Chapter 27- The Yule Ball
James awoke to the sound of Peter squealing with delight. Usually, that role would have already been claimed by Sirius
but the Seventeen year old boy was sitting lazily in his bed staring out the window. James got up and felt as glum as
Sirius looked. Christmas was not going to be a fun time this year. Usually, James and Sirius went home to James's
parents home in Godrics Hollow and spent the holidays there. But, since recent events have prevented that, James and
Sirius were stuck at Hogwarts for the holidays. James had been so depressed lately he had moved back into the Tower
with his friends. Even that didn't seem to cheer him up.
"Presents, Padfoot," James said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Yeah, I know," Sirius said, still not moving from bed.
"Visit with Halle that bad?" Remus asked.
"It wasn't bad per say. It was just sort of depressing. It was great to see her but I was expecting a full recovery," Sirius said. He had brought a picture of the two of them home. The Nurse had taken a picture with a camera Sirius had bought in the Gift Shop. The picture still made Sirius smile as Halle actually looked like herself in it. She was hitting him with the pillow and he was smiling all the same. It made him feel as though things had never changed.
"I talked to my dad Padfoot and he said the chances of a full recovery are very slim, yet not impossible. I really don't think she'd recover in this short of time anyways," Remus said sympathetically.
The three Marauders sat in silence until they heard the childish squealing of Peter.
"Oooo, presents. Yippy doo daa! I got presents. Hehehe," Peter said. James sent a confused look over at Peter and Peter immediately got the drift.
"Sorry, it's just that I thought Christmas was supposed to be a happy time," Peter said. He looked at Sirius and forced a smile.
"You're right, Wormtail," Sirius said, standing up.
James smiled and went over towards his rather large pile of presents. He looked down and saw a familiar scrawl of writing that he believed to be his mother's. James looked over at Sirius and saw his shocked face as well. Maybe mum and dad were still alive! Maybe they didn't die after all.
"No way," James muttered.
"What do you reckon?" Sirius asked. "Should we open them?"
"Together," James said.
James opened a small parcel to find a mirror. Sirius had received the same and looked at James with a puzzled look. He looked at the card that had some with it and found that two letters were attached to the card.
He unfolded one of the letters and realized that it wasn't his mother's messy scrawl but that of a gentle hand, trying to perfect their writing.
Master James,
Your father left this in your possession (as well as a vault full of money at Gringrotts). He was going to give you this parcel for Christmas so I decided that I would send it to you anyways. Please have an enjoyable time at school and come visit us poor house elves some time. Tell Master Sirius that everyone misses him too! We are so sorry about your parents, their loss was hard on all of us. We miss you Master James! Love, Fanny and the other house elves at the Potter Manor.
James smiled. How could he have thought his parents were still alive? Voldemort himself had spoken of killing them.
He reached for the last letter he would ever receive from his parents. He felt tears sting his face. He ducked to try and hide them but then saw that Sirius had done the same.
Dear Jamie,
We miss you sweetie! Hope your Seventh Year is going great! I wanted to get you something from Diagon Alley but your father had his mind set on passing these mirrors down to you and Sirius. He knows how much you guys get Detention. It's only September right now but if I don't write this now, I'll forget to and will never get the chance. So, your father told me to explain how these things work. They are two way mirrors. You speak the name of the person you wish to talk to into the mirror and supposedly you will be able to talk to them no matter where they are, as long as they have the brother mirror. So if you and Sirius are in two different places, you should be able to contact each other as long as you have the mirrors with you. I hope you boys enjoy them and Jamie please do keep safe this year. We love you and miss you so much! Tell Remus and Peter we said hello! What lovely boys! Love, Mum and Dad
His last ever letter from his parents. He picked up the mirror and spoke the name "Sirius Black" clearly into it.
"Hey Prongsie," Sirius said.
"Whoa, man, I can see you," James said, heading into the bathroom.
"Earth to Prongs. I can hear you and see you, but you're not in the same room as me. Awesome. Your dad is so awesome," Sirius said.
James's facial expression dropped.
"You mean my dad was awesome, Padfoot," James said quietly.
Sirius made his way into the bathroom and saw his friend.
"I'm sorry Prongs. It is just too hard to believe. So many things have changed this year," Sirius said.
"Hey Prongs! Did Evans send you anything?" Remus asked from the other room.
"Probably not. I sent her a gift, but doing a decent thing never turns out the right way," James said sadly.
"So, I hear you're going out with that Fawn Daniels girl. She's a babe. I dated her friend Morgan," Peter said.
"We're not dating. I'm just taking her to the Yule Ball, Peter," James said.
"Oh, too bad. I hear Lily has a date. Guess with who?" Peter said.
"I already know Peter, I already know," James replied, staring out the window.
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"Oh my god! James sent you a package!" Katy said.
"You can open it," Lily said.
"You're not even curious as to what your ex sent you?" Katy said. She was wearing a new gold wristwatch that Remus had gave her and knew that James had gotten Lily something similar.
"He has good taste. You do remember that necklace he got you for the Masquerade Dance?" Katy said, still making sure Lily wasn't even the teensiest bit curious.
"Open it Katy. I know you want to," Lily said. "But I don't think it's jewelry. It's too big of a box."
"Oh, it's just a book. Wonder why he sent you a book?" Katy asked. Lily recognized the book. She had seen it once before. It had her name written all over inside of it. Katy was flipping through the pages.
"Either that boy really likes you or he has a weird fascination with your name," she concluded.
"Wait, this is a picture. It's of you and him. Aw, how sweet," Katy said.
"Just throw it in the trunk," Lily said. She knew it was sweet of James to be so sentimental. She just didn't think she could look at the good of him anymore. It was too hard. She was not happy, she became even more furious with him. He was trying to win her over again but it wasn't going to work. Suddenly, an idea came into her head.
"Hey Katy, do you still have that Fire whiskey you were saving for New Years?" Lily asked devilishly. The perfect prank was forming in her head.
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"Wow Fawn, you look beautiful," James said, as he saw his date in her violet robes. They brought out her beautiful brown eyes.
"Thanks James. You look very nice too," she answered, holding his arm. They headed into the Great Hall. But not before James could see Lily. She looked beautiful. She had a garland of Lilies through her red soft hair. She let her hair hang loose in delicate curls and was wearing robes of emerald green, accentuating her already sparkling, green eyes. James felt his breathe give way. He saw the Hufflepuff seeker, Kevin, on her arm and felt a pang of jealousy.
What are you thinking James? She dumped you. She doesn't even look that beautiful. What am I kidding? She looks gorgeous. But, you already have a beautiful date. But I want that, he thought.
His mind was contemplating and he decided that roaming towards the punch bowl was his best bet at steering clear of trouble.
"Good evening everyone! I am glad to say that our Head Boy and Head Girl have arranged for us to have a Yule Ball. Ordinarily, the Yule Ball only comes with the Triawizard Tournament, but special circumstances have been made. So please, enjoy yourself. And would the Head Boy and Girl please come forth and open the ball. It's tradition," Dumbledore said.
Lily and James groaned. They headed towards the dance floor and stiffly started dancing.
Wow, she smells so good. No James, get a grip on yourself, James thought.
Wow, he's so strong and muscular. I could dance in his arms forever. No Lily, get a grip on yourself. It's Potter for crying out loud, Lily thought.
Suddenly, interrupting the slow song, came a loud, off key voice of a drunk man.
"All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myselfffff
Anymoooorree..."
Sirius was singing drunkenly on the stage. He was singing off key and holding a bottle of fire whiskey in his hand.
"Sirius!" James yelled.
"Mr. Black, get off of the stage this instant!" Professor McGonagall yelled, attempting to make her way through the crowd and to the stage.
"All by myself
Don't wanna be
All by myself
Anymore.."
"Is that the only song you know?" a voice called.
"Hey man, shut up," Sirius said. "You don't know me. No McGonagall, let me finish my song. Hey, that's my drink. If you really want it Professor, gotta warn you though, that's strong stuff," Sirius blubbered on. He stumbled off the stage and went and threw up in the middle of the floor.
Girls shrieked about their dress robes and everyone started fleeing from the Great Hall. Sirius stumbled out still clutching the microphone.
"We'll be here til Saturday! Try the veal!" he called.
"Oh shit," Lily mumbled.
"What?" James asked.
"That was my Fire whiskey," she said. She looked for Katy but Katy had left.
"Whoa, Evans, hitting the liquor hard since we broke up?" James joked.
"Oh yeah Potter. Just drinking my life away. Hey, where're our dates?" Lily asked.
They both looked around. The Great Hall was deserted except for them and Madam Pomfrey cleaning up Sirius's vomit. Speaking of Sirius, James laughed when he heard Sirius still singing down the hall into the mic.
"No, but really, I was going to spike your drink. I left it on the table and I guess Sirius found it. I don't blame him though. He's having a rough time," Lily said.
"Yeah, he came home really depressed," James said. James felt confused. Were he and Lily having civilized conversation?
"Come on Evans, let's go back to the Common Room," James said, putting his arm around Lily. They walked
out leaving behind the ruined Great Hall.
A/N: Oh, the drunkenness is not over yet..
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