A/N: Okay everyone I'm back. Yes I know it's been a while. I have one change that I have to make though. In the previous chapter I said that Lily and James were going on a date to Hogsmede. They aren't and there is no Hogsmede trip okay. Pretend I never said it. I hope you guys enjoy! Please please please review!

Everyone was starting to get exited about the ball. Lily and James were going together, Bella and Sirius, Remus had worked up the courage to ask Kelsey, and everyone was happy.The Castle was no where near as empty as it usually was at this time, but the first, second and third years weren't going, and most of them were back at their homes. Lily, and the girls could be found in Madame Malkins Robes for All Occasions the day before christmas, shopping for dresses for the Yule Ball.

Lily held up a burgundy red ball gown. "What about this one?" She asked as she swished it around.

"It looks like a bell... I like it." replied Montreal. "But that color on you... it dulls out your hair." Lily held the dress up to Kelsey, who had been fingering a green dress.

"Wow... Kelsey, you have to try this on!" Lily handed a nearby shop assitant the dress, and she placed it in Kelsey's dressing room. Lily moved through the shop, racks off dresses brushing her sides.

"What color would look best on me?" She shouted to the others on the other side of the store.

"Creme!" Toni shouted back. "What about me?"

"Blue" cried Lily. She moved on to the creme coloured dresses. "Oh my God..." she whispered as she moved her hand over a beautiful corset dress. It was strapless, and the top was rich ivory with black ivy clambing to the top. The top was a corset, and the bottom was a flowing skirt of the same color. It was the only one in the rack and she picked it up.

"Guys... do you all like this one?" Lily asked as she showed them the dress. Toni's mouth dropped open.

"God Lily, you always get the best dresses! Try it on! Try it on!" The shop assitant came over to Lily and took the dress in to her dressing room.

Eventually all the girls had found their perfect dress and they were on the way back to the castle. Somehow the conversation had changed from cheerful and fun to sad and depressed.

"Voldemort is growing stronger. Everyone was saying in the hospital. There were four attacks while I was in St. Mungo's. One of the people was in my ward for a while. She looked awful, she was unconcius the whole time, and she had to get her bandages replaced all the time. I'm really scared for my parents... you know they are both muggles, and I'm a... a 'mudblood'" She said making quotation marks in the air.

"Don't say that Lily. You're not a mudblood. The only mudbloods are those who use that term. As in Malfoy, Snape, Black and Lestrange." replied Toni

"Is Bellatrix really Sirius' Cousin?" Asked Kelsey. No one noticed the shudder that went through Lily at the name of Bellatrix.

"Yeah... she told me and then he told me. Poor him. That's why he practically lives with the Potters... because his damn family is so wrapped up with Purebloods and all that stuff." Lily answered thankful no one saw her fear.

They had finally made back up to the castle and put their dresses away in their dorms. After trooping through the snow that lay on the ground they were thankful for the warm fire. Sipping Hot chocolate curled up in blankets they sat together, talking about their final year of Hogwarts. . One by one the girls nodded off and finally the only one awake was Lily.

She gazed into the fire. Montreals head was in her lap and was playing with her soft hair. The flames licked the fire place, racing with each other towards the black heavens. No one was awake to hear the sobbing noise that escaped Lily's mouth. No one was awake to see the tear roll down her pale cheek on to Montreals hair. No one was able to feel the fear and the pain that ripped through her body as the memory of that night filled her mind. She was afraid of Bellatrix, but she could not let anyone know. It was her secret, and her secret only.

The girls woke the next day to the sounds of jubilant cries from the boy's dormitories.

"The Marauders are up." Lily said with a grin, wiping her eyes and hoping that no one would notice her puffy red eyes. Of course, no one noticed her eyes because they had all spotted the piles of presents underneath a gigantic evergreen tree.

The morning passed in a flurry of wrapping paper and tinsel. The gifts had all been given and most of the couples could be seen after dinner in a corner snuggling. James had given Lily the most beautiful ruby red drop choker. Lily knew it would look divine with her dress.

The ball was steadily approaching and within five minutes of looking at the clock the females had dissapperaed in to their own dorms. Leaving the boys rather gloomy downstairs.

"Well, we best go get ready, I suppose." said James in a bored tone as he headed towards the boys stairs. A small cough made him turn around.

"But first... Jamsie my boy, we've got some punch to spike!" said Sirius holding up a large bottle of "Zonko's finest Tasteless Strongest Alcohol: Perfect for spiking the punch at any school get together"

About one hour later the boys were waiting patiently in their tuxes for the girls to come out from their dorms. They all came out at the same time. Montreal was dressed to kill in a clingy, bright red halter top. Toni had on an elegant of the shoulder blue gown, Kelsey was wearing the burgundy bell dress, and Bella was wearing a glittery, lilac, strapless dress. Lily was wearing the beautiful corset dress, her barely there make up and elegant up-do, made her look like an angel. An angel with bright red hair.

Lily smiled as she saw James looking at her. She knew she looked gorgeous, as did they all. They ceremoniously made their way down the grand stairs and into the Great Hall. From the looks of things it had just started. An orchestra had been set up and they were playing a beautiful slow song.

James bowed playfully. "My darling, may I have this dance?" He asked in a mock royal accent. Lily curtsied dutiflully.

"Of course!" He whisked her away on to the dance floor. They waltzed around the room, the other couples making room for them as they came.

"Why, Mister Potter, I never knew you were such a grand dancer!" Lily said as he twirled her out and then back in again.

"My mother sent me to bloody cotillion until I came here. Trust me, you can't forget that in a hurry. You're not an awful dancer yourself though." Lily giggled and leant her head against his shoulder. "My Daddy taught me how. I remember he used to take out this old muggle gramaphone, and he would play waltz's and minuets and samba's and everything! And we would dance, and then my Mum would ask if she could cut in." Lily sighed. "God, they were beautiful together. They seemed to float on a cloud."

"Much like us now then I supose." said James flatly as he dipped her low. She smiled at him. "Yeah... much like us now."

The song ended and they both made their way over to the food table where Sirius was refilling Bella's punch, much more messily than normally. He winked as he saw James.

"Good punch this." he slurred with a wink. He grabbed Bella and they zoomed of towards the dance floor. Lily who had been talking to Kelsey and Remus didn't hear about the punch, but declined a cup full all the same. She watched as James chugged down two glasses.

"Jesus Christ man... how much punch do you need? C'mon... let's go for a walk" She said grabbing him by the arm and moving him toward the doors leading to the outside. A spell had been cast on the snow so they could walk on top of it, and Lily led the way to a bench just out of view of the Great Doors.

"James, I can't tell you how much you mean to me. I don't think I could have possibly survived Bellatrix if it hadn't been for you. I mean, now too, I'm still frightened of her." Lily rubbed her arms together as goosebumps appeared on her arms. James made no reply. "James, are you listening to me?" she asked as she gazed up at his face.

"Damn this stuff is strong" he muttered "stay right here, I gotta go pee." James got up abruptly.

"You spiked the punch!" Yelled Lily as he left on his way to the bathroom. "He fucking spike the punch! What the hell is wrong with him?" she said out loud. She was freezing now, but she waited for him all the same.

Fifteen minutes passed and there was still no sign of James anywhere. Lily stood up, her teeth chattering and made her way back to the massive doors and in to the ball. He was drunk and probably got lost. And then she heard it, at first it was really small and quiet but it grew louder. There was shushing noise. Lily recognized it at once, and she turned on her heel. She felt a lump rising in her throat. She followed the noise and pushed back a rose bush. She felt a thorn tear the skin of her palm.

"You filthy, ignorant, goddamn bastard." She cried a sob escaping in her words. There was James, his arms held tightly around a blonde Ravenclaw, His lips intertwined with hers. He quickly looked up.

"Lily?" He asked, but the words were barely distinguishable. Lily knew that he was so drunk that he probably couldn't see. But that didn't matter, she hated him... but no, she loved him. She actually loved him, this horrible event made her see how much love she had for him. She turned and fled. She passed through a crowd of people, everyone was staring at her. And then came James.

A/N: Okay, I know it seems a little rushed and I'm soooo sorry. I hope you guys enjoyed it and please review!