Disclaimer: What do you want? Blood? I don't own a damn thing! If I did I would be a multimillionaire. As it is I am struggling to pay for sweets!
Thanks to the following reviewers: iluvgerardbulter, Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI, WhiteCamellia, Vickie, Ashley, maneatingbananas, sigrunb, and Lady Mearle. I love all of you!
A/N: Whey! Summers here! No more school! No more school! Everybody be happy! And read my story! I'll send you holiday happiness, available from holidayhappinessbymail. Com! K not really I'm just happy cause I'm going to the cinema tonight. We're going to see Madagascar!
Chapter 16"Where is my bracelet? Who stole my bracelet!" Tash demanded. It was New Years Eve and Lily and her friends were getting ready for the party at James's house. Lily was nervous about meeting James's parents but, on advice from Jenny, kept reminding herself that they were only human.
"When do we have to be there?" Jenny asked.
"Ten minutes," Lily said checking her make up as Tash stormed in again.
"Where the hell is my charm bracelet?" she asked again rooting through her trunk.
"Maybe we should attach it to your forehead with a permanent sticking charm," Lily suggested. "Then you'd never lose it."
"Aha!" Tash straightened up complete with bracelet. "Found it!"
"Right, are we ready?" Lily asked.
"I am now," Tash said.
"Still nervous Lily?" Jenny asked.
"Little," Lily admitted. "But if he can meet my parents and survive I'm sure I can meet his parents and survive."
Jenny chuckled and the three girls marched downstairs.
"Are you off?" asked Mrs Evans from the kitchen.
"Yep!" Jenny grinned.
"Right be careful girls," Mrs Evans hurried out to check they were all ready. "Have you all got your wands?"
"Never leave home without it," Tash assured her.
"We'll be home by two at the latest," Lily promised. Mrs Evans nodded in approval.
"Have a good time!" she said. The three girls waved, and with a crack they had apperated outside James's house.
"Holy Merlin!" Tash said in awe. Lily's jaw dropped. They all knew that the Potters were rich, but they hadn't realised how rich. The house that they were standing in front of projected the wealth clearly.
"Go ahead Lily," Jenny said taking a step back from the door. "He's your boyfriend, you knock."
"Thanks Jen," Lily said sarcastically knocking on the door. There was a five second pause in which Lily felt her nerves tighten significantly, Tash glanced around the street for Death Eaters, and Jenny fiddled absently with one of her plaits.
The door opened, and Lily relaxed as she saw James standing there with a broad grin on his face.
"Happy New Year guys!" he stood aside to let them in and Lily was immediately grateful for the warmth inside. James kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy New Year James," Lily said as Remus and Sirius came charging to the door. Both Lily's friends were engulfed in hugs. As soon as they were done, Jenny grabbed everyone and pulled them into a big hug.
"What was that for?" Tash asked.
"Getting it out of my system," Jenny said. Lily rolled her eyes. Jenny and parties guaranteed to be interested.
"Tour ladies?" James asked offering his arm to Lily.
"I think we might have to," Lily said, taking his arm. She was very keen to see the rest of the house.
"Bloody hell James, your house is huge!" Tash said, deciding to get what everyone was thinking out into the open.
"Trust me if you can find your way around Hogwarts this is a snap," Sirius said clicking his fingers for emphasis.
Half an hour later, (and eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, three studies and a Quidditch pitch later) all three of them were making their way back downstairs.
"James this place is fantastic!" Lily said. James grinned at the compliment.
"Uh oh," Tash said. "I think you're inflating his…what was it?" she asked looking at Sirius who cottoned on to what she meant.
"Over sized ego," Sirius provided.
"That was it!" Tash grinned. Lily went bright red.
At this point, James's head turned towards two people heading towards the group. From the way he gripped her hand, Lily suspected that they were his parents.
"James where on earth have you been?" his mother asked.
"Showing everyone around," James said simply. "Mum, Dad, this is Lily."
"Lovely to meet you dear," Lily's mother shook her hand and Lily warmed to her quickly. "James has told us so much about you."
"Only good things I hope," Lily glanced up at James, who had turned slightly pink at his mother's remark.
"Lovely colour Prongs," Sirius sniggered from behind. James shot him a glare. This however prompted James's parents to turn their attention to him.
"Are you going to introduce us to everyone else?" his father asked.
"Sorry," James apologised and introduced everyone else.
"Well the guests are missing us. Shall we?" Mr Potter gestured to the next room, in which most of the guests were crowded. James squeezed Lily's hand and they all walked next door.
An hour into the party and Lily and James were sitting in the corner. They had decided to stay out of the way and spend some time together. Remus and Jenny were doing exactly the same thing.
"Enjoying the party?" James asked.
"Yeah except I can't remember anyone's name," Lily sighed.
"Better than me," Jenny said. "I can't remember who I've met already! There are so many people here."
"Butterbeer guys?" Tash came over with drinks.
"Cheers," James took a bottle from her. "Wait a second, where the hell is Sirius?"
"Um…" Tash trailed off. "I have no idea. Uh oh, this can mean nothing good."
She deposited the bottles and hurried off.
"Bless them," Jenny sighed.
"Do you think its going to last?" Lily asked.
"What Tash and Sirius?" Jenny said. Lily nodded.
"Don't know," James said. "Could do. I mean he's never stayed with a girl this long. But judging by his usual relationships, anything could happen. What about Tash?"
"Merlin only knows," Jenny said, taking a sip of butterbeer. "Tash is keeping herself to herself mostly over relationships."
Lily nodded in agreement and snuggled closer to James. He grinned at her.
"And what about us Lily?" he asked. "Are you happy?"
"Very," Lily smiled at him, trying not to get lost in his eyes.
"Oi!" Jenny interrupted. "Save it for the countdown!"
"Aye aye Jenny," James saluted her. Both Remus and Jenny got up and went for a walk outside.
"What about them?" James asked.
"Perfect," Lily said. "Did you know Remus told Jen he loves her?"
"Yep," James nodded. "I am happy for them. They're perfect."
"You've said that before," Lily reminded him.
At this point something very loud and none to pleasing to the ears sounded throughout the room. Lily pointed to the source and James groaned. Sirius was standing in the middle of the table singing at the top of his voice. Everyone in the room laughed at him and this spurred him on more.
"God, he does this every year!" James sighed. "Sirius! Get down before you embarrass yourself again!"
"He's already embarrassing himself James!" Tash said appearing from nowhere behind them. Unfortunately for her, Sirius heard this, marched over to her and dragged her to the table.
"Sirius Black let go of me!" Tash yelped as she was dragged onto the table.
"You think you can do better!" Sirius challenged. "Go on then!"
Unwilling to back down now that she had the attention of the whole room, Tash gave him an evil grin and began to sing 'build me up buttercup.' Everyone cheered. Rather put out that he was being outdone, Sirius interrupted with 'bohemian rhapsody.'
"Since when has he liked that song?" Lily asked.
"Since Tash made him sing it on the train," James sighed. "Just one of his annoying habits this Christmas. Along with checking every owl for letters from Tash, and asking me, and I quote, 'how my dear sweet Tiger Lily is' every day. Not that I mind telling him," he added. Lily smiled at him.
Back on the table, Tash and Sirius were having a furious battle of music. Every time one of them started to sing, the other would interrupt with another song. Finally Sirius ran out of things to sing and Tash burst into her grand finale.
"Stand by your man! And tell the world you love him!"
Everyone in the room was laughing harder than before. Sirius shrugged and placed both arms around Tash's waist.
"Keep giving all the love you can! Stand…by…your man!" At the last sentence, Sirius placed a kiss on her cheek and Tash bowed to the applause she was getting. Sirius jumped off the table and walked over towards James and Lily.
"A duet this year," Lily grinned. Sirius sat down trying to look disappointed and failing miserably.
"Maybe you should do that one evening in the common room?" James sniggered at Sirius as Tash flopped down next to them red in the face.
"Don't you ever do that to me again Sirius!" she said.
"I thought you sounded brilliant," Lily said.
"I would have sounded a lot better if I hadn't been trying not to giggle the whole time!" Tash grumbled, but she shot Sirius a quick grin and Lily could tell that she had enjoyed it none the less.
"Where are Moony and Jen?" Sirius asked.
"Went for a walk," James said.
"Sweet," Tash said before looking at Sirius. He cottoned on immediately and stood up.
"Shall we?" he asked offering his hand to Tash who got up and took it.
"Lead on." Waving to Lily and James, they both walked across the room and outside.
"Maybe there is a future in those two," James mused. Lily nodded and glance around the room. She would miss moments like this when she finished school. After that she would be constantly looking over her shoulder, checking to see if she was being followed.
"You okay Lily?" James asked. "You spaced out for a second."
"Just worried about leaving school," Lily said. "What's going to happen when we graduate? We'll be all alone in a world full of Death Eaters."
"You're not alone," James assured her. "You've got me. And Tash and Jen. You've got all of us."
"Yeah," Lily sighed. James smiled at her and squeezed her hand.
"Hey Romeo and Juliet!" Tash called. She and Sirius had come hurrying back into the room, their walk cut short. "They're doing the countdown in a minute!"
"Okay," Lily got up and looked over at where Tash and Sirius were standing. From the other side of the room, Jen and Remus reappeared beside them.
"Nice walk?" Lily asked.
"Yep," Jenny smiled. "What did we miss?"
"Just Tash and Sirius singing," James sniggered. Sirius elbowed him in the side.
"What!" Jenny asked.
"You mean Padfoot had a partner this year?" Remus asked, grinning at Sirius and Tash, both whom had gone bright red.
"Fifteen seconds!" Mrs Potter announced. Lily smiled up at James. This year really had been good to her. She was head girl, Petunia was moving out and she had James, someone she cared about more than anyone else in the world.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!" Everyone cheered and burst into a traditional version of Auld Lang Syne. James bent down and gave Lily a long kiss. When they broke apart, Lily noticed more than one couple doing exactly the same thing.
"I love you Lily Evans," James whispered to her. Lily's heart jumped at the words.
"I love you too James."
A/N: Aww pointless fluff! I love it! It took me forever to get this chapter completed. It does suck in places but at least I got it finished. Review for me all you lovely people!
Next Chapter: Back to school and confrontations with the Slytherins, fantastic way to star the year!
May Stardust fall in your dreams!