Lucky for all of you, I temporarily smashed through my writer's block, and have a new idea going. Hopefully my inspiration keeps me rolling!

Disclaimer: sigh I WISH I were JK Rowling. I'd be rich, at least, let alone talented and incredible.

SEVEN

The evening came in a blur. Before Lily knew it, she was swept up in greetings, questions about decoration placement, and opinions on appetizers. She was constantly flustered, and it began to show when her face became permanently red.

Jenna thrust a cup into her hand. "Drink," she commanded, looking Lily sternly in the eye. Lily smelled it, and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"How strong did you make this?"

"It's not strong at all." Jenna straightened her skirt, looking very much the pureblood, spoiled daughter she was. "It's Russian."

Lily frowned slightly. Russian vodka meant–

"Ah, Lily! And–Jenna, yes?" Eva came forward, dressed in a floor length, incredibly tight charcoal gown. "So good to see you."

Lily forced herself not to scowl. The charming, accented, gorgeous Russian model had seen them many times that day, and always had the same greeting. It was starting to seriously annoy her.

"The vodka is a gift," Eva continued, smiling her perfect grin. "James has always been a good friend, it was only natural. You must tell me how it tastes."

Jenna nudged her in the ribs when Lily didn't immediately take a sip. Glaring from the corner of her eye at her friend, Lily raised the glass of vodka and juice to her lips. The alcohol was subtle, but Lily swallowed with difficulty anyway.

"It's quite good," she said sweetly to Eva.

"I'm so glad." Eva excused herself, and flounced over to another couple standing in the great hall that was decked in red and gold banners. Lily rolled her eyes when she was safely away.

"Does she have to be so fake?" Lily whispered heatedly, grimacing at the cup she still held.

Jenna sighed and took it from her. "Oh, Lily, have fun for once. She's being nice."

"She's being a snob," Lily corrected. She saw movement at the top of the stairs, and saw Alicia descending in a flattering, deep purple dress that fell just above her knees. With hair pulled away from her face and curled around her eyes, she glowed.

"Where did you get that dress?" Jenna squealed when Alicia joined them on the floor. "It's stunning!"

Alicia blushed. "It was a Christmas gift," she said softly, looking to Lily, eyes pleading.

"Alicia looks wonderful of course," Lily said promptly. "But I know Remus could appreciate it more." She pointed across the floor, where said boy was standing with Sirius and Peter in dress robes, drinking alcohol-laced beverages and laughing.

Jenna watched her go, eyes moving up and down her shape. "She really likes him," she murmured to Lily.

"Is it so bad?" Lily asked in return.

"No. Just–Remus?" Jenna shrugged. "I never understood her attraction to him."

"He's a good person."

"But…" Jenna bit her lip. "Ah, never mind." She drank again from her glass.

Tracy, James' aunt, came up to them then, wearing a pretty red dress and black jacket. "Lily, there you are. Could you come up and escort James down to the party? Then the thanks and such will get on, and after that–"

"The party, of course." Lily had been over the schedule so many times it was ingrained to memory. "Sure."

She followed Tracy up the staircase into a little sitting room, where James and Brian were sitting and drinking. Lily entered just as they shared a laugh.

"Oh, there they are." Brian stood, blocking Lily's view of James, as he came to greet his wife.

Lily felt her heart skip a beat when she saw him. His unlawful hair was finally smoothed down, and his glasses weren't askew on his face. Dressed in smart dress robes with gold accents, he was the picture of nobility and pureblood inheritance.

He also stood, and when finally laid eyes on her, had the same expression she was sure was plastered on her own face. While she hadn't thought too much of her dress, scarlet with a thin black sash, Jenna and Alicia had only gushed about how gorgeous she was.

It paid off, obviously.

"We'll go get everyone organized," Brian said, interrupting the staring contest. "When you hear the–"

"Trumpets," Lily managed to say, nodding to James' aunt and uncle. "Thanks so much."

"No, thank you, Lily," Tracy replied, leaning down to kiss her cheek. Then she went to the same to her nephew, while Brian hugged her.

"You're everything he's made you out to be." His voice was soft in her ear, like the endearing tone of a man to his granddaughter. Pure love and affection and honesty.

Feeling her face aflame, she ducked her head as they left the room.

Silence.

Lily was scared to look at him and see his expression again; it was bad enough that she had been staring at him too.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "Lily… You look lovely."

She drew a deep breath and looked up. He was still standing by the sofa, hands tucked in his pockets. Nervous.

A tiny giggle escaped her lips.

"Are you laughing at me?" he demanded, actual disbelief in his tone.

"You're nervous," she said simply, as if it explained everything.

He raised one brow. "You saw how many people were down there."

"James, you weren't even nervous for your OWLs. Why be nervous about a party?"

He smiled thinly. "I see your point."

"More than you've ever seen before," she said wryly.

"Well, that's not because of my lack of attempts." He walked towards her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "You were always too good for me," he said quietly.

She frowned at him. "I thought the message was you were too good for me, and that's why I should be honoured to go out with you."

His eyes darkened. "I was an idiot, Lily. Of course I thought you were the biggest, stuck-up know-it-all I'd ever met, because I was angry that I didn't get what I wanted."

Before she could open her mouth to insult him, he placed his finger over her lips, silencing her. "But since January–" He swallowed hard, and her chest went cold. January would always mean her near-death, their life-changing event. "Since then, it's different. I don't want to simply be with you, Lily. I want you to be safe, and happy, and have everything you want. Even if that means not being with me." He removed his finger.

Lily stared at him in complete and utter shock for one whole second before she started to cry.

James' eye widened, startled by her sudden shift in mood. "Lily, no, I'm sorry to upset you… Don't cry."

She shook her head, at a loss of words, and felt his arms go around her. She tried to avoid crying on his dress shirt, but couldn't. She would clean it after.

He held her for a long time as she let her tears overflow, and didn't say a word. When she felt like she could speak without her voice cracking, she whispered, "Thank you, James."

He looked down at her wet face. "For what?"

"For being completely different on the inside from what you show on the outside."

He laughed, relieved she was still her spunky self. "Well, I do hide my sensitive side very well. Bad for my image, you know."

She scoffed, and withdrew from him. "I must be a mess."

Her face was fairly red and blotchy, and her eyes matched, but he had never seen anyone more beautiful. "Nah," he said. "Nothing a tissue can't fix."

He conjured one and handed it to her, making her smile weakly.

Once she had wiped her eyes and fixed her makeup, she whipped out her wand and cleaned away the mess she had made of his good shirt.

"All better." She sounded satisfied, like she had written a good essay and was quite pleased with the results.

"Now, when–"

An ear-piercing trumpet interrupted his sentence, so terrible that they both clapped their hands over their ears. It stopped, and then started again in a better tune.

James offered her his arm. "Shall we, Miss Evans?"

She smiled. "We shall."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lily struggled past all the raging students, trying to reach the doors that led to the gardens for a breath of fresh air. The bass of the music thumped even from outside, but at least she could breathe. A couple was seated on the bench, wrapped up in his jacket, snogging like no end. Disgusted, Lily kept walking, shivering in the winter night without her coat.

The party was a huge success, as expected; every Gryffindor above fifth year was present now, as well as many other students from Hogwarts; Jacob, the only Slytherin invited, had, of course, left.

Thinking of him made her angry and sad all at once, so she forced herself to think of something else. Toying with the garnet around her neck, she looked up at the sky, which was clear of clouds and the moon shone brilliantly. She saw the silhouette of someone on a broom, and knew it must be the security, mostly members of the Order of the Phoenix. With the intrusion, Dumbledore had sent his fellows to watch over the house, in case anyone should try an attack with so many students under one roof.

It made Lily feel sick, to think that Death Eaters could be scoping the house this instant, thinking of the best way to murder children. Unsettled by the thought, and afraid of losing her toes, she turned to make her way back to the house.

"Evening, Evans."

She jumped, and slipped on patch of ice at the sound of his voice. He reached out and caught her elbow before she could fall, but has succeeded in irritating her.

"Hello, Black." Even though she was starting to thaw for James, Sirius was still as annoying and pig-headed as always.

"Enjoying yourself?"

"I was." She shivered, and retracted her arm from his grip. "I'd like to go back inside."

"Wait."

"I'm freezing, Black," she snapped. "And you nearly made me fall and crack my head open. I'm not waiting."

"Lily…" Something in his voice changed. "Please."

Concerned, she turned her head. "What?"

He gestured for her to follow him, and she did, reluctantly, teeth chattering.

He led her down a short path, to a little dead end bench for lovebirds. There, lying at the base of the bench, was a body.

Her breath caught in her throat. She had just been thinking…

"It's the Killing Curse," Sirius said quietly. "And he's still warm."

Lily's skin crawled, but not from the cold. "What do we do?"

"We have to tell Brian and Tracy, and fast."

"Oh, you're not telling anyone anything."

Lily spun around, her hand reaching for her wand, just as the Stunning spell hit her dead in the chest.

Oh, I couldn't let a party go uninterrupted. Please let me know what you think.

Heiress