"Underneath it all" by marauderyears

(A/N): I've just realized I keep forgetting to put a disclaimer in. So here it is:

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it, J.K Rowling does.

I'm adding in new characters that will help the story out a bit. They need more interaction or something of the sort. I thought that it was a bit...bland.

Lily's POV

Should I wear midnight blue satin or peary winkle blue? Diamond or pearl earrings? Does my hair look better straight or curly, up or down?! Within days, the ball was all people could talk about. And Lily was getting sick of it. She wasn't that excited for a ball. She hadn't even picked out what she would be wearing.

"Lily, you do realize that it is very important as to what you will wear. You are going with Greg Dillon! He IS the hottest Ravenclaw in our year. You're lucky. I'm going with Frankie. Just as friends, of course. That would be weird if I dated our best friend. Ew...."

Lily nodded. Frank Longbottom was their good friend. He is one of those friends that you can drag them along on a shopping spree and they complain, but enjoy it nonetheless. (A/N: Frank is NOT gay, obviously).

Currently, Lena was trying to convince Lily to go shopping with her. Lily did not like to go shopping, but once you got her going...Well lets say she could out-shop Lena.

"Hey Lenny, Lily. It is currently a Hogsmeade weekend, a little rainy, and a few days before the ball. And you two haven't gone on a shopping spree thingy, yet? Wow, I am surprised." He snickered.

In the end, to the dismay of Lily and Frankie, the three ended up going to Hogsmeade.

"Oh look Frankie! Bow ties! Oh, and they sing! Oh look, it's SO cute, you should totally wear this." Lena exclaimed, holding up the revolting bow tie that probably slowly sucked the masculinity out of guys.

Lily giggled at the horror-struck look on Frank. She pulled him into a little (which was big according to Frank) store that had shimmering dresses of all colors in the front window. Lily and Lena were immediately attacked by the saleslady. The saleslady was definitely one of those older ladies who tried to pretend that they are young by wearing cheesy make-up in massive quantities. And overly-plucked eyebrows.

"Hello ladies...and gentleman. May I help you find a dress...or perhaps give you some suggestions; my name is Bethany if you need me."

"Oh that won't be necessary, but thank you." Lena managed to say, before dragging her off into a corner filled with every imaginable shade of green.

"Oh, but green is so cliché..."

"Oh but Lily, it looks stunning on you and it goes not only with your hair, but accents those gorgeous eyes..." Lily and Frank rolled their eyes.

"Alright, what about this one..." 17 dresses later, what seemed to be the perfect dress showed up. Behind a huge rack of ugly one, of course. Lily was in awe and had to grab Lena and shove her at the dress, just to make sure it wasn't a mirage. Frank had fallen asleep in a corner on the floor, using a couple of random dresses as a pillow.

"Lily Evans, you must get that dress. It is too perfect for words."

Frank woke up, looking happy. "Oh! Are we done then? Finally, because I need a—"

"Franklin Longbottom. All you can think of is yourself. Lily and I still need to buy accessories, Frankie, accessories!! Not to mention I still need a dress!!" She said, scolding him, but with a hint of a smile on her face.

Lily laughed as Frank rolled his eyes, "Frankie, darling (she knew he hated it when she called him that), you can go now. Plus you don't want to see your gorgeous date in her dress before the ball, now do you?"

"Ughh...don't remind me...I'll meet you all up at the Three Broomsticks..." Frank said as he walked out into the rain.

An agonizingly long hour later, a happy Lena and disgruntled Lily walked out of the store with both their dresses.

James' POV

James briefly glanced at the door as he heard the familiar bell that rang when someone walked into the Three Broomsticks. It turned out to be Frank Longbottom. James' attention went back to what Sirius was saying. Something about sloths.

Frank spotted the Marauders and wandered over to them.

"Hey James, Sirius, Remus, Peter. I'm glad to see some actual males in this village. I am so sick of dresses and girly stuff." Frank sighed, as he drank out of his butterbeer.

They all looked amused. Sirius grinned, "Yeah, at least they're hot."

James glared at him. Sirius grinned, "No worries, Evans is off limits, we all know."

James grinned triumphantly.

Remus rolled his eyes, "So where did they drag you off to?"

"To every feminine store under the sun."

"Ohhh, did you get to go to any lingerie stores—"

Remus smacked Sirius. James and Peter laughed. Frank wrinkled his nose.

"No, thank God. But they're ready for the Ball."

James wished he was going with Lily. She'd be gorgeous...and his. James let out a sigh. Though Lily would look good in anything...or nothing. James mind was now in the gutter. Peter noticed and smacked him on the head.

"Ow!" He said rubbing his head. What was that for?"

Sirius snickered. "By the look on your face you were thinking dirty thoughts. James I know you liked me, but I didn't think you thought of me as more than a friend..."

Remus sighed, "Please, I don't need that image."

James spaced back out as they all started arguing. He vaguely heard Frank leave. Well, things could be worse. Lily could be going to the Ball with someone else... James gritted his teeth in anger. He didn't think he could take someone holding his Lily. Or dancing with her. He'd just have to make that person wish he'd never been born.

A/N: Okay. First I would like to apologize for taking forever to update. And second, I'm going to apologize for making a pointless chapter, but I needed a chapter to join the previous chapter and the next chapter. The next chapter is going to be the Ball. Thanks for those people who still stick with me.

MonkeyGurl1: I laughed when I read your review. Yes Greg (based on kid in my school, though I have no idea what his personality is like) is VERY cute. Everyone thinks so. Except for in real life he is actually quite tall. Lily gives Greg a chance, but not James...sad.

SiriusJamesRemus'sgirl: Thank you. Here's the new chapter!

Keep reviewing! I'll update more often now. I have a question for you all. Would you like my chapters to come out faster and shorter or slower and longer? Okay, I did NOT mean for that to sound gross.