Author's Notes- this is Chapter 20! Can you believe it, Chapter 20? Hello people, or just people who reviewed, I think you'll enjoy this chapter. I know I wasn't supposed to post this yet, but I need to get this moving! It's the dance, and the end of the year. Lily's leaving Hogwarts sniff sniff. So, that's that.
Disclamer- I own nothing! Nothing! NOTHING! It all belongs to J.K.Rowlings, the wonderful author, and all the other Harry Potter people. I'm not getting paid for this, believe me.
So, start the fic!
Lily's Lake
Chapter 20
It was the day before the dance. We were all really tired, since Madame Pomfrey had just let us out of the Hospital Wing. We were fine, she just didn't believe us.
So we sat in the Common Room, amongs tons of people all talking about the dance that night. It would begin at seven, there would be dinner, and then dancing until ten.
"Oh, LANA, look at the time, we have to go get ready!" Andrea said.
"You have two hours," Sirius said, confused.
"Only two hours! Oh, come on, we have to hurry!" Andrea cried, pushing us towards the stairs.
"Girls," Sirius said, and rolled his eyes.
Back in our room we started hauling things out of our trunks, our dresses, our shoes, our makeup, and my handy dandy book of charms for special occasions. I quickly grabbed my dress and ran into the bathroom, just as Anya, Andrea, and Netta all tried to do the same thing. Result: a human pancake stuck in a door.
"Let me in! I was here first!" Anya cried.
"No! I was!" Andrea answered.
"No! I was!" Anya answered, seperating her and Andrea from the mass.
I got in the bathroom and shut the door, and laughed.
An hour and a half later we sat in our room, nearly ready. Andrea was finishing our makeup, since Anya doing makeup was completely a mistake, and I had managed to give Netta blue eyes instead of her best color, so Andrea was doing our makeup.
"Hold still, Netta!" Andrea said.
"I'm just trying to reload my camera," Netta told her.
Andrea sighed, and fixed the makeup.
"There, perfect. We all look beauitful," Andrea declared.
As if on cue Vi walked in, and smiled at us, all dressed up and everything.
"Hey, you guys, the boys are downstairs waiting for you," Vi told us, grinning emmensly.
"Thanks, Vi. Listen, can you take a picture of us?" Netta asked, handing out the camera.
"Sure, just get like your still getting ready," Vi told us.
She snapped a few pictures of what looked like us getting ready, and then the five of us went downstairs. The boys were wearing the traditional dress robe. James was in green, Sirius was in dark blue, Remus was in violet, and Peter was in the traditional black.
Our outfits were really nice. Anya was wearing a black dress, complimenting her hair, as Andrea said. It had thin straps that went back and tied around her neck. Her black hair, now shoulder length, was left falling with a black barrett pushing on side back just a little. Although the dress reached all the way to the floor, she had on beautiful black strap high heels.
Andrea was wearing a really cool dress too. The collar went up her neck like a turtleneck, and it had no sleeves. It was light blue, Andrea's best color, and it went great with her blonde hair. The dress went all the way to the floor, too, and had a slit to the knee on the side. Her hair was pulled into the back of her head, and pulled together with a light blue barrett. She had white highheels on as well.
Netta was really cool too. Her dress was a dark red, not blood red, just dark red, like a fall color. It was a tank top kind of dress, with a veil tinted red making the dress short sleeved. The dress went all the way down to the floor, but the veil stopped about two inches from the floor, letting some peek out. Her brown hair was in a braid twisted into a bun.
Ok, I thought I looked a little weird, no matter how many times my friends told me I looked nice. My dress was green, matching my eyes. It was a regular speggatti strap tank top dress. The waist was a triangle waist, and after the waist, it had a veil, tinted red, like my hair, that went all the way to the floor with the rest of my dress. I had green strappy high heels. My red waves was pilled on top of my head, and curled in a curly kind of bun. Two curls were left, and falling on my face.
"You look beautiful," James whispered.
"So do you," I answered.
Vi grouped us all together, for a picture. Then we insisted on her being in one with us, and set the camera on a timer.
Then we left for the Great Hall. It looked really magical. A stage was set up behind the teacher's table, where a band was setting up as we watched. Instead of the usual House Tables, there were small little round tables set up around the outside. The teacher's table was still in place, though. The center of the hall was open for dancing.
"Let's get a table," Sirius said.
The eight of us seated ourselves at a table, as I gazed around at the candles.
"This is sooo cool," Netta said, snapping pictures.
"Dumbledore's really outdone himself," I agreed.
"It's beautiful, really beautiful," Anya whispered in awe.
The music was slow as the food appeared. There were nine courses, each of them delicous.
The food disappeared and the music group struck up a really quiet tune, just as Dumbledore stood up.
"Now, as customary at all Hogwarts Dances, may our Head Girl and Head Boy step forward?" Dumbledore asked.
We whispered goodbyes to our friends, and went to Dumbledore.
"You must dance to open the Ball," Dumbledore whispered to us, his eyes twinkling.
We nodded, and the music, a slow song, became louder.
James put his arms around my waist, and I put mine around his neck. We smiled, and started to dance.
A few seconds later more couples joined us on the floor, including our friends. Anya and Sirius were not far from us, and I knew that if we had been at one of the Muggle Dances a teacher would have walked right over, knocked Sirius head, and hiss, "Put your hands further up."
Andrea and Remus were having fun, just a bit farther away then Anya and Sirius. Netta was enjoying herself as well, teaching Peter how to slow dance.
The tune ended and a fast song beat up. James spun me around, and I laughed.
A little bit further on in the night, James and I were watching Anya and Sirius take over the dance floor, doing a really active dance. People were backing off after some girl had gotten hit in the face on accident.
Netta strolled over.
"Hey, guys. Having fun?" she asked.
"Resting. I'm still a little dizzy," I said, smiling.
"Don't worry, you'll get over it," Netta said, then added, "Peter went to get drinks. Andrea and Remus are out dancing, and so are Anya and Sirius."
The song ended, and a slow one was struck up. We watched as Anya and Sirius strolled over, and explained they were going for a walk. They were both flushed, but Netta was considering going to spy on them to get some good pictures.
"Well, Lily Ann Evans, would you like to dance?" James said, pulling off his most I'm-trying-to-be-serious-but-it's-not-working voice.
"Of course, James Potter," I said.
"Bye, you guys. I'm going to go see what pictures I can get," Netta said.
"Bye," I answered.
James led me out on the dance floor. He held me close, so my head was resting on his shoulder.
We moved slowly, matching the music and the dancers around us, who were whispering to their partners. I saw Netta walk through the crowd, smiling and taking pictures. But the thought faded and I rested my head on James shoulder. I smiled.
"I love you, Lily Evans," James suddenly whispered.
"I love you too, James Potter," I answered.
* * *
Same time
As told by Minerva McGonagall
From the Teacher's Table I could easily see the dancing couples. But one couple stood out from the rest, which wasn't hard, because of her red hair and his black. It was Lily Evans and James Potter. She remembered how they used to fight so often, and was constantly reprimanding them. Then she remembered how Dumbledore had often said they had a great destiny.
"Do not worry, Minerva, it will all pass in good time," he had always said.
Of course, all the teachers had thought he had finally cracked.
"Lily Evans and James Potter? Get along! Oh, that will be the day!" Professor Flitwick had cried.
But here they were, dancing together, and not fighting. It was, perhaps, a miracle.
* * *
As told by Lily Evans
The dance was almost over. Anya and Sirius had returned, and had joined James and I on the dance floor. Yet again, it was a fast song and the crowds were backing off, this time not only for Anya and Sirius, but for James and me.
"Go, you guys!" Andrea cried over the shouts of liking.
I barely had time to grin at her before James spun me so much I nearly collapsed.
The tune ended with a single bang on the drum. Dumbledore dismissed us, all of us flushed and tired.
We returned to our rooms, and got into our pajamas.
"So, Anya, what did you and Sirius do during that time when you disappeared?" Andrea asked slyly.
"None of your buisness, Andrea," Anya answered, grinning.
"Oh, come on, Anya, tell us! Please! I'll be your best friend!" I cried.
"You already are," Anya stated.
"Please," I begged, getting down on my knees and putting my arms together.
"No."
"I'll grope at your feet. Please, Anya! Pretty pretty please with a cherry on top!" I cried.
"I don't like cherries," Anya said, pulling a face.
"Fine then, with a chocolate bar on top!" I cried.
"Oh, ok. Here's what we did…" Anya said.
"What did you do?" Andrea asked.
"Nothing," Anya said, and went into the bathroom.
"Anya!" Andrea and I cried in usion.
The next morning Vi appeared.
"I saw Dumbledore down in the hall. We wanted to see you all," Vi said, standing before the seven of us (Peter had disappeared somewhere along the line).
"Did he say why?" I asked my little sister.
"No, but he said it was urgent," Vi added.
We stood up, told Vi thanks, and went to go see Dumbledore. He was waiting for us outside his office with a few other students, also 8th years.
"Come in, come in," he said.
We were led up to his office.
"Did we get in trouble?" Sirius asked hopefully.
"No, Mr. Black. You are not in trouble. I need to ask you a favor. But, promise, that, no matter what, you will never repeat what is about to be said in this room," Dumbeldore said.
We all noddded.
"As we all know quite well, the Dark Lord is rising. He has touched us all in his evil ways. But, now, we need to fight back. We can not run scared, as most do. We can not stick our heads in the sand and hope he will go away, because he will not. And, if he has his way, everyone in this room right now, will be dead. And we do not want that, do we? I ask you all, right now, to consider this. I have organized a group of witches and wizards who fight the Dark Arts in anyway they can. You have all been touched deeply by the Dark Arts, in similar yet quite different ways. Now is your chance to fight back. Now, is your chance! After you leave this school, you will go on with your lives, no matter how long they may be or what fills them, but I ask you to take the time out of your lives, to fight the Dark Arts, and join the brave few who have joined me. If you chose not to, and decide to run scared, you can stand up and leave right now," Dumbledore said.
We all sat there, silent for his speech. Now, no one stood, no one left. Dumbledore smiled at us.
"Two weeks after term ends, on July 14th, we shall have a meeting. I shall send someone to each of your lodgings, to fetch you and show you the way. At eleven thirty, expect a knock on your door. Tell no one, and be secretive. On behalf of the entire Underground, I thank you," Dumbledore said.
I stood out on the lawn on June 31st, the day before term. It was the Graduation picnic for the 8th years. We were all really nervous, yet enjoying ourselves emmensly.
Netta was showing us the pictures she had taken from the dance.
"Oh, isn't that cool?" Andrea asked.
"Hey, wait a minute… that's of Sirius and me…" Anya started.
"Snogging outside!" Netta finished.
"Netta Prewett! You were spying on us, weren't you?" Anya cried, trying to steal the picture.
"Maybe…" Netta whispered.
"Come off it, just quiet down. People are starting to stare," Andrea said, smacking them both on the arm.
Anya shot daggers at Netta throughout the whole picnic, until the fun part, the races (Muggle races, suggested by Andrea at the meetings). There was the three-legged race, the sack race, and the relay race. We were in groups of two. I was with James.
At the three-legged race we tied to off our legs together, and stood up. I couldn't stand up very well, and didn't see how we'd run, much less walk.
"Ready! Set! GO!" Professor McGonagall cried.
We all started running slowly down the track that was set up.
Someone laughed as Sirius, fed up with trying to run, picked up Anya and started running with her in his arms. James did the same, and caught up with Sirius and Anya.
"Hey! That was my idea!" Sirius cried.
The next race, the sack race, I had to start off on one end with the sack, get to the middle to pass it to James, so that he could do the last half. We started off hopping in the sacks (donated by the shops in Hogsmeade). I passed it off to James, and stayed in the middle.
"Go, James! Go!" I yelled.
Then, the relay. First the boys had to dress up in a girl's dress with high heels and huge hat with a feather and fake bird in it, then run down the track to us, and we had to put it on, run to the other stop, where we took the dress, hat, and heels off, stuck our head in a barrel and grabbed and apple with our teeth, run to the next stop where the boys took the apple, put it under their chin, and got on their knees to hold the apple under the chin (if they dropped it they couldn't use their hands to pick it up), and knee their way to the finish.
In the first part three people tripped over their high heels, and one over their dress. The boys passed it onto us, and we ran with ease (hey, we're girls, were used to it), but one girl couldn't get the heels off, so she was left behind, and two more couldn't grab the apple. They were left behind. The rest of us ran to the other end, where the boys had run to meet us. They took the apples, put them under their chin, and got on their knees. We all laughed.
James and Sirius tied for first.
It was a real nice day.
The train ride came sooner than anyone wanted. We said goodbye to Hogwarts. But I was sure this wasn't the last time I would see it.
We got on the train, and found an empty compartment. We spent the ride home discussing what colors we would paint the new apartment.
It was slightly drizzling when we pulled into the station.
"See you in two days, Lily!" my friends cried as I walked over to where Aunt Lucy was standing with Vi, holding an umbrella.
"Hi, Aunt Lucy," I said.
"Hello, Lily, dear. Come on, you two, let's get back. It's wet out here," Aunt Lucy said, leading us back to the limo.
I looked back at the Station. I would go to Kings Cross again, but never to board the Hogwarts Express again.
I sighed, and got in the car.
Author's Notes- I KNOW! I KNOW! It's short. I added in that piece about Professor McGonagall because I kinda wanted to reflect the past ages (OH MY GOSH! I SOUND LIKE MY ENGLISH TEACHER! AH! runs around smacking self). Ok, thanxs for reviewing. So, people, tell your friends, and I'll be in your debt! If your friend told you to come here, tell me so in your review so I can take it to accout and be really happy. I know, I know, I'm obsessed with reviews. But, thanxs anyway. ~Starlight Eve~
Any additional comments? You can contact me at either starlighteve88@aol.com or tiff637@yahoo.com. Thanxs, peoples!