Authors Note: I have worked on this chapter with my writing partner from work, she is dastardly evil but this time around she has managed to tame it down. And below are the beginnings of a song, written by me and the music provided by my one of my closest friends from university.

I have passed my theory test this week so I am soooooo happy! I will soon be driving :) :) :)

Claimer: I own Erin Jackson, Harry Evans, Paige Howlett and any others you don't recognise.

Disclaimer: I don't own HP characters or the world to which they belong.

To my ex- you clearly didn't want me despite the after thought- but I won't be anyone's after thought.

My husband loves me universally without condition. And he CHOSE TO STAY. Never underestimate the power of that ladies and gents.

The one who stayed he had my heart last and decided to keep it.

\/\/\/\/\

I see your face and you look away

Running away from your heart

You are begging me to stay

Leaving my ghosts at the start

I need to leave just let me be

This heart needs to learn

To show me how to be me

Out here in the wilds...

Lu and Fa Sto 2019

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Chapter 5

Crashed the Wedding

March 1979

After James and Sirius had left the office a subdued silence filled the space. Albus reached out to stroke Fawkes who cried mournfully beneath his touch. Shacklebolt had left by way of the floo network and Albus was left with only his phoenix for company, the birds' mournful lament calmed him - Fawkes was able to collect the emotional fallout from Sirius' rather emotional and angered outrage when Albus suggest sending James on a mission from where no one could return. There was a distinct possibility that Albus was wrong, his previous dalliance with such magic had not ended entirely how he had hoped. Time had an annoying habit of running short when all you needed was more of it. He looked down at the time turner still contained within his magic it was starting to spiral and tiny grains of sand were still trickling back and forth in a perfect balance as the silver rings obscured each other spinning steadily within the parameters of the charm acting upon it.

Diverting his attention was a sharp knock on the door. Carefully moving around his desk, he pressed his palm against the door which dissolved underneath his touch revealing only to him the persons standing on the other side of the door.

'Aberforth.'

'Albion' said Aberforth. Albus bristled at the sound of his brother deliberate use of the nickname he detested. Immediately making his self comfortable sitting down Aberforth's eyes widened at the sight of the time turner. 'Hogwarts or Ministry?'

'Neither are likely to be of interest to you Aberforth.'

'Merlin forbid the greatest Dumbledore bless one with an explanation for his actions.' Aberforth glowered at Albus who had turned his attention back to Fawkes. 'Still love animals more than people I see'

'They possess a greater understanding than most wizards I believe' said Albus lovingly caressing Fawkes. 'What can I do for you this evening, Aberforth?'

Irritated but not in the least bit surprised his brother was paying more attention to Fawkes than him 'For once you are going to help me. I've 'erd things. Things I should not be hearing, what is it you are up too?'

'Your concern for my affairs Aberforth is duly noted.'

'Albus talk for 'Mind my own beeswax' is that' Aberforth muttered darkly fiddling with a gold ring on his left hand. 'I wanted to ask you straight out- is it true that you are forming an army to fight him? You're recruiting students?'

'Aberforth. They are off age-'

'Monty Potter know you're sending his boy-'

'I don't know what you have heard Aberforth but James Potter makes his own decisions-' Albus watched a small throaty chuckle left Aberforth's mouth.

'Not. What. I. Heard.' Aberforth replied sharply. 'Those wizards are not for you to play with like you played with Ariana.' A low disgruntled growl in his voice surveying Albus with great mistrust and dislike. At the mention of Ariana Aberforth expected his older brother to recoil even slightly but when he didn't Aberforth narrowed his eyes and slowly inclined his head. 'You never change do you Albus.'

'You said you came here to ask me Aberforth. The rumours you think you have heard-' Albus said choosing to ignore the slight about their sister he calmly placed his hand covetingly over the time turner. Fawkes sipped eagerly at his bowl. 'And the wizards in my employ are of age.'

'That time piece-' said Aberforth jerking his head at the table where it was still gently rotating. Albus placed it between his hands and his eyes stared hard at the rotating silver rings till the time turner had shrunk to the size of a tiny trinket, small enough to wear on a chain.

'Is not your concern.'

'Yes it was and still is. You hurt more people than you help. Tinker never got over it you know... And not to mention what you did to Gellert and the disobedient behaviour-' Aberforth reminded him with a stern smile which Albus did not return.

'I am growing weary of your constant interfering when it comes to my affairs Aberforth.' Albus snapped. 'What I choose to do at this school and not to mention in my life isn't really anything you should concern yourself with. Nor should Tinker or the others.'

\/\/\/\/\/\

James' feet hit the ground hard. He hitched his jeans up and checked he wasn't splinched before casting a gaze over Sirius to ensure no splinching had been inflicted, they walked unscathed into their apartment. Sirius flicked the lights on and saw that Erin was lying in the exact same spot they had left her over an hour ago. James strolled straight into the kitchen in search of the drink that had been denied him at The Shaftesbury.

Erin had her back to Sirius when he entered the living room her head was resting to one side her eyes tightly closed she was writhing against the sofa cushions with a smile across her face as her chest gently rose. Sirius lowering his head slowly he brushed his lips atop of her forehead. She stirred, her eyes half open Sirius then kissed her sweetly. His broken lips caressed the soft curve of her cheek.

Erin reacting swiftly to his touch couldn't help but smile as their lips parted. 'You're back in one piece. I always think its a good thing when you walk through the door with all your limbs attached to your body.' She said stretching her arms and placing them around Sirius' neck.

'Of course.' Sirius grinned his dark long hair falling into her face. He kissed her swiftly before her arms could pull him down. 'You had a productive day I see?'

'Don't I always have productive days when I'm not working' yawning Erin moved her papers off the couch and let Sirius sit down. In the kitchen James was making as much noise as a stampede of baby hippogriffs as he slammed cupboards open and shut groaning in frustration as he searched for something stronger than tea.

'I take it your meeting upset him?' suggested Erin cradling her body into the warm embrace of her boyfriend who placed an arm around her shoulders in an adoring way, had it not been a few rough days Erin would certainly have stayed at home with her flat mate but her desire to be with Sirius was fast becoming her obsession.

'There were complications' Sirius explained. 'Dumbledore has this crazy arse plan about using Time Magic to stop Voldemort. The logic doesn't add up- even by Dumbell standards...'

'Sirius' James slammed a cupboard door shut staring pointedly at Sirius. 'Don't tell her anything-'

Swivelling her head a confused look on her face Erin said. 'Er excuse me why shouldn't he?'

James didn't falter under her angered expression as much as Sirius so often did. 'You don't need to be dragged into this Erin. This is a job for Sirius and me to do. It is too dangerous for you-' and Erin jumped to her feet.

'Do I look like a Lily!?' she glowered at him. 'Don't fucking try treat me like your golden princess James Potter or you will learn just how much of a princess I am not. If I need to remind you who came top in Arms and Disarming? I have no problem jogging your memory.'

'I wouldn't ignore her James.' Sirius interjected pulling his girlfriend back down onto the sofa. 'You need to really consider the consequences, and I know that isn't something that comes naturally to you.' He added glimpsing the annoyed look on James' face.

'I don't want people to get hurt. And I do care about the consequences-'

'With the greatest degree of respect here James your actions might have consequences deeper than you realise. There is a simple answer to all of this. We win this war. We beat him, so stop being such a sanctimonious git. You can't do this alone.'

James threw his head back laughing.

'Did I say something funny?' said Erin narrowing her eyes at James.

'You calling me sanctimonious. I find that hilarious.'

'My witch isn't entirely wrong.' Sirius said. James broke his attention from Erin and carefully considered Sirius' words. 'You have a decision to make James, which concerns us all.'

'We are all in this together, wars are not won by generals James. They are won by soldiers which regrettably is what we are' countered Erin. 'And as for Lily, well...don't you think you should talk to her about it before you vanish completely from her life? I presume that is what you're plans entail of course.'

James snorted. 'See. Hilarious'

'Now you're just being a prick.' Retorted Erin glancing for support toward Sirius she added 'you should think about working together, Sirius?'

'Erin lay of a little. He knows we always work together.' He muttered squeezing her hand gently. 'James why don't you tell Lily your plans?.'

'Because she would try and stop him. That's why!' said Erin. 'And you don't want Lily to stop you, do you? Even if it means you lose everyone else in the process.'

Over an hour later Sirius had lured Erin away from James' orbit even slipping her an Invisible Dream draught into her usual evening drink. There was the usual yells and cat calls from the top floor apartment situated above their own. It was close to nine o'clock when Erin drifted off to sleep without even apologising to James and Sirius was still trying to persuade James to talk to Lily, against his usual better judgement he thought it wise that the beguiling redhead could be the one to dissuade James from the outrageous plan laid out by Dumbledore.

'Come on. I am taking you out.' Sirius said closing the bedroom door softly. 'In fact I've heard they serve good brew in Soho.'

'Don't feel like it.' Grumbling James turned his face away from Sirius burying his hair into the fluffy red cushion.

'Well owl shit Prongs. Get your cloak and follow me.'

\/\/\/\/\

Cokeworth, West Midlands.

Crowds had gathered in the hall and the music had been turned down to barely audible as Mrs Petunia Dursley walked brazenly down the staircase with her husband striding ahead of her shaking hands with their guests. His thick black moustache was especially trimmed and was twitching like it had a life of its own. As he reached the last step he turned to look up at his new wife. Her thin and bony legs were covered by the deepest ivory coloured satin, her arms long and covered in silk gave her a regal appearance topped with her simple white gold tiara. Her husband beamed proudly. However she did not return his enthusiastic smile, the corners of her mouth upturned into a forced smile that didn't reach her eyes. Petunia loved attention being lavished upon her but sharing the limelight with her new husband was something of a nuance.

Lily watched as her sister was forced to mingle with the members of her new family all the time being rolled out as the new Mrs Dursley and Lily half wondered when Petunia would regain full control and start barking orders at her husband like she had done to Lily all her life. Harry was being reprimanded by their mother in a quiet corner of the marquee, Lily caught her brothers irritated gaze and pleading look but Lily just smiled innocently back at her brothers predicament.

The wedding party had retired to the Glenmore Golf Course- a swanky and expensive estate on the outskirts of Cokeworth where the Dursely family were lifelong members according to Petunia and her new husband. The Evans family was nowhere near as large in number as the Dursely family and Lily was stood at the bar with Sammy before she was abandoned by the bridesmaid in favour of a better offer. Lily swallowed a gulp of champagne watching from afar Harry dance awkwardly with one of Vernon's vile cousins who glared at him every time he stepped on her toes.

Eyeing the crowd carefully Lily wondered where her father had vanished too. It was not long to the daughter father dance and she was pretty confident Petunia would be making a very big display of being the "favourite daddys girl" in front of her new family. Lily was sat on a table with some distant Evans relatives of her father- an aunt she had never met before and two men dressed in matching brown tweed suits who proclaimed to be related to her through her grandfather- not that Lily really cared she was just relieved she wasn't sitting near the main wedding party who had spent a large proportion of the wedding breakfast glaring at Lily as if she were a un-godly presence.

'But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do...'

Lily scowled at the music coming from the band at the other end of the room and staring at her empty champagne flute she walked through the throng of dancers and wandered outside. Steps swept downwards into the car park where BMW and Audi cars were parked cosily up to one another- the parking valets had tried their best but there was little room left for any more cars. She heard it before she saw it. A tremendous roar of an engine unlike anything she had ever heard a muggle car do and throwing her head back her eyes searched for the source of the raucous.

'Sodding hell!' cried Lily as she saw a motorbike plummet to the ground. Lily stepped backwards watching apprehensively as the bike ground to a halt squeezing between the tightly packed car park. The wizard guiding the bike waited for his passenger to get off but Lily watched as the rider was forced to get off first and help the passenger who was very wobbly on their feet. Lily instinctively reached for her wand.

'For a Chaser you suck ass when it comes to flying, don't you.'

James responded. 'Shut up Sirius. That bike of yours isn't exactly a Comet 260, is it?'

Lily weaved quickly between the tightly packed cars.

Her jaw clenched and her nostrils flared Lily took a deep breath. 'You have got to be kidding me.' Groaning she approached the bike and catching sight of Sirius Black not only surprised her but when the familiar scent of butter cookies and wood oil hit her she felt a warm blush appear across her cheeks. 'James!'

'You didn't think he'd get here without me did you.' Sirius laughed then taking in Lily's polished appearance said. 'You're in a dress Evans, must be a super special occasion.'

'I don't exactly recall inviting either of you to this special occasion.' Lily said scathingly, her eyes wide staring at James she tried to bury the instincts bubbling away inside her. The desires she held for him in York two months ago were showing no signs of evaporating, as images of him throwing his arms around her and kissing her fully till she could no longer breath flashed through her mind.

'Wasn't ever fishing for one.' Sirius remarked. 'We are here on Order business.'

'I can protect my own family Sirius.' Lily said averting James' gaze. 'Dumbledore made it very clear to us muggleborns that the Order no longer needed us.'

Behind Lily long shadows appeared and Sirius shifted into Padfoot. James on the other hand stood still.

'And Severus is here too,'

James looked at Lily like she had flung a flaming, burning hot squid in his face. Padfoot growled.

'Snape is here?'

'Evening Potter.'

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Authors Note: Thank you for reading. This is evolving slowly which I like- I have written an end. Woohoo