Chapter 6 ~ What to Do... Who to Ask...?

The next 3 weeks at Hogwarts flew by. This drastic alteration in Lily's life was just what she had been praying for everynight for the past 2 years...away from parents and Petunia, new friends, new things to learn, new world........new life......and then with Glenn gone permanently...she couldn't have been happier!
James, Sirius, and Remus had all landed eachother with 14 detentions so far. Peter had had 5. Lily, scarily enough, had not yet found herself in that situation, but if she continued hanging out with the boys, it could only be a matter of time.
At the beginning of the term when she first arrived, she had been terrified out of her wits that she would be behind in her classes, for she was muggle born and didn't know anything at all about magic. Quite the contrary. Her and the 'tenacious trio' (as they preferred to be named) were breezing through their studies, aceing every test---all except potions. They knew their stuff, but Professor Secreus Snape insisted on wrongly bringing down their marks.

All too soon, it was October 17. No one could believe that over a month was already gone. It was lunch time, everyone chatting as usual, when Dumbledore rose from his chair in the middle of the head table.
"May I have your attention please?...I have an important annoucement to make!"
His eyes were fixed on their part of the Gryffindor table. Lily couldn't tell whether he was excited or angry with something. His face was expressionless.
You could see the tension....almost feel the awkward silence of the students, sitting perfectly frozen, not daring to move a muscle lest they disturb the silence that the headmaster was doing such a good job creating. Until---

A smile quickly spread across the mass of faint wrinkles that covered his face. He chuckled impassively under his breath, amused with how well he could control these kids' minds. They thought so highly of him...it was too simple to tease them...too much fun. 'They're like marionettes!'
Everyone let out a giant breath of relief like all of their air supply had been forced to stay inside of their lungs and then was suddenly let out. They were so glad to see that his announcement was not the bad, unwanted news they had assumed was coming.
"Please---sit!" He welcomed them back to their chairs that they had slowly risen from when he had first stood. "I have some wonderful news! Your very creative teaching staff and amazing head boy and girl have come up with this year's Halloween entertainment! Hogwarts will be having a..." He pointed over to Professor Evans. "Drumroll please....thank you..." Lily's uncle started the roll with his hands on the table. Lily laughed. 'Professor Dumbledore is so excited! He's acting so young! Almost like one of us!'
Dumbledore continued...

"SADY HAWKINS DANCE!!!"

The whole hall gasped and then half burst into cheers while the others whispered excitedly, wondering what he was talking about.
Lily knew...she was glad to be having a dance, yet the thought of it being a Sady Hawkins dance brought turmoil to her insides.

The headmaster held up his hands and silence once more befell the Great Hall. "For those of you who do not know what a Sady Hawkins Dance is, I will explain the exact rules...In this particular type of ball, it is ONLY legal for the ladies to ask the gentlemen to dance. Not vise versa. This dance is for all years and we ask that the ladies soon find out who they are taking and then write you and your date's names and years down in the guestbook that will be put in each common room. The dress code is quite lenient. We only require you to wear orange and black. There will be various awards given out as well to winning couples as well. 3rd years and up will be visiting Hegsmeade this weekend if neccissary to aquire their dance needs. Today is October 17th with the dance being on the 31st. You have a limited amount of time in which to find your ensombles and dance partners! Thank you!" Dumbledore sat and the tranquillity quickly dissolved away until the hall was in a great uproar of continuous 'dance talk'.
"YES!! A Sadie Hawkins Dance!!" Kristy exclaimed merrily.
"Lily! Do you have any idea of what this means?" Ashley asked, just as excited as everyone else.
Lily looked at them groggily. "Yes...it means I won't be going. I have NO intentions of waltzing up to a guy and inviting him to go to a dance with me, and even if I did, no one I asked would actually say 'yes'...so...naturally....I'm not going."
Kristy was convinced. "That'll be the day when I let you stay in the common room while we are partying!...and to answer Ash's question, this is simply an opportunity to flirt! We now have a reason for scooping them out!" She informed Lily 'as-a-matter-of-factly'.
Lily just shook her head and laughed, thinking We're only 11! These 2 girls are too old for their age... She turned to face James, Sirius, and Remus. They were all whispering to each other and smiling. They finally noticed that Lily was staring at them.
"So..." She said. "Who do you three Romeos want to go with?"
The 3 of them looked around nonchalantly, coughing a little too obviously, and muttering 'uh...we don't know..."
Sirius leaned across the table towards the girls. "We're just going to wait for them to come flocking to us!..."
"Aww...well aren't you the charmer!" Lily replied to him sarcastically.
"I know..."
"You sure do have the modesty thing down, Black! Come on...we're going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures!"
Classes that afternoon went by very quickly for Lily, but it was the night that seemed like it would never end...

It was after midnight and Lily lay awake in her four-poster. An hour ago, she and her friends had retreated to their beds after a long evening of wizards chess in which Lily could beat everyone except James. She had been trying to force herself into drifting off to sleep by reading, clearing her mind, and she even had to resort to counting sheep, but every single time she hit the 31st one, signifying the date of Halloween, a picture of her being humiliated when asking out a guy would flash through her brain. Falling asleep anytime soon was highly unlikely, and her ways in tricking herself into getting tired seemed like a hopeless cause.

'What am I going to do? If I go, I'll be mortified because I can't dance and will end up going with a Slytherin loser. On the other hand, if I don't go, I'll be the laughing stock of my year because everyone will know that I can't get a date! Hmmm....looks like a no-win situation...Yet, I know that Kristy and Ash will drag me to the dance by my hair. They'll make me go no matter what...they'll make me ask a boy...but who exactly would I ask???'

She pondered over this question for a long time, and when she got extremely bored with that, she realized that she had only come up with one person...

The next morning, Lily woke up and went through her daily routine of throwing her beautiful mass of hair into a thick ponytail, tied with a kerchief to match her outfit, brushing her teeth, and grabbing her books for that day's classes, while acknowledging the fact that she had better get a move on the whole dance thing. She thought about last night, remembering that there was only one, single boy that she would go with, and she knew he'd be stampeded by girls soon. She had to act fast...

Lily left the dormitory as soon as she was ready, along with Kristy and Ashley who seemed to talk of nothing but the up-coming attraction. Listening to them just made her even more nervous.

All through classes that day, she was tormented with the thought of what she was planning on doing later that evening...asking HIM. The thought of if she was turned down made her insides cringe. To her, receiving a rejection was like being flattened by a troll, being mistaken for a pancake, and then being accidentally sliced up by someone hungry for some breakfast. (Lily was good at making up such juicy analogies as this.) Herbology was the worst. She was paired up with him to try to relieve a flutterby bush from browning of the leaves, and her nervousness must have been obvious.
"Uh, Lily? Are you feeling ok? You're awfully quiet," he asked concerned.
Lily was shocked that he could tell. "Oh! No, I'm fine! Sorry."

That evening, Lily had been studying for a DADA test and had just left the library to go back to the dormitories when she passed the trophy room and could hear 3 boys talking at what was supposed to be a whisper, but turned out being pretty loud. She leaned against the door to listen.
It was James, Sirius, and Remus serving detention for Professor McGonagall, polishing all the trophies and plaques. Earlier that day they had planted exploding snap cards in her desk drawers and set them so that when she opened them, they'd blow up. Then Remus had the not-so-brilliant idea of jinxing the blackboard erasers into floating at the ceiling and clapping themselves together, causing thick, unbreathable clouds of dust to to take over the room.
Lily strained her ears to clearly hear James talking.
"What do you mean you're asking her, Remus? I'M asking her!"
"No you're not!" Sirius interrupted. "I thought of inviting her to go with me the minute the dance was announced! She's going to go with me!"
"No! I'm asking her to be MY date! I said so first!" Argued Remus.
"Woah! Guys! Calm down! 2 things..." James stopped Sirius from pouring a huge bucket of polish on Remus' head. They immediately stopped and James continued once he knew he had their attention. "Numero uno, it's a Sadie Hawkins Dance! SHE has to ask US! Number 2, you know she's going to have a whole line of people that she wants to ask! She's popular and beautiful! Any guy would say yes to her!" Sirius and Remus nodded in agreement. "So don't get your hopes too high...I on the other hand am a different story...I bet you I'm on the top of her list!...AAHHH!!!" James started to run, dodging the hexes coming from his friends' wands by taking refuge behind the giant trophies.

Lily walked away very disappointed, thinking 'Well, now what am I going to do? He doesn't want to do with me! None of them do! They're all waiting for 'Miss I'm-so-perfect' Tricia to ask them. I've seen them flirting with her, even though she is a 2nd year. Everyone likes her! I was stupid to think that he'd be any different...'
She ran the rest of the way to the common room which was now full of fellow Gryffindors. She didn't waste any time getting to her dorm, but she was slow enough for everyone to see the faint trickle of tears funning down her face.
The winding stairs seem to go on and on --- never ending as Lily ran, hopelessly trying to convince herself that no one in the common room saw her. She was a tomboy! Tough...or at least she wished she was. She couldn't remember the last time that she had cried, except when she broke her ankle playing softball last year. Lily absolutely HATED crying. To her it was worthless and showed weakness. Crying never helped anybody, or so her philosophy used to be, but not now. Lily wanted to ball her eyes out, yet she couldn't figure the logic in that. Nevertheless, when she reached the landing of the 1st year girl's dormitory, she ripped open the door and threw herself onto her four-poster, not bothering to see if she was the only one in the dorm.
Kristy and Ashley exchanged confusing glances as the say Lily flop down on her bed and heard her muffled sobs.
"Lily," Ashley tapped her causiously on the shoulder. "Are you ok?"
Kristy rolled her eyes. "Jeez Ash! Ya think? Lily, we know something's wrong. Please tell us. It might help to let it all out."
"Please go away. I'm too embarrased," she replied, burying her head in under a pillow bearing the Gryffindor Lion.
"Awww, Lils, it's ok. We're your best friends. You can tell us what happened." Ashley rubbed her back comfortingly as Lily rose.
"Thanks so much," She smiled as she wiped her tears, Kristy handing her a tissue to dry her eyes with. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've cried?" The shook their heads. "Me neither, but I think I needed that. I had to let everything out. Thanks for being concerned." She hugged her friends.
"No problem Lily, but you still haven't told us what we're being so concerned about..that is if you're ready to tell us now," Kristy said.
"If Snape and his gang said anything to you I'm going to...grrr..." Ashley added.
Lily laughed, loving Ashley and Kristy more than she ever did. "Oh no...It wasn't them. Nice try, but no cigar."
"Seriously Lily, who was it?"
"James, Sirius, and Remus...I overheard them talking during their detention."
They eyes grew wide with anticipation, but Kristy quickly snapped out of her trance. "Let me guess. You wanted to go to the dance with one of them, but found out that he was going with someone else?"
Lily stared unblinkingly at her with disbelief and then groaned. "How'd you know?"
"I'm a good guesser." She smiled.
"I guess so! But anyways, I don't think you 2 could understand. In fact, even I don't! There are hundreds of elligible guys in the student body, but there is only ONE that I want to go with. To tell you the truth, I don't know why I'm getting so worked up about it. You know I don't care for boys in that way. I can't figure out what came over me..."
"Lily, don't worry! You can find a date!" Ashley casted Kristy a smile that Lily was unaware of. "Which one of them do you want to go with anyway?"
Lily sighed and looked back and forth between them, finally giving in. "You both have to promise you won't tell anyone! Not a single soul!"
"We promise!!" They both yelled, then slapped their hands over their mouths as they realized how loud they were.
"On our friendship?" Lily asked.
"Of course! On our friendship!"
"Well, ok." They leaned in towards her as she whispered the name to them, and started giggling.

Meanwhile:

"Remus, Sirius, do you guys understand this?" James asked.
"Nope, not one bit."
"I can't believe McGonagall gave us detention AND extra homework!"
"Well, then I'm going to get Lily. I saw her reading a book on this stuff a couple of nights ago." James left and walked over to Lily's dorm 'seeking her council'. He was just about to turn the doorknob when he heard Ashley.
"Which one of them do you want to go with anyway?"
James almost stopped breathing as he listened to the rest of their conversation. He heard Lily whisper to Kristy and Ashley who she wanted to ask to the dance, but couldn't tell exactly what she said, yet he KNEW. He left as quickly as he could back, with a huge grin on his face.
"Where is she James?" SIrius asked.
"Uh, she wasn't there," he replied, still smiling.
"Yeah right she wasn't there, Potter. You were probably too chicken to go up to her," Sirius winked at him.
"Chicken?! I don't think so!"
"You heard what he said," Remus informed. "'Oh Lily, there's no one else in this world like you! You must take me to this ball! Oh I couldn't live without--'"
"Can it Remus!" James had just shoved him off the bed onto the floor because of his teasing. Plus, while mimicking, he had his hands folded below his chin and was fluttering his eyelashes at a dangerously fast pace. This was just too much for James to handle. "I seem to recall you 2 fighting over her not so long ago!" They both shut up, including Sirius who was trying, yet not succeeding, to hide his laughs.
"Yeah, well I'll bet you 10 galleons that can't go and get her right now!" Sirius smiled. He loved gambling over matters such as this...especially with James.
"I'll bet 10 also!" Remus yelled.
"Guys...no...I..."
"Chicken! Bawk bawk!!!" Sirius and Remus stood up and started waddling around, flapping their arms like psychotic chickens.
James' face turned red with embarrassment. "Fine! Start counting your money!" He stormed out towards the girl's dorm, jittery because he didn't want Lily to think that he had overheard their conversation.
"Great. They're still talking," James said to himself sarcastically as he pressed his ear against the door and squatted, knowing that they, being girls, will probably be on the subject for a while. He might as well make himself comfortable while he listened:

"You know Lily, I think he likes you," Kristy told her as-a-matter-of-factly.
"I agree!"
Lily let out an exasperated sigh. How she managed these girls was beyond her. Any future boyfriends of theirs were in for a ride. "Yeah right."
"How could you say that? Those 3 adore you! Even..." Ashley paused and shuddered. "...Peter. They can't keep their eyes off of you. You know who I'm planning on asking, but he'll probably say no, considering he likes you, but I'm happy for you Lily. Don't even think that I'm mad at you for that!"
"Thank you! I was hoping you wouldn't."
"Of course not."
"HELLO?" Kristy waved her hands in front of their faces. "Let's not get sidetracked! Now, about Lily's date..."
"What are we going to do? As I said before, I'm a hopeless case," Lily said down-heartedly.
An idea suddenly popped into Ashley's head as she gave an evil smirk. "Lily, truth or dare?"
"What? Talk about getting off subject!"
"Just answer the question!"
"Fine, dare," she answered, not realizing the trap she was being led into.
"Ok, Lils, I dare you, NO! Scratch that! I Double Dementor Dare you to go and ask him to the ball right now!"
"Are you NUTS!?!?"
Ashley smiled at her sweetly.
Lily threw her hands into the air and unwillingly marched over to the door with the other girls at her heals. A wizard did NOT ignore a Double Dementor Dare.

James heard her coming, smiled, and sprinted; taking long, quiet strides back to his room.

He flew open his door and slammed it on mistake.
"So where's lovergirl?" Sirius wondered outloud.
"Oh! Uh...like I said, she wasn't there. I told you so!"
"I don't think so bud! You're not weaseling your way out of this one! Now-"
He was, for James, conveniently interrupted by someone being pushed somewhat against their will into the room. "Um, hi guys." Lily announced her arrival rather meekly.
"Go on Lily! Ask him..." Kristy whispered and nudged her forward.
James grinned and arrogantly strolled up to her like he was 'Mister Hot-Shot'. "Hey Lily. So, is there something you want to tell me?"
Sirius and Remus just about gagged, also confused by Lily, who was for once being nervous about something.
"Actually," She took a deep breath. "I wanted to talk to your friend over there." She signaled to Sirius whose face lit with excitement. He leapt up from his position on the floor and walked over to her. "I was wondering, Sirius, if, well, if you'd go to the ball with me." Her eyes were fixed on her shoes, during which she noticed there was an odd blue spot of gunk.
Sirius about hit the ceiling when he enthusiastically replied 'yes' and Lily jumped on him, hugging him. "Thank you thank you thank you!!!" and she kissed him on the cheek and let go. Sirius was frozen in the spot as Lily realized what she just did and blushed. James' jaw hit the ground while Remus was rolling on the floor, laughing. This was all too funny.
Once Remus was under control a little bit, Ashley helped him up and Kristy faced James. Then, at the same time, they both asked: "Will you PLEASE go to the dance with me?" and smiled their most beautiful smiles.
The 2 boys looked at each other, clearly saying with their expressions 'Well, Lily's taken and this is the next best thing'.
"Sure!"
"Yes!"
They too hugged and the 3 boys told them goodnight and left for the common room to sign their names in the dance book when Remus grinned at James. "Now about those 10 galleons..."