Disclaimer: Harry Potter etc belong to J.K.Rowling – duh. The song 'Loving You' is from the musical 'Passion' by Peter Gabriel.
Apologies for the fluff at the beginning of this chapter. It was necessary to get the engaged, and I thought it was kinda cute.
----
Loving You - Chapter 2
"Well," said James, standing up and making his way towards the front of the hall, his voice magically magnified so that everyone could hear him. "It's been a really amazing year. A really amazing seven years, in fact," he smiled as several of the older students clapped. Sirius, Peter and I would have, but we were still wondering why on earth James hadn't told us that he was going to do an end of year speech. No other Head Boy had ever had to do it.
"What's going on?" Sirius hissed, as if I would know.
"No idea," said Peter, narrowing his eyes slightly at the fourth member of our party who was now grinning all over his face and showing no sign of the fear that had apparently gripped him only moments before. It was always like this when James took the stage.
"I've, ah – had some great times at this school," James went on. Glancing over at Lily, I saw her glaring at him with the furiosity that she generally reserved just for him. She obviously wanted to know why she, as Head Girl, had not been included in this. She noticed me looking and jerked her hands up sharply in a 'What the hell is he doing?' expression. I shrugged, and turned back to the boy in question.
"I've had some great teachers," said James. "And some really great friends. I've learned a whole lot of great lessons," he grinned at Professor McGonagall, who nodded at him – no matter how many detentions James had got from her during his time at Hogwarts (1,352 – he'd been counting) we knew the Transfiguration Professor was going to miss her star pupil.
"But most of all," James continued, and now he was starting to look nervous. He scratched absentmindedly at one elbow. "Most of all – I've got this amazing girlfriend."
In unison, the whole hall turned to look at Lily. She flushed instantly and put her hands to her mouth.
"I made a promise," James continued, tugging at his collar as though it was suddenly choking him. "To my girlfriend, last year. She's probably forgotten it by now, but I sure haven't."
Lily looked at us, her eyes wide with terror. "Oh god," she whispered. "What's he going to do?"
"What did he promise?" Sirius demanded, but James had already started speaking again.
"Lily," he said, "I'm gonna do something special for you – and you'd better pay attention because it's the one and only time I'm ever going to do it." He pulled out his wand and made some very, very intricate signs in the air. Trying to follow them, I realised that it was a music spell. I saw a piano, a violin and a harp before I lost track – and I can usually keep track of most complex charms. This was very advanced magic.
"Sirius? Does James take music lessons in the summer?"
"Um… yes."
"Oh. Wizard teacher?"
"Oh, definitely."
"Ah."
"Remus, what's he doing?" Lily squeaked – right before the music started to play. It was a slow tune, outlined by soft scales of violins, a clarinet moving mostly in thirds, and the plucking of violin strings. Then most of the instruments faded away, and James started to sing – with the simple accompaniment of piano chords. His voice was a rough tenor, and as he sang his eyes were fixed on Lily, who stared resolutely back at him.
"Loving you is not a choice
It's who I am,"
A lone clarinet joined him, playing in perfect harmony as the harp strummed out the occasional chord.
"Loving you is not a choice
And not much reason to rejoice,"
At this James smiled sheepishly and Sarah Nells stuck her hand in her mouth to keep from laughing.
"But it gives me purpose
Gives me voice –
To say to the world…
This is why I live
You are why I live
This is why I live…"
At last, Lily smiled, just as the clarinet rose and the instruments all came in at once. James was not a brilliant singer, but the words seemed to make an impression on her heart.
"Loving you is why I do the things I do
Loving you is not in my control
Loving you I have a goal of what's left in my life
I will live and I would die for you!"
The music rose in a crescendo, the violins leading the clarinet to it's peak –
"You give me purpose
You give me voice to say to the world
This is why I live
Yes this is why I live!"
A clash of cymbals and another huge rush of sound brought tears to Lily's eyes. She tried to hide them by brushing them away on her sleeve but Sarah pulled her arm down.
"Loving you is why I do the things I do
Loving you is not in not in my control…
But loving you I have a goal of what's left in my life
I will live and I would die for you…"
The music died away slowly, ever so slowly, and some people started to clap, but James held up his hand for silence. "Lily," he said, his voice still magnified as he walked towards her and went down on one knee. Sarah squeaked and pushed everyone else away to give them space. The three of us stared dumbfounded at our friend kneeling in front of Lily Evans, who looked absolutely terrified. The hall was completely and utterly silence. If we were guessing right, then today, James Potter would be making history.
"Lily," James said again. "I love you." He pulled a small box from his pocket and flipped it open, letting her see what was inside. "Will you marry me?"
Lily stared at him. Several of her girlfriends were noticeably crying. She smiled, and closed James' hand over the box. Then she said –
28th July 1996
"What?" Harry asked, when Remus paused in his telling. "What did she say?" Both Harry and Sirius were on the edge of the sofa, totally enthralled in the telling.
"Yeah, what happened, Moony?" Sirius begged, even though he'd been there.
"She said…" Remus started. "She said: 'Oh, James – "
5th June 1978
"Oh James," said Lily. "I'm afraid I want to wait a bit longer before I make a commitment."
James' mouth fell open. My own heart, which had been in my throat up until then, dropped into the pit of my stomach.
"Lily?" Sarah gasped.
There was a pause while the hall waited for someone to say something. Then James mumbled: "Oh. Ok…" and started to put the ring back inside his pocket.
"Wait's over!" Lily cried. "Of course I'll marry you!"
The hall burst into screams and applause as James gasped in relief. He swept his fiancée up in his arms and whirled her around to a sudden burst of violins and cymbals. Eventually he put her down and they gazed into each other's eyes for a while. Then – they kissed. The Gryffindors catcalled, the Slytherins booed, the Hufflepuffs cried and the Ravenclaws laughed, but they were oblivious to everything going on around them. What we had all believed to be a long-standing crush… was love. At the staff table, McGonagall, Dumbledore and Hagrid all had tears streaming down their faces unashamedly.
"Well," said Sirius eventually. "That was loads better than any prank we could've pulled on the Slytherins!"
28th July 1996
"I never!" Sirius protested.
"Oh yes you did," Remus argued. "And then Sarah Nells hit you over the back of the head with the roll she'd been saving for the train journey."
Harry's eyes shone. "I had no idea my parents got engaged when they were still in school," he said.
"Well, they had to wait a bit before they got married of course," said Sirius. "James hadn't just sprung it on us – his parents nearly had heart attacks when he came home and told them he was going to get married within the year. When his mum had stopped crying she drew up this enormous guest list – and it took ages just to find somewhere big enough…"
He paused.
"Go on!" Harry urged him. The two grownups noticed that somewhere during Remus' story Harry had pulled his bare feet up onto the sofa and was hugging his knees to his chest in anticipation. He sighed and gave up any hopes he might have had for the future of Sirius' furniture.
"Nuh-uh," said Sirius. "Remus can tell it."
"I don't think so," Remus chuckled. "I thought the argument was that you couldn't hold an adult conversation? I told the proposal – you can tell the wedding."
"Pleeeease, Sirius?" Harry begged. Sirius gave in at the sight of Harry's green eyes – so much like Lily's – shining with longing.
"Oh all right," he said. "Well, in the end they found this hall that was big enough – or rather, Lily's dad found it. He also paid for it, even though Richard – that's your grandfather – said he was going to foot all the bills. Then, the day before the wedding…"
30th November 1978
It was the day before the wedding. Sitting up in bed and staring at my not-so-tidy room, I decided for the fourth time that month that it was time I got my own house. I could have, you understand, what with my Auror's wages, but the right opportunity hadn't really presented itself as yet.
I'd been really uncomfortable about the whole thing when James and Lily had got their own house. Godric's Hollow was a gorgeous place, and not too far away from where James' parents lived. Lily's mother, it had to be said, hadn't been one hundred percent happy with the arrangement, but the kids were getting married, after all – it was only fair that they got to live with each other a couple of months before the wedding. And they hadn't had to pay a penny because the house had belonged to the Potters for years; it was just a matter of a few signatures being scrawled onto official documents as Richard Potter handed over the property to his son. Not really, it must be said, out of generosity – apparently it was leaning on his tax payments.
No, it was me that was the problem. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do. I couldn't really stay where I'd lived for the last two years – I'd stayed with James, with James' family. Some people do live with their parents for ages, maybe even their whole lives (like elephants) but I mean, living with someone else's parents?
Luckily, my best friend had solved the problem before I could get really uncomfortable about living in James' house without James in it. "Padfoot," he'd said. "Until you get off your bum and actually buy yourself an apartment, me and Lily would like you to come and stay with us." It was crude, but it was the only invitation I was likely to receive, so I took it. I had someone looking for a place for me, of course, but this would do for the time being. More than do.
Anyway, owing to the fact that I'd been living in the same house since August, I'd been very much caught up in the young couples' wedding plans. It had started to grate on the nerves, listening to all the bickering about flowers and colours and place settings. Lily wanted a traditional, Muggle wedding, with all the trimmings. James couldn't see why we couldn't just decorate the place with a flick of a wand. Eventually though, the latter had given in. "My darling," he'd said. "I really don't care what it looks like. I don't care if you turn up wearing slacks and gardening overalls – as long as you're there, everything will be perfect."
I couldn't resist sticking my fingers down my throat in James' direction at this sentiment, but Lily, surprisingly enough, had fallen for it, and everything was all right again. James winked at me behind her back.
It was the phone that had woken me up, I realised, looking at the clock and seeing that it was only 8:00. Nothing else could have woken me that early. I used an alarm charm when I needed to get up, which was every day of the week except two – my scheduled days off. On those days I usually slept till noon, and could have slept later if it hadn't been for the incessant hunger that usually crept in by that time.
Anyway, all the Aurors who had been invited to the wedding, and of course, James, had been given tomorrow off – and the groom and his best man had also been given this day for preparation. I'd been hoping to sleep until at least two, but the phones that Lily had insisted on installing on both floors made such a piercing, unnatural sound that they never failed to jerk me out of a well-earned slumber.
Grumbling, I grabbed some clothes and clambered into them, knowing that the dress-robes Lily had made me buy for tomorrow were going to be so uncomfortable that I would need to save up some comfort starting from now.
Lily was on the phone when I got downstairs. James was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a banana. "You're up early," he said.
"Blasted… machine," I said, nodding towards the phone and grabbing an apple as I sat down. "It never fails."
"I know," said James. "At least you don't have one right by the side of your bed. I had my wand out ready to curse the damn thing before I knew what I was doing."
"Who's ringing so early?" I asked. James grinned.
"Despite all appearances, Padfoot, the sun is in fact up," he said, motioning towards the window where the sun was, against all laws of courtesy, up. It was also covered with clouds, however, so that was all right.
"Why did you have to get married in winter?" I asked, unsure as to whether I'd asked this before. "It's horrible out there."
"Be thankful you're not on the job," was all James said.
"Oh, I am thankful," I said. It's just that I'd be a lot more thankful if I was still in bed. I didn't say that out loud, though. James and Lily were the ones providing that bed, and I didn't want it suddenly ripped out from under me.
"Oh NO!" Lily suddenly exclaimed from the phone. "You're JOKING!"
"And another thing about those things," I said. "Is that you can only hear one half of the conversation. You have to wait until the end until you get to know what's going on."
James nodded his agreement, but seemed more worried about whatever the phone had told Lily.
"Oh, I can't believe it," Lily said, exasperated. "But it's tomorrow! Isn't there anyone else available?"
Oh boy. Problem with the wedding plans.
"Oh fine," she suddenly snapped. "You can bet I'm not asking for this service again. My mother recommended you, but it looks like you've gone seriously downhill since her time. I'm going to go with my fiancé's original plan. Yes, thanks a lot for nothing. Goodbye."
When Lily turned back to us we couldn't help sliding over a little bit in our seats. She was furious. "It's the caterers," she said. "It turns out that the group they were going to send over have been caught carrying a truck full of cannabis, and there's no other parties available for tomorrow because of all the other people wanting to get married on the first."
"A truck full of what?" James exclaimed.
"Cannabis. It's a Muggle drug."
"Oh. It that… erm…"
"Illegal? Yes."
"Oh? So… House Elves, then?"
Lily sighed. "Yes. Since there's no other alternative. But someone is going to have to stick by and make sure they do it right."
Both of them turned to look at me.
"Me?" I gasped.
"You," said Lily. "This can be your special task as best man."
"But I already have a special task! You know, the rings and stuff. Can't Sarah do it?"
"Sarah will be there as well. I'll ask her to help." What this meant was, I'll make her help. Lily pulled out a thin book from the kitchen's one shelf. "Here," she said. "That'll tell you all about traditional wedding food. And I want you to oversee the making of the cake… personally."
Gulp.
So that is how I found myself reading and re-reading the slim volume oh-so-aptly named Wedding Delights, and burning the pictures into my mind. After an hour of trying to memorise this stuff (hell, after passing Auror training I thought my years of memorising things were over!) James came into the living room and occupied the chair opposite. In my panic, I'd gradually spread until I was covering the whole sofa.
"How's it going?"
"Bad question," I growled, slamming the book shut. "Where've you been?"
"Hogwarts," he said calmly.
"Did you get the House Elves?" I asked, "'Cos I'd hate to find out I've been reading this for nothing." I held up the evil book threateningly.
"Yeah, I got them," he said. "Dumbledore was really nice about lending them. Apparently half of them belong to me anyway."
"Sorry?"
"Yeah. Apparently they're on loan from my great, great, great…"
"Ok, I get the idea," I told him, raising myself up on one elbow and stretching out the kinks in my other arm.
We heard the unmistakeable sound of someone arriving by Floo. "That'll be Sarah," said James, standing up. He looked remarkably nervous – once Sarah took Lily to her flat then James would not see her until they stood at the altar together the next day. He got up and went to the door. "Coming?"
"Only if it'll make you feel better," I said, rolling off the sofa and getting to my feet. Anything was better than reading that stupid book.
Sarah Nells was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Lily had a bag over her shoulder as she thumped down the stairs. "Hey, guys!" Sarah called.
"Hi," I said. James didn't speak, he just hugged Lily as she made the last step.
"Do you have to go?" I heard him say.
"Er… yes, dear," she said. "It's bad luck if you see me before the wedding."
"Well, ok then. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye dear." They hugged. Lily knew what she was doing to James and was enjoying every minute of it. "And you," she said, looking over James' shoulder at me, "Don't mess anything up."
"Thanks for that vote of confidence," I said, leaning against the corridor wall as Sarah giggled from the doorway. "I'll see you tomorrow, Lily."
"The car will be here at exactly ten o'clock tomorrow morning," Lily reminded the two of us as she stepped into the kitchen and grabbed the pot of Floo powder from the mantelpiece. "Sirius, get someone to show you where the kitchens are and stay there until everything is perfect. James…" she smiled at him. "Just… be there."
"Do you really think I wouldn't show up to my own wedding?"
"It's been known to happen," said Lily, as Sarah disappeared into the flames.
"In that case, you'd better come, too," James told her. She just smiled, stepped into the green fire and yelled Sarah's address, whereupon she disappeared with a 'whoosh!' and the fire settled once more.
"Sirius?" James said once they'd left.
"Yeah?"
"Why am I doing this?"
"Personally, I have no idea. But you must have been thinking something when you organized that showy proposal." It wasn't the best of reassurances to a groom who had pre-marriage jitters. Remus or Peter would have probably said something like: 'Because you love her'. Me, I spoke from the heart.
"Yeah," said James. "That's true."
And as I had predicted, my well-chosen words worked. He smiled.
1st December 1978
The next morning, both of us were up before the sun rose. Before daybreak is a very unnatural time for any humanoid creature to be up and in motion, but for me in particular the notion is practically mind shattering. But we were, all the same.
This was not my fault, however. James had been pacing up and down his bedroom floor for ten full minutes before I finally gave up on sleep and got dressed. I had to force him to eat when I finally dragged him down to the kitchen. "This was your idea," I kept reminding him. He looked like he seriously regretted it and kept turning the colour of an un-ripe tomato. He went to the loo a lot.
I very severely hoped that this was normal pre-groom behaviour. Very thankfully, Moony came along to help me at half-past nine.
"Remus!" I breathed in relief when he stepped calmly out of the kitchen fireplace. "You've got to help me – he isn't even dressed and the car's going to be here in half an hour!"
He stared at me. "I've never known you to care whether you're late for anything!"
"Remus, if James doesn't show and it's my fault, Lily will pound me into… into…"
"Mincemeat?"
"Breadcrumbs! And then she'll take me outside and feed me to the birds, and I'll end up as something white and sloppy on the head of some statue!"
"Ok, got your point. Where is he?"
"In the loo. Again."
"James?" Remus called, knocking gently on the bathroom door. "You ok in there?"
"'M fine, Moons," came the muffled reply.
"We'll be late if you don't get dressed soon, you know."
"I know! But if I put those things on, I know I'll be sick all over them!"
That was a bit of an unfair statement. I'd seen his robes, and they weren't that bad.
"Put it this way," I called through the bathroom door. "You can either get them on, get going, and possibly get sick, or don't get them on, don't get going, and definitely get Lily entirely over you in the space of two hours."
Remus glared at me. "I was going for the subtle, calming approach," he told me stiffly.
It worked, though. James came out in his pyjama bottoms, still looking a little green but smiling. "Good point," he said. "I'll go get changed." We watched him run up the stairs.
"You see?" I said, folding my arms at Remus. "I'm completely in control here. It's all going to be fine."
Remus coughed. The cough sounded suspiciously like "breadcrumbs."
----
Aha, the hilarity begins. Let's see just how many things can go wrong at this wedding!
Don't forget to review!
~*Laterose*~