LILY

"Do you like it?" Amiri asked, waving his wand to draw back the heavy velvet curtains on the sitting room windows.

Lily spun around in a circle, feeling the carpet under her feet and soaking in the sunlight spilling in through the windows and the thin, lace undercurtains. "Do I like it? I love it!" She giggled and allowed herself to sink down onto the sofa. "Is it truly going to be ours, Amiri?"

"Yes." He grinned. "I'm heir to the Manor house and if you like, we could move in there. It is closer to London and larger, with a couple more house elves on staff, but it does have the inconvenience of my parents…"

Lily was shaking her head at him. "Forget it. I love it here. It's so bright and neat. And it would be ours and only ours. We could re-decorate if we wanted to and the garden is lovely. Certainly it wouldn't be large enough for the wedding but a summer party should fit nicely here." She looked up at him with shinning eyes. "I'm so happy, Ami."

He took her hand and tugged her to her feet. "Lily Potter, you are far too full of enthusiasm." She flicked a strand of red hair that had fallen out of her bun and it bounced off her cheek playfully.

"But that's what you love about me." She pressed her forehead to his as he wrapped his arms around her and laughed. "My dress is being sewn as we speak and father has signed all the dowry documents. He hated the procedure, of course, but he did it. The hard part is over."

"It is?" He raised his eyebrows at her, the expression of teasing incredulity that he so often used to goad her.

"Convincing our parents that we are not mad? Yes, I would say that is the hard part."

"Who said they're convinced." Amiri laughed.

Lily tiptoed and kissed him, winding her fingers through his thick dark hair. "I will be there for dinner on Saturday. Any suggestions?"

He looked her over and winced. Lily looked down at her muggle jeans and blouse and realized instantly what he was going to say.

"For the sake of not goading my parents, wear a dress and robes if possible."

Lily shrugged. "I was going to wear a dress anyway. I can be good, you'll see."

Amiri smirked and pulled her into him, dragging her along as he backed up until his knees hit the sofa and he fell back, Lily landing atop him in his lap. She rested both hands on his shoulders and kissed him. From behind her eyelids she could only see white. The Rosier villa was so bright and peaceful. It had been the family's summer residence but now it would be her and Amiri's home once they were wed. And she loved the place just as much as she loved him.

Her parents turned their noses up at the match. A Rosier, a Slytherin, Grandson of a Death Eater. Lily could remember the constant arguments in the weeks after she and Amiri had made the announcement. The funny thing was that her parents took issue with different aspects of the relationship. Her father took issue with Amiri's family, his mother in particular, but also their past allegiances. Her mother seemed to care more for the fact that the Rosiers insisted on following Pureblood protocol when it came to the marriage itself – arrangements, contracts, dowry. She did not like the mere fact that Lily actually enjoyed all the parties and the pleasantries. They could get tedious at times, especially the ones that she had no interest in, but she saw no need to shy away from tradition, whilst her mother and that entire side of the family had distain for anything and everything that smelled of Pureblood custom. Lily wondered if the Weasleys were just bitter.

Amiri had told her that his parents had concerns of their own. It made no matter, in the end. They were determined to see their relationship work out and if Lily had inherited anything from her parents, it was stubbornness. She would not be so easily coaxed and harassed into their way of thinking. The war was long over and she did not see any reason to live by its arcane dictates. She was in love and she was getting married.

"Are you sure about this?" Amiri asked after a few minutes of kissing her. "About the wedding?"

She looked at him incredulously. "Of course. Why? Are you having second thought?"

"No, no. Of course not." He cupped her face and traced his thumb over her cheek. "You're beautiful."

She giggled and kissed him again, her mind already thinking up all the things she would do with her new home. Lily had to admit that she had a nesting streak and it was showing.

"I still don't understand why Lysander could not be your witness," Ginny said, helping Lily with the bridal veil. "You two are such good friends."

Lily rolled her eyes in frustration. "Yes, Mum, but we've been over this. It is called a "Maid of Honor" for a reason."

"So who will you chose?"

"I've asked Anna. She is Amiri's sister and I've grown very fond of her. We both thought it would be appropriate."

Ginny sniffed and shook her head. "Appropriate. What about what you want?"

"I want it, Mum." Lily turned toward the mirror and regarded herself carefully. The wedding dress was complete, aside from any last-minute tailoring that may be required and it was perhaps the loveliest thing Lily had ever seen. The white light silk flowed over her petticoats to create a full shape that made her waist look smaller than it actually was. The underskirts were of thick, stiff fabric but they were flexible enough to allow the skirt to flow when she turned. The corseted bodice was embroidered with enchanted thread that sparkled and glittered when it caught the sun. The long sleeves were of delicate, near-sheer lace and fanned out around her wrists. The veil was long and nearly touched the ground but she and Amiri had decided that they did not want a veil so long that it would need to be carried behind her. The soft fabric seemed to shimmer in the light. Her red hair contrasted starkly with the pure white, making it seem as though it were on fire. Lily sucked in a breath and smiled. "Well?"

"It's very…traditional."

Lily glared at her mother in the mirror.

"I just don't want you to be hot when you are dancing, especially since the night is bound to be fairly warm."

"Ginny, let the girl enjoy her dress. You look beautiful, darling." Harry leaned against the doorframe and regarded his daughter and wife.

"Thanks, Dad. At least someone can appreciate the effort that went into this."

"I'm sure your brothers will be appreciative as well. Do you remember our wedding, Gin?"

"Yes. We married at the Burrow like Bill had. We had a tent and lots of family and friends, dancing, cake. I wore a very attractive dress, mind you, even if I didn't look like a porcelain doll in it."

"We were happy, Gin. That's what I remember."

Ginny sighed and shook her head. "Of course we were. The dress is lovely, Lily. Really as long as you like it…"

"I love it." She smiled happily. "Where are James and Albus? I want them to see."

"I'll get them." Harry stuck his head out into the waiting room and called for her brothers.

"Gee, Lils," James said smirking as soon as he stepped through the door. "You look a little like one of those dolls in the muggle shops—" Harry smacked the boy lightly upside the head. Ginny gave her husband an I-told-you-so look.

"Well, she does!" James protested.

It seemed that only Albus was fully appreciative of the gown. "It's gorgeous," he mumbled. "It's like you're a princess of something."

Lily was so relived that she stepped from the tailoring platform, went to Albus and hugged him tightly. "Thanks, Al."

"Awwww," James cooed mockingly, but this time everyone just ignored him.

The side door swung open and Madam Reloise sauntered in with her tailoring kit in one hand and her wand at the ready in the other. "Well, does it fit well?" she asked in her commanding, echoing voice. "Come here, child, step back up. I hope I won't have to put too many pins in you."

"Why not just do the whole thing by magic?" James asked, looking honestly confused.

The seamstress tut-ed at him. "That won't do at all. This is very delicate work. At this stage I would not risk magic except for the most complex of cases. The whole thing is much better done by hand, believe me."