(A/N Thank you for your support! And here I continue! I am DESPERATE! PLEASE review this with the name of a certain fic I'm looking for. It is a Hermione/Draco fic, where Draco plays piano in a secret room. Draco is Slytherin's heir, Hermione is Ravenclaw's, Ginny is Hufflepuff's and I believe Harry is Gryffindor's, but PLEASE help me! I want to find this fic! If you even know just the name or email of the author so I could email them requesting this fic, please tell me! I loved it, easily one of the best fics I've read. HELP!)
Lily rose from her bed on the fourth day, wiped the tears from her eyes, and dressed herself in her most flattering robes. She spent extra time on her hair and make up, she wanted to look perfect. And she did, she looked angelic, like a goddess that has come down from the heavens to mingle with the common people. She strode proudly, silently, down the stairs to the common room, she was aware of the stares she was receiving, and she graced the male population of the room with a flirtatious smile.
"Wow, Lily, you look great!" Nicole said, walking over to her friend.
"Thanks Nicole, I feel better…I can handle things now." Lily said calmly, she really didn't feel better, and she knew she couldn't cope, but she could try.
Emily entered the room at the same time as James, Sirius, and Remus. James' jaw dropped at the sight of Lily, he wanted to hold her, to talk to her, to kiss her. The past three days had been torture for him, knowing that all of his pain was his own fault, and that she would never be his again. "James, are you ok?" Sirius asked quietly, noting his reaction to Lily.
James shook his head, no, he wasn't ok. "I don't think I ever will be…God she's beautiful…she's doing this to hurt me…she knows how this will effect me…" James breathed, and felt an all too familiar wrenching at his heart, it hurt like nothing else.
"Man, you two need to talk…there is nothing else for it…you have to talk…" Sirius said, as he and his two friends walked over to join the girls, James managing to compose himself slightly. "Hello, Nicole my pet. I trust you slept well?" Sirius said, kissing Nicole on the cheek.
"Of course, that is after I got back from the common room…you really should let a girl get to sleep…" Nicole said, smiling.
Lily looked over at James and felt her stomach knot. James stepped towards Lily, and reached for her hand. "Lily? Can we talk?" he asked her, his eyes begging her to say yes.
Lily laughed softly and pulled gently away. She smiled sweetly, and looked at him through her eyelashes just the way that she knew would drive him crazy. "James, I have nothing to say to you. But I'm sure Kayla would love to discuss anything you wish…why don't you go find her? You obviously enjoy her company more than mine." Lily said evenly, almost condescendingly.
The others standing near edged away, leaving the two in a corner of the common room. "Lily, you have to know that's not true…" James pleaded, he felt himself going weaker under her gaze. He loved her eyes, they could make him do anything. "I love you Lily, come on Flame, you know I love you."
"Don't call me that! Only my friends can call me Flame. And obviously you DON'T love me as much as you claim, or else you wouldn't have done this. Who cares if you 'love me'. I loved you, but did my feelings matter? Why should I listen to a word you have to say?" Lily said, tears now streaming down her face.
James felt the shock of her words as if she had physically struck him. "I'm sorry Lily, I'm so sorry! I'm an awful prat! I'm an idiot! But I need you, I can't go on without you. I'll never even SMILE at another girl again, just say you love me…" James begged, he had drawn ever closer to her, and now they were scant inches apart.
"James, I…I love you…but…I don't know if it's enough…" Lily said, crying softly. James wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, he was trying to prove how he felt, through that one kiss. Needless to say, when James finally released her, Lily couldn't speak, she could barely stand.
After a moment of fish-like movements with her mouth, Lily finally choked out the words she wanted to say. "Ok…I love you…and…I want you back…will you have me?" Lily asked, staring into James' eyes.
James grinned happily, and said, "Of course…I only need to know that you'll have me…"
The couple walked into the Great Hall, a few tears of happiness trickling down Lily's face, her head resting on the shoulder of her beloved.
The couple continued on like this all throughout the day, until, right after Potions, Kayla approached James. She tossed her hair back over her shoulder, and smiled her sweetest smile. "Hi James! Did you miss me?" she asked, twirling a piece of hair on her finger. She hadn't realized that Lily and James were back together, and was very miffed when Lily approached the two. "What are you doing here, Evans? Come to beg my James to take you back?" she asked spitefully, and slipped her arm around James', who, in turn, shrugged her off.
"What on earth are you talking about, Kayla? Your James? Last time I checked he was MY James. That is, unless he's forgotten to tell me something…" Lily said, smiling.
James shook his head and said happily, "Nope! Nothing at all!"
Kayla bristled and turned, planting a kiss on James' lips. James looked disgusted, and Lily took this as a challenge, she always did. She turned to face James, put her hand behind his head, and kissed him. He slipped his arm behind her back and pulled her closer. When they finally released each other it seemed Kayla had planned her next course of action. She reached for James' belt, and he immediately jumped back. "Access denied!" he cried, and hid behind Lily. Lily looked angry, VERY angry. And you don't want to see Lily Evans very angry. She took out her wand and pointed it at Kayla. Kayla seemed to get the message and took off.
"Access denied, huh?" Lily whispered, turning around.
"Yup…well…except for you…" He grinned mischievously.
"Ah, sorry, rules are rules, now, I wouldn't want to break them, would I?" Lily said, smiling at him teasingly. She turned away and sauntered off, leaving James to try and register the new feelings in his stomach.
The next month was a blur of happiness, smiles, kisses, and love. And it was soon December, December the 24th, Christmas Eve. Lily had her red hair pulled away from her face with a sparkling headband, and a sprig of Holly was tucked into it. Lily strolled down the steps to the common room, and walked over to the fire where all of her friends were standing. "Hi guys! What's wrong? What prank did I fall for this time?" She asked, checking the color of her hair and skin. Her friends were all grinning at her, save Remus that is. "What is it?"
"Um, they sort of, bewitched some mistletoe to float around the castle, and fly over a male/female pair that happens to be standing next to each other, and they can't move until they kiss. Now, as you can see, there is a sprig of glowing mistletoe above our heads…and I cannot physically walk away." Remus said with a sigh, pointing to the mistletoe.
"Oh…crap. Oh, sorry Remus I didn't mean it like that, you're a great guy and all…but we're both spoken for." Lily said uncomfortably, gesturing to James and Emily. Lily, having tried to walk away, sighed and leaned over and kissed Remus lightly on the lips. She tried to walk away again, but found she couldn't.
"Oh yeah! It has to be a REAL kiss, not that wimpy stuff. We're hoping to catch McGonagall and Snape!" Sirius exalted, a grin on his face.
Lily huffed and said, "Fine. But this is your own fault, James Potter! I may just fall madly in love with Remus after this!" She said teasingly, and to her surprise something flickered across James' face, Jealousy? Lily leaned in and kissed Remus on the mouth, noting how weird it felt to kiss anyone other than James. Remus returned the kiss gently, and Lily backed away, finally able to walk. "There! And Emily, you got lucky, Remus is one heck of a kisser!" She said, flashing a thumbs up. James looked slightly hurt by this remark, and Remus was simply blushing the color of Lily's hair.
"Ah, I know. Remus is perfect!" Emily said, and kissed him happily.
James walked over to Lily and whispered in her ear, "You know, for a split second there I felt like killing Remus? Then I remembered it was OUR prank!" Lily laughed and whispered back to him, "A bit jealous?" James nodded lightly, obviously embarrassed. In response Lily kissed him, and leaned forward to deepen the kiss. James returned it and then stepped back, saying, "Ok, now I feel better!"
Lily laughed and the group all went down to dinner. After dinner there was to be a ball, a chance for the students to 'promote inter-house relations' as Dumbledore put it. "So…who are you guys going to the ball with?" Lily asked, noting that James hadn't asked her yet.
"I'm going with Remus," Emily said happily.
"Emily"
"Nicole"
'Sirius"
They said happily, all looking at their partners. "Hmm, now what of little old me? No one has asked me yet…" she said, pouting at James.
"Oh, right. Er, Lily, will you go to the ball with me?" James said, looking sure of the response.
"Oh, I don't know. I sort of had my sights set on Severus." Lily said, appearing deep I thought.
"Huh?" James asked, looking slightly bewildered.
"Oh, you dolt, fine, I'll go with you!" she sighed, looking as if she had made some great sacrifice. "I wouldn't want to go with someone who had longer hair than I do anyway."
James laughed and the whole group went back to the common room, and soon the Girl's Dormitory was alive with the three girls getting ready for the dance. Nicole stepped out of the bathroom with a flourish, she was dressed in violet dress-like robes. They were form fitting around the bodice, and hung at the exactly right angle off of her hips. Her hair was left down in delicate, romantic curls. "Voila!" she cried, spinning around the room.
Emily soon followed, she was wearing midnight blue robes that looked almost like a garment you would see in a portrait of an angel. Her hair was also left down in ringlets, making her look just like an angel.
Lily stepped out of the bathroom last, she was dressed in emerald green robes, pleated over her chest, tight around her torso, and billowed out around her legs. The sleeves were tight against her arms, and came to a point over the backs of her hands. Her hair was done up into an elegant bun high on her head, and a few pieces were curled into spirals to hang around her face. She looked like a fairy-tale Princess. And that was how she felt when she and her friends walked down the stairs to the Common Room. James, Sirius, and Remus had all been waiting…and each wore the same look of awe. James bowed in front of Lily, extending his hand. "My Lady," he said, sounding very serious.
Lily smiled and said, with a curtsy, "My Lord." James straightened up and smiled. "You look…wonderful…" he said breathlessly, and Lily blushed just ever so slightly, a pink tinge rising in her tan cheeks. She smiled and allowed James to lead her down to the Great Hall, where the Headmaster was announcing the couples.
"James Potter and Lily Evans" was called and the couple stepped into the beautiful room. Everything shone, glistened, or sparkled in some way that made it seem magical…which it was. James and Lily stayed upon the dance floor for the entire evening, well, until James decided to get them some eggnog. Lily stood there for a moment as James walked off, in the midst of the dancing couples. Everything seemed to be a swirl of color, and she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Back already, James?" she asked as she turned around, expecting to see the smiling features of her love. She was quite surprised to see Lucius Malfoy standing there. "Oh! Malfoy, what do you want?" She asked, getting a shiver.
Lucius didn't answer, he merely grabbed her roughly around the waist and forced his lips upon hers. And, of course, James was returning at precisely this moment, to see Lily's hands on Lucius's shoulders (even though she was trying to push him away), Lucius's arms around HIS Lily, and them kissing. Goblets crashed against the ground as James saw what he did. There was a look on his face of the utmost pain, and betrayal. He could feel his heart shattering…for his Lily.
Lily finally managed to pry Lucius off of her, and saw James. "James!" she called, rushing after the boy who had turned and fled. "James!" she tried again, rushing through the corridors, searching for her love. She found him out by the lake, staring at the water, tears wet on his cheeks. "James, you have to understand…it's not what it looked like!" She said, a pleading note to her voice.
"Then what was it? If it wasn't what it looked like. It was exactly what it looked like. You and Lucius were kissing…that's all I know. Am I really that repulsive that you have to run to HIM?" James asked, his voice colder than ice. He turned to face her, more correctly to glare at her.
Tears filled her emerald eyes as Lily whispered, "Of course not…I love you, James. I love you…" She reached out her hand to touch his face, she wanted to hold him, she wanted him to hold her.
"Sure you do," James said, pulling away when she tried to touch him. "Of course you love me, that's exactly why you and Lucius were…doing what you did. Leave me alone, Evans. I don't want to see you again." He said, then strode off to the Gryffindor boy's dorm.
Lily stood, shocked, tears now streaming freely down her face. Her knees betrayed her and she collapsed into the water, the iciness piercing her skin. She sat like this for hours, staring up at the Gryffindor Tower, wanting the piercing pain that the water brought to keep from her mind what had just happened.
Lily was quite the sight when Sirius and Nicole came outside for a moonlit stroll. They, and the other Marauders, had been off jinxing a quill for Snape, and hadn't seen what transpired. Lily's hair had come down from the bun, her skin was deathly pale, and her lips were a mottled shade of blue. She sat there, transfixed on the tower…a frozen tear on her cheek. "Oh my god!" Nicole exclaimed, as she and Sirius rushed to the girl in the lake. Sirius swept her up in his arms, and rushed her into the school, Nicole all the while stroking her hair, trying to get the girl to speak. "No...no…please Lil, say something! Anything! Call me a prat! Say that my dress clashes with my shoes! ANYTHING! Please Lily, just say something!"
Sirius, seemingly out of his wits, took her not to the Hospital wing, but to the Gryffindor Common room. Emily and Remus were already in there…and Emily, having recognised the situation, ran up to the Girl's dorm to fetch a newly made potion. Remus stared at Lily, who was now wrapped in a blanket on the couch, still staring ahead blankly. "What happened?" he whispered, his fingertips grazing her cheek, her un-nervingly cold flesh.
Sirius shook his head and responded, "We found her sitting in the lake, she might've been there for hours. God, do you think she'll be ok? I'd better get James…" At this he rushed up the steps to the Boy's dorm, and opened the door, to see James sitting in the darkened room, staring at the granite floor.
Meanwhile Emily came back to the common room, and forced a potion down Lily's throat. She was warmed somewhat, though she was still in the state she had been at the water. She looked exactly the same, but now she could speak. "C-c-can I ch-change?" She asked, for she was still in her soaking wet dress. "Oh! Of course!" Nicole said and took Lily upstairs, changing her into her flannel pajamas, and her robe, then brought her back down to the couch, in front of the fire. She wrapped several blankets around her, fearing for her friend's safety.
Sirius burst into the room, wildly looking at James. "James! It's Lily!" he said, and James replied coldly, "What about her?"
"We found her sitting in the lake, she must have been there for hours! She's all frozen...and…god, James, don't you care?" He asked incredulously at his friend's lack of emotion.
"No." James said simply. Then, seeing the shock on his best friend's face he explained, "I came back from getting some eggnog for me and Lily, to see Lucius and her kissing in the middle of the dance floor. I went out to the lake, and she followed me. I broke up with her." James' eyes were cold and glassy, as he turned his head to look at Sirius.
Sirius bit his lip. He didn't know what to do, or to say. All he knew was that he felt awful for both James and Lily, and he suspected that what happened with Lucius hadn't been entirely voluntary. "Er…I'll be right back Prongs…" Sirius said lamely, and ran back down the stairs, to ask Lily what had happened.
By the time Sirius got there Lily had just begun explaining, "James went to get some eggnog for the two of us, and I remained on the dance floor, just watching the people dance…I always do that at dances, I like it. Then Lucius comes up to me, and he starts kissing me, I was trying to pry him off when James came. Instead of coming to my rescue, he ran away, thinking that I was kissing Lucius. I ran after him, out to the lake, where I tried to tell him what had really happened, and he wouldn't listen. I told him I love him, and he broke up with me. I was so shocked…I just…collapsed in the water. I couldn't move…I wanted to die." She said, between sobs and shivers.
"Oh, Lily…" Emily said, wrapping her arms around the girl. "You two have got to talk, I'm sure James was just…shocked from what he saw. James isn't THAT unreasonable, he'll understand." She soothed, rubbing the skin on Lily's back, hoping she was right.
Lily shook her head sadly and said, "I don't think so. His eyes were so cold…but I love him! Doesn't he understand that there's only him? But he…he called me…Evans…" Another tear slid down her cheek.
Sirius shifted uncomfortably and said, "Er, I talked to James…he's not exactly…happy. He's actually rather scary at the moment. I'm sorry, Lil, but…I think he may be serious…" Sirius walked over behind the couch, and kissed Lily on the top of her head. As the hours crept by, and Lily fell asleep in front of the fire, they all made their way up to their respective beds.
Lily rose from her bed on the fourth day, wiped the tears from her eyes, and dressed herself in her most flattering robes. She spent extra time on her hair and make up, she wanted to look perfect. And she did, she looked angelic, like a goddess that has come down from the heavens to mingle with the common people. She strode proudly, silently, down the stairs to the common room, she was aware of the stares she was receiving, and she graced the male population of the room with a flirtatious smile.
"Wow, Lily, you look great!" Nicole said, walking over to her friend.
"Thanks Nicole, I feel better…I can handle things now." Lily said calmly, she really didn't feel better, and she knew she couldn't cope, but she could try.
Emily entered the room at the same time as James, Sirius, and Remus. James' jaw dropped at the sight of Lily, he wanted to hold her, to talk to her, to kiss her. The past three days had been torture for him, knowing that all of his pain was his own fault, and that she would never be his again. "James, are you ok?" Sirius asked quietly, noting his reaction to Lily.
James shook his head, no, he wasn't ok. "I don't think I ever will be…God she's beautiful…she's doing this to hurt me…she knows how this will effect me…" James breathed, and felt an all too familiar wrenching at his heart, it hurt like nothing else.
"Man, you two need to talk…there is nothing else for it…you have to talk…" Sirius said, as he and his two friends walked over to join the girls, James managing to compose himself slightly. "Hello, Nicole my pet. I trust you slept well?" Sirius said, kissing Nicole on the cheek.
"Of course, that is after I got back from the common room…you really should let a girl get to sleep…" Nicole said, smiling.
Lily looked over at James and felt her stomach knot. James stepped towards Lily, and reached for her hand. "Lily? Can we talk?" he asked her, his eyes begging her to say yes.
Lily laughed softly and pulled gently away. She smiled sweetly, and looked at him through her eyelashes just the way that she knew would drive him crazy. "James, I have nothing to say to you. But I'm sure Kayla would love to discuss anything you wish…why don't you go find her? You obviously enjoy her company more than mine." Lily said evenly, almost condescendingly.
The others standing near edged away, leaving the two in a corner of the common room. "Lily, you have to know that's not true…" James pleaded, he felt himself going weaker under her gaze. He loved her eyes, they could make him do anything. "I love you Lily, come on Flame, you know I love you."
"Don't call me that! Only my friends can call me Flame. And obviously you DON'T love me as much as you claim, or else you wouldn't have done this. Who cares if you 'love me'. I loved you, but did my feelings matter? Why should I listen to a word you have to say?" Lily said, tears now streaming down her face.
James felt the shock of her words as if she had physically struck him. "I'm sorry Lily, I'm so sorry! I'm an awful prat! I'm an idiot! But I need you, I can't go on without you. I'll never even SMILE at another girl again, just say you love me…" James begged, he had drawn ever closer to her, and now they were scant inches apart.
"James, I…I love you…but…I don't know if it's enough…" Lily said, crying softly. James wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, he was trying to prove how he felt, through that one kiss. Needless to say, when James finally released her, Lily couldn't speak, she could barely stand.
After a moment of fish-like movements with her mouth, Lily finally choked out the words she wanted to say. "Ok…I love you…and…I want you back…will you have me?" Lily asked, staring into James' eyes.
James grinned happily, and said, "Of course…I only need to know that you'll have me…"
The couple walked into the Great Hall, a few tears of happiness trickling down Lily's face, her head resting on the shoulder of her beloved.
The couple continued on like this all throughout the day, until, right after Potions, Kayla approached James. She tossed her hair back over her shoulder, and smiled her sweetest smile. "Hi James! Did you miss me?" she asked, twirling a piece of hair on her finger. She hadn't realized that Lily and James were back together, and was very miffed when Lily approached the two. "What are you doing here, Evans? Come to beg my James to take you back?" she asked spitefully, and slipped her arm around James', who, in turn, shrugged her off.
"What on earth are you talking about, Kayla? Your James? Last time I checked he was MY James. That is, unless he's forgotten to tell me something…" Lily said, smiling.
James shook his head and said happily, "Nope! Nothing at all!"
Kayla bristled and turned, planting a kiss on James' lips. James looked disgusted, and Lily took this as a challenge, she always did. She turned to face James, put her hand behind his head, and kissed him. He slipped his arm behind her back and pulled her closer. When they finally released each other it seemed Kayla had planned her next course of action. She reached for James' belt, and he immediately jumped back. "Access denied!" he cried, and hid behind Lily. Lily looked angry, VERY angry. And you don't want to see Lily Evans very angry. She took out her wand and pointed it at Kayla. Kayla seemed to get the message and took off.
"Access denied, huh?" Lily whispered, turning around.
"Yup…well…except for you…" He grinned mischievously.
"Ah, sorry, rules are rules, now, I wouldn't want to break them, would I?" Lily said, smiling at him teasingly. She turned away and sauntered off, leaving James to try and register the new feelings in his stomach.
The next month was a blur of happiness, smiles, kisses, and love. And it was soon December, December the 24th, Christmas Eve. Lily had her red hair pulled away from her face with a sparkling headband, and a sprig of Holly was tucked into it. Lily strolled down the steps to the common room, and walked over to the fire where all of her friends were standing. "Hi guys! What's wrong? What prank did I fall for this time?" She asked, checking the color of her hair and skin. Her friends were all grinning at her, save Remus that is. "What is it?"
"Um, they sort of, bewitched some mistletoe to float around the castle, and fly over a male/female pair that happens to be standing next to each other, and they can't move until they kiss. Now, as you can see, there is a sprig of glowing mistletoe above our heads…and I cannot physically walk away." Remus said with a sigh, pointing to the mistletoe.
"Oh…crap. Oh, sorry Remus I didn't mean it like that, you're a great guy and all…but we're both spoken for." Lily said uncomfortably, gesturing to James and Emily. Lily, having tried to walk away, sighed and leaned over and kissed Remus lightly on the lips. She tried to walk away again, but found she couldn't.
"Oh yeah! It has to be a REAL kiss, not that wimpy stuff. We're hoping to catch McGonagall and Snape!" Sirius exalted, a grin on his face.
Lily huffed and said, "Fine. But this is your own fault, James Potter! I may just fall madly in love with Remus after this!" She said teasingly, and to her surprise something flickered across James' face, Jealousy? Lily leaned in and kissed Remus on the mouth, noting how weird it felt to kiss anyone other than James. Remus returned the kiss gently, and Lily backed away, finally able to walk. "There! And Emily, you got lucky, Remus is one heck of a kisser!" She said, flashing a thumbs up. James looked slightly hurt by this remark, and Remus was simply blushing the color of Lily's hair.
"Ah, I know. Remus is perfect!" Emily said, and kissed him happily.
James walked over to Lily and whispered in her ear, "You know, for a split second there I felt like killing Remus? Then I remembered it was OUR prank!" Lily laughed and whispered back to him, "A bit jealous?" James nodded lightly, obviously embarrassed. In response Lily kissed him, and leaned forward to deepen the kiss. James returned it and then stepped back, saying, "Ok, now I feel better!"
Lily laughed and the group all went down to dinner. After dinner there was to be a ball, a chance for the students to 'promote inter-house relations' as Dumbledore put it. "So…who are you guys going to the ball with?" Lily asked, noting that James hadn't asked her yet.
"I'm going with Remus," Emily said happily.
"Emily"
"Nicole"
'Sirius"
They said happily, all looking at their partners. "Hmm, now what of little old me? No one has asked me yet…" she said, pouting at James.
"Oh, right. Er, Lily, will you go to the ball with me?" James said, looking sure of the response.
"Oh, I don't know. I sort of had my sights set on Severus." Lily said, appearing deep I thought.
"Huh?" James asked, looking slightly bewildered.
"Oh, you dolt, fine, I'll go with you!" she sighed, looking as if she had made some great sacrifice. "I wouldn't want to go with someone who had longer hair than I do anyway."
James laughed and the whole group went back to the common room, and soon the Girl's Dormitory was alive with the three girls getting ready for the dance. Nicole stepped out of the bathroom with a flourish, she was dressed in violet dress-like robes. They were form fitting around the bodice, and hung at the exactly right angle off of her hips. Her hair was left down in delicate, romantic curls. "Voila!" she cried, spinning around the room.
Emily soon followed, she was wearing midnight blue robes that looked almost like a garment you would see in a portrait of an angel. Her hair was also left down in ringlets, making her look just like an angel.
Lily stepped out of the bathroom last, she was dressed in emerald green robes, pleated over her chest, tight around her torso, and billowed out around her legs. The sleeves were tight against her arms, and came to a point over the backs of her hands. Her hair was done up into an elegant bun high on her head, and a few pieces were curled into spirals to hang around her face. She looked like a fairy-tale Princess. And that was how she felt when she and her friends walked down the stairs to the Common Room. James, Sirius, and Remus had all been waiting…and each wore the same look of awe. James bowed in front of Lily, extending his hand. "My Lady," he said, sounding very serious.
Lily smiled and said, with a curtsy, "My Lord." James straightened up and smiled. "You look…wonderful…" he said breathlessly, and Lily blushed just ever so slightly, a pink tinge rising in her tan cheeks. She smiled and allowed James to lead her down to the Great Hall, where the Headmaster was announcing the couples.
"James Potter and Lily Evans" was called and the couple stepped into the beautiful room. Everything shone, glistened, or sparkled in some way that made it seem magical…which it was. James and Lily stayed upon the dance floor for the entire evening, well, until James decided to get them some eggnog. Lily stood there for a moment as James walked off, in the midst of the dancing couples. Everything seemed to be a swirl of color, and she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Back already, James?" she asked as she turned around, expecting to see the smiling features of her love. She was quite surprised to see Lucius Malfoy standing there. "Oh! Malfoy, what do you want?" She asked, getting a shiver.
Lucius didn't answer, he merely grabbed her roughly around the waist and forced his lips upon hers. And, of course, James was returning at precisely this moment, to see Lily's hands on Lucius's shoulders (even though she was trying to push him away), Lucius's arms around HIS Lily, and them kissing. Goblets crashed against the ground as James saw what he did. There was a look on his face of the utmost pain, and betrayal. He could feel his heart shattering…for his Lily.
Lily finally managed to pry Lucius off of her, and saw James. "James!" she called, rushing after the boy who had turned and fled. "James!" she tried again, rushing through the corridors, searching for her love. She found him out by the lake, staring at the water, tears wet on his cheeks. "James, you have to understand…it's not what it looked like!" She said, a pleading note to her voice.
"Then what was it? If it wasn't what it looked like. It was exactly what it looked like. You and Lucius were kissing…that's all I know. Am I really that repulsive that you have to run to HIM?" James asked, his voice colder than ice. He turned to face her, more correctly to glare at her.
Tears filled her emerald eyes as Lily whispered, "Of course not…I love you, James. I love you…" She reached out her hand to touch his face, she wanted to hold him, she wanted him to hold her.
"Sure you do," James said, pulling away when she tried to touch him. "Of course you love me, that's exactly why you and Lucius were…doing what you did. Leave me alone, Evans. I don't want to see you again." He said, then strode off to the Gryffindor boy's dorm.
Lily stood, shocked, tears now streaming freely down her face. Her knees betrayed her and she collapsed into the water, the iciness piercing her skin. She sat like this for hours, staring up at the Gryffindor Tower, wanting the piercing pain that the water brought to keep from her mind what had just happened.
Lily was quite the sight when Sirius and Nicole came outside for a moonlit stroll. They, and the other Marauders, had been off jinxing a quill for Snape, and hadn't seen what transpired. Lily's hair had come down from the bun, her skin was deathly pale, and her lips were a mottled shade of blue. She sat there, transfixed on the tower…a frozen tear on her cheek. "Oh my god!" Nicole exclaimed, as she and Sirius rushed to the girl in the lake. Sirius swept her up in his arms, and rushed her into the school, Nicole all the while stroking her hair, trying to get the girl to speak. "No...no…please Lil, say something! Anything! Call me a prat! Say that my dress clashes with my shoes! ANYTHING! Please Lily, just say something!"
Sirius, seemingly out of his wits, took her not to the Hospital wing, but to the Gryffindor Common room. Emily and Remus were already in there…and Emily, having recognised the situation, ran up to the Girl's dorm to fetch a newly made potion. Remus stared at Lily, who was now wrapped in a blanket on the couch, still staring ahead blankly. "What happened?" he whispered, his fingertips grazing her cheek, her un-nervingly cold flesh.
Sirius shook his head and responded, "We found her sitting in the lake, she might've been there for hours. God, do you think she'll be ok? I'd better get James…" At this he rushed up the steps to the Boy's dorm, and opened the door, to see James sitting in the darkened room, staring at the granite floor.
Meanwhile Emily came back to the common room, and forced a potion down Lily's throat. She was warmed somewhat, though she was still in the state she had been at the water. She looked exactly the same, but now she could speak. "C-c-can I ch-change?" She asked, for she was still in her soaking wet dress. "Oh! Of course!" Nicole said and took Lily upstairs, changing her into her flannel pajamas, and her robe, then brought her back down to the couch, in front of the fire. She wrapped several blankets around her, fearing for her friend's safety.
Sirius burst into the room, wildly looking at James. "James! It's Lily!" he said, and James replied coldly, "What about her?"
"We found her sitting in the lake, she must have been there for hours! She's all frozen...and…god, James, don't you care?" He asked incredulously at his friend's lack of emotion.
"No." James said simply. Then, seeing the shock on his best friend's face he explained, "I came back from getting some eggnog for me and Lily, to see Lucius and her kissing in the middle of the dance floor. I went out to the lake, and she followed me. I broke up with her." James' eyes were cold and glassy, as he turned his head to look at Sirius.
Sirius bit his lip. He didn't know what to do, or to say. All he knew was that he felt awful for both James and Lily, and he suspected that what happened with Lucius hadn't been entirely voluntary. "Er…I'll be right back Prongs…" Sirius said lamely, and ran back down the stairs, to ask Lily what had happened.
By the time Sirius got there Lily had just begun explaining, "James went to get some eggnog for the two of us, and I remained on the dance floor, just watching the people dance…I always do that at dances, I like it. Then Lucius comes up to me, and he starts kissing me, I was trying to pry him off when James came. Instead of coming to my rescue, he ran away, thinking that I was kissing Lucius. I ran after him, out to the lake, where I tried to tell him what had really happened, and he wouldn't listen. I told him I love him, and he broke up with me. I was so shocked…I just…collapsed in the water. I couldn't move…I wanted to die." She said, between sobs and shivers.
"Oh, Lily…" Emily said, wrapping her arms around the girl. "You two have got to talk, I'm sure James was just…shocked from what he saw. James isn't THAT unreasonable, he'll understand." She soothed, rubbing the skin on Lily's back, hoping she was right.
Lily shook her head sadly and said, "I don't think so. His eyes were so cold…but I love him! Doesn't he understand that there's only him? But he…he called me…Evans…" Another tear slid down her cheek.
Sirius shifted uncomfortably and said, "Er, I talked to James…he's not exactly…happy. He's actually rather scary at the moment. I'm sorry, Lil, but…I think he may be serious…" Sirius walked over behind the couch, and kissed Lily on the top of her head. As the hours crept by, and Lily fell asleep in front of the fire, they all made their way up to their respective beds.