A/N: Here it is! The BIG chapter! Go on and read ;)

p.s. sorry for the spelling mistakes, I was in a hurry ;)

Chapter 18

Everyone

Mary Macdonald

I clutch my stomach. It's hard to breath with all this laughing.

Marlene falls to the ground next to me and laughs even harder that I.

"I thought we were never going to get away from them!" she cries out between laughter.

"Who-" I ask and try to stand up from the ground. "Follows two girls with bouquets of roses to try to get them to go with them to the ball?"

Marlene bursts out laughing again. "Stupid Hufflepuffs."

We just ditched four Hufflepuff students that had followed us all around the school with roses asking us out to the ball.

"We really need to say yes to someone." I laugh.

"I know." Marlene says with a sigh "Its just so hard picking between all of them."

I nod my head in frustration. "In the end I'll just have to say yes to Gilderoy."

Marlene mocks her horror and then laughs.

I finally am able to stand up and pull her off the ground with me.

"I'll just say yes to Arnald Daver." I shrug.

"He's a good catch," Marlene nods her approval.

"Did you hear?" I then ask as I remember my biggest gossip that day.

"Hear what?" Marlene says as we start to walk back towards the castle.

"That Remus asked Dorcas Meadowes!"

"What?" Marlene yells up obviously surprised. "WHY? She's a bitch!"

I nod my head in agreement "Or at least I really thick one. Oh I dunno, he needed a date or something."

"I thought there was something going on with him and Blaire Vandever?" Marlene raises her eyebrows and I shrug again.

"I know. Me too, everyone did… Believe me it's like the biggest gossip now."

Marlene rolls her eyes. "I bet. Anyways.. Mare, are you and Veronica are still.. Hanging?"

I freeze a bit as Marlene says her name. Veronica and I haven't talked much for the past week. "Both yeah and no. I mean after Gilderoy and I totally broke it off I haven't been hanging that much with them…" I shrug. "Why?"

"Just asking." Marlene says trying to make it come off as innocent.

"You really hate her for snogging Sirius don't you?"

"I do not." Marlene scoffs and says with a bitchy tone "I'm just asking, because you've been unusually much with me."

I roll my eyes at that remark "Look, if it will make you feel better I'll hang more with Ver."

"I don't care." Says Marlene and also rolls her eyes. "But right now I am supposed to be at Quidditch practice." She sighs. "Catch you later Mare."

I mumble out a goodbye but can't hide it in my voice I'm really pissed at her. I sigh, there is no use in getting angry at her for something like this. I sigh and again and then turn around and run up to the castle.

Marlene McKinnon

Practice has already ended like twenty minutes ago but I don't feel like getting up from my place on the grass in the middle of the pitch. I have nothing to do today other than just relax and sleep and the grass is rather comfortable.

"May I sit here?" Gideon Prewett asks as he plops down next to me. I just give him a nod, I mean he's the Quidditch captain he doesn't need to ask. "So…" he drawls out "With whom are you going Marley, to the ball?"

I sigh "Honestly? I have no idea."

"Don't tell me no one has asked you?" he raises his eyebrows.

"It's not that… I mean, plenty of guys have asked me… I just, I never said yes and they probably all have dates now and.. I'm just too late."

"Were you waiting for someone special to ask you?" his eyebrows raise again.

"No."

"Alright.. So.. the Marlene McKinnon does not have a date to the ball?"

"Nope."

"Maybe we should go together?"

I look up and this time its my turn to raise my eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yeah, it isn't like it would be weird…"

"What would people say!" I playfully nudge him "Me going to a Ball with my Quidditch captain!" I fake the terror in my voice and he laughs.

"Is that a yes?"

I ponder for a moment before nodding, yes, this was good… just going as friends with Gideon, easy ad uncomplicated –

"Alright." He says with a smile but then suddenly his lips are on mine.

Uncomplicated.

Or Not.

Sirius Black

"Black!" a voice I did not expect to hear says behind me and I turn around amused.

"Vandever? I asked my self when you'd come around and come and see me, but still I didn't expect you so soon. Tired of having to restrain yourself away from my sexiness?"

Blaire growled something out that was too forced through gritted teeth for me to understand. Finally she parted her teeth. "Black, listen to me. You are going to take me to the ball."

It's probably my expression that makes her laugh because nothing about this seems funny to me but still she starts laughing before I choke out: "I am what?"

"You are taking me to the ball, because your best fucking friend couldn't do it himself. So instead I'm going with you. Okay?"

"Uhm.. no? "

"Uuuhm. Yes."

"I'm sorry Vandever but you aren't exactly my type-"

She scoffs. "Like you have a type."

I grin "Yeah, you're right.."

"So it's settled then."

"What if I don't want to take you?"

She gives me a glare. "You do. Trust me."

I cock my eyebrow up suggestively

"NO!" She yells out before I can come up with a crude comment "I'll… I don't know, I'll do something for you – No! Nothing like that - I'll … I'll owe you. Okay? Plus Marlene already has a date so…"

I cock my eyebrow again but slowly nod and decided not to comment on the last part. "You owe me? Okay."

She seems both amused and relieved. "Great." She says just before stalking away from me and leaving me left pretty speechless and confused, shaking my head as I stare after her. Girls are bullocks.

Lily Evans

The Great Hall looks like something I've never seen before. It's like stepping into a fairytale.

It has been decorated before, sure, but never like this.

Mary squeals beside me. "Oh my god! Its amazing!" She says and looks about to faint.

"Yup." I agree, for some reason I'm rather short tempered when it comes to Mary these last days, and she seems to be catching on it because she looks at me annoyed in the face.

"I'm going to have to go find Arnold soon," Mary decides. "Lily, is everything okay?"

I sighs. I should've just gone down to the Great Hall with Marlene or Alice or something, its totally bullocks to walk down here with Mary.

"I'm fine." I tell her shortly and look around for Marlene that had promised to come and find me. At first I wasn't even planning on going to the Ball, dateless and all… but she had made me, she even picked out a dress for me.

"Fine." Mary rolls her eyes. "Have fun tonight, Lills." She winks at me before stalking away, her high heels making an uncomfortable sound to my ears. She stops and throws her hair over her shoulder before calling out. "Lily! Tell Lene to find me!" and then she has disappeared into the crowd.

I sigh annoyed and mentally slap my self. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm supposed to be the calm one.

"LILY!" Alice's over cheery voice sounds behind me and I spin around only to have the small girl fall into my arms. "Hey! Do you like it?" she gestures her hand around the room.

"It's beautiful Alice. You and the other prefects have done an amazing job!" I tell her with a smile and fix my green dress.

She squeals happily and spins around to in her blue dress. "I'm glad you like it." She says and I notice that Frank that stands behind her smiles at us both with a quiet laugh escaping from his lips.

"Have fun tonight." I say politely and give Frank a smile.

"Don't you two look perfect together?" Marlene's teasing voice comes from behind them as she walks towards us, wearing her almost floor length red dress that clings perfectly to her body, her blonde curls flowing perfectly like a waterfall down her back and over her shoulders.

I stare down at my green dress (That she had made me pick) "Wow, Marlene you look.. Gorgeous."

"Marley! You look fabulous!" Giggles Alice

Marlene smiles "You two look lovely as well! But dearest Frank and dearest Alice… would you mind if I borrowed Lily for a moment?"

"Not at all." Smiles Alice and I raised my eyebrow "Catch you later tonight yeah?"

"Okay!" Calls Marlene and links her arms with mine. As we start to walk away Marlene stops for a second and turns around to look at Alice again. "Remember. Be safe!!"

I roll my eyes as Marlene drags be forward still laughing over her joke "Marlene, where the heck are you taking me?" I ask amused.

She looks at me with a sheepish smile. "Just to find Gideon."

"So I'm going to be third-wheeling with you all night?" I raise my eyebrows and sigh. "I should just go find Emmeline or something –"

"Lily. You wont be third wheeling."

I raise my eyebrows again. "Then what?"

"Well.. I know you said you didn't want a date but-"

"Marlene you didn't!" I gasp out.

"Well.." Marlene says sheepishly.

"MARLENE! I said I did not want you to set me up on some stupid pity date!"

Marlene sighs. "It's not a pity date for you.. I mean, he was the one that didn't feel like coming on his own, so technically its you pitying him-"

"So, he's a totally ugly nerd and a nobody then?"

Marlene fakes a gasp. "Did you Lillian Evans, the biggest Hogwarts nerd her self just said that?"

I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at her. "I don't want a date."

"Lily! He's so excited! Common, you don't want to make me go up to him and tell him you bailed, do you?"

I sigh. She's right, I can't do that… "I hate you."

Marlene grins. "Love you too!" and blows me a kiss.

I am about to yell something at her when suddenly; she isn't standing next to me anymore - Two strong hands have pulled her from the ground and are spinning her into circles as she is hugged.

"AH! LET ME DOWN!" She laughs out and then suddenly she's standing next to me again, grinning at a boy that I first think is her date and Quidditch captain Gideon Prewett

"Hellu, Marley!" He greets and that's when I realize it isn't Gideon, but his twin Fabian.

Marlene laughs "Helluu, Fabian." She mocks out she then turns to me. "Oh! Fabian, you know Lily Evans don't you? Lily this is Fab."

Fabian smirks and grabs my hand and leaves a swift kiss on it. As he lets my hand fall back I blush.

Marlene laughs and shakes her head before slapping Fabian on the shoulder. "Fab! You are embarrassing her! She isn't used to your charm, the poor girl!"

Fabian cocks his eyebrow. "Charm huh? You know Marley, there is a reason why I'm called "Fab."

"Is he showing off again?" an amused female voice sounds behind us and we turn around to see a pretty girl in a creamy-peach-colored dress.

Fabian grins and puts an arm around the girl and gives her a kiss on the cheek. "I always show off love."

The girl laughs. "That's true." She smiles and then turns to Marlene and me. "You are Marlene right? And Lily." She smiles at us.

"Yup," says Marlene and gives the girl a smile. "And you are Adriadne Ellingham right? Fabian's date?"

The girl nods and Fabian grins. "Are you guys going to join us at the table? Nathan is here for Lily right? And Gideon is waiting for you." He winks at Marlene who nods and then grabs my hand and pulls me towards a table in the back.

James Potter.

So I agreed going to the ball with Aurelie Bones, a 5th year Hufflepuff. She's pretty and funny and all that but still I can't stop thinking about Lily, even though I know its wrong of me.

Aurelie seems to know what I'm thinking because she keeps sighing and looking a bit annoyed.

"James." She addresses me with a sigh. "Why did you invite me here?"

I look at her and can't stop myself for feeling a little guilty. "I wanted to go with you? Do you want to dance?" I ask and my eyes trail over the room, but immediately stop as they land on her.

Aurelie's eyes follow mine and she sighs, and then grabs my hand and pulls me towards were Lily is sitting next to Nathan Carter, a 7th year Gryffindor.

"Aur, where are we-" I ask but suddenly we're standing next to them and Aurelie plops down in a seat next to Ariadne Ellingham.

"Hey Ari!" She greets excited and hugs (obviously) her friend.

"Aurie!" Ari greets and they immediately start talking.

I look at Evans that is staring at me.

"Hey.." I say quietly and then take a real good look at her, she's wearing a green dress that makes her eyes stand out even more. My throat dries.

"You look nice Evans." I finally choke out and she shrugs.

"Thanks. But what do you want Potter?"

"Nothing, I'm just here with Aurie." I gesture towards Aurelie.

Lily nods "Alright, and I'm just here with Nathan." She gestures towards Nathan in the seat beside her.

"Hey." He greets me, I don't bother greet back. Instead I pull Aurelie up from her seat. "Fancy a dance?"

She looks at me for a moment and then smiles and takes my hand. "Yes."

I give Marlene a short wave before I pull Aurie to the dance floor, ignoring the look Evans sends me.

Sirius Black.

I'm starting to regret this, very much actually.

Vandever is in a really crappy mood and the only reason why I haven't bailed is the brilliant saying: It doesn't matter with who you come, but with who you leave.

Vandever sighs next to me and grimaces; "Lets dance." She decides and I am about t refuse when I see that Moony is being pulled to the dance floor by Dorcas Meadowes.

I raise my eyebrows and lazily let Vandever pull me to the floor.

"Why are you wasting your time getting him jealous?" I ask her amused and she growls at me.

"This works for both of our favors." She reminds me and then suddenly she grabs my head and gives me a possessive kiss on the lips. She pulls away quickly, even before I can react.

"What the hell?" I ask but then notice were Moony stands and stares at us.

"You're bullocks." I tell her half angrily. I don't want to make Moony angry with me – or more angry than he already is…

"It worked." She says matter-o-factly.

I give her a half laugh but keep my eyes on the person behind her. McKinnon is busy dancing with our Quidditch captain Gideon Prewett. I scowl. He should be kicked for the team, because surely being in a … something with a Quidditch player must be illegal or banned or something when you're the captain.

I mentally slap my self. Since when do I think like this?

Fuck him.

Vandever raises her eyes at me as she realizes at whom I'm staring. "Why don't you tell her."

Fuck her.

"Tell her what?" I growl out.

"That you loooove her" she mocks.

I growl "Why don't you tell Remus?" I ask annoyed and turn to walk off the floor and then turn to look at her "And for the record: I don't."

Fuck everything.

Marlene McKinnon

After introducing Lily to her blind-date Nathan, I'm pulled on the floor by Gideon. Close next to us I see Fabian dancing with Ariadne, Remus and Dorcas and… and Blaire Vandever and… Sirius.

I can't stop my teeth from clenching at the sigh of them. I can't believe Sirius actually asked someone to a ball – and not even a "someone"! He asked Blaire Vandever. The person the whole school knows his best friend has a crush on.

He. Is. Such. A. Dick.

"Marlene?" Gideon asks as he has notices I've stopped dancing.

I look up at him and start moving again. "Sorry."

"I want to talk to you."

"About what?" I ask and fake a smile.

"About …. The kiss."

I sigh. I really do not want to talk about that. How do you tell your Quidditch Captain who is also a very good friend to you, your friends, your… ex… shag-buddy (?) that you don't want a relationship with him?

"I know I shouldn't have kissed you." Gideon says and it catches me by surprise a bit "I mean, not that you aren't beautiful and all that. You know how many guys want you –"

"Gideon" I say tiredly I do not fancy to hear about how guys want to shag me, that makes me feel more a whore than I already am.

"It's just. You are my friend and teammate. And you just came out of a relationship and I don't think you and Sirius have worked out your issues yet and I don't want to break the team-"

"Gideon." I cut him off again. "I agree, we should not think about the kiss again."

He nods. "Okay. Friends?"

"Friends." I wink at him and then I notice were Sirius exits the dance floor and heads for the doors. "Will you excuse me?" I ask Gideon who smiles.

"Go right ahead."

I give him a short hug before running out of the dance floor, not 100 % sure if I'm really going to do this.

Remus Lupin

Dorcas sighs beside me, I'm sure she's starting to regret asking me to go with her - truthfully I regret this too.

"Remus." She sighs and touches my arm. "We should dance, shouldn't we?"

I nod slowly and let her pull me on the dance floor.

She finally smiles, probably for the first time that day and wraps her arms around my neck "Sooo…" she drawls out.

"So?"

"Are we going to make any kinda conversation or just stand here in a silence."

"What do you want to talk about?"

She sighs and I let my eyes flutter around the room. That's when I see her.

Blaire Vandever.

My teeth grit together when I realize its true what everyone was saying. That she agreed to go with Sirius. My best friend Sirius Black.

Dorcas' eyes follow mine and she sighs again.

"Remus, I know I'm called thick, but Merlin, I'm not this thick. Why didn't you just ask her? Everyone knows that there is something going on between you two. And now she's here with Sirius. Remus, what were you thinking?"

I look at her and shrug. Honestly I have no idea why I'm this stupid.

And then I see it, Blaire and Sirius… their lips meeting each others.

"Go and talk to her." Dorcas pushes me forward but I stop my self from moving.

I shake my head bitterly and try to calm my heart down. "No she's here with Sir-"

She raises her eyebrow before cutting me off. "Sirius has left the floor, this is the perfect chance." She gives me a smile and kisses me on the cheek. "Look, I don't blame you for taking me here and then staring at her the whole night, but you know, next time it would be nice if you could just ask her so I could go with someone that actually wants to take me." She gives me a wink before pushing me once again towards Blaire and then marches away from the floor on her own.

I take a deep breath before I walk close to where Blaire stands alone in the middle of the dance floor. As I walk closer I find how something is building up inside my stomach, not nerves but… anger and.. jealousy.

Blaire folds her hands over her chest as she sees me. "What do you want?" she asks and seems to be a bit upset. But at this moment I don't really care, I'm angry.

"What the hell were you doing with Sirius?" I ask and my voice is surprisingly harsh, I'm not usually this.. harsh to people.

"What do you think? Dancing."

I roll my eyes sarcastically and she catches it obviously and scoffs. "You know what Remus? You have no right to start judging me." She turns to walk away but I grab her hand.

"You kissed him."

She spins around and I realize she's crying. "Yes! So what? Have you never kissed anyone?"

I fall silent.

"I have but-" I finally make out.

"See!" she sobs out and seems to be crying even more now. "You have no right!" she says again, crying harshly, her wet hot tears ruining her makeup. "You can't invite her!-" she motions to the air "-And then yell at me!"

"Blaire –" I try; I know she's right.

I try to grasp for her hand again but she's gone and now I can only watch after her figure as she flees the floor leaving me alone in the center of it.

Emmeline Vance.

Having nothing to do at a school ball is boring as hell.

I decided to go, even though I didn't want to, I didn't even tell the Gryffindor girls I was going.

And now sit at an empty table and watch my Slytherin friends sit not far away. Obviously I can't join them but I wish I could.

My eyes narrow in pain when I see Snape being pulled to the dance floor by a 6th year Sltyh called Elettika Snow, she looks really pretty so it isn't weird that Snape likes her but still I wish he didn't. I wish he liked me.

Again and again I catch Valerie or Desiree looking at me and throwing me a smile, I try my best to smile back.

Someone heavily sighs and drops into the seat next to me. "Hey Em." Says Mary's familiar voice and I tear my eyes from Snape to look at her. She looks exhausted.

"Hey?"

"I just escaped Arnold, he's annoying as hell. No way I'm even snogging him tonight." She says and grabs the glass filled with water that I've been drinking from and downs it.

I give her a short laugh.

"You've been sitting all night here?" she then asks and puts the glass back on the table.

"Pretty much." I shrug.

I look up and notice Marlene on the middle of the dance floor talking to Gideon.

"Mary," I start "Have you told Marlene about.. you know?"

She looks at me and then bites her lip before shaking her head.

"You should. You should talk to someone-" I don't get to finish my sentence because suddenly Marlene runs past us, her heels giving away a loud noise as they touch the floor.

"Lene?" Mary yells and stands up, she drags me to my feet as well and grabs my hand and forces me to run with her and follow Marlene.

"LENE!" She yells again and Marlene stops dead, she looks around and then sighs before sitting down in one of the stairs.

"LENE! What's going on?" Says Mary and we hurry over to her and sit down next to her on the stair.

Marlene looks at me for a second confused but then lays her head on Mary's shoulder. "Nothing." She says shortly.

"Nothing?" Mary raises her eyebrow.

Marlene scowl and motions with one finger at me, I'm sure I'm not supposed to catch it but I do.

"You wont tell me cus Em is here?" Mary rolls her eyes.

Marlene throws her a grimace.

"I can go-" I offer and stand up but Mary motions for me to sit back down.

"Don't. Lene whatever you have to say you can say in front of her, she's actually been a great friend to me-"

That makes Marlene stand up hotly. "Yeah. And who gives a fuck? She's maybe your friend but she isn't mine." She spits out. "She's left our friendship, and though she's trying to earn your back she aint getting mine. And why Mare? Why the fuck have you turned from me to her?"

Mary stands up angrily. "Don't talk like that, you don't know what Em's-"

"Em has what? What's she's done to help you? Who cares Mary! You don't have any problems! Your biggest problem is how your hair looks! Merlin, No one CARES. And if you have a bigger problem." She scoffs "You sure as hell don't care enough to tell your best friend."

This makes me angry so I also stand up and point a finger at Marlene "You have no idea-"

"I have no idea!" Marlene yells and pushes me backwards. "I have no idea?"

"Marlene stop it!" Mary screams and Marlene stops dead before turning to face Mary.

"What now? Are you also going to flip sides and join Emmeline? What is she? Your new best friend? What are you going to do? Stop being our friend and mysteriously disappear with your own "problems" like she did-"

"She has problems!" I say hotly but Mary cuts me off, she narrows her eyes a bit before she stares Marlene down:

"I'm bloody bulimic Lene!"

Marlene McKinnon

"I'm bloody bulimic Lene!"

At this my world falls apart. Everything slows down, I can't move, I just stare at Emmeline and Mary and try to stop the words from replaying in my mind. Bulimic. Bulimic. Bulimic.

Then I can't take it anymore. One more look at Mary and I can't take it. I run for it. Up the stairs and just away.

Away from Mary.

Away from Emmeline.

Away from their problems.

Away from my problems.

Away from the world.

I have no idea for how long I have running or where I am until I run into someone, his body sends me flying backwards and I fall ass-down on the floor.

"Bloody hell McKinnon." Sirius sighs as he pulls me back from the floor, I stumble into his chest but don't bother stumbling back away from him. Instead I just let my face burry into his chest and cry.

"McKinnon?" he says again, this time more softly.

"Mars, are you okay?" I'm not sure if he actually says it but I swear I hear it coming from his lips.

I shake my head but finally find the strength to push away from his chest and wipe the tears away.

He looks down and at me and actually looks concerned.

"You were right." I tell him, building up the strength in my voice.

"Right about what?"

"About me." I don't bother telling him more because all I want to do is just connect his lips with mine. So I do, I kiss him; passionately, hotly… needingly. And I feel it again – that thrill, I always feel when I kiss him, like everything is just going to be okay. And for that short moment the kiss lasts, everything is.

Everything is just okay.

I doesn't matter with who you come, but who you leave with.

A/N I just wanted to let that quote flow with :D

Anyway, this is the BIG chapter. Or you know all the chapters after this will be big, so many drama going out my characters have to work out! Jeeves. No one seemed to go with the right person to the ball did they? Sighs

Anyways, I know many of you had high expectations with this chapter and I hope it was okay. I tried my best but I did hurry write it a bit and its SO LONG. Its actually 11 pages. And that is a lot. Especially because there are so many things going on, its giving me a headache XD Anyways, your reviews for the last chapter were amazing! And I LOVE getting so many reviews and I hope I get some from this.. Because well, its my biggest/juciest (I think) chapter yet. Tell me what you thought!

p.s. I just want to add that the song I listened to while writing most of this chapter is called Somewhere by Within Temptation, and is a GREAT song and really fitting ;)

p.p.s. if you want to see the dresses the girls and the extras are wearing here is the link ot my polyvore (you can see them there) :

www . polyvore. com /cgi/profile?id= 1277542 (remove spaces)

I'd love it if you told me what dress you like the most (and in the chapter, what scenes you liked ;D)