Without Warning

"Well, we simply need you to hold the Levitating Charm of ingredients while we distract Bella and then when we give the signal - "

"No more sugar and spice and all things nice?"

"Exactly."

"What's the signal?"

"Jams will raise one inconspicuous arm into the air. Probably as if he's yawning or stretching or something."

"Righto."

"Excellent. Now, I suppose we better go pick up our dates, yes?"

"Probably a good idea."

"Let me just warn you," Sirius said as he reached the dorm door and grinned. "I'm still rather iffy about you and Andromeda."

"And let me just warn you, there are no shenanigans to be pulled on me tonight just because of your dissatisfaction at my choice of partner."

"Oh Moony, I wouldn't dream of it."

"I know - that's why I'm afraid. Everything seems to be a reality for you." Remus grinned back at his friend as they made their way to the Ravenclaw common room.

*******************

James was avidly watching the staircase leading to the girls' dormitories. He knew he probably appeared somewhat over enthusiastic to the masses of squawking girls now adjourning the room, and possibly downright 'stalker-tendencies' scary, but at that moment, he couldn't care less.

He only cared about one thing. He was waiting for Lily. He'd been waiting for her at the foot of the spiral staircase for what felt like the past hour. Hell, who was he kidding, he'd been hoping to catch a glimpse of her all day. But as fate would have it, for some reason or other he had seen neither hair nor hide of her. Although he had to admit he'd heard some rather startling rumours of her supposedly conked out on the common room couch at twelve noon, still clad in her flannel pyjamas and snoring loudly. He hoped that she was okay. He hoped that she'd be ready soon. He actually hoped for many things at that moment in time.

He had big plans for this Ball.

To tell the truth, he didn't think he'd ever been more nervous. Well, maybe for the possible exception of the time when his brutal Aunt Beth had come to visit and Sirius had been hiding in the invisibility cloak, awaiting instructions for her removal.

At that thought, James suddenly wished more than ever that Sirius was there beside him. He was so nervous he'd started to bite his nails and ruffle his hair incessantly. Sirius always had this knack for calming him down. He'd always been James' voice of reason. Well, on second thoughts maybe not exactly voice of reason, but at least Sirius had the capability of keeping James' mind off the anxiety that was currently occupying it.

But now he was completely on his own and felt slightly naked standing there by himself. Sirius and Remus had gone to fetch their Ravenclaw dates and Peter, being the oh-so-tactful gentleman that he was, had arranged to meet Indigo at the actual event, currently making himself scarce. To be brutally honest, Indigo hadn't seemed too miffed by this prospect. In fact, James was sure he'd even seen a look of relief flicker across her face. Yes, relief and calm were definitely attributes James currently wished he possessed.

Oh god, how much longer?

As it transpired, only a couple of seconds.

James watched as the door to the girls' sixth year dormitory creaked open and everything fell into slow motion. An angel was standing above, looking down on him slightly embarrassed. Her dark brown hair - -

James was abruptly pulled back to reality. He bit his tongue. It wasn't Lily at all. It was Indigo. Who, he had to admit, was looking mighty ... good. Yeah, he'd never been good with descriptions. Apart from maybe when it came to Lily - if his mind didn't go into complete gridlock at the very sight of her. But where was she?

Smiling nervously and nodding at Indigo quickly, he then turned around and ran his hands down his face. He scrunched his eyes up as tight as they could close until he could see the tiny coloured flecks of light splaying all over the pitch-blackness of his vision. In frustration and in an unsuccessful bid to sway his nerves, he sprang his eyes back open in an effort to return himself to a calmed reality.

But what he saw when he opened his eyes made him think he had been launched into some sort of daydream.

Lily was descending the staircase.

He suddenly found himself breathing in sharp gulps of air of air, but found he wasn't breathing them out. His whole world had virtually halted at the sight of her. Everything was frozen. Everything was still. Except for Lily.

Her hair fanned out and leapt about her shoulders as she practically jumped from stair to stair, he silky golden robes dancing around her as she did so. James decided on the spot that gold was a complimentary colour for her - it dramatically contrasted with her eyes, making them appear even brighter.

As he goggled at her in complete and utter amazement, she smiled back at him in a bashful manner, biting her rosy, glossed lip and trying with all her might not to giggle like a pretentious first-year.

Of course, situations like these are almost certainly set up for disaster as most perfect, Mary-Sue incidents are.

As Lily succeeded upon the last step, her foot caught the hem of her robes, sending her plummeting towards the floor. With her arms flailing in front of her, she hit the carpet with a soft 'thud'.

She lay there for a moment, trying to figure out what had just happened. Was she dreaming? No, unfortunately not this time. She was indeed currently crumpled on the ground after participating in what must have been one of the best worst-timed-face-plants of the year. Hell, forget participating, she'd been the main event.

She swallowed hard, regaining her composure and pulled herself up into a sitting position to analyse the situation.

Indigo was staring at her. Lily couldn't figure out if her expression suggested she was in a mere stunned-mullet shock, or if she was simply trying to restrain herself from cackling madly like Lily knew she was longing to.

James on the other hand, still seemed to be goggling at her, completely unaffected by her current predicament.

"Lily, you ... you look stunning."

She looked at him incredulously. Was this some sort of sick joke? No, apparently not - he was actually being serious.

"Erm, thanks...I think." She was still sitting on the ground at the foot of the stairs amongst a swath of silky material. She frowned at him after a moment, which seemed to at least (partly) pull him back to reality.

"Oh...god, are you all right?" He stepped over to her and held out his hand to pull her to her feet.

As her eyes rose to be nearly level with his, she spoke. "Yeah...yeah I'm fine." And she had to admit; he was looking damn fine himself. He was wearing simple black robes with a high collar. Very becoming. Very stylish. Very Potter.

He grinned at her but didn't say anything. Still marvelling at how gorgeous she was, he felt it extremely difficult not to return the kiss she'd given him a couple of nights before hand. He noticed she was now blushing profusely - what he didn't realise was that he was too.

Choking back a laugh, he felt himself calm slightly in her presence and regained his former self.

"Shall we madam?" He spoke in a mock-posh accent and held out his arm.

"We shall, sir," she replied with a grin, accepting his gesture and linking her arm with his.