A/N: I still don't own Harry… J.K.R. does. –sighs wistfully- Thanks for the reviews and please keep it up. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

James was released from St. Mungo's the following day, having recovered rather well from his wounds. Sirius agreed to take his shift that night in the Auror department; it was forbidden for James to return to work until the next week. "You need to rest," Lily had insisted, her emerald green eyes plagued with worry.

He had argued with her until he looked into her eyes and saw them sparkling with tears. "All right, Lils," he had said quietly, his hazel eyes cast downwards.

Starr was sitting at her small desk in the Auror department, her nose buried deep in a piece of Muggle literature titled Pride and Prejudice. "Can I join you?" a voice asked.

The voice distracted her reading and she looked up, wide-eyed, for the speaker. Sirius. She gently dog-eared the page she was on and shut her book quietly, smiling up at him. "Of course."

He conjured up an extra chair for himself and sat opposite her, his hands resting on the surface of the desk. "Do you remember when we were at Hogwarts?" he asked, a reminiscent look spreading across his face.

"Sirius," she chuckled. "You speak of it like it was decades ago; it was only about two years ago. Of course I remember." Lily, James, Sirius, and Starr had all gone through a rigorous eighteen-month training program to become Aurors. They had received full Auror status only six months before. Amidst all the training and fighting, Sirius and Starr had been unable to plan their wedding; they had now been engaged for nearly a full two years. She glanced down at the diamond ring on her left hand and sighed, "Are we ever going to manage to get married?"

"Of course, Nova," he said smoothly, taking her left hand and pressing a kiss to it. "In time. You know we had none of that while we were training."

She nodded. "But what about now?"

"We'll work on that," he promised. His dark eyes turned somber as he added, "I want it as much as you do, Starr. Do you know how hard it is to have to call you 'Starr Potter' and not 'Starr Black'?"

She smiled at him, her hazel eyes brightening. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

He leaned over to the desk to press a kiss to her lips, and she felt reassured, knowing that they were merely waiting for the right time to get married. But… what if they ran out of time?

ODFFODFFODFFODFFODFFODFF

"Lils?" James called from his room softly. "Can I have some lemonade?"

"Sure," she replied from the kitchen. She fixed his requested beverage and headed down the halls towards his bedroom, humming as she went. He smiled at the sight of her, the corners of his hazel eyes crinkling in a rather James-like fashion. "Here you go." She set the glass down on a small table next to him, pecking his cheek softly. She turned to leave, but the sound of his voice stopped her.

"Lily?"

A smiled played on her lips as she turned to face him. There was a pleading look to his eyes as he flashed her his famous puppy dog eyes. "Yes, James?"

"Can you please stay with me? I want to talk to you," he said, sticking out his lower lip in a pout that she knew all too well.

She sighed, feigning indecision. "I suppose," she grinned at him. She sat on his lap as his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into him. "How are you?"

"The usual," he shrugged. "Being attacked by Death Eaters, having my little sister save my arse… you know, normal, everyday stuff." She knew she shouldn't find his words funny, but a small giggle escaped her lips nonetheless.

Her eyes landed on a picture James had on his nightstand of Starr and Sirius. In the photo, Sirius and Starr alternated between kissing, hugging, and waving and smiling at them. She sighed happily, thinking of their best friends. "Aren't they so adorable together?" she asked as he ran a hand through her fiery red hair.

"Utterly," he agreed. "Though it's bloody indecent when I walk in on them snogging."

She slapped his arm playfully. "James, have you ever thought that maybe if you let them know that you were coming beforehand, that maybe you wouldn't have the image of them shoving their tongues down each other's throats?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment, resting his chin on her shoulder. Then he replied, "No." He glanced at the picture himself. Photo-Sirius winked at him as photo-Starr blew him a kiss. "But I am happy for them."

"Me too," she agreed. "They've been engaged for nearly two years now, though."

"That's what this war does, Lils," he said softly. "It tears families, friends, lovers apart. Violence… it's not true what they say. 'Violence is never the answer.' Violence is the answer- if your question is how to crush spirits and take away lives." Her green eyes met his hazel ones.

"Why are you fighting then?" she whispered softly, turning to face him, straddling him now.

"You," he replied. Her mouth formed a surprised 'o'. "You, Starr, Sirius, Remus, Peter, my mum and dad… I don't want this violence to get to you. Voldemort will never come even close to any of you, if I have anything to do with it."

A strange look came into her green eyes. And then her mouth was on his and her tongue was in his mouth. He reacted instantly, one arm coiling instinctively around her waist, his other hand entangling itself in her hair. His tongue met hers, clashing and needy. Her legs tightened about his waist, her arms looped around his neck. She moaned, arching her back and tilting her head backwards. His hand moved from her waist to his torso as her hands tightened around his neck, eliciting a moan from him. He pulled away for a moment, taking her earlobe gently between his teeth. "Merlin," she moaned softly.

"No," he corrected quietly, planting kisses on the column of her neck. "James." He reattached his lips to hers, gently pulling her bottom lip into his mouth. She gasped, clinging to his neck almost desperately now. She finally pulled away, breathless and swollen lipped. "I love you."

"I love you, too, James," she breathed back heavily, leaning against him dependently. "James?"

"Hmmm?"

"I want to marry you."

ODFFODFFODFFODFFODFFODFFODFFODFF

The door burst open and Starr and Sirius jumped from their chairs to greet their guest. "Professor Dumbledore, sir," Starr gasped. "How may we help you?"

"Good evening, Ms. Potter," he greeted, an urgent look in his eyes. "I believe you are filling in for Mr. Potter, Mr. Black?"

"Yes, sir," Sirius nodded, stepping forward.

"This is of the utmost importance," Dumbledore said gravely. "I need to speak to you two, Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans, Mr. Lupin, and Mr. Pettigrew. Immediately."