Magic That Shines Green

Chapter Twenty Five: Mistaken Promise

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Beta read by Clo Salvatore.

End of School.

-l-Third-l-

James fiddled absently with the box, and as they walked down to dinner, he grew increasingly nervous.

All through the feast, he continued to look down the table every few seconds, and then would continue staring at his plate. Lily was sitting across from Remus, deep in talk about exams. And then suddenly, Sirius nudged James, deciding he had waited long enough.

" Lily?"

She turned from her conversation with Remus and Alice. 'He will not!' she mouthed furiously at Alice before turning around.

She turned, her eyes widening in fear and shock.

" Lily, I-" James began.

" OI! My brother would like to say something!" Sirius shouted.

All heads made the slow swivel to face James Potter, and Sirius Black, who waved cheerily at everyone. A few girls waved back, but all others gazed at James.

James took a deep breath, and then he got down on one knee, looking at Lily, who bit her lip.

" I love you Lily, and I know you love me back. This war is unpredictable, people are dying, but one thing that will never die is my love for you. And I know I'm an idiot sometimes and I make foolish choices, but you, being my girlfriend, that's one thing I will never regret. And I don't want my last mistake to be never asking you to be mine forever. So will you marry me? I won't ask you again, I won't chase you for six years and try to make you say yes. if you say no, you can walk out of my life, but know that you'll never get another chance," James told her.

She looked at Alice, who already had tears running down her cheeks, and Lily tried to smile, but only felt her heart break a little more.

She looked across the tables, her eyes searching the faces, and finally, her eyes locked on a pair of black eyes.

" James..." she began, and attempted to meet his eyes. " I love you, and I'll swear it to the heavens and back, but I can't. I can't...I'm so sorry..." she whispered.

James's shocked eyes locked on Lily's eyes, and he saw all of his pain, reflected equally back in her eyes.

His throat had already stopped working, it hurt, it burned not to speak, but he tried. " Lily, please..."

" I said no Potter!" she shouted, standing up, her eyes burning with tears. He got up, and they faced each other, for a full minute, nothing was said.

She was the first to move, her hand going to her neck, and she closed her eyes, right before she tore her heart out, and it crashed to the ground. The locket hit the ground, in the dead silence, and she looked up to meet James's eyes once more before she ran.

Alice and Remus met each other's eyes in horror. Sirius leapt up, wanting to keep his best mate from hurting anyone.

But James only watched her go, and then walked out, not following her, but walking to get away. Sirius looked at Alice, and then he ran after James.

Alice nodded to Remus, and then ran to follow Lily.

Only Remus remained, with Peter in shock next to him.

Suddenly, Annabelle burst out laughing. " I told him! I told him she'd leave! And he didn't believe me!" she shouted, even as she laughed.

Remus glared at her, but unable to do anything, he simply picked up the broken necklace, and braced himself to pick up the pieces of their relationship.

Across the room, those black eyes softened, and pain stabbed at those eyes, drawing in the pain. As he watched the lovers torn apart, but not all in his doing. Most of it was her choice entirely. So why she said no was a secret entirely. A secret masked over by the pain and tears.

And that's how the story goes. A proposal that ended in a no.

That proposal that sent them hurdling on, and the one that tore them apart.

But it is fate, written in the stars above that decide the fate of these two lovers.

Attention, before you leave a flame. Or any screaming review, take a deep breath.

Now, I'll tell you, there is a sequel, so before you go up in flames just stay with me for the sequel. That's where all the good stuff actually happens. Not that this wasn't a brilliant fanfic.

The Sequel is called Into Emerald Flames.

And if anyone cares, why I named this Magic That Shines Green: Well now you'll understand. Because when I talk about the magic that 'shines green' I'm talking about the Killing Curse. Not in this sense though. In this sense I'm saying that when Lily said no to marrying James, it was like killing him...because he loves her.