Lily sat in front of the desk in the Potter house. A mirror had been placed, leaning against the wall. She opened her bag of cosmetics, scowling at them and dreading the moment when she had to put on her dress and leave to go to Potter Manor. The boys, on the other hand, didn't seem to care and were busy doing Merlin knows what.

Her hair was already up in an interesting up-do that was a complicated nest of curls that Agatha helped her with. She was applying lipstick when her door opened. With a lazy smile and messy hair James was propped against the door frame.

"I'm not done." She turned around and saw him in trousers, dress shoes and a t-shirt. "And neither are you."

"Sirius refuses to get dressed and Peter is following his lead."
"Remus?"

"Already dressed, sitting and reading."

"Of course," Lily said, looking in the mirror at her carefully applied makeup. "Can you leave or shut the door?"

"Why?"

"I have to get dressed." She got to her feet to walk over where the dress was hanging.

"You might need help." He replied with a shrug, walking over to her bed. "Aren't zippers tricky?"

"A little." She looked over her shoulder with a half-smile before turning her back on James and loosening the tie around her waist before letting it drop to the ground. Unhooking the dress from the hanger she stepped into it. "So do you want to try it?"

"I thought you would never ask." James got to his feet resting his hand on her lower back as he brought it up. "I like it when your hair's down."

The door creaked open, "Lily I have the gloves and-" She looked at her son bent, chin rested on her shoulders and hands on her hips. "James, what are you doing in here?"

"She needed help." He backed away.

"The zipper was stuck," Lily lied.

"Why don't you finish getting dressed James? And get Sirius out of his trainers," Agatha ordered. Under her watchful he left and Lily pretended to be fixing her makeup. "I'm not blind, the two of you weren't really do anything or at least I hope." She laughed. "I have to be kidding myself if I think that won't happen. Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that James found someone like you, but make smart decisions."

"I will, I promise." Lily hugged herself as Mrs. Potter opened a small box.

"I thought you could borrow one of my necklaces, family heirloom. Do you mind?"

"No." Lily shook her head.

"Nothing fancy." Agatha clasped the small oval ruby that rested in the hollow of her neck. Lily looked in the mirror in front of her. "Is something the matter?"

"Are James and I crazy?"

"What? No," Agatha said.

Lily spun around to look at her. She looked like royalty in her periwinkle dress robes and glittering jewlery. "Eleanor thought I was a pure blood. When she heard I was dating James she didn't care that I was wearing jeans and his jacket, because being with a Potter is apparently a golden ticket."

"Lily…"

"I think I love him Agatha, but I can't lie to myself."

Agatha stepped forward and embraced the tearful witch. "I know exactly what you're thinking and it is not worth crying over." She held her at arms length and reached behind her for the rag Lily used to touch up her makeup. Folding it in half she wiped away the tears. "The Potter's have been one of the mostly controversial families in terms of blood status."

"Why?"

"It was years ago, centuries probably when one of Charles' ancestors married a muggle named Reginald Potter or that's how the story goes. Her parents were so angry that they threw her out of the house, not knowing that he was nobility. When I was engaged to Charles everyone thought that I would tarnish the Potter name because my grandmother was muggleborn. After a confrontation with his aunt I almost broke it off."
"The two of you are so happy, though."

"Now, we are. Although we fought for weeks after the engagement, even after we got married until Charles finally convinced me that he didn't care if I was a squib, he loved me for me."

"Things have changed, I don't know your family, but if they're anything like the purebloods I've met…" Lily paused for a second, looking at the door. "That aren't Sirius...Once they find out-"

"Stop right there. No one can make you feel inferior, unless you give them permission." Agatha looked her over. "We need to get ready to floo. Put on your gloves and meet us downstairs."

"Spiked or unspiked?"

Lily whirled around and saw James standing there with two crystal glasses. They'd been at his grandparents manor for an hour, the other guests hadn't even arrived when they flooed in. "Spiked, I'm going to need it."

"Thought you said that. Gramps is pretty cool, so both glasses have something special in them." James slipped an arm around her as he took a drink. "We're going to have company, you're supposed to help us welcome the guests."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Your pretty face will distract them from Sirius." He kissed her, his mouth tasting of whisky and strawberries from the punch. "Please don't say you're embarrassed about being with me after what happened in your room." He tucked a curl behind her ear.

"No, your mom just told us to make smart decisions."

"If dad walked in us like that he would have shut the door."

"Like what?" Lily asked, looking up at him through her eyelashes as she took a drink. "Maybe you'll have to remind me."

"Don't mind if I do." James took the final drink of his punch before moving to stand behind Lily. His chin rested in the crook of her neck, one hand at the waist pulled her into him and another rested lightly on her shoulder. "Does this ring any bells?" He rested his lips on her neck, slowly working his way up.

"James, I have no desire to be a great grandfather anytime soon. Please step away from the delightful girl." Edgar Potter stood in the doorway of the library where they were previously hiding out. "Now, before you go greet our guests I would like a proper introduction."

"Grandfather, this is Miss Lily Evans. The brightest and most beautiful girl to ever grace the halls of Hogwarts," James said as he spun around, his arm going back around Lily's shoulder, not even missing a beat because of being caught.

"It's...nice to make….your acquaintance Mr. Potter," Lily stammered out, taking a swig of the remaining punch in her glass.

"My father died twenty years ago. I'm not going to call you Miss Evans, call me Edgar." He smiled brightly. "And while you are stunning, Lily, James never met my wife when she was at Hogwarts." A bell chimed and he looked around. "Please, go to the door. Right now Sirius is there alone and he has been a little too enthusiastic about the punch."

Lily laughed as James led her to the entrance hall where Sirius was chatting up relatives, a ridiculous grin plastered across his face. Standing beside him, she stepped closer to James and smiled equally as bright as everyone entered. For the most part they ignored her, more interested to converse with Sirius or James only giving her a cursory glance once they saw James' arm around her waist.

"Is that everyone?" she asked about half an hour later. "I'm starving."

"I'll stay here for a bit longer, I haven't seen your lovely family friends yet." By the look in Sirius eye Lily knew he wasn't being sarcastic. "Pull Peter and Remus out of the shades and keep make sure Lily doesn't wilt." He smirked. "Beside when that leggy blonde bird comes, I want to be alone."

"Who's that?"

"Nicolette, one of my father's friend's daughter. She goes to Beauxbatons," James explained.

"Ah, didn't Marlene say that she was coming?" Lily asked.

"They usually come later, we eat first then we have the ball part. The McKinnon's aren't usually here for the meal." He smiled at her. "You're doing great," he said as he guided her into the dining large hall where tables were set up.

"I think your relatives hate me," Lily said. "As soon as they see me next to you they turn the other way."
"They did the same thing to Sirius. All they're doing is testing the waters before they speak to you, that's all." James pulled his arm away as they stood in front of the table where Peter and Remus were sitting. Under the watchful eye of many relatives, he pulled the chair out for Lily. She smiled at him, pulled her gloves off, resting them beneath her napkin.

"So…" Lily said glancing around the room. "Who's that?" She asked looking at a girl with dark hair and a maroon dress looking bored out of her mind as she sat at a table with three men.

"Charlotte, that blonde bird's sister," James replied. "Most eligible witch."

"What?"

"She graduated from Beauxbatons three years ago and went straight into the Healer's Academy. Now, she works in one the best hospitals in France."

"Without a ring on her finger." Those words came from behind, Lily saw a blonde girl in a pink dress smiling as Sirius pulled out a chair for her. "My name is Nicolette." She extended her hand as Lily turned to face.

"Lily," she told her and took the hand, shaking it gently.

"She's my sister." The blonde looked over Lily. "And you are the James' infamous date." Nicolette hadn't let go of the hand, just frowned and reached for the other one. "I know you two have a year and a half left of school, but James never brings a girl to things like this. I half expected you to have a ring or be…" Her eyes landed on Lily's flat stomach.

"No." Lily pulled her hand away, eyes wide.

"It's a different scenario," Remus spoke from across the table.

"Really?" Nicolette's mouth arranged itself into a neat little smirk. "Well, I for one am glad that James finally is dating someone. I always thought he was using that girl he knew as Hogwarts as a cover for being in love with Sirius and Sirius was projecting his feelings for James unto me." Nicolette laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

James flagged down one of the people serving and grabbed a glass of punch, Lily and Sirius did they same before they all drank it in one gulp. "Lily is staying over the holiday," he told her after regaining his composure.

"What? No girl that isn't a relative has ever crossed the threshold of the Potter house. Unless…" she looked Lily over then let out a short laugh before speaking, "Your the orphan muggleborn that's staying with Agatha!"

Lily pushed away from the table, throwing her napkin and gloves on the table. James grabbed her arm. "I knew this was a mistake."

"Wait, I'm sorry...my friends tell me that I need to...Not be so blunt. I never think twice about what I'm saying. Most people find it rather endearing." She looked at Sirius.

"I need air," Lily muttered as she got to her feet. One look from her was enough to keep James from following her. As she was walking outside she stopped when she saw a girl with short hair. "Marlene!"

"Lily!" She rushed over and enveloped her tightly. "You look hot, but what about me?" She pulled away and spun around. The dress was skin tight and glittery. "Just kidding, let's sit with the boys." Marlene gripped her hand and motioned to pull her toward the table. "What's wrong?"

"I'm done," Lily whispered.

"With what?" Marlene questioned. "Lily, don't do this. I know you. You did the same thing when you made Prefect. You thought everyone hated you and that you were doing a terrible job…" Marlene looked at James, who was leaning across the table to talk with Remus. "If I had someone that looked at me like James looks at you, I wouldn't care what people said. They want you to doubt yourself." Marlene smiled at her. "If James doesn't care about any of the stupid things, then you don't either."

"It's not that," Lily spat out. "I'm the the orphan muggleborn that's living with the Potters."

"Nicolette," Marlene said. "My cousin goes to school with her, nice girl that loves attention." She laughed, then looked across the room. "Poor Charlie, I hope her parents realize that she's never going to marry one of them."

"Why? They seem nice."
"Charlie is all work and no play, the exact opposite of Nicolette. If she marries someone it will be the guy that's willing to work the graveyard shift with her at the hospital." Marlene looked at Lily. "Do you want to have some fun?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Rescue mission," Marlene said. "Go over there and start chatting up the guys. I'm going to find my brother."

"Your brother?"

"Trust me, just get one of those boys to dance with you. Turn on that charm." Marlene pushed Lily forward as she scurried away.

The redhead crossed the room and took a seat at the the table with Charlotte and the boys. "Hello," she said. "Nice Ball isn't it."

"Quite," Charlotte responded, looking Lily over. "Do I know you?"
"I'm a friend of the Potter's and I was just talking Marlene McKinnon, such a sweet girl, how no one will dance with me."

"Dinner hasn't even been served, it's still cocktail hour," one of the men replied as he adjusted his bow tie.

"There's music, isn't there?" Lily asked. "What about you?" she asked a blonde man with dark blue dress robes. "Please?"

"I don't like to make a girl beg." He got to his feet and held his hand. "My name is Augustus."

"Lily," she replied.

"Enchanted."

She was on her feet and he guided her to the emptiest part of the room in front of the band. He pulled her close as they attempted to dance to the music. "I'm terrible, two left feet."

"Really? Then why did you want to dance so badly?"

"I have my reasons," she replied, looking behind her she saw Marlene pulling Mr. Bowtie out onto the dance floor, then Charlotte was accompanied by the last man. Why would she want to force her to dance with him?

"I see, I would like to thank you. My mother has been trying to set me up with Charlotte Montbrai for years, but between you and me that girl is never going to settle down. She's so pretty, but wastes it in that hospital."

Lily felt the smile slipping from her face, but then she started once again as she saw Remus cut in with Marlene. Then, she saw why she left Charlotte alone. Marlene's older brother came up and Lily swore she had never seen a girl happier than Charlotte was in the moment.

"May I cut in?" Augustus reluctantly released her and soon James replaced him.

"I promised I'd never leave you."

Lily bit her lip to hold back a smile and rested her head on James' chest, pulling him closer. She wished that she could look in a mirror right now and see the joyous expression on her face that could rival Charlotte's.