Chapter Six – Dancing Shoes
A/N – Sorry if this chapter is a bit dodgy... and I just realised that it's probably waaay too short... oh well!
OH! And I've decided I want to become a Linguistic Anthropologist. I've always wanted to be an Anthropologist/Archaeologist but I'd never really decided on a specific area!
Disclaimer – They ain't mine. Nothing, nada, zilch. Not even Meg is because she's actually my best friend.
"James Potter of Gryffindor and Imogen Sweet of Ravenclaw," the announcer cried.
Lily almost crushed her plastic punch cup. (Apparently the elves thought it would be scarier to have plastic cups that leaked all over you rather than goblets at a Halloween Ball.)
She stared at Imogen and James as they descended the staircase, smiling and HOLDING HANDS???
Why do you even care? she asked herself.
Maybe it was the fact that both Sirius and James seemed a little too interested in Imogen's low cut dress.
What is it about that girl? I'm pretty too! I can be funny too!Lily's face fell as she realised what was different.
She was girl friend material. Not girlfriend material. Girl friend material.
Let me guess, just because I'm opinionated and don't giggle and ACTUALLY HAVE A BRAIN!
"Men," Lily muttered. If it were possible, she would have set Imogen's dress alight with her eyes.
"What's that?" Sirius asked, his eyes never leaving Imogen.
"Nothing," she said, smiling sweetly.
She dumped her plastic cup on the table and stood up, determined to have a good time. She scanned the room, looking for a dance partner. Remus was having a dance lesson from Meg, Peter was standing in front of the food table, eating like there was no tomorrow and Sirius had walked over to Imogen and James. Finally her eyes rested on a boy sitting in the corner. She smiled evilly to herself as she thought of the look on James' face.
Not that what he thinks actually matters... she thought to herself.
Walking over, she took a deep breath and did the only thing she could.
Hope for the best.
The moment they had entered the room, James could tell that Sirius was staring at his date. Looking to Sirius' left, James could see a pouting Lily. He allowed his grin to grow even wider. The plan was working! Now that he had successfully made Lily jealous, all he had to do was wait for Lily to lose her patience and come over.
If she even likes you, numbskull.
James frowned at this new doubt that was entering his mind. The possibility had never occurred to him. Why would it? He was a fine specimen of a man, ask anybody! Except Snape, and that girl in his Muggle Studies class... oh and most of girls in third year. What was their problem anyway? He was sure he didn't have that kind of attitude in third year.
Anyway, this was no time to be losing his cool. In order for the plan to be successful, he had to be suave, smooth and... totally irresistible. He just wished that he wouldn't have to keep pushing up his glasses... it kind of ruined the whole image. He stood with Imogen at the bottom of the staircase, watching Sirius walk over, a cocky grin on his face. With Lily abandoned, part two of the night's plan was accomplished. They would let Lily fume for a while before she (naturally) came walking over to James, driven crazy with jealousy. He greeted Sirius and risked another glance over at Lily, the less he looked at her, the more infuriated she would become.
But Lily was no longer sitting at her table. He desperately scanned the room, finally finding her... AT SNAPE'S TABLE?
Lily stood in front of Severus, summoning all her courage for what she was about to do.
"Dance with me?" she asked nervously, holding out a hand to him.
His scowl softened as his eyes flitted from her hopeful face to her outstretched hand. He was about to refuse when out of the corner of his eye, he saw James walking over to them.
"Sure, why not?" he drawled, taking Lily's hand and leading her out onto the dance floor.
James thought he was about to have a heart attack. Lily was holding her hand out to Snape. SNAPE! What was she doing? Did she WANT to get her hand bitten off? He pushed past Sirius who was too deep into his flirt-fest with Imogen to notice.
James desperately pushed past the dancing couples, causing several waltzing couples to collide consequently.
He saw Snape's eyes flicker over at him and James quickened his pace as he saw Snape take Lily's hand and lead her out onto the dance floor.
A slow song came on and James was only a step away from snatching Lily away from Snape when Professor McGonagall stepped in front of him, blocking the way. He tried to sidestep around her but stopped when he saw the look upon his teacher's face.
"MR POTTER! Why did you feel the need to disturb the ENTIRE dance floor?"
James looked behind him at the pile-up of dancers before looking up at McGonagall sheepishly.
"Get out of my sight! And don't let me see you on this dance floor again!" McGonagall shouted, pointing to the tables next to the dance floor.
James miserably trudged off, but not before Snape could give him a triumphant grin.
Lily allowed herself to be pulled onto the dance floor by Severus, just as a slow song came on. She hesitantly put her free hand on Severus' shoulder, feeling his tense muscles beneath her fingers and almost jumped when he placed his hand on her waist. She had never been this close to Severus. Hell, she had never been this close to ANY male! He smelt musky and... masculine. There was no overpowering scent of aftershave or cologne that made Lily cough to death. She looked briefly into his eyes and nearly gasped when she realised that he had been looking at her. This close she could see that his eyes weren't black at all but instead a dark, rich brown. Lily averted her eyes, desperately trying to focus on anything other than her close proximity to Severus. She could hear raised voices and tried to turn her head to see what was going on but Severus softly whispered,
"Don't worry about it."
And she didn't. Looking over Severus' shoulder she didn't see the triumphant glare that he gave James or the longing gaze that James was giving her.
Sirius passed a glass of punch to Imogen and sat down next to her. He lazily slung an arm around the back of Imogen's chair and turned to look at the one glitch of the night.
James.
Ok, ok, so the plan hadn't technically worked. But couldn't James stop staring at Lily for one second to realise that he and Imogen were a little busy?
Thankfully, Remus and Meg sat down at the table, giving Sirius an excuse to ahem have a private word with Imogen.
"Don't wait up!" Sirius said cheekily, downing his punch and leading Imogen out of the hall.
For the thirty-seventh time that night, James sighed mournfully.
"What's up James?" asked Remus, fanning an exhausted Meg with a napkin.
"McGonagall kicked me off the dance floor for life and Lily has been dancing the entire night with Snivellus," said James, sighing once more.
"So?" asked Meg, "Just because you can't go on the dance floor doesn't mean you can't dance."
James immediately brightened and smiled brilliantly at Meg.
"You're a genius!" he said, hugging Meg fiercely.
"Get your hands off my girl and go find Lily!" Remus growled possessively.
James grinned and turned around to find Lily.
"She's leaving!" he groaned, watching Lily walk out of the hall.
"Then go after her!" Meg cried.
James hesitated momentarily before running to the exit.
"Your girl eh? I like it," Meg grinned, leaning into Remus.
James had been unable to catch Lily due to the staircases changing just as he stepped onto them and Lily got off. Forced to take the long way, he ran to make it to Lily before she went to bed.
"Damn it!" he cursed, scanning the Lily-free common room.
Looking around to see if anyone was watching him, he casually walked across the common room. Then he did what he had only ever dreamed about.
He climbed the girls' staircases.
Lily changed into some long pyjama pants and a baggy old shirt. She ran her fingers through her hair, contemplating the night. She had surprised herself by dancing with Severus nearly all night. He was certainly quite the dancer! But she couldn't help feeling that she wanted to dance with James also. He had looked so lonely sitting by himself all night – she didn't count Sirius and Imogen the chronic flirters as much company. She was about to get into bed when she heard a yelp come from the staircases.
That voice was a bit deep for a female, she thought to herself. Maybe it was that Beth girl – poor thing.
She grabbed her wand and went out to investigate. Giggles rose up in her throat when she saw what had happened. The staircases had shifted into a smooth slide with James Potter in a heap at the bottom. She slid down to join him, bending over to see if he was alright.
"James?" she whispered.
He rolled over with a groan, looking up at Lily. James had decided the moment he had fallen that it was very uncomfortable to tumble down a slide in armour. He was glad it was Lily that had turned up to help him and not that Beth girl – her moustache rivalled his own stubble! His scowl turned into a grin at the concerned look on Lily's face.
He stood up slowly.
"What do you think you were doing?" Lily cried, all concern gone.
"I was... well... I wanted to ask you for the last dance," James said.
Lily's jaw fell open.
"But... but..." she stammered.
"It's ok if you don't want to," James said quickly, his face falling as he turned to walk away.
"No it's not that," said Lily, stopping James with a hand on his shoulder. "It's just that there's no music."
James grinned and pulled Lily close to him, positioning her hands on him, ready to dance.
He hummed some slow music, swaying gently with Lily on the spot. She looked beautiful, even in her pyjamas.
Unsure of what her reaction might be, James leaned in to kiss Lily.
She smiled as James' mouth came down upon hers. His lips felt softer than she had imagined and she put both hands around his neck, loving the explosive feeling she got every time she touched his skin... especially his lips.
James sucked gently on Lily's lower lip before deepening the kiss, pulling her into him.
James immediately felt her tense in his arms.
"What's wrong?" he asked, breaking away.
Lily blushed deeply.
"Your armour... it's kinda... hard..." she murmured.
James laughed, relieved it wasn't something he had done.
"Well, I'd better get to bed," she said softly, smiling to herself.
"Night, Lil," James called to Lily as she climbed the now restored staircase.
She smiled at him over her shoulder and walked slowly to her room, in a daze.
It wasn't until she hit her bed that she allowed herself to shriek with glee.
A/N – Ahhh... young love! But what will Severus have to say about all this? JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF...
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE!!!
Ok I'm FINALLY going to say hi to all the reviewers I've had since chapter one!
ImperishableStars – Man, you review as often as I breathe! I like I like!!! He he. By the way, cool name! I forgot to tell you that! And I think that Remus has some definite wet t-shirt potential. I reckon he would have had blondish hair. What do you think?
PotterPrincess85 – Thank you so much! I try to keep them in character as much as possible! Sirius is my favourite to write, if things are getting too serious, then Padfoot will brighten up the story.
ShimmeringEvil – I hope I'm updating fast enough! I know how agonising it can be when a story you like isn't updated for months.
SecretlyBeautiful – I think Sevvie's up for the challenge! If he isn't, too bad. I'll make him. I'm his punishing love coach.
potter-harry117 – You flatter me! But do you perhaps think there should be more fluff? I need to know! I'm not a HUGE fan of too much fluff, especially if it makes the characters behave weirdly. But that said I live to give!
Laney-Wood – Yeah, I reckon James and Lily would only fight when it's actually about something decent. No need to make them behave like mortal enemies! And good observation! I couldn't decide what day to make it in the last chapter so the things are a bit out of whack! I think Sirius says something about Saturday night then Remus says tomorrow night... Well I guess that could work but it's not my finest work!
Junius – I've got one word to say to you, Junius. Keep up the reviews because they brighten up my day! HA! I just thought of something, should I bring in a Kel-type character? THAT WOULD BE HILARIOUS! Well... I think so... Or maybe I should just give Peter a man-bag...
rons-gurl91 – AHH!!! I hope I updated in time to save you... sniff sniff...
Notice-me – When you said the Ghostbusters/Marauders thing I couldn't stop laughing. And then I envisioned the marauders standing around with these packs on their backs with the weird hose things in their hands...