A/N: By far my longest chapter to date (about 11 or 12 pages in Word). I considered splitting it up, but I didn't really favor the idea of having two consecutive chapters for Lily. I think it would throw me off course a bit.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and unfortunately, I never will.

Thanks to all of you who reviewed Chapter 2, many hugs and kisses to all of you!

And without further ado…

EXCEPTION TO THE RULE
Chapter 3: My All

Lily's POV

November 6, 1976
Saturday

"My parents don't wear their wedding bands anymore."

I observe my sister and her now husband Vernon Dursley (his hefty physique is the total opposite of lanky Petunia) as they slow dance to the music.

My voice catches my childhood friend, Samantha Wilkins, by surprise as she sits in the fold-out metal chair beside me. Our friendship stemmed from being next-door neighbors and eventually classmates.

Unfortunately, when I got my letter from Hogwarts that fateful day in July six years ago, our friendship was put to the ultimate test. Though many miles of concrete road and rolling hills have kept us separate, we still manage to keep up with one another's lives.

And of course, she knows I'm a witch. She's the only muggle (outside of my family) that knows my little secret. I've also given her the full details on my relationship with James. She knows I love him, but I don't think she realizes how strongly.

"What are you talking about, Lil?" Her bright brown eyes are wide with confusion. She's pondering my previous announcement as she watches me shuffle restlessly in my chair.

"They don't wear their rings, "I repeat, averting my eyes from hers, "Does that mean their love is fading?"

Samantha's brow furrowed and she looked across the dance floor towards my parents who were passing jokes with a family friend.

"No, I don't think so. Rings are just a public symbol of love and dedication and blah, blah, blah. They don't come near to representing all of it. They were in love before they got married and they didn't have rings then. I think it's more of a state of comfort with each other. They don't have to wear the bands to show that they're in love." She cleverly points out and her suspicious eyes do an inspection of my face.

"That's exactly what I think," I respond in confirmation. I'm well aware that she is more confused now than ever before, but all of this was said more for myself than as a question for her. She just chose to answer it.

"Lily, what's going on? Are your parents talking about a divorce?"

"Oh God no," I cut in, "It's just…it's not all about the material things, right? It's about what you feel in here." My hand hovers just above my heart.

Her expression is clueless and I can't contain my laughter; she's looking at me like I've grown a second head.

"Don't mind me, Sam. I just have a lot of thoughts running around up here and I'm trying to make sense of it all."

She's been around me long enough to know that it's no use pursuing the topic any further, so she shakes her head and watches the crowd on the dance floor.

"So where's this James you brag so much about, anyway? Shouldn't he be here for an occasion such as this? By the way you talk about him and that pretty little ring on your hand, he'll probably be apart of your family soon anyway."

I know I'm blushing furiously, a curse that comes with being a natural born redhead. Upon seeing my face turn the shade of a well-ripened tomato, Samantha's thunderous laugh earns us a couple of glares from my great-aunts Peggy and Ethel.

"Did you honestly think putting the ring on the other hand would keep it a secret, especially from me? And here I was thinking you knew me so well…" She drawled and I rolled my eyes.

"He's not here because he's the Head Boy. Someone has to be in charge of the Prefect meeting this weekend and it wouldn't do for both of us to be absent. And I'm not really trying to hide it. I'm not sure if mum and dad are ready to see it on that finger just yet. His parents are surprisingly fine with it, but mine…well, they've only met James about four times and I don't think they believe we're that serious. I really want to break it to them when I know they really understand that this is not some passing thing."

I look down at the small ring on my right hand. As my fingers start to rotate it, my mind drifts back to the day he slipped it on.

With my luggage in tow, I use all of my strength to pull myself onto the Hogwarts Express for my final year at the school, the place I've called home for the past six years of my life.

As soon as I find an empty compartment, strong arms snake around my hips my shoulder supports a head.

"Do you know what today is?"

I twist to face my captor and find myself looking into the James' warm hazel eyes.

"Well, it's September 1st, if that's what you mean." I say, noticeably bemused.

He only laughs softly as he takes my hand and leads me further into the compartment. My hands are still folded with his as we sit close together by the window.

"Today's our anniversary."

I'm definitely lost now.

"Baby, our anniversary isn't until November."

"I didn't say it was the official anniversary, just an anniversary."

I'm trying to recall the significance of the day. James only stares at me, his eyes shining like diamonds and a half-grin spreading across hi handsome face.

"I can't think of it. So…what'll it be?"

His warm hands grasp mine and his eyes lock on our joined hands.

"Six years ago today, my world was changed. I just didn't know how much."

He lifts his head and stares straight into my eyes. I see my reflection along with something else…love.

"It was on this very day, on this same old train, that I met a little redheaded girl who would play such an important role in my life. Lily, today is the anniversary of the day I met you."

Tears threaten to fall as his thumb rubs over the top of my left hand.

"I didn't recognize the feeling then. I was an immature little bugger, that's for sure," we both laughed, mine through tears, "But I recognize it now. Since that day, I've loved you. I love everything about you. All of your crazy quirks, your temper, your beauty your ability to put others before you…those things make you who you are. You've become a permanent fixture in my life and in my heart."

He removes his hand, much to my disappointment, and reaches into the pocket of his robes.

"Even when you told me time after time that I was the last person you would ever date, I still loved you. Even when we became friends and you told me that was all you were ready for, I loved you. And now that we're together, I love you more than ever. That's why I bought these."

When he withdraws his hand from his pocket, I see a maroon box in his palm. He opens it, uncovering two silver rings with jewels surrounding their exteriors. He removes the smaller ring, lifts my right hand, and glides it smoothly onto my ring finger. I follow his lead and take the residual ring from the box and slip it onto his.

He inhales deeply and takes a quick look at me with his glazed eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the shadows of about four people fall across the compartment door and I hear the handle turn.

James is also aware of this and lowers his voice.

"I know it's not much but it's the best I can do for now. One day, I'm going to move this ring to your other hand." He manages to get the words out in time as Sirius, Marlene, Remus, and Peter enter the compartment. James' pulls me to him to allow Remus to sit down. And for the whole ride I'm lost in a swirl of a brown, gold, and green, but I can feel someone else staring at me; someone whose eyes do not possess the tenderness of James'.

Sirius.

"Lily. Lily? Earth to Lily!"

Samantha's aggravated tone of voice draws me from my trance. "Hmm…what?"

"Where'd you go? I felt like I was talking to a wall or something."

I don't reply but glance down at my bridesmaids' gown to hide the heat growing in my cheeks.

"I was asking you when you had to go back to school. I'd love to do something before you left, for old time's sake. I miss you so much Lil, it's not even funny. Do you know how hard it is to look out my bedroom window to see your blinds closed and curtains pulled? I miss our late night window-sill conversations."

"I know. I miss those. I miss you. Sometimes, for reasons like this, I wish my school wasn't so far away. Other times, like when Petunia visits, I'm thankful that it's in another country. I miss out on so much, though. I feel like while I'm gaining a life in this new world, I'm suffocating my old one consequently. But yes, we will definitely have to do something before I leave, which is tomorrow." I say as I look down at my ring once again.

Maybe tonight I would be reunited with the old Lily again, the Lily who was progressively dying with each cast of a spell and the brewing of a potion.

Maybe tonight I could forget about the vicious blood wars of the magical world and just be a young muggle girl again.

November 7, 1976
Sunday Evening: Return to Hogwarts

Last night was one of the few occasions in recent years when I felt alone.

Alone in a world that I once belonged to.

I watched the people I had grown up with since birth and I realized how much I'd truly missed. I didn't recognize these young adults branded with familiar names.

Roselyn McDaniel—the tomboy who detested the sight of boys—was wearing mini skirts and tons of make up, painting her nails every night, and flirting with every boy within viewing range.

Richard Olsten—the scrawny boy with tape overlapping the bridge of his glasses and a book constantly under his nose—was so very handsome, his immaculate specs framing his face perfectly. On his arm was a busty blonde that was unbelievably gorgeous. She made every other girl (including myself) wilt like flowers in her presence. Who knew 'Little Ricky' would grow up to be a ladies man?

And Darren Bowen—my childhood crush—was no longer the cute, innocent little boy that I'd adored. He was good-looking in the rugged sense with his shaggy brown hair falling into his eyes (reminding me of one Sirius Black) and piercing blue eyes. I learned that he'd had many rows with the law His demeanor was cold and he had developed the nasty habit of smoking pot.

It was never until I saw all of these people from my past, listened to them chat mindlessly about which football team was better and who was dating who, that it really hit me. The muggle world is no longer my habitat. Time changes all things in both positive and negative ways. And even though my trip home made me understand that concept in a poignant way, I think it was good for me.

But now I'm back within the safe boundaries of Hogwarts, the place that turned my 'normal' life upside down. Although I do not always feel welcomed here because of the bloodline bigotry, it is my home.

Home is where the heart is and my heart is somewhere on these magical grounds right now.

I've missed him so much. I never thought I'd be the type of girl that couldn't be without their boyfriend's affection for one day. As it turns out, I am, and the agony of a single day spent without his presence is nothing compared to two.

And now that I'm back and unpacked, I'm sitting in the empty Gryffindor common room where I've been for the past thirty minutes, sorting through my thoughts and fears.

Tonight, I will make up for the time I lost with James.

Alone.

Just the two of us.

No Sirius. No Remus. No Peter. No Marlene.

Just us.

And as I let that thought soak in, I can feel myself quivering at the thought.

Taking a brief peek at my watch, I see that it's already six o'clock. James is somewhere around here and a chill runs its course down my spine at the thought. In my last owl to him, I didn't specify what time I would be in so it would be a surprise.

Out of the blue, a cold hand clutches my shoulder and I jump nearly a foot out of my chair before I turn around to face the perpetrator.

One very disheveled Sirius Black.

"Hey, glad to see you're back. Did the wedding go smoothly?" He asks as he pulls up a chair next to mine.

"Uh, yeah, considering whom it was that got married. Have you seen James?"

Sirius' gray eyes bore into mine and I suddenly felt very self-conscious. Aside from James, Sirius is my best guy friend, my older brother with a reckless streak. I used to think of him as nothing more than a foolish troublemaker and the aloof heartbreaker of Hogwarts. But when I gave James a chance, it was only fair that I gave his best friend one as well. Since then, we've developed a bond and I know I can depend on him for anything.

If someone had told me two years ago that I would be madly in love with James Potter and referring to his best friend as a sibling, I would've told them to check into St. Mungo's. It's odd how life works sometimes.

As soon as his eyes are done probing my face for clues he asks, "Yeah, he's down at the quidditch pitch doing a few extra laps. My guess is he's trying to take his mind off your absence. Said he'd be down there until seven or a little after. Why? Something wrong?" with a genuinely concerned expression. How could I not smile?

"No, nothing's wrong. Quite the reverse, really."

He mutters 'okay', but I can tell he's not buying into my words for a single minute. He's always had a skill for uncovering the truth in people, no matter how cool the façade.

"How's Marlene?"

Upon seeing his face grow dim, I instantly regret bringing up that subject matter as a conversation starter.

"I really haven't talked to her, actually. She's made it clear that she wants nothing to do with me. Things are still pretty tense between us. It's been pretty much the same since you left Friday, no progress."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, I didn't know. James never mentioned anything about it in his letters. Is there anything you want me to do or say?"

A few minutes of silence pass between us as I watch him deliberately dodge my stare. After what feels like an eternity, he averts his eyes to mine and gives me a half-hearted smile.

"No, it'll be all right. What's meant to happen will happen. Besides, your mind is already preoccupied with something. Penny for your thoughts?"

I give out a small, timid chuckle and stand up to walk over to the window. He knows me far too well for my own good.

"It's strange having a conversation like this with you, but I have my gut feeling is telling me you're the right person to discuss this with."

My back is to him, but I can tell he's eyeing me attentively. Inhaling as much air as my lungs can hold, I prepare myself for the words that I'm about to say next as I turn and my eyes meet his.

"I think I'm ready to give myself to James."

A range of emotions passes over his face.

Surprise, happiness, and…sadness?

Without saying a word, he nods his head.

"I've been thinking about this for awhile now. We've only been dating for about a year now, but I know this is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I've thought this through and…I think it's time. It just feels right."

Those concerned gray eyes are still trained on my face.

"This is such a big step for you. It's irreversible and when it's done, it's done. Are you sure, without a doubt, that you're ready?"

"I am, Si."

"So, where are these nerves coming from? I get that it will be your first time, but you know he would never—"

"Of course I know, don't be ridiculous," he chuckles, still looking at me, "It's just…what if I-I don't, you know, match his expectations? I'm a virgin, I don't exactly have experience in this area whereas he…"

I hear him move from the chair and walk towards me, taking my hand and rubbing it soothingly with his own.

"Lillian, listen carefully. I happen to know that it won't matter how 'bad' you think you are at anything, James only sees you as perfect. What you two have is something stronger than any of those flings in his past. I know that and you should too, by now. He loves you, he tells me every day. He will love you all the same."

He pulls me into his warm embrace and I murmur, "Thanks so much, Si. I love you. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah," he begins as he walks toward the portrait hole, "You're the only one right now."

I follow him to the exit and watch as he steps out, holding the edge of the portrait so we can still talk.

"So, tonight?" I give him a shy smile and nod.

"I expect he'll be on cloud nine tomorrow and glued to your side. But really, don't worry about a thing, Lil. It will go fine."

He looks at me one last time before he turns to walk down the corridor. All at once, I am bombarded with inspiration.

"Sirius…can you do me a couple of favors?"

If my idea works out as planned, tonight will be one that neither James nor I will ever forget.

An hour later, I was under the willow tree by the lake with James' two-way mirror clutched in one hand and a narrow strip of fabric in the other. I was shivering from the chilly November wind and I'm almost certain that I will die of pneumonia before he even began the search.

Just to make sure everything was going to plan, I requested that Sirius follow James underneath the invisibility cloak and carry the other mirror so I could see what was going on. Sure enough, I could see James' figure approaching the changing room.

My eager eyes followed every inch him as he walked in, tossed his gear aside and removed the shirt drenched in sweat. The rays of the setting sun stream over his glistening abs and biceps, making him look ethereal with every move he made.

It isn't until he steps out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist, that he notices something lying on the bench beside his fresh stack of clothes. He lifts the red rose first and then the card, beaming when he notices that it's in my lettering.

What was the first song we ever danced to?

His attention then shifted to the envelopes, reading each one and pausing to think.

"Something In The Way She Moves" or "Wonderful Tonight"?

He picks up the 'Something In The Way She Moves' envelope and the corners of my mouth stretch into a grin, even more so when I see him murmuring the words to himself as he reads.

'Something in the way you move,
That looks my way and calls my name…

Want to find me? Go to the kitchens.'

It takes him a couple of minutes, but when he and an undercover Sirius enter the kitchens, he scans the room for the next clue. A tiny house elf approaches him bearing exactly what he's looking for.

"Mr. Potter, sir? Ms. Evans asked Minnie to give these to you, sir."

A frail brown hand extends to give him the small bundle and he gratefully accepted, bowing to the dumpy elf. She scurried off to another room, ears bright red and eyes wide with embarrassment. Merlin, the guy can even charm house elves.

'Where did we go on our first real date outside of the school?

Mordecai'sor La Notte Stellata?'

A giggle leaks from my mouth as he selects 'La Notte Stellata'.

It certainly was a starry night…

You're getting closer!

Go to the Head Dorms.

His long legs jog the entire way and I thank Merlin that Sirius is equally athletic. When he reaches the portrait and jumps through, the invisibility cloak covering Sirius gets stuck. Luckily, through his excitement, James never takes notice of Sirius yanking the cloak through the door. Instead, he eagerly raises the card that was placed on our coffee table.

Do you remember where you first told me you loved me?

You'll find me there.

As soon as he reads the card, it transfigures into a branch from the willow tree I'm currently underneath. It takes him no time to recognize it and a grin glides over his perfect lips. He makes his way out of the dorm and races down the moving staircases, through the Great Hall, and approaches the large double doors.

I glance at the mirror in my hand and give Sirius a 'thank you' to let him know his work was done. He just sends me a weak smile and his handsome face disappears from the cool surface, my own foggy reflection taking its place. I can see the James' fit outline headed for me in the distance.

"Lil," he says, now just a few meager steps in front of me, his questioning eyes looking down at the blindfold in my hands.

Without a sound, I walk over to him, tie the blindfold around him snugly, and grab his calloused hand with my silky-smooth one. Together, we walk back into the castle and I lead him to the seventh floor, past the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, and we're standing before what appears to be just a stonewall.

"Now, can you answer my question?" I whisper my question into his ear, feeling him quiver under my fingertips as my breath makes contact with his bare flesh.

"Where I first told you that I loved you?" he asks as he turns around and pulls me to him, blindfolded still in place, "It was the night you came back from your grandmother's funeral. You were wearing a black dress, your make up was smudged from all of the tears, and you couldn't stop crying because of the awful way Petunia had treated you that day." I smile to myself as he recited the events of that night, his hand inching up and down my spine.

"It was late in the evening, much like it is now, and we went for a walk down by the Black lake. We were the only two out on the grounds that night. While we were sitting underneath this tree, you told me it felt like we were the only two people that existed in the world."

His hand covers mine like a blanket and I press my lips to his for a sweet kiss.

"I can't even begin to describe how beautiful you looked that night. The moonlight made you glow like a goddess. There was something so serene about all of it; the way we clung to each other under the branches of the tree, the moon and stars provided our only light, and the lake was so still that it mirrored the sky perfectly. Somehow, those three words just came out. They felt so effortless when I spoke them to you," said James as he brought a hand up to stroke my cheek.

"The way you looked at me after I said it…I'll never forget those eyes, ever. I don't want to. I knew right away that you were the one."

I can't wipe the silly smile on my face as I take a step back from him and close my eyes. Back and forth I pace until the door to the Room of Requirement appears after the third stride.

With his hand grasped firmly in mine, I lead him into the room.

I gasp at the sight before me.

Even though I had created this room myself, I was still amazed at the beauty. The ceiling was charmed to resemble the night sky, much like the one in the Great Hall.

While there was no lake or willow tree, vines of ivy crept up the walls of stone and curled around fixtures. Orchids bloomed from the vines and sparkled like the stars above us. Diagonal from us was the bed, decked with silk sheets of green and pale gold.

It was way more than I had dreamed it would be.

My hands reach behind James' head and untie the blindfold, allowing it to fall to the floor.

"That was the correct answer," I say as I pull the last card from my jacket pocket, "take this."

He opens the envelope with ease and quietly reads.

'You've already captured my heart and soul, and now I want to give you my body. Tonight is for us. Tonight I will give you my all.'

I love you…'

"Lily," his voice is so soft and gentle, but I can hear hints of hesitation and surprise. And when he looks at me, I can read it in his eyes as well. I grab his hands and take a deep inhale of air, gathering strength for what I'm about to say and do.

"James, before you say anything, I want to let you know that I've thought this through. I've been thinking about it for some time now and I know that I want you, all of you, and that I love you. I don't need a marriage certificate to tell me that. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. I know what's in my heart and nothing else matters."

He looks up at me as I place his hand over my heart.

"You are the love of my life, the only person who will ever make me feel so complete. I've loved you in the past, I love you now, and I will love you until I can breathe no more."

Tears flow like rivers down both of our faces as the love we share reflects in our eyes.

"I'm ready for this. I'm ready for you. I want to feel you, touch you, and be one with you."

His face is tear-streaked as he brings both hands to cup either side of my face.

"I want you to be absolutely certain, no regrets. I don't care how long it takes. I love you. I'll wait forever if you need me to." He cloaks me in a strong embrace and my lips brush past his cheek to reach his ear.

"I'm sure, James. I want you to be the first and last person to make love to me."

Those muscular arms of his carry me to the bed, our locked eyes never faltering. His back bends to lay me down tenderly and my heart is racing. He's always been such a gentleman.

Instead of joining me on the bed, he remains standing above me. Bringing his right hand to cup my face, he kneels in front of me and whispers, "Don't be afraid, love. I would never do anything to hurt you."

He drops his head to look at the floor but quickly raises it to look me in the eye, fresh tears threatening to fall.

"I'm no saint, Lil. I need you to know that this is not just sex to me. What I've done before won't even come close. You will be the first person I've ever made love to and the only person I will ever make love to."

And underneath the stars, so similar to the night he first uttered those three little words that changed my life, we became one. No longer are we Lily Evans and James Potter, but two lovers united.

A part of each other's minds, bodies, and souls for eternity.

Sneak Peek at the Next Chapter:

"Because there's an underlying reason why she guarded that gift with a lock and key. A reason that very few know about.

A reason that makes my blood run cold when I think about it.

The same reason that almost led to the Marauders expulsion from Hogwarts and more than likely, me to Azkaban.

I browse through a few more pages of the book and they have similar details jotted down on every corner.

I'm about to close the book when something on one of the last pages catches my eye.

A set of initials is traced in a bold, elegant handwriting that's so different from Snape's usual chicken scratch.

The same initials that I've seen etched on my best friends papers since our first year.

'L.E.'

A/N: I know that after this chapter, a lot of you might be thinking, "where's the Sirius from the prologue?" and/or "is Sirius in love with Lily?" I'll answer the last question first: no, Sirius and Lily will not be having a romantic relationship (sorry to all you Sirius/Lily fans out there, but I just can't do that to James). I think it's pretty obvious that both James and Lily are head over heels for one another. Sirius is more of the big brother who just happens to be envious of their relationship.

To answer the first question, I'll tell you this: since the Prologue was taken from a chapter that has yet to be released, this Sirius you're reading about now is leading up to that one. His personality doesn't just change overnight; it comes as a result of a sequence of events. Small hops that lead to the big jump. So this supportive Sirius you're seeing right now is quite different from the desperate man you'll see in the chapters to come.

I do hope you enjoyed this chapter and please review! Sorry if parts of this chapter are distorted... is not being very responsive to some of the formats I had and I've had to upload this document about 3 or 4 times now.