I'm so sorry it's taken such a long time to get this one out. The party itself originally wasn't anywhere near as long as this, but I didn't like it so I kept changing it. As a result of my dislike of the party and other commitments rescently it's taken me ages. The story is, however drawing to a close in the next few chapters. Summer is almost over and the four students are about to be hit with something... crushing? haha.

Disclaimer - character's are not mine.

Chapter Seven - Party Abandonment

As expected of a rich, old, pureblood family, the Potter house was more the Potter mansion. With great sweeping lawns out the front and a huge two story house sitting on a slight hill in the middle of the property, it was the very picture of wealth and prestige.

The three friends found themselves uncomfortable as house-elves took their coats and guided them inside the massive building. The entrance hall was just as elaborate as the house looked and Sirius, Remus and Lily found themselves standing awkwardly for a minute as everyone else was formally greeting one another, robes the very latest in fashion and smiles all painfully fake.

"There you lot are!" The familiar voice of the Potter heir was heard behind them. They turned around to see James politely pushing his way through the crowd towards them, a slight smile curving the corner of his lips.

"James, mate. I was beginning to wonder if you were even going to make an appearance." Sirius grinned boyishly as the black haired teen came to a stop before them.

"Argh, I was caught up with some Ministry people, boring old coots." He rolled his eyes as his friends smiled appreciatively.

"Poor baby." Lily grinned at him, completely unsympathetic.

"Well I do love your sympathy for me," he replied dryly with a bland look at her smirking face.

"Well, just remember later tonight when you're asking yourself what the hell we're doing here; you were the one to invite us." Remus said and Sirius and Lily both snorted loudly.

"Believe me; the thoughts are already crossing my mind." James said, a large grin on his face as he felt the tension leaving his shoulders and a relaxed smile crossing his lips.

As a standard rule, James had never really enjoyed these function dinners that his parents forced him into attending. They normally consisted of the richest and dumbest people. If someone wasn't sprouting off about how much money they had, they were shamelessly sucking up so someone else in the hopes of future favors. It really was quite sickening.

"Come on, let's go stand in a corner, with any luck no one will come near us and we'll not have to talk to any of the idiots here." James said with and led his friends off to the side, ignoring all the people trying to catch his eye in the hope of conversing with him.

They had only been standing there for ten minutes before Sirius finally couldn't help himself and began laughing. Upon noticing the odd looks he was receiving from the three he explained himself amongst his amusement.

"Everyone's been staring at us the moment we came inside. It wasn't so bad until Jamie-boy here came over to us. It's really quite funny."

Remus rolled his eyes at his simple minded friend as Lily and James looked around to confirm what he had said. Upon noticing the looks of shock, confusion and – on the faces of those who went to Hogwarts with them – disgust, they both glanced at each other and smiled.

"Well this is probably the most interesting thing to have happened at the Potter Annual Dinner since, well, ever." James said with a rueful smile.

The four slipped into casual conversation as the night progressed. They attempted to ignore most of the odd staring they were receiving, until Lily and Sirius got annoyed and began sending death glares at those who openly stared. James and Remus just grinned with amusement as people looked away, blushes staining their cheeks.

The sound of a bell chiming caused confusion amongst the three as they looked at the other guests turning and beginning to move towards the large wooden doors that had suddenly opened.

"That's the dinner bell," James explained, turning towards the door like everyone else was doing.

"You announce dinner with a bell?" Lily asked dryly, eyebrow raised in slight disbelief.

"Yeah, it's 'how things are done' here." James rolled his eyes as he did quotations in the air. A snort of amusement was his only answer.

"James, we need to talk." A voice suddenly said off to the side. All four pairs of eyes snapped over to the three teenagers in their own year that stood stiffly to the side.

"What?" James asked, confusion colouring his voice.

"We need to talk to you, now." The teen repeated, sounding strained.

Glancing at his friends, James rolled his eyes.

"I'll be back in a minute, just go on inside and you'll be seated." He said, pointing towards the doors.

He turned to the three suck-ups and followed them as they walked towards the entrance door. He didn't turn back to his friends, who glanced at each other before following and moving into the shadows of a large sculpture. Once they'd stopped, the three newcomers rounded on James with large grins on their faces.

"Ok James, you've got to tell us; what's the plan?" One asked eagerly.

"What plan?" James asked in confusion.

"The plan with Black, Evans and Lupin of corse!" Another exclaimed.

"What the hell are you talking about?" James asked, slight irritation entering his voice.

"Just giving a small taste of the high life to the 'poor' of our school, are you?" The third joked.

"What?"

"The three paupers. Gods James! I really don't get why you're going to so much trouble just for a laugh. I know its funny having them here so you can put them in their places; but do they have to stay for dinner?"

"Yeah, they might contaminate the food or something with their poorness." The three laughed appreciatively. James, however, found nothing at all amusing about their little exchange. Anger and an odd protective instinct stirred within his veins as his fists clenched. He opened his mouth to tell the three just where they could shove their unfounded speculations and opinions when sudden movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Before he could react, his three new friends swept past him and out the front door – furious glares directed at him.

Throwing the snickering trio before him a venomous glare that promised retribution later, he ran out the house after his friends who were already half way across the lawn.

"Guys, will you wait up!" James yelled, briefly thankful he was so fit that he could catch up with them.

Lily suddenly swung around, red hair flying out and green eyes blazing with a furious anger.

"So this is all just a game to you, Potter? You insufferable, selfish bastard!" She screamed.

"No, it's-"

"Its' fine Potter. You have your own perfect life to look after anyway. Can't have 'King Potter' handing around with the dregs of society, now can we?" Sirius growled angrily.

Hurt and anger swelled in him as he stood before the two furious teens and Remus who refused to even look up at him. A voice in the back of his head whispered for him to calm down before he said something he'd regret later. Angrily he ignored the voice as it sounded suspiciously like the young werewolf before him.

"Yeah, well; you lot are all pretending anyway! When school starts back we're all going to go back to exactly what we were before." James pointed at each of them as he spoke. "Sirius Black – no good criminal; Lily Evans – the social outcast of the whole of Hogwarts; Remus Lupin – the invisible bookworm; and me – James Potter – the most popular person in the school." James finally finished quietly.

They stood breathing heavily; the hurt being overshadowed by furious anger at the painful truth behind his words.

"Screw you," Sirius' voice broke the strained silence. "Screw all of you. I want nothing to do with you fakers!" With his piece said he turned and stormed away quickly.

Looking furious Lily too turned and walked off, away from them all. Remus glanced at James; a hurt and disappointed look swimming in his honey coloured eyes.

"Why, James?" He asked softly. When he received no answer he too turned and left.

James stood there a moment, once again alone only this time with an ache in his chest that pounded in time with his heart. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and pushed down his hurt and anger before turning and heading back to his house – silently cursing the day that Dumbledore had announced this god forsaken assignment.

***

Please Review.