A Dance to Remember

"Should I even bother asking Lily to the dance?" James asked one day in the common room. It was 2:00 a.m. and the only other people present were Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Ashley.

"YES!" Ashley blurted out.

"Why so sure, Flames?" James asked.

"Promise not to tell? She'll kill me!" Ashley asked.

"I swear!" James exclaimed.

"Well - We were talking, and I was trying to make you look really good, so I talked about how you've changed, and finally convinced her to say yes if you asked her on a date!" Ashley cried happily.

"Really?" James said astonishedly. Ashley nodded. "Oh merlin, Ashley! You're the best!" He gave her a huge hug.

"Can't - Breathe - Remus - Help!"

"Er - Prongs? Looks like you're suffocating her," Remus said, pointing to a choking Ashley.

"Oops! Uh - Sorry, Ash!" James said, patting her on the back.

"Ugh - It's okay, Prongs," Ashley said, shaking her head.

"So...I've basically got a date for the dance! What about you guys?" James said in a satisfied tone.

"Well, I've been thinking of asking someone..." Sirius trailed off.

"Yeah, who?" James asked, with interest.

He muttered something not understandable. "Excuse me?" said James.

"Er - I was thinking of asking Alyssa."

Ashley glared at him with a look of pure hate and muttered something that sounded a lot like "pig" as she headed toward her dormitory.

"That was the dumbest thing you could have possibly said," said Remus, shaking his head.

"What? It could make her jealous!" Sirius told them, putting up his hands.

"Or, it could make her think that you're just a player, not willing to wait around for anyone, and if you're forced to, you'll have to get the next best thing by sleeping with her sister!" James told him. "You've really messed up, Padfoot."

"You're one to talk, Prongs! After Ashley, the only girls you ever went out with were to make Lily jealous or because you got bored and lonely on a bloody Friday night!" Sirius said angrily.

"Correct, Padfoot. Correct," James mumbled, "I thought you would have learned from my idiotic mistakes."

"Apparently not!" Sirius shouted.

"Calm down, Sirius," Remus said quietly, "Don't lose your temper."

"I'll lose my damn temper whenever the bloody hell I chose, Remus!" Sirius replied coldly. "I'm off to bed," he grumbled miserably, and forced himself up the stairs and into his dormitory.

The next day, Ashley woke up feeling miserable and upset. She forced herself down to breakfast, and on her way to class, was stopped by Sean DiCannio, a Ravenclaw in her year.

"Hello, Ashley. Brilliant morning, eh?" he said politely.

"Bloody Amazing," Ashley replied sarcastically, faking a smile.

"Are you okay, Ashley?" Sean asked cautiously.

"Yeah, sorry for being so rude. Guess I had a crummy night. Ah well. How are you doing?" Ashley asked, trying to change her mood the best she could.

"Very well, thanks. Er - Listen, I was wondering if you'd maybe want to go to the dance with me?" Sean asked quietly. Ashley considered this. He was smart, funny, and quite attractive. She gave him a warm smile and nodded.

"I'd love to."

"Really? Great! I'll see ya in class! Bye!" Sean said excitedly. Ashley gave him a small wave before departing for Transfiguration.

Ashley looked over to her usual seat by Lily. James was in her seat! Damn. She searched the room for available seating. The only spot left was beside one Sirius Black. "Perfect," she muttered scornfully.

Two minutes into Transfiguration class, Sirius slipped Ashley a note. She looked at it and saw a single word:"Sorry"

Ashley scribbled back:"I don't care. Do as you please. Take my sister. I've got a date."

She looked at Sirius' face as he read that last part. It looked as if someone had just hit him across the face.

He wrote a short reply and gave the note back. "Oh...Who?"

She quickly wrote the name "Sean DiCannio" and set the paper in front of his desk so that she could concentrate on the notes that had to be taken. Professor McGonagall was speaking unusally quickly, as if to savor time. Ashley wrote as fast as she could, and then it was time to practice what they had just learned.

The next week dragged unusually slowly, and Ashley was fine with that, seeing as she was dreading the dance that would be soon coming up. But just because she wasn't paticularly happy about the whole situation, didn't mean she wasn't happy about getting to dress up and cut loose. Ashley, Lily, Alice, Fallon, Alaina, and Erica had their parents send them muggle clothing. That was the theme after all, "Teen Muggle Dance". Lily had her long firey hair pulled into two braids. She wore a navy blue silk dress, and high healed white stappy shoes. Alice had her brown hair curled and she wore a green top and a long black skirt. Fallon had her long black hair in a side pony-tail. She wore a black berret, a white top, a black skirt, and black dress shoes. Alaina wore a black shirt and a jean skirt. Her hair was pulled half up, half down. Erica had her straight, blonde hair curled. She wore a pink dress with suade boots. And finally, Ashley wore her hair in a messy bun, with two strands falling in her face. She had black eyeliner, pink lipgloss, a bit of foundation, and had on a black, velvet dress. Her naturally light brownish dirty blonde hair had a hint of red in it, and she wore black strappy heels.

"I can barely walk," Fallon complained.

"Me either, but I don't care! This is gonna be great," Lily said, smiling largely.

"Well, well, well. Would you look who's excited about having a date with James Potter?" teased Ashley.

"I admit, you were right. He's not bad at all," Lily admitted.

"Well, let's go down and meet the guys then," said Alaina, waving her hands toward the door.

Ashley walked down the stairs with her friends. She whispered to them that she'd meet them in the Great Hall. She then scurried through the portrait hole and waited for Sean. About two minutes later he arrived.

"Wow - You look brilliant," he commented.

"Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself," Ashley smiled.

"Shall we get going then?"

"Sure," Ashley said, and they walked to the Great Hall. It looked just like a muggle night club. Professor Dumbledore, who's usual wardrobe was a set of robes, was in a bright blue suit. Professor McGonagall had actually let her hair down, and had on a long, dark green dress.

"Would you like a drink?" Sean asked politely.

"Yeah, thanks. I'm off to find a table," Ashley said.

"Okay."

Meanwhile, Alaina sighed as she waited for Eugene, her date. She had decided to go with Eugene Serroy, a 7th year Hufflepuff. He wasn't the most handsome guy, but he was smart, funny, polite, and caring.

"Hey, Alaina. What are you doing out here?" asked Cheyenne Butler, a fifth year Gryffindor.

"I'm waiting for Eugene. He's taking me to the dance," Alaina replied with a sigh.

"Eugene Serroy? As in my cousin Eugene? I heard he was going with that sixth year Ravenclaw - Lucinda Whatsherface. Not sure of the last name," Cheyenne said thoughtfully.

"Uh - thanks Cheyenne," Alaina said woefully.

"Aww, Alaina. I'm sorry," Cheyenne said plaintively.

"It's okay, It isn't your fault, Chey," Alaina assured her with a half-smile.

"You look really nice, Alaina. Don't let Eugene ruin your good time. Come downstairs with me," Cheyenne asked with a smile.

"Nah, I don't want to intrude," Alaina said, putting up her right hand.

"It's no problem. My date's in the Hospital Wing, so I'm going solo," Cheyenne told her.

"Well - okay," Alaina said, trying her hardest to smile.

She wasn't upset that her date with Eugene was cancelled. She was just upset that she had gotten stood up. What was it with guys? Were they not manly enough to tell girls to their face that they found somebody better? Alaina just didn't get it. She sighed one last time, stood up, and followed Cheyenne to the Great Hall.

Alaina entered and looked around for one of her friends. She saw Ashley sitting down at a table alone, probably waiting for Sean. She looked around some more. James and Lily were on the dance floor, really cutting loose. Not far away was Ashley's sister, Alyssa, dancing with about seven guys at once. And at a nearby seat was Sirius, looking at the floor, with a look of misery on his face. Fallon and Danny were snogging like crazy by where the Slytherin table one was. Peter was at the buffet table, stuffing his face with deserts of all kinds. Alice and Frank were alone in a corner, talking. Erica was in a group with two guys and another girl discussing something. Alaina looked over to the DJ. Right by the DJ, was Remus and some Ravenclaw girl that Alaina couldn't quite place.

And then it happened. Alaina had no idea why, but suddenly she was filled with rage, and the desire to punch someone. Cheyenne probably noticed the change in Alaina's mood, because she whispered "Are you okay?"

"No, I - I don't think so. I don't feel very good," Alaina replied truthfully.

"Would you like to go to the Hospital Wing? Or do you want something to drink?" Cheyenne asked.

"A drink would be nice, if you don't mind," Alaina said.

"It's no problem. I'll be back in a second," Cheyenne said, and darted off to the punch bowl.

Alaina covered her eyes with her hand, and shook her head as if trying to recover from a serious migrain.

"Alaina - Are you all right?" came a familiar voice.

"Just peachy," Alaina said sarcastically.

"Have I done something?" Remus asked in a perplexed tone.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," Alaina replied bitterly.

"Alaina, would you please tell me what's going on!" Remus said angrily.

"Ugh, Remus. Do me a favor, and just go back to your bloody date," Alaina said, and turned away.

"This is about Dorinda?" Remus asked confusedly.

"No," Alaina replied coldly.

"What is your problem, Alaina? In all the years I've known you, I've never seen you act like this!" Remus exclaimed.

"Well, maybe the real me is a bitch! Ever think of that, Remus?" Alaina asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"No, Alaina. I know you, you aren't a bitch," Remus said calmly.

"I - I...I'm really sorry, Remus! I don't know what's gotten into me!" Alaina said, on the verge of tears.

"Lainy, it's okay."

"Wait, I think I do know what's gotten into me," Alaina mumbled.

"Huh?"

"H - How do you feel about me, Remus?" Alaina asked suddenly.

"You're funny, kinda, p - "

"No, no, no. I mean...as more than a friend?" Alaina asked, turning pink.

"Oh..."

"Argh, I knew it!" Alaina said, breaking down in tears. She ran up to her dormitory and slammed the door.

How could she have been so stupid? Like Remus would ever like her! Alaina studied herself in the mirror. She was nothing special at all! Brown hair, big deal! Tons of girls had her exact same, straight, brown (actually, close to black) hair! And really, who cares about brown eyes?

"A - Alaina?"

"Sod off, Lupin!" Alaina replied with a mean sob.

"Let me in or I'm breaking down this door," threatened Remus.

"Why can't you leave me alone?" Alaina wailed as she relcutantly opened the door.

"You didn't give me a chance to speak, Alaina!"

"As if 'oh' wasn't enough! You have more?" Alaina asked cruely, sitting at the windowseat.

"I was shocked, Alaina! I never realized that there was a chance you could ever like me! I realized that I've liked you as more than a friend since the start of 7th year," Remus told her.

"Really?" Alaina asked.

"Yes," Remus replied with a small blush.

"Oh - um...What about Doreen or Dorinda, or whatever her name was?" Alaina asked, her tone suddenly sweet.

"It's not like I like her. I just went cause I thought you were going with Eugene," Remus replied with a shrug.

"Oh..." Alaina trailed off, turning pink.

Remus stepped toward her and the two began to kiss.

"What's wrong with you, Padfoot?" James said, over the loud music.

"Nothing, I'm feeling bloody brilliant," Sirius replied nastily.

"Don't take your temper out on us," Lily said calmly.

"Everyone's got who they want except me. It's not fair."

"Well...Remus doesn't have Alaina. She doesn't even know he likes her!" James replied, scratching his head.

"Oh really? Turn around, Prongs," Sirius replied lazily pointing behind them. James and Lily spun around to see Remus and Alaina locked in a tight embrace, snogging madly.

"Uh - Well then - Wow...Er, sorry, Sirius," Lily muttered.

"She doesn't seem to be having such a good time," lied James. They all looked over to Ashley and Sean, who were dancing happily.

"Oh yeah, she looks miserable," Sirius replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"Maybe she's just covering it up," suggested Lily.

"Yeah, sure," Sirius mumbled.

Just then, Ashley walked over to Lily and James.

"Having fun with your sorry excuse for a date?" Sirius said cruely.

"Sirius - What the hell is your problem? Can I not walk into a bloody room anymore without hearing your stupid comments?" Ashley asked, firing up immidiately.

"You know what my problem is, and you're pretty thick if you don't," Sirius mumbled.

"Oh merlin, Sirius. This isn't about the kiss?" mumbled Ashley. James shot them both a look of shock.

"Maybe it is. Maybe it's the fact that you think you're too good for me," Sirius shot at her.

"Is that really what you think?" Ashley asked. Sirius nodded. "Well then you don't know me at all!" and she ran out of the Great Hall. Lily looked at Sirius, then James, and ran after her.

"Ugh, Padfoot. You're really bad at this," James said quietly.

"Well, I'm sorry! Girls like Ashley don't come with an instruction manual!"

"Girls like Ashley? Try all girls!" James told him sternly.

"James, I've been with tons of girls, and none of them ever acted like Ashley," Sirius replied.

"You're right. You've been with tons of girls, but all they were was sex or snogging. Ashley's more than that, so feelings come into play," James said.