Hello, all of you lovely people. Just for Musicizdbest, I do as a matter of fact have low self esteem, I only write so well because I can be someone I'm not. I get a lot of criticism from those around me, sometimes constructive, and sometimes not. For those of you who know me and are reading this I'm not going to say who I get bad criticism from. Also, I am my own worst enemy, I am a perfectionist. I have to do everything just so, for instance this chapter took me six times to write because I didn't like it. Mostly because I wrote it. And yes I will answer this question once more because it continues to appear in the reviews I receive. I am a dancer of nine years, and still continue to do so.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of J.K. Rowling's. It is all hers and no one else's okay now that, that is over with on to the story.

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Chapter 13: The Morning After

James sat in the common room waiting for Lily. He decided to be her escort to the hall this morning. He didn't have to wait long. Lily walked down the stairs proudly showing off her curls. Normally she would have tied back her hair so that she didn't have to bother with it later when she went to dance. But today she wanted to look good and she knew that to do that she needed to leave her hair down. She wore the same robes over her same school uniform but she had put on a little bit of make-up this morning. (She usually wore non at all).

James just looked at her he was in awe. He walked over to her and stuttered profusely, "Lily, … I was just wondering, ….. Uh, well I ,…. Um,…."

Lily sensing his uneasiness quickly broke in "James would you walk to the great hall with me?"

"Um, ya," he said perking up a bit. James offered Lily his arm which she excepted and gracefully took. And the two continued down the hall smiling and talking.

"James thank you," she said smiling sweetly.

"For what?" asked James in shock.

"For what you did last night. Comforting me," she said blushing a little.

"What were you crying over exactly?" asked James hoping he hadn't hit a tender area.

"You," Lily said in almost a whisper barely audible for James to hear. James simply smiled to himself.

"Why would you do that?" he asked as if he didn't know.

"James I was really upset about not going to the tower that night I did go you know but I saw, I saw-"

"I know what you saw Lily," she looked at him in shock how in the world did he know? She thought to herself. "Remus told me what you had told him."

"That little-"

"Hey, watch what your saying bout me behind my back," said a smirking Remus as he sped up to catch the two love birds.

"Hello, Remus," said a very pleasant James.

"Remus Lupin! Have you been telling James what I have been saying about him!" said Lily in mock anger.

"Uh, would it help my situation if I say you look very nice today?" asked a cheeky Remus.

"No," said Lily as she dove towards Remus and jumped on his back. "Now say your sorry and you'll never do it again," she said trying to sound mad but at the same time was trying to hold back laughter.

"Well, I don't see why I should I mean I did get you two together didn't I!" said Remus grabbing at Lily on his back and tickling her sides senseless as she easily slide off his back in a fit of giggles.

"Ok, ok your forgiven," said Lily quickly before adding. "This time," Then she ran around behind James hiding from Remus.

"All right you two you had better knock it off before I get jealous," said James playfully.

"Oh, does Jamesie want some of the attention too?" said Lily with and evil grin glancing at Remus. Then her and Remus sprang into action tickling James.

"Ok, ….. I get, ….. the picture! ….. Stop!" gasped James between laughter. Lily and Remus finally backed off helping James off his feet. Just as Sirius came round the corner.

"James! Are you ok I heard you scream and…" but he was stopped short by the giggles that erupted from James, Lily and Remus. "What's so funny?" said a very confused Sirius.

Lily managed to point towards an old looking stuffed bear clutched in Sirius' arms. Sirius looked down then turned a deep shade of red and excused himself saying he would meet up with them in a minute and that he had to take care of some business.

Lily, James and Remus finally made it into the hall and were filling their plates with steaming sausage, bacon and eggs when the post owls came. Lily receiving a letter from her cousin in France.

"Oh wow!" exclaimed Lily upon finishing reading her letter.

James stared at her expecting an explanation for the sudden outburst of joy.

"My cousin is transferring here from Beauxbaxions. My aunt and uncle are moving back to London from France!"

"Lily I thought your family is muggle?" asked James.

"Oh only my cousin and I have magical powers out of our family. Anyway she is going to be here next week-" Lily was interrupted by Dumbledore.

"Could I have your attention please," came Dumbledore's voice interrupting the conversations that had been going on in the hall. "Thank you, and good morning students," said a beaming Dumbledore. "I have an announcement to make. We will be having a Halloween Ball in two weeks on Halloween day for third years and up. It will be a masquerade so please wear masks. That is all enjoy the rest of your meal." said Dumbledore as he sat down once again at the staff table. The hall was buzzing with talk.

James turned to Lily and his eyes met hers. "Um, Lily?" asked James.

She waited for him to continue but it took him a while. Well, at least he isn't stuttering, thought Lily in her head.

"Lily do you want to go to the ball with me?" said James crossing his fingers in hope.

"I would love to," said Lily leaning up and kissing him on the cheek.

James felt great relief until he noticed the rest of the marauders looking at him and Lily. Sirius was batting his eyelashes and making fake kissing sounds at him. James glared back at him and gripped Lily around the waist.

"Come on Lily shouldn't we get working on professor Sprout's report?" Lily nodded in agreement and was about to leave with James when her glance fell on Remus. Though most of Hogwarts students were excited about the prospect of a ball, Remus was saddened. He had not had a date since he and Lily went out for a short period of time in third year. Lily told James she would meet him in the library in a bit. And James walked out of the room.

Lily took up a seat next to Remus. "Hey Remus I didn't get a chance to thank you for helping me and James get together," she said kissing him on the cheek.

Remus gave her a weak smile and told her that even without his help that the two of them would have gotten together seeing how they were meant for one another. Lily smiled and asked Remus what was the matter. He said that nothing was wrong. But Lily had the feeling she knew what was up and asked if it was because he had no date for the ball and he slowly nodded. Lily wished she could help him but she herself was bad at the whole dating thing and decided she would only make things worse with her lack of experience. She told Remus to keep his hopes up and that he would find someone and that she had to go and meet up with James and hugged him. At this Sirius now batted his eyelashes at them and made his fake kissing sounds.

Lily strolled up beside him and said, "At least he doesn't need to sleep with a bear," she said. At this Sirius blushed. But Lily wasn't done she had to deliver the final blow. "Oh, don't worry Sirius I myself slept with ballerina bear," Sirius' face had returned to normal color but quickly erupted with a glare when she added to her comment, "But I got rid of it around age eight," And with that she walked at a brisk pace to the library.

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Well, here it is, your chapter. Awwweee poor Remus (tear) don't worry though I have plans for him. And Sirius don't worry he wont get bashed like again or at least not for a while. And no he will not stay stupid acting forever don't worry. Every story needs the comic relief though. Now please review I love hearing from you. Thank you to those who have already reviewed.