EPILOGUE:

The Proposal

Lily looked 'round the room from where she was sitting with Marlene and Dorcas at a corner. The hall was wrapped in whites, flowers magicked so that it floated in mid-air every few feet. At another corner stood Alice, her face radiant and she looked happier than Lily had ever seen her, arm in arm with her now husband, Frank Longbottom. They looked so...perfect together. They had been dating since they were in their sixth year, and it was inevitable that they'll end up married, but Lily was still shocked when her best friend had officially declared it. "Aren't you too young to get married, Alice?" Lily had said, to which Alice had shook her head and said grimly, "We don't know what might happen tomorrow, so we mustn't waste time. This is a war Lils, and people die every day".

She had a point, Lily agreed. The Order had provided special protection for the wedding, which was taking place in a Muggle wedding hall. As one of bridesmaids, Lily had quite a lot of work to do, and was now chatting away merrily with Marlene, her fellow bridesmaid.

She felt a tickle in her left ear, and moved her head to her side to see James' face inches away from her, plastered with a grin.

"May I have a minute?" he asked politely.

"Of course you may" Lily said, rolling her eyes. She bid Marlene goodbye, got to her feet, and followed her boyfriend. To her surprise, James led him out of the hall.

"James, where are we-?" she asked, but James shook his head, and said "I want to show you something".

Wondering what on earth might be going on in his head, she followed him.

They walked up a few stairs and right out of a trapdoor. James got out of it first, held out his head, which Lily gratefully took, as she doubted whether she could climb in her gown. She got out of it, and looked at James inquiringly.

"What is it?" she asked.

As if in answer, James, smiling, waved his hand around him elegantly. Lily looked around and gasped.

The view was breathtaking. They were on the terrace and could see most of the city from here. The tall buildings, from which light was distinctly visible, the lamps on the road, which shot through the dark night. She looked up and saw that tonight the sky was clear, and the stars were twinkling down at them.

"You like it?" she heard James' voice and looked at him.

"I love it" she breathed.

James grinned and looked at the view too.

"I found out about it this morning, when I came to check on the arrangements. Thought you might like it" he said, his hands deep in his suit pocket. He looked at her, taking in her entire get up for the tenth time that evening (yes, Lily had been counting).

"But the view is nothing compared to the one standing next to me" he said softly, taking one of her hands in his. Lily blushed.

"Honestly, how many times are you going to say that I look nice tonight?"

"As many as I please" he answered simply. "It's not my fault that you're so stunning".

"And had I mentioned how devilishly handsome you look?" Lily remarked, a smirk on her lips.

James gave her hand a light squeeze and said "You needn't. The way you looked at me was answer enough". He messed up his hair, something he did when he was nervous. A habit of which from despising, she'd come to adore.

"The wedding was beautiful, was it not?" Lily asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, it was really great. I had never enjoyed myself so much at a wedding before" James said, looking over at the view. Soft music was playing out from the reception hall, and they knew that the ball had started.

"We should get back" Lily said, looking behind her.

"Why?" James asked, rather hurt.

"The ball's started, idiot" Lily replied, looking at him. "We are to dance".

"We can do that anywhere" James said, and again looked over at the street below. "We can do that even here".

"Here?" Lily questioned, her eyebrows raised.

"Yes" James smiled softly, taking her hands in his again "here, just the two of us".

"You romantic bastard" Lily groaned, but obliged gratefully. She'd rather be with him alone.

Lily put one hand on his shoulder and held the other tightly in her other hand. James' free hand was resting on her waist. And so they danced, to the music coming out of the half open trapdoor, they danced. None of them were that good, but it didn't matter. Lily was having more fun like this than she would've done in the hall. James twirled her, and she laughed, moving closer to him. She put both of her hands on his shoulder and he rested his on her waist. They danced slowly, looking at each other's eyes, and for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of them. They were in a war, where people died everyday, but that thought didn't even come to the two teenagers, as they danced under the starry night sky, their eyes fixed on each other.

Suddenly, the music stopped, but they didn't let go of each other. Their eyes were boring into each other. James put a hand on her face, and gently whisked away a stray hair from her face. She was looking so beautiful that his heart skipped a few beats. He knew what he was doing, and was almost positive that she'd agree...but the thought of 'what if' scared him. He swallowed, and patted his suit pocket.

"Are you okay?" she asked him suddenly.

"Yeah, of course" he answered, not meeting her gaze. He didn't know whether he was okay or not.

"I don't think so" she said, looking at him, suddenly quite serious. She put a hand on his face, and made him to look at her. "What's wrong love?" she asked softly.

"Nothing's wrong Lils" James answered, taking her hand in his. And quite as suddenly, he didn't feel scared anymore. If one word from her could make him feel so better, he'll spend the rest of his life with her. He didn't doubt her love, and himself loved her unconditionally. And with that sudden inspiration, he did it.

He bent down on one knee, looking at her straight in the eye, and slowly took out the small box from his pocket, and opened it.

Lily gasped, her heart stopping. The ring was beautiful, unlike any other she'd ever seen, with a big diamond embedded on it. She looked at her boyfriend. He looked slightly nervous, but determined.

"Lily Evans" he said, and his voice shook slightly, and came out rather hoarse. He cleared his throat and began again.

"Lily Evans, I've loved you from the moment my eyes fell on you. Of course, I didn't know what it meant back then, but as the years rolled by, by love for you had only increased.I know that I'd been an idiot back in school, that I'd embarrassed you on many occasions, and I'm sorry for that. You're the most awesome girl I know Lils, and I can't imagine to spend the rest of my life with anyone else. So will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Lily stared at him as he finished his speech, and breathed. Of course, she knew the answer. She wanted to marry him! But she just couldn't bring herself to say it. Her throat felt oddly constricted. She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Will you marry me, Evans?" James repeated, and he sounded distinctly scared. Lily looked at his hazel eyes which were staring into her green ones, and smiled. She could do this.

"Yes" she whispered, as a single tear rolled down her cheek. James grinned and slid the ring into her ring finger. He didn't let go of her hand as he stood up and cupped her face.

"Thank you" he murmured.

"You thought I would not want to marry you?" Lily asked, half laughing.

"No, not that" he said honestly "but well...maybe a bit".

"That would never happen as just like you, I can never dream of any other man being by my side" Lily muttered.

James caressed her lips and she bit it. The cold night air whipped around them, making them shiver. They moved closer to each other for the warmth, so close, that there wasn't any gap left between them. James leaned in and captured her lips in a slow kiss. Lily pulled him a bit closer by the cuff of his collar and deepened the kiss. His strong arms wrapped around her waist, and he moved his tongue out. Lily obliged and parted her lips so that his tongue slipped in and lingered with her own. How long they were they did not know. Standing on the rooftop, savoring the taste of each other, while the breeze fluttered around them. Finally, they parted, eyes locked on each other.

"I love you" Lily whispered after some time.

"I love you too" James replied softly.

"Shall we go back? It's cold out here?" Lily said hesitantly. James sighed.

"Yeah, you're right. As always" he added. Lily smiled and arm in arm, with her boyfriend- no, with her fiance, she went inside the hall, to announce the happy news to their friends.

A/N: There you go, it's finished. This was the chapter I was looking forward to from the beginning, and finally it's done.I hope you liked the whole book, and if yes, then leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on the whole.See you some time soon, I guess. 'Till then, stay safe!~Nat