Chapter 16: The New Years Eve Party. Part I

Lily added her silver butterfly clip as she wore her hair half up and half down. It was curling and it looked fabulous with her dark green dress which really brought out her eyes. Lily was really pleased with her dress, it was strapless and came about an inch from the ground with a slit up the side that stopped at about her knee. On the top of the dress was glitter that seemed to capture every beam of light. It was 5:30 and New Years eve, Lily attatched her new butterfly pendant that Faith had gotten her for Christmas. Lily checked her face and decided to add a thin layer of mascara and a layer of light red lipstick that was Faith's favorite. There that really brought out her eyes and completed the look. Lily smiled at her reflection and knocked on Faith's bedroom door.

"I'm not coming out." Faith shouted at the door.

"Come on Faith its just a dress." Lily said reaching up for the key which was above her door. Lily slipped it into the lock and opened the door. Faith was standing in front of her full length mirror and frowned at Lily.

"Faith you look great." Lilysmiled putting the key back where it went. It was true too. Faiths dress was white and had two straps that held it up. It fell to the floor and trailed an inch behind her when she walked. On the hem of her dress she had lines of silver that went up to about her knee. Faith's hair was flipping out but was parted on the right and her bangs swept across the left part of her face concealing her left eye. Faith's silver cross necklace hung around her neck, plus Faith had on her favorite shade of strawberry lipstick.

"Lily Evans, I am in a dress." Faith said through gritted teeth. Lily laughed and fixed Faiths necklace so the clasp was in the back.

"Got your clip in?" Faith asked. Lily turned around to show Faith her butterfly clip. Faith's father knocked on the doorway.

"Ready?" He questioned. Faith's father looked charming with his dark hair combed back and his gray suit.

"Yeah." Lily and Faith chimed. He smiled and walked downstairs and got into the car.

"I wonder why he put Formal Attire and not Dress robes on the invites." Lily said as the car began to blaze down the street.

"Hannah Potter never liked Dress robes, shes always found them tacky." Faith's father said. The girls shrugged and talked the rest of the way there.When the girls got to Potter Manor there were lights everywhere. Lily could see tiny lights streaming along several balconies. The girls got out of the car and saw Sarah almost instantly. Her black hair was curled and pulled back. Several strands had managed to escape though and had fell about her face. She had on a darker shade of lipstick which really brightened her face and her dress was a babyblue with a lighter blue shawl draped along her shoulder. The sleeves of the dress were down on her lower arm.

"Sarah you look great." Faith said and lily smiled and nodded.

"Thanks you guys. You two look fabulous." Sarah said smiling as the three friends headed inside. James they spotted instantly. He looked very handsome and was dressed in a black suit and a white shirt. The coat of his shirt was unbuttoned and his hair was its usual messy self. He was talking to Remus who also looked quite good although rather pale. Remus had managed to tame his wild hair and he was wearing black pants and a black jacket which was buttoned. Sirius would have looked handsome if he didn't have such a sour look. Sirius had let his hair take reign and had on black pants with a white shirt. He had a jacket but it wasn't on. The cuffs to his shirt were also unbuttoned and rolled up slightly.

James looked over and saw Lily. He smiled at her and waved. Remus stopped talking and looked at what he was looking at. His eyes instantly focused on Sarah. James patted Remus and Sirius on the shoulder and walked over to Lily.

"Hi Lily. You look great." Hebreathed smiling at her widely.

"You look good too James." Lily said and instantly thought 'Did I just say what I think I just said. Well...it is true he does look rather good.'

Sirius tried talking Remus into going over there with him but he wouldn't. Sirius walked up and stood next to James.

"Hey Faith." Siriusgreeted his mood turning better instantly.

"Sirius." Faith said nodding.

"Care to dance?" Sirius asked extending a hand. Faith chewed the inside of her lip and then put her hand in Sirius's. He smiled and seemed to be in a much better mood than before. Sirius led her out to where everyone was dancing.

James smiled at Lily and offered her his hand. She took it and then they began to dance. Sarah smiled at Remus from a far and he gave a nervous wave and smile.
"Hello." A coy and slimy voice said. Sarah looked and saw the voice belonged to Lucius Malfoy. Sarah just shot him daggers.

"Fancy a dance?" Malfoy seethed. Even though he had said it quite plainly there was just something about it that rubbed her the wrong way.

"Yes, but not from you." Sarah spat at him. Lucius glared at her. Since when was Lucius interested in Sarah. He had always had a thing for Narcissa. Sarah scanned the area for someone close by that could save her but found no one.

"Just one dance?" Lucius asked tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"No." Sarah said flatly staring straight ahead. Lucius grabbed Sarah by the shoulder. Sarah slapped Lucius away and looked for Remus, he was gone. Lucius angered by the slap pushed Sarah up against a wall. Her eyes widened with fear when suddenly Lucius was pulled off by a growling Remus.

"Leave her alone." Remusgrowled gripping Lucius by the hair. He then flung Lucius backwards and let him fall to the ground.

"Dance?" Remus said much softer to Sarah. Sarah nodded and took his hand stepping over Lucius.

Lily was trying to stop from laughing.

"Whats so funny?" James asked rasing an eyebrow.

"Nothing."Lily said smiling and watching Lucius pick himself up off the floor.

"I really wish I had taken all those dance lessons my mother always offered to me." James said smiling. Lily smiled and chuckled.

"Yeah, but I gave them all up, and she ended up teaching them to other people. Mostly Sirius." Jameslaughed a little.

"I better not hear you bragging about dancing with me all over school once I get back." Lily smirked. James laughed.

"You won't." James said a smile on his face.

"You know what...can I show you something?" James asked suddenly thinking. Lily bit her lower lip and nodded.

James smiled and grabbed Lily's hand and led her outside. James dragged Lily along and began to stumbled through the woods.

"James... where are we going?" Lily asked clutching her skirt as they walked.

"Here." James said. Lily gasped at way she saw. A small brook babbled along. The water was so clear it was amazing. The crescent moon made the water and the rocks sparkle and lit the trees up like magic.

"I use to sneak out of the house when I was younger to come here." James said sitting on a rock.

"Its beautiful." Lily said sitting down next to him. James looked at Lily and muttered

"Yeah it is."

"I thought James hated Severus." Faith said spying Serverus in a corner.

"What?...oh yeah. His mother is friends with his mother so he kinda has to be here." Sirius said concentrating on his hands being around Faith's waist.

"James's mother seems nice." Faith said smiling.

"She is. Treated me like I was her son. Even taught me how to dance." Sirius said looking at Hannah Potter standing next to her husband.

"You? You, Sirius Black can dance?" Faith asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Of course I can. Mrs. Potter's father is a muggle and he taught her how to dance and she passed it on to me." Sirius said smiling slyly. Faith looked at him disbelieving.

"Honestly, I can swing dance, tango, salsa, and anything else your heart desires." Sirius said chuckling. Faith's face brightened up.

"You can swing dance?" She whispered.

"Yeah." Sirius whispered back brining his face closer to hers.

"So do I." She whispered. Sirius smiled and nodded towards the band. The two danced towards the band.

"A little something to spice up the night?" Sirius asked them winking. The men winked back and Sirius led Faith onto the dance floor.

Then as the beat started so did they. In a whirl of white and black they danced. The people around them had backed off and watched in amazement. When they were finished the crowd clapped and cheered (Sorry I was a little vague on the details. And yes, Faith did dance in that long dress of hers and didn't break anything, or slip. Thank you)

Faith and Sirius's faces were flushed and they smiled at each other. Sirius smiled wider and took a bow kissing Faith's hand. Faith laughed and said

"I'm going to get something to drink." Sirius nodded and he watched Faith. James suddenly approached Sirius.

"You wouldn't believe the time I just had with Lily. It was brilliant!" James said excitedly.

Lily came up to Faith and smiled.

"I went with James into the woods." Lily said grinning uncontrollably.

"Really how'd that-.Oh I'm so sorry." Faith said knocking into Severus. Faith helped him up and noticed a large bruise on his wrist. Before she could say anything Severus was gone.

"Did you just see that?" Faith said staring after Severus.

"I think I did." Lily said stunned.

"That couldn't be from the boys could it?" Faith asked biting her lower lip.

"Impossible...I mean they would never...right?" Lily asked wringing her hands. Faith only looked at Lily. Their eyes were both clouded over with thought.

"I'm going to go find out." Faith said walking after Severus.

"I'll go findSarah and we'll find the boys." Lily yelled back. Faith nodded and went to find Severus.

Remus had managed to dance Sarah out of the hall and onto a balcony. She hadn't even realized it because she had been staring into his eyes the entire time they were dancing, smiling pleasantly. Lily actually ran past them several times but they didn't notice or care.

James and Sirius went up into James's room and James went into full excruciating detail of how things went with Lily and how amazing she was. Sirius didn't pay a speck of attention. His thoughts were only on Faith. The boys walked out onto James's balcony and sighed. This was such a perfect evening. Nothing could go wrong in their minds. Sirius leaned on the round marble railing. James rested his arms on it. A breeze rushed by and tousled their hair around.

"Look down there. There's Sarah and Remus." Sirius said pointing and James leaned over the railing and saw them dancing on the balcony beneath them. Sirius smiled and then turned his head to the right. He stopped and moved closer to the left side of the balcony.

"Is that? Severus...and Faith." Sirius said leaning forward. A hint of jealously in his voice. James grabbed one of his telescopes and looked through it. It sure was. Severus was sitting on the railing of a balcony where no one was and Faith came up and sat behind him. Sirius ran and grabbed another telescope and the two watched.