This chapter is a bit shorter but I think that it's also a bit better than the last one. Please review and I don't mind flames!
"Really Lily; lunch went perfectly fine!" Sirius insisted as he starting to vanish the candles and tablecloth.
Lily rolled her eyes and ignored him, concentrating more on the nauseating feeling in the pit of her stomach. She felt like throwing up.
James smiled encouragingly at her, "I think we're lucky that Moony wasn't in a very talkative mood. I guess the mission is more dangerous than he let on, that's why he was so quiet."
Lily frowned, she was concerned for Remus' well-being, "I wonder what it was?"
"I need to see Dumbledore today so when I go over to him I'll ask him about Remus for you," James offered.
"I could go with and ask," Lily really didn't want James to do her any favours.
James shook his head, "I don't think you should Lily, the Healer said that she was going to Floo over to tell you your diagnosis so you need to be here."
"Alone? With Sirius? That's going to be torture," Lily whined, "and he might just hex me because he's mad at me."
"Sirius won't hex you," James said calmly.
"What makes you so sure?" Lily asked doubtfully.
"I'll make him promise not to," James said simply, "Padfoot won't if I tell him not to."
There was something about James' eyes right then that made Lily believe him and trust him completely. 'He will protect me.' The thought drifted unbidden across her mind and Lily was immediately angry at herself. 'You can't trust Black or Potter.' A different voice told her stubbornly, but still, looking into James' eyes Lily almost truly believed him. Almost.
James could sense her reluctance to trust him and sighed, "You don't have to believe me."
Lily looked at him and nodded slowly, "What choice do I have? He won't go away."
"You do realize I can hear you!" Sirius said indignantly, "Lily's right; I won't leave because you promised to play Quidditch with me this evening, Prongs."
James glanced at the clock on the wall, "I think I'd better go now; Dumbledore wanted me there as soon as possible. Padfoot," he looked sternly at his best friend, "behave; no hexing Lily. No matter what," he said the last words clearly and seriously.
Sirius saluted, "I solemnly swear that I, Sirius Orion Black, will not hex Lily... um... what's your second name?"
"Lily Elizabeth Evans," James supplied and gave Sirius a look that plainly meant 'go on'.
"I will not hex Lily Elizabeth Evans today," seeing James' glare he hurriedly continued, "Or any time this week. Fine! I will not hex her at all. Are you satisfied, Prongs?"
James nodded, fetched his Invisibility Cloak (seeing it made Lily's eyes widen) and then he Disapparated soundlessly.
Lily stared at the spot where he had been. "How did he do that so quietly?" she asked, dumbfounded.
Sirius shrugged, "Practice? He got great marks in Stealth and Secrecy tests when he became an Auror."
Lily said nothing to this and walked into the lounge, Sirius trailing her. She sat down and looked at Sirius who was seated opposite her. "How does James expect me to entertain you?" she asked, not entirely politely.
Sirius shrugged and stretched back on the couch, his hands behind his head, "Talking to me."
"About what?" Lily wasn't at all interested in the answer but asked him anyway.
"We need to get something straight, Lily Evans,"
Sirius sat up and stared at her, completely focused
and sincere,
"you are not as great as you think you are."
Lily felt that his statement was so inadequate she couldn't help protesting, "I don't think I'm the greatest, that's Potter's job!"
Sirius glared angrily at her and spoke again, "You don't deserve him."
"I don't want him," Lily pointed out.
Sirius continued in a softer voice, as though he hadn't heard her comment, "James adores you; I can see it in his eyes. You mean the world to him. If he could, he would have had you in his arms, spoiling you and just enjoying Christmas with you! That's all he wanted for today: to be with you and be able to look after you since you were ill yesterday. I knew the second I came in that something was wrong because James and you never fight like that. Prongs has always been so happy since he married you that it's creepy."
Lily didn't smile. She was breathing heavily and she shook her head in disbelief, "No."
Sirius became angry again, "Of course you wouldn't care! You're just an ungrateful brat who can't understand how lucky you are. You don't care if you break his heart, as long as it doesn't hurt you. Selfishness."
Lily found her voice and said clearly, "This wasn't my choice! The last thing I'd want to do is promise James anything. How could I have married him? He must have put me under the Imperius curse."
In a second Sirius' wand was out and pointed at her, "Take that back," he hissed, his voice quiet and dangerous. "James would never use the Dark Arts."
Lily glared back at him, "You promised not to hex me. I don't actually think James used the Imperius but but he must have used some mind charm."
"You're right," Sirius slowly lowered his long holly wood wand, "I promised not to hex you." He promptly slapped her, not hard but enough to get Lily back to her senses.
There were two seconds of stunned silence before Lily exhaled sharply.
"I didn't ask for this, Sirius," she said quietly, "I was expecting everything in the future to be the way I wanted it to be. It's a huge shock that it isn't."
Sirius calmed down and spoke sympathetically, "I know, but whether you like it or not; this is your life. Lily Potter is happy. You loved James when you married him; I promise."
"What was the wedding like?" Lily asked him curiously.
Sirius laughed, "Well, I'd prefer to tell you about that than be at loggerheads. All right; I'll show you where you had it."
Lily gaped, "Right now? Is it far? I can't Apparate far away yet!"
"Calm down, it's right here, in Godric's Hollow," Sirius went to get his coat.
"Godric's Hollow? Is that where we live?" Lily was full of questions.
"Yup, it's a small village but really beautiful and peaceful. You got married in the church near the stream," Sirius starry-eyed and was far away, envisioning times passed.
Lily got out one of her coats from under the tree and wrapped it around herself. "Ready," she chirped from within the furry brown interior.
The two started to walk down the pathway and towards the setting sun. Lily was surprised to see many ornaments decorating the neighbours' lawns, some were gigantic snowmen or baubles that sparkled and lit up the entire garden.
She turned sharply to Sirius, "Is this a wizarding town?"
Sirius nodded, "Yup, or it was at least, about two hundred years ago. Now a lot of the people here are Muggles but your house has been in the Potter family for centuries so James wouldn't give it up."
"I thought that Hogsmeade was the only wizarding town in England," she looked around her at the quiet houses.
"Hogsmeade is the only one without Muggles now. But Godric's Hollow was once only wizards and it's in Wales anyway. It was established by wizards, that's why it has the name but it's got Muggles and wizards here now."
"Don't the Muggles notice the magical decorations?" Lily knew the answer.
Sirius snorted, "They just think the ornaments were really expensive and well-made. If they get too curious, they get Obliviated."
Lily nodded and they continued to trudge through the soft snow.
They entered the chapel and Lily looked around in awe. It was small but still magnificent with a high ceiling and stained glass windows. The pews were had comfortable seating and it was warm inside.
"It was amazing in that July, you got married and then the reception was out by the stream. The flowers were beautiful," Sirius wasn't ashamed of sounding a bit soppy; he really had found it perfect. He had needed it to be perfect, for James' sake.
"What about my dress?" Lily questioned.
Sirius leaned back on one of the pews, "That would spoil the surprise," he smirked, "besides, I'm a guy; I don't know how to describe clothes!"
A lump formed in her throat and she felt tears come to her eyes. The perfect wedding deserved the perfect bride and groom. Two people who really loved each other. 'Am I judging James too quickly?' she mentally asked herself. She remembered his actions that morning and sighed. He seemed better. Then she stopped that train of thought. James had always been a good actor. What if he was just faking caring about her. The small voice in her head cried out that she was being stupid but her stubborn streak was winning over.
She didn't even care when Sirius' voice wafted past her ear, "That was the happiest I've ever seen James."
She firmly thought 'I don't care, right?'
About half an hour later Lily was broken out of her thoughts by the sound of footsteps.
James came in, he wore a coat similar to Lily's and tiny snowflakes were all over his messy hair and eyelashes.
'He's so handsome,' the thought came to her before she could stop it and her stomach gave another sickening lurch.
He grinned, "If you're going to play hide and seek, you might want to pick a less predictable place, Padfoot."
'He looks so cute when he smiles,' the thought came suddenly and it scared Lily.
"We were just looking around, Lily was interested in seeing more of the village," Sirius told James. "We were also talking."
"I found it interesting but I think I should go home soon in case St. Mungo's tries to Floo over and I'm not home," Lily said rising. She felt slightly awkward being with James. Her conflicting emotions had yet to decide if he was, well, a good man. She knew that "good man" wasn't a good way to describe it but... she shook her head in agitation. It didn't make sense.
James followed Lily with his eyes as she picked up her coat and left. He sighed and sank back in his seat, "She's so beautiful, Padfoot."
Sirius rolled his eyes, making sure James didn't see. "And her temper is ugly."
James chuckled, "I can win her round. I know I can. I did it before so I can do it again."
"When did she start going out with you?" Sirius asked James.
"January in our seventh year," his face fell and he slowly whispered, "no, it can't be. Do you know what that means, Padfoot?"
Sirius shrugged, "That she started liking you after this whole Christmas thing."
"Exactly! She must have started liking me while she was here!" James looked excited, "It does work, she does get back!"
"How do you know that it wasn't Lily Potter who went out with you?" Sirius asked James.
James looked serious, "I suppose it could have been. I wonder if I married Lily Potter or Lily Evans."
"You are confusing me, Prongs!" Sirius put his hands over his ears.
James laughed, "I'm confusing myself too! Let's talk about something else. What did you and Lily talk about?"
Sirius decided that honesty was the best option, "You. She was wondering how she could have married you." He hesitated before adding, "She thought you might have used an Unforgivable to make her."
James paled slightly but nodded, "You told her I didn't, right?"
Sirius nodded and continued casually, "And slapped her. She deserved it."
Colour rushed to James cheeks. He slapped Sirius, "You promised not to hurt her!"
"Tsk, tsk. I promised not to hex her, and I didn't," Sirius folded his arms across his chest.
"I don't care, if you hurt my wife, you hurt me. This isn't her fault, Padfoot. And I still love her even though she isn't who she normally is. Please, just leave her alone," James looked at Sirius with a pleading look in his eyes.
Sirius sighed and slowly nodded, "You know I can't resist that begging face!" Then he grinned, "You have a good aim, Prongs. That slap really hurt!" He rubbed his cheek.
James bit back a smile, "I can't quite truthfully say that I'm sorry about it. Just don't do that again. Agreed?"
"Sure, anything to keep my face in one piece! I'm thankful you didn't decide to hex me. But seriously, Prongs; I won't," Sirius laughed and Conjured an ice pack to put on his face, "No hard feelings, of course."
James grinned innocently at his best friend, "Of course not."
So, what do you think? Better, worse? Please tell me in a review!
I know that Lily and James have probably already heard the prophecy (OotP says so) but in this story they haven't. Sorry. I may include them hearing it later in the fic.
