Chapter Twenty Six

The long car ride to the church had Lily in a state of nervousness. She didn't even know why she was so anxious. It was Petunia who should be nervous, but Lily just had an uneasy, strange feeling in her stomach. She was just waiting for something to go wrong.

James was feeling the same, but not quite for the same reasons; Lily was worried about the wedding and making Petunia upset. James was worried about the smell under his nose – the smell of danger.

They pulled up outside the church and piled out of the car. Lily could see many people from her childhood walking in with their families. She also spotted a couple of friends and family members she hadn't seen since before Hogwarts times.

James linked his hand with Lily's, his eyes darting around suspiciously. He was on the lookout for anything odd or anyone out of place, but so far, nothing. Lily could see how jumpy he was but she wasn't sure why. She squeezed his hand reassuringly and walking into the church alongside her parents.

It was an old-fashioned church with high ceilings and ancient, beautiful stained-glass windows. Lily wasn't a bridesmaid so she sat in the front row with her mum and James.

More and more peopled filled in and soon all the rows were full. They didn't have to wait long until Vernon and his friends arrived, waddling up to the front. They were all as large or as troll-looking as Vernon, looking like cheeseburgers dressed in black suits.

As soon as the priest stepped onto his podium, music started playing and the doors opened. In walked Petunia, escorted by Mr Evans who was beaming at the crowd proudly. Petunia's dress was plain white and strapless, with a long train and veil. She had insisted that her mother's wedding dress was too old and ugly, so she bought herself a new one.

Petunia glided up to Vernon and kissed her dad on the cheek. As soon as Petunia and Vernon held hands, awaiting the priest's speech, Lily's mother burst into tears next to them, clinging to her husband's arm.

Lily imagined herself and James up there. She smiled to herself.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love of Petunia Evans and Vernon Dursley," the priest began. He went on to say more but James tuned out.

He looked down at Lily's hand, entwined with his. He could definitely imagine himself up there marrying Lily. He felt a chill that ran through his while body, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He felt as though he was being watched. His heart pounded.

James looked over his shoulder slowly and his eyes immediately looked onto a man with a rough, unshaven face and a scar that ran across his eye. The man was looking straight at him.

James pretended not to take notice and looked back around. He squeezed Lily's hand and bent down to her ear. "Don't look but there's someone watching us. This needs to end quickly." He whispered.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide and scared. "There's nothing we can do. Petunia wouldn't listen to me anyway. She would hate me if I ruined this." Lily whispered back hurriedly.

"She won't hate you once we save her and her guests." James said back.

Lily bit her lip. "Let's just see what he does first." She said shortly. She turned back to the priest, who was now instructing Petunia and Vernon to exchange their vows.

Vernon started first, mumbling nonsense to Petunia. She seemed to think it was sweet because she had tears streaming down her face. Then it was her turn.

Lily bounced her knee impatiently. James was right; this had to end quickly. She hated being this vulnerable. But she couldn't. The wedding continued and the man did nothing but sit there and watch them. Petunia and Vernon had their rings on and were about to kiss. Everyone stood up and clapped. Petunia waved, blowing her parents a kiss and then followed Vernon out to their car. The crowd followed, waving goodbye.

Lily and James moved amongst the crowd anxiously, looking out for the mystery man. Lily's hands were shaking.

Once Petunia and Vernon drove away in their black company car bearing the words, "Just married", the gusts started to leave.

Lily searched and searched but the man had disappeared like smoke, nowhere to be seen. James clung to Lily's hand, making sure she was right next to him as they walked back to the car with Mr and Mrs Evans. Lily's mother was still dabbing at her moist eyes.

"I think he's gone." James told Lily quietly, but he still didn't let his guard down.

"What was he doing here? Who was he? How did he know we were here?" She babbled.

"I don't know, Lil. But it's okay; he's gone." James reassured her, draping an arm over her shoulder.

Lily sat in the car on the ride home, shuffled up next to James in the back seat. If the guy was after them, how did he know they would be there? Only Dumbledore, the rest of Marauders and Lily's friends knew anything about the wedding. They definitely weren't in touch with Death Eaters. And they couldn't have been followed, seeing as the travelled by Portkey to her parents' house.

Once they arrived home, James and Lily excused themselves immediately. Lily's mum called after them, reminding them they didn't have much time before they had to leave again to go to the reception. Lily walked upstairs with James behind her. She locked the door.

"What do we do? He kind of just disappeared without a trace." Lily wondered.

"Probably disapparated. I'm just glad he didn't cause any trouble." James sighed, pulling out the chair at Lily's desk and sitting down. Lily sat on the side of her bed facing him.

"What if he comes back and tries to hurt my family?" Lily asked quietly. Sure, they could take him on but the man was a fully-grown, trained wizard but the looks of it. And what if he brought back up? What if he was prepared to kill them? Lily didn't know if she could use an Unforgiveable Curse on anyone. And what if he came back when they weren't around? Did he know where they live?

"I won't let him touch you or anyone." James said boldly. Lily smiled at him.

"Should we tell Dumbledore? Better to be safe than sorry." Lily suggested, playing with the hem of her dress.

"We'll wait and see. If he's there at the reception, we can send one of those Patronus messaged to Dumbledore and he can apparate straight to us." James told her. He also had another way of communicating inside Hogwarts – the two-way mirror he and Sirius use to talk to each other. He would simply speak into the mirror and Sirius would appear if he had the mirror on him, which they usually did. It was one of James' most prized possessions.

Lily stood up and sat on James' lap. He rested his hands on her bare thighs, tracing circles with his index fingers.

"It'll be okay, Lily. I promise you that no one will hurt you or your family while I'm around." He told her quietly, kissing her cheek.

Lily's heart melted and she rested her had back on his shoulder, looking up at him. James gave her an upside-down kiss and ran his finger up the length of her thigh, up her stomach, then through the middle of her chest which made her shiver. How did he manage to turn her on with a single touch?

She let a moan escape her lips and giggle. James grinned.

"How long is it until we're back at Hogwarts? I'm going insane with longing to undress you." James said huskily. Most girls' legs would have turned into jelly and they would've undressed themselves for him on the spot. But Lily just burst out laughing.

James cheek reddened.

"Come on, I've gotta change into my other dress." She told him, standing up. He tried to reach for her slim waist again but she slapped his hands away, grinning. "You'll have to do better than that."

James then leapt up and chased her. She ran as quick as she could to her bathroom where she could lock the door, but James snagged an arm around her and pulled her back. She pushed him roughly and tried to duck under his arm but he caught her again. She was laughing so hard that her stomach hurt and she fell limp in James' arms.

He pushed her up against the wall and held her arms above her head. She panted, trying to get her breath back as James pushed his body against hers. This didn't help at all. She saw James' eyes flicker down to her chest. She blushed and looked up at him through her eyelashes, embarrassed.

"Gotcha." He whispered against her ear, his breath tickling her neck. He ran a train of kissed up her neck and then to her lips, kissing her softly. He let her arms down and Lily cupped his face, momentarily breaking off the kiss long enough to say, "Never leave me."

"Never," he whispered back, "not until the day I die." James switched their positions so he was against the wall. He slid down until he sat on the floor, Lily following suit, straddling his hips. Her chest was still rising and falling, her cheeks flustered. James leant in to kiss her again but Lily placed her hands on his chest gently, stopping him.

"I would love to but we really have to get ready." She told him. They both got up slowly, grinning. Lily walked into the bathroom with her other dress, smiling over her shoulder at him.

The second dress was midnight blue, slightly more flowing which reached just below her knee. It was low cut, designed to hand low over her shoulders. Lily let her hair flow freely for the occasion and reapplied her make up.

James was lucky – he didn't have to change. And Lily had used so much spray in his hair that it was still in place.

He wolf-whistled when Lily immerged from the bathroom. She blushed and twirled in a circle for him.

"You have to stop looking so damn perfect," James told her, "Otherwise all the other man will sweep you away from me."

Lil grinned and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I only have eyes for you." She planted a kiss on his nose. Lily picked up her wand and stuck it in the only place she could – the middle of her chest, between her breasts.

James cocked an eyebrow. "Let me know if you ever need help extracting it." He winked. Lily rolled her eyes and tugged on his arm, pulling him downstairs.

"Let's go kick some creepy guy butt."