Author's Note: Okay wrote this chapter before I wrote chapter 8 so I just want to say this Lily is staying in Gryffindor Tower for the Christmas holidays not in the hospital wing. Also I'm in the middle of chapter 10 it will be done soon but no promises I'm in my last year of High School and its very stressful.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything relating to Harry Potter

Chapter 9: The Ball of Nightmares and the Night of Dreams

Lily took a deep breath and walked into the ball. She saw James and the rest of the marauders surrounded by a bunch of other students. They were all dancing and talking and laughing. She was too nervous to go over and join in so she found a quiet spot along the wall where she could stand and watch everyone.

James' P.O.V------------

James stretched to see over the crowd, there were a lot of people at the ball. He didn't care though. There was only one person he wanted to be there and she wasn't even sure if she was coming. Lily had said that she might come and if she had James didn't want her to be in the shadows invisible. Lily didn't deserve this invisibility. James cared a lot about her, even though he didn't know it he was falling for the quiet shy invisible Lily Evans. He kept looking but he couldn't see her anywhere.

The first slow song of the evening began to play and James saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. There was Lily looking like she was trying to work her way through the crowd towards him. She looked gorgeous. Her long red hair left louse with the exception of two tiny French braids along both sides of her head that were attached together at the back. The remainder of her hair spilled down her back in shining waves. Her dress robes weren't overly reveling or spectacular but they had a simple elegance that had a beauty all of its own. Much like Lily she wasn't a flashy beauty either, but she had an elegance and grace that created a beauty all of its own a beauty and even age would never take from her.

James began to walk towards her, when Allison grabbed him and pulled him out onto the dance floor. James sighed, "Allison I promised another this dance."

"You did? Well I don't see her running up to claim you so you can dance with Me." replied Allison as if it were simple logic.

James knew that if he pressed the matter or simply walked away from her Allison would create a scene and in the end she would just end up embarrassing herself. James though he disliked Allison who was constantly annoying him didn't want to see her or anyone for that mater embarrassed or humiliated tonight. So he was forced to dance out the dance with her. ~I'm sorry Lily~ he thought.

Lily's P.O.V.-------

The first slow song started and Lily remembered James' promise, 'if you come the ball. I'll dance the first dance with you.' Lily decided to take him up one his offer. She wanted to talk to him anyway. Lily began to work her way through the crowed. She saw James look at her his eyes went wide. ~Oh, no I hope I don't look that bad~ she thought completely misreading his expression. He began to walk towards her when Allison came and pulled James onto the dance floor. Lily felt like someone had hit her in the stomach. Lily turned away from then and hurried over the corner of the Hall. She would have run back to her dorm but she couldn't get that far. She sat down with her back against the wall and her arms wrapped around her knees,

She put her head on her knees and cried her heart out. It hurt so much, being invisible and it hurt more know that she had had a friend like James. Her feelings towards James were changing. She couldn't explain why seeing him dance with Allison instead of her hurt so much. Lily heard the music change but she didn't get up she just stayed in the shadows were she was out of everyone's way. A few minutes later she felt someone kneeling beside her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Lily, I'm sorry, I really wanted to dance with you. When Allison grabbed me I couldn't get away without embarrassing her. For all that I don't like her I never would want to embarrass her or anyone else for that matter." James had sat down beside Lily and put a hand on her arm.

"It hurt," whispered Lily. "You're my only friend James and you broke your promise and that hurt."

"I know, Lils. I'm sorry I really am. When I saw you tonight I thought; wow she is the most beautiful girl here to bad no one else has eyes to see it.'" James put his arm around Lily's shoulders and she looked up with sad tear stained. "You are the most beautiful girl here Lils." whispered James. At that moment another slow song started. "Will you dance with me Lily?"

Lily nodded and James led her out on to the dance floor. James led her out on to the dance floor. He put his hands on her slim waist as she wrapped her's around his neck. They danced both feeling as though they had finally found peace in life. Lily's sadness was banished and replaced by a deep contentment. Unfortunately their peace was not to last. Halfway through the song Allison came over to the happy pair.

"Can I break in? Thanks," She said not waiting for an answer. Allison noticed that Lily wasn't about to leave James she knocked her out of her way. Allison was 3 inches taller then Lily and had a much bigger build, so she ended up knocking Lily to the floor. She placed her arms around James neck. "Why aren't you dancing James?" she said with a pouty face.

"Because Allison, you are pushy and rude. You care for no one but yourself. You want everything your way and what you aren't given you take." James said this quietly but clearly. Allison didn't miss a word of it. James untangled himself from her arms and went over to Lily and offered her his hand. She took it and scrambled to her feet. James let go of Lily's hand and stood close to her as though trying to support her. "Also you have behaved awfully to Lily every time you see her in my presence. Allison I want to say this so you'll understand, I DO NOT LIKE YOU!"

"I am so insulted," Allison said with a look of absolute disgust. "And I thought you were cool but you associated with the likes of...of.. This little nobody. I'm going to make sure that everyone knows what a looser you are James." Allison stocked off in a huff.

James' P.O.V.--------

James noticed that during this discussion Lily had begun to walk towards the door. James noticed her movement but he didn't hinder her. ~I'll follow her later, once I'm finished with Allison~ he thought to himself. By the time James stopped yelling at Allison and looked around Lily was gone. He moved as quickly as he could to the door of the Hall Lily was nowhere to be seen.

James reached into his pocket and pulling out a normal looking piece of parchment. "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," he whispered. For some reason James knew that Lily had not gone back to Gryffindor Tower or to her room in the hospital wing. However when he looked at the map he was shocked. The dot labeled Lily was moving outside by the lake. James' first thought was that it was freezing cold and that Lily's dress was not designed for the weather. James pulled his wand out of his sleeve and summoned both his and Lily's cloaks. He put his on erased the Marauder's Map and ran towards the entrance hall.

Lily's P.O.V.-----

Lily was listening to the conversation between James and Allison, the whole time she was backing up slowly. Finally when Allison called her a little nobody to cover for not know her name Lily couldn't stand it anymore. She ran, well walked until she got out of the Hall then ran out of the castle. The snow by this point was well packed and she could run lightly over it without breaking through. Lily ran to the great oak tree. Climbing up into its huge limbs she sat down when she found a branch that looked relatively comfortable.

By this point Lily was shivering badly, so she performed the warming charm, which kept her from feeling the cold. It was a dangerous charm to use when the temperatures could cause hypothermia. At this point Lily didn't really care if she froze to death; life was playing nasty tricks on her.

She didn't see James running towards her over the snow until he was right below her. "Lily come down, you're going to freeze to death." Something about his voice woke her up. She followed his instructions and climbed down. "Why aren't you shivering Lily?"

"I put a warming charm on myself." Lily muttered as James laid the extra cloak across her shoulders. James looked down at the girl in front of him. She could of died out here if he hadn't followed her. ~Thank God, I did come.~ Though James.

"Come on Lily, let's get you inside where it's warm." With that the pair walked back up to the castle. "You don't want to go back to the dance do you Lily?" asked James when they reached the entrance hall. James was pretty sure of the answer she would give. As James thought Lily shock her head in negation.

"Okay, lets go back to the Common Room no one will be there." So they climbed the many stairs leading to Gryffindor Tower. They sat down in front of the fire. In the distance they could hear the music coming from the Ball. They sat in silence listening to it. They were alone. Every other student had either gone to bed or was still at the Ball. Momentarily the music changed from fast to slow. James looked at Lily and smiled.

"Me Lady, I believe that you still owe me a dance." James stood offering Lily his hand, which she shyly accepted. They found once again the contentment of being near one another. Neither completely realized what this contentment meant, but they both enjoyed the feeling and knew that it was right.

"James," said Lily speaking fro the first time since coming down out of her tree.

"Yes Lily," said James elated to hear her speak.

"What are you doing for Christmas? Do you have family you can stay with or are you staying here?" asked Lily. She was staying of course. Petunia was willing to have Lily around during the summer but lily didn't feel like pushing her luck with her sister.

"I'm staying here, my Gran is my only remaining family member in this continent and she can't remember who I am. Your staying, aren't you?" asked James. He pulled Lily a little closer.

"Yes, I have to spend enough time with my darling sister, Petunia over the summer." Lily said the 'darling sister' part in a very sarcastic tone.

"Well then we will have to spend Christmas together won't we?" said James smiling at her mischievously.

"I guess so," replied Lily looking up into his eyes. They stopped dancing. Neither noticed though. Suddenly Lily felt very uncomfortable. Faking a yawn, Lily said she was tired and after saying goodnight to James went up to bed, in her old dorm seeing that she was staying in the Tower over the Christmas holidays.

~Get a grip on yourself,~ chided herself. ~He's your friend don't let your hormones run away with you or you'll lose the only friend you've had in a long time.~ lily continued to mentally berate herself right up till she fell asleep.