Please, don't kill me. I have been busy…yeah…busy…with my other stories. So…I'M SORRY! This chapter is dedicated…to…Brittany. Yeah…enjoy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Fourteen

A Yuletide Gathering

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lily was let out on Wednesday. She spent all day Thursday lying around the Common Room resting. Friday, Lily wished she had stayed in bed. All the teachers piled on homework for the holidays. It was early-December. Saturday was the big dance and that Monday they went home.

On Saturday, James was getting ready in his old dorm. Madison, Cara, and Lily had taken over the Head's Dorm and kicked James out.

"Hey Pads…" James began.

"Yeah Prongs?" Sirius replied as he fixed his hair.

"Come here. I need to tell you this in private. You come, too Moony." James said as Sirius and Remus walked over to him.

"What's going on?" Remus asked as he adjusted his robes.

"I'm going to ask Lily to marry me." James said, grinning.

"When? Tonight?" Sirius asked excitedly.

"No. Not tonight. I don't even have a ring yet. I am going to propose Christmas Day." James explained.

"Are you sure she'll say yes?" Remus asked.

"Of course she'll say yes! Why wouldn't she?" James asked incredulously. Little did he know that at that very moment, the girls were discussing the very same subject.

"So Madison, do you think you and Remus will get married after you graduate?" Cara asked as she put on her red dress.

"I don't know. It all depends on whether or not he asks me." Madison replied. "What about you and Sirius?"

"I don't know. I can't help the feeling he is going to shag me and leave me. You know, wham, bam, thank you ma'am, now get out." Cara said, sighing.

"Sirius wouldn't do that to you. He loves you. I can tell." Lily interjected.

"Maybe." Cara replied.

"Hey Lils, what about you and James?" Madison asked.

"Oh I don't know. I doubt he'll ask me. We'll probably just go our separate ways after Hogwarts. Not that I want to, of course. I just don't know if James would want to be with me forever." Lily explained.

"But, if he asked you, would you say yes?" Cara asked.

"I don't know. I would have to be in that situation. Oh. We are supposed to be meeting the boys in five minutes." Lily said as she put the finishing touches on her makeup. She used a concealment charm to cover the final bruise on her face. All of the others had faded by now, but one small bruise on her cheek remained.

"What's the rush then?" Cara laughed as they made their way to the Gryffindor Tower. The Marauders were going to meet the girls outside the Portrait of the Fat Lady then accompany them to the Great Hall in which the dance was taking place. Ten minutes later, the girls arrived in front of the Gryffindor Common Room. Just as they walked up, the Marauders climbed out of the Portrait Hole. James was in the lead and when his eyes fell on Lily, his heart stopped.

"Lily, you look amazing." James breathed as he walked up to Lily. She was wearing a gorgeous emerald dress, the same color as her eyes.

"So do you." Lily replied as James offered his arm out to her and they made their way to towards the Great Hall.

"Madison…I…you're…wow." Was all Remus could get out before Madison kissed him quickly on the lips.

"Same to you." Madison said softly. "Let's go." Madison said as she drug a still dazed Remus down the hall. Cara and Sirius were the only ones left.

"You look great, Sirius." Cara began.

"So do you…but something's missing." Sirius said as he walked a circle around her.

"Really? What?" Cara asked looking down at her dress.

"This." He said simply as he pulled out a red rose with most of the stem cut off and put it behind her ear, holding her hair back. Before she could thank him, he bent down and kissed her passionately. "I love you."

"I love you, too. The ball is about to start. We should go." Cara said softly.

"Alright." Sirius said, kissing her forehead. He then offered his arm to her like the previous Marauders had done. Cara slipped her arm in his and they made their way to the Great Hall.

There were half a dozen twelve-foot tall Christmas trees adorning the Hall. One for each House, each decorated with the Houses' colors and ornaments. There was also a tree for the teachers and one for the ghosts. The tables were arranged in a circle around the middle of the floor. There were icicles and lights and all kinds of decorations around the Hall. The garden had been lit up and had a massive warming charm on it so that those going outside would not freeze. The ceiling had been charmed to snow, but the snow evaporated just before reaching the heads of students.

"Wow. This is beautiful. This was a great idea, James." Lily said as she entered the Hall.

"Yes, it is beautiful." James said while looking directly at Lily.

"James. Seriously. Look at this. This was all your idea and it is amazing." Lily said as James put his arm around her shoulder.

"I can only give credit to my inspiration." James replied.

"And what was that?" Lily asked as she sat down at a table.

"You." James whispered in her ear. Lily blushed as Madison and Remus walked up to them.

"Brilliant idea, James." Madison said cheerfully as she glanced around the Hall.

"Yeah, Prongs. This was a great idea." Remus agreed.

"So mate, when's this ball going to start?" Sirius asked as he walked up with Cara.

"Soon. Oh, speak of the Devil." James replied as Dumbledore walked onto the stage.

"Good evening. I would like to welcome you to our first ever Christmas Ball. I would like to thank our Head Boy for organizing this and coming up with the idea. Also, I would like to thank the Prefects for putting it all together. And now, without further ado, the Head Girl and Boy shall begin the Ball with a dance." Dumbledore said. James smiled at Lily and offered his hand out to her. She accepted it and he led her out to the dance floor. The band came out and began playing a medium paced song. James began to twirl Lily around the floor with expert grace. Lily just smiled as James led her around the floor. Halfway through the song, the Prefects joined them. When the song ended, students flooded the floor ready to dance the night away.

After a few more songs, James led Lily out to the rose garden. The rose bushes were lit up and snow was falling down lightly. There was an invisible barrier keeping the garden warm so the snow could not get in.

"So, Lily flower. Are you excited about spending Christmas with me and the Marauders?" James asked as they sat down on a bench.

"I'm actually quite nervous. What if your parents don't like me? I mean, they are both Pureblood and I'm just a muggle-born." Lily confessed.

"My parents will love you. They are not like most Purebloods. They are not at all like Sirius's parents. They feel that everyone is equal. Don't worry about trying to impress them. They will love you for you. I mean, bloody Hell, they love Sirius!" James assured her.

"Alright. Then in that case, I am thrilled about Christmas. What are you getting me?" Lily asked. James just smiled.

"I'm not telling you. It's a secret." He replied.

"Alright then. I'm not going to tell you what I'm getting you." Lily replied haughtily.

"I want to be surprised. But Lils, you really don't have to get me anything. Just you finally warming up to me is enough." James admitted.

"I love you, James. And I want you to know, that if last year someone had told me I would be dating James Potter, I would have owled St. Mungo's and have them checked into the psych ward." Lily confessed.

"I know. Hell, I would have hated me, too. But I have always cared for you. Since fifth year when you stood up for Snivellus. That showed me how wonderful of a person you were. I think that's when I fell in love with you." James said kindly. Then, he leaned down and kissed her softly. "We should get back to the dance." James said, standing up.

"Okay. You really are a good dance, I hope you know." Lily said.

"I know. It's part of the Potter Charm, my dear." James said arrogantly. Lily just laughed.

They made their way back inside where their friends were dancing to a slow song. Even Peter, who had a date from Hufflepuff. Remus and Madison were slowly swaying to the music. Sirius and Cara were sitting at the table snogging.

Too soon it seemed to the students of Hogwarts, it was time for the final song. It was a slow romantic tune. It was a song that would make you want to fall in love even if you were in love. Madison laid her head against Remus's chest as they swayed to the music. Cara and Sirius had broken away and were also slowly moving to the beat. James and Lily were dancing…and kissing each other quite passionately. Minerva was standing next to Dumbledore by the stage as she watched everyone dance.

"Albus, would you ever believe that Lily Evans and James Potter would ever see through their differences?" She asked.

"If I did not believe they could find the good side in each other, I would not have made them Heads." Dumbledore replied.

"Yes. I must admit, I never imagined Mr. Potter would ever lower his ego to her standards. I knew you had some reason in making him head and not Mr. Lupin." McGonagall said, smiling.

"If Mr. Lupin had been Head with Miss Evans, it would have created tension between him and Mr. Potter. Not to mention Miss Cooper may never have seen the true Remus Lupin." Dumbledore explained.

"'Tis truly amazing what can happen in seven years. As much as it pains me to say it, I shall miss the Marauders. Hogwarts will not be the same." She confessed, her eyes tearing up.

"Now, now, Minerva. I assure after the Holidays and the boys have gone back to terrorizing the school, you shall eat your words." Dumbledore said comfortingly. McGonagall chuckled as she wiped her eyes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So sorry it took me so long to get that one out. I promise I will try to get some more out soon. And I apologize again for having to put Civil Blood and Elegance on hiatus. Please forgive me and leave me nice prettyful reviews.