(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.)
A glass was tapped from the midst of the crowd that had assembled in the Leaky Cauldron. James and Lily were set at the longest and highest table, feeding each other a bit of their wedding cake that they had just cut. Lily was still dressed in her wedding dress, and she was laughing more than she ever had in her life. James was smiling again, and Sirius, Remus, and Peter watched him from their own table on the ground. It seemed as if they were watching a dead man that would never talk to them again. And yet, Remus didn't feel sad. He actually felt happy for them.
Sirius was a different story, and he had been sitting quietly at his table, trying not to make eye contact with any three of his friends. He swirled his wine around in his small glass, as he gave out a large sigh. Remus hit him on the shoulder, and said, "You know he's happy."
"I wonder what our weddings are going to be like," Peter said, gazing at James and Lily.
"Not this big, that's for sure," Remus said, and then turned back to Sirius, "When are you going to make your speech?"
"Soon," Sirius said, running his hand through his very short hair, "Just give me a few seconds."
"They grow up so fast, don't they," Peter laughed, and Remus smiled.
"Yeah," Remus said. Too fast, he thought.
Siruis took a breath, and then tapped his spoon on his wine glass. The reception was quiet as they all looked to him. All eyes were on him now. It was time for the Best Man to make his own vow.
He had to support them. He had to smile for them. They were happy. And he knew that James would be happy for him if their roles were switched.
James was looking right at him, and so was Lily. They wanted him to rise and talk. And so he did, holding his glass in his hands.
"Well," Sirius said, his voice echoing through the now silent Leaky Cauldron. They were all staring at him, "I'm supposed to make a speech, being the Best Man and all . . . but I'm really not one for speeches. That was always James's department . . ."
There was a small laugh through the crowd.
"When I first met you, Evans," Sirius said, as the room went quiet again, "I swore that you were wrong for James. And yes, I was jealous. And yes, I acted like an idiot. But I know James, and now I know you, and I know that you both were made for each other."
Lily smiled warmly at him, and Sirius cleared his throat and continued.
"Who would have thought that I would be sitting here, making a toast to that four eyed freak that came running into my compartment that first day of school?" he said, "I know I wouldn't have guessed it. But I'm glad that I can see you on the happiest day of your life. I'm glad I was a part of it."
He raised his glass to James, and got that mischevious smile again, "You were right, mate. It is like a fairy tale. And we all know what happens at the end of fairy tales. All evil's conqured, everything's set right, and Prince Charming and his girl go riding off in the distance happily ever after. So don't be scared, James. Because you two were written out to live happily ever after. I see the real thing in you two. Something that none of us here in this room is ever going to have for ourselves. You really do love each other."
James took Lily's hand, and smiled down on his best friend. Sirius smiled back, and then turned to the crowd, his glass still raised, "So, here's a toast to true love, mates. Here's a toast to my brother," he turned, and looked to Lily, "And my sister."
"Here, here!" the audience roared, clashing their glasses together, and Lily looked to Sirius, in an expression that she had never given him. Not one of loathing, or disgust or annoyance . . . but of surprise. Sirius grinned, and raised his glass to her again with a nod.
She returned the nod, her smile rising again, and then Sirius took his seat.
"Touching," Remus said.
"Don't push it, wolf," Sirius growled as he went back to playing with his food.
Lily was still staring at him from where she was sitting. He could feel her eyes on him, trying to get him to look at her again. But he wouldn't let himself. He had said what he had said, and there was nothing else about it.
The band was Davey's. They usually only did punk rock music, but Lily and James had picked out a song to be only theirs. Therefore, Davey's rough and tough friends had to learn a tune by the name of "Always There" to play for their wedding. The boys weren't too enthralled with putting their electric guitars away, but they would have done anything for the couple.
Lily and James took the floor, after the tables had been cleared away, and she placed his hands where they should be, just like at their Graduation Dance. The band began to play their song, and James led as they slowly danced around the wooden floor, staring into each other's eyes.
And in this moment I know that I have found you. In this moment, I know that I have found love.
I will love you Until the moment that I die. But in this moment, We are alive.
I will always be there. In the shadow in the corner. In the clouds in the sky. Always there. Watching over you. Until the moment that I die.
Slowly, the rest of the crowd entered the dancing, and they were surrounded by couples, dancing slowly together. Only one more hour until they would be heading for Paris. Their honeymoon would begin, and they would again be free.
"Did you memorize your vow?" Lily asked quietly, setting her head on his shoulder.
"Well, I had one written out," James admitted, "But I got up there, and after hearing yours . . . I sort of made that one up off the top of my head."
Lily laughed, "And for that it's even more meaningful."
"God, I was so scared," James said, holding her closer.
"It's over now," she said, "And we're still here. Happy."
"Yeah," James said, "Happy."
"Hey! James!" Sirius shouted from across the hall, "They want to take our pictures now!"
A short man that must have been related to Lily was standing on a chair, taking a picture of the men of honor and the bridesmaids. He was now ushering the bride, groom, and best man over to take their turn. James grabbed Lily's hand, and they made their way over to where they were clicking pictures.
"Take your places," the man said, "Bride and groom in front, best man in back. There we go."
Sirius laughed as Remus and Peter made snide comments behind the man's back. James waved at the camera, and Lily was smiling so broadly.
The picture snapped, and James turned to Sirius, "Nice speech, mate."
"Ah, it was nothing," he said, "I was going to say something about how I wanted to see Lily's eyes in Heaven, but it wouldn't have sounded the same coming from me."
"Hey! James! Lily!" Peter shouted, pointing to where Remus was rummaging in his belongings for a large box, "We got you two a present! Thought you may want to see it!"
"If it's another stupid welcome mat, I'm going to scream," Lily muttered to James, and James gave a chuckle.
"Now come on," Sirius said, "We know you two better than that. Don't be daft."
"You can go ahead and open it," James said to Lily, and Lily shrugged.
"All right."
She unwrapped the silvery paper that covered the box, and then gave out a gasp.
"Oh! That's . . . that's . . ."
Sirius gave out a laugh, and slapped her on the back, "Now come on, don't tell me you haven't always wanted one of those."
"What is it?" James asked, looking closely.
"It's a fire extinguisher," Lily said, holding it up, and James gave out a laugh. The four boys broke out in a fit, holding their sides, and almost rolling on the floor.
"What?" Lily asked, looking from Sirius to James, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," James said, wiping a tear from his eye, "Nothing at all, dear. Thank you, guys. It's great."
They disappeared into their car outside, and it drove down the street as they waved to the large crowd outside the Leaky Cauldron. Off to Paris for a few days, and then back to continue life.
Sirius, Remus, and Peter waved as the car drove out of sight, and then stood there, looking at the spot that they had said goodbye to James at.
"They finally did it," Sirius said, and Remus put an arm around him.
"We all knew that they would," he said, "At one time or another, it was going to happen. We were bound to grow up."
"You think they'll make it?" Sirius asked, eyeing him.
"Of course," Remus said, "Like you said, they have to."
"Yeah," he said, his voice lowering, and then he followed Remus and Peter back inside the Leaky Cauldron to collect their things.
And the people kept walking. The snow kept swirling. The sun kept creeping across the sky. The cars still sped along the street, and the world was still alive.
A glass was tapped from the midst of the crowd that had assembled in the Leaky Cauldron. James and Lily were set at the longest and highest table, feeding each other a bit of their wedding cake that they had just cut. Lily was still dressed in her wedding dress, and she was laughing more than she ever had in her life. James was smiling again, and Sirius, Remus, and Peter watched him from their own table on the ground. It seemed as if they were watching a dead man that would never talk to them again. And yet, Remus didn't feel sad. He actually felt happy for them.
Sirius was a different story, and he had been sitting quietly at his table, trying not to make eye contact with any three of his friends. He swirled his wine around in his small glass, as he gave out a large sigh. Remus hit him on the shoulder, and said, "You know he's happy."
"I wonder what our weddings are going to be like," Peter said, gazing at James and Lily.
"Not this big, that's for sure," Remus said, and then turned back to Sirius, "When are you going to make your speech?"
"Soon," Sirius said, running his hand through his very short hair, "Just give me a few seconds."
"They grow up so fast, don't they," Peter laughed, and Remus smiled.
"Yeah," Remus said. Too fast, he thought.
Siruis took a breath, and then tapped his spoon on his wine glass. The reception was quiet as they all looked to him. All eyes were on him now. It was time for the Best Man to make his own vow.
He had to support them. He had to smile for them. They were happy. And he knew that James would be happy for him if their roles were switched.
James was looking right at him, and so was Lily. They wanted him to rise and talk. And so he did, holding his glass in his hands.
"Well," Sirius said, his voice echoing through the now silent Leaky Cauldron. They were all staring at him, "I'm supposed to make a speech, being the Best Man and all . . . but I'm really not one for speeches. That was always James's department . . ."
There was a small laugh through the crowd.
"When I first met you, Evans," Sirius said, as the room went quiet again, "I swore that you were wrong for James. And yes, I was jealous. And yes, I acted like an idiot. But I know James, and now I know you, and I know that you both were made for each other."
Lily smiled warmly at him, and Sirius cleared his throat and continued.
"Who would have thought that I would be sitting here, making a toast to that four eyed freak that came running into my compartment that first day of school?" he said, "I know I wouldn't have guessed it. But I'm glad that I can see you on the happiest day of your life. I'm glad I was a part of it."
He raised his glass to James, and got that mischevious smile again, "You were right, mate. It is like a fairy tale. And we all know what happens at the end of fairy tales. All evil's conqured, everything's set right, and Prince Charming and his girl go riding off in the distance happily ever after. So don't be scared, James. Because you two were written out to live happily ever after. I see the real thing in you two. Something that none of us here in this room is ever going to have for ourselves. You really do love each other."
James took Lily's hand, and smiled down on his best friend. Sirius smiled back, and then turned to the crowd, his glass still raised, "So, here's a toast to true love, mates. Here's a toast to my brother," he turned, and looked to Lily, "And my sister."
"Here, here!" the audience roared, clashing their glasses together, and Lily looked to Sirius, in an expression that she had never given him. Not one of loathing, or disgust or annoyance . . . but of surprise. Sirius grinned, and raised his glass to her again with a nod.
She returned the nod, her smile rising again, and then Sirius took his seat.
"Touching," Remus said.
"Don't push it, wolf," Sirius growled as he went back to playing with his food.
Lily was still staring at him from where she was sitting. He could feel her eyes on him, trying to get him to look at her again. But he wouldn't let himself. He had said what he had said, and there was nothing else about it.
The band was Davey's. They usually only did punk rock music, but Lily and James had picked out a song to be only theirs. Therefore, Davey's rough and tough friends had to learn a tune by the name of "Always There" to play for their wedding. The boys weren't too enthralled with putting their electric guitars away, but they would have done anything for the couple.
Lily and James took the floor, after the tables had been cleared away, and she placed his hands where they should be, just like at their Graduation Dance. The band began to play their song, and James led as they slowly danced around the wooden floor, staring into each other's eyes.
And in this moment I know that I have found you. In this moment, I know that I have found love.
I will love you Until the moment that I die. But in this moment, We are alive.
I will always be there. In the shadow in the corner. In the clouds in the sky. Always there. Watching over you. Until the moment that I die.
Slowly, the rest of the crowd entered the dancing, and they were surrounded by couples, dancing slowly together. Only one more hour until they would be heading for Paris. Their honeymoon would begin, and they would again be free.
"Did you memorize your vow?" Lily asked quietly, setting her head on his shoulder.
"Well, I had one written out," James admitted, "But I got up there, and after hearing yours . . . I sort of made that one up off the top of my head."
Lily laughed, "And for that it's even more meaningful."
"God, I was so scared," James said, holding her closer.
"It's over now," she said, "And we're still here. Happy."
"Yeah," James said, "Happy."
"Hey! James!" Sirius shouted from across the hall, "They want to take our pictures now!"
A short man that must have been related to Lily was standing on a chair, taking a picture of the men of honor and the bridesmaids. He was now ushering the bride, groom, and best man over to take their turn. James grabbed Lily's hand, and they made their way over to where they were clicking pictures.
"Take your places," the man said, "Bride and groom in front, best man in back. There we go."
Sirius laughed as Remus and Peter made snide comments behind the man's back. James waved at the camera, and Lily was smiling so broadly.
The picture snapped, and James turned to Sirius, "Nice speech, mate."
"Ah, it was nothing," he said, "I was going to say something about how I wanted to see Lily's eyes in Heaven, but it wouldn't have sounded the same coming from me."
"Hey! James! Lily!" Peter shouted, pointing to where Remus was rummaging in his belongings for a large box, "We got you two a present! Thought you may want to see it!"
"If it's another stupid welcome mat, I'm going to scream," Lily muttered to James, and James gave a chuckle.
"Now come on," Sirius said, "We know you two better than that. Don't be daft."
"You can go ahead and open it," James said to Lily, and Lily shrugged.
"All right."
She unwrapped the silvery paper that covered the box, and then gave out a gasp.
"Oh! That's . . . that's . . ."
Sirius gave out a laugh, and slapped her on the back, "Now come on, don't tell me you haven't always wanted one of those."
"What is it?" James asked, looking closely.
"It's a fire extinguisher," Lily said, holding it up, and James gave out a laugh. The four boys broke out in a fit, holding their sides, and almost rolling on the floor.
"What?" Lily asked, looking from Sirius to James, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," James said, wiping a tear from his eye, "Nothing at all, dear. Thank you, guys. It's great."
They disappeared into their car outside, and it drove down the street as they waved to the large crowd outside the Leaky Cauldron. Off to Paris for a few days, and then back to continue life.
Sirius, Remus, and Peter waved as the car drove out of sight, and then stood there, looking at the spot that they had said goodbye to James at.
"They finally did it," Sirius said, and Remus put an arm around him.
"We all knew that they would," he said, "At one time or another, it was going to happen. We were bound to grow up."
"You think they'll make it?" Sirius asked, eyeing him.
"Of course," Remus said, "Like you said, they have to."
"Yeah," he said, his voice lowering, and then he followed Remus and Peter back inside the Leaky Cauldron to collect their things.
And the people kept walking. The snow kept swirling. The sun kept creeping across the sky. The cars still sped along the street, and the world was still alive.