Chapter 21
That summer, Lily's Grandmother died, just after the funeral, Lily was sitting with her Aunt Zena, and all of a sudden, she had a vision.
"Aunt Zena?" said Lily, suddenly, out of the silence.
"Yes, baby?" her aunt replied.
"I saw death. A red truck, a lake, it's one of your grandsons. I'm sorry, Aunt Zena."
Zena nodded, and went to her home in America, believing it to be the grandson who owned a red truck. A week later, Michael Frank, was killed in a car accident in England. The guy who was driving with Michael was drunk, they ran into a red truck. The Air Force Base where he was serving had the word 'lake' in the name. Two days after Lily's grandmother's funeral, Lily was forced to stay in Surrey with her sister and brother- in- law for a week, before she went to James's house. The day before she was to leave, Vernon was on a business trip, and Lily was in the smallest room in the house, packing. Petunia knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Hello Lily." Lily looked up. Petunia had one hand behind her back. Lily reached for her wand, but Petunia closed and locked Lily's trunk, her wand inside. Lily looked closely at Petunia, she seemed dazed, in a trance, as if someone was controlling her. "They said at school to protect yourself from those who are evil, you are evil," said Petunia.
Petunia raised her hand what was hidden behind her, clutched in her fist was a large kitchen knife. Lily and Petunia struggled. Lily knocked the knife out of her sister's hand, by banging her hand on the desk, and it slid under the bed. Petunia grabbed her wand out of her pocket, and began casting spells, knocking Lily around the room, and at one point, nearly through the window, as Lily tried to get the her sister's wand from her. While Lily tried to get the wand from Petunia, it flew up onto the top bookshelf, the blonde flung herself under the bed, and grabbed the knife. Lily's eyes grew wide, as she knew she couldn't escape her sister's wrath. Petunia pulled Lily down from the chair while she was trying to get Petunia's wand, and then stabbed to injure, not kill. The next day, the doorbell rang, and it took Lily three rings to get to the door. She cracked it so they could only see her eye. James, Sirius, Frank, Cat and Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom were on the doorstep.
"Change of plan, guys, I can't go," said Lily.
James noticed her eye was red, and around it the skin was slightly discolored. He pushed the door open and Lily turned her back to them, James turned her around to look at her.
"What the bloody hell happened to you?" asked Mr. Longbottom.
"Fall down the stairs again?" asked Cat, hands on her hips.
"How'd you guess? I'm very clumsy," said Lily, forcing a laugh.
"Where is she? I'm gonna kill her," said James.
"Who?" asked Mrs. Longbottom, examining Lily.
"That fucking sister of Lily's."
"James!" screeched Mrs. Longbottom.
"Sorry. Where is she?"
"She went out for the day. She thinks I'm locked in my room. It locks from the outside."
"She locked you in?!"
James looked as though he could kill. The Longbottoms, Sirius, Cat and Lily looked bewildered, they had never seen James like this.
"James, I'm fine, or at least I will be, as soon as I find the aspirin," Lily told him, falling as she tried to walk to him.
He caught her, and picked her up.
"Ready? Sirius can you get her trunk?"
Sirius nodded, and ran up the stairs, grabbing her trunk and pets.
"Did you pack everything?" asked Cat.
"Everything I own. Pictures, clothes, books, broom, and everything else."
"Good."
James carried her to the taxi, and they all got in, and drove to James's house (Sirius and Cat were now staying with him, as they couldn't stay at Sirius's house any longer). The Longbottoms lived across the street, that's why they'd come to help. Mrs. Longbottom immediately began to heal Lily, she healed the gashes, and bruises replaced them. Lily smiled at Mrs. Longbottom, and thanked her, although, both hurt her face. At dinner, she sat next to James and Cat.
"How are you feeling?" asked James.
"Like I've been hit by a train," replied Lily.
"As opposed to...?" asked Sirius.
"Like I was hit with a billion spells, and then stabbed thirty one times."
"Well, that must feel nice then," said Cat.
Lily laughed.
"Let's just put it this way, I don't suggest trying either."
They all laughed. After dinner, in the Sitting room, Sirius looked from James to Lily. Lily sat on the love seat with Cat, and James sat next to Sirius. Someone came through the fireplace, it was Gabby.
"Hello all," she said, standing up, and brushing herself off.
"Hi Gabby," said Cat.
"Hey Gab," said Lily.
"Hi," said James.
Gabby turned and saw Lily, and gasped.
"Oh my gosh! What happened?"
Gabby ran to Lily.
"That seems to be the general reaction. Petunia again, I'm fine, as I was before."
Gabby sat down, although she was reluctant to move away from Lily. Lily talked with Cat and Mrs. Longbottom, and Mr. Longbottom asked James what he was going to do for a living.
"I think I might take up Dad's place. He's got everything here. I've looked through it time and again, and I've practically memorized them all. So, I know how he went about doing things, and it's very clever."
"Ah, well, you be careful. It's a nasty business, it is," said Mr. Longbottom.
Mrs. Longbottom looked at Lily and grinned.
"So, when's the wedding and the due date?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
"For what?" Lily asked.
"Yours and James's wedding and baby."
Lily spit out her tea, choking on it.
"What?"
Cat laughed.
"You still haven't told us," said Frank.
James looked at them as if they were insane.
"I'm not pregnant and I don't think we're engaged, are we, Four Eyes?" asked Lily, as though she were being as polite as one could be.
"Not that I know of, Flame Head," said James with the same tone.
"Ah, well, that answers both of your questions, doesn't it?"
Mrs. Longbottom raised an eyebrow, but nodded. That week went by too quickly for Lily's liking. She felt that the past week had been the best week of her life. She was Head Girl, and James was Head Boy. They went into the Great Hall, and sat across from one another, kicking each other from time to time. Professor Dumbledore stood and said his few words including introducing their new Potions teacher Professor Arlington, as Lily noticed a red- haired boy at the end of the Gryffindor Table, the last one to be sorted into their House. Lily smiled at him, and he blushed a brilliant shade of red, and turned away, Sirius saw this and laughed.
"Hey Lil, I think you should ask him to the Back to School Dance," said Sirius, laughing even harder.
"So what if I do?" said Lily, becoming defensive.
"Well, he's not as tall as you are."
"He could pass for a third year, maybe a fourth."
"Lily, REALLY, a first year?" asked Jenni.
Lily couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You are Ageists! You are discriminating someone because of their age. Well, I'll show you, I WILL ask him to the Back to School dance."
Everyone's jaws dropped, except James, who was laughing. Lily glared at him and he stopped laughing as loud as he had been. After dinner, Lily and James showed the first years up to Gryffindor Tower, arguing over who went first.
"I'm not going in front of you, Evans, you'll try and kill me," insisted James.
"I will not! I don't trust you behind me! Now go!" said Lily, fiercely.
"Um, excuse me," said the red- headed boy from dinner.
Lily looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you walk side- by- side, so neither of you is in front or behind."
Lily beamed.
"We have ourselves a future Head Boy! James, I think he should be Head Boy now, he's clearly brighter than you are!"
"I don't think I could be Head Boy."
"What's your name?" asked Lily.
"Bill Weasley."
"Well, Bill Weasley, I'm Lily and that's Pooter."
The first years (and Sirius) laughed. James pouted.
"Hello," said Bill, trying not to laugh.
They reached the portrait.
"The password is--" began Lily.
"I want to say it!" whined James.
"Then say it, I'm not going to argue with you."
"Kitty Cat," he said.
"What?" said Cat.
"Huh?" replied James.
"Oh that was intelligent," said Lily, as the portrait swung open.
Sirius ran up and pretended he couldn't get through. The first years laughed.
"Lily, help me," said Sirius, pretending to cry.
Lily picked him up in a fireman's carry, stepped up and threw him into the Common Room. The first years laughed again.
"Just step on him," said Lily, helping the occasional first year through the portrait hole.
The Weasley boy was the last to climb in, as he climbed through, he smiled at Lily, who smiled back at him.
"I was wondering, as my dad said to always live it up, if you have a boyfriend?" asked Bill.
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
"I'm surprised. You're really pretty, and obviously smart as you're Head Girl."
Lily smiled.
"Why thank you Bill. I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to the Back to School Dance on Friday night."
Bill blushed a brilliant shade of red.
"Me? Really?"
"Yup."
"Okay."
"I'll see you then."
He ran happily to his dorm where there were many audible, 'Where were you?'s and 'In trouble all ready?'s and 'How many points?' Lily laughed as her friends stared at her in shock as she climbed through, and up to her room, now labeled '7th Year Girls'. Lily noticed there were only six beds in their dorm.
"Where's my bed?" Lily asked. "And my stuff?"
"You have the Head Girl's dorm, remember?" said Cat.
"Oh, I forgot," said Lily, blushing, and walking up the winding staircase to the right of all the girls' dorms, and up to a large room, drenched in red and gold.
She smiled and flopped onto her bed, and thinking about the upcoming year. That night, McGonagall came to get the seventh year Gryffindors, and took them to Dumbledore's office. The eleven seventh years sat in the office, and Dumbledore looked at them.
"I have called you all here to ask you to help with the opposition of Voldemort. If there is anyone who does not wish to risk everything for it, you are welcome to leave."
Portia stood, muttering, "I'm sorry."
Dumbledore nodded, and she left.
"Now, those of you who are staying. You MUST keep absolutely silent about this. If you tell anyone, then the word will get out, and you will all be in grave peril."
At that moment Dumbledore told them all bits of vital information about Voldemort, what the Ministry was doing, and where spies were located. The next day, James noticed something.
"Where's Peter?" he asked.
"Who the hell cares," said Cat.
"He goes off randomly, and he's gone for days," said Remus.
"As Cat said, who the hell cares?" Lily said.
On Friday night, Bill escorted Lily to the dance in which everyone gave them funny looks, but Lily ignored them. The two danced and then they sat down, and talked.
"So, Bill, do you have any other siblings?"
"Yes, I have two little brothers. Charlie, and Percy. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"I have a sister. We don't get along. Bill, I will give you some advice, ALWAYS love your brothers. Never tell them you hate them. Okay?"
Bill nodded.
"Okay."
When they went back up to Gryffindor Tower, and Bill turned to Lily.
"Thanks for inviting me, but--"
Lily looked at him.
"But what?"
"Well, I think that the guys in your year might want to kill me if we're seen together again."
Lily tried hard not to laugh.
"Really? You think so?"
"Yea, especially that guy right behind you."
Lily looked confused as Bill bolted up to his dorm. She turned around. It was James. Lily burst out laughing, then realized that he had heard their conversation, and got mad.
"I heard your conversation."
"Don't eavesdrop."
"I wasn't. I was trying to get around you."
"Then you should have said something!"
"Well, then I would have interrupted, and that would have been rude."
"Then you should have gone away!"
"But I want to go to bed!"
"Then go find one of those Hufflepuff girls!"
Lily stormed off. They had gotten word of an information leakage, and they had to be more careful who they trusted. Lily and James went back to insults and pranks, until Christmas. Lily and James were staying, for lack of anywhere to go, and the others (minus Peter) were staying to keep them company, and from killing one another. They were the only ones left, other than Snape. During dinner, James pretended to stare at Lily, as though he were head over heels, when she noticed this, she stuck out her tongue, and Dumbledore chuckled. Lily's bracelet came un-fastened just as mashed potatoes were thrown. She picked up the bracelet, as the potatoes flew over her head. Then she saw James's hand was covered in the same thing that was thrown. Her eyes widened, and she threw gravy at him, he then threw carrots and green beans at her, and she threw chicken legs, and pieces of turkey at him, both laughing. Dumbledore watched them, his eyes twinkling, McGonagall was on her feet opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water. Dumbledore nodded and she sat back down. By now they were throwing mints and wizard crackers at one another.
"Oh! Look! A Dungbomb!" said Lily, throwing it at James, who ducked under the table.
She took a step back, as James popped up in front of her, pouring pumpkin juice on her head. She took her loaded plate, and dumped it all on James, then wrote 'James Potter is a dork', in gravy all down his front. The look on his face told her that she should run, so she did. Snape was riding his broom, as he always seemed to do, and he saw James pelting Lily with snowballs. Lily retaliated with an entire snowdrift. James ran at her and she ran to the orchard, but he caught her, and tackled her. Then they kissed, which was too much for Snape, he landed and sadly went inside. As James kissed Lily, she put a large handful of snow down the back of his shirt. He looked at her, and put even more snow down hers. The others ran outside as the two snow and food covered figures came back, James carrying Lily on his back, he was on his hands and knees, and Lily was riding sidesaddle.
"What happened?" asked Cat.
"I won!" said Lily, getting off of James as he collapsed.
They all laughed. They walked up to the Common Room, Lily and James cleaned themselves up and played Exploding Snap. They played late into the night, until it was just James and Lily competing at Wizard's Chess. Around midnight, they took a break from playing, and relaxed, sitting next to one another.
"Gotten the pumpkin juice out of your hair yet?" asked James.
"No, not yet. I think I'll have to use magic," replied Lily. "You get the gravy out of yours?"
"Nope."
They laughed, they didn't see Sirius's video camera watching them from the stairs. Lily sighed.
"What do you think would happen if we called a truce?"
James grinned.
"The same thing that would happen if we got married. They'd all have heart attacks."
Lily laughed, her hair rippling as she tossed her head back slightly.
"I have an idea," said Lily, leaning in toward James, just in case someone was listening.
"Yes?"
She whispered something in his ear. He grinned evilly and nodded.
"So...?"
"I like it," said James, impressed.
"It begins as of tomorrow."
"Good. You know Sirius is taping this, he'll watch it tomorrow," whispered James.
Lily grinned.
"Where is it?"
"Right behind us."
"Then we'll start now."
"Okay."
James leaned over on top of Lily and they sat on the floor in front of the couch. They talked the whole time, wondering what the reactions would be the following morning, only five more hours and they'd know. James fogged up his glasses, by breathing on them, and Lily messed up her hair, no one was in on it, so it couldn't be proved a scam.
"Where's my shirt?" asked Lily, joking.
James looked confused, then caught on.
"Umm... right here."
"Ah, thanks."
Then they stood up, for the camera, and then they put their foreheads together, and pretended to make out for a while. When they got tired of doing that, Lily went up to her dorm, and James went up to his. The next morning, everyone in Gryffindor Tower was woken up by Sirius's screams.
"OH MY GOD!!!"
Cat, Lily, Gabby, and Jenni ran into the boys dorms, as Frank, Remus, and James woke up. Sirius was doing a little dance.
"What the hell are you waking us up for?" asked Cat.
Lily put her head on Cat's shoulder.
"I was right, I was right!" said Sirius, dancing around.
"Right about what?" asked Frank.
"Hurry up Sirius, I'm dead tired," said Lily.
"I'm not surprised," said Sirius, re- winding the tape, and showing the others.
By the end, Lily and James were asleep, on James's bed, well, they were pretending to be asleep. James rolled over, and flopped his arm over Lily, who was facing him, with an hand on his shirtless chest (he had pants on). Gabby screamed, "waking" the two.
"What's wrong with you people?" asked James.
Lily shook her head.
"It must have been desert, we didn't eat it, remember?" said Lily.
"Oh yeah."
"I think you had a different kind of desert," said Remus.
"A FRENCH kind of desert," said Jenni.
Lily and James looked at them blankly.
"I don't like the French," said James.
"What are you talking about, and why are you screaming?" demanded Lily.
"You and James got it on last night," said Cat.
Lily and James looked at each other "surprised".
"How did you find out about that?" asked James.
"Sirius taped you!" voiced Gabby, her voice higher than normal.
"That's what that was," said Lily, to James. "I TOLD you I thought we were being watched."
"And you were right, I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you," said James, kissing Lily, and rolling over on top of her.
Gabby sat down on the floor, and Sirius had to leave, feeling ill. They all got dressed, and went down to breakfast, leaving Lily and James behind as the slowly walked to the Great Hall, laughing at their friends' reactions.
"How else can we fool them?" asked James.
Lily grinned.
"I know."
"What?"
"You'll see."
The walked to the Great Hall, hand in hand, acting the whole way. Nearly Headless Nick took a double take and Peeves pretended to faint, then he tried to make sure he was still dead. ("Yup! Good thing too. I was beginning to worry!") The two sat down next to each other, and Lily noticed Dumbledore was trying not to laugh. Lily took a strawberry, and fed it to James, who put a little bit of whipped cream in her nose.
"You can't get it off, in public," said Lily.
James turned to everyone else.
"If you'll excuse us a moment."
The two laughed, and Lily playfully hit him. She wiped it off with a napkin. None of the teachers or students could eat, what they were witnessing was Hell freezing over. Dumbledore, Lily and James were the only ones eating.
"Eat up, before the food gets cold. I know we can't eat it all," said Lily, to the others.
"If we do, we'll hurl," said Frank.
"And I would like to keep food down, thanks very much," said Sirius, receiving a look from Gabby.
The look was 'Why don't we do that?'
"Whatever blows your skirt up," said James, causing Lily to laugh hysterically.
He laughed then kissed her. They had all had enough. Snape was the first to get up, Sirius stood up too.
"Snape, for once in my life, I COMPLETELY agree with you," said Sirius, running out of the Great Hall.
Cat, Frank, Jenni, Gabby, and Frank followed. Even all the teachers left, except Dumbledore, who burst out laughing.
"You can stop now, they're all gone," he said.
"Stop what?" asked Lily, pulling a piece of bacon from James, as he tried to get it.
"I know it's a charade."
Lily sighed in relief, and shoved the piece of bacon in his mouth.
"Fank oo!" said James with his mouth full.
Lily laughed.
"How did you know?"
"It's obvious. I've known you two since you came here. You've argued, and fought, and gotten one another in trouble countless times. Between the two of you have the record for most detentions ever. You each have about one hundred and fifty detentions each. You can't have fallen in love that quickly, or maybe you have and you haven't realized it, or you have over time, and haven't realized it. I've got my money on the latter. The teachers and myself have a pool on it. Some on how quickly it takes you to kill one another, some on how long it takes you to fall in love. Have a lovely day!" said the Headmaster, standing to leave, then did so.
Lily and James looked at one another, thunderstruck.
"Damn, he's good," said James.
"I'll back that up."
They stood and wandered around the school for a while, talking about who was betting on what, how much the pool was up to, and what they think they would have bet on in their first year, and then what they would have bet on in their seventh. Around noon, they made their way to lunch, and they decided something. In the middle of lunch, Lily and James stood up.
"What are you going to name it if it's a girl? And what if it's a boy?" asked Sirius before they had said anything.
James laughed.
"Actually we wanted to tell you that we were joking, just to get a reaction out of you. We thought it would be funny," said Lily.
"Well?! Was it?!" asked McGonagall angrily.
"Hell yeah!" said James.
Lily rolled her eyes and muttered something that sounded like 'idiot'.
"So what happened between you two--" began Cat.
"Was a set up, we sat on the floor in front of the couch and talked. We sat on the floor where the camera couldn't film us," explained Lily.
"So... you're still normal Lily and James?" asked Gabby.
"I'm normal, James isn't, we ALL know that!"
Everyone laughed, even Snape managed a smile. The next day, the other students came back, and a few months later, Bill Weasley ran into James.
"Hello," said James.
"Hello. I have a question," said Bill.
"Sure."
James was confused.
"I just met up with this girl, and she told me to ask you to meet her on the South Tower balcony, at nine o'clock tonight. And be prompt."
"What house?"
"Not Hufflepuff, she said she's not part of the usual fan club."
"Did she give you a name?"
Bill shook his head.
"Nope, sorry. I have to get to class, bye!"
Bill ran off. Later that day, Bill saw Lily.
"Hello Bill," sail Lily, cheerfully.
"Lily, hey. Some guy just walked up to me and told me to ask you to meet him on the South Tower balcony at nine tonight."
"Who was it?"
"Dunno. He didn't say."
"Okay."
"Bye Lily," said Bill as he ran off again.
Lily looked at her friends and shrugged. That night, Lily ran up at about eight to get ready, and James was curious as to know why she was going to bed early. He knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's James."
Lily opened the door, and he stood in the doorway.
"Do you need something?"
"Just wondering why you're up here so early."
"I'm meeting someone."
"Meeting someone? Who? Where?" said James, pretending to be jealous.
"Yes; don't know; South Tower balcony."
"Oh, really?" That's interesting. You think it's Snape?"
"No, he said he wasn't going to do that anymore."
"You never know, well, I'll leave you to it."
He left and she closed the door. He was confused, if she was going the same place he was, but she didn't know who she was meeting, but who had set it up? Around eight thirty, James went up to grab his invisibility cloak and put on his dress robes, and something else. He bolted down to the South Tower, took off his invisibility cloak and hid it, in his cape, just in case. He climbed the stairs to the balcony, and saw Bill Weasley standing, at the door. James looked at him.
"Hello, sir," said Bill bowing.
"You do know that when she gets here, you're leaving, as you're out past curfew," said James with a grin.
"I think I'll be okay."
"So. Where's this mystery girl?"
Bill sat on the railing of the balcony, "She's coming."
Just as he said that, Bill slipped, and James caught him.
"You're lucky I'm Seeker."
Bill nodded, looking down, not seeing the ground in the darkness. A few seconds later, Lily entered, wearing a dark green evening gown, and her long, mid- back length hair was curled and down, unlike usual, when she kept it in a tight bun. She ran over, and helped James pull Bill up over the railing, Bill thanked them and quickly left. James stood, and stared at her in shock, as she looked at him, mildly surprised.
"You set this up?" she asked.
James couldn't talk, he just shook his head, then he found his voice.
"No, I think Bill Weasley did though. He told me to be here tonight," said James.
"He said the same to me."
They laughed. James smiled at her, and she looked away, bashfully.
"Lily, you look-- wow-- I can't even begin to describe-- woah."
She blushed.
"Thank you. You look very handsome yourself."
"Thanks, shall we eat?"
They ate dinner, talking and laughing, as they had never done before. At the end of dinner, came desert. They ate a piece of cheesecake each, then James looked at Lily, toying with the thing in his pocket.
"James, are you okay?"
He looked up.
"Yea, I was just... thinking."
"About what?"
"My mom and dad. They said that they met at school, they hated one another, then were set up, and locked in a closet for two days together, until someone finally found them."
"Are thinking about locking yourself in a closet with someone?"
Lily smiled.
"No. But I was also wondering it you wanted this."
He took the gift out of his pocket, and slid it across the table, underneath his hand, and took his hand off when it was in front of Lily. She opened it. It was a ring. It had a canary diamond on one side, a ruby on the other, and a large diamond in the middle. She looked up at him.
"Is this what I think it is, James?"
"If you want it to be."
He couldn't look up, afraid of rejection, he stared at the table edge in front of her. He saw tears hit the table, only then could he look up at her. She was smiling, and crying with joy. He smiled, in relief, he stood and she kissed him. Their first, real kiss, their first passionate kiss, their first kiss that symbolized their lives together. When they broke apart, they looked at one another.
"How are we going to tell the others?" asked Lily.
"The question is, how will we convince them we're telling the truth?"
She shrugged.
"Does it really matter?"
James grinned, holding her.
"Not really."
They spent most of the rest of the night talking, long after the House Elves had taken the table and chairs away. They planned everything to the T. If they had a boy, they would name him Harry James, if they had a girl, they would name her Faerie Rose, they would live in Potter Manor, and nothing would change. At around four in the morning, they crept back to the common room. The two saw their friends waiting for them. They took off the cloak, and walked up to them, sitting down.
"So. What's the deal? Are you going to scam us again or not?" asked Cat.
"No," said Lily.
"So, who set it up?" asked Gabby, looking from one to the other.
"Bill Weasley," said James.
"You mean that guy you took to the Back to School dance, Lily?" asked Minny.
Lily and James nodded.
"Well, what happened? Why are you just coming back now?" asked Sirius.
"James asked me something," said Lily.
"Which was...?" prompted Remus.
"I asked her to marry me," said James.
All but Lily and James burst out laughing. The two who weren't snickering looked at one another.
"I told you they wouldn't believe us. I told you," said James.
"I know, I know. I'm not saying you were right, because I agreed with you," said Lily.
"All right, all right. Don't get all defensive."
"I'm not defensive."
"Whatever you say, dear."
Sirius laughed even harder.
"'Dear' that's a good one James, you're getting better at this."
Lily and James rolled their eyes, and stood up.
"We'll tell Dumbledore in the morning, though he probably all ready knows," said Lily.
"Okay. Goodnight, beautiful."
He kissed her, and he went to his dorm and she to hers, then she came back down, and stood at the bottom of the stairs to the boys dorms.
"James," she hissed.
He came down the stairs.
"Yes?"
"You never DID tell me what you gave to your dad."
He grinned.
"You remember that bet we made? About us getting married?" asked James.
Their friends listening intently.
"Yeah. If he won you gave him ten Galleons, and if you won he gave you ten Galleons. What about it?"
"I gave him the ten Galleons."
Lily laughed.
"Were you that sure I would say yes?"
"Nope. I still thought you would go back to Angelo."
He said 'Angelo' with an Italian accent, causing them both to laugh.
"So that's what you were doing on that cliff every night I went out with him. You were jealous."
"Just a little."
Lily broke into song.
"You think I'm gorgeous, you want to date me, love me and hug me. You want to smooch me, you want to marry me."
They laughed.
"Damn straight, I asked you didn't I?"
She smiled and kissed him again.
"Yes you did, and I said yes. And now you're stuck with me."
"Oh yeah, that's right," said James as though it had only just occurred to him.
She smacked his chest.
"That's not funny, James Potter!"
She began to stomp to her dorm, but James grabbed her wrist, and she turned and he kissed her.
"I was joking, you know I was, and you know that I didn't mean it."
They both smiled, forehead to forehead.
"Yeah, but still."
"Go to bed, we have a LONG day of convincing ahead of us."
"Okay, goodnight once again James."
"Goodnight Lily."
The two went up to their dorms, and went to sleep. The next morning, James got up, then snuck past Cat and Gabby to Lily's dorm, to wake her up. He snuck in, then quickly jumped through the bed curtains and onto Lily's bed. He was about to wake her up, then he looked at her and debated with himself. 'To wake her, or not to wake her, that is the question,' he thought with a laugh. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and stretched, then noticed she wasn't alone. Sitting on her feet was someone with glasses, untidy black hair, and stunning blue eyes.
"What are you doing?" asked Lily.
James grinned.
"I didn't know if I should wake you up or not, so I just waited for you to wake up on your own."
She laughed.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Marry me?"
She smiled.
"Well, I suppose so."
James put on his sad puppy face, he stuck out his bottom lip and made sad eyes at her. She looked at him. He couldn't help it, he began to laugh.
"Gabby, hush. Do you hear that?" they heard Cat say, as the two girls opened Lily's door and walked in.
"Hear what? You don't think...?"
"Nah, Remus is still asleep, I heard him snoring earlier."
"Okay." James tried to contain his laughter. "Well, I told Sirius that I wasn't ready for a serious relationship, and I said that if he really loved me, he'd let me move on."
"And what did he say?"
"He said okay. He wasn't as crushed as I thought he would be. I guess he isn't ready to be engaged either."
"Let's get Lily up, she's been asleep long enough. I can't wait anymore."
"You know, you told me to watch out for James, and I think I saw him coming out of his room about a half an hour ago. I don't think it was though," said Gabby.
"Why didn't you tell me that?"
"Well, you were talking. I didn't want to interrupt."
Cat sighed.
"Did you see where he went?"
"Nope."
She sighed again. Lily stuck her head out the curtains.
"Morning," said Lily cheerfully.
"Morning. Hey Lils, Jamsie boy's escaped. I think he's doing a prank let's get him, before he gets us," said Cat.
"Not this morning," said Lily, sticking her hand out the curtains to point to the end of the bed.
James noticed this, and pulled her back. She squealed, as he tickled her. Cat opened the curtains, and Gabby woke Jenni. Cat stared at the two in shock, as Jenni put on her glasses and walked over. Lily and James grinned, and Lily ran to get dressed, and James ran out of the dorm. All of a sudden, James ran back in, and kissed Lily on the cheek.
"See you at breakfast," he said hurriedly, and ran back out.
Cat was shocked. Gabby and Jenni laughed as they heard Sirius.
"James! Where were you? I saw you leave the room this morning, but I didn't know-- were you up in the girls dorms?" demanded Sirius.
"Maybe."
"And they let you up?"
Sirius was impressed.
"Not really. I snuck in."
"What did you do?"
"I sat on Lily's feet, then we listened to Cat and Gabby, then I tickled Lily, then I ran out, ran back in, kissed Lily, then ran back out again."
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"You and Lily still trying to scam us again?"
"Nope," said James.
Lily walked down the stairs and into the Common Room, now dressed.
"Still don't believe us, Sirius?" asked Lily.
"Nope," he replied.
Bill and some of his friends ran past them, James grabbed hold of the back of Bill's robes, and pulled him back. James had his arm around Lily's waist, and Lily had her arm on his. Bill smiled.
"Thanks," said James.
"Anytime. Now I can say that I hooked up Lily and James Potter, and not lie," said Bill.
Lily laughed.
"Well, you and your family will come to the wedding I trust?" asked Lily.
"Yup, oh, and my mum just had two twin boys last week, April 16th. Their names are Fred and George."
"Well, tell her we said Congratulations," said James.
"Yes, same goes for you."
Bill ran to catch up with his friends. Sirius stared in shock.
"He's in on it, too?" asked Sirius.
"No one's in on anything," said James, rolling his eyes.
Lily sighed.
"They're not going to believe it until I show them," said Lily.
"It's your call."
Lily held out her hand, showing Sirius the ring.
"You ARE doing the thing right, aren't you?" said Sirius, amazed at the two.
Lily and James sighed, and James rolled his eyes.
"You want to go to breakfast, now?" asked Lily.
"Yes, please," said James.
The two walked past Sirius and down to the Great Hall, the first person they ran in to was Snape.
"Hello Severus," said Lily, who shot a look at James.
"Hello Snape," said James.
"Potter, Lily. What are you two doing?" asked Snape
"Getting married," said Lily, grinning happily.
"Today?" asked Snape, shocked.
"Of course not, silly. In August, after I turn eighteen."
"Oh. You're not joking again are you?"
"Not this time. I think you're the only one who seems willing to believe us," said James.
"Oh, well, congratulations."
Lily smiled.
"Thank you. And you better be there," said Lily, as she and James began walking toward the Great Hall.
"Where?"
"At the wedding!" Lily called over her shoulder.
When they were no longer in any form of range from Snape, James looked at her, but said nothing. Sirius, Gabby, Frank, Cat, Jenni and Remus ran by, then back tracked to their friends.
"James, we need to talk," said Sirius.
"Okay. I'll see you in a bit," said James, kissing Lily, as Peter joined them.
The guys went down another corridor, and discussed James's mental health, and crossing of lines in pranks and scams.
"But James--"
"We're not joking this time, I swear, now, let's go to breakfast, I'm hungry!"
That night at dinner, Lily and James stood up, and everyone quieted.
"We have an announcement," said James.
Everyone looked at them.
"We're getting married!" said Lily.
McGonagall looked at them.
"It's not yet ANOTHER scam, this time it's for real," said James.
There was applause from Most of the Hufflepuffs, the Ravenclaws, and the Gryffindors. The following month was busy with graduation. Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom were there to be the Evans's, the Black's (who still wanted nothing to do with Sirius), the Potter's, and themselves. That afternoon, Lily was sitting behind the podium with the teachers, and James. Dumbledore stood and the audience quieted, Lily looked at him, then blinked in the sunlight.
"Another year; gone. This has been your last year as a student of Hogwarts. Now, Lily Evans, our Head Girl."
There was applause from the majority of the audience. Lily smiled and walked up to the podium.
"This is it, everyone. It could be the last time you set foot on these grounds. These past seven years have been full of death," Lily looked at Cat, "love," she looked at Frank and his fiancée Alice, who was in the audience, she was a year younger than Frank, "friendship," she looked at Gabby, Sirius, Jenni, Remus, (who had broken up because Remus was too "secretive") and Snape. "We've learned as many if not more useful things outside the classroom, than in it. No offense to the teachers." There was laughter. "We've become friends or more with people we first hated." She looked back at James then back at Snape. "We've all become different people than who we were when we first arrived," then she looked at Sirius who was making faces, she tried to suppress a laugh, "Well, most of us at least. This is the beginning of the rest of our lives. This is it. Thank you."
Everyone cheered, and Dumbledore stood once again.
"And now, our Head Boy, James Potter."
The teachers sighed, and Lily laughed. James stood, ignoring them.
"Lily was right, in everything she said. All of us will go on, and occasionally see one another in the street, but after this, we'll be too busy to stop and say hello. Now, we begin to work, to get married, to start a family. Now, the only time after this we'll see one another, is reunions, and I'm actually looking forward to them. So, go on in life, doing the right thing, and whatever makes you happy--" McGonagall glared at him, and he said quickly, "as long as it's not against the law. I know, I know, they made me say it," the audience laughed. "I hope everyone will be successful, even you Slytherins! Peace out!"
James sat down, Lily hit him upside his head. He could tell she was trying not to laugh. They went and sat down with their friends, as Dumbledore called them up for their diplomas. A guy, then a girl went up before...
"Jennifer Alexander."
She went up to Dumbledore, took her diploma, and hugged all her teachers.
"Sirius Black."
Sirius had fallen asleep, Cat elbowed him, and he ran up to Dumbledore, who was chuckling.
"Sorry Professor," said Sirius.
"Quite all right."
A few more people, then...
"Lily Evans, soon to be Potter."
Lily stood and walked up to him.
"Congratulations Lily, on both accounts," said Professor Dumbledore.
"Thank you, sir, for everything."
Lily hugged him, and he blushed, causing most people to laugh. Then Lily walked over to Professor McGonagall and hugged her.
Soon, it was Frank, then Remus, then Gabby, Snape, and Cat. Afterwards there was a HUGE party, and a seventh years dance. That night, Jenni, Gabby, Cat, and Lily talked about what they were going to do. Jenni didn't know, Gabby was going to travel, she didn't want to be set on one thing for her life, Sirius was going to buy the house next door to James, and make that the new Black Mansion, Cat was going to travel and see what interested her, and Lily was going to marry James. Lily was going to be and Auror for the Ministry, both she and Gabby had been asked to drop everything that second and become spies, both had turned it down. Jenni still refused to talk to Remus, she still didn't know he was a werewolf, Cat, and Lily both knew, but Gabby and Jenni didn't, because they didn't want to believe it. The next day, Gabby, Cat and Lily hugged Jenni goodbye, as Jenni left to go to Newport, where she lived. Cat, Gabby, Remus, James and Sirius went to their homes in Northumberland, England, "South of the Border" to Scotland. The following week, they all passed their Apperating test, it took Sirius two tries. Lily moved into Potter manor with James, but Mrs. Longbottom made her live with them so she and James would do anything "bad".
"Mrs. Longbottom, we're getting married, what does it matter?" debated Lily.
"I mean, we're going to be doing it on our wedding night anyways," said James. Lily hit him. "Ow!"
"No one wants to hear that."
He shrugged.
"It's true," he mumbled.
"And you and Mr. Longbottom didn't move in together?"
"We're adults," said Mrs. Longbottom.
"And we're-- I'm not?" said Lily, looking sideways at James, who was pouting.
Mrs. Longbottom looked from James to Lily, then she looked at Mr. Longbottom, who was reading the paper.
"What do you think, John?" she asked.
Mr. Longbottom laughed shortly.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not getting in on this," he snorted.
"Smart man," said James, getting up.
"And where do you think you're going?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
"For a walk, I don't want to get in trouble."
James left the room, as he heard the paper crackle, and Mr. Longbottom clear his throat. Mrs. Longbottom stood up and bent the paper down so she could see his face, which he was trying to keep from smiling. Cat came down the stairs, bags in hand. Lily stood, and walked to her.
"Leaving all ready?" asked Lily, hugging her friend.
Cat nodded.
"Yup. Off to Spain for a while, then I'll go where ever. I'll send you a postcard," promised Cat.
"At least two a week, Caterina Sweeny, or I'll hunt you down."
The two laughed.
"All right, I'll have to hide if I forget."
Cat and Lily smiled through tears and hugged.
"You better."
"I'll be back next month for your birthday, and wedding. I promise."
Sirius and James came in. Cat hugged Sirius, then Frank, then James, and finally, Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom. As she was leaving, she turned.
"I'll see you all next month. Bye Lils, Jamie. Later Siri. Bye Frank, Bye Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom."
And she was gone, then they all began planning the wedding. The next week, Gabby came back from visiting her parents in Kent, and during the choosing of colors for bridesmaids, Lily laughed. Mrs. Longbottom, Alice, Gabby, and Jenni, looked up.
"What's so funny?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
"You," replied Lily.
"What did I do that was so funny?"
"You are stubborn. James told me that you approached him this morning."
"He did?"
Lily looked up at the three.
"Yes. He said you told him that we wanted to sin willingly. Just because we want to live together for a couple of weeks."
"I did."
"Well, Frank said you and Mr. Longbottom moved in a year before you two got married."
Mrs. Longbottom looked at her.
"That was different."
"How?"
Mrs. Longbottom tried hard not to smile.
"Did you hear about Remus Lupin?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
Jenni paled slightly, but kept working.
"No, what?" asked Gabby.
"He's moving, to some place, where was it?"
"He's moving? Why?"
"Well, when John asked him that he just said, because he has to. I don't know why."
That night, everyone came to dinner.
"Isn't it odd?" asked Lily.
"What?" asked Gabby.
"How we all ended up in the couples Sirius paired us up with when we all met up? Remember? When Sirius was introducing us to Remus? Well, at least for a little while," said Lily.
Sirius laughed.
"I'm always right," said Sirius.
"No you're not, remember the several times you tried to get us to like one another, and we hated each other more," said James.
"Lily cared for you one time."
"I was giving my doctoral opinion," replied Lily.
They all laughed. The next month, on the morning of August 8th, Cat came home. She snuck into the room Lily was staying in and sat there until she woke up. Cat sat there, her dirty blonde hair hanging around her face, her blue- green eyes flashing mysteriously, as though she had seen and done things no one else had. Lily felt a presence in her room, and sat up, holding her wand. Cat smiled.
"You're becoming more alert," said Cat, her American accent never wavering.
Lily smiled.
"You surprised me, I wasn't expecting you until later," replied Lily, brushing her hair.
Cat grinned.
"We have a fun day ahead of us, baby. You are the last of us to turn eighteen, now, we party."
Lily raised an eyebrow, but grinned.
"What are we doing?"
"You'll see, Gabby and Jen are waiting."
"What time is it?"
"Ten. Here."
Cat threw Lily a pair of shorts and a black tank top. Lily went into the bathroom, put on her make up, and got dressed, when she came out, they went out on the town. Shopping, makeovers, more shopping, then, that night, the four went to a club. They danced, and drank. Lily had never had the personality type to be a "social drinker", but you never would have known. The four sat in a corner booth, as drink after drink came from guy after guy, as Lily was the only one engaged, so she flirted with no one. Gabby, Jenni, and Lily watched as Cat walked up to a Frenchman, and hit on him. Lily laughed.
"He can't understand her," said Lily, her friends joining her as she laughed.
Cat came back over to them.
"Let's go over a few doors, there's a great place there," said Cat, grinning.
Lily laughed, and they walked down to another club, as they noticed a few Spanish men following them. They went into the club, nearly falling the whole way there, when Lily made a valid point.
"How will we get home? We can't Apperate like this."
"Floo Powder, we'll go to the Leaky Cauldron, Tom'll help. Hagrid's probably down there anyways," said Cat, sitting at the bar. "I'll have four Bloody Mary's," she turned to her friends. "What're you guys getting?"
They laughed as the bartender handed them the drinks. Lily pointed to four guys.
"Hey, that guy looks like- like- James," she said, not being able to stand up straight.
She swayed from side to side, and nearly fell, when Cat caught her. Gabby, and Jenni burst out laughing, along with Cat and Lily.
"Yeah, and that other guy looks like Sirius," said Gabby.
"And the other, Remus," said Jenni.
Lily grinned as she had a drunken idea.
"Let's hit on them, and eventually tell them they look like our fiancé, and ex-s and see what happens," said Lily.
They giggled. They sat where the guys could see them, and they flirted from afar, knowing the men saw them, eventually, Cat went up to them, and talked loudly, so her friends and the men (it was noisy) could hear.
"Hello gentleman! My friends and I were wondering if you'd like to dance with us, and maybe get a little further, like buying us drinks later!"
Lily, Jenni and Gabby howled with laughter. The men looked up at Cat.
"Are you all right?" asked the fourth, that no one had identified.
"We're a bit trashed, but we'll be okay! So what do you say? My friends say one of you looks like her fiancé! And the other two said you look like their exes!"
"Are you engaged?"
"Me? Hell no! Not yet anyway!"
Lily, Jenni and Gabby walked over to Cat, who was about to fall over. And the men stood up, surprising them. Cat took a step backwards, and fell laughing, Lily tried to help her up, but couldn't because she was laughing too hard, and Gabby and Jenni had sat down, tears running down their cheeks from their incessant laughter.
"Lily?"
"Gabby?"
"Jenni?"
"Cat?"
In the order from being sight identified, James, Sirius, Remus, and Frank looked at the four women, all drunk.
"Well now, what has the cat dragged in?" asked someone behind them.
'I didn't drag anyone! We stumbled in here together!" said Cat.
Lily, the only one who got it, and the second most drunk, laughed.
"Hello Snape," said James.
"Oh, didn't see you there, Potter."
"It's all right."
Lily looked from one to the other.
"James, Severus, what are you doing here?" she asked, innocently.
"The question is what are YOU doing here?" asked James, helping her up.
"Cat is taking me out for my birthday."
"And what are you doing?" asked Sirius, looking at Gabby, shocked.
"Getting drunk, and watching Cat hit on Frenchman, who can't understand her," said Gabby, giggling.
"It's a one time thing, we haven't been able to do this because Lily was too young to drink, now she can and it's her birthday," said Jenni, attempting to stand up, with help from Gabby.
They both fell, then Sirius and Remus helped them up. Frank looked at his watch.
"I have to go. Alice and I are going out tomorrow. Goodnight," said Frank, running out.
Cat watched him leave, then faced James, Sirius, and Remus, all three with their arms crossed. Snape began to walk away.
"Hold on, Snape, we need someone to disciple Cat," said Sirius, trying not to grin.
"No thanks, I'd rather not have my head blown off."
And Snape walked away, hoping never to see any of them again.
"He does have a point."
Remus laughed, as Cat pushed back tears of realization.
"We'll never do it again, as Jen said, it was a one time thing," said Cat, her head clearing.
"Yes, but hitting on us, before knowing who we were?" said Remus.
"I knew who you were, they just thought you looked like... well... yourselves. If it hadn't been you, we would have just joked around, hitting on you then told you that you looked like their fiancés. It was nothing, just leading on a bunch of guys, it's over now. You're getting married in a few days, and it'll never happen again."
Lily put on the sad puppy face.
"Please James?" she said.
"Please what?" asked James.
"Don't be mad at me."
She kissed him, for a while, they didn't stop, and Jenni thought they were trying to suck each others insides out. They went home, Lily and Cat crashed immediately. The next morning, James and Lily weren't allowed to see each other, even though they tried. That night, Mr. Longbottom and Remus went over to James's house and all the women came over to the (new) Black Mansion. Lily REALLY didn't want everyone over. But that night, without fail, in came all the women close to her. Professor McGonagall, Jenni, Gabby, Cat, Mrs. Longbottom, of course, Aunt Zena, and Cliona, who was now engaged to a Muggle. They all brought presents.
"Mine's more for James," said Zena, smiling at Lily.
"Then I'll wait to open it."
From Cat she got a bunch of alcohol, ("Just in case you want to re- live last night."), fuzzy hand cuffs from Professor McGonagall, ("PROFESSOR!" scolded Lily, jokingly, laughing. "Call me Minerva."), the "Dice game" from Mrs. Longbottom. ("You roll it and it says to do something and it says where on the body to do it at"), a fake tongue ring, and champagne glasses from Cliona, ("I've been told it's fun to scare him with."), shot glasses from Minny, green silky pajama pants and tank top. And everyone knows what Zena gave Lily. Then the stripper came in. The next morning, Lily woke suddenly, and she began getting ready. Her bridesmaids wore a light blue, off the shoulder, full length dress, Lily wore a long , thin strapped dress, a long train, and a veil, and her hair was braided, and put up as a crown around her head. At ten o'clock, Lily was in the back of the church, pacing, as Professor Dumbledore walked in, and he smiled.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"A little, have you seen him?" asked Lily, looking out the door.
"James? Or someone else, a friend maybe?"
Lily looked at him.
"I know James is here, Jen ran in screaming that he was a while ago. Is Severus here? He told me he'd come."
"No Lily, I have not seen him come in."
The music began to play, and Lily sighed.
"It's time!" said Mrs. Longbottom, popping her head in.
Lily watched as her friends walked down the aisle, one by one, followed by Lily and Professor Dumbledore. Once there, he let go of Lily's arm, and sat down, as someone slid silently into the church, and watched, unnoticed.
"Lily Maria Evans, do you take James Harry Potter as you lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health through the best of times and the worst, through richer and poorer?"
Lily smiled.
"I do."
"Please kneel."
The couple kneeled as he placed a crown atop Lily's head, then James's.
"I now pronounce you man and wife, and king and queen."
They stood and the entire church cheered, as James pulled Lily from around the middle and kissed her, all but one, who slipped out as silently as he had come in. Cat watched as Severus Snape left the church. Unnoticed by anyone, Cat went out after him. He was walking down the stairs as Cat ran out.
"Snape."
He turned around.
"What?"
"Not staying for the reception?" she asked.
"I hate parties."
He glared at her, and began to walk off again.
"What don't you hate? Other than Lily?"
He stopped and turned. She walked up to him.
"I don't have to answer that."
"Why don't you at least say hi! She was about to cry when we told her, time and again you hadn't showed up yet. And when you actually do come, you leave. Some friend you are, not even being there at her happiest moment. And what's going to happen when she has kids? Are you just going to make an appearance for yourself? Or will you give Lily at least some slight acknowledgment that you know she's alive, that you care about her, that you're her friend! She told me she wanted YOU to give her away if Dumbledore had said he'd rather not. James didn't like it, but he said nothing! Yes, James hates you, and you hate him, that's common knowledge, but you see how much they love one another? He'll have you in his wedding if Lily asked him to. And she would have done the same for him, if he had a friend she didn't like."
Snape looked at her.
"I-- can't."
And he was gone. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and went back inside the church. Sirius came up to her.
"Where did you go?" he asked.
"Snape left, Lily's gonna be heartbroken."
"Don't tell her yet. Wait, I'm not saying lie to her, but, you know."
Cat nodded.
That summer, Lily's Grandmother died, just after the funeral, Lily was sitting with her Aunt Zena, and all of a sudden, she had a vision.
"Aunt Zena?" said Lily, suddenly, out of the silence.
"Yes, baby?" her aunt replied.
"I saw death. A red truck, a lake, it's one of your grandsons. I'm sorry, Aunt Zena."
Zena nodded, and went to her home in America, believing it to be the grandson who owned a red truck. A week later, Michael Frank, was killed in a car accident in England. The guy who was driving with Michael was drunk, they ran into a red truck. The Air Force Base where he was serving had the word 'lake' in the name. Two days after Lily's grandmother's funeral, Lily was forced to stay in Surrey with her sister and brother- in- law for a week, before she went to James's house. The day before she was to leave, Vernon was on a business trip, and Lily was in the smallest room in the house, packing. Petunia knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Hello Lily." Lily looked up. Petunia had one hand behind her back. Lily reached for her wand, but Petunia closed and locked Lily's trunk, her wand inside. Lily looked closely at Petunia, she seemed dazed, in a trance, as if someone was controlling her. "They said at school to protect yourself from those who are evil, you are evil," said Petunia.
Petunia raised her hand what was hidden behind her, clutched in her fist was a large kitchen knife. Lily and Petunia struggled. Lily knocked the knife out of her sister's hand, by banging her hand on the desk, and it slid under the bed. Petunia grabbed her wand out of her pocket, and began casting spells, knocking Lily around the room, and at one point, nearly through the window, as Lily tried to get the her sister's wand from her. While Lily tried to get the wand from Petunia, it flew up onto the top bookshelf, the blonde flung herself under the bed, and grabbed the knife. Lily's eyes grew wide, as she knew she couldn't escape her sister's wrath. Petunia pulled Lily down from the chair while she was trying to get Petunia's wand, and then stabbed to injure, not kill. The next day, the doorbell rang, and it took Lily three rings to get to the door. She cracked it so they could only see her eye. James, Sirius, Frank, Cat and Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom were on the doorstep.
"Change of plan, guys, I can't go," said Lily.
James noticed her eye was red, and around it the skin was slightly discolored. He pushed the door open and Lily turned her back to them, James turned her around to look at her.
"What the bloody hell happened to you?" asked Mr. Longbottom.
"Fall down the stairs again?" asked Cat, hands on her hips.
"How'd you guess? I'm very clumsy," said Lily, forcing a laugh.
"Where is she? I'm gonna kill her," said James.
"Who?" asked Mrs. Longbottom, examining Lily.
"That fucking sister of Lily's."
"James!" screeched Mrs. Longbottom.
"Sorry. Where is she?"
"She went out for the day. She thinks I'm locked in my room. It locks from the outside."
"She locked you in?!"
James looked as though he could kill. The Longbottoms, Sirius, Cat and Lily looked bewildered, they had never seen James like this.
"James, I'm fine, or at least I will be, as soon as I find the aspirin," Lily told him, falling as she tried to walk to him.
He caught her, and picked her up.
"Ready? Sirius can you get her trunk?"
Sirius nodded, and ran up the stairs, grabbing her trunk and pets.
"Did you pack everything?" asked Cat.
"Everything I own. Pictures, clothes, books, broom, and everything else."
"Good."
James carried her to the taxi, and they all got in, and drove to James's house (Sirius and Cat were now staying with him, as they couldn't stay at Sirius's house any longer). The Longbottoms lived across the street, that's why they'd come to help. Mrs. Longbottom immediately began to heal Lily, she healed the gashes, and bruises replaced them. Lily smiled at Mrs. Longbottom, and thanked her, although, both hurt her face. At dinner, she sat next to James and Cat.
"How are you feeling?" asked James.
"Like I've been hit by a train," replied Lily.
"As opposed to...?" asked Sirius.
"Like I was hit with a billion spells, and then stabbed thirty one times."
"Well, that must feel nice then," said Cat.
Lily laughed.
"Let's just put it this way, I don't suggest trying either."
They all laughed. After dinner, in the Sitting room, Sirius looked from James to Lily. Lily sat on the love seat with Cat, and James sat next to Sirius. Someone came through the fireplace, it was Gabby.
"Hello all," she said, standing up, and brushing herself off.
"Hi Gabby," said Cat.
"Hey Gab," said Lily.
"Hi," said James.
Gabby turned and saw Lily, and gasped.
"Oh my gosh! What happened?"
Gabby ran to Lily.
"That seems to be the general reaction. Petunia again, I'm fine, as I was before."
Gabby sat down, although she was reluctant to move away from Lily. Lily talked with Cat and Mrs. Longbottom, and Mr. Longbottom asked James what he was going to do for a living.
"I think I might take up Dad's place. He's got everything here. I've looked through it time and again, and I've practically memorized them all. So, I know how he went about doing things, and it's very clever."
"Ah, well, you be careful. It's a nasty business, it is," said Mr. Longbottom.
Mrs. Longbottom looked at Lily and grinned.
"So, when's the wedding and the due date?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
"For what?" Lily asked.
"Yours and James's wedding and baby."
Lily spit out her tea, choking on it.
"What?"
Cat laughed.
"You still haven't told us," said Frank.
James looked at them as if they were insane.
"I'm not pregnant and I don't think we're engaged, are we, Four Eyes?" asked Lily, as though she were being as polite as one could be.
"Not that I know of, Flame Head," said James with the same tone.
"Ah, well, that answers both of your questions, doesn't it?"
Mrs. Longbottom raised an eyebrow, but nodded. That week went by too quickly for Lily's liking. She felt that the past week had been the best week of her life. She was Head Girl, and James was Head Boy. They went into the Great Hall, and sat across from one another, kicking each other from time to time. Professor Dumbledore stood and said his few words including introducing their new Potions teacher Professor Arlington, as Lily noticed a red- haired boy at the end of the Gryffindor Table, the last one to be sorted into their House. Lily smiled at him, and he blushed a brilliant shade of red, and turned away, Sirius saw this and laughed.
"Hey Lil, I think you should ask him to the Back to School Dance," said Sirius, laughing even harder.
"So what if I do?" said Lily, becoming defensive.
"Well, he's not as tall as you are."
"He could pass for a third year, maybe a fourth."
"Lily, REALLY, a first year?" asked Jenni.
Lily couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You are Ageists! You are discriminating someone because of their age. Well, I'll show you, I WILL ask him to the Back to School dance."
Everyone's jaws dropped, except James, who was laughing. Lily glared at him and he stopped laughing as loud as he had been. After dinner, Lily and James showed the first years up to Gryffindor Tower, arguing over who went first.
"I'm not going in front of you, Evans, you'll try and kill me," insisted James.
"I will not! I don't trust you behind me! Now go!" said Lily, fiercely.
"Um, excuse me," said the red- headed boy from dinner.
Lily looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you walk side- by- side, so neither of you is in front or behind."
Lily beamed.
"We have ourselves a future Head Boy! James, I think he should be Head Boy now, he's clearly brighter than you are!"
"I don't think I could be Head Boy."
"What's your name?" asked Lily.
"Bill Weasley."
"Well, Bill Weasley, I'm Lily and that's Pooter."
The first years (and Sirius) laughed. James pouted.
"Hello," said Bill, trying not to laugh.
They reached the portrait.
"The password is--" began Lily.
"I want to say it!" whined James.
"Then say it, I'm not going to argue with you."
"Kitty Cat," he said.
"What?" said Cat.
"Huh?" replied James.
"Oh that was intelligent," said Lily, as the portrait swung open.
Sirius ran up and pretended he couldn't get through. The first years laughed.
"Lily, help me," said Sirius, pretending to cry.
Lily picked him up in a fireman's carry, stepped up and threw him into the Common Room. The first years laughed again.
"Just step on him," said Lily, helping the occasional first year through the portrait hole.
The Weasley boy was the last to climb in, as he climbed through, he smiled at Lily, who smiled back at him.
"I was wondering, as my dad said to always live it up, if you have a boyfriend?" asked Bill.
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
"I'm surprised. You're really pretty, and obviously smart as you're Head Girl."
Lily smiled.
"Why thank you Bill. I was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to the Back to School Dance on Friday night."
Bill blushed a brilliant shade of red.
"Me? Really?"
"Yup."
"Okay."
"I'll see you then."
He ran happily to his dorm where there were many audible, 'Where were you?'s and 'In trouble all ready?'s and 'How many points?' Lily laughed as her friends stared at her in shock as she climbed through, and up to her room, now labeled '7th Year Girls'. Lily noticed there were only six beds in their dorm.
"Where's my bed?" Lily asked. "And my stuff?"
"You have the Head Girl's dorm, remember?" said Cat.
"Oh, I forgot," said Lily, blushing, and walking up the winding staircase to the right of all the girls' dorms, and up to a large room, drenched in red and gold.
She smiled and flopped onto her bed, and thinking about the upcoming year. That night, McGonagall came to get the seventh year Gryffindors, and took them to Dumbledore's office. The eleven seventh years sat in the office, and Dumbledore looked at them.
"I have called you all here to ask you to help with the opposition of Voldemort. If there is anyone who does not wish to risk everything for it, you are welcome to leave."
Portia stood, muttering, "I'm sorry."
Dumbledore nodded, and she left.
"Now, those of you who are staying. You MUST keep absolutely silent about this. If you tell anyone, then the word will get out, and you will all be in grave peril."
At that moment Dumbledore told them all bits of vital information about Voldemort, what the Ministry was doing, and where spies were located. The next day, James noticed something.
"Where's Peter?" he asked.
"Who the hell cares," said Cat.
"He goes off randomly, and he's gone for days," said Remus.
"As Cat said, who the hell cares?" Lily said.
On Friday night, Bill escorted Lily to the dance in which everyone gave them funny looks, but Lily ignored them. The two danced and then they sat down, and talked.
"So, Bill, do you have any other siblings?"
"Yes, I have two little brothers. Charlie, and Percy. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"I have a sister. We don't get along. Bill, I will give you some advice, ALWAYS love your brothers. Never tell them you hate them. Okay?"
Bill nodded.
"Okay."
When they went back up to Gryffindor Tower, and Bill turned to Lily.
"Thanks for inviting me, but--"
Lily looked at him.
"But what?"
"Well, I think that the guys in your year might want to kill me if we're seen together again."
Lily tried hard not to laugh.
"Really? You think so?"
"Yea, especially that guy right behind you."
Lily looked confused as Bill bolted up to his dorm. She turned around. It was James. Lily burst out laughing, then realized that he had heard their conversation, and got mad.
"I heard your conversation."
"Don't eavesdrop."
"I wasn't. I was trying to get around you."
"Then you should have said something!"
"Well, then I would have interrupted, and that would have been rude."
"Then you should have gone away!"
"But I want to go to bed!"
"Then go find one of those Hufflepuff girls!"
Lily stormed off. They had gotten word of an information leakage, and they had to be more careful who they trusted. Lily and James went back to insults and pranks, until Christmas. Lily and James were staying, for lack of anywhere to go, and the others (minus Peter) were staying to keep them company, and from killing one another. They were the only ones left, other than Snape. During dinner, James pretended to stare at Lily, as though he were head over heels, when she noticed this, she stuck out her tongue, and Dumbledore chuckled. Lily's bracelet came un-fastened just as mashed potatoes were thrown. She picked up the bracelet, as the potatoes flew over her head. Then she saw James's hand was covered in the same thing that was thrown. Her eyes widened, and she threw gravy at him, he then threw carrots and green beans at her, and she threw chicken legs, and pieces of turkey at him, both laughing. Dumbledore watched them, his eyes twinkling, McGonagall was on her feet opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water. Dumbledore nodded and she sat back down. By now they were throwing mints and wizard crackers at one another.
"Oh! Look! A Dungbomb!" said Lily, throwing it at James, who ducked under the table.
She took a step back, as James popped up in front of her, pouring pumpkin juice on her head. She took her loaded plate, and dumped it all on James, then wrote 'James Potter is a dork', in gravy all down his front. The look on his face told her that she should run, so she did. Snape was riding his broom, as he always seemed to do, and he saw James pelting Lily with snowballs. Lily retaliated with an entire snowdrift. James ran at her and she ran to the orchard, but he caught her, and tackled her. Then they kissed, which was too much for Snape, he landed and sadly went inside. As James kissed Lily, she put a large handful of snow down the back of his shirt. He looked at her, and put even more snow down hers. The others ran outside as the two snow and food covered figures came back, James carrying Lily on his back, he was on his hands and knees, and Lily was riding sidesaddle.
"What happened?" asked Cat.
"I won!" said Lily, getting off of James as he collapsed.
They all laughed. They walked up to the Common Room, Lily and James cleaned themselves up and played Exploding Snap. They played late into the night, until it was just James and Lily competing at Wizard's Chess. Around midnight, they took a break from playing, and relaxed, sitting next to one another.
"Gotten the pumpkin juice out of your hair yet?" asked James.
"No, not yet. I think I'll have to use magic," replied Lily. "You get the gravy out of yours?"
"Nope."
They laughed, they didn't see Sirius's video camera watching them from the stairs. Lily sighed.
"What do you think would happen if we called a truce?"
James grinned.
"The same thing that would happen if we got married. They'd all have heart attacks."
Lily laughed, her hair rippling as she tossed her head back slightly.
"I have an idea," said Lily, leaning in toward James, just in case someone was listening.
"Yes?"
She whispered something in his ear. He grinned evilly and nodded.
"So...?"
"I like it," said James, impressed.
"It begins as of tomorrow."
"Good. You know Sirius is taping this, he'll watch it tomorrow," whispered James.
Lily grinned.
"Where is it?"
"Right behind us."
"Then we'll start now."
"Okay."
James leaned over on top of Lily and they sat on the floor in front of the couch. They talked the whole time, wondering what the reactions would be the following morning, only five more hours and they'd know. James fogged up his glasses, by breathing on them, and Lily messed up her hair, no one was in on it, so it couldn't be proved a scam.
"Where's my shirt?" asked Lily, joking.
James looked confused, then caught on.
"Umm... right here."
"Ah, thanks."
Then they stood up, for the camera, and then they put their foreheads together, and pretended to make out for a while. When they got tired of doing that, Lily went up to her dorm, and James went up to his. The next morning, everyone in Gryffindor Tower was woken up by Sirius's screams.
"OH MY GOD!!!"
Cat, Lily, Gabby, and Jenni ran into the boys dorms, as Frank, Remus, and James woke up. Sirius was doing a little dance.
"What the hell are you waking us up for?" asked Cat.
Lily put her head on Cat's shoulder.
"I was right, I was right!" said Sirius, dancing around.
"Right about what?" asked Frank.
"Hurry up Sirius, I'm dead tired," said Lily.
"I'm not surprised," said Sirius, re- winding the tape, and showing the others.
By the end, Lily and James were asleep, on James's bed, well, they were pretending to be asleep. James rolled over, and flopped his arm over Lily, who was facing him, with an hand on his shirtless chest (he had pants on). Gabby screamed, "waking" the two.
"What's wrong with you people?" asked James.
Lily shook her head.
"It must have been desert, we didn't eat it, remember?" said Lily.
"Oh yeah."
"I think you had a different kind of desert," said Remus.
"A FRENCH kind of desert," said Jenni.
Lily and James looked at them blankly.
"I don't like the French," said James.
"What are you talking about, and why are you screaming?" demanded Lily.
"You and James got it on last night," said Cat.
Lily and James looked at each other "surprised".
"How did you find out about that?" asked James.
"Sirius taped you!" voiced Gabby, her voice higher than normal.
"That's what that was," said Lily, to James. "I TOLD you I thought we were being watched."
"And you were right, I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you," said James, kissing Lily, and rolling over on top of her.
Gabby sat down on the floor, and Sirius had to leave, feeling ill. They all got dressed, and went down to breakfast, leaving Lily and James behind as the slowly walked to the Great Hall, laughing at their friends' reactions.
"How else can we fool them?" asked James.
Lily grinned.
"I know."
"What?"
"You'll see."
The walked to the Great Hall, hand in hand, acting the whole way. Nearly Headless Nick took a double take and Peeves pretended to faint, then he tried to make sure he was still dead. ("Yup! Good thing too. I was beginning to worry!") The two sat down next to each other, and Lily noticed Dumbledore was trying not to laugh. Lily took a strawberry, and fed it to James, who put a little bit of whipped cream in her nose.
"You can't get it off, in public," said Lily.
James turned to everyone else.
"If you'll excuse us a moment."
The two laughed, and Lily playfully hit him. She wiped it off with a napkin. None of the teachers or students could eat, what they were witnessing was Hell freezing over. Dumbledore, Lily and James were the only ones eating.
"Eat up, before the food gets cold. I know we can't eat it all," said Lily, to the others.
"If we do, we'll hurl," said Frank.
"And I would like to keep food down, thanks very much," said Sirius, receiving a look from Gabby.
The look was 'Why don't we do that?'
"Whatever blows your skirt up," said James, causing Lily to laugh hysterically.
He laughed then kissed her. They had all had enough. Snape was the first to get up, Sirius stood up too.
"Snape, for once in my life, I COMPLETELY agree with you," said Sirius, running out of the Great Hall.
Cat, Frank, Jenni, Gabby, and Frank followed. Even all the teachers left, except Dumbledore, who burst out laughing.
"You can stop now, they're all gone," he said.
"Stop what?" asked Lily, pulling a piece of bacon from James, as he tried to get it.
"I know it's a charade."
Lily sighed in relief, and shoved the piece of bacon in his mouth.
"Fank oo!" said James with his mouth full.
Lily laughed.
"How did you know?"
"It's obvious. I've known you two since you came here. You've argued, and fought, and gotten one another in trouble countless times. Between the two of you have the record for most detentions ever. You each have about one hundred and fifty detentions each. You can't have fallen in love that quickly, or maybe you have and you haven't realized it, or you have over time, and haven't realized it. I've got my money on the latter. The teachers and myself have a pool on it. Some on how quickly it takes you to kill one another, some on how long it takes you to fall in love. Have a lovely day!" said the Headmaster, standing to leave, then did so.
Lily and James looked at one another, thunderstruck.
"Damn, he's good," said James.
"I'll back that up."
They stood and wandered around the school for a while, talking about who was betting on what, how much the pool was up to, and what they think they would have bet on in their first year, and then what they would have bet on in their seventh. Around noon, they made their way to lunch, and they decided something. In the middle of lunch, Lily and James stood up.
"What are you going to name it if it's a girl? And what if it's a boy?" asked Sirius before they had said anything.
James laughed.
"Actually we wanted to tell you that we were joking, just to get a reaction out of you. We thought it would be funny," said Lily.
"Well?! Was it?!" asked McGonagall angrily.
"Hell yeah!" said James.
Lily rolled her eyes and muttered something that sounded like 'idiot'.
"So what happened between you two--" began Cat.
"Was a set up, we sat on the floor in front of the couch and talked. We sat on the floor where the camera couldn't film us," explained Lily.
"So... you're still normal Lily and James?" asked Gabby.
"I'm normal, James isn't, we ALL know that!"
Everyone laughed, even Snape managed a smile. The next day, the other students came back, and a few months later, Bill Weasley ran into James.
"Hello," said James.
"Hello. I have a question," said Bill.
"Sure."
James was confused.
"I just met up with this girl, and she told me to ask you to meet her on the South Tower balcony, at nine o'clock tonight. And be prompt."
"What house?"
"Not Hufflepuff, she said she's not part of the usual fan club."
"Did she give you a name?"
Bill shook his head.
"Nope, sorry. I have to get to class, bye!"
Bill ran off. Later that day, Bill saw Lily.
"Hello Bill," sail Lily, cheerfully.
"Lily, hey. Some guy just walked up to me and told me to ask you to meet him on the South Tower balcony at nine tonight."
"Who was it?"
"Dunno. He didn't say."
"Okay."
"Bye Lily," said Bill as he ran off again.
Lily looked at her friends and shrugged. That night, Lily ran up at about eight to get ready, and James was curious as to know why she was going to bed early. He knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's James."
Lily opened the door, and he stood in the doorway.
"Do you need something?"
"Just wondering why you're up here so early."
"I'm meeting someone."
"Meeting someone? Who? Where?" said James, pretending to be jealous.
"Yes; don't know; South Tower balcony."
"Oh, really?" That's interesting. You think it's Snape?"
"No, he said he wasn't going to do that anymore."
"You never know, well, I'll leave you to it."
He left and she closed the door. He was confused, if she was going the same place he was, but she didn't know who she was meeting, but who had set it up? Around eight thirty, James went up to grab his invisibility cloak and put on his dress robes, and something else. He bolted down to the South Tower, took off his invisibility cloak and hid it, in his cape, just in case. He climbed the stairs to the balcony, and saw Bill Weasley standing, at the door. James looked at him.
"Hello, sir," said Bill bowing.
"You do know that when she gets here, you're leaving, as you're out past curfew," said James with a grin.
"I think I'll be okay."
"So. Where's this mystery girl?"
Bill sat on the railing of the balcony, "She's coming."
Just as he said that, Bill slipped, and James caught him.
"You're lucky I'm Seeker."
Bill nodded, looking down, not seeing the ground in the darkness. A few seconds later, Lily entered, wearing a dark green evening gown, and her long, mid- back length hair was curled and down, unlike usual, when she kept it in a tight bun. She ran over, and helped James pull Bill up over the railing, Bill thanked them and quickly left. James stood, and stared at her in shock, as she looked at him, mildly surprised.
"You set this up?" she asked.
James couldn't talk, he just shook his head, then he found his voice.
"No, I think Bill Weasley did though. He told me to be here tonight," said James.
"He said the same to me."
They laughed. James smiled at her, and she looked away, bashfully.
"Lily, you look-- wow-- I can't even begin to describe-- woah."
She blushed.
"Thank you. You look very handsome yourself."
"Thanks, shall we eat?"
They ate dinner, talking and laughing, as they had never done before. At the end of dinner, came desert. They ate a piece of cheesecake each, then James looked at Lily, toying with the thing in his pocket.
"James, are you okay?"
He looked up.
"Yea, I was just... thinking."
"About what?"
"My mom and dad. They said that they met at school, they hated one another, then were set up, and locked in a closet for two days together, until someone finally found them."
"Are thinking about locking yourself in a closet with someone?"
Lily smiled.
"No. But I was also wondering it you wanted this."
He took the gift out of his pocket, and slid it across the table, underneath his hand, and took his hand off when it was in front of Lily. She opened it. It was a ring. It had a canary diamond on one side, a ruby on the other, and a large diamond in the middle. She looked up at him.
"Is this what I think it is, James?"
"If you want it to be."
He couldn't look up, afraid of rejection, he stared at the table edge in front of her. He saw tears hit the table, only then could he look up at her. She was smiling, and crying with joy. He smiled, in relief, he stood and she kissed him. Their first, real kiss, their first passionate kiss, their first kiss that symbolized their lives together. When they broke apart, they looked at one another.
"How are we going to tell the others?" asked Lily.
"The question is, how will we convince them we're telling the truth?"
She shrugged.
"Does it really matter?"
James grinned, holding her.
"Not really."
They spent most of the rest of the night talking, long after the House Elves had taken the table and chairs away. They planned everything to the T. If they had a boy, they would name him Harry James, if they had a girl, they would name her Faerie Rose, they would live in Potter Manor, and nothing would change. At around four in the morning, they crept back to the common room. The two saw their friends waiting for them. They took off the cloak, and walked up to them, sitting down.
"So. What's the deal? Are you going to scam us again or not?" asked Cat.
"No," said Lily.
"So, who set it up?" asked Gabby, looking from one to the other.
"Bill Weasley," said James.
"You mean that guy you took to the Back to School dance, Lily?" asked Minny.
Lily and James nodded.
"Well, what happened? Why are you just coming back now?" asked Sirius.
"James asked me something," said Lily.
"Which was...?" prompted Remus.
"I asked her to marry me," said James.
All but Lily and James burst out laughing. The two who weren't snickering looked at one another.
"I told you they wouldn't believe us. I told you," said James.
"I know, I know. I'm not saying you were right, because I agreed with you," said Lily.
"All right, all right. Don't get all defensive."
"I'm not defensive."
"Whatever you say, dear."
Sirius laughed even harder.
"'Dear' that's a good one James, you're getting better at this."
Lily and James rolled their eyes, and stood up.
"We'll tell Dumbledore in the morning, though he probably all ready knows," said Lily.
"Okay. Goodnight, beautiful."
He kissed her, and he went to his dorm and she to hers, then she came back down, and stood at the bottom of the stairs to the boys dorms.
"James," she hissed.
He came down the stairs.
"Yes?"
"You never DID tell me what you gave to your dad."
He grinned.
"You remember that bet we made? About us getting married?" asked James.
Their friends listening intently.
"Yeah. If he won you gave him ten Galleons, and if you won he gave you ten Galleons. What about it?"
"I gave him the ten Galleons."
Lily laughed.
"Were you that sure I would say yes?"
"Nope. I still thought you would go back to Angelo."
He said 'Angelo' with an Italian accent, causing them both to laugh.
"So that's what you were doing on that cliff every night I went out with him. You were jealous."
"Just a little."
Lily broke into song.
"You think I'm gorgeous, you want to date me, love me and hug me. You want to smooch me, you want to marry me."
They laughed.
"Damn straight, I asked you didn't I?"
She smiled and kissed him again.
"Yes you did, and I said yes. And now you're stuck with me."
"Oh yeah, that's right," said James as though it had only just occurred to him.
She smacked his chest.
"That's not funny, James Potter!"
She began to stomp to her dorm, but James grabbed her wrist, and she turned and he kissed her.
"I was joking, you know I was, and you know that I didn't mean it."
They both smiled, forehead to forehead.
"Yeah, but still."
"Go to bed, we have a LONG day of convincing ahead of us."
"Okay, goodnight once again James."
"Goodnight Lily."
The two went up to their dorms, and went to sleep. The next morning, James got up, then snuck past Cat and Gabby to Lily's dorm, to wake her up. He snuck in, then quickly jumped through the bed curtains and onto Lily's bed. He was about to wake her up, then he looked at her and debated with himself. 'To wake her, or not to wake her, that is the question,' he thought with a laugh. After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and stretched, then noticed she wasn't alone. Sitting on her feet was someone with glasses, untidy black hair, and stunning blue eyes.
"What are you doing?" asked Lily.
James grinned.
"I didn't know if I should wake you up or not, so I just waited for you to wake up on your own."
She laughed.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Marry me?"
She smiled.
"Well, I suppose so."
James put on his sad puppy face, he stuck out his bottom lip and made sad eyes at her. She looked at him. He couldn't help it, he began to laugh.
"Gabby, hush. Do you hear that?" they heard Cat say, as the two girls opened Lily's door and walked in.
"Hear what? You don't think...?"
"Nah, Remus is still asleep, I heard him snoring earlier."
"Okay." James tried to contain his laughter. "Well, I told Sirius that I wasn't ready for a serious relationship, and I said that if he really loved me, he'd let me move on."
"And what did he say?"
"He said okay. He wasn't as crushed as I thought he would be. I guess he isn't ready to be engaged either."
"Let's get Lily up, she's been asleep long enough. I can't wait anymore."
"You know, you told me to watch out for James, and I think I saw him coming out of his room about a half an hour ago. I don't think it was though," said Gabby.
"Why didn't you tell me that?"
"Well, you were talking. I didn't want to interrupt."
Cat sighed.
"Did you see where he went?"
"Nope."
She sighed again. Lily stuck her head out the curtains.
"Morning," said Lily cheerfully.
"Morning. Hey Lils, Jamsie boy's escaped. I think he's doing a prank let's get him, before he gets us," said Cat.
"Not this morning," said Lily, sticking her hand out the curtains to point to the end of the bed.
James noticed this, and pulled her back. She squealed, as he tickled her. Cat opened the curtains, and Gabby woke Jenni. Cat stared at the two in shock, as Jenni put on her glasses and walked over. Lily and James grinned, and Lily ran to get dressed, and James ran out of the dorm. All of a sudden, James ran back in, and kissed Lily on the cheek.
"See you at breakfast," he said hurriedly, and ran back out.
Cat was shocked. Gabby and Jenni laughed as they heard Sirius.
"James! Where were you? I saw you leave the room this morning, but I didn't know-- were you up in the girls dorms?" demanded Sirius.
"Maybe."
"And they let you up?"
Sirius was impressed.
"Not really. I snuck in."
"What did you do?"
"I sat on Lily's feet, then we listened to Cat and Gabby, then I tickled Lily, then I ran out, ran back in, kissed Lily, then ran back out again."
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"You and Lily still trying to scam us again?"
"Nope," said James.
Lily walked down the stairs and into the Common Room, now dressed.
"Still don't believe us, Sirius?" asked Lily.
"Nope," he replied.
Bill and some of his friends ran past them, James grabbed hold of the back of Bill's robes, and pulled him back. James had his arm around Lily's waist, and Lily had her arm on his. Bill smiled.
"Thanks," said James.
"Anytime. Now I can say that I hooked up Lily and James Potter, and not lie," said Bill.
Lily laughed.
"Well, you and your family will come to the wedding I trust?" asked Lily.
"Yup, oh, and my mum just had two twin boys last week, April 16th. Their names are Fred and George."
"Well, tell her we said Congratulations," said James.
"Yes, same goes for you."
Bill ran to catch up with his friends. Sirius stared in shock.
"He's in on it, too?" asked Sirius.
"No one's in on anything," said James, rolling his eyes.
Lily sighed.
"They're not going to believe it until I show them," said Lily.
"It's your call."
Lily held out her hand, showing Sirius the ring.
"You ARE doing the thing right, aren't you?" said Sirius, amazed at the two.
Lily and James sighed, and James rolled his eyes.
"You want to go to breakfast, now?" asked Lily.
"Yes, please," said James.
The two walked past Sirius and down to the Great Hall, the first person they ran in to was Snape.
"Hello Severus," said Lily, who shot a look at James.
"Hello Snape," said James.
"Potter, Lily. What are you two doing?" asked Snape
"Getting married," said Lily, grinning happily.
"Today?" asked Snape, shocked.
"Of course not, silly. In August, after I turn eighteen."
"Oh. You're not joking again are you?"
"Not this time. I think you're the only one who seems willing to believe us," said James.
"Oh, well, congratulations."
Lily smiled.
"Thank you. And you better be there," said Lily, as she and James began walking toward the Great Hall.
"Where?"
"At the wedding!" Lily called over her shoulder.
When they were no longer in any form of range from Snape, James looked at her, but said nothing. Sirius, Gabby, Frank, Cat, Jenni and Remus ran by, then back tracked to their friends.
"James, we need to talk," said Sirius.
"Okay. I'll see you in a bit," said James, kissing Lily, as Peter joined them.
The guys went down another corridor, and discussed James's mental health, and crossing of lines in pranks and scams.
"But James--"
"We're not joking this time, I swear, now, let's go to breakfast, I'm hungry!"
That night at dinner, Lily and James stood up, and everyone quieted.
"We have an announcement," said James.
Everyone looked at them.
"We're getting married!" said Lily.
McGonagall looked at them.
"It's not yet ANOTHER scam, this time it's for real," said James.
There was applause from Most of the Hufflepuffs, the Ravenclaws, and the Gryffindors. The following month was busy with graduation. Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom were there to be the Evans's, the Black's (who still wanted nothing to do with Sirius), the Potter's, and themselves. That afternoon, Lily was sitting behind the podium with the teachers, and James. Dumbledore stood and the audience quieted, Lily looked at him, then blinked in the sunlight.
"Another year; gone. This has been your last year as a student of Hogwarts. Now, Lily Evans, our Head Girl."
There was applause from the majority of the audience. Lily smiled and walked up to the podium.
"This is it, everyone. It could be the last time you set foot on these grounds. These past seven years have been full of death," Lily looked at Cat, "love," she looked at Frank and his fiancée Alice, who was in the audience, she was a year younger than Frank, "friendship," she looked at Gabby, Sirius, Jenni, Remus, (who had broken up because Remus was too "secretive") and Snape. "We've learned as many if not more useful things outside the classroom, than in it. No offense to the teachers." There was laughter. "We've become friends or more with people we first hated." She looked back at James then back at Snape. "We've all become different people than who we were when we first arrived," then she looked at Sirius who was making faces, she tried to suppress a laugh, "Well, most of us at least. This is the beginning of the rest of our lives. This is it. Thank you."
Everyone cheered, and Dumbledore stood once again.
"And now, our Head Boy, James Potter."
The teachers sighed, and Lily laughed. James stood, ignoring them.
"Lily was right, in everything she said. All of us will go on, and occasionally see one another in the street, but after this, we'll be too busy to stop and say hello. Now, we begin to work, to get married, to start a family. Now, the only time after this we'll see one another, is reunions, and I'm actually looking forward to them. So, go on in life, doing the right thing, and whatever makes you happy--" McGonagall glared at him, and he said quickly, "as long as it's not against the law. I know, I know, they made me say it," the audience laughed. "I hope everyone will be successful, even you Slytherins! Peace out!"
James sat down, Lily hit him upside his head. He could tell she was trying not to laugh. They went and sat down with their friends, as Dumbledore called them up for their diplomas. A guy, then a girl went up before...
"Jennifer Alexander."
She went up to Dumbledore, took her diploma, and hugged all her teachers.
"Sirius Black."
Sirius had fallen asleep, Cat elbowed him, and he ran up to Dumbledore, who was chuckling.
"Sorry Professor," said Sirius.
"Quite all right."
A few more people, then...
"Lily Evans, soon to be Potter."
Lily stood and walked up to him.
"Congratulations Lily, on both accounts," said Professor Dumbledore.
"Thank you, sir, for everything."
Lily hugged him, and he blushed, causing most people to laugh. Then Lily walked over to Professor McGonagall and hugged her.
Soon, it was Frank, then Remus, then Gabby, Snape, and Cat. Afterwards there was a HUGE party, and a seventh years dance. That night, Jenni, Gabby, Cat, and Lily talked about what they were going to do. Jenni didn't know, Gabby was going to travel, she didn't want to be set on one thing for her life, Sirius was going to buy the house next door to James, and make that the new Black Mansion, Cat was going to travel and see what interested her, and Lily was going to marry James. Lily was going to be and Auror for the Ministry, both she and Gabby had been asked to drop everything that second and become spies, both had turned it down. Jenni still refused to talk to Remus, she still didn't know he was a werewolf, Cat, and Lily both knew, but Gabby and Jenni didn't, because they didn't want to believe it. The next day, Gabby, Cat and Lily hugged Jenni goodbye, as Jenni left to go to Newport, where she lived. Cat, Gabby, Remus, James and Sirius went to their homes in Northumberland, England, "South of the Border" to Scotland. The following week, they all passed their Apperating test, it took Sirius two tries. Lily moved into Potter manor with James, but Mrs. Longbottom made her live with them so she and James would do anything "bad".
"Mrs. Longbottom, we're getting married, what does it matter?" debated Lily.
"I mean, we're going to be doing it on our wedding night anyways," said James. Lily hit him. "Ow!"
"No one wants to hear that."
He shrugged.
"It's true," he mumbled.
"And you and Mr. Longbottom didn't move in together?"
"We're adults," said Mrs. Longbottom.
"And we're-- I'm not?" said Lily, looking sideways at James, who was pouting.
Mrs. Longbottom looked from James to Lily, then she looked at Mr. Longbottom, who was reading the paper.
"What do you think, John?" she asked.
Mr. Longbottom laughed shortly.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not getting in on this," he snorted.
"Smart man," said James, getting up.
"And where do you think you're going?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
"For a walk, I don't want to get in trouble."
James left the room, as he heard the paper crackle, and Mr. Longbottom clear his throat. Mrs. Longbottom stood up and bent the paper down so she could see his face, which he was trying to keep from smiling. Cat came down the stairs, bags in hand. Lily stood, and walked to her.
"Leaving all ready?" asked Lily, hugging her friend.
Cat nodded.
"Yup. Off to Spain for a while, then I'll go where ever. I'll send you a postcard," promised Cat.
"At least two a week, Caterina Sweeny, or I'll hunt you down."
The two laughed.
"All right, I'll have to hide if I forget."
Cat and Lily smiled through tears and hugged.
"You better."
"I'll be back next month for your birthday, and wedding. I promise."
Sirius and James came in. Cat hugged Sirius, then Frank, then James, and finally, Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom. As she was leaving, she turned.
"I'll see you all next month. Bye Lils, Jamie. Later Siri. Bye Frank, Bye Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom."
And she was gone, then they all began planning the wedding. The next week, Gabby came back from visiting her parents in Kent, and during the choosing of colors for bridesmaids, Lily laughed. Mrs. Longbottom, Alice, Gabby, and Jenni, looked up.
"What's so funny?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
"You," replied Lily.
"What did I do that was so funny?"
"You are stubborn. James told me that you approached him this morning."
"He did?"
Lily looked up at the three.
"Yes. He said you told him that we wanted to sin willingly. Just because we want to live together for a couple of weeks."
"I did."
"Well, Frank said you and Mr. Longbottom moved in a year before you two got married."
Mrs. Longbottom looked at her.
"That was different."
"How?"
Mrs. Longbottom tried hard not to smile.
"Did you hear about Remus Lupin?" asked Mrs. Longbottom.
Jenni paled slightly, but kept working.
"No, what?" asked Gabby.
"He's moving, to some place, where was it?"
"He's moving? Why?"
"Well, when John asked him that he just said, because he has to. I don't know why."
That night, everyone came to dinner.
"Isn't it odd?" asked Lily.
"What?" asked Gabby.
"How we all ended up in the couples Sirius paired us up with when we all met up? Remember? When Sirius was introducing us to Remus? Well, at least for a little while," said Lily.
Sirius laughed.
"I'm always right," said Sirius.
"No you're not, remember the several times you tried to get us to like one another, and we hated each other more," said James.
"Lily cared for you one time."
"I was giving my doctoral opinion," replied Lily.
They all laughed. The next month, on the morning of August 8th, Cat came home. She snuck into the room Lily was staying in and sat there until she woke up. Cat sat there, her dirty blonde hair hanging around her face, her blue- green eyes flashing mysteriously, as though she had seen and done things no one else had. Lily felt a presence in her room, and sat up, holding her wand. Cat smiled.
"You're becoming more alert," said Cat, her American accent never wavering.
Lily smiled.
"You surprised me, I wasn't expecting you until later," replied Lily, brushing her hair.
Cat grinned.
"We have a fun day ahead of us, baby. You are the last of us to turn eighteen, now, we party."
Lily raised an eyebrow, but grinned.
"What are we doing?"
"You'll see, Gabby and Jen are waiting."
"What time is it?"
"Ten. Here."
Cat threw Lily a pair of shorts and a black tank top. Lily went into the bathroom, put on her make up, and got dressed, when she came out, they went out on the town. Shopping, makeovers, more shopping, then, that night, the four went to a club. They danced, and drank. Lily had never had the personality type to be a "social drinker", but you never would have known. The four sat in a corner booth, as drink after drink came from guy after guy, as Lily was the only one engaged, so she flirted with no one. Gabby, Jenni, and Lily watched as Cat walked up to a Frenchman, and hit on him. Lily laughed.
"He can't understand her," said Lily, her friends joining her as she laughed.
Cat came back over to them.
"Let's go over a few doors, there's a great place there," said Cat, grinning.
Lily laughed, and they walked down to another club, as they noticed a few Spanish men following them. They went into the club, nearly falling the whole way there, when Lily made a valid point.
"How will we get home? We can't Apperate like this."
"Floo Powder, we'll go to the Leaky Cauldron, Tom'll help. Hagrid's probably down there anyways," said Cat, sitting at the bar. "I'll have four Bloody Mary's," she turned to her friends. "What're you guys getting?"
They laughed as the bartender handed them the drinks. Lily pointed to four guys.
"Hey, that guy looks like- like- James," she said, not being able to stand up straight.
She swayed from side to side, and nearly fell, when Cat caught her. Gabby, and Jenni burst out laughing, along with Cat and Lily.
"Yeah, and that other guy looks like Sirius," said Gabby.
"And the other, Remus," said Jenni.
Lily grinned as she had a drunken idea.
"Let's hit on them, and eventually tell them they look like our fiancé, and ex-s and see what happens," said Lily.
They giggled. They sat where the guys could see them, and they flirted from afar, knowing the men saw them, eventually, Cat went up to them, and talked loudly, so her friends and the men (it was noisy) could hear.
"Hello gentleman! My friends and I were wondering if you'd like to dance with us, and maybe get a little further, like buying us drinks later!"
Lily, Jenni and Gabby howled with laughter. The men looked up at Cat.
"Are you all right?" asked the fourth, that no one had identified.
"We're a bit trashed, but we'll be okay! So what do you say? My friends say one of you looks like her fiancé! And the other two said you look like their exes!"
"Are you engaged?"
"Me? Hell no! Not yet anyway!"
Lily, Jenni and Gabby walked over to Cat, who was about to fall over. And the men stood up, surprising them. Cat took a step backwards, and fell laughing, Lily tried to help her up, but couldn't because she was laughing too hard, and Gabby and Jenni had sat down, tears running down their cheeks from their incessant laughter.
"Lily?"
"Gabby?"
"Jenni?"
"Cat?"
In the order from being sight identified, James, Sirius, Remus, and Frank looked at the four women, all drunk.
"Well now, what has the cat dragged in?" asked someone behind them.
'I didn't drag anyone! We stumbled in here together!" said Cat.
Lily, the only one who got it, and the second most drunk, laughed.
"Hello Snape," said James.
"Oh, didn't see you there, Potter."
"It's all right."
Lily looked from one to the other.
"James, Severus, what are you doing here?" she asked, innocently.
"The question is what are YOU doing here?" asked James, helping her up.
"Cat is taking me out for my birthday."
"And what are you doing?" asked Sirius, looking at Gabby, shocked.
"Getting drunk, and watching Cat hit on Frenchman, who can't understand her," said Gabby, giggling.
"It's a one time thing, we haven't been able to do this because Lily was too young to drink, now she can and it's her birthday," said Jenni, attempting to stand up, with help from Gabby.
They both fell, then Sirius and Remus helped them up. Frank looked at his watch.
"I have to go. Alice and I are going out tomorrow. Goodnight," said Frank, running out.
Cat watched him leave, then faced James, Sirius, and Remus, all three with their arms crossed. Snape began to walk away.
"Hold on, Snape, we need someone to disciple Cat," said Sirius, trying not to grin.
"No thanks, I'd rather not have my head blown off."
And Snape walked away, hoping never to see any of them again.
"He does have a point."
Remus laughed, as Cat pushed back tears of realization.
"We'll never do it again, as Jen said, it was a one time thing," said Cat, her head clearing.
"Yes, but hitting on us, before knowing who we were?" said Remus.
"I knew who you were, they just thought you looked like... well... yourselves. If it hadn't been you, we would have just joked around, hitting on you then told you that you looked like their fiancés. It was nothing, just leading on a bunch of guys, it's over now. You're getting married in a few days, and it'll never happen again."
Lily put on the sad puppy face.
"Please James?" she said.
"Please what?" asked James.
"Don't be mad at me."
She kissed him, for a while, they didn't stop, and Jenni thought they were trying to suck each others insides out. They went home, Lily and Cat crashed immediately. The next morning, James and Lily weren't allowed to see each other, even though they tried. That night, Mr. Longbottom and Remus went over to James's house and all the women came over to the (new) Black Mansion. Lily REALLY didn't want everyone over. But that night, without fail, in came all the women close to her. Professor McGonagall, Jenni, Gabby, Cat, Mrs. Longbottom, of course, Aunt Zena, and Cliona, who was now engaged to a Muggle. They all brought presents.
"Mine's more for James," said Zena, smiling at Lily.
"Then I'll wait to open it."
From Cat she got a bunch of alcohol, ("Just in case you want to re- live last night."), fuzzy hand cuffs from Professor McGonagall, ("PROFESSOR!" scolded Lily, jokingly, laughing. "Call me Minerva."), the "Dice game" from Mrs. Longbottom. ("You roll it and it says to do something and it says where on the body to do it at"), a fake tongue ring, and champagne glasses from Cliona, ("I've been told it's fun to scare him with."), shot glasses from Minny, green silky pajama pants and tank top. And everyone knows what Zena gave Lily. Then the stripper came in. The next morning, Lily woke suddenly, and she began getting ready. Her bridesmaids wore a light blue, off the shoulder, full length dress, Lily wore a long , thin strapped dress, a long train, and a veil, and her hair was braided, and put up as a crown around her head. At ten o'clock, Lily was in the back of the church, pacing, as Professor Dumbledore walked in, and he smiled.
"Nervous?" he asked.
"A little, have you seen him?" asked Lily, looking out the door.
"James? Or someone else, a friend maybe?"
Lily looked at him.
"I know James is here, Jen ran in screaming that he was a while ago. Is Severus here? He told me he'd come."
"No Lily, I have not seen him come in."
The music began to play, and Lily sighed.
"It's time!" said Mrs. Longbottom, popping her head in.
Lily watched as her friends walked down the aisle, one by one, followed by Lily and Professor Dumbledore. Once there, he let go of Lily's arm, and sat down, as someone slid silently into the church, and watched, unnoticed.
"Lily Maria Evans, do you take James Harry Potter as you lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health through the best of times and the worst, through richer and poorer?"
Lily smiled.
"I do."
"Please kneel."
The couple kneeled as he placed a crown atop Lily's head, then James's.
"I now pronounce you man and wife, and king and queen."
They stood and the entire church cheered, as James pulled Lily from around the middle and kissed her, all but one, who slipped out as silently as he had come in. Cat watched as Severus Snape left the church. Unnoticed by anyone, Cat went out after him. He was walking down the stairs as Cat ran out.
"Snape."
He turned around.
"What?"
"Not staying for the reception?" she asked.
"I hate parties."
He glared at her, and began to walk off again.
"What don't you hate? Other than Lily?"
He stopped and turned. She walked up to him.
"I don't have to answer that."
"Why don't you at least say hi! She was about to cry when we told her, time and again you hadn't showed up yet. And when you actually do come, you leave. Some friend you are, not even being there at her happiest moment. And what's going to happen when she has kids? Are you just going to make an appearance for yourself? Or will you give Lily at least some slight acknowledgment that you know she's alive, that you care about her, that you're her friend! She told me she wanted YOU to give her away if Dumbledore had said he'd rather not. James didn't like it, but he said nothing! Yes, James hates you, and you hate him, that's common knowledge, but you see how much they love one another? He'll have you in his wedding if Lily asked him to. And she would have done the same for him, if he had a friend she didn't like."
Snape looked at her.
"I-- can't."
And he was gone. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and went back inside the church. Sirius came up to her.
"Where did you go?" he asked.
"Snape left, Lily's gonna be heartbroken."
"Don't tell her yet. Wait, I'm not saying lie to her, but, you know."
Cat nodded.