Hey guys! The long awaited epilogue!! You all are going to hate me after this posting—but don't worry, it's still not done! Muahahaha! –ahem- anyway. That was weird…

Yeah, so there's more after this; I'm going to post it in little chunks.

Much love, peace easy!

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Epilogue

A year later, when Lily was 18, she walked down the stairs in the same Muggle house that she had lived in while attending Hogwarts. She had kept true to her word, and was in contact with the Marauders and Belle occasionally came to visit.

Her parents were not in the best condition. Her mother was so overloaded on alcohol and drugs that she could no longer leave the house, and Lily had to take care of her. Her father spent his days at the office and his nights carousing with his friends, so Lily rarely saw him. Lily wanted to go out and see the world, or maybe even go back to school and study even more about magic. But now? That just didn't seem like an option.

The sun was setting out the window, and Lily was greeted by her mother's howls of hunger.

"I'm coming, mum." Lily called to her, as she entered the kitchen. She glanced at her mother, who was sitting at the kitchen table with her head in her hands. Even Lily had to admit that she hadn't been… all there for the past few years, and it made her slightly uneasy. "We don't have much to eat, mum. How's a sandwich sound?"

"Mmgh." Her mother mumbled.

"Turkey it is, then." Lily said kindly. Just as she got out the bread to make her mother's dinner, she heard the doorbell ring. "I'll get it mum… don't get up." She added, even though her mother hadn't moved.

She pulled open the door and was surprised to see two police officers staring her in the face. "He-hello. How can I help you, officers?" She asked, flipping back her red hair nervously.

"Is this the Evans household?" The man on the right asked her.

"Yes. Yes it is. Why?" Lily asked him. "Is something wrong?"

"Are you related to Mark Evans?"

"Yes, he's my father." Lily answered, with a shaking voice. "Is he all right?"

"I hate to be the one to tell you this, Miss Evans." The officer on the left said hesitantly. "But we found him driving while drunk…"

"He—what?"

"Sadly, when we tried to pull him over, he drove away." The man continued. "He hit another car and died."

Lily felt as though someone had just shot her in the stomach. "Excuse me?" She muttered. "I thought you said…"

"We're really very sorry." One said faintly. "If he had just pulled over…"

"The other person in the accident is in the hospital with a broken leg. I gave him your father's insurance number, so you'll be contacted soon." The other replied.

"Are you saying they might sue us?" Lily asked the officer breathlessly.

"It's a possibility." The one on the left said, shrugging, as though he didn't much care. "We're very sorry. Good evening." And with that, the two officers turned and started to walk down the driveway.

"Thank you." Lily said to their backs. Her heart was pounding. Her father was dead… who would bring in money? And the other family might sue them? And her father was dead…

Tears of fear and frustration started to slide down Lily's face. She closed the front door and moved brainlessly into the kitchen, where her mother still sat at the table.

"Mama?" Lily whispered. "It's daddy… he's dead. Mum, daddy's dead." Lily started to sob. She moved to the table, and wrapped her arms around her mother.

"Ge'off me!" Lily's mother spat.

"Mum, he's dead." Lily cried. "Don't you care?" Tears were rolling down Lily's face like rain, as her mother shoved Lily away.

"Hate you." Her mother mumbled.

Lily stared at her. "Mum! Daddy's dead. He's gone."

"Get away from me!" Lily's mother shouted. Lily looked at her with disbelief. As she turned to flee from the room, her mother chucked a glass at her. Luckily her mother missed, since she started to break down into tears. Lily just ran up to her room as a new set of tears slopped down her own cheeks.

She collapsed on her bed, crying for her dead father, her insane mother, and herself. Lily felt so helplessly trapped. If the family sued her, she would have nothing to pay the debts with. She had to escape, somehow. She wiped teardrops out of her eyes, and looked at her desk. Sitting there were letters from her friends that she had yet to answer. They could help her. They could get her out of this house…

But who? James and his mother were going through a tough enough time as it was. With Remus's werewolf condition, staying with him might not be safe. Sirius had just moved out of his parents' house and was trying to get settled in his new house, so that wasn't an option. Belle would be glad to take Lily in, but the Figgs had helped Lily enough as it was.

She stood up, and looked at the envelopes on her desk. Glancing over the familiar and comforting letters from her friends, she noticed one from the person who could help her. Amos Diggory.

Hadn't he offered to give her help at any time? Well, now was when she needed help most of all. She had to leave this house, and Amos's doors were open. She sat down at her small table and pulled out a quill.

Dear Amos,

            Something terrible has happened. I won't tell you about it now. I'd rather see you, and tell you in person.

All I can say now is I need to get out of my parent's house. I can't stand this anymore. My mother hates me (she tells me daily) and my father… I just have to leave. As soon as possible.

I remember in seventh year you invited me to live with you as roommates. Is that offer still available? If so, I would love to move in by the end of the week.

Thank you so much, Amos.

Lily Evans

Without hesitation, Lily sealed the letter. She walked over to an old, rusting, birdcage where Amos's owl was resting after delivering his letter. She let the owl out, and attached the letter to its leg. "Take this to Amos." She told it. "Within the day, please." The owl hooted its response, and fluttered noiselessly out the open window.

When it was no longer in sight, Lily jotted a letter to Belle, explaining everything, and put a Muggle stamp on it. I have to get an owl… Lily thought, as she walked her letter to the mailbox out front. Hopefully, the letter would be delivered successfully.

She headed back up to her room, avoiding the kitchen. Her mother's sobs could still be heard coming from the table. Lily quickly closed the door to her bedroom, and flopped down on the bed and slept.

Two days later, Amos's owl returned with his answer. Lily unfastened the envelope with shaking hands. Surely Amos wouldn't turn her down?

God, Lily!

            I thought that you'd never ask! You know that my house is your house, and you're always welcome here. You can move in anytime. I'll make up a bed for you in the guest room today.

You know that you can always come to me. I hope that I can be of some use. You can stay at my place as long as you need to- your welcome won't ever be worn out. It'll be nice to have some company around here.

This'll be great Lily, you'll see!

All My Love,

Amos Diggory

She let out a huge sigh of relief. Without any hesitation, she grabbed her carpetbag, and looked around her room. She grabbed her wand off the desk and shoved it into her pocket. She glanced in her closet and dresser and folded some clothes into her bag. Finally, after packing some books, money, and personal mementos--like her Gryffindor badge--she marched down the stairs.

"Mum!" She called. "I'm leaving. I'll be at Amos Diggory's--the number's on the kitchen counter." Her mother didn't hear her, and Lily knew that she wouldn't care. She probably wouldn't even notice Lily was gone until it was lunchtime and Lily didn't come with a tray of food. Lily was surprised to see that she honestly had no regrets about leaving her mother alone.

She slammed the front door behind her, and made a satisfying clunk. Lily felt free. She was an adult now, out in the world. This was going to be great.

Lily put out her wand arm to call the knight bus, and paid the driver with much satisfaction, knowing where she was headed. The ride itself was wild, but Lily still had a pleasant ride—other than the fact that the man behind her seemed very sick and was liable to vomit at any moment.

She arrived at Amos's place around one o'clock, and he welcomed her with open arms. With a huge smile, he hugged her, and helped her carry her one bag into the house.

"Well, this is it!" Amos said, showing Lily her room with some wild pride. "I hope you like it." He grinned. Looking around the room, Lily felt a strange sense of stiffness to it. It felt like a hotel room with its perfectly made bed, glowing cherry wood furniture, and picturesque view of the apartment owner swimming pool.

"It's wonderful." Lily said, sitting on the bed with a bounce. "I love it."

"Great!" Amos chuckled. "I'm calling out for Chinese. It should be here in about forty-five minutes. Make yourself at home—what's mine is yours now."

"Thanks so much, Amos." Said Lily. "I don't know how I'll repay you."

"Don't worry your pretty little head about anything like that." Amos encouraged her. "Everything's going to be great. Feel free to use the phone, the TV, whatever." He added, as he left Lily's room.

Lily sat on the bed staring around the room. How did she wind up here? Somehow, everything seemed like such a blur. But she was here, and she was safe and for the first time, happy. Things were going to turn out all right now.

Over the next few weeks, the Marauders mailed her constantly: Checking up on her, making sure that she was all right with Amos, saying that they were there for her, and offering to come visit at any time. Lily was comforted to know how much her friends really cared for her.

But as the weeks turned to months, the letters slowly got fewer and fewer. Soon, the only one writing was Belle.

"I haven't gotten any mail recently, have I, Amos?" Lily asked Amos one evening, when they were both just hanging around the house.

"Huh? Oh—no, I don't think so." Amos told her over the newspaper. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason." She muttered, slightly disappointed. Amos continued to watch her over his paper. It made her slightly uneasy.

"You know something, Lily?" He asked her.

"Hm?"

"Here, we've been roommates for about a year now." Amos said. "And it's been working out great."

"Yeah, it really has." Lily agreed, sipping some coffee that she had just made. She moved to the chair next to him, and sat down with her legs curled beneath her. "And have I thanked you, recently, for letting me stay here? Because I really appreciate it…"

"I know, I know." Amos said, cutting her off. "But there's something I've been holding in since the day you moved in here."

Almost dreading what he was about to say, Lily watched him fold his paper, and look straight at her. "I love you, Lily. I really do."

Lily swallowed a gulp of coffee, and placed the cup on the table. "Amos, I thought we'd talked about this a long, long time ago…"

"Yeah, we did, but I just… I just can't stand it anymore, Lily." He said softly. "Every day, I see you. And I just want you more and more. I want to wake up by your side every morning, and see your beautiful face every night as I fall asleep… I just…" He put his hand around her neck, and pulled her toward him. Surprisingly, she didn't pull away. Their lips met, and it felt… unpredictably fantastic. Though it was nothing like that kiss from Remus two years ago, it was just as satisfying. As she felt his fingers running through her hair, and his other hand gently resting on her waist, she felt as though the world was spinning ten times too slow… but it didn't matter. Lily was caught up in the moment and lost in Amos's kiss.

He pulled away, with a dazed and shocked look on his face. "You… you didn't pull away." He muttered.

"No… no I didn't." Lily said, taken aback. She must have looked just as stupid and crazy as he did.

"Lily…" Amos murmured, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small box. He opened it, and revealed a diamond ring. "Lily, will you marry me?"