Chapter 25

James had never dressed up in a muggle wedding attendee clothes, the wizard dress robes were close but going to Lily's sister's wedding, he wanted to be as close to looking like a muggle as he could. Padfoot was no help in the scenario as he had himself been surrounded by magic folks all his life, Wormtail too was sailing in the same boat as them; Moony on the other hand had a muggle mother and he had asked James if he wanted his help getting clothes for the wedding. James had of course said yes; when he reached where Moony had asked to meet him, he saw Moony had bought his mother along, for which James was very thankful.

"Mrs. Lupin," James rushed to Hope Lupin, Moony's mother with a grin. "James dear," Hope gave James a motherly hug before holding him at an arm's length, "You've gotten taller since the last time I saw you," she said in a matter-of-fact voice, "Why don't you all visit us more often?" she asked, as James took her hand and draped it over his own forearm leading the way. "With everything going on, it gets a little difficult," James answered, "I hope you start visiting us more often," Hope frowned. "Remus told me about Lily and you," Hope cooed, and James looked at Moony who simply shrugged.

Mrs. Lupin helped James find wonderful clothes and invited him over for tea where he spent a delightful afternoon with Remus and his parents. Before leaving, he thanked Mrs. Lupin for her help and promised to visit them more often.

Lily was waiting outside the venue for James to show up, who would be there any second now. She was hoping that he had opted for a muggle mode of transportation and shows up in muggle clothes. But when James did arrive, Lily could not believe her own eyes. He was wearing a plain grey trench coat that fell to his knees, underneath it, Lily could see a darker shade of grey lined suit and matching tie. His hazel eyes quickly landed on Lily and widened before he composed his face and ran his fingers through his hair, that seemed just like it had when he came to visit Lily's parents. Could James have not looked this handsome? Lily knew she was going to have a hard time keeping her eyes to herself.

James swallowed hard when he saw Lily in a quarter sleeved, green skater dress that bought out her gorgeous eyes, it fell just above her knees. She had her hair tied up in a French twist updo, with little locks of her soft red hair falling at the side of her delicate, fair face. "It should be a crime to look that gorgeous," James smirked as he greeted Lily at the entrance, "You are one to talk," Lily gave James a peck on his lips and looked at him for a brief moment. "Let's go inside, the ceremony would be starting shortly," She told James, who nodded and proceeded to take her hand in his own and they both walked inside the small chapel where Petunia and Vernon were getting married.

"We are right here," Lily told James, pointing towards the third last row, corner seats. He looked at Lily and immediately frowned when he saw Lily trying to fake a smile and failing miserably. He pressed his lips to the back of her hand and Lily gave him a small smile. "James!" Mrs. Evans put her hand on James' shoulder as he was about to take his seat, he quickly turned to greet Mrs. Evans. "Mrs. Evans," he shook her hand, and Mrs. Evans proceeded to touch her cheek with his, blowing a kiss. "Might I say, you look beautiful Mrs. Evans," James complimented Lily's mother genuinely and she gave him a huge grin. "Also, my parents thanked you for the cookies, they absolutely loved them," James added quickly. "Oh! I am so glad they did, and I am so glad that you made it," Mrs. Evans said enthusiastically, she was soon rushed by some relative James assumed. "I am sorry, Petunia needs my help, excuse me," Mrs. Evans excused herself, giving an apologetical smile to Lily, that James didn't miss.

Petunia and Vernon's wedding had been a big affair. James had watched Lily hold back her tears as she watched her sister walk down the aisle with her father and exchange vows with the man she loved. Every now and then, Lily would look at James from under her lashes and James would flash her a smile. When Petunia and Vernon walked out of the chapel as a married couple, everyone rose and applauded the newly married couple, who looked very much in love and very happy.

The room where the reception was going to take place was filled with excited chatter and children running around merrily. When Petunia and Vernon entered the room, everyone stood up and applause spread across the room. The newly married couple made their way to the head table, smiling and holding hands. Lily was, again, made to sit with James at a corner table; but to James it looked like she couldn't care less about where she sat as long as she saw her sister happy on her big day.

Petunia and Vernon shared their first dance, both happy in each other's embrace. That was probably the first time James had seen Vernon smile. His hand was resting on Petunia's back, who had her hand draped on his shoulder as they turned and twirled on the dance floor, hundreds of eyes watching them in awe.

Once people started going up to Petunia and Vernon to congratulate them, James decided that it was time for him go up to them and to congratulate them as well and if possible, apologize to Vernon. "Lily let's go meet your sister and your new brother-in-law," James told Lily with a grin. Lily paused for a moment and then nodded, "Yes," getting up from her chair, James copied her actions.

They both walked up to Petunia and Vernon, who were talking to Vernon's relatives with happy grins on their face. As soon as Vernon saw James and Lily walking towards them, he put his hand on his new bride's back and whispered something in her ear, that made her glance towards James and Lily before walking away with Vernon, leaving the two wizards standing in the middle of the room dumbfounded.

"They must be busy, with so many guests to attend to," James quickly took Lily's hand as he watched the smile disappear from her lips. "Ye – yeah," Lily nodded. "How about – I steal you for a dance and then we go find Petunia and Vernon again?" James turned towards Lily. A smile finally appeared on her face and she nodded, "I would love that."

Lily's heavenly eyes shone as she placed her delicate hand in James' hand; he placed his hand on her tiny waist and whisked her onto the dance floor and they turned and twirled as if they were professionals. People dancing around them stopped abruptly as they saw what could only be described as a truly magical moment unfold in front of their eyes. James wasn't any average dancer, he knew exactly what he was doing and how he was to lead Lily through the dance. While they danced in their own little bubble, leaving enough space for everyone already on the dance floor to dance, people seemed to enjoy watching them move on the music, as fluidly as water.

"This reminds me of last Christmas," James whispered in Lily's ear, "Yes," Lily agreed, her cheeks turning pink. "I never thought I would have a chance to dance with you again," James told Lily, "Why not?" Lily's brows creased together, "Well, you didn't like me back then," James shrugged. "Should I tell you a secret?" Lily whispered in James' ear before he twirled her around, making her chuckle. "Go on," he encouraged her with a smile. Lily looked into his bewitching hazel eyes and spoke slowly, "I figured out that I liked you that same night." James was tongue-tied, and Lily chuckled looking down at their hands. "Had I known, I would've kissed you," James told her, "Good thing you didn't, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to stay away from you," Lily rolled her eyes, trying to conceal her shy smile. "That was the plan all along," James smirked, capturing Lily's lips with his own.

When the song ended, James saw Petunia talking to her mother and Vernon talking to some guests, a little away from each other. He instantly came up with an idea, "Lily, how about you go talk to Petunia? She is not occupied now," He pulled Lily away from the crowd and towards Petunia, "What about you?" Lily asked, "I'll go congratulate Vernon," James grinned. "Alone?" Lily looked at James in horror, "Are you scared for him or me?" James jested, but Lily simply narrowed her eyes. "James," Lily sighed as he rushed her towards Petunia, "Go now, she'll get engaged with someone else," James told Lily. "I'll be back before you know it," James promised her and watched as Lily timidly walked to her sister and her mother.

Taking a deep breath, James walked to Vernon, in the hopes of apologizing to him and fixing things for Lily and Petunia. He saw Vernon catch a glimpse of him from the corner of his mean blue eyes, and half expected him to walk away again but Vernon just pretended to not have seen James. "By the way, who is the bloke your bride's sister is with?" one of the guests, tall and skinny asked Vernon. "Oh!" Vernon started, and James paused a few inches away from Vernon, "He is some kind of amateur magician," Vernon paused to look over his shoulder where James stood frozen, his hand clenched in a fist. "Let me introduce you to my bride," Vernon quickly rushed his guests away to meet Petunia, leaving behind a stunned James.

Suddenly James felt a hand on his wrist, and he turned around to find Lily, her eyes welled up. "What happened?" James felt his heart drop to his stomach, he took her hands in his own huge hands. "We are leaving," Lily tried to pull James, but she could hardly move him against his will. "Oi Evans," James tucked his index finger under her chin and lifted her face to look into her incredible eyes. "No James, you know that was an insult," Lily's voice was wobbly. "He is a muggle, he doesn't know," James lied. Anyone with half the wit of Vernon would also know that calling a wizard a mere magician would be considered offensive. "He does!" Lily exclaimed. "Look, we'll just sit at our seats and enjoy the evening," James creased Lily's cheek, who snorted and rolled her eyes. "We'll be one of the earliest to leave, not the first, but the earliest," James promised Lily, she huffed and agreed to join James back to their table.

Anger swirled through Lily, and she used every ounce of self-control to keep from any accidents happening. With every glance towards James, Lily felt a pang of guilt. He had come to the wedding on her invitation, and he had been repeatedly insulted, not just on the wedding but the other day as well. Lily had a fair idea of how much Petunia hated everything related to magic, but Vernon went a little too far, and to think James was going to apologize to Vernon! Had Lily not heard what Vernon said about James, James would have never told her!

As soon as guests started leaving, Lily reminded James of his promise and he agreed to leave with her. "I will let my parents know, don't go anywhere," Lily instructed, making James chuckle, "Alright." He watched as Lily made her way to her parents and they nodded to her almost instantly. James picked up his trench coat and got up from his chair as Lily walked back to him. "Let's go," Lily held her hand out for James to take but before taking her hand, James quickly slid his trench coat onto her thin arms and pulled it closer to her. "It would be getting cold outside," James told her with a smile and then proceeded to take her hand. "Won't you get cold?" Lily looked up at him as they both made their way out of the reception hall. "I am wearing more clothes than you Evans," James winked.

It was biting cold outside, and Lily was so thankful for James' trench coat, otherwise she would have frozen. James was going to stay at Lily's place for the night and Lily was just as excited to have him over as he would have been when Lily came to his place. "I hate travelling like a muggle," James complained as they walked back to Lily's home. The reception hall was a few blocks away from her home and Lily thought it would be better to just walk rather than wait for a taxi. "We are pretending to be muggles right now," Lily chuckled. "Speaking of which, how did I do? Could I have been passed off as a muggle?" James grinned, "Not really," Lily pouted, "I haven't seen a muggle as handsome as you," Lily smirked. "I see I am rubbing off on you," James winked. "Yeah, I spend too much time with you, I should be spending more time with other people," Lily jested. "Should you now?" James narrowed his eyes at Lily, a mischievous grin forming on his lips. "Maybe," Lily let go of James hand and started walking faster as she chuckled. "Maybe?" James chuckled, covering the distance with two long strides before Lily broke into a sprint, James jogging right behind her, as the neighbours heard the echoes of their laughter and cheerful banter.

Lily and James walked into an empty and dark house. Lily turned the lights on, and locked the main door behind themselves and suddenly they were both hypervigilant of each other's presence in the hallway, only the two of them and no one else. Lily shrugged out of James' trench coat, "I will – just – hang it here," she spoke as she hung the trench coat on the coat hanger standing near the door. "Yeah," James nodded and cleared his throat. "Would you like tea or something?" Lily asked as she walked to the drawing room, James following her hot on her heels. "No," James shook his head.

The two settled down on the couch next to each other and kept glancing in each other's direction, without saying a word. The atmosphere in the room seemed to thicken with every second passing, until Lily couldn't take it anymore and shifted closer to James. "I am sorry for today," Lily started, "Don't apologize," James turned towards her. Lily put her hand over James' hand and looked at him from under her lashes, "Also – thank you – I wouldn't have been able to make it through today without you," she added. "Always a pleasure to be with you Evans," James grinned, Lily frowned and put her free hand on James' cheek, creasing it gently as she tilted her head to the right.

"I love you," Lily spoke in a low voice, James had never heard her so vulnerable, before closing her eyes and pressing her lips onto James' lips. His own hand found their way to Lily's tiny waist, and his fingers traced her spine, leaving tingling sensations all over her body.

Lily melted into James' arms as he deepened the kiss and pulled Lily onto his lap. Lily's hands moved to James' hair, her fingers entangled. She could feel butterflies emerge in her stomach and her heart pounding like a machine gun. James' hands found their way to Lily's thighs, creasing her skin delicately and then moved back to her waist, where his fingers lingered and they both parted their lips, breathing heavily. They rested their foreheads against each other's but kept their eyes closed. "Merlin!" James whispered, "I think we should stop," Lily could hear him chuckle.

His words made her frown and she pulled her face back to get a clear look of his face. James' eyes were still closed, biting down on his lower lip, he looked just as irresistible to Lily as he had when she first saw him today. "I don't want to stop," Lily whispered, before leaning in, she gazed her lips on James' lips. "You are a bloody tease," James remarked, a smirk forming on his face. "Should we stop?" Lily asked, whispering against his lips.

James held her up in his arms, and in the next second, Lily was pinned under him, "No," he whispered back, capturing her lips fervently with his own, his hands on her waist, holding her in her place. Lily's hands found their way to James' biceps that were already flexed under her touch as James held onto Lily's tiny waist.

"No! We should stop!" James pulled back, breathing heavily, but his hands still remained on her waist. "Why?" Lily frowned, opening her eyes to see James' eyes still closed, his brows creased together. "Because if we don't stop, then we won't stop," James took a deep breath and opened his eyes. His marvellous hazel eyes stared right into Lily's eyes, as if trying to find her soul. Lily pushed the hair falling on James' eyes away with her index finger. "I love you," James creased Lily's cheek, without looking away from her eyes, "I love you too," Lily replied, her heart leaping at James' and her own words – not just words but the sincerity behind those words.

James pressed his lips to Lily's forehead before releasing her from his grip and helping her settle on the couch. It wasn't long before Lily's parents returned home and the two of them finally felt as if the atmosphere in the room wasn't the same as before. James showed Lily how he had bought everything he needed for the night in the inside pocket of the coat, on which he had put undetectable extension charm. "I like to travel light," James had jested, Mr. Evans was not only curious but delighted to see the use of magic. "How many things can it fit?" Mr. Evans had asked James, "As many as I would like," James answered with a smile. "Wow! How convenient, this is wonderful," he commented happily.

That night Lily had a hard time falling asleep, knowing that James was in the room just opposite to her own room and the little adventure they had on the couch kept popping up in her mind. James had never kissed her like that before. James on the other hand was sound asleep, having travelled by muggle means for the first time in his life, he was exhausted to say the least. He was glad that he could leave by wizarding methods rather than wasting a whole lot of his day by travelling. But for now, James was just happy to be in a warm bed, sleeping peacefully.

When Hogwarts Express was returning after Christmas break, Mrs. And Mr. Evans had told Lily that they were going to drop her off to Platform 9 ¾ . Lily knew her parents missed both their daughters and even more so since Lily had joined the Order and now that Petunia was married and had moved in with Vernon to London. So, Lily did not complain when they had accompanied her, as a matter of fact, Lily was able to introduce them to the Marauders, who were very much a part of Lily's life since she had gotten together with James.

"Mrs. Evans, Mr. Evans," James greeted Lily's parents happily, and they seemed equally happy to see James on the platform. "My parents have come to drop me off to, they would be here any minute," James told them. "These are James' friends," Lily continued as she spotted the Marauders standing behind James idly. "I've already told you about Remus," Lily said with a smile, Lily's parents had heard about Remus since when he and Lily became prefects and Lily had also pointed in his direction when they had come to drop her off in the beginning of 6th year. Remus shook hands with Lily's parents and smiled at them warmly, "This is Sirius Black," Lily grinned, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Evans," Sirius shook hands with whom he believed to be his best friend's future father-in-law, and then proceeded to shake hands with his best friend's future mother-in-law, "Mrs. Evans," he gave her his charming smile. "And this is Peter Pettigrew," who mumbled a shy hello and shook hands with Lily's parents.

"James dear," Lily recognized the voice immediately, it belonged to Mrs. Potter. She watched as Mrs. And Mr. Potter made their way towards the group. "Oh Lily! How wonderful to see you again," Mrs. Potter gave Lily a quick hug and Mr. Potter smiled at Lily as she mumbled "Hello Mr. Potter," with a smile and he patted her shoulder. "Are they your parents?" Mrs. Potter asked Lily, who nodded in response. "Hello, I am Euphemia, this is my husband Fleamont, we are James' parents," Mrs. Potter introduced herself to Mrs. And Mr. Evans. Mr. Evans and Mr. Potter shook hands, as the Marauders and Lily exchanged glances. "You have such a wonderful daughter, so talented, you must be so proud!" Mrs. Potter cooed looking at Lily and then at Mrs. Evans, who beamed with happiness and Mr. Evans whose chest swell up with pride. "You must be proud of your son too, I've never met a boy so mature for his age," Mrs. Evans smiled at James. "Yes, James is finally growing up," Mrs. Potter chuckled, and James tried to hide the heat rising to his ears.

The parents continued to chatter till the train whistled loudly, signalling for it's departure in a few minutes. "Alright mum! I will see you and dad soon," James gave his parents a hug, "Take care both of you," Lily instructed her parents who kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. They both then bid each other's parents goodbye as well before the Marauders said their goodbyes to both sets of parents, Sirius hugging James' parents and they rushed to Hogwarts express, which was due to leave any minute.

A/N: Hey Readers,

No reviews? Let me know what you think of the story and if you would be interested in sticking for the story with about five more chapters. I would be waiting to hear from all of you! Also, hit the Follow and Favourite button if you like the story!

Thanks!

-JT