After a while of sitting near the fire with James, Lily slowly turned around to face him.

"What time is it?" She asked dreamily, pecking him on the lips.

James smiled, "I don't know, don't you have a watch?" he asked.

Lily rolled her eyes, "If I had one, wouldn't I look at it, silly?" she laughed, "no, I don't have one…I'm always asking people for the time and it's getting really annoying," she finished in a huff.

James sighed, "It is getting really annoying," he said, looking at Lily sideways. She punched him playfully, while he smirked.

"Hey, Lily, would you want to…go to the ball with me?" James asked shyly.

"Who else would I want to go with James?" Lily answered, looking deep in his eyes. James' ears turned pink as he smiled and held her hand.

"I should really get to bed James…I got no sleep worrying about you," Lily said as she parted from him, standing up.

James groaned, "Oh alright, I'll see you tomorrow then," he said, kissing her and then walking up to his dormitory. Lily slowly trudged up the stairs to her own dormitory. She fell asleep in her bed, finally getting the rest her body needed.

She awoke, as she felt fingers prodding her arm.

"Lily, Lily," someone whispered, blurred in Lily's vision. It came into focus, Aurora peered down at her and smiled when Lily's eyes opened.

"Aurora?" Lily asked, her voice hoarse, "what time is it?" she squinted her eyes.

"It's time for you to wake up and tell us where the bloody hell you've been young lady!" Aurora demanded, crossing her arms, "we were so worried about you!" Alice's face poked around the side of the bed and she came down beside her too, looking just as angry. Lily sat up and pushed a strand of red hair out of her eyes. She was hesitant to tell them about her relationship with James…she didn't know what they would say.

She decided to tell them anyway. "Well, I'm sorry I put you through that, but—but I was with…someone," she finished, looking up at their reactions.

Aurora's face immediately broke into a wry smile, "Oh my gosh, you wily fox! Who were you with, then?" she asked, her eyes intent.

"Yeah, who was it?" Alice asked, smiling. Lily looked at Aurora and said nothing, her face pulling into a pained expression; she didn't want to tell them it was James.

Aurora's face suddenly froze and then fell, as she realized who the mystery man was, "No…surely not—"

"Yes…it was him," Lily said quietly, waiting for Aurora's reaction.

"James Potter!" Aurora yelped in shock. Alice's mouth dropped open.

"Ssshhh!" Lily hissed, "Keep it down, Aurora!" she warned, pulling her down beside her.

"I know I said I hated him but—the truth is—I'm falling in love with him, and I was so worried when he was hurt…and I know he cares about me too, a lot," she finished, smiling warmly.

Aurora reciprocated her smile and hugged her tightly, "Well, if he chose you, then how can I not be happy? He got a great choice," she said kindly.

Alice's eyes widened, "So what happened? How did you change your mind?" she asked eagerly. Lily told them about everything that happened and how he met her in the common room the night before.

"You kissed him!" Alice shrieked as she burst into a fit of giggles.

Lily blushed as she silenced her, "Yes but, I'd like to keep it on the low," she said, motioning her hand with what she said.

"Oh people are going to find out about James Potters' girlfriend, Lily! Trust me, especially if you show up at the ball together," Alice stated, raising her eyebrows.

Lily frowned, "I suppose…but nonetheless, I don't want James to freak out you know—from our girly fits and such," she said smirking. Alice and Aurora nodded in agreement.

"Oh! I was supposed to go to Hogsmeade to get a dress for the ball, and so was Alice, why don't you come too? It'll be fun!" Aurora suggested, jumping up and down.

Lily smiled, "Alright, it will give me something fun to do, I've been crying all weekend," she finished, getting up. They got dressed and headed down the dormitory steps. Their nerves were full of energy and ready to go. When Lily arrived in the common room, she found James with Sirius and Remus. Her eyes met James' eyes and locked. She out a little gasp as her breath caught in her throat. It was somewhat of a dream, what had happened last night, and she didn't want it to be her imagination. As if reading her mind, James said something to Sirius and walked over, a wide grin across his beaming face. Lily could vaguely hear her friends' excited voices chattering behind her as they noticed James walking over. He stopped in front of Lily and in one swift motion swept her up in a kiss. Lily's body hardly resisted and she fell into him. Her lips burned as her mind exploded with joy. She parted, a little breathless, to hear a burst of giggles from her friends.

"How are you?" James asked, nonchalantly. He grinned, seeing her unsettled expression.

Lily swallowed, "I'm, I'm fine, thanks," she replied, and she couldn't help laughing. James joined in and chuckled too, grabbing her in a large hug. Sirius walked over with Remus.

"Well, I'm proud of you Prongs, you landed your girl," Sirius sat, patting him on the back.

"We're both happy for you James, and Lily," Remus said smiling.

"Thank you…now perhaps I can get to really know you, like I got to know James," Lily answered.

"I'm sure you did…" Sirius said wryly, punching James in the arm. Remus laughed slightly while Lily turned pink.

James shook his head in annoyance, "You guys…" he swept Lily away from them and talked to her alone.

"So…what are you doing today?" he asked her, running a hand through his chaotic black hair.

Lily pointed a thumb at her friends, "Oh, I was going to go to Hogsmeade today with my friends, to buy a dress," she answered.

James frowned in disappointment, "Oh…okay, I was hoping our first date could be today but it's okay, I mean—you need a dress, right?" he asked chuckling.

"Oh, I'm sorry James…" Lily squeezed his hand, "We'll have all the time in the world for dates, but I already promised them," she said, her tone of voice trying to cheer him up.

"Oh, no it's okay, actually I wanted to get you something so I can do that today with my friends, it actually works out," he said cheerfully.

Lily quirked an eyebrow, "A present? What for?" she asked.

"You'll see…" James said, smirking as he looked into her green, almond-shaped eyes.

"Okay…see you," Lily said, parting from him with a kiss on the cheek. She left to Hogsmeade with Aurora and Alice.

"Aw, he was really sweet with the kiss and everything!" Alice chirped, as soon as they were out of earshot of anyone. Lily blushed. They walked on and entered 'Gladrags Wizard Wear'. A happy-looking witch greeted them and ushered them over to the dress robes section. Lily looked flustered and confused. There were all types of dresses: v-neck, boat neck, halter top, tube top, corset, spaghetti straps, thick straps, long, short and ball gowns. Her confusion must have shown because Aurora laughed.

"Don't worry Lily, we'll help you," she said, as Alice walked over. They immediately pulled out dresses that they thought Lily would look good in. They shoved a dress in her hands and pushed her into the change rooms. Lily emerged a while later, in a bright orange dress that went down to her knees. It had spaghetti straps and bead embroidery along the neck line. As soon as they saw her they frowned. It looked too awkward on her, and the colour clashed with her red hair. Back to the change room. Next, Lily tried on a purple dress with a boat neck. It was long and had purple lace along the bodice and neck. It looked really wrong too, they decided. Lily tried on heaps of dresses—some were too long, too short, too big, too small. They were all sorts of colours: Black, white, blue, pink and a multitude of colours Lily had grown to hate. The last dress Lily tried on was at the back of the rack and the last one in stock. It looked about her size. She tried it on and surfaced from the change room, her face still with anticipation. As soon as her image appeared in front of her friends, their jaws dropped. Aurora's eyes twinkled as she was lost for words. Alice smiled in happiness. Lily was a sight for sore eyes. The dress she tried on was a magnificent emerald green, just like her eyes. It was strapless and fashioned from a soft, silk fabric that felt like butter in Lily's hands. It was long and had a slight train to the back. A green sash tied around the middle, from the front of the waist to the back, ending in a large silky bow that flowed down Lily's back. Her hands were covered in long green silk gloves that came to her elbows. The colour flattered her flaming red hair and made her large green eyes stand out.

"It's perfect…" her friends whispered in unison.

XxXxXxX

James stared through the glass case, as his friends peered through it with him.
"Which one do you reckon she'd like?" James asked Sirius and Remus. They contorted their faces and squinted, looking at the objects from different angles.

"I don't know, mate, girls like colourful things don't they?" Sirius suggested.

"Yes…I think Lily would like something like…that one," Remus pointed at one that was sitting in the corner of the case.

James nodded as he agreed, "Yeah I was looking at that one too…"

"It's perfect…" they said at the same time.

A/N: Please review! and if you have time, check out my other story--The Weasleys and The Potters! Thanks!