24: Until death do you apart.
It was just before the wedding, and Lily was getting dressed in her beautiful wedding gown, and Mai tried her best to help. Beside the mirror hung another dress in a deep green color, Mai supposed it was for the maid of honor. Mai helped her twirl her long dark red hair into a beautiful up do with twinkling pearls, and a long veil.
"Aren't you getting dressed?" Lily asked suddenly? Mai stared at her.
"Of course, I have my dress in my room, I'll just go get it." Mai said and was on her way out the door when Lily laughed.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, I got so caught up in your little romantic problem that I forgot to ask. Mai Santiago, will you be my maid of honor?" Lily asked. Mai spun around, staring wide eyed at her friend.
"But I don't have any speech prepared." Mai said desperately.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to Mai. What's important is that you're there beside me when I wed the love of my life." Lily said seriously. Mai smiled.
"Then of course I'll be your maid of honor." She said and they both squealed girlishly.
Mai got dressed in the dark green dress Lily had picked out, and Lily maid her hair with one swipe of the wand. It was only half an hour until the wedding started, and the men had already left for the headquarters to make everything ready for the bride. Mai left in advance of Lily, and met up with the excited and nervous groom, together with the best man… Sirius. Sirius looked painfully handsome in his dark suit, white shirt and green tie. James was dressed smartly in a tux with a green and silver embroidered vest under the black penguin jacket, with a green bow tie. He had actually tried to smooth his wild dark hair back, but it was still messy. His brown eyes were so eager Mai could barely stop looking at his happy face.
"You look wonderful James. Lily is a very lucky girl." Mai said and gave him a good luck hug. James beamed.
"And I am a very lucky man." He replied. Mai nodded, completely agreeing with him.
"Looking good Sirius." Mai commented, trying to act cool, but she feared she was shining through. He grinned and straightened his tie.
"Sure am, it's not every day your best friend gets married." He said lightly. Mai nodded. He hadn't commented on how he thought she looked, something she would have wanted to know. Thinking back he had never given her a real compliment, except for when he wanted to borrow her homework, and that had often been compliments on her intelligence. Perhaps he thought she wasn't much to compliment on? He had always leaned more towards the blonde ones, like Isolde and Blanche.
"Oh, here she comes." Sirius said, and Mai rushed to stand where she was supposed to. Chairs had been set up in the living room of the Longbottom house, and now only the most prominent Order members and closest friends sat there in silent excitement and amusement. In the middle they had created an aisle which Lily, guided by Albus Dumbledore, came gliding up, like a goddess from a myth. They hadn't taken the chance on contacting Lilys' muggle family due to the dangerous situation in the wizarding community, but Dumbledore had courtly proposed to give her away on behalf of her father.
Mai was just as awed as the rest of the spectators. Lily, for a moment, didn't seem real. Like a fairy princess or angel. Her smile was as bright as the sun, and the glow from her skin was reflected upon every face present. Mai spotted Remus and Peter on the second row. Remus looked up at her with dark eyes, giving her a look that took her back to the seventh grade.
A small band was playing a wonderful melody as Lily floated up to stand beside James in front of the altar. Lily took James hand. They turned to the wizard presiding the wedding. It was a very proud, but small man with a singsong voice.
"Do you, James Potter, promise to honor and love this woman that stands beside you, and protect her by every means possible, until death does you apart?" The small wizard asked James who almost jumped up and down.
"Yes, I do." He answered and smiled down at Lily who smiled radiantly back at him. Mai felt tears fill her eyes and discreetly dried them away. She met Sirius gaze across from the happy couple. His grey eyes observed her as if he had never seen her clearly before. When he noticed her look, he grinned and turned back to the Sirius she knew, who looked at her like a buddy. Mai grinned back, trying to hide every ounce of feelings she might have for the man.
"Yes, I do." Lily answered. And they kissed as the wizard swung his wand over their heads, stars and glitter fluttered above their heads as the crowd cheered in wild delight.