'Awwww, come on, Lily. You look gorgeous, why waste your looks sitting in a corner?' Amelia begged, trying to pull Lily up from her spot in the corner.

'I don't feel like dancing.' said Lily, flatly. She gazed across the dimly lit hall, telling herself she was doing anything but looking for James...but she knew she was lying. Ever since that kiss...Lily could still remember the feel of his lips on hers, the way his silky hair fell through her fingertips, the way his gently caressing hand stroked up and down her back...and the way he had pulled away, shook his head, got up abruptly and stormed off to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Did I disappoint him? Lily had thought frantically. Did I do something wrong? Doesn't he like me anymore?

Lily sat there pondering these thoughts, but as she looked up into her friend's desperate eyes, she relented.

'Alright,' she mumbled, 'I'll dance.' Amelia gave a whoop of joy and, despite the titters emitting from bystanders, hauled Lily up and led her to the dance floor.

'Now, look like you're having a really good time, and you couldn't care less if a guy asked you to dance. That way, we're sure to get some!' she hissed at Lily, and began dancing seductively in time to the musing, swaying her hips and wriggling suggestively.

Lily sighed. 'Do guys in your world have faces?' she muttered. Amelia stopped.

'I don't appreciate that.' she said, in a low voice. 'I know everyone thinks Malfoy's a Death Eater, but he's a great guy, once you get to-'

'What!' Lily hissed, wheeling round to stare at her friend. 'You're going out with Malfoy?'

Amelia stuck out her chin. 'So what if I am?'

Lily opened her mouth to retort, but then closed it hastily. There was no point getting into a fight now. They could discuss it later. Instead, she gave her friend a cheeky smile and said,

'But that means you won't be able to dance with anyone!'

Amelia looked relieved that Lily had avoided a fight, and then grinned cheekily herself.

'Like hell it does!' and she began to dance again, encouraging Lily to join her. Lily relented again, and began to dance. Amelia smiled at her, and Lily smiled back, though it was more of a grimace as Lily's teeth were clenched, and she was chanting to herself: Don't look at James. Don't look at James.

o

o

o

'Oh, God, look at her.' James groaned, throwing himself on the chair beside Sirius. Sirius blinked, and shook his head.

'Who?' he said, vaguely.

'Lily, damn it. She's beautiful.' James had opted to speaking in a kind of groan. Sirius made a non-committal noise, and leaned back in his chair again. James shook his head, and cursed himself again, the millionth time in less than a second. Why, why did he have to pull away? Sure, he knew his reasoning behind it at the time, She'll pull away and say it was all a big mistake, you wont be able to be friends after this, she's going to reject you, why not save yourself the pain, she's doing this to tease you, don't let yourself be fooled...the list running through his mind went on and on, and he found that he couldn't take it anymore, and before he knew what he was doing, he was staring at his room, the door just having slammed closed behind him.

But now...now...he was faced with the prospect of sitting alone in a corner, staring at Lily all evening.

James sighed. Not exactly alone.

'Why aren't you out there shaking your groove thing, Sirius?' questioned James, turning to face his formerly lusty friend. Sirius shrugged.

'Dunno,' he said, 'Don't feel like dancing, I suppose.'

'Finally living up to the family tradition, huh?' smirked James. Sirius stared at James blankly. 'You know? Always pure?' pressed James. Sirius snorted.

'Yeah, I guess so.'

James sighed. This was going to be a long night.