Disclaimer: I do not own HP, that belongs to J.K. Rowling.

So sorry for the delay! Oh my gosh, you do not know how busy I have been with school and Guard!! It's been crazy!! All the competitions, and games, and homework. All that jazz is over now, and I made Winter Guard, which hopefully won't be as time consuming as Color Guard was (we only meet twice a week, and Saturdays). I concocted this chapter in my free time in keyboarding (a blow-off class, really), and in my free time in World Geography. So, if this chappy sucks arse, that's why. It's longer, though, so hopefully that makes up a little for taking so long. Hope you enjoy!!



Introductions Part 4: Wedded Bliss



Lily felt.exquisite. That was the only word she could think of that could describe how she felt in her wedding robes. She'd wanted something to stay muggle about the wedding, as everything else would be magic-oriented. So, the main part of the robe set was actually a muggle wedding gown. Off-white in color, the straps were off the shoulder. The bodice ended in a "v", while curving over her hips at the sides, where the skirt of the gown began. The skirt flowed like liquid around her legs, and had gold embroidery at the hem. The gown reminded her of a medieval dress, which is what she'd been going for, as her favorite stories were from the medieval era. Her cloak was also of off-white, and had the same gold embroidered trim as the hem of her gown. The cloak was her favorite; on the back was a picture of a stag with lilies intertwined with its great antlers in gold thread. She laughed quietly, thinking of the confused looks on her mother and Mrs. Potter's faces when they saw the finished cloak. She'd just smiled mysteriously. James didn't know about the picture, either. It was her surprise for him.

As she stood now in front of the mirror, fingering the gold lily- shaped clasp to the cloak, she wondered about everything that was going to happen to her life once she married James. She never thought she'd be married at 17, but she knew this was what she wanted.

"Lily?"

Turning around, Lily saw her best friend, Arabella Figg. "Bella," she murmered, smiling.

Bella was in awe. Lily was gorgeous, with her dark red hair twisted into a fancy knot on the back of her head, and two locks of hair framing her face. Bella was the one who'd helped Lily decide on the wedding clothes. She was there when Lily'd received the finished cloak, and had laughed when Lily wouldn't explain the significance of the stag and lily, though she suspected the two mothers had some sort of idea as to the meaning. Mrs. Potter must, most certainly.

"Lily, you look gorgeous."

Lily blushed. "Thanks, Bella. How're the guys?"

Bella smiled brightly as she smoothed down her emerald green robes, and gave Lily her bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley. "According to Remus, they're fine. However."

Lily stilled, panic starting to fill her. "However what?"

Bella's smile grew even wider. "I heard a commotion behind the door, and Remus was standing in front of it, trying to keep me out of James's dressing room." She laughed quietly. "Sounded like Sirius was doing something."

Lily stared at Bella for a moment, then burst out laughing. Bella soon followed, and their laughter rang throughout the room.

~~~

James was a mess, and Sirius Black, his best friend, wasn't helping any.

"James, calm down, everything will be fine," Remus Lupin told him as he came back into the room from dealing with Arabella.

James groaned as he turned to face his friend. "Moony, just what does Padfoot think he's doing?"

Both of them turned to where Peter Pettigrew, the last of their group, was trying to get a kneeling Sirius away from a banner. Sirius, however, was easily ignoring the little man, and looked like a little kid working on something he knew would please his teacher, with his tongue between his teeth and hanging outside his lips, a grin on his face the whole while. Both Remus and James knew that whatever Sirius was putting on that banner, while it would be funny, no doubt, it was probably going to humiliate, in some way, James and Lily.

James groaned again, and turned back to the mirror. His robes were the same color as Lily's, with the same gold embroidered trim and everything. His cloak, however, had the word "Marauders" embroidered on it, with the footprints of a stag's hoof, a dog, wolf, and rat's paws, as well as a cat's paw and a lily, showing how the six of them were united. After all, the school years would've been boring, had the Marauders, who'd known each other since before Hogwarts, had never met Lily and Arabella to keep them on their toes.

Feeling that everything was in order with himself, he turned back to his friends. Lily had decided on emerald green for her bridesmaids' robes, so James had done the same for his groomsmen. Remus, his long hair tied loosely back, looked tired and haggard, but James knew this was only because the full moon was two days away. Peter looked uncomfortable in his dress robes. Nothing could be done about that, though. Sirius, apparently done with his banner, was straightening out his robes. As always, he looked good. James was quite interested to see his and Arabella's interactions tonight.

"Sure you don't want me to tame your hair, Prongs?" Sirius asked, holding up the bottle of gel that had caused the commotion that made Arabella suspicious.

James narrowed his eyes at Sirius. Sirius smiled laughingly at James, and tossed the bottle over his head.

"Hey!" Peter yelped, as the flying bottle narrowly missed his head.

"Sorry, Wormtail," Sirius answered, not sorry at all.

"Boys, it's time," Mr. Evans said through the door.

~~~

Albus Dumbledore was extremely happy and proud. He'd known from the very first day he'd met James Potter and Lily Evans that their destinies would forever be intertwined. As they grew up, he'd known that they would spend the rest of their lives together. Being asked to join them in marriage was a deep honor, and he was more than happy to do it. Standing now, in the front of the chapel, watching James approach to take his place, Dumbledore felt he would burst, he was so proud. James was one of his brightest students, if very mischievous. James now looked very nervous, though, which was very unlike him.

"Thank you, again, Professor," James said, taking his place to Dumbledore's left.

Dumbledore chuckled, and nodded to Remus and Peter as they took their places to the left and behind James. "There's no need to thank me, Mr. Potter. I'm very glad to do this."

James smiled and looked at the doors in the back of the church as the music started.

Arabella entered first, looking radiant. Taking Sirius' arm, the two of them walked down the aisle, and James thought they looked absolutely stunning together.

Next was Lily. James' breath caught in his throat. She was a goddess. An angel. Gods, she was beautiful. Mr. Evans had tears coming from his eyes freely, as he walked his youngest daughter down the aisle. As Lily joined him at the altar, he noticed the picture on her cloak, and grinned at her. She smiled her mischievous smile at him as she faced him, placing her small hands into his much larger ones.

While Mr. Evans joined his tearful wife, Harold Potter gently squeezed a tearful Glenda Potter's hand. The thought, "My baby's all grown up and getting married" ran through both mother's minds.

As Dumbledore said the marriage rites, Lily and James' eyes never left each other. Throughout the exchanging of the rings, their eyes never strayed. Everyone looking on could tell the two of them were in another world, letting Dumbledore's words strengthen the bond they'd formed years before.

"You may now kiss the bride."

James smiled tenderly at Lily as he cupped her chin and kissed her, sealing the promise of their future. As he leaned back, his familiar mischievous smile crossed his face, and he gathered her up in his arms, swinging her around once as she hung on for dear life, then setting her down. Face flushed, Lily laughingly smiled back, and hands clasped, the two ran out of the chapel, streamers flying around them from various wands.



~~~



Four years. They'd been married four years, and now they had a baby. Lily smiled down at her son, Harold James Potter, named after her father-in- law. The smile fell from her face as she thought about James' parents. They'd died at the hands of Voldemort not quite two years after she and James had married. Her own parents had died shortly after the Potters. Lily held her tears in check as she held baby Harry close to her. The funeral had been horrible. Petunia had yelled at her, expressing her hate and blame. Lily also felt that the death of her parents had been her fault, as she was the witch in the family. James, however, had explained to her what she'd already known: that Voldemort killed her parents to get to her. She and her sister had lost contact soon after her wedding, and the funeral made things worse between them. Petunia hadn't shown up at Lily's wedding, and likewise, hadn't told Lily the location and time of hers, so Lily hadn't had been able to go. This had been painful, as even though the two sisters didn't get along, Lily had still wanted to see her sister on the happiest day of her life.

Lily smiled at Harry, coming back to the present. "Come, we should start dinner," she cooed to him, carrying him to the kitchen. "Daddy will be home soon."

James had become an Auror, pleasing both his parents and his instructors. Lily had gone to work at the Ministry of Magic, and worked in a section that worked on charms, helping perfect older ones, and invent new ones. Something she'd greatly enjoyed. However, now she stayed at home to take care of Harry. She still helped the Ministry when they owled her for help, though.

Humming while she finished making dinner, Lily kept an eye on Harry, who seemed take after his father; meaning, he was curious about everything and tended to get into trouble.

Just then, the door opened, and in stepped the very man she'd been thinking about. "Lils, I'm home, and I've got company," called James.

Smiling, Lily picked up Harry and stepped into the living room of the little cottage in Godric's Hollow. "Sirius! Remus!" she exclaimed. "How wonderful it is to see you guys again! I've just finished making dinner, so please join us."

Both men's eyes lit up at the mention of food, and as soon as their jackets were off, they were in the kitchen, at the table, eyeing the food with hunger.

Laughing, Lily turned back to James, who chuckled and pulled his wife and son into an embrace. Kissing Lily, he ruffled Harry's hair. "And how was your day?" he asked, smiling as they walked to the table together.

Smiling at Sirius' antics as he took Harry from her and sat him upon his knee, Lily answered, "Oh, the same as usual. And yours?"

James' smile fell from his face, and Sirius and Remus were both quiet. Lily didn't like the feel of tension that had suddenly entered her home. "We got word from Professor Dumbledore today at the office," James said quietly, as he and Lily took their seats at the table. "It seems Voldemort's making his move against us."

Lily's breath caught in her throat.

"Against you and me," James finished quietly.



A/N: Oh, goodness, a cliff hanger. How evil. I hate cliff hangers, really I do. Once again, I am so sorry that this took so long. I'm not particularly pleased with this chapter, but I needed to get something out. Besides, as cruddy as I feel this is, it sets up the stage for what I intend to be the final chapter of this fic. The next chapter will be out sooner than this one was. I promise. I already have the ideas going through my head of what's going to happen, I just need to get them down and in order. Though, I'm pretty sure most of you can tell what's up.

Pickle Princess, I do fully intend to write a prequel to this. I do intend to write a fic introducing Lily and James' relationship. I just don't know when I'm going to write it.

Lilyflower4u2nv - Yes, when I said CG, I did mean Color Guard.

Please be patient with me as I try and get the next chapter out, and please leave a review telling me what you think of this. I really appreciate, all the reviews I've gotten.

And, I haven't had Tree read this, so, if this chapter really sucks arse, now you know why. She's my unofficial beta, but I didn't run this by her because it's late, and she's in bed, and I want to post this so you all have something to read from me. (We're all jumping for joy that Spotts has updated, really we are, you just can't see us!) Uh, sorry. random thought there. Uh, please review! Thanks!