Author's Note: Hey everyone! I just wanted to apologize for the delay in my writing. I'm attending college, and this semester was brutal with taking up my time. I'm on break now, so I will try to update my story as much as possible. I, for one, am so touched and honored by anyone who has taken their time to read my story. This is my first one, and I'm just so happy I can share my love for the HP universe with you.

This chapter may be a little drier than the ones I have been writing, but I really wanted to introduce my new character, Louis, in a way that would showcase his own struggles within himself and his journey to being proud of who he is. Thank you all again for your support!

Chapter 8: Date

"You are to meet me at the entrance of the Great Hall at 8 for the dance. Do not be late."

Lily looked down at the letter Peters had sent her this morning. Incredulously, the git still believed she was going to the Christmas Ball with him. Maybe she should've hit him with a stronger hex.

She began walking to class, still trying to wrap her head around the idiocy that was her ex-boyfriend. As she turned down the corridor to Charms, she stopped abruptly, eyeing Peters and his gang of simple-minded trolls traumatizing a shy boy named, Louis. He was a Gryffindor in her year, but Lily had never spoken to him.

"Get up, you sorry excuse for a wizard," Peters snarled, kicking Louis further to the ground. "Don't you think "witch" would be a term to use?" Jake Pearce snarked. All the trolls began laughing maliciously.

Louis desperately reached for his wand, but Peters was too fast. "I don't think so, you fairy. Expelliarmus!" Peters spat out, casting Louis' wand across the corridor, near Lily's feet. Ryan gave Louis one last kick before pointing his wand directly at Louis' face. "Now then, let's fix that dainty little mug of yours, shall we?" Peters threatened.

Louis looked up with fire in his eyes, not accepting defeat. "From the looks of it, you clearly still haven't gotten your pus-filled mug fixed. Maybe you should focus on your own grotesque face," Louis spat out.

Lily saw a dark shadow cast over Peters' face. It was a darkness even she took a step back from. "You'll pay for that one, you flamer," Peters yelled. Lily felt herself reacting instantly. She yanked her wand out and screamed, "Stupefy!" Peters went flying backwards.

Lily grabbed Louis' wand and rushed over to him. "Are you alright?" Lily asked, handing him his wand. Louis took it, gratefully. "Aye, I'm alright. Thanks to you." Lily turned slightly red. "Ah, don't mention it." She helped him up to his feet, but before she could blink, she heard Louis yell, "Behind you!"

Lily moved out of the way just in time for Peters' hex to soar past her ear, feeling the heat that it had procured. "You daft wanker!" Lily spit out. She began to focus her wand, but before she could even mutter a spell, Louis hit Peters with a perfect Bat-Bogey Hex.

There was a loud squeal from Peters before big black bats started flying out from his nose. Peters quickly ran from the corridor. Lily laughed and stared down Peters' cronies, all of whom now looked a bit nervous. "I suggest if any of you don't want to end up with the same mug as your pathetic mate, you'd leave MY new mate alone."

All three of the morons glanced at each other, unsure of what to do now that their leader had run off, crying like a baby. Slowly, they passed by Lily and Louis, muttering threats as they went.

Lily rolled her eyes at them, but made sure to watch her back this time. After she knew they were gone, she turned to Louis with a huge smile on her face. "That was a bloody brilliant Bat-Bogey Hex! Hell, even my mum would be proud." Louis turned pink and muttered his thanks.

"No, thank you! You saved me from getting hexed," Lily said, gratefully. Louis smiled, "I guess, now, we're even." Lily smiled back and held out her hand. "Lily Potter, I don't think we've ever formally met." Louis grasped her hand and shook. "Louis Collins. Pleased to meet you, Lily."

Lily felt instantly grateful. Not only did Louis save her from a nasty hex, he treated her like a normal human being. She was beyond exhausted with all the so-called "friends" she had obtained because of her parents, and the malicious enemies she somehow had obtain from her short relationship with Peters.

"Well," Louis began nervously, "you take care. See you." He began to walk towards Charms, but Lily rushed after him. "Hey now, don't think you're getting away that easily. I saved your back, you saved mine. We're practically mates already," Lily said. Louis glanced at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, but I like to keep to myself here." Lily laughed a little, "Well I hate to break it to you, Louis, but I get my stubbornness from my mum. You're stuck with me now."

Louis looked taken aback. "You're not embarrassed to be seen with me?" Lily looked at him, surprised. "Why would I be embarrassed of you?" Lily asked. Louis turned a deep red. "Well, you heard what Peters called me," Louis said, sadly.

Lily stared at him. "And?" Lily asked. Louis stopped and looked at her. "You're not going to judge me?" He asked. Lily laughed. "Louis, what century do you think we live in? No one cares if you root for the same Quidditch team." Louis turned even redder. "You won't tell anyone, will you?" Louis pleaded.

Lily looked confused again. "Why is that something you want to hide? You should be proud of who you are," Lily stated. Louis took a deep breath. "Look, you just met me. There are things about my past that give me a compelling reason to keep myself in the dark. So, as my new mate, can I trust you not to tell?" Louis asked. Lily took a deep breath, "I still think this is complete bollocks, but yes, you can trust me."

Louis gave Lily a genuine smile. "Thank you, Lily." Lily smiled back, "No problem, mate." As they entered Charms, Louis asked, excitedly, "So, were you really the one that used the Furnunculus curse on Peters?" "I see news travels fast around Hogwarts," Lily replied. "Well, this is a building full of gossipy teenagers," Louis stated, "speaking of which were all surprised that you hexed the apparent love of your life."

Lily dropped her books on the table, looking incredulously up at Louis. "What on Earth are you talking about?" Louis laughed at Lily's expression, "Apparently, Peters has been telling everyone in our year how obsessed you are with him." Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I swear, I'm going to murder the bloody git," Lily huffed out. Louis laughed again. "Ah, don't worry, all the sane people know the truth."

Lily rolled her eyes, "Oh that's great, guess that means only me and you, then." Louis smiled and began to reply, but Professor Flitwick started the lesson. Lily was becoming increasingly frustrated with Peters and his lies. First, he cornered her that day she ran into him. Then, he sent that ridiculous note about the dance. Now, he's telling people she's in love with him? How utterly deranged is this guy? Lily just didn't get it.

After the lesson, Louis walked with Lily towards the Gryffindor Common Room, but Lily remained lost in thought. "Hey, are you okay?" Louis asked her, as they approached the Fat Lady. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I'm just trying to figure out what Peters is up to," Lily replied.

"What do you mean?" Louis asked. Lily explained about the day Peters cornered her and then, about the letter he sent her, demanding she be his date to the Christmas Ball. "I know he's up to something, I just can't figure out what it is," Lily said, confused. "Maybe he wants you back," Louis suggested. Somehow that didn't stick with Lily. "No, my gut tells me there's more to it than that. I feel uneasy, like he's trying to ruin me," Lily concluded.

Lily looked around her. Many witches in her year were staring at her, whispering to one another. Some weren't even trying to hide the disdain they felt towards Lily for not leaving their Ryan alone. Bloody Hell, what was it with these girls and Ryan Peters? He had almost every girl in their year pining after him, believing he was this amazing wizard.

It didn't take Lily long to figure out what kind of guy Peters really was. Ryan took his blood status, and the blood status of other witches and wizards, as deciding factors on who he associates himself with. It made Lily sick when he used the term "mudblood" so freely in front of her. Their relationship ended not even a day after his comments against other witches and wizards with "inferior bloodlines."

Lily rolled her eyes, again. "And the stares continue. I really wish these girls would get a hobby!" Lily said, loudly. Some of the girls jumped and scurried off, while others only smirked and continued their passing judgement of Lily. "Ugh, they're never going to leave me alone. This year is going just splendidly," Lily sighed, rubbing her temples.

Suddenly, Louis perked up. "Hey Lily, I have a great idea. One that will help keep my secret and get everyone off your back!" Louis exclaimed. Lily looked at him, pointedly. "How do you propose we do that?" Lily asked.

"Well, for starters, what do you say about being my date for the Christmas Ball?" Louis smiled, playfully.