THE QUEEN OF MY HEART

A/N: I'm sorry it took so long, but I have been working on my trimester fianls. I'm not even finished yet, so the next chapter will take a while too. I'd like to thank those of you who reviewed me: Dawnfire and CassieOwls.

Chapter Thirteen: The Yule Ball

"D'you ask someone?" Lily questioned Remus as they walked toward Care of Magical Creatures, across the school grounds.

"Ask someone?" Remus repeated.

"To the Yule Ball, Silly," Lily giggled, pulling her winter robes closer to her.

"Oh," Remus began, glancing toward the corral, "I almost forgot about that."

"So, did you ask someone?" Lily queried.

"No, I didn't," Remus grumbled.

"You better get cracking," Lily advised.

Remus rolled his eyes.

"Don't you want to go to the ball?" Lily asked in surprise.

"No, I don't," Remus murmured.

"But it'll be fun," Lily said, pulling on Remus' arm. "You could twirl your girl on the dance floor."

"I don't have a girl," Remus told her.

"Oh, come on!" Lily exclaimed, stepping in front of Remus to stop him.

Remus halted and looked at Lily. She had her perfect smile displayed, making her green eyes sparkle with delight. Her dark red hair contrasted the snowy scenery beautifully. Remus suddenly felt goosebumps pop up all over his arms.

"There must be, at least, one girl that you would like to go to the ball with," Lily said.

Remus smiled weakly. Of course there was a girl he wanted to go with. It was just too bad that Lily was still going out with James. After the Three Broomsticks conversation, Remus was sure that James would soon break it off. He didn't.

"I don't want to go to the ball," Remus stated and then walked around her.

"Oh, Remus," Lily began, "you don't want to be a stick in the mud."

"Why does it matter to you if I go?" Remus said, much harsher then he meant to say it.

Lily was silent. Remus turned around and looked back at her. She had her arms folded insecurely.

"I was...I wanted," Lily sputtered. "I was going to...save you a dance."

Remus felt like an idiot. He let out a sigh and smiled at her.

"Please come," Lily whispered. "It'll be fun."

Remus opened his mouth to explain that he wasn't a good dancer, but before he could utter a word, Lily jetted off toward the Care of Magical Creatures corral.

'What will I lose by going to some ball?' Remus asked himself as he started walking again. 'The worst that could happen is I get extremely bored because all my friends have dates...Wait, Peter won't have a date. I could talk to him. Oh, I suppose it can't be that bad.'

As Remus walked up to the group of students that were lined up on the corral, the tall, yet stalky, professor glared at him.

"Mr. Lupin," the professor began in a grumbly voice, "I would like my students to arrive on time."

Remus smiled sheepishly, saying "Sorry, Professor Burnstead."

Professor Burnstead wrinkled his unusually large nose and raised his bushy brown eyebrows.

"Miss Moone," Burnstead said suddenly, "what was I saying?"

Sara turned quite pale.

"I-" She sputtered, "I don't remember."

"Maybe you weren't paying attention," Burnstead growled.

Sara remained silent.

"Mr. Black," Burnstead called, "what was I saying?"

"Don't you remember?" Sirius asked.

There were a few giggles among the students.

"You were introducing us to the sleeping habits of the Indonesian Futec," Sirius explained. "You were specifically saying that the female Futec hates to sleep alone. I think she should get together with a Futec boar."

Burnstead's wide face flooded with a shade of pink. Remus wasn't sure if he was angry or embarrassed at what Sirius had voiced.

"Female Futecs hibernate in packs as to keep each other warm," Burnstead informed as if Sirius had not mentioned his last comment. "Male Futecs rather despise each other so they hibernate alone in a cave or the cavity of a rock."

"Goin' to the Yule Ball?" Remus asked Peter quietly.

"No," Peter whined. "I can't get a date."

"Have you asked anyone?" Remus questioned.

Peter nodded, saying, "They all have dates already."

"C'mon, Pete," Remus began cheerfully, "go stag with me."

Peter smiled pleasantly and nodded.

****************

Remus came down the stairs into the Gryffindor common room. It was dark, as usual, with younger students moping around or studying. The older Gryffindor were all getting ready for the dance. When he left the dormitory, James was trying to get his hair to lay flat and Peter was polishing Sirius' boots. Since Remus didn't have a date, he wasn't too worried about how he looked.

"Remus," he heard behind him as he sat himself down on one of the couches.

He immediately stood up and spun around. It was Lily, looking amazing. The shimmering red locks were pinned up into an elegant twist. Several curled strands fell off either sides of her face. Lily's lips were delicately rouged to look glossy and soft. Her eyes sparkled gorgeously beneath a light aqua shadow.

"What?" Lily said uncomfortably, straightening her deep violet dress robes. "Why are you starring at me like that?"

"I'm sorry," Remus said, pulling his tongue off the floor, "it's just that you look so...beautiful."

Lily was obviously trying not to smile as she glanced around, avoiding Remus' gaze.

"Where's James?" She asked.


"Straightening his hair," Remus told her. "If he plans on having his hair perfect, then you two will never get to the ball."

Lily giggled briefly.

"You're looking quite handsome," Lily complimented as she rounded the couch.

Remus blushed slightly. He did have brand new dress robes. His mother had to get him new ones when the last Yule Ball had fallen on a full moon. The last ones were Maroon. These were a navy blue. He liked these better. He did feel bad when he found out how costly they were. Mrs. Lupin had insisted on the best, even though Remus' continual need for replacements of clothing was draining their funds.

Lily and Remus sat down on the couch. Lily leaned forward with her chin resting on her hand.

"What time is it?" Lily asked.

Remus looked at his watch, saying, "It's five passed 'Time for the Dance.'"

"I can't believe how long people are taking," Lily sighed.

Remus looked behind him. Without him noticing, the common room had gotten quite full. Few couples were leaving for the ball. Remus guessed that people wanted to be fashionably late for the affair. Through the crowd, Remus spotted Sirius with his arm around a girl. She seemed almost sickly thin with long blond hair and large glasses.

"Who's that?" Remus asked.

Lily turned around on the couch and gazed out at the crowd, saying, "Who?"

"That girl with Sirius," Remus clarified.

"That's Sibyl," Lily told him. "I didn't know that Sirius liked Sibyl Trelawney."

"I didn't know Sirius knew Sibyl Trelawney," Remus voiced. "I didn't know there was a Sibyl Trelawney. And with those bangle necklaces, she can't possibly be hard to miss."

"She doesn't get out much," Lily explained. "Sibyl likes to be alone with her crystal ball and tarot cards."

Remus raised his eyebrows. Since when had Sirius gone for the eccentric type?

"Oh, Lily!"

Remus and Lily both open around to see James, Wearing chartreuse dress robes. It was apparent that James' hours in front of the mirror had not improved his hair. It was still sticking out everywhere.

"Lily, you look gorgeous, " James complimented, straightening his glasses.

Lily giggled and looped her arm around his. Remus stood up, too.

"Should we be heading off?" Remus suggested.

Even through the whole house had intended on arriving late and making an entrance, they ended up just going all together. When the Gryffindors had reached the Great Hall, the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were already there. Most of Slytherin house arrived a few minutes later. Professor McGonagal, a stern-looking woman with a dark, tight bun stood up from her observation seat at the teacher's table.

"Before beginning the ball, I would like to make an announcement," she said. "Professor Dumbledore has been called away."

A few mutters broke out among the students. Remus gaped at her in disbelief.

"he was needed at the Ministry of magic," McGonagal continued. "He will be back soon, but while he is gone, I don't want any dilly-dallying. I will be in charge. Now that you know, let us begin our Yule Ball. Euphonus!"

Music began suddenly. Student migrated to the walls so that the dancing area was quite clear.

"Let's rock the house, Baby!" Sirius suggested to his date.

"All for it," she said in an airy voice.

Once Sirius and Sibyl were dancing, other people joined in. James and Lily danced together quite a few times. The two returned just as a slow song began.

James, Lily, Remus, and Peter stood idly near a table and watched the dancers. Sirius and Sibyl seemed to be dancing awfully close together. Lily nudged Remus in the side with her elbow. When he looked at her she was smiling. Remus gave her a confused look. She raised her eyebrows expectantly. He suddenly realized what she wanted. Lily wanted him to ask her to dance. Unfortunately, James was right there.

Lily must have seen Remus glancing at James because she said, "James, would you mind if Remus asked me to dance?"

Remus started feeling really hot and nervous. What was he going to say?

"Sure, Mooney," James answered light-heartedly, "if you want to dance with Lily, that's fine."

Lily looked back at Remus, batting her eyes.

"Alright," Remus began, clearing his throat. "Lily, d'you want to dance?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Lily replied, sounding serious.

Remus and Lily walked onto the floor. Lily put her arms around Remus and he had his hands on her middle. They slowly swayed to the gentle music.

"It's weird about Dumbledore leaving," Lily commented. "What d'you think is up with that?"

"I donno," Remus admitted.

"D'you think it has anything to do with what Voldemort said?" Lily asked.

"He did say he was going to take care of Dumbledore, didn't he?" Remus said thoughtfully.

"Too bad we didn't have time to talk to him before he left," Lily voiced.

"Oh, crud!" Remus exclaimed.

"What?" Lily queried.

"I totally forgot," Remus said.

"Forgot what?"

"I had to go to Dumbledore's office last month," Remus explained. "I forgot to tell him."

Lily stopped swaying and gaped at Remus.

"A powerful dark wizard wants to take over the school and you forgot!" Lily yelled.

"Shh," Remus hushed her, "remember where we are."

Lily pulled away form him and said, "How could you forget?"

"I-I was busy," Remus sputtered. "There was something occupying my attention."

"What was that?" Lily questioned, looking angry.

Remus itched the back of his neck.

"It's personal."

"Personal?" Lily said it as if it was an insult. "Remus, I thought we were friends. Why won't you just tell me?"

Remus had to think. He could tell her the truth. It could be possible that she'd understand. Remus could see her nodding and saying, "Oh, that's all." Yeah, right! Lily would probably scream. She would be scared of him. Remus wouldn't be able to stand that.

"I just got in trouble," Remus explained.

"In trouble for what?" Lily demanded.

"Playing a trick on Snape," he told her.

He waited for her response. Her facial expression softened and she even smiled.

"Why didn't you say that?"

Remus shrugged, grinning fraudulently.

Lily put her arms around him and they continued to dance.

"I'm sorry I got so mad," she whispered to him.

Remus felt bad about not telling her the truth, but he was happy that she was no longer angry with him. He did deserve anger, though., Snape and the unfortunate incident was a perfect opportunity to tell Dumbledore what was going on. Instead, he worried about himself; How he might be expelled and how embarrassed he was. Remus should have thought about the school and everyone else in the magic and muggle worlds.

Remus happened to glance over at Peter and James when James was whispering something to Peter and pointing at a short girl with strawberry blond hair, who was standing next to the punch bowl. Peter nodded.

"Looks like Pete might ask someone to dance," Remus informed Lily.

She looked over there. Peter had just approached the girl when a taller red-headed guy asked her first. Remus supposed to hide his embarrassment, Peter got himself a glass of punch.

"Poor Peter," Lily frowned.

"Even a stub like him deserves a dance," Remus said as Peter walked slowly toward James. "Hey, Lily, are you thinking what I am?"

"I think so," she told him, smiling. "You want me to..."

Remus nodded.

Lily giggled.

The two walked back over to where Peter and James stood. Lily clung to Remus' arm and started tugging at him playfully.

"One more dance, Remus," she begged, smiling.

"Nah," Remus began, "I'm bushed."

"Party pooper," Lily voiced. "What about you, James?"

"Well-" he began, but Remus had nudged him in the ribs. Remus gave him a mischievous grin. James, confused, continued, "I don't think so?"

"I bet you're not such a stick in the mud," Lily said to Peter. "Want to dance?"

Peter looked shocked for a moment and then he nodded. Lily took his hands and pulled him onto the dance floor. James had gotten what was going on and joined Remus in a chuckle.

"Hey, James," a blond fifth-year began, "want to dance?"

"No thanks, Lana," James refused pleasantly.

Once she had left, Remus asked, "Why'd you say no?"

"I'd rather just watch Lily," James mused.

Remus stared at James as he watched Lily. He had this slight smile on his face that confused Remus.

"What's up, James?" Remus asked.

"What d'you mean?" James retorted.

"First you don't seem to care that Lily was talking about being serious at Hogsmeade," Remus began, "and now you refuse dancing with a pretty girl to sit here and watch Lily. What's going on with you?"

James smiled wider, "I'm not sure. I just always wast to be around her and can't stop thinking about her. It's like everything in my life revolves around her."

Remus gaped at him.

"What?" James questioned.

"James," Remus said, "you're in love."

James' face straightened out and he looked back at Lily.

"I guess I am."