Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns all of the characters, but I do own the plot.
The week before the ball fled by very fast. Classes were getting increasingly more difficult and my schedule was turning into slightly hectic to full front chaotic. Balancing prefect meetings, patrol, homework, and finding time to spend with Michael, I was exhausted. But as always, when you're busy, time flies by, so before I knew it, it was the day of the dance. Being a Saturday, I slept in, then started in on my homework so I wouldn't be stressed out during the ball. In a few hours I had finished, and not wanting to be bothered, I went to the kitchens for a quick lunch. After a bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese, I went back upstairs to my room to get ready. As the day went on, my excitement increased. This ball was going to be perfect.
I showered slowly, savoring the hot water on my back. I got out after a while and put on a huge, fluffy white robe. Entering my closet, I pulled out the beautiful dress and heels. I dried my hair with magic and made it shape into soft curls cascading down my back. I looked at my watch and noticed I had about an hour before I was suppose to meet Michael by the Great Hall. I stood up from where I've been sitting by my bed and for one second felt an unwavering sense of panic. I sat down quickly and grabbed one of the posts connected to the bed. My head started to ache horribly and I felt like I was going to explode. From beneath my eyelids an image flickered. A little black haired boy, in a crib, defenseless. A flash of green light, and then nothing. I sat there, shivering for what seemed like hours but was more like a few moments. I slowly opened my eyes and took a deep breath. That was so weird. I thought to myself. But when I thought of the little child, my heart felt an unwavering tug of protection and love. What is going on?
After a few more minutes, I stood up and shook my head. Whatever it was, it's gone now, and I had things to do. Putting it out of my mind I sat down at the mirror and started to do the little bit of makeup I was going to wear. A slight amount of eyeliner, mascara, and eye shadow in all the right places, just like Mary taught me. Afterwards, I slid on my dress and magically zipped it up. Once again, I was amazed at how perfect it hugged my every curve and made me look like, well, a princess. I slipped on the shoes and practiced walking a few steps until I wasn't so wobbly. I then pinned half on my hair back in a slight half ponytail with two strands framing my face so my face wasn't completely covered by my cascade of hair. I looked in the mirror and once I was satisfied, I went to walk out the door.
James wasn't in the common room yet, so I kept walking down to the portrait hole. Just when I was pulling open the door, slightly behind schedule, James voice rung out from his room.
"Lily." I turned around and looked up at him. He looked stunning in a set of dark black dress robes and a blue tie. His hair was still disheveled around his face, but for once, it seemed to only add to the appeal. He seemed to be taking in my appearance as well. "Lily, you look…" He paused for a second. "beautiful." he said very quietly.
I smiled up at him. "Thank you. You look pretty great yourself." and just when I looked at him one more time, I was shocked. The little boy, the poor baby, looked exactly like him. "Uh, I, I need to go now."
I turned around and opened the portrait hole. "Lily, wait!" I heard him call behind me, but I was already out of the door. That had been so bizarre. Why did the little baby in my head look exactly like James and yet seemingly having my eyes? I walked quickly away from the portrait, hoping James wouldn't follow me. I made my way down quickly, passing multiple couples in fantastic gowns, many who waved and greeted me. I was too distracted to do more than a small wave in their direction. I needed to find Michael, but more importantly my friends. I needed to tell someone about this image I had seen. Lily, calm down. You're just making a big deal out of this. I'm sure you just dozed off for a second. You don't need to tell your friends. Convincing myself that I didn't need to do anything and just relax, I slowed down my walk slightly. I finally made my way to the entrance hall and looked up at all of the decorations. They were stunning.
There was snow falling lightly from the ceiling, ending slightly above our heads. There was garland and mistletoe wrapped around the entrance to the Great Hall. The floor was covered in a sparkly powder that would warm to the touch and didn't end on your clothes. There wasn't any visible light but there were soft beams that seemed to shiver as you walked through them. The air was soft and warm with a gentle breeze wafting through. Even though I wasn't in the Great Hall yet, I could smell the wonderful foods that had been prepared. I found Michael easily enough, he was waiting by the entrance. The Ball seemed to be in full swing already.
"Well don't you look great." Michael said, looking me up and down, making me slightly uncomfortable.
"Thanks, you look quite dashing yourself." I teased him lightly, trying to keep my calm. We grabbed hands and walked in together. I could just make out the stage and the Galloping Frogs performing a fast dance number. All of the tables were gone, except for one which was pushed to the side. There seemed to be food piling against every available space open. It all looked wonderful. There was a giant dance floor where most of the population was. There were also small tables all around the room. And then of course, the giant stage where the Galloping Frogs were screaming into the enchanted microphone. The decorations were even more lavishing in here. There was garland lining the walls and the night sky shined through from the ceiling as per usual. Except tonight, it had snowed for the first time this season so there was snow cascading down slowly. The whole effect was beautiful.
"Lily!" I heard multiple voices and turned around to see all of the girls and the Maraudars. After a chorus of, "You look fantastic!", "That dress is stunning!" , "How did you get your hair to do that?" and "Merlin you look amazing.", Michael turned to me and grabbed my arm.
"I'm going to go get us drinks. Do you want to meet me on the dance floor in about five minutes? Your drink will be waiting." he smiled down at me.
"Sure," slightly distracted I continued. "That sounds great. Thanks." he leaned down and before I knew it was kissing me full on the mouth. When he stopped he seemed to slightly smirk at James before walking away.
"Stupid prat." muttered Sirius. I didn't have the energy to respond to him so I just glared at him pointedly. He shrugged acting like an innocent schoolboy.
I was introduced to all of their dates and most of them seemed very nice, until I met James' date. She, I disliked from the very start. Her upturned nose made her look like she thought she was better than everyone else, and her body was popping out of her dress obviously. She was so obviously a… well.. Slut. I hated her.
"Let's go dance." said James, and grabbed his date. Everyone else walked over to the dance floor. I saw Michael and grabbed him from the crowd.
"Come on." I muttered. I pulled him up close to me and we started dancing. It wasn't some grind fest, which I was glad for. We basically just danced around for fun, shuffling back and forth to the Galloping Frogs. I looked over at my friends and saw Alice and Frank dancing slowly, even though it was a fast song. Sirius and his date were snogging insanely and he was pulling her off the dance floor over to a private booth in the corner. Remus was dancing like me, very silly and fun. I had liked his date when we were introduced. She had been very nice, yet quiet.
And then I looked at James.
Him and his "date' were so close together, seemingly molded together. They were snogging so passionately they seemed to be unable to separate. When I looked at James, so obviously interested in this Barbie doll, an emotion so foreign erupted inside of me. I was so intensely angry I stopped dancing in the middle of the floor and just stood there, swaying back and forth.
"Lily, are you all right?" Michael asked. Before he could say another word, I looked at him and grabbed his hand. I melded myself to him, with not an inch in between us. I put my lips to his and tried to stir the hormones I knew were inside of him. Of course he responded instantly. He pulled me impossibly closer and dipped his tongue into my mouth. We seemed to battle for dominance for such a long time before I finally gave up. He seemed to sense that I was done and pulled away. With his forehead against mine, he looked deep into my eyes. "Lily, what was that?"
"I'm, I'm sorry Michael. But I need to go to.. The restroom. I rushed from the hall as fast as I could on my high heeled shoes. Instead of heading for the restroom, I ran into an empty corridor. I sank to the ground, and my dress seemed to balloon around me. My hair was coming out in wisps around my face. Before I could stop it, tears were rolling down my face. I wiped them away quickly before they could fall on my dress.
What is wrong with me? I think quickly to myself. Why did seeing James kiss that girl cause me to feel like, like this? That I wanted to rip that Barbie limb from limb.
"Lily? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" It was Sirius, trying to find a place to continue on with his date.
'Sirrrrius." she whined. "Come on. All the good spots will be taken." her voice was high pitched and whiny as could be.
"You go on ahead Tina. I'll see you there." he shook her hand off his arm.
"My name is Raina." she said. "Don't bother looking for me. I'm going back in the dance. Merlin." She walked away muttering.
"You d-didn't have t-to leave your date S-Sirius." the tears were pouring down my face now, and I was wiping them away quickly so they couldn't get on my dress. My words were stuttering incoherently. Sirius sat down next to me and started wiping away the tears himself.
"So, you saw James and finally realized you do have feelings for him? Least that's what I'm getting at." he looked at me and I realized that's exactly what had happened. Oh, Merlin. I was screwed.
"I-I guess so. I do have feelings for him. I've just been hiding behind Michael because, because James Potter and Lily Evans can't be together. We're too different."
"But Lily, think about it. Who do you know more? Michael or James? Who has always been there for you every time? Just ask yourself who do you want to be with?"
"I don't know. I need to think for a minute. Excuse me." I got up and made sure that all of my tears were gone and my makeup was fine.
I walked into the Great Hall just as the Galloping Frogs lead singer said, "Now it's time for the traditional non-partner dance. Pick someone you didn't bring and party on. But don't forget your real date." (A/N: I got this idea from Enchanted)
And then all of a sudden, James was right there in front of me, holding out his hand. Before I could even think, I took it. He lead me into the middle of the dance floor just as the lights dimmed even more and the Galloping Frogs started a slow song.
My arms went around his neck, and his arms went around my waist. "You know Lily, you're going to have to get a little bit closer." he whispered to me. I moved slightly closer until there was only an inch separating us.
"How do you know how to dance so well?" and it was true, we were spinning slowly in circles and were making it look so graceful.
"My mom made me take lessons when I was a kid. It was a bunch of random boys looking all stupid and immature. But I kind of enjoyed it. It definitely has it's benefits." he smiled down at me. Then all of a sudden his eyes darkened and he gripped me tighter, and suddenly stopped spinning. "Lily, if I asked you to not turn around, would you listen?"
"James, what are you talking about?" I turned around and saw Michael, who was dancing with a Hufflepuff named Anna. They were snogging so intensely, it looked like a repeat from James and his Barbie doll earlier. I let go of James, stunned. I took a step back and just stared at Michael.
I started walking towards him very quickly. "You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach."(A/N: Hermione (: ) I walked straight up in his face and forgetting magic, slapped him across the face so hard his face slammed to the side. There was already an angry red handprint appearing on his face.
"What the bloody hell was that for!" he screamed at me. People were beginning to stop dancing to watch us.
"Are you kidding me? Were you or were you not totally just stuck to this girl here like glue?" I looked at him, expecting an explanation. But then, changing my mind, I said, "You know, everyone told me you were like this. I guess your true colors have finally shone through. Just tell me the truth. How long has this been going on?"
"You're not going to like what you hear." he said now.
"It's not going to change the outcome. We're done." there was no point in extending it any longer. I'd been cheated on.
"Uhm, about three weeks after we started dating." he stuttered off, trying to act casual. The blood started to rise to my cheeks. I was humiliated.
With a cry of anger I went to slap him again but was stopped when two sets of hands grabbed each of my arms. Without even looking, I knew it was James and Sirius. "Let me go now." I said, deadly, and not taking no for an answer.
"He's not worth it Lily. Just let him go." Sirius said, pulling me back. They dragged me away as a cried out a stumble of curses in Michael's directions, magic still somehow being forgotten in my head, which was probably better, because I could have been in a decent amount of trouble if I had gotten a hold on my wand.
After a few minutes, I just let them drag me away, not even fighting it. And yet tears would not come. Michael had hurt me, obviously, and I wouldn't forgive him. But in a way, I knew it would have ended soon anyway. I couldn't have contained whatever these foreign feelings were for James for long.
Speaking of James, I looked up at him. He was deadly calm with a mask of calm coolness on his face, but I could see the anger in his eyes. Looking at Sirius, he seemed to slightly be enjoying himself, and the spark was definitely still in his eyes.
"You guys can let me go now. I'm not going to go back and attack him. That's too much effort now." I looked up at them, and they seemed to believe me, for they let me go and I sort of slumped to the ground. "What a great night. This is just wonderful. Oh look! My dress is ruined."
And indeed it was. Someone had spilled their punch down the front when I had been dragged away.
"Uhm, Lily. I'm not sure if this is the best time, but you are a witch. It's easy to fix. Here." Sirius muttered a quick spell and the punch was siphoned off of my dress into his wand. "There you go."
"Thanks, I guess." I just sat there for a second and then continued. "Merlin, I knew it. I knew it. No wonder he was so perfect. No one's like that. No one. I'm such an idiot. This is all my fault."
"Lily, you're not an idiot. It's that dumb brutes stupid fault for cheating on you. I mean look at you. Who would cheat on you? Other than complete idiots." James said.
"Well thanks James. I'm going to go back to the common room. You guys can go back to the dance if you want.' I said, starting to get up.
But they each grabbed an arm before I could do anything else, and I was pulled up. I then took off my ridiculous high heels, having no point in wearing them anymore. With my heels in one hand, I started off walking back to the common room. Both boys just followed me.
"You really don't have to come up. I mean, you both have dates." I said to them. They both just shrugged.
"They weren't the greatest dates anyway. We had to get them at the last minute. I swear the last girl was so dumb she didn't even have an IQ." said Sirius.
"Well ok, thank you." they just nodded in response.
We made our way up until we finally reached the common room. For the first time tonight I didn't feel hazy or confused. Everything was perfectly clear. Everything was finally falling into place. Things were going to get better.
After giving the password to the Dragon Rider (hippogriff) we made our way inside. I went upstairs to my room and changed out of my dress into a tank top and pajama shorts. I wiped up all of my makeup but kept my hair the same, since it didn't look bad at all. I went back downstairs and sat next to them.
"I like you better like this. In normal clothes. You're more, you." said James. I looked at him questioningly. "It's just, seeing you all upset and in that dress was just weird. Like you weren't Lily."… "Not that you didn't look great." he hastily added.
"It's ok, I get it." and then we decided to play exploding snap for awhile, which resulted in Sirius' eyebrows getting singed off completely and James and I laughing hysterically rolling around on the floor while Sirius ran around in panic before I returned his eyebrows to their normal condition. After some time playing Exploding Snap and a couple games of Wizard's chess, all of our stomach's were growling.
"Let's go down to the kitchens. I'm starving." James said, speaking aloud all of our thoughts. Sirius and I both agreed and we all walked downstairs together. The house elves were ecstatic to see Sirius and James, both regular "customers". We sat down at a round table and we were served quickly, soup with bread. They were running short on the fancy stuff since they were still continuously feeding the students at the ball.
After a quick dinner and a small chocolate cake that Sirius and James practically devoured, we walked back up to the Dragon Rider. When we got to the fork leading to Gryffindor Common Room and the Head's Room Sirius said, "I'm gonna call this one a night. Goodnight guys." he gave me a quick hug and James a pat on the back.
James and I walked in silence to our common room. When we got there, I sat down on the couch and he sat down next to me.
"Ughhh. I hate this." I said, and laid my head now in my knees, trying to calm myself. Before I could right myself back up, James had laid his warm hands on my back, and was kneading there slightly, getting rid of the knots there. It felt absolutely wonderful. But what did it mean? I cautiously stayed down, partially because it felt so good, and let him massage away most of my worries, not realizing he had just caused more. He had once told me he had feelings for me and could wait, but had I kept him waiting for too long? And once I thought that, I knew it was true. There was no way James could like me just because I now had feelings for him.
With a sinking feeling I realized that I was to blame for Michael and mine's end also. These feelings hadn't developed overnight. I was right when I told James that night in the bathroom that I needed to stop these feelings, but I hadn't. Ever since the first kiss I had felt them. I had just buried them so deep inside that I could mask them for friendship, which was wrong of me.
But now it was too late. I had waited to long and had most likely missed my chance with James. That had to be it. I sighed into my lap and James paused for a minute but then continued massaging my back.
After what seemed like hours, but was probably like only a half an hour he finally stopped. I sat up quickly. "Thank you. That was much needed, and it felt fantastic."
"You're welcome. I figured you could use one." he said nonchalantly, like he was talking about me borrowing a quill from him.
I summoned the huge blanket that was on the back of the armchair and threw it over our legs. I then laid down with my head on the side of the couch, and my legs spread out, on top of James.
"What are you doing?" he asked, confused.
"I'm going to sleep. I don't want to climb all the way upstairs. You don't have to stay, but I'm comfortable." I said quickly, not sure if I was crossing an invisible line.
"Well, I do need to get pajamas on at least." he left quickly and came back in pajama pants and, thankfully, a white t-shirt. He laid down and stuffed his legs on the other side of mine. "It's a good thing this couch is so big." he joked. He then blew out all of the candles with his wand except for one at the end of the room, on the homework table. "Just incase," he whispered to me.
"Good night James. Thanks for, well, everything."
"Get some sleep Lily." he said. And the next thing I knew, I was dreaming.
A/N: you're welcome, i finally got rid of Michael. I'm not sure what i feel about this one. I liked it, but at the same time, i feel like something's missing. Please comment on it. I won't submit the next one, which i have done, until i have 40 comments. (I have 30 now) haha no i'm just kidding. But that would be really nice. Please review and add to your favorites! I hope you enjoyed.
P.S. Next chapter involves some fluff...