AN:/Hey there:) I'm trying to make the chapters longer like a few of you have said, and I promise to increase the length as the story progresses.
Hope you like this part!x

Lily fell back onto the sofa, giggling profusely. She'd just danced her arse off but the others seemed to have disappeared.

Lily knew she was drunk. Completely and utterly blocked off her head. That's why the world was spinning and everything had a slight glimmer to it.
She looked up, surrounded by strangers.
People were jumping up and down to a fast song, Lily couldn't even hear the words over people laughing and shouting.

She closed her eyes. Her feet were hanging over the edge of the sofa, heels still intact. Lily hummed a muggle song she'd been listening to last week. Bright lights kept flashing behind her eyes, and explosions of colour melted down her eyeballs. She felt light, dizzy.
"Lily!"
Lily looked over and saw the hostess sitting on the edge of the sofa, looking down at her.
"How'd you like the party?" The girl asked. Lily smiled.
"Yeah, it's great Mel. Thanks for inviting us."
Melinda waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh no big deal." She shuffled slightly closer. "Tell me Lily, what exactly happened with you and James?"

Lily looked up and pushed her hair back from her face.
James.
If Lily cared to admit it, her thoughts had been on the boy the entire night. She couldn't help but stare at him. It freaked her out; where had the sudden attraction come from? Lily shook her head slightly. No, that indicated that she liked him, and Lily knew she did not like-
Oh Merlin.
The realisation hit her like a ton of bricks.
She liked him.
She really, really liked him.
What other explanation was there?

She shuddered, suddenly feeling cold. Lily seemed to realise Melinda was still there, watching her with a weird look on her face.
"Well?"
"Um…" Lily mumbled. Her head was spinning.
Potter! How on earth could she like him? She hated him!
Lily felt sick.
"L-listen Melinda," Lily stammered. "Can we continue this later? I have to g-go to the bathroom."
Melinda looked slightly crestfallen, but nodded none the less.
"Use mine." She said. "Upstairs, third door on the right."
Lily smiled, grateful.
She got up and stumbled to the door, pushing sticky bodies out of her way.

Lily put her hands on either side of the sink, looking up into her reflection. It seemed that Hestia's spell had not worked on her makeup.
Lily's face was red, with the foundation rubbed off. Her eyes were stinging where the mascara had gone into them. Her hair was still set in perfect ringlets though.

In other words, she looked like a complete mess.
And she felt like one too.
Lily blinked rapidly, and a dull throb hit right between her eyes, reminding her she was completely intoxicated.
A spark of hope ignited. Maybe she didn't actually fancy James. It was just the alcohol screwing up her mind. Lily tried to convince herself that that was the case, though deep down she knew she'd probably liked him for a long time.

Lily breathed in. She didn't know what to do. Tell him?
James had made it crystal clear that he liked her very much on the train…but then again, what about in Diagon Alley?
And did she want him to know? Did she want to…go out with him? Hold his hand, have his arm around her shoulders…kiss his lips.

…Hell yeah she did.
Lily screwed up her eyes, a picture forming in her mind. James had his arm slung over her shoulder, and they were laughing. The girls and the other marauders were there too, finally able to become friends, because Lily didn't hate James anymore.
It was a strange image.
But it was also a nice one, a lovely one.
Lily smiled slightly, feeling suddenly confident.
Maybe this could work.

Lily spent some time fixing her make up. She'd found Melinda's case and had carefully reapplied everything, including some red lipstick this time. This took her about 15 minutes, and she could tell she was stalling.
Despite this fact, Lily took off her shoes and sat on the cold marble floor. She ran her hands along the pattern with her eyes closed. She was imagining how the next hour would go.
If she waltzed up and told James she liked him, would he throw her one of his lopsided grins, push up his glasses and pull her into his arms?
Or would he and Sirius laugh? Lily hoped that wouldn't be the case.
Maybe she should tell Marlene first…she could advise her on how to tell him.

Or maybe she could just walk straight up to him and snog his face off.
The less reasonable side of her (so the drunk side) told her it liked that idea.
Therefore, Lily liked that idea.

She waited another 10 or so minutes, before jumping to her feet and putting her shoes back on. This itself was a challenge, seeing as her hands were shaking like a leaf.
Lily turned off the light and walked back to the main party. She looked for James in the kitchen and the living room where she had prior been. No sign of him.
Lily asked a few people, who either shrugged or made gestures to their ears; they couldn't hear her.
Getting more and more frustrated, Lily checked in the other rooms she hadn't been in yet. A room even larger than the previous one was lit up with candles. The music in here was quiet and slow; somehow the blasting songs from outside the door were unable to reach inside.
A few couples were slow dancing in the middle of the floor. A few were cuddled up on chairs, stroking the others hair and smiling happily.
Lily sighed; she wanted that.

After leaving the room, Lily walked down the seemingly endless corridor and entered another room.
She promptly slammed the door shut, having seen way too much in the few seconds.
The next ended in much the same outcome.
Another had more dancers, yet still no James.
Before closing the door though, Lily saw Remus, looking awkward as a girl chatted to him. She grinned and walked to them.

"Excuse me," Lily said. "Mind if I talk to Remus for a moment?"
The girl glared at her, but walked to the other side of the room.
Remus looked grateful, a small smile appearing on his face.
"Thanks." He muttered, looking down. "What's up Lily?"
She blushed.
"Oh, I was er, looking for James actually."
Remus quirked an eyebrow, clearly noticing the use of the boy in question's first name.
"Oh, I think he went outside to get some air. The back garden." Lily nodded her head. "Thank you Lupin!" She shouted, already turning around to exit the room. Remus stared after her confusedly.

Lily rested her hand on the cold brass door handle. This was it.
She breathed out shakily, fear and excitement running through her. Before any doubts crept into her mind, Lily pulled open the door and stepped out onto the patio.
She closed the door behind her, and was covered in darkness. A few steps led down to the main garden, but there was no sign of James.
Lily shivered. It must have been about midnight, and the cold air made the hairs on her arms stand up.

She stepped forward, figuring she might as well look for James.
After leaving the steps, Lily walked onto the pathway. She saw a bench a few metres away, and the shadows of two people. They were clearing having fun.
Lily crossed her arms and crept forward. She would sneak past without disturbing them.
As she reached the bench, the features of the couple became clear.
Lily nearly screamed, but bit back her horror.
Severus Snape was fiercely kissing a girl she recognised as a Slytherin the year below him. She stumbled backwards.
Lily hadn't thought he would have been at the party. In fact, it hadn't even so much as crossed her mind.
Not sure whether to laugh or run away, Lily took a wide birth to the left, off the path. When she was certain the bench was far enough away, she continued down the garden.

At the very edge of the garden there was a shed, and a few stone steps that showed a perfect view of the black sky.
And there, sitting quite still was the boy she had been searching for.

Lily crinkled the corners of her dress with her hands as she approached James. His glasses were sitting beside him on the ground. Lily thought that was weird; James always wore his glasses. He was as blind as a bat without them.
She tried to say his name, but it came out as a sort of strangled groan. James turned around suddenly, probably looking for the escaped animal that'd just made such an awful noise. Lily's cheeks reddened and she cleared her throat.
"S-sorry."

James was staring up at her, mouth gaping. Lily sat down a few steps above him and he turned back to face the stars.
"What is it?" James asked, voice quiet.
"I need to tell you something." Lily said, proud for not stammering once.
She saw his back tense. "Yeah? Go ahead."
Lily bit her lip. "Well…I've been thinking, about what you said…on the train."
James sat up straighter and she saw him run a hand through his hair.
"Right." He said.
"And I…well, what I mean to say is-"

"James?"
Lily was interrupted mid sentence. She turned around, ready to glare at whoever had spoken.
She gasped.
Melinda.
"What are you doing here with him?" Melinda asked. "I'm meeting him, so why are you here?"
Lily stood up.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't realise…"
"That's okay Lily." Melinda smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "If you want to head back up to the house…James and I have something to finish." She wiggled her eyebrows and Lily noticed for the first time that they were crudely drawn on, made a colour much darker than her blonde hair.
Lily turned to James, who had said nothing.
He looked conflicted, wanting to know what Lily had been saying.
"Okay." She tore her eyes from his and walked a little past Melinda.
"H-have fun." Lily said slowly, to disguise her shaky voice.

Lily quickened her pace to almost a jog, needing to get away.
Stupid! Lily thought. How had she almost told him she liked him? How idiotic! He obviously would never want a girl like her. They weren't even close to being in the same league.
Finding the bench deserted, it seemed Severus had left with his friend, Lily sat down and put her head in her hands.
A few tears leaked out of her eyes and she felt the wind blowing her hair to pieces. The spell had even worn off.
She felt completely sober.
And suddenly it was unbearable.