Chapter 12: the great gatsby - Part II

"I hope she'll be a fool — that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

"Since the room was put, the designer has won prizes for his interiors, he has become known throughout the country and far beyond and is now no longer to be obtained by landlords of moderate price. The lines of the room are pure; space is used as a pattern in itself, circumscribed by the dexterous pinewood outlines that ensued from the designer's ingenuity and austere taste when he was young, unknown, studious and strict-principled."

Fleamont Potter was lecturing Lily about the design of the ball room, after she had quickly made an excuse to leave James and Amélie - that was her name, apparently - to let them catch up in private. James tried to stop her but Lily was an expert by now in understanding when someone was not very fond of her company; even if, she had to admit, the girl had a very particular nonchalant energy to herself that made it seem like she cared not weather you were or not somewhere near - it was a particular talent some people possessed of making you feel like a vase, not an inconvenience but not so much of importance either.

They joined soon afterwards anyway but by then, Fleamont had already cornered Lily, enthusiastically knowing more about her than she expected, and giving her intricate details on the architecture and interior design choices of, mostly his wife.

"It's beautiful Mr. Potter, even the Great Hall does not stand to compare." Lily offered sincerely, as she found it natural to speak with the older wizard.

"You'll have to forgive him Lily, my poor godfather will never use one word when twenty will do."

Lily chuckled and Fleamont put his arm around Maria's shoulders, squeezing her in a fatherly manner.

"Ah mi Maria, have you broken many hearts tonight already?" He asked her.

"Not yet but it's still only 9 p.m."

He touched Maria's nose always entertained by the sarcastic witch, and Lily was moved by it, tinged with a drop of hurt.

"I'll leave you ladies to each other and look for Euphemia. She will want to know my opinion on you dear." He meant Lily

Her eyes widened at him.

"Don't worry, I'll tell her your wits are even sharper than your looks. And that's saying a lot."

Lily laughed pleasantly surprised as he winked goodbye leaving the two remaining girls to stand by each other, exchanging a look of confidants.

"I thought you were with James. You know, safe." Maria hinted.

"I was yes but hum, then Amelia showed up," Lily looked to where the two were still talking despite James routinely taking a glance at Lily. She quickly looked away. "A friend of the family from what he introduced. They were hugging when I left them."

"Ugh, Amelia."

"You don't like her?"

And Lily tried ignoring why this elated her.

"Well let's just say when I'm with her I'm reminded of the virtues of the English."

"I thought she was French."

"Exactly."

Lily snorted.

"Oh look, it's Alice and Frank." Maria mentioned the couple a few meters distance, talking with adults looking like ones themselves. "Did you hear they're engaged?"

"What?" Lily asked louder than intended, turning some heads her direction, making her apologize and Maria laugh.

"What?" She repeated in a hush.

"They are, he asked her just a couple days ago. Can you see the ring from here?"

She could and it was beautiful but Lily was still in shock.

"But- they're eighteen." She pressed as if maybe there was some kind of mistake and with Lily's clarification, things were about to be rectified.

"Alice is not yet eighteen, actually." Maria offered in a passive tone.

Lily's eyes widened even more.

"Oh you can't tell me you're that surprise. They're the personification of true love." Maria mimicked a gag reflex but somehow still showed actual care for the couple. "They were already like that by the time I left Hogwarts. I'm assuming it only got worse from there."

"I mean yeah, but…" Lily was looking at the couple, talking each with a different person but still holding each other's hand in such an intimate matter that it felt intrusive to look at the soft gesture between two people who're engaged. "…they have their whole lives ahead of them. Why hurry?"

It would seem that Lily was talking to herself.

"Lily," Maria called and she quickly turned to the older witch "how are you so sure that's true?"

Lily instinctively retracted, shutting her lips at the suggestion.

"Ladies," Sirius made them jump, appearing from behind "what do you think you're doing? There's a plan to put in motion."

"Godric Black- what plan?" Lily asked, hand on her chest.

"The plan, Evans. The plan where we move this fancy pansy party to the winter garden with no adults telling us we're too young to drink."

"You are too young to drink" Maria told him condescending.

Sirius turned to her in an offended manner. "I am afraid we won't be friends, you and I."

"Do you promise?" she countered.

"Sirius, what's the plan exactly?" Lily stepped in, changing the direction of the conversation.

Sirius squinted at the eldest McKinnon before turning back to Lily. "Yes well, see Marlene there? She's actually doing a proper job."

Lily turned to where he was looking and saw the blonde witch engaging in what seemed a rather proper and engaging conversation with some robes wearing, mustache twirling, chest puffing laughing gentleman. And if one were not to pay attention, it would miss how she sneaked a bottle of champagne inside her pocket size bag.

"That's what you should be doing, Evans. Making rounds, making sure we make Mrs. Potter proud - we won't want to neglect all her hard work on this, of course… and then, we sneak out with all the booze we've been able to steal." He finished conspiring. "Nice plan, huh?"

Maria rolled her eyes. "Why would I do that if I can just drink in front of everybody?"

Sirius turned to her again. "You're not invited."

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I just decided."

"Who are you to-"

"Sirius who's idea is this? Shouldn't we just behave and enjoy the party that is in place already?" Lily interrupted from escalating again.

They looked around to see a very monotonous, proper, put together group of people whose average age range could be safely bet at 50 years-old, at least.

"Ok I get it" she answered herself.

"Thank you. Besides, Moony and Dorcas will only join the after-party. They do not agree with these type of elitist displays of wealth and power even if from 'the right side of the political spectrum'. Sirius offered casually, using air quotes and acting as if it hadn't been the most profound thing he said all evening. Hell, all year.

Maria looked him funny and he shrugged his shoulders.

"That and because Moony wouldn't know what to wear and he'd die before he let me help him with anything material." He rolled his eyes at himself.

"No Mary?" Maria asked, in a nicer tone.

"She went to Nigeria with her family" Lily explained and Sirius nodded.

"So," he clapped his hands together, "shall we count on you then?" He asked, excited.

Lily sighed and looked around unsure but had a leap of Gryffindor courage and agreed.

Sirius jumped excited and ran off calling "Prongs, Prongs, Prongs, etc."

Lily saw them talking and when, she assumed, Sirius finished telling his friend that she was in on the plan, James crossed eyes with her. She took a deep breath and turned.

"Alright then," she locked arms with her friend's older sister, "care to introduce me around?"

The following 45 mins were spent in a rather entertaining mission. If the night were to be spent exactly the same but without the mischievous drive of having a secret between the group, it would have been beyond dull, Lily could imagine. But as it would seem, because they were all putting in an effort to entertain and be entertained, pretending to care about some elder aunt opinions on joining muggle and magical clothing styles, or trying to explain that not all muggleborns knew each other and so, unfortunately, Lily did not know Agatha Pricket, the plumper daughter-in-law of some old friend of Fleamont. The laugh at least, was always genuine.

In the meantime, Marlene's enchanted bag to carry more than its size would suggest, was now probably carrying more than a well prepared London muggle pub.

"When do we know we're good to go?" Lily whispered excitedly to Maria, feeling high on the feeling of mischievous.

Sirius answered her instead.

"Prongs will just have to at get through at least one ballroom dance and that should be enough to keep Mrs. Potter proud of her little Jamsey."

"OK OK" Lily nodded in understanding and started looking around, to look for him and finally appreciate the dancing that had started for awhile now, following the band's well rehearsed and in tune music.

She looked up the ceiling painted in soft pink and blue colours, swaying to the music and feeling giddy.

"Mate, we're all set" Sirius said which brought Lily back to realize that James had finally joined them. "Just do your little dance and we should be good to go."

"Thanks Padfoot yeah I know, I hum…" he was messing up his hair in typical sense again, until he locked eyes with Lily and she shivered. "That's why I'm here."

The group all looked at Lily and she was dumbstruck until James reached out a long arm to her and opened his hand for her to hold.

"I-" she looked around at the watching young faces "I don't know how to dance this" she whispered softly but grabbed James' hand anyways and he pulled her with care.

"It's alright." He said, eyes locked on her.

"It's true Evans, all of us had classes. Prongs knows how to guide you." Sirius said after them and Lily looked back to see Marlene nodding with an encouraging smile.

Lily gulped and followed James to the centre of the room, feeling herself tremble. They faced each other and James took her hand in his extended arm and, after a pregnant pause, wrapped a firm hand at the end of her back.

She was glad of herself for having decided at the end on her most ambitious hills as it made it more natural for her free hand to fall on his shoulder; her palm warm against his shirt. She thought she saw him fidget as he stepped a little closer and let his fingers brush her waist. He smelled of Summer nights.

The violin commenced the song and they danced.

They spun and swayed and twirled and he lifted her off her feet and dipped her back, and Lily had danced with boys before, but not like this. Never like this.

He was beautiful, graceful, and skilled, but Godric, he was strong— like really, really strong. Lily would never have thought strength important in a dancing partner, but it meant that it almost didn't matter that she had no idea what she was doing. When she missed a step, he simply lifted her in the air, bringing her with him into the next move, with a slow and steady pace.

James spun her slowly, matching the tempo, all the way around and then another 180. He pulled her in, his arms crisscrossing her stomach, her back pressed to his chest.

"Amélie and I have known each other since we were born," James breathed. She tried to turn toward him, but he tightened his grip, holding her in place. He didn't want her to see his face now.

Lily acquiesced to his unspoken request, relaxing a little. She did not quite lean into him, but her body brushed his everywhere, his toes touching her heels and her back against his stomach and her head warm at his collar.

She smelled like green apples.

"When we were thirteen, we started this on and off relationship—if you can call it that at that age and seeing we'd only see each other on holidays and school breaks. She hum, she was my first kiss…"

And Lily felt like there was something else unsaid in that pause. Her heart was beating like a drum, also following the tempo of the soprano cello.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked in a breath, still with her back to him.

He turned her to face him, his arm was a little less extended, their chests a little closer together. He thought she would step away and keep out of reach, as always. But then her hand, in the air for the twirl, fell to his shoulder and they danced slower now.

James licked his lips and his gaze seemed to move down her face. "Just because. I don't know what will be said next, with all the alcohol and all."

Lily swallowed a lump and nodded, exhaling in a shaky breath. "Okay."

"And you?" He asked, with a hint of vulnerability she detected.

"Why all this curiosity? You already know mine" She said shyly, trying to escape back to their safe zone of healthy banter.

"I do?" He asked, not letting her.

"Yes- Luke Gallagher, last year…" She was looking to his chest instead of him.

"Oh, yeah right"

She wasn't convinced. "What?"

"Nothing, I guess I just always wondered…"

She looked up at him, showing him she would not drop it, and he sighed.

"You know… you and Snape…"

"Ew, he was my best friend!"

He chuckled (relieved?). "Yeah well, he was always very- protective of you."

"Just because you can't seem to distinguish friendship from a snog, doesn't mean everyone else is the same."

They skipped a step and she immediately regretted what she said and how she said it.

"Amélie was not just a snog"

He declared. And she blushed heavily, wanting to run off for some reason.

"I meant that- she and I, we-"

"Nice pick there, son!" James' dad appeared by their side, dancing as much with James' mother as with his own bushy eyebrows. "A close second to your mother of course, definitely a great dance partner."

Euphemia snorted and changed gears so that she would be the one leading.

"I'm so sorry dear, I promise that I'll pretend I don't see you kids sneak into the winter garden after. To make it up for you."

"Thanks mum" James said, and the older couple swayed farther way in conspiratorial giggles.

"Your parents are lovely." Lily said, forgetting the previous topic.

"Yeah, they're alright. Were your folks like that too?"

And Lily saw how Fleamont kissed his wife tenderly on top of her head and she could cry at the scene.

"I don't think anyone was ever like that in the history of mankind." She said making James look at where she was starring, grinning.

"They loved each other, my parents I mean…" Lily continued softly. "But… they fought some times. The cancer it-it didn't just attack dad's lungs, I guess. Sometimes it felt like it poisoned the whole family. And sometimes it felt like there were just too many sides to pick from, when maybe there should have just been only one- just all of ours." She noticed how close he was listening and, starring. "But yours well, they seem more in love even than Alice and Frank do." She tried to soften the air.

James grinned wide.

"I used to watch them dance like this. Right there, over the stairs?" Lily looked at where he was pointing with the hand that was holding hers. "With my baby pyjamas, late at night."

"That was what- a year ago?" She couldn't help but tease him and was happy to hear him laugh. Happy and something else.

"Remember when I told you you were kind?"

They both laughed and James felt her warm breath against his neck.

She bit her lip and without thinking, asked "Why did you breakup?"

Surprising both, she continued. "I mean, I'm assuming you-"

"We did, yes, early last Summer."

She nodded. "What happened?"

"I kind of decided to make some changes… on myself" It sounded like a question. "If you haven't noticed" he tried playing.

"I did" She quickly cleared. "I did notice."

James breathed in deep and they had almost stopped dancing when the song came to an end and people started applauding around. Lily blushed and let go of him.

"Thank you for the dance." She said.

"Anytime." He said and she wondered if he meant it.

He wondered if she believed him.

"Ready?" Dorcas asked.

Lily took a quick last sip from her glass, grimaced from the taste and nodded at the girl in proceeding approval.

"OK, time starts- now."

"Ahem," Lily breathed deep before starting in a funny voice. "You don't frighten us, English pig-dogs! Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person! I blow my nose at you, so-called Ahr-thoor Keeng, you and all your silly English K-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-niggits!"

"Monty Python and the Holy Grail!" Remus shouted, getting up from the pot he was sitting, too excited to stay put.

"Yes!" Lily shouted back, smiling ear to ear.

"Ugh"

"Seriously, again?"

The rest of the group grumbled at the undefeated duo that was Lily and Remus Lupin, but the latter was too busy running to his counterpart, lifting her up in drunk excitement.

"This is ridiculous, Black is too drunk to even read let alone mimic anything whatsoever" Marlene complained, pointing at an indeed, very drunk Sirius who was dancing with a fetus tree.

"You're just mad 'cause there hasn't been that many music references as you were expecting, Marls." Lily said, still mid-air from a twirling Remus.

Marlene rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "Can't believe I chose him instead of Dorcas for this."

"Bet you're pretty regretful now, huh McKinnon?" Dorcas taunted before taking her place at the centre, heading to read what cultural reference she had to mimic so that James could guess it.

Lily, still giggling, joined the rest of the group, unnoticed to sitting down next to Amélie Hugo. Dorcas started with:

"Here's looking at you, kid" she tried with a deep voice and Lily smiled, knowing the answer.

"Hullo" Amélie announced, sitting very straight and clean.

"Oh- hi" Lily said, now noticing who was next to her.

"I saw you two dancing together."

"Who?" Lily asked, getting closer to listen properly to the French girl.

"James. He likes you" she said annunciating her clear accent.

"Oh… yes, we-we're friends" Lily offered awkwardly.

"I don't get it- pick another one!" James shouted exasperated, and Lily smiled at the scene before continuing.

"I guess it was his way of making sure his dancing skills were even better appreciated, with me in comparison" She tried.

"No, no, it's not… what's the word you use? He hum… fancies you, yes?" Amélie rectified as one would ask if they went to the same school.

Lily's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to respond but didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry, hm? He fancies me too." Again, with the casual tone as if unbothered by earthquakes and accusations of fanciness. "That is James, oui? You know how he is."

Amélie smiled before taking on another drag of her cigarette. Lily offered an awkward smile and turned to the front again, no longer paying attentio but sobering up.

"It's Casablanca, you idiot!" Dorcas shouted in annoyance, throwing the piece of paper at James.

He grabbed it and read it.

"Oh… oh!" as if remembering, he looked at Lily with a knowing smile that dropped when noticing the concern in her eyes.

It was well past 1 a.m. and Sirius was saying goodbye to Lily as if she was leaving to war.

"And I'm sorry for every time I said you hair was on fire when it was not, in fact, on fire. I was a kid!"

"That was last month, Padfoot" James came helping, taking his friend back inside of Maria's car who wished she wasn't the responsible adult anymore.

"Exactly- a kid!" Sirius shouted again before diving onto the back seat.

Lily giggled as James shut the door after his mate.

"Anyway… thank you for coming, Evans. I hope you had fun, at least."

"I did, I- what's that?"

James looked just in time to drop down as a letter came flying straight to Lily's hands.

"Oh goodness! You alright?" Lily asked him, in between laughs.

He quickly straightened up. "Yeah, I am. Better be important for almost decapitating me."

She grinned at him and started opening the letter that only said her name.

"So yeah hum, I really enjoyed it today. And thank you for the gift by the way, you really didn't have to- what is it?" he asked, noticing how her face turned, as she read further on.

She shook her head, opening her mouth but no sound coming out.

"Lily?" he pressed, getting worried.

"It's hum… it's from Jamie, she- she left. She's not coming back next year."

She looked at him, to see him as confused as her. Except her confusion was highly intertwined with denial. And pain.