Copies of Witch Weekly were flying around the school. Remus snatched one and saw the front cover.
Lily and James had profile shots, and Lily's hair was pulled away from her face. She was grinning at him like an idiot, and he wasn't exactly Mister Cool-And-Casual. But they looked happy.
"Prince In Love to be crowned." He read, and his eyes widened. He rushed to the Quidditch field, where James and Lily were supposed to have been.
Lily sighed and snuggled her head on James's shoulder as she tightened her grip on his waist. She closed her eyes and imagined herself walking through a small-town produce market, selecting oranges and potatoes for that evening's supper. She was probably filing papers at the Ministry's office of records by day, and staying in her cozy flat with James by night.
She supposed that was simply wishful thinking. James planned on marrying her. He repeated it quite often. And now, he was to be crowned.
That would make her a princess. A magical, international celebrity.
She sighed once more. She wished that she could hold their responsibility of ruling a country, raising a prince or princess. Hell, she could hardly take care of herself, yet alone James, yet alone his children, yet alone his country.
"You okay back there?" James asked. She had sighed. Twice.
"Fine. I'm just thinking." Lily whispered in reply.
"James!" Somebody shouted, and James landed the broom, helping Lily off first. It was Remus. "Congratulations, man. I just read the news. Your aunt chose you as the heir."
"Always thought Jennifer would receive the title, to be honest with you." James joked.
"Congratulations to you, too, Lily." Remus said with a grin. "You might as well get your coronation at the same time."
Lily gave them both a quick smile, though she returned to deep thought instantly. James slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "Do you think the wedding will be a big deal?"
Lily closed her eyes and smiled dreamily just to cover up the fact that she was so confused. It wasn't the normal confusion, it was just the sort of what-am-I-going-to-do confusion.
James finished talking and kissed Lily quickly on the cheek. "Got to get to practice, all right? I'll see you both later."
As soon as he was out of hearing range, Remus inched closer to Lily. "You okay in there?"
Lily shrugged and sat down on a bench. "I really don't know."
Remus looked at her expression worriedly. "You don't plan on—Running, do you?"
Lily looked back at him, taking a deep breath and shaking her head. "No. I couldn't. The worst thing has happened- Lily Evans can't run."
"Why can't you run?" Remus asked seriously.
"Do you realize what's happening to me?" Lily inquired in reply.
Remus shook his head.
"I have fallen in love, slowly for the past two years and so much of myself has gone into James that running away would be like leaving a huge chunk of me behind. No, I don't plan on running, but I do have a lot of thinking to do." Lily whispered slowly, getting up and leaving him there.
Remus put his hands behind his head and leaned back a little. "Finally Lily Evans realizes what it's like to put her two feet on the ground."
"AND WITH THAT, GRYFFINDOR WINS THE HOUSE CUP!!! CONGRATS TO MUNGULDUS FLETCHER, JAMES POTTER, AND SIRIUS BLACK FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GRYFFINDOR QUIDDITCH TEAM AND WE SEND GOOD HOPES FOR YOUR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE." Remus turned off the magically-made microphone and smiled up at Lily, who returned the gesture. Her eyes were starry-like, she truly loved the game. She rushed onto the field to hug Sirius and Munguldus, and she kissed James softly.
He passed her the cup. "It's your win as well."
She grinned at him happily. "I've already gotten my prize."
He kissed her on the lips, and the two were surrounded by the Gryffindor supporters and it was almost like the complete end of an era.
Almost.
"Lily, where do you think you'll be in ten years?" Sirius asked as Lily (who had sent home her things that very morning) helped him pack.
"Living in some palace, not only as the King's Consort but as the Royal Record Keeper. I suppose I'll have had four kids- Harry, because James detests the name, he'll be seven, and his twin will be Liberty, Jacqueline for obvious reasons, she'll be four, and the youngest, at age two, Sirius."
Lily replied as she came across Sirius's underwear. "There is NO way I am touching that."
"Will Sirius be crowned king when James is gone?" Sirius asked with a sly grin, folding his underwear by himself.
"No, because Harry was born first." Lily explained. "Plus, since Sirius acts will act like a two-year-old all his life like his namesake, I don't think he could rule a country."
Sirius hit her in the arm with a pair of his lime-green boxers.
"EWW!" Lily shrieked, slapping him away. "Same question."
"I think I'll have a family of my own. Two kids, twins, too. But me, I plan to go into Quidditch. My kids will travel with me with a tutor until they can go
to Hogwarts, and twice a week, we'll have roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, a roll and some exquisite dessert." Sirius replied in a 'serious'
tone.
"Like duck laRonge?" Lily offered slyly, and Sirius looked horrified. "Just joking, Sirius."
"I think we've got pretty good plans." Sirius told her as they both sat down on his trunk to close it.
"We do. Except for one thing." Lily said with a smile.
"What?" Sirius asked.
"You left your clothes in your trunk. Unless you plan on going down to the graduation ceremony in your boxers, a bow tie, an unbuttoned dress shirt and a cummerbund." Lily joked.
"I cannot believe you're doing this." Lily murmured, hiding her head in her hands. Sirius was wearing a completely unbuttoned dress shirt, a bow tie, a cummerbund and a black pair of boxers. If that wasn't bad enough, he had patent leather sandals on.
"Your idea, Lils." Sirius reminded her.
"I see that Sirius decided to leave Hogwarts with a bang." James joked at the Head Table. "And Lily is deciding on different ways to kill him."
"Plan to see the Seymour Special at McDuckald's." Lily hissed loudly and the people in the Great Hall laughed.
"This year has been the most memorable year by far. I got the girl, I was unconscious, I won the Quidditch cup, I was unconscious, I became valedictorian AND.." James smiled at the crowd. "I was unconscious."
The Great Hall rumbled softly with laughter bouncing off its walls.
"Hogwarts has offered me something that I can never replace. The education and the leadership I've been blessed to have will be able to make me one of the world's greatest rulers. I'm physically fit, and I've met the love of my life. I can only hope there are thousands of more success stories coming out of this castle, because there has to be something seriously wrong with you if you do not become the best of the career field you select to be in, or the group you select to hang with. This graduating class has been shook up by the controversial events that emerged during our seven years, and we've survived them all. I wish you all the best, and look me up if you ever feel like mooching off the world's handsomest, most successful, smartest.."
"Most modest." Lily muttered loudly and the people in the Great Hall laughed again.
"Most in love and most happy ruler in the world, look me up." James finished, making Lily blush.
Almost everyone, excluding the Slytherins, clapped so much, James could have bowed thirty-seven times and they wouldn't be done. James slipped into a seat next to Lily and somebody within the room's walls snapped another picture.
A Graduating Prince Gives Good Speech And Good Credit to Lady LoveJames was pictured kissing Lily on the cheek, and she blushed.
It was the end of the first fantastic, unbelievable part of their lives and the beginning of yet another.
TBC