Fragile Heart

Chapter 8

"Is This True?"

"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of James Potter to Stella Thompson," the elderly priest said.

Stella gazed at James, her eyes shining as she held his hand in a tight clap. There was moisture shining on her tanned cheeks and she was fanning her face with her other hand. There was an excited smile on her face, one that James could not duplicate. He wasn't excited; he wasn't even getting married to her. Not really.

James shared a glance with Sirius, his best man. Sirius knew of Lily and their pending parenthood. Sirius laughed, seeing James was obviously bored with the priest's speech. 'Just say the line, ask the question' James thought. Then he could end this ridiculous, false engagement and be with Lily, as his one and only. They could be together at last.

He could see her sitting with Remus, Frank, Alice and Peter, behind his parents. There was a slight bulge in both Lily and Alice's bellies. He smiled softly to himself, knowing that the child was his. He began to wonder if the baby was to be a boy or a girl. He, of course, didn't care which as long as the child was healthy, and preferably inherited Lily's stunning eyes.

He could see Lily glancing over the diamond sitting securely on her finger. He smiled, his fiancée, his lover, his partner and his soon to be wife.

Stella mistook it for a smile of anticipation, for she squeezed his hand more tightly in his.

He sighed, she did look pretty in her wedding dress, but it was just too much. He had a much nicer dress for Lily in the church rooms. Stella's dress was full, long and white with black embroidery around the edges. It curved out at her hips and was made of a shiny silk. She had a string of black beads strung around her neck and another set around her wrist. Her dark curls were running down her back. She looked pretty. But she wasn't Lily. He knew why he had been interested, but she just couldn't compete with the girl James loved. James occupied himself with thoughts of him and his love's past.


"Evans," he began, "one day I'm going to marry you."
"Am I supposed to find that romantic?" she asked, looking up from her text book.

"I thought maybe…" he began, ruffling his hair.

"Well you thought wrong," she pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and returned to her book.

"Oh, come on, Evans, all girls like a romantic guy!" he exclaimed.

"Well I'm not all girls," she replied, not looking up.

His eyes widened in shock as a thought came to him. "You do like men, don't you, Evans?"

She looked up, her innocent green eyes glowing in astonishment. "I might as well not, all the chance you have. But for the record, yes, I do happen to like men. Just not you."

He nodded, sighing deeply as he considered a way to continue the conversation.

She scribbled another note on her essay.

"Evans?"

"Hmm…" she said, chewing thoughtfully on the end of her quill.

"You know I fancy you, right?" he said quietly.

"Yeah, I do, actually, as does the rest of the school, including the teachers," she said.

"What!? Do they really?" he asked.

"Yes, it's fairly obvious." She said.

"Well, I really mean it, when I say I fancy you… and I do really want to marry you," he said softly.

Lily looked at him, as if wondering whether she had heard him correctly. "Umm…" she said.

"I think I'm going to kiss you now, Evans," he said lowly.

"I wouldn't, Potter," she warned.

"Too late," he said, leaning into her closely and pressing a soft, chaste kiss to her cushiony lips.

Lily looked at his clearly satisfied features in disbelief. "Potter," she said in a dangerously silent voice. He replied with a grin. "I'd start running now."

"Now, now, Evans, I can't go running from the love of my life," he teased, chuckling lightly.

She turned and smacked him on the cheek. James watched her storm off.

"Thanks Evans," he yelled. He was still grinning cheerfully, after all one of Lily Evans' kisses was well worth one of her slaps.


Stella was grinning at him, excitedly. Her hand quivering in his. Love and need shone in her eyes. She wanted him, loved him, needed him. Sadly, that wasn't something he could give her.

She let out a giggle, pulling their hands tightly into her chest, her thumb caressing his palm. She pushed a lock of dark hair out of her eyes with her free hand and tightened her clasp on his hand. She watched his hazel eyes, as the priest continued his speech. James had to suppress the urge to yawn.

Finally the elderly man next to him stopped for breath.

"Firstly, I am required to ask anyone present who knows a reason why these persons may not lawfully marry, to declare it now, or forever hold your peace." He said, gazing dully at the audience gathered, no-one ever said anything at this point. He was in for a shock.

James glanced from Lily to Sirius, Lily returned her lover's gaze before turning to look at Alice. James nodded in a suppressed manner.

Lily paused for breath before saying, "I do."

James could have laughed; it was a completely ironic thing for Lily to say while breaking up his wedding. He however stayed silent.

Stella turned to look around, her eyes scanning for the source of the noise. Her eyes fell on Lily. She frowned sure that her ears deceived her.

"Please, do enlighten us, Miss…" the priest said.

"Miss Evans, Lily Evans," Lily said. She stood and the whole of the congregation turned to look at her.

The priest nodded slightly, asking her to continue. She glanced at James for strength for the task ahead. He smiled softly at her, the words he had told her to say flashing through his mind. He ran them over as Lily spoke them out-loud:

"I… I love him; we've been sleeping together for the past three months." She paused, tears ambushing her face. "I'm pregnant with his child."

Stella looked from him to Lily, her eyes distraught. "James," she demanded, "is this true?"

James' Dad stood, while supporting James' mother, who was obviously crying with embarrassment. She was not impressed that her son had been cheating on a perfectly suitable marriage partner. It made James wonder whether he had been marrying her for her status, because his parents would like it.

"Yes, is this true, son?" Richard asked.

James lowered his eyes from the people he loved, his gaze once again falling on Lily. His girl, the love of his life. The tears were streaking down her face.

"I love you," he mouthed. She smiled softly, as he strode down the church. He pulled her into his arms and gazed confidently over the church.

"Yes, it's true," he admitted. "I love her too, and we're going to start a family, together."

There was an instant uproar at the disgrace. James watched his family and Stella's rising in anger. He held Lily tightly against him, before slowly raising his eyes to look at her.

Stella's eyes were lined with tears. "So this is, was, all a lie?"

"It wasn't, but I can't pretend I still feel the same way I did when I proposed to you," he said truthfully. He loosened his grip on Lily and moved over to where Stella was.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, she quickly shrugged them off.

"I guess this is goodbye then," she said. "It was obviously never meant to be."

"I'm sorry, Stel," James said, "I never wanted it to be like this."

She looked at him tears streaking down her face, before placing her face in her hands and retreating down the length of the church. She paused to look at Lily in disgust, before fleeing out the door.

"I'm sorry," James breathed to himself.


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