The Daily Prophet reports: The wedding of James Charlus Potter, son of the late potioneer Fleamont Potter and his wife Euphemia, both lost to illness in Spring 1977, to muggleborn Lily Josephine Evans of Cokeworth, is scheduled for 31st December, 1978. The couple met in the course of their schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; both were Sorted into Gryffindor House. All well-wishes, flowers, and gifts should be directed to the Potter Estate in Wandsworth.

Peter would not have chosen New Year's Eve for his wedding celebration—assuming he ever got the chance to get married—but Lily had been adamant about 'new beginnings' and surrounding herself with all of her closest friends at the dawn of her new life as a wife.

The groomsmen had removed James to Sirius' flat on the eve of the wedding for the—aptly-named—Stag Night and made quick work of getting as pissed as possible before playing several destructive rounds of Exploding Snap, then eventually venturing out into suburban London under the Invisibility Cloak for the hell of it. They barely made it back to the flat before passing out on any available surface—in James's case, surfaces.

The next morning, the boys drank a large Pepperup Potion each (brewed ahead of time by the ever-thoughtful Remus, with Peter's help) and started to dress. Sirius popped a bottle of champagne almost immediately. "Hair of the dog," he insisted. "So to speak."

James, smiling nervously, accepted several glasses of champagne before Remus cut him off. "You'll want to be able to please the lady tonight, won't you?"

Although Sirius had been the natural choice for best man, Remus had taken it upon himself to delegate the essential tasks that Sirius had already forgotten in his revelry. Peter was in charge of stacking programs and escorting the ladies to their seats. Sirius was officially in charge of the rings, although Remus decided it was best to hold onto them himself until they arrived at the church.

Peter wondered if Remus was just being his reliable self; perhaps it was his way of expressing his forgiveness to James for the way the groom acted upon his return, as well as his gratitude to James for putting him up in the house after all this time.

St. Anne's was a large white church in James's neighborhood of Wandsworth. It was imposing, and looked more like a government hall than a church, but its stalwart classical style was oddly comforting; it had three black doors, four massive ionic columns, and an enormous tower shaped like a pepper-pot. Order members patrolled the lawn outside. Within, the organ played a joyful, bombastic melody that streamed through the church's arched gallery.

Peter shifted nervously in the pew, glancing over his shoulder every few moments. He glimpsed Caradoc and Benjy through the open middle door. They were casting careful wards around the building while the guests—wizard and muggle alike—were seated safely inside. Dumbledore had not expected the news of the wedding to interest the Death Eaters or Voldemort, but caution had permeated the group like a fine mist.

Then Caradoc closed the door over, blotting out the light of the white sky.

Dumbledore was seated in the back row, looking completely out-of-place in lavish robes of sky-blue silk embroidered with golden stars. Though, funnily enough, none of the muggle guests seemed to give him a second glance. He caught Peter's eye and waved, a slight smile on his lips. Peter turned away, his ears burning.

James' eyes were fixed on the entryway, eagerly awaiting his bride. Sirius was beside him, a daisy showing in his buttonhole. Peter glanced sideways at Remus and smiled nervously. Is this really happening? As if reading his thoughts, Remus grinned back and shrugged.

Lily's sister and her husband had elected not to attend. This was sad, but not altogether surprising, considering the way James and Lily's brother-in-law had clashed, and the fact that Petunia had already banned Lily from being a bridesmaid at her wedding.

James had confided that Lily cried for two whole days when Petunia made it clear that she wouldn't be seen at a "freak wedding". He had the grace to look ashamed—he had not made any effort to patch things up between himself and Vernon.

The Evanses, thankfully, had been solicitous and enthusiastic when it came to helping with Lily's wedding plans, despite the fact that they couldn't hope to match the Potters' wealth. James picked up the tab easily, discreetly, and without fuss.

"It's what my Mum and Dad would've wanted," he'd reasoned when Mr. Evans had protested. Mr. Evans could hardly contradict the dead, could he?

The organ music slowed and softened, and the congregation stood. Every face turned toward the entrance, where Lily and her father now waited. Lily's lace gown looked like a garden of white blooms; tiny buds were woven into an intricate pattern that grew denser as the eye traveled down: the hem was weighed down with opened blossoms. She wore no veil, only a crown of tiny daisies that matched the nosegay in her hand.

At the sight of Lily, the guests all gasped and sighed. Her father Walter guide her proudly to the altar; her blonde mother, Matilda, was smiling happily from the other side of the aisle. Walter shook James' hand and kissed Lily. He brought the couple's hands together and covered them with his own, smiling tearfully.

On the altar, a small man with silvery, thinning hair spread his arms. "Ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls."

Matilda had wanted her own vicar—the one who baptized Lily and Petunia—to preside over the ceremony, but she was soon overruled: above all, the Statute of Secrecy had to be respected.

It would have been far too dangerous (and only dubiously legal) to modify the memories of all of the muggle guests, and Lily had been adamant that wizarding customs would also be observed, so they had chosen to blend the wizarding and muggle ceremonies, although Mrs. Evans was highly suspicious that a wizard officiant was not the same thing as an Anglican priest. But since there was to be no arguing with the bride, the officiant's magical nature was concealed for the sake of the muggle guests.

"To witness," the little man continued reedily, "the marriage of Lily Josephine to James Charlus. To pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy, and to celebrate their love."

James and Lily beamed at each other, and the wizard went on. "Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty which all should uphold and honor. It enriches society and strengthens community. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly, but reverently and responsibly."

Peter thought it sounded a bit like something Dumbledore would say at an Order meeting—strengthening community and being responsible and faithful. He supposed the Order was like marriage, in a way. They had to be accountable not only to each other, but to a much higher power than themselves.

"First, I am required to ask anyone present—including the bride and groom—who knows a reason why these persons may not marry, declare it now.""

There was a long, still silence. Lily glanced hesitantly towards the entrance, as if expecting someone to burst through the doors.

No one did.

"Very well. Do you, James Charlus, take Lily Josephine to be your wife?"

The vows contained what Peter had expected. Briefly, he wondered what his own wedding might be like, then smiled to himself and shook his head. I've got my whole life ahead of me to worry about that.

"Will you, the families and friends of Lily and James, support and uphold them in their marriage, now and in the years to come?"

"We will," came the chorus of voices.

As best as I can, Peter added in his mind, unsure what he could really offer in terms of marital support.

The couple exchanged rings, and in lieu of the shimmering, magical stars that usually engulfed the newlyweds, the wizard drew a silver cord from his sleeve and knotted it firmly around Lily and James' joined hands. "I now declare you bonded for life.""

But the stars erupted anyhow, showering down on Lily and James, who were kissing fiercely. The congregation gasped and ''oohed", applauding wildly. Peter caught the eye of a laughing Sirius; he was pocketing his wand. He winked broadly at Peter and clapped along with the rest.


I hope you've all been safe and well. Thanks for sticking with me, as ever.