Secretly
Lily Evans and James Potter have been best friends since their first year at Hogwarts. What happens when Lily discovers the one thing that has the potential to ruin their friendship? (Starts mid 6th year.)
Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own any of the characters from J.K.'s books. However, I do own this fabulous shampoo that makes my hair smell quite lovely.
Chapter Nine: The Ball
Despite all of the turmoil in some of its students' lives, life at Hogwarts continued as usual. As the last month of school approached, the students grew increasingly excited about the end of year celebrations. Although Ravenclaw had already taken the Quidditch cup in a grueling match against Slytherin, there was still the House cup to be won and the end of year ball to look forward to.
After her revelation to Sirius, Lily went on pretending it had never happened and that she couldn't be happier for her distant best friend. James also pretended he had never heard Lily blurt out those words. He couldn't wait to parade around the ball with Sarah.
As the night of the ball grew closer, the students had another Hogsmeade weekend to get anything they needed for the special night. For the first time, James did not go with the Marauders. Instead he opted, or more accurately was obligated, to go and spend the day with Sarah.
Remus and Peter accompanied Sirius, who was muttering something about loyalty and best mates, to Zonko's. While three-quarters of the Marauders browsed in the joke shop, Lily went with Bella, Laci, and Vita to go and pick up their dress robes for the ball. Lily was to be escorted by Remus, Bella was obviously going with Sirius, and Vita and Laci had each found a date to go with.
As the girls left the dress robes shop, Bella pulled Lily back. "Lil, we need to talk. You know, you never did tell me what you needed to talk to me about that night a while back," she said, motioning to Vita and Laci to keep going without them. "Lily?"
Lily grimaced. "Yes."
"Lily," Bella began gently, "does this have anything to do with James?"
Lily nodded. "I've only told Sirius. He's a great guy Bell, and an amazing friend."
"Well, what did you tell him?"
"I told him I'm in love with James," Lily stated simply.
Bella was nonplussed. "You know, I thought it was something like that. You can't hide it from me very well Lil."
"Just swear you won't say anything, and we can go catch up with everyone in the Three Broomsticks."
"You know I won't. No problem."
"Okay," Lily said. "Let's go then."
Five minutes later, they were joining Laci, Vita, and the Marauders sans James at a table in the Three Broomsticks. They all chatted happily over Butterbeers, but Lily couldn't help but miss James. It just wasn't the same without him there.
A week later, the night of the ball had arrived. Lily, Bella, Laci, and Vita were all holed up in their dormitory readying themselves for the gentlemen awaiting their presence.
Lily sat in front of a vanity mirror, fixing a jeweled clip into her softly curled hair. She reached for a silver box on top of her vanity and opened it. She stared for a moment at the emerald pendant and earrings James had given her on her birthday. Lily sighed. It seemed like so long ago. After a moment, Lily snapped the box shut, knowing she couldn't bring herself to wear the jewelry tonight, no matter how well it matched her robes. Instead she clasped an old silver locket around her neck, a gift her grandmother had given Lily when she was younger. She stood up and looked at her friends. "Are we ready?"
"The three girls nodded, and all made their way to the stairs. Looking at Bella's flowing blue dress robes as she walked out the door, Lily couldn't help but think of James' blue eyes.
As the girls came into the Gryffindor common room, Sirius' eyes widened. He walked over to Bella and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Bella, you look absolutely gorgeous," Sirius professed.
"Lily, you look lovely," Remus told her quietly.
"Thank you Remus," Lily responded. "For everything," she added, alluding to how Remus, perhaps realizing how Lily felt about going to the ball and seeing James with Sarah, had asked Lily to accompany him to the ball. Lily had protested, telling him to ask someone else. "You don't have to take care of me. You should have a good time at the ball," she had said to him.
Remus had replied, "Lily, after everything you've done for me, it's the least I can do. Besides, who says I won't have a good time with you?"
"Well," Vita cut into Lily's thoughts, "We have to go meet our dates by the staircase. Laci and Vita were each going with a boy from Ravenclaw. Stephen and Daniel were also sixth years, and Laci and Vita had been friends with them for a few months.
"See you at the ball!" Laci called as she exited through the portrait hole.
"Peter, where's that girl you said you were taking?" Remus asked.
"I have to go down to the dungeons to pick her up," Peter informed them, unenthused.
"Why down there? Who is she anyway?" Lily asked.
"She's Davis Rhine's younger sister. He asked me to take her because she wants to go, but she's only a second year," Peter said with an air of self-importance.
"She's a Slytherin?" Bella wrinkled her nose.
"Since when are you friends with him?" Sirius asked. "Or any of them, for that matter?"
"I can have other friends, Sirius," Peter said defensively, sounding annoyed. "Now I'm going to pick up my date. See you at the ball. Peter exited through the portrait hole, leaving Sirius, Bella, Lily, and Remus alone in the common room.
"Wonder if he knows that girl's only using him to get to the ball. Guess none of Davis' other minions would take her," Sirius observed.
"So," Lily began, changing the topic, "has James come through yet?" she asked quietly, almost afraid to know the answer.
"He left about an hour ago to meet Sarah before the ball," Remus told her apologetically.
"Oh," Lily said. "Right."
"So, are we ready to go?" Bella said, in attempt to shift Lily's attention from James to the ball.
"Yes, let's." Sirius said, joining Bella's efforts.
Remus offered Lily his arm and the pair followed Bella and Sirius out the portrait hole.
At the ball, everyone looked like they were having a great time. Even Lily seemed to be enjoying herself, despite her problems about James. Remus was with her, making sure that she did have a good time. Lily thought about how lucky she was to have a friend like Remus. "Remus, thank you so much for being here with me, I'm sorry I'm not better company."
"You're fine, Lily," Remus reassured her. "Would you like to dance? Maybe it will take your mind off things for a little while." Lily silently agreed, taking the hand Remus offered. As they moved onto the dance floor, Remus took care to steer Lily to a place where she wouldn't catch a glimpse of James and Sarah together. The pair danced through the next three songs and the steps helped to keep Lily's mind off of James.
Until James and Sarah ended up less than five feet away from them as James spun Sarah around, she shot an evil look at Lily. She spun back into James' arms and kissed him hard on the mouth, hoping Lily was still watching.
Lily leaned over to whisper into Remus' ear. "I have to get out of here." She felt a lump forming in her throat. "Can we go for a walk or something, please?"
"Of course Lily." Remus took her hand and gave it a friendly squeeze as they headed to the doors.
The grounds immediately outside the main entrance to the Great Hall were lit beautifully, and Lily wished she could enjoy it more. "I'm so sorry, Remus," she said.
"No, Lily, don't worry about it. I'm here for you, okay? Now what happened in there?" Remus asked, concerned.
"I don't know," Lily sighed. "I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stay there and watch him with her. I hate that it's not me," she admitted. They sat down on a nearby bench. "Oh, Remus, what am I going to do?" Lily cried, leaning into Remus' chest.
"Shh, Lily, it's okay." Remus wrapped his arms around her, wishing that he could make everything better and heal his friend's broken heart.
Fab! It only took me eightish months! Hopefully more in less time...