Chapter 10: The Proposal
James had kept his promise to watch over Bailey. He was so protective of her that anyone who spoke about her in the hall ended up being questioned by James.
"James calm down, they just said they liked her hair today." Lupin said trying to calm him friend down.
"I know, I just don't want to lose her also." James snapped.
"James you've been this way for months, summers almost here and if you keep pushing Bailey away from people she really will go to America if you don't stop." Sirius said walking up behind them.
"So are we still going to do that prank during the Quidditch match?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah of course!" James said smiling.
"Good, let's get down to the pitch everyone is waiting for us." Sirius pulled James to the Quidditch pitch.
"Welcome to the final Quidditch match of the season Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw, both teams are unbeat. This should be an interesting game these teams are so well known right now that even our Minister of Magic has come to watch this game." The commentator said.
"And they're off Ravenclaw in posession of the Quaffle. henry Abbot is knocked off his broom! Great hit there by Bailey! Black has the Quaffle, and Gryffindor scores the first goal of the game 20 to 0. Melissa beats the Bludger towards Jack, making him fall to the ground and forced out of the game."
"James watch out!" Bailey yelled flying behind him just in time to hit the Bludger at the Keeper knocking him out.
"It seems Gryffindor is taking a page out of the Slytherin's book. Either way Lupin scores another goal for Gryffindor the score is now 120 to20."
"James, Hanover's following the Snitch! Stay two feet behind him."
"I know trust you!" James said speeding towards him.
"It seems the Seekers have spotted the Snitch. James is behind Hanover and Hanover ouch!" The whole crowed held their breath. "It seems like Bailey and Melissa might not have planned that one out. Hanover is disqualified that's the third time he's used his broomstick to knock someone off their broom. Which means Gryffindor automatically wins!"
"Sirius, Remus help!" James yelled down at them when he saw Bailey fall off her broom unconcious. James sped on as fast as he could towards her. Luckily Remus was able to spot her falling beofre anyone else, and caught her just in time.
"Nice save from Gryffindor Chaser Remus Lupin." The commentator said, the Minister of Magic say there shocked.
"Sirius is Bailey ok?" James asked while flying beside him.
"I don't know." Sirius flew over to Lupin.
"She won't wake up!" Remus yelled landing on the ground while Madame Pomfrey ran out on the field with Dumbledore behind him. The whole crowd stood up and held its breath.
"Mr. Lupin hold her head back I'm going to put this potion in her mouth. When she comes to don't let her walk or move until I come back with a potion for her headache." Madame Pomfrey said pouring the potion in Bailey's mouth. She came to instantly as Madame Pomfrey left Dumbledore started to heal the cuts on her head.
"Did we win?" Bailey asked grogily.
"Yeah, don't move for a minute, and don't scare us like that." James said trying to wait before hugging her. Madame Pomfrey came back with the next potion. After three minutes the crowd started cheering when James and Sirius helped Bailey off the field.
"Just like her uncle. Bailey makes a miraculous pull through, wait what are James and Sirius doing now?" The commentator asked shocked when he noticed them getting onto their brooms and flying to the middle of the pitch. James then flew over to Lily while Sirius started writing something with his wand.
LILY EVANS WILL YOU MARRY ME?
James smiled when Sirius finished James' note then pulled a box out of his Quidditch robes.
"Oh my gosh! Of course James." Lily said holding her hand out so James could put the ring on her finger.The whole crowd broke out into applause again. When they finally got into the Gryffindor changing room Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic were waiting for them.
"Congradulations Mr. Potter on your engagement." The Minister of Magic said shaking his hand. "Your parents would have been proud. Mr. Lupin thank you for being a hero and catching miss Potter from her fall. She now owes you a wizarding debt if I'm correct."
"Actually she doesn't owe me anything we're even now." Lupin said smiling. Bailey had helped him earlier in the year in inventing a potion with Snape for werewolves though Snape throught it was for other things.
"Ok then I wanted to meet you all and tell you you played a great game. Those of you that went to miss Potter's rescue are going to recieve an Order of Merlin for your heroism. It was spectacular. I must be off." The Minister of Magic shook everyone's hand then left.
"Bailey how are you? Do you want to see Madame Pomfrey?" Dumbledore asked before leaving.
"I'm fine thanks." Bailey said putting her stuff into her locker.
"Ok then, just take it easy this weekend. I'm pretty sure that James and the others will make sure you will." Dumbledore said smiling.
A few minutes later the six of them exited the locker room and headed towards the lake. "It's such a nice day outside." Lily said jumping onto James' back.
"I've noticed that the Marauder's haven't been as mischevious as they use to be." Bailey said smiling.
"That's becaues some of us grew up." Lupin started laughing at the look on James and Sirius' faces.
"I guess your right." Bailey said jumping on Sirius' back. She was getting tired of walking.
"So what are we going to do today?" Lily and Bailey asked at the same time.
"We are going to take it easy today, just like Dumbledore told you to do." James said putting Lily down on the side of the lake. Lily and Bailey started taking off their t-shirts.
"Um girls they don't allow stripping in this school." Sirius said trying to cover Bailey up.
"Will you chill! We have our bathing suits on under our clothes. We were planning on sun bathing anyways." Bailey said taking off her pants.
"Oh sorry it sort of looked like you were just taking your clothes off randomly." Sirius said taking his hands off of a blanket he had made.
"Remus thank you for saving me today. I might of died if you didn't catch me." Bailey said laying down on her stomach.
"Your welcome.I know you would have done the same for any of us." Lupin said taking out a book.
"Lily what are you doing?" James asked freaking out.
"I'm just untying my top. I don't want a tan line." Lily said laughing, James just looked at her but did nothing abotu it. Sirius took off his top and laid down by Bailey.
"James want to go swimming?" Peter asked takign his top off and going into the water. James agreed and pulled Remus with them. They tried to pull Sirius but he was already asleep.
"How come Padfoot fell asleep so fast?" Peter asked when the boys got far enough into the water.
"He's been staying up some nights to keep an eye on Bailey. She keeps having nightmares about James dieing." Remus said finally joining the boys.
"Does she know she's having them?" James asked. "I haven't heard her scream."
"No she doesn't even wake up but she starts violently tossing and turning. It's weird all Sirius has to do is put his arm around her and she'll stop." Remus explained.
"It's because Sirius told her he'd always be there to protect her. I heard him telling her the day my parents died." James said swimming backwards.
The day passed by quickly and dinner was already starting. "Do we really have to go eat? I was comfortable." Sirius said getting up.
"Yes because we are celebrating James and Lily's engagement." Bailey said helping him up. Once they arrived in the Great Hall it was done in white with roses all over the place.
"This is a wonderous day. We've never been so proud of two students as we are of James and the soon to be Lily Potter. Congradulations you two." Dumbledore said once they entered the Great Hall. "We have another suprise for James and Lily, after the MInister talked to the Gryffindor Quidditch team he wanted to know some of the professions they wanted to do after Hogwarts. He has hired Lily and James as Aurors. After graduation you two are to report to Auror headquarters to take your test, adn start training."
James was shocked. He couldn't believe what Dumbledore just said he was going to be an Auror and so was Lily. After dinner everyone congradulated the happy couple before they retired to bed.