Chapter 7

James touched his cheek where Lily had kissed him as he watched her practically run back to her friends. When she reached them, they burst into laughter, and the three walked away.

"Oi! Prongise! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Sirius shouted, snapping his fingers in front of James' eyes.

"Huh?" James asked, shaking his head slightly, to clear his thoughts.

"Stop watching Evans like she's a godess. Because she deffinatly is not...Come to think of it she's not as pretty either." Sirius said. James whipped out his wand.

"Take that back." he snarled.

"I was joking Prongs. Sheesh. Calm down, mate."

James stowed his wand. He, Remus, and Sirius made their way to the Three Broomsticks. They saw Lily, Amanda, and Jasmine sitting at a table with three boys. James sighed.

"Prongsie, mate, she's not yours. She can go on a date with any boy she pleases. For now..." Sirius grinned.

"Sirius has a point. But I'm not sure I like that 'for now.'" Remus said warily.

"I know, but I just wish she would accept me more often." James said, sighing again.

-----

Lily got up to get more drinks, and Zach Heffernan walked up to her.

"Why do I hear you're going with James Potter to the Christmas Dance? Your suppose to be going with me." Zach said.

"For your information, I dumped you when I found you snogging Hallie Martin in the closet. Remember? Or is your brain to small?" Lily asked acidly.

"Your coming with me." Zach said, grabbing her wrist.

"Try not." Lily said, wretching her arm from his grip.

"Potter's the one who put me in the hospital wing."

"He said he didn't do it, and I trust him. He usually owns up to his pranks."

"Truthio Revlia!" Lily whispered. It hit Zach.

"Now, tell me the truth. Who hexed you and put you in the Hospital Wing?" Lily asked.

"Matt Groning." Zach answered instantly.

"I see. Well, that's all I need." Lily said, saying the counter-spell.

Before he could collect what happened, Lily stalked back to her friends and their dates, Frank Longbottom, Mark Anthony, and Taylor Corner.

"Hey Lils." Mark said as she sat back down.

"Hi."

"What happened over there?"

Lily grumbled before answering."I was suppose to go the Christmas Ball with that prat, but then I caugh him making out with Hallie Martin in a closet on the fifth floor. So I dumped him, but he's bugging me to go with him. Again."

"Well, maybe you'd like to go with me?" Mark asked, flashing Lily a brilliant smile.

"I can't. I'm going with James." Lily replied before taking a sip of butterbeer.

"Potter? James Potter? I thought you hated him. You've always told me what a prat he was." Mark said in astonishment.

"Yes, well...That was before I actually got to know him." Lily said, taking another swig of butterbeer.

Mark stared at her in disbelief.

Lily's watch started beeping.

"Would you look at the time? Gotta go." Lily said, jumping up. Amanda and Jasmine followed suit. They rushed out the door and hid in the ally way. As soon as the boys were gone, they went back inside and plopped down and the Marauder's table.

Remus looked up in surprise.

"Hello. To what do we owe this pleasant surprise?" Sirius asked.

"Those boys were boring. And a bit pratty. Mark wasn't too nice about James when I told him that I was going with James to the ball." Lily said.

"I see. So you've come crawling back to us?" Sirius asked.

"Yes." Lily said, kicking Sirius out of his seat so she could sit next to James. Sirius picked himself up off the floor and took Lily's seat, inbetween Amanda and Jasmine. Jasmine was sitting extremly close to Remus. James casually threw his arm over Lily's shoulder.

Lily rolled her eyes, but flushed. Amanda sent her a knowing glance, which was returned with a death glare. The door opened, and Frank, Mark, and Taylor came back in, with three other girls.

"Those prats! They had other dates after us!" Amanda cried.

"How rude. At least we'd spend all day with the same girl, even if the next day we had a different one..." Sirius said. Amanda glared at him, so he grabbed her hand. She rolled her eyes at this, but didn't pull her hand away.

James checked his watch."We have to go. There are some things we need to pick up before we go back up to school."

"Okay." Lily said. James, Sirius, and Remus got up. James kissed Lily on the cheek. Her friends were shocked when she did nothing but blush. As the door to the pub swung shut, Amanda turned to her friend.

"Lily, you have changed. But...in a good way."

"Gee, thanks." Lily said sarcastically.

"No, seriously. You've changed in a good way." Jasmine said, agreeing with Amanda.

"Let's get back to school. I have homework." Lily said.

"Term just started!" Amanda and Jasmine cried in unison. Lily chose to ignore them. They all went up to Lily's Head Room. When they got there, they saw Melody, the ghost of a fifteen year old girl, floating around Lily's room.

"Hey Melody. Something up?" Lily asked. She and Melody had become best friends from the moment they met, two years ago. People often laughed at Lily for being best friends with a ghost, but Lily ignored them. Melody had been there for Lily when no one else was. Amanda, Jasmine, and Lily had been in a huge fight, and Lily had come across the ghost girl.

"Yes, actually there is." Melody said with an accent. She only spoken spanish when she came here, and when she had learned English, she spoke with an accent.

"What?"

"Vell, you see...That Potter boy..." Melody started.

"What about James?" Lily asked, her eyes hardening.

"Vell, I saw 'im vith zree ozer boys, and zey vere teasing some 'irst years." Melody said.

"He's going to pay." Lily said, storming out of the room.

"He'll die." Amanda predicted.

"How do you know?" Jasmine asked.

"No one can survive the wrath of Lily Evans." Amanda said, shaking her head sadly.