*Lilah POV*

I smoothed down the deep red gown my body adorned, having fallen in love with it the moment I had tried it on in Hogsmeade last week.

The straps fell onto my lower shoulder, curving around my body in soft silk, flaring out slightly just past the tops of my thighs.

Sexy. Check.

School appropriate? Not so much.

"You look beautiful, Lilah." Lily compliments, her emerald green dress hanging over her arm, having not yet changed. "James will keel when he sees you, especially in red. Everyone knows that it's his favourite colour."

I nodded in thanks, complimenting her in return before her last words caught up to me. "Oh, um, I'm not actually going with James," I admitted sheepishly, not divulging that I was aware of his favourite colour. I wouldn't ever confess to the fact that I had bought this dress for James and not Sirius, not even willing to admit it to myself. "Aren't you guys dating, anyway?" I asked curiously, wondering what in Merlin's name had occurred.

"What?" She spluttered out, "Merlin no! I'd rather become a death eater then be with that toerag!"

"That's a little extreme," I mumble, returning back to the mirror to finish the final coat of mascara.

Marlene had taught me well.

"Right," she nodded awkwardly before rushing to the bathroom, tripping over her feet as she went.

If they weren't dating then why would they say they were?

Slowly all the pieces began to connect together, a small grin fighting to break free. This was too cute.

Annoying but cute.

Plus, I believed that Lily was better matched with one particular werewolf Marauder.

I shook off any lingering thoughts of James, knowing it was unfair to be thinking of another man whilst on my way to the ball with Sirius.

With Sirius, I had to remind myself.

I left the room, descending the stairs warily, careful not to trip over in my heels like I had when Hogwarts hosted the Yule Ball. That was mortifying.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

My heart screamed at the sight in front of me, beating at an erratic and pulsing pace – there, before me, was an uneven dimpled smile, blue eyes shining in what seemed to be awe with a red bowtie to match.

His dark hair was styled neatly yet still had his messy edge.

All I wanted to do was run my hands through it, to pull it in passion.

"You look amazing," He breathed out, attempting to loosen his bow tie as his eyes slowly travelled down to my dress. His sharp intake of breath was all the approval I needed to know that my efforts were worth it, that I had successfully made his heart beat as fast as he made my own.

"Thankyou," I smiled softly, walking forward to adjust his now askew tie. "You look quite dashing yourself, James."

"I know," he smirked, flipping up the collar of his suit jacket in mock arrogance, raising his eyebrows playfully.

The clearing of a throat broke me out of our bubble, glancing up at the opposing figure with a deer in the headlights expression.

I felt like I was a child again and had just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

"Hey," Sirius, my date, chuckled; swinging his arm over my shoulder before glaring at the man I had been in deep conversation with only moments before. "James," he nodded, however, the gesture didn't seem all that friendly.

Was there something going on between them?

"Sirius," James greeted just as stiffly, "instead of focusing on keeping everyone else's attention off Lilah, perhaps, and this is just a suggestion, but perhaps your attention should be on her?" he held his hands up in mock surrender as he walked back towards the portrait. "I mean you haven't even mentioned how stunning she looks, especially in red." And with a wink directed at my beet red face, he strutted out of the entrance, on his way to the dance.

Dateless.

I presume.

Well, hope.

How hypocritical.

Sirius neglected to make a comment after that, seething in rage as he guided me to the Great Hall where the ball was being held.

Gone was his innocent puppy-like personality and in its place was a raging, ravaged wolf that would devour anything he set his sight on.

"Sirius?" I questioned nervously, not wanting to anger him further.

"Hm?" He replied, his eyes softening when he saw my apprehensive expression. "Sorry Li," he sighed out, running a hand through the neat curls, "James and I have just been going through a rough patch, is all."

"Oh," I breathed out lamely, glad that I had had no part in it.

Not that I was aware of, anyway.

"Come on," he probed, linking our hands together as he dragged me into the Hall enthusiastically. "Let's have a ball," he winked, laughing at his own joke.

Only his wink didn't make my palms sweat or feel like there was a herd of elephants in my stomach because saying butterflies didn't quite cover the full extent.

Only his wink didn't make my heart fumble and stumble.

Only his wink wasn't someone else's.

That someone else being a mischievous, glasses wearing Marauder.

"That actually kind of hurt," I put my hand over my heart dramatically, this time dragging him towards the dance floor.

Circular tables covered half the room, white, baby blue and black tablecloths adorning them. Old-fashioned candles along with handcrafted wooden seats decorating them.

The enchanted ceiling was converted into a winter wonderland, snowflakes delicately falling in an array.

The live band was enthralling, the wild atmosphere sending the crowd crazy.

It was truly amazing.

Sirius and I danced the night away, often retiring to the table for a light snack and a sip or two of the punch that was no doubt spiked.

Not much had changed considering the fact that I was twenty years or so in the past.

It felt like home.

I was home.

Here – with Remus, Sirius, Marlene and James.

Oh Merlin, did James feel like home. The comforting, warm type that you loved nothing more than to come back to at the end of a weary and tiring day.

"...and I'm not sure if I should just drag you out to the dance floor before I kiss you but I really want to do that last one."

I only heard the end half of his sentence but that was enough for my eyes to widen dramatically, for my heart to speed up considerably.

"Definitely going to go with that last one," he breathed out and before I knew it, his lips were on mine, moving softly against my unmoving ones.

Oh god did I want to kiss him back.

His lips were gentle and light, softly caressing my own rosy pink ones.

He was perfect.

Hell, even his kiss was perfect.

But maybe, just maybe, I didn't want perfect.

I wanted someone to fight with. I wanted someone that would loose his temper in ways that only I could bring out. I wanted something real.

I wanted a passionate kiss, one that steals my breath away. One that is rough yet full of love, lust and desire. I want a fire so intense that it burns when you get too close but you don't really give a shit if you get burnt because the pain is worth it.

Because he was worth it.

And maybe, just maybe, that someone was a certain blue-eyed Potter.

My future husband.

A future I had denied all too long.

A future that I had wanted – no, needed, all along.

I needed James.

I quickly pulled out of the kiss, not liking how my heart twisted in pain and confusion. My hands on his chest pushed him away, desperately seeking space.

"Sirius..." I began, not sure how to explain that I was in love with his best friend.

Love.

Dear Merlin.

He encircled my hands, covering them over his chest in comfort. "It's James, isn't it?"

My silence was the answer to his question as he stepped back, agony and heartbreak cracking his usual cool façade. His eyes shed tears as he stepped forward once more, cupping my left cheek in his large palm, wiping the tear that had unknowingly escaped.

"You're in love with him." His voice broke, already knowing the truth.

I had to tell him the truth; I at least owed him that. "I am," I whispered out shakily, refusing to meet his eye.

"Right, of course. It's always been him." He breathed out. "You should go," he murmured, withdrawing his hand.

My words had words stung, a cold slap in his face.

The truth was never easy.

"He feels the same, y'know? Has basically since you got here. Blabbered on about you for months, never understood why. If only I was still that naïve," he chuckled darkly, stepping back, eyes hardening as he built his walls back up.

I stared at him in despair, tears spilling over and ruining the masterpiece Marlene had taken so long to perfect.

"Why?" I cried out, desperate to know why he was doing this. Why he was helping me when I had done nothing but hurt him in return.

He met my eyes, sadness glistening in the tears that had yet to be shed. "Because sometimes you have to make sacrifices for those that you love."

The implied words were like a punch to the gut, the air leaving me as even more guilt swallows me.

"Iri-" I try, only to be cut off but a weak sob.

"Please just make my best friend happy. Love him like you could never love me. He deserves that. He deserves you."

I slowly nodded, processing his words. "I will, Iri. Merlin do I promise."