a/n: I wanna thank all my reviewers for their criticism. I really appreciate it. I LOVE U PPL! k, anywayz, on w/ tha story!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Blah blah blah!
Chapter 5: Announcements
Days turned into weeks and it was the third week of October, Friday to be exact. Lily and James continued to plan the ball and have grown closer. Everyone was in the Great Hall for dinner when Dumbledore spoke.
"Attention, everyone," he started, "I have an announcement to make. Next week, as you all know, is Halloween and, therefore, we are holding a Halloween Ball being planned by the Heads and Prefects. It is for 4th years and up. Younger student may come if accompanied by an older student. The attire is formal and two Hogsmeade trips are tomorrow and Sunday at 11 o'clock. That is all." And with that he sat back down and excitement erupted in the room.
"Lil, all this time you've been planning this ball and didn't even bother to tell us about it?" Amelia asked with mock offense.
"Sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise," said Lily smiling.
"I hope Sirius asks me," said Emmeline dreamily.
"You fancy him, Emee?" asked Alice. Emmeline just sighed with the dreamy expression still on her face.
"Ooooooo!" teased Amelia. Emmeline stuck her tongue out at her. "Oh, real mature Emee." They all just laughed.
"Hey, Lil, I'm curious….." Alice trailed off.
"About what?" asked Lily.
"Well," she started, "Since you and James are friends now, what are you going to say if he asks you to the ball?"
"Um…," said Lily, "I don't know. I haven't thought about that."
Her friends knew that this was one of the rare time where Lily got confused, so they changed the subject.
Meanwhile…..
"Are you going to ask Lily to the ball, Prongs?" asked Remus.
"I'm not really sure yet," James answered, "Maybe."
"I'm going to ask Emmeline," declared Sirius after swallowing a bit of food.
"You know Emmeline is not the type of girl who appreciates one-night stands," informed Remus.
"I know," said Sirius, "but that's not why I'm asking her."
"So, you like her?" asked Peter.
"Of course. She's gorgeous, smart, witty, independent-"
The other three Marauders gasped. "Is it possible that Sirius Black actually fancies a girl for things other than her looks?" said James mockingly, "Pinch me, I'm dreaming!"
"It's a miracle!" exclaimed Remus. Sirius flung potato pieces at them while they just laughed hysterically.
James and Lily met in the hallway after dinner to go meet the prefects in the library. They greeted each other and went. The walk to the library was silent for they were both thinking deeply.
'Should I ask her?' thought James, 'Or is it too early for that? We could just go as friends.'
Lily, on the other hand was thinking of Alice's question, 'What would I do if he asked me?'
As they turned a corner into the hallway where the library was located, James decided, 'I'm going to ask her. Ok….'
"Lily," James said and stopped a foot from the doorway.
"Yes?" Lily asked, aware of what was coming.
"Will you go to the ball with me? As friends, if you want," he added quickly
'I knew it.' she thought, 'I guess it won't be bad. It's just as friends.' Lily opened her mouth to respond when someone interrupted. It was Brad Charlatan.
"Hello, Lily," he said pleasantly, "Potter," he said coldly to James, who frowned at him. "Lily, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Halloween Ball?"
'Ew,' Lily thought. She had a look on her face somewhere between shock and disgust. She looked over at James who was glaring at Brad.
'How dare he!' thought James.
"Sorry, Brad," said Lily, "but I'm going with James." Brad frowned, glared at James, and walked away. (a/n: haha! Loser! Sorry, just HAD to say that.)
"You will?" James smiled. Lily nodded.
"As I was going to say before I was rudely interrupted," she said, "yes I'd love to go to the ball with you."
'YES!' James thought. They smiled at each other and went into the library.
All the prefects were at their special table in the back of the library when Lily and James arrived.
"Ok, everyone," said Lily, "Since we have lists of everything we need, all we have to do now is assign everyone jobs and pair you up with a partner for the opening dance."
"Lily and I are ordering everything tomorrow in Hogsmeade," said James, "We need people to set up the decorations, food, etc."
"Right,"said Lily, "So who wants to set up decorations?"
After the meeting James and Lily both decided to go to the Gryfinndor common room to see their friends before curfew.
"Password?" asked the Fat Lady.
"Veritas," said James and the portrait opened. They went in and separated once they found their friends.
Lily went over to the comfy red couches near the bookshelves where her friends were sitting. Remus was talking to Amelia when she got there. They finished and Remus got up. "Hey, Lily," he said as he passed her.
"Hi, Remus," she said back, "Did he ask you to the ball, Amy?" she asked Amelia.
"Yes," Amelia answered, "but just as friends."
"That's good," said Lily, "What about you, two?"
"I'm going with Frank, of course," said Alice and Lily nodded.
"Sirius asked me right after you and James left," said Emmeline smiling.
"Good for you Emee," Lily congratulated.
"Has anyone asked you yet, Lil?" asked Amelia.
"James," answered Lily.
"I knew it," said Alice, "What did you say?" All three of them listened eagerly.
"I said I'd love to."
"Eeee!" squealed Emmeline, while Alice and Amelia smiled.
"It's just as friends," said Lily.
"We have to get our dresses tomorrow," Emmeline said.
"What kind should we get?" asked Alice.
"I think the dresses should have black to go with Halloween," said Amelia.
"Ok," the other three said together.
"I'll have to meet you all there later on in the day," informed Lily, "James and I have to order things for the ball."
"Alright then," said Emmeline, "Just meet us in that new dress shop at noon."
"Do you want to know what happened when James was asking me?" Lily asked.
"What?" her friends said together and Lily told them how Brad tried to ask her to the ball. They all laughed and called him a loser when they heard how Lily rejected him.
Meanwhile……
James walked to the couches near the fireplace were Sirius and Peter were playing wizard's chess.
"Where's, Moony?" he asked.
"Right here," said Remus as he walked up to them.
"How'd it go, Moony?" asked Sirius.
"She said yes," Remus answered.
"What happened?" asked James.
"I asked Amelia," answered Remus, "Just as friends, though."
"That's good," said James, "I asked Lily and she said yes."
"Really?" said Remus, "That's great!"
"Way to go, Prongs!" exclaimed Sirius, "Checkmate." he said to Peter as his bishop pummeled Peter's king.
"Aw, bugger," said Peter as he lost, "Good job, Prongs!" he congratulated James.
"Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Sirius asked his friends.
"Sure," they said.
"After Lily and I order things for the ball though," said James.
"That's ok," said Remus, "We'll meet you at Zonko's at noon"
"Alright," agreed James.
a/n: watcha think? I thought the last part was kinda boring, but o well. For those of u who don't know, 'Veritas' means 'truth' in Latin. REVIEW! please…
