A/N: Sorry it took so long, but this was a hard chapter to write. And I'm still not very happy with it, but I figure at least I'm updating. It's also finals at school so it's crazy there. Anyway, thanks for everything!


"Wow, you guys, this looks great," Chloe exclaimed as the three couples entered the Great Hall.

"It was all Lily," James said quickly, "I just put everything where she said to."

"Well, it looks great all the same, Lils," Holly agreed with Chloe.

Lily gave James an odd look, but he pretended not to notice and seemed to be taking in the decorations around them. Round tables were dotted along the walls with the dance floor remaining between them. The stage looked magnificent with black and orange decorations skirting around it. Hundreds of live bats and pumpkins floated along the full moon ceiling. Large stone pillars stood along the stage and dance floor, making the whole place look elegant and spooky at the same time.

"The lights and fog were James' ideas," Lily said commenting on the dim lights and the low mist swirling at their feet.

"Oh, look, the band's getting ready to play," Chloe said pointing the stage.

"Bloody wicked," Sirius breathed, "Is that really the 'Cauldron Culprits'?"

"No, Padfoot," Remus said sarcastically, "They took polyjuice potion so they'd look like the 'Cauldron Culprits.'"

"Aren't you a riot," Sirius muttered as the others laughed.

"Lucky we could book them, really," James said, "They just got back from a tour in Ireland."

"It was in Ireland and Scotland," Sirius corrected him, "And it's a bloody good thing you did book them or I might have skipped out on this shebang."

"You would not have," Holly said slapping his arm playfully.

Sirius stepped away from her rubbing his arm, "Look what I have to put up with. Anyway, I love this song, let's go dance."

James watched Sirius and Holly run to the dance floor and he felt a slight pang of loneliness. With all of Sirius' other girlfriends, James and him had hung together at the various balls they'd attended. With Holly it was two words to James and Sirius was off with her. James was glad that Sirius had finally snagged the girl he'd always had his eye on, but he couldn't ignore the fact that he missed Sirius.

"They're such a good couple," Lily said, bringing James out of his daze, "I'm glad they finally got together."

"Yeah," James said turning to her, "Sirius has liked her forever, I don't know why he hasn't asked her out sooner."

"I just hope he doesn't hurt her," Lily replied, "Holly has a hard time opening up to anyone, and if Sirius ever hurts her, she'll never be able to open up again."

"I don't think Sirius would be that stupid," James assured Lily, "They've been best friends for six years, he isn't going to blow it."

"Are you two just going to stand there, or come sit at our table?" Remus asked them.

"We're coming, Moony," James said walking towards the table, "Patience is a virtue, my young friend."


"So nobody's seen even a sign of Voldermort?" Lily asked James. The two had been talking at their table for the last hour.

"No, not for eight months," James replied, "After attacking two aurors last March, he's just disappeared."

"You don't think he's gone for good, do you?" Lily asked.

"No, my dad's an auror and he reckons Voldermort is just trying to get more supporters," James said, "And his death eaters have still been active, although nobody's been killed since this summer. At least, nobody that we know of…"

"I can't understand why anyone would join that foul beast in the first place," Lily said shuddering.

"It's to kill mudbloods like you," a cold voice sneered from behind them.

James turned to see Snape, Malfoy, and Knot standing behind them sniggering, "You should really think twice before saying anything like that," James stood to face the three of them.

"And what are you going to do about, Mr. Head Boy. We've got you outnumbered three to one," Malfoy sniggered.

"James, please, don't worry about it," Lily said, she too seemed have realized that James probably couldn't have taken all three of them alone.

"You might want to make that five to one," James sneered, "Seeing at a few of your friends are hiding behind those pillars."

Sure enough, two other Slytherins came out of their hiding. Knot, tallest of them all, stepped up to James, "What are you going to do, Potter? Are you going to dock us some points?" The others sniggered, "Or perhaps put me in detention?"

"What's wrong, Potter?" Snape cut in, "Don't want to look like a jerk in front of your girlfriend? Oh, I forgot, even a mudblood won't go out with you."

"Just forget it James," Lily pleaded as James hand slid into his wand pocket.

"Come on, Potter, hex me," Snape taunted James.

"You're lucky, Snivellius," James spoke through gritted teeth, "I'm not stupid enough to fight right under a teacher's nose."

"It's a shame for you, snivelly, that I am," Sirius said, appearing out of nowhere and banging Knot and Malfoy's heads together.

"I think you'll find that you are now outnumbered," Remus said, coming up to the other side of James.

Snape sneered, but recognized defeat, "Watch your back, Potter."

"I'd wash yours if I were you," Sirius said with a flick of his wand the words, I'm an oily Git, appeared on Snape's back.

Snape turned and ran flat into Holly, "Get out of my way, half-blood."

Sirius started towards Snape, but Holly said, "Ah, Snape, I understand that you're still helping the muggles out with their oil problem seeing as so much resides in your hair and skin."

The group laughed heartily as Snape stalked away. Remus and Chloe were complimenting Holly on her ultimate comeback while Sirius began to drag the still unconscious Knot and Malfoy out of people's way. James turned to Lily, trying to figure out what to say without her blowing up.

"Evans, I—Well, Snape was way out of line," James stammered quickly as Lily tried to hide her smile, "I wasn't really going to hex him, I mean, scare him a bit, yeah, but, er—"

"James," Lily interrupted him, laughing, "It's okay, really."

"I would have just given them detention, you know," James continued unaware of Lily's forgiveness, "It's just the idea seemed like a victory to them, and—"

"James," Lily said again, "I think you handled the situation quite well. Although, sometime you should really just let him have it, full in the face too."

James gaped at Lily, "Er—well, I—it's a good thing Sirius showed up when he did, then. You know, you shouldn't believe what Snape said about Voldermort."

Lily looked away from James only for a moment, "You know what? Snape was right, that is the goal the stupid foul git, but someday, someone is going to get the better of Voldermort. I just hope I get to see it," she said with fire in her eyes.

"You're cute when you're angry at someone other than me," James said laughing.

"I should have taken the bloody git's head off with my light saber," Sirius said, stepping between the two.

James shrugged, "I don't reckon that I'd have minded, although somebody might have felt bad enough for Snivelly to chuck you into Azkaban."

Sirius shuddered, "Good point, anyway, when's the winner for the costumes announced?"

"End of the Ball," James sniggered, "Not like your going to win, though. Lily and I are the favorites."

"Who in the name of Merlin would pick a couple of Greek gits over a wicked cool Jedi?" Sirius exclaimed.

"You think to challenge the Great Odysseus?" James said in a bellowing voice.

Sirius brought out his light saber, "I don't know about Great Odysseus, but yeah, I'm challenging you."

"If thou art slaughtered, young master Jedi, I shall feel as though I have done a great favor to the Gods," James said bowing mockingly.

"Just shut-up and fight, Old man," Sirius said swinging sword around.

"Oy, hold on a second, mate," James said, quickly protecting his sword with a shield charm so the light saber would not slice through it, "Prepare for a journey greater than life, my young friend."

"Right back at you," Sirius said sarcastically and the two brought their swords quickly together.

Lily felt her heart jump, the battle between James and Sirius was exciting, yet fearful at the same time. She hoped that neither one was hurt, but nobody else seemed to be too worried about it. Both of them were very good, and she couldn't fathom where they'd learned how to swordfight. Soon a large crowd was surrounding the two fighters, cheering them on.

"Knock his block off, Luke!" Holly was screaming from next to Lily.

"Rip his heart out, Potter!" Lily retaliated.

James and Sirius seemed to take the spectator's comments to heart and they fought even more fiercely than before. Remus was jumping up and down, screaming advice to Sirius. For fifteen more minutes, the two boys attacked and blocked one another, neither gaining an advantage. Finally, Sirius preformed a difficult butterfly swoop, knocking James' sword from his hand. With inhuman speed, James lunged for his sword and brought it to Sirius' neck. Sirius' sword caught on the air where James' neck had been only a millisecond before and recognized defeat.

Sirius extracted his saber, and turned to face James, "Bloody wicked, mate."

"I would have thought you'd known I never fall for the same trick twice," James said laughed and lowering his own sword. The crowd was going mad, congratulating James on his victory and Sirius on his wicked move. Holly ran to Sirius, punched him for losing, then wrapped her arms around him.

"I do all the hard work and that's how you treat me," Sirius said swinging Holly around and promptly kissing her.

"James," Lily said pushing through the girls surrounding him, screaming like mad, "Where did you like to fight like that?" She demanded once she was finally close enough.

"Not even a 'Congratulations'?" James grinned as he pulled her through closer towards him.

"Oh it was alright, Potter," Lily said laughing, "I've seen better."

James laughed and put his arm around her, pushing through the still screaming crowd, "My great-uncle was a master with the sword. He taught Sirius and me a few summers ago and we've been practicing every summer since then."

"He must be a great teacher," Lily said, "You two were great."

"I thought you'd seen better," He teased her.

Lily laughed and decided not to answer. There were so many things about James that she never even could have imagined him knowing. Every time she thought she knew everything about him, he'd always surprise her with some odd talent or hobby. James was such an interesting person to know, she didn't know why she'd spent six years hating him.

"Prongs!" Remus said, coming out of the crowd, "Bloody brilliant, mate."

"You were cheering for Sirius," James said accusingly.

"Well, I just remembered last time," Remus said grinning, "You did well."

"Thanks," James looked around, "Where is Padfoot?"

"Somewhere in that," Remus pointed the crowd that was starting to disperse, "He's probably eating up all the glory."

James grinned, "If you see him, tell him that he plays with the band in a half an hour."

"Will do," Remus replied, "I'm off the catch Chloe though, I left her in that mob of crazy lunatics."


Sirius felt his stomach squirm with nervousness. This was it, his big time to show off his lesser known hobby. He'd never played in front of so many people and it was freaking him out. With a trembling hand he strummed his first few chords before beginning to sing.

"In the white room, with black curtains, at the station…"

"He's great," James yelled to Lily as Sirius finished his second song. He'd started off with "White Room" by Cream and followed with "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" by Led Zeppelin.

"I love this song," Lily exclaimed as Sirius began to sing "Simple Man" by Lynryd Sknyrd.

"Would you like to dance?" James asked her.

"Yeah, alright," Lily said quickly and James escorted her out to the dance floor.

Remus gave a grin to James who looked paler than usual as Lily wrapped her arms around his waist. James grinned back before turning his attention back to Lily.

"They are so perfect together," Chloe said gazing over her shoulder.

"With the minor exception that Lily's almost engaged to someone else," Remus noted, "But it's good while it lasts."


Sirius let the music flow from him as he gazed into the happy couples around him. It was amazing how his music could be such a beautiful thing. He looked through the crowd to where Holly stood, beaming at him. Her face slowly turned to confusion, hatred, and fearful as she gazed at someone making their way through the crowd. Sirius kept singing, but he looked to see Amos Diggory making his way toward James and Lily in the middle of the dance floor.


Lily smiled happily, it felt so good to be in James' arms. She told herself that it was just from being lonely with Amos gone, but she couldn't ignore the effect that James' personality had on her. She could be herself around him and he seemed to make all of her worries go away. She told herself over and over again during that dance that she had no feelings whatsoever for James Potter, but deep in her heart there was something there that she'd swore never would happen.

"Lily?" A voice said loudly from behind her. Lily knew instantly who it was and her heart seemed to stop. She untangled herself from James' arms before turning and greeting her boyfriend.

"Amos, what are you doing here?" She said in the kindest voice she could manage.

"I wrote you a letter saying that I was coming," He said and Lily felt her stomach squirm. She hadn't opened the letter because she didn't want to think about Amos when she was going to the Ball with James.

"I never had a chance to open it," Lily said truthfully.

"To busy snogging Potter?" Amos asked in a clenched voice.

"We're here as friends, Diggory," James said in a final tone.

"Friends or not, stay away from my girlfriend you git," Amos said dragging Lily away from him.

James stopped Amos, "If you've got a problem with me, Diggory, take it out on me, not Lily."

Amos whipped out his wand unexpectedly and hit James with a body binding curse. James' arm and legs snapped together as he fell to the floor incapable of movement. Before anyone could help James up, Amos cast a protective circle around James, not allowing anyone or spells to get to him. Lily screamed and yelled for Amos to let James go, but Amos dragged her towards the doors of the Great Hall. She looked back to see James lying on the ground with everyone around him completely helpless. They were almost two-thirds way across the hall when the ground began to tremble.


A/N: Okay, so sorry about the wait, but it happens. Anyway, please review and tell me what you think. Thanks a lot!