You'll Be The Death of Me (Lucian!)

[LILY LUNA -----]

Lysander had broken up with her, not that Lily blamed him at all. He had no reason to stay with her now that she was not Queen. Being dethroned hadn’t been something that she had ever expected. Then again, she had never imagined getting disowned by her own father, either. She had found that her situation had become increasingly more and more difficult to deal with as each day passed. Still, she was a trooper. She stayed at Hogwarts, worked at the café in Hogsmeade that belonged to her father for money, and tried to ignore the family came to her wanting to fix their relationships and offer help. She wasn’t a bloody invalid; she’d survive without having the lush comforts she was used to. Though, losing her source of spending money wasn’t what really bothered her. It was how everyone was treating her. Then again, they also had every right.

People had trashed her stuff, burnt down almost all of her closet, and stole some of her jewelry. They had also been hate-owling her, and she’d gotten more than a few howlers since she had been dethroned. No one was scared of her anymore, now that she wasn’t rich, she wasn’t a Potter, and she wasn’t Queen B. Her former minions had been wreaking havoc on anyone and everyone that messed with them, though some of them had just returned to being everyday Hogwarts students. The few that had stayed together had basically become the Mean Girls, and weren’t intent on listening to anyone, but doing what they wanted for their own sick and twisted pleasures. Lily didn’t have anything to do with them, though. She wasn’t going anywhere near them. Though she did have a sneaking suspicion that they had been the one to trash her room and burn down most of her closet. She didn’t do anything, though. She had left it alone, for once, not really having the means or force to fight back anymore.

The Yule Ball was happening tonight, and she felt like anyone but Cinderella. She had on a black, non-designer dress, black non-designer shoes, and a pair of cheap black and silver earrings that matched her dress. She couldn’t afford anything else. She had her make-up done in soft silver and black, and it looked good, but she doubted anyone would care. She didn’t have a date, she didn’t have anything expensive on, she wasn’t Queen, and she didn’t have any reason to go. She didn’t even know why she was going. She was going just to go. She didn’t want anyone to think that she was being affected by everything that was going on, and so she went. If she didn’t have the job at her father’s café, though, she wouldn’t have been able to go at all. The little money that she was making was what had paid for this outfit. If she hadn’t had that…she wouldn’t have been in the least bit presentable, and so she would’ve had to sit this one out.

She walked up the stairs, holding her dress in slightly clenched fingers. Her black-nail-polished nails gleamed slightly in the light, and she saw that the champion’s dance had already happened, and she had missed it. The Great Hall was already full, and she made a late entrance, looking around from the door, and then stepping in, moving seamlessly into the crowd, blending in rather well. No one looked up from their dates, and no one had made a scene, and for that, she was kind-of glad. She walked over to the punch, which she knew was just firewhiskey disguised as punch, and took a cup. She needed to calm her nerves. She saw Lysander out of the corner of her eye, but didn’t make any move to walk over or anything. Neither did he. Lily took a dainty sip of the punch, and stood by the table, not making any move to head into the crowd or dance. She didn’t feel like it. Not yet. She hadn’t a smile on her face, but a slightly blank expression, not knowing what to expect from this night. She took another sip, and hoped that maybe Kara or Scorpius would make their way over if they saw her, if they had arrived yet. Anyone else that she was on sort-of good terms with at the moment would be good, too. Anyone. She didn’t really care at this point.

Lily had finished her punch, and had just walked onto the dance floor and started to sway along to the music when she felt someone come up behind her. She wasn't quick enough to turn around and she heard a ripping sound, and looked down to see that there was a long, wide tear down the side of her dress. About five girls smirked at her, and she recognized them as former minions of her, now the ones wreaking havoc on the school. "What are you going to do now, Queen B.? Oh wait, you're not Queen anymore." One of them said, and they all laughed fakely and turned their backs, falling together and walking away in step, parting the crowd without even touching a single person. The crowd fell back into their mass, and some people laughed as Lily got off the dance floor and went over to a deserted corner of the Great Hall. She pulled out her wand, and used it as she held the torn parts of the dress together, trying to fix them. She couldn't remember the spell, though, and the tears that had sprung to her eyes stayed there, blurring her eyes slightly. Apparently, the night that had started off neutral had already taken a turn for the worst.

outfit - meep. click it.

[LUCIAN CHARLES AVERY]

Lucian didn't really want to go to the ball without a date, he had lost Lily, the love of his present life. Lost all hope and connection to stay friends with Scorpius and Alex, but as for Kara, they would always have that understanding, even in hate. It was sad that they couldn't ever truly hate one another, because they had been each others first love. Well after the fact that Scorpius, and Alex had both come after him and not only beat the crap out of him, but they had both come seperately. It didn't hurt near as bad as what Kara had done. Why she had to protect Lily, when it was none of her darn business what was and had been wrong in his and Lily's relationship. He couldn't think of it at all, not anymore without becoming all riled up.

Eariler in the week, he had made a trip into Paris, wanting to see Kara's store. It was a nice business she had going and he loved all the dresses she had made, he liked how her sketches were up along the walls framed in glass while the finished product was out on the floor. One wouldn't normally pay any mind to the gossip that was around school but Lily had been kicked off her throne because she had been disowned by her father? that wasn't the best news, he felt so sorry for her, but being who she was... well he was sure that she had been a good little potter at one point. Then Kara and he met her and got involved into her life, but her actions were her own. She had grown into... well she hadn't really grown into a queen yet, but she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman and he was so very sorry for ruining the young girl she had become, she didn't sparkle like she used to.

Lucian had found a dress that he addored, and it went well with the shoes, necklace and earings he had bought. Thinking their might be trouble for the young queen, he didn't know who was ruling the school, but if anyone could get it straightened out and in order once again, it would be Kara. Lily would have to ask for her help, it was truly sad that she wouldn't be in classes with the rest of the seventh years. He had walked into the Great Hall, wearing one of his many formal outfits, this being a black and white tux. Only having to arrive to see Lily running and crying to a deserted corner of the room. He quickly made his way to that part of the Hall and waited for an explanation as to what went on here. Seeing her torn dress, it not being designer, nor anything she had been wearing was designer at that. He knew he had to fix it. "my dear, i'm not here to harm you.... all i want to do is help your current situation" He had honestly hoped that she had gotten passed the whole him and Kara thing.

Lil's New Dress

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[LILY LUNA -----]

Tears stained Lily's cheeks, and she was so glad that she had worn water-proof make-up. Things can't get any worse, she thought to herself with a slight shake of her head. She knew that she hadn't been too happy coming at all, since she had no one to come with, but she had never pictured a wardrobe malfunction in her future, especially because some of her former minions were behind it. Lily knew that they were vicious, but she had never thought that public sabotage was their forte. It had been hers', but not like this. She wouldn't have ever ruined someone's dress like this, especially when she had worked so hard to earn the money to buy it herself. She heard someone coming up behind her, and when she looked up, even though her sight was slightly blurred, she could recognize that figure. Lucian Avery. She blinked hard a few times, and stared at him.

The words that came out next almost made her start to cry harder. He wasn't here to harm her? Hadn't he done enough to her? She wondered how he would help the situation. It wasn't like he could give her another dress. He either new the spell to fix it, or she was screwed and he was trying to comfort her for some odd reason. He had said he didn't love her, so why was he going back on his word now? It didn't make any sense to Lily, but she didn't say anything to push him away. It wasn't like she had the luxury of a million fearful admirers anymore. All she had was her family, Kara, and Scorpius. Those were the only people she could depend on. She doubted she could actually depend on Luc, but even looking at him now, she could feel her heart beating painfully against her chest. She still loved him. She truly did. And she didn't think that feeling would ever truly go away.

"What are you going to do, Chuck? Why would you even want to help me? It's not like you ...love, me." Her beath hitched miserably on the word love, and she couldn't hide the hurt in her eyes, no matter how hard she tried. There was also a little bit of love and anger in there, too. Her eyes were the key to her soul, he had once said. It was a very true statement. If you looked into Lily's eyes, chances were that you'd be able to tell how she was feeling. She continued to stare at him, holding her dress together, and feeling so insignificant, for some reason. Here he was, dressed in a suit that held the air of the "I'm Lucian Avery" statement, and here she was, holding a ripped, inexpensive dress with inexpensive shoes and inexpensive earrings on. She looked awful compared to him, and it made her feel like crying again. She held back her tears, though, and waited for her answers.

[LUCIAN CHARLES AVERY]

Those words hurt him like a thousand needles stabbed into his heart. Of course he deserved it but... but nothing, he deserved everything that had come to him and that was coming to him. "i'm just trying to help so you don't look like your so humilliated, not being top dog hurts" He sighed, she couldn't stop crying he supposed, he didn't really think that he should comfort her, because they'd probably start a scene. Why was this trying to change business always so hard.

He conjured a few boxes and held them out to her. "it's your choice, i just thought you might like something that suited you more... because the garbage that your wearing doesn't even compare to the Lily Potter i used to know, you can still be her even without the title... you should really see your best friend about it, she has a wonderful store and i'm sure she'd gladly give you the work" He started to turn away but before he did he choked out "but thats where your wrong Lily, I did love you.... i just didn't think i could change back then, but i am trying and it's all thanks to you" He had nothing else to say, and he didn't really want to watch her change. So he went to the other side of the curtan and waited until she was changed.

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[LILY LUNA -----]

How would he know that not being top dog hurt? She didn't ask, though. She couldn't manage to. She was stuck, and she knew that she was going to end up accepting his help, even though she didn't to. Well, half of her didn't. The other half of her wanted to. She didn't want to be humiliated even more than she was, though. She listened to him speak, and she felt warm all over. He still...she didn't get it. When he said that he 'did' love her, in the past tense, she felt a little sick, but she couldn't help but take the good with the bad. He was trying to make her feel better, obviously, and it was working. All of a sudden, she had boxes and a curtain was surrounding her, leaving her to change.

The dress was beautiful, and Lily gasped softly. It had been, what, a month? It had been a month since she had touched something as expensive as this dress. She put on the dress, and out came the shoes. They were the designer she had been used to, a month ago. The quality of the shoes felt so familiar in her hands, yet slightly alien. She didn't listen to the voices in her head that were telling her to take it all off. That was just her pride talking. She was more like the old her when she was around Lucian, it seemed. The jewlery was beautiful, and made her smile as she adorned her neck and ears with it. The curtain vanished, and Lily stepped one foot forward. "How do I look?" She asked softly.

[KARA ANITA JOHNSON]

Lucian would know everything about loosing his top dog status because the moment Kara had let him go was the day he lost everything. He loved lily in a different way than he had loved Kara. Lily was at first a replacement, him trying to fill a void, but then things began to change in him and he like Kara was given a second chance to fall in love and try and become better than the path that had been laid out for him by his family. Truth be told he had admired Lily’s drive to be different from her family, but as naive as she was... well she could learn a lot from him. The problem was he wasn’t sure if he could ever win her back after breaking her heart. Because that’s who he was, a heart breaker.

When Lily spoke up asking if she had looked good, Luc had come back to reality and set his eyes on her. She looked ravishing, more beautiful than ever. It was a wonder how he had ever let this little gem go. “You look breathtaking.” He said nearly breathless. This girl, no, this young woman had stolen his heart all over again and he wasn’t sure that he could contain himself. Lucian’s body was on fire, and you could tell as his groin had grown and was trying to explode from his pants. “Would you like to have this dance?” Luc asked formally, bowing and holding out his hand. He wasn’t sure if Lily would accept, but he was just trying to be a gentleman for once without an agenda behind it.