Meant to Be

Meant to Be

Chapter One

If she heard one more thing about James Potter, she swears she'd scream. She had been friends with Lily for six years, but her dear friend was in danger of pushing her over the edge. Breathe, Victoria...just breathe. You're a Hufflepuff. You're friendly and understanding... yes... you are very understanding. You don't mind Lily going on about James. Really... you don't. Just keep telling yourself that.

"I really don't know who he thinks he is? I mean... Snape can't help being a toad, can he? But James keeps right on bothering him, just because that git Sirius Black says he's bored. Ugh! If he's bored he should try studying and maybe he wouldn't have to cheat off of Remus. But in typical boy fashion, him and James would rather goof off and get stuck in detention. And..."

At this point Victoria dozed off, letting Lily's words roll over her as she looked out at the lake. Why can't Lily just admit she's attracted to James and be done with it?

"Speaking of the devils... there's the Idiot Duo now, plus one!"

Victoria looked up in time to see James, Sirius, and Remus striding out of the castle, talking animatedly.

"They probably just came from detention. At least James and Sirius, that is. I honestly don't understand why Remus is friends with them. He's smart, and nice, and nothing at all like James. But then again, no one's as arrogant and pig-headed as James. At least-"

"Lily, dear?"

"Yes?"

"Could we possibly stop talking about James and the others? I mean... it upsets you, so why not talk about other things?"

"You're right. Why waste one more second on James Potter? Have you heard about the masquerade ball?"

"The what?"

"There's going to be a masquerade ball on Halloween. I thought it was a magnificent idea. I still don't know what I'm going to be and it's only a month away. What do you think I should go as?"

Victoria thought about it while tugging on a strand of her hair. What could Lily be? Oh, why is she asking me this? I'm not good at coming up with those sorts of things.

"Err... well... how about a mermaid?"

"A mermaid? Hmm... I never thought about that. It might work, if I... yes... and that spell I read about... uh-huh... I have to go, Victoria. I'll see you at dinner."

Victoria watched her friend run across the grounds, right past James and Co, and she let out a sigh.

Well... now that that's sorted out, what in the world am I going to go as?

* * *

Chapter Two

"What do you think of Lily Evans?" James asked Sirius as they headed up to Gryffindor Tower after dinner.

"The feisty redhead? She's all right. I have my eye on that friend of hers though. Umm... yes... that Hufflepuff would be fine by me. Wonder if she'd go the masquerade ball with me if I asked her..." Sirius trails off as he ponders the idea for a moment.

"Sirius..."

"What?"

"How did the conversation turn to who you'd be taking to the ball?"

"Well... I don't know..." Sirius flashed his signature grin and James couldn't help grinning back. "Okay... so... Lily Evans... she's way out of your league, mate."

"Why do you say that?"

"She can't stand you. She won't talk to you. And when she looks at you, it's with narrowed eyes and her hands on her hips. She reminds me of my mum sometimes." Sirius shuddered.

"I think she has a crush on me."

Sirius erupted into a fit of laughter, resulting in him doubling over and clutching his stomach.

"Oh, shut up before you choke!" James exclaimed irritably.

"I... you... ha! Oh, Merlin... I needed that," Sirius sputtered as he slowly gained control of himself.

"What's going on? What did I miss?"

Both James and Sirius turned to greet Remus, who had just caught up with them outside the painting of the Fat Lady.

"James here... thinks Lily Evans... has a crush on him."

Now Remus had joined Sirius in laughing uncontrollably, and James stood against the wall in a huff.

"It's not funny," He grumbled.

"Oh... of course not... except that it is," Sirius replied, slightly out of breath.

"Why is the idea so absurd?"

"James, mate, you're too full of yourself. Lily Evans hasn't given you the time of day since O.W.L. year after the incident with Snape," Remus reminded him.

"That wasn't my fault!" James snapped.

"No, you're right. It was Sirius'."

"Hey! All I said was that I was bored. I didn't expect James to want to go after ol' Snivellus," Sirius retorted.

"You didn't stop him. You both attacked him. So quit trying to act all innocent."

"Would you two stop arguing like a married couple? Merlin... one day someone's going to get the wrong idea about you and it'll be all over that you're together."

"That's absurd, James! Whoever would get an idea like that?" Sirius scoffed.

Remus had an inkling but he kept his mouth shut. Better not to pursue the argument. "Back to the topic of you and Lily. Well... there is no 'you and Lily', and there never will be. Face the facts, James, she wouldn't date you unless she thought you were someone else."

James's eyes lit up at Remus' words, and a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"What are you thinking, Prongs?"

"The masquerade ball..."

"What about it?"

"Moony, my friend, you're brilliant!"

James started back down the stairs, and his two best friends shared a quizzical look.

"Where are you going? We have an essay due for Flitwick tomorrow!" Remus called after him.

"I have to find Victoria Miller!" James yelled back.

"Victoria? What's he want with her?" Remus asked Sirius.

Sirius shrugged. "Who cares? So long as he doesn't ask her to ball before I get a chance to."

"You want to go with Victoria?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Well..."

"Well, what?"

"I... er... I mean she..."

"Spit it out, Remus."

"We were in the library talking about the ball, and about how we didn't know what to go as or who to go with... so"

"Remus, I'm getting gray hairs. Out with it already!"

"She asked me if I'd like to go, seeing as we were both without partners?"

"Damn... well... I guess I'll have to find someone else to go with."

"You're not mad?"

"No. Should I be?"

"I don't know. Never mind... Fizzing Whizbees!" Remus announced to the Fat Lady and the portrait swung open.

"Hey, Celeste!" Sirius yelled across the common room once they were inside.

Celeste Johnson glanced up from the essay she was working on, rolling her eyes at Sirius. "Yes?"

"Want to go to the ball with me?"

"Sure. Why not? I've got nothing better to do," She responded with a smirk.

"Oh... you've broken my heart. But alas, I think I'll get over it by Halloween." Sirius returns her smirk before going to sit on the sofa in front of the fire.

"I wonder what James is up to..." Remus muttered after an hour of trying to write his essay to no avail.

Sirius looked up from his parchment. "Why are you so worried about him? He'll get here when he gets here."

"Well... he had better not ask to see my essay if I'm done before he returns."

"You'll let him see it regardless, Remus, 'cause that's the type of friend you are."

"I most certainly will not. McGonagall's essay was the last one."

"That's what you said about Binns's essay before that, and look at what happened. All James has to do is whine enough and you hand the parchment right over. Maybe I should give that a try."

"No, you don't whine, Sirius, you steal. If I say no to you, you just go in my trunk and get it anyway."

"So if you know I do this, why don't you just hand the parchment over when I ask for it?"

Remus didn't have a chance to reply, as the portrait suddenly swung open and James appeared in the common room.

"Where have you been?"

"Talking with Victoria, like I told you. Really, Remus, I already have a mum."

"So... what'd you talk about?" Sirius asked nonchalantly.

"Lily, of course."

"And?"

"And I think I know exactly how to get to her."

James was off to the seventh year boys' dormitories before Remus or Sirius could ask anything more of him. Sirius just shook his head and went back to writing, but Remus stared off into the distance, still wondering about the conversation James had had with Victoria. Were they friends enough for her to tell him what had been said if he asked? He decided that he couldn't possibly sit here any longer without finding out something. So he tossed aside his essay and made his way to the portrait hole.

"Where are you off to? It's not a full moon tonight."

"Can't I go somewhere without being asked questions? Really, Sirius, you're not my mum."

Sirius stifled a laugh at the irony of Remus' proclamation, but thought it best not to antagonize him about it. And so Remus left in search of Victoria. He found her huddled over a thick volume on poisonous plants in a corner of the library, and taking a deep breath, he walked over to her.

"Victoria?"

Oh dear, another one. I wonder what this one wants?

"Yes?"

"I was wondering... well..."

"If this is about James or Lily, I am forewarning you that I just might snap mid-way through and end up hexing you out of sheer frustration."

"I'm sorry to bother you, then."

He turned to go and Victoria let out a sigh. You're a Hufflepuff... a friendly, sweet, generous Hufflepuff. You can't possibly let him walk away without it being on your conscience forever. Besides, he's your partner for the ball.

"Wait! Remus! Sit."

Remus smiled gratefully and took a seat in the chair across from her.

"So... what do you want to know?"

* * *

Chapter Three

Remus talked with Victoria for over an hour and found that she was quite pleasant to be around. Even after the conversation about James and Lily dwindled down, he couldn't quite make himself leave.

"Victoria?"

"Yes?"

"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me in October?"

"Well... I wasn't even going to go..." Victoria stopped at the crestfallen look on Remus' face. "But it could be fun. I'd love to go with you," She added hastily.

Remus' smile fell back into place and he got to his feet.

"We'll talk later?"

"Definitely. Good night, Remus."

"Good night, Victoria."

Remus strode out of the library and Victoria watched him go. Lily had been right about him. He was smart and nice, and quite charming when he wasn't around James and Sirius. But she knew they'd never be anything more than friends, not that that bothered her. A friendship with Remus would be enough for her. The couple to be at Hogwarts was James and Lily, not her and Remus. And now that a plan had been made, it was going to be a lot easier getting the two of them together. With a sigh of contentment, Victoria gathered up her things and headed down the stairs, in the direction of the Hufflepuff common room. On her way there, she was rummaging through her bag when she bumped into someone.

"Oops! Oh... hello, Severus. Sorry, I didn't see you."

Severus Snape eyed her shrewdly and said nothing. She stooped to pick up a roll of parchment for him, but he quickly snatched it up before she could reach it. Without a word or a glance backward, he made his way down the stairs.

"Hmpfh... well... someone really ought to teach him some manners. Honestly... I apologized and everything."

Shrugging, she came to the portrait that led into the Hufflepuff common room.

"Mimbulus mimbletonia," She announced and the portrait swung open so that she could enter.

Once inside, she headed straight to the seventh year girls' dormitory. She was yawning as she undressed and pulled on her nightgown. Then she fell onto her four-poster and curled up under the comforter. As her eyes closed, the last thing she saw was a fairy fluttering outside the window.

* * *

Chapter Four

James stood in front of the mirror in the seventh year boys' dormitory, appraising the outfit he'd started to make for himself. Well... with Victoria's help, of course.

"You know, vanity is unbecoming of you, Prongs."

James glanced over his shoulder to see Sirius in the doorway.

"I'm not vain! If anyone is, it's you."

"How can you say that?" Sirius asked, looking affronted.

"Who winks at himself in the mirror every morning? Who brags about girls that look his way? And who has the audacity to act as if he doesn't care one way or the other?"
Sirius grinned but said nothing in his defense. Instead he ran a hand through his shiny black hair and looked over James's shoulder into the mirror.

"See? And you call me vain," James huffed.

"So... what's the outfit for? You fixin' to dance with the forest sprites?"

"It's my costume for the ball, you idiot!"

"Oh! Well... I see..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"What is it?"

"What are you going as? A tree?"

James narrowed his eyes at his friend, and taking a book from Remus' nightstand, threw it at him.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For being a clueless git! I'm going as a woodland spirit. Victoria says Lily's very into nature and things of that sort."

"Hmm..."

"And what are you going as? A dog?"

"Actually, no. I'm dressing up as a vampire."

"Ha! That's a good one! No, really, what are you going as?"

Sirius clenched his jaw angrily and James realized he wasn't joking.

"A vampire? But, why?"

"Because my family's a bunch of no-good bloodsuckers, 'cept for Andromeda, of course. So I thought I'd make a joke out of it."

"Yer mum would be furious."

"Exactly."

"Did Remus tell you what he'd be going as?"

"Yeah. I talked him into going as a wolf."

"Really?"

"I thought it'd be funny. He wasn't so sure but he decided to go for it."

"I can't wait to see that."

* * *

Chapter Five

"A fairy? You want to go as a fairy?" Lily asked incredulously.

"Yes. Why do you seem so surprised?" Victoria replies, sounding slightly put out.

"I just... never imagined you as a fairy."

"Maybe you don't have a vivid imagination then."

"Oh, Victoria... don't get upset. I think you'll make a wonderful fairy."

Lily put an arm around her friend and gave her a quick hug.

"I, on the other hand, might have a hard time pulling off the whole mermaid thing."

"Your costume is perfect, Lily. Don't worry."

"The ball is in two weeks, Victoria. Two weeks! And this whole finding your partner and being 'blessed'... what is that about?"

"I have no idea. I'm going with Remus."

"How can you have a date for a masquerade ball?"

"It's easy for those of us not trying to find a special someone. I don't feel very much like wandering around the hall searching for a partner when I can just go with one."

"But that's the whole point, Victoria."

"Not to me. I'm going with Remus as a friend and that's that."

"You know... since Remus and you have become such good friends, do you think you could ask him what James is going as?"

"Why?"

"So I can avoid him."

"Lily, you are being ridiculous!"

"How so?"

"You said before that you're over talking about James and anything concerning him, and here you are bringing him up again."

"All right... fine... no more talk of James. I promise," Lily added at Victoria's skeptical look.

"I'll hold you to it. And if you break the promise I'll turn your hair green."

"That'd actually go with my costume..." Lily mused.

"Lily!"

"A promise is a promise, Victoria. You have my word."

* * *

Chapter Six

Two weeks passed by quicker than James had thought possible. One minute he was joking with Sirius about his costume, and the next minute he was in it, checking himself one last time in the mirror.

"James, mate, what did I tell you about vanity?"

James met Sirius' gaze in the mirror and let out a gasp.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

"No... it's just... damn... how'd you get your skin so pale?"

"Blanco Vampiro potion. It sure does the trick, doesn't it?" Sirius responded with a smirk.

"Er... yeah... so... where's Remus?"

"Locked in the bathroom. He doesn't want to come out."

"Why?"

"I don't know. He says he looks weird. I told him he always looks weird, but that didn't seem to help the matter."

"Sirius, mate, you have the compassion of a toad stool."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Take it any way you like it. I'm going to go coax Remus out of the bathroom."

"You do that. I've got to meet up with my date. See you downstairs."

"Yeah..."

James headed out of Gryffindor Tower, right past a green-haired mermaid. Cute, he thought, having no idea that it was Lily. She couldn't help staring at the backside of the boy that had passed her, wondering what he did to look so good in those tights.

"Lily...?"

"Victoria! Hello! What are you doing up here?"

"I came to get Remus."

"Oh... well... the last time I saw him he was running into the bathroom. Or at least, I think it was him. Was he going as a wolf?"

"Um-hmm. Oh... I forgot to ask, how do you like your hair?" Victoria inquired, her brown eyes twinkling.

"All I said was James was probably going as a goblin. That shouldn't have counted."

" 'A promise is a promise, Victoria. You have my word'," Victoria mimicked Lily's voice. "Those were your exact word, Lily. So now your hair's green. Simple, isn't it?"

"And when does this wear off?" Lily asked, tugging on one of the bright green locks.

"When I want it to."

"Ugh... fine! I guess I can live with it. I'll see you down at the ball."

"Yes, and I'll go try to get Remus out of the bathroom."

While the girls parted ways, James was inside the bathroom, pacing in front of a locked stall.

"C'mon, Moony... I'm sure you look fine."

"I do not! It's bad enough that I turn into a werewolf once a month. Why in the bloody hell did I let Sirius talk me into this?"

"Because you're gullible."

"It was a rhetorical question, James!"

"Sorry. What are you so worried about anyway?"

"I'm going with Victoria and I look like an idiot!"

"Oh... I see..."

"What do you see?"

"You're afraid you'll look weird in front of Victoria, aren't you?"

There was silence, then a muffled, "yes". Just outside the door, Victoria had stopped with her hand halfway rose, and her brows knitted together in confusion. Why would Remus be afraid to look weird in front of me?

"I like her, James. I can talk to her and she accepts me for who I am. I mean... I obviously didn't tell her my secret, but still..."

His secret? What's his secret? Victoria lowered her hand and smoothed a wrinkle in her skirt. What would Remus have to hide from me? It's not like I'd judge him or anything.

"Remus, my dear friend, if you like her you'll have to trust her. We don't care that you're a werewolf so neither should Victoria. Just take it a day at a time, all-right?"

He's a werewolf? Why didn't I realize that before? All those days he missed lessons and looked so sickly. Now I know why I wasn't put in Ravenclaw. But why would he think I'd care? Oh... oh my... he said he liked me... not as just a friend... Merlin's beard, Victoria, you are so thick! He likes you! Victoria felt a small smile come to her face when she realized a part of her liked Remus that way, too. Oh, Lily's never going to let me hear the end of it.

* * *

Chapter Seven

"So will you come out of the stall and go get your date? She's probably waiting outside Gryffindor Tower for you."

"Right... promise not to laugh at me when I come out?"

"Promise."

James stepped back as the lock on the stall was lifted and the door swung open. Remus stepped out of the stall and it was he who laughed, not James.

"And what are you laughing at?"

"You're... you're wearing tights!"

"Yeah, and your point is?"

Remus brought a hand up to smother his laughter, but his amber eyes still twinkled merrily.

"Oh, quit it! At least I was original! You're going as a wolf! What a stretch."

"Don't be upset, James. I was just shocked, is all."

"Let's go."

"You're not mad, are you?"

"No..." A grin had already started to spread across James's face.

The two friends put their arms around each other's shoulders as they left the bathroom. Remus' arm dropped suddenly and he stood with his mouth slightly open when he saw Victoria. She had her brown hair pulled up into a bun, with ringlets hanging here and there. Fairy dust adorned her cheeks and bare shoulders, and she was draped in a princess-style, light blue dress. She had transfigured a pair of enlarged fairy wings onto her back, which shimmered in the light when she moved.

"Moony, say something, you oaf," James hissed out of the corner of his mouth.

"Um... er... uh... nice costume," Remus sputtered.

Victoria smiled indulgently at him and took his hand.

"You don't look too bad yourself," She replied and Remus blushed.

"You coming, James?"

"Yeah. Er... Victoria... aren't you forgetting something?"

"Oh! Yes... Lily's a mermaid."

"A mermaid, huh?" James thought back to the mermaid he'd seen on his way to the bathroom. Not cute... gorgeous! Lily Evans, you have no idea what you're in for tonight. I will win you over if it's the last thing I do.

* * *

Chapter Eight

James parted ways with Remus and Victoria once they entered the Great Hall. He searched frantically round the hall for any sign of Lily.

"And who are you looking for, Mr. Sprite in tights?"

James turned and met a familiar pair of emerald eyes. If we have children, I want them to have her eyes. They're the most beautiful shade of green. Any child of ours with eyes like that would be a heartbreaker.

"I'm not a sprite."

"Oh? So what are you?"

"I'm a woodland spirit."

"Hmm... are you sure that's not just a cover so your mates won't taunt you?"

"It doesn't matter either way, does it? You're doing a fine job of taunting me all on your own."

Lily seemed astonished at the hurt toned of the boy's voice.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Actually, you look quite good in the tights. I was admiring your bum earlier." Lily clamped a hand over her mouth, not believing she had actually said that out loud.

James smiled broadly. He had actually embarrassed Lily Evans. Oh boy, wait till I tell Remus and Sirius.

"Forget I said that."

"Can't. It's permanently embedded in my mind. 'Fraid you gave my ego quite a boost just then."

Lily groaned, her cheeks tingeing pink.

"I might be able to put it out of my head of you'd dance with me." James smirked at her as he extended his hand.

She took it and he led her to the middle of the dance floor. The song that played was a slow one, and James took the opportunity to hold Lily close. She rested her head on his shoulder and they swayed to the rhythm.

"You're beautiful," James whispered in her ear.

"Thank you. You're pretty easy on the eyes too," Lily replied, grinning.

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

"Yes."

James lifted her chin and made her look him in the eyes.

"I thought you hated me."

"I was frustrated by you. There's a difference, James."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why were you frustrated by me?"

"You're arrogant and self-assured and you don't care who knows it. But then I realized most boys are like that at some time or another, so I couldn't hold it against you."

They shared a look and smiles came to both of their faces.

"So you chose me, even knowing who I was?"

"Yes... because you're James Potter... the boy I've fallen in love with."

James's eyes widened a fraction of an inch, making Lily giggle.

"Oh James, don't look so surprised. I mean, honestly-" James cut her off as he leaned forward to capture her lips in his.

Across the room, Remus, Sirius, and their dates saw the kiss, and James's friends gave each other a high five.

"And Potter scores!" Sirius whooped.

"Infinite points to Gryffindor!" Remus laughed.

Victoria and Celeste shook their heads at their dates, all the while with grins on their faces.

"Well, Celeste, mission accomplished. Let's go dance."

Sirius took Celeste to the dance floor, not too far from James and Lily. Remus shuffled his feet awkwardly as he stood in silence with Victoria.

"I heard what you said," Victoria suddenly piped up.

"Huh?"

"In the bathroom. I went to get you and I heard your conversation with James."

"Oh..."

"But I don't care. Werewolf or not, Remus, I like you, too."

His eyes met hers and he searched them to determine whether or not she was joking. "Really?"

She nodded and Remus breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now can we go dance? I feel weird standing on the sidelines watching all the others having fun."

Remus laughed and took Victoria's arm, and they joined their friends on the dance floor.

* * *

Chapter Nine

As the night went on, Lily and James stayed on the dance floor, locked in each other's arms, even during the fast songs. They simply couldn't keep their eyes off of each other.

"Lily, do you believe in love at first sight?"

"No, I believe in love at second sight."

"Huh?"

"You take one look at a person and you never really see them. Then, the second time, you catch their eye and they allow you a glimpse into their soul. That's when you can fall in love."

"Was it that way with me?"

"No."

"No?"

"With you it was Fate."

"Fate, huh?"

"Yes, James. Fate." Lily nestled closer in his arms and stood on her tiptoes to give him another kiss. This one took his breath away, and when they pulled apart, all he could do was look at her.

"We were two halves of one soul, James. Fate brought us together in this moment and for the rest of our lives." She smiled softly, knowingly, and her hands clasped James's tighter.

Tears sparkled in her eyes and slowly fell down her cheeks. James let go of her hands briefly to brush them away and her smile widened. Then he clasped her hands again and their fingers intertwined.

"I know what you mean, Lily. I know all about destiny and Fate. And now, with you, I'm complete."

He pulled her into an embrace and felt both of their hearts beating to the same rhythm. One, two. One, two. Two became one and nothing else in the world mattered. It all faded away till only they remained, moving in time to their own beat.

"I love you, James."

"I love you, too, my beautiful Lily."

They both closed their eyes, savoring the moment. And unbeknownst to them, they shared the same thought. We were meant to be.

* * *