Masquerade

Masquerade

Destiny decides, bringing you to me

For years we have avoided; only a couple of "Hello to thee!"

Yet our bond strengthens, so fate says to me

Tell me you love me; you and I are now "we"?

Chapter 6: DestinyÂ’s Wish

'Happy birthday, Brenda!' Cindy greeted, handing a wrapped present to her niece. SnowQueen (in case youÂ’d forgotten, thatÂ’s LilyÂ’s nickname to her) snatched it and tore it open hurriedly to see what Cindy had given her. Her other cousins handed her their presents, too, and all wrapped boxes met the very same fate.

'WhereÂ’s my present?Â’ SnowQueen demanded to Lily. Lily glared at her coldly. She answered in a highly dignified voice:

'I barely even knew you. Why should I get you a present at all?Â’

'If you donÂ’t have a present, leave my party!Â’ SnowQueen yelled rudely.

'Spoil brat,Â’ Lily said to her in a rude manner, too. 'I will leave, all the same,Â’ she said in an elegantly snobbish tone. 'I never have tie for such low subjects as you!Â’ Lily turned off huffily, pulling her deep blue robes as if she were a princess in a magnificent ball gown. 'By the way, subject, your present is by the candelabra.Â’

Edward Potter chuckled good-naturedly. 'My grandfather says my ancestor use to talk in that way. Impressive, Lily, very impressive. But do stay for the party. YouÂ’ll spoil our fun if you leave.Â’

The Marauders stifled their laughter when Lily sniffed pompously.

'Very well. As his highness Mr. Potter had begged me from returning to my royal chambers, I shall stay,Â’ Lily said, mimicking the British accent and sending a victorious smirk to SnowQueen, who bared her teeth at Lily. Lily stuck her tongue at her.

James was choking for air, his throat stuck with bursting laughter, when Lily marched towards them, all dignity and grace gone. She grinned at her friends.

'Wonderful, arenÂ’t I?Â’ she asked.

'Beautiful,’ Peter giggled. 'Simply brilliant! I love that face on SnowQueen – that hatred look.’

'Oh, did you bring me any presents?Â’ SnowQueen purred in a sickly sweet tone, gliding towards them.

Lily considered changing her name to Cheshire Cat.

'No,Â’ Sirius said.

'DidnÂ’t have enough money,Â’ Remus said not-too-miserably. As if proud that he hadnÂ’t the money to buy her a present, which he is.

'DidnÂ’t buy,Â’ James said, swallowing the burst of giggles that threaten to bomb from his throat. SnowQueen just smiled sweetly at them.

'ItÂ’s okay, boys. How about a kiss from each of you? IÂ’ll love you all dearly for that, sweetie pie!Â’ she said huskily, winking at them. Lily rolled her eyes towards Heaven. What happened to the rude tone and demands of leaving the party, huh?

'Really? I'll steal your first kiss,' James said, grinning deviously. Lily's eyes darted back towards Earth as her heart sank to the ground and began digging. What was it James said? Did he really mean to kiss that obnoxious flirt?

Well, Lily said huffily to herself as she walked away towards the refreshments, that'll be James's problem, then. Nothing to do with her, that jerk. Besides, it seem as if her heart is ready to bury itself from the world anytime now.

Lily stepped behind a pillar to hear SnowQueen's gush of sigh.

'I'd love you forever, my charming prince, should you steal my first kiss,' the girl was heard murmuring. Lily gritted at the word "prince". James was HER prince! Lily noticed that, meanwhile, Remus, Peter and Sirius had ran away to the refreshment tables. Traitors.

'Really?' James was heard saying. 'I wasn't expecting that.'

Lily turned away as SnowQueen bent her head a little to receive her kiss. She really couldn't bear to see it any much longer. James's voice had that serious tone in it. After all that was said to her the past two weeks, did James ever mean them..? Did he ever mean what he had said? It's all kissy-kissy and lovey-dovey words.

But Lily had never wondered if James was just playing games with her heart. How could she have forgotten; lost after a few kisses, promises and hugs?

She fingered the silver-blue mask she had brought with her, inside her roobes pocket. Numbly, Lily placed it over her green eyes and charmed her robes colour to flaming red and her hair into strawberry blonde. That should be pretty hard to recognise by them.

Carefully and casually, Lily walked out in her new disguise. There was James, talking happily to his father, SnowQueen next to him. Lily ignored them and went straight to Sirius, who was mumbling something to himself and looking high and low for something.

'Sirius,' Lily started. Sirius turned to stare at her.

'This is a masquerade?' he asked bluntly. 'Hullo, who're you anyway?'

'Er, no. I would like to know if James and Snow - uh!! Brenda! - kissed,' Lily said, fidgeting.

'James? SnowQueen? Kiss?!' Sirius burst out laughing. 'Never in a million years, girl! Believe me, I think he has eyes for only Lily. That's what I think, anyway, but leave him alone. If it's not Lily, then it's probably some other girl from Hogwarts. No use flirting with him now. You might end up like SnowQueen!'

'Er, what happened?'

'Find it out yourself. Seen Lily anywhere?'

'I- I think she left for her "royal chambers",' Lily said in a haughtier voice. 'Stupid, erm, git.'

'Watch I don't curse you!' Sirius snapped. 'Lily's MY friend and my best friend's girlfriend (so I think, but who cares?)! Insult her and you'll get it from me!'

'Er, yeah. Okay,' Lily said nervously, quite taken aback by Sirius's sudden violent character. She moved on to Peter, who was nearby. 'Did you see James?' she said in her best flirting voice.

'There, with SnowQueen,' Peter said carelessly. 'He's in some mood at the moment. Don't go near him.' Lily turned to James's direction. Sure enough, he seemed bothered and annoyed about something. Lily muttered her thanks and turned to Remus.

This is odd. Why is she, Lily Evans, walking around James's friends, asking about James? She knew she's his princess (so she had known), he's her prince (absolutely true) and they're both deestined to be together (not yet confirmed), but Lily had never felt so foolish in her life!

'Remus, I would like to ask you about- about James and Brenda,' Lily said in a polished voice. 'Did James really, uh, kiss Brenda? I saw Lily a while ago and she said so.' Talking in third person is never harder for Lily.

'Nah! It's just a sarcastic whisper in SnowQueen's ear. Trust Jimmy to give up his first kiss with some flirt!' Remus said good naturedly. He paused. 'Hang on. Who did you say told you that?' the boy asked urgently.

'Lily Evans. She's that redheaded kid with tomboyish, um, ways,' Lily said uneasily. Remus glared. Lily was expecting that (glare).

'Just because you're some sore loser,' he said with a tiny hint of sarcasm. After all, Remus Lupin is never much of sarcasm himself. 'Lily's a great chaser on Gryffindor's Quidditch team. Uh, where was Lily heading again?'

'Oh,' was all Lily could say. There was a pause, as she realized that Remus was directing the question to her. 'Er, she said something about chambers of some sort.' With that, Lily scurried off hurriedly, feeling more of an idiot than she had already felt.removing her mask from her face, she sighed.

Should she trust the boys? They're pretty well known liars and pranksters, except to Lily and Jenny, but Lily wasn't posing as Lily just now. No doubt that they intend to trick the next girl that asks them about James again. Still... they MIGHT be right. Maybe she should just ask SnowQueen herself.

Lily hesitated.

No, she shouldn't. She'll just let James answer her. ThatÂ’s what fairytale princesses do, right? Sit in their tower -- or room -- and wait patiently for the impending answer to their blank future. Maybe Lily should just copy them again. After all, it still sounded logically logic to her.

Humming a slow beat of "Oh Starry Night", Lily went back to the pillar where her heart was "buried." For the meantime, anyway. She might want to dig it up and bury it in a better place than this stone-cold floor. The Hogwarts Lake sound nice and romantic and probably is a graveyard to other ladies like her.

She slumped tiredly behind it and began tracing her finger over the red carpet. It was soooo boring! When are they cutting the cake? And why arenÂ’t there any party games? Oh, maybe wizards just donÂ’t have party games. Probably donÂ’t even know it, for that matter!

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock...

Sigh, the clockÂ’s tickings are boring too. Everything is so boring. Maybe sheÂ’d better remove her disguise. Blonde hair never go along with bright green eyes all that well. Not with her tan complexion anyway.

Lily closed her eyes tiredly, the clockÂ’s tick tock-ing (hmm... like the crocodile in Peter Pan, yes?) and the party guestsÂ’s chattering (Sound like fairies. Fairies? Here?? Haha!) fading into a dark black hole.

~ * * ~

Lily stirred up blearily. She was moving. SomeoneÂ’s carrying her. She could hear that someoneÂ’s heartbeat. Thump, thump, thump, thump. Steady, at least. LilyÂ’s blurry eyes turned up to the someoneÂ’s face. And she blinked the sleep out.

'Hi Lily! GÂ’morning!' James greeted cheerily.

'Is it really morning?' Lily mumbled, snuggling deeper into his arms. SheÂ’s freezing. Numb. Where on earth was her blankie anyway?

'Of course not, you idiot! What are you doing behind that pillar? Remus and Sirius both said that you were in your room! Are you planning to catch a cold? Or perhaps, die of cold??'

'No, but they say stupid people donÂ’t get sick.' James snorted.

'Yeah, stupid or not, you get sick all the time!'

There was the Silence.

'James?'

'Yes?'

'Did you kiss SnowQueen?' Lily murmured. She was almost unheard and JamesÂ’s ear was straining to catch the soundwaves. After interpreting the "mm mmm hmm mmmm?," he snorted again.

'Did I? Do you think I did?' James asked in a rather hurt manner and placed her on her bed. Lily rolled over and peeked out of her eyelids.

'Maybe. Maybe.'

'Oh great, IÂ’m so hurt! Maybe I really ought to kiss her now,' James said and made a move to get up. Lily managed to grab his robes and shook her head slowly.

'Please, donÂ’t. IÂ’m tired. Good night,' Lily murmured before drifting back to dreamworld. James smiled, pecked on her cheeks and drew the covers over.

'Sweet dreams, my fairytale princess.'

~ * * ~

'Jenny! Hey, dÂ’you remember that favour you asked me to do last term?' Remus said when he met Jenny at the Hogwarts Express in her compartment. That way, his friends wouldnÂ’t know of JennyÂ’s crush and whatever else that Jenny wouldnÂ’t trust them idiot Marauders with.

'Of course I remember! Well, did you manage to find out?' Jenny said, eagerness pasted all over her face.

'I donÂ’t think youÂ’re going to like it at all...'

'Oh?'

'YouÂ’re NOT going to like it...'

'IÂ’m not? Well, what is it?'

'YouÂ’re really really not going to like it...'

'Just say it!'

'Uh, yeah. From what IÂ’d heard from Sirius, Lily and James are talking 'bout this girl called Cerulean,' Remus said. JennyÂ’s face fell. Then she brightened up.

'ThereÂ’s no one in this school by that name,' Jenny said cheerfully.

'No,' Remus agreed, 'but I think itÂ’s a nickname. I guess IÂ’ve done you your favour. See you later.'

'Bye.' Slam. The compartment door was shut.

Cerulean. The colour of deep, clear blue. Like sky blue. Whoever in Hogwarts have such nickname? Colour of eyes? Too many to be specific. Hair? Haha. Robes? Everyone wears black in school, save Masquerade parties.

~ * * ~

'Lily, do you know anyone called Cerulean?' Jenny asked during breakfast next morning. Lily spluttered her orange juice over the table. It (the table) creaked in a mere sound of tut.

'Sorry. Uh, yes, I do. Um, why do you ask?' Lily asked rather nervously, wiping herself with her yellow hankerchief.

'Who is she, then?' LilyÂ’s forehead etched into a frown.

'I- IÂ’m afraid she doesnÂ’t want to be disclosed just yet, Jenny.'

'Please? Pretty pretty please? With a great giant jelly?' Jenny said, instantly wearing a puppy dog’s eyes—those with the sad, pleading look.

'Show me that jelly first,' Lily said.

'Will you tell me, then?'

'I want to see that jelly!'

'If I do, will you tell me?'

'...No. Cerulean is... very, very, very secretive. Um. Much more quiet than I am, a mystery and uh, just a fleeting shadow,' Lily said. 'Only seen at night, though. Never in broad daylight.'

'Is she... James... well, is she?' Finding words can be hard sometimes.

'Er, yeah, she is.'

'...'

'I'm so sorry, Jenny,' Lily whispered softly. 'It was never expected.'

'Oh, IÂ’ll get over it soon,' Jenny said in an uncaring tone, though the cracks were quite, quite visible. Her heart was rather torn. 'Tell me, Lily, does this Cerulean love him, too?'

'She... does. With all her heart,' Lily muttered faintly.

'And not just a figment of an imagination?'

'Certainly not.'

'That is all, Lily. Thank you,' Jenny managed to choke. She walked briskly off at once to cry in her dormitory.

'IÂ’m so, so sorry, Jen,' Lily whispered miserably to no one in particular (the Gryffindors ignored her anyway, unless if it was Quidditch or when it come to rule obeying). 'I never saw it coming either.'

~ * * ~

Masquerade came soon enough, just like it had always did five terms before. Nearly-sixteen-year-old Lily had solemnly dressed herself in the same blue robes, the same silver-white mask and the same braids she wear at most times. It is a totally different meeting, tonight.

'Hello,' Lily greeted James, when he came down to the lake.

'Hi Lily,' James grinned. He certainly hadnÂ’t cared that much. It wasnÂ’t him who had betrayed JennyÂ’s trust in her, Lily thought miserably to herself. Still, they should make the most out of whatever they can. After all, now is now and the past has long gone.

'The magic is lost, this time. You know me and I know you. There never will be a barrier before us any longer,Â’ Lily said quietly. 'I rather miss the old times, though.'

'WhatÂ’s gone is gone,' James said with a shrug.

'DÂ’you think we can pay Hagrid a visit?'

'Nah! WeÂ’ll be frightening him! Besides, that dog...or hound or blood or whatever was it he planned to call that fanged creature...might be eating us!Â’ James exclaimed with fright. He hadnÂ’t given much liking to the new puppy bloodhound (Fang) Hagrid had just gotten from his old friend. 'CanÂ’t we do fishing? WeÂ’ve always done fishing! Fishing is...uh, I donÂ’t know. What is fishing, Cerulean?'

Just then, a gasp and a squeal sounded from the trees nearby.

'WhoÂ’s there?Â’ James cried sharply. 'Come down and own up before I curse you! Tell you first, IÂ’d just mastered Transfiguration of objects! I can turn a table into a pig, so IÂ’ll probably turn you into a goat of some sort!'

Meekly, Yellow Girl climbed down from the huge birch tree, looking sorry for herself but perfectly angry. James frowned at the sight of her. She followed him here?!

'Lily! YouÂ’re Cerulean!!!Â’ the girl accused as soon as sheÂ’d marched towards the two.

'I... am. YouÂ’re right, Jenny, I am Cerulean,' Lily said quietly.

Jenny! No wonder Yellow GirlÂ’s voice sounded so familiar! James mused to himself.

'And you wouldnÂ’t tell me who you are!Â’ Jenny was crying. 'It is you, whoÂ’s going out with James!'

'Not going out,' James said abruptly. 'We hadnÂ’t gone out together...yet.'

'And I thought you were my friend, Lily! How could you possibly do this to me? You know I love him!' Jenny cried.

'Jenny, I...'

'Wow, what do we have here? A drama for Christmas Eve!' Sirius grinned, walking towards them. He was taking a stroll when he heard the yells. He leaned towards James and Lily. 'And who may this pair of beautiful couple be? And this yellow garbed girl?'

'Stop joking, Sirius,' Remus chided. 'You know that itÂ’s James and two other girls. Fighting over him, probably. Poor guy.'

'One of them is Jenny. I heard her name,' Peter supplied. 'The other's...I donÂ’t know. Who is she?'

'Cerulean,' Lily said, curtseying a little. 'Lily Evans. Hello.'

'Lily! How can you possibly betray my trust in you?!' Jenny shrieked.

'Jen, please, understand...'

'I trusted you! I thought you havenÂ’t got feelings for James! I...'

'Wow. A real nice battle here,Â’ Sirius mused. 'Too bad, it ainÂ’t all that good. We could do with some swinging weapons and all that. Reckon it'll be more dramatized, in that case. You guys could have a sword each and all. Like LilyÂ’s fairytales.'

Lily stared helplessly at the ground as Jenny accused her for almost everything she had done. Despite SiriusÂ’s comment on her favourite topic, fairytales, she really wish that theyÂ’ll stop taunting her already. As for James, his face was boiling red with annoyance as Jenny shot reason after reason, accuse after accuse, remark after remark and so on at LilyÂ’s hanging head.

'...And you...'

'IÂ’m sorry, Jenny Kurt! I didnÂ’t really expect this!' Lily blurted suddenly when Jenny paused to fill her lung with oxygen. Without another word and with trembling lips, Lily ran straight towards and into the Forbidden Forest.

'CanÂ’t you just shut up and let her -- or me -- explain to you what exactly is going on around here, or anything for that matter?Â’ James growled. 'Sirius, Peter, Remus, IÂ’ll run after her. You guys can keep Jenny here. IÂ’ll deal with her soon -- right after IÂ’m back.Â’ With that, James ran into the looming Forest of Hogwarts.

~ * * ~

It was dark, eerie, and positively enchanted. The Forbidden Forest had definitely earned its name. Lily had no idea why she had ran in here. She just ran. How could she face anyone after what Jenny had said? How could she face Jenny again? And James? Oh, and Sirius and Remus and Peter? They probably donÂ’t even want to know her anymore, after this day!

Well, itÂ’s a good place to hide in, the Forest. The drawback is only the eternal darkness, evil-looking faces on aged trees, trolls, gnomes and all the other nasty dark creatures.

Lily shivered. At least she has her wand. SheÂ’s a pretty good Charms student, an okay Transfiguration pupil (instead of her table turning into a full-grown pig, it turned into a baby hog) and has some knowledge of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Luckily, she is quite prepared with these little knowledge.

'Lumos,' she whispered, holding her wand out. The twiggy wand end glowed faintly.

The trees looked even more evil than before, if that is possible; the lines on the tree bark had seemed to dug even deeper into the trees to create this effect. And eyes! There are so many bright yellow eyes staring at her every movement! Lily know had a vague feeling of how Snow White must have felt when she was lost in the forest.

Lily took a deep breath. This is not a time to of Brother GrimmÂ’s Tales! She should get to a clearing as soon as possible, summon her broomstick and fly out of this place, to- to- to- to somewhere. She hadnÂ’t much of an idea on where to fly to.

'Okay, Lily. Um, Lily. Er, Lily. Ugh, why am I repeating my own name?' Lily said in annoyance to herself. 'Alright, start again. Okay, Lily, what was that tracking spell again? Point me? Or was it Crosswinds?Â’

She paused to think.

'Forget it. IÂ’ll just keep on walking.'

Lily sneezed when Jack Frost bit on her skin. Sensitive to cold, she is. 'Pity I didnÂ’t bring myself a jacket. Achoo! Hmph! Who wouldÂ’ve known that itÂ’s even more freezing in here than it is at the lake?' She knew of course, but having conversation with herself is a better way to keep her mind off the current situation sheÂ’s facing.

Sitting on a flat stone somewhere nearby, she hugged her knees to her chest. 'I wonder how the others are now. Jenny mustÂ’ve been very mad at me.' She let out a little sniff and recognized it as a sob. Uh-oh! 'IÂ’m NOT going to start crying now! No!!! DonÂ’t cry! Get a sense of yourself and stop crying, you- you silly! It wonÂ’t make this situation any much better than it is; probably worse!' Lily scolded herself as warm tears rolled down her icy white cheeks. 'YouÂ’re a crybaby, Lily Rose Evans! Stop it! Stop it, I say!'

It never ever work that well. Despite her own scoldings (which she knew mustÂ’ve sounded pathetic since sheÂ’s talking to herself), Lily continued sobbing.

Just then, a gallop of hooves was heard. Lily pulled her tear-stained face up. A centaur. A handsome centaur with the face of a young girl, who looked as if she could not possibly be older than the tender age of ten. Lily have got to be sure this isnÂ’t just a figment of her overactive imagination.

'Will you please help me? I need- I need- I need a place to go to,' Lily said, grubbily rubbing her soggy eyes. The centaur said nothing. She galloped off without a word.

'Oh, fine. Nice help you were, Imagination,Â’ Lily muttered formlessly.

Just then, another sound of galloping hooves was heard. Lily ignored it, thinking that her imagination is definitely overactive at the moment. Or if the centaur wasnÂ’t her imagination, she mightÂ’ve brought her friends to taunt her.

'Lily,' James said. Lily jumped up.

'Oh. James. You donÂ’t happen to be part of my imagination, do you?'

'Um. No, I donÂ’t think so. Are you a part of my imagination?'

'No, IÂ’m perfectly real.'

'Well, so am I. Amazing, youÂ’re very cool out here alone.' Lily burst into a fresh flow of tears as she ran to him thankfully and hugged him, sobbing helplessly into his robes.

'I guess I... spoke too soon. Are you okay?'

'The forestÂ’s eerie! There are eyes everywhere! And the trees have faces, like trolls! And my imagination isnÂ’t making it any better...itÂ’s making it WORSE!'

James blinked blankly. 'Um, okay. DonÂ’t worry, IÂ’ll bring you back to the school,' he said soothingly. He transformed, with a pop, into a large stag. Lily never said anything or gasp in surprise. No, she had had too much of her imagination. Everything seem to be capable to happen now. She climbed upon the stag tearfully, clinging onto its neck tightly before it sprinted off with the wind.

~ * * ~

Meanwhile, by the lake, Jenny was receiving a lecture – or nags, whichever you may prefer – from the three remaining Marauder. Scolding would very much describe the kind of talk they are having too, after naggings.

'And what exactly do you mean by being friend with Lily just so that you could be with James? As Lily would have said, youÂ’re a sad excuse for a creature as intelligent as humans!Â’ Sirius was yelling.

'Well, IÂ’m telling the truth! I honestly want to know James better!Â’ Jenny cried, not a single part of her showing the shy Jenny they had known. 'Besides, Lily had hardly any feelings for him!Â’

'Hardly? I donÂ’t know if thatÂ’s true, but James certainly has feelings for her, now that IÂ’d seen it!' Remus yelled (which gave the other boys a kind of surprise at first). 'And I thought you were a nice girl!'

'Yeah! How can you make use of Lily?' Peter yelled in addition.

Just then, James stumbled out of the forest edge, Lily clinging and sobbing next to him. The boys ran to greet them at once, Sirius dragging Jenny along.

'You shouldnÂ’t have ran in there!Â’ Peter scolded. 'A werewolf might have bitten you!'

'ItÂ’s not a full moon,' Lily muttered, wiping her tear-stained cheeks.

'ItÂ’s still foolish,' Remus said bluntly.

'I- I can't help it, because I just... ran in there,' confessed Lily. 'Before I realize it, I'm in the forest! It's dreadfully dark in there.'

'Ran right into the middle,' James sighed. 'Fortunately a centaur saw her.'

'You mean it isnÂ’t a figment of my imagination?'

'No.'

'Here, why donÂ’t you bring her to Madam Pomfrey?Â’ Sirius said, handing her a chocolate slab from his pocket. 'I hereby offer myself to "teach" Miss Jennifer Kurt some useful lessons! Free of charge, too!'

'Thanks a lot, Sirius. See ya!' James said, leading Lily into the castle.

'No problem. ItÂ’s my pleasure.'

~ * * ~

'Drink this cup of milk,' Madam Pomfrey said, handing Lily a cup of fresh milk. 'ItÂ’s a good thing Black gave you some chocolate - I ran out of them.' James pretended to look as if he didnÂ’t hear the last line. Truth to be told, they had just raid the Infirmary last night because they were feeling hungry for chocolate. The Infirmary has a collection of them, and the Marauders took every single one.

'I hate milk,' Lily said, wincing in disgust.

'Drink it,' the matron ordered. Lily gulped nervously before swallowing the creamy milk. It was much sweeter than normal. Yum. Not all that bad, for fresh milk.

'Try not to be an idiot next time and run into the forest,' James said.

'I canÂ’t help it! I didnÂ’t even know that I was running into the forest,' Lily protested, placing the mug down.

'ItÂ’s almost midnight, dear. IÂ’ll leave you two here to see who this yearÂ’s mistletoe couple are,' Madam Pomfrey said, shutting the infirmary door. James turned to Lily, brown eyes boring ino her skin.

'We never pulled off each otherÂ’s ask before,' James said, still staring intently at LilyÂ’s mask. It is still glued to her face. ItÂ’s amazing how Lily never pull it off throughout the nightÂ’s episode.

'We can, if you want,' Lily offered. She looked at her wristwatch. 'ItÂ’s only ten more seconds.'

9...

8...

7... JamesÂ’s hands reached for her face

6...

5...

4...

3... LilyÂ’s fingers fingered the soft, velvet black of JamesÂ’s...

2...

1...

0

James gently lifted up LilyÂ’s silvery blue mask and Lily lifted JamesÂ’s - just as a huge commotion was head outside the door. They turned towards it after a momentÂ’s look at each otherÂ’s mask-less face.

'And, ah! HereÂ’s our mistletoe!' Professor Dumbledore announced cheerfully, opening the door. He whole school streamed into the room (though itÂ’s a mystery, up till now, how it had managed to fit the school), staring at Lily and James, who blinked blankly back at them.

'It looks like it has found its couple elsewhere tonight.Â’

'Jimmy! YouÂ’re this yearÂ’s mistletoe couple!' Sirius cried excitedly, fighting his way through the crowd to reach his best friend.

'Jimmy, Jimminy, James. What a surprise,' Remus said in happy amusement. He glanced up, at the mistletoe. 'What blessings, Mr. Mistletoe!'

'What are you two waiting for?' Peter yelled, Jenny next to him with a sour face. She must have gotten some hexes from the Marauders. She had weird tentacles on her forehead and her hair was doing some sort of dance on its own.

'What are we suppose to do?' James asked blankly. He had certainly not been in the Great Hall long enough. The whole school rolled their eyes. Such absurdity.

'KISS, YOU IDIOTS!' the school yelled at the two sixth year Gryffindor prefects.

'In front of... everyone?' Lily said rather faintly. It appears that she, too, had been lying when she told James that she looks out for Mistletoe couples every Christmas Eve.

'No, honestly, thereÂ’s a private room,' Audrey Cinders, the nearest to them (besides Sirius and Remus) said. 'Of course you have to do it now, Evans. DonÂ’t be daft!'

'WeÂ’ll be an official couple after this,' James grinned at Lily cheekily. Just as she opened her mouth to reply ('WeÂ’ve been kind-of official since you proposed that question PRIVATELY, Potter' is her intended reply), James kissed her.

The school cheered.

And thus is the happy ending of a story...

~ * * ~

I believe it's a fairy tale

A story of dreams and joy

Mother spinning its long ago tale

Of sweet yarn and coil

I dream for him, my charming prince

A-waiting to be crowned his

And, oh! What a joy it will then be

For his soft, sweet, flitting kiss

I found my prince when I found you

Though I never really care

Until one day you say you're true

When I see you're really there

My charming prince of dreams and wish

You'll be there to stand by me

I'll love you with my heart and soul

Since that masquerade, by that tree