Chapter 4- Wedding Blues
The bridesmaids took it in turn to walk out and down the aisle, when called. As maid of honour, Lily was next. She looked down at her feet to make sure she had perfected her footing. Left, right, left, right.
She looked up, and there was Frank standing at the alter smiling just as broadly as when Alice had introduced them. And there beside him was his best man. Lily paused in shock, looking directly back into those bright blue eyes. The ones she had fallen madly in love with once upon a time. Back when fairy tales actually came to life.
It was James. Deep in her heart she had known that it would be him, she had known fate had it in for them, that they would be together once more, she had tried her utmost hardest to defy it. But it had caught up with her and kicked her right where it hurt... her heart.
"Lily what's wrong?" Alice called from behind her. Lily hadn't realised the tears she had shed until that moment. And wiped them away conscious of all the eyes on her. Including his, James'.
"Sorry, I always get like this at weddings." She replied. As the practise ceremony continued, all she could do was avoid the eyes, which she longed to be staring into. She looked around the hall, at Frank and Alice who were infatuated with each other; she looked at her feet.
But every now and again she couldn't help but slip and every time she did she found they were staring back at her boring into her soul. They made her feel a mixture of things, guilt, longing, love, hurt, and anger at herself and Voldemort). The ceremony which lasted half an hour at the most seemed to take a life time for Lily, she just wanted to get out of there.
When it was over they spoke for the first time. Alice pulled Lily towards him.
"James Potter, meet my best friend Lily Evans. And Lily Evans meet my fiancées best mate, James Potter." She said proudly.
"Much obliged." He said coldly extending his hand to hers. She took it cautiously. The warmth it some how spread throughout her body, even though the circumstances were so awkward, was uncanny.
"Likewise." She replied her voice shaking. "Listen Alice, I think I'm going to go back to my house. I still feel a bit shaky after last night. I want to be in top form for tomorrow. I will be round your house bright and early." She hugged her friend.
"Ok, I want to say my final good bye to Frankie." James snickered at this slightly. "You will be ok going on your own?" She asked. James jumped at this opportunity.
"I'll escort you. I don't want a pretty young lass going home all alone on a dark night like this." He grinned at her. She gritted her teeth and said a reluctant "ok"
When they got out of the hall James was the first to talk.
"So Lil's do you make a habit of blindfolding and snogging blokes in night clubs or was last night your first?" He said sarcastically. So it was him she thought. She looked back up at his menacing eyes.
"You don't really have to take me home James, I can manage myself. I'm a big girl now." He smirked at her.
"Ow come on, Sirius lent me his bike. Least I could do is put it to good use." James' old charisma started to shine through the hard shell of a defensive system he had put up.
"No it's quite alright." She replied harshly. He grabbed her arm. He wasn't going to let her go.
"I don't give a toss what you say. I'm taking you home." He pushed a helmet into her arms and she put it on with attitude. "Where do you live then?" He asked.
"Hogsmeade." She replied simply. She wasn't giving the exact location away; James'd be round there every day. She climbed onto the bike behind him and hesitantly placed her arms loosely round his torso.
But when the engine started and the bike started flying up instead of forewords her grip tightened. Lily's head was buried into James' back most of the journey. She was petrified and was missing the splendid views of the Arial view of London. Past Big Ben, the tower of London, Buckingham palace and all of London's glory. Finally, for Lily, they landed. She climbed off the bike quickly and stood up quickly and looked around.
"James this isn't Hogsmeade?" She said. He had taken her to Godric's hollow.
"I know, I thought we could talk a little first." He replied silkily leading her into his house.
"Wow! Did you decorate?"
"No Claire did when she lived here." He went and got them both a drink. He gave one to Lily and they sat on opposite couches looking at each other. It was obvious that James had tried to do something with his hair, gotten fed up and just given up and scruffed it up more. He had done this so many times when Lily had been with him.
"How did you meet Frank?" Lily questioned. "I mean isn't he like 2 years older than you?" James smiled at her intelligence.
"3 years actually. He started training a year late and I, well I skipped a year of training as I was quite advanced and allot determined. We hit it off instantly." Lily was struggling to keep the conversation going. Trying to avoid the inevitable. James was being difficult. All he would give her was simple of one-word answers.
"I expect it must be fun now you work at the ministry..." She started again.
"Blah blah blah. Lily enough with the small talk. We both know that's not why I brought you here tonight. Why did you leave me?" James snapped. He seemed angry, and yet as though he already, himself, knew the answer.
"It wasn't working out." Lily retorted. She wasn't going to back down easily.
"I know that's not true." James spat back.
"It is." James' mouth twisted into a sadistic smile.
"Ow so you didn't run away so Voldemort wouldn't catch you?" Lily flinched at Voldemorts name. "You didn't break up with me to spare my life from being tangled in your web? And you didn't think you could possibly escape the love I possess for you?" Lily sat stunned to the spot.
"What's it to you if I did?" She finally found her voice.
"Lily," James' voice had softened. "Lily I love you and I always will love you.
I would go to the end of the world for you. If some evil wizard wants to kill you, then I wouldn't do anything less then die preventing that! Lily I don't care if I die. All that I care is that I'm with you. I'd much rather live a short life holding you close, rather than a long one with out you." Lily was looking at him helplessly. Tears falling from her eyes.
"Stop it." She sobbed. "Stop making it impossible for me to leave you." James took the hysterical redhead into his arms. For the first time in over a year he felt complete. He had his girl back and this time he would never let go.
"But Lily it's impossible for you to leave me. I'm never letting go." He smiled warmly down at her. "Don't worry my love. What will come, will come and we'll just have to face it when it gets here." Lily's eyes met his own.
"James are you sure? I love you nothing can stop that. But I don't want you to regret us ever getting back together. I know things will get tough. Maybe not soon, but they will." Lily sobbed. "James I don't want anything to ever happen to you."
"Lily first of all, Voldemort wants me dead anyway. I am the heir of Griffindor.
And secondly, If I'm not with you, I'd rather be dead anyway. Lily whilst you were gone it was worse than hell. I love you so much.
"Thank you James for finding me. You're the best thing which ever happened to me and I almost lost you. I'm so sorry for what I put you through."
"No thank you Lily," He hugged her closer. "Thank you for letting me see how much you mean to me and how miserable my life is without you." He leant foreword. "Please Lily, if we feel the same way, then it must have been as much torture for you as it was for me! Please be mine again?" He eyed her pleadingly.
She couldn't resist. For two long years she had suffered without his touch, voice and love, there was no way she could survive without him. Not now fate had brought together again. Unless she ran away, there was no way of avoiding him. And she couldn't start over, not now.
So instead of denying the inevitable, she went with it. She moved towards James and kissed him. It was like a great burden taken off of her shoulders, a magical feeling. It was their first kiss all over, only this time, this time they knew they would never be separated again.
Lily and James hardly said anything to each other that night; they just laid on James' couch in each other's arms, savouring the moments they had lost with out this feeling. They had obvisoly also fallen asleep like this too as the next morning James woke up to here some one calling his name.
"James mate where are you?" Frank called. "You were supposed to be at mine about 40 minutes ago." James looked groggily at his watch.
"Oh Merlin!" He exclaimed, waking Lily.
"What she asked opening her eyes seeing James and smiling having remembered he was hers again. "Oh God, what's the time?" She realised what day it was. "I have to go." She said. James looked at her and grabbed her arm.
"Lily you'll be back after right?" He asked almost pleaded with her. He didn't want to loose her again and was just being cautious.
"I promise." She said kissing him on the forehead. "I can stay here tonight? Can't I?" James smiled back at her.
"I'd like that. Meet you back here after they leave for their honeymoon. I think we have allot of catching up to do!" Lily nodded and dissapereated. Not believing how lucky he finally was getting Lily back, he yelled;
"HEY FRANK I'M IN THE LIVING ROOM!"
Lily apperated straight to Alice's house.
"Sorry I'm late Ali, I over slept." She apologised.
"No problem Li, say, weren't you wearing that yesterday?" Lily looked down blushing.
"Uh yeah, I must have fallen asleep in it. This morning when I realised how late I had woken up I apperated straight here. I gathered I would be getting ready here anyway." Alice was in the process of getting her hair done. "Could I use your shower?" Lily asked. Alice nodded much to the hairdresser's annoyance. Lily ran upstairs to get showered before she had to have her hair and make up all done.
When Lily returned back downstairs, Alice's blonde hair was set in big gorgeous curls. Lily was placed in front of the hairdresser whilst Alice was having her make up done.
"So what did you think of James?" Lily knew this would come up. She wasn't sure what to say. Did James want Frank and Alice to know? So she just did what she thought was best, be vague.
"Yeah he was sweet." one sentence answer- nice.
"Just sweet? So I was wrong in sensing there was some chemistry in there?" Alice grinned. Lily couldn't conceal a blush.
"I knew it, that you'd hit it off!" Oh what she didn't know. "So do you want me to get Frank to set you up?" She asked excitedly. No need! Lily secretly laughed.
"No I don't think I'm quite ready yet." She lied.
As the day progressed, Lily was dressed to the nines in her green dress robes, her long dark red hair sitting on top of her hear in a set of gorgeous barrel curls. She did look pretty, but Alice looked amazing.
It was her day after all. Her white dress was flowing spectacularly down casting a long train across the floor. Her blonde hair in curls and her veil running down her back over them. They had set off to the church in a horse drawn carriage and arrived at the church. Everybody was already in and seated. Frank and Alice knew a fair few people.
As Lily walked down the aisle, she thought of the irony. Every girls dream, herself included, dreamt of Mr Right, their prince charming or night in shining armour.
It was funny how she was walking towards the man she deemed as hers. It was exactly as she imagined it. Her walking down a beautiful aisle of a beautiful church.
She of course would've been wearing white and James would be nearer the altar. But this wasn't her wedding. It was her best friends.
Then why was James here? She could've had all this, and now hopefully she would. She knew the minute she saw him standing before her that he would break her. She had seen the determination in his eyes. She was too weak to withstand their love for each other. After all she would've sold her soul to the devil to have him back.
Lily walked down the aisle towards the man of her dreams and watched her best friend get married. "Isn't it funny how 2 people can fall in love?
And isn't it a great blessing how some love can never be broken.
How couples can act as though every date is their first.
How every moment together can be a memory worth keeping.
Love is often our worst enemy and can make us do and believe crazy things." The vicar read a poem. It's words rung a familiar bell in lily's head and started the ball rolling. She stood as witness to the most romantic statement a couple could make, staring into James potter, her loves eyes.
Lily and James gathered the guests at the reception, made sure everyone was seated correctly, then announced to the band to introduce the bride and groom.
"And for the first time ever, I'd like to introduce to you, Mr and Mrs Frank Longbottom." Everyone clapped and the couple sat in between their best mates at the top table. As dinner was going on, Frank whispered something to his bride, other than the usual sweet nothing.
"Seems my best man had a visitor round last night. Tell me was Lily late to yours this morning?"
Alice started giggling. "No way, how did you know?" Frank grinned.
"I heard him asking someone to visit him again this evening, when I went to find why James was late. The reply was from a female." Alice laughed harder and turned to Lily.
"So you woke up late this morning, did you?"
"Err, yeah...?" Lily replied curiously.
"In James Potters bed?" Lily blushed proving Alice right. She knew when to admit defeat.
"No." She stated, then looking at Alice's face continued "On his couch." She whispered blushing the colour of her hair. Alice grinned so much her face started hurting.
"I knew you two would hit it off." She smirked. Lily found the need to wipe that smirk away.
"Actually, I have dated James before, in Hogwarts. He was THE boy." Alice stopped smiling.
"Not THE boy?" She questioned. Lily nodded in reply. "The boy you were hopelessly in love with but had to break up with him? Noooooo. But what your back together now?" Lily had previously told Alice about James, but with out mentioning names. "Yeah well didn't I always say that if I met up with him again, I wouldn't be able to keep away. He told persuaded me to stay with him." Alice smiled warmly.
"Looks like me and you'll be planning another wedding then." She chuckled. Lily laughed at her.
"Hold your hippogriffs, give us a chance." Frank and James just looked at the giggling girls then at each other.
"Girls!" The said in unison. They had also discussed Lily and James' newly announced relationship. It had gone like this.
"So you're dating Lily?" Frank said.
"Yep." James replied a smile creaming on his face.
"Nice." Frank approved nodding. And that was it.
"Hey you know what I thought!" Alice suddenly announced. "Isn't it weird how your my best mate, and James is Franks best mate and then you just suddenly meet again? It's like fate or something?" And that it was. Fate.
Once dinner was done with, James stood up. It was time for the best mans speech. He tapped his fork against his champagne glass. Ding ding ding. The hall grew silent in anticipation.
"As best man and best friend to Frank I would like to thank Alice, for taking him off my hands." The hall chuckled. "No seriously. Me and Frank have been close for almost 2 years now and he's been there for me, he's been my college buddy, my drinks mate and most of all- the guy who got handcuffed to a post outside his childhood home, on his stag do, having to wait for one of his neighbours to free him." James grinned at Frank maliciously. Then turned to Alice. "Don't worry, we took photos." She laughed.
"Yeah you best have." She said.
"Anyway, in the time I've known Frank I will never forget how happy he was when he told me that Alice said she'd marry him. When he's with her she brings out the best in him. And I couldn't be happier for them. I look up to this couple and hope that in the near future I can have what they do." He turned to Lily and winked as the hall applauded.
It was time for the bride and grooms first dance. Alice and Frank took to the dance floor, and shared their first dance of many to come. Lily looked at them, that was what she wanted. To know she would spend the rest of her life with them man she loved. And she would. As she stared on with her dreamy expression, she didn't realise she was being stared at with the exact same expression. Behind his glasses, James' eyes didn't leave Lily's face.
She was his again, after soooooo long. He couldn't believe it. Every second with out her had felt like a year, every minute like a decade, every hour a century and every day and etunity. Now the time was flying again. Now he was happy and contented.
Alice's gaze briefly left Franks and landed on her best friend. She smiled. Some how in her entire friendship with Lily, she had never seen her spaced out like that.
She knew James was the base to this. She wondered if she was like that when thinking of Frank. Even though she knew she was. Alice twirled around in Frank's arms, she wanted her friends to be happy like she was, she wanted them to experience this same feeling.
One, which was of contentment, love, safeness, as though nothing could ever go wrong, not so long as you were staring into the person you love's eyes. She would make sure her best mate got this, although, she knew deep down that Lily had it. She had it and most certainly deserved it.
After her dance with Frank, Alice briefly left his arms and whispered something to the band.
"Ok the bride has just informed me that she wants the brides maids and grooms men to have a dance together." Another slow song started up and Lily glared at Alice. She knew the purpose of this. James was standing before her, on his face a small grin.
"May I have this dance?" He asked charmingly.
"This dance and the rest I ever have." She smiled back sweetly causing his grin to extend up to his ears. He took her hand and began twirling her round.
"You know, I thought I'd never dance with you again." He said sadly looking into her eyes.
"Sorry," She blinked. "I never should have left you." He tightened his grip on her.
"I'm glad you did." He said taking her by suprise.
"You're what?" She stuttered. "Do you not want me back?" She asked almost afraid of what he would say next.
"Of course I do. But just think, if you had stayed then you would have never of got to travel Europe, I wouldn't have gotten so far in my Aurour training. We would probably not have met Frank and Alice then. We would be married, maybe have a child on the way. Meaning you wouldn't have gotten the chance to train as a healer. Don't you think the independence did us good? we're not relying on each other like we used to. At the end of the day, we still have each other and more. And Lily, no matter what has happened, you still mean the world to me and always will do." They danced in silence for a moment Lily's chin resting on James' shoulder.
"You still hang around with Sirius don't you?" She asked. He hadn't really mentioned Sirius. James gulped.
"Yeah I hang around with Sirius as much as ever." He replied. Lily sensed he was hiding something from her. She still knew him inside out even after their lengthy separation.
"What?" She asked.
"Well.... Sirius kinda doesn't think to highly of you at the moment." James spat out quickly. "In fact he hates you, cause well, when you left I was in a bit of a state." Lily looked at him, he mouth open a little. She didn't know how to reply. Sirius hated her? Well she couldn't exactly blame him. She hated herself. But still Sirius was her loves best friend, and she always liked him. What could she do?
Lily and James hadn't noticed that the one dance they were supposed to be having, had turned into a whole string of dances. It was just so nice to be holding each other once more. Then suddenly Frank asked to cut in. He turned to James.
"May I borrow your lady?" he asked.
"Only because you're spoken for now." James grinned, but was actually being truful. "Treat her nice." He turned and found Alice standing behind him. "Ahh, since you're old man has stolen mi lady, I will have to steal you. Care for this dance?" She nodded. and James took Alice through her paces, twirling the bride round the room shamelessly.
"I'm not going to play dumb with you Lily. I know you're Alice's best mate, but I just need to know this." Frank started. Lily looked up at him questionably.
"What is it Frank?" She asked.
"Well... When I met James, he was a wreck. And he's just started Really coming back into himself. I just wanted to make sure you'd never do that to him again." To Frank's suprise, Lily smiled.
"It's good to know, James has so many good friends who would stick up for him and support him. I must be the most hated person in Britain. No, I wouldn't dream of leaving James again. Not even if Grindleward himself held his wand to my heart." Frank smiled warmly back at her.
"Good, cause both really like both of y..OUCH!"
"Oops, sorry. I have a knack of doing that!" Lily blushed as she had stepped on Frank's foot. "Why's Frank hopping?" Alice asked James. James looked at Frank hopping around, then at Lily who was blushing red, and started laughing.
"I see Lily's dancing hasn't improved much then?!" He smirked.
"She did ok with you?" Alice wondered.
"She always does." James winked.
As the night went on, Lily and James got separated for a bit. Lily was being swapped between all of Frank's family and friends, where as James was entertaining Frank and Alice's mothers, who themselves seemed to have grown quite fond of each other and James. At about midnight, the band announced it was time for the bouquet toss.
Alice stood up on the stage, making a mental note that Lily was standing at the side as far away as she could. Alice smirked, Lily was smart but it wasn't going to deter her. She threw the bouquet and turned as a few female shrieks were heard and finally, as the commotion died down Alice could see she had hit target perfectly.
Lily had caught the boquet. She was stood helplessly blushing, as all the other bachelorettes around her glared at her. Alice had been a chaser for the Hufflepuff quidditch team in her seventh year and had not completely lost her skill. She had aimed it so it would drop directly over Lily meaning that she would either have to move or catch it. And instinct reaction would be to catch it.
Everyone bid Frank and Alice goodbye. They were off on their honeymoon for 2 weeks. And after the bride and groom went everyone else started departing, leaving Lily, James, the other bridesmaids and grooms men, Alice's mother and father and Frank's mother to tidy up the hall before departing themselves.
It was the end to a magical day.
That night Lily stayed at James' again. This time they stayed in James' bed (not doing anything but talk and sleep) Lily was very pleased to see that James had removed the big portrait of Godric Griffindor, which hung opposite the bed.
However she was upset to find out that not only Sirius, but Peter, Remus and Claire also hated her. So they decided to keep their relationship secret- at least until they had rediscovered their feelings and felt comfortable with one another again.
James would be working round his friends into reliking Lily. Although not at all suprised at Claire's dislike of her, as the first thing she told Lily was along the lines of "Don't hurt my brother", Lily was slightly disappointed with her hatred. She desperately sorted after Claire's affections- She was James' only remaining family. She was important to James and therefore important to Lily.
Lily's sister however hadn't even invited Lily to her wedding. Petunia had married Vernon Dursley, pretending she was an only child. In their opinion Lily didn't exist, "They could do without all of that weird nonsense." As Vernon would say.
"Frank and Alice looked so happy tonight, didn't they?" Lily asked James.
"Yeah" He replied, dreamily. He was thinking back to the first time he had laid on his bed with Lily. They were talking about their future family, the one he almost never had. He still wanted that but he didn't say anything, as he didn't want Lily to feel rushed. Instead, he fell asleep dreaming of what could come, how many kids they could have together and if they would really die old together.
Sorry about the wait for this chapter! I just wanted to keep u in suspense- lol not really! Hope you enjoy this chapter its one of my faves so far! Luv ya Jessie xxx
The bridesmaids took it in turn to walk out and down the aisle, when called. As maid of honour, Lily was next. She looked down at her feet to make sure she had perfected her footing. Left, right, left, right.
She looked up, and there was Frank standing at the alter smiling just as broadly as when Alice had introduced them. And there beside him was his best man. Lily paused in shock, looking directly back into those bright blue eyes. The ones she had fallen madly in love with once upon a time. Back when fairy tales actually came to life.
It was James. Deep in her heart she had known that it would be him, she had known fate had it in for them, that they would be together once more, she had tried her utmost hardest to defy it. But it had caught up with her and kicked her right where it hurt... her heart.
"Lily what's wrong?" Alice called from behind her. Lily hadn't realised the tears she had shed until that moment. And wiped them away conscious of all the eyes on her. Including his, James'.
"Sorry, I always get like this at weddings." She replied. As the practise ceremony continued, all she could do was avoid the eyes, which she longed to be staring into. She looked around the hall, at Frank and Alice who were infatuated with each other; she looked at her feet.
But every now and again she couldn't help but slip and every time she did she found they were staring back at her boring into her soul. They made her feel a mixture of things, guilt, longing, love, hurt, and anger at herself and Voldemort). The ceremony which lasted half an hour at the most seemed to take a life time for Lily, she just wanted to get out of there.
When it was over they spoke for the first time. Alice pulled Lily towards him.
"James Potter, meet my best friend Lily Evans. And Lily Evans meet my fiancées best mate, James Potter." She said proudly.
"Much obliged." He said coldly extending his hand to hers. She took it cautiously. The warmth it some how spread throughout her body, even though the circumstances were so awkward, was uncanny.
"Likewise." She replied her voice shaking. "Listen Alice, I think I'm going to go back to my house. I still feel a bit shaky after last night. I want to be in top form for tomorrow. I will be round your house bright and early." She hugged her friend.
"Ok, I want to say my final good bye to Frankie." James snickered at this slightly. "You will be ok going on your own?" She asked. James jumped at this opportunity.
"I'll escort you. I don't want a pretty young lass going home all alone on a dark night like this." He grinned at her. She gritted her teeth and said a reluctant "ok"
When they got out of the hall James was the first to talk.
"So Lil's do you make a habit of blindfolding and snogging blokes in night clubs or was last night your first?" He said sarcastically. So it was him she thought. She looked back up at his menacing eyes.
"You don't really have to take me home James, I can manage myself. I'm a big girl now." He smirked at her.
"Ow come on, Sirius lent me his bike. Least I could do is put it to good use." James' old charisma started to shine through the hard shell of a defensive system he had put up.
"No it's quite alright." She replied harshly. He grabbed her arm. He wasn't going to let her go.
"I don't give a toss what you say. I'm taking you home." He pushed a helmet into her arms and she put it on with attitude. "Where do you live then?" He asked.
"Hogsmeade." She replied simply. She wasn't giving the exact location away; James'd be round there every day. She climbed onto the bike behind him and hesitantly placed her arms loosely round his torso.
But when the engine started and the bike started flying up instead of forewords her grip tightened. Lily's head was buried into James' back most of the journey. She was petrified and was missing the splendid views of the Arial view of London. Past Big Ben, the tower of London, Buckingham palace and all of London's glory. Finally, for Lily, they landed. She climbed off the bike quickly and stood up quickly and looked around.
"James this isn't Hogsmeade?" She said. He had taken her to Godric's hollow.
"I know, I thought we could talk a little first." He replied silkily leading her into his house.
"Wow! Did you decorate?"
"No Claire did when she lived here." He went and got them both a drink. He gave one to Lily and they sat on opposite couches looking at each other. It was obvious that James had tried to do something with his hair, gotten fed up and just given up and scruffed it up more. He had done this so many times when Lily had been with him.
"How did you meet Frank?" Lily questioned. "I mean isn't he like 2 years older than you?" James smiled at her intelligence.
"3 years actually. He started training a year late and I, well I skipped a year of training as I was quite advanced and allot determined. We hit it off instantly." Lily was struggling to keep the conversation going. Trying to avoid the inevitable. James was being difficult. All he would give her was simple of one-word answers.
"I expect it must be fun now you work at the ministry..." She started again.
"Blah blah blah. Lily enough with the small talk. We both know that's not why I brought you here tonight. Why did you leave me?" James snapped. He seemed angry, and yet as though he already, himself, knew the answer.
"It wasn't working out." Lily retorted. She wasn't going to back down easily.
"I know that's not true." James spat back.
"It is." James' mouth twisted into a sadistic smile.
"Ow so you didn't run away so Voldemort wouldn't catch you?" Lily flinched at Voldemorts name. "You didn't break up with me to spare my life from being tangled in your web? And you didn't think you could possibly escape the love I possess for you?" Lily sat stunned to the spot.
"What's it to you if I did?" She finally found her voice.
"Lily," James' voice had softened. "Lily I love you and I always will love you.
I would go to the end of the world for you. If some evil wizard wants to kill you, then I wouldn't do anything less then die preventing that! Lily I don't care if I die. All that I care is that I'm with you. I'd much rather live a short life holding you close, rather than a long one with out you." Lily was looking at him helplessly. Tears falling from her eyes.
"Stop it." She sobbed. "Stop making it impossible for me to leave you." James took the hysterical redhead into his arms. For the first time in over a year he felt complete. He had his girl back and this time he would never let go.
"But Lily it's impossible for you to leave me. I'm never letting go." He smiled warmly down at her. "Don't worry my love. What will come, will come and we'll just have to face it when it gets here." Lily's eyes met his own.
"James are you sure? I love you nothing can stop that. But I don't want you to regret us ever getting back together. I know things will get tough. Maybe not soon, but they will." Lily sobbed. "James I don't want anything to ever happen to you."
"Lily first of all, Voldemort wants me dead anyway. I am the heir of Griffindor.
And secondly, If I'm not with you, I'd rather be dead anyway. Lily whilst you were gone it was worse than hell. I love you so much.
"Thank you James for finding me. You're the best thing which ever happened to me and I almost lost you. I'm so sorry for what I put you through."
"No thank you Lily," He hugged her closer. "Thank you for letting me see how much you mean to me and how miserable my life is without you." He leant foreword. "Please Lily, if we feel the same way, then it must have been as much torture for you as it was for me! Please be mine again?" He eyed her pleadingly.
She couldn't resist. For two long years she had suffered without his touch, voice and love, there was no way she could survive without him. Not now fate had brought together again. Unless she ran away, there was no way of avoiding him. And she couldn't start over, not now.
So instead of denying the inevitable, she went with it. She moved towards James and kissed him. It was like a great burden taken off of her shoulders, a magical feeling. It was their first kiss all over, only this time, this time they knew they would never be separated again.
Lily and James hardly said anything to each other that night; they just laid on James' couch in each other's arms, savouring the moments they had lost with out this feeling. They had obvisoly also fallen asleep like this too as the next morning James woke up to here some one calling his name.
"James mate where are you?" Frank called. "You were supposed to be at mine about 40 minutes ago." James looked groggily at his watch.
"Oh Merlin!" He exclaimed, waking Lily.
"What she asked opening her eyes seeing James and smiling having remembered he was hers again. "Oh God, what's the time?" She realised what day it was. "I have to go." She said. James looked at her and grabbed her arm.
"Lily you'll be back after right?" He asked almost pleaded with her. He didn't want to loose her again and was just being cautious.
"I promise." She said kissing him on the forehead. "I can stay here tonight? Can't I?" James smiled back at her.
"I'd like that. Meet you back here after they leave for their honeymoon. I think we have allot of catching up to do!" Lily nodded and dissapereated. Not believing how lucky he finally was getting Lily back, he yelled;
"HEY FRANK I'M IN THE LIVING ROOM!"
Lily apperated straight to Alice's house.
"Sorry I'm late Ali, I over slept." She apologised.
"No problem Li, say, weren't you wearing that yesterday?" Lily looked down blushing.
"Uh yeah, I must have fallen asleep in it. This morning when I realised how late I had woken up I apperated straight here. I gathered I would be getting ready here anyway." Alice was in the process of getting her hair done. "Could I use your shower?" Lily asked. Alice nodded much to the hairdresser's annoyance. Lily ran upstairs to get showered before she had to have her hair and make up all done.
When Lily returned back downstairs, Alice's blonde hair was set in big gorgeous curls. Lily was placed in front of the hairdresser whilst Alice was having her make up done.
"So what did you think of James?" Lily knew this would come up. She wasn't sure what to say. Did James want Frank and Alice to know? So she just did what she thought was best, be vague.
"Yeah he was sweet." one sentence answer- nice.
"Just sweet? So I was wrong in sensing there was some chemistry in there?" Alice grinned. Lily couldn't conceal a blush.
"I knew it, that you'd hit it off!" Oh what she didn't know. "So do you want me to get Frank to set you up?" She asked excitedly. No need! Lily secretly laughed.
"No I don't think I'm quite ready yet." She lied.
As the day progressed, Lily was dressed to the nines in her green dress robes, her long dark red hair sitting on top of her hear in a set of gorgeous barrel curls. She did look pretty, but Alice looked amazing.
It was her day after all. Her white dress was flowing spectacularly down casting a long train across the floor. Her blonde hair in curls and her veil running down her back over them. They had set off to the church in a horse drawn carriage and arrived at the church. Everybody was already in and seated. Frank and Alice knew a fair few people.
As Lily walked down the aisle, she thought of the irony. Every girls dream, herself included, dreamt of Mr Right, their prince charming or night in shining armour.
It was funny how she was walking towards the man she deemed as hers. It was exactly as she imagined it. Her walking down a beautiful aisle of a beautiful church.
She of course would've been wearing white and James would be nearer the altar. But this wasn't her wedding. It was her best friends.
Then why was James here? She could've had all this, and now hopefully she would. She knew the minute she saw him standing before her that he would break her. She had seen the determination in his eyes. She was too weak to withstand their love for each other. After all she would've sold her soul to the devil to have him back.
Lily walked down the aisle towards the man of her dreams and watched her best friend get married. "Isn't it funny how 2 people can fall in love?
And isn't it a great blessing how some love can never be broken.
How couples can act as though every date is their first.
How every moment together can be a memory worth keeping.
Love is often our worst enemy and can make us do and believe crazy things." The vicar read a poem. It's words rung a familiar bell in lily's head and started the ball rolling. She stood as witness to the most romantic statement a couple could make, staring into James potter, her loves eyes.
Lily and James gathered the guests at the reception, made sure everyone was seated correctly, then announced to the band to introduce the bride and groom.
"And for the first time ever, I'd like to introduce to you, Mr and Mrs Frank Longbottom." Everyone clapped and the couple sat in between their best mates at the top table. As dinner was going on, Frank whispered something to his bride, other than the usual sweet nothing.
"Seems my best man had a visitor round last night. Tell me was Lily late to yours this morning?"
Alice started giggling. "No way, how did you know?" Frank grinned.
"I heard him asking someone to visit him again this evening, when I went to find why James was late. The reply was from a female." Alice laughed harder and turned to Lily.
"So you woke up late this morning, did you?"
"Err, yeah...?" Lily replied curiously.
"In James Potters bed?" Lily blushed proving Alice right. She knew when to admit defeat.
"No." She stated, then looking at Alice's face continued "On his couch." She whispered blushing the colour of her hair. Alice grinned so much her face started hurting.
"I knew you two would hit it off." She smirked. Lily found the need to wipe that smirk away.
"Actually, I have dated James before, in Hogwarts. He was THE boy." Alice stopped smiling.
"Not THE boy?" She questioned. Lily nodded in reply. "The boy you were hopelessly in love with but had to break up with him? Noooooo. But what your back together now?" Lily had previously told Alice about James, but with out mentioning names. "Yeah well didn't I always say that if I met up with him again, I wouldn't be able to keep away. He told persuaded me to stay with him." Alice smiled warmly.
"Looks like me and you'll be planning another wedding then." She chuckled. Lily laughed at her.
"Hold your hippogriffs, give us a chance." Frank and James just looked at the giggling girls then at each other.
"Girls!" The said in unison. They had also discussed Lily and James' newly announced relationship. It had gone like this.
"So you're dating Lily?" Frank said.
"Yep." James replied a smile creaming on his face.
"Nice." Frank approved nodding. And that was it.
"Hey you know what I thought!" Alice suddenly announced. "Isn't it weird how your my best mate, and James is Franks best mate and then you just suddenly meet again? It's like fate or something?" And that it was. Fate.
Once dinner was done with, James stood up. It was time for the best mans speech. He tapped his fork against his champagne glass. Ding ding ding. The hall grew silent in anticipation.
"As best man and best friend to Frank I would like to thank Alice, for taking him off my hands." The hall chuckled. "No seriously. Me and Frank have been close for almost 2 years now and he's been there for me, he's been my college buddy, my drinks mate and most of all- the guy who got handcuffed to a post outside his childhood home, on his stag do, having to wait for one of his neighbours to free him." James grinned at Frank maliciously. Then turned to Alice. "Don't worry, we took photos." She laughed.
"Yeah you best have." She said.
"Anyway, in the time I've known Frank I will never forget how happy he was when he told me that Alice said she'd marry him. When he's with her she brings out the best in him. And I couldn't be happier for them. I look up to this couple and hope that in the near future I can have what they do." He turned to Lily and winked as the hall applauded.
It was time for the bride and grooms first dance. Alice and Frank took to the dance floor, and shared their first dance of many to come. Lily looked at them, that was what she wanted. To know she would spend the rest of her life with them man she loved. And she would. As she stared on with her dreamy expression, she didn't realise she was being stared at with the exact same expression. Behind his glasses, James' eyes didn't leave Lily's face.
She was his again, after soooooo long. He couldn't believe it. Every second with out her had felt like a year, every minute like a decade, every hour a century and every day and etunity. Now the time was flying again. Now he was happy and contented.
Alice's gaze briefly left Franks and landed on her best friend. She smiled. Some how in her entire friendship with Lily, she had never seen her spaced out like that.
She knew James was the base to this. She wondered if she was like that when thinking of Frank. Even though she knew she was. Alice twirled around in Frank's arms, she wanted her friends to be happy like she was, she wanted them to experience this same feeling.
One, which was of contentment, love, safeness, as though nothing could ever go wrong, not so long as you were staring into the person you love's eyes. She would make sure her best mate got this, although, she knew deep down that Lily had it. She had it and most certainly deserved it.
After her dance with Frank, Alice briefly left his arms and whispered something to the band.
"Ok the bride has just informed me that she wants the brides maids and grooms men to have a dance together." Another slow song started up and Lily glared at Alice. She knew the purpose of this. James was standing before her, on his face a small grin.
"May I have this dance?" He asked charmingly.
"This dance and the rest I ever have." She smiled back sweetly causing his grin to extend up to his ears. He took her hand and began twirling her round.
"You know, I thought I'd never dance with you again." He said sadly looking into her eyes.
"Sorry," She blinked. "I never should have left you." He tightened his grip on her.
"I'm glad you did." He said taking her by suprise.
"You're what?" She stuttered. "Do you not want me back?" She asked almost afraid of what he would say next.
"Of course I do. But just think, if you had stayed then you would have never of got to travel Europe, I wouldn't have gotten so far in my Aurour training. We would probably not have met Frank and Alice then. We would be married, maybe have a child on the way. Meaning you wouldn't have gotten the chance to train as a healer. Don't you think the independence did us good? we're not relying on each other like we used to. At the end of the day, we still have each other and more. And Lily, no matter what has happened, you still mean the world to me and always will do." They danced in silence for a moment Lily's chin resting on James' shoulder.
"You still hang around with Sirius don't you?" She asked. He hadn't really mentioned Sirius. James gulped.
"Yeah I hang around with Sirius as much as ever." He replied. Lily sensed he was hiding something from her. She still knew him inside out even after their lengthy separation.
"What?" She asked.
"Well.... Sirius kinda doesn't think to highly of you at the moment." James spat out quickly. "In fact he hates you, cause well, when you left I was in a bit of a state." Lily looked at him, he mouth open a little. She didn't know how to reply. Sirius hated her? Well she couldn't exactly blame him. She hated herself. But still Sirius was her loves best friend, and she always liked him. What could she do?
Lily and James hadn't noticed that the one dance they were supposed to be having, had turned into a whole string of dances. It was just so nice to be holding each other once more. Then suddenly Frank asked to cut in. He turned to James.
"May I borrow your lady?" he asked.
"Only because you're spoken for now." James grinned, but was actually being truful. "Treat her nice." He turned and found Alice standing behind him. "Ahh, since you're old man has stolen mi lady, I will have to steal you. Care for this dance?" She nodded. and James took Alice through her paces, twirling the bride round the room shamelessly.
"I'm not going to play dumb with you Lily. I know you're Alice's best mate, but I just need to know this." Frank started. Lily looked up at him questionably.
"What is it Frank?" She asked.
"Well... When I met James, he was a wreck. And he's just started Really coming back into himself. I just wanted to make sure you'd never do that to him again." To Frank's suprise, Lily smiled.
"It's good to know, James has so many good friends who would stick up for him and support him. I must be the most hated person in Britain. No, I wouldn't dream of leaving James again. Not even if Grindleward himself held his wand to my heart." Frank smiled warmly back at her.
"Good, cause both really like both of y..OUCH!"
"Oops, sorry. I have a knack of doing that!" Lily blushed as she had stepped on Frank's foot. "Why's Frank hopping?" Alice asked James. James looked at Frank hopping around, then at Lily who was blushing red, and started laughing.
"I see Lily's dancing hasn't improved much then?!" He smirked.
"She did ok with you?" Alice wondered.
"She always does." James winked.
As the night went on, Lily and James got separated for a bit. Lily was being swapped between all of Frank's family and friends, where as James was entertaining Frank and Alice's mothers, who themselves seemed to have grown quite fond of each other and James. At about midnight, the band announced it was time for the bouquet toss.
Alice stood up on the stage, making a mental note that Lily was standing at the side as far away as she could. Alice smirked, Lily was smart but it wasn't going to deter her. She threw the bouquet and turned as a few female shrieks were heard and finally, as the commotion died down Alice could see she had hit target perfectly.
Lily had caught the boquet. She was stood helplessly blushing, as all the other bachelorettes around her glared at her. Alice had been a chaser for the Hufflepuff quidditch team in her seventh year and had not completely lost her skill. She had aimed it so it would drop directly over Lily meaning that she would either have to move or catch it. And instinct reaction would be to catch it.
Everyone bid Frank and Alice goodbye. They were off on their honeymoon for 2 weeks. And after the bride and groom went everyone else started departing, leaving Lily, James, the other bridesmaids and grooms men, Alice's mother and father and Frank's mother to tidy up the hall before departing themselves.
It was the end to a magical day.
That night Lily stayed at James' again. This time they stayed in James' bed (not doing anything but talk and sleep) Lily was very pleased to see that James had removed the big portrait of Godric Griffindor, which hung opposite the bed.
However she was upset to find out that not only Sirius, but Peter, Remus and Claire also hated her. So they decided to keep their relationship secret- at least until they had rediscovered their feelings and felt comfortable with one another again.
James would be working round his friends into reliking Lily. Although not at all suprised at Claire's dislike of her, as the first thing she told Lily was along the lines of "Don't hurt my brother", Lily was slightly disappointed with her hatred. She desperately sorted after Claire's affections- She was James' only remaining family. She was important to James and therefore important to Lily.
Lily's sister however hadn't even invited Lily to her wedding. Petunia had married Vernon Dursley, pretending she was an only child. In their opinion Lily didn't exist, "They could do without all of that weird nonsense." As Vernon would say.
"Frank and Alice looked so happy tonight, didn't they?" Lily asked James.
"Yeah" He replied, dreamily. He was thinking back to the first time he had laid on his bed with Lily. They were talking about their future family, the one he almost never had. He still wanted that but he didn't say anything, as he didn't want Lily to feel rushed. Instead, he fell asleep dreaming of what could come, how many kids they could have together and if they would really die old together.
Sorry about the wait for this chapter! I just wanted to keep u in suspense- lol not really! Hope you enjoy this chapter its one of my faves so far! Luv ya Jessie xxx