When Audrey noticed that Lily was back, she ran to Lily and wrapped her arms around her. She said, "Your back!"

Lily smiled and said, "Of course. I had a family emergency to attend to. Andrea told you."

Audrey said, "I know, but I thought you might decide to go to Hogwarts instead."

Lily replied, "I have no plans to ever transfer to Hogwarts. I like it here. I've made some amazing friends at Ilvermorny. Plus, I wouldn't have met you if I hadn't come to Ilvermorny."

Audrey smiled. She went into her room and closed her door.

Julia said, "Well, I best let you get to it."

Lily thanked her friend. After Julia left, Lily sat down at her desk and started planning out her make-up work. She knew it would take the rest of the weekend to catch up, but she looked forward to it.

Life settled back into a routine at Ilvermorny. Lily had easily caught up with her work and stayed on top of the homework that had been assigned. Her teachers were impressed. Most apparently waited until the last day to get their homework in, but Lily had her homework done and in by the Monday after she had returned. They had returned on a Thursday, and her past homework wasn't due for another week.

Lily could tell that Renee missed her great-grandmother. Lily didn't blame her. If anything would happen to Grandma Weasley, she would be heartbroken. Lily thought that she should be more upset over Mrs. Murphy's death since they had been neighbors since she was 7 when her father had finally gotten the repairs done on Potter Manor and they moved there. Her father then sold Grimuald place to Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione.

September faded into October with it announced a Halloween dance for the first and second years on October 30th, and the same dance for the older years on October 31st. They did not have to dress up in costume for the dances, for which Lily was thankful. They had decided to go as friends in group to their dance.

A week before the dance, a note was in her mailbox. Third years could ask second years to their dance if they so wished. Lily went back to her room and opened her note. It read:

Ms. Evans,

It would do me great honor to have you accompany me to my Halloween dance on October 31st.

It was not signed, but Lily knew who it was from. Only one person in the school would address her by that name: Oliver Stanton. Lily leaned back into her chair. If she went to the Halloween dance with Oliver, she wouldn't be able to go to her own Halloween dance. It was one of the rules that had been announced. She went to her closet and pulled out the dress that she had bought over the summer. It was lilac in color and had come to about her knees.

Lily hung it from her closet door and sat on her bed, and contemplated. That is how Andrea found her ten minutes later.

Andrea stopped in the doorway to her room and stared at the dress. She whistled. She said, "That's a beautiful dress. Simple enough for your tastes."

Lily smiled. She said, "I had planned on wearing it to a dance, and the Halloween dance is the perfect time for it. However, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I've been asked once again to attend an older year dance, but this time I can't attend with my friends during our dance."

Andrea said, "Hmm. That is a bit of a dilemma. Why not talk to your friends about it? I know you guys planned on going together as a group."

Lily nodded. The next day, they were in their study room. Each of them working on their own homework assignments as they each worked at different paces. Lily, Renee, and Julia were at one of the tables working on their Potions essay.

Lily said, "I need to talk to you two."

Renee set down her pencil and said, "What's this about?"

Lily said, "I've been invited to the Halloween dance by a third year."

Julia said, "And your confused."

Lily replied nodding, "I want to go with you guys, but if I accept the date to the older years dance, I won't be able to go to our dance."

Renee said, "May I ask who this scoundrel is?"

Lily laughed. She said, "You met him over the summer. He called me Ms. Evans."

Renee blinked in surprise. She said, "No way! That hunk? You must go with him!"

Julia asked, "Care to explain to the clueless here?"

Renee answered, "Shoulder length brown hair and baby blue eyes to die for. If I'm not mistaken, his name is Oliver Stanton, oldest son of George Stanton, First base player for the Houston Astros."

Julia blinked. She said, "George Stanton is magical?"
Renee said, "I do not think so. His wife is though. She works as a healer in the magical branch of University of Texas medical branch."

Lily sighed. She had hoped for a quiet year. She said, "I think I'll send him a polite decline. It would be fun to attend with you guys."

Renee sighed. She nodded.

That evening in her room, Lily took out her notebook and wrote a note to Mr. Stanton:

Mr. Stanton,

That was such a subtle way to let me know you know who I really am and who sent me that message. I thank you for asking me to go with you to the Halloween dance. Since I will be unable to attend my own dance if I were to go to yours, I have decided to decline your invitation. I had already agreed to go to the first- and second-year dance with my friends when I got your note.

Sincerely,

Ms. Evans

Lily put it in her out tray and tapped the rune and said, "Oliver Stanton."

The tray flashed in response and the note was gone. Lily then stood up and put away her dress for another time. She went through her closet to find another dress that would suit for the dance.

On October 30th, the first and second years congregated in the atrium outside the dining hall. Lily wore a simple dress that she had purchased during their first shopping trip in July. It was dark green in color.

Brenda, Renee, Julia, and Deidra were all excited. Lily looked around. She said, "Where is Anthony?"

Brenda said, "Anthony has a date to the dance. Cheri Langford is a second year Wampus."

Lily was astounded. Anthony had apparently had a date that they didn't know about until now. Soon, the dining hall doors opened, and they entered. The hall was decorated for Halloween. Lily and her friends took a table for six. Their first years sat close by also. About halfway through the dance, Renee was asked to do a slow dance with a second year that Lily was unfamiliar with.

As she watched them dance, Lily watched the boys. They all were either dancing or standing around the punch bowl.

Julia said, "We have some cute guys in our year."

Lily nodded. Timothy Amos had caught her eye. He was about 5'3", black hair, and what looked like blue-green eyes. The twins also had a bronze skin tone that most people would pay to have, which meant that they had African American lineage somewhere if Lily knew any better.

Deidra said, "I must say though. The Amos twins are the most eye catching."

Brandy agreed.

A few minutes later, Lily stood up, and went over to the punch bowl. She honestly didn't want to talk about boys right now. The issue with Thomas was still fresh on her mind. He had left her alone, but Lily still found him watching her at times.

At the punch bowl, Lily poured her a cup and turned to watch the dancing. The dancing had once again resumed to regular dancing, and the students were having fun.

"Having fun?"

Lily turned and saw Timothy standing there. She said, "I am. How about you?"

Timothy said, "It's alright. I've never been a fan of dances. That was my brother, Thomas. He is the outgoing type. I like to stick to books myself."

Lily said, "I love books. However, I can enjoy a good outing."

Timothy smiled and said, "I can too, but crowds like this tend to get to me. My mother thinks I should attend more of these events thinking it would help. If anything, it makes it worse."

Lily said, "I understand that. Not everyone is good around crowds, especially one as big as this. Care to take a walk?"

Timothy smiled and said, "I was just about to ask the same thing, Ms. Potter."

Lily and Timothy topped off their drink cups and left the hall. They walked out onto the grounds.

Timothy said, "So, what's it like having two parents that are famous?"

Lily said, "I hated it growing up. Both had to attend certain social functions, especially my father since he was the guy who vanquished Voldemort. It got even worse when he found out his true inheritance of being Lord Potter when he was 25 shortly after my mother had my brother, James. What about you? What are your parents like?"

Timothy said, "My father is a healer/doctor. He works both sides of the divide. My mother is his office manager. They met ironically while she was a nurse to one of his patients. The rest as they say, is history. Up until my brother and I came to Ilvermorny, my mother was a stay at home mother which she had become when she became pregnant with us."

Lily smiled. She said, "So it's just you and your brother?"

Timothy nodded. He said, "The pregnancy was hard on our mother and the doctors advised her that anymore children were likely to kill her. So, her and my father were content to just have us two."

Lily said, "I'm glad that you have Thomas then as a twin. I can't imagine what being an only child is like."

Timothy said, "I'm sure it is quite lonely."

They headed back inside where they found a slow dance was just starting. Timothy turned to Lily and said, "Care to dance with me, milady?"
Lily said, "It would be a pleasure, kind sir."

Timothy took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. The song soon ended, and Timothy kissed her hand. Lily blushed.

The night soon ended, with Lily and Timothy dancing a few more slow dances together. Lily also invited him to join their study group in the library after the last class of the day. Timothy gladly accepted.

Back in her dorm, Lily was humming to herself as she showered and changed into her pajamas. Out in their living room, Andrea was looking at her with Audrey.

Audrey said, "That was fun!"

Lily smiled at her roommate/friend. Lily said, "There will be plenty more dances to attend."

Andrea nodded. Audrey left them to her room. Andrea said, "So, how did it go?"

Lily said blushing, "It went fine."

Andrea said, "Okay, spill! You wouldn't be blushing for nothing!"
Lily said, "I had a few dances with a fellow second year."
Andrea said, "Really? Who?"

Lily replied, "His name is Timothy Amos. He has jet black hair, and hazel eyes. He stands about five-three and was a complete gentleman."

Andrea was gob smacked. Doctor Amos was renowned amongst the medical community. He had worked with the healer community to try and find solutions for the non-magical ailments and how they could help with them without arousing suspicion.

The next day, the third years and up went to their dance. Andrea was escorted by Brandon again. Lily and her friends were out and about on the grounds. Timothy joined them.

With November coming in, the colder weather came with it. A week after Halloween, a game of Quidditch was played. Pukwudgie vs. Thunderbird. Lily and her friends went to the game. Even though Quidditch wasn't that popular among the United States, it was still played for those who were interested in the game. Timothy, Anthony, and Brandy were rooting for Thunderbird, their house, and Deidra was rooting for Pukwudgie. The rest of the friends didn't really care as to who won.

The match was close, Lily could tell that the players were evenly matched against each other. Lily was sure she had screamed herself hoarse cheering for both teams' goals. Since Lily had friends that were in both houses, she figured it would be best to root for both.

The match was starting to turn brutal into the third hour with the beaters taking no mercy on either team. Everyone's breath caught as they saw both seekers streak towards the ground by one of the goal posts. Lily pulled out her binoculars and looked. She saw a glint of gold from the snitch.

Lily said, "They've seen the snitch."

Everyone nearby heard her and watch the seekers. Even the other players stopped to watch, eager to see the end of the match. Thunderbird had pulled ahead by this point by 120 points, the biggest lead of the game. Everyone gasped as both seekers pulled out of the dive at the last moment. Lily trained her binoculars on both seekers who were shaking hands.

"Pukwudgie wins by a spectacular catch by their seeker! This is a game that will go down in Ilvermorny history! Pukwudgie wins! 350 to 320! Great game! Now remember, next weekend we have a Quadpot game: Horned Serpent versus Wampus!"

The Pukwudgies in the crowd were cheering as their team made a lap of honor around the field.

A/N:

I found a website that can tell me the corresponding houses between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts. They are thus:
Thunderbird-Slytherin

Horned Serpent-Ravenclaw

Pukwudgie-Hufflepuff

Wampus-Gryffindor