CHAPTER 2: THE LONGBOTTOM WEDDING
Alice and Frank's wedding was in a beautiful mansion that once belonged to Alice's great grandmother in Somerset. The house sat comfortably atop a hill with a stunning view of the rolling English countryside. It was decorated with heaps upon heaps of white roses and white gossamer ribbons and twinkling lights everywhere which upon closer inspection turned out to be actual real live fairies; it was as pretty as a picture. Alice and Frank had chosen to go with a Muggle dress code for the wedding, to spite Frank's mother, who was a very traditional witch, more than anything.
"Lil, do me a favour?" James whispered into Lily's ear; shivered when she realised how little space there was between them.
"Yeah?" Lily asked, looking him in the eyes, heart thudding. She cursed herself for letting him have this effect over her.
"Stay close to me." He said motioning to the two Aurors wearing stiff Muggle suits stationed at the doors.
"James, I've been in the Muggle world all summer long and I haven't had a clue at all of how bad things have gotten; Aurors at a wedding? What is happening? When I asked Sirius why you boys had to escort us he wouldn't tell me much, it's like he didn't want to scare me or something."
"Ah, Lil," James groaned, running his hand through his hair. "Okay, I'll tell you but only because I want you to be fully prepared if anything does happen today. But not here, let's get a drink and go into the garden where it's quieter."
James grabbed them both glasses of champagne and led her out to the garden which was breathtakingly beautiful. They sat down at a marble bench and James cast the Muffliato spell so they wouldn't be overheard.
"I can feel things are different. Scarier somehow."
"The attacks are worsening, Muggleborns everywhere are being attacked because of their heritage. The Death Eaters are showing no remorse, Muggles are getting slaughtered every day and the Muggle government is in despair on how to deal with it. Voldemort wants a war, Lil. And it seems like he's going to get one." James said grimly.
"War?" Lily asked, astounded that things had gotten this bad. "How can I not know about this, I've been reading the Prophet every day for news and it said nothing about the situation escalating to this level?"
"The Prophet covers everything up, there's talk of Death Eaters having infiltrated the Ministry."
"How did You-Know-Who even gain so much support?"
"Well believe it or not, there's been talk of overthrowing the Muggles and coming out of hiding for years. Blood purity has always been an issue for Pure-Bloods. This kind of thing has been around a long time, it just took one person to stand up and start instilling fear in people for everybody to pay attention. Voldemort –"
"How can you say his name just like that?" Lily cut him off, shocked and a little impressed.
James grinned at how cute she looked, gaping at him and wanted to grab her face in his hands but resisted. "Dumbledore always says, 'fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself'"
"Dumbledore is crazy."
James laughed in his infectious manner, and Lily beamed. She loved how they could go from having such a serious conversation to joking around like nothing had happened. That was the thing about James; he made her feel lighter, like no worry could affect her.
"Will you be honest with me?"
"I could never lie to you."
"You didn't write to me this summer. You write to me every summer, even when I don't reply. Why didn't you write?" Lily finally voiced what had been bugging her over the holiday.
"Miss me?" James said devilishly, raising his eyebrows at her.
"Shut up." Lily rolled her eyes.
"Don't get too freaked out. Me and Sirius were asked to join the Death Eaters, we refused. They haven't been happy with us since. They've kept a close eye on our house, watching and waiting. Mum's massively surprised we haven't been attacked yet. They've been intercepting our mail, and me and Sirius decided not to write to you. We knew you girls were in France over the summer and honestly you were safer there; we didn't want anyone tracing the owls back to you; Lil this is something I've been meaning to speak to you about, you are going to be a massive target."
Lily felt panic rise up in her throat. "What? Oh my God. So while I've been lying out in the sun all day with Tia and Marls, you've been under fucking siege! And I had the audacity to ask why you haven't been writing." Lily said covering her face with her hands.
"Hey, hey," James said wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him. "Don't be silly, I love it when you get all possessive." He said cheekily.
Lily elbowed him, he pulled her closer still.
"This war isn't going to be easy and Lil, you're a Muggleborn. But you're also one of the brightest witches around," Lily's cheeks flushed with colour. "Voldemort will want you."
"Are you worried about me?" Lily asked, smiling in spite of herself.
"Nah, I know you can handle yourself." James said pride evident in his voice.
"Damn right."
James chuckled and pulled Lily up so they were both standing facing each other.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you." James said, suddenly intense, his eyes boring into Lily's his hands wrapped firmly around hers.
Lily's heart was beating frantically as she whispered softly, "I know."
James looked at her with fire in his eyes; she had never looked this beautiful. Her hair was blowing behind her in the breeze, like brilliant eternal flames, and her eyes looked even greener in the sun. All he wanted to do was close the small space between them and press his lips to hers, and just as he was about to step closer, he heard a distant shout from the house,
"Prongs! Snog after, the ceremony is about to start!" Sirius waved them over.
"I..." Lily began, unsure of what she was going to say. Something had definitely just changed between them in that moment, Lily was sure of it. She couldn't fool herself that they were just friends any longer.
"We'll talk later," James twinkled down at her and offered her his arm, which she gratefully took as her legs were feeling quite weak after whatever it was that, had just transpired between them.
The ceremony was long, but beautiful. Frank and Alice both looked radiant, Frank in a tailored Muggle suit and Alice in a long simple white gown which glowed in the sunlight. Lily cheered and applauded along with everyone else as they got to have their first kiss as newlyweds and showered them with confetti as they floated down the aisle, bursting with happiness.
The reception was a joyous affair of great food, flowing drinks and dancing. Lily watched on fondly as Frank twirled Alice around the floor, while she laughed with sheer happiness. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves; James was on the dance floor with Sirius and Marlene, Tia and Remus were busy at the desserts table giggling over who could fit the most amount of mini macaroons into their mouth (Tia won), and Lily was at a table with Amos Diggory and Dorcas Meadowes, who had both graduated three years ago, talking about how much Hogwarts had changed.
"Well, they didn't have girls as beautiful as you in my day at Hogwarts, I'll say that for sure." His speech was slightly slurred since he was steadily working his way through a bottle of Firewhiskey by himself.
Lily peered at Diggory as she sipped from her drink, he was tall and burly with curly blond hair and a strong jaw. Lily supposed that most girls would have found him good looking, but Lily simply found him arrogant and she felt uncomfortable due to his constant gaze.
"Amos, stop slobbering over her, everyone knows that's Potter's girl." Dorcas said rolling her eyes at her friend.
Lily choked on her drink and flushed. This was something she had become accustomed to over the years, that James had some kind of a claim on her – most of Hogwarts' male population knew to stay away from Lily or face the wrath of the Marauders, but hearing it still astounded her sometimes. In the past, Lily would have probably fiercely argued and refused to be referred to as "Potter's Girl", but she now considered how much she didn't mind, in fact she almost revelled in it. Almost as if he knew she was thinking of him she felt a warm hand on the nape of her neck, making her shiver – she looked up into the eyes and immediately felt her stomach swoop. James was looking at her with his charming smile and she couldn't help but grin back.
James took a seat next to her, and under the table his fingers reached out for hers and they intertwined. He fell into easy conversation with Dorcas and Lily regarded him wondering how he could be so calm, while Lily herself was going crazy. She had butterflies in her stomach and her cheeks were flushed and her heart was beating. It was simply his presence that made her feel giddy like this, and she inwardly rolled her eyes and told herself to get a grip – they were just holding hands for Merlin's sake!
"Well before you interrupted Potter, I was actually about to ask your friend here if she would like to join me on the dancefloor, after all a gorgeous young thing like her shouldn't spend all night sat down." Amos said pompously as he straightened his tie and stared hungrily at Lily.
James' demeanour changed almost instantly. His smile dropped off his face, and his eyes hardened. He glared at Diggory so intensely that Lily felt she may have to cast a shield charm between the two.
"Erm thank you for the offer Amos, but I'm alright here thanks."
"Now really I…" Amos began looking affronted, before he was cut off by James.
"She said no." James' tone was biting.
"James. Dance with me. Now." Lily said firmly pulling him up and away from Amos who looked ready to curse James any second, Lily was not about to create a scene at her friend's wedding. She pulled James into the middle of the dance floor, out of sight from Amos.
"Should have let me hex him," James muttered into Lily's hair as they began to dance to a soft slow instrumental.
"He's just being a drunk idiot, not even worth it."
"Lil?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I tell you how absolutely incredible you look today?"
"Thank you," Lily breathed, "you don't look so bad yourself."
Lily could hardly breathe. Since their moment outside in the garden, they had been so caught up in the wedding that they hadn't got the chance to spend any time together, and when James had seen Amos leering over Lily at their table he had decided he couldn't bottle it any longer.
They moved around slowly, Lily's breathing shallow as she took in his heady addictive scent, she really thought she was going crazy, she didn't think she could ever feel so strongly about someone, she especially never thought that person would be James Pratty Potter. He led her around the dance floor and she was scared to look him in the eyes, scared that he would be able to see right through her.
"Lil," James breathed, "I want to speak to you, can we get out of here please?"
She nodded, so he led her out back to the spot in the garden they had occupied previously. It was dark out now, but the garden was entirely lit up by the golden light of the fairies, it was a magnificent sight.
"I hope my wedding is as beautiful as this one." Lily sighed dreamily, unconsciously resting her head on James' shoulder.
"Don't you worry; I'll make sure it is."
"Like you'll be invited!" Lily scoffed.
"I didn't think the groom needed an invitation to his own wedding." Lily laughed at this, and seeing her face light up with happiness made James want to be closer to her, so he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him.
She looked alarmed and said, "James..."
"Lily, let me talk I need you to hear this okay,"
"Okay", she replied in barely more than a whisper, she had never maintained eye contact with him for so long and it was making her lose her breath a little bit.
"I know I was a prat to you for most our time at Hogwarts and for the first few years I probably only lusted after you because you're so goddamn stunning. But these last two years have been different, I see that you're so much more than your looks; you're brilliantly smart, and compassionate and you care so deeply about everyone. And I can't pretend anymore Lil. This is more than just a schoolboy crush or whatever, I'm falling for you Lily Evans."
Lily's heartbeat was in pandemonium as James stared down at her, she was lost for words.
"Go out with me Evans?" James grinned, and that was enough; Lily reached up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his; he responded by kissing her back fervently, one hand around her waist, the other in her hair. Her hands were wrapped around his neck, and they kissed each other like that kiss had been what was missing from their lives until that point. James deepened the kiss with his tongue and Lily gasped into the kiss as it became more intense as, he wrapped himself round her more tightly; they broke apart for a second in which James sat down on the bench and pulled Lily onto his lap; she was now curled around him and they were kissing like they couldn't bear to stop. His lips were soft and inviting and the way his hands were holding her to him was enough to make Lily breathless when she finally pulled away, after what felt like an eternity but also no time at all.
"James, I need to..."
"Shh," James said as he pressed his lips to her neck and she groaned in frustration.
"No James, I need to talk now. Listen to me."
"Okay, I'm listening." James said as he adjusted Lily on his lap so she was sat upright but his hand was still curled around her thigh.
"I... I feel the same James, I really do. But..."
"But?" James said with alarm, snapping out of his lustful thoughts.
"I'm a Muggleborn James! I have Muggle parents, and you said yourself I'm going to be a target in this war. I don't want you to be in even more danger because of me, and I know that blood status doesn't matter to you, but it does to so many other people. And James, you're not just any pure-blood, you're a Potter. You guys are like Wizarding royalty, someone like me is not worthy of being with someone like you." Lily said, looking down to hide how her eyes were tearing up.
A stunned silence occurred for a moment before James broke it by saying in the angriest voice Lily had ever heard him use, "what the hell, Lily! How could you think that?"
"Because it's true! I am only going to bring you down, and I want nothing more than to be with you, but me and you just aren't going to work out."
"Don't do this Lil," James said as they both stood up feet apart and faced each other. James' head was spinning – how had things gone so wrong so quickly?
"I'm sorry James," sobbed Lily, making no attempt to conceal her tears now, which were flowing freely down her face.
James ached to comfort her but he was numb with shock - he couldn't move.
"I wish we could just run away from all this and be together, but this is reality Jamie," James flinched at the use of her old nickname for him.
"I don't give a fuck about reality. I want you and nothing else. I don't care about any of that other shit Lil!"
"But why don't you get it? I do! I care! You will not die trying to save me James Potter!"
"Lily, please..." James called after her, as she ran back towards the house her body racked with sobs. He watched as she entered the house again and disappeared into the crowd, he stood watching, feeling like all the breath had been taken out of him. He had just told her how he felt, she'd confessed to feeling the same and they'd shared the most sensational kiss. And then Lily broke down. He had never seen her that emotionally vulnerable, she was usually so calm and collected. He couldn't get his head around it.
And then suddenly, as if his worst nightmare was playing out in front of him, the house erupted with screams and explosions.
The house where Tia and Marls were.
The house where Alice and Frank were.
The house where Remus and Sirius were.
The house where Lily was.
And all James could do was stand from a distance and watch his body paralysed with shock. Until he didn't even realise what he was doing and began running at breakneck speed toward the house, wand drawn out and ready.