Lily looked around. The Great Hall looked awesome. Most people had masks on though a few didn't. Kal and Tera stepped beind her. For once in Tera's life the people cleared a road for her. Lily and Kal strided down it with Tera in tow. Without her hhair covering her eyes and her robes she looked completely different.
"Lils uh poeple staring make me sorta nervous." Whispered Tera
"Don't worry." Whispered Lily back.
Just then 3 figures appeared behind them. It was Sirius, Remus and James. Lily regarded James coldly while Kal and Remus just grinned at each other. Sirius and Tera barely made eye contact. James' look softened and much to Kal and Tera's surprise so did Lily's. James made a half bow to everyone and said
"Does anyone want to find a table?"
Lily frowned and said "We're opponents, we don't fraternise."
"Just let it go for a bit." Persisted James. Lily knew he would never give up until she said ok so she agreed. Tera lagged behind and much to her dismay so did Sirius.
"Tera....we're going to talk right now."
Tera instantly looked to the ground and thought hard. What should she tell him?
"What do you want to know?" she asked, barely speaking louder than a whisper.
"I need to know why you broke up with me Tera!" he paused for a moment, "I still love you..." he spoke earnestly. Tera sighed. She looked up at him straight in the eye and tears shimmered down her face.
"I had to... because of..." her words seemed to get stuck some where between her throat and her mouth. She couldn't tell anyone else... but she had to.
"Tera!" cried some one from a distanece. Tera turnd around to see Dalyce out of breath and wearing clothes strangly like the Marauder's. "Tera!" she said again, this time standing by her elbow. "I need to talk to you! It's Lucious... I think that he's going to do some thing but I don't know what!" she said frantically.
"Calm down!" Tera said, "I'll be ready if he does try anything," she reached for a spot on her dress where she'd magically hidden her wand. Dalyce nodded then muttered,
"And that's all really..." then she left to see a Peter who'd been trying to catch up to her. Sirius was still looking away and Tera doubted that she'd get another chance. She backed away through the people and threaded out. She grabbed her bag from the broom cabinet and went to the washroom to quickly change. When she stepped out again her hair was down like usual and she was wearing a longsleeved purple shirt with a black T on top and simple blue jeans.
"See you..." she whispered then headed on her way out of the castle. "I will find you Tom," she said determindly, "I will."
Sirius turned to see Tera threading her way around people. He chased after her the gold chains clinking. He didn't see her anywhere. He started fumbling in his pockets.
"Map....map...where the hell is the map!"
He finally found it and quickly found Tera's figure. He sprinted down the corridor taking a few secret passges and turned up in front of Tera.
"Ok you're not leaving till you tell me the truth." He said through gritted teeth
"Can't you just forget me?!" Tera cried
"No! I can't...you just won't leave my mind."
"Just leave me alone Black! Nothing will ever change...."
"Not if I can help it." Said Sirius and he pushed her against a wall. "Now tell me the truth!"
Tera was scared....she had never seen Sirius like this before. He was so strong. Stupid quidditch thought Tera.
"Tell me." Said Sirius
Tera made up her mind. She would leave when Sirius was faaaaar away. He could ask all he wanted but she wouldn't answer.
Tera clamped her mouth shut after muttering a quick spell so that she couldn't speak. She looked away from Sirius.
"Hey!" came a voice down the hall. Tera turned to see Lucious and her hand went to her wand. "What the hell are you doing Black?!" Lucious seemed put out, then sheepish. "I was going to do that," he muttered barely loud enough for them to hear.
"Tera?" came a confused voice from down the hall. Tera looked the other way to see Talee. "What the hell are you both doing?!" Talee cried out in an angry tone. "Black, back off. Lucious, go away!" she shouted threateningly. The towering third year had a power to be reckoned with. They both complied. "Tell me what happened!" she said, very protective over her idol.
Lily sat down with James, Kal and Remus. She jumped up almost immediately. She saw Sirius walk in the Great Hall with Lucious close at his heels. Lily raised her eyebrows. Not fighting....a pleasant change. Just then a slow song came on. Remus bowed to Kal who giggled and took his hand. They walked onto the floor where other couples were assembling. James looked at Lily and said awkwardly
"Wanna da—." But at that moment Dan walked up and asked
"Lily wanna dance?"
Lily looked at them and took James hand which was still outstretched. He smiled and lifted her to her feet and steered her to the dance floor leaving a very mad Dan behind. Kal and Remus were watching while slowly revolving on the spot.
"Think they worked things out?" asked Kal
"Nope the contest is still on....James is to proud to call it off."
Kal laughed. The Great Hall doors opened once more. Kal looked to see Tera walk in with her makeup and dress on accompanied by Talee.
Tera quickly murmered some words so that she could speak again.
Talee looked at Tera sideways. She was wondering why she'd broken up with Sirius, after all, who in their right mind would? She shook her head because she just didn't understand Tera's reasoning, not that she knew it.
"Daviiiiiiii!" practically screamed Talee who, after quickly waving goodbye to Tera, ran off towards him squeeling. They joined in the dancing.
Tera decided that she would at least try to avoid Sirius. At that very moment he started walking in the hall and she turned and threaded through some people and stood at an unpopulated corner of the room.
James was steering Lily away from the rest of the people. They were completely silent. Not talking, not even looking at each other. Slowly as they drew away from everyone else James started to talk.
"War still on?"
"Sure...." said Lily
"Thought so...neither of us are cowards."
"Could of fooled me..." muttered Lily
Kal and Remus watching grinned at each other. Sirius stood on a chair in the back scanning the floor for Tera. He spotted her but he also saw Lucious heading her way. He jumped off the chair and walked toward Tera determined to ask her to dance....if she wouldn't talk to him at least she would dance with him. Rather than Lucious...hopefully.
At the same moment, for the second time in what? five minutes?, Tera was confronted with both Sirius and Lucious. Knowing their questions she headed towards Lucious. Then she stopped and backed away and walked through people, using her talent of dissapearing to avoid them. Both.
Sirius was fed up with her behaviour. He went after her. He caught her by the arm and dragged her over to a table. He looked at her, she just stared at the table.
"Tera can you at least tell me if its another guy?"
Tera was about to open her mouth and spill the whole story when Lily came running up to her which was an amazing feat considering the size of her heels.
"Tera! I need to tell you something!"
Tera was dragged by Lily to a corner. She was surprised to see tears in her eyes. Not happy or sad but angry tears.
"He tried to kiss me again!"
Tera didn't need to ask who. Tera patted Lily's back. Just then the music stopped.
"Come on! Judging is going to begin!" squealed Lily looking much more enthusiastic
The two raced over to Kal who was talking to the DJ.
"He said he'll ask everyone to judge." Whispered Kal
Lily and Tera looked at each other. Then the DJ's booming voice came on.
"2 groups of our very own Gryffindors are asking you to judge their costumes! Please put up a globe light and turn it red for the 3 ladies of Gryffindor and gold for the guys."
People started to make their globe lights. The DJ started to count. Everyone held their breath while they did. Lily was holding Tera's hand so hard it felt numb and James was grasping Sirius' shoulder.
Tera muttered repeatedly under her breath,
"Come on... girls win! It's the only way I'll get outta here..."
Talee instantly shot up a red globe as well as Dalyce. David stood there for a moment then shrugged and followed suit. Lucious also put up a red globe. Peter, being the kind to support his friends, put up a gold globe, he wanted the guys to win.
Hmm if the girls do win then maybe I can use the map to find Tom if he's anywhere near Hogwarts then I can find him easier...
"And now ladies and gents we have a winnner or should I say winners!" exclaimed the DJ, "We have a tie!"
James, Sirius and Remus looked at each other. A tie??! What the hell? The girls were having similar reactions.
"What?? A tie??!" said Kal
"Yeah...a tie." Said Lily faintly.
The Marauders walked up to the girls.
"Good job Potter." Said Lily reluctantly
"So the bet? How are we going to settle it?" asked Remus
The group thought until Kal came up with the idea.
"Since we both basically won how bout girls get it one week, guys get control after?"
"Hmm....sounds good." Said James
"Ok girls get the map first."
James handed the map over to Lily.
"Say I solemnly swear I am up to no good for it to work." Said Sirius reluctant to give the map away. Lily took the map and the girls took it. They walked away with their heads bent together examining the map.
Sirius thought Since we get control over the girls...maybe I could force Tera to tell me
Tera gulped. She had one week... One week in order to leave. She studied the map and looked for good escape routes.
"Now what?" she asked, still confused because of the tie. Kal smiled.
"Well it's a dance right?!" she replied, "Sooo!" Tera caught on to what she was saying. Kal turned around again to find Remus and Lily reluctantly turned around to find James. Hesitantly, Tera also turned around to find Sirius. She found him quick enough and stuttered,
"Want to- er- dance?"
Sirius looked at Tera. After all she had done, he had half the mind to say no. Instead he said a quiet yes.
Lily looked at James and found him staring at her. She opened her mouth to say something when he said
"Lily I really do like you....not like one of my flings."
Lily looked at him. Disbelieving yet....he seemed sincere.
"Really? And I just suppose that you want to marry me right?" she said sarcastically
"Actually...."
"Ok I don't want to hear the end of that sentence. Now Po—James if I go out with you this won't be a one week fling right?"
James was almost too stunned to answer. "Yes....I mean no it won't be a fling."
"Then I guess so." Said Lily with a small smile.
Kal was with Remus. He looked at her. He wondered. Were they really going out?
"Uhhh Kal um...are we like boyfriend/girlfriend?"
"Yeah! What did you think?"
Remus sighed with relief. He would have to tell her one day that he was a werewolf....better now than later.
"Ah Kal? I....I....I'm a were...werewolf."
A stunned silence met these words.
"Sirius... I just want you to know that..." Tera paused thinking of the right words.
"What? Want me to know what?" he asked, searching in her eyes.
"That," she had to tell him but she couldn't! "It isn't because of another guy... well... sorta," he looked at her sharply and looked hurt, "But not in the way you're thinking! It's my brother..." hopefully he would let the matter drop now. Maybe she'd said too much...
"What do you mean?" he asked, wanting to know the entire story. Tera paused again.
"It's just that... I think that this might be one of the last times I can be with you..."
"Why?"
"Because! Because of my brother... He... Never mind... you couldn't ever understand!" Tera said.
Sirius remembered the image she had accidently sent her. Did she mean that?
Kal looked at Remus.
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." Said Remus
"Are you scared that I'll hate you?" asked Kal teasingly
"No...no of course not." Said Remus very unconvincingly
Sirius searched Tera's face. He was about to say "Tell me more." But he thought better of it. The just stood slowly revolving on the spot.
Lily and James were dancing very closely now...mostly due to James but Lily wasn't resisting very much. James bent down over he and Lily slowly leaned forward. All time seemed to stop as James moved in for the kiss. The next moment Lily's arms were around James' neck and James' arms were around her waist. Just then the Great Hall burst into applause.(except for his fangirls) James Potter had won over Lily Evans.
