A WALK TO REMEMBER

Summary – The summer before his fifth year, Harry Potter stumbles across his father's old journal from his seventh year at Hogwarts and he reads about the continuous adventures of him, the Marauders, and his mother, Lily Evans; how they met, how they fell in love, and what brought them to their horrendous deaths. This story is based on the movie and book called A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks.

Disclaimer – Unfortunately, I own absolutely nothing. All of the characters and their names belong to author JK Rowling and the plot and character traits belong to Warner Brother's and author Nicholas Sparks.

Chapter 12 – The Wedding:

In the small town of Stonebrook, just outside of London, there was an old, simple little white church with a garden of rose beds, daises, and violets. These blossoms made the old fashioned church look like some kind of Garden of Eden. There was a simple, stone fountain in the front with two little robins bathing in it.

Almost twenty-five years ago, at this very church, Robert Evans and Marigold Starkson were married.

Today, their youngest daughter, Lily Evans would be fulfilling her greatest dream; getting married in the church where her parents had gotten married.

Today, at this very church, James Potter and Lily Evans will be married.

James was fiddling with his fingers and readjusting his tuxedo jacket as he waited for the wedding to start. As he paced, he could hear Sirius's, his Best Man, chuckles from the other side of the room and James ignored his friend until he felt him place a comforting hand on their shoulder.

"You need to calm down, Prongs," he said. "You're going to make a hole in the floor with all of the pacing you're doing." But James ignored him and continued fussing. "Bloody hell, James, I don't even know what you're so worried about."

"What if I'm not good enough for her, Padfoot?" he asked urgently, almost sounding pleading. "What if I fail her somehow? What if-"

"What if you don't shut-up and give yourself a nervous breakdown before you even get married?" asked Sirius in mock horror. James narrowed his eyes at him.

"I swear, at your wedding, Mr. Black, we're talking pay-back!"

"Hey, that rhymes!" said Sirius brightly. "Prongs is a poet and he doesn't even know it!"

"You're a moron, Padfoot," snapped James.

"Well, aren't we cranky," said Sirius, frowning at his best friend. "Isn't this supposed to be a happy day? I mean, you're getting married! Don't worry, be happy! Put a smile on your face and it'll make the world a better place-"

"SIRIUS!"

"Okay, okay, okay, a guy can take a hint!" said Sirius, putting his hands up in defense and backing off.

"Thank you!" said James, sighing in relief. He collapsed on to the couch that had been placed in his dressing room. He ran a hand through his messy hair before turning to look at Sirius again. "You have the rings, right?"

"What rings?"

"Bloody hell, Sirius!"

"OH NO!" Sirius said in mock horror again. "I FORGOT THEM!" James narrowed his eyes and cracked his knuckled threateningly. "Alright, yeah, I have them. You can take the wand out of your arse." James smiled and nodded in relief. Sirius let out a huff of breath before sitting on the couch next to his best friend and clapped him on the back in a comforting, brotherly like manner.

"You know Prongs, this is really something," said Sirius sincerely. "I mean, you're making all of Lily's dreams come true; letting her get married in the church were her parents got married." Sirius was now looking around the tiny, simple, but yet beautiful church. James smiled to himself.

"You know I'd do anything for Lily, Padfoot," said James, smirking to himself as he also gazed around the church. "It's number one on her life to-do list. How could I say no?"

"Huh? Life to-do list?"

"Never mind," said James, waving the topic away with his hand. "It's something between Lily and myself."

At that moment, both men heard music going on in the distance. James took a deep breath as Sirius jumped to his feet and readjusted his bow tie and jacket.

"Well, duty calls," said Sirius. "Let's go." James followed his friend's actions and the two men walked into the church and right up to the altar as they awaited for Lily and her bridesmaids. Remus and Peter were sitting in the front aisle, next to Reginald and his wife, Nicolette, both giving James a playful thumbs up, which calmed him slightly and made him chuckle.

The first bridesmaid to walk down the aisle was Petunia, Lily's older sister. James did not know much about her, except that she lived with her Muggle grandparents after their parents had been murdered. James also knew that Petunia always hated Lily but Parker managed to convince Petunia to be in the wedding at Lily's request; it was what Lily truly wanted. After seeing Petunia, James could understand why she hated her younger sister so much. He could not believe how beautiful Lily was compared to her sister. Petunia had blonde hair and blue eyes, but looked more like a horse than a woman. James chuckled to himself at the thought.

After Petunia took her place at the altar, Anna came walking down the aisle next. James beamed at his sister as she walked with a big, bright smile on her face. When she caught her brother's eye, she mouthed, 'Lily looks beautiful,' and winked before she took her spot at the altar next to Petunia.

Finally, it was Lily's turn to walk down the aisle.

James tensed up and held his breath. He saw Parker and Lily enter and walk slowly down the aisle. His eyes nearly popped out of his head and he held his breath even longer and harder. Lily did not look just 'beautiful' as Annie had suggested; she looked simply breath-taking! She was wearing a beautiful white, silky wedding dress, beaded at the neckline, which was the lowest Lily had ever worn it. The sleeves were long and loose and were made of pure lace. Her long red hair was curled at the ends and came down in red locks around her shoulders; just the way James had always liked it. Her veil was flowing behind her, as though caught in the wind and she smiling brightly, looking right at James. Lily was an angel; it was as simple as that.

The priest stood at the altar and opened his Bible as Lily and James joined hands and looked into each other's eyes.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…" When he finished the passage, the priest smiled at the blissful, happy couple.

"Do you, James Reginald Potter, take this woman to be your law filled wedded wife, to honor her, cherish her, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do!"

"And do you, Lily Marigold Evans, take this man to your law filled wedded husband, to honor him, cherish him, for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do!" Tears of happiness had begun to fill Lily's emerald green eyes.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" James looked at Sirius for the rings. Sirius and Anna each handed Lily and James a ring and the two slipped it on to each other's finger and smiled, tears still in Lily's eyes.

"You may kiss the bride!" James smiled and unveiled Lily before pressing his lips against her own. There was music and a loud applause and James could even hear Sirius making inappropriate cat-calls. The two parted and smiled at each other, ignoring the chaos that was surrounding them. James lifted Lily off her feet and carried her princess style out of the tiny church.

"James, you've made all my dreams come true!" Lily cried out as she buried her face into his shoulder. James beamed down at his bride.

"I love you so much, Lily!"

"I love you more," she said grinning, hugging James around the neck. James nuzzled his nose against hers and smiled.

"That's not possible," he said before kissing his wife.

James was sleeping peacefully in his warm, comfortable bed. The sunlight was shining brightly in his eyes and he smiled, knowing it was time to enjoy another Lily-filled day. He rolled over to hug Lily close to him but she was not there in bed. James's eyes immediately snapped open and he sat up quickly, looking around frantically.

"Lily?" he whispered out into their bedroom. Suddenly, he heard a blood curling scream from downstairs. James jumped out of bed, not even bothering to put on a pair of pants or his glasses and ran downstairs with his wand at the ready.

"LILY?" James shouted urgently. But, to his immense surprise, there were no Death Eaters and no Voldemort. There was only Lily standing in the kitchen with her hand on her heart, looking completely horrified as Sirius sat on the kitchen floor, clutching on to his stomach because he was laughing so hard. James raised his eyebrow and walked straight over to his wife, asking, "Lily, what's going on?"

"Your friend is a complete and utter bugger!"

"Tell me something I don't know," said James, now glaring at his laughing best friend. "What'd he do now?"

"He came from behind me and scared the bloody jeepers out of me!" Lily cried, now placing her hands firmly on her hips as she continued to shoot daggers at Sirius. James got a good look at her and noticed she looked a little shaken up and pale, despite her anger. James looked at Sirius and narrowed his eyes.

"Padfoot, apologize to my wife or suffer the consequences," said James as he twirled his wand threateningly between his fingers. Sirius knew that when it came to Lily, James did not play games so the man quickly regained his composure and got to his feet, looking at the angry redhead square in the eye.

"Alright, I'm sorry, Lily Flower" said Sirius, sounding both honest and sincere. "I didn't mean to scare you so much, but you know that it was just a joke. I do think you need to learn to take a joke, but maybe, under the circumstances, that was probably not the best prank to play on you. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I suppose I can find some way deep down in my heart to forgive you, Sirius," she said smiling, playfully hitting him on the arm. Sirius beamed and planted an affectionate kiss on Lily's cheek as she giggled and James rolled his eyes at the pair. Having Sirius around was like having a small child around.

"Are you staying for breakfast, Sirius?" asked Lily as she used her wand to scramble the eggs. "I have plenty."

"Yeah sure! Why not?"

James and Lily had been married for exactly one year, two months, and three days. They had been in hiding from Voldemort for one year, two months, and two days. They had, so far, successfully avoided both the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters.

Unfortunately, the rest of the Potter family was not so lucky.

James had been summoned privately to Albus Dumbledore's office one Friday afternoon with heartbreaking news. The younger man sat in front of the older man's desk, completely horrified with the news that his former Headmaster had just given him.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, James," said Dumbledore with a sigh, as he looked the young man square in the eye, "but your parents and sister were found murdered in their homes last night by use of the Killing Curse. The Ministry believes that Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters were behind it. James…I…I'm so sorry…"

"I-I..." James looked at the ground in shame, as he rested his elbows on his knees and gripped tightly at his hair. "I can't believe this! He…he killed my entire family! I…I…" James had to stop talking because a great big lump had formed in his throat.

"I know, James," said Dumbledore, reaching out across the desk to pat his hand in comfort. "But I did warn you that this might happen if you married Lily."

A fire was suddenly set off in his chest and he found himself jumping out of his chair, nearly throwing it behind him as he stood up, glaring at his former Headmaster. "How dare you suggest that?" he snapped angrily and bitterly. "How dare you? I love Lily! I don't regret marrying her for a minute! As horrible as my family's deaths are, my life would not be complete if I did not have Lily in it!"

"Then I suggest you find some way to protect Lily," said Dumbledore somberly. James nodded.

"Of course…of course I will!" James cried out. "I…I just don't know how! Voldemort is not an easy monster to hide from…"

"I suggest the Fidelius Charm, James" said Dumbledore. "Are you familiar with it?" James nodded slowly. He was familiar with the charm, but it was a great risk to take and sacrifices would have to be made.

"I'll have to discuss it with Lily first, Professor," said James sternly, "though I do like the idea of using a Secret Keeper. If we do use the Fidelius Charm I want Sirius to be my Secret-Keeper."

"James, I told you," said Dumbledore, who now sounded impatient, "I think someone close to you is keeping Voldemort informed of your movements, I wouldn't-"

"Are you implying Sirius might betray me?" James snarled. "First you lecture me in my decision for marrying in Lily and now you're giving me grief about using Sirius as my Secret Keeper? Do you trust me at all, Professor Dumbledore?"

"It's not that I don't trust you James," said Dumbledore, looking at the young man over his half-moon spectacles. "I just don't think that it's safe. Don't you want the best for Lily?"

"Yes, and that's why I'm choosing Sirius as my Secret-Keeper," said James firmly. "He would be the best and it's as simple as that!"

"It's your decision, James," said Dumbledore. "But, if you wish to use me as a Secret-Keeper, you're more than welcome to."

"Thank you, Professor! Lily and I both appreciate it, along with everything else you have done for us…"

"I just wish I could have done more for your family," said Dumbledore, sounding grave and disappointed with himself. James nodded in understanding, but did not say anything. He simply sighed, wanting nothing more than to return home where he could escape all of this with Lily.

Dumbledore must have sense this because he smiled and said: "Well, I think you had better be getting home. Lily is probably waiting for you…and she's probably worried sick…" he said, a twinkle returning to his bright blue eyes. James nodded, left the office, and went to Hogsmeade to Disapparate back to his home.

It was several months after the tragic deaths of the Potter family. Unfortunately, James and Lily had to attend their funerals under the influence of Polyjuice Potion. It was a precaution that had to be taken in case Voldemort and the Death Eaters showed up, determined to get their hands on Lily and James.

Ever since the death of the Potters, Professor Dumbledore, James, and Sirius had been meeting in secret in order to set the Fidelius Charm in motion. However, it turned out to be much more complicated than they had anticipated and resulted in late night for James. But, Lily had to be in hiding at all times because Voldemort was more after her than he was James.

After one of these late, secret meetings, James came home late wanting nothing more than to go to bed and hold Lily all night long.

"Lily? Lily, I'm home!" James shouted as he Apparated into his kitchen. When James did not hear anything, or her response, he just wondered into the family room where there was a roaring fire. Surprisingly, Lily was sitting on the couch, staring into it with a strange smile on her face.

"Lily? Are you alright?"

"James, I had a doctor's appointment today," she whispered breathlessly, finally looking up at him. James immediately went into panic mode.

"You left the house? Lily! You know you're not supposed to do that!" said James, sounding irritated. Lily continued to just stare at him when he finally let the words sing in. "Wait, you went to St. Mungo's? Why'd you go to St. Mungo's? What's the matter? Are you sick? What's wrong?" Lily had to laugh over his overprotective behavior. She patted the seat next to her and he sat down next to her on the couch.

"First of all, I used Polyjuice Potion," said Lily softly. "I was completely safe. Second of all, nothing is wrong and no, I'm not sick."

"Then why'd you go to St. Mungo's?" asked James, now sounding concerned, and not as urgent and panicky.

"I…I needed to confirm something…" said Lily, her voice trailing off.

"You're being awfully cryptic about this, Lily," said James, now sounding impatient. "What's wrong?"

"James…I…I'm pregnant," she whispered. James stared at her for a minute with wide eyes. Lily stared back at him and when he did not say anything, she gently stroked his cheek with her hand. "James?

"We're…we're…Lily, we're going to have a baby?" James asked in an astonished, quiet whisper. Lily looked at him with tears of joy swimming in her eyes.

"Yes, we're going to have a baby," she whispered, patting her stomach. James finally stopped staring at her and gave a disbelieving, but joyous laugh. "Are you happy…?"

"Lily…I…I…Lily, we're going to have a baby!" James was now shouting. He once again laughed and he lifted Lily off her feet and spun her around lovingly.

"Oh Merlin Lily, I love you more than anything!"

"Oh, I just hope the baby looks like you if it's a boy!"

A note from the Jitterbelle. Another updated and revised chapter! I hope you're all enjoying the story and please don't forget to review! A huge and loving thank you to those who have and continue to review!

On a side note, I have received several reviews saying that it would be impossible for Lily to have a baby because she has leukemia. Lily DOES NOT, I repeated, DOES NOT HAVE LEUKEMIA. I changed that part of the story in order to align better with the series. So, instead I made her the Heir of Gryffindor. She is not dying in anyway shape or form...though Voldemort wants her dead. I hope that clears thing up for some of you…