Disclaimer: NOT MINE I TELL YOU! NOT MINE!

Bliss

It was Saturday morning and everyone was in the great hall eating breakfast glad that the weekend had finally arrived. It was the month of October and everybody was looking forward to Halloween, not to mention the up coming ball; and some were still to find dates. James, though, was without a worry. Unlike many years before he did not have to badger Lily for ages trying to convince her to go with him and then settle for some second rate slag that Sirius had picked up for him, this year was different, this year he was heading straight for the slag. Or not. Maybe she would be a reasonable girl, maybe, but James doubted it very much. At least he didn't have to worry about it though.

"Students." Said Dumbledore rising out of his seat. "Well first of all may I say that I hope you have a nice weekend, and don't forget to do your homework but I would like to remind you of the Halloween Ball taking place here in the great hall tomorrow night. Pick you partners and pick your clothes and don't be late. Have fun."

"So who have you got me a date with?" Asked James turning to Sirius.

"Bliss. Bliss Schalski."

"That is one of the weirdest names ever."

"It's not that bad. She a 6th year in Gryffindor."

"Ok then when am I meeting her?"

"Well since the ball starts at 7:30, and trust me you want to be fashionable late, she'll meet you at 7:25 in the Gryffindor common room."

"Right. What's her costume?"

"She said Lady Dracula."

"How the hell am I supposed to match that?"

"Dracula."

"Oh, right."

"You know your bloody stupid sometimes?"

"You're a fine one to talk."

"Look I've got to go but don't forget, Dracula." Sirius got up and walked off while James returned to eating his breakfast.

"So who are you going with?" James asked Remus.

"Maya."

"Oh you're together now!"

"Yeah for about 2 weeks, don't worry though I only told you like a billion times."

"Sorry. What are you going as?"

"Batman and Catwoman."

"Cool. What about Sirius?"

"I think he said something about a bunny. Not him of course Misty."

"Who?"

"His date and I think he's going as Elvis Presley."

"Who's that?"

"Oh well he was having trouble finding a costume so I showed him a picture of Elves, he's like a muggle Pop star. Maya and I had no problem though since we're both muggle borns we decided to go as something muggleish."

"Right. Well I have to go and manufacture a costume out of thin air."

"Have fun with that."

"I will." Said James getting up and leaving Remus all in his own, well Peter was there but he didn't really count as a person for various reasons.

James walked up to the common room to notice that Lily still wasn't there. It had been a couple of weeks now and James had heard that she was conscious though suffering some temporary mental damage. Though he had not yet worked up the courage to go and see her. He walked up to his dorm where Sirius was rummaging through his wardrobe.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for my leather trousers. You haven't seen them have you."

"Yes I used them for my shift at the strip club last night. Sorry I think the slutty ho I picked up ripped them, woops!"

"Shut-up. Well what about my jacket?"

"Rock concert got out of control, I still have it but there are some beer stains on it and some lipstick marks but I have no idea where that came from since I don't remember a girl, though it might have been me."

"That's the last time I ask you anything."

"No it's not."

"You're probably right but still."

"Did you hear about Lily?"

"Who didn't hear about Lily?" Replied Sirius who then noticed the look on James's face. "Well naturally since you're trying to get over her I would say don't go anywhere near her but if you're that bloody concerned I think you should."

"Right. I'm going to go now."

"Wait for me."

"No. You stay here and find your leathers."

"Fine."

James walked out of the room and down to the hospital wing reliving the night that he found Lily on the floor of the Room of Requirement tearstained and bloody but still as beautiful as ever. He arrived at the door and pushed it open. Apart from Lily the room was practically empty. There was Harry Shuttersgill who had swallowed the snitch in yesterdays quidditch match, there was Giselle Mathews who had tried to loose weight the magical way and ended up about 20 times the size she was before hand and there was Pricilla Green who was just plain ill. Not a very good show today. James walked silently over to Lily's bed where she appeared to be asleep and facing away from him. He conjured up a vase on her bedside table and placed the bouquet of yellow roses and white lily's he had brought in the water and propped the card up against it. He perched himself on the edge of her bed being careful not to disturb her. He stroked her hair out of her face and looked down on her, in his eyes a sleeping angel. The main wound on her nose had cleaned up well but it still seemed a bit crooked, there was a large scar on her lip where it had been torn and James could feel the deep cut in her head where she had cracked it open. Her arm was bandaged up and in a sling and at this point James noticed some bone repair medicine next to the flowers he had brought. James took a look at her ankle which was also bandaged up and still rather swollen. James had only just noticed that her was still stroking Lily's hair even though it was no longer in her face, he then noticed that it must have been disturbing her since she suddenly gave a sharp twitch and her eyes began to flicker open. She turned to look up at James who smiled in return.

"Hi." He said lamely and Lily mumbled in reply. "Sorry what was that?"

"Get. Off. My. Bed." Her voice was croaky but she spoke sternly and clearly.

James instantly jumped off her bed feeling rather awkward.

"I brought you some flowers." He said indicating the bouquet to his right.

"Oh, how nice." Smiled Lily a little too nicely before the 'cheerful' look was wiped completely off her face and flicking her wand causing the flowers to burst into flames. "Woops." She said laughing fakely "Silly little me."

"Well I can see you're in a good mood."

"Why are you here Potter?"

"To check that your ok."

"No. Why are you here?"

"I'm telling the truth."

"Sure."

"No really." Insisted James. "So are you going to the dance tomorrow?"

"Oh, so that's why you came here, to ask me to the dance."

"Erm actually………."

"Well the answers no Potter. And just to let you know I can't go because Madame Campbell says I'm too ill."

"Well actually I was just making small talk I'm already going with Bliss Schalski.""

"Oh. Picked your self up a little slut have you."

"No I just…………."

"Piss off Potter."

"Ok then if that's how you want it." Said James beginning to back away. "Next time I see you unconscious and bloody on the floor I won't help, I'll just leave you to rot."

"You didn't bring me here!"

"Yes I did, ask Madame Campbell. I found you and carried you here, shame, I'm beginning to regret it now." And with that James stormed out pushing past Sirius who was just pushing open the door.

"Lily flower." Cried Sirius seeing her sitting up in her bed.

"SIRIUS BLACK PISS OFF!" She screamed at the top of her voice throwing the vase at him. It hit the floor and smashed into a million pieced mere centimeters away from Sirius who made a quick dash for the exit.

"That's one crazy chick." Said Sirius to himself closing the door behind him.

The net day was brighter but not by far. All any girl could talk about was the ball as if it were something unheard of at Hogwarts. You couldn't go anywhere without a pair of girls quietly nattering about it near by though no boy could quite understand the excitement of it, apart from Sirius. See when it came to balls Sirius was the queen of getting over excited, no not kind, queen. This is because he acted unbelievable camp and a little like a hyperactive 10 year old girl, and James and Remus had to put up with him. Oh joy!

"Oh my god I am so glad we have our last two classes before the ball off because it's going to take me ages to get ready. Everything takes so long, especially my hair, you should see how this guy Elvis wore it. It's like so cool and big n' stuff and totally the same color as mine. Apparantly his hair was like super hard because he used a lot of this muggle stuff called hairspray on it to keep it in place, I'll just use a spell for that of course. His hair was also like super duper shiny, do you think there's a spell that could do that to my hair? I hope so. And I've got to pick the perfect necklace, one that says I like to wear jewelry and dress up a bit and that I'm a little bit out there but it's got to state that I am NOT a girl and I am Not gay. I've also got to do my nails. I'll either paint them black or give myself a nice ickle manicure…………….I mean a manly manicure. Guy's can have them too you know that's why it's called a manicure. See how that works. Oh my god and I've still got to find my leather jacket!"

"Sirius, I can't believe this is you talking." Said Remus looking up at Sirius in utter disbelief.

"You better believe it baby." Said Sirius grinning cheesily and winking at Remus.

"Did you just wink at me?!"

"Oh yeah."

"Don't ever talk like that again." Said James from the other side of Sirius.

"Ok then." Said Sirius sadly.

"Good."

"Oh I've just had a fantastic idea!" Cried Sirius. "We could do each others hair n' stuff! It'll be like a super awesome sleepover! Coolio!"

"No!" Said Remus and James in unison.

"Fine." Snapped Sirius. "But Moony, seriously, you could do with the hair tips."

"Shut-up Sirius."

"Point taken."

The rest of the day wasn't particularly eventfully, nothing much happened at al. Sirius stayed just as excited and annoying, Remus grew more temperamental towards him and James's headache caused by their trivial bickering grew worse.

Later that night the 3 of them were getting reading in their dorm. James was putting fake blood on his fangs, Remus was adjusting his cape and Sirius was standing in front of one of his many mirrors attempting to make a seemingly difficult decision holding a ridiculously large and glittery butterfly clip up to this hair and then away again repeatedly.

"Butterfly. No butterfly. Butterfly. No butterfly. Butterf…………"

"Oh for gods sake Sirius! Elvis Presley would never be caught dead with something as stupid looking or as girly as that anywhere near his hair, neither would any respectable guy!" Snapped Remus snatching the butterfly off Sirius.

"I'm a respectable guy."

"Oh, you really think so."

"Yeah I………….."

"Guys!" Interrupted James. "Stop it. We should be smiling and laughing not frowning and yelling. So let's calm down, think happy thoughts and have a nice time celebrating the dead people."

"Ok then." Said Sirius. "But he started it."

"He started it." Mimicked Remus. "What are you? Five."

"No but I wish I was."

"Why? Because then you'd have an excuse for your stupidity."

"No! Because then I didn't know you!" Shouted Sirius before storming out of the dorm and slamming the door behind him.

"I'm gonna go." Said James opening the door and leaving closely followed by a rather disgruntled Remus.

The three boys entered into the common room to see their dates together and waiting for them. Sirius's date, Misty, was dressed in a glittery pink bunny suit with a small black bow-tie, fluffy white bunny ears and matching silver stilettos. She was a 6th year with waist length, thick, blonde wavy hair that she wore down and bright blue eyes. Maya was standing next to her dressed in a tight leather cat suit with high heeled black leather boots on and a cat eye mask. She had waist length black straight hair that she had pulled back into an extremely tight and high pony tail. James's date, Bliss, was standing next to her. She was dark skinned and had long curly black hair and deep, soft brown eyes. She was about the same height as James and was wearing a floor length black dress. The bodice was fitted with a front corset tie with a red velvet under layer and it was attached to a long a-line black skirt layer with a red lace hem. At the top of the bodice was a red ruffle layer that eased into long black flare sleeves decorated with a pattern of red roses. She was wearing an unnatural amount of eyeliner and dark eye shadow and had unbelievably long, thick, eye lashes. She had bright red lipstick on and inside her mouth James could see a pair of fangs like his own coated in a small amount of fake blood. All in all she didn't look that bad and she definitely looked the part of Lady Dracula.

James walked up to her awkwardly unsure of what to say.

"Err….Hey Bliss."

"I'm only here because Sirius made me come otherwise I'd be hiding out in my room away from all the idiotic preps actually going to this stupid ball."

"Ok then. Do you want to go?"

"Not really but since I have to I suppose I will."

"Right."

They walked silently down to the great hall James feeling increasingly awkward and Bliss glaring at anyone through her dark eyes who was smiling; which kinda creeped James out a bit. They ran into Hannah, James's first date from Sirius, who was beaming and her face was bright with excitement. Bliss glared at her and furrowed her eyebrows but that just caused Hannah to come over.

"Come on Bliss crack a smile." She said cheerfully.

"If you don't stop smiling and leave me alone right now I will do such unthinkable things to you that you will never be able to smile again. Got that?" Scowled Bliss. "I thought so."

"Well your personality certainly doesn't match your name. You could do much better James." Said Hannah walking off.

"Bitch."

"I went on a date with her."

"Well woweee for you."

"Just trying to make conversation."

"I don't like talking."

"Well what do you like?" Asked James. "I like music."

"You're doing it."

"What?"

"You're talking again."

"Oh."

"Shhhhhhhh."

So James didn't utter a single word until they reached the hall out of fear of Bliss tying his tongue in a knot and then ripping it out of his mouth. When they reached the hall James looked around to see a wonderful decorated beautiful though he was careful not to smile because he didn't know of the unspeakable things Bliss was planning to do to all who did, and he did not wish to find out.

"Do you want to sit over there?" Said James pointing to the table where Misty was sitting on Sirius's knee, and Sirius seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much.

"If I have to."

James took that as a yes and they walked over and sat down at the table shortly joined by Remus and Maya.

"Hey you guys are you having fun?" Maya asked James and Bliss.

"Does it look like it?" Asked Bliss sourly.

"Ok then." Replied Maya a little crest fallen.

"Do you want to dance?" Asked James.

"Not particularly."

"What do you want to do?"

"Sit here and wallow in my own self pity."

"Sounds like fun."

"You'd bee surprised."

So they sat there for what felt like countless hours in uncomfortable silence James looking greatly amused by the little umbrella in his pumpkin juice and Bliss still basking in peoples scared faces when she saw them glaring at them.

"James." Called Sirius from across the hall. "Come over here a second."

"Do you mind if I go off for a bit?"

"It would be the greatest gift god could give."

"Ok then." Said James a little angry getting up leaving Bliss alone to do her glaring.

"So how's it going?" Asked Sirius not letting go of Misty for one second.

"What?"

"You and Bliss, feeling the magic?"

"No! Not at all!" Exclaimed James. "She's so depressing. I don't think I'll ever be happy again. She's worse than that girl Becky you used to date and she was so suicidal it actually got me thinking about it, and I wasn't eve dating her!"

"God your so difficult." Whined Sirius. "You didn't like Hannah because she was too happy and now you don't like Bliss because she's not happy enough! Picky or what?!"

"Well it's not my fault, you can date anyone as long as their willing to sleep around but I only date people I actually like."

"Really!" Exclaimed Sirius. "You actually like who your dating!"

"Yes."

"Oh! What's that like?"

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."

"Well we're going to go, you?"

"Anything to escape the bloody banshee at table six."

"You're so nice."

"It's one of my many positive attributes."

They all walked out of the hall, James being careful to avoid Bliss's gaze, Sirius's arm wrapped tightly around Misty's waist. James stopped as they began going up the stairs because he could have sworn he heard a girl crying.

"What is it James?" Asked Misty stopping.

"Nothing. You guys go on I'll see you later." Replied James.

"Bye James." Called Sirius before they carried on up the stairs.

James on the other hand began to retrace his steps following the sound of weeps. As he neared the hall entrance Lily came rushing out in a beautiful Lady Gryffindor costume her eyes red and puffy, her make-up all smudged, and her hands to her face wiping away her sparkling tears.

"Lily." Called a voice.

"Go away!" Screamed Lily whirling round to face the boy running after her.

"Come on Lily you know you lover me." Said the boy sounding slightly hysterical and pushing Lily up against the wall causing her to bash her head.

"Elliot your insane!" She screamed.

"Don't call me insane you stupid bitch. If you didn't like me you wouldn't have come with me."

"You bloody idiot I came with Alex!"

"I am not an idiot." He yelled slapping her across the face.

"OI! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THIHNK YOUR DOING?" Yelled James unable to watch this terrible scene any longer.

"Oh and who are you? Come to save her have you, like you did last time."

"THAT WAS YOU!"

"So."

"You touch her once more and I will quite literally kill you."

"Oh really."

"No."

"That's what I thought."

"But I am going to hurt you." At that moment James threw his fist in Elliot's direction hitting him square on the face. This quickly developed into a full fight Lily desperately trying to pull one of the other. The next this James knew he was being pulled back by the neck of his costume and Elliot was getting further and further out of his reach.

They both looked up to see Professor McGonagall looking crossly at both of them. Elliot was being held back by Professor Flinch, the charms teacher. And James looked up to see Professor Thomas, the astrology teacher, holding him.

"This stops right now!" Said McGonagall sternly. "Gryffindors do NOT behave like this, and a Ravenclaw this is unwise, I thought you lot were supposed to be clever. I could only expect this on a couple of the Slytherins but no one else! How dare you! Return to your beds now!"

The two boys were released and James threw Elliot an angry look before walking off to his dorm. He walked into the common room and up the stairs and pushed open the old door to his dorm where he saw Sirius lying in his bed looking oddly guilty.

"Hey Sirius." Said James lazily.

"Hey James, I see you've come in alone just like me I'm all alone in my bed, yep all alone just like I said. God! What's with the third degree already?" Rambled Sirius.

"What the Hell Sirius?" Exclaimed James but then her saw the suspicious lookin lump next to Sirius in the bed. "Oh! Hi Misty."

"Hi James." Came a muffled voice from under the covers of Sirius's bed.

"James you have blood all over you!" Remarked Sirius seeing James in the moonlight. "What happened?"

"I'm tiered, I'll tell you tomorrow. For now I just want to go to bed."

A/N: So I hope you liked it. I'm really sorry I took so long I have a show in a few weeks and we've been rehearsing like crazy and I dare not miss one because our leader is an extremely scary woman. Anyway please review and I'll have the next chapter up ASAP.