Now I know what you're thinking readers, "But ninjanervana, don't you have to update your Christmas Secrets story?" The answer to that is yes, yes I do. And I will, I promise, probably in the next day or two. Buuuuuut I had this great idea for a story and who am I to withhold Lily/James fanfics from the fandom? That would be monstrous. And so I bring to you yet another James/Lily story. It'll be a multi-chapter story (probably three or four chapters). It takes place during Sixth year with Lily and the Marauders before friends, but James and Lily aren't dating...for now. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! Be sure to check out my other stories, Saturday Morning and Christmas Secret (which I promise I will update soon.)

-ninjanervana

Lily groaned as she finished reading Petunia's letter, pushing it aside before closing her eyes and resting her forehead on the common room coffee table. A dull pain pulsed in the center of her forehead, the precursor to an impending headache. She knew when her mother announced that Petunia was engaged that the wedding would be a big to-do, but after the countless wedding related letters from her mother and a occasionally snarky one from her sister, Lily began to wonder why Petunia and Vernon didn't just elope. Petunia had gotten engaged to her whale of a boyfriend at the start of term and decided to have the wedding during Easter holiday, at her mother's strong suggestion so Lily could be there.

At this point she wasn't even sure she wanted to go to the wedding. Petunia had made her a bridesmaid at her mother's insistence−she had been sure to send Lily a letter to tell her she didn't want her to be in the bridal party but their parents had thrown a fit when she had told them and if she did anything freaky, she would make Lily wish she had never been born−but she hadn't been involved with any of the wedding planning. Not that Lily had been surprised by it; ever since Lily had found out she was a witch, Petunia had been distant and cold with her, barely tolerating her presence. But it was still hard to hear from her mother about the wedding plans, about wedding dress shopping, cake selection, visits to the church and hall, wedding colors. All the things that they had dreamed about doing together when they were little girls playing in the front garden of their parents' house, before everything had changed between them. Petunia hadn't asked for Lily's thoughts on any aspect and it hurt her more than she was willing to admit. The first letters her mother had sent to her about the wedding had brought her to tears, especially with her mother's assurances that Petunia had just forgotten to ask for Lily's advice or opinions. Now the letters just caused a dull ache in the center of her chest, a pain she couldn't seem to rub out.

"When I get married, I'm going to elope," she muttered to herself.

"Oye, don't I get an invite?" asked a voice beside her.

Lily smiled slightly as she opened her eyes, meeting the familiar face of her former enemy but now good friend, James Potter. His trademark smirk was in place as he looked down at her, waiting for her playful retort. And where James Potter was, she knew the remaining Marauders, also her surprisingly good friends, wouldn't be too far behind.

"I want to know who the bloke is," Sirius laughed from behind her. "What bloke has our Lilypad's heart and how did we not notice? We can be thick sometimes, but we're not stupid."

She looked around, spotting the remaining Marauders on the couch beside her. She hadn't noticed them all come in while she had been dwelling on her wedding thoughts, but she was glad for their company. If anyone could lift you out of a bad mood, it was the Marauders. Lily rolled her eyes playfully at Sirius's comment, "I'll send you all an owl after the ceremony. You can come for the reception."

"That's the best part anyway; that's where the food is," Peter answered with a grin. "We'll be there for it."

"But I'm not getting married anytime soon," Lily said. "My sister is."

"The one you don't get on with, right?" Remus asked curiously.

She nodded, turning to face the couch; her back leaned against the coffee table. "She got engaged at the start of term and she's getting married in two weeks and I'm absolutely dreading it. It's going to be awful."

James settled beside her, his shoulder pressed against hers lightly. The touch was comforting, reminding her that she wasn't as alone as she felt. "I thought all girls liked weddings?"

"Oh I like them just fine, but they're better when the bride doesn't hate you and actually wants you to be there," Lily sighed dejectedly, running her hand through her red hair. "I just know it's going to be a long, awkward day of Petunia harping over details, having to deal with distant family constantly pestering me about when I'm going to get settled down, and just being stuck alone since the rest of the bridal party is Vernon's family."

"Just say you can't make it then. Tell them you're too bogged down by prefect duties and schoolwork. Sixth year is very important," Sirius answered, his tone mockingly serious.

Lily shook her head before he finished speaking. "Already thought of that but I can't. My mum fought Petunia to put me in the bridal party; if I skip out, I'll have to listen to Petunia complain for the rest of my life about how her freak of a sister ruined her wedding plans," she answered. "I'll just have to suck it up and deal with it. It's just one day, right?"

"You're not a freak; that's rubbish," Peter replied. "Don't listen to her."

"The Marauders can always make an appearance if you want," James offered. "I've never been to a muggle wedding before."

Lily laughed, bumping his shoulder gently. The thought of this rambunctious group of boys crashing her prim and proper sister's wedding almost had her agreeing. Almost. "I'll think about the offer, alright? But thank you."

Remus smiled at her, "You know we have your back, Lily."

She returned his smile, looking around at the group of boys. Years ago she couldn't stand them and their constant pranks, their constant disregard for rules, but now they were closer to her than many of her friends she made in first year. She knew if she called for them, they would show up at the wedding in minutes and that made her love them even more. "Yes, yes I know," she said happily. "Now tell me what mischief you lot have been up to. You've been gone for hours."

At her prompting, the boys launched into their tale of the night's events, easily pushing aside Lily's worries about the wedding for the moment.

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