Chapter 3- Two worlds meet again.
Lily was renting a small house on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. It was humble and quaint, but she loved it. She had sold her parent's house and split the money from it with Petunia- heaven forbid she could no longer live in it. She had a little money, which her parents had passed onto her after their death, but most of what she had was from working in various places (depending on where she was) She worked in a lot of bars and places of the such. This made her an excellent candidate to apply for a job in the Hogs head. She worked there on a Saturday. This was to earn money to see her through Healer training.
The weeks leading up to March, when her course started, she engulfed in the joys and pleasures of being a full time barmaid. She worked with a weird old man. He was very strange, had a wooden leg and only one arm and the only time he ever spoke to her was when he was instructing her of something. But she thought nothing of it. There were many weird and wonderful people who visited the Hogs head pub, it was a place for those who felt outcast by society, and those who wanted to discuss matters in privacy and those who just wanted to be left alone.
Lily was now one of those people. If she had wanted to draw attention to herself she would've applied for a job in the three broomsticks, she Knew Madame Rosemerta and it was the local for the Hogwarts teachers and students. But there were many reasons she would not have found this comfortable. The first, being the questions she would get. Many involving James.
She wanted to forget James. But no matter how hard she tried he always popped back into to her line of thought. Next, she knew James used to go to the three broomsticks a lot- she doubted that would've been changed (little did she know of his condition.) Finally, Lily decided it was the better place to work as it paid better.
Not many people liked serving the miscreants who were commonly known to occupy the tables making the pay offer to rise. Lily had been doomed to a life of doom and gloom, not being aloud to clean it up too much as she had been told "It was the way in which the punters preferred it" Still come March the second she was happy as she was starting her first day of training to become what she had wanted to since her 5th year.
Lily put on her smartest robes and apperated to begin her new education. She couldn't help think that if she were still with James he would be proud of her. She entered the classroom, which she had been pointed into and took a seat in the front row. She took out her quill and a roll of parchment ready for work. Then the door opened and a second person entered the room. She walked smoothly to the front going to take the seat next to Lily. However on the way she tripped over a chair leg, loosing her smooth and graceful composure, hitting the floor with a THUD. Lily jumped up and rushed over to help the girl, who took her hand gratefully, grinning like a child. She held some sort of aura that Lily couldn't help warm to. Like something about her was friendly and sweet.
"Hey, are you alright?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, don't worry I do that a lot." She held her hand for Lily to shake. "Thanks for helping me. I'm Alice, Alice Cunningham." She smiled.
"Lily Evans." Lily's first new friend. Lily and Alice hit it off like a house on fire. Lily was pleased that she wouldn't be the oldest in the year. Most people joined straight from school, but like her Alice had taken some time out of her education. She went to Hogwarts but didn't really remember Lily, as she was about 2 years older. She had been a Hufflepuff. Lily learnt that Alice was an only child, but was spoilt rotten by her parents. That she had a pet frog which she loved to pieces, but not half as much as she loved her boyfriend "The Adorable Aurour" whom she carried many a picture of in her pockets.
He had just graduated as an Aurour and had been taken on in a very good position in the ministry for being so inexperienced. When their class started, Lily found that she knew quite a bit of what she was being taught. Maybe indifferent contexts, but then she had learnt many in different languages. She found over the next few weeks that magical medicine came naturally to her. She was once again top of her class, once again ahead of everybody a considerable amount. Life was great. Or it would've been had she not been working in the Hogs head. Her days went 9-5 education, 6-10 work every day but on Saturdays she worked all day and Sunday she only did half a day. It was very tedious and tiring. She hardly ever got a minute free.
It was now late into June and Lily's lifestyle was still just as hectic as it had started. Maybe even more so now as she had gotten a new pet. A Heffalump. She had actually ran into Hagrid the Hogwarts gamekeeper and he had noted on how lonely she looked and had given it to her as a gift. It was Helga. But all the same she was really grateful, she was lonely and knowing this animal had been raised in its first year not only by her but by James gave her more comfort. One particular day the 23rd of June Lily went in and sat at her usual front row desk in her class. Alice came in humming merrily to herself.
"Hey." She smiled.
"Hey girl, how'd last night go?" Lily asked her friend. Alice had been going on about how Frank was taking her to a really fancy magical restaurant "Cerebro's" for the past week.
"Oh my gosh, it was the most amazing night of my life." She sputtered dreamily. "First Frank had booked the most lovely table in the whole place. His mate he knew from work got it. It was a table in a room which had been magically set as a beach." She described to Lily them exact room, which James had taken her, all those years ago. Why was it so hard to forget him? "And the food was amazing. Then when I thought the night couldn't get any more perfect, Frank got down on one knee!" Alice rushed the last part out.
"FRANK PROPOSED! OH ALICE THAT'S WONDERFUL. CONGRATULATIONS. You did say yes right?"
"Are you crazy? Of course I said yes! I've been waiting for this moment my whole life!"
"Show us the rock then girl!" Alice whacked out a gorgeous ring with a stunning diamond set in the centre. Lily hugged her friend. She was so happy for her. She had never actually met Frank but she knew he was a good man from what Alice had described of him. She couldn't believe that they had actually met by Alice accidentally apperating into his lap the day he had been stood up for a date! If only fate was as lucky for her. Once they had calmed down Alice composed herself and looked at Lily nervously.
"Lily, I know we have only known each other for a few months, but I feel like I've known you for years. Would you please do me the honour of being my maid of honour?" Lily gasped. It was such an honour.
"Of course I will. I can't believe you want me to be it!"
"Excellent. I know you work allot, but On Sunday, after your shift you have to come and meet Frank. He's dying to meet you. Plus you have to meet the man he's asked to be his best man. He is fine!" She grinned then hastily added. "Not as nice as Frank though. Anyway I know you'll get on with him. When I met him he reminded me of you so much!" Lily's happy grin faded. She wasn't ready to date yet, she wasn't sure if she would ever be. "He seems a quiet sorta chap and Frank says he doesn't talk much about his past. But when you meet him you won't be able to deny how funny he is." Lily just smiled weakly.
"Alice, I'll meet him, but I'm not sure if I can say anything will happen. You see when I left Hogwarts I broke up with this boy I'd been seeing for ages, and we'll I'm not entirely sure how long it'll take to get over him." Alice looked at her pityingly.
"Ow my and all this time I've been going on about me and Frank! I feel awful!"
"Don't it's not your fault."
"I'm sure you will change your mind when you see him anyway." Alice grinned evilly. Lily wasn't to sure if she'd like this.
"Hey Jimbo!" Frank thumped James gently in the back- his usual Monday morning greeting for James. James turned round smiling coyly.
"How'd it go?" He asked, but it was obvious of what the answer would be.
"Lets just say, how would you like to be my best man?" James hugged his mate and partner in preventing crime.
"Congratulations man! Hang on did you say best man? What about Algie. Surely you'd prefer him?"
"Nah, Algie knows too many stories about me. That is unless you don't want to be it?"
"Course I do!" James smile thinned and curled evilly. "Plus I know a few stories of my own. How about that one where you tried to change the water cooler the Muggle way, and you ended up spill."
"Ok maybe I will change my mind." Frank laughed sarcastically. "Anyway I hear Alice has a stunner of a maid of honour in mind. I'd say if you played your cards right then you could have a chance. You know the tradition right?"
"I don't know, I mean it would be awkward and. stuff."
"Come on Jim, in the year and a half, which I've known you, you haven't had one date. That's not the adventurous Jim I knew about in Hogwarts. If I call correctly, every time I saw you, you had a different girl hanging off you arm."
"Well things have changed since then." James replied solemnly. Frank hadn't known of James and Lily's relationship.
"You're, you're not gay are you?" Frank questioned cautiously.
"Why does everyone think that? Do I give off some sort of gay vibes or something?" James was beginning to feel slightly agitated. "No I'm not gay," he continued calmly, "to be honest with you. Just before I met you I had been in love with this girl and she left me. And, well I'm not quite over her." I may not ever be. He thought to him self.
"Well from what Alice tells me this girl is a real natural beauty in both body and soul. Lizzy? I think her name is. And Alice wants us to meet her and she wants to meet up with you again. She said Sunday at the three broomsticks would suffice. Can you make it?"
"I'll have to leave early Sirius is taking me somewhere. I'm not quite sure where though. But yeah I'll come." And the day went on as such. James had this feeling; it wasn't his usual upset and depressed one. It was one of hope; he had a feeling his luck was about to change and couldn't help but feel guilty about not being miserable. Than night he went home he was helping his sister move out as were Sirius, Remus and Peter. The all noticed how he seemed to have changed, how he had his old bounce back in his step. He smiled and joked. Nobody knew why the sudden change had occurred, not even James.
On Sunday afternoon, Frank and Alice sat hand in hand, showing off Alice's new ring to James who had been yet to see it. They were smiling broadly at each other looking sickly sweetly into one another's eyes. James was trying not to gag. They made small talk waiting on Lily's arrival. James was asking about the wedding and whom was to attend. It was to be held in a few weeks; Frank and Alice didn't want to be waiting around. This meant they had plenty of arranging to do. James helped them sort a few things out but in the end looking at his watch he had to go. Sirius would be waiting for him.
"It was nice seeing you again, I'll tell Frank when we're to go out suit shopping." Alice bid James farewell pecking him on the cheek. "It's a pity you didn't meet Lily." Lily? James thought. No I must have just heard it wrong, it's Lizzy.
"Ok I'll see you soon then." James headed for the door quickly, as it opened and a short cloaked figure brushed past him. He stepped out and apperated home to Godric's hollow.
Lily entered the three broomsticks, pushing past a tall figure that was in her way and made her way over to Frank and Alice. She pulled the hood of the cloak off her head revealing her bright red hair.
"Sorry I'm late," She apologised. "An ogre and a witch got into a fight in the pub. We had to call some ministry officials in. They were getting out of hand."
"Don't worry. It's a pity, Jim just left." Alice said.
"Ow." Lily said hiding the fact she wasn't at all disappointed. "So what's been happening? You haven't planned too much with out me I hope?" She asked.
"Course not I was waiting for you to help."
"Ow!" Frank groaned he hadn't anticipated planning a wedding would involve so much. Typical man!
"Lily Evans meet Frank Longbottom." Alice introduced her best friend to her fiancée. And they spent the night to Frank's dismay planning the entire wedding.
James arrived at Sirius'. Sirius was waiting outside his house- smile and edgy look included.
"What was so urgent I came to see you about?" James asked his mate. Sirius' grin changed to a slightly menacing one.
"Look" he said pointing to the garage at the side of his house. James stepped inside.
"It's just your motorbike? Nothing new." he asked slightly annoyed.
"No not just penny, Super penny."
"Super penny?" Penny was the name of Sirius' bike.
"Yes super FLYING penny!" James gasped.
"You haven't?"
"Charmed her to fly? Yep. What else would I do on my first day off in a month?" Sirius jumped on Penny. "Coming for a fly?" James grabbed a helmet and jumped on behind.
"So does Andi know she now flies?" Sirius paled.
"Shhhh will you! Do you think I have a death wish?"
"I'll take that as a no then." Brrrrroom, the bike took flight. James and Sirius flew all over England on Sirius' new invention. And with only a couple of scary encounters (Both including planes). The boys landed laughing their heads off. James had forgotten how much fun they used to share. Just then the front door of Sirius' house slammed open.
"Uh oh here comes the Mrs!" James stated. Sirius gulped.
"SIRIUS WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN? DID I SEE CORRECTLY OR DID YOUR BIKE NOT JUST LAND FROM THE SKY?" Andi was furious.
"We'll you see dear..."
"NO DON'T YOU SEE DEAR ME! SO THATS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ALL DAY? ALL THAT CRASHING ABOUT IN THE GARAGE TODAY- SO THAT WAS WHAT YOU WERE UP TO! HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU FELL OR IF A MUGGLE SAW YOU? I BET YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE IT LISENCED IN THE MINISTRY!!! YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET A SENTANCE IN AZKABAN FOR MUGGLE UNAWARENESS!" Andi continued her rant.
"Ha they'll never get me in Azkaban! Plus I was going to get it approved. You would do that for me wouldn't you dear?" Sirius put on his puppy dog eyes. Andi caved.
"I can't believe I married such a sod!" She smiled then noticed James.
"I THOUGHT AS BEST MAN YOU WE'RE GOING TO HELP US STAY TOGETHER NOT BLOODY HELP HIM TRY AND KILL HIMSELF!" James smiled at her.
"Nah my job ended the second you both said I do!" Andi hit him upside the head.
"Hey how come it was all his fault I get hit and he gets a cuddle!" Andi hit him again.
"She has to be nice to me or I won't put out!" Sirius got a slap upside the head for that!.
"Shut up and get inside, I left you that pile of ironing to do this morning and it's still sitting in there! Get to! I didn't go to work all day so you could play with you toy!"
"Hey SHE has a name!" Sirius said as he made his way in to do his ironing.
*COUGH* "WHIPPED" *COUGH*
"What was that James?" Sirius called back.
Three weeks of planning the wedding and Lily and Alice were in madam malkins robe store getting final fittings for the bridesmaid's dresses. It was the big day in exactly one week. The girls were dead excited. Lily, Alice's little cousin Ruth and Franks Sister Agatha were all trying on their dress robes.
"Frank should be here soon, there trying on their robes too." Lily came out of her changing room in the green silk robe, which Alice has chosen for her. She looked in the full length mirror.
"Needs taking in a little on the sides." She said. Madam Malkin stood her up on a stool and began fitting her dress. Alice looked up at her.
"The colour suits you, matches your eyes. Franks bringing all his grooms men with him. You can meet them." Lily's grin faded at the mention of this.
"I'm sure there all nice." She said softly.
"Ow they are." Alice replied. "You'll like Franks mate Jim. He's a funny character- hard not to like him." she spoke to Lily as though she were trying to match her up. Lily wasn't to comfortable with this and was very grateful when Madame Malkin pronounced her finished. She jumped off the stool and gave Alice a little twirl. Alice approved so she went back in to change. Agatha was next to be fitted and jumped up on the stool. Lily headed into her changing room, there were a row of cubicles separated only by curtains. As Lily pulled her curtain across, she heard the tinkle of the door and saw Frank entering. She heard Alice give him some robes to try on, and heard a couple of men heading towards the cubicles.
"Occupied" She called as she saw a hand come round her curtain.
And a familiar "Sorry" was voiced as they went for the cubicle next door to her. She absentmindedly began to sing as she stepped out of her robes and back into her ordinary ones.
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
She began to sing.
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait... without you
A male voice continued the song.
With or without you
With or without you
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
They sang together.
"Li, we have to go now hunny." Alice called. Lily ran out the changing room giving her dress to Alice and the left the shop. James peered through his curtain as the mysterious woman who had been singing left the shop with a flash of red hair.
He found himself thinking of Lily, but he quickly brought his thoughts back to the realm of reality.
The week following their fittings, for Alice and Lily, was filled with bridal showers and missions. They had to arrange the flowers, arrange the cars, arrange the number of guests attending, all the food and catering, the church had to be called and checked. All the tasks you could think of.
It was a hectic week. The most eventful part though was definitely the hen night. Lily arranged it all. She had invited Alice a few girls from their class and both Alice and Franks mothers. Lily had rented out part of a restaurant for the start and they were going out to a couple of clubs after. The meal itself went fine.
Apart from Alice's mother getting hammered after 2 glasses of wine, chatting up the waiter and accidentally catching Franks mothers stuffed vulture hat alight when trying to light a cigarette. Lily then led the girls towards a magical night club. She stopped them at the door. "Right before we go in, the dress code needs changing." Lily waved her wand and herself and everyone but Alice's robes turned a florescent shade of pink each with a big yellow "0" on the back.
Lily then turned to Alice and waved her wand. Alice's robes became a multicoloured fairy costume complete with wings and a crown. She also had a sign on her back saying "bride in the making!" Lily turned to the girls.
"Ok so, Alice is the judge of the night, this is her opportunity for her to get us to do what she wants. She will dare each of us in turn and every time we achieve a dare the number charmed onto our backs will change being the keeper of our score. At the end of the evening the person with the highest score gets to dare Alice to do something." Lily smirked at Alice who looked at her devilishly.
"Your on Evans." She said. And they entered the Club.
Meanwhile at Frank's stag night James led Frank, Franks brothers and a few mates from the ministry out to a secluded forest.
"Now gentlemen, those of you with a weak heart... leave now!" He grinned at them micheviously. As they followed him into the forest. He stopped in front of a large piece of glass, which had a map looking type thing on it. James paused looking up at it.
"Ok folks, this is a map of the forest. You can see here 2 bases- he pointed to two cabins marked either side of the board. we're going to be split into 2 groups and have a proper game of wizard tag. Reds versus blue. The red camp is this one." James pointed his wand at one cabin and it turned red. "And this one is the blue camp." He turned the other one blue. "After 30 minutes The team with the most points wins!" On the board each cabin had a number printed over it. Stating the points. The teams were decided and the boys had fun shooting each other with there wands. The blue team Franks won.
"So Jimbo, what do we win?" Frank asked. James' team had lost.
"You my single for the 2nd to last ever day, win the rights to buy the losing team there first round of drinks!!!!" James started laughing. "Come on guys we're off clubbing now. I know this great magical night club."
***
Alice had so far made Franks mother, get on the stage at the club and dance with the dancers. Very daring considering she wasn't quite family yet. Her friends Benita and Angela had been made go behind the bar and start serving people. Only her mother and Lily were left.
"OK... Lily, you have to" Alice started.
"CAN WE HAVE A MISS ALICE WALKER, TO PLEASE COME UP ON THE STAGE." One of the dancers called through their magical mic. Alice glared at Lily who was laughing hysterically. She made her way through the crowd.
"CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT. TO CELEBRATE YOUR LAST 2 NIGHTS AS A SINGLE AGENT, WE HERE AT THE COCOANUT CLUB WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS NIGHT IS MEMORABLE FOR YOU. SO ALL THE MALES IN HERE GET IN LINE." The song "Congratulations" came on "RIGHT YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN THE LINE AND KISS EVERY BLOKE BEFORE THE MUSIC STOPS. GO!!!" The lady waved her wand and Alice started down the line. When she reached the end the music stopped and fireworks began going off.
"LILY EVANS! I WILL GET YOU BACK FOR THIS!" Alice shouted over the bangs at her laughing mate.
***
"Looks like some sort of celebration going on in here." Frank observed on entering the night club. A set of fire works had just exploded. The boys dispersed into the crowd. James didn't feel much like dancing, so he just sat at the bar talking to Franks brother.
***
"Ok I've got it!" Alice started, "Mother your dare is to get a nice looking chap to consent to being blindfolded... With this" She took the glass she had been holding and transfigured it into a pink fluffy scarf. "Lily you have to kiss him also blind folded. Get to!" Whilst Alice transfigured another fluffy blindfold for Lily, Alice's mother who was just a bit tipsy still, went in search for a suitable victim. After 3 rejections she finally approached a tall dark man who was sitting at the bar.
"Excuse me, I have been dared to find a handsome young man to be blindfolded and have one of my daughters friends kiss him. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to help me?" James smiled coyly.
"any particular occasion?"
"Well we're here on a hen night. Come on, in the name of sport..." She pleaded.
"Ok, then if you put it that way." James allowed her to blindfold him and lead him towards Lily.
Lily felt someone bending down towards her. It was a male, she could tell by the big hand which he placed around her waist to steady himself. Lily felt sorry for him. Alice had just picked this kind of dodgy dare to get her back for making her kiss all the males in the club. She didn't know where Alice had gotten to? The man in front of her was so close now, his breath was on her face. It smelt familiar. Their lips touched and a sensational feeling like butterflies came alive in her stomach. She didn't know why, but this felt weird. It felt exciting and right all at the same time. But didn't she love James? Why was she feeling like this?
She only ever got feelings like this before when she kissed James. She had kissed Sirius and it hadn't felt like this. Maybe it was because she hadn't kissed anyone for over a year and a half, and somehow she felt as though she was being unfaithful to James or something? This was just to weird for Lily it felt as though she WAS kissing James, she couldn't handle it.
She let out a small moan, and ran out of the club, flinging her blindfold to the floor as she went. She didn't look back, even if she had the tears in her eyes would have flooded her vision.
***
As soon as there lips had touched, James knew there was something in this kiss. He had felt it before. This wasn't any other kiss, it was the kiss! She pulled away and before he got a proper look at her, pulling his blindfold off, she had reached the door of the club and ran out side. He was left watching her retreating pink robes. Just then Alice came over.
"James? What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Franks stag night. Oh you're here with the hen night?!" He gasped. "Question the red head who I just kissed, what's her name?" Alice smiled at him smugly.
"You kissed her? See I knew you'd like her! Now you want to know her name... next you'll be married!" James was agitated.
"Please tell me her name wasn't Lily Marie Evans?" He pleaded.
"How did you know her name?" James ran outside. But alas Lily had gone.
All James could think of was, she couldn't escape him now, and she'd have to attend the wedding and rehearsal. He'd corner her there!
"Sorry Alice, I think I've drunk too much, I have to leave." Lily had found Alice back in the night club. Suprisingly she was dancing with Frank and didn't seem to bothered about Lily disappearing (She was quite drunk herself) Lily ignored it and apperated back to her house. She couldn't help but let her mind wonder to how that kiss had felt. But eventually she was able to fall asleep. She had booked a few days off work for Alice's wedding. Tomorrow would be the rehearsal and then it was the big day. Frank and Alice had decided to have their stag/ hen Do's a day previous to tradition so neither would have a hang over for the big day. Frank was also worried that that he would end up tied to a post in the middle of nowhere, or something.
The next morning, Lily took a potion to clear her hangover and apperated swiftly directly to Alice's mothers. Where Alice was staying. As she thought, not a noise was to be heard. They had obviously had heavier nights then Lily. She did the only respectable thing she could. She went into each room and made a loud noise out of her wand. Causing herself much satisfaction and her victims not so much.
"What'd you make that noise for?" Alice mumbled.
"It wasn't noise..." Lily started with a cheeky grin. "It was music... Here drink this. It'll get rid of your headache."
"Oh come on Lily I didn't drink that much, I don't have a hangover." Lily looked at her friend, then walked over and opened the curtains, letting in the bright sunshine.
"Ahhh!" Alice let out covering her face with a pillow. "That proves nothing, I'm not a good morning person!"
"Ok, Alice what happened last night then?" Alice paused looking thoughtful, but eventually surrendered and gave an apologetic smile. "Just drink this. It'll help your head!" Lily said to her friend. Alice's face suddenly lit up.
"Hey I'm getting married in... 41 hours!" The countdown had started. They spent the day with the bride's party making last minute arrangements. Finally they set off for the church to have a small rehearsal, as tradition, so everything would run smoothly the next day. This was just a brief go through of the ceremony, in which the church had insisted on.
Lily was renting a small house on the outskirts of Hogsmeade. It was humble and quaint, but she loved it. She had sold her parent's house and split the money from it with Petunia- heaven forbid she could no longer live in it. She had a little money, which her parents had passed onto her after their death, but most of what she had was from working in various places (depending on where she was) She worked in a lot of bars and places of the such. This made her an excellent candidate to apply for a job in the Hogs head. She worked there on a Saturday. This was to earn money to see her through Healer training.
The weeks leading up to March, when her course started, she engulfed in the joys and pleasures of being a full time barmaid. She worked with a weird old man. He was very strange, had a wooden leg and only one arm and the only time he ever spoke to her was when he was instructing her of something. But she thought nothing of it. There were many weird and wonderful people who visited the Hogs head pub, it was a place for those who felt outcast by society, and those who wanted to discuss matters in privacy and those who just wanted to be left alone.
Lily was now one of those people. If she had wanted to draw attention to herself she would've applied for a job in the three broomsticks, she Knew Madame Rosemerta and it was the local for the Hogwarts teachers and students. But there were many reasons she would not have found this comfortable. The first, being the questions she would get. Many involving James.
She wanted to forget James. But no matter how hard she tried he always popped back into to her line of thought. Next, she knew James used to go to the three broomsticks a lot- she doubted that would've been changed (little did she know of his condition.) Finally, Lily decided it was the better place to work as it paid better.
Not many people liked serving the miscreants who were commonly known to occupy the tables making the pay offer to rise. Lily had been doomed to a life of doom and gloom, not being aloud to clean it up too much as she had been told "It was the way in which the punters preferred it" Still come March the second she was happy as she was starting her first day of training to become what she had wanted to since her 5th year.
Lily put on her smartest robes and apperated to begin her new education. She couldn't help think that if she were still with James he would be proud of her. She entered the classroom, which she had been pointed into and took a seat in the front row. She took out her quill and a roll of parchment ready for work. Then the door opened and a second person entered the room. She walked smoothly to the front going to take the seat next to Lily. However on the way she tripped over a chair leg, loosing her smooth and graceful composure, hitting the floor with a THUD. Lily jumped up and rushed over to help the girl, who took her hand gratefully, grinning like a child. She held some sort of aura that Lily couldn't help warm to. Like something about her was friendly and sweet.
"Hey, are you alright?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, don't worry I do that a lot." She held her hand for Lily to shake. "Thanks for helping me. I'm Alice, Alice Cunningham." She smiled.
"Lily Evans." Lily's first new friend. Lily and Alice hit it off like a house on fire. Lily was pleased that she wouldn't be the oldest in the year. Most people joined straight from school, but like her Alice had taken some time out of her education. She went to Hogwarts but didn't really remember Lily, as she was about 2 years older. She had been a Hufflepuff. Lily learnt that Alice was an only child, but was spoilt rotten by her parents. That she had a pet frog which she loved to pieces, but not half as much as she loved her boyfriend "The Adorable Aurour" whom she carried many a picture of in her pockets.
He had just graduated as an Aurour and had been taken on in a very good position in the ministry for being so inexperienced. When their class started, Lily found that she knew quite a bit of what she was being taught. Maybe indifferent contexts, but then she had learnt many in different languages. She found over the next few weeks that magical medicine came naturally to her. She was once again top of her class, once again ahead of everybody a considerable amount. Life was great. Or it would've been had she not been working in the Hogs head. Her days went 9-5 education, 6-10 work every day but on Saturdays she worked all day and Sunday she only did half a day. It was very tedious and tiring. She hardly ever got a minute free.
It was now late into June and Lily's lifestyle was still just as hectic as it had started. Maybe even more so now as she had gotten a new pet. A Heffalump. She had actually ran into Hagrid the Hogwarts gamekeeper and he had noted on how lonely she looked and had given it to her as a gift. It was Helga. But all the same she was really grateful, she was lonely and knowing this animal had been raised in its first year not only by her but by James gave her more comfort. One particular day the 23rd of June Lily went in and sat at her usual front row desk in her class. Alice came in humming merrily to herself.
"Hey." She smiled.
"Hey girl, how'd last night go?" Lily asked her friend. Alice had been going on about how Frank was taking her to a really fancy magical restaurant "Cerebro's" for the past week.
"Oh my gosh, it was the most amazing night of my life." She sputtered dreamily. "First Frank had booked the most lovely table in the whole place. His mate he knew from work got it. It was a table in a room which had been magically set as a beach." She described to Lily them exact room, which James had taken her, all those years ago. Why was it so hard to forget him? "And the food was amazing. Then when I thought the night couldn't get any more perfect, Frank got down on one knee!" Alice rushed the last part out.
"FRANK PROPOSED! OH ALICE THAT'S WONDERFUL. CONGRATULATIONS. You did say yes right?"
"Are you crazy? Of course I said yes! I've been waiting for this moment my whole life!"
"Show us the rock then girl!" Alice whacked out a gorgeous ring with a stunning diamond set in the centre. Lily hugged her friend. She was so happy for her. She had never actually met Frank but she knew he was a good man from what Alice had described of him. She couldn't believe that they had actually met by Alice accidentally apperating into his lap the day he had been stood up for a date! If only fate was as lucky for her. Once they had calmed down Alice composed herself and looked at Lily nervously.
"Lily, I know we have only known each other for a few months, but I feel like I've known you for years. Would you please do me the honour of being my maid of honour?" Lily gasped. It was such an honour.
"Of course I will. I can't believe you want me to be it!"
"Excellent. I know you work allot, but On Sunday, after your shift you have to come and meet Frank. He's dying to meet you. Plus you have to meet the man he's asked to be his best man. He is fine!" She grinned then hastily added. "Not as nice as Frank though. Anyway I know you'll get on with him. When I met him he reminded me of you so much!" Lily's happy grin faded. She wasn't ready to date yet, she wasn't sure if she would ever be. "He seems a quiet sorta chap and Frank says he doesn't talk much about his past. But when you meet him you won't be able to deny how funny he is." Lily just smiled weakly.
"Alice, I'll meet him, but I'm not sure if I can say anything will happen. You see when I left Hogwarts I broke up with this boy I'd been seeing for ages, and we'll I'm not entirely sure how long it'll take to get over him." Alice looked at her pityingly.
"Ow my and all this time I've been going on about me and Frank! I feel awful!"
"Don't it's not your fault."
"I'm sure you will change your mind when you see him anyway." Alice grinned evilly. Lily wasn't to sure if she'd like this.
"Hey Jimbo!" Frank thumped James gently in the back- his usual Monday morning greeting for James. James turned round smiling coyly.
"How'd it go?" He asked, but it was obvious of what the answer would be.
"Lets just say, how would you like to be my best man?" James hugged his mate and partner in preventing crime.
"Congratulations man! Hang on did you say best man? What about Algie. Surely you'd prefer him?"
"Nah, Algie knows too many stories about me. That is unless you don't want to be it?"
"Course I do!" James smile thinned and curled evilly. "Plus I know a few stories of my own. How about that one where you tried to change the water cooler the Muggle way, and you ended up spill."
"Ok maybe I will change my mind." Frank laughed sarcastically. "Anyway I hear Alice has a stunner of a maid of honour in mind. I'd say if you played your cards right then you could have a chance. You know the tradition right?"
"I don't know, I mean it would be awkward and. stuff."
"Come on Jim, in the year and a half, which I've known you, you haven't had one date. That's not the adventurous Jim I knew about in Hogwarts. If I call correctly, every time I saw you, you had a different girl hanging off you arm."
"Well things have changed since then." James replied solemnly. Frank hadn't known of James and Lily's relationship.
"You're, you're not gay are you?" Frank questioned cautiously.
"Why does everyone think that? Do I give off some sort of gay vibes or something?" James was beginning to feel slightly agitated. "No I'm not gay," he continued calmly, "to be honest with you. Just before I met you I had been in love with this girl and she left me. And, well I'm not quite over her." I may not ever be. He thought to him self.
"Well from what Alice tells me this girl is a real natural beauty in both body and soul. Lizzy? I think her name is. And Alice wants us to meet her and she wants to meet up with you again. She said Sunday at the three broomsticks would suffice. Can you make it?"
"I'll have to leave early Sirius is taking me somewhere. I'm not quite sure where though. But yeah I'll come." And the day went on as such. James had this feeling; it wasn't his usual upset and depressed one. It was one of hope; he had a feeling his luck was about to change and couldn't help but feel guilty about not being miserable. Than night he went home he was helping his sister move out as were Sirius, Remus and Peter. The all noticed how he seemed to have changed, how he had his old bounce back in his step. He smiled and joked. Nobody knew why the sudden change had occurred, not even James.
On Sunday afternoon, Frank and Alice sat hand in hand, showing off Alice's new ring to James who had been yet to see it. They were smiling broadly at each other looking sickly sweetly into one another's eyes. James was trying not to gag. They made small talk waiting on Lily's arrival. James was asking about the wedding and whom was to attend. It was to be held in a few weeks; Frank and Alice didn't want to be waiting around. This meant they had plenty of arranging to do. James helped them sort a few things out but in the end looking at his watch he had to go. Sirius would be waiting for him.
"It was nice seeing you again, I'll tell Frank when we're to go out suit shopping." Alice bid James farewell pecking him on the cheek. "It's a pity you didn't meet Lily." Lily? James thought. No I must have just heard it wrong, it's Lizzy.
"Ok I'll see you soon then." James headed for the door quickly, as it opened and a short cloaked figure brushed past him. He stepped out and apperated home to Godric's hollow.
Lily entered the three broomsticks, pushing past a tall figure that was in her way and made her way over to Frank and Alice. She pulled the hood of the cloak off her head revealing her bright red hair.
"Sorry I'm late," She apologised. "An ogre and a witch got into a fight in the pub. We had to call some ministry officials in. They were getting out of hand."
"Don't worry. It's a pity, Jim just left." Alice said.
"Ow." Lily said hiding the fact she wasn't at all disappointed. "So what's been happening? You haven't planned too much with out me I hope?" She asked.
"Course not I was waiting for you to help."
"Ow!" Frank groaned he hadn't anticipated planning a wedding would involve so much. Typical man!
"Lily Evans meet Frank Longbottom." Alice introduced her best friend to her fiancée. And they spent the night to Frank's dismay planning the entire wedding.
James arrived at Sirius'. Sirius was waiting outside his house- smile and edgy look included.
"What was so urgent I came to see you about?" James asked his mate. Sirius' grin changed to a slightly menacing one.
"Look" he said pointing to the garage at the side of his house. James stepped inside.
"It's just your motorbike? Nothing new." he asked slightly annoyed.
"No not just penny, Super penny."
"Super penny?" Penny was the name of Sirius' bike.
"Yes super FLYING penny!" James gasped.
"You haven't?"
"Charmed her to fly? Yep. What else would I do on my first day off in a month?" Sirius jumped on Penny. "Coming for a fly?" James grabbed a helmet and jumped on behind.
"So does Andi know she now flies?" Sirius paled.
"Shhhh will you! Do you think I have a death wish?"
"I'll take that as a no then." Brrrrroom, the bike took flight. James and Sirius flew all over England on Sirius' new invention. And with only a couple of scary encounters (Both including planes). The boys landed laughing their heads off. James had forgotten how much fun they used to share. Just then the front door of Sirius' house slammed open.
"Uh oh here comes the Mrs!" James stated. Sirius gulped.
"SIRIUS WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN? DID I SEE CORRECTLY OR DID YOUR BIKE NOT JUST LAND FROM THE SKY?" Andi was furious.
"We'll you see dear..."
"NO DON'T YOU SEE DEAR ME! SO THATS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ALL DAY? ALL THAT CRASHING ABOUT IN THE GARAGE TODAY- SO THAT WAS WHAT YOU WERE UP TO! HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU FELL OR IF A MUGGLE SAW YOU? I BET YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE IT LISENCED IN THE MINISTRY!!! YOU KNOW YOU CAN GET A SENTANCE IN AZKABAN FOR MUGGLE UNAWARENESS!" Andi continued her rant.
"Ha they'll never get me in Azkaban! Plus I was going to get it approved. You would do that for me wouldn't you dear?" Sirius put on his puppy dog eyes. Andi caved.
"I can't believe I married such a sod!" She smiled then noticed James.
"I THOUGHT AS BEST MAN YOU WE'RE GOING TO HELP US STAY TOGETHER NOT BLOODY HELP HIM TRY AND KILL HIMSELF!" James smiled at her.
"Nah my job ended the second you both said I do!" Andi hit him upside the head.
"Hey how come it was all his fault I get hit and he gets a cuddle!" Andi hit him again.
"She has to be nice to me or I won't put out!" Sirius got a slap upside the head for that!.
"Shut up and get inside, I left you that pile of ironing to do this morning and it's still sitting in there! Get to! I didn't go to work all day so you could play with you toy!"
"Hey SHE has a name!" Sirius said as he made his way in to do his ironing.
*COUGH* "WHIPPED" *COUGH*
"What was that James?" Sirius called back.
Three weeks of planning the wedding and Lily and Alice were in madam malkins robe store getting final fittings for the bridesmaid's dresses. It was the big day in exactly one week. The girls were dead excited. Lily, Alice's little cousin Ruth and Franks Sister Agatha were all trying on their dress robes.
"Frank should be here soon, there trying on their robes too." Lily came out of her changing room in the green silk robe, which Alice has chosen for her. She looked in the full length mirror.
"Needs taking in a little on the sides." She said. Madam Malkin stood her up on a stool and began fitting her dress. Alice looked up at her.
"The colour suits you, matches your eyes. Franks bringing all his grooms men with him. You can meet them." Lily's grin faded at the mention of this.
"I'm sure there all nice." She said softly.
"Ow they are." Alice replied. "You'll like Franks mate Jim. He's a funny character- hard not to like him." she spoke to Lily as though she were trying to match her up. Lily wasn't to comfortable with this and was very grateful when Madame Malkin pronounced her finished. She jumped off the stool and gave Alice a little twirl. Alice approved so she went back in to change. Agatha was next to be fitted and jumped up on the stool. Lily headed into her changing room, there were a row of cubicles separated only by curtains. As Lily pulled her curtain across, she heard the tinkle of the door and saw Frank entering. She heard Alice give him some robes to try on, and heard a couple of men heading towards the cubicles.
"Occupied" She called as she saw a hand come round her curtain.
And a familiar "Sorry" was voiced as they went for the cubicle next door to her. She absentmindedly began to sing as she stepped out of her robes and back into her ordinary ones.
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
She began to sing.
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait... without you
A male voice continued the song.
With or without you
With or without you
Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
They sang together.
"Li, we have to go now hunny." Alice called. Lily ran out the changing room giving her dress to Alice and the left the shop. James peered through his curtain as the mysterious woman who had been singing left the shop with a flash of red hair.
He found himself thinking of Lily, but he quickly brought his thoughts back to the realm of reality.
The week following their fittings, for Alice and Lily, was filled with bridal showers and missions. They had to arrange the flowers, arrange the cars, arrange the number of guests attending, all the food and catering, the church had to be called and checked. All the tasks you could think of.
It was a hectic week. The most eventful part though was definitely the hen night. Lily arranged it all. She had invited Alice a few girls from their class and both Alice and Franks mothers. Lily had rented out part of a restaurant for the start and they were going out to a couple of clubs after. The meal itself went fine.
Apart from Alice's mother getting hammered after 2 glasses of wine, chatting up the waiter and accidentally catching Franks mothers stuffed vulture hat alight when trying to light a cigarette. Lily then led the girls towards a magical night club. She stopped them at the door. "Right before we go in, the dress code needs changing." Lily waved her wand and herself and everyone but Alice's robes turned a florescent shade of pink each with a big yellow "0" on the back.
Lily then turned to Alice and waved her wand. Alice's robes became a multicoloured fairy costume complete with wings and a crown. She also had a sign on her back saying "bride in the making!" Lily turned to the girls.
"Ok so, Alice is the judge of the night, this is her opportunity for her to get us to do what she wants. She will dare each of us in turn and every time we achieve a dare the number charmed onto our backs will change being the keeper of our score. At the end of the evening the person with the highest score gets to dare Alice to do something." Lily smirked at Alice who looked at her devilishly.
"Your on Evans." She said. And they entered the Club.
Meanwhile at Frank's stag night James led Frank, Franks brothers and a few mates from the ministry out to a secluded forest.
"Now gentlemen, those of you with a weak heart... leave now!" He grinned at them micheviously. As they followed him into the forest. He stopped in front of a large piece of glass, which had a map looking type thing on it. James paused looking up at it.
"Ok folks, this is a map of the forest. You can see here 2 bases- he pointed to two cabins marked either side of the board. we're going to be split into 2 groups and have a proper game of wizard tag. Reds versus blue. The red camp is this one." James pointed his wand at one cabin and it turned red. "And this one is the blue camp." He turned the other one blue. "After 30 minutes The team with the most points wins!" On the board each cabin had a number printed over it. Stating the points. The teams were decided and the boys had fun shooting each other with there wands. The blue team Franks won.
"So Jimbo, what do we win?" Frank asked. James' team had lost.
"You my single for the 2nd to last ever day, win the rights to buy the losing team there first round of drinks!!!!" James started laughing. "Come on guys we're off clubbing now. I know this great magical night club."
***
Alice had so far made Franks mother, get on the stage at the club and dance with the dancers. Very daring considering she wasn't quite family yet. Her friends Benita and Angela had been made go behind the bar and start serving people. Only her mother and Lily were left.
"OK... Lily, you have to" Alice started.
"CAN WE HAVE A MISS ALICE WALKER, TO PLEASE COME UP ON THE STAGE." One of the dancers called through their magical mic. Alice glared at Lily who was laughing hysterically. She made her way through the crowd.
"CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT. TO CELEBRATE YOUR LAST 2 NIGHTS AS A SINGLE AGENT, WE HERE AT THE COCOANUT CLUB WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS NIGHT IS MEMORABLE FOR YOU. SO ALL THE MALES IN HERE GET IN LINE." The song "Congratulations" came on "RIGHT YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN THE LINE AND KISS EVERY BLOKE BEFORE THE MUSIC STOPS. GO!!!" The lady waved her wand and Alice started down the line. When she reached the end the music stopped and fireworks began going off.
"LILY EVANS! I WILL GET YOU BACK FOR THIS!" Alice shouted over the bangs at her laughing mate.
***
"Looks like some sort of celebration going on in here." Frank observed on entering the night club. A set of fire works had just exploded. The boys dispersed into the crowd. James didn't feel much like dancing, so he just sat at the bar talking to Franks brother.
***
"Ok I've got it!" Alice started, "Mother your dare is to get a nice looking chap to consent to being blindfolded... With this" She took the glass she had been holding and transfigured it into a pink fluffy scarf. "Lily you have to kiss him also blind folded. Get to!" Whilst Alice transfigured another fluffy blindfold for Lily, Alice's mother who was just a bit tipsy still, went in search for a suitable victim. After 3 rejections she finally approached a tall dark man who was sitting at the bar.
"Excuse me, I have been dared to find a handsome young man to be blindfolded and have one of my daughters friends kiss him. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to help me?" James smiled coyly.
"any particular occasion?"
"Well we're here on a hen night. Come on, in the name of sport..." She pleaded.
"Ok, then if you put it that way." James allowed her to blindfold him and lead him towards Lily.
Lily felt someone bending down towards her. It was a male, she could tell by the big hand which he placed around her waist to steady himself. Lily felt sorry for him. Alice had just picked this kind of dodgy dare to get her back for making her kiss all the males in the club. She didn't know where Alice had gotten to? The man in front of her was so close now, his breath was on her face. It smelt familiar. Their lips touched and a sensational feeling like butterflies came alive in her stomach. She didn't know why, but this felt weird. It felt exciting and right all at the same time. But didn't she love James? Why was she feeling like this?
She only ever got feelings like this before when she kissed James. She had kissed Sirius and it hadn't felt like this. Maybe it was because she hadn't kissed anyone for over a year and a half, and somehow she felt as though she was being unfaithful to James or something? This was just to weird for Lily it felt as though she WAS kissing James, she couldn't handle it.
She let out a small moan, and ran out of the club, flinging her blindfold to the floor as she went. She didn't look back, even if she had the tears in her eyes would have flooded her vision.
***
As soon as there lips had touched, James knew there was something in this kiss. He had felt it before. This wasn't any other kiss, it was the kiss! She pulled away and before he got a proper look at her, pulling his blindfold off, she had reached the door of the club and ran out side. He was left watching her retreating pink robes. Just then Alice came over.
"James? What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Franks stag night. Oh you're here with the hen night?!" He gasped. "Question the red head who I just kissed, what's her name?" Alice smiled at him smugly.
"You kissed her? See I knew you'd like her! Now you want to know her name... next you'll be married!" James was agitated.
"Please tell me her name wasn't Lily Marie Evans?" He pleaded.
"How did you know her name?" James ran outside. But alas Lily had gone.
All James could think of was, she couldn't escape him now, and she'd have to attend the wedding and rehearsal. He'd corner her there!
"Sorry Alice, I think I've drunk too much, I have to leave." Lily had found Alice back in the night club. Suprisingly she was dancing with Frank and didn't seem to bothered about Lily disappearing (She was quite drunk herself) Lily ignored it and apperated back to her house. She couldn't help but let her mind wonder to how that kiss had felt. But eventually she was able to fall asleep. She had booked a few days off work for Alice's wedding. Tomorrow would be the rehearsal and then it was the big day. Frank and Alice had decided to have their stag/ hen Do's a day previous to tradition so neither would have a hang over for the big day. Frank was also worried that that he would end up tied to a post in the middle of nowhere, or something.
The next morning, Lily took a potion to clear her hangover and apperated swiftly directly to Alice's mothers. Where Alice was staying. As she thought, not a noise was to be heard. They had obviously had heavier nights then Lily. She did the only respectable thing she could. She went into each room and made a loud noise out of her wand. Causing herself much satisfaction and her victims not so much.
"What'd you make that noise for?" Alice mumbled.
"It wasn't noise..." Lily started with a cheeky grin. "It was music... Here drink this. It'll get rid of your headache."
"Oh come on Lily I didn't drink that much, I don't have a hangover." Lily looked at her friend, then walked over and opened the curtains, letting in the bright sunshine.
"Ahhh!" Alice let out covering her face with a pillow. "That proves nothing, I'm not a good morning person!"
"Ok, Alice what happened last night then?" Alice paused looking thoughtful, but eventually surrendered and gave an apologetic smile. "Just drink this. It'll help your head!" Lily said to her friend. Alice's face suddenly lit up.
"Hey I'm getting married in... 41 hours!" The countdown had started. They spent the day with the bride's party making last minute arrangements. Finally they set off for the church to have a small rehearsal, as tradition, so everything would run smoothly the next day. This was just a brief go through of the ceremony, in which the church had insisted on.