You Can't See That I'm The One

A week before Halloween, everyone was sitting at breakfast, laughing and talking (and finishing last minute homework in Juliana's case), when Dumbledore arose. As the students took notice, the Great Hall grew quiet and Dumbledore cleared his throat, an amused half-smile on his face. "A certain prefect," he glanced at Lily who blushed, slightly, "and your Head Boy have suggested that we should have a Yule Ball to honor Professor Ava before she retires. I have found this to be a very good and festive idea."

The room began buzzing with chatter, but quickly silenced when Dumbledore raised his hand. "Notice her absence from the room? If this does not remain a surprise to her, it will not happen. Also, the drawback is that this is for third years and up, since they have had the pleasure of having her."

There was instant booing from the first and second years, but the cheering from the rest of the school drowned them out. Dumbledore sat back down and everyone began chattering excitedly, the first and second years, pouting.

Sirius draped his arm over Lily's shoulders and kissed her temple, beaming. "I can't believe you actually made it happen. You're amazing, Lily!"

"So...this was actually all Lily's idea?" Peter asked.

"Well, it was Sirius that came up with it, but we all know Dumbledore would have needed heavy persuasion if he suggested it." Lily smirked.

"So...this was all Sirius's idea? You breaking the news and everything?" James asked, as though for clarification.

"Is that so hard to believe?!" Sirius asked, a little insulted.

"You have to understand, Padfoot. It was such a good idea. How did you manage to think it up on your own?" Remus joked.

James, Lily, Juliana, and Peter began chuckling and Remus grinned as Sirius blew him a raspberry. "Shut up, Moony!"

Lily and Juliana were both curious as to how they came up with such nicknames; however, she had learned that she shouldn't bother questioning the infamous marauders. They had their secrets and very rarely let anyone in. Sirius had once mentioned that not even Peter knew everything.

Lily had just assumed that if things reached a significant importance, Sirius would catch her up.

Remus laughed. "You know I'm only joking."

James stretched, yawning. "So...a Yule Ball, huh?"

Lily looked at James, her green eyes beginning to twinkle with a sort of mystery. "Indeed. Excited?"

James sat up straight. "Surprisingly I am. Dunno who to ask, though." His eyes met with Lily's and Remus exchanged a look with Juliana before glaring at James.

"I hate looking for dates," Juliana muttered, closing her textbook.

"You mean you hate sifting through all the guys that ask you so that you can find a decent one," Lily teased.

Juliana smiled. "Something like that."

"What are you thinking in that pea brain of yours, Prongs?" Remus whispered, so only James could hear.

James smiled innocently in response and answered to Juliana, "I have that problem, too, Juliana."

Juliana smiled, Remus rolled his eyes, and Lily and Sirius snorted. Lily raised her eyebrows. "Hey, what happened to Cristina?"

"We broke it off," James replied, casually.

"He broke her heart, he means." Peter snorted.

Sirius arose and cleared his throat. "Well, I hate to leave just when we start making fun of James, but I promised Peter that I'd help him with Charms for about twenty minutes before classes. Any of you want to come?"

They all shook their heads and Juliana scoffed. "I just finished homework. It's break time."

Sirius smiled. "I don't' blame you. See you guys in class. C'mon, Peter. Let's see what the problem is."

The pair left the Great Hall, Peter looking hopeful. Remus looked suspiciously at James (who, completely oblivious, was humming and enchanting his cereal to attack the spoon) and cleared his throat. "Jules? Do you want to check for that library book now?"

Juliana stood up. "Yes! Before we fail Divination."

Lily shook her head. "I can't believe you guys are still taking it."

"It gets better. Now, Lily can I trust you alone with this kid without you killing him?" Remus asked.

Lily smiled. "I don't see why not."

Remus grinned and stood up, following Juliana and leaving Lily and James alone. The pair exchanged looks and James cleared his throat. "Fancy a walk around the castle?"

Lily nodded and they left the Great Hall. They walked in silence for a few minutes before she looked up at him. "So poor little Jamsie has no one to go with?"

He shook his head. "No, but I'll find someone, always do. It seems I must go and buy some new dress robes as well. Mine are embarrassingly short."

"You're an awful big fan of shopping, Potter..."

He smiled. "It's not my fault that I'm a growing boy."

Lily snorted. "I have to buy a set to begin with."

"Let me buy them! They can be my way of saying sorry for everything I've done to you."

"You don't have to James."

He looked at her. "It's my fault you and Snape aren't friends anymore. Two years ago was my fault. I want to do this, Lily. Let me."

"But, I can't let y--"

"I'll do it anyway," he said, cutting her off. "You know I will."

It was true. She sighed, defeated. "Fine."

They walked in silence for a little before Lily said, "No one seems to be staying together this year except Sirius and I. What happened between you and Cristina?"

James stared straight ahead. "We had a row about you, actually."

"Me?"

He chuckled at her disbelief. "Oui, oui mon amie trés belle."

As a Potter (and as a Black, in Sirius's case), James and Sirius were fluent in French, Spanish, Italian, and Latin. They had dashing good looks and were two of the richest boys in school. Also charming, hilarious, flirtatious, and genuinely sweet, they really had been dubbed the 'playboys of Hogwarts.'

Lily blushed at being called very beautiful. "Why me?"

James's brown eyes met her green ones. "Well, Cristina's got this crazy idea that I'm falling in love with you."

Lily sucked in her breath, infuriated with James. Why now, James? she wanted to yell. Why'd you have to go and pull this bloody crap now? Instead she said, "Really now?"

James nodded and quietly added, "Not so hard to believe, now is it?" She was silent and he squeezed her hand. "See you in class, Lily," he said before turning and going towards the Gryffindor tower for his things.