Evil, thy name is Verizon! I am having more trouble with my internet…

Chapter 18- Puttin' on the Ritz

Crouch had waylaid James on their way in with his usual terse "Can I have a word Potter?", and so Lily waited for him just inside the party. She really didn't mind as there was plenty to watch. The lobby of the Ministry, quite grand on a normal day, had been transformed by thousands of tiny candles that hung in the air just overhead, giving a soft glow to everything. Glittering silver ribbons had been threaded through the air and soft music came from nowhere, though there was a band setting up over to one side, so there would be dancing later. It was certainly far grander than Lily had expected, and she was glad she had dressed accordingly. She was getting appreciative glances from a few people walking by, which just confirmed her suspicion that she look particularly fabulous that night. Emerald green really did suit her better than any other color, contrasting with her hair and bringing out her eyes.

"Now what's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?" Growled a deep, masculine voice in her ear. She stiffened.

"I am waiting for James Potter, who happens to-" She turned. "-have a best friend who is an enormous prat. Honestly Sirius, you sound like a pervert when you use that voice."

"Well, I have a reputation to keep up after all." He grinned. "I ran into James outside, he said he'll be right in, he knows better than to keep a beautiful woman waiting." She smiled at the implied compliment, as he said "Speaking of beautiful women, excuse me." And made a beeline for Juliet, across the hall. Lily was actually a little surprised they hadn't arrived together, but then she wasn't sure how public their relationship was.

James appeared at her elbow with a brilliant smile and offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

"What did he want?"

"Nothing important."

******

Peter adjusted the cuffs of his new black robes proudly as he waited for Abby outside the ladies room. For once, he actually had dress robes that were just as nice as the sort his friends would have. He'd never really minded not having as much money as James and Sirius, but it was nice to get new things.

His new job working for Abby's father was the reason for his sudden windfall. He might only be a glorified messenger, but he was making a lot of money on it. It was nothing more difficult than running errands and delivering things to Buchanan's important friends. At least, he guessed they were very important because they all lived in big grand houses. Most of the time he didn't see them at all because they all had house elves. He wasn't really sure what all the hurry was for most of the things he delivered. The other day he had peeked in one of the boxes and it had just been a few dusty little bottles, but he just took them where he was told to, and Abby's father seemed pleased with him. Abby seemed pleased with him too, and Peter was just generally feeling pleased with his life.

******

Lily was dancing with Crouch, purely out of politeness, although James thought in this case she was being far too polite, since neither of them really liked their boss. There was just….something….about him that rubbed James the wrong way. But it did give him a chance to watch Lily, and she looked amazing tonight. Not that she wasn't always pretty…but she looked particularly beautiful.

He was worried about her lately. She'd been having strange dreams, not sleeping well, and she seemed…depressed. It wasn't obvious, he doubted anyone else would notice, but something was wrong. He wondered if their work, both at the Ministry and with the Order, was getting to her. They had known there was danger, but it had never occurred to James, and he guessed it had never occurred to her either, that they would be giving up a "normal" life. He had always assumed the war with Voldemort would end eventually…but it was still intensifying, there seemed to be no end in sight. So what about all the "normal" things they had wanted?

"Hey." She came up behind him. "You're sitting over here all alone?"

"Just a minute ago I was turning away hordes of women. Beautiful young rich women." He grinned as she slapped the back of his head lightly. "I was just watching you. Polite of you to dance with Crouch."

She shrugged. "I think he only asked to be polite."

"Shall we dance, Mrs. Potter?"

She smiled and took his hand. The song was something slow and pretty. James didn't consider himself a great dancer, but he managed. Morgan and Alice had actually been coaxed into teaching him to dance in their seventh year as yet another attempt to impress Lily. It hadn't worked at the time, but it was a good skill to have. He loved dancing with her. He tried to forget about their problems for the moment and just concentrate on dancing.

******

Lily was quite exhausted from dancing and more than happy to watch other people and sip champagne for a few minutes. Morgan, dressed in brilliant red, was dancing with Gideon and seemingly having a great time despite her black mood the previous week.

"You know, Gideon's really a very good dancer." Said James to no one in particular, as though being a good dancer was highly suspicious.

"Yes, well, he had ballet lessons, you know." Fabian said.

James and Sirius looked at each other, then back at Fabian. "You're kidding. Right?"

"Really. When we were younger. He was quite good. Mum was delighted, Dad was properly horrified."

Sirius and James were grinning widely as the song ended and Gideon and Morgan made their way back to the table.

"Looking good out there, twinkle-toes." Sirius managed to say, before they all fell to snickering.

Not catching on immediately, he gave them an odd look.

After a few minutes of chatting Morgan said "You know Gideon, I would love to know who it is over my shoulder that you can't take your eyes off of."

"No one Darling, you're just so radiant I'm afraid to look directly at you, like the sun."

She rolled her eyes, while Sirius said appreciatively "Good line!" But now they were all looking over Morgan's shoulder with undisguised interest.

"Well, I hope it's not Arthur Weasley." Remarked James. "I mean, he's a nice guy, but I don't think he swings that way."

"You all are pathetic." Gideon said. "You need to get your own lives."

"C'mon, tell us who it is."

"Do any of you know who that girl in the pink is?" He finally asked. "Oh for Merlin's sake, don't all turn around at once!" Since they had all turned around in one movement to look.

"I think her name is Wilkes….something with an N…Nancy…Nora…"

"Her name is Natalie." Said Morgan. "Natalie Wilkes. She works at the apothecary. She's really nice. But I don't know who Dodgy McDodgy with her is."

"That's her brother." Said James darkly. "Unfortunately, not really nice. We think he's involved with Death Eater activity."

"Oh, that Wilkes?" Gideon looked disappointed.

"Don't mind that mate. You heard Morgan, she's nice. Go ask her to dance, go on."

They watched as he approached her, gave a stiff sort of nod to the man Morgan had called Dodgy, and then speak briefly to the pretty young woman, who looked quite pleased as she took his hand.

"Wonder if he'll tell her about his prima ballerina days." Smirked Sirius, and they all collapsed laughing again.

******

Morgan was surprised that she was actually enjoying herself. She had been determined to, she wasn't going to let him ruin her evening, the problem was obviously his. Still, she admitted to herself she had half hoped he would show up at the last moment, and now that the evening was half over, she knew that wasn't going to happen. Still, she was having a nice time.

"What, is Miss McCarrick without a partner?"

She knew the voice, and he sounded decidedly nasty. She didn't turn.

"Evan, I'm really not in the mood to deal with you tonight."

"I saw you dancing with Prewett. And yet just a few days ago you were snogging Lupin in the middle of a hallway at the Ministry. Not very picky, are you?"

"Sod off."

"Of course, by my lunar calendar you've got a free night once a month. I suppose you do need someone to occupy you then, but I did think you'd at least keep up the pretense that you're with Lupin."

"He was otherwise occupied tonight." She replied icily.

"Oh, is that the politically correct way they're saying it nowdays?"

She finally turned to look at him. "What the Hell are you talking about?"

His malicious grin faltered a little, and he sat up straighter. "Bloody Hell McCarrick you really don't know?"

"Know what?"

"You're not stupid, so I can only assume you're not seeing what you don't want to see."

"Seriously Evan, either make whatever point you're dancing around or leave me alone before I hex you."

He stood, placed both hands on the table, and leaned down within inches of her face.

"Morgan, Remus Lupin is a werewolf."

He turned on his heel and walked away.

******

"You've been pretty quiet over here." Sirius said cheerfully to his cousin, and he and James joined her at the table. She turned and stared at him, her face an alarming mixture of surprise, fear, and anger. She gripped his arm surprisingly hard.

"Sirius, is tonight a full moon?"

"Er, yes, I think so. Why?"

She stood up quickly, and he grabbed her robes. "Morgan, where are you going?"

She turned back to them both. Sirius liked to think he knew her pretty well, and when she was upset, she yelled. But when she was really angry, she went very quiet. Her voice was barely audible as she said "I will deal with the two of you later."

She jerked her robes out of his grasp and walked out.

******

Lily was definitely getting sleepy. It had been a nice evening, but it seemed a little odd, everyone acting like everything was brilliant, when in fact the world was falling apart around them. Everyone was acting like they were great friends despite the fact that no one trusted anyone else. She'd seen people who were pretty much known by everyone to be Death Eaters- Lucius Malfoy, Conall Buchanan, Rastaban Lestrange- mingling with Ministry employees, invited because they were rich. She sighed.

James rested a hand on the back of her neck. "Let's get out of here."

She nodded in agreement, reaching for her handbag, but then James murmured "Uh-oh, stay here." Since she had never listened to James when he told her to stay anywhere, she followed him, over to where a small crowd had gathered. She couldn't see who the argument was between, but she could hear angry voices and several people around were nervously searching their pockets for their wands, to keep from being unarmed when curses started flying.

As was his usual way, James pushed his way through the forming crowd to where he could see what was going on, and she managed to sneak past behind him. The attraction seemed to be Gideon and the man named Wilkes, glaring at each other. They both had their wands out, but neither of them seemed inclined yet to do anything but glare at each other.

"Now gentlemen, I'm sure we can settle this without wands, why don't you put them away and we can…" Dedalus Diggle was apparently trying to talk them both into backing down, but neither of them were listening.

"I don't take orders from the likes of you, Wilkes." Gideon said.

"You do not want me for an enemy Prewett."

James stepped forward, but she wrapped a hand around his arm to stop him. "James don't-"

"Stay out of it Potter." Wilkes growled.

"Yes Potter, listen to your mudblood wife-" Smirked Rastaban Lestrange, standing just behind Wilkes.

James had not intended to fight, but an insult to Lily was something he could not ignore. Forgetting magic, his fist connected with Lestrange's jaw. Several women screamed. It was enough reason for the other two men to start fighting as well. Wilkes threw a curse at Gideon, who dodged it and threw one back. Wilkes dodged it but it hit an ice sculpture on a table behind him, which exploded. Lily reached for her wand to get Lestrange off James, but her wrist was seized by MacNair, who had decided to settle a score from many months ago. He jerked her around when someone shouted "Oculus Noctum" and MacNair gave a yelp and started stumbling around, clawing at his eyes, hit with a blinding curse. Lily turned and saw Sirius, who grinned at her and then gave MacNair a shove, knocking him over easily. "He should know better than to pick on girls!"

Without responding Lily pointed her wand over his shoulder and put a leg-locking curse on Avery, who had been approaching to help MacNair.

"Well done Evans!" Sirius said exuberantly, loving this kind of brawl.

"Coretus!" Wilkes sent some sort of cutting hex at Gideon, and it caught him across the cheek, leaving a nasty gash that was bleeding freely.

"Fueritus!" Fabian threw a flash of fire at Wilkes, catching both him and Buchanan. They both struggled to beat out the flames on their dress robes until Malfoy boredly put them out with a spray of cold water from his own wand.

Sirius had tried to hex Goyle, only to miss and have the big man jump on him and knock him over. Stuggling to get his wand on the much larger Goyle, he suddenly went stiff, petrified by someone. Sirius pushed him aside and grinned at Juliet, who shrugged and said "I wouldn't want your pretty face to get all messed up."

James and Lestrange had finally remembered they were wizards and were duelling instead of wrestling around on the ground like schoolboys.

"Stupefy!" James dodged the stunner.

"Propelius!" The spell sent Lestrange sailing backwards into the table where the ice sculpture had been, knocking it over and sending all sorts of dishes flying in all directions.

"Expelliarmus!" Lucius Malfoy had joined the fray. Normally he'd think himself above this sort of childish brawling, but Lestrange was blinking stupidly and rubbing the back of his head where he'd struck the table, and Potter was looking far too pleased.

James was not paying attention and his wand sailed in a high arc out of his hand and landed halfway across the room.

"AH! Damn you!"

He grabbed Lily's and shouted "Filaturus Velocius!" and Malfoy was turned upside down and spinning rapidly.

Suddenly, a huge blast of fireworks came from the other side of the room, making everyone pause and look. Crouch was standing on a raised platform and had all their attention now. "Everyone freeze! That is enough!"

_________

I just wanted to write some serious ass kicking. These people need to let off steam somehow.

MetroDweller- I'm loving your story! I always knew you were a closet romantic. Where are the "sex scenes that will make me blush" that you promised?