Chapter 15
Not A Fun Experience
Later that day, Kiara and Jordan had attempted to have a serious chat with Lily. So far, Lily hadn't listened to any of their hard efforts to persuade her that James hadn't written the note. Lily had stubbornly stuck to her belief that James had written the note and that he was now with the girl he had been talking about. The one who "fit his tastes better." Eventually, after several hours of arguing with Lily, Jordan and Kiara were forced to admit defeat.
*
Over in the boys' dormitories, things weren't going so well either. Sirius, Remus, and Peter had been doing their absolute best to convince James that Lily hadn't written the note and that she had gotten one as well. James, however, stuck to his convictions that Lily really did have a boyfriend as he had seen the two of them in the hall together earlier. When Sirius reminded him that the note had said that Lily's supposed boyfriend didn't go to Hogwarts, James merely stated that obviously she had been lying so that he wouldn't go and severely hurt him. Finally, about four hours and twenty-three minutes later, the remaining sane Marauders had to give up.
*
In the girls' dormitories, the late afternoon time before the ball was spent in a flurry of activity, though somewhat halfhearted on Lily's part. Kiara and Jordan, being the good friends they were, were trying to cheer her up.
"I wish this stupid thing with the notes had never happened." Lily said, collapsing on her bed next to her shimmery ivory dress robes.
"It'll be alright." Jordan said, from the mirror where she was attempting to style her hair in a complicated sort of way.
"It'll be like a fairy tale." Kiara said as she came out of the shower. "You'll look absolutely stunning, as usual, and he'll see you across the dance floor and forget about his skank of a date—"
"And he'll come up to you, drop to one knee, take your hands in his, and say,--"
"'Lady Lily, I am ever so sorry for any confusion that may have happened between us and for any hurt you may have felt.' Then he'll stand up, still holding your hands, because a beautiful slow song has just started up, and he'll say—"
"'Dance with me?' And you, of course, WILL say yes, or Kiara and I will personally strangle you." Jordan said decisively, finishing the fantasy.
Lily flashed them a skeptical look. "Yeah, and while we're dreaming, I'd like a pony."
"Ah, so young, so jaded." lamented Kiara.
"I'm not jaded!" exclaimed Lily indignantly. "And if I were, I'd have every right to be!"
"And so you would." Jordan said hurriedly. "But now, as it's getting rather late, you should start getting dressed. Can I do your hair?"
"I'll do your makeup!" Kiara cried excitedly.
Lily sighed and resignedly let herself be dragged over to the vanity where Kiara and Jordan began working their magic.
*
By 7:45, the girls had finished making over Lily and the end result was spectacular. Her hair had been side parted and tied back into a low chignon. Her ivory robes set off her pale complexion perfectly and her emerald necklace and matching studs brought out her eyes.
As she came down the stairs, all chattering in the common room stopped (except for three or four who happened to be particularly dense and didn't notice.) Remus and Sirius began applauding as she entered the common room. Lily could feel herself blushing self-consciously.
"Thanks guys." she murmured once she reached them. "You've once again managed to turn me into the human tomato."
Sirius grinned, bear-hugging her. "No problem."
Remus gave Lily a gentle hug. "Everything will work out." he said, quietly reassuring her. "You'll see."
Lily smiled at Remus gratefully. "Thanks."
Jordan had already met up with her date, a sixth year Gryffindor named Elijah Linford, and had promised to meet Lily, Remus, Kiara and Sirius in the Great Hall. Sirius offered Kiara his arm and, as Remus would be meeting his date in front of the Great Hall as well, he offered his arm to Lily, who accepted gracefully.
*
Outside the Great Hall, Lily looked around nervously for Daniel, half hoping that he had developed a severe case of pneumonia and couldn't make it. Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn't to be, as Daniel was walking towards her, his eyes lit up with appreciation.
"Hey, honey." he said.
Lily was distractedly looking for James, so it took her a moment to respond. "Hi."
"So, shall we go in?" Daniel asked, attempting (and failing) to be a gentleman. He offered her his arm, which she took with great distaste.
Together, they entered the Great Hall, which had been splendidly decorated for the occasion. Huge jack-o'-lanterns surrounded the dance floor and in each pumpkin there was a table with three candles on it for people to sit at. The ceiling had been bewitched so that purple, black, and orange confetti fell from a thunderous sky.
Lily absentmindedly brushed some confetti out of her hair as Daniel led her to a pumpkin where some of his Ravenclaw friends were sitting. Lily noted, with some disgust, that he hadn't bothered to ask her where she wanted to sit. Sighing, she settled herself into a chair and prepared herself for what was surely going to be a long night. Sadly, her position gave her a perfect view of James and Irene dancing close together on the dance floor.
*
James had been dragged off by Irene the second he stepped out of the safety of the boys' dormitories. He had been tempted to feign sickness, but he wanted to see how Lily was going to look, even though he'd promised himself never to think of her again. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.
He hadn't been able to sit down and have some peace since the ball had started. The second they walked in, Irene had hauled him onto the dance floor and had begun dancing as close to him as she possibly could. James had begun to run on automatic the minute Irene touched him and that was what he had been doing when he saw Lily walk in. It was as if his automatic pilot broke and he froze in the middle of the dance floor. God, she was beautiful. However when he stopped, Irene had wrapped her arms around him, looked up at him, and said, "What's wrong, Jamesie?"
He wanted to run away screaming when she called him that. He hated that nickname more than anything else in the world...except for maybe Irene. At first it had been a mild dislike, but as he had gotten to know her, it had become a full fledged burning hatred. However, steeling himself against his natural instinct, he looked down at her and said, "Nothing, Irene. Nothing."
Looking back over at Lily again, he missed Irene's satisfied smirk.
*
About halfway through the ball, Lily had danced twice with Daniel and had spent the rest of the time sitting in the chair. Overall, the ball was not a fun experience.
At about that time, Dumbledore stood up, motioning for the music to stop. The hall fell silent as everyone turned to look at him. Clearing his throat slightly, he said, "I know you're all terribly disappointed to have to stop dancing for even a second, but it is time for the Head Girl and Head Boy's dance."
Lily neck cracked as her head shot up. She had completely forgotten that the Head Boy and Girl were supposed to have a solo dance together, what with all the stuff that was weighing on her mind at the moment.
On the dance floor, James had a similar reaction and he could feel Irene tense up beside him. She felt threatened. He smiled to himself. Good.
The strains of a slow song started up and Lily slowly got up out of her chair and walked onto the slowly emptying dance floor towards James, who was standing alone in the middle of it.
*
Irene stalked over to the members of the James Potter Fan Club.
"This is going to ruin all my planning!" she exclaimed in agitation. "I completely forgot about this stupid tradition."
Rebecca rolled her eyes. She couldn't feel very sympathetic towards Irene at the moment as the wench was blackmailing her to stay with the club.
"Just because they're dancing together, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll get back together." pointed out Genna.
"Then again, it might. I never saw him look at you the way he looks at her." Lana commented.
Irene seethed.
*well, I think this is as good a place as any to end this chapter, don't you? of course you don't, but I'm reluctant to end this story as I'm having fun with it, writer's block and all. ::digs a foxhole and hides from large, hard, flying objects thrown by the readers:: I figure this story's got one, maybe two chapters left to it. any suggestions for what may happen, aside from the obvious? Anyway, on to the cliffhangers (your favorite part I know...)
· What will happen during Lily and James' dance?
· What is Rebecca's secret? (suggestions are welcome...i wasn't planning on revealing it, but you seem to want to know so...)
· Will Irene get her comeuppance and how?
· Will the truth come out?
And now for the usual messages:
· Anyone who can PLEASE, please, please help me get a livejournal (or knows someone who can help me get a livejournal, email me at kathleenmavourneen01@yahoo.com. Merci beaucoup!
· Anyone who wants to be updated when I change things, leave your email!
(flossie1 {I think that was the name you used} you asked me to notify you when I change things but you forgot to leave your email... if you read this, leave your email! Merci!)
