As Lily allowed Remus to steer her to the Great Hall, she wondered if what she was doing was right. She never really wanted to hurt James, and she didn't know that this was going to hurt herself as well; not until it was too late.

"Madelyn was just using me," she thought bitterly.

Remus stopped Lily and looked into her eyes. He had a playful grin on his face, but when he spoke his tone was serious. "You're a brave girl," he said, "and it will all be over soon anyway."

Lily nodded, then she snapped into action; she had an idea. Without warning she grabbed Remus's wrist and ran as fast as she could in heels, pulling the sandy-haired boy behind her.

"What's the idea?" Remus shouted. "Trying to get yourself killed?" He imagined her falling down a flight of marble stairs because of her heels.

"I'm going to fix this," she shouted over the clatter of their feet. "It never should have happened."

James was looking around the hall, trying to ignore the stares he was getting. Everyone had known perfectly well that James had been dating Lily … so why was Madelyn now attached to his arm as if her life depended on it? Nobody could fathom any real explanation and had long since given up trying to do so in order to enjoy themselves.

Madelyn had just left to get some refreshments when Lily burst in to the hall with Remus in tow. No one seemed to notice them except James, and she was headed straight for him.

"Evans," he said coldly when she stopped in front of him.

"James-" she started, but he cut her off.

"It's Potter to you, and there's no need for explanation. Do you think I'm stupid? I heard you and your friend in the forest. You've been planning it all along!"

"James…."

"Lily!" Sirius said gaily, slipping his arm around her waist. Right on cue, Remus's date, Candice, approached and grasped his hand. "Don't you think it's a lovely night? Tell James it's a lovely night. James, can't you see how lovely it is?" Sirius said while looking at Lily. Remus laughed as her eyes widened with understanding.

"Gorgeous," James muttered sarcastically, "though I'm not sure I'm fortunate enough to be able to appreciate its beauty this evening."

"What a shame," Sirius said as a slower song started. "Lily, why don't we dance." He offered her his hand and pulled her onto the dance floor, Remus and Candice following.

James was rooted to the spot, now glaring at Sirius. How could his best friends just trade his girlfriend around like she was nothing but a toy to be stolen? James noted that Sirius was holding Lily all wrong. Their movements weren't as fluid as Lily's usual grace would make them, and she didn't fit right into his arms. This made James grin slightly. She was built for him, not Sirius or Remus or anyone else.

"Sirius," Lily whined worriedly as he spun her once.

"Oh, just a bit longer," he pleaded.

"Fine," she muttered, "but not too long." Sirius simply nodded.

After the song, Sirius guided them over to the table that James had picked. The four of them sat down and there was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Is anyone besides me going home for the Christmas holidays tomorrow?" Candice asked at last.

"I have nowhere to go," Remus stated.

"You could come to my house," Candice offered. "My parents would love to meet you."

Lily moved her gaze to James now, who had been leaning on his hand. She stood up and walked to him as Remus and Candice chattered, reaching down gently to straighten his glasses. James looked up curiously and Lily shot him a weak smile.

"Shall I get us anything?" she asked.

A voice from behind Lily answered her. "There's no need to. I've already got that covered." It was Madelyn with an armful of drinks. She handed one to everyone … except Lily. "Whoops, guess I forgot yours," she said as she took the seat next to James.

Lily glared at the back of her ex-best friend's head, imagining that she had laser vision to burn a hole through it. "I'll be right back," she managed through clenched teeth, then stormed off to find a drink. James watched her go in a state of confusion.

Lily drank her punch at the snack table and was wandering back over to the Marauders and their dates when James came from behind her and slipped a hand into hers. She jumped, but this only caused James to hold to her to tighter. Lily let her eyes travel up to James's face; he wore such a hurt expression, and was there fear there as well?

Another slow song started and James took the chance to whisk Lily out onto the floor. "Lily, what's going on here?" he asked with a disappointed frown.

"I never meant to hurt you," she whispered as her voice cracked. She buried her head in the curve of his shoulder.

"I love you Lily," James whispered into her hair. "Don't you see that? I love you, and I couldn't bear to lose you," he said, while tightening his grip on her waist.

For a moment that seemed like an eternity, Lily clung to James and his words. And she loved him too, didn't she? She pulled back and looked James deep in the eyes, ready to confess and get it over with. Her heart was beating far too fast to be healthy, and she shook so terribly that she had to hold his arms for support.

Lily opened her mouth to respond, and James could see her little white teeth in a perfect row. He longed to kiss her satin lips, but he wanted … too long. The next thing he knew Madelyn was in her place and he was watching as Sirius dragged Lily away. James sighed in defeat and allowed Madelyn to guide them around the floor. But he kept stealing glances at Lily, who was speaking to Sirius in whispers.

Lily suddenly felt very much like a pawn. She was getting dragged around all over the place and no one would let her have her way. She wished she had never gotten into this whole thing with Sirius. Who had ever heard of a plan where so much could go wrong?

After the song, James stormed up and pushed Sirius against the wall. Remus and Candice were at the scene within moments, and Madelyn soon after that. Lily quivered at Sirius's side.

"What's the idea?" he said through clenched teeth, grasping his best friend's robes. He was ready to snap when Remus stepped forward.

"How do you feel about pranking tonight?" he asked nervously.

"Pranking?" he spat, turning to his werewolf friend.

"You are the King of Pranks…."

"And all kings need a queen," Sirius added. "What do you say to a Queen of Pranks?"

James looked at Sirius inquiringly. "And who might that be?" he asked bitterly. "Who is good enough to call herself the 'Queen'?"

Sirius coughed and nodded in Lily's direction. "One who has pulled a prank on the King himself, of course."

James dropped Sirius and looked at Lily carefully. "But when has she pranked me?" he asked, but Lily's solemn frown was quickly spreading into a large grin, and Remus and Sirius w ere both laughing now. James shook his head and closed the distance between him and Lily. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he looked over to Sirius, who wore a large grin, and Remus, whose laugh hung on his lips.

"Hey guys," he chuckled, "looks like we've got a she-Marauder."

"A Marauderette!" Sirius claimed joyously.

Madelyn scowled and stomped over to Lily, who was leaning against James's chest very comfortably. "What about our plan?"

"A ploy," Lily stated.

"The letters?"

"Why do you think they were my idea?"

"But Remus…"

"And I have always been just friends."

"But I asked him to the ball and he said yes."

"You think he wasn't in on it?"

"But our talk … in the forest … you didn't want to keep going out with James …"

"A set up, thanks to Sirius."

"But you and James fought…"

"Another trick."

"But-"

"It was all part of the joke, Maddie. And you would have used me if it wasn't." She looked up at James, then. "Good thing I'm smarter than that, hmm?"

James laughed and kissed Lily's cheek. She blushed and looked back at Madelyn, who was glaring angrily. "Finders keepers," Lily said, "and I don't think we can be friends anymore."

Madelyn crossed her arms and walked away. Candice followed to calm her and hopefully make her see more rationally.

James stared into Lily's dazzling eyes … his Lily. And she stared back into his honey orbs, as sweet as his touch. She could see hundreds of thousands of good memories in their future, as well as some bad ones too, but all that mattered is that they'd always be together.

James pulled Lily close. "Do you love me?" he asked solemnly. Lily held James's collar and stood tiptoe to press her lips upon his. Pulling away she said, "I do."

Epilogue (sort of)

Lily claimed it was an accident, James claimed it was his persistence, but they both knew it had been fate. And everybody else knew it too. Still, people often asked how they had fallen in love.

"A common interest," Lily would say politely, and James would add, "with fatal consequences."