The drinks were flowing in the Gryffindor common room and the music was pumping. Everyone was on an infectious high. In this tumultuous time with a war budding both in and outside of the castle walls, even a random game of Quidditch was cause for celebration.
Lily and her friends were actually the "hosts", instead of the typical Marauder party. Of course, they did help with the food and drink supplies. James and Remus walked down to the Gryffindor common room. Musical notes floated up the stairs. Remus chuckled as he recognized the tune, taking the stairs two at a time in front of his friend.
Ooh
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Sirius met them at the bottom of the stairs, handing them each a bottle of firewhisky.
"Cheers mates," he slurred. The two shook their heads and they all made their way into the room.
The entire house seemed to be in the common room, along with bottles of firewhisky, Butterbeer, and random decorations. Random assortments of food were placed around the room. A banner with a dirty slogan for Gryffindor was hanging lopsided.
Sirius took a swig of his drink, thinking out loud. "Oi, Prongs, how did they throw a better party than us?!"
James snorted and skimmed the room, not even knowing what (or who) he was looking for. His eyes landed on his favorite red-head. She was surprisingly in front of the crowd with her friends, Marlene and Mary.
They were singing along with the music from Lily's record player and dancing. Some of the students clearly had no idea about the Muggle music, but the upbeat song wasn't to be ignored.
Sirius gravitated through the room, greeting several groups of people as James continued to observe the three girls, specifically a red-head. He maneuvered through the crowd, successfully dodging
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen
Lily was having a blast. She was a few drinks deep, and didn't give a damn who was watching. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and danced away, provocatively shimmying up and down against Marlene. She felt the alcohol through her and the confidence it gave her felt amazing.
It wasn't every day she danced like this in the common room, much less in front of dozens of her peers but tonight was about forgetting everything. Forgetting the war, school, and everything in between, except that she was a teenager at a party with all her friends.
Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music
Getting in the swing
You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music
Everything is fine
You're in the mood for a dance
The girls knew the song better than most people there, singing and pointing to each other. Mary spun Marlene around, eliciting a burst of laughter from all of them. Another one of their friends, Alice Prewitt, snuck up on them and danced with Lily. She yelped but laughed as soon as she turned to see her friend. Alice winked at her and spun her around.
Lily's hair flew around her and she stumbled slightly into a random fifth year. She apologized, giggling as they separated. He smiled back at her, and went to say something, but Alice grabbed Lily. She felt herself being pulled away, and shrugged at him, motioning to Alice. Alice smiled sweetly.
"Sorry kid, just girl time." Lily snorted as she took another drink, slightly spilling it down her sweater. She huffed and took it off sloppily, chucking it on the nearest chair.
And when you get the chance
You are the dancing queen
Young and sweet
Only seventeen
Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
Lily and Alice danced together, spinning each other. Lily spun out and again found herself slamming into someone, this time into Remus. She stumbled and he grabbed her by the forearms, steadying her.
She tried to get out an apology, but it came out like a strange dying animal noise. They both burst out laughing, doubling over. Marlene slid up to them, motioning with her head at the coffee table.
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen
James couldn't believe his eyes as he watched Remus help Lily and Marlene onto the table in front of the fireplace. They were both clearly inebriated, wobbling as they stood together. The table seemed near falling over but the music took over any cautions and they were back to dancing crazily.
Students were dancing around in front of them, and Lily snagged a closed bottle of alcohol from one of them.
The boy turned to protest but caught her eye and she winked. He stuttered for words and just nodded, running away very clearly flustered. Marlene elbowed her friend, and they turned to each other laughing and each took a drink.
James let himself fall back onto a nearby couch. He took a swig from his own drink, and ran a hand through his hair. Whatever Lily Evans he had fallen in love with, this was a completely different side to her. The crazy side of him felt jealous that others were seeing her like this. He shook it away; Lily was clearly letting loose and that was a momentous occasion.
Sirius landed next to his friend, chuckling. The whole couch moved as he all but fell in James' lap. Someone behind them protested as the couch hit a table and crashed some bottles.
You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave 'em burning and then you're gone
The friends sang to each other as Lily danced around on the table. At some point, Alice took her sweater off and Marlene was using it as a fake scarf. Marlene tossed it over her shoulder in a posh fashion, striking a pose.
The girl group burst out in laughter and Lily caught James' eye from across the room. He smirked, raising his bottle to her and winked.
She felt a flush spread across her body and she nodded back, raising her own bottle. They both drank in sync, eyes locked before Sirius sidling up next to the table distracted her. James blinked, not even realizing his best friend left his lap.
Looking out for another
Anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
Lily sang out into a bottle of firewhiskey, spinning and twirling. The table shook but held steady. Marlene danced next to her, while Mary and Alice joined their crazy antics next to the table, hands flying in the air and shaking their arses. Everyone in the common room was infected with their insanity, moving to their own beats.
"You are the dancing queen,
Young and sweet,
Only seventeen!"
"Even though we're really only sixteen and underaaaaaage," Marlene sang out, and everyone erupted in laughter.
"Dancing queen
Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah!"
The girls danced and basically put on a show for their house. The crowd was roaring, and cheering her on. Of course, they were the most ridiculous moves anyone had ever seen, but they were having fun and that's all that mattered.
Lily threw her head back and her laughter mixed with the melodies. James tried his best to ignore the other guys crowding her, biting his lip and drinking more. She threw off her tie and Sirius caught it, dabbing it against his eyes, fake crying. She laughed harder, leaning on Marlene for support.
You can dance
You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl
Lily turned and struck a pose, meeting his eyes across the room again. She smirked and winked as she dropped down slowly. His breath caught in his throat and he leaned forward, his arms on his legs, entranced.
'Merlin, I'm in trouble,' he thought, watching as she slowly rose back up seductively. Her hands trailed up her long legs to her skirt, and he swallowed hard. Her hands skimmed her shirt and went into her hair, her whole body swaying.
It was like she was dancing just for him, never dropping his gaze. Her eyes sparkled, teasing him, and it was all he could do to not grab her from the table and rip her clothes off.
Sirius and Remus were in front of the table, dancing with each other as they mocked the girls. Alice and Mary danced next to them. Sirius shimmied copying Lily, and she clumsily slugged him in the shoulder.
Watch that scene
The final notes and lyrics played and the girls synchronized, the same ridiculous hands rolling and bodies bouncing happening. The crowd roared their approval, and everyone sang out the last lines.
Digging the dancing queen
Digging the dancing queen
The song died out and the crowd erupted, laughing and cheering. The girls hugged each other, laughing hysterically. The table wobbled and gave out, as they fell on top of the two Marauders in front of them. Sirius caught Lily, and they slammed against the floor with an 'oof'. Students around them pushed out of the way, furniture scraping against the floor.
Lily pushed off Sirius, leaning over him on her forearms as they tried to orient themselves. Her hair tickled his face and she pushed it back. They both stared at each other before he said, "All right, Evans?"
The two of them immediately burst into laughter, from the alcohol and also from the origin of the infamous phrase from a different Marauder.
Lily rolled off onto the floor beside him on her back. Their laughing fit had them in hysterics, tears down their faces as James pushed off his seat and came storming up to them. His face was heated watching them, and he stopped in front of them, hands on his hips.
They both stopped long enough to look at him, having the decency to look apologetic.
James looked down at her. "All right, Evans?"
Lily and Sirius looked back at each other, before bursting into almost ear shattering laughter. Lily fell on Sirius' shoulder, clutching her stomach as she gasped for air.
Sirius coughed to get himself together, still chuckling. James felt his blood boiling from jealousy, no matter how ridiculous he knew it was.
Sirius looked up at James, winking. "Don't worry about it, Prongs. Evans is still all for you." James' face flushed, and Lily slugged Sirius in the shoulder again, ignoring James outstretched hand to help her up as she pushed off the common room floor.
Gravity is challenging when you've inhaled several bottles of fire whiskey, so she stumbled and James grabbed her arm. He pulled her to his chest, ignoring Sirius as he stood and stumbled as well. Sirius opened his mouth, but James shoved him onto the sofa and pulled Lily away.
Sirius wobbled as he collapsed on the sofa, laying down and chuckling as Remus and Marlene righted themselves.
Lily struggled slightly against James' grip but really didn't have the energy to fight, allowing him to bring them to a corner of the room. A plush armchair was there, so she pushed James down into it and plopped in his lap.
James was a great deal bigger than her, but was caught unaware and fell into the armchair. He blinked stupidly as Lily rearranged herself comfortably in his lap. She adjusted her skirt over her thighs and crossed her legs, throwing them over the arm and settling back to press against his chest.
Sure, she was squishing him but who was he to complain when the girl of his dreams just dropped into his lap?
James cleared his throat. "Lily, I didn't mean to drag you away, I just -"
She put a finger to his mouth, silencing him. James wanted to pinch himself, there was no way this was happening to him. She dropped her hand and settled against his shirt, fiddling with his tie as she sighed.
"Did you enjoy the dance?" James continued to blink. Now, James Potter was a very intelligent fellow and most would say he was a man of many words. However, situations like this left him unable to form any sort of coherent sentence.
Lily glanced up at him after his continued silence, meeting his eyes. She smirked as they stared at each other, her hand still toying with his tie. The other hand stretched up to mess with his hair, giggling as his mouth opened slightly.
"I'll take that as a yes." He swallowed and nodded. She blinked up at him.
"James, are you okay?"
He swallowed hard again. "You called me James." She blinked again, and again, as she nodded almost to herself, then to him.
"Well, I suppose it's about time. We are friends, aren't we?"
James really wished he knew what best to say at this time but the situation seemed too fragile, and he didn't want to shatter the moment. Instead, he just nodded and shifted in the chair to get more comfortable.
Lily grinned up at him, pleased and settled herself against his chest as their housemates continued to party.
-x-
The party continued into the wee hours of the morning. The Marauders and Lily's friends played many drinking games, with other participants coming and going as the night went on.
Lily stifled a yawn, stretching her arms above her head as she turned to the clock. It was around two in the morning. She was still wearing her white button up uniform shirt and skirt, her shirt was folded halfway up her arms and many buttons unbuttoned. Her gaze landed on James, lounging on the sofa with his arm over his head by the fire.
She slowly got up from the floor where she was playing cards with Peter and Mary, the two of them the most sober and still going, feasting on snacks. Their friends were in various states around the common room, with some stragglers who were too drunk to go up the stairs or were too busy with each other.
Lily made her way to James, kneeling in front of his face on the floor. Her breath tickled the hair on his forebears and he slowly opened his eyes, blinking before turning to her.
He was a bit shocked but recovered, slowly smirking as she smiled at him. She brushed the hair out of his eyes, and handed him back his glasses from the table. He fixed them on his face with a murmured, "thanks". He sat up and patted the seat next to him as invitation.
She flopped next to him, leaning into his side. He slowly wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She sighed and cozied into him more.
They sat in silence before Lily shifted around, grabbing an item of clothing from under her on the couch.
She held it and blinked, looking at James.
"James, is this … my sweater?" His face flushed and he nodded. She nodded silently.
"I, er … it was a great pillow. It smells … well, you know…" he trailed off. Lily giggled.
"You could keep it."
James looked down at her, surprised. She grinned back at him cheekily, winking. "Hope the firewhisky I spilled on it smells great."
He laughed, shaking his head. "You're something else, Evans."