Disclaimer: If I was (the amazing) JKR and owned Harry Potter, why would I be putting a story fanfiction? It would be more like writerfact then.

Author's Note: This is the first story I'm posting. It is part of a series I'm working on which is going to follow Tonks' time at Hogwarts and might extend past that. This is set during her fourth year, and I've messed with the time line, making her mum and aunts much older than their cousins. The Marauders are only 3-4 years older than Tonks here. Also, reviews are excellent. Enjoy:]

"Professor Dumbledore?" asked a sweet, feminine voice from behind the Headmaster's Office door. "Enter," said the elderly man, not entirely sure who was coming to speak with him, but was sure it was a student.

Lily Evans, it turned out to be. The door had swung open and she admitted herself into the room seeming quite confident in her actions. Putting her deep red hair to one side to keep it out of her face, the pale girl walked to the front of the Headmaster's desk where a chair stood as if waiting for her to seat herself. Lily, however, stood straight-backed with her hands folded behind her. "I assume you are not here for a social visit, Miss Evans?"

"No, sir, I have an idea I would like to share with you," she responded calmly. "I have been speaking with other students, from my house, year and others, and many of us seem to think a social event over the winter holiday for the students who stay at Hogwarts would be a pleasant idea." The wise old wizard nodded his head in what could have been either agreement or approval, and the seventeen-year-old pushed on. "The idea the other students and I have thought of is a ball, and I think that the Head Boy and I could organize this will some professors who volunteer." She stopped here, knowing that saying more details to this event would seem too desperate. If there was anything Lily had learned from being the subject of muggle-born prejudices, it was when to stop talking and giving information and when small details were acceptable.

"What were your ideas for this, ball, did you say? Would it be a Holiday Ball?" Dumbledore asked, truly intrigued by this possibility.

Lily racked her brain for all of her prepared information before responding several seconds later. "Well, Professor, a Holiday Ball certainly seems acceptable, because since term ends on the Friday before Christmas, which is on a Monday this year, I thought maybe it would be that Saturday." She stopped for a second; curious as to if Dumbledore would speak.

"I quite agree with your timing. What else are you certain of with your plan?" Dumbledore asked, looking at Lily imploringly, his sky blue eyes probing her mind. Now confident that she wouldn't be asked to leave because her proposition was ludicrous, Lily sat in the chair in front of his desk.

"The prefects from Gryffindor, as well as Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, and the Head Boy agree with me on the point that this event should be formal, as in dress robes for the male students and staff who attend." The Headmaster gave Lily a look that asked on its own what the women and girls would be wearing. "I was thinking, with the other girls, that maybe females in attendance could wear dresses and gowns." She paused to look at Dumbledore and continued with her information. "I've been speaking with students who have parents and grandparents who attended Hogwarts during the time of the last Triwizard Tournament, and they've told me what they've heard about the Yule Ball. We've thought that the time of eight o'clock to midnight was suitable. Aside from those few facts, nothing is definite about the ball. What are your thoughts, Professor?" Lily finished, looking at Albus Dumbledore with a stare that wouldn't have allowed him to decline if he wanted to.

"I think it is a lovely idea, Miss Evans. I will speak about it to the Heads of Houses within the week. You may go now; it is too much of a nice day for October to be spent indoors." He smiled, his eyes slightly twinkling as Lily left the office, closing the door behind her firmly and descending the spiral stairs. Instead of going outside, however, she headed toward the library where her boyfriend and his friends, including a fourth year Hufflepuff, were waiting for her.