(Note from the author: These are not my characters, my world, or my
situations. They all belong to J. K. Rowling, and are protected by
copyrights.)
(Thanks from the author: Thank you to Jewls White for her assistance on the plot outline of this chapter. It is much appreciated, and I thank you for helping me! Kudos to you!)
Remus, Peter, and Sirius were all sitting on James's bed, like little children waiting to be told a secret. Peter was wringing his hands together, excitedly. He hadn't told anyone, and he was very proud of himself.
Remus and Sirius didn't know anything about the present situation, except that James and Lily had been out all night on some sort of date, and that James had come back in a frenzy of makeup on his face and his eyes large and glistening.
"I need to talk to you guys," he said, almost dancing up the spiral staircase, "Meet me in my room, all right?"
It was nine o' clock when the two of them had returned. It was now nine thirty.
"I wonder what happened," Remus said out loud, giving a look to Sirius.
Sirius didn't answer. He was as confused as his friend, and he didn't like this game that James was playing with him. He was his best friend! Wasn't he supposed to inform him of everything before everyone else?
But from the looks of it, he had told Peter instead.
The door opened, and the couple entered, changed back into their robes, and holding hands. James gave Sirius a nervous look, and then took a seat in his desk chair across from his three friends. Lily stood, still clasping onto his hand.
"All right," he sighed, and mussed his hair, "Well, Lily and I have something to tell you."
"Then skip the dramatics, and just tell us," Sirius snapped.
James nodded, and then, turning his attention to Remus, said, "We're getting married."
The room was silent for a moment as they all soaked in these words. Peter was gleeful, and Remus felt a small smile cascade onto his face. It was the largest smile that he had given anyone in a while.
"Congratulations," he said enthusiastically, and Lily grinned.
But James was still looking at Sirius in anticipation. He was waiting for his eyes to go hollow again, and him to go storming out of the room. But to his surprise, Sirius was laughing.
Laughing?
"Well, good job, Prongs," he said, and Remus gave him sort of a surprised look.
"When's the wedding going to be?" Sirius asked.
"In January," Lily said, "We almost have a full six months to prepare. And we could use all the help we can get. James is going to my parents' house tomorrow to ask for permission."
"I always knew it," Sirius said, slugging James on the shoulder, "I knew that you two would end up together. Just out of a fairy tale, hey?"
James gave a laugh, and then nodded, "Yeah, just out of a fairy tale."
Remus looked out of the corner of his eye at Sirius. When was he going to explode? When was he going to stop laughing and get himself together.
But Sirius just kept grinning and talking excitedly to the couple, and Remus continued smiling politely.
They would make a wonderful pair. What, with all that James had lost, this would put a little bit of happiness in his life. In both of their lives.
"Where are you going to have the wedding?" Remus asked, as Sirius was shouting, "Bachelor party, mate! We have to have a bachelor party!"
The group of them had trekked downstairs to the kitchen to break out the butterbeers in celebration. Moody even joined them, even if he did seem a little reluctant to see James and Lily carrying on in the way that they did. They were too young.
Sirius had been laughing the entire night, going through one bottle after another, making snide comments to James. It was the old Sirius that everyone had missed. Ever since he had been forced into this house, and smothered by Moody, he had been detatched. But now he was happy for James and Lily.
Something that no one would have ever expected.
But James still was worried. Even after watching Sirius kiss Lily, sing a rowdy song with Remus and Peter, and shake his hand and wish him the best of luck, James couldn't get over his eyes.
They weren't hollow.
They weren't angry.
They were lost.
After Remus had sat down with Lily, and had started discussing wedding plans with her, James felt himself drifting off. He didn't really want to think about if they were going to have a unity candle, or in what religion it would be. Or if it would be at a church, or Hogwarts, or at Moody's house.
He would leave that up to Lily. It would be her special day.
"We were thinking about making it big," Lily said, "James has enough money, and my parents could chip in a bit. We need to get all of the bridesmaids and maid of honor all set up. And then we're going to pick out a wedding dress . . ."
"I'll be glad to help out in any way I can," Remus said, "If you need any money at all . . ."
"No," Lily said, "I think we'll be fine with that. But I would appreciate it if you could put your say in on things. I really don't know that much about weddings."
"Well, neither do I," Remus admitted, "Sad to say, I've never had one."
There was a laughter that filled the room. It had been a long time since they had laughed. It felt good.
"Now listen," Moody said, "The Order will be wanting to come."
"Well, they'll be invited," Lily said, "Right James?"
"Yeah," James interjected.
"And the teachers from Hogwarts," she said, "And Davey Gudgeon, and Elise Warren. I want her to be my maid of honor. Hopefully my sister can be a bridesmaid."
"So you're going to talk to the Muggles tomorrow, hey, James?" Peter said, taking a drink of his butterbeer.
James nodded.
"How do you think your father and mum will take the news?" Remus asked.
Lily laughed, "Oh they'll be very happy for me. I've told them all about James. They're eager to meet him."
James wasn't listening to a word they were saying. He found himself looking through the dining room, past the staircase, and to where a lone figure was sitting on the couch in the living room, staring into the fire.
James sighed, mussed his hair, and walked through the entrance hall to meet his friend where he sat, butterbeer in hand.
"Hey, mate," he said, sitting down next to him. Sirius's face was sunken in, but he still managed a smile as James patted him on the back, "You all right with this?"
"Yeah," he said in a casual tone, "Of course I am. I'm happy for you . . ."
"I know what it means when you laugh," James said, and looked at him, "It means that you're nervous. It means that you're trying to shut us out."
"That's . . ."
"Why do you do that?" James said, "Why do you think that you have to laugh?"
Sirius looked tired and worn, and he shrugged, "Why do you think that you can't cry?"
James let out a breath, and then looked into the fire, "You know, I know what you're feeling right now."
"No," Sirius said, "Don't start on me now. This is your night . . ."
"And you're my friend," James interrupted, "Now look, that's never going to change. Okay? You were always there for me. You've put up with me for more years than anyone else. And that's saying something," he looked at his friend, "You're my brother, Padfoot. Okay? You're my brother."
"It doesn't seem like that lately," Sirius sighed, "Ever since this girlfriend thing came into the picture, it's like . . ."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm losing you," he said, shifting uncomfortably, "We've drifted apart, Prongs. Admit it."
James thought back over the past year. Ditching Sirius for his first date. Hitting him in the hallway. Sitting with Lily during lunch. The hospital.
"Well, you've been a little berk yourself," James laughed. Sirius shrugged again.
It had been a while since Padfoot and Prongs had taken some time out to just hang out with each other. They had been on ends with each other most of the time that Lily had been in the picture. No wonder that Sirius felt deserted . . .
But Sirius had acted very immature. He had pranked them on most of their dates, had accused them of things that they hadn't done, and most of all, showed his dislike for Lily in the upmost loathing, even if James knew that Sirius secretly didn't hate her.
But somehow that hadn't seperated them that night that Mr. and Mrs. Potter died. Sirius had still loyally come to collect him. He had let him cry on his shoulder. He had given him his bed and a ear to talk to. He had spent the entire night with him, making sure that he was all right.
That's what friends were for. No matter what, they were there for the other one in a time of need.
"Hey," he said, "The marauders still live on, all right? Forever. And no girl's gonna change that. Even if she is my wife, all right? There was you and me before there was me and her."
Sirius let a smile escape his face, and he looked young again.
"Yeah."
"And I really am grateful for you taking me back to your flat that night," he said, "You know, after my parents . . . after that whole thing happened. You were there for me. And if there's any time that I can be there for you, I will."
Sirius nodded, and then said quietly, "That's what friends are for, hey?'
James returned the nod, "Exactly what I was thinking."
Then the two of them sat in silence for a moment.
"Lily and I were talking," James finally said, "On our way back here. And I wanted to ask you a question, but not in front of Remus and Peter . . ."
"Yeah?" Sirius asked, perking up.
"We'd like you to be my best man," he said.
Sirius's face lifted at once, and he gave out a genuine laugh, "Yeah, of course I would."
"Great," James said, and then patted him on the back again as he got to get up. But Sirius grabbed his arm and pulled him into a bear hug. They embraced like brothers, and all of their differences were once again put aside.
Lily and Remus, who were now leaning up against the door, were watching with grins on their faces.
"Hey, Padfoot," James said, as they let go, and stood to walk back into the dining room, "Welcome back."
(Thanks from the author: Thank you to Jewls White for her assistance on the plot outline of this chapter. It is much appreciated, and I thank you for helping me! Kudos to you!)
Remus, Peter, and Sirius were all sitting on James's bed, like little children waiting to be told a secret. Peter was wringing his hands together, excitedly. He hadn't told anyone, and he was very proud of himself.
Remus and Sirius didn't know anything about the present situation, except that James and Lily had been out all night on some sort of date, and that James had come back in a frenzy of makeup on his face and his eyes large and glistening.
"I need to talk to you guys," he said, almost dancing up the spiral staircase, "Meet me in my room, all right?"
It was nine o' clock when the two of them had returned. It was now nine thirty.
"I wonder what happened," Remus said out loud, giving a look to Sirius.
Sirius didn't answer. He was as confused as his friend, and he didn't like this game that James was playing with him. He was his best friend! Wasn't he supposed to inform him of everything before everyone else?
But from the looks of it, he had told Peter instead.
The door opened, and the couple entered, changed back into their robes, and holding hands. James gave Sirius a nervous look, and then took a seat in his desk chair across from his three friends. Lily stood, still clasping onto his hand.
"All right," he sighed, and mussed his hair, "Well, Lily and I have something to tell you."
"Then skip the dramatics, and just tell us," Sirius snapped.
James nodded, and then, turning his attention to Remus, said, "We're getting married."
The room was silent for a moment as they all soaked in these words. Peter was gleeful, and Remus felt a small smile cascade onto his face. It was the largest smile that he had given anyone in a while.
"Congratulations," he said enthusiastically, and Lily grinned.
But James was still looking at Sirius in anticipation. He was waiting for his eyes to go hollow again, and him to go storming out of the room. But to his surprise, Sirius was laughing.
Laughing?
"Well, good job, Prongs," he said, and Remus gave him sort of a surprised look.
"When's the wedding going to be?" Sirius asked.
"In January," Lily said, "We almost have a full six months to prepare. And we could use all the help we can get. James is going to my parents' house tomorrow to ask for permission."
"I always knew it," Sirius said, slugging James on the shoulder, "I knew that you two would end up together. Just out of a fairy tale, hey?"
James gave a laugh, and then nodded, "Yeah, just out of a fairy tale."
Remus looked out of the corner of his eye at Sirius. When was he going to explode? When was he going to stop laughing and get himself together.
But Sirius just kept grinning and talking excitedly to the couple, and Remus continued smiling politely.
They would make a wonderful pair. What, with all that James had lost, this would put a little bit of happiness in his life. In both of their lives.
"Where are you going to have the wedding?" Remus asked, as Sirius was shouting, "Bachelor party, mate! We have to have a bachelor party!"
The group of them had trekked downstairs to the kitchen to break out the butterbeers in celebration. Moody even joined them, even if he did seem a little reluctant to see James and Lily carrying on in the way that they did. They were too young.
Sirius had been laughing the entire night, going through one bottle after another, making snide comments to James. It was the old Sirius that everyone had missed. Ever since he had been forced into this house, and smothered by Moody, he had been detatched. But now he was happy for James and Lily.
Something that no one would have ever expected.
But James still was worried. Even after watching Sirius kiss Lily, sing a rowdy song with Remus and Peter, and shake his hand and wish him the best of luck, James couldn't get over his eyes.
They weren't hollow.
They weren't angry.
They were lost.
After Remus had sat down with Lily, and had started discussing wedding plans with her, James felt himself drifting off. He didn't really want to think about if they were going to have a unity candle, or in what religion it would be. Or if it would be at a church, or Hogwarts, or at Moody's house.
He would leave that up to Lily. It would be her special day.
"We were thinking about making it big," Lily said, "James has enough money, and my parents could chip in a bit. We need to get all of the bridesmaids and maid of honor all set up. And then we're going to pick out a wedding dress . . ."
"I'll be glad to help out in any way I can," Remus said, "If you need any money at all . . ."
"No," Lily said, "I think we'll be fine with that. But I would appreciate it if you could put your say in on things. I really don't know that much about weddings."
"Well, neither do I," Remus admitted, "Sad to say, I've never had one."
There was a laughter that filled the room. It had been a long time since they had laughed. It felt good.
"Now listen," Moody said, "The Order will be wanting to come."
"Well, they'll be invited," Lily said, "Right James?"
"Yeah," James interjected.
"And the teachers from Hogwarts," she said, "And Davey Gudgeon, and Elise Warren. I want her to be my maid of honor. Hopefully my sister can be a bridesmaid."
"So you're going to talk to the Muggles tomorrow, hey, James?" Peter said, taking a drink of his butterbeer.
James nodded.
"How do you think your father and mum will take the news?" Remus asked.
Lily laughed, "Oh they'll be very happy for me. I've told them all about James. They're eager to meet him."
James wasn't listening to a word they were saying. He found himself looking through the dining room, past the staircase, and to where a lone figure was sitting on the couch in the living room, staring into the fire.
James sighed, mussed his hair, and walked through the entrance hall to meet his friend where he sat, butterbeer in hand.
"Hey, mate," he said, sitting down next to him. Sirius's face was sunken in, but he still managed a smile as James patted him on the back, "You all right with this?"
"Yeah," he said in a casual tone, "Of course I am. I'm happy for you . . ."
"I know what it means when you laugh," James said, and looked at him, "It means that you're nervous. It means that you're trying to shut us out."
"That's . . ."
"Why do you do that?" James said, "Why do you think that you have to laugh?"
Sirius looked tired and worn, and he shrugged, "Why do you think that you can't cry?"
James let out a breath, and then looked into the fire, "You know, I know what you're feeling right now."
"No," Sirius said, "Don't start on me now. This is your night . . ."
"And you're my friend," James interrupted, "Now look, that's never going to change. Okay? You were always there for me. You've put up with me for more years than anyone else. And that's saying something," he looked at his friend, "You're my brother, Padfoot. Okay? You're my brother."
"It doesn't seem like that lately," Sirius sighed, "Ever since this girlfriend thing came into the picture, it's like . . ."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm losing you," he said, shifting uncomfortably, "We've drifted apart, Prongs. Admit it."
James thought back over the past year. Ditching Sirius for his first date. Hitting him in the hallway. Sitting with Lily during lunch. The hospital.
"Well, you've been a little berk yourself," James laughed. Sirius shrugged again.
It had been a while since Padfoot and Prongs had taken some time out to just hang out with each other. They had been on ends with each other most of the time that Lily had been in the picture. No wonder that Sirius felt deserted . . .
But Sirius had acted very immature. He had pranked them on most of their dates, had accused them of things that they hadn't done, and most of all, showed his dislike for Lily in the upmost loathing, even if James knew that Sirius secretly didn't hate her.
But somehow that hadn't seperated them that night that Mr. and Mrs. Potter died. Sirius had still loyally come to collect him. He had let him cry on his shoulder. He had given him his bed and a ear to talk to. He had spent the entire night with him, making sure that he was all right.
That's what friends were for. No matter what, they were there for the other one in a time of need.
"Hey," he said, "The marauders still live on, all right? Forever. And no girl's gonna change that. Even if she is my wife, all right? There was you and me before there was me and her."
Sirius let a smile escape his face, and he looked young again.
"Yeah."
"And I really am grateful for you taking me back to your flat that night," he said, "You know, after my parents . . . after that whole thing happened. You were there for me. And if there's any time that I can be there for you, I will."
Sirius nodded, and then said quietly, "That's what friends are for, hey?'
James returned the nod, "Exactly what I was thinking."
Then the two of them sat in silence for a moment.
"Lily and I were talking," James finally said, "On our way back here. And I wanted to ask you a question, but not in front of Remus and Peter . . ."
"Yeah?" Sirius asked, perking up.
"We'd like you to be my best man," he said.
Sirius's face lifted at once, and he gave out a genuine laugh, "Yeah, of course I would."
"Great," James said, and then patted him on the back again as he got to get up. But Sirius grabbed his arm and pulled him into a bear hug. They embraced like brothers, and all of their differences were once again put aside.
Lily and Remus, who were now leaning up against the door, were watching with grins on their faces.
"Hey, Padfoot," James said, as they let go, and stood to walk back into the dining room, "Welcome back."