James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin were getting dressed in their dormitory for the New Year's Ball. They were hopping around frantically, searching the floor for various articles of clothing, as they never put anything away.

"So, Padfoot," said James, as he pulled on a white shirt, "You think tonight is the night for you and Emma, eh?"

Sirius looked down at the ground and gulped. "Well, er…I thought it was, but now I'm not so sure…"

James understood that his friend was not in the mood to be teased about his anxiety. "Just do what you think is right for you, Padfoot."

"Er, thanks Prongs…"

"On a different note," said Lupin. "I think I'm going to tell Ella about my…er… 'furry little problem,' as you call it, James."

James dropped his shoes in alarm, and Sirius howled in pain (James must have dropped them on his feet). "You're what, Moony?"

"Well…I…well…I don't think it would bother her! She's that kind of girl…"

James was in deep thought, wondering why his two best friends had gone completely mad. "Well, alright, Moony, but be careful no one else hears you."

They walked out of their dormitory and made their way to the Entrance Hall to meet their dates.

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"So…you…you're going to…with Black? Are you sure?" asked Lily, completely stunned.

"Yes, I'm sure, Lily! I'm ready!"

"But…with…him…Black…he's…" Lily stuttered, still shocked.

Emma laughed at her friend. "Yes, Lily. Black. Have you seen my mascara?"

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"You look beautiful as usual, Lily," complimented James, and it was true. She looked gorgeous in a satin dark green strapless dress. Many sixth year boys were glaring at James with envy.

Lily giggled flirtatiously. "And you look quite handsome, James. It is quite obvious many other girls think so as well." As with the boys in James' case, many girls were giving Lily dirty looks, or staring at James with longing.

"Er…hello, Emma," said Sirius uncomfortably, still deciding whether tonight was the night.

"Hello, Sirius…" Emma giggled, giving Sirius what she thought was a sultry model look, but really made her look like a fish.

"Shall we dance, Ella?" asked Lupin to his girlfriend, flashing her a brilliant smile.

All three couples made their way to the dance floor. They danced for several songs, and soon they were out of breath. The girls made their way to sit down, while the boys went to get some beverages.

"Hi, James!" giggled Julia Vane, coming out from nowhere. James dropped the ladle in surprise.

"Er…hi, Julia," he said, edging away from her.

"Great party, huh?" she said, walking closer to James with every word. "Save a dance for me, won't you Jamesie?"

"Er…sure, Julia, sure…" James was now almost completely against the wall, trying to get away from Julia. Sirius and Lupin were howling with laughter behind Julia. James glared at them.

"So, Jamesie-Poo-" at this point Sirius and Lupin's laughter went out of control, and they were soon rolling around on the ground, clutching their stomachs. "What are you doing with Evans if you really like me? I saw you this morning, shouting out my name." Julia backed James against the wall, leaning closer and closer to him.

"Er…well…that's because you put love potion in my pumpkin juice, Julia…" said James, wide-eyed and quite afraid.

"Me? Put love potion in your pumpkin juice? Why would I do that!" asked Julia, inches away from James' face. Sirius and Lupin stopped laughing, and stared at something directly behind Julia, that James couldn't quite see.

"BECAUSE YOU LOVE MY BOYFRIEND, THAT'S WHY!" Shrieked Lily, pointing her wand directly at Julia.

"Me? Love your boyfriend, Evans? Of course I don't!"

"THEN TAKE YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF OF HIM!" Julia instantly released her grip from James' arms, and James gave Lily a look of intense gratitude.

"You better watch your back, Evans." Said Julia, glaring at Lily.

"I think you've got it wrong. You better watch your back!" said Lily, moving her wand around, muttering something no one could hear. Suddenly, Julia Vane turned into a large weasel, shrieking and running around in circles frantically.

"Go on now, Julia. Show everyone your new look," grinned Lily maliciously. Julia Vane ran away, and out of the Great Hall. James, Sirius, and Remus stared at Lily, their mouths wide open, pointing at her in shock.

"You…that…she…wicked," stuttered Sirius in awe.

Lily grinned. "Well thank you, Sirius. You haven't even seen the best of it. When someone finally transforms her back into a human, the word 'CHEAT' will be spelled across her forehead in large red letters."

James stared at Lily, still pointing. "But-when someone finds her, you'll get a detention! You've never gotten a detention!"

"I think Sirius is right, James. You have been rubbing off on me, because I don't care if I get a detention," and with that, Lily walked away, smiling, leaving the three boys to stare after her in shock.

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The three couples were having a great time at the ball. It was now 11:45, and inside the Great Hall they were counting down to New Year's. Lily and James were outside in the courtyard, making out behind some shrubbery, as so many other couples were doing. Sirius and Emma were still dancing inside, and Remus and Ella were sitting down outside in the courtyard, beside a beautiful fountain of Merlin.

"Er…Ella? There's something I've been wanting to-tell you," said Remus anxiously.

"What is it, Remus? Are you alright?"

"Well…in a sense, I am…promise you can keep a secret, Ella? I mean, this is a rather large secret, so you cannot tell anyone at all…"

"I promise. I won't tell a soul."

"Alright. Well, here goes…I'm…I'm…er…I'm a werewolf."

Ella jumped back from him in alarm. "You're a what?"

"A werewolf. But I don't hurt any students, Dumbledore has made sure of that. I'm kept in a certain place when I transform, so there's no danger for the other stu-"

"So…you can, like, bite people?"

"Er…only when they come in contact with me, which will never happen here at Hogwarts! I've told you, I'm kept in solitude, so I can't harm anyone."

Ella looked away, not saying anything, wide-eyed.

"Er…Ella? Are you okay? Do you understand? Please do! I…I really like you," said Remus, glancing at Ella nervously.

"I like you too, Remus…this is just going to take a while to get used to…I-I should go."

"No! Wait! Ella don't go! Please understand! I'm not harmful to anyone-"

"Remus! You're a werewolf! Of course you're harmful to people! I'm sorry! I still like you, its just…I have to think about things…" Ella walked away, trying not to look at Remus, who looked absolutely crushed. He sat there, thinking sadly, about how his life might have been if he weren't bitten when he were a child. Then he looked suddenly at James and Lily, still making out, who were now visible behind the shrubbery, obviously not caring if they were. He grinned at them, then frowned sadly, remembering when he and Ella loved each other like that. He walked inside, looking at the floor, just in time to hear everyone shout, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

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"Sirius? Follow me! I've got a surprise for you," whispered Emma.

Sirius looked at her uncertainly. "A…surprise? What…kind of surprise?"

"You'll see," Emma giggled, as she led Sirius off the dance floor. They exited the Great Hall, Emma pulling Sirius along. Sirius turned pale, curious and nervous about where Emma was taking him. They entered the Gryffindor Common Room, and made their way up to the sixth year Girl's dormitory (at that time, boys could still go up the stairs).

"Er…Emma? What are we doing…here?" asked Sirius, getting more frightened by the second. Emma just giggled and grinned. Sirius had a bad feeling about what exactly they were going to do. Emma pulled Sirius onto her bed, and kissed him, for quite a long time.

"Emma? What…are we…doing? Lets go back downstairs. They're doing the countdown already!" said Sirius, hoping to tempt Emma.

"Sirius? Why? We can have our own party right here!" Emma kissed Sirius again, and started to take her shirt off. Sirius pulled away.

"EMMA! What-why-how?" he stuttered, staring at Emma, shocked at her audacity.

"Come on, Sirius! It's the perfect time! I mean, we love each other!"

"Well, yes, I love you, but I'm…I'm…not ready for…for this!" Sirius pulled himself off the bed, and into standing position.

"What do you mean, you're not ready? Lily said-"

"I changed my mind, alright? We're way too young for…for…this!" said Sirius, turning red.

"No, we're not! Sirius, come on! We love each other! Can't we just-"

"I'm afraid we can't. We can still date, you know, without doing…er…you know."

Emma started crying. "I thought you…I thought you loved me!"

Sirius looked at her sadly, wishing there was something he could do to comfort her. "I do love you, Emma! Honest!"

Emma glared at him. "I think you should go now, Black."

"Emma…please!"

"JUST GO! LEAVE ME ALONE!" she sobbed.

"Fine. I'll leave you alone, but can't we still dat-"

"GO AWAY BLACK! WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER….MAYBE."

Sirius sighed and left the girls dormitory, wishing he could change everything, wishing they never fought. Once in Gryffindor Common Room, he heard from outside, "3…2…1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Sirius frowned. "Yeah, it's a happy new year, alright."