's eyes prickled with tears: whether they were grateful, angry or embarrassed ones, he couldn't be sure. "Why in Merlin's name would she do that? I don't need her protection, I can—"

"As I said, she didn't want you to know. Recognized it would injure your pride. She cares for you, Dora—can't you just accept that and move on?" Sirius ventured, rising to his feet and buttoning up his jacket. He finished by smoothing his hair around his mask. "You and I both know Regulus has some deep-rooted issues because of being part of this family. We do too, but not like him. I'm sorry I didn't protect you better from him—from all of them."

"Is everything alright, Sirius?" Nymphadora questioned, her eyes softening. She'd batted away his apology as easily as the insults. "You don't seem like yourself tonight. You're all…mushy and somber."

Sirius snorted in response. "Mushy? You ever tell anyone that and I'll announce your undying love for Remus Lupin."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, just try me…" Sirius laughed over his shoulder, giving Nymphadora a wink. "I'll see you later this evening, Dora."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see…"

---

Lily's giddiness was gradually transitioning to wooziness as the party continued to rage around her. Regulus was dancing and discarding ladies like it was a professional sport, yet she was finding it harder and harder to focus on looking like she cared.

"Aurora! Isn't this great?" Alice's squeal pulled Lily from her stupor, causing her to turn and find both of her friends dancing with enthusiasm.

"Whatever was in the shot, I want a whole bottle of it!" Rudolf thundered gregariously, spinning Alice on the spot, making her bust into giggles. "Have you been released by the menace yet?"

"Oh…I don't know what time it is," Lily blinked, trying to reorient herself with the circumstances. Her rapture seemed to be wearing off with every passing moment.

Lily's disconcertion continued when a hand gripped her upper arm and spun her around. Her heart leapt with dread when she came nose-to-nose with Regulus. "Was that little game some ploy to steal time that is rightfully mine to spend with your friends?"

"How could I have known that daring you to dance with Fifi would result in you sticking your tongue down half the school's throats?" Lily countered, some of her fire returning.

Regulus smirk was serpentine. "Envious it wasn't you, Rockford?"

She was sobering fast, the Slytherin's conceit like a bucket of ice-cold water down her back. "Congratulations Regulus, you've proven you can have almost any girl at this school; however, you still can't have me."

"We'll see about—"

Just as Regulus was about to lurch forward to force Lily into another dance with him, the band's music suddenly stopped, replaced by a deep, resonant gong that shook the Hall, champagne glasses rattling on their trays. Nobody could quite tell where the sound was coming from, but it continued to chime over and over—twelve times, to be exact.

"Midnight," Lily whispered to Regulus, the only one in the crowd not looking around to understand what the sound meant. His eyes narrowed, the elixir's effects abating for him too. "I've fulfilled my end of our deal. Now you must uphold yours."

Suddenly, something sparked at the edge of Lily' dress, causing one of the feathers to singe away. Regulus' eyes widened—as did those of nearby spectators whose attention was grabbed—as the rest of the feathers on the ballooned skirt of Lily's dress began to burn away. Regulus stepped away from her as she became engulfed in flames that ravaged her dress like a hungry forest fire, leaving simmering red velvet where there was once black-feathered fabric. Before all, she'd been transformed from a black swan into a brilliant phoenix—a transformative charm she and Frank had painstakingly worked on days earlier.

As the twelfth gong sounded, Lily let her visor mask fall to the floor with a clatter. Students stood in awe of her new dress, reverential of the clever magic that had crafted it. Regulus relaxed his face into an expression of aloofness at the pageantry, but Lily saw the wrath scorched behind his retinas.

"Might I ask for the last dance, Lady Rockford?"

Turning away from Regulus, Lily found Sirius standing beside her, the mirror image of his younger brother were it not for his black tuxedo and a few inches of height. She felt immense relief to find kind, reassuring eyes behind his mask.

As the band struck up its final song of the night, sufficiently recovered from the clock-chiming interruption, Lily took Sirius' proffered hand and allowed him to lead her in a song full of spine-chilling strings, the last ode to Halloween. Other couples joined in too, though almost every neck was crooked in their direction as they tried to figure out who had stolen Aurora Rockford away from Regulus Black.

"You've done well—very well," Sirius chuckled, pausing to plunge Lily into an elegant dip. "The night it almost over."

"Was it worth it?" Lily asked, a hint of desperation tinging her voice. "Please tell me it was all worth it."

"I didn't learn what I'd hoped to, but there were snippets that will prove useful," he replied, his every step graceful and easy—always attuned to the music. "Be proud of what we pulled off."

"He resents you, Sirius," Lily murmured, feeling compelled to reveal what she'd learned. "You were supposed to be the heir…and now it's all on his shoulders."

Lily could see Sirius' throat bob when she said it, but he couldn't seem to muster the words to reply. Just then, the music reached a dizzying climax, bursting back into frenetic dance music. The crowd oohed and awed as Sirius rose his wand on cue and sent a scarlet fireworks display up into the air. The shower of sparks that rained down on the dancing crowd below made hearts surge with excitement, cementing captivation of their mysterious coupling.

Sirius twirled her beneath his arm, extending Lily an alluring smile meant to encourage her participation in the exhibition. "Come on, let's end it on a high note. You know what to do."

"If you insist," she returned, mustering a smile as she allowed him to direct her in a series of skilled movements that made her feel light-footed enough to fly.

When Sirius finally let her go, it was to brandish upon her and the onlooking crowd a suave set of dance moves meant to seduce; yet his lusty hip movements and toothy grin only induced laughter within her. Nearby, Emmeline Vance looked ready to collapse, overcome by the lord's undeniable sexiness.

"Come Lady Rockford, I must have you dance!" Sirius roared above the music, grabbing her hand and clutching her close, making her rock back and forth with him. It was a performance to convince the crowd of his attraction to her, just as her reaction to it was also theatre, yet there was a sliver of them both in that moment—two friends genuinely having fun after a night of calculation and deceit.

"Don't drop me!" Lily laughed, exasperated with the number of times he'd twirled her. She muttered to him, "If this song doesn't end soon, I'm going to heave all over you."

"How romantic," Sirius snorted.

Uproarious applause proceeded as the song ended, the party being far more rousing than anyone had anticipated. Sirius dipped Lily a final time; when she straightened, he leaned in to peck her on the cheek. She smiled amiably in return, offering him a playful curtsey.

As the band took their concluding bows, Sirius announced loudly enough for nearby students to hear, "Shall we continue this at the after party, Lady Rockford?"

"Let's," Lily agreed. She took his arm as he piloted her from the depths of the envious crowd, all of whom were still clueless as to who was on her arm. "Rudolf? Alice? Amelia?"

Mouths fell open as Rudolf linked arms with Alice, their smiles clandestine as they followed in their wake. Meanwhile, Amelia dithered on the spot, stunned to have been included in Lily's beckoning. Rudolf took initiative to hook her on their way out, leading both girls toward the exit. While Gilbert Wimple looked crestfallen to lose his date, noble students appeared scandalized that a scholarship student was chosen over them.

At the large double doors, Remus Lupin and Frank Longbottom waited, their masks and costumes long discarded. When surprised cries sounded from students after realizing two of society's most eligible bachelors were also present, Sirius theatrically paused to discard his mask, revealing his identity too. Lily heard Emmeline Vance wail in a mixture of shock and dismay at not being included in their retreating party.

Just as Lily thought they were in the clear and the charade could conclide, she spied Nymphadora hovering at a table nearby, tentatively watching their grand exit. Lily pulled on Sirius' shirt sleeve, "Wait just a moment."

She departed his side and approached Nymphadora hesitantly, aware of the Metamorphmagus' earlier displeasure with her choice of date. "Still angry with me?"

The purple-haired girl shrugged, though Lily felt a glimmer of hope as a smirk started to tug at the edges of her mouth. "Your choice of date may have improved, but if you're here to try and bag another Black, you're barking up the wrong tree with me."

Lily rolled her eyes, relief igniting. "Come have fun with us. I promise I won't stuff you in a tuxedo and make you dance with me like I did the other two."

"Thank Merlin," Nymphadora jested. She sighed, faltering for a moment before accepting Lily's invitation and re-joining the group, arm-in-arm as friends again.

---

From afar, Regulus watched the disgusting display of friendship from his place in the crowd. Hatred blossomed as the elite assembly of witches and wizards—including his embarrassing half-blood cousin and sorry excuse for a brother—encircled Lady Rockford and disappeared from the Ball, leaving him without the date that—in his mind—he'd bought and paid for.

It certainly wasn't the ending to the evening he'd designed.

---

For Lily and her inner circle, the plan had gone off without a hitch. Sirius, Remus and Frank's disguises had worked like a charm, as had the very public intervention of Sirius at midnight to claim Lily and disappear with her close crowd of friends. Those details had been of particular importance, as her inner circle wanted witnesses who could attest to the fact that she hadn't concluded the evening with Regulus, should he attempt to spread unseemly rumors about activities that had taken place between them after the Ball. It was their insurance policy for her virtue remaining intact despite being on his arm all evening.

The dress, on the other hand, had just been fun trick to play on Regulus—a metaphorical re-claiming of the evening. Cinderella on fire.

"Well done," Frank murmured to Lily as their group of friends flitted down the seventh-floor corridor, party masks abandoned and—for Rudolph and Alice—the last remnants of the elixir pushing them blissfully forward. "Now we get to relax, but don't forget you still have to keep the charade up in front of your frie—"

"That was simply the best party I've EVER been too!" Alice chirruped, inelegantly pushing her way in between Lily and Frank, her fairy wings flapping as she danced down the hall. She looked back once to flourish Frank with a pretty, if not inviting, smile.

Lily giggled, unable to help herself. "I think someone wants you to catch up with her."

"It's just the elixir," Frank frowned, though his ears turned bright red, betraying his blush. "I best follow just to make sure she doesn't do anything silly until the affects wear off…"

Lily shook her head, unable to disguise her grin as Frank trotted off after Alice. At the front of the parade of friends was Sirius, leading them to an unspecified party location in the castle. Rudolf was at his side chatting his ear off, and whatever he was saying—likely spurred on by the elixir—was causing Sirius to periodically burst into deafening bouts of laughter. Meanwhile, Nymphadora and Amelia were trading Ball stories somewhere in the middle of the pack—Alice and Frank blowing by them—with Lily taking up the rear with Remus.

"Dare I ask where we're going?" Lily mused, feeling comfortable in Remus' companionable presence. She'd gotten to know him a lot better in the past few days, previously only meeting him on chance occasions—and usually only when a crisis arose.

"A very interesting place indeed," Remus replied, hands buried in his pockets. "It's a place we discovered in our school days. Some call it the Come and Go Room, while we know it as the Room of Requirement."

"The Room of Requirement?" Lily chewed her bottom lip. "I don't remember reading about that in Hogwarts, A History."

"From what we can tell, the room is unplottable on a map," Remus explained, a small smile crossing his lips. "Many only know it as a rumor. Others have likely stumbled upon it before but didn't realize what they were seeing at the time."

Sirius stopped up ahead, throwing out a hand to indicate to everyone to stay behind him. The party remained hushed as they watched him examine a blank stone wall, then close his eyes and walk back and forth in front of it.

"To manifest the room, you walk in front of it three times, explicitly asking for something you have real need of. The room then equips itself with the seeker's needs—let's say a lavatory, a place to hide, a…"

"A place to hold a secret party that no one can burst in on?" Lily finished Remus' sentence, her pupils enlarging as a plank door suddenly appeared where vacant wall once existed. "This castle never ceases to amaze me…"

When Sirius grabbed the door handle and shoved it open, boisterous music suddenly filled the once-still corridor, revolving blue, red and yellow lights spilling out from the darkly lit room.

"Who's ready to after party?" Sirius grinned at the friends gathered, causing Alice to squeal happily and Rudolf and Nymphadora to holler in agreement. Even usually stoic Amelia squeaked out an "Amazing!"

Sirius held open the door and ushered everyone inside, though when Lily went to enter, he put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "I think someone wants a word before you head in."

Lily followed Sirius' gaze over her shoulder, finding James standing in the connecting corridor. His tall frame was leaned up against a wall, unnoticed by the excited partyers who'd disappeared into the Room of Requirement.

As Sirius winked and closed the door behind him, Lily found herself running over to James. When she threw her arms around his neck, he caught her, scooping her off her feet, the two instantly drinking in the scent and feel of one another. They clung to each other for what felt like hours until Lily slipped back onto her feet, looking up into James' molten eyes.

"Are you alright?" he breathed, looking down the empty, torch-lit corridor and pulling Lily into the alcove he'd tucked himself into while awaiting their arrival. "I'm so sorry about the elixir—that was my idiot friend thinking on his feet."

"It was clever—and it worked," Lily dismissed the apology, cupping a hand over James' stubbled cheek. "And I'm fine, completely fine. It was easier than I thought it'd be. I'm glad it's over now."

"It was torture for me to watch," James admitted, lightly dragging his fingers down Lily's bare back, making her shiver. "Watching him dance with you, grab for your hand, receive your smiles…I hated every minute of it. It won't pretend it didn't make me want to do violent things…"

"Hush," Lily tried to sooth him, settling her hands on his waist. "No harm done, and from what Sirius told me, there was something worthwhile in it all, wasn't there?"

"Let's talk about that tomorrow," James said, brushing a strand of hair out of Lily's face. They couldn't seem to stop touching one another, in need of the physical connection for reassurance.

Lily studied James' face, admiring the set of his jaw and plains of his nose—the way his glasses always seemed to be slipping down it, and how curls of untamed hair matched his brown eyes, now inexplicably outlined with purple. Looking into his face felt like home.

"I love you," Lily whispered desperately, the declaration slipping out.

James' eyes softened, the lines around his mouth easing as if they hadn't smiled all day and the muscles could finally relax. With a gentle tug, James yanked off the Black family pendant still hanging on her, tucking it away in his pocket. He leaned in close, his fingers finding the nape of her neck and intertwining with her hair, arching her head back. "I love you."

Lily closed her eyes, relief and contentment washing over her as she dissolved against him, the tenderness of his kiss giving her a sense of security she hadn't realized she'd been missing all night.

"You feel warm," James said, breaking their kiss to press the back of his hand against her chest, checking if she had a fever.

"It's because I want you so badly," Lily said, her eyes heavy with longing as she turned James' hand over, moving his palm over her heart, just above the swell of her cleavage. She saw his eyes darken with desire at the revelation. "I just want you."

James captured her mouth again, this time more forcefully, his hands cupping both her breasts, thumbs grazing against the velvet fabric. Lily wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself as close against him as she could, desperate to feel him all over. She gasped when James changed tactics and planted his hands under her backside, picking her up and crushing her against the wall of the alcove.

"I'm mad for you, Lils," James breathed against Lily's neck as he began to trail kisses along her collarbone, worshipping her skin. Their hips were crushed against one another's and all Lily wanted to do was move against him, to intensify the moment and forget everything that had happened that evening—an evening of unwanted advances, game playing and stomach-churning flirtation. All she wanted now was to be in James' safe hands, where everything between them was real and heartfelt. She had the love of a man who she could hardly believe she deserved, and that night had reminded her of how lucky she was to have it.

"I wish I could take you up to bed with me right now and never let you go," Lily whispered, running her hands through his hair.

James stopped kissing her and craned his neck, mischief dancing behind his spectacles. "Oh really? Your bed, you say?"

Lily gasped, a hand flying to her mouth as she turned pink. "Did you think I meant…?"

"Mmm, you wouldn't be the first woman who wants to take me hostage in her bed," James growled playfully against her ear, making Lily break into side-splitting giggles. "Careful what you wish for…"

"I meant I just want to be with you always," Lily teased, unable to keep the smile off her face. "Is that so much to ask?"

"It can be arranged, my lady," James said, his gaze shifting from her laughter-crinkled eyes to the dress that had undergone so much manhandling by him that it was close to exposing her. "Is this so-called hostage taking clothing optional by chance? Because that's an abduction I can get behind…"

"James!" Lily swatted him, her mock outrage echoing down the corridor. "You're incorrigible."

"There you are!" a voice sounded, followed seconds later by the appearance of an irritated Nymphadora. "You drag me to this party and then you disappear, what kind of friend—oh…"

Lily and James froze in place like deer in the headlights as Nymphadora stumbled upon their entangled bodies, a student and a so-called professor.

"Shit," James swore.

---

Author's Notes

To those of you who still follow this story god knows how many years later, thank you. I haven't made it an easy journey for you due to my infrequent updating, yet even when years go by in between where I get busy getting married and working and house-buying and growing up in general, I always find myself back at this story when I need a little escape, a little romance and a little magic. And that's something we can all use in a time like this, am I right?

For those of you hunkering down, isolating, sick, caring for someone who is sick or have suffered loss because of this terrible pandemic, my heart goes out to you, as well as my gratitude to all our essential workers for your heroism. I hope this new chapter gives you a sliver of happiness and hope that everything will be OK, and soon.

All my love,

pratty-prongs-princesse