a/n: Guys, sorry for the late update! I'm still researching for the next chapters so please forgive me. Anyway, thanks for my reviewers for your support and enjoy my new chappie!

CHAPTER 13: DEAR GUARDIAN

"So, you're attending to the ball with Green Apple," Sirius said, arranging his costume.

"And you're going with Auriga," James said.

"Nah, that's the reason why I dumped my other costume," Sirius said, pointing to the discarded glittery robes, with matching star mask. "I'll explain to Kristanna tonight."

"If she goes," James said, shrugging. "Do I look good?"

"Dashing, guy," Sirius said, patting James' shoulder.

"I hope Green Apple's the same," James sighed. The two of them got out of their dormitories, complete with their masks, and went out of the common room to avoid the stream of people coming towards them.

Lily and Danicia, dragging Kristanna along, came next. "You look wonderful, Green Apple," Danicia teased, rearranging Lily's mask. "You look like a peacock."

True to what Danicia said, Lily was wearing a straight-cut, off-shoulder gown with a peacock pattern motif. She was also wearing a mask with the same feathers.

"At least she's not wearing apples for a costume," Kristanna said sarcastically. She was wearing a dark blue dress with slits at the sides that made her look like a nymph. Instead of a mask, however, she was wearing a headdress with a veil.

Lily glared at Kristanna and rolled her eyes. "I think we have to go," she said, walking along. An owl came flying to her and she took the letter from it. "Green Apple," she read aloud, "Meet me under the largest chandelier inside the Great Hall." Lily giggled and picked a piece of feather from her mask. She placed it on the same envelope and sent the owl flying back to its owner.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Look, Prongs, your owl is back," Sirius said, pointing at the owl overhead. James took the envelope and pulled the peacock feather. "Peacock feather? Does she eat that?"

"No, Padfoot," James replied, his eyes hooked at the doors where the woman clad in peacock-patterned clothes was standing. "I am seeing the most wonderful peacock I have ever seen."

James left Sirius by the table. James had started to go to the largest chandelier at the center of the hall. Sirius, however, bored, saw the woman he was waiting for by the door. He passed Auriga, clearly waiting for her partner, and went in front of Kristanna. "You look wonderful," he said.

"Who are you?" Kristanna asked back. "Sorry, I don't talk to strangers."

"I am no stranger, my dear nymph," Sirius said in a manly voice. "Please, can you dance with me?" he asked, offering a hand.

Reluctantly, Kristanna took it. "But say who you are," she said in a conditional way.

Lily and Danicia, who was dressed in white, went to the farthest corner of the hall and took a small owl. "This is it, Dani," Lily said. Eros popped out of nowhere.

"Girls, girls, calm down," Eros said. "You are the only ones who could see me. Is everything ready?" he asked.

"Yeah," Lily replied, showing the small owl (an owl as big as Pigwidgeon) to Eros.

"What are you waiting for? Let it go!" Eros ordered. Lily released the owl and it flew to the person sitting at a small table.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Melissa sputtered to her butterbeer when she saw Matthew, all dressed in black except for the red scarf, hold the owl. "Matt, you better keep that letter now before Helena arrives."

"She's still in the common room, doing stuff to her hair. What can keep it longer?" Matthew replied, letting the owl go and opening the envelope.

Melissa blinked and looked at the table, wondering what letter was in there.

Silence is a word. However, silence is not that good. It was as if silence is a shield, getting fragile each hit.
I never knew that this thing could happen. Before, you never caught my eye because I was always thinking that you are an ordinary person, besides the many things that caused you to go up the ladder and show yourself to the crowd. When I met you, I never showed too much importance on your existence. I mean, we're just there, standing on the crowd. However, I had experienced leaving my lost love and I saw you standing there, your face were the only one distinct among the busy crowd.
Being with you is really weird. The first persons that I loved were reluctant because they knew what I felt for them. Now, I have decided to hide it from everybody. To my parents, my friends, and of course, to you. It was a big step that I was able to enter your intimate circle of friends and be close to you without you flinching at the sight of me.
Notice that I always take notice to most of your actions. Well, that's because I notice you and I look at you always. Frequently, I tell people that you act stupidly, but that stupidity is the reason why I loved you most. You're funny and even in the most distressed times of my life, you were the only one who was able to please me. You may not notice it but people who knew me thought that I'll be angry at you because of certain things like jokes or pranks but I do not become angry at you. Why? It's because I cannot bear it.
When you held out your hand to me, I developed a feeling that is forbidden in my part. I know that she is my friend and I know that you like her and she likes you back. There was no point waiting and anticipating that one day, you'll be with me. It was just a dream that is too hard to be true.
I tried to hide my feelings from you, even though I was smiling every single time that the two of you were together, showing your affections, I am always hurt. I don't know if you could see it, but there is warmth in your eyes I cannot understand when you look at me. Pity? Maybe, but I don't know.
Don't you really notice anything? Everytime you hold her hands, I feel as if a heartstring of mine is gonna break. But as you hold mine, I feel a strange joy but I never show it. Still, I live myself in silence.
I am not giving this message to you to have you. I am only pouring my thoughts. Maybe the next time, I'll never see you. The thought of you leaving hurts me so much yet I still know that someday, we'll still meet each other. Your voice, and you, all of you, will always stay in my heart forever. I know that there is still more to life, but meeting you is the most unforgettable experience I have ever had.

At this, Matthew was forced to look at Melissa, who was still looking at the floor. "Matt, what is it?" she asked, finally looking at his eyes.

Matthew passed the letter to Melissa, his eyes still looking at her. Melissa widened her eyes, covered her mouth with her hand while tears started to fall down her eyes. "You were the one…" Matthew started.

Melissa shook her head. "No! it was not me! I swear, Matt, I swear!" With that, she stood up her seat, revealing her black clothing with red lining.

Matthew followed her, as well as Danicia, Lily, and Eros. "Melissa, wait! Why did you do this?"

"I am not doing anything, Matt," Melissa replied, trying to let go of the grip but he was holding her tightly. "Please let me go!"

"Why did you never tell me?" Matthew asked.

"You are with Helena. What do you expect? Me butting in your relationship?" Melissa asked bitterly. "Matt, you don't know how…" She was silenced when Matthew kissed her. At that moment, Eros found a hovering crystal over head. He grabbed it and conjured an arrow with it. He hit the couple, the arrow getting through their chests.

They released their kiss and Melissa looked at Matthew. "What does that mean?"

"Am I your guardian?"

Melissa nodded, smiling a little. However, Helena was standing there, in front of the two of them.

"This is trouble," Danicia said, covering her eyes.

Helena approached Melissa and slapped her hard. "I will never let this happen," she warned the two of them before going to the Great Hall, looking as though she was drunk.

a/n: ok, things are heating up. But if you really are interested in the Lily/James pairing, you still have to watch out for there is ONE more pairing that Lily should arrange on…

BTW, happy birthday to me! So please do give me one review.