"James, let go—you're hurting me." Lilly snapped from behind him, trying to pull away. He didn't say a word—he was angry. He dragged her down two hallways, searching. We need a place to talk in private—no interuptions. I have to make her understand. He thought. A door popped up in the wall in front of him. He slammed the door open and pushed Lilly inside. Following her in, he shut the door and whirled around on her. She had tears pouring down her face and was rubbing her wrist.
"We need a place to sit downJames said quietly, not taking his eyes off Lilly. A big armchair popped up in the middle of the room, it was barely big enough for two people. James led Lilly over to it and sat her down. He got on his knees on the floor and gently took her hands in his.
"Lilly—I'm sorry I hurt you. I want you to know that I would never intentionally try to hurt you in any way, shape, or form. I love you, you're everything to me. You're my whole life right now. I thought you knew that." James got off his knees and walked away from her chair, running his hands through his already messy hair. Lilly had never seen him this frusterated. He whirled around and stared at her. There was a fire in his eyes that Lilly had never seen before—it scared her. Another chair popped up across the room and he walked over and slammed down onto it, cradling his head in his hands. Lilly went over and sat beside him. She put her hands on his wrists and pulled them away from his face. The way he looked at her—she could tell he was hurt.
"James, I didn't mean it like that—it's just—I don't know. With everything going on—with Quidditch and your classes piling up, I guess I didn't think. I know you want to become an Auror and I know you love Quidditch, so I thought maybe you'd forgotten about me." She whispered, still holding his wrists. She let them go as he grabbed her hands, gently this time.
"Forgotten about you? Lilly—you're my top priority right now. I don't want Quidditch and Auror training—I just want you. I thought you knew that. I've loved you ever since I met you, and I couldn't bear to lose you, or have you think I didn't love you. No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you." She started crying and he pulled her towards him. Lilly sat in that huge armchair and listened to James tell her how much he loved her, and as he asked her to take her to the Ball, she knew she could never be this happy ever again.
When Lilly and James returned to the common room, there was a surprise waiting for Lilly. Across one of the couches lay a gorgeous emerald green dress. It was long and shining with flowing fabric. It had a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. Lilly's jaw dropped as James led her over to the couch and whispered in her ear:
"Surprise..." Lilly turned towards him.
"Did you--?" She choaked. Jessie couldn't stand it anymore.
"We were all in on it! He's had this dress for weeks! He wasn't going to show it to you until the night of the ball, but we decided now was a better time, so we layed it all out for you! It's for you Lilly! All for you!" She squealed before anyone could shut her up. Remus was over in the corner trying to explain what was going on to Sirius, who wasn't in on the surprise since he was—well, he had a big mouth. Remus rolled his eyes and he and Sirius grabbed her. They took her upstairs to the boy's dorms and Beth followed, leaving James and Lilly alone in the common room.
"James, I can't accept this! It's—it's too much." She stammered, still shocked and in disbelief.
"You can and you will." James said as Lilly started to cry. She threw her arms around his neck and thanked him over and over again.
"You're so wonderful!" She sobbed onto his shoulder. James laughed and stroked her hair, soothing her and trying to calm her down.
"Lilly, you look beautiful." James said as he offered her his arm. She took it and swept up her dress with her other hand.
"Thank you, you look pretty dashing yourself." She smiled at him. The dress looked gorgeous on her, and she had her hair falling about her shoulders in big spiral curls. She pulled up her emerald green gloves. "I want to thank you again for everything James. The dress is beautiful."
"You look beautiful in it. Here." James pulled a silver charm bracelet out of his pocket. He hooked it around her wrist. On it was a small heart charm with an 'L' on one side and a 'J' on the other.
"Oh James!" Lilly hugged him and kissed his cheek. "This is all too much. You aren't allowed to get me anything for Christmas or my Birthday ever again!"
James laughed as they walked down towards the Great Hall behind Sirius and Jessie. They all walked in and the crowd stepped back. The girls looked at Lilly, Beth, and Jessie with envy—all three were on the arm of a handsome Marauder. The boys looked at James, Remus, and Sirius with pure jealousy, every guy in the room wanted to be dancing with the three most beautiful girls in school. They stopped in the middle of the room. James bowed to Lilly, she curtsied, he took her hand and they were off.
"I feel as if I'm dancing on air!" Lilly laughed as James spun her around over and over again.
"Don't look down or you'll fall." He said, happy she was having such a good time.
"That line is so old." Lilly said as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I don't care, it suits the occasion." James said, and just before the dance ended, he swept her off her feet and carried her off the dance floor.
"James, put me down." She giggled as she slipped her arms from around his neck. He put her down and slipped off to get some soda. Lilly walked towards the double doors leading to the gardens and stepped outside. She was greeted by a cool breeze. Suddenly, a voice that sent a chill up her spine came from behind her.
"I'm glad you like the fresh air Miss Evans, so do I." Lilly whipped around Lucius Malfoy stood in front of the door with three other Slytherins. Lucius pointed at her.
"Get her Crabbe." Auguste Crabbe stumbled forward and made a grab for her, he missed and she ran off into the trees. Suddenly she ran into something, she was trapped. She looked up into the face of a grinning Lucius Malfoy.