Hey! I'm so glad that I've got some new readers. That makes me super happy! LOL!
Guess what?! I'm finally going to get my permit activated! Yay! I'm so excited! LOL! Plus, school's over on Friday—YES!
I have yet to see Harry Potter—I feel like such a disgrace.
Much love, enjoy!
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Less than a year later, Lily broke away from another of James's amazing kisses, and turned to see the applauding faces of their close friends. Lily tossed her wedding bouquet directly at Belle, who caught it with a smile. Lily picked up her long white skirts, and took James's arm as they walked back down the rose-covered aisle.
The setting sun sparkled down on their outdoor wedding, and flowers bloomed everywhere. August is perfect, Lily thought with a smile, as her friends tossed rice and flower petals at their feet. The church's windows glinted in the dwindling light, and Lily was glad that she and James were married outside.
The two newlyweds led the way to a large gazebo, where the festivities and celebrations were to be held.
Everyone had attended. Even all their old teachers had showed up to wish Lily and James well. Though Petunia and Vernon had both received invitations, they had decided not to show up—but Lily didn't care much. She was perfectly happy just to have her friends around her on this exceptional day.
As everyone sat down for dinner, a waxing moon was appearing on the horizon, and Lily smiled up at it.
Sirius sat down on James's left side, and whispered to both of them, "I call Godfather!"
"What?"
"You know… first kid, I get Godfather. Thought I'd call it before Remus decided to…" Sirius said, with a wink at Lily. James smiled at his friend's stupidity.
"Speaking of Remus, where is he?" Lily asked Sirius, looking at the empty chair next to him.
"Oh, geeze; I don't know. I thought he was here during the ceremony." He said. "Maybe he went to the bathroom or something."
"Probably." Lily agreed.
And after a few toasts from Dumbledore, Sirius, Belle, and McGonagall, everyone began to eat. Afterwards, it was on to the dance floor. A wizard band played, while fairies twinkled overhead in the rafters. James held Lily close, and she soon felt that this was, by far, the best evening ever.
But it took hardly ten minutes for the night to be broken. The man came swiftly, flat out running to the party. He was panting when he entered the pergola.
"He's coming! You all have to leave!" He shouted wildly. The music stopped, and everyone turned to look at the insane man. Lily and James looked at him with immediate dislike. Any stranger to show up at their wedding, uninvited, was surely unwelcome.
There was a sudden explosion from about a block away. Bright green sparks flew up into the air and everyone at the wedding party looked up at them, confused. Every person looked at each other wildly.
Moments later, a large crowd of people clothed in black came marching down the street in lines. All had their wands drawn, and their hoods up—their faces masked with darkness. One of them fired green sparks at a willow tree nearby, and it quickly was consumed by crackling flames.
"The Dark Lord has arrived!" Another man declared.
Lily looked at James fearfully, and he held her protectively. A few of the Death Eaters pointed their wands at random guests, and levitated them high into the air, tormenting them and laughing. Lily and James's friends all screamed and started to flee, as the Death Eaters grabbed people, screaming for the bride and groom.
Moody turned to face the crowd. "I suggest everyone leave these grounds immediately!" People listened to Moody immediately, and ran for their lives.
"Perhaps we'd better leave together." Dumbledore suggested.
James nodded, and put his hand in Lily's. She lifted the bottom of her dress, and motioned Dumbledore to lead the way. Belle and Sirius followed quickly.
Dumbledore brought them inside the church, where he magically lit a fireplace. Shouts and screams could be heard from outside, and Lily took in a shallow, trembling breath. Dumbledore pulled a pouch of floo powder out of his robes. "I really wish the both of you took Apparation lessons."
"It's on our to-do list." James snapped.
Dumbledore smiled at James's audaciousness, before tossing the powder into the billowing flames.
"Be careful, all right?" Belle told Lily, as they hugged each other tightly. "I don't think I could stand losing you both…"
"We will." Lily assured her, as she gave Sirius a kiss.
"Make sure Remus and Peter leave safely for us, will you?" James asked Sirius.
"Sure. We'll see you soon."
"Yeah…"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and ushered Lily and James inside, and spoke the address of James and Lily's house. The whirling of the fire grates made Lily dizzy, and she held James's hand tightly and closed her eyes. When they emerged, they were at Lily and James's single floor apartment.
"Pack your things quickly." Dumbledore instructed. "It's apparent to me that Voldemort knows where you're staying. I think that you'd better be on the move for a while—for your safety. Stay at friend's houses, hotels, just not in the same place twice…" Dumbledore instructed them, as they sped into their room and jammed their important belongings into suitcases. "Bring only what you can carry…"
"We're trying, Albus." Lily groaned. "I wish we'd already packed for our honeymoon, James…"
"I think that you can kiss that plan goodbye." James said angrily. "There's no way we can travel the world with Voldemort on our tales."
"He's right, Lily." Dumbledore agreed. "Hurry now…" He glanced at the door, as though expecting someone to burst through.
"What about our friends?" James asked Dumbledore, as he ushered them back towards the fireplace with their suitcases in hand.
"I'll tell them where you're going."
"Where are we going?"
"I would suggest someplace populated. Diagon Alley, perchance?" Dumbledore said, tossing floo powder into the fire, and pushing James and Lily inside.
"Diagon Alley?" James coughed. Suddenly, Dumbledore started to whoosh away, and different hearths started to zoom past. They landed with a jerk in the Leaky Cauldron Pub and Inn.
"Diagon Alley. Just where I want to spend my wedding night…" James muttered under his breath.
Lily looked at him with a smile. "And where were you planning on spending it?"
"Not here." He laughed.
"Oh, James, you're so naughty." Lily teased.
They started to kiss, when the Innkeeper interrupted. "Excuse me--but are you staying for the night?" He asked them irritably.
Lily's face turned slightly red, and James approached the desk. "Um, yes." He put his hands in his tuxedo pockets, feeling for some money. He pulled Lily aside, with a sheepish smile to the Innkeeper. "I don't have any money with me…"
Lily went up to the desk, and smiled apologetically at the Innkeeper. "Listen, us coming here was… a terribly last minute decision. We haven't had a chance to visit Gringotts yet. Would it be all right if we paid you in the morning?"
The Innkeeper considered, and then slapped a key on the table. "But if you don't pay, I'll call the Ministry."
"That's fine, sir. We'll pay you tomorrow." James said.
"And I'm having someone stand at the end of your hall, so you don't run out at four in the morning!" The Innkeeper added grouchily. "Your room is number 11."
"Thank you very much, sir." Lily said, taking the key off the desk. James grabbed their bags, and they headed up the stairs together.
"Listen, Lily," James said in a whisper. "There's something you should know before we visit Gringotts tomorrow."
"And what's that? We're not broke, are we?" Lily asked him nervously.
"Um, no." James said, glancing behind him. "Actually we're pretty loaded."
"You're not serious!"
"See, my parents were really well-off, so since I'm their only son, they left it all to me. The Ministry paid my dad quite a lot of money—that's why my mom didn't work." James explained, with a small smile.
"Well that's good news!" Lily exclaimed happily, giving her husband a kiss.
"Ehem!" A man said behind them. "Tom sent me here to make sure you lot didn't jip us out of our money. I'm afraid that already you are disrupting our paying customers."
"We will be paying… uh, John." James said, squinting at the nametag on the man's chest. "We were just unlocking our…" John grabbed the key out of Lily's hands and pushed open the door. He steered James and Lily into the room and slammed it in their faces.
"Goodnight, sir." John said severely through the door.