Chapter two
Years later after Casalameer, Daphne, Lily, Remus, Peter, James and Sirius all graduated from Hogwarts, it was time for celebration. Lily and James were finally getting married. It was a dark time in the magical world. Voldemort's powers were at an all time high. Muggles were being killed by the hundreds, good wizarding families were being tortured and killed and the Death Eaters were watching all of them, biding their time until the right moment to strike. Perhaps these reasons contributed to the fact that James and Lily wanted this day to be a happy one. A time to forget, yet a time to remember that the world still had some joy left and that the future wasn't necessarily doomed for darkness. They had all grown in the past few, yet short years. Peter was working for his father in Diagon Alley, James was working alongside Lily in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry for Magic, Remus was working towards the welfare of werewolves (Wolfare), Daphne was a beater for the Chudley Cannons, Sirius was travelling around Europe (but of course, came back to Britain for the wedding) and Casalameer was finally working towards becoming an Auror, fulfilling her childhood dream. Altogether with several others, they were members of the Order of the Phoenix, brought forth by Albus Dumbledore, professor at Hogwarts and a dear friend. It was a beautiful day and many friends were gathered outside awaiting the wedding.
Cas and Daphne were in Lily's room helping her with her dress. "I can't believe one of us is getting married!" Daphne squealed with excitement. "I always knew you'd be the first, Lily!" Lily smiled warmly, "I bet you didn't think I'd be marrying James, though." Daphne and Cas looked at one another in disbelief. "Are you joking?" Cas laughed, "Even when you were yelling at him we could hear the love!" They all laughed at this remark because they knew it was both absurd and yet true. Lily straightened out her skirt. "Have either of you laid eyes on Sirius yet? He looks fantastic!" Casalameer looked away, not wanting the girls to see her blush. She hadn't seen Sirius since graduation and she was sure it wouldn't ever matter to Sirius anyway. He still never noticed her even when they hung out with Lily and James.
"I know!" Daphne said, "He looks so much happier now that he's on his own, away from that terrible mother. God, remember when we walked by his house and she was spitting on muggles? She was horrid!" "Alright, you two. How do I look?" Lily turned around once, showing all sides of her beautiful white wedding gown. Daphne and Cas smiled wistfully and let out sighs and squeals and tears of joy. "You look stunning, Lily." Cas whispered. "This is your day."
Lily and James looked into one another's eyes. Casalameer couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. When was she ever going to find that kind of love? As maid of honour, she stood close by behind Lily, looking over the couple as they exchanged their vows. She looked past James and watched Sirius smiling. He looked over to her and smiled still. She looked away, his smile contagious. After Lily and James kissed and everyone cheered, it was time for the party to begin. Fairies decorated the yard and Celestina Warbeck was singing her newest hit, "Spelling Love". James and Lily were enjoying the first dance and people were beginning to join in. Cas felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and found herself face to face with Sirius. "I think there's some tradition book out there that says the best man and the maid of honour have to dance." He grinned at her. Cas looked over at everyone else on the dance floor nervously and finally nodded in consent. Sirius took her by the arm and led her in the middle next to Lily and James and put his hand on her waist and took her right hand in his. Cas looked everywhere but at Sirius. She couldn't believe that she was this close to him and that this time he was paying attention to her. "There's something different about you." he said. "Not just… I don't mean you didn't look good before but…I hardly recognized you today." Cas was still looking past his shoulder at a fairy hiccoughing next to a barrel of wine. "So you're gonna be an Auror, huh? That's really cool. I wanted to try for it but sometimes I think my temper would be too much." Cas was still looking everywhere but at the man in front of her.
"Yeah, it's pretty scary sometimes but I'm getting the hang of it and I just have to work on stealth and I'll be well on my way." She finally looked up at him and he was smiling slightly.
"I guess Lily told you I've been travelling around a bit. I think I might just come back instead of going out there again. I missed home a lot and my friends. Now that I'm away from Mum, I can live wherever I want…" Now that Cas was looking at Sirius, she couldn't seem to look away. "I'd heard you were travelling. Where did you go?" "Oh…I went to Transylvania and met a few of my uncle's friends…weird lot though…only came out at night. And then I met a chap in a pub and it turned out he was the secret keeper for Atlantis so I got to visit there…lots of magic going on there. No doubt at all why they don't want muggles to find it. And I got to see a few old friends in America and we visited with some old witch named Wendelin…she was weird. Kept talking about fire…but I got tired of travelling by the time I got around to New Zealand. I daresay my owl was relieved we were going back home. Shorter travels for him. I did manage to get a few witches and wizards interested in our cause against Voldemort. Had to be really careful of what I said as Dumbledore wanted me to make sure they were trustworthy. Thank God I really listened in my occlumency lessons."
Casalameer hadn't heard a word of this. She remembered that he had just complimented her a few minutes before and was relishing the moment. She was quickly snapped back to reality when the song ended and everyone was heading to their tables. Dumbledore was to give a speech to the newly married couple and not a single soul there wanted to miss it. All the voices died down and a thin tall figure stepped his way up to a podium he had conjured moments before. Albus Dumbledore looked around at each table and smiled kindly. "What a day it has been. I think it was a matter of time before these two got married. From the day I had to separate them in the hallway for duelling over who had the better marks I knew that these two were meant to be." There was a giggle emanating from every table. "James Potter was never one to give up. And look at him now. He has achieved his greatest desire…to get Lily to finally notice him! And this time it wasn't from the Quidditch games or the numerous spells he knew…it was from loving each other and the promise to live their lives side by side. Lily Evans…now Lily Potter…was one of the brightest students Hogwarts has seen in a long time. Her knowledge of spells and particularly of one bat bogey hex which I don't think any of us will EVER forget…has shown us all that she is capable and willing to grow as a fine witch. Together, they remind us that there is still good in this world and that not even the powers of Lord Voldemort" (everyone cringed at the name) "-can stop the magic of love. James, Lily, I raise my glass to you and invite everyone to take a moment everyday to think about all the good things that happen and how if we all stand together we can fight the evils that threaten our families and friends." Dumbledore raised his glass to the couple and the whole party followed suit. A cheer erupted from the head table while Lily and James shared a sweet, if not slightly embarrassed kiss.