Prologue

Fabian Prewett's hair was combed to perfection and Lily saw he proudly wore the checkered bowtie she'd bought him last week in Diagon Alley. Alice stood to Lily's right, ever the loyal Maid of Honor, carrying the bouquet of roses that Lily had been holding when she walked down the aisle only fifteen minutes before. It really was quite the lavish wedding (all things considered) but Fabian had promised and more than delivered. The church was beautiful and Lily's dress was covered in pearls befitting a Queen.

Despite all of this, Lily's eyes still kept flirting to all the doors in the church. She chewed her bottom lip as she took Fabian's hands. She could tell he was nervous too, as he was red around the cheekbones. Lily's white veil was still covering her face, keeping her eyes from giving away the real reason she stood at an altar with the wrong man.

Suddenly, she heard the preacher say, "Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Silence filled the hall.

She closed her eyes; this was his last chance.

Her heart was racing.

Her palms were sweaty and her hands were shaking.

Her wedding dress dug into her ribs making it harder to breathe.

And just when she thought she might pass out from all her pressing anxiety, a burst of cold air blew into the church via the double doors. The frigid winter chill hit Lily's face and she started, her hands ripping away from Fabian like she'd been burned because the man currently stumbling into the church was the reason she was at the altar in the first place.

"James."

There were horrified looks from everyone in the room, especially from Rita Skeeter in the front row with her offending quill. The Prewett's wicked Aunt Martha was covering her mouth in utter disbelief. Whispers broke out and an old woman swooned into her fan. Gideon Prewett grabbed his brother's shoulder as a (supposedly) dead man stood at the opposite end of the aisle with his black hair in messy curls to match the scraggly beard growing on his chin.

Lily could only look at him, despite the crowd, as she was afraid that he might be another daydream.

"Sorry everyone," James joked airily, voice cracking, "Did I miss the vows?"