Chapter Nine: The Ball (Part Two)

(POV of Lily)

Where was he?

Frowning, Lily's green eyes scanned the room. He said he was going to get some punch… she looked towards the punch bowl.

Ah, there he was… then her eyes narrowed. But whom was he talking with?

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(POV of James)

Cheri Tingstead was quite pretty—she had light auburn hair with nice blue eyes. She was a female vampire—in a black, clingy dress, with a slit three-quarters up her thigh and the neckline was very low cut.

James had run into her at the punch bowl and was chatting with her about classes. She was an ex of his, and they had parted on seemingly good terms. He had momentarily forgotten Lily (A/N: I know, impossible right? But throw a skimpily dressed girl in front of a guy…) and was a little surprised when he felt an arm tuck into his right elbow.

He blinked. "Lily," he said, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"

She seemed a little annoyed, but hid it well, going for an amused look. "Looking for you, silly," she said, a little affectionately. "I was wondering where you had gone to." She forced a smile at Cheri, but James couldn't tell it was fake. "Hi, Cheri, how are you?"

"Fine," Cheri said suspiciously in a syrupy-smooth voice. Then, "I didn't know you and James were going out."

Lily and James flushed a little. "We're not," James answered, almost reluctantly. "We came as friends."

Cheri seemed to brighten a little upon hearing this. "Oh, I see," she remarked. Lily raised an eyebrow, almost challengingly, at this.

"Anyway," James said. "It was nice talking to you again." He took the two punch glasses and walked away, Lily on his arm.

He winked as they went over to a table. "So, you missed me, eh?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "No. I was wondering where my date was when he didn't return from the punch bowl after fifteen minutes." Then, she froze. She just admitted James was her date. Not friend, or escort, her date.

James seemed to realize it too and flushed a little, but, remembering Remus' words, didn't comment on it.

And yet he couldn't resist in asking, "Want to dance?" He bowed over and held his hand out to her, waiting.

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(POV of both)

A second was all she needed. In that second, Lily contemplated dancing with James, something she had never done before. But she was still curious as to what it would be like, in his arms. There were a few opening chords to a slow song. She looked up into James' face and there was a slight flush, whether it was from the heat of the room or not, Lily didn't know. His hazel eyes looked hopeful, almost pleading. Lily envisioned what would happen to those eyes if she said no, and felt almost pained.

She smiled. "Of course."

The grin that graced his face was almost dazzling. "Really?"

Lily grinned back, feeling oddly happy—happier than she had felt in a long time. "Really."

He led her out to the dance floor, both of them oblivious to the obvious stares around them.

"First they come together and now they're dancing! Of course they're going out!"

"Aww bullocks, I wanted to ask James to dance. He's soooo cute!"

"James always gets the gorgeous girls. Lucky bastard."

Those comments could be heard throughout the room, but their subjects didn't hear them. Lily put her arms around James' neck and he put his hands on her waist. They swayed to the music, James occasionally turning Lily slowly.

They talked, trying not to fall into an awkward silence. But both were surprised that when they didn't talk, the silence was actually quite comfortable. After a while, Lily put her head on his shoulder, feeling as complete as he did.

It's rather unfortunate that all good things must come to an end.

One minute they were comfortably dancing, feeling whole, and then someone screamed, "Dementors and death eaters on school grounds!"

The next few minutes were a bit of a blur. Lily and James sprang apart, eyes wide in shock.

They both looked for Dumbledore, who could be seen onstage.

"Everyone stay calm!" He bellowed, using a magnifying charm on his voice. "Prefects, take all of the students fifth year and under back to their respective houses. Prefects have already been given instructions what to do from there. Sixth year and up, be prepared to fight, unless you have your wands. If not, follow your prefects."

Sixth and seventh years looked horrified, but most looked resolute and determined.

"I am going to round up all of the teachers not at the dance," Dumbledore continued. "Follow instructions from your Head Boy and Girl. The dementors and death eaters are coming from Hagrid's Hut. They shall be here momentarily. Good luck." And he left swiftly, his cool demeanor slipping for a moment to reveal nervousness.

"Listen up!" James called out. "Until Dumbledore returns, we need to protect the school. We need to step up and put what we've learned to good use." He continued on, but Lily didn't process his words really. She was in awe of his leadership skills. Yes, James Potter had definitely grown up.

Lily scanned the room—everyone was in rapt of him. She frowned when she noticed that none of the Slytherins were present. She figured that they had run off to hide—knowing that if they helped the dementors and death eaters they'd be expelled.

She snapped back to reality and decided that she needed to step up as well. "Think happy thoughts everyone," she told them. "Whether it's flying or chocolate or snogging your significant other—I don't care—but don't let them control you. Be strong. Stunning spells and saying 'expecto patronum' will help. Say it with confidence—don't be afraid. We will win, we just need to believe."

James was as mesmerized of Lily as she was of him. She too was a leader and the front she put on was as good as his. He felt proud that she was the object of his affections.

They knew the dementors were there by the shift in the room. It got colder, and everyone felt a little lifeless. Most recovered quickly, though.

"Ready?" Sirius Black yelled.

"Ready!" They shouted back.

"Let's go kick some dementor and death eater arse," Estella narrowed her eyes, ready for a fight.

Sirius laughed. "That's my girl," he said, and Estella didn't seem annoyed at all, she bared a small smile at him. He grinned back.

Remus gripped Selene's hand. "I'm scared for you," he whispered.

She squeezed his hand. "And I for you," she smiled. "But we'll be fine."

"You promise?"

She nodded. "I promise. Besides," she smiled, trying to lighten the mood just a tad, "I can try and wow them with my veela wiles."

He didn't see the humor but managed a smile just for her.

The cries of "Expecto Patronum" and "Petrificus Totalus" were heard throughout the night.

Lily and James were separated quite quickly, and both noticed this with a note of panic. But they assured themselves the other was perfectly fine. The death eaters were smart in trying to separate the two most powerful students in the school.

Teachers and students worked together to try and eliminate death eaters and dementors alike. It was hard—a few passed out and many were hit, but there weren't any fatalities—yet.

Selene and Remus watched the other's back as they fired spells. Remus, however, got hit, trying to protect a rather small sixth year. He collapsed by the side of the stage.

"Remus!" Selene cried, not knowing what to do. She stepped in front of him, putting him between the stage and herself. She didn't know what to do but protect him.

Alice and Frank were dodging spells—Frank was on the quidditch team so he was quite quick. His reflexes weren't quite like James'—who was seeker—but he managed to keep an eye out for his girlfriend (who was doing quite well on her own) and release a rather effective stunning spell on the black-cloaked death eaters.

Estella and Sirius were somewhat thrown together throughout the process and were working well together. It all ended abruptly though, when Sirius took a hit for Estella. She had her back turned and a death eater had just fired a particularly nasty curse at her. Sirius saw it, and quick as lightning, pushed her to the side.

"Hey!" She said, before seeing him crumple to the ground. "Sirius!" She half-sobbed, running over to him and kneeling. She looked up with furious eyes at the death eater. "I swear to Merline you'll pay for that," she told him, seething. And with that she shot a spell slightly less painful than the Cruciatus Curse.

She dragged Sirius' unconscious body to a corner where he would be hidden. "You stupid lug," she said affectionately, tears running down her face as she caressed his cheek. She stood up, angry again, and fought harder than before, although if you asked her why, she couldn't tell you.

Lily was having a particularly hard time. She was trying to lure a death eater away from a bloodied sixth year. "Oy you there!" She yelled. The death eater turned. "Yeah, you! Why would you want to torment that pathetic chit when you have me! A measly mudblood! Come on, I'm up for a challenge. Unless you think a stupid mudblood will whip your arse!" The death eater bought it hook line and sinker.

Lily was backing up, blocking spells and casting them. She didn't even notice she had bumped into James until it was too late.

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James had been up against a death eater he was sure was a Malfoy or a Snape. The death eater snarled. "Well, if it isn't the Potter boy," he sneered. "Let's see if he'll meet the same death as his father, hmm?"

James' eyes narrowed. His father, a famous auror, was killed the summer before sixth year in a death eater attack. "Don't you dare talk about my father you scum," he growled. "You're not even worthy to mention his name."

"What are you going to do about it?" The death eater cackled. "Let's see if you can survive what Daddy couldn't—crucio!"

And that's when Lily stumbled into him, knocking him over and putting her right in the spell's path.

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James couldn't remember being so scared in his life. The spell hit her unexpectedly, and his heart lurched, seeing her fall down, as if in slow motion. A knife seemed to drive into his gut as he saw her writhe in agony and let out a small whimper. She knew exactly what she had been hit with, and, with tears running down her face, would not give them the satisfaction of knowing they had hurt her terribly. She dropped to the ground, her head bowed and she curled up, trying not to scream because of the pain.

James screamed for her. "Lily!" He rushed over to her. The death eater smirked carefully before pointing his wand at the two of them.

"Ah, so this is the lovely Lily Evans?" He sneered. "I've heard of her. Pretty for a mudblood, no? Smart, as well. Too bad her life will have to be cut short."

"Not necessarily." Came a voice. Everyone stopped. Dumbledore stood in the doorway, flanked by teachers. The death eaters paled under their cloaks, though no one could tell.

Dumbledore quickly drove the dementors away and the death eaters were caught and bound. The infirmary was full, with many students. There were five casualties total—two seventh years, both Hufflepuff, and three sixth years—one from each house, excluding Slytherin.

James was quite bloodied—he had many cuts and bruises all over his body. Sirius was still unconscious, and Estella glared at anyone who came to his bedside but the Marauders or her friends.

Alice and Frank, luckily, were for the most part all right—a little shaken up but all right, over all.

Remus was unconscious as well, and Selene had an odd curse put on her where she had pus oozing all over. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Lily was awake, but aching all over. She stifled a whimper.

James, Sirius, Selene, Remus, and Lily all were to remain overnight in the hospital. James and Lily ended up side by side on their cots and James smiled at Lily wearily.

"What a day huh?" He whispered.

She smiled back weakly. "Yeah," she whispered back. "What a day."

"Are you okay?" He asked sincerely, worry written all over his face.

"Better than I was an hour ago," she said honestly. "But I still hurt."

"I'm sorry," he replied honesty. "But thank you. For saving me."

She shrugged slightly, and then winced at the movement. "It was nothing," she whispered. "Rather unintentional really."

"But still," he told her, "thanks."

She smiled at him.

"I'm still in my costume," she said, realizing. She shivered. "And my heating charm wore off." She rubbed her hands together. "My hands are freezing."

"Really?" James said. "My hands are burning up."

"Ooh, can I hold one of them?" Lily said, and then blushed.

"Sure," James said. He had a slight fever, apparently.

It wasn't a far distance—because more things were transfigured into cots, everyone was a little closer together than usual.

Their hands seem to fit in each other perfectly and it felt good to the cold Lily and the burning James.

They stayed silent for a few minutes—or hours—just holding hands comfortably, not saying anything.

And that was how Madam Pomfrey found them the next day, asleep, holding hands.

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Author's Note: Mwahaha, you didn't see that dementor/death eater thing coming, did ya? Sorry guys, they're not gonna kiss YET. Just be patient, please.

Hope everyone had an awesome Christmas and a great New Year! Ugh, I'm so upset that I have to go to school tomorrow… I have this science packet I didn't do… oh well. That's what lunch and smart friends are for after all.

Oh, and I've decided to change chapter six a little: Lily's mom didn't die, her elder sister Violet did. Just thought I'd let you know.

Next chapter should be posted this week or week after next, depends.

Anyway, thanks for everyone who's read this so far!