Hey everyone! I hope you like this new chapter! Please read and review! Love to all, Iris

Christmas Eve arrived with a flurry of activity. All the girls were talking about who was wearing what to the masquerade ball and who was going with whom. Lily had been asked to the ball, but declined on the offer. Jessica and Sirius had gotten back together, and Remus and Hannah had had their first fight (which was quite interesting). But Remus gallantly apologized and Hannah accepted his apology.

Remus was dressed in all black and was wearing a mask and bandanna. A thin sword hung on his one side and on the other was the most beautiful lady in all the land. Hannah looked regal in her long white dress and mask to match. Pearls decorated the bodice of her gown and her mask.

Sirius had decided to wear a tux for this special occasion and looked quite handsome in it. Jessica wore a three piece dress that was blue and purple that showed some skin that on other people would have made them look vulgar, but on her it just looked elegant. Her mask was the same sky blue as her dress and her hair pulled back in a low bun had a ring of small purple violets around it.

James, as he was every girl's dream date (Sirius had laughed uproariously when James had said this) went as a knight. Morgan went as his Guinevere in a long maroon gown embroidered in gold. Her corkscrew curls had been straightened and her long hair hung down her back in waves.

They were all standing in the common room complementing each other, waiting for Lily so they could all go down to the ball.

"Lily! Come on!"

Lily sighed as she again tried to put up her hair. "Damn it! It's not worth the trouble," she said giving up and letting her long red hair tumble down her back.

"Lily!"

"I'm coming!" she yelled as she took one last look in the mirror. She was wearing a long emerald green dress that fitted her every curve. A pair of sheer wings seemed to sprout from her shoulders; there was glitter on her cheeks and in her hair. She smiled at her reflection, before turning and walking out of her dormitory. She took a deep breath as she reached the stairs. "Breathe, just breathe."

James had his back to the stairs adjusting his "armor" when he heard an audible gasp from everyone in the room. He turned around and found himself face to face with an angel, or so it seemed.

"Lily you look great!" said Hannah.

"Wow Lily," said Jessica. "That dress really brings out your eyes." The boys were temporarily speechless. Morgan said nothing. Lily turned to James as if waiting to see what he would say.

She was only three feet from him; he suddenly found his tongue as he looked in her eyes, "You're beautiful."

Lily laughed, breaking the spell that had held them speechless.

"Shall we go?" asked Sirius, offering Jessica his arm.

"Yes let's."

Remus and Hannah climbed through the portrait hole and Morgan who was dragging James along behind her followed. Jessica smiled and nudged Sirius.

"May I, sweet lady, ask if I could escort you also?" Lily laughed and took Sirius offered arm.

"I must be the luckiest guy," said Sirius as they began to walk down the marble staircase and into the Great Hall's open doors.

"Why is that?" asked Jessica.

"I have the two most beautiful girls in the whole school on each arm." Lily punched Sirius gently on the arm.

"Okay Mr. Slick, I have to go now and officially begin our ball," said Lily. Sirius nodded and watched as he saw Lily disappear into the crowd.

"That was sweet Sirius," said Jessica kissing him on the cheek. Sirius smiled and took her in his arms and kissed her gently.

"Okay everybody," said Lily over the talking. "If you would please be quiet!" The room grew hushed. "I would like to officially start our ball…James…"

James who stood on the stage beside her cleared his throat and looked mischievously around the room.

"Drinks and food I see you all have already found…" The room laughed. "So the only thing to say is, dig in, have fun, and for all the guys out there…I've sat up some rose bushes outside in the garden…"

Lily looked over at him and he turned to her and shrugged.

"I thought at least some of us would like something for Christmas," he grinned, and Lily's lips twitched.

"Okay everybody please give a huge welcome to our performer for tonight… the new singing sorceress, said to be the next Holly Charms…Celestina Warbeck!" The room applauded as a pretty young witch came out and began to sing.

Lily and James exited the stage and watched as everyone grabbed a partner to dance with.

"Would you like to dance Lily?" asked James. Lily turned to him to give him her answer and saw Morgan heading towards them.

"James! Let's dance!" Morgan said grabbing his arm.

James whispered, "Save me a dance Lil."

Lily nodded a smile on her face.

She wondered over to the refreshment table and got herself a glass of punch.

She thought to herself, "I hope Sirius hasn't spiked the drinks…though it might be more fun if he did…" She watched Remus and Hannah waltz by on the table cleared dance floor. She didn't see James and Morgan, and who quite knew where Sirius and Jessica were.

Lily made her way outside into the garden. The place Lily and James had marked off for the party had a light layer of snow on the ground, not even and inch thick. The rose bushes they had set out were everywhere making it look romantic and mysterious. Lily noticed that some of the rose bushes that James sat out were a bit more secluded than others….

Christmas lights hung from the trees and bushes. Fountains were positioned in picturesque locations spouting water into the warm night air. Lily looked up at the star filled sky and sighed. Lily began to hum as she heard her favorite song drift through the open doors and out into the night air.

"Come away with me," Celestina Warbeck sang.

"Well if no one is here to dance with me, I'll dance by myself." Lily curtsied and held out her arms as she turned around and around, singing.

James had seen Lily go outside and quickly excused himself from Morgan, and followed her outside. James slowly walked through the garden taking in all the sights and sounds. He came across no one in his walk as everyone was inside. He stopped suddenly as he heard a voice singing from one of the more secluded parts of the garden.

"Come away with me in the night." James smiled and leaned against the rose trellis that opened into the secluded spot. There she was dancing by herself. He watched her from the shadows for awhile and then walked up to her. He cleared his throat and tapped her shoulder.

"James! I-"

"May I cut in?" he pretended to ask her imaginary partner. "Thank you," he turned to Lily. "My lady, will you dance with me?"

Lily smiled and curtsied. "Yes, sir knight." James took her in his arms as they glided around the garden.

"Are you having fun?"

Lily shrugged and looked up into his face. "Truthfully?"

"Truthfully."

"Well I suppose so…well no not really, that is until you came along." Lily began to berate herself inwardly for letting that slip. James smiled and pulled her closer and settled her more comfortably in his arms.

"Are you having fun?" Lily asked.

"I wasn't having the best of times…until I found you," James said smiling at the red head in his arms.

Lily found her eyes drawn to his and she suddenly felt the feeling she had tried so hard to disguise for two months, burst through the flood gates of her heart. James, looking into her love filled eyes, recognized what he saw in them and also recognized the same feeling in his heart. James's feet stopped moving and Lily froze in his arms. James pulled her closer and slowly bent his head. Lily lifted her chin to look at him and felt his lips on hers. She melted into his arms as he pulled her ever closer to him until they seemed like one.

Hey! Thanks to everyone who keeps reviewing! You're really keeping my spirits up! Thanks!

I am not trying to imitate et cetera Ms. Rowling and would like to tell those who try to go to therapy. There is one and only one J.K. Rowling. Period. Thank you for reading my story please tell me what you think.

Iris