Epequa- um… you should already know that I looked at your story :-D and thanks! It almost came from my life, with only a few changes ;-) Just goes to show how absolutely crazy it is…
Ami A- HOW COULD YOU FORGET WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY! AMI NO BAKA!
Summersun- Yep, he did, and yep, I will.
AMB3R- She stayed because he was being polite, and it just seemed like the thing to do ;-) I could've, but it was almost completely irrelevant to the story aside from showing that they liked each other… and to get Lily into the Auroring job. I'd be shooting myself if I hadn't updated since 2001 (Jan.) This story is a bit too much fun.
Lily Evans- Not if he wasn't Voldemort yet… he could still be a good wizard as far as anyone knows. You'll find out within the next few chapters.
Alexia Goddess- Thanks! I guess it's just because I'm not great with titles OR summaries… I don't know how much to put! I will, and thanks again.
I'm hungry but I don't want to get food! Geez, I dunno what I'm gunna do!
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A week later, Lily discovered Tom waiting outside her office building. "Would you like to go get some dinner?"
"All right, then," Lily said, a bit timidly.
These three words led to many more meals. Whenever Lily wasn't off chasing dark wizards, she seemed to be spending time with Tom.
She knew he hated muggle-borns, but he was nice to her. They grew close enough that she could see that.
One day, Tom wasn't waiting outside her office. But someone else was.
"Hey, Lils."
"James?" Lily said incredulously, turning. It was. The short, black haired man stood before her. "I haven't seen you since… a really long time ago!" she exclaimed as she hugged him in a companionable way.
Grinning at Lily's wonderful elocution, James suggested they go get an ice cream. It wasn't as fancy as Tom's usual tea or supper, but Lily didn't mind at all. The two had a lot of catching up to do.
"I know a great place we can go to," Lily said, hooking her arm through James's and dragging him off, chatting away happily. Neither one was aware of the resentful stare on their backs.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Licking her ice cream cone, Lily began questioning James. "So why did you come by? I haven't seen you in ages!"
"Just that… I figured it was time to catch up," James said, a bit of obvious open adoration in his eyes. he had been beating himself up over not seeing Lily at all, and then Sirius suggested that he go see her… so he had.
Lily began to talk contentedly, more at James than with him.
Who is this person? Unbeknownst to the pair, a figure stood shrouded in shadows. Something he hadn't felt since his days in Hogwarts began to bubble up inside him. Irritated, he tried to push the feeling down, but it just grew and grew inside of him. I'll do it tomorrow.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Lily, I was thinking… we've been seeing each other for a while now… and I just wanted to ask you," Tom stood before the red haired beauty, and then knelt as he drew something out of his pocket, "Will you marry me?"
At first gaping silently, not believing her ears, Lily at last came to her senses and threw her arms around Tom. "Of course I will!" she squealed excitedly.
Smirking inwardly, Tom slid the engagement ring onto Lily's hand. I beat that bloody prat…
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Three weeks later, Lily and Tom sat on a couch, drawing up their invitation list. "Here, I'll invite my old school friends… there aren't that many of them…"
"How about these two? They're very important in the ministry, but I know them fairly well…"
"All right. Should I invite my sister? She doesn't seem to like me much."
"Lily, who is this?" Tom was pointing to a name on the list. "And this, and this, and this?"
There were four men's names on the list, and Lily tutted impatiently. "James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. They were some of my friends from school… remember, I told them about you that first day we met?"
"Oh," Tom said. He remembered… and he remembered the glowing description of James. The name, thought alone, nearly choked him. He wasn't so sure that he wanted him at the wedding, but he couldn't upset Lily…
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Dear Mr. J. Potter,
You are invited to celebrate the joining of Tom M. Riddle and Lily P. Evans in marriage. The wedding will be held on the twenty-second of October.
Sincerely,
Lily and Tom
There was a postscript.
Prongs-
I hope you can make it… it would mean a lot to me.
-Lily
Crumpling up the letter in frustration, James silently cursed himself. I came too late… she's found someone else… I won't be able to bring myself to go… but then an idea struck him, and he marveled that he hadn't thought of it immediately. I will go… and Lily might hate me after, but it will be better than seeing her with that… that thing!
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Oh, no! What is James going to do? Well, I guess we'll just find out next chapter, won't we?
REVIEW!
Rini
