...Winding Path...

By Zetta
CHARACTERS: James Potter, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sybil Trelawney, Taura Sinastra, Minerva McGonagall, Albus Dumbledore, and more!
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: Up to GoF (Book 4). This is PRE-OOTP!!! All the characters are different, but especially Sybil. If you don't like it, don't read, and don't bother reviewing to tell me that it's not up to OotP standards, because I KNOW THAT ALREADY!!
SUMMARY: A big step forward for Lily and James.
DISCLAIMER: The Harry Potter guys aren't mine, in case you hadn't picked up on it. Also, I was inspired by a scene in Nora Roberts's 'Montana Sky', so I supposed I'd best hand over a bit of credit to her as well. (Great book by the way- one of her best. Read it!)
Dedication: To all of my e-friends whom I've been neglecting lately. To all of my readers and reviewers, who've had three months of silence and no explanation. See the bottom for it.

Chapter Eleven

"I can't believe the year's almost over," Lily murmured, lying on a blanket next to James.

There were quite a few students out, so they were very careful and did nothing more than hold hands, but it was enough to earn them a few curious looks from the more perspective- and nosy- students.

James shrugged. "I'm going to miss it when I'm back with the guys."

She shivered and rolled on her side to face him. He studied her face, marveling at how much he loved her. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. She smiled at him, though the worry did not quite fade.

He understood. Had she been the one who was going back to the Aurors, he would have been terrified. It was almost enough to make him change his mind, but she wouldn't let him. He'd mentioned it to her after news came in that the Bones family had been attacked. She had quietly, but firmly insisted that he do what was right for him- she loved him, and she would deal with the rest.

She'd told him quite plainly that, especially after the attack that had left him in St. Mundgo's for a week, she would have been perfectly happy with him as a teacher for the rest of his years. But she didn't want him to be unhappy.

They had talked for a long time about it, about the dangers to him- and to those he cared about. She wasn't worried about dangers to herself, though the thought was terrifying to him.

James had talked to Moody shortly after his release from the hospital, after he'd told Lily. From there he had gone to Dumbledore and talked to him.

Neither Dumbledore nor Moody had been surprised by his decisions, though Dumbledore had expressed his disappointment. Then he'd asked if Sirius was interested in teaching, and James had walked out of the office in near hysterics at the thought of Sirius Black teaching students anything.

Lily shifted, drawing him back to the present- to her.

And he decided he would ask her. "Do you want to get married?"

Her lips curled up. "Right now? To you?"

"To me, yes, but not right now. In a few months, or a year, or tomorrow, or whenever."

"We've only been dating for six months," she said, not sounding completely offended by the idea, but not entirely gung-ho about it either.

"Is there a certain number of months we have to go out before we get married?" he asked.

She looked away for a moment, at a group of students who were chasing each other around and being quite loud. "Most people would say that's an awfully big step. We haven't even slept together."

He grinned a little. "That could change, of course, if that's what's holding you up." He quickly followed it up before she could give him more than an irritated look. "We don't have to if you don't want to," he said. "I just thought... Well, I love you. And I want to spend my life with you. It seems that it would make sense that marriage would come after that." He shrugged a little.

She didn't say anything for a moment, closing her eyes, and he studied her face, wondering what she was thinking.

Then she opened her eyes and looked at him. "All right," she said.

He blinked. "All right?"

"But I want a ring."

He smiled. "I'll get you one."

"And I want a formal proposal," she said.

"I think I can handle that too," James said. "Candlelit dinner? Picnic by the lake?"

"How about you just ask me once you get the ring?" she suggested, moving over to stand in front of him. He sat up slipped his arms around her waist, enjoying the way she fit against him.

He smiled down at her. "That works too."

*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*

James officially proposed the day after the students went home, two days before they left Hogwarts. Lily, of course, said yes, and went to breakfast with the ancient Potter engagement ring on her finger.

He didn't let her say anything, curious to see who would notice first, and how long it would take.

It was no surprise to him to find that Sybil saw it first.

Her reaction, however, was not what he was expecting. Her face paled and she sucked in her breath before turning to Lily with wide eyes. "What is that?" she demanded, her voice unsteady enough to attract nearly everyone's attention.

Lily opened her mouth to answer, but Taura was quicker. "Is that an engagement ring?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.

Lily smiled a little, and James had to admit, he felt a bit of a smirk on his own face. "Yes."

Taura jumped out of her chair and rushed over to them, gathering them in a hug. "Congratulations!" she said, kissing Lily's cheek and then James's. "Why didn't you say anything? We ought to be celebrating, not packing up the bloody school!"

McGonagall was beaming as well, and it seemed that at once, everyone had the urge to tell them congratulations as well, and ask questions and offer advice.

No, they hadn't set the date yet-

It would be a small wedding, just close friends-

They weren't going to wait long, no-

They hadn't even talked about the honeymoon, but yes, Egypt was lovely, and New York was supposed to be brilliant-

And they chatted on and on, until Lily whispered to him that she was going to find Sybil.

James glanced around and realized that the Divination Professor was not in the group of people there.

As Lily's best friend...

James felt a bit of guilt creep through him. He probably should have let her tell Sybil before breakfast, but it had been nice to have her lying next to him when he'd woken up, and he hadn't wanted her to go. She'd fallen asleep with him at about three in the morning, as they'd lain awake, talking about everything.

Yes, he definitely should have let her go, and he should have told Sirius right away as well.

Feeling a bit guilty, and a bit uneasy that Sybil had disappeared, he kissed Lily's cheek and she slipped out of the room.

Leaving him to deal with an extremely pleased staff who wanted nothing more than to know all the details of the wedding they hadn't even set a date for.

*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*

June ended and the staff parted ways for the summer.

Most of the older teachers went to their homes around the Kingdom, but some went on vacation.

Lily got a post card from Minerva McGonagall and Arabella Figg within a week of the end of school- they were visiting Arabella's daughters in Egypt, and then were off to Japan for a conference they would be attending on behalf of Hogwarts.

Lily had planned on renting an apartment for the summer, seeing as she didn't own a home and had no use for one, what with living at Hogwarts for most of the year, but James convinced her to move into the Potter Mansion.

It was not a situation where they were living together in the normal sense- Instead, he stayed in one half of the house, she in the other, and they shared the kitchen.

It was quite convenient for both of them, as James had a very unusual schedule now that he was back with the Aurors, and this way he and Lily could see each other quite often.

The looks they got from people when it came out that they were living together were quite rude, and on more than one occasion, Lily had forcibly stopped James from punching a few people who were a bit old fashioned and didn't mind saying so. Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Taura found it quite amusing that they had separate bedrooms, and did not hesitate to say so.

Sybil never said a word about it- she and Lily hadn't spoken since the day she'd found out about Lily and James's engagement.

Lily cried when she told James about it, but after that, had not brought it up.

He hadn't either, though he looked at her with concern in his eyes, and she knew he was thinking of that.

But Sybil had told her that their friendship was through, and said things that were unforgivable.

July began, and Lily still hadn't spoken with her, and she started to realize it would probably be that way for the rest of summer. Sybil was the one who needed to make the first move, Lily had decided. She was tired of being the one who made nice- now Sybil would do it.

In the middle of July, Lily was woken out of a sound sleep by a noise from the middle of the house.

She grabbed her wand and drew on her dressing gown and slippers and went to investigate.

The noise was coming from the kitchen, and so she was unsurprised to find James in there.

The expression on his face, however, was a bit of a shock.

He looked about two seconds away from weeping, and was staring at the door that lead into the dining room with an almost haunted look on his face.

She glanced at the calendar on her way into the kitchen and noted that there were two weeks until the anniversary of his family's deaths. She entered the kitchen and sat down beside him, slipping her arms around him. He slipped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder. "I couldn't sleep," he said.

She sat back, still sitting close to him. He kept his arms around her waist. She brought her hands up to touch his face, pushing his hair back. "Nightmares? Or memories?"

A bitter smile. "Aren't they the same?"

She didn't smile. "Sometimes. Sometimes they're good dreams, too."

"I wonder sometimes," was all he said for a moment. Then he sighed. "I want to take you over to... I mean, on the first, it's the anniversary of... Will you come with me?"

"Of course," she said. "Will Sirius come?"

James sighed. "I don't know. He had a hard time when his parents died- he never goes back. I don't know if he'll go or not. I won't ask him."

She wanted to argue, but didn't. She kissed him briefly. "I love you."

He kissed her. "I love you too. Sleep with me tonight?"

"Do we have to sleep?" she teased, not meaning it. They had already decided that they would wait.

He kissed her again. "What else do you do in a bed?"

Holding hands, they went up to his room.

*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*

The first day of August was bright and sunny, exactly how it should not have been.

James woke up with a sick feeling in his heart, and something warm at his side.

The something warm was, of course, Lily, and she was already awake, staring off into space.

"Morning," he said.

She blinked and looked over at him. "Hi. Good morning."

"You're usually out of bed by now," he said.

She shifted, rolling on her side. "I know. I wanted to be here when you woke up. So I stayed in bed."

"That was nice of you," he said.

"I'm nice, what can I say?"

He yawned and sat up. "You can say, 'go clean your teeth, you hot thing, Potter, and then we'll snog away the morning.'"

"I couldn't say it with a straight face," she said.

He rolled his eyes. "And you probably think you're funny."

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't keep a light mood for much longer. Even while cleaning his teeth, he started to feel nervous and uncomfortable.

He dressed with a little more care than normal, uncertain why he did such a thing- it wasn't as though his parents could see him, after all.

But he wore a tie anyway.

The house elves were rather quiet that morning, and though they greeted him, it sounded a little forced.

Lily had dressed in a sundress, nicer than normal as well. They both picked at their breakfast and didn't talk much.

The cemetery did not open until eleven o'clock, which left him almost two hours.

After breakfast, he invited her into the study.

"I have to speak to the solicitor about the family accounts," he explained. "I learned a lot from my father, but not enough to manage everything on my own. Edward is an old family friend who takes care of it."

He threw Floo Powder into the fire. "Rafferty and Rafferty, London Offices!"

A secretary's head appeared a moment later. "Mr. Potter," she said with a very pleasant smile. "How can I help you today?"

"Is Edward in?" James asked.

"I'll get him for you right now," the woman said, and disappeared.

When Edward Rafferty's head popped into the fireplace, James made the introductions and then asked Edward to summarize the accounts for Lily's' benefit.

She'd always known he had a lot of money- but this was a lot more than she had ever thought.

*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*

James was nervous. He talked a lot when he was nervous.

"Dad used to do all the investing," he said. "David and I had trust funds that would have supported us for the rest of our lives before we had turned ten, but Dad did really good for a few years, and that doubled. Just after I started at the school, some of his investments really started paying off. I don't have nearly as good a hand with money as he did, so I took half of it and put it in the bank, a quarter of it in real estate, which will hopefully pay off eventually, and then the other quarter is being run through the markets. I don't know why I'm talking about this either. I barely understand most of it." He glanced over at her and found her giving him an understanding smile. He sighed and looked ahead. "It's right up there," he said, pointing to the plot.

They continued walking, still holding hands.

About a dozen meters from the plot, he looked away from the large marker, towards the headstones of his family, preparing for the grief he knew he would feel.

It was there- but so was disbelief.

The headstones were covered with something dark, and at the beginning of the long row of headstones, two large rocks had been added, where everyone was sure to see them.

Neither James nor Lily said anything as they went over to them to read the words written in blood across them.

James Potter- last of the Potters, Mudblood lover, Dead Auror

And next to it:

Wife- Dead Mudblood.

And then, where the dates would have been: Soon.

"Are you going to report this?" Lily asked, and James looked over at her, taking in the way her fists were clenched, and the fury in her eyes.

He couldn't bring himself to reply. The anger was in him, but disbelief and hurt as well. The idea of desecrating gravesites was so wrong that he wanted to be ill- especially because this was his family, and someone had gone and done this.

Lily sighed. "James," she said, slipping her arms around his waist for a brief hug before she drew back, drawing her wand out. "I'm sorry... Let me get this cleaned up, all right? You don't need to be doing this."

He shook his head slightly. and drew his wand, pointing at the stone that was meant for her. "Scourgify."

The spell set to work immediately, but James saw that it would do no good. "Finite Incantantum," he said, and then repeated it, hoping to end the permanent charm on the rock.

Lily had moved to the end of the row, where his aunt and grandparents had been buried.

He looked down at the two stones in front of him for a long moment, and then looked over at Lily.

She wasn't looking at the headstones anymore. She was frowning and walking a little further back, towards the thick, over-grown bushes that divided this plot from the next.

He suddenly felt uneasy and started towards her, the bloody headstones forgotten.

He sped up as she stumbled backwards, her hand flying up to her mouth even as she whirled around to face him, her face pale and her eyes wide with horror. "There's someone- he's dead! Back there!"

He rushed over and pushed apart the bushes where she pointed, and cursed softly.

There was a body back there, bloody and beaten.

James turned around, going over to Lily and leading her away from the body and the blood. "Come on," he murmured, casting another look back to where the body was- now that he had seen it, it stood out clearly. "We'll go get some help, and then find you a place to sit down."

She managed to nod a little, but said nothing.

He glanced back towards the body and bloodied headstones, and tried to remember the first time he's seen a dead body - it hadn't been that long ago, had it?

Still, it felt like centuries.

*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*

The rest of the day was hell- it reminded James very much of the way it had been a year before, after his parents had died, except without so much emotional attachments.

After her initial shock, Lily calmed down quite a bit, though often reached for his hand.

The body was identified in the early afternoon as Edward Bones.

Aurors were sent to the Bones' house immediately afterwards- it was too late. His wife and their son were found dead.

The remaining family members were told to go into hiding. It would be too late for many more of them.

Sirius showed up at the cemetery shortly after that. He found them sitting outside the offices, waiting to hear they were free to go.

"What's going on?" he asked when he saw them. "They wouldn't let me back there."

"Back where?" James asked, frowning.

"By the graves," Sirius said, his hands deep in his pockets.

James frowned. "You're not here with the Aurors?"

Sirius frowned. "I took the day off," he said in a don't-ask-questions tone of voice. "What's going on?"

James explained quickly, glancing at Lily when he mentioned she'd found the body.

Sirius understood and sighed, meeting his eyes, silently asking how she was. James nodded slightly. "It's okay," he said.

"And you?" Sirius asked.

"About as well as expected," James answered. "Have a seat. We'll be here a while."

Sirius took a seat on Lily's other side. "Hey," he said.

She gave him a short smile that didn't meet her eyes. "Hi."

James took her hand.

They sat and waited.

*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*..:..*

I'm not going to bother with individual responses- I had them typed up, but it's been months, and no one remembers what they wrote back in August anyway. Thanks to all of you though. :o)

The update was delayed by three months of a bunch of people dying. My best friend's dad passed away at the end of September, out of the blue. At the end of October, they diagnosed my already terminal grandma with cancer, and she got very bad very fast- she died Thanksgiving week. Then came finals and then came Christmas break, which meant I doubled my work hours. An old family friend died right at Christmas time, and then my best friend's uncle died. School started again and I've only just been getting into the HP swing of things again. So I've got a good excuse, in addition to my struggles with this story even before. Right? Anyway.

No clue when the next update shall come.

Thoughts to Ponder:
1.) Lily and James began officially dating in February and James proposed in June. The wedding will take place in the early fall, about a year after James and Lily met again. A lot of you will think this is fast, and I imagine I would too, if it were a modern day romance. However, when I thought about the situation, I determined that it would work for them. Living in such confined quarters for that long, they got to know each other very quickly. I think of the Wizarding World as much smaller than the Muggle World, so I think that people would act a little quicker to snatch up the person that they love simply because there weren't many other options. I've tried to show Lily and James's relationship as being a very good one right from the start, and I think that would contribute speed to the situation as well. What are your thoughts on their relationship and how fast it is going?
2.) Any opinions on how it's been going with Sybil? Is it even remotely realistic? Her part is very difficult for me to write because it's such a dramatic change for her. She'll be in the next chapter (probably) and after that will pop up here and there, though not from her own POV. Lily will be thinking about her quite a bit, I'm sure.
3.) Please let me know what you honestly think of this, even if you don't really like it. I won't get offended or hurt feelings if you don't like it. I want to finish this, but if it's not entertaining you anymore, I'd rather know that now. Thanks!

Coming in the Next Chapter (if it ever gets finished): A wedding, a break-up, a baby, and a painful fight (maybe). Guesses on who is involved where? No bonus points- it ought to be easy to figure out.