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. So please, don't sue me, all I have that is of any value is a cello and a computer. Thank you for your time
Epilogue
"And that, Harry, is how the charming yet egotistical prankster got the wonderful, witty, beautiful, intelligent red-head to finally marry him," James told his young son, rocking him back and forth gently while holding the various notes, speeches, and journal entries in one hand, placing them carefully back in the box. True to his word, Sirius had kept every single one of them. James had been rather surprised, and more than a little amused, when he saw the one from his first date with Lily, but he wisely kept his mouth shut. These were dark times, after all, and everyone needed a little bit of amusement. Sirius had told him and Remus that one night as they had gathered together, to reflect on all that had passed. In the thirteen months since James's and Lily's wedding, and even just in the two months of Harry's life, things had changed, and most of them for the worst.
Anna and Sirius were still dancing circles around each other. That had not changed; proving that some things will always stay constant, no matter what else was going on. However, that was the only thing that had not changed. Mrs. Potter had suffered a fatal heart attack a few weeks after Harry's birth, and her husband sometimes seemed that he didn't want to fight the death that was approaching ever more readily, now that he didn't have her. Lily had already lost her parents, but she and her sister were steadily growing father apart.
Remus had suffered more than all of them, though. He and Alexis, who had finally become a member of the wizengamot, had been expecting their first child around the same time as Lily and James were expecting Harry. However, a few days before the birth, Alexis had vanished completely. Around a month later, her body was discovered near an old abandoned muggle town, and no body of the baby was ever discovered.
Remus had been brokenhearted, to say the least. He had tried to will himself to death for a while, but James and Sirius told him that he had to hold on, for all their sakes. Still, nothing could help Remus anymore, and nothing would calm James's fears that the same thing would happen to Lily.
"Dear, Harry's asleep. You do know that you can put him down now, right?" a soft voice broke into his thoughts. James looked up to see his tired wife tiptoeing in, lifting Harry out of his arms, kissing her son on the forehead, and putting him back in the cradle. James looked at her with a critical eye as she tried unsuccessfully to push her hair out of her eyes. Noting the tired look in her eyes, he scooped her into his arms, and carried her into their room. She squirmed, but finally gave in, and was deposited on the bed.
"They're working you too hard, Lily. You're exhausted, and you need a break." He scolded her sternly. Lily raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing as James continued, "You know as well as I that they can live one day without you there supervising." Contrary to the predictions of most when Lily was accepted into the Department of Mysteries, the first woman to do so, she did not fail, but instead became an anchor in her new department. James was proud of her, but it was dragging her down far too much.
Lily scoffed openly at this. "So says the man who never skips a day of work, even if he gets nearly killed the day before. James, let's face it. We're important to our respective lines of work, and they need us, particularly now. I'm going to be fine. I'll take a day off sometime soon, spend it with Harry. What were you telling him for a bedtime story, anyway?" she asked, hands on hips.
James shrugged. Then, under Lily's glare, he cracked. "I was just telling him about how you and I got together; read him the notes, and all that jazz."
"You know, that child is never going to learn how to talk to girls if you keep telling him all these stories," Lily warned. "Under your tutelage, and Sirius's, he's going to get this entirely wrong idea of what girls are for. And so help me God, if you let Sirius teach him how to fly before he can walk, I am going to murder you both, and then take Harry off to America, or something. They don't play quidditch there, sound like nice, civilized folk."
James gulped loudly. "Too late, dearest," he said quietly, trying not to set off Lily's temper too badly. "You see, the last time you had to work late, I had to get something from the store, and Sirius was the only one available. You know he got Harry that nice, safe little broom when he was born? Well, they were just trying it out. And you wouldn't like America very much. They play with exploding balls instead, if I recall properly."
Lily brushed that part aside, but stared at James in horror. "You left my son with Sirius Black. You left my two month old baby with your lunatic friend who is going to get himself thrown into Azkaban one of these days." It was a statement, not a question, but the look in her eyes was anything but happy.
James knew from experience that it was for the best to get off this topic now, before Lily grew really agitated. He settled down next to her on the bed, and told her, solemnly, "Dumbledore says that the Fidelius charm is ready. All we need isPeter to do his bit, and we're safe."
"Hypothetically," she said softly, and looked up at him. "James, what if it doesn't work? What if Voldemort finds us? What i-"
James put his hand over her mouth, and told her, softly, gently, "Shh, Lily, it's going to be okay. We have each other, and nothing, but nothing, can ever tear us apart. Not Voldemort, neither fear, nor death. They can only delay us for a while, but we will always have each other, somehow. That I can promise you, for now and for forever."
The End
There. Here is your nice chapter where Lily and James are together at the end. I never promised about anyone else, and you're going to have to take what you can get. I'm sorry about Alexis, I truly am. I cried writing it. But there is a greater meaning behind it all.
If I get enough people who want it, there is a story that I have started that goes in this universe. It's set after the fifth book, and contains people and things from these stories. So, if you want it, all you have to do is let me.
Now, even though this retelling is over, that doesn't mean that I don't want you to review. So press the little button like you know you want to.
Now, to hand out the spoils-
These can be used in stories, or just for the heck of it. If you do use something in a story, I give you permission, but I would appreciate it if you'd give me credit for coming up with the idea. Whatever happens next in their story is up to you, though.
Rick- comes with various murder weapons and sharp pointy things- To PinkytheSnowman and Jersey Princess
The Chair- To EmeraldEyedEvans and StaringStars
The Chronology of the Date- To Mimbulus
BLAJBTODT- To Mimbulus
To answer my beloved reviewers-
Grobanite- You and my sister both. She sang with him. as part of the children's choir at last years super bowl, and now she won't shut up about him. He is beautiful, though, isn't he?
hpandfriendsruletheworld- I know. I'm going to cry now.
ThelovelyladyLily- An uncouth hellion is basically a complete savage. And see, I didn't break them up. I just killed Alexis.
Mika Rieu- I'm sorry. Sirius was being uncooperative.
firefur1- No, you really can't, can you?
EmeraldEyedEvans- Yes, well, no one seems to want her.
Mimbulus- Of course. How else would you do it?
StaringStars- Oh, there's nothing wrong with it. I cried when I did mean things to my characters.
Lily of the Valley23- Plus, really, who wouldn't leave him at the alter?
Jersey Princess- Thanks.
InLuvWitRupert- The weddings I've been to were mostly amusing, so, I feel sorry for you.
Pristinelily- I'm sorry you feel that way. You know, you never have a kind thing to say about my stories. If you dislike them as much as you seem to do, why do you read them? And if you're going to make criticisms, please tell me where and what, so I know what to fix.
Ciao for a final time on this journey-
Sally
