It was like a fairytale. All the women and girls were in dresses that flattered whatever figure they had, all the men in dress robes, the most popular colors being blue, purple, and green, though the women had every color one could think of, making a colorful ocean of people mingling.

You could tell who the press were, they were dressed in brown, it seemed like a tradition with them.

Loralei and Sirius were the last through the doors, entering somewhat unnoticed, though they were tethered to each other by their hands. Loralei could hear her heartbeat in her ears, she had never been so nervous to be here, especially since this would be the first time she would see Sirius' family since they became a couple.

Loralei was always beautiful, but she looked radiant tonight. Her light strawberry blonde hair was curled and in a knot on the crown of her head, with some of her shorter hair in the front framing her face, little crystals in her hair reflected rainbows in the light. Her makeup was minimal on the eyeshadow, but she had a thin black line of black above her lashes, and on her lower lashes, as well as her lashes being thicker and longer than they usually were, her eyebrows were darkened, her lips a rich bright red, matching the cloak she had left with the valet and the flowers on her dress, and her face seemed to be glowing in the soft white light from the glowing orbs that illuminated the ballroom.

Loralei's eyes searched the people around her for familiar faces, she recognized a few, but she didn't know them well, so she would not be forced into conversation with them, nor would they probably come up to her. She let out a sigh of relief for that.

"I don't see anyone, do you?" Sirius whispered into her ear.

Loralei shook her head. "No."

"Well then," he said, pulling her towards the dance floor and spinning her around, before putting one of his hands are on her waist as he bumped their chests together. "Would you like to dance?"

"You didn't give me a choice." She smiled. "So, when do you think the Prophet will get to us?"

"We may have another ten minutes." He told her. "How do you want to play it?"

"Happy and obliging, but not give too many details, just that we're happy and still together."

"That's boring, where's the scandal in that?" He asked.

She laughed. "I'd like to not have a scandal if you'd be so kind."

They danced, looking into the other's eyes, and smiling. Talking when one of them had something to say, but it wasn't awkward if they didn't say anything. Though the classes they had together they had learned to communicate with their eyes easily. Putting everything that they wanted to say in one look.

They did what they were supposed to do, smile and dance, laugh when appropriate, and even some times when it wasn't appropriate. They weren't approached by the Prophet until they were getting drinks that weren't supposed to be alcoholic, but they knew it was spiked with firewhiskey at some point of the evening before they got there.

"So how is the happy couple doing?" Asked a male reporter, different from the one that crashed their date, this one was tall and blonde, with a northern accent.

"We're doing fine, thank you Carlisle." Loralei smiled, genuinely pleased to see him. "How are you doing? I hear your last article got you in trouble."

"I'm fine, you know. Not everyone likes when you defy he-who-must-not-be-named, apparently they think for publishing it we're all gonna get killed!"

Loralei and Carlisle laughed, while Sirius looked confused.

"No one would want that." Loralei said.

"No, but I would like a comment."

Loralei laughed. "Sirius and I are still going very strong and are very much in love. I hope every girl finds a sweetheart like him." She told the reporter, but she was looking at Sirius. "No none of these rings are engagement rings, but he did give me this necklace for my birthday." She paused. "Is that enough?"

"More than. That with the dancing and laughing you guys are good until spring." He told her, writing down every word Loralei had said. "Every time someone else asks you tell them to piss off."

"You only write good things about me, Carlisle." Loralei replied. "If you were looking for a scandal I would tell you to piss off."

Carlisle laughed. "Never with you sweetheart." They kissed each other once on each cheek and he went on his way with a, "Happy Christmas!"

"You were friendly." Sirius said, nudging her with his elbow.

"He's a good reporter, does it for more than sell papers." Loralei replied. "He cares about the people who's lives he's paid to follow, he will only make someone look bad if they wronged someone." Loralei thought for a second. "He was writing an article about me after Fab and I broke up, and he took me out for ice cream to do it. I knew him before that. Even Dad likes him. He's the one that wrote the article about us after we got followed by that one creepster."

Sirius nodded. "So when we get engaged he's the one we call?"

She laughed, and mock-hit his stomach. "I haven't said yes."

"You will."

"Confidence isn't always attractive, you know." She said, taking a drink from her glass.

"I disagree." He told her. "Confidence is everything about being attractive. If I had Moony's confidence I wouldn't be dating you."

She looked away from him, taking a long sip from her drink.

He looked at her. "You didn't."

"It was first and second year, he's adorable and smart, sweet too, oh, and he has binges on chocolate and lets you join-"

"Maybe you should be dating him then." Sirius said, mostly joking.

"But I only have eyes for you." She said, sappily, looking up at him and fluttering her eyelashes.

He kissed her, and pulled away for a second before giving her another short kiss. "That's what I like to hear."

She laughed and shook her head. "You're impossible."

"And you're beautiful." He replied.

She rolled her eyes. "Be happy my lipstick doesn't smudge."

His hand went to his mouth, as if just thinking of it. "Promise?"

"Yep," she told him. "I wouldn't lie about that. I don't want my boyfriend wearing lipstick any more than I do."

He laughed. "So halloween before last wasn't good?"

"Actually it was wonderful, mostly when you were wearing my hot pink lipstick with a matching skirt." She replied.

"It was a dare!"

"I have pictures."

"Don't show them to anyone."

"Only your children."

"No! Then I won't be the cool dad!"

"You're right, you'll be the cross dressing dad."

"Burn them."

"No! Their my fondest memories. You didn't see them in your photo album?" She asked.

"I thought those were the only copies!"

"You underestimate my powers." She said, trying not to laugh at the teasing conversation.

"I promise I won't anymore if you burn them."

"Never!"

"It's so boring." James groaned. "Now stop being so couple-like and come up with a plan to make this a little less boring."

"We could steal one of the instruments and pretend we know how to play them." Loralei told them.

"Naw, we'd get caught to easily." Sirius disagreed.

"Should we go for a walk outside? We can say it got a little stuffy in here." Loralei said, looking around. "Mum and Dad won't care."

"But my parents will be so disappointed." Sirius teased.

Loralei grabbed her brother's arm. "Get me out of here before I am seen."

"That makes me feel good." Sirius told her sarcastically.

"You know I love you...but your parents are crazy." She told him. "You should know this more than anyone."

"I do, but still, what's my mother going to think?"

"That you're dating a beautiful, pureblood girl." She replied sweetly. "They don't care much about anything else."

"That's true." He agreed. "Let's go."

Loralei nodded. "You go get the coats, I'll tell Mum and Dad." She went to go find her mother and father to tell them, before going to the front hall to meet the boys.

Sirius handed her her the velvet cloak, and draped it over her shoulders, and closed the clasp in the front.

She turned to one of the valets. "Where's the back exit?"

"Let me show you," he said holding out his hand for her to take.

She took it, as well as grabbing Sirius' as Sirius grabbed James', pulling them along a long doorless corridor, until they reached a door at the end of it.

"Here you go, Miss." He told her.

"Thank you," she kissed his cheek. "Can you wedge the door open so we can come in without being locked out?"

His cheeks were a little pink. "Yes, of course."

"Thank you, love." She smiled, before going out the door, the boys following her. When they made it a few feet from the door, James spoke.

"Do you use your sex to get everything?" Her brother asked her, a little annoyed.

"Don't you?" Loralei replied. "I learned it all from you."

"Am I the only one wondering why you did that in front of your boyfriend?" Sirius asked curiously.

"Yes," James and Loralei said together.

"Thought so." Sirius nodded.

"Come on," she told the boys. "Let's have some fun." She picked up her skirt, and took off running, as fast as she could in heels, the boys looked at each other before following, catching up to her easily.

"Where are you going?" James asked.

"Who cares?" Loralei replied. "I got some gallons strapped to my-"

"I don't want to know!" James told her.

She laughed. "Thigh, James! Thigh!" She stopped running, and slowed to a walk. "Sorry guys, but heels are killer." She paused. "Should we go get coffee? There has to be a coffee shop around here."

"Of course there does, because our coffee addict needs some." Sirius said, taking her hand.

"Exactly."