Seventh Year: The Defining Moment

3

The Placing of the Bet

Lily Evans turned the corner to go to her Charms class, when she literally bumped into probably the last person she wanted to see. "Oh sorr-," she started but stopped herself short when she saw who it was. "Oh it's YOU!"

James Potter smiled his most charming smile and replied, "Well fancy meeting you here!"

"Potter, much to my displeasure, OF COURSE you'd see me here! YOU'RE IN ALL MY CLASSES!!!" Lily exclaimed. "Now if you'd bother to check a clock, you'd realize Charms starts in one minute!!! So move before we're both late!!!" James stepped aside and Lily stormed into the classroom he'd been blocking the entrance to. Lily took a seat between Jessi and Mara as James followed her into the classroom.

He walked past Lily and remarked, "Deny it if you must, but you know you like me!"

Lily rolled her eyes and shot back, "Wishful thinking."

James didn't answer her. Instead he winked at Lily, and then joined Sirius, Remus, and Peter at the back of the classroom. Professor Flitwick entered the room and called for attention.

"Today we'll be working on the Protean Charm! When applied to at least two similar objects, it will make the other object or objects mimic one of the others when it's changed," he squeaked. "The incantation is on the board along with instructions. Because this is a rather difficult charm, I will be separating you all into pairs of two." Professor Flitwick waved his wand, and all the desks separated themselves into pairs.

Professor Flitwick continued speaking, "Here are the pairs. As soon as I call your names, move your stuff to sit with your partner. We'll be working on this charm for at least a week, until we all have the hang of it. Thompson and Black, Baron and Smith, Spencer and Lupin, Parks and Pettigrew, Potter and Evans..." As the pairs moved to sit with each other, Lily remained frozen. She raised her hand and Professor Flitwick said, "What is it Miss. Evans?"

"May I exchange partners? I don't really get along with Potter."

Professor Flitwick smiled and replied, "Yes, you don't get along with Mr. Potter, now do you? I don't know what I was thinking pairing you two together. Mr. Black, will you please switch partners with Miss. Evans?"

Lily put her hands together, looked up at the ceiling, and mouthed "Thank you", while James pouted.

.:*:.

Before everybody knew it, December was upon them. Gryffindor had won the Quidditch match and everyone was getting hyped up for Christmas. Especially after a certain announcement had been put up on the House message board a week into December.

ATTENTION!!!!!

At exactly seven o'clock on December twenty-fifth, there will be a Yule Ball. Students only in fourth year up will be allowed to go. The Head Boy, Head Girl, and all Prefects will be expected to have dates, for they have to start the opening dance. They will also be required to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas unless under certain circumstances (see Head of House). If you intend to attend the Ball, you'll need to sign up on the list to stay at Hogwarts over the break.

Thank You!

James was now more determined than ever to win Lily's heart. When Lily was leaving the Great Hall, the day after the announcement, James blocked her. "Potter do you mind?!" asked an exasperated Lily.

James smiled 1 of his roguish grins and replied, "No, but I would mind if you'd accompany me to the Ball!" Lily gave James a "drop dead" look then tried to go around him but he wouldn't let her. "No really!" he said as he stepped in front of her, blocking her path. He threw an arm around as he said, "Just imagine it! You and me, dancing under the stars!"

"Yeah, and now I'm imagining you falling into a bottomless pit!" Lily snapped, pushing away his arm. She then shoved James out of her way, and stormed off.

"I'll get you my pretty!" James called after her. "And your little dog too!!!"

Sirius looked at James and replied, "Dude, you're supposed to be a wizard, not a witch."

"Shut up Padfoot," was James' tart response.

James walked off with Sirius following him, saying, "Besides, that was a pretty sad imitation of that 'witch' in that Muggle movie..." That resulted in James smacking the back of Sirius' head.

.:*:.

When Lily was leaving dinner, later that day, she was stopped in the Entrance Hall by Harrison Craft, a Ravenclaw seventh year and the Seeker and Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. He was quite good looking too, with his jet-black hair and midnight blue eyes. In fact, he was a bit like James, minus being an arrogant show-off.

"Hey Lily, I was wondering," he started. "Do you want to go to the Ball with me?" Lily considered him for a moment. 'He IS pretty awesome, and I DO need a date...'

"Ok," Lily replied coolly. "Meet me here at six forty-five." She then smiled at him and headed up to Gryffindor Tower.

When Lily arrived in the common room, once again James attempted to ask her to the Yule Ball. "Hey Evans, you know, you really should go with me to the Ball. We would make a pretty cute couple!"

Lily rolled her eyes and replied, "Save it, I'm already going with someone else. And the word cute doesn't sound right coming from your mouth, just to let you know." Lily sat down at a table and pulled out her homework, followed by a gaping James.

"You're what?!" he exclaimed.

"I'm going with someone else," she said calmly, as she opened One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.

"WHO!!!" James demanded.

Lily rolled her eyes and answered, "As if I'd tell you! You'd probably hex him as soon as you got the chance. Now if you don't mind, I need to start on that Exwing plant report for Herbology, as you should be doing too, instead of annoying me."

.:*:.

James managed to find out who Lily was going to the Ball with. He found out from Peter, who had overheard Lily telling it to Mara. And sure enough, everytime James saw Harrison he'd use some jinx on him. One day, Harrison came up to James and tapped him on the shoulder. James turned around and snapped, "What do YOU want Craft?"

Harrison replied, "I'm fed up with you hexing me, and I'm prepared to make a bet." This sparked James' curiosity.

"What sort of bet?" he said suspiciously.

Harrison took a deep breath and answered, "You know the Quidditch match right before Christmas break, Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor? Well, whoever's house wins gets to take Lily to the Ball."

James smiled shrewdly and said, "Does Lily know about this?" Harrison shook his head.

"Here's what I figured we'd do: After the match, when we know who the winner is, I'll tell her. If you win, I'll say that I got tired of you hexing me and we made a bet and that the winner got to take her to the Ball. If she's fine with it, I'll tell her the next day that I lost. If I win, I just won't say a thing. I figured the fair thing to do was to wait till we had the results before I tell her, that way it wouldn't affect her playing. Don't worry; I won't back down on the bet if I lose. I promise. If I do you can hex me whenever you want. If I win, you gotta promise you WON'T hex me whenever you want."

James considered this for a second. 'Well I've got nothing to lose...' "Deal," he replied.

"Deal," Harrison agreed as he held out his hand. They both shook on it.