The Love of a Lifetime
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related belongs first and foremost to JK Rowling and then to her partnerships with Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros., etc.
Summary: Lily found it hard not to stare at the man before her. The love of her life, her best friend since seventh year. The one who had been there through every milestone whether horrifying or gratifying. The one who was willing to promise her forever.
The Love of a Lifetime
She awoke at the crack dawn, when the tip of the sun had just grazed the horizon, sending light rays of calming orange across the sky. For hours she sat in one spot, staring into the mirror and silently cursing the deep, purple bags underneath her eyes. Of all the days to be sporting dark circles it had to be today - the biggest day of her life.
It was hours before some form of life entered her apartment, and by then she had hardly moved though there was definite progress in her fifteen minute shower. Her mother sauntered down the tight-quarters of the sidewalk and knocked quickly on the door. With verification, Lily allowed her entrance and the conversation broke out.
"How do you feel, darling?"
"Fine, Mum." Lily's voice seemed harsh and distant - perhaps from the lack of continual chatter over the last twenty-four hours or so.
"It's finally arrived!" her mother cooed, busying herself with a teakettle on the stove. To save her time, Lily waved her wand at it and it irrupted into life. In return, her mother then pulled the pantry open and took out bread and then to the fridge and pulled out some ham and eggs. Lily lifted her wand to help but got cut off, "Oh dear, don't! Really, now. I ought to cook you a nice small breakfast. After all, a girl only gets one wedding day in her lifetime!"
She knew there was nothing in fighting it, she inherited her stubbornness from her mother and when her mother truly wanted to do something badly enough, she hit a new level of stubbornness that Lily never quite attained. Lily just sat there watching her mother cook her breakfast; something she had customarily done for her, her father and her sister and Lily wondered what kind of meals she'd cook for her family. What kind of food--
"Are you sure you're feeling all right dear?" she asked, turning to look at her daughter with surveying eyes.
"Of course, Mum," Lily responded quietly, her voice soft and feeble.
"It's completely normal to be nervous, you know," her mother said, not turning back to the food but staring more intently at her daughter. "Even when you know your heart is in the right place, dear, it's hard to understand the finality of marriage."
Lily looked up at her, "I get the finality perfectly well, Mum. I have seen death too much to not understand it."
Her mother's eyes took pity. "I know, dear. But you can't speak of marriage as if it were death. Marriage is the beginning of new life, not the ending of it."
She nodded her head, "I know." There was a long pause of silence where her mother turned back to the stove and Lily sighed quietly to herself.
"He's a wonderful man, Lily."
"It's no question of that," Lily said, her lips smiling at the thought of him, at his dark brown hair and tall stature. "He is wonderful. He always has been. But don't you think we're a little young? It seems like everyone else does."
Her mother turned back around, the apparent reason for Lily's anxiety had finally surfaced. "Of course I don't. You're twenty years old Lily and you've been when the boy since you were seventeen. Never once have you separated due to arguments. Especially now, with the war around you, you two fight for the Order and never argue about involvement--"
Lily stopped listening and her mind threw itself in a whirlwind of thought. They had never broken apart due to arguments, but her mother was under false pretense with the lack of arguments. Lily remembered all-too-well the times she begged and pleaded with him about different missions; but with his stubbornness and strong-will, she got nowhere with him. It's not as though she didn't care about him, her heart absolutely adored him. But they were so young, so busy fighting and watching their friends die...
"You'll be fine, Lily dear. He's quite a special man."
Lily nodded, giving her mother a reassuring smile. "I haven't been able to live a day without him for the last three years."
She could hear the music in the next room. It wasn't distant but it felt rooms away. The large, white, oak doors before her swung open and her father guided her through them. Looking down at the end of the aisle she saw him; tall and strong and a smile so clearly plastered on his face. He looked so divine, his dark-hair glistening in the lighted room. All thoughts of insecurities fell short, fell behind the moment she walked over the thresholds. Her heart fluttered inside her chest, much as it used to when she was first dating him.
Her step held mild anticipation as she glided down the aisle, careful not to drag and dirty her blinding-white gown. When she reached the end of the aisle, her father slipped her hand into his, roughed and callused but familiar nonetheless.
As the preacher spoke, giving blessings, Lily found it hard not to stare at the man before her. The love of her life, her best friend since seventh year. The one who had been there through every milestone whether horrifying or gratifying. The one who was willing to promise her forever.
When the time came for vows, he spoke his clearly and meaningfully and she could feel tears prodding her eyes as the ring slipped onto her finger. She cried out in happiness, beginning her own vows of love and lifelong devotion.
"With this ring, I thee wed."
And within a moments time, Sirius Black leaned down to capture her lips in a luscious kiss.
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