Some Thing Just Happens, 4
A Lily / James Saga
[Note: Fourth part. Thanks for reviewing! That was great! I hope this part gets as many reviews . . . This part starts about two days after the incident by the lake. Read, review, and enjoy!!!!!!! Remember to read only after reading parts 1-3. You won't understand anything if you don't!! Usual disclaimers apply.]
* * *
"Umm . . . Lily? Could I speak to you for a minute, please?" said Bryce Johnson, one of the most wanted seventh years in Hogwarts. Lily nodded, uncomfortably. She had a feeling she knew what this was going to be about. The Christmas Ball. Nine boys had already asked her, and she had said the same thing to them: I've already got a date, or I'll think about it. She followed him into the classroom. "Umm, Lily? Go to the ball with me?" he asked, nervously. She smiled to see him squirming around. "Sorry, Bryce, but I've already got a date. Maybe next time," she mumbled, once again remember the incident by the lake with James. Bryce looked a little disappointed, but asked her, "Do you know of anyone good I can go with?" Lily grinned. "Why, Bryce, any girl will have you. What about Sophia Richards? She's nice, and er, I think she likes you." she said. Bryce blushed, said his thanks, and ran off. Lily grinned to herself, bittersweetly. I'm turning into a love counselor, she thought. But I think I need one myself.
* * *
"So, Lil. Who are you going to the ball with?" asked Arabella. Tara, Arabella, and Lily were sitting by the fireplace in the common room. Lily bit her lip. This was going to be hard. "Umm . . . no one," she replied, uncomfortably. Tara sat up straight. "WHAT?" she exclaimed. "I saw at least a dozen people asking you, Lil!" she said. Arabella nodded, agreeing. Lily just shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe I won't go, afterall," she said. Just then, James and Sirius popped up. "Go where afterall?" James asked, flinging himself onto a couch. Sirius and Remus followed suit. Lily blushed. The guys are sure great at popping up at very comfortable moments, she thought. "Oh, we were just talking. Lily hasn't got a date yet. And she says she might not go at all," Arabella supplied. James' eyebrows shot up. "What? But I saw a lot of guys asking you, Lil. It should be real easy for you to get a date," he said. Lily blushed. She had been sort of avoiding James since that incident. That wound hadn't been healed yet. And the fact that James was going with Sarah didn't really help heal it.
* * *
It seemed as the next few days had flown away, Lily thought. It was Friday afternoon, and the school had been given the day off, because it was Christmas Eve, and the ball was scheduled for that night. Most of the girls were in the castle, getting ready way ahead of time. Lily, however, preffered to spend the afternoon by the lake. She sat down under an oak tree, thinking about the ball. She was going alone, but she couldn't help feeling a little bit excited about the ball. Dumbledore had hired the Wild Witches, a popular wizarding band, to play at the ball. She had seen the Great Hall; it looked spectacular. There was mistletoe everywhere, and little ice statues had been placed all around. There were special trick spots in the Hall, where showers of flowers, hearts and little stars would fall on you if you stepped on them. It looked really exciting, she agreed. Oh well. Even if I can't go with James, I can at least enjoy it, she told herself resolutely.
* * *
About 20 minutes before the ball was due to start, Lily entered the girls' dorm. Tara gaped at her. "Lil!" she exclaimed. "Where have you been? The ball starts in 15 minutes!" she shrieked. Lily rolled her eyes at her, and stepped into the bathroom. After having a quick shower, she slipped on her dress robes. She had picked them out in Robe Time, a new shop in Hogsmeade. They looked really good on her. They were cucumber green, and sparkled at places beautifully. The green matched the color of her eyes, and it suited her dark red hair too. She slipped on a delicate silver chain with a locket in the shape of a lily. James had given it to her for her birthday last year. A pang of heartache hit her as she put it on, but it soon washed away. She brushed out her hair well, and let it loose. She pinned two clips on both the sides, and she was ready. Am I making a mistake by going to the ball? Will I be able to stand the hurt - if it hurts?
* * *
Lily entered the common room nervously. People gaped at her. "Lily!" Arabella cried, running over. "You look wonderful!" she exclaimed loudly. Lily blushed red. "So do you, Arabella," she said, tactfully. Arabella was going with Remus, just as friends, or so she said. Lily felt that there was "more" to that date than met the eye. She caught sight of James, and grinned. He looked really handsome in dark blue robes. He grinned back, and mouthed, "WOW!", pointing at her outfit. She blushed, and he laughed. He Westlife My Love had his arm around Sarah, who was dressed in light yellow robes. Her heart sank, as it had done often in the past couple of days. Oh well, she thought to herself. She put on a smile, and walked out of the portrait hole.
* * *
Lily sat down at a table, resting her legs. The ball was just getting warmed up, and she had danced with so many boys that her legs were hurting. She reached for a Butterbeer, and sipped it, grateful for its warmth. Her eyes rested on James and Sarah, who were dancing together near the middle of the hall. She watched as James whispered something to Sarah, and as she laughed merrily. Lily turned away.
* * *
A couple of minutes later, Sarah and James came up to her table. Lily forced a smile. "Hey Lil, I saw you were really busy tonight, huh. Good thing you don't have a date - he'd be green with envy," said James, eyes twinkling. Lily blushed a deep red. Sarah reached for a butterbeer, and was about to sit down, when a seventh year accidentally bumped into her. Her butterbeer spilled all over her robes. "Oh no," she cried in dismay. Her robes were slowly becoming a dark yellow. "I better go and wash this, and myself," she said hurriedly. "I'll see you back James, Lily," she said, and she ran off.
James watched Sarah disappear around a bend. Lily was desperately trying to choke back her laughter. James turned back to her, and she could see that he had a grin on his face. She couldn't hold it any longer - she burst out laughing. James looked at her, and starting laughing too. "That - was - pretty - funny!" he choked out, between his laughter. Lily nodded, laughing too hard to speak.
* * *
The two of them chatted for a while. When a slow song came on, James leaned over to Lily, and asked her, "Hey Lil, wanna dance?" She nodded, her heart going numb. James led her over to the middle of the hall, and slipped his arms around her waist. They made a perfect match. Even their hands were made for each other. They danced slowly, spinning around. Suddenly, Lily heard a rushing sound, and both of them looked up. A shower of flowers, stars, and hearts were raining on them. James grinned, and so did Lily, as they looked into each others' eyes. That shower completed the magical moment. As the song faded away, they both looked into each others' eyes again, and left off. They started brushing off the confetti from their robes. At the end, Lily picked off a shiny red heart from her robes, and looked up to see that James was picking up a heart from his too. They grinned at each other. Some thing just happened in my heart, Lily thought. But James doesn't understand.
[A/N: What do you think? This took pretty long to write. So tell me what you think of it . . . in a review. Yeah! Will James involuntarily hurt Lily more in the next part? Stay tuned for more! Review & ENJOY!!!!!]