Remus' spirits did not improve by the time Lily's invitation for the group to spend the weekend with her arrived. He refused to discuss the subject, however, making Sirius and Peter reluctant to share any their employment news with him. They took to trying to hide new letters that came for them, making Remus irrationally annoyed.
James provided an interesting diversion after Sirius persuaded him to tell the entire story. Having been persuaded by Remus that exchanged avowals of love did not constitute an engagement; he threw his energies into dreaming up a perfect proposal. He wrote to Lily's friends asking for advice and pored over the replies, amusing his friends heartily.
"Lavinia Brown says I should ask her by moonlight since that "the most romantic setting" but Radha Patil thinks it should take place in early morning because that's Lily's favourite time of the day," James reported as he looked up from the heap of letters the quartet were perusing. "I can't do both, can I?"
"You are hardly awake in early mornings most of the time," Peter pointed out practically.
"Prongs, old friend, if you follow everything here, you'd have to propose during an eclipse in a garden beside a chocolate river, playing a violin, with a mountain of lilies in one hand and an emerald, ruby and diamond ring in the other," Sirius commented.
James frowned. "I can do the lilies and the ring but …." Remus sent a dusty cushion flying towards him while the other groaned.
"I am in full agreement with Alice," Remus said after the good-natured punching subsided.
"What did she say?" James asked. He grabbed Alice's letter out of Remus' hand.
It was, Remus thought wryly, very short.
James,
Just get on with it, you dolt but make sure its sincere.
Just then, a flock of owls flew in, sprinkling more letters in the center of the loose circle they were sitting in. Letters bearing many official logos. The entire group stiffened.
None for me then, Remus thought dismally. His face tightened even more when everyone stared at him uneasily. Unable to bear the concerned scrutiny a minute longer, he stood up hastily.
"I just need to….excuse me a minute," he strode off quickly. He headed for the bathroom a short hop from the room.
"We really need to do something about him, mates," Remus heard James' decided voice say. The hearing range for a wolf is so much higher. They should have remembered. James' clear voice continued. "Dumbledore would help him, wouldn't he? And he wants to teach."
Sirius snorted derisively. "Eighteen-year old wizards with no experience can't teach. And Remus doesn't want to live off his family, much less accept Dumbledore's help."
James' voice remained confident. "We have never failed at anything yet. We'll think of something." The last sentence was so well-stressed, it could be heard well outside the room.
It occurred to Remus, as he leaned against the doorway to the bathroom that he was meant to hear what was said. And what remained unsaid came loud and clear.
We are with you, mate.
Lily woke up on the morning of her house party with a ringing headache. The night before, Petunia had thrown another fit at being forced to stay at home for the weekend to get acquainted with her friends.
"You can't make me stay here with a bunch of freaks," she had yelled at her parents in the end. "I would rather starve than come down!" After which she had run up the stairs, slammed it shut and locked it.
Lily walked across the landing and tapped on the door hesitantly. There was no reply. Her sister's intractability twisted her heart.
Sighing, she slipped quietly down the stairs. She had only invited 6 people to make the entire affair more tolerable to Petunia but it seemed as if it made no difference.
Seated at the breakfast table, Mrs Evans pasted an overbright smile on her face as Lily walked in. "Morning, dear." Her father peered over his coffee cup and nodded in greeting.
"Good…" Violins strains of a melodious song drifted into the Evans' kitchen drowning her greeting.
"What is that?" asked Mr. Evans, puzzled. "Did Petunia decide to take up the violin?"
With a feeling of foreboding, Lily pulled up the window blinds. "Oh my……."
Mrs Evans gasped. "Harold, you must see this!"
An invisible hand was strewing a carpet of lilies up the garden path to the steps of the Evans' back door. Music from a violin poured on as if it descended from the sky.
Mr Evans turned to his daughter. "Is this your friends idea of a joke?"
Lily wanted to laugh but put on her most sombre expression. "I really don't know…" She opened the back door. "James, are you under your Invisibility ….?"
Mrs Evans screamed as James Apparated on their doorstep. He sank onn one knee seemingly oblivious to her parents' presence.
"Lily," he said solemnly. "Will you marry me?"
As if on cur, a shower of chocolates descended upon them . They were as hard as hailstones. Lily hurriedly ducked.
"Ow. Stop! " James could help yelping as a few hit him on the head. By now, Lily had doubled over laughing helplessly.
Sirius pulled the Invisibility Cloak off his head.
"I told you the chocolates were a bad idea, Prongs," said his apparently disembodied head.
Mrs Evans fainted.
p.s Many thanks to reviewers especially Lilykins for still being interested after so long...as for your question...err...guess you will know soon...