Author's Note: It's been a while I know, apologies :P If you asked a question before and I didn't answer, please repost. It's late and I'd rather get this out sooner. Hopefully I answered most of you by personal replies. If you're curious about the other stories – "Hidden Talents" is being updated today, "Undefeated" is still on the backburner. Thanks for being patient with me and all of your reviews.

Chapter 14: The Potter Party

There was a certain buzz of excitement in the cold, crisp air of Hogwarts castle as students bustled back to their dorms after the long, welcome winter holidays. Many were eager to see their friends again, while others were dreading classes the next day. The Marauders were no different than the others, talking in excited tones about their holidays, or at least a couple of them were.

"Pete, you never said how your holidays were, amidst all James' blabbering of Lily's second present," Sirius said. The boys turned their attention to him.

Pete waved his mates' concerns off. "Nothing special. My mum made lots of puddin', roast ham, the usual, you know." He looked down at his hands absentmindedly, and suddenly remembered. "Oh! Thank you for the bloody fantastic present! You don't know how long I've been looking for that Morgan Le Fay card."

"Oh trust us, we know," Remus remarked. The others chuckled. "If we had to hear you moan about that card one more day we would have gone mad, so really, it was more of a present to us than you," he teased good naturedly

The boys huddled around the fire, rubbing their hands together. It was so cold outside that they wondered if they would ever be able to feel their fingers again. Despite the horrid weather, they were in an astoundingly good mood for the Sunday before classes began again – James especially.

"Well, I'm off," James announced, stretching his legs and heading out of the Head Boy room. He tried to hide his eagerness, but the others saw right through him.

"It's only been a few weeks for Merlin's sake James! Don't you want to spend time with your good ole mates?" Sirius teased.

James grinned, sticking his head back in the room quickly. "Nope!" He had a redhead to catch.

James found Lily patrolling the castle, helping first years find their rooms again, making sure none of the ghosts were wreaking too much havoc around the castle. She was walking quite fast, and he had to sprint to catch up to her.

"Lily, hey," James said simply. He pulled her into an empty corridor behind tapestries where no one could hear them. Was it him or did she seem guilty almost? She was fidgeting and not meeting his eyes. He tilted her chin up to meet her eyes.

"You didn't return or get any of my owl posts. I was worried, thought something might have happened to you until I got your Christmas present and letter. Thanks for the picture by the way. I was very impressed you found such a talented muggle artist to sketch the both of us. Oh yeah, and the ring – it was quite thoughtful."

"Ring? I don't know anything about a ring, but the picture - I sketched it," Lily mumbled, thankful for the darkness of the passageway otherwise he would have seen her blushing. She cursed herself. She needed to be calm and act normal or James would suspect something was up.

"What?" James leaned closer to her, having a hard time hearing her soft words.

Lily coughed, wrapping her cloak closer to her, and raised her voice. "I said, I sketched it. I wasn't sure if you would like it or-"

"I love it," James interrupted her rambling. "Okay Lily, what's wrong."

His concern touched her, but it also made her feel worse. "Nothing!" she said quickly. "Why would you think anything's wrong?" Lily avoided his gaze.

James smiled gently at her. "Well, let's see…you're avoiding my eyes, stammering, nervous. I wonder why I would think anything is wrong. I know it can't possibly be something to do with me unless you've found out some dirty family laundry that I don't even know about." He ticked off a finger as he listed the possible reasons. "Can't be something in the tabloids, because last time I checked there wasn't anything major there. Hm…you have a new fellow perhaps?" Lily sputtered indignantly. "Okay, nope there. I give up…what is it then?"

"It's nothing," Lily insisted in an exasperated tone, and James was forced to concede unless he wanted to upset her. Since he planned on stealing a few kisses before classes, upsetting her was not on the agenda. However, he did remain unconvinced that nothing was up. "I'm just….worried about classes and upcoming exams is all."

"Alright, alright." James put his hands up in a mock surrender. "Keep your secrets then, but I'm relentless," he warned as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Oh no you don't James. Stay away from my ticklish spots!" Lily promptly smacked the hands that were coming towards her, but she was pulled to him instead.

"Not quite what I had in mind," he said in a low voice, flashing a devastating smile at her before covering her mouth with his. He pressed her against the cold stone wall, murmuring how much he had missed her over the holidays.

Any thoughts Lily had were completely forgotten as she submitted to his touch. Whether or not she admitted it aloud, she had missed him desperately too. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she stood on her toes, she placed a kiss on his nose, sighing against him. "I'm sorry James."

"If this is what you being sorry entails, you should be sorry more often," he joked, trying to lighten the mood until he spotted tears forming in Lily's eyes. "Hey now…"

"I'm sorry I didn't want to go with you to your house over the holidays to meet your parents," she said softly, still holding onto him and the warmth he provided her.

"It's quite alright, no need to cry about it, love," he comforted her. Really, if it made her that upset, he wasn't going to force the issue. "I don't even want to go home sometimes," he joked.

"No you don't understand," Lily tried to explain. "It's not that…I just…it's only been a few months since my…" She took a deep breath. They said hurt eased with time, but truthfully she still felt like her parents had died only yesterday. "…well you know."

James nodded in understanding.

"My family always had the most wonderful Christmas celebrations. They went all out…I just wasn't ready for another family's Christmas," she admitted. James looked a little skeptical so she added, "Look, I will meet your family if you'd like, just to prove to you I'm not deathly scared of your parents."

James chuckled at that. "I never said you were."

"You thought it," Lily pointed out. "And I am a proud Gryffindor I'll have you know." She gave him a look that dared him to contradict her. It reflected a surge a pride and James almost chuckled at her silent threat, but he knew better.

"Well since you insist…"

"What?"

"My parents are holding a party – the biggest one they have all year – in a couple of weeks. They asked me to tell you that you're invited. They would like to meet you." James tenderly played with a strand of her hair, avoiding her accusing eyes.

Lily pushed him a little away as she met his gaze. "And when were you going to tell me about this?" She quirked an eyebrow at him, her hands resting on her hips.

James gave her a sheepish smile. "I wouldn't have if you continued on with the I-don't-want-to-go-to-your-house thoughts." Truthfully, James was a little nervous too. A few days had given him time to cool off, and he had returned to his parents' house during the winter holidays. They had talked for a good hour or so, citing their differences in opinion with James apologizing for his uncalled remarks to Evelyn while his parents had agreed to give 'Lila Evils,' as his stepmum called her, a chance. They wanted to meet her and would make any decisions based on that. James knew it was a big step for them and didn't push for anything else. He would have to see how his parents liked Lily.

"So now that everything's settled…" James picked up where he left off, showering his affections on Lily with more kissing.

"James," Lily weakly protested, thinking how wonderful his lips felt on her neck. They had work to do.

"Whatever it is, it can wait until later," James murmured against her ear.

Lily didn't have the heart (or the desire) to protest.

The Olwens weren't the oldest Pureblood family around, but neither were they a newly established one (which older Pureblood families discounted as not genuine Pureblood lines). However, they had been around long enough to warrant invitations from the important social circles, including the Potters.

Persephone stared at the crisp black invitation, interwoven with shimmering gold ribbons. Normally, the invitation would have passed down to her through her parents, but seeing as she was considered an adult by Wizarding standards (and the only Olwen left), it fell to her to let the Potters know whether anyone from the Olwen family would be attending their annual party.

The question was – did she want to go?

She stood in a small forgotten corner – her courage seemed to leave her at the doors of the enormous mansion sipping daintily at some red wine for lack of something better to do. Sure she could mingle with the rest of the guests, but she felt awkward and not her usual reassured self. Her father had been the more outgoing one in the family, introducing them to everyone else around, but now she felt like a shy wallflower.

After her falling out with Sirius, she had no one else to talk to. Sure, she had acquaintances, but no close friendships like the one she had shared with Lily…until she had ruined it with baseless accusations to vent her grief. Sirius had understood, but she had destroyed their camaraderie with her thoughtlessness. She knew that now – she had been selfish, petty and almost made choices she would not have been able to take back.

Regulus had been so charming…but she knew it to be an illusion now. She owed Sirius for the common sense he had instilled in her – ironically by breaking off their friendship – as well as keeping the promise she made to herself – to wait until she was ready. She had almost thrown it away without a second thought.

Persephone peered from the darkness, seeing who had shown up to the magnificently decorated ballroom. No one was actually dancing, despite the lovely music the live band was playing, everyone was still chatting amicably, while others were making friends with the buffet or wine table.

She sighed, wondering why she had come here in the first place.

A steady masculine voice cut through the silence that surrounded her. "People might think you're being anti-social."

Persephone's lavender eyes widened in surprise at being spoken to, but she recovered her wits quickly. "Let them think what they want. What do I care?"

The man chuckled, taking a step towards her, but not close enough to be considered rude or invasive. Although it felt invasive to her. "Then you have no qualms dancing with the misfit of the party."

It wasn't a question, and Persephone felt she was being trapped into spending more time with this stranger. "Well…"

He offered an open palm to her, expecting her to accept his proposal. "Come now sweetness, you're the loveliest person here. Dance with me."

"But there is no one else dancing, sir." Persephone protested. She really did not want to dance with this stranger; he unsettled her for some reason.

"Ah, but what does it matter what everyone else is doing?" His handsome smile and soothing voice were coaxing her to accept.

Persephone studied him for a moment – noting his small dark eyes and complimenting black hair. He looked familiar somehow, but she couldn't quite place it. He could have been her father as they looked around the same age, but her father never frightened her as this man seemed to enjoy.

She titled her head a little. "Do I know you?"

The tall wizard smiled at her. "In a way…"

Now he was really beginning to disturb her. She tried to step around him to see if anyone was coming to her rescue, but he placed an arm before her. "Come now, one dance."

Before she could decline, another voice interrupted their conversation.

"Uncle, do you mind not scaring all the pretty witches in the room?"

The man scowled. "I wasn't scaring her – I was being charming." He pouted at the younger man.

"Right…" Sirius said, clearly not believing him. "Well could you be charming some where else?"

Alphard chuckled. "Ruin my fun why don't you," he complained, but left his nephew with Persephone.

Sirius took a good look at her, making Persephone more uncomfortable than she was before. She wondered if he had taken pity on her by interrupting his uncle's advances.

"What is it with men of the Black household and trying to seduce me?" she grumbled, trying her best not to fidget under Sirius' intense gaze.

He didn't say anything for a moment, making her think he was still not on speaking terms with her.

"Trying?" he smirked at her.

Persephone blushed. Of course he wouldn't let her forget that embarrassing time when she had thrown herself at him.

"Well with a dress like that…" He gestured offhandedly to her form fitting gown that draped elegantly off her shoulders. "I'm surprised more of them aren't."

She blinked. Did he just give her a compliment? Persephone didn't know what to say. "What are you doing here anyways?" she said, thinking she might be asking for more heartache than explanations.

"I was invited," Sirius said, amused, knowing that wasn't the answer she was looking for.

She sighed. "You're not going to make this easy are you?"

Instead of answering, Sirius offered his hand to her.

Persephone's gloved hand met his reluctantly, unsure of his intentions. She chewed on her lip.

"Stop that," Sirius told her, without even glancing at her. "Fidgeting isn't attractive."

"Then don't look," she retorted, getting cranky with his mysteriousness and lack of answers. She didn't want to get her hopes up and he was deliberately baiting her with the promise of company.

The band was playing a lively foxtrot, much to the pleasure of a few of the older witches and wizards. A few couples moved around the dance floor in time to the slow beat. Persephone and Sirius joined those dancing.

Resting his hand properly on her lower back, he led her across the floor following the counterclockwise movement of the other dancers. Persephone's velvet dark purple robes swirled about her legs as he turned her gracefully. She breathed in delight, daring to close her eyes to enjoy something innocent for once. Sirius was an excellent partner as well, knowing how to best show her off and gauge her limits. Persephone almost felt like she was floating.

"I heard what you told James," Sirius said quietly, cutting into her thoughts. She felt the warmth of his breath on her ear. She shivered in response.

"He wasn't supposed to tell anyone," she replied, her voice equally soft. Her gaze slipped from his sharp gray eyes to over his shoulder. She didn't like not knowing what he was thinking, what he was planning. They continued to dance to the next song – a slow song.

"And so he didn't. I'm not just anyone." He smirked at her, his cool demeanor unnerving her.

He had hurt her with his words before, but she knew she deserved them. It still didn't lessen the sting and the bitter memory she had …or the attraction she felt towards him. Persephone decided to get to the point. "What do you want Sirius?"

His hand trailed from the proper position on her waist to her shoulder, not wasting the opportunity the slow tempo provided.

She took a sharp intake of breath as his left hand caressed her bare skin.

"Isn't it obvious?" he said.

His gray eyes sparkled from mischief or desire she wasn't sure, but he cleared it up soon enough.

As the song winded down to its final notes, Sirius leaned forward, his aristocratic features prominent even in the soft light on the ballroom floor.

His lips touched hers in the gentlest of kisses before he made a small bow and an exit to rejoin his friends.

Confusion set in as Persephone watched his disappearing form leave the ballroom.

A flood of feelings rushed into her heart, making her believe there might be hope after all.