Sorry everyone for the delay, it seems the driver lost the keys to the bus – again! I would be angry if I didn't feel sorry for him – wouldn't you know it was a man. Anyway he's getting along a bit in his old age so please keep the noise down and the bottle throwing to a minimum. In fact the best thing to throw bottles at are the animals umm I mean characters. Umm uh lets go. Now remember seat belts are important. If you don't fancy seeing blood please wear one - or I will make you see blood narrows eyes.

Disclaimer: Blueskywillow does absolutely not own Harry Potter - Past, Present or Future, she merely runs the tour. And just to mention she doesn't get paid either, after all the tour is free.

Chapter 24

A while later Lily was wondering down the hall looking for James' room. It was a very big house and she hadn't really paid attention to where she was going when James had showed her around during the summer. Several small children ran by Lily, chasing each other. Lily figured they were James' cousins. She then stopped at a door that she recognised and hoped that it was to James' room. She knocked on the door.

"Come in." Came James' voice. Lily smiled then walked in. James was lying at the bottom of his bed throwing one of those small bouncy balls at the wall. Lily shut the door behind her. James looked at her and jumped of the bed.

"You're up." He said walking over to her.

"Yeah. I'm feeling a lot better." Lily smiled. She sat down on James' bed and James sat down on one of the corner chairs. Lily noticed that he was keeping his distance from her but shrugged at this.

"James?" Lily said. James looked up at her.

"Yeah?" James asked.

"There has been something on my mind since this morning." Lily said looking at the ground.

"What is it?" James asked. Lily looked at him.

"What happened last night?" Lily asked barely above a whisper. "I mean I know what happened. But how did I get to the other side of the room. I didn't move." Lily said looking up at him. Her eyes were pleading with him to give her an answer but he didn't have one.

"I don't know Lily. One minute you were beside me, next all I could see was your face through the flames." James said looking at the ground. Tears came to Lily's eyes, but she quickly forced them back. She stood up.

"Let's go down stairs. Sirius, Michelle and Eve are waiting for us." Lily said. James stood and grabbed his jacket then left the room with her. As they were walking down the hall talking about the upcoming event that evening, a small figure ran into James' legs. The small figure fell back and Lily could see a small girl no older than four. James laughed and picked her up into his arms.

"Summer, are you okay?" James asked the small girl. Summer had long blonde curled hair with blue eyes. She had a cute little button nose and a dimpled chin.

"Jamie!" Summer said throwing her arms around James forgetting his question. James grimaced at Summer calling him this. But he smiled none the less. Lily looked on curiously with her eyebrows raised. Summer pulled away from James and smiled at him. James turned the girl towards Lily.

"Lily this is my cousin Summer, Summer this is a friend of mine from School. Her name is Lily." James said. Lily smiled at the young girl. James' heart melted at this smile.

"Hello." Lily said happily to her. Summer shied away from her. James whispered into her ear but Lily heard what he said.

"You're still by number one girl." James whispered. Summer perked up at this.

"I'm four." Summer said to Lily proudly.

"You are? I never would've guessed." Lily said in shock, however it was put on for the young girls' part.

"Yes she is. And tell Lily what Sirius got you for you birthday." James said to Summer.

"Si-Si got me a dolly and lots of fun jokes to play on Mummy and Daddy." Summer whispered the last bit to Lily then giggled. Lily chuckled.

"Si-Si shouldn't be giving pretty little girls like you tricks." Lily said nodding her head.

"Oh no. I like them jokes. They's funny. They turn Mummy's hair pink." Summer giggled. Lily chuckled. "Jamie put me down. I have to goes. Minnie is making Dean and me some cookies." Summer said. James put Summer down.

"Make sure you and Dean don't get into any trouble." James called after her as she ran down the hall. Lily looked at James curiously.

"Who is Dean?" Lily asked as they started talking again.

"Dean is another one of my cousins. He's a little rascal. Sirius has a big influence on him." James chuckled. Lily chuckled then leaned up against the wall and started gasping for breath.

"Lily? Are you okay?" James asked putting a hand on her back. Lily nodded and got her breath back.

"I'm fine James-" Lily coughed. "-It's just hard catching my breath." Lily said as she stood up straight. She put a hand to her chest and coughed again.

"I don't think you should be going anywhere. You should rest for tonight." James said.

"No James. I'll be okay." Lily said reassuringly. James looked at her then nodded.

"Fine but I'm not letting you out of my sight." James said. Lily smiled. That was fine by her. They walked down stairs and into the large living room area were everyone was. James opened the door and followed Lily. Michelle and Sirius were inside along with Eve, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, Lucy and her husband, John.

"There you guys are. Let's go." James said trying to hurry Sirius, Michelle and Eve out of the room. But Mrs. Potter stopped him.

"Ah Lily, you're up and walking that is good to see." Mrs. Potter smiled.

"Now James don't be tiring Lily out." Lucy said. James rolled his eyes. "The only reason I am allowing her to go with you is because these three-" Lucy pointed at Sirius, Michelle and Eve. "-begged me so much I got tired of listening to them. And I knew your mother wouldn't be happy with you and Sirius under her feet." Lucy said. James and Sirius rolled their eyes.

"Let's go then." James said ushering his friends out of the room. The small group went into the kitchen to get some snacks.

The bigger kitchen was being used for making food for that evening's ball. The elves were working like crazy running through out the house getting everything ready.

"Okay where are we going?" Eve asked. As she pored herself a drink.

"I'm hungry." Sirius said.

"Let's go to that place where it has a huge TV and you can buy popcorn." Eve said excitedly.

"You mean the Cinema?" Lily asked.

"Yeah that. Caspian took me to one when I was in France." Eve smiled dreamily.

"What were you doing with Caspian?" Michelle asked curiously.

"Uh we uh just met up." Eve said with a shrug.

"And why did Caspian bring you to a dark place like that? I've been to those places; I know what people can get up to Eve." James said angrily.

"James shut up." Lily said quietly as she blushed.

"Oh and what kind of things is that?" Sirius asked with a grin. Lily quickly put a hand over James' face.

"Nothing much." Lily quickly said.

"Oh we are going there." Sirius grinned at Michelle. Michelle rolled her eyes at him.

"Keep thinking that." Michelle said.

"You weren't saying that last night." Sirius winked at her. Michelle glared at him.

"Grease is playing at the Roman Cinema in London." Lily quickly said. James turned to her.

"No no no no no noooooo. I am not going to see that stupid film." James said shaking his head. Lily chuckled.

"What's Grease about?" Eve asked curiously.

"It's about these idiots singing and dancing." James said.

"You know that girl who played Sandy was actually sewed into those spandex trousers." Lily said thoughtfully. "She couldn't go for a pee all day." Lily said shaking her head. "Anyways we could go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Lily said.

"What's it about?" Sirius asked.

"It's about this couple who get stranded in the middle of nowhere and take shelter in this old castle only to find that it is inhibited by monsters." Lily said.

"Isn't that the film you went to see with Daniel?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah. But it's so cool. It had that cool song in it. What is it? Oh yeah Lets do the time warp again I couldn't stop singing that all night." Lily chuckled.

"Nah-uh. We are not going to see anything that has people singing in it." James said shaking his head.

"Fine." Lily said throwing her hands up in the air. There was a pause then Lily spoke again. "We could go see Rocky? It's about this guy who becomes a boxer. I haven't seen it yet." Lily shrugged.

"Is it a musical?" James asked hopefully. Lily shook her head. "I like the sound of that." He said then led everyone out of the house.

A few hours later the chattering group came back to find that the decorations for the ball was ready.

"Wow this place looks great." Lily said standing in the main entrance hall of the house. It had a grand staircase, which was made of marble, which was white with bits of grey. The floor had the same type of marble. Large windows adorned the walls. Long red velvet drapes came from the top the floor. Above the staircase a large picture of Godric Gryffindor was on the wall. Lily didn't understand why, she just figured he was in some way related to the Potters. Off to the right a door led to the grand ballroom and to the left a door led to large formal dinning room.

"It's okay." James shrugged. Just then Mrs. Potter and Lucy came through from the ballroom.

"Ahh you all back. Good. Michelle your father is here. He is with the men in the den. Connie has taken your things to your usual room. Your dress is also there." Mrs. Potter said.

"Thank you Mrs. Potter. Sirius would you accompany me to see my father please." Michelle said formally. She was trying to hold back giggles.

"I would love to escort such a lady." Sirius said holding out his arm.

"Thank you, kind sir." Michelle smiled. Both of them started laughing as they walked through a door beside the dinning room. Mrs. Potter shook her head then turned to James.

"Your Tux is in your room James. I do you hope that you can tame that hair of yours." Mrs. Potter said. James rolled his eyes.

"We both know that it is humanly impossible to do that." James said.

"Yes that is true. But I do hope you plan on wearing your glasses." Mrs. Potter said. Lily looked at James curiously. She didn't know he wore glasses.

"Mother, what is the point when I wear contact lenses?" James asked.

"I just think you would look a lot more acceptable with glasses. They look so nice on you." Mrs. Potter said. James rolled his eyes.

"We better go get ready." Eve said looking at Lily. Lily nodded. The three of them walked up the grand staircase.

"I didn't know you wore glasses, James." Lily said.

"They interfere when I play Quidditch so I just don't wear them." James shrugged.

"I think you'd look nice with glasses. Very handsome." Lily said with a small smile.

"You do? I'll keep that in mind." James said nodding his head. Eve rolled her eyes at the pair. Mrs. Potter and Lucy had heard this.

"He'll come down wearing the glasses tonight, wait you see, Lucy." Mrs. Potter said.

A few hours later Lily was standing in her room getting ready for the ball. She was sure it would be a grand affair and she had to look her best. Lily was already in her dress and had her make up done but she didn't know what to do. She was sitting on a chair in front of a full-scale mirror. There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Lily called. Michelle walked into the room. Lily smiled at her as she did a twirl. Michelle was wearing a midnight blue ball gown, which shimmered black. It was cut like a corset at the top and had a full-length skirt. Michelle's hair was down and in curls that framed her face perfectly.

"How do I look?" Michelle asked.

"You look great, Michelle." Lily said. Michelle then looked at Lily.

"Lily your hair isn't even done yet. The ball starts in and half an hour. We don't even have enough time to be fashionably late." Michelle exclaimed. Lily rolled her eyes.

"I don't know what way to wear it. But I want this hair clip to be in it." Lily said taking a box from the bedside table and opening it. Michelle gasped as she seen what was in it.

"Lily that is beautiful. Who gave it to you?" Michelle asked as she touched it. It was a beautiful silver hair clip that was shaped as a butterfly and had a green emerald in it. It was the same clip Lily had seen in Charms, the jewellers in Hogsmeade

"I don't know. I got in anonymously for Christmas. But I have a feeling I know who it was from." Lily said as she sat on the chair.

"I have a perfect idea of what to do with your hair now. Face the mirror." Michelle ordered. Lily did as she was told and let Michelle fix her hair. There was a moment of silence then Lily spoke.

"I think James wants to end this thing with me." She said heaving a sigh.

"Why do you think that?" Michelle asked.

"He has been acting weird with me. Usually he would've held my hand or done something like it. But today he barely looked at me." Lily said looking at Michelle in the mirror.

"You obviously missed him staring at you in the cinema. I don't even think he watched that film thing." Michelle said.

"But he's been so weird and just..." Lily trailed off.

"Just what Lily?" Michelle asked.

"Just when I realised that I wanted to get back with him." Lily said quietly. Michelle stopped doing her hair.

"Seriously Lily. Oh my gosh, that's great." Michelle said excitedly. Lily smiled.

"When I was with him at the hotel I realised that I just wanted to be with him and I was stupid to want to take it slow between us. I hope he feels the same way." Lily said.

"Of course he does Lily. And tonight you are gonna make him want you more than ever." Michelle grinned. Lily smiled at Michelle's optimism. Michelle was finally done with Lily's hair. Lily smiled at the results. Her hair was piled up like a French roll with the hair clip keeping it together.

"Thank you Michelle." Lily said hugging her friend.

"No problem." Michelle smiled. Lily then put a silver chain on that her parents had got her for Christmas and a pair of diamond earrings.

"Are you ready?" Michelle asked. Lily nodded. She was very nervous about the ball because it was her first official wizard ball not including the ones at Hogwarts. She had been to many of these events with her father as her mother has hated them. She knew how to act but did not know what to expect. Lily and Michelle made their way out of the room. They walked down the hallway towards the entrance hall.

Meanwhile in the entrance hall two devilishly handsome men stood waiting. One of them turned to other.

"Why does it take so long for girls to get dressed?" James asked Sirius. Sirius shrugged. He stood with his hands in his hands in his pockets looking very appealing to most of the young ladies there that evening, as was James of course. Both stood side by side looking identical except for the fact the James was wearing glasses and his hair was untidy. But what could be done, it was the Potter trait.

Sirius and James both wore black robes that made them look even more handsome if possible. There was not much you could say about the robes because they looked like every other pair of robes does and there was really no point of going into detail about it. As the boys had greeted all the guests along with their parents they could not help but wonder what was taking the girls so long.

The boys stood waiting, Eve and a very handsome young man came towards them. The young man was the same age as James and Sirius but did not go to school. He was very smart and had graduated from a very private school in the South of Asia almost four years before. His family of course was one of the richest in the world and could afford to send this young man to such an exclusive tutor in Indonesia. The young man was as tall as James and was very well built, just near the same as James. He had golden brown hair and the deepest pair of dark grey eyes. He was very tanned and very handsome.

"Caspian? What're you doing back in the country? I thought you were studying in Tibet?" James asked clasping his hand and shaking it. Even though Caspian had finished his wizard training he had decided to go around the world and learn new things. Sirius shook his hand next.

"Good to see you back among the common folk." Sirius chuckled with a grin.

"It's good to be back. And I was studying in Tibet but now I'm in the South of France." Caspian replied with a small smile. He had one of those deep voices that just made a girls' heart melt especially Eve's.

"How long have you been studying in France." James asked putting his hands in his pockets.

"Six months. I left Tibet at the end of May and ventured my way through Asia and then made to France in little over a month." Caspian said.

"Why not just apparate?" Sirius asked as if it was the most obvious thing.

"Sirius, I may have graduated but they still won't let me get my test until the end of June." Caspian said. "But it wasn't so bad. I met some very interesting people, but I didn't stick around much I wanted to get to France as quick as possible." He said giving Eve a side word glance. James noticed this but didn't say anything because Eve looked up the staircase behind James and Sirius and smiled. James turned round and his whole face had brightened.

Lily and Michelle were making their way down the stairs. Michelle had reached Sirius first and was watching James' reaction towards Lily. And it was just as she thought. It obvious that James was madly in love with this girl and he made no attempt to hide it. Michelle was pleased with this. Lily was now standing in front of James on the last step of the grand staircase. She was smiling at him as he was to her, they both looking into each other's eyes. Finally James found his voice.

"Lily you look beautiful." James said. Lily's smile widened.

"Thank you James. You look very handsome yourself. And I'm glad you wore your glasses." Lily said with a slight chuckle.

"Anything for you." James replied. He then took her hand and put it round his arm. Lily stepped of the last step and finally noticed the other people there. She looked at a very handsome man (though not as handsome as James, so she thought!) standing with Eve.

"Caspian, this is Lily Evans, Lily this is Caspian Philippe, the fourth." James introduced. Caspian took Lily's hand and kissed it.

"It's very nice to meet you." Lily smiled. Caspian nodded then turned to Michelle.

"And Michelle it has been so long." He said pulling her into a brotherly hug. Michelle smiled and hugged him back then pulled.

"Caspian it is great to have you here. When did you arrive in England?" Michelle asked.

"Oh I have been home for Christmas. I arrived on the 19th." Caspian replied.

"Why didn't you come visit earlier?" Michelle asked a bit downcast.

"I would have but I had to go visit friends in the south and also up in Scotland." Caspian said smoothly.

"Oh so friends come before family." Michelle said teasingly.

"Of course not Michelle. I have also been with Aunt Lucile and her husband Maxwell." Caspian said then paused. "I have also been with Aunt Stacey." Caspian said. At this Michelle straightened and her jaw clenched. Before she could reply Mr. and Mrs. Potter came towards the group.

"Ah ladies you are here and how very stunning you look." Mr. Potter praised. "I think it is time we entered the ball. If there are any late comers I am sure the elf's will greet them." Mr. Potter smiled. He then turned with Mrs. Potter and entered the grand ballroom. The small group entered with James and Lily in front, Caspian and Eve second then Michelle and Sirius bringing up the rear. Almost immediately the ball was in procession.

Giddy Giddy Giddy. I love balls don't you!!!!! They are always so romantic!!!! And magical things always happen at them!!!! Go review and you will see what I mean!!!!