Chapter 50: Christmas Ball
"Who are we going to the Ball with??" James asked the three Marauders. They were hiding out at their dormitory because ever since the news of the ball was announced, girls had been flocking to them and asked them to be their dates.
"Girls??" Sirius answered cheekily.
"Who do you want to ask specifically??" James asked Sirius cheekily.
"I think I might want to ask either Phoebe or perhaps Mabel or Samantha or Gracie or-" Sirius went on and on about the list of pretty girls he had in mind from all the houses.
"Why don't you just ask one of them then??" Remus remarked.
"It would be unfair to the rest of the girls." Sirius replied as if the answer was the most obvious thing on earth.
"Excuse me??" James said in amusement.
"Enough about my love life. What about yours, Jamsie-boy??" Sirius teased.
"Since when did our dear old Sirius ever has a love life??" James asked Remus and Peter. The three guys started laughing at Sirius at his big ego.
"Then who are you going to ask??" Remus asked James, eyeing his response to the question.
"I don't know. Haven't thought of any yet."
"Why don't you ask Lily??"
"Why don't you ask Stefanie??"
"I already asked Stefanie."
"You did?!? When did you ask my sister?? How come I didn't know??" Sirius exclaimed.
"I asked her about a week ago and she agreed." Remus said blissfully.
"Then what about us??" James said.
"I asked you guys to ask Lily and Arabella, then you guys didn't give me an answer. So I asked Stefanie first." Remus said truthfully. A week ago, while the three guys were in the dormitory, hiding from the female population, Remus had suggested to them asking the girls. But James and Sirius were too engrossed in their game of Wizard Chess to hear him. So Remus and Peter went to get their own dates respectively.
"What about you??" James asked Peter.
"I asked Suzanne Bones from Hufflepuff." Peter replied.
"Oh, that's just so great. Let's go and ask the girls." James said and left the dormitory. Sirius followed James out. Leaving Remus and Peter laughing in their dormitory.
"Tonight weather looks good, anyone keen on a fly??" Lily looked out of the window and asked the four girls from her dormitory. Arabella and Joey were doing an exfoliating facial mask while Stefanie and Samantha was painting their nails for each other. She had completed her mask and finished painting her nails.
"Being beautiful takes time." Samantha looked up from painting Arabella's fingernails.
"We already spent three hours beautifying ourselves. The smell of nail polish is making me sick." Lily remarked.
"It's impossible to magic the smell away now." Joey said in a muffled voice.
"It's kinda dark to be flying outside now." Stefanie commented.
"I just go for a spin on this Thunderbolt. Be back soon." Lily said and left the dormitory from the window on James' Thunderbolt.
I really need some inner peace. So many things are happening at the same time. I wonder what's lie ahead and Bell isn't going to say anything. It's so nice to be flying in the night sky. So nice and cooling. Lily emptied her thoughts and flew around the quidditch pitch and high above the Forbidden Forest and around the castle turrets.
"WHAT??" Sirius exclaimed.
"What do you mean by what??" Arabella said, annoyed.
"How could you go with that Frank Longbottom??"
"Excuse me!! But why can't I go with him??"
"Then whom am I supposed to go to the Ball with??"
"That's your problem." Sirius stomped out of the girls' dormitory feeling rather pissed off with Arabella.
"Where's Lily??" James asked after Sirius left.
"She's flying outside." Stefanie said.
"She said she'll be back soon but it had been more than half an hour since she left." Arabella pointed out.
"Ok, I go out and find her. Thanks girls." James left the dormitory and the rest resumed on what they were doing except Arabella who decided to go for a cool shower to calm down.
"So you're dateless for the Ball too??" Lily asked.
"Yeah, Narcissa is going with Lucius after the starting dance." Severus replied. Lily and Severus were now flying leisurely around the castle together, chatting away. "How about you??"
"I don't know. Maybe I can hang out with Bell or Stef or the guys. Then I can dance with all those dateless guys out there too." Lily joked.
"Do you want to go to the Ball with me??" Severus asked.
"Thanks Severus, but I don't think that's a good idea." Lily said.
"Why??"
"Partially because of the feuds between our house and your group of friends are practically enemies with mine. Malfoy wouldn't be pleased if you date a muggle-born."
"Malfoy won't do anything to you. So it's because of the Marauders??"
"Partially I supposed. I don't know. But I think I might be happier if I go alone. Maybe we can have a couple of dances together."
"Alright then. I won't force you. Don't forget your dance promise." Severus smiled warmly at Lily.
"Thanks Severus. I really don't know why the guys are all against the four of you. Perhaps it's just Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle. Or perhaps its just Slytherins."
"I'm not that good I supposed. Too cunning."
"Well, perhaps that's the case. I believe deep down, everyone is good." Lily smiled at Severus kindly.
"Hey Lily, I've been looking all over the school for you." A voice called out from the back.
"Oh, it's Potter. I better go off first. See you around." Severus told Lily. I don't want to face Potter and deal with the stupid Wizard Debt!!
"Alright then, see ya around. Bye Severus." Lily told Severus. James and Severus exchanged a look and Severus left without a word.
"What are you doing with a Slytherin??" James asked Lily after making sure that Severus was out of earshot.
"I was flying alone around the castle and he saw me from his dormitory. So he came out and join me then we just chat and fly around." Lily replied.
"If next time you want to fly around, you can call me if no one wants to accompany you." James offered.
"Thanks, you said it yourself." Lily grinned.
"No problem."
"Anyway what's up??"
"I was wondering if you wanna go with me to the Christmas Ball."
"I just turned down Severus."
"He asked you??"
"Yeah, he said Narcissa is going with Malfoy."
"Did you agree??"
"Nope. I felt like going alone."
"Why??"
"I don't know."
"I'm also going alone. Sirius is probably asking someone now since Arabella is going with Frank."
"We can hang out together."
"Anyway we've to start the dance."
"That's the scary thing."
"What so scary??"
"I'm such a lousy dancer and we've to start that dance."
"Don't worry about it. You can do it. Didn't you dance well last year??"
"I supposed it's ok then."
"It's getting late, let's go back."
"Okie."
"Anyway any progress in remembering the old me??"
"This is so scary." Lily muttered as she stood at the center of the dance floor with all the prefects with the Head Boy and Head Girl on the small stage. The Christmas Feast had just ended and Dumbledore had announced the beginning of the Christmas Ball. The four tables had magicked to the sides of the Hall, which were now filled with finger food and beverages.
A slow song of Can't Help Falling In Love started playing and the prefects and Head Boy and Girl swayed along with the music.
"Don't worry. Just dance like no one is watching and you'll be fine." James said confidently.
"Ok, I try. What if I trip or something??" Lily said, looking on the floor to make sure.
"You won't. Don't be so worried." James laughed at her unnecessary worries.
"I've never done this before. Not like you, doing it all the time at your parents' parties." Lily remarked sarcastically.
"As long as you get used to it, it'll be fine."
"Thanks a lot. This is like my first time dancing like that."
"Don't worry, you're dancing with James the Great One. You won't trip."
"Ok, I won't trip. But you're definitely not the Great One." Lily laughed at James' little joke and relaxed a little.
"Your hand is wet. Yucks."
"I'm scared that's why it's wet. If you don't like you can don't hold my hand."
"Ok, then I hold you waist." James grinned cheekily.
"No, no, no." Lily released James' hand and wiped on her dress and held his hand again.
"This feel much better."
"Whatever you say."
"I say you looks pretty tonight." James complimented. Lily was wearing a simple light purple colored tube dress with white strappy sandals.
"Thanks. Anyway I don't think this dress is that nice also. Can't really afford something too expensive now that I've to depend on whatever I've left in Gringotts." Lily commented.
"You look great in everything."
"Haha. Very funny. I feel fat in tube dresses."
"No, you're not fat."
"Whatever. When is this song going to end??"
"Should be rather soon. Don't you enjoy dancing with James the Great One??"
"I don't enjoy dancing when most of the population are watching. They're joining in only after this song."
"Ok, it's ending."
"I realized that as well."
The song ended with applause from the rest of the students. The prefects dispersed to join their respective partners at the sidelines. A next song Eternal Love was aired and gradually, people started to fill up the dance floor.
"Can I continue my dance with you??" James asked Lily jokingly.
"Sure, why not??" James led Lily towards the middle of the dance floor and continued dancing.
"Look at Remus and Stefanie. They look cute together." James remarked as they looked at the dancing couple that were about a meter away from them.
"Yup. They're so meant for each other." Lily agreed. Remus and Stefanie had both wore similar colour shades for this Ball. Remus wore a white shirt with grey pants and white leather shoes while Stefanie wore a halter-neck-cum-backless ankle length white shimmering dress with white-strapped heels. Both of them looked outstanding together since majority of the student population had wore dark and cool colours.
"Are they together or something??" James asked quizzically.
"I don't know. I don't think Remus had asked Stef about it. Anyway what matters most that they are happy the way they're." Lily commented.
"True. Where's Sirius??" James asked, looking around for someone with red and green highlights on his dark brown hair. Sirius had streaked his hair magically into Christmas colours for the occasion. He wore a black shirt with black pants and a red-and-green stripped tie to match his hair.
"I can't see him. He sure looked comical today." Lily laughed as she remembered how everyone in the Gryffindor common room looked as Sirius walked into the Great Hall.
"He's probably flirting with the list of pretty girls he has in mind." James said and stopped looking for Sirius. Suddenly something caught her attention.
"Erm.. Look over there." Lily said and started giggling at the sight.
"Where??" James turned to look at where Lily was looking and practically burst into giggles the moment he saw it. A long light-brown haired girl had red-and-green highlights on her hair. The girl wore a black and shimmering knee-length spaghetti-strapped dress. "Who's that girl?? Why would anyone think like Sirius??"
"That's our dear old Arabella and Sirius must have done something. Look at who's she's dancing with now??"
"Remus?? I think Sirius danced with her just now and did something to her hair. And neither Remus nor Stefanie was saying anything." Lily laughed.
"Let's go over and join them. I wanna dance with Arabella for the next song." James said and grabbed Lily's hand and walked through the dance crowd towards their friends. They continued dancing while looking at Sirius and Arabella.
The song ended and a fast song Infinity was blasting from the speakers. Everyone stopped their slow dance and started dancing rather wildly, all into the holiday mood.
"Hey Lils, where have you been all night??" Arabella shouted against the loud music.
"Was dancing of course."
"With??"
"James!!"
"I see." Arabella grinned at Lily.
"Hey Arabella." Frank tapped Arabella's shoulder. "Wanna dance together??"
"Ok." Arabella turned around and danced with Frank. Sirius, who was dancing together in the group was practically glaring at Frank, steaming.
"Hi Lily." Severus walked towards Lily. "Dance??"
"Okie." Lily agreed and started dancing with Severus, both looked happily dancing; totally forgotten about which house they belonged to because at that time, fun was the word. James was eyeing the couple as they danced together while he was dancing with Stefanie.
"Why are you looking at Lily like that??" Stefanie asked cheekily. James did not answered or response to her question. "Hey!!" Stefanie waved in front of James.
"What??"
"Why are you looking at Lily like that??"
"I can't hear you."
"I ASKED WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT LILY LIKE
THAT??"
"I CAN'T HEAR!!" James pretended to ignore Stefanie's question and danced together. Stefanie eyed James knowingly and made a mental note to tell Lily about it. It had been several months and Lily had not been able to remember anything about James. But the good thing was both of them became good friends and had rebuilt their whole friendship all over.
"SIRIUS BLACK!! I'M GOING TO GET YOU!!" Arabella shouted and stormed Sirius who was dancing with Phoebe Helliwell.
"What??" Sirius asked innocently.
"LOOK AT MY HAIR!!"
"It looks like mine!!"
"That's the problem!!"
"It's not!! It looks good!!"
"Change it back!!"
"What if I say I don't know??"
"Don't you dare not to know??"
"Catch me if you can." Sirius said cheekily. "Hey Phoebe, I catch you another time. It was great dancing with you." Sirius made his way out of the dance floor with Arabella after him.
"Change my hair back to my original colour!!"
"I won't. You look good, you know?? Maybe you can consider having it on for good??" Sirius said before continued moving through the crowd.
The whole group of them, along with their dates, laughed at the two of them. Frank had asked Phoebe to dance with him now that both their dates were gone.
"SIRIUS BLACK!!" A voice could be heard all over the Great Hall since it was the switching of songs. The song Can't Take My Eyes Off You had made the crowd danced even wilder, with the screaming of 'Sirius Black' forgotten.
"What do you think happened??" Lily asked James. They were dancing together again.
"Something certainly had happened. The question is what." James replied. Both of them were eyeing the entrance of the Great Hall for any sign of Arabella or Sirius.
"Arabella looked fine, but her hair still remained." Lily said as the group looked at Arabella who entered the Hall and headed towards them.
"Where's Sirius??" Remus asked.
"He became a ball." Arabella said sarcastically. The whole group of them started laughing as if it was a good joke. The next thing that they knew was screams was heard all over the Hall. A big and black ball with red-and-green striped was rolling about at the dance floor, knocking most of the people down.
"Don't tell me that's Sirius??" James laughed, looking at the rolling black ball that was creating chaos in the middle of the dance floor. His queries were answered as the black ball rolled towards James and knocked him down. Within minutes, most people were knocked down to the ground. Arabella was looking unusually pissed off while most people were still questioning what happened.
"Black, come with me now." Professor McGonagall shouted from the stage. The black ball rolled towards Professor McGonagall and knocked her to the ground.
"Two more hours to midnight." Dumbledore said and a slow song of Everything I Do, I Do It For You blasted from the speakers. The students got back to their feet and continued their dance while Professor McGonagall had led Sirius out off the Hall.