Chapter 4: Anytime

James couldn't believe what he saw that night. He was sitting in Transfiguration. He hadn't told anyone what had happened, but he needed to tell Lily right away. He had tried to tell Lily, but she was always with Amos or Ella. James didn't want to tell Lily at all, for he knew it would break her heart. She was so happy when she was with him. But if he told her, she would be grateful to him. She would break up with Amos and become his girlfriend. James didn't know what he was going to do.

A week later, it was the beginning of Christmas holidays. The Christmas Ball would be that night. Everyone was excited about it. The girls spent the day locked up in their dormitories, getting ready for the big night. The guys spent the day flying, or by the lake.

The school was waiting outside of the Great Hall. The doors opened and the school flooded into the room. Music wasn't on yet. James was talking to the D.J. He asked him to play a specific song for the first dance.

"Good evening, everyone," Dumbledore exclaimed cheerfully. "Let's get this party started, shall we?"

Everyone cheered and clapped.

"Okay. Let's have the Head Boy and Girl, start things off for us." Every year, the Head Boy and Girl had to have the first dance.

The crowd made a circle in the dance floor. Lily left Amos and walked to the center. People parted in front of her. James was already there, wearing a stunning tux. He didn't have a date. Lily looked absolutely beautiful in her dark blue glittery gown. It accentuated her curves perfectly. 

James held out his hand and Lily took it. Lily put her hand on his shoulder and James put his on her back.

"You look wonderful," he said quietly.

"You don't look so bad yourself," she replied. The music started.

"Hey, I know this song! It's my favorite!" Lily said.

"I know you did, so I asked the D.J. to play it for us,"

"Thanks James," she said. 'She said my name!' thought James.

"No problem Lily," he replied. She got closer to him and put her head on his shoulders.

As Kelly began to sing, James did too, quietly in her ears. His warm breath in her ears made Lily's spine shiver. She had never been this close to him before.

Anytime you feel like you just can't hold on
Just hold on to my love and I'll help you be strong
But you're so afraid to lose, and baby I can't reach your heart
I can't face this world that's keeping us apart
When I can be the one to show you
Everything you missed before
Just hold on now, cause I can be the one to give you more
Let you know

Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side
Just let me be the one I can make it alright

Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart
I can make it alright

I look into your eyes, and I feel it coming through
And I can't help but want you more than I want to
So baby take all of your fears, and cast them all on me
'Cause all I ever wanted is just to make you see
That I could be the one to give you
All that you've been searching for
Just hold on to my love, and baby let me give you more
You know, anytime

Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side

Just let me be the one I can make it alright
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart
I can make it alright

And now there's no way out
And I can't help the way I feel
'Cause baby you're the fire and I'll be waiting right here
You know my love is real, baby
Yeah yeah yeah

Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side, you know
Just let me be the one I can make it alright (I can make it al, make it al, make it alright)
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart
I can make it alright, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

Anytime you need love baby I'm on your side (I'm on your side)
Just let me be the one (let me be the one let me be the one let me be the one alright)
Anytime you need love baby you're in my heart (you're in my heart)
I can make it alright

Lily looked up into James's eyes as the song ended. She didn't know what kind of emotion was twirling inside them, but she knew she caused it.

"I mean it, Lily. I really do," James said to her.

There was no type of emotion in her face that he could recognize. But he knew if there was an emotion inside of her, it wasn't one that he was hoping for. Lily looked away.

"Thanks for the dance, Potter," she said before she walked off to find Amos.

It didn't work, James thought. She must hate me even more.

He walked to a corner of the Great Hall where there was an empty table. He sat in a chair for the rest of the night and watched other people having the time of their life. Peter was dancing with a girl who didn't take interest in him at all. Remus was nibbling on a girl's ear. Sirius was walking around looking for someone. He didn't see Lily at all.

James checked his watch. It was 11 P.M.

"I guess it would be safe to leave," he said to himself. He got up and walked to the entrance. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. The music stopped playing. The people stopped dancing. All the attention was focused at the other side of the room, where a red head was screaming her head off.