Transports of Delight
Chapter Eight of 'The Ladies' Man'
by Marie McKinnon

A/N: Welcome, all, to the eighth chapter of my story. Just a little memo from me. I
mentioned that the Head Boy and Girl would be chosen at this ceremony. Yes, I have read the
third book, where it says that Percy was notified by letter. I figured that his would be a better
idea because they could've done it differently when James and Lily were at school (and it gives
me a chance to get them on a date). Onward ho!

*

Why am I so d*** worried? It's just the graduation ceremony. Somebody'll be picked
for Head Girl, though it certainly won't be me, there'll be dinner, dancing, and just a fun time with
James. Do I look all right? Stop fussing! I don't have to look perfect. Of course, I want to, just
to prove that James didn't make a wrong decision. Now I'm ready. I think.

Lily shouldn't have been worried. She'd curled her hair, which made a big difference. It
cascaded down her shoulders like a river of russet leaves (though not as dry or crackly). Emerald
silk flowed around her feet, arms, and waist. The robes resembled a Japanese kimono, though
there was no sash and it was to be pulled over the head. Small ballroom dancing slippers slightly
increased her height. When all was said and done, she looked even more amazing than usual.

In the common room, James was allowing himself to mutter questions without answers.
"Why'm I so worried? Nothing important is going on tonight. I'll find out who'll be Head Boy
next year and everyone'll go home happy."

"You're worried because you and the girl you adore are going together."

He rolled his eyes. "Padfoot, when I want your opinion I'll ask for it."

"But you *did* ask. You wanted to know why you were so worried." Sirius pointed out
innocently. A large argument would have begun had Lily not come down the stairs at that
moment.

"Sorry I'm late, I couldn't find something," she explained, which was positively not true.
She'd been hurriedly checking to see if there were any faults in her appearance that would bother
James. Finding none and deciding she'd wasted enough time, she came downstairs.

She shouldnt've worried. James was gaping like a fish, so shocked at the seeming
reformation that he couldn't speak. Sirius, too, was speechless for a moment before he started
cursing himself for missing out on something. Heads turned wherever they went, especially those
of sixth and seventh year boys.

"How're you?" He asked nervously as they approached the Great Hall.

"I'm all right. Nervous, I s'pose, though I'm probably the last person to be considered for
Head Girl."

"I wonder why?"

Lily shot him *the look*. "Not appreciated, thanks all the same."

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

"It's light enough. Won't be too long before it's caught fire."

"I can't believe you two," Sirius cut in.

"What's not to believe?" They said in synchronisation.

He shook his head in the manner of a long suffering hero. "You're in love with each
other, supposedly, and you're insulting yourselves so much that no one would be able to tell if
you had just kept right on hating each other. I think something's messed up in both of your
heads."

"You really think so? Your advice is appreciated, Padfoot, but I'd really be happier if
you'd just butt out," James ordered.

Sirius saluted smartly, clicking his heels. "Yes sir, Sergeant Potter, sir."

Smacking his friend in the head lightly, he walked past into the Hall. "That's *General*
Potter to you, buddy."

*

Instead of the usual long rectangular tables and chairs, fancy, table-cloth covered round
ones were in place all around the Great Hall. The graduating class, the seventh years, milled
around looking melancholy. Sixth year Prefects, however, released an excited energy that
bounced off the walls and into everyone else, heightening the atmosphere of solemnity to one of
joy and anticipation. James, Lily, Sirius, and Arabella Figg (all of them Gryffindor Prefects)
seated themselves at one of the round tables nearest the dance floor and craned their necks
around, waiting for Dumbledore to do something.

"Welcome all," he boomed out over the boisterous crowd, as though in response to their
silent wonderings. "Before our ceremony I would like to give the seventh years a chance to have
an enjoyable evening. Therefore, our party will begin with dinner." As he said the word 'dinner,'
individual plates filled with filet mignon, mashed potatoes, and Caesar salad appeared on the
tables. Wasting no time, the Gryffindors dug in. Once finished with the main course, serving
trays popped into the air over their heads, offering them all manner of delightful goodies.

Chatting on a full stomach was very agreeable, they found. While waiting for everyone
else to finish eating, Sirius asked the fatal question.

"So who d'you think'll be Head Boy?"

Lily grinned. "Anyone but James."

"Hopefully not Snape. He'd take so many points from Gryffindor for no reason it
wouldn't even be funny," Arabella added.

"What about Amos Diggory, that Hufflepuff?"

Sirius turned to his friend, exasperated. "I d*** well hope not. He'd be too busy showing
off to pay attention to the school."

"I think maybe that Ravenclaw, you know, tall, kind of oriental, I can't think of his
name..."

"Oh, good one, Lil. Yeah, Wei-Ting Chang would be a good Head Boy."

"That's the name! I couldn't think of it. Wouldn't he, though?"

"Now that that's decided, can we dance? The music's been on for about ten minutes
while we argued about who's going to be Head Boy." Arabella pointed out.

James grinned evilly at Lily. "Ready, dear? We're going to cause an uproar."

"That's what I was afraid of." Almost before the words were out of her mouth, he'd put
his right hand on her waist and his left in hers. Gradually, she rested her left hand on his shoulder.
They swung out into the centre of the room, drawing the eyes of the crowd. Not only was it
unusual for Lily to be dancing with someone, much less James, but it appeared that they were
extremely talented at the swing, which was blaring out across the room.

Quick steps, slow steps, they never missed one. Lily twirled rapidly, sometimes very far
away from her partner, sometimes almost in his arms. By the time the quick songs ended they
were tired out, almost ready to go to bed. Luckily, a slow song played, and the evil grin on
James's face became more pronounced. He drew her close, leering into her face. She leered right
back, resting her hands on his shoulders. Hands on her waist seemed warm, even tingling, like
an extension of herself.

Before they knew it, Dumbledore was standing on the stage, smiling. "It's nice to see all
of you enjoy yourselves so much. Unfortunately, I must ask you to take your seats." There was a
few seconds' pause while he waited for everyone to sit down. "Would this year's Head Boy and
Girl come up, please? Thank you. Now, as you all know, being Head Boy or Girl is a very
important position. It is one of authorization, but, most importantly, it is one that all younger
students look up to. Whoever earns this badge must wear it earnestly and use their power fairly.
Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Head Boy and Girl for the school year
of 1975 are James Potter and Lily Evans."

In a daze, James and Lily rose and walked up to the stage. Once they'd been given their
badges by the old Head Boy and Girl, they were ushered into another chamber. The door opened
and they fell into a whirl of blackness and ice, undistinguishable from the growing haze blurring
their vision...

Disclaimer: Ooh, ending a chapter with an ellipse, I'm so ashamed... Hah! I bet none of
you, not even Mahree Avocado, expected that! It's so nice to be unexpected sometimes. Oh, and
back to the point of this disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters because the Wei-Ting
Chang person is obviously Cho's father. REVIEW OR I'LL SET FLUFFY ON YOU! Thanks.