Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this. Only plot and OCs belong to me . . .

Note: slight spoilers for Deathly Hallows . . .

RECAP (since it's been so long): It all started after a holiday prank and christmas gift that changed Lily's point of view on James. A detention revealed his sincerity, and then the wooing/courtship began! All of their friends are engage (Alice/Frank, and my oc's Emily/Riley) and the school year is over. They have all been asked to join Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix to fight against Voldemort after they graduate.

Chapter 11: The Question

Lily was depressed as she sat on her Gryffindor bed for the last time. N.E.W.T.S were finished, graduation was over, her luggage was packed, and she was waiting to take the final train ride back from Hogwarts. The past seven years had been the most exciting years of her life, and she didn't see how the future would be an improvement. Not with Voldemort running around. At least Hogwarts provided a safe haven.

She wasn't sure if she was ready for a war.

But they had all agreed. She knew she wasn't alone, they were all fighting for Dumbledore.

And most importantly she would have James by her side.

"Hey," Alice said taking a seat next to her on her bed. "You okay?" she asked concerned.

"Yeah, just . . . thinking. Everything is over, yet everything is just starting. It is so . . ."

"Surreal," Alice said in understanding. She brought her legs up to her chest. "I know. I keep thinking I am getting married in a few weeks, but only if we are all still alive. How scary is that? But, I just remember I have Frank. Together we can get through it. And I have all of you. I know you guys are fighting with us, and that makes it seem better."

"I feel the same way, I'm just . . .I don't want to lose James. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to him."

"We all feel that way, but I just try to think why Dumbledore asked us to fight in the first place. Surely he had other people, older and more experienced people he could ask that would be loyal to him, but he asked the 8 of us to fight. That has to mean something. I know I for one want to see the Dark Lord gone before I have children with Frank."

"Then we will get rid of him," Lily said determined. "I just want a world where James and I can be together. Maybe a few kids, at least three," she decided with a smile.

"Ah, boys that look like James and girls that look like you!" Alice said giggling. "That would be so adorable."

"I can see why he asked you and Frank," Lily said suddenly. "You and Frank are brilliant at potions and herbology. Both top in the class in herbology, and second in potions behind Snape. And you are both fighters."

"Ah, you are a fighter, Lily!" Alice said squeezing her hand. "You aren't afraid of taking on anyone it seems. You have that spark in you that we all want. And you kick ass in charms," she added. "Emily is devoted. Once she takes on a cause she'll die seeing it through. Her and Riley make a great team . . . I think we all do."

"Lets head down to the train," Lily said grabbing her traveling bag. "James said he is going to come with me to my parents' house. I wanted to see them before moving to Diagon Alley, and they want to meet James," she said grinning.

They found Frank, Emily, and the marauders on the way to the train and grabbed a compartment together. "Well, Dumbledore said to meet him next Thursday. Can you believe it?"

"We haven't even got our N.E.W.T.S back yet," Sirius said subdued.

Emily squeezed his hand. She knew he had just found out about Regulus joining the death eaters. "I'm sure there is time for Regulus," she whispered. "He'll see the light."

"Voldemort doesn't let his servants go," Sirius said darkly. He was terrified for his brother even if they had never acted much like brothers.

"Well, I for one am thinking that we need some chocolate," Alice decided and she and Frank got up to go to the cart. They came back with arms full of treats. "We need to celebrate being done with school! No more essays for McGonagall, lectures by Binns, or potion fumes from Slughorn." They all dove into the candy trying not to think about the impending war and just enjoy the last train ride on the Hogwarts Express.

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Lily fumed out of the house and stormed off towards the park a few blocks down. She shouldn't have been surprised, it was Petunia after all, but to have the audacity to say those things to her boyfriend in front of her! It was enough to make her want to transfigure Petunia and that prat of a Dursley she called a fiancé into a toad. She knew Petunia was still jealous over the whole magic bit, but why couldn't she be happy for her only sister?

"Hey," James said coming up behind her where she was on the swing.

"I am so sorry, James, you had to deal with that. What a horrible impression on muggles. Not to mention she goes and does that in front of you," Lily said torn between her intense anger, embarrassment, and sadness.

"Hey," James said tilting her cheek up so she would look at him. "Don't ever be embarrassed about anything about you," he said. "I knew coming here your sister wasn't going to be very welcoming. I would love for her to accept us, but more importantly I would love for her to accept you," he said and the sincerity and understanding in his words made her tear up. "Your parents I think approve of me," he added. "That is what I was most worried about," he admitted.

"Maybe it was a mistake . . ."

"No, nothing about us is a mistake, Lily," he said furiously. "Don't you dare let her jealousy and ignorance come between us!"

"I'm sorry, she just always manages to make me upset even though I tell myself I won't let her have that power over me anymore," she tried to explain.

"She is your sister, and you love her. That explains it all to me," he said kindly. He looked around the park. "So this is where you first learned you were a witch," he said.

Lily nodded. "Whatever you feel towards Snape, I would have been in the dark if it wasn't for him. He was my first friend," she explained. "Sometimes I just wish things worked out differently. I think if he wasn't sorted into Slytherin, he had better friends or better influences, maybe things would have been better. If Petunia had magic, she wouldn't be so bitter," she said helplessly.

James brushed back a lock of hair. "We can't worry about all the things that should have happened, or we would have liked to happen," he said kindly. "Regulus wouldn't have joined the death eaters, Remus wouldn't have been bitten, Peter would have better self confidence," he listed. "All we can do is fight for the way we want the future."

"That is why Dumbledore asked you," she said with a grin. "You have idealism, but you aren't idealistic. You are a realist. You know how to look forward and fight for what you want."

"I want you," he said. "I always have, ever since you came into that compartment on the first train ride," he said with his patented James grin. "The only time I have ever been flustered was around you. And for what it's worth, I understand now what you have been trying to tell me about Snape," he admitted.

"I figured that after the full moon incident a few months ago," she said grabbing his hand. There was something peaceful about just sitting here in the swings with James.

James got down on his knees and looked up at her. "I know Severus was the first person who mattered to you outside your family, your first friend, your first wizarding friend, but I want to be your last," he said. "I want you to be the first thing in the morning I see and the last at night, with the majority of every day filled with you," he said. "I can even thank Snape for being your first friend and introducing you to our world even if it made it that much harder for us." He hesitated for a moment. "I didn't bring anything with me, no flowers or anything. I didn't plan this out, I'm afraid all you get right now is me."

Lily laughed and had to brush away a tear and pull James to his feet. "That is all I want you fool," she laughed as she pulled him close to kiss him. She broke away after a moment to catch her breath. "That's a yes," she whispered.

"I was taking it as one regardless of how you meant it," he teased. He rubbed the small of her back. "I don't have a clue why," he admitted. "I don't know why you ever changed you mind about me being an insufferable prat."

"You still are insufferable, but I discovered something over the last few years," she said with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"What?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"I love it," she said grinning and pulled him in for another kiss.

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It took quite awhile before they made it back to the Evans house to tell Lily's parents, but both were ecstatic and happy for their daughter. The celebration was made more festive by the absence of Petunia and Dursley.

They arrived at Diagon Alley the next morning and claimed the biggest table in the café while waiting for the others to arrive. Emma and Riley were the first and came walking in holding hands whispering something to each other. Emma kissed James' cheek as she took a seat next to him and Riley took the seat next to her. "Something happened," she said looking at the two of them. "How did it go with your sister?"

"What we expected," Lily said. Emma knew enough to drop the subject and instead brought up an article from that morning's daily prophet. Everyone else arrived during the discussion and soon they were all waiting for their orders. "Okay, what is going on between you two?" Emma finally asked.

Lily flashed her left hand for everyone to see the new, large engagement ring on her finger. Emma and Alice squealed with excitement while Sirius, Remus, and Peter simply stared at James shocked. "I didn't think you had it in you, mate," Sirius said shaking his head. "And you didn't even need a pep talk this time!"

"Hey, I am a big boy," James said pouting.

Riley and Frank simply laughed. "Congrats," Riley said. "It is probably the hardest thing you have ever done. I know," he said and Frank nodded in agreement. Everyone buzzed about the news all through lunch.

"When do you think you'll get married?" Alice asked when it was just the three girls.

"I have no idea," Lily said. "Honestly," she said, "I want to get married soon. James and I discussed some things, and neither of us need to work because of his family vault. We could help Dumbledore full time," she whispered the last part so it reached their ears only. "I want us to start our lives together as soon as possible."

"Just don't elope," Alice said. "I want to see this!"

"Me too. James will be so adorable as he nervously waits for you at the alter," Emily laughed. "How is everything coming?" she asked Alice.

"I can't believe it is happening," Alice said shaking her head. "I have the fitting arrangements for the two of you scheduled for the end of the week. I am so glad you both agreed to be my bridesmaids!"

"We would have hexed you if you didn't ask," Lily said honestly. "I can't believe you and Frank are getting married in a little over two weeks! And we get our N.E.W.T.S back at the end of the week. School hasn't even been out a week yet!"

"Life is going to be crazy for a little while," Emily said.

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I am so sorry this story took such a long hiatus. School is so hectic this semester I simply haven't had the time to write. I do have the next chapter sketched out so the next update should be up soon. A HUGE thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!