"We're spending the night at the Ministry." Mr. Potter told them as they sat in the kitchen. "We should be home tomorrow morning, after the Ball. Please don't break any undoable vases, alright? Be good and listen to Starry's advice." Starry was the Potter's chief house-elf, who adored the ground the entire family walked upon.
"Yes sir," the boys said in unison. Lily nodded and smiled.
Mrs. Potter stood up from her seat, escorted by her husband. James was the spitting image of his father, both carelessly good-looking and bespectacled.
"Have a good night, darlings." She hugged each of them with a smile. "Happy Christmas Eve."
After the parents left, the boys looked at each other with delight.
"Why don't you go get ready, Lily, while we finish setting up?" James suggested casually.
It was on the tip of Lily's tongue to disagree and stay to help before she realized they were planning a Christmas surprise. With a smile, she walked away to her bedroom.
She spent an hour with her hair, trying various hairstyles before deciding to leave it down. Her makeup took half an hour and changing into her dress and shoes the other half. In two hours, she walked down the guest staircase of the Potters, ready to play the part of hostess.
James had to lock his jaw to keep from gasping when he saw her. He was used to Lily looking pretty but never this, this gorgeous.
Her hair was curling gently, falling down her back with apparent ease. She wore a short black dress, the one she had found in her wardrobe. She had nothing around her neck because she hadn't found any jewelry she felt matched. Her shoes were high black stilettos that oozed with class. Her face lit up when she saw him.
"Don't you look dazzling?" Lily said when she reached him. James stood before her in a simple white shirt with black pants. He wore a thin emerald colored tie that matched her eyes.
"You took the words out of my mouth, Kooks." James replied. Holding his arm out to her, he asked, "shall we?"
She nodded and took his arm. They walked down the stairs together, grinning at the others.
"You both look great," Sirius said honestly. His eyes looked over Lily appraisingly. "You're gorgeous, Evans. Where've you been hiding that body?"
Lily laughed with delight as the others added their compliments. "You boys are too sweet. What've you done, broke some expensive vase?" She teased.
"No mademoiselle, nothing's broken if you can believe it. Starry kept us on our toes." Remus replied.
"Well let's let the guests in, shall we?" Peter asked, walking over to open the door to let in the crowd.
There stood nearly a hundred couples before them, all teenagers dressed to the nines. Lily nearly gasped when she saw them, all of them.
"Hello everyone!" James called out. "Welcome to the Potter Ball! Please leave your coats with the house-elves and follow the candles to the ballroom."
Lily waved when she saw Mary walk in with Marlene. The girls hugged while the boys grinned at each other.
"This place is stunning." Mary exclaimed. "If I lived here, I'd never even bother going to Hogwarts."
James shrugged. "It's just home, Mary."
"You should see it when his parents throw a ball," Marlene said conspiratorially. "My mum used to bring me to keep James company. It was even more decked out than now."
"I can't even imagine it," Mary sighed. "It's so beautiful."
Lily smiled at James as she led them up the staircase to the ballroom.
The ballroom could easily fit a full-sized basketball court within its walls. The floor shined with the mahogany wood and silvery silk walls were framed on bottom and top by gold scrolling wood. A section of the room was quartered off as the dining area, leaving the rest for the dancing that would begin later. The tables were small and circular, leaving room for all those who wanted to sit there. There were golden plates engraved with the Potter crest, goblets of crystal, everything poured forth with riches.
Instruments played in the corner with invisible musicians. A medley of Christmas carols sounded.
James gave his guests half an hour before seating them. There was a floor plan, which Lily had spent hours working upon. She sat in the table James had chosen, a table with a beautiful white tablecloth and sprigs of mistletoe spread around decoratively.
At her table were James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Mary, Marlene, and a girl from James's neighborhood, a witch who attended Beaubaxtons named Lavina.
"This place is lovely," Mary said as she looked around.
Lavina smiled, placing her hand upon James's arm. "Oui, c'est jolie." She paused. "I 'ave always loved spending my summers 'ere. I 'ave so many 'appy memories from zeez place."
"I feel so lucky to be living here," Lily said in a strong voice. "James's family is so kind to let me stay."
"Oui, zey are among ze most 'onorable families." Lavina squeezed his arm. "'E eez a lucky man." She fluttered her eyelashes.
James rolled his eyes but looked pleased at the attention he was receiving. Lavina was among the prettiest of the guests, all of whom were good-looking. It was amazing how stunning of a crowd had gathered.
"Ze ozzer boys are also so kind to us when we are 'ere," Lavina smiled at them. "Do you remember when we went swimming in ze pool at midnight?"
Sirius nodded eagerly as he took a bite of food.
"And ze time we 'ad ze campout in ze bedrooms?" Lavina said in a provocative tone. "Eet was a very memorable night, non?"
"It was great," Sirius smiled. "We've had some good times."
"Oui, some very good times." Lavina's voice dripped with innuendo. "We 'ave 'ad some magnifique times."
"Campouts are tremendous fun," Mary jumped into the conversation. "We went on one this year. It was after the first Quidditch match."
"It was brilliant," Remus added quickly. He was fast on the uptake.
"And then there was the time we went swimming with the Giant Squid." Peter said. "Remember how Mary nearly drowned?"
James and Sirius rocked with laughter at the memory of Mary in her hot pink dress, swimming ashore. She had worn the dress on a dare and did not enjoy remembering it.
"Those were some fun times," Lily burst in to keep Mary from killing Peter. "We've had a lot of fun, haven't we?"
James looked at her. "We sure have, Kooks."
"What eez zeez 'Kooks'?" Lavina asked, looking directly at James.
"It's Lily's nickname," he explained, "it's short for 'kooky'."
"'Kooky'?" Lavina raised one of her perfect eyebrows. "Zat word means odd, oui?"
"Yes but not in a bad way," James said quickly.
"Zat eez a very interesting nickname. I am not sure I would enjoy 'aving someone call me odd." Lavina smiled again. "Do you remember ze name you gave me?"
James blushed as she continued.
"Eet was 'Charmant', wasn't eet?" She looked at the others. "Eet means 'charming'."
"We know what it means," Lily snapped.
"Ooh I did not mean to offend you, Leelee." Lavina said with a fake-hurt look. "I am very sorry, chérie."
Lily's smile was as fake as Lavina's expression of hurt. "It's fine, Lavina." She replied.
"C'est bonne?" She asked to make sure.
"Oui," Lily said scathingly.
James had felt the tension rising as they ate and was pleased when dessert was over and the dancing could begin. He smiled at his guests. "You'll help me open the dancing, won't you?" He asked.
Sirius grinned. "It'd be our pleasure."
Lavina looked expectantly to James, waiting for him to ask her to be his partner for the first dance.
"Will you do me the honor, mademoiselle?" He asked in a low voice.
"Of cour…" Lavina trailed off when she saw who he was asking.
Lily smiled as she placed her hand in James's. Sirius followed with Mary upon his arm. Remus grinned as Marlene was clinging to him. Lavina, with a small look of distaste, was holding onto Peter's arm.
James and Lily led their table to the center of the dance floor. "Thank you all for coming," he began, "I'm so glad all of you could make it. Enjoy the food, enjoy the music, have some fun. Happy Christmas!" He grinned at them as the music began to play. He pulled Lily close to him and they began to dance.
Lily lost count of the number of songs they danced to. She had twirled so many times, remembering to keep focus on one thing to keep her head. Laughing, she pulled him over to their table to take a break.
Lavina and Peter followed them to the table quickly.
"Dancing is glorious, isn't it?" Lily asked, forgetting her quarrel with Lavina in the midst of such joy.
Lavina didn't forget so easily. She smiled coldly at Lily before turning to James. "'Ave you two been dancing ze 'ole time togezzur?"
James nodded without taking his eyes off of Lily.
"'Ow dull. Eet eez much more fun eef you switch panuzzers every few dances." Lavina placed her hand upon his arm to get his attention. "James, I feel so sad zat you 'ave not asked me to dance!"
James snapped out of his reverie. "I'm sorry Lavina, I just haven't had a moment," he said politely before turning to Lily. "Are you tired?" He looked into her eyes, begging her not to be.
Lily was tired, though she'd never admit it. "No, of course not! I'm ready to dance again." She grinned at him, standing up.
"Mind if I take her, mate?" Peter asked. "One dance, I promise."
James looked at Lily helplessly before nodding. There was nothing he could do. He reached out his hand and escorted Lavina to the dance floor.
It seemed to be the longest dance in history. James felt himself growing old right then and there. Lavina kept trying to stare into his eyes and he kept looking for Lily. It was annoying, having a best friend as dense as Peter.
Peter and Lily danced together, keeping a distance from each other. Peter hadn't wanted to dance with her at all, truth be told, but he wanted to keep Lavina happy and that meant dancing with Lily Evans.
The song ended after a few more excruciatingly long rhythmic repeats. James led Lavina back to the table, trying to keep her as far off of him as possible. This proved difficult, however, with Lavina's iron grip upon his arm.
He watched Peter and Lily walk towards them. Throwing caution to the wind, he reached out and pulled her onto his lap.
Lily looked at him strangely but stayed there. It occurred to her that she was still meant to be his girlfriend in front of girls.
Lavina rolled her eyes at the sight and pulled Peter back onto the dance floor. With Lavina gone, Lily slid off of James's lap and into her own chair, though it was extremely close to his.
"Can I make a confession?" He asked quietly.
Lily nodded.
"I hated you dancing with Peter, even if he is one of my best friends."
There was a pause before Lily spoke.
"Can I make a confession?" She asked.
James nodded.
"I hated you dancing with Lavina, especially because she's French and gorgeous."
James looked at her with bright eyes. "Dance with me?"
"Every one."
They stood up together and walked out to the dance floor where they proceeded to ignore everyone else and dance as if they were the only two people alive.