Lily was wearing a floor length green dress, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders in soft curls. She didn't realise how many of the adolescent boys within the room stared a her bottom as she moved or watched her lips as she chatted to her friends. She did, however, notice when James Potter gazed at her face lovingly from across the room. It made her angry to watch him run his hand through his hair, carefully keeping it's perfect state of dishevelment. His superior arrogance made her skin crawl and she took her eyes from him and resumed her conversation.

Almost a minute later she looked up again. He wasn't there. Her sigh of relief died on her lips as she felt a warm hand on the small of her back. She could smell a familiar scent hanging in the air around her.

"I must say, you look ravishingly beautiful tonight Evans."

"Potter! What have I told you about invading my personal space," Lily huffed and whipped round to face him.

"I'm sorry Evans, but how is a man meant to control himself when a woman looks so perfect." His voice was a soft caress, but Lily's face only hardened.

"Leave me alone Potter!"

Lily turned , the back of her dress lightly brushing his shins and her hair flicking over her shoulder. She had barely gone a few strides when his unruffled voice called out to the room.

"Oi Evans!"

Everyone turned to look at the two of them and Lily groaned internally.

"What Potter?" She spat venomously.

"I just wanted to ask-"

"NO POTTER, FOR THE FINAL TIME NO!" Lily's voice was harsh as she practically screamed the words at him.

James simply smiled as Lily crossed the room swiftly and left the party. His golden brown eyes followed her bottom as it sashayed away from him. His smile spread to a grin as the noise of the party resumed around him and Alice shot him an icy stare.

Lily sat quietly on the rug in front of the common room fire, her dress splayed around her and her shoes sat beside her feet. She held a good book in one hand and a bar of Honeyduke's chocolate in the other. As much as she hated James Potter's vulgar and arrogant personality she couldn't deny that she found him extremely handsome. There wasn't a girl in their year that didn't. His hair was unruly, but luscious and his body was perfectly toned from his hours on the quidditch pitch. She hated it when he came close to her because she couldn't help but notice the soft and intriguing colour of his eyes; almost too light to be golden brown, if possible they were a warm yellow. They often held her entranced with their wonderful depths. Unfortunately, when he spoke the spell was broken and she was reminded of just why she hated this boy.

As she sat immersed in her book the portrait swung open to reveal most of the Gryffindors that had attended Slughorn's party. Lily watched from the corner of her eye as they filed in: some went straight upstairs to bed while others milled around in the common room talking to their friends or catching up on homework. Alice came over to sit on the settee behind Lily.

"I wondered where you disappeared to," She sighed kicking off her shoes and rubbing her eyes.

"I don't particularly like Slughorn's parties at the best of times, so with the added factor of Potter there it was too much for me." Lily turned to face her friend and closed her book.

"Remind me again why you go to those parties even though you don't like Slughorn." Alice took a piece of the chocolate Lily had offered her.

"I need the help and contacts Slughorn has to offer and the only way to get them is to be nice to him and attend his stupid parties."

"I don't see the point really, you're quite capable of making a name for yourself without Slughorn's help, Lily." Alice offered, a sweet smile gracing her slightly chubby features.

"Thank you Alice, but it would be easier with his help."

Alice was silent for a minute whilst eating another piece of chocolate and then tentatively broached a different topic.

"It was strange to see Potter at one of Sluggie's parties."

"Well, maybe he's realised he isn't as perfect as he thinks he is and needs Slughorn's help." With that Lily got up, picking up her shoes and book. "I'm going to bed, goodnight Alice."

"'Night Lily."

Alice sat contemplating her friends departure and finished off the chocolate bar whilst the fire burnt itself out.

Thank you, gracelyn94 and Batamut for adding me to your story alerts and gracelyn94 for reviewing.