(Note from the author: These are not my characters, my world, and my situations. They all belong to J. K. Rowling, and are protected by copyrights.)

"Could use some help here!"

Remus looked up from his Potions homework, and laughed as James wrestled with his cuffs.
"Haven't you ever dressed up before?" Remus scolded as he jumped off of the bed and took James's sleeve to prim the dress robe.
"No," James said, "If you haven't noticed, I'm not the type that gets my jollies from cocktail parties."
"Is this too much cologne?" Sirius said, coming out of the corner. A cloud of stench followed him, and Peter fell over backwards off of his bed.
"You two are helpless," Remus sighed, and then pointed his wand at Sirius, "Oblivio."
The cloud disappeared, and Sirius frowned, "Hey! Why'd you do that?"
"I'm saving your dignity," he replied, and then checked James's robes, "I think you're ready to go. As for you," he started in on Sirius, "You're wearing your clothes backwards."
Sirius looked down, and laughed, "I was wondering why the clasps were in the back."
"Come here," Remus said, and pushed Sirius's longer hair over his shoulders, "Now look, you've got the collar all buckled wrong."
"We'll be down in the tunnel by eleven," James told Peter and Remus, "We have to take the girls back up to the dormitory, and then we'll be down to help you out, Wormtail."

"We have to stay clear of the school tonight," Remus said, "Too many people out and about."
"Right," Sirius said happily, "To Hogsmeade it is, then."

Lily and Elise were sitting on the couch, side by side, waiting for Sirius and James to meet them. They had been sitting there for a good hour, it looked like. The two boys shut the door behind them, and quietly made their way down the stairs, checking their now tamed hair.
Remus had done a charm on both of them to make their hair slick back into place, flat on their heads. James felt a sudden urge to mess it up again. His hand kept twitching as he and Sirius walked to the two girls, smiling at them.
Lily was beautiful. She had let her long hair hang down, and it shone around her like a halo. Her makeup was applied so beautifully that it looked almost natural. She had a beautiful dark blue dress that flowed and rippled on the skirt, and heeled shoes that made her posture even more graceful.
James had never seen Lily in an actual dress, apart from the Hogwarts uniform. She hadn't been a tomboy, no, but she hadn't been like her friends, who dolled up every morning and strutted around school like they owned the place. No, Lily was different.
And Lily was beautiful.
Sirius didn't seem as intrigued with his date, other than what he saw. Elise was a sight to stun. She was almost as gorgeous as Lily. Her hair was pinned perfectly in back of her head and then rolled into a bun that was sparkling. She had a red dress that had no sleeves, and a necklace that was as large as her throat.
"You two ready?" James asked them.
They nodded, and Sirius gulped.
Down the stairs they went, and to the Entrance Hall, where everyone else was waiting with their dates excitedly for the doors to open.
"Um, Lily," James muttered as Lily turned to look at him.
"Yeah, James?" she asked.
James shifted his weight to his other foot, and then said quietly, "We have to leave at eleven."

"What?"
"Yeah, we have to go at eleven. I've got stuff to do tonight," he said.
"We only have one assignment, and I helped you with it over lunch," Lily said, "The Dance is supposed to be all night, and you want to leave three hours into it?"
"Peter needs help with his assignment, and then Remus wanted to show me a new chess move, and then Sirius . . ."
Lily sighed, "Whatever. Fine. Eleven."
"Did I mention you're beautiful?"
"Shut up, James," she said, half smiling, half frowning, "You're not saving yourself out of this one."
The doors opened, and Professor McGonagall stood there, looking very bright and cheery (this was a definite first for her).
"The Dance has begun," she told the seventh years, and everyone rushed forward to enter the Great Hall. Lily and James had decorated it together over the past month, and it sparkled with life.
Music from no where began to play, and everyone grabbed their partners and took a spot on the cleared floor. Then they danced.
Elise dragged Sirius with her as she tried to teach him how to waltz. But Sirius was lost and confused. James laughed as he got a glimpse of Sirius's long hair, matted down to his skull, trying not to step on his date's feet.
James felt the twitch in his hand again as he wanted to mess his own hair again.
"Come on," Lily said, taking his hands, "You know how to dance?"
"I do," James said, "Sort of."
Laughing, Lily took his arm, and placed it on her waist. He gulped. Then she took his other hand, and raised it. And finally, she placed her hand on his shoulder, and smiled.
"You ready?" she asked.
He nodded vigorously, and she took a step back. He followed her, but clumsily. He wasn't looking where he was going. He was staring into her eyes.
They were so green. So . . . perfect.
"James?" she asked.
"Yeah?" he mumbled, half listening.
"James, I know that this probably isn't the greatest time to talk about it," Lily said, coming to a slow halt, "But if I don't say something now, it's going to be bothering me all night, and then I won't enjoy the . . . the three hours we have."
"Yeah?" he asked, and she sighed, "Come on, let's go sit down for a minute."
She led him off of the dance floor, and they took a seat on two chairs next to the punch table. James saw that Lily was hurting inside. Something was bothering her.
"What is it?" he asked.
Lily sighed again, and took his hand, "I want to join the Order."

James groaned, and turned away.
"No, I know I already told you this," Lily said solemnly, "And I know that this is the least of all times that you want to talk about it . . ."
"You're right, so how about we just go back and dance," James snapped, going to stand up.
"You can't keep ignoring it," Lily said, pushing him back down, "Now listen to me. I want to join the Order. But I'm not going to unless you come with me."

James blinked, "What?"
"What do you mean 'what?'" Lily asked.
"I mean what I said," James said nervously, "Why in God's name would you do that?"
"Because," she said, "I love you."
The world stopped. In that one moment, the world stopped. She had never said that to him before. He had said it a few hundred times to his friends, and maybe even she had mentioned it once or twice to the giggly girls. But never to each other. There was the occasional, "I like you" or "I want to be with you," but not "I love you."
"You . . . you love me?" he sputtered.
Lily nodded, her eyes deadset on him, "And I'm not going to leave you for the Order. I have to know that you're okay. I have to . . ."
"I can't, Lily!" James said, standing up, "I can't join! I'll . . . I'll put my family in danger."
"Your family is already in danger," she spoke up, "James, haven't you ever felt in your heart, like something was worth fighting for? Like . . . like something was so important, and so meaningful, that even if it was so insignificant to everyone else, you would give your life for it?"
James sighed.
"When you stood in front of Remus that night in the park," she said, taking his hand, "What were you thinking? You didn't care if you got hurt, just as long as you could protect him from whatever was coming. And that's what I'm feeling now. That's why I want to join. I want to protect my family, and my friends, and . . . and you."
James looked at her, his eyes wide. He was dying inside.
Yes, he had felt that way before.
The night when they had found out that Remus was a werewolf and Peter had been locked out of the bedroom. He had opened the door and saved his life.
When Sirius had told Snape to follow them through the tunnel, James had ran after him to stop him. He could have been killed easily, but it hadn't stopped him then.
And then in the park. When Remus was laying there on the ground . . . shaking . . .
James felt sick.
Yes, he knew the feeling. He knew the feeling very well.
Lily was studying him closely, and she gently touched his shoulder, "That feeling is called love, James. That feeling is called bravery. It's the reason why I know that . . . in my heart, it is right."
James turned to her, and then slowly nodded his head, "I understand."
"And what's your decision?" she asked quietly.
James took her hand and held it tightly in his hand. He never wanted to let go. She was so smart. So brave . . .
And then slowly, James looked her in her beautiful green eyes, and said almost in a whisper, "Yes."
"Hey! Potter! Come on!" Sirius laughed from the dance floor, where he and Elise were starting a conga line to the beat of a menuet. Professor Hall looked appalled, but Professor McGonagall was trying to hide her grin.
Lily smiled, and then took James's hand, "Come on, let's go."
But James didn't stand up, and Lily was yanked back. She stared at him.
"What?"
James was still looking into her eyes as he stood to come face to face with her.
"I love you, too," he said.
Lily's smile grew brighter, and she embraced him. Her arms flung around his neck, and she kissed him long and hard.
Lipstick could be seen on James's lips as he and Lily ran onto the dance floor.

"Sorry we have to leave so soon, girls," Sirius said, undoing his cuffs, "But a lot of things to do tonight. Right, Prongs?"
Elise looked gravely sour as the four of them walked out of the Great Hall, and into the Entrance Hall.
"I don't see why you have so much to do on the night of the Dance," she huffed, and Lily looked at James in the corner of her eye.
"Well, I'm sorry, Warren," Sirius said, "But there are a lot more important things than some stupid . . ."
"Dance?" she finished him, "With me?"
Sirius's face dropped, "No, I didn't say that. When did I say that?"
"You didn't have to say it," Elise shot back.
"Look," he said, "I'll walk you back up to your room, all right? Come on," he flashed a winning smile, "Give me five more minutes."
"Me give you five more minutes," Elise huffed, but she was still grinning, "You who wants to leave hours early."
And the two of them made their way up the stairs, Sirius giving a thumbs up to Lily and James.
The remaining two laughed, and then James realized how late it was getting. The thought of Wormtail being chased around the Shack was not appealing, and he knew that he had to leave.
"Well, it's been a terrific night," he said, looking at Lily. His hand twitched to touch his hair.
"You're not going to walk me up?" Lily asked.
"Well," James sighed, "I sort of have to go somewhere . . . I mean . . . I have to get something real quick. Maybe . . . maybe I can meet you up there?"
Lily, surprisingly not bringing up an argument, nodded her head, and kissed him goodnight, "See you tomorrow," she said quietly, and then began to walk up the stairs.
James waited until she was out of sight before stealing away out of the main doors.
And Lily waited until he was out of sight before stealing back down the marble staircase.