"Marriage..." Lily tries to process this all in her head, feeling like- well, she didn't know what she felt, did she. "Dear God. Marriage... Marriage," she suddenly looks up, her green eyes astonished and bright in the late afternoon light, at James. "That's practically permanent."

James gave her a smile expressing his sincerest pity, not even attempting a joke at her use of the word "practically" as he leads their way towards an empty golden grass field. "I suppose you can try to find the bright side of things, right? You'll be gaining a new brother-in-law."

"A brother-in-law? James, he's- he's-"

"I know. I know... I think your sister could have done better," he says, flatly. No love lost between her fiancé and James, that's for sure.

"I'm her sister, of course I'm going to say she could have done better, though she couldn't have find anymore more perfectly matched with her. It's just... Vernon Dursley?"

"Think he prefers to be called by his formal title, 'His great excellency,' love."

"Ha, ha."

But, she did crack a barely there smile at that, and leaned onto his arm as they strolled through quietly. Her sister's engagement announcement was not rolling through smoothly for Lily. The minute it was appropriate to leave after Petunia's proud announcement, Lily and James excused themselves from her house to take a brief walk, so Lily can collect all her thoughts and properly panic and try to process this all to herself.

If she was perfectly honest, and if she had the courage to confront her sister, she would say that she wasn't quite sure the two of them together really brought out the best in Petunia. No, she was sure of it. And, why should they go through with this when there just wasn't any benefit or good for humanity through their self-entitled love.

"I just thought that they'd date for a couple months or years, then break it off as normal couples do: fall out through an argument, and battle their stubborn minds against each other... They're just so alike."

"Too alike, I think. They're both, ah. Well... They're each other."

"Sometimes... Sometimes, I think that she does this because we're not close. Because, she hates me," she confesses as her eyes dart up, her eyes suddenly feeling heavy and in the inside, just really, really confused.

James immediately looked over at her with concerned eyes, searching her own that were still set above, and absolute disagreement written through his expression. "Lily, don't even go there. That's bloody rubbish and you know it, too."

"Oh, I don't know. I really don't know how to feel," she said rather desperately. "Should I be joyous and ecstatic?"

"Your own parents aren't even joyous, they're pleased that your sister's pleased, but that's quite the extent that their happiness goes. Evans," James stops walking and turns around, making Lily face him, waiting.

"Can I be blunt with you?"

"Are you actually asking?"

James slips his right hand around her waist, his left one warm and safe in his coat pocket and grins unashamed. "Lil, Petunia is an uptight, unforgiving shrew, Vernon is a supremely ignorant arse, and 1/4 of your family from now on will be thoroughly unbearable."

"Oh, God."

"But, but. You're not your sister. You're Lily. The Lily we all adore," he says, affectionately. "Therefore, you have a thousand and one things to enjoy about your life that's not your sister's, with the first thing being that you're not getting engaged to that wanker. You're not your sister, you're direct opposites personality and moral-wise, which is probably a big factor as to why you two don't get along. But, she's not marrying bloody Vernon to spite you for God's sakes."

Lily slowly starts to form a small grin."... she seems really happy."

"For herself. Not because of any idiotic covert motive against you."

A light, white sigh goes up in the air. "I'm starting to get it, James." She curls her arm around his and resumes their simple, idle walk.

"You know, Petunia will feel the same as you do when you tell her you're getting married."

"Really? Why do you think so?"

"Well, I don't think she's that fond of me."

Lily laughed freely, her head leaned back as she barely covered her mouth with her hand.

"James?"

"Yes?"

"She's not," she confirms.

"Oh, believe me, I know."

"But, I think that I am," she says, thoughtfully as they decide to stop in the middle of the field and settle down there.

"Nah," James disagrees breezily, sitting down and resting his arm out in front of him on his bent knee.

"You don't believe me when I say I like you?"

"I don't recall ever saying that I don't believe you..."

Lily turns to face him, ready to banter with him. "Then, maybe you can provide me with more clarity and tell me what you are saying?"

"There's probably an excess amount of thoughts in my head, do you really want me to spill them all out aloud?"

"Of course, that's what being your girlfriend entitles me to."

James lets out a loud laugh before turning his face directly facing hers with an easy grin, light and relaxed with all the earlier upset gone. James would be satisfied with having no one else to talk to in the world but Lily, with her personality and words only further drawing him in every day.

"Fine, I'll start listing them, then. First. You don't just like me. If you did, I wouldn't be sitting here in the middle of nowhere."

"-Oh my god-"

"Second, I was thinking that your folks adore me, especially more now with their future son-in-law being what he is."

"My dad does seem to really like you," her eyes widen in agreement and slight surprise. Not that she didn't think that her dad wouldn't, but they got along more than she had hoped for- spending a whole hour chatting about books and James teaching him all about Quidditch and the World Cup.

"I know, I've been blessed with my skill in handling redheads' dads."

Lily scoffs under her smile, pushing her long hair back behind her ear. "Are you attempting to flatter yourself?"

"Let's say everyone," he so suggests, his hand closest to her playing with the ends of her hair. "Third, my mind's been made up on something. I'm more than certain about it now."

"Meaning?"

"Marriage. I really need to get married now."

"The poor girl. I hope she has some time to get to know you first," Lily leaned back on her violet mittened hands.

"She's had 7 whole years actually, but she slacked off a bit in the beginning." James shrugs cooly. "Not that it matters since she'll make up for lost time after the wedding."

"After?" For some reason, speaking of engagements concerning her was a bigger deal than marriage itself. "Potter, I think your brain is shivering mad in there."

And yet, James was perfectly sane, looking devilishly smart even when he was slowly freezing to death as they just sat there on the bitter cold soil. "Evans, it's half an ice block now, it's past shivering."

"Oh. So, that's why you're talking about marrying me." Lily half-glares at him and lifts her head up a bit. "It's insulting, really, you bringing this up when you're frozen daft."

"Wait, hold on just a momen-"

"Nope, I'm banning you from discussing marriage between us."

"Banning? Are you bloody-"

"What about the term 'ban' do you not understand?"

"Yeah, well guess what, Evans. Tough luck, but I'm overruling." James examines her face, her lips were fainly frowning.

"You're not obscenely put off by maybe marrying me one day, are you?"

Lily's eyes eventually flicker up to his. "... Are you asking me seriously?" Her tone dubious.

"I've never been so serious in my life," he says, resolutely. Patiently, he watched her think to herself, not really expecting her to respond. He enjoyed the moments he got her literally speechless.

Lily glances over at him and briefly shakes her head, drooping her head drowsily on top of his shoulder. "No... No, I'm not put off... But, let's get through N.E.W.T's first, yeah?"

Satisified by her answer, James drops a kiss on her nose and sits back with a small grin on his face.

"Do you remember when I told you about these fields I'd come to before I got accepted to Hogwarts," Lily comments after a few peaceful silent moments. "I used to come here almost everyday when I was younger... it's almost eerie how everything is different."

James knew what she was getting at and even as his mind conjured up an image of a small Lily coming here with a Severus barely half James' height now, there was no apathy, only understanding.

No one thinks about the loss of their childhood best friend without a slight of remorse.

Lily sighed out loud. "And, what I thought would be a simple trip back home introducing my boyfriend to my mum and dad turned out to be... actually a success, when it comes to you, but everything else is just...no." She adds a shiver for effect.

"We're just blessed, my love. I thank God everyday that your sister met Dursley first."

"Oh, why is that?"

"Because, if he had met you first, then Lord knows nothing would have deterred him from you, your sister be damned."

Making use of his quick reflexes, he laughs as he pulls his arm away knowing Lily would retaliate with her hand.


"Do you think it looks nice?" Lily looks down at herself carefully, standing in the middle of the grand Potter house with 50 other guests swarming around them. Lily had been invited to the Potter's holiday party after meeting them just two days before and spending the day with his parents. She couldn't think more highly of them (though she can see how James ended up so spoiled as he was when he was a child) and she completely adored them.

Sirius doesn't even bother looking at her perfectly fine red sweater dress a second time. "Stunning, you're glowing, dear," Sirius praises.

"Positive?"

"Evans, you don't need to impress them, I promised you, yeah? They're already love with you," Sirius attempts to placate her. For the third time this night. Honestly, it's a bit eye opening to see how self-conscious she was, seeing as he's never seen her in this kind of nervous state before.

"Look there's Remus... and little Everhart! Look at him go!" he bends down to swoop up the Potter's small white terrier sporting a festive red collar. "Ask him," Sirius nods his head to Remus. "And if he says that you look decent then you'll end this madness, promise?"

"You're making me sound almost deranged." Yet, she did what he asked when she asked Remus what he thought when he reached them, and when he repeated Sirius' sentiments almost exactly, Lily decided to give in.

She'll just ask James one more time though.

"Nice drink. Switch?" Sirius offers the lightly panting happily Everhart to Remus for a switch.

"I'll take him," Lily most eagerly accepts him instead.

"Oh, Lily I almost forgot, my felicitations." Added on top, Remus gives a little mock bow.

Lily can't help her bubble of laughter. "Remus, what are you on about?"

"James told me your sister just got engaged."

"Oh, did he?" she says, mildly, her eyes focused on the little terrier. "James is quick with spreading joyful news, isn't he," she comments to the dog.

"Oh damn." Remus glances quickly to Sirius. "Was he not supposed to? Sorry, Lily-"

"No, no," she reassures him. "I was just surprised a bit, that's all. And, thank you- though I'm sure your congratulations are better suited towards her."

Sirius shakes his head disapprovingly as she talks to the dog. "Can you believe that Potter. Spilling family secrets left and right? You can't trust that human travesty, can you?"

"Are you talking about yourself again?" James' voice reaches them as he walks towards them, dressed a bit more smart than usual. Stopping at Lily's side, he rubs his dogs head still in Lily's arms. "I just had the most interesting conversation with a man who was giving me advice if I was ever interested in playing with officials of the financial market. Apparently, it's the most thrilling thing from what I gather from his enthusiasm."

"Bless him, the old geezer thinks thats thrilling?" Sirius laughs.

"He probably one of those who goes to pubs right at the witching hour," Remus adds.

"To have a nice sleep in right at the counter, you mean?" James goes innocently.

"Precisely."

Lily rolled her eyes with smirk. "You're all awful." She bends down to release Everhart back to the ground to scurry.

"C'mon, let's go eat," James takes her hand. "Foods about to ready soon."

"Well, what took you so long to tell us?" Sirius complained as he immediately made a path to the dining room, gaining in front of them.