Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Chapter Twelve: The Samhain Ball
"Oh Lily you look so perfect!" Marlene gasped as Lily turned to face them after her hair was finished. She was fully dressed in the white sparkling gown, and looked strikingly beautiful. Marlene had done her hair; she curled it and put it in an elegant bun with a few pieces intentionally falling out. Lily had placed a tiara on her head and a diamond necklace around her neck, and she truly did look like Cinderella – minis the blonde hair of course. She was even wearing the long white gloves and the signature glass slippers.
"Your guys look perfect too! Marlene, Remus is going to die when he sees you! And Ellie, I'm sure Sirius will need a bucket to contain his drool. Alice, your lucky that Frank isn't here, we don't need that happening in the middle of the dance floor!" Lily laughed.
Alice smiled weakly; she was going as a Medieval Princess. She was wearing a lovely pink gown that set off the brown colour of her hair, which she left down with two braids in the front and pulled around to the back of her head.
Lily was aware that Alice was a little down that Frank couldn't be there, but she knew that Alice would make the most of the night and have fun anyway.
"Oh stop," Ellie said. After much thought and deliberation she had decided to go as the girl from The Phantom of the Opera, Lily had actually suggested it. Sirius was going as the Phantom, and Lily knew they would look cute together.
"This ball is going to be so much fun!" Marlene exclaimed, twirling around in her own dress. Marlene's dress was a sexier version of Snow White's dress, for she was going as Snow White. Remus was going as The Prince of course, and Marlene was absolutely thrilled about it.
"This will be a night to remember!" Lily agreed, "We need to get pictures!"
"Well get your camera then, we have to hurry. The boys are waiting for us at the bottom of the first landing," Alice told her. Lily quickly went back into her room and grabbed her camera, a wide grin on her face.
"I'm so excited!" she exclaimed as they headed towards the great hall. She snapped a few pictures of Ellie, Alice and Marlene. Alice wanted a really good one so she could send it to Frank.
Lily was the first to emerge at the top of the stairs. On the way down they had decided it would be best for them to go down one at a time.
James could barely speak, his Lily looked enchanting in that white gown, just like Cinderella, minis the blonde hair of course. He was wearing the Prince Charming outfit, just like she had requested. James had seen her dress, just not on her. He took in a large gulp of air and continued to watch her as she walked down the stairs with that pretty smile on her face, her eyes lighting up.
"My lady," James said, kissing her hand. He was smiling and bowing to her, which made Lily blush slightly.
She nodded at him and resisted the urge to kiss him, though she wanted to. He looked so handsome in his Prince Charming outfit.
"Lily you look amazing!" Remus said, smiling at her.
"Wait until you see Marlene," Lily smiled, nodding towards the stairs. Marlene had appeared at the top of the stairs, and as soon as Remus saw her his jaw dropped. She set her hand on the railing and made her way down to where Remus was standing, his jaw still practically on the floor. Once she stepped off the steps, he took her in his arms and kissed her.
"You look amazing too," he said, taking her hand.
"Oh my," Sirius said, a playful grin on his face, "I wonder what Ellie looks like," He was wearing the signature Phantom mask and a long dark cloak. Lily smiled at him.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" she asked, again nodding towards the stairs. Ellie had one hand on the railing, pausing for a moment as she looked uncertainly down at Sirius. He smiled up at her, a big goofy grin on his face, and she made her way down the stairs.
"Care to sing some opera for me?" Sirius joked, taking her hand and kissing her softly on the cheek. "You look beautiful love,"
Lily smiled as she saw Ellie's face light up, and then smiled back up the stairs again. Alice was making her way down, a sober look on her face.
"Why does my Princess look so upset?" asked a voice. As soon as Alice heard it, her face lit up and she jumped halfway off the stairs into Frank Longbottom's outstretched arms.
Lily watched with a smile playing on her face; Frank had gotten the night off from his job and Auror training, just to surprise Alice. Lily had known about it before hand, along with Ellie and Marlene, and they had told him what she was going as. Frank was dressed as a Medieval Prince.
"Oh Merlin Frank! I thought you had to work tonight!" Alice exclaimed, kissing him all over his face and neck. He smiled at her, and she smiled at him.
"I took it off so I could see you again," he smiled, kissing her once more and holding out his arm for her to take.
"Alright Princesses, and Opera lady, let's go into the Great Hall and party!" James said, smiling at Lily. He had been watching her the whole entire time, the way her face would light up to see one of her friends happy, and he found himself falling even more in love with her – if that was even possible.
"This is going to be a night to remember," Marlene said again, still holding Remus's hand as they walked through the Great Hall doors.
People in various costumes danced to music and joked around. Lily couldn't tell who anyone was, which made it all the more fun. But as they all walked in, people stopped to stare.
"Now that our Head Girl and Head Boy have finally arrived, I think we can get this party started," Dumbledore declared upon seeing Lily and James. "I would like the Head Girl and Head Boy to share the first slow song of the evening, then to be joined by the prefects and their dates," he smiled, the lights dimming even more and the dance floor clearing off as people went to their tables.
James smiled at Lily and patted her hand reassuringly as they made their way to the centre of the dance floor, a light following them. She smiled at him too, their eyes staying on only each other.
He took her hand in his and wrapped his other hand around her waist, pulling her closely as the song started. It was a Muggle song that Lily listened to often and always made her all teary eyed, it was called Angel Eyes.
"I didn't know you could dance," Lily smiled at him after he twirled her slowly around and pulled her close again.
"The joys of being a Potter; learning to Ballroom Dance by the time you can walk." James replied, kissing her neck softly as they danced. He could feel her heart thudding in her chest, and it made him smile even wider.
They danced, their eyes fixed on only each other. It was as if everyone had disappeared. They didn't hear anything but the song lyrics.
Girl, you're looking fine tonight,
and every guy has got you in his sights
What you're doing with a clown like me,
Is surely one of life's little mysteries
So tonight I'll ask the star above
"How did I ever win your love?"
What did I do?
What did I say,
to turn your angel eyes my way?
Well, I'm the guy who never learned to dance,
Never even got one second glance
Across a crowded room was close enough,
I could look but never touch.
By this time, the prefects had made their way reluctantly towards the dance floor, but the light was still on Lily and James.
So tonight I'll ask the star above
"How did I ever win your love?"
What did I do?
What did I say,
to turn your angel eyes my way?
Don't anyone wake me,
If it's just a dream
'cause she's the best thing,
That's ever happened to me
All you fellows, you can look all you like,
but this girl, you see, she's leavin' here
with me tonight
There's just one more thing I have to know,
If this is love why does it scare me so?
It must be something only you can see,
'Cause I feel it when you look at me
So tonight I'll ask the star above
"How did I ever win your love?"
What did I do?
What did I say,
to turn your angel eyes my way?
As the chorus faded, Lily and James stopped dancing. They hadn't heard the crowd's awing at them and whispering.
"Do you want to dance again?" James asked as a faster paced song came on. Lily smiled and nodded, turning around slightly and motioning for the others to join them.
"You really know how to dance," Lily smiled, as James spun her around. "What other dances do you know?"
"Other then ballroom? The Tango, Swing, and a few more that I'd rather show you sometime,"
"Sounds good to me," Lily smiled. The night was almost like a dream, James kept sweeping her off of her feet.
They danced for three more songs before going back to the table to sit. Alice and Frank were sitting and engaged in a conversation, sending each other looks that clearly said 'I love you'.
James pulled out a chair for her and she sat down, smiling at him.
"Would you like some punch?" James asked, still standing. He hadn't stopped smiling since he saw Lily.
"Sure James," Lily nodded, watching him as he went to get them drinks.
"Do you want punch too Alice?" Frank asked. She smiled and nodded. Frank reluctantly released her hand and got up to fetch her some. Alice turned to face Lily.
"You dog, you knew that Frank was coming all along!" Alice said, a happy grin plastered on her face.
"I know," Lily smiled smugly.
"This night is so perfect!" Alice exclaimed, sighing and looking over at Frank, who was talking to James.
"I know what you mean," Lily smiled, also watching James. Sirius and Remus joined them at the food table while Marlene and Ellie sat down beside them.
"You guys looked so good during that first song," Ellie sighed, "It was like watching a romantic movie,"
"A romantic movie?" Lily smiled, amused, "Why so?"
"You only saw each other, the way you guys were looking at each other. And the way you were dancing," Marlene replied.
"He can dance," Lily said in a dreamy tone as James walked back over with to glasses of punch.
He sat down beside her and gave her the drink, still smiling. They sat and talked for a while with there friends, drinking and eating the snacks that the Ball provided.
"Lily, would you like to take a walk in the garden?" James asked after Lily, Ellie, Marlene and Alice came back from dancing with each other.
"Sure," Lily smiled, taking his arm when he held it out. He led her out the doors into the gardens.
It was a beautiful night, the stars were shining brightly in the sky and the half moon lit up the garden. It was warm out, for a Halloween Night.
"You know, when I was little I used to go out Trick or Treating." Lily said, sitting down on a stone bench in front of a huge fountain.
"What's that?" James asked, smiling at her. She rested her head on his shoulder, smiling up at him too.
"It's when Muggle children dress up and go from house to house saying 'Trick or Treat', and they get sweets." She told him, her hand resting on his firm stomach. She wanted as much contact with him as possible.
"So, what did you dress up as?" James asked her softly.
"A witch," Lily giggled, "I don't know why but it was always a witch,"
James smiled again, kissing her forehead softly.
"I have something I need to tell you," James said, tipping up her chin so that she was looking at him.
(A/N) Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for reviewing, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Speical thanks to WhiteCamellia, Alex. C. Potter, julies07, BlazeAngleDragon, X.Little.Black.Cat.X, Cora-leanna, nina12321, greengrl, andbloomsgrl, for reviewing!
You know what to do, review people!