Chapter 17: The New Years Eve Party Part II.

Lily searched up and down the halls for Sarah but couldn't find her anywhere.She stopped frustratedand looked around. There she was dancing with Remus. Oh...Lily hated to have to break them up. Fortunately Lily didn't have to, Lucius did. He stormed past Lily and walked right up to Remus and Sarah and pushed them apart.

Lucius grabbed at Sarah. He missed and grabbed her hair tearing it from its bun.Her hair fell about her shoulders. Lucius whipped out his wand and muttered something. Then with a flash of white light half of Sarah's hair dropped to the floor.Remus grabbed Lucius by the neck and gave him a good punch in the face. Sarah grabbed Remus by the shoulder to make him stop pummeling Lucius's face in.He stopped and Lucius ran off muttering "Mudblood" as he passed Lily.

Lily bit her lip as she saw Remus and Sarah. She couldn't break them up.She sighed and decided to confront James and Sirius by herself.

Faith sat on the smooth round edge of the balcony swinging her feet back and forth.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Faithwondered looking at Severus.

Severus looked dead ahead andgrowled sternly "Can't talk about it if there's nothing to talk about."

"That'sa lieand you know it." Faithfrowned still looking at Severus. Hel ooked ahead and then looked at his feet.

"Did you get those at school or home?" Faithquestioned not giving up.

"Listen I don't know what you're talking about..." Severus said looking at Faith.

"You're lying." Faith shook her head. Severus got off the balcony and started to walk away.

"Severus...please..." Faithpleaded softly, turning around so she could face him. Severus looked at her, herface clouded with worry. Severus sighed, there was no way he could turn her down.

"I didn't get them from James and Sirius if that's what you're thinking." Severusdeclared coming and sitting on the railing again.

"So you got them at home?" Faith asked even though she already knew the answer. Severus looked at his feet.

"From your mother?" Faith asked softly Severus shook his head gently.

"Your father then?" Faithconfirmed looking at her feet as they swung back and forth. Severus didn't move at all. That was all the proof she needed.

"Does anyone know about it?" Faith bit the inside of her lip.

"Dumbeldore, but then again he knows everything." Severus said light heartdly and attempted a smile in her direction. Faith smirked slightly but still looked worried.

"What in the world are the saying?" Siriushuffed as he leaned over the railing, thinking that would help him.

"I don't know." Jamesadded boredlystill watching them through his telescope. Suddenly loud shouts could be heard down stairs.

"10...9...8..."

"New Years approaching." James noted. Sirius appeared not to be listening and just watched the two transfixed.

"3...2...1.. Happy New Year!" James turned and saw that sparks were going off in the air. He have loved to be with Lily right then but Sirius loud gasp and yell broke his thoughts.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" Sirius screamed.

Prior to Sirius's screams

Lily ran through the almost empty hallways except for the occasional couple walking holding hands. Where in the world could they be? Suddenly she heard the downstairs start to chant.

"10...9...8...7..6.." Lily continued to open the doors that weren't locked.

"2...1.. Happy New Year!" The crowd shouted and Lily could hear sparks.

"Happy new year." She muttered to herself.

Prior to Sirius's screams

Sarah smiled at Remus as he touched her hair.

"I like it better this way." Sarah said. Remus smiled and nodded

"Me too."

The two began to dance again and completely lost track of time until the crowd started to shout.

"10...9...8...7.." Remus and Sarah stopped dancing.

"Its coming." She smiled.

"3..2...1...Happy New Year!" Everyone shouted and with Happy New Year Sarah kissed Remus.

Prior to Sirius's screams

Faith continued to swing her feet but stopped when she heard the inside start to shout

"10..9..8..7.." Faith and Severus looked back as everyone stood anxiously for the new year to start.

"3..2..1..Happy new Year!" Everyone shouted. Faith smiled. She got off the railing and then kissed Severus on the cheek saying

"Happy new year Severus." And walked away.

"What is it?" James asked as Sirius paced back and forth muttering under his breath. He stopped, looked at James and yelled

"She kissed him!"

"Come again?" James said walking to his telescope.

"She kissed him I can't believe that she would!" Sirius shrieked his voice still very loud. Sirius continued to pace back and forth and James watched Severus through the telescope. Severus was touching his cheek like he'd been shot there and staring after Faith who was long gone by now.

"It appears she only kissed him on the cheek." Jamesmumbled turning around to face Sirius but instead faced a big black dog. Suddenly Lily and Faith burst into the room. Faith muttered something to Lily real quick.

"Happy New year." Lilydeclared thinking of something quick.

"Happy New year." James returned.

"So uhh...Faith...hmm...saw you kiss Severus." James said. Lily turned sharply to look at Faith.

"Yeah... so?" Faith raised a high eyebrow.

"Well..uh...why?"

"It's a tradition in my family to kiss whoever your closest to on New Years eve at Midnight." Faithaffirmed but that is when she spottedthe big black dog hiding behind James.

"You have a dog?" Faithsmiled and walked towards the big black dog.

"Uh... yeah." Jamesrepliedlooking at Lily.

"Well whats his name?" Faith asked kneeling down.

"His name?...His name is...Snuffles." James said thinking. Faith scratching Snuffles behind the ears and even though he didn't want to he started to wag his tail.

"What breed of dog is he?" Faith asked still scratching Snuffles.

"I don't know he has always been a son of a bitch to me." Jamesmuttered trying to stifle back laughter.

"So..uhh... Lily did you...you know...kiss anyone?" James asked shifting his weight and moving to stand next to Lily.

"No. I wasn't around anyone." Lily said. This gave James mixed feelings. He was glad Lily hadn't kissed anyone, but she also did say that she wasn't around anyone which meant she would have kissed someone if she'd been around them.

Remus was thinking about the kiss. Even though it had been a short one and only happened because it was new years he couldn't help but think there was something more behind it. Sarah smiled at Remus and Remus smiled back even though his lips tingled from the kiss.

Suddenly Sarah heard her name being called.

"Sarah come on we have to go." Sarah's father said standing at the doorway of the balcony.

"I have to go." Sarah whispered softly and looked saddened.

"Do you?" Remus asked his eyes pleading for her not to go.

"Yes." Sarah said softly. She then turned her back on Remus and left him there standing sadly. Sarah climbed into her parents car and tuned out their jabbering and thought of Remus and the kiss they had shared.

Faith had gone out into the Potter's garden and was sitting on the edge of a fountain dipping her hand in the water. Snuffles nipped happily at some birds. Faith looked up and could see James and Lily talking up on the balcony. Faith sighed and got up. She had been told that the Potters garden was supposed to be wonderful with different trees and flowers everywhere. Faith walked inbetwen a set of trees and found herself in a small circle of grass surrounded by trees. A stone bench with vines running up the sides was tucked off to the side. Faith laid down in the soft grass and stared up at the stars.

Snuffles came and laid his head on Faith's stomach.She rested a hand on his head and scratched behind his ears.

"It's amazing how much James likes Lily." Faithlaughed looking up at the two talking.

"I mean shes the perfect prefect and he's...the prankster of the school. How he ever started liking her is a mystery to me." Faithrolled her eyes.

"Then theres Remus. Dear little Remus, quite the gentlemen he is. Everyday he denies he's not madly in love with Sarah but the evidence proves quite the opposite." Faith noted spotting Remus.

"And lastly we have Sirius...who I haven't seen in a while. Wonder what trouble he's off doing." Faith said getting up on her elbows. Snuffles ears perked up.

"Probably picking on Severus. I mean don't get me wrong Severus is a bit of a weirdo sometimes and the some of the things the boys do to him are funny...but they are mean in everyway. I wonder if they boys would be nicer to him if they knew more about him and the problems he faces at home..." Faithbit her lip thinking.

"No I couldn't tell the boys. If they did pity Severus, Severus would hate to have their pity and would come after me with an axe." Faith said laying back down again.

"Any New year resolutions?" James asked leaning up against the railing of the balcony.

"I don't know do I need any?" Lily said also leaning on the railing.

"Yeah. You can lighten up a bit." James smiled

"Then you can be nicer." Lily said turning towards him. James chuckled and turned towards her.

"I'll try."