Chapter 23

James straightened his robes as he headed down his stairs with Remus, to get Lily to go to the dance.

Sirius had gone ahead to help get the Great Hall ready for the dance, (remember the detention), and Peter had disappeared somewhere a while ago.

"I still can't believe I'm going with Butter." Said Remus, (for the fifth time).

"I know. You've said that a million times, you can stop now." Replied James. "By the way, we don't have a Marauder plan for tonight do we?"

"Nope." Said Remus, "Sirius will be busy with the drinks and stuff, and I'll be busy with Butter." He wiggled his eyebrows. "And not to mention you will be busy with Lily."

James shook his head.

"That just leaves out poor Peter."

"Don't feel bad for him James." Remus said, "He's just shy. If he wanted to he could get a date, but he's become more distant since you and Lily started going out. And don't feel bad about Lily. You said she told you that she didn't even like him even before you asked her out."

"I guess so." Responded James, "But I actually still think that he does hold a little grudge against me."

They heard a throat clearing, and they looked up.

James was able to keep his mouth together this time, but just barely. She was even more beautiful than at the Halloween dance.

"Wow." He said.

Lily smiled and descended the stairs.

"I seem to remember exactly the same scenario a few months ago." She said.

James grinned.

"But, if you look closely Lily, you will notice that I have been able to keep my mouth closed this time. Not that the sight is worse, it's actually even better, but from lots of self restraint."

Lily looped her arm around James', and they went out to the Great Hall.

Peter was taking a walk around the lake before the dance started.

"No one would even miss me." He thought to himself.

When he was out of sight of anyone who just happened to look out of the castle and see him, Peter felt a presence beside him, so he turned his head. To his surprise, he saw a cloaked figure walking beside him. Peter stopped and faced him.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"You may address me as Lord Voldemort." Replied the figure. "And unless I am much mistaken, you could use my help."

"What?"

"Just let me guess your story. You are brilliant, but just not in a way that your friends see, because they treat you like you know nothing, and that they would do better without you. But you keep them as your friends because you are in their grade, and they are your only friends. You hold a big grudge against one of them in particular, and because of that, you wish to be powerful. Is this right?"

Peter nodded in fascination.

Voldemort continued. "I can help you on your way to greatness. You need only join me. I will give you a little time to think about it, but not much. If you decline my offer,"

"I don't need time." Peter interrupted, "I will join you."

Lily was completely happy as she danced in the arms of her boy. It was odd; when she was with him, she didn't feel like she was 14, she felt much older. It felt like they should be together forever.

"You don't have anything planned for tonight do you?" she asked James.

"Nope." He replied, "You're the only thing I have planned for tonight. It's only you."

Lily sighed and relaxed. "I want it to always be like this James. Just you and me."

James looked around and whispered in Lily's ear "I hate to break it to you Lily, but we are actually surrounded by people."

Lily smiled and pulled James' head down and kissed him.

"Not in my world."

They danced for a little bit longer until Lily had to go to the restroom.

"I'll be right back." She told James as she headed off.

As Lily rounded a corner and out of sight, she fainted.