(Disclaimer)
Lily looked at herself in the mirror. "I'm not a bride. I'm another one of that wretched woman's stupid antique figurines! I'm a stupid porcelain doll! She might as well have me sit atop the shelf next to the plates and candles!" Lily suddenly began to feel aware of how painful the ancient outfit was. The satin booties were two sizes too small and pinched her toes. She could feel the back of her ankles being rubbed raw from the stiff leather lining. Her breathing had become shallow from the corset, tighter than ever. Every inch of her scalp itched to be freed from that tight bun. The powdery makeup itched her face. Why did her wrists hurt? "What the hell are you doing here?" Why does everything hurt? "You don't belong here. Run away now before it's too late. Run."
"I CAN'T FUCKING DO THIS!" Lily shrieked as she hurled the bouquet across the room. It struck a shelf and knocked over several glass figurines. They fell to the wooden floor and burst into pieces. Lily collapsed into her hands and sobbed. She ruined everything. Mrs. Potter would kill her for sure. Lily grunted and ripped the veil and flowers from her head. She fumbled around with her hair until ever last pin was yanked out of that perfect bun. Lily felt a tremendous wave of relief as her messy curls grazed her back. She looked at the torn fabric and petals in her hand.
Rather than feeling guilty for destroying a Potter family heirloom, a wicked smile crept across her face. Lily leapt up from the vanity; causing several seams to audibly rip. She went to the desk and fumbled around the drawers until she found what she was looking for. Scissors. "Sorry, James." Lily bitterly spat as she snipped away at lace sleeves. "I won't be another one of your stupid conquests." She attempted to bend over and cut off the ridiculously heavy train, but the corsets locked her standing up. She grunted and groaned as she cut the buttons starting from the stiff collar and down to her chest. The buttons stopped there, but Lily kept cutting down. "Finally …" She murmured as she stepped out of the destroyed, starchy lace mountain.
The windows were open. Lily briefly worried if any of the guests heard her screams. She couldn't see the garden from any of her windows; but then again, if anyone heard her, they would have already checked on her. For once, Lily could focus on the atmosphere. The Potters must have hired an orchestra; she could hear them playing. There was a pleasant smell of vanilla and sugar lingering in the air, mixed with Mr. Potter's clay pipe, and a freshly manicured lawn. Lily got a glimpse of herself in the mirror and couldn't help but giggle slightly. The corsets ridiculously pushed her breasts up and made her waist look unnaturally thin. She looked like a sultry pin up girl, complete with white garters holding up sheer silk stockings. The charcoal was streaked down her cheeks like war paint. "If James could see me now." She snorted.
Her moment was interrupted by a gentle knock. Lily froze. "Oh, God. What if it's time for the ceremony?" She started to panic. She quickly grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her. "Is it time?" Lily called out. There was only another gentle knock. "What if it's the Death Eaters? What if they're here?" Lily cursed Mrs. Potter for being so ignorant and taking her wand. She picked up her bouquet, and tip-toed towards the door, careful not to let the heels of her booties hit the wooden floor. "Is it time?" Lily called out again. She gripped the door handle and whipped the door open.
A little girl squealed with surprise. Lily was relieved. "Are you lost?" She asked the child. Jet black hair, this little girl had to be a Potter. "What's your name? Where's your mum?"
"Are you a princess?" The little girl asked, staring at Lily in amazement. "You look like a princess."
"What? Where's your mummy at?" Lily asked again.
The little girl smiled. "My mummy said I'm supposed to give flowers to the princess."
She must be one of the flower girls. The wedding would surely be starting soon and Mrs. Potter or the mother would be looking for her. Lily had to think of something fast. "Yes, I am a princess." She spoke in a playful royal voice. "What is your name, little girl?"
"Emily." The little girl giggled and blushed. "Where's the prince?"
"I'm sorry?"
Emily started fidgeting with her dress. "If you're a princess, where's the prince?"
"Emily," Lily started, still in a playful voice, "I don't know where my prince is." The music outside was coming to a halt. The ceremony was about to begin. She could hear the faint voice of Mr. Potter reading a prepared speech. Someone would be coming at any moment to find either Lily or the little girl. She had to think of something quick. She knelt down and looked Emily. "Do you want to help me find the prince?"
"Miss?" Footsteps were approaching fast down the corridor. It was the maid. "Miss! Something's wrong! You need to come with me?"
Lily grabbed little Emily's hand and ran out of the corridor. She was so unfamiliar with Potter Manor, she didn't know if they were going the right way. "Here, up these stairs, quickly now." Lily led the little girl past a narrow hallway of Potter family portraits and more shelved lined with Mrs. Potter's collectibles. She was thankful the wooden stairs were carpeted. Halfway up, she paused. Voices were coming from upstairs. "They're here." Lily thought.
Emily squealed and let go of Lily's hand. "He's up there! He's up there! Can you hear him?" She ran up the stairs before Lily could grab her.
"No, Emily! Don't!" Lily shouted and ran after her. "Come back!" Emily was already out of sight. "Fucking hell." Lily no longer cared about walking softly. Disgruntled shouts and screams arose from the garden. Lily's worst fears were confirmed. The Death Eaters were here. "Most of the guests will be lucky enough, if they apparate out. The rest, the Death Eaters won't be so friendly to guests of a blood-traitor wedding. They'll be scouring for muggleborns, and as the bride, I'm their first target." Lily was torn between running back down the stairs, or going after Emily. "She's just a child, dammit, she doesn't know what's going on!" Lily sprinted up the stairs. "Emily? Emily!"
Bright lights and louder screams. Lily looked out a window and saw a dozen black figures with masks appear. All around them, wedding guests were cast into the air or thrown across the field. Mrs. Potter's hydrangea garden burst into flames. Several guests pulled their wands out and charmed the tables and chairs to barrel towards the masked figures. The Death Eaters merely dodged them, then sent them spinning through the air as splinters. A chair leg hurled through the window. Lily screamed and ducked.
The chair leg smashed through the glass and knocked an oil lamp over. The drapes and carpet were aflame. Lily heard Emily yell from another room down the corridor. "Oh, God! What if they found her?!" Lily's heart raced as she scrambled up. "EMILY! I'M COMING!" Lily choked. The smoke and flame was spreading rapidly. One of her booties snagged on the carpet and brought her down. Her face was dangerously close to the fire. Emily screamed again. "EMILY!" Lily felt weak. She couldn't lift her arms to pull herself up. "What the hell is happening to me?" Lily forced herself to roll over to her stomach. Her breath shortened. "No, no, no! Am I falling asleep? What's going on?!" It took every last ounce of energy to lift her arms and crawl away from the flames. "Is the house floating …?" It was incredibly bizarre. Why couldn't she move? Suddenly, the flames vanished. The toxic smoke was still in the air.
"Look what we got here." A muffled rough man's voice was above her. A heavy boot suddenly crushed her back, pinning her to the floor.
Another man laughed. "Looks like we caught ourselves a runaway bride!"
A woman joined them. "Mudblood whore." Lily felt a kick to her side. Where was her voice? Her energy? "I think this one's on the list. Look at that hair. It's a damn shame…"
"Clever little bitch."
The woman snorted. "Indeed. She's managed to cover her tracks for this long. This one almost slipped through our grasp. Lucky, lucky us." The woman snickered wickedly. Lily felt the boot removed from her back. Rough, gloved hands forced her to turn over. It was blurry. Not a doubt in her mind these people were Death Eaters. She couldn't see their faces. The woman bent down and grasped Lily's chin. "Such a pretty face. She might be spared, but I doubt it. They've been looking for this one for a while."
The men chortled. "Keep her alive long enough. The boys will all want a turn with her before she's cold."
"Sick fucks, you are. The whole lot of you. At least wait until after it's decided." The woman grumbled as she pointed her wand at Lily's face. She mumbled a curse and everything went black.