Letters From A Stranger || James and Lily ||

Christmas Eve

Disclaimer : Are we seriously still doing this? Well then. *shrug* Who owns Harry Potter? Definitely not me.

~~~~~

Chapter 18

Lily slowly walked down the marble staircase that lead to the Great Hall, Marlene and Mary right behind her. Mary was wearing her knee length dress and had her hair up in a fancy bun. Marlene had been forced into her black dress by Mary but she didn't allow either of them to touch her hair and let it loose, the long strands falling straight, covering the open back of the dress.

"I didn't know so many people were staying back for Christmas." Mary said.

Lily looked around the hall, twisting a strand of her hair. The Great Hall was decorated in green and red as usual and the twelve Christmas trees were laden with stars and fairy lights. The house tables were removed and many small round tables for three had taken its place. She spotted the Marauders in a corner, talking to Alice and Frank. Her eyes immediately sought out for James. She turned away when she spotted the familiar messy hair which stood out in every crowd.

Lily followed Mary and Marlene towards one of the tables where Daisy and Amelia were waiting for them. Feeling a strange tingling at the back of her neck, Lily turned around. James was looking at her. He smiled when he saw that she was looking at him too. She debated with herself whether or not she should go and talk to him.

No Lily, there's no need for it.

The party went smoothly. Lily watched people dancing in the temporary dance floor in the middle of the hall and occasionally took a few swigs of butterbeer.

"Aren't you going to dance?" Mary asked, slightly tipsy. Lily was sure it wasn't just the butterbeer. When the Marauders were involved, things never stopped at butterbeer.

Lily shrugged. "Dance alone?"

"No. Ask someone." Mary said as if it was obvious, which it was.

"I don't want to ask anyone." Lily said although her gaze involuntarily moved to the boy in the corner of the room.

"Whatever." Mary wandered off to find someone to dance with.

Lily sat down, watching Mary dance with a nameless Hufflepuff boy. She winked at Lily and Lily rolled her eyes.

"Do you want to dance?"

Lily looked up. James was standing in front of her. Right hand outstretched for her. In his silvery white dress robes, tousled hair and bright smile, he looked every bit like the dream guy girls fantasize about. But James was far from Lily's dream guy. Hadn't she herself told Harry that she would never like someone arrogant and proud? Wasn't James the living example of arrogance and over confidence? Questions zoomed through Lily's mind. None of them made sense.

What do I do? Why did he ask? I wasn't prepared.

"Yeah, sure." Lily replied.

Stupid mouth. How dare you speak without my permission?

James's face broke out in a huge grin.

Merlin, what have I done? Why did I say yes? Why did I reply so fast, almost as if I was waiting for him to ask?

"I'm not a good dancer, though." she said.

He chuckled, his eyes filling with mirth. "I don't mind. And just so you know, I'm not really good either."

James took her hand in his, his long fingers entwining possessively around hers, and lead her to the dance floor. He stopped right under the crystal chandelier.