Disclaimer: all of the characters belong to the illustrious J.K. Rowling

Second Disclaimer: While I mostly try to stick to canon and what we know about the Marauders Era as closely as possible (with the obvious exception of my relationship pairings), I have purposely altered the timeline by a couple years for the purposes of the story. James and Lily get a few more years to live. You're welcome.

Enjoy :)

But He Didn't Want the Moon

Ch. 1 - The Surprise

"Did you pick up your tuxedo?"

"Yes, just got it this morning," Remus lied. He would just have to do it sometime tomorrow morning before the rehearsal.

"Good...good."

The phone was silent for a few moments.

"...Nervous, are we?" Remus teased.

"What? No. No, it's just…"

"...It's just...?" He waited for James' rebuttal.

"...Yes alright, I'm terrified."

Remus chuckled. Seven years of mischief at school and another five as an auror for the Order, and James Potter was terrified of getting married.

"You know, when you see her walking down the aisle, you won't be afraid anymore."

"Right...about Lily...Remus, I've got to warn you," James started.

"Warn me?" he scoffed. "Warn me about what-" Then Remus had a thought. A panic started over him. "Tomorrow's not the full moon, is it?" He hadn't started taking his potion in time.

"No, of course not. Lilly and I planned around it." Remus sighed in relief. Right, not until the 17th. James has discussed that with him when they picked the date. So if it wasn't the moon...

"It's...erm...well..."

"James, spit it out."

"...Emmeline is going to be there."

The phone fell silent again.

"...Remus?"

"..."

"Remus, did I lose you?"

"No I'm...I'm still here…"

"She's erm, recently come back to London so...Lilyinvitedhertobeabridesmaid." The words tumbled out of his mouth all at once.

"She what?!" Remus exclaimed, reaching for a cigarette in his pocket. "When did she come back to England?!"

"Just within the past couple of weeks, Lily and Marlene have been to see her-"

"And nobody thought to tell me?!" This was mumbled a bit, with the cigarette pressed into the corner of his mouth. He felt around for a lighter in the nightstand drawer, but his trembling hands made this a difficult task.

"I didn't know until recently! She told them not to say anything!"

"Bloody hell, James. This is a lovely wedding surprise," he grunted. Since his fumbling fingers were failing him, he resorted to magic. "Accio lighter," he said under his breath. The small lighter flew out of a drawer in the bathroom and into his hand. He lit the cigarette and inhaled it forcefully, as if he was trying to get the last bit of liquid from the bottom of drink through a straw. He exhaled quickly to take another drag as soon as possible.

"Look, Remus, I want you to enjoy my wedding. You don't have to talk to her if you don't want to."

"Well then I hope you're planning on leaving a large place setting for the inevitable elephant in the room."

"Remus-"

"So I suppose she'll be at the rehearsal tomorrow as well?"

"Yes, she has to be."

"Merlin's Beard…" Another drag of the cigarette. He wasn't prepared to see her tomorrow. Then again, he didn't really think any amount of time could have prepared him. Perhaps James' last-minute warning was an act of mercy, saving him from prolonged anxiety.

"You have to be there you know. You have to show up."

Remus blew out the smoke he had been savoring in his lungs. "...Did you think I wouldn't?" After standing by him for twelve years, even with his condition, there was nothing he wouldn't do for James.

James chuckled on the other line. "No. C'mon, we've been through worse haven't we?"

"I don't know, I'll let you know after tomorrow."

…

Remus apparated into the chapel of the cathedral, just as James had instructed. The noisy arrivals of witches and wizards would be well-masked in this chamber separated from the main sanctuary, as not to alarm any of Lily's muggle family members.

Sirius was waiting for him outside the narthex as he approached. They embraced.

"Bloody hell Remus, you look like you're about to be sick all over your shoes."

"Yeah, nice to see you too, Sirius." He peered past Sirius through the doors at the wedding party inside: James and Lily, James' parents, Alice Longbottom, Marlene McKinnon, and Peter. She hadn't arrived yet.

"...I heard about-"

"I'd rather not talk about it," he said over his shoulder as he approached the church. "Today is about James and Lily, so a re-hashing of my past will be quite unnecessary."

"Right. Noted," Sirius said, catching up to him.

They walked into the sanctuary where preparations were being made for the ceremony. The cathedral was as gothic as they come, with large stone arches and stained glass windows. Lily's late parents had wanted her to get married here, and James happily obliged. He didn't really care where they got married, only that they were getting married at all. Adjacent to the altar, a priest was speaking with the happy couple. Remus noticed that they both looked oddly serene. No more nerves. His observation of the church and the soon-to-be-newlyweds distracted him from the footsteps following several meters behind him.

It was only when Lily turned and beamed at the source of the footsteps that he realized. "Emmeline!" The bride left the priest and James where they stood to run and embrace her friend. Marlene followed suit.

Remus dared not turn around. Eventually the rest of the wedding party approached to greet the woman behind him. James came up alongside him and placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Mate…"

Heaving a sigh, Remus turned around slowly to see her.

Blast.

Emmeline Vance looked exactly the same.

Well, maybe not exactly. Her thick auburn hair was longer, and cascaded down from her scalp in unruly waves. Perhaps her face was slightly more angular too, and had shed some, but not all, of its youthful roundness. She had taken to wearing makeup he noticed, that was new. A sliver of black eyeliner garnished her hazel eyes, and the lipstick she wore accentuated those full lips he was once so familiar with.

This brief observation took less than a second.

Emmeline's smile disappeared when he turned around, and she suddenly became very tense. The rest of the wedding party, sensing the awkwardness of the situation, thought it best to return to their spots at the altar and hastily walked away.

"Hello Remus," she said meekly, with the smallest hint of a smile in the corner of her mouth. He nodded stoically.

"Emmeline."

They stood in silence for a few moments, neither knowing what to say. It was though they had frozen in time.

The spell was broken by the priest. "Shall we begin?"

Emmeline scurried past him, and went up to stand between Marlene and Alice. Remus took a moment to collect himself before going to stand on the groom's side.

The rest of the evening was one big blur. Neither Remus nor Emmeline made eye contact for the remainder of the wedding rehearsal, and they sat at opposite ends of the table for the dinner. Remus was uncharacteristically quiet, but he tried as best he could to smile and appear like he was enjoying himself for James and Lily. God forbid he cause a scene on their perfect day. Across the table, Emmeline was genuinely happy to be with her friends, but took great care not to cast her gaze down by Remus. This day was not about them she assured herself, and they could discuss matters another time.