Disclaimer: Anything you recognise does not belong to me it belongs to JK Rowling.  I'm not making anything from this, so please don't sue me.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews – Greatly appreciated!! – Hope you like this chapter?  Sorry for the stilted nature of the last chapter it was written in two halves and I just couldn't seem to get them to blend.  This one should be better (I hope it is anyway).

* An interesting evening was had by all *

Three Gryffindor's and a Ravenclaw seventh years stood in the Gryffindor common room waiting for their girlfriends to grace them with their presence.  It was already six forty five and the boys were now pacing the floor.  Since the beginning of this year Danny Brocklehurst had become a regular feature in Gryffindor tower.

At the sound of foot steps on the stairs the four boys turned to watch the staircase leading to the dormitories.  As the girls descended, a sense of regret swept over the awaiting male students because each knew that these beautiful creatures would be sitting with humanities future monsters for the evening.

Getting a glimpse of the common room Marie elbowed Annie gently and pointing at the group of boys said, "What is Danny doing here?"

But all Annie could do was shrug and smile at the sight of the tall quidditch player who was obviously waiting to escort her to the great hall.

It wasn't long before they found themselves being swept into the arms of their respective boyfriends and each girl smiled at the torrent of compliments that were being showered down on them.

Glancing up at her friends Lily realised if they didn't go now they never would.  Smiling at James and giving him a last kiss on the cheek she turned to the others saying, "Alright, lets get going"

After a chorus of groans the small group made their way out of the common room and headed for the great hall. 

As they walked Aggy said "Aren't you and Danny supposed to be going with Hufflepuff's?"

Squeezing her hand he said "Yeah but we decided to meet them outside the great hall as well.  That way I at least get to walk you there even if I can't sit with you" this earned him a rye smile that made him chuckle softly.

All too soon they arrived at the corridor leading to the entrance to the great hall, rounding the last corner they came upon a crowd of fifth, sixth and seventh years. 

Lily sighed "Oh bugger!" James gave her a strange look and said "What?" but he didn't need a reply as he noticed a group of students standing off to one side to understand Lily's outburst.  James did the only thing he could think of, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight.  Brushing his cheek against her hair he whispered, "Just remember I love you"

Leaning into his embrace, Lily closed her eyes and smiled at the warm feeling she always got when James told her he loved her.  Raising her head from his chest Lily brushed her lips against James's and returned the sentiment.  After a moment Lily stepped back out of James's arms, flashed him a mischievous smile and then turned to face her fellow comrades.

Smiling at them she said, "Come on lets go and claim our princes of darkness" causing them all to laugh.

Watching their girlfriends walk towards the contingency of seventh year Slytherin's Sirius said "Well time to find those exotic Hufflepuff's" at this Remus rolled his eyes but he and Danny followed Sirius anyway.  Sirius turned back saying "See you inside prongs"

Nodding at his friend James stood alone for a second watching his fellow students around him and thought last Halloween ball at Hogwart's I am really going to miss this place.  As his eyes wandered over to the Slytherin's he caught sight of his date for the evening and grimaced, taking a deep breath he moved over towards her.  Following the path Lily had taken only a few seconds before James found a very poe faced Narcissa waiting for him.

"Good evening Narcissa" he said with a shallow bow and offering her his arm he said "Shall we"

Casting her eye over him first Narcissa took the offered arm with a curt reply of "If I must"

Rolling his eyes James thought this is going to be a long night

Inside the great hall tables were slowly filling with anxious looking students.  Quickly scanning the room James couldn't help but smirk as he caught sight of his friends.  Sirius, Remus and Danny had obviously waited for their girlfriends to be seated before selecting their own table, which just happen to be conveniently the next one. 

Guiding his date to the table he only just managed to hold back from laughing out loud at the look of abject horror and disgust that spread across Narcissa's face as she realised who she would be sitting with for the rest of the evening.  Yet as quickly as her mask of distain slipped it was replaced as Peter wandered over to the table with his Slytherin girlfriend.  At the same moment James had also noticed Morag approaching but what Narcissa didn't notice was the non-verbal communication going on between the three Gryffindor's.

Remus manoeuvred his date around the table so that he was sat next to Morag, Sirius pulled out the chair on the other side of Peter for his date all the while smiling innocently at Narcissa.  Whose worst nightmare had just been turned into reality, she was now trapped between James Potter and Sirius Black for the duration of the ball.

Taking his seat James Glanced over at the next table and thought maybe Snape is not all bad as he noticed that Snape had managed to ensure that Lily was not sat next to Malfoy.

All of this was being watched carefully from the teacher's table and Albus Dumbledore chuckled to himself at the cunning behaviour of his seventh year Gryffindor's.  Looking at the two tables he thought we are in for an interesting evening.  Standing up he got their attention and said "Welcome, I hope you all have a wonderful evening" and with a raise of his hands he said "Could The seventh year prefects please do us the honour of opening the ball with the first dance of the evening"

Slowly sixteen students rose from their seats and headed for the dance floor.  Lily couldn't help but smile at the looks of repulsion on the faces of most of the couples stood on there waiting for the music to begin.  Most looked generally disgusted at the prospect of being this close to their partner for the duration of the up coming song.

Catching Remus's eye she motioned towards Aggy and they both smiled.  Lucius Malfoy was holding Aggy so far away you could have got a double decker bus between them.  Noticing her friends looking at her Aggy rolled her eyes at them.

When the music began the seventh years moved around the floor and as the first circuit of the dance floor was completed James Potter looked over the head of his partner, catching the eyes of his comrades he hollered, "All change!"

As Lily pushed her self out of Severus's arms she whispered "Sorry" and smiled up at him as she was quickly whisked away by James who had spun Narcissa directly into the arms of Lucius.  Aggy smirking at the look on his face turned out of Malfoy's arms and straight in Remus's waiting embrace.  Snape eventually found himself dancing with his fellow Slytherin Scarlet Zabini.

At this there was a sudden flurry of activity as the six male students in on the plan suddenly began whirling their partners into the arms of another.  Within moments all houses were paired together leaving four very confused and bewildered but never the less grateful Slytherin's slightly stunned on the dance floor as the others danced around them.

Re-taking their seats at the end of the song Aggy couldn't help herself and gently slapping Malfoy on the back said "Now wasn't that fun" causing the other three Gryffindor's to laugh as Malfoy sneered at her huffing.

Professor Dumbledore watched the student's take their seats and then stood "Excellent, well done everyone" with a raise of his hands the tables were filled with a variety of Halloween delights "Enjoy" and he sat back down immediately helping himself to some pumpkin mash.

Severus Snape couldn't stop a sly smirk spreading over his face as he watched the four Gryffindor's put his haughty housemates firmly in their places.  Since coming to the table they had politely ignored the boys and talked to one another in a way that they effectively cut the boys off.  He had also gained some respect for the tall dark haired witch, not only had she teased Malfoy but he now she was smacking his hand as he reached in front of her grabbing at one of the serving dishes.  It was all he could do to not scream with laughter, as she said, "Don't snatch!"  Lucius gave her a look that normally sent others reeling in terror to which she had rolled her eyes saying "Oh please, is that supposed to make you look scary?  Well believe me it doesn't it only makes you look like a constipated ferret!"

At that Snape looked down at his plate and a soft chuckle escaped, quickly glancing round the table it seemed the only person who had noticed Lily and she just raised her eyebrows at him causing him to smirk at her. 

The remainder of dinner went off without any further altercations as the Slytherin's had learned that Gryffindor girls were not as easy to manipulate as their Slytherin counterparts.  Their old fashioned hierarchical upbringings had only one place for women and that was at home caring for children, the house and most importantly the man of the house.  Casting his eye around the table Lucius thought definitely not marriage material a lecherous sneer on his face he thought it would be fun to break them though.

Now that the formalities were over and the music had begun again Professor Dumbledore sat watching the senior students.  He was sad to see that very few had taken to the dance floor after twenty minutes he decided enough was enough and standing he announced "Now that the formalities of the evening are over you may change tables if you so wish" before he could say anything a sigh of relief rumbled around the great hall and then a sudden flurry of chairs scraping the floor as the student body rearranged the seating plans.

Dumbledore noted that only a few had stayed in their original places, it was very saddening but at least he had tried, these were difficult times and he hoped that tonight had made a difference even if only minutely.

Noting Lily moving to stand Severus rose from his seat and pulled her chair out for her.  Placing her hand on his arm she said, "Thank you for a pleasant evening, I hope you enjoy the remainder of the ball"

At this he merely nodded but thought with you gone it is not bloody likely

Aggy Court on the other hand stood and looking down at Lucius said, "I would like to say the same but I can't.  You have got to be the most miserable pompous git I have ever had the misfortune to come into contact with" and with that she walked away from the table.

Reaching the next table the tall witch reached down and placed her arms around the neck of a smug looking Remus Lupin who had heard everything she had just said.

It wasn't long before the dance floor was filled with very happy couples.  The evening was turning into an unexpected success.

Having a reprieve from the dance floor Lily sat down next to Aggy.  A frown crossing her brow Lily said "Aggy you really need to watch out for Malfoy he is not going to be happy after tonight"

Grimacing Aggy said "I now but I just couldn't help myself.  You know what I'm like my mouth runs away with me sometimes but don't worry I'll be careful" pausing for a second she said "I'm not stupid I know that little comment will come back to haughty me, he's not going to let me get away with it but hopefully I'll be ready for him"

Nodding at her Lily said "I think for a while it would be better if you always have one of us with you when you are out of the tower" watching Aggy huff at this Lily said "I know it's a bitch but better safe than sorry, lets not give him the opportunity to do anything"

Resigning herself to the fact that she was not going to win this argument Aggy complied saying, "Alright but I'm not happy about it"

Smiling at her Lily patted her on the arm and said "Come on the boys have had enough of a rest let's go and get them"

Nodding at her Aggy followed Lily to where the boys where stood.  Grabbing hold of their respective boyfriends and dragging them back onto the dance floor.

Before they knew it the ball was coming to an end and the students were heading back to the dormitories.  An hour later found Peter Pettigrew in bed while down in the common room chatting about the vents of the evening and enjoying some peaceful together time sat seven Gryffindor's and a Ravenclaw around a roaring fire drinking hot chocolate that Sirius and James had sneaked into the kitchens for on the way back to the Gryffindor tower.

******

A/N: End of another chapter, I know it is not very long, sorry but it's the second half to chapter 37 really.  Next the lead up to the Gryffindor's final Christmas at Hogwart's (Promise it will be posted by this time next week at the latest)

I think Aggy is becoming a Mary sue, what do you think? Does she need changing/fixing or is she ok as she is?  Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Please don't forget to click the button and let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading

Madame Padfoot

P.S This is unedited sorry for any mistakes, but rushed it to try and get it posted as promised