Once again: To vintage org, because she rules!

A/N: Sorry this is so long! This is the first in the Christmas Ball Chapters! Hope you like, and please review!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my plot, ideas and characters.

The Christmas Ball

Lily

I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked like a completely different person. I smiled. That was exactly the point. White and gold are my colours- with a gold layered skirt, made to look like a grass skirt, and a plain, white, sleeveless, skin hugging top. And all over my arms, my pale, almost white skin, are the swirling, intricate tattoos. I slipped the painted mask over my eyes, and the white sandals with gold beads onto my feet.

I hoped no one would recognise me.
For Sev's sake.

Oh, who was I kidding? Maybe more for my sake. I knew I was being terribly selfish, but I was worried what would happen to me if we were found out. I guess I should avoid that Rita Skeeter tonight. She writes the gossip column in the schools newspaper, and she's promised to make a whole magazine of gossip about the ball. There was two words just perfect to describe my face when Carrie told me this piece of news: PURE HORROR.

Actually, Jenna and Andie had similar looks on their faces after being told, but Carrie was innocently oblivious as always but I swore I heard this hushed conversation:

'Maybe this is too risky…I don't want to be caught, I really don't. She'll tear me apart.'
'Hey, hey. Its fine. We'll just have to be extra sneaky. Are you Crim or what?'

I remember frowning in confusion, after hearing that. What was a Crim? A few conversations with Sirius (of all people) lead me to this short conclusion: Crims were groups of people who liked to commit minor crimes, but mostly pranks, and seemingly on each other.

The more I talked to Sirius (it was tedious, really. He rambles on and gets off topic and usually starts talking about something completely unrelated and then finds something else useless to talk about…Honestly!) the more I found out.

XxX.

Crims were a big clique, split into smaller cliques. There were four prominent cliques, that were very choosy about selecting members and had extreme and complex initiations.

The four main Crim groups were: Noughts, Crosses, Hot and Serpentine. They were rather like Houses, and rivalry between them all was common, and the first three were always ready to attack a Serpentine. Serpentines were made up of complete magical blooded members, with Slytherin-like beliefs. Sirius told me that most Serpentine members became Death Eaters, and added this nugget of information: two of his cousins were Serpentine Crims. (I was guessing this was Bellatrix and Narcissa: Bellatrix liked to shout her beliefs loud and proud, and Narcissa just went along with whatever she said. )

Sirius was proud to be a Cross Crim, and even showed me his necklace. Its as thin as it could possibly be, like a silver thread with two slashes forming the X. He explained that every Crim has to wear a necklace like that with their Crim insignia on it. Serpentine's wore an S, Hot's wore an H and Noughts wore an O. He seemed perfectly happy to share all this 'suppressed' information, but then his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

'Why do you want to know about Crims, Reddie? Want to join?' he asked cheekily.

I rolled my eyes at the nickname, but let that one slide. After all, he had helped me a huge deal- two of my best friends had forgotten to tell me a vital piece of information. Guess it must have slipped their minds. I opened my mouth, and was going to tell the truth, but then I had a thought: Why bother? Lying is so much easier, and it benefits everyone.

'Oh, I heard third years talking about it. I wanted to know what it was all about. I'm so out of the loop. Damn this ignorant blood!'

Wait! WHAT did I just say???

'What?' asked Sirius, shocked confusion written all over his face.

Come on, another lie would be useful right about now.

'Doesn't matter. Just forget it. Thanks for telling me about the Crims.'

Sirius looked like he wanted to say something else, but I walked away.

XxX.

Oh, great. Got caught in another reverie. Damn reverie!

Damn damn damn

I needed to leave. I was supposed to meet Sev ten minutes ago.

Damn damn damn

I ran the whole way, skidding down the stairs and almost slipping through the trick step. A pale arm lifted me up, and its owner pulled me close for a kiss. I broke away first, pretty sure I needed to wipe the stars out of my eyes. I mean, he had only rescued me from falling through a step, for god sakes! An invisible gap in the air! I could have broken my leg or worse- ripped the dress!

I mentally shook my head, hoping to stop any more internal arguments. It was just insane.

'Hi Sev,' I smiled.

'That's a good costume. And it matches what I got for you,' he replied, and drew out a small, leather box. A ring? A gold ring, with a thin white jewel line running through the exact middle.

'Do you like it? I made it for you…'

Sev worked in the Tetron&Dimitri's jewellers. He made it for me? Wow.

I swallowed, smiled prettily and…amazingly, I spoke the truth!

'Wow…Its gorgeous! I love it,' I kissed him in gratitude.

We walked in silence, and unstoppable dread filled me until I wanted to scream.

I would keep the ring, Sev would keep the box… I wasn't a completely ignorant Mudblood. I had learnt what that meant. I would keep the ring, Sev would keep the box… It was running through my head like a chant. Maybe I could say no? Sev would understand, wouldn't he?

'Name!' barked Rita Skeeter's minion, or for lack of another word: Photographer.

I was startled, knocked out of my unsettling reverie.

'Sol Prince,' said Sev without blinking.

'Leila Tiger,' I said without a flicker of doubt.

This lying thing was too easy. That was what scared me the most: I was really, really good at it.

The minion wrote the two fake names down in his book, and me and Sev stood closer together, ready for his flash. (Of the camera, of course!)

'OK, three, two, one!'

CLICK.

Damn it.

Sev was looking at me. I was oblivious, staring at the circle of gold on my finger.

XxX.

We walked down the steps, which were looking positively charming with fairy lights all down the banisters and two little fairy lighted trees at each end at the bottom. I noticed people were staring, but I didn't feel nervous at all. It wasn't Lily Evans, redheaded, redtempered, Mudblood they were seeing. It was Leila Tiger, here at the Christmas Ball to dance with her Prince. This night was going to be perfect. Every aspect of this night was going to be perfect.

The Weird Sisters (consisting of only one girl) were playing their music incredibly loud, and I wanted to dance. And I did! And it was easy! It wasn't just any dancing, it was fast paced, impulsive, show-off, even slightly slutty dancing! Me and Sev were caught up in a lie, and I never wanted it to end. But the last few notes of the song were fading, and we headed over to the bar, out of breath.

'You want some Kahlua?' Sev checked to make sure.
'Yeah, and lots of ice.'
'Thanks for taking the ring,' Sev smiled shyly at me. 'It's going to be a special night.'

I couldn't help it- I'm in too deep. Another lie spilled out of my mouth.

'Yes. A great night,' I looked him right in the eye. How could I do that? How could I stare right into the dark eye of the person I cared about, and lie? I must be a bad person, right down to the marrow in my bones. It's no wonder my sister hates me. I clutched the glass tightly, glad of the way it felt. Icy. Cold. Reassuring.

I needed to cool down. And I could not be seen. I could not be seen.

James Potter just walked down the fairy light studded stairs.
Alone.

XxX