(I lied early on in this thing when I said that there would be barely any action-y stuff. It just hasn't really come up yet, but as soon as Year Two nears, trust me… Soundtrack for the Chapter: The Beatles – I Will/Snow Patrol – You're All I Have, then Amos Lee – Colors (none of which I own).)
(4th week of October – Year One)
Nine – A Passing Torch
The few present guests all began to stand and clap as Lily and James shared their wedding kiss. The ceremony was small, but lovely. Lily looked perfectly gorgeous in her emerald green dress, and James had never felt more handsome. Sirius stood proud and smiling beside the happy couple.
James and Lily pulled away, and Sirius patted James on the back in congratulations. POOF! The purple smoke of the camera rose away. The happiest moment of James's life was now frozen in time forever.
Only a dozen or so people were present; it was hard to gather too many in one place at once nowadays, also slightly dangerous, James knew. His mother had managed to come despite her illness, her eyes welling up beside Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Peter and Remus, Dorcas and Marlene were in attendance, as well. They had been blessed also with the presence of Hagrid. As Hogwarts was still running, and Dumbledore was obviously still running it, he had been unable to come. That was to no matter; the wedding was still a dream come true.
James looked into Lily's eyes and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I love you," He whispered.
"I love you, too." She whispered back, her smile never brighter.
Sirius came up from behind them. "You know what I love? A good party! Dorcas, darling, if you don't dance with me, I think my heart will break."
The ghost quartet began to play music, and with a flick of the wand, the chairs had cleared, leaving a small dance floor and revealing a table of food.
Mrs. Potter enjoyed being meekly twirled by Hagrid, and Marlene had both Remus and Peter in a dancing circle. Mrs. and Mrs. Evans joined in on a waltz. Lily's sister and her dreadful husband, Vernon, seemed to be the only ones not enjoying themselves.
The wedding had been perfect. Lily was perfect.
"James," His mother finally got a chance to appear before the newly married couple. Tears had once again started to fill her eyes.
"Mum, you're embarrassing me…" He joked. Lily swatted him with her hand, causing the elderly woman to laugh.
"Go on, Mother." Lily urged. "I promise I'll get him under control, soon enough."
"I couldn't be happier for the two of you…" His mother poured. "Lily, you are a blessing. And I must say, I fully believe you capable of the job this one will give you. I pass my torch to you."
Lily hugged her tight, both of them giggling. James eyed them together, and despite the apparent James-is-a-chore bit, he smiled. He couldn't have been happier. When she pulled away, Mrs. Potter erupted into a fit of coughing.
"Are you sure you're all right, Mum?" James asked, concerned. "Perhaps you should get home. I know you're not feeling well."
The old woman rolled her eyes, and batted him away. "Nonsense, nonsense. This is the biggest day of your life since your birth. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
The party lasted for a few more hours, before it was time to start to retire home. A small carriage being lead by a pair of chestnut, Aethonon winged horses stood waiting for James and Lily.
They got in, and with a wave, they were off, flying to their honeymoon destination…
"Not nearly as preferable as flying," James pretended to sulk.
Lily sighed. "But oh-so-very stylish, I must say. Today was perfect."
"Tonight will be even better," James winked, causing Lily to blush and hit him on the forehead. James took her hands in his and allowed his eyes to close…
- - -
Tick, tick, tick! Someone was rapping on the door. James groaned and rolled over. It was only five in the morning.
Tick, tick, tick!
"All right, all right…" He mumbled. Lily was still asleep, her thick red hair splashed across the pillow. Even sleeping, she was beautiful. Carefully, as not to wake her, he slipped out of bed and into his night robes.
Tick, tick, tick! He opened the door of the inn.
"What is it?" He grumbled. No one was in sight. He looked down.
It was one of the house elves from home, Fittul. He was an younger house-elf, and was slightly fidgety. Fittul was pleasant and happy, but excessively shy to the point of annoyance. That explained the 'ticking' instead 'knocking'. The better question was…
"What are you doing here? I'm on my honeymoon." James inquired. There was nothing angry about hit tone, but Fittul's eyes grew big and watery. James felt like a bully already.
"I-I'm sorry that I have angered young Master James, but Mistress has fallen ill. She sent me to fetch you and tell you that she wishes your presence, sir. Mistress wished me to tell you that she's sorry for interrupting your trip, but she needs you." Fittul managed to stumble out, on the verge of tears.
It felt as though an arrow and hit James's heart. Speaking as carefully as he could, "Did she say what was wrong?"
Fittul shook. "Well, Master James, she has been feeling under the weather. Her healer came last night' says there's nothing to be done…"
Panic. His heart was being gripped and squeezed.
He was rushing into the room, shaking his wife. "Lily, Lily!"
"What is it, James?" Lily murmured.
"Lily, get up. It's my mum. I think she's dying. We have to Apparate home right away."
"What?!" She leapt out of bed, throwing on her robes. "What happened…"
"I don't know." James could barely talk. "Let's go. Fittul! We're heading straight home!"
He forced his mind to concentrate, despite the seeming lack of oxygen offered in the room… He had to get home, get to his mum, had to get home, and get to his mother… POP!
The dizzying sense of particles flying everywhere engulfed him, but he managed to pull himself together, envisioning his destination. He was home, in the main bedroom suite his parents had always shared.
His mother was lying on her bed, their family's Healer, Melanie Triffle, standing solemnly beside her.
"James," Triffle greeted. "You're here, thank goodness."
POP! Lily appeared next to him, clutching her chest. She looked to the bed where Mrs. Potter lay.
James's mother looked pale… almost gray. The delight that had filled her eyes only yesterday had been replaced by a gentle tiredness. Had it really been just yesterday? He looked to Lily. They'd been married only one day, and his mother… was dying…
"James, and Lily," She croaked. A smile appeared on her frail face. Her age had never been as obvious as it was now. "Come here, my dears, come here."
"Mum?" James trembled. "Are you going to be all right?"
She coughed in reply, "I've been sick for a while, James. Same thing your father had, Melanie says."
James blinked. "But they knew he had it for months! We've had Melanie take a look at you twice; how could they have not known?"
Then he realized.
Mrs. Potter nodded. "I've known for a while, now. You were just so happy and so… lively. I didn't want to burden you, Jamesy. Not you and Lily."
Tears were streaming down Lily's face. James felt as though his throat was going to implode, it was so tight.
"Everything is all sorted out. Everything belongs to you. The house, the estate…"
James placed his hands on top of her frail ones. Mrs. Potter looked to Lily and gave a weak smile.
"It's your job to look out for him, now…" She instructed. Lily nodded and tried to smile back.
James couldn't speak, nor could Lily His mother seemed to acknowledge this and feebly nodded. He simply held her hands for the last few moments of her life. That was all that was needed.
The future had come, and there was no changing it. There would be no changing any of it… Life would be different now, for a multitude of reasons. James had to accept it. They all had to…
(To come: the last real celebration (and a familiar Order Photograph is taken)…)