Disclaimer: I don't own anything JK does.

Chapter 18- Good News and Bad News

Alex woke up on the day of her birthday with a strong smell of roses. When she opened her eyes she discovered that her room was covered with white roses. A note was sitting on a stand next to her. Smiling, Alex opened the note, which said 'Meet me at the garden'. She put on jeans and a shirt and ran to her garden. Someone was standing there and when she approached the person, she discovered it was Jake.

"Jake, was it you who sent me all those roses?" Alex said, hugging him.

"Yes, did you like the surprise?"

"Are you kidding me? I loved it!"

"Alex, there's something I would like to ask you."

"Yeah?" Jake kneeled down and removed a tiny box from his pocket. Alex smiled and Jake said:

"Alexandra Iris Beauregard Owens, I love you with all my heart, will you marry me?" Alex squealed with delight and shouted "Yes" for the everyone to hear. She kissed Jake, who slipped a silver ring with a large turquoise on top of it in her finger. They made their way to Alex's house, and Jake told her that if she wanted to, they could marry a month after graduation. Alex nodded eagerly, and when they entered her house, she shouted:

"Grandmother, Audrey, Will! Come here!"

"What is it, Alex?" Audrey asked sleepily.

"Jake proposed!"

"Excuse me?" Alex's Grandmother, Victoria Owens, appeared and walked over to where Alex and Jake were standing.

"Mrs. Owens, I proposed to your grandmother. Of course, we would only marry after Hogwarts. Will you let Alex marry me?" Jake asked.

"If you love my granddaughter, then yes, you may marry her."

"I love her with all my heart, Mrs. Owens, believe me."

"I must go now, to tell the whole family. I will, of course, be organising the wedding. I'm sure both of you want to marry as soon as possible, so when you graduate from Hogwarts everything will be ready. Congratulations, Alex, for finding such a wonderful young man. He reminds me of your grandfather, Charles, when he talked to my parents for the first time. Oh, and Alex, your apparating test is today, at four," Victoria Owens disapparated and Audrey ran to hug her sister. The girls embraced tightly, and both were jumping up and down. Will, who was now fifteen, stood next to Jake, as if daring him to do something to his older sister.

"Oh, Jake, this is the best birthday of my life! We're getting married, I can officially do magic, and I'm going to have my apparating test!"

"And this is the best day of my life, Alex," Jake said, smiling at her.

"Oh really? And why is that?"

"Because I'm getting married to the woman I love, she is happy, and I get to snog her before anyone comes."Audrey and Will snorted, and left the room. They laughed and started kissing, but were interrupted when a voice said:

"For heaven's sake, how many times do I have to tell you guys to get a room?"

"James? Lily? Carrie? Ellen? Esther? Sirius? Peter? Remus? What are you guys doing here?"

"Well, guess what, Miss Owens, it's your birthday!" James said as he hugged her.

"Please James, address me as Mrs. Jake Perry-to-be."

"Perry-to-be? Why?" Peter asked.

"Because Jake and I are getting married!"

"What?"

"Sorry?"

"Married?"

"When?"

"How?"

"WHAT?"

"Impossible."

"You're too young."

"We're not getting married right now, idiots. We're getting married after graduation. Jake proposed today."

"Congratulations, Alex!" Esther cried.

"Can I be a bridesmaid?" Lily asked.

"Aww, how sweet!" Carrie said.

"Good luck, Alex!" Ellen said.

"Perry, what are your intentions our lil' Alex?" Sirius asked, looking menancing.

"Sirius!" Alex said.

"Sirius is right! What are your intentions with Alex?" Remus said.

"Boys, stop it, or I'll have to put you on time-out. Do you want to be on time-out?" Alex said, pretending to be their mothers.

"Mummy!" The Marauders said in unison and they all hugged Alex, who fell down. Lily screamed:

"Mosh!" And jumped on the pile of people, followed by the rest of the girls. Alex started screaming for help and finally the boys and girls got up. Alex muttered something and flicked her wand and everyone piled on top of Lily. when they tried to move, they discovered that they couldn't because they were all glue to each other, in the most uncomfortable position of course. Alex laughed and left the room to eat breakfast, accompanied only by Jake.

"Er, am I only the only one, or is this very uncomfortable?" Peter asked.

"Nope, I'm just as uncomfortable as you, Pete. Hey, Schlotsky, easy on the goods, darling," James said.(A/N: I know, I know, Pirates of the Caribbean line. But please forgive me, since it happens to be one of my favorite movies) Esther was right on top of him, and her elbow was rather close to his personal parts.

"Sorry, James, but there's not much I can do!" Esther said irritatedly.

The unfortunate group remained in that position for an hour, when Alex and Jake appeared. They burst out laughing when they saw the group and it took a lot of Alex's self-control to remove the spell.

"Dearest Alex, what made you think that was funny?" Remus said, rubbing his aching arm.

"The fact that it was funny, you know, Moony," Alex said, hugging him.

The rest of the day was fun for everyone, although Alex and Jake were teased a lot. Alex passed the apparating exam and was now apparating every few feet just to show that she could do it. She invited Lily to spend the night at her house, and Lily sent her mother a note, explaining everything. Jake, who could also apparate, stayed with them, and so did James and Sirius, who lived very close to Alex. The five of them decided to go for a walk when suddenly everything became very dark and they were thrown to the floor.

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Lily stood up dizzily and tried to look in front of her, but it was impossible. She heard a swish of robes behind her and turned around quickly.

"Alex? Jake? Sirius? James? Where are you?" Lily shouted, greeted only by silence. She heard another swish of robes and was suddenly grabbed by her arm. Lily gasped and a cloth was shoved inside her mouth while someone tied her hands. She was thrown on the floor and she heard several pops and cracks around her and people struggling. A green glow suddenly lit up and it began to glow more intensely, revealing her captors and James, Sirius, Alex, and Jake in a circle next to her. James had a cut on his lower lip, Sirius was sporting a black eyes, Alex had a scratch on her forehead and Jake had a small gash on his arm.

A soft pop caught Lily's attention and when she turned she heard Alex's sharp intake. A deathly pale, tall man stood in front of them. He had slits instead of a nose and blood red narrow eyes. He was playing with his wand and chuckling to himself.

"Good evening, Miss Owens, Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, Mr. Perry, and Mr. Black. I suppose you already know, but I am Lord Voldemort. Take off their gags." A masked man removed the cloth in Lily's mouth and she started coughing.

"What do you want from us?" James shouted as soon as the cloth was removed from his mouth.

"I would like to make you a proposition."

"I would never negotiate with you, Voldemort!" Jake shouted.

"Hear me first!" Voldemort made a sharp jab with his wand and Jake was thrown back on the floor, "The five of you become Death Eaters and join me, and I don't touch your family. Don't join me, and you'll suffer."

"Never," Alex said firmly.

"In your dreams, Voldemort," James said.

"No, I don't think so," Jake said.

"I'd rather not," Sirius said coldly.

"Ah, Alexandra, you're as beautiful as the last time we met. I'm sure you wouldn't want something as disastrous as our last meeting, would you?"

"No, I wouldn't. But even if I joined you, you would kill everyone I know."

Voldemort smiled coldly, and turned to Lily, "What about you, Lily? Care to join me?"

"No. Why do you want me to join you? I am a muggle born after all."

"Yes, but don't get me wrong. I don't usually summon mudbloods, but you are exceptional. I feel your strength. Oh well, no one wants to join me, so I'm forced to do this," Voldemort said. He disapparated along with his DE and the group tried franctically to remove their bindings. Lily freed herself first and she untied Alex quickly. They untied the boys and Alex said:

"How did he come here? Grandmother filled the manor with charms and curses after Mum and Dad died."

"I don't care, but where did he go? I don't need to worry about my family, but you guys better get home, and quick," Sirius said.

"Lily, you go with Alex to Alex's house and Sirius and I will go home. Jake goes to his house, and we meet over at my house, okay?" James said and he disapparated quickly.

Lily and Alex ran to Alex's house because Lily still couldn't apparate. After they made sure everyone was fine, they went to James's house by Floo, to find James and Sirius crouched over two bodies. Alex cried out and ran to them and hugged them tightly, saying comforting words to them. James was devastated with his parent's death and so was Sirius, since they had been his only caring family. Lily and Jake hovered near the fireplace while Aurors appeared all over them.

"Excuse me, what are your names?" asked a tall lady with a notepad.

"Lily Evans and Jake Perry," Jake said.

"What are you doing here?"

"Uh, I know this will sound strange, but you see, we were walking around the Owens grounds when suddenly we were attacked by a bunch of Death Eaters and Voldemort asked us if we wanted to join him. We all said no, and he left. He obviously came here and murdered the Potters," Lily explained.

"Thank you. I would suggest for you to go home now."