Well, it seems that ever Marauder fict has it: an seventh year ball. Since I'm highly unoriginal, this fict has one too!
Beth Black, Sirius' little sister, Anne Zwarts and her friend, Juvenis Fortus Angelus and Rose are all actual persons who wanted to be in this story, and who am I to refuse?
Reviews are still very much appreciated, in case you all forgot!!!!
June 1977.
"Dress robes will be worn, and the ball will start at eight o'clock…"
"Potter and Black, interesting though Quidditch may be, may I ask you to discuss it somewhere else, and not in this library?" Madam Pince' voice was a dangerous whisper, and she looked sternly at the two boys.
"But we're keeping Remus company!" said Sirius. He nodded to Remus, who was totally lost in the book he was reading, and not paying attention to them at all.
"It seems as though he is more interested in his book than in your company. I must ask you to leave this library." It sounded more like an order than a request.
"Please?" begged James. "We'll be really quiet!"
"Wasn't that the same thing you said ten minutes ago?" asked Madam Pince. "Now take you things and get out." She pointed at the door.
Remus finally looked up. "If you'd just wait half a minute, I've got this book almost finished."
"Half a minute then," said Madam Pince. Remus nodded. His eyes flew over the last page, and in less than half a minute he closed the book.
"Done," he said. "C´mon, let's go." They made their way out of the library.
"What book were you reading?" asked James.
"It was about something Muggles call the Second Worldwar. Terrible, millions of people died," told Remus. "I´d read the book before, but it was still horrible."
"Muggles are crazy," concluded Sirius.
"Says someone who's half Muggle himself," added James dryly.
They walked past a group of Gryffindor girls, who suddenly overcame with a fit of the giggles. Sirius looked irritated over his shoulder at them.
"Do I have something on my nose or something?" he said. "Is this normal?"
They passed some other girls, who also seemed to be strangely giggly. Finally, they met Lily near the Fat Lady.
"James!" she said. "I've been looking all over for you! Have you heard the news?"
"No," interrupted Sirius. "Is it something about us? Why is everybody laughing at us? I hate being laughed at for a reason I don't know!"
"I somehow get the idea they're not laughing at us, but to us," said Remus thoughtfully.
"And I want to know why!" said Sirius irritably.
"I can't believe you don't know!" said Lily suprised. "I mean, everybody's talking about it! You really haven't heard? Where have you been?"
"The libr-" started Remus, but James interrupted him.
"What's the matter then? Can't you just tell us?"
"Oh, you must see for yourself! C´mon, this way." Lily dragged James to the common room, and Sirius and Remus followed, wondering what could be the matter.
There was a group of students standing in front of the publication board, making it unable for James and his friends to look on it. Being the tallest of them all, James could just see a small piece of parchment that hadn't been there the last time he'd looked on the board. He wriggled his way to it, with the others on his heels.
"Look," he said, "this message's new."
"That's what I wanted to tell you!" said Lily beaming.
Sirius dived past her and ripped the piece of parchment from the publicator.
"Hey!" protested Remus, "I wanted to read that too!"
James quickly plucked the parchment out of Sirius' hand and held it high up in the air, so that Sirius couldn't reach it. "Sirius, be a bit more social, will you?"
He read the note, still holding it high up. A weird smile appeared on his face.
"What does it say? Read it aloud!" requested Remus. James cleared his throat.
"To all the seventh year students: a ball will be organised, to celebrate the end of your magical education. It will be held on the last Friday before the end of the year, and start at eight o'clock, until twelve o'clock. You must wear dress robes."
"A ball!" cried Remus. "Excuse me, but who am I supposed to go to a ball with?"
Sirius tapped him on the shoulder and nodded to a group of girls behind him.
Remus threw one look over his shoulder. The girls were giggly trying to draw his attention, and yet trying to act like they weren't trying to draw his attention. It miserable failed, however. Sirius used to call them the Remus J. Lupin-fanclub. Remus shook his head.
"No thank you, Sirius. I prefer a girl who doesn't faint when I'm dancing with her."
"Oh, poor Remus," said Sirius. "Is your breath really that bad?" James couldn't help but laugh. Remus shot an angry look at Sirius, before he took the note from James and pinned it on the board again. He suddenly frowned as he studied the message one more time.
"Er, last Friday of the year, that's June 23, right?" he asked.
"I think so," said James. "Why?"
"Are you sure?" asked Remus, sounding almost scared.
"Yeah, our last day is June 30, that's on a Friday, so last Friday before that has to be 23!" said Sirius. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because June 23 is a full moon," said Remus through gritted teeth. "So unless they're holding the ball in the Shrieking Shack…"
"Darn, so you can't come with us," said Sirius. "Well, see it from the bright side, Remus. At least you don't have to ask a girl to come with you!"
"Speaking of which," interrupted James. "Who are you taking to the ball?"
"You can only take one girl, right? That's gonna be a hard decision…" said Sirius, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
~*~
A few days later.
"Could you pass the butter?"
Remus shove the little plate with the lump of butter to Sirius, who dived in it with his knife. James was examining the Quidditch-page of the Daily Prophet while eating his breakfast.
"Anything interesting in the paper?" asked Peter.
"Hm, England lost to France," answered James. "A lot about Voldemort, and Muggles who get all crazy over something called a movie, I dunno, Star Wars or something."
"Yeah, I've heard about it," said Sirius. "Something with a princess, and an old wizard-like guy. I´ll see if I can talk my dad into seeing it."
"Why your dad?" James wanted to know.
"Because he's a Muggle, and he's used to movies. He went to one with my mom once, and she kept talking through it, asking questions and stuff. He said it was really irritating," explained Sirius. "That's why."
"So I guess you won't take us with you, right?" asked James.
"Only if you promise to be a good boy."
James put his thumb in his mouth and muttered: "I am a good boy, I am so sweet!"
"Says who?" laughed Sirius.
"Lily does. She reckons I'm the cutest boy in the school," said James, pulling his thumb out again.
"Even cuter than me? Impossible!" said Sirius, pretending to be amazed.
"Sirius, this may be hard for you, but I've got something to tell you," said James gravely. "There are people who don't think you're the prettiest boy around."
"NO!" said Sirius, with his hands in his hair. "I don't believe it!"
"It's the truth," shrugged Remus. "Hey, who're you taking to the ball?"
"Really shrewd, Remus. Changing the subject," replied Sirius. "I dunno, really."
"Don't say you can't get a girl. They're practically fighting for you!" said James.
"No, but she has to be special. She has to be… to be… heck, I don't know! It's so easy for you, Potter. You already have a girlfriend!"
"You know what," said Remus. "I´d almost feel sorry for you. Almost."
"Well, you can always go with you sister," said James. Four heads turned to the left, to where Beth Black, Sirius' younger sister, was sitting. She resembled Sirius in every possible way; she had long black hair, brown eyes, and the same trouble-making nature. She was chatting with her friends, not paying attention to her brother.
"My sis," said Sirius finally. "Uhm, no, not really, thank you…"
"O c´mon, she nice," said Remus.
"For a nightmare," added James. "She's just like you, Sirius." Sirius looked insulted.
"Potter, that's my sister you're talking about!" he said. "Anyway, she can't come, she isn't a seventh year. And besides, she not really what I'm looking for in a girl."
James sighed. "Then what are you looking for in a girl?"
"Er… she has to be… good-looking, of course. And er… smart… funny…" Sirius summed up. "And er…"
He was interrupted by Lily, who sat down next to James. "Hi Jam," she said.
"Strawberry or blueberry?" asked Sirius.
She stared at him. "I beg your pardon?"
"Strawberry or blueberry?" Sirius repeated. Lily opened and closed her mouth, not certain what to say. Under the table, Remus gave Sirius a well-aimed kick.
"Argh, Remus!" groaned Sirius. "Did you have to?"
"You called James Jam, so Sirius asked you whether you wanted strawberry or blueberry jam," explained Remus. Lily's face lightened up.
"Oh, I understand," she said. She took a slice of bread, and, with a look on Sirius, put some strawberry jam on it.
"Well," she said pleasantly, "what were you talking about?"
"Uhm…" said James, going slightly red. "Er… Quidditch."
"The ball," said Sirius, being a bit more honest.
"Girls," said Remus. This time it was his turn to receive a kick to his legs. James shot an angry look at him.
"Oh… right," said Lily. "Girls. And exactly which girls?"
"Naturally, love, we were talking about the most beautiful girl in the school," said James. Lily's green eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, that's true," added Sirius.
"You must know her," James continued. "She's also really smart. And she has red hair, and a pair of green eyes which are now looking at me."
"Oh," said Lily, sounding relieved. "That's okay." She smiled a happy smile at James.
"Lily," Remus said, "do you know somebody who can go to the ball with Sirius?"
"Hey, Moony, you're not trying to marry me off to someone, are you?" asked Sirius.
"Did you hear me say anything about marrying that girl?" replied Remus, but Sirius wasn't listening. His attention was drawn by a girl who'd just entered the Great Hall. She had dark hair, and brown eyes, much like Sirius' own eyes. The black Hogwarts robes looked very nice on her. Sirius vaguely heard James say: "there he goes, head over heels," but he sounded far away.
Remus tapped him on the shoulder. "Get lost, Remus," said Sirius, not taking his eyes of the girl.
"Okay then," shrugged Remus. "Just thought you'd want to know who she is."
"You know?" asked Sirius eagerly. "Tell me."
"Okay. Her name is Anne Zwarts, she's a Gryffindor seventh-year, she's Muggle-born, and she likes to draw and read," told Remus.
"How do you know all that stuff?" asked Lily.
"I've got my ways," said Remus dryly. "Now, Sirius, once again: who're you taking to the ball?"
"Does the engagement still stand?" asked Sirius.
"Nope. I don't think there ever was any. We had no fiancée for you – yet," answered James.
"Then forget about it. I've made my decision," said Sirius, watching Anne sit down with her friend, and starting eating her breakfast.
~*~
The next afternoon…
"When´re you going to ask it?" asked James.
"Tonight, I think. Or tomorrow. Or maybe in five minutes. I'm not sure yet," said Sirius.
"It's amazing," said Remus. "You easily call Snape the most horrible names -"
"That "insult to humanity" you called him yesterday wasn't even the most original one," added James.
"-and don't even move as much as a muscle in your face when you're told off by McGonagall, but when it comes to asking the girl you like to a ball, you get really uncertain. It's weird," finished Remus.
"Well, there's kind of a difference between talking to a girl or talking to Snape," said Sirius, sounding a bit irritated. For a split second, Remus and James thought of the same thing: Sirius asking Snape to the ball. They burst into laughter. Sirius, who knew them both longer than just this day, and usually thought along the same line as they did, had a face like a thundercloud.
"Oh, hahaha, really funny," he said.
"Hey, wait, Sirius, isn't that her?" James poked Sirius in the side, and nodded to a classroom on the other side of the corridor. Anne walked out, talking to a friend at her side. They noticed the three boys, and nodded as a hello.
"C´mon, Sirius, ask it!" said Remus.
"What, now?"
"No, when Peter's playing Quidditch for England, okay?" said James. "Yes, of course now! Chance of your lifetime!" With these words, he grabbed one of Sirius' arms, and dragged him towards Anne.
"Hi," he said pleasantly to her.
"Hi," she replied, looking curious.
"Sirius got something to tell you," said James. "Bye!" He left Sirius standing with the two girls and hurried back to Remus.
"What´ve you done?" his friend asked.
"I kind of left Sirius with no choice," answered James.
Sirius nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "Uhm, hello," he said.
"Hi, Sirius," she said. Her friend tapped her on the shoulder. "Anne, I'm going, I need to get a book from the library. See you in History."
"Yes, see you then." They were left alone.
"You've got History of Magic now?" asked Sirius.
"Yeah. Not that we're paying a lot of attention now, after the exams, as you'll probably know, because you've got History with me," she said.
"Oh, er, I forgot, sorry."
"It's okay. Want to walk to the classroom with me?"
"Yeah, sure, why not?" he said. "It's this way."
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Sirius debated with himself whether he should ask her or not, but then she began talking again.
"So, James said you wanted to tell me something."
"Right, uhm… that's right, he did."
"Do you still need to say it, or did I miss it?"
"No, I er… haven't said it. What I wanted to say is… what I wanted to say… Uhm… Well, you know there's this ball, in two weeks."
"Yes?" she said encouraging.
"Well, it's kind of embarrassing… uhm, to go there when you don't have a dancepartner," he added quickly. "And so, er, I was thinking… Well, if you don't have someone, you could come with me."
She raised an eyebrow. "I could come with you, if I don't have someone?"
"Yes," he said. She gave him a disapproving McGonagall-look. He swallowed. "I mean no. Actually, it's the other way around. Actually, it's, ah, can I come with you, if you're not dancing with someone else?"
Her face lightened up in the happiest smile he'd ever seen. "You really mean it? Oh, Sirius, I thought you'd never going to ask me!"
"Are you serious?" he asked. "I mean, what made you think I wasn't going to ask you?"
Instead of giving him an answer, she suddenly stood tiptoe, and kissed him on the cheek. Seeing his suprised expression, she said, giggling a bit: "I've always wanted to do that, and now was my chance!"
"Uhm… right," he said. Seeing the happy smile on her face, he smiled back. "Shall we continue to class? I think Binns won't accept this as an excuse…"
~*~
The night of the ball…
"Well, what'd you think?" said Sirius, turning around in front of Remus. "Is this okay?"
"Yeah, but…" hesitated his friend.
"But what?"
"Isn't it a bit black?" said Remus. "I mean, you've got black hair, and now black dress-robes on, and black shoes."
"No, I don't think so. Black looks good on me. And it's my last name, so it fits me." Sirius turned around and looked in the mirror. He liked what he saw.
They were in their dormitory. Sirius was preparing for the ball, and Remus was giving him advice. He was sitting on the bed, already with his cloak on, ready for the short walk to the Whomping Willow. He wasn't jealous, not really. He just hated it that he couldn't come. He just hated being alone, being separated from others. He sighed.
"Do you know where James is?" he asked Sirius.
"Last time I saw him he was in the bathroom, declaring war to his hair," said Sirius. "Poor James."
"I feel more sorry for his hair," grinned Remus. His sad mood was forgotten. "I remember that day when he tried to make it lie flat with a whole jar of wax. And yet it stayed wild."
James entered the dormitory, his hair pointing in every direction. He also had black dress robes on.
"James!" said Sirius. "What´ve you done to your hair?"
"Nothing," said James, looking in the mirror too.
"That's what I mean. I thought you were going to try and make it lie flat," said Sirius.
"Yeah, but I figured it wasn't going to work anyway," answered James. "So why bother trying?" Despite what he was saying, he stroked over his hair.
"Well, I'm finished," said Sirius. "I guess it's time to go down."
"Yeah, it's time to go," said Remus. "Time to go…"
"Hey, this'll be the last time you're going to the Shrieking Shack," said James. "Try and enjoy it."
"Yeah, right, whatever," said Remus, a feeble smile on his face. "I´ll see you tomorrow." They parted in the Common room. Remus made his way through the portrait hole, into the corridor, where Madam Pomfrey was already waiting for him.
~*~
"What time is it?" asked James. Sirius checked his watch.
"About five to eight," he said. "Shall we go to the Entrance Hall and wait for Lily and Anne?"
"Yeah, good idea," answered James. "Let's go."
They made their way down the marble staircase. Several classmates were already there, waiting for the doors of the Great Hall to open. Among the waiting students were also Rose and Juvenis, two Gryffindor students.
"Hi Sirius, hi James," Rose said pleasantly. "Isn't it exciting, a ball?"
"Yeah, very exciting," said Sirius. "Hey, Rose, you don't happen to know where Anne and Lily are, do you?"
"Last time I saw them, they were in their dormitory. But that was about half an hour ago," replied Rose.
"Why do you want to know?" asked Juvenis. "You haven't seen them yet?"
"Oh, of course we have," said Sirius, sounding a bit irritated. "But we just like to ask where they are for no reason at all."
"Sirius…," said James. "Relax. We know you're nervous, just don't show it."
"Well," said Rose. "There's no reason to ask now, because there they are." She nodded to the marble staircase. James and Sirius turned around.
Lily and Anne were talking while they slowly made their way down; apparently they hadn't seen the two boys yet. Lily was wearing a green dress which matched the colour of her eyes, and her long red hair was running down her back like a cascade of fire. Anne was wearing a simple blue dress, and her black hair shone in the light of the candles illuminating the Entrance Hall.
James could hear Sirius swallowing, and he nudged him laughing in his side. "C´mon," he said. "Let's show them we're alive."
He got over to the two girls, with Sirius on his heels.
"James!" said Lily. "I hadn't noticed you."
"Lily, girl," said James. "How do you do it? I mean, how can you be so strikingly beautiful?"
"A natural talent, I suppose," Lily laughed. "And a bit of help from a dress. Why?"
"Because he wants to look like you," said Sirius, coming back to life again. "He wants to have a horde of boys running after him; it's what he's always dreamed off. Beware, Lily. In a few days you'll see James walking around in a pink dress."
"He's always like this," James told Anne. "His parents are still hoping it's all part of the process, like puberty. But I must say that we already lost all hope." He sighed dramatically.
"Hm," said Anne, looking at Sirius. "I´d already noticed he was a bit weird."
"Oh, right, a bit weird," said Sirius. "Is that a good weird?"
"Of course," replied Anne. "The best kind of weirdness I've ever seen. Actually, that's why I like you so much." Sirius almost literally lightened up after this.
Right after she'd said that, James noticed the atmosphere in the Entrance Hall was changing. Silence spread through the mass of students like circles in water, and the Hall became filled with expectation. He craned his neck to see what was happening.
"I believe the doors are opening," said Lily. Several people around them beckoned her to be quiet.
Slowly, one of the giant oak doors opened, and revealed professor Dumbledore, standing in the opening, a smile on his face. His dark blue robes were embroided with silver stars. He cleared his throat.
"Welcome, tonight, at this ball. And what a night! The stars shine in the dark blue sky, and the moon shines her friendly light on us all," he said. Apparently, he was in a poetic mood. "I could say a whole lot more, but I get the idea that you don't want to listen to the babble of an old man." Dumbledore had a twinkle in his blue eyes when he said this. "So I´ll let you in now. This is the last feast you'll be enjoying at Hogwarts. Make it something you want to remember." With this, he stepped aside. The other door also swung open, and the students started to stream into the Great Hall.
~*~
It was that James knew it was the Great Hall where he'd been eating almost every day for the past seven years, else he wouldn't have recognised it. The floating candles dimly lit the room, and instead of the four house tables, there were several round tables along the walls. In the middle of the Great Hall, there was an empty spot, apparently the dance floor.
"Now we'll see if those dancing-lessons had any effect," he said to Sirius.
"Dancing-lessons?" asked Lily. "I didn't know you had them."
"Of course, we couldn't show our face at a ball without being able to dance."
"And we were pretty good at it, right, James?" said Sirius.
"Better than Peter. But that doesn't really say much, actually," said James thoughtfully.
"Where is Peter anyway?" asked Lily.
"Probably in the Common room or somewhere. He couldn't get a girl – not that he really wanted to come," explained James.
"Apparently the Slytherins could find girls," said Sirius. "There they are." He nodded to a few tables not so far away from them.
"Amazing," said James. "Even Snape has found a girl who can stand him a whole evening."
"Really?" said Sirius, craning his neck. "Oh, yuck, I see him."
"I don't see how he could get such a good-looking girl," commented James. Indeed, the girl who was sitting next to Snape was pretty, with long blond hair.
"The Imperio curse, probably," said Anne.
"And that was enough about Snape," said Sirius. "I want to have a good time, and I'm not having fun when I'm thinking of Snape." He suddenly bowed to Anne. "Kind lady, can I have this dance?"
"Why certainly," replied Anne. "It would be my honour." Sirius took her hand and guided her through the other students.
"Well," said James, turning to Lily. "Want to dance with me?"
"You're not afraid I´ll squish your toes?" she asked in return.
"You squishing my toes?" he answered. "Never." He took her in his arms. "You must be such a good dancer that you're flying instead of dancing." He kissed her forehead.
Lily smiled.
~*~
"Here come our drinks," said Sirius, as he saw James approaching, carrying a tray with four goblets above his head, wading through the students. "About time too."
When James´d finally reached them, he put the tray down. "Sorry," he apologised. "It took a bit long, but it was so crowded. Here you are." He gave everybody a goblet.
"Well, let's make that on us, right?" Everyone of them lifted their goblet and drank.
They sat in silence for a few moments, looking at the dancing couples. James caught a glimpse of Rose and Juvenis, dancing slowly. Rose had her head on Juvenis' shoulder, and he whispered something in her ear which made her smile.
"So," Sirius broke the silence. "A trip around the world. And where exactly are you going?"
"Excuse me," interrupted James. "A trip around the world? Did I miss anything here?"
"Yes," said Anne. "When you were gone to get our drinks, I told Lily and Sirius I was planning to make a journey around the world, after I left school. Unfortunately, I have to leave a few days earlier, if I don't want to miss the group I'm travelling with. So I can't take the Hogwarts Express back to London with you." She sighed, but then smiled again. "But apart from that, I'm really looking forward to it."
"Where're you going?" asked Sirius again.
"I´ll start in Ireland," told Anne. "Then I'm going to the States, sight-seeing, you know, Washington, New York, that kind of things. Then on to Australia, the Aboriginals and their culture. After that, I'm going to the east, China and such, then to Russia, Greece, Egypt, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and then I'm back in England!"
"Wow," said Lily. "How long are you going?"
"Almost a year. I expect to be home next spring."
"A year! I can't miss you that long," said Sirius dramatically.
"Then go with her," suggested James.
"Oh, right, I can already see my parents," replied Sirius. "'Hi mom, dad, I'm off on a journey around the world with my girlfriend. See you next spring!' They'll kill me!"
"Why?" laughed Anne.
"Well," said Sirius darkly, "they reckon I'm not independent and serious enough to be travelling around the world." He snorted.
"Maybe they have a point there," said James thoughtfully. "I mean, maybe you've never told Anne, but a seventeen-year old who still sleeps with his teddybear…"
"I what?!" said Sirius. The other three burst with laughter. "Why you, Potter, take that back! Or I´ll tell them some stories about you."
"What, you mean it's true?" said James, roaring with laughter.
"Sometimes I truly hate you," said Sirius. "Honestly."
"Sometimes I hate you equally as much," said James. He drained his goblet, and shove it toward Sirius. "You turn to get drinks."
"Yes, if you please," said Lily, and she also placed her goblet in front of Sirius.
"Just trying to get rid of me, right?" asked Sirius.
"Was that so obvious?" replied James. Anne got up from her chair.
"C´mon, Sirius, I´ll come with you," she said. Sirius sighed.
"It's a conspiracy," he said, but got up and followed Anne through the crowd.
James grinned. Lily touched his arm.
"A teddybear?" she said.
"Of course not," he said. "I think he got rid of his teddybear when he was three years old. I mean, Sirius Black with a teddybear? Never!"
"It would be an amusing sight," said Lily, her eyes shining.
"Actually," said James, bowing over to her as if he was going to tell a great secret, "it's an elephant, Mister Trunky. But shhh, don't tell anyone!"
Lily giggled. "You're lying. That can't be true. An elephant called Mister Trunky? Even worse!"
"You're insulting Mister Trunky!" laughed James.
Lily overcame with another fit of the giggles when she saw Sirius and Anne approaching. She pointed to them, not able to speak.
"Don't say a word!" said James urgently. "It would ruin his life!"
Lily was hardly able to remain sitting on her chair. Sirius put the goblets down and sighed. "Okay, either you're drunk, or James has made up some stupid story about me. What is it this time?"
"I can't say," hiccuped Lily. "I'm not allowed to say it!"
Sirius looked down on them and shook his head. "Mental," he told Anne. "And then he accuses me of being crazy." James smiled innocently.
"And don't try and pretend to know nothing of this, James Potter! I'm sure you're the one to blame." Sirius turned to Anne. "Let's leave them alone. Want to dance?"
"Sure," agreed Anne, and the two of them left and disappeared in the mass of dancing students.
"And, was it true?" asked Lily finally.
"Mister Trunky? No. I have a cousin who had a Mister Trunky once," told James. "He was great to throw with, Mister Trunky I mean, but Sirius never had one."
"Poor Sirius," was Lily's comment.
"Hm, hm," said James. Lily stretched out her hand and stroked his hair.
"I love you," she suddenly whispered in his ear. James turned his head to her.
"You know what? I love you even more."
"Impossible. You can't love me more than I love you, because I love you more than my life. I´d die for you," she said, before their lips connected…