Achintya- Sorry about your candy!! Thanks again for reviewing- you're the
best!
NeverendingEcho- Thanks a bunch! And, the fight was actually based on one between two of my friends. I've never read Draco Veritas. Who wrote it? I'd like to read it.
Carissa- Lily is confused! But, wouldn't you be too? Poor Lily.two cute guys both like her. I wish I had her life!
Syrius-Undomie- Hmm, you might be converted? Awesome! I hope this story makes you a Sirius/Lily fan!
The Yule Ball: Part One
One Week Later:
"James, we gotta go in three minutes. Forget your hair. It's never gonna look right."
"Thanks so much for your support, Sirius. I just want to look nice, you know? After this, we only have the graduation dance in June. So, this is our second to last dance here at Hogwarts."
"Oh, Jamesy! Do you have a hankie? I think I'm gonna cry." James stopped attempting to fix his hair long enough to send a glare towards Sirius. "Really, James, just chill out. You've got it made. Head Boy, the most beautiful girl in the school as your date."
"Yeah, she really is gorgeous, huh?"
"You are one lucky man."
"Yeah, well don't get any ideas!" James cracked up. The idea of Lily and Sirius- it was just impossible. They were so different. And Lily was his girlfriend.
A second later, Sirius joined in the laughter. Instead of sincere, his laughter was short and forced. An owl flying through the window cut their laughter short. It dropped a letter into James' hands.
"Oh man, Sirius, I really gotta answer this one."
"James, no. You have to go get Lily. Answer it later tonight."
"You don't understand. I need to answer this now. Can you just tell Lily how sorry I am and take her down to the ball? You don't have a date, right?"
His words were true. Sirius didn't have a date. It wasn't for lack of girls, though. He could honestly say without boasting that at least 90% of the girls in the school would kill to go with him. He had decided he would rather go alone though than go with another empty-headed girl. He just didn't want any of them. Nope, the one girl he wanted was unfortunately the only girl in the whole school he couldn't have.
"Lily. Umm, sure, yeah, I'll take her to the ball."
"Thanks so much, Sirius. This won't take more than half an hour, I promise."
*
A few minutes later, Sirius sat with the other guys in the common room. Each was waiting for their date to descend down the stairs. He glanced absentmindedly around. Remus, Peter, Josh, Chris..all were nervously shifting from foot to foot. His gaze then fell on one very unwelcome figure: Lucius Malfoy.
"Malfoy. What the hell are you doing in my common room?"
"Black. As always, it's charming to see you. If you must know, and apparently you must, Narcissa is my date."
"Narcissa is going with you?"
"She very much is."
"But, Narcissa is nice. She's kind. She's pretty. To sum it all up, why is she going with you?"
"Jealous, Black?"
"Absolutely not." Sirius answered honestly. "You know very well we broke up over a year ago. She is a friend of mine, though. If you hurt her, you'll have me to answer to."
"Not to mention us." Remus chimed in, as Peter, Josh, and Chris nodded with him. Josh and Chris were the other seventh year Gryffindors. They were nice guys, but they weren't very into pranks. Both had politely declined being a Marauder.
All six boys turned as footsteps were heard. Narcissa stepped down gracefully in flowing robes of purple. She and Lucius told everyone goodbye and turned and left. Josh, Chris, and Peter also greeted their dates and left, leaving Remus and Sirius alone. They hadn't spoken for a week.
"So, Sirius, how's it going?"
"I've been better. You?"
"About the same. Why are you still here? I thought you didn't have a date."
"I'm picking up Lily." Remus' eyebrows shot up. "For James, I mean. Urgent owl.you know how it is."
"Ummhmm." The boys stood in an awkward silence. "Listen, Sirius, have you and Lily talked?"
"Sure, we talk every day."
"Don't play stupid with me. I mean really talked."
"Yeah, we decided it was just a fluke. Didn't mean anything."
"That's funny. I thought you were in love with her."
"Oh, that. That was just a joke, Moony. Just a bit of the Sirius sense of humor."
"I'm not laughing."
"That's your prerogative, I guess."
"C'mon Sirius. I see the way you act with her. The way you look at her. I know you love her. And, I'm gonna hate myself later for saying this, but she looks at you the same way. I'm not saying I want you two to tear James apart with some little torrid love affair, but I am saying you guys need to talk. Really talk. If you guys have something together, James deserves to know. It's not fair to him, or either of you, to keep hiding all this stuff."
"Lily looks at me a certain way?"
"She looks at you like you are the world. Like nothing else matters. Like nothing else will ever matter again."
"Moony, that's the way she looks at James."
"No, that's the way she used to look at James." Again, the boys stood in silence. It wasn't awkward this time, though. Both were deep in thought. They snapped out of it only when Arabella, Remus' date, walked down the steps. She took his outstretched arm and they left through the portrait hole. And Sirius was left alone.
*
"Bella! Can I please borrow your eyeshadow?"
"Go for it, Lily. Tonight's the night, right?"
"Yep. Tonight's the night I'm gonna win James back." Since last week, she and James had barely spoken to each other. She and Sirius had barely spoken either. As much as it hurt to admit it, she was trying to avoid Sirius. He had stirred up a bunch of feelings that Lily wasn't ready for. James was who she was meant to be with, everyone said so. Lily had decided that they just weren't trying hard enough. She resolved to change that tonight.
"Not to sound discouraging, but you never really lost him."
"But I did, Bella. We never seem to connect anymore."
"I don't know. You seemed to be connecting the other night in the common room.."
"Not like that! I mean being able to talk to each other, about anything and everything. I miss that."
"Well, if anything will persuade him, it's that robe. You look incredible." Lily was wearing a robe of satiny silver. It was spaghetti-stapped and dropped in a V-neck. It was fitted the whole way down. Her red hair was pulled up on top of her head. Curls spilled out of it.
"You don't think it looks like I'm trying too hard, do you?"
"Not a bit. How about me?"
"That robe is amazing. Remus is going to be drooling."
"Hopefully not all over my dress. Well, I'm gonna go down. You coming?"
"In a minute. I just have to put in my earrings." Lily slid the diamond hoops through her ears and admired the overall effect in the mirror.
"Ready or not, James Potter, here I come."
*
Sirius had sat alone for only a minute when he heard Lily's footsteps. After seven years of being friends with her, he had memorized everything about her. These steps were distinctly hers. She walked quickly and always took short steps. He could hear the clink, clink of her heels. And then he saw her.
Sirius was vaguely aware that his mouth had fallen open, but he didn't care. Lily looked amazing. Her face caught him off guard, though. Tons of emotions spilled across it. Shock, confusion, disappointment, and then.a brief smile. The last one snapped him to reality.
"Lily. You look...nice." As soon as he said it, he regretted it. He didn't want to sound too praising, but he longed to tell her she looked more beautiful than Aphrodite herself. He held himself back though.
"Umm, thanks. Where's James?"
"He had an urgent owl. He's so sorry. He just asked me to tell you and take you down to the ball."
"Oh." She paused. "Well, let's go then." She shot him a small smile.
*
Sirius had imagined his final Yule Ball many times. He had never dreamed he would walk in with Lily, though. 'Just as a favor to James,' he silently reminded himself. They walked to a table with Remus and Arabella. Just as they were settling in, a slow song came on. Remus and Arabella left to dance.
"So, Lily, do you want to dance?"
"I'd love to Sirius."
He led her out onto the floor, and then pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and rested her head against his chest. Holding her close like this was almost unbearable. All he wanted to do was grab her and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. He realized with a sigh that he couldn't pretend anymore. He couldn't pretend to think of her as just a friend. He had to tell her the truth.
"Lily, can I talk to you?" She nodded and followed him out into the deserted garden.
A/N- Sorry to leave you guys like that! A major chapter is coming up next. Sirius and Lily will honestly talk about their feelings. But will they talk about these feelings with James? Hmm. And what's up with mysterious James? What's he hiding? Keep reading and you'll find all these things out-- in time. Review!
NeverendingEcho- Thanks a bunch! And, the fight was actually based on one between two of my friends. I've never read Draco Veritas. Who wrote it? I'd like to read it.
Carissa- Lily is confused! But, wouldn't you be too? Poor Lily.two cute guys both like her. I wish I had her life!
Syrius-Undomie- Hmm, you might be converted? Awesome! I hope this story makes you a Sirius/Lily fan!
The Yule Ball: Part One
One Week Later:
"James, we gotta go in three minutes. Forget your hair. It's never gonna look right."
"Thanks so much for your support, Sirius. I just want to look nice, you know? After this, we only have the graduation dance in June. So, this is our second to last dance here at Hogwarts."
"Oh, Jamesy! Do you have a hankie? I think I'm gonna cry." James stopped attempting to fix his hair long enough to send a glare towards Sirius. "Really, James, just chill out. You've got it made. Head Boy, the most beautiful girl in the school as your date."
"Yeah, she really is gorgeous, huh?"
"You are one lucky man."
"Yeah, well don't get any ideas!" James cracked up. The idea of Lily and Sirius- it was just impossible. They were so different. And Lily was his girlfriend.
A second later, Sirius joined in the laughter. Instead of sincere, his laughter was short and forced. An owl flying through the window cut their laughter short. It dropped a letter into James' hands.
"Oh man, Sirius, I really gotta answer this one."
"James, no. You have to go get Lily. Answer it later tonight."
"You don't understand. I need to answer this now. Can you just tell Lily how sorry I am and take her down to the ball? You don't have a date, right?"
His words were true. Sirius didn't have a date. It wasn't for lack of girls, though. He could honestly say without boasting that at least 90% of the girls in the school would kill to go with him. He had decided he would rather go alone though than go with another empty-headed girl. He just didn't want any of them. Nope, the one girl he wanted was unfortunately the only girl in the whole school he couldn't have.
"Lily. Umm, sure, yeah, I'll take her to the ball."
"Thanks so much, Sirius. This won't take more than half an hour, I promise."
*
A few minutes later, Sirius sat with the other guys in the common room. Each was waiting for their date to descend down the stairs. He glanced absentmindedly around. Remus, Peter, Josh, Chris..all were nervously shifting from foot to foot. His gaze then fell on one very unwelcome figure: Lucius Malfoy.
"Malfoy. What the hell are you doing in my common room?"
"Black. As always, it's charming to see you. If you must know, and apparently you must, Narcissa is my date."
"Narcissa is going with you?"
"She very much is."
"But, Narcissa is nice. She's kind. She's pretty. To sum it all up, why is she going with you?"
"Jealous, Black?"
"Absolutely not." Sirius answered honestly. "You know very well we broke up over a year ago. She is a friend of mine, though. If you hurt her, you'll have me to answer to."
"Not to mention us." Remus chimed in, as Peter, Josh, and Chris nodded with him. Josh and Chris were the other seventh year Gryffindors. They were nice guys, but they weren't very into pranks. Both had politely declined being a Marauder.
All six boys turned as footsteps were heard. Narcissa stepped down gracefully in flowing robes of purple. She and Lucius told everyone goodbye and turned and left. Josh, Chris, and Peter also greeted their dates and left, leaving Remus and Sirius alone. They hadn't spoken for a week.
"So, Sirius, how's it going?"
"I've been better. You?"
"About the same. Why are you still here? I thought you didn't have a date."
"I'm picking up Lily." Remus' eyebrows shot up. "For James, I mean. Urgent owl.you know how it is."
"Ummhmm." The boys stood in an awkward silence. "Listen, Sirius, have you and Lily talked?"
"Sure, we talk every day."
"Don't play stupid with me. I mean really talked."
"Yeah, we decided it was just a fluke. Didn't mean anything."
"That's funny. I thought you were in love with her."
"Oh, that. That was just a joke, Moony. Just a bit of the Sirius sense of humor."
"I'm not laughing."
"That's your prerogative, I guess."
"C'mon Sirius. I see the way you act with her. The way you look at her. I know you love her. And, I'm gonna hate myself later for saying this, but she looks at you the same way. I'm not saying I want you two to tear James apart with some little torrid love affair, but I am saying you guys need to talk. Really talk. If you guys have something together, James deserves to know. It's not fair to him, or either of you, to keep hiding all this stuff."
"Lily looks at me a certain way?"
"She looks at you like you are the world. Like nothing else matters. Like nothing else will ever matter again."
"Moony, that's the way she looks at James."
"No, that's the way she used to look at James." Again, the boys stood in silence. It wasn't awkward this time, though. Both were deep in thought. They snapped out of it only when Arabella, Remus' date, walked down the steps. She took his outstretched arm and they left through the portrait hole. And Sirius was left alone.
*
"Bella! Can I please borrow your eyeshadow?"
"Go for it, Lily. Tonight's the night, right?"
"Yep. Tonight's the night I'm gonna win James back." Since last week, she and James had barely spoken to each other. She and Sirius had barely spoken either. As much as it hurt to admit it, she was trying to avoid Sirius. He had stirred up a bunch of feelings that Lily wasn't ready for. James was who she was meant to be with, everyone said so. Lily had decided that they just weren't trying hard enough. She resolved to change that tonight.
"Not to sound discouraging, but you never really lost him."
"But I did, Bella. We never seem to connect anymore."
"I don't know. You seemed to be connecting the other night in the common room.."
"Not like that! I mean being able to talk to each other, about anything and everything. I miss that."
"Well, if anything will persuade him, it's that robe. You look incredible." Lily was wearing a robe of satiny silver. It was spaghetti-stapped and dropped in a V-neck. It was fitted the whole way down. Her red hair was pulled up on top of her head. Curls spilled out of it.
"You don't think it looks like I'm trying too hard, do you?"
"Not a bit. How about me?"
"That robe is amazing. Remus is going to be drooling."
"Hopefully not all over my dress. Well, I'm gonna go down. You coming?"
"In a minute. I just have to put in my earrings." Lily slid the diamond hoops through her ears and admired the overall effect in the mirror.
"Ready or not, James Potter, here I come."
*
Sirius had sat alone for only a minute when he heard Lily's footsteps. After seven years of being friends with her, he had memorized everything about her. These steps were distinctly hers. She walked quickly and always took short steps. He could hear the clink, clink of her heels. And then he saw her.
Sirius was vaguely aware that his mouth had fallen open, but he didn't care. Lily looked amazing. Her face caught him off guard, though. Tons of emotions spilled across it. Shock, confusion, disappointment, and then.a brief smile. The last one snapped him to reality.
"Lily. You look...nice." As soon as he said it, he regretted it. He didn't want to sound too praising, but he longed to tell her she looked more beautiful than Aphrodite herself. He held himself back though.
"Umm, thanks. Where's James?"
"He had an urgent owl. He's so sorry. He just asked me to tell you and take you down to the ball."
"Oh." She paused. "Well, let's go then." She shot him a small smile.
*
Sirius had imagined his final Yule Ball many times. He had never dreamed he would walk in with Lily, though. 'Just as a favor to James,' he silently reminded himself. They walked to a table with Remus and Arabella. Just as they were settling in, a slow song came on. Remus and Arabella left to dance.
"So, Lily, do you want to dance?"
"I'd love to Sirius."
He led her out onto the floor, and then pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and rested her head against his chest. Holding her close like this was almost unbearable. All he wanted to do was grab her and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. He realized with a sigh that he couldn't pretend anymore. He couldn't pretend to think of her as just a friend. He had to tell her the truth.
"Lily, can I talk to you?" She nodded and followed him out into the deserted garden.
A/N- Sorry to leave you guys like that! A major chapter is coming up next. Sirius and Lily will honestly talk about their feelings. But will they talk about these feelings with James? Hmm. And what's up with mysterious James? What's he hiding? Keep reading and you'll find all these things out-- in time. Review!