The Wedding

"LILY! Lily, wake up!" Lily opened one eye to see Amy standing in front of her.

"Go away." She moaned and turned away from the little girl.

"Lily Clare Evans, if you don't get up right now I will pour a bucket of cold water over your head. That wasn't Amy's voice, Lily realised; it was Marigold. And a very angry Marigold at that. With another groan Lily rolled back over and opened her eyes again. Marigold, Alice Mary and Amy were standing in her room. Marigold had a bucket ready in her hands.

"Get up!" She repeated, throwing the bucket on the floor and grabbing Lily's arms. The rest of the girls joined her and Lily suddenly found herself out of bed, in a dressing gown and sitting in the kitchen with a plate of toast in front of her. "Eat!" Marigold commanded.

There was a laugh and Lily turned to see her mother enter the room, "Let the poor girl wake up, Marigold. She was up until late last night."

"Well she shouldn't have been," Marigold muttered as she picked up a glass of juice. "Lily, if you don't start eating right now I'll-"

"Calm down, Mari," Lily yawned. "We have ages till the wedding."

Marigold stared at Lily in shock, "Ages? We do not have ages Lily. It's almost eleven o'clock. The service starts at two."

"Which gives us three hours." Amy pointed out then immediately regretted it as Marigold turned on her.

"Three hours is not enough to get Lily ready. Come on," Marigold grabbed a piece of toast, opened Lily's mouth and stuffed it in. She then proceeded to help Lily chew, by lifting her jaw up and down. "Swallow!" Marigold order and Lily did as she was told. After Lily had finally finished her breakfast, Marigold pushed her into the bathroom, forcing a selection of body washes, shampoos and conditioners into her arms. Lily emerged from the bathroom ten minutes later, wet hair stuck to her back and smelling strongly of roses.

"Seriously, Mari, did you have to give me stuff that had all different types of flower essence in?" Lily glared at her. "We've got enough flowers at the wedding so do I have to smell like one two?"

Marigold grinned, "Don't worry about it, Lily. Now up come on into your room. I have to start on your hair."

Lily shook her head as she did as she was told, "Why did I let you organise my hair and make-up?"

"Because I'm your very best friend and your maid of honour."

"But she can also force you to do stuff against your will." Alice smiled and sat down on Lily's old bed.

"Yeah, it's this magic thing called persuasion." Amy hopped happily into the room and settled herself next to Alice. Mary and Megan joined them and together they watched Marigold work on Lily. Although it wasn't the school holidays Amy had been allowed to leave Hogwarts for three days for Lily and James' wedding. She had spent the night at Marigold's flat and had arrived at Sara and Michael's house with the rest of the bridesmaids. An hour later Marigold had finished doing Lily's hair. It was half up and half down. The section of hair that was down, Marigold had curled into ringlets.

"Right, now for the make-up. You can groan all you want, Lily. You are having make-up." Marigold glared at the red headed witch.

"I'd rather take on twenty Death Eaters than put make up on." Lily muttered quietly so that Marigold didn't hear her. Once Marigold had done Lily's make up she started on the bridesmaids and with twenty minutes to go until the car came to pick them up, they slipped their dresses on and then proceeded to help Lily with hers. Sara looked in to how they were going and ended up helping as well. Finally they were all ready and the small group descended the stairs. Mr Evans stared at Lily as she entered the living room.

"Wow." He whispered, and fumbled for a tissue.

Lily grinned at her father as Marigold picked up the silver tiara. With Sara's help they positioned it and the veil on Lily's head.

"Here are the flowers!" Amy skipped into the room and held out a bouquet of pink roses to Lily. The doorbell rang and Sara rushed to open it, "It's the cars girls! Get your stuff quickly. Where's my hat?" Sara hurried into the room again looking frantically round the room.

"Is this it?" Megan asked holding out a sea blue hat.

"Yes! Thank you, Meg. Now come along into the car," Sara took the hat from her and jammed it onto her head. "Marigold, Alice, Mary outside now. No, Marigold you may not rearrange my hat." Sara snapped as Marigold edged forwards, eyes on the lopsided hat. With Sara chivvying them all they made their way outside to the cars. Lily and Michael followed and got into the car behind the bridesmaids and Sara. Lily's insides were starting to bubble nervously as the cars drove off and by the time they had reached the church, she was almost hyperventilating. Seeing her face Marigold grabbed hold of her, "Lily, stop breathing so fast. Okay?"

Lily nodded, but didn't try to slow her breaths. Marigold sighed and took her to the side. "Listen Lils, I know you're nervous, but just think of James, okay? In less than an hour you're going to be his wife. You can do this, you love James and seriously, if you can face Voldemort, you can face getting married."

A small smile came over Lily's face and she nodded, "Okay. Getting married is nothing compared to Voldemort, or fighting any of his Death Eaters, or waiting for exam results, or sitting exams or doing -"

"Lily! Stop it." Marigold resisted the urge to slap her round the face. "You have done much harder things than this, and you love James. Just think about James and it will be fine."

Lily nodded again, and took a breath, "Okay think about James. Thinking about James. James, James, James, James."

"That's right. Now come on. I have to go in." Marigold led her back to the group. Sara had already gone in to join the congregation. Michael took his youngest daughters hand in his.

"Are you ready?" He asked as Lily's bridesmaids entered the church.

"Yes," Lily breathed, "Let's go."

Michael nodded and he and Lily stepped inside the church. As soon as Lily started down the aisle people turned to look at her. Trying to block them all out, Lily's eyes travelled to the front of the church where she finally spotted James. He was staring at her in wonder and even Sirius, standing a little way behind her, had his eyebrows raised, but that could have been because of Marigold. After what seemed like ages Lily reached the alter and took James' hand.

James grinned down at her, "You look amazing." He whispered.

Lily smiled and turned her attention to the priest.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of Lily Evans and James Potter."

Lily allowed herself a small smile as the priest droned on. Getting married was much easier than most things she'd done in her life.

"Do you Lily Evans take James Potter to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better for worse, for richer or for poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do." Lily spoke quickly, coming out of her mini day dream. James beamed.

"And do you James Potter, take Lily Evans to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, till death do you part?"

"I do." James spoke clearly unlike Lily, and the priest closed the small book he was reading from, smiling.

"Then I am proud to announce that you are now husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Grinning like a maniac James turned to Lily, and grabbed her round the waist. He pulled her towards him and kissed her. Finally they parted, but only after Sirius hit James on the back. The couple turned grinning towards their friends and family, before, hand in hand, they walked up the aisle and out of the church, into the sunlight.

The reception was held in a stately home not far from the church and James had managed to get it decorated so that it fitted in with the theme. Lily was amazed when she saw the house, she couldn't believe that James had got it.

"I thought you would have had the reception at your house?" She cried as they got out the car.

James shook his head, "That would have been impossible. There would have been no way to get your Muggle neighbours there without putting a memory charm on them."

"Wasn't you Mum unhappy?"

"Course she was, but she too didn't think that it would be a good idea to put charms on the guests."

They entered the big dining room of the house and their guests cheered. Half of The Order was at the wedding and Hagrid and May-Eye were drawing some strange looks from the Muggles amongst the guests. James led Lily towards the big table and held out a chair next to her father. As she sat, Michael squeezed her hand, "Are you happy?"

Lily nodded, "Insanely happy, Dad."

"Good."

James sat down and the meal started. Lily couldn't remember time flying by so fast, before she knew it the meal was over and it was time for the speeches. Lily's father stood up first and then Sirius jumped to his feet. He grinned at the guests.

"Hello everyone. So in case you don't know who I am, my name is Sirius Black and I have been James' best friend since we were eleven. I have also known Lily since we were eleven and the first time I met her I think she told me to shut up." Sirius turned to smile at Lily, "Of course it was then that James also met Lily and well I think it's safe to say that they definitely didn't hit it off. My friends," He gestured towards Remus and Peter who were sitting with a few members of The Order, "and I spent most of the next six years at school listening to James obsessing over sweet Lily-Petal – we got quite bored of it really. Now some of you who don't know the story may be wondering how Lily and James got together, and well I was wondering much the same thing. I mean for six years Lily has been shouting and cursing James and James has been acting like a complete and utter idiot in front of her. But somehow James stopped being an idiot around Lily and started behaving better and Lily saw passed all of James' idioticness and everything else that she thought he was, which I will not mention because some of them are not good for the younger guests ears that are here today," Sirius tuned towards Lily, "However the two of them getting together meant that James and I ended, but I have generously decided that you may have him, Lily."

Lily grinned, "Thanks, Black. And before you ask, you are still allowed to visit James."

Sirius beamed at Lily and then smiled back at the crowds, "Anyway that's the end of my speech but before I sit down I'd like to thank you all for coming on behalf of Lily and James and to join me in a toast," He raised his glass, "To Lily and James Potter!"

The assembled guests also raised their glasses and Sirius sat down. While people were clapping James bent towards Lily, "You're going to allow me to see Sirius?" He asked.

Lily nodded, "I can't stop him coming even if I wanted to, and as long as he does nothing stupid now, it will remain that way."

"I love you, Lils!" James kissed Lily quickly then turned his attention to Marigold who was waiting to speak. Her speech was just as long as Sirius' and focused on Lily and what she was like, by the time she sat down most of the guests were laughing. Yet again James leant towards Lily after the speech, "Did you really do that?"

Lily had turned slightly red, but she nodded, "Yeah, in fourth year. It was really embarrassing."

James laughed, "Aww it wasn't that bad. It's quite funny how you managed to knock a vanishing potion all over your clothes. Now why wasn't I there to see it?"

"It was in one of Slughorns special meal things, and he'd left out some cauldrons."

"Wish I could have been there," James sighed, then grabbed Lily's arm, "Come on its time for the first dance."

"Says who?" Lily asked following him.

"Says Megan," James answered as they reached the dance floor and he pulled her towards her. Music started up and people moved from their seats and gathered round the dance floor to watch Lily and James. As soon as the music finished Sirius appeared beside James.

"It's my turn to dance with Lily-Petal now Prongs."

"Who am I supposed to dance with?"

Sirius shrugged, "You're the groom, Prongs. You can get anybody."

With a dramatic sigh, James gave Lily's hand to Sirius and slipped off. Within seconds he was on the floor again, dancing with Marigold. After a few dances Lily left the ballroom and slipped out the main front doors. With all the bodies moving in the room and how close they were to each other made the room quite hot. She had only been leaning against the cool brick wall for about a minute when she heard footsteps. Thinking it would be either James or one of her other friends, Lily pushed herself away from the wall and smiled. However that smile soon vanished as she saw who was approaching.

"Why are you here? You weren't invited."

"I- I heard that you were engaged to him."

"And how would you know that Snivellus?" Lily glared at Snape.

"News travels." Snape shrugged.

"How did you know where to come? Not even I knew where the reception was."

"Followed you. I thought you might get married in the local church and I went to ask the priest."

"He shouldn't have told you. I asked him not to tell anyone, so-" Lily broke off, "Oh my God, you used magic on him didn't you? What was it, the Imperious curse?"

Snape didn't answer, he just shook his head, "Are you going to arrest me?"

"What?" Lily was taken aback.

"Last time I saw you, you said that next time you saw me you'd have to arrest me, because I'm a Death Eater. And you tried. So are you going to arrest me?"

"I can't. It's my wedding Snape, so unless we're about to be attacked and for some reason you're here to warn us, go away."

"Why did you do it, Lily?" Snape asked suddenly stepping forwards, "Why did you marry an obnoxious, arrogant, stupid, idiotic-"

"Shut up!" Lily glared at him, "James is much better than you. He would never follow some crazy murder."

"No, he's not. I'd not be surprised if he's used the Imperius curse on you. You'd never have married someone like Potter, unless you were being controlled."

"Oh and you know me that well do you?"

"Yes Lily I do. You said you hated Potter, but now you're married to him. You're living in a dream, Lily! He's acting and he's completely different to what you think he is. He is all those things but most of all he's an arrogant bastard who doesn't care about you one bit. I-"

"SHUT UP, SNIVELLUS!" Lily shouted. "Why do you have to do this to me? Why? You're ruining my perfect day. NO! Don't you dare come near me!" Lily suddenly whipped her wand out of some kind of hole in her dress.

"LILY!" James appeared at the door, "Snivellus. What the hell are you doing here?" James stepped in front of Lily and drew his own wand.

Snape wasn't able to answer as Sirius and Remus appeared, "Ahh hello, Lily-Petal. Told you she'd be out here, Pron- Snivellus?" Sirius stopped in his tracks. "What are you here for?" He drew his wand and beside him Remus did the same.

"You were not invited." James glared.

"Yeah, go back to your little hovel, Snivellus. We don't want you here."

"I don't care. I wanted to see Lily."

"Lily doesn't-"

"Why would she-"

"I don't want to see you Snivellus. You have just managed to ruin one of the happiest days of my life and unless you leave right now, I will hex you and I don't care how many Muggles see me." Snape took a step back. Lily had interrupted both James and Sirius, to say that to him and both of them were staring at Lily.

"B-but we're friends."

"Ha, friends. I like that. We haven't been friends for almost three years, so don't you dare play that card. Now are you going to leave or do I, my husband and his friends have to jinx you?"

"No, I think I'll-"

But Severus was too late. He had hardly taken a step before five spells hit him.

"Tarantallegra!"

"Rictusempra!"

"Furnunculus!"

"Denseaugeo!"

"Levicorpus!"

The last spell shot Snape into the air, but instead of falling to the ground, he turned into a billow of black smoke and disappeared into the night. It was only when Snape had vanished that Lily, James Sirius and Remus realised that there had been five spells shot. They all turned round and saw Fabian Prewett grinning at them, from the door.

"Hey, I saw you three walk out and thought you were going to have some fun."

"Ha, we are having fun Fab. It's a wedding." James pocketed his wand and took hold of Lily, "Thanks anyway Fab. Come on, Lils, let's get inside. I'm sure it's almost time of pictures and for you to throw your bouquet."

"Okay." Lily sighed and let James lead her back into the ballroom. Before the five of them entered they all made sure that their wands were safely hidden. Sirius' eyes widened as he saw Lily's wand disappeared down her cleavage. She winked at him then took James' hand again and re-entered the hall. All of them tried to forget about Snape turning up, but the fact that he had found out where the wedding was unnerved Lily. But she wasn't able to dwell on it for long as Alice ran up to her.

"Lily!" she shrieked. "Lily, guess what?"

"What?" Lily asked as Alice grabbed her arms.

"Frank proposed! I'm engaged!"

Lily stared at Alice for a second then screamed, "Oh my God! Oh my God, Alice!"

The two girls jumped up and down and then they hurried off to find Marigold and Mary to tell them. Both girls had the same reaction as Lily. By the time the pictures were taken Lily was laughing again. Snape had completely gone from her mind and Lily was thoroughly enjoying herself again. When she threw her bouquet, Marigold and Amy both caught it and in the end Marigold relinquished her grip on the flowers and allowed Amy to take them. After that Lily and James spent the rest of that night and well into the morning dancing. By two o'clock most of the guests had left, and by two thirty, only a handful of people were left. Jane and Adam had already left and had dragged an unhappy Amy with them. Sara and Michael had left soon after them. At four o'clock Lily and James finally left the party. Remus was staying at Lily's old flat for one night, so that the newlyweds could have some time alone. Even though Lily and James had left, the party still continued, but Lily and James couldn't have cared less. They were busy in James' bedroom in the Marauder's flat and were not likely to be disturbed by anything.