Disclaimer: I think by now you would've gotten the idea. Everything you recognise from the HP books in this story isnt mine. Ms. JK Rowling owns them. I'm a mere fan. Other female characters (Lae Bevin, Gin Plata-Connor, JK R'phael and Professor Kiadara Wildfire), well, my friends and I own them.
Author's notes: This is a song fic. Obviously since this is the epilogue, the rest of the lyrix are in the other chapters… Alex Band and Aaron Kamin are musical geniuses! I love them both for writing "Could it be any Harder"! thanks for eternally changing my life and touching my soul. J
Epilogue
to touch you again…
with life in your hands…
it couldn't be any harder…
November 1979
"Black… Sirius Black. From which part of Scotland are you from again?"
Lily's Muggle cousin, Eliza Evans, asked Sirius.
"Oh no, Sirius isn't pure Scottish. He comes from a more foreign place." Lily cleared with her cousin.
"But I thought you said…"
Eliza suddenly became confused. James and Remus arrived with new goblets of wine.
"More wine, Eliza?"
Lily offered before she could ask more questions. Sirius looked at Remus for help. It seems his magic with the ladies has faded.
"Why don't we talk about something else, huh, Eliza. Sirius' lineage is boring everyone in this table."
Remus jested as he handed Eliza the goblet.
"Well, alright." Eliza said. Obliviate.
"I'd have to hand it to you, Lily. This really is a lovely celebration. I like your concept a lot."
Eliza said after she drank her wine. Sirius made a mental note to himself to dance with Eliza to make up for the spell he had allowed to slip.
"At least someone from my side extended positive sentiments."
Lily rolled her eyes then she lazily picked up her long gown and fixed its linings.
"I don't know what Petunia's problem is anyway. I like what you've done. Twisting the whole ceremony. I tell you, tradition can be boring sometimes."
Eliza looked around to the festive wizards and witches from the Potter clan and their friends at Hogwarts.
"Petunia's got a problem with my lot. It's ok though. We get that a lot."
James said. Petunia Evans, Lily's sister, walked swiftly past them with her boyfriend, Vernon, following closely behind. Both of them had irritated looks in their faces.
"If I were to marry… I'd sure love to have this kind of celebration."
Eliza continued to praise. Lily, James, Remus and Sirius couldn't hide their smiles any longer.
What Eliza Evans didn't know was that the ceremony they had was also traditional. Muggle and Wizarding tradition that is.
The marriage of Lily and James was attended by many wizarding folks. Since they have been Head Boy and Head Girl during their last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, they had made a name for themselves. Of course, Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall were present. Nearly Headless insisted on going but was reminded by Professor Dumbledore that Lily's Muggle relatives might be alarmed by his presence (He amazingly didn't take this negatively). Also, Madam Rosmerta and a few other business owners at Hogsmeade were invited.
And Lily's Muggle relatives don't have the slightest idea that she was a very important witch in the Wizarding world. She and James, along with Sirius, Remus and Peter were called upon by the Ministry to be in the league against the Dark Lord. So, other guests were from the Ministry.
It was extremely hard for the young couple to convince their guests from the Wizarding world to dress up in normal Muggle clothing. Some came in their hats and robes. Some, however, tried hard… but not hard enough. It would've been funny but considering their efforts, it was all together harmless.
James and Lily were eternally greatful to those who were there. But they couldn't change the fact that some of the more important witches weren't in the festivities. Witches namely Gin Plata-Connor, JK R'phael, Professor Kiadara Wildfire and Lae Bevin.
"Have you ever seen yourself walking down the aisle, Sirius?"
Eliza asked. The wine that Remus was trying to consume almost escaped his mouth. James actually tore his eyes away from his beautiful bride and Lily's green eyes grew wider with the unexpected question.
Definitely not a topic for Sirius Black.
"Yeah, at one point in my life I actually did," Sirius gulped in his wine hurriedly.
He looked at his friends and saw their worried faces.
"Well, what does a Sirius Black look for in a possible wife?"
Eliza asked after she brushed her hand over Sirius arm. Sirius smiled.
"And are you looking for one?" Eliza smiled back.
"Well, Eliza. It's not hard to win me over. I like tall, blue-green eyed, red-heads."
Sirius smiled. Eliza was a tall, blue-green eyed, red-head.
"Well, I think we can have--"
"And she must be able to turn into a butterfly."
The group didn't know how Sirius meant it. It was obviously true. But with the way Sirius was smiling, there was clearly a hint of sarcasm. Eliza had started giggling. Sirius looked at his friends and shrugged.
"A butterfly? What? You mean you like a girl who loves Fairy Tales?"
Eliza asked. She was undoubtingly attracted to Sirius. And Sirius was undoubtingly being serious about the whole conversation.
"He means he loves Faerys and Butterflies. Period."
James injected. Eliza blushed and Sirius picked up his goblet.
"You mean like that one?"
Eliza asked when a purple-blue-green Monarch butterfly landed on the base of Sirius' goblet.
The group sat in silence. No one moved from where they seated.
Sirius didn't move his goblet. He didn't want to lose the butterfly. He stared at it's wings and at it's small body. If he was looking at it correctly, he knew that it was staring back. The breeze suddenly moved in stronger. Lily's hat was blown away but nobody moved to run after it. Eliza looked at the other people around the table. All of them were looking at Sirius.
Sirius slowly replaced his goblet on the table. The butterfly flew and he held out his hand. The butterfly rested on his fingers obediently. The hard wind ironically wasn't disturbing. It was relaxing and soothing.
"You've come back…"
The butterfly fled and Sirius stood to watch which direction it would fly to. After about twenty feet it disappeared and Sirius saw a Willow up on a small hill about fifty feet far from where they were.
With only one thought in his mind, he ran as fast as he could to the tree that was dancing with the breeze.
"You've come back to me, Bevin."
"I came to watch Lily and James get married." The familiar voice whispered to his ears.
"Have you been watching the whole time?"
Sirius' broken voice asked out into the open space. He still was physically alone but he felt that she was utterly near.
The wind blew stronger and Sirius shivered as a familiar presence enveloped him. Seconds later, he saw a familiar figure taking form before him.
"Yeah, you looked handsome down there."
Lae smiled. Her feet hung five feet over the grass. Sirius gasped and tears escaped his eyes. He brushed them off quickly. Last thing he needed was for Lae to have a reason to make fun of.
"You're beautiful yourself."
He gathered his voice to compliment his love.
His life (he mindfully corrected himself).
She started giggling loudly. Sirius smiled.
"What are you talking about? I'm a mess."
Lae said in between her laughter. Sirius didn't know what she was talking about.
Lae had grown to be more beautiful in the past months that they hadn't seen each other.
"You'll always be beautiful to me, Bevin. Even if your hair isn't so red anymore." Sirius jerked.
"Oh, and I thought time away from me would make you think of better come-backs." Lae smiled slyly.
"Saving it for next time, don't worry."
Water was flowing over her skin. Sirius took a long time to observe the death faery before him. He will surely never forget the enchanting sight he witnessed that moment.
"This will be last time so go ahead and give it your best shot." Lae said.
The sudden gust of wind lifted Lae a few more feet above the ground.
It hadn't occurred to Lae how hard the impact of her words would have on the wizard before her. Sirius broke down in fits of tears.
"Let me touch you again, Lae. I swear nothing will happen. I've been preparing repelling charms and I'm sure I'll be safe." Sirius begged.
"Sirius, look behind you." Lae asked and he obeyed.
"Do you think they can see me?" she asked. He looked back to her.
"You're still the only one who can see me. That isn't a good thing." She said.
"Stupid identity. I swear I'll work on bending some more rules…"
"Let me feel you… in any way…" he advanced closer to her but he stopped himself at once.
Lae held out her hand and the wind outside their space mellowed out. The tree stopped dancing and the air was warmer. The only breeze centered on the end of Lae's feet and hands. Sirius also felt himself being lifted into the air. But his feet were firmly set on the earth. He held out his hand to try and touch Lae's fingertips.
Fingertip to fingertip. Breath against breath. Life against emptiness.
Sirius closed his eyes to be able to capture the hint of life hanging by Lae's fingertips.
"Can you feel that?" Lae whispered. Her voice suddenly sounded as if an orchestra accompanied her speaking.
"If I eternally have to stay this way, it would be worth forever. If this would be the only way I could feel you, I'd wish I was blind."
Crying made it easier for him to feel her innermost thoughts. He allowed his tears to flow out of his eyes as the feeling of lost hope and fear took over his body. The passing wind made him lose her feeling and involuntarily made him open his eyes.
"My mum's calling me. I have to go."
She said as she clipped her arms to herself. Sirius wiped his face and Lae flew closer to the ground beside Sirius.
"Tell Lily and James that I'm sorry. This is the best I can do, for now." She smiled and extended her arms onto the hill.
She waved her arms away from her body. Sirius looked at her. She was too close to touch yet too far to feel.
"Give me a few months and I will be able to prove to you that I will be strong enough to touch you."
Sirius told Lae as he watched her do her magic. Lae turned her head to the persistent man beside him.
"We'll see."
She smiled and raced her hand against his face. He closed his eyes and felt the winds blow stronger against his face.
"Lily, darling, are you doing this? It's lovely, simply magical."
Lily's mum went to the table Lily and the others were at. Lily could see what her mother pointed out. The indigo colored skies accented the gradual growing of Lilacs and Violets on the grassy hill were Sirius stood beside the grieving Willow.
"No, mum, I believe another guest had just dropped her gift…"
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the end
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AN: don't hate me… please? J tell me what you think. Sorry if this might be a load of rubbish for you. I'm an amateur at these things. J tell me what you think and I'll try to do better next time J I think I hear another story in my head… maybe I should turn the radio on! OMG! Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will be out in less than two weeks! Hehe… kill me for being excited, alright? J on second thought… no…I wanna see who's going to play Sirius Black in the third movie! Hehe… holler back ~~~ LaEnAn-DeVnEt-BeViN J