Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Hogwarts, or anything that has ever been mentioned in the Harry Potter books does not belong to me. I would like to own them, and make billions of dollars every year, but the only thing in this story that is mine is my plot, if you can call it one. I am simply one of those very sad people who obsess over something that isn't real. Thank you for your time.

Chapter Twelve

Lily Evans was panicking, and it was not a pretty sight, not a pretty sight at all. It reminded all who watched of a chinchilla in a dust bath, whirling and twisting back and forth constantly, at a pace that some sprinters would sell their souls for. She was rotating so fast, and moving so quickly, that she was making Anna, her maid of honor, feel slightly nauseous, and she refused to stop babbling about anything and everything.

"This is our second wedding each within 6 months, and we're only twenty. Oh, Merlin, what if he walks out on me? After all, Karma is a part of our everyday life, and I abandoned my fiancé on our wedding day, and James discovered that his fiancée had married his best friend the night before on his wedding day, so, by the supreme order caused by Murphy's Law and Karma, I'm going to get left at the alter, and James is going to have married my best friend."

She paused, gasping for breath, and then she got a feverish glance in her eye. She rushed over to Anna, and held up her hand, nearly crying at the ring she found on it. "Sweet Merlin, Anna, you didn't marry James, did you? My God, you did! This is all still some revenge from seventh year, when I dumped him, isn't it? It's all just a con-"

Anna pinched Lily in the arm, and Lily squeaked loudly. She quieted, though, when she saw Anna's exasperated face. "Lily," Anna said in a calm, soothing voice, the kind animal trainers use with rabid animals, rolling her eyes slightly. "I've had this ring since 3rd year. I've worn it every day since then. My god, Lil, calm yourself. Control your natural urges, and all."

Alexis rolled her eyes back at Anna. She and Lily had become good friends since she had returned to England. Lily had decided that, obviously, she couldn't live in France anymore, since she was marrying James, so she had applied for a position at the Department of Mysteries, which was still pending. She had been trying to actually schedule an interview for a full week after getting back, and was feeling very dejected. The man who interviewed her had made no small point of the fact that he didn't think she, as a woman, was up to the task of working in that top secret department, and Lily thought that she had had no chance.

However, she bumped into Alexis near the Wizagament. Alexis was working as an assistant to someone on it, and had listened sympathetically to Lily's plight. Then, Lily suspected, she had gone to her superior and told him of Lily's tale. It was the only way that Lily could understand getting an interview so quickly, after being almost downright rejected as she left the day before. The two became close then, and then grew even closer when Lily learned that Alexis had all sorts of horror stories from James's childhood, and would not hesitate to share them.

Now, however, Alexis pushed Lily into a chair, and started attacking her hair. Lily was wearing the dress that she had always dreamed of, the one that she found in the French bridal shop, but couldn't wear to marry Rick. She was glad she hadn't, now. It didn't fit, but it worked beautifully now. Alexis worked on placing the view properly, and retorted, through a mouthful of pins, "James loves you, Lily. I've had to listen to the lecture about all the ways he does and why far too many times for you to be doing this now. I know he loves you, I know you love him, and so please, either shut up, or get me earplugs."

Her work finished, she pulled Lily out of the chair, and thrust her toward the door, where Mr. Evans stood waiting. They had done everything they could do. Now, it was time to hope that nature didn't screw up again.


"When Lily met James, back in first year on the boat ride over the lake, I believe she referred to him as an uncouth hellion. It was a term that fit James well, actually, considering that he had just pushed her into the freezing lake. It wasn't the best way to start a relationship, but, considering the way that they've always gone together, it fit." Anna said, beginning her maid of honor speech. She and Sirius had been frantic the night before, since neither of them had remembered the bloody speeches, but she prayed that hers would work. So far, it had.

"What followed that was a series of pranks, each trying to outdo the other. Sirius, Remus, and I helped with a few of them, but most pranks were all Lily and James's doing. We all have since concurred that they always liked each other, and were just too stubborn to admit it.

"Finally, James wised up, and decided to ask Lily out properly. Naturally, she refused, since James here wasn't exactly well versed in the proper way of talking to girls. So, on it went, until 7th year, when, finally, she agreed to go out with him. There was actually a blizzard that day, if I remember correctly, so maybe hell had frozen over at the fact that she actually dating him after all."

There were a few assorted chuckles at this, and Lily shot Anna a mock glare, but then grinned at James. Anna giggled slightly, but then continued without losing her poise. "After that, they broke up, and they made us all miserable for a few years. By a twist of fate, they came back together, but, again, were torn apart. However, a love like the one these two share is not one that can be taken lightly. So far, it has been deemed nearly impossible to break, and I hope that you will continue with that love for the rest of your lives. After what they've been through, they do deserve happiness. To Lily and James."

She raised her glass in a toast, and the assembled guests repeated, "To Lily and James." Anna wiped a tiny tear from her eye as she sat down, and then laughed at the horror-stricken look on Lily's face when her best friend realized that Sirius, as best man, had to give a speech. James looked like he was attempting to calm her down slightly, but even Anna was holding her breath when Sirius began.

"Now, when my dear friend James first met Lily, she was, if I recall rightly, saying to someone that quidditch sounded like a dumb sport. Now, James, being the obsessed maniac that he is, decided that he had to punish this blasphemous sacrilege in the best way possible at the time. He reached out, and pushed her into the lake. Lily was less than amused, and pulled him in with her. And there began The Feud."

There was much louder laughter now, and Sirius seemed to be getting into his stride. "Remus thought that they'd never get together. In fact, we bet on it, and he still owes me five galleons." He shot Remus, who was sitting at the head table with Alexis, a mock-angry glare, and continued, "But I knew that any girl who could match James in temperament, intelligence, and creativity was up to the challenge. There were, I admit, moments when I doubted it, although, particularly when Lily wrote that James was a," here he pulled a yellowing slip of paper out of his pocket, "arrogant, big head, big-headed, bombastic, cocky, conceited, crowing, egotistic, egotistical, exultant, hifalutin, hot stuff, know-it-all, loudmouth, pompous, pretentious, puffed-up, self-aggrandizing, self-applauding, smart-alecky, snooty, strutting, stuck up, swaggering, swanky, swollen-headed, vainglorious, vaunting, evil mind numbing windbag, but I knew that fate would prevail. And so it has."

He gave Lily and James a gracious smile, and finished, "So I now present to you, finally, Mr. and Mrs. James Potter. May all their days be as joyous and filled with love as this one."


TBC

gags on cheese

Sorry for the excess cheese, but you can't write a wedding scene without it, now can you?

Now there is only one chapter left. I think I am going to have to cry now.

And this is your last chance to ask for any keepsakes from this story. You can also ask for the various notes or objects from "Of Notes and Bets," because I can't do anything with them now.

Also, if anyone wants to use one of the original characters in a story of their own, just email me, and I'll see what I can do.

And even though there is only one chapter left, I would still love feedback, so go press that little button down there. I know you want to.

Now, to answer my beloved and revered reviewers,

Lily-900121- Thank you.

StaringStars- No, you're not to late at all. And copies of things (or people, in Rick's case) can be made.

Me- I know. Isn't it great?

Telwyn Dubois- Aw, now I've got a lovely warm feeling inside, almost like chocolate. Thank you.

azn flame92- See, I was good!

InLuvWitRupert- Fine, fine, have it your way.

Prongsie-Jamesie- I did too.

Grobanite- Yes, I'm going to keep it that way. And is your name inspired by Josh Groban?

Reina de la Noche- I'm not sure. The hopeless romantics of the world would rise up against you and plot your death if you don't.

ThelovelyladyLily- We have a wedding, and we have an epilogue next.

PinkyTheSnowman- What about this kind of cheese?

hpandfriendsruletheworld- I enjoy freaking people out.

Lily of the Valley23- I actually don't know if I agree, in Rick's case.

Mimbulus- Yes on both accounts.

Under-the-Moonlight- No, I didn't die. My muse did, for a while, so I had to barter for a new one.

Pristinelily- Yes, it is.

EmeraldEyedEvans- I heart LAX. We are homies, and that is spiffy.

Jersey Princess- Interesting. Very, very, interesting.

Drinks and Jazz,

Sally