Hi! Well, before we start with the story, I just have a few things to say to the people who reviewed my story:

Soft N' fluffy and phox 455: Appreciate your reviews. Don't' worry; this IS the chapter of the dance. It good and funny and romantic, I swear.

IamSiriusgirl: Thanks for saying that it was awesome. And, regarding your question 'bout the name Alyssa Calloway, I didn't get it from any movie. I just thought of it. It didn't even sound familiar to me.

Well, that's it. On with the story….

Chapter 3

Masquerade Balls and Secret Admirers

A month faded and it already October. Lily and James became very busy for the preparations for the upcoming Halloween Ball. For once, the both of them weren't bickering and James wasn't acting like a complete idiot, on account of Dumbledore and McGonagall's requests to stop their bantering so that they could plan the ball properly. They had decided to have a masquerade/ costume ball. Lily was relieved at this; she did NOT want to see James's face all night.

..------..

The day before the Halloween Ball finally came, and everyone was so excited. Everyone except Lily, that is. Every time she heard any mention of the ball, Lily cringed, remembering who she was supposed to be going with. But, unknown to her, James was planning something that would surely make Lily like him, aided buy his friends of course. But, there was one drawback: Lily would know that it was James.

..------..

Lily was in her room, thinking about what a horrible time she would probably have at the ball when a knock was heard at her door. Groaning inwardly, she went and opened the door, and sure enough, James was standing before her, with his usual lopsided grin.

"What do you want this time, Potter?" she asked James,

"I have something to tell you. Well, the ball's tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, I'm really sorry but I can't go with you. I've got some…uh….stuff to do. I already asked Dumbledore, and he said it was fine. Well, have fun without me anyway, although I really can't see how you can manage being happy without me by your side. Goodnight" he said then left.

Lily closed the door and, when she was in the privacy of her own room, she yelled happily, "YES! I don't have to go with that prat!" Of course, it was too late to find another date, but Lily didn't mind. To her, going alone was better that going with James Potter. With another happy sigh, she went to bed.

..------..

Finally, it was the day of the Halloween Ball! Classes were canceled that day since the professors knew that the students wouldn't be able to concentrate.

Around 6 pm, Stacie and Alyssa went with Lily to the Head's common room, bringing their costumes with them. They all headed to Lily's room. Lily cast a charm to create dividers so that the three of them could change and do their hair and makeup in private. When they were done, Lily undid the charm so that the girls could see each other in the big mirror Alyssa had set up before they changed.

They looked very beautiful, but her friends agreed that Lily was by far the prettiest. Lily was wearing a peach Victorian era ball gown that had sleeves that spread out at the end. The neckline was modest, not too low or high. The bodice was covered with a satin covering, just a shade darker than the rest of her dress. Her hair was elaborately curled and styled, held by a peal hairpiece. Her pearl necklace, make-up and radiant smile made her even more gorgeous.

They were already in the common room and were about to leave when Alyssa suddenly said that she had forgotten her purse in Lily's room. Stacie offered to go help her look, so Lily went ahead.

When they were sure that Lily was gone, instead of headed back to Lily's room, they stayed right where they were. Suddenly, Stacie said, "Alright James, she's gone, come out from that Invisibility Cloak of yours and tell us whatever you want to say,"

Instantly, James appeared out of nowhere and walked towards the girls. "Okay, here goes," he said and for the next five minutes, he relayed his plan to them.

When he was done, Alyssa said, "Good plan", and Stacie nodded in approval. Then, Alyssa added, "Is there anything you want us to do?"

James thought about it, and then said, "Simple. Just watch Lily. Make sure that she isn't busy dancing or doing anything around 10:30, okay?"

Stacie and Alyssa nodded then left. As James went back up to his room to change, he muttered to himself, "I hope this works".

..------..

It was around 10 pm, and Lily was having the time of her life. She had been asked by quite a number of guys to dance, had a laugh over a stunt Sirius pulled, and having a swell time with her friends. Of course, one reason why she was enjoying herself so much was the fact that James wasn't there.

She wondered though, just for a second, on what could be so important to make him miss the ball, but she shrugged it off. "I don't want to waste my time thinking about that conceited excuse of a human, thank you very much," Lily told herself firmly as she sat down and watched her friends dance.

Suddenly Sirius, Peter, and Remus arrived and sat themselves near Lily. "Ah, I see James isn't with you tonight Lily" remarked Sirius.

"Thanks a lot for spotting out the obvious, Sirius" she replied.

"Anyway, where is he? I expected him already to do another stupid thing that'd make you mad at him again" said Remus.

Lily looked surprised as she said, "Wait, are you telling me that you don't know where he is? That's impossible".

Sirius, seeing an opening to tease Lily again, put on a puppy dog face and said in a 'sweet' voice, "Aww… is Lily concerned about where her little Jamesie is? That's so sweet!".

"Sirius! Number one, you know perfectly well that I despise that jerk that you call a best friends so much that I really don't care what he does and where he is. Two, never put on that face again because it makes you look like an idiot, and three, never say those words again because I don't doubt that Potter will kill you if he ever hears you referring to him as 'Jamesie'," she said, looking exasperated.

Sirius put his hand to his heart and said dramatically, "Ouch, I can't believe you just called me an idiot. I fell so hurt I might cry". (Sirius is acting stupid and pathetic, I know).

"Well, if you do cry, which I doubt, I'm not responsible since I wouldn't call you an idiot if you weren't one, which you are, and besides, I advise you not to because it'll make you look stupider than you already are, although I doubt that. See, you act stupid most of the time" Lily retorted.

Sirius was speechless; he had never heard a girl say those things to him. "Wow, Lily. You made him shut up. Thank you" said Remus as he shook her hand in a gesture of congratulations.

Suddenly, Peter took a look at his watch and said, "Guys, we'd better go, it's already 10:30. Bye Lily", and with that, the three boys left.

Lily watched them go. She didn't make a move to stand; she just sat there, enjoying the music.

"Perfect timing" Alyssa whispered to Stacie as they watched someone in a white suit and identical mask walk towards Lily.

When that someone was in front of her, Lily smiled at the stranger and said, "Yes?". Unknowingly, she was speaking to- you guessed it- James! But, with the mask, he was impossible to recognize.

"I was wondering, would you like to dance?" James said, offering his hand. When he spoke, he altered his voice so that Lily would not recognize him.

Lily nodded and stood up, taking his hand. She was about to walk towards the dance floor when James stopped her, saying, "No, not here. Follow me".

Curious but interested, Lily followed him outside to the Hogwarts gardens. Lily could already tell that this somebody who evidently liked her had planned this before hand Lily felt quite flattered at that thought.

They stopped walking, and when Lily saw the sight before her, she gasped in delight. Before her was a beautiful garden, with a gazebo. Flowers of almost every kind could be found around the place. The bright lights that hung above them illuminated the whole place, giving it a sof, glowing look.

James led her to the gazebo and, giving a small bow, he said, "I'll ask it again. May I have this dance?"

"But there's no music".

"Don't worry, there will be as soon as you say yes" James said mysteriously.

"In that case, yes" Lily replied as she took the hand he had offered. As promised, music suddenly played, although the source looked invisible. Slowly, James waltzed with Lily and as they did, he paid her little compliments that made her heart melt. She didn't know who he was but she knew one thing: She was beginning to like him.

Suddenly, the clock chimed to signify the start of another hour. Seeing that he still had a ot to accomplish before tomorrow, James reluctantly stopped and told her that had to go.

Lily took off her mask and asked, "Will you take off your mask. I want to know who you are?"

Tempting as it was, he knew how angry Lily would be if she found out right the and there, so her said, "I'm sorry, but I think it's best if you don't know who I am just yet. It'll make things more…complicated than they already are. But don't worry, I will keep in touch. We will see each other soon, I promise". And with that, he kissed Lily on the cheek and departed.

Lily sighed, her heart fluttering. She went back to the Great Hall, a dreamy expression on her face. She found her friends waiting for her.

"Finally! So, who was that guy you went off with?" Stacie asked with a smile.

"I don't know, but I like him" Lily said, smiling.