I would like to mention LibraryGeek007, who literally banged on their keyboard as a review. That made me laugh for a long time.

I also would like to answer angelofmynightmare's questions. I know, but you're just gonna have to bare with me people. I have to please everyone. Okay, well, you are going to learn James's motives in this chappie, among other things. 'The Cat' is hard to describe. It sort of knew James was there and tried to chase him away, like a dog. Weird, huh?

Well, you all have been complaining that I write really short chapters, so here it is, a long, romantic chapter. I know you all are doing happy dances right now.

What the hell am I doing? For the past five years, I had been a strong believer in the Dark Lord, following his every command without question, and had become an annoying itch on the Ministry's back, and I still am, but something has changed they way I look at things. That something is Lily Evans.

I had only been face-to-face with her once, but that one time hit me like a brick wall. I hadn't been expecting her to be so, so … I don't even know how to describe her. Maybe that's why the past two months have been so confusing.

I have become withdrawn from the rest of the other Death Eaters, only coming to the Dark Lord's meetings to observe. I lost interest in raids, and participated in them less often. And I couldn't get Lily Evans out of my head.

The day after the raid at Diagon Alley, I followed her home after she left work. She lived in a reclusive area with a forest surrounding her house. I changed into my animagus form, a white stag, and spied on her. Through one of the windows, I saw her sitting in a large armchair, petting a cat on her lap. She was deep in thought.

The cat, though, had its head turned in my direction. I stiffened. The cat stared at me for a long period, and then jumped out of its owner's lap, and out of view. Lily followed the cat with a confused look on her face. I stood still for a while, wondering what would happen next, when the back door opened and the cat shot out of the house right at me with Lily following. I turned quickly and ran into the woods. Why was this crazy cat following me? Did it have a strange dog-complex or something?

I don't know how long I ran, but I eventually came to the meadow I had Apparated to earlier and ran past the large boulder before I turned around to check if the cat was still following me. I didn't see anything. I sighed, but something caught my eye. I looked up to the top of the boulder and almost jumped in shock. The cat was sitting there like a guard, glaring down at me. I glared right back. Stupid cat. A short gasp sounded from the bottom of the boulder and I turned my head to look at her.

Her face held an expression of wonder and amazement as she looked at me. I guess the Ministry didn't know about me being an illegal Animagus. She slowly started taking steps toward me, her hair moving gently in the wind. I was mesmerized by her and didn't shy away. She raised her hand and delicately touched my face. Her touch soothed me and I gazed into her eyes as she looked into mine. Warmth spread through my body as we continued to stare into each other's eyes. Hers were a beautiful emerald-green color and sparkled with interest as she searched my hazel ones. A small voice in the back of my mind began trying to persuade me to change back, for her to see it was me, but a muffled shaping noise from behind me captured my attention. I looked back, searching for the source. I had to leave. I didn't want to leave her out here in the open. Without looking back, I galloped away into the forest, changing back when I was under the cover of the trees and Apparated away.

After that encounter, I couldn't stay away from her. I followed her and spied on her for two full months. Sometimes she saw me when I was in my animagus form, and tried to come closer to me. I always withdrew before she could touch me again, in fear of losing control and changing back in front of her. I know I'm slowly becoming more and more attracted to her, which is very wrong, but what can I do?

The Dark Lord sensed that something was wrong, so he sent me away, wishing for me to clear my head and return. It surprised me. He never did this for other Death Eaters. I stopped going to her house and left the country for two weeks and returned on Halloween. I wanted my last day of peace to go out with a bang.

And so here I am in the Atrium of the Ministry, a guest at their Halloween ball. Of course, no one invited me. The ball is conveniently a costume ball, so I transfigured my glasses into a mask. There are a lot of people here that I can easily recognize, and a few people I want to avoid. Mad-Eye Moody hadn't even dressed for the occasion, where a long cloak and was keeping watch over the dancing people. Albus Dumbledore was also here, walking up to different people and asking them if they were the Minister, joking that it was almost impossible to tell who was who. I stayed in the back so he wouldn't approach me.

I was slowly growing bored. The feeling of pleasure that came with knowing I infiltrated the Ministry once again was wearing off. Either I was going to leave or I should make this ball more exciting. As I contemplated my next move, the people around the Atrium started to buzz in excitement. I turned my head to see what had the people's attention, and saw that the Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold, had come with her advisors, along with a group of Aurors protecting him. Dumbledore and Moody were already in front of the Minister. I moved in closer to listen.

"Ah, Minister. I was wondering when you would get here," said Dumbledore. "I've been walking around wondering if you were here already. This costume ball is very confusing."

Bagnold sniffed. "I sorry to inconvenience you, Dumbledore. You know I am quite busy." It was a well-known fact that the Minister didn't like Dumbledore at all, but it always seemed like Dumbledore was completely oblivious of her attitude towards him.

Dumbledore smiled and did a slight bow to her and walked away. Moody moved closer to the Minister and started talking quietly and quickly. I couldn't catch it. Their conversation ended as quickly as it began and the Minister walked away. Moody seemed content, but his expression turned to anger as he watched the Minister's bodyguards pass. He strode quickly over to where some of the Aurors were and pulled one to the side. I gasped in horror as I got a good view at who it was.

She looked stunning. She wore a long dark blue dress. It was strapless and it clung to her curves and fanned out below her waist to the floor. Her red hair was down and curled slightly at the ends and framed her face. She wore a blue, feathered mask also, but I didn't like it. It hid her face.

"What are you doing here Evans? I told you to take a break, not stand guard for the Minister at the Halloween ball!" Moody growled.

Lily Evans glared at him. "What, a ball on Halloween isn't a good enough break idea? And I'm not working. I just happened to walk in the same time the Minister did and just went over to say hello to some of the Aurors. You don't have to yell at me."

Moody seemed a little ruffled by this answer. "Well, ah, then, ah, go and enjoy yourself then. Don't go distracting the other Aurors though. Who knows what could happen tonight."

Lily snorted. "You worry too much. I think you're the one who needs a break." And with that, she spun around and marched off into the crowd. Moody was seething as he walked in the opposite direction. As soon as Moody was out of sight, I cautiously followed Lily.

I found her at the refreshment table. She most be really stressed out, because she had taken a glass of champagne and drained it all at once. She grabbed another and was about to drain that one as well, when I did the most stupid and idiotic thing. I went over and grabbed the glass out of her hand.

She stared at me in confusion, but it slowly turned to anger. "What the heck are you doing? I want to drink that, so give it back."

I relaxed on the inside when she didn't recognize me. On the outside, I gave a small smile and said, "Well, I don't think that getting drunk right in the beginning of a party is going to do you any good."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "What do you care? And besides, I can do whatever I want."

I chuckled. "Let's just say I don't like it when people drown their sorrows out in liquor."

She raised an eyebrow. "Who says I have sorrows I want to drown out?"

I just looked at her with an amused expression. She must have realized that I wasn't going to answer, so she asked, "Can I have my drink back?"

"Nope," and with that, I took a long drink of the champagne. I handed her the empty glass.

"You know, that isn't the only champagne glass. There are hundreds more right behind us. You taking one glass away from me isn't going to stop me." She countered.

I thought about it. "Well, you're right with that." I gave in a little. "Go on and drink away, get completely hammered, have some guy take advantage of you, get into a drunken brawl, or pass out. I won't get in your way."

"Are you going to be the one who takes advantage of me?" She asked.

"Who knows? We do have the rest of the night."

She looked at the champagne glass, then at me, and then back to the glass and sighed. "Fine, but I might change my mind."

I smiled at her as she put the glass back on the table. She hesitated as she pulled her hand away, and slowly turned away from the drinks.

"Why don't you dance with me, so you can get the thoughts of liquor out of your head?" I smiled again and held my hand out to her. She looked back at the drinks, sighed, and took my hand.

I pulled her out to the dance floor and put my other hand on her waist. The music was an average beat and we twirled around effortlessly for a while. After two songs of silence, she asked, "I never did catch your name."

"I never gave it."

She narrowed her eyes. "Do you know who I am?"

I smiled. "Of course I do Lily. You aren't someone that is easy to forget."

A flicker of intuition crossed her face. "Then we have met before. Don't you think it would be even if we both knew who the other was?"

"Lily, you do know me, so we are even. Its just that I don't think me telling you who I am and your possible reaction to be all that good." How would she react that she had spent the past 10 minutes in the company of a Death Eater?

We were silent for a long moment, just looking into each other's eyes, searching for answers. I suddenly realized that we were much closer to each other then before. The attraction I felt for her burned my body. I was lost in her eyes falling deeper and deeper into them. I couldn't hide this for any longer.

"Come with me," I whispered. She nodded, still staring deeply into my eyes. I pulled her away from the dance floor and away from the other people. We eventually made our way to the Fountain of Magical Brethren, where there was no one around. I looked around, making sure no one was watching and turned back to face her.

"Lily, I can't hide from you anymore. I've been hiding from you for weeks, and I just can't stay away from you. I need you to know who I am, even if you reject me." I dug my hand into my jacket and pulled out my wand. She was still staring into my eyes. I couldn't tell what she was feeling, but it didn't matter anymore.

I smiled at her as I raised my wand. "I think I'm in love with you, Lily Evans." And then I tapped my mask, changing it back into my glasses.

She eyes widened in surprise. I stared at her, waiting for more of a reaction. None came.

She smiled weakly and whispered. "You should have told me sooner."

And then she leaned forward and kissed me.

I'm sorry it took so long to write this. I had to paint my house yesterday and it took forever. I had to skip Algebra II and Chemistry homework to write this, so I am risking my grades for you all!

As an update from my weird life, I am one of two people that might get the lead in my school's musical this year, Urinetown! I won't find out till tomorrow though. I'll tell you if I get it or not next chapter. I am so nervous.

Please review! I love hearing from you all. I have this thing where if you review, I check out your profile and read your stories. If you want a new fan, review this story!