After storming Zonko's and buying a bottle of champagne at Malkin's, James
pulled Lilly toward the Three Broomsticks. She laughed, following behind
him. James was so excited that he looked like he'd break out in giggles
right there. This was the night when they'd tell everyone.
"You think they'll be happy?" He asked, looking back at her as he walked.
"Of course! Who're you making best man?"
"It's a surprise." He grinned slyly.
"Oh, yeah yeah..."
They reached the bar and pushed open the door, walking inside. Sirius,
Eleanor, and Remus waved them over. On the way over to the table, James
held up the champagne bottle with a smile. His friends cheered. There was
another girl sitting at the table that James recognized immediatey.
"Ally! Hey..."
"Hello, James..." She said quietly.
"Rosmerta! Mind if we snag a few glasses?" James left, walking over to the
bar.
"What's the bottle for?" Eleanor asked, leaning over Remus to see Lilly at
the end of the table.
"James picked it up." She shrugged. "Says it's 'right for the occasion'."
Eleanor sat back, wondering what on Earth the occasion could be. As James
came back, he poured everyone a glass of bubbly and sat down next to Lilly.
He raised his glass and everyone did the same. He took a moment to think
about what he would say, then he looked at Lilly with a loving smile.
"To our engagement."
James and Lilly sipped their glasses but everyone else's remained lifted.
They stared in shock at the couple at the end of the table. James and
Lilly's smiles faded and their glasses lowered to the table slowly.
"Your....what?" Sirius finally asked.
"We're getting married. This summer." James tried to smile.
As if something had suddenly dawned on them, one by one they all began to
smile. Eleanor laughed.
"Well....knew it would've happened sooner or later! I'll drink to that! To
James and Lilly!" she shouted.
Everyone raised their glasses and downed their drinks. When the empty
glasses hit the table, they all applauded and cheered. James and Lilly were
beaming again.
"And to Sirius..." James added, pausing to share a look with his friend,
"My best man."
Sirius just smiled, pleased. He raised his glass to that, but placed it
down again seeing as he had nothing left to drink.
"And Eleanor..." Lilly spit out, grinning. "My maid of honour?"
"Whoo!" Eleanor jumped up, applauding them. Everyone laughed. She ran over
and hugged Lilly tight. Grabbing the bottle, Eleanor walked around the
table filling everyone's glasses to the rim. When she set it down, she
noticed that it was still completely full.
"Good idea, James..." She laughed. "This'll keep us going for a while."
Eleanor sat down again and leaned over to give Remus a kiss on the corner
of his mouth.
They heard the door open and Peter came in. everyone's smiled suddenly
faded. They'd forgotten about Peter. He walked over to the table, all
smiles. James quickly poured him a glass and handed it to him.
"Lilly and I are getting married." He said quickly.
Peter looked surprised, but ultimately pleased. "Oh! Oh..that's wonderful!
May you live long and happy lives together!"
He downed his glass to the cheers of his friends and joined them at the
table.
