Hermione couldn't keep the grin off her face when she walked into her dormitory. Remus had cast a glamour on her neck to hide the hickey but that didn't mean Marlene wasn't able to see the rest of the tells.

"And just what broom closet did you just come out of, babe?" she asked with a smirk. "And is Remus every bit as good as I have imagined?" That made Lily and Alice turn to look at her with a quickness.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Hermione said but the smile on her face gave that away. Marlene rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, I would know that self-satisfied smirk a mile away. Go shower so we can get you dressed!" The girls were still laughing at her when she got out of the bath. Lily directed her to come sit in front of her on her bed. Alice was already dressed and hair done. She had Marlene in front of her doing her hair.

"Okay Hermione, I'm thinking curls, half up?" Lily said, running a brush through her hair. It was such a muggleborn thing to do that Hermione's heart clenched for a minute.

"Sounds perfect." After she brushed it, Lily got to work with some complicated spells. Alice walked over and without prompting, put some light make up on her face. Marlene stated that she had her own definitely covered. Hermione was reminded of the Yule Ball except that on that occasion she was on her own and she didn't feel half as beautiful.

"Where is Thomas meeting you Lily?" Alice asked, as she put the finishing touches on Hermione's make up. Lily was putting her own lipstick on and almost missed her face at the question. Nobody missed her wince.

"At the entrance to the Great Hall." Marlene came out of the bathroom looking like hell on wheels. Her black dress barely covered her legs and had quite the neckline. It would have been scandalous in Hermione's own time let alone the seventies. The high heels, straight hair, and red lipstick didn't help … or maybe they did depending on what she was going for. Sirius was going to die.

"Alright, Lilykins, what is the deal with him anyway? I haven't even ever seen you talk to him." Alice was helping Hermione into her dress though they were both watching the exchange. The gold gown fit just as perfect as it did the day she bought it. Alice zipped her up neatly. Lily sighed and sat down, running her hands down her own red dress like she was uncomfortable.

"I don't know. We talk in some classes I guess. He's fine." They all sent her look that said she needed to explain herself. She let out another giant sigh and resigned herself. "He asked me after Arithmancy one day. I was upset because me and Potter had just had a fight. I think I said yes just to spite him… and he didn't ask me."

"That's a bunch of shit." Marlene said, tone suddenly harsh. Alice even looked upset.

"Lily, James has asked you out so many times." Lily was picking at one of the threads on her sleeve.

"Not for real."

"Yes, for real," Marlene told her. "You just don't see it. I think that it's pretty terrible that you are stringing Peterson along just to spite Potter." Marlene walked over to her and stood in front of her. "If you don't like James you need to tell him, if you do, you need to tell him too."

"Are you guys almost ready?" Sirius yelled from the bottom of the stairs. The girls all stood up, Lily digesting her hard truth.

"Let's go girls. We got some pretty awesome guys waiting for us."

And that was that.

Hermione would never forget the look on Remus' face when she walked down the stairs for as long as she lived. His mouth dropped open like he had seen Merlin himself and Hermione couldn't help but smile at him. He held his hand out for her and spun her around. He let out a low whistle.

"You're so beautiful." She grinned and kissed him gently on the mouth.

"You're looking especially handsome yourself," Hermione told him. Alice literally bounced into Frank's arms and Marlene sauntered over to Sirius who looked like someone had punched him in the face.

"Hey you," she said, sliding an arm over one of his shoulders Hermione was pretty sure he was going to faint.

"Where is Lily?" Remus asked. James was looking especially dapper and especially displeased.

"Contemplating her life's decisions, she'll be down in a second," Marlene said. Sure enough, the dormitory door opened and Lily came out looking like a vision. True to the girl's predictions, James looked like he just saw the second coming and Lily was as red as her dress. She made it to the last step and stumbled a bit, James reached out and caught her before she fell.

"Thanks, Potter," she managed to get out after clearing her throat. Hermione watched him closely, it seemed to take him a moment for him to remember that he had to remove his hands.

"You're welcome Evans."

It was painful to watch really.

"We should get going." Alice ever the voice of reason. The group worked their way downstairs, passing other couples and groups along the way. Hermione almost didn't recognize some people which reminded her so much of her fourth year. Everyone looked so different out of their robes. Remus' hand in hers was tight and comforting, especially considering she was wearing heels.

The doors in the Entrance Hall were open and the warm air was inviting. It was a perfect night.

Still awkward but aesthetically perfect.

Thomas Petersen met the group at the entrance to the Great Hall looking just as handsome as ever. He shot a quick glance to James before holding his hand out to Lily. James was looking anywhere else but at them.

"You look beautiful, Lily," he said with a smile. Lily took his hand, smiling back at him but it didn't reach her eyes. Hermione would know what that looks like.

"Thank you."

"Shall we?" The Gryffindors and lonely Ravenclaw made their way into the Great Hall and Hermione couldn't help but gasp. There were candles everywhere and purple drapes adorning the walls. There were different kinds of plants with flowers of every color twisting and winding overhead making it look like some kind of garden of Eden. It was a summer paradise. Most of the students were already dancing when they got there and they all stopped at their arrival.

How could they not?

They were stunning.

"Why are they all looking at us?" Hermione asked. Remus wound his arm around her waist.

"Because you are beautiful." She grinned up at him and he kissed her cheek. "Dance with me." Sirius had already whisked Marlene onto the dance floor and Petersen had pulled Lily over to his friends. Peter and James had sat down at a table. James had his arms crossed and was staring moodily at the floor.

"I'm not very good at it," Hermione admitted. It wasn't a lie. Viktor was her only real experience besides her dad in her living room. Remus grinned and pulled her towards him, backing onto the dance floor with a grace she didn't know he had.

"I'll teach you." He put one hand on her waist and took her hand with the other. When the music started up again, he led her around the dance floor skillfully. One would think that he had been doing this his whole life, twirling unsuspecting muggle born girls around and successfully sweeping them off their feet.

"And just where did you learn how to dance like this?" she asked a little breathlessly. He smiled, pulling her close as a more modern song started to play.

"My mother taught me. We used to dance around out living room. She said that all gentlemen should be able to lead his lady around a dancefloor." Hermione laughed and laid her head on his chest.

"Well she did a wonderful job." He ran one of his hands up her back, over the exposed skin where her dress was open, up to her neck to hold her closer. They stayed like that for quite some time. Hermione loved the way that she could feel his heart beat, steady and solid underneath her ear. It reminded her that she was real, more than just a fragment of some other time in someone else's life. He was real. This was real.

She let him spin her around and she watched her friends.

Alice and Frank were dancing, looking adoringly into each other's eyes. Neville was going to be so, so loved. Marlene and Sirius were nowhere to be found which at this point was to be expected. Pete was spiking the punch.

James was approached Petersen at an alarming rate.

"Shit," Remus said, noticing what was happening at the same time. They let go of each other to do some damage control. Lily looked like she was crying but that couldn't be right.

"Let her go," James said in a low sort of voice. Lily ripped her arm from Petersen's hand, rubbing her wrist like he had been holding on too tight.

"This has nothing to do with you, Potter," Petersen bit out. He looked suddenly way less innocent than he did the other day. Lily looked like she was going to say something but James put himself in between them.

"As a matter of fact it does, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" he was white hot, fists at his sides. Hermione was shocked he hadn't hit him yet but she also figured he didn't want to anger Lily any more.

"Putting her in position," Petersen said suddenly. James furrowed his eyebrows but Hermione was instantly tense – legs bent and wand out.

"What?"

When all the candles went out and a cold gust of air went through the hall, Hermione knew that something was very wrong… and also why this was the last time this ball was held.