:: Okay time for another intervention and admittance that I am not in any way making money off this. Hell, I'm not getting anything out of this…
With enough planning and preparation, the wedding was set. Ava didn't remember much after her vacation, as it was filled with Lily's plans and what time wasn't spoken for she had to work during. Sadly, that meant that Ava did have to converse with Petunia, who luckily spoke of her new boyfriend, Vincent, Victor, Vernon? Who ever the foul muggle was, Ava gave polite, non-committal 'mm-hmm's and 'oh's to everything she said. Lily later told her she was very proud.
Because Petunia was a complete drip, it fell upon Ava to give Lily a shower and bachelorette bash. The shower, with fluffy white towels and crystal punch bowls, she suffered through, knowing the night of the rehearsal would be worth it. All patiently blocked their steps through during the rehearsal, Sirius as the best man, Remus as a groomsman, followed by Peter. Petunia said she wouldn't have any part of the wedding party of freaks, which she managed to put in her own words, so Ava filled in as maid of honor. Leaving a bridesmaid spot open, Lily called in another friend. She went all out wizard, thinking that she might as well, James family and friends were mostly so. The few muggles that did come where ones that they knew they could trust, such that had kids or siblings of the magic persuasion.
Supposedly, a bad rehearsal means a good wedding and marriage. Lily didn't know if this was good or bad. The rehearsal took an hour and half longer than planned due to blocking errors. Patiently, the problems were smoothed out. Weddings do have a way of putting everyone on edge and problems do arise. Ava swore to Lily that she wouldn't get married, and Lily wouldn't have to worry about attending, Lily laughed that off as ridiculous. But after the rehearsal, the dinner, and seeing out of town guest off for the night, the fun started.
Nixing the stripper idea, Ava had to think weeks in advance what to give Lily a thrill. She had planned to take Lily off the island, but the prolonged extravaganza killed that idea. Or so she had thought. After dropping off Lily's eccentric relatives, they stopped at a nearby pub to get started. Lily had originally negated the drinking idea, but those relatives cleared the course for action. So they found the Grinning Goblin and took their chances. Within a few drinks they were singing along with the bikers who patronized the fine establishment of hobgoblin, as they cut out the 'grinning' bit. They got kicked out, jokingly, after picking the wrong song. But they said they would head on their way anyhow. They ran by the inn and the other bridesmaids, Isobel, and Devon.
They picked a club called Leprechaun, Which was busy, but Isobel and Devon begged out due to the jet lag. The bridesmaids mentioned a nice bar down the way, the Fox and Hound, which they all stopped at. Ava wouldn't let her best friend's night end like this, so early. Feeling her liquor, she made an excuse to the rest, saying she was dragging Lily back to the Leprechaun. Once they were outside, Lily was giggling as they went along back down the road. Ava, not quite as spiked as Lily, was still thinking 'somewhat' straight. She gave Lily a nudge as the two fell into an alleyway. Lily stumbled around, giggling still, asking her what they were doing here.
"You're good at transfiguration right, Potter? Ava was trying to get in the habit of calling her by her new name. She had been Evans for years, Ava had to straighten in out in her head.
"You know that," Lily hiccupped.
"So have at it," she told her. Lily didn't do anything but look at her. "Go on then."
"What are you talking about, you wench?" Lily asked trying to straighten.
"Change into something small," Ava gestured wildly ironically. "Like a mouse!" she giggled at that. Lily hopped around looking down. She stopped and glared at her friend.
"No!" She exaggerated her response with her eyes round.
"C'mon," Ava tried again. "Hop on."
Lily didn't have a chance to ask her what she meant, before stood a hawk, patiently waiting, standing still. Lily, smashed to pieces, shrugged as she transfigured into a ladybug, taking Ava suggestion of something small beyond the need. As soon as she crawled up Ava leg the hawk took off, due west.
--
For the marauders, their evening started the minute they left the rehearsal. When guys get married, they usually only have to sit back and say 'I do'. Lily pretty much took care of everything, plans, relatives, everything but his side of the vows. The agreed to make up their own, so all he had to do was 'brainstorm, write down some mushy stuff and then drink all he wanted'-her words.
Sirius really hadn't found anything for them to do for James' big last night of bachelorhood. He hadn't really gone out of his way to do anything, they'd just see how it went. Bypassing the Red Lion, They headed out to a place along the river Thames called the Quarry. It had been a place that had been on random need of their patronage. After finding it decidedly dead, they went back to Peter's pad across the river.
Making various stops in to pubs, they found nothing to amuse themselves. Before they arrived at Wormtail's flat, they stopped at the liquor store to get some ammunition. Afterwards they goofed of for a while, seeing what they felt like. James had a nagging feeling, so he picked up pencil and pad to write down some words for Lily.
"Hit me again." He held out his glass to Peter, not looking up from the gibberish he had written down.
"What you got?" Peter looked over his shoulder.
"Ugh," James groaned tossing the pad onto the table. "Trying to create some wowing vows."
"Ah, mate," Sirius grinned. "Still cant believe you're gong through with it." He really did, but James always needed the ribbing.
"We've talked about this," he turned a nasty grin on Sirius. "Who do you thinks next?"
Sirius looked over to Peter and Remus comparing the two in mock thought. Remus looked at him and shook his head. Peter looked embarrassed and walked off to his kitchen to get some food. James laughed at the lot.
"Ya git," James cracked at him. "Fool."
"You're the one getting married." Sirius pointed out the fool in love.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." He leaned back, his hands behind his head. He looked over at the table and saw the haunting paper and he fell forward again. "C'mon Moony, you're eloquent!"
"Yah," His sarcastic voice laughed. "I'm not the one marrying Evans, the love of your life since, oh 11!"
"Mm," James remembered all their years at school. "She sure hated me!" he laughed.
"About as much as I hate dogs!" Sirius laughed. Which is to say, that Lily never hated James. "It was a love-hate-love thing."
"So say something about that." Peter was trying to be helpful.
" 'You hated my guts, now you're stuck with me for life?' " James nodded as he said it. "Has a nice ring to it."
"What do you want to bet Lily's vows were written weeks ago?" Remus snickered.
"I'm not a fool," Sirius laughed before James could say anything. "I'm not taking that bet."
They bantered back and forth for a while. Mostly they just gabbed instead of help out their friend with his dilemma. More drinks later they were back in the same spot, but a little, if note more, inebriated.
" 'Your eyes shine like golden snitches!' " Peter cackled.
"Except they're green!" James snorted.
" 'The redness of your hair match my bloodshot eyes!' " Sirius supplied.
" 'My heart beats for yours in time with the pounding in my head.' " Remus tried it out.
James laughed, amused with them all. With some outlet of laughter, he tried to get serious, which was hard due to the high he was on. "You're, she's-"
James was trying, so they all wrangled in their bad jokes. All sat for a few minutes thinking. Remus just shrugged. "Keep it simple, mate."
Sirius nodded. "Yeh, that way you don't have to spout too much frilly rubbish."
"The kind girls like?" Peter tried.
"Not all of them." Remus grinned at Sirius.
James still sat mulling it over, pencil in one hand, pint in the other. They were all still feeling their highs from the beer and alcohol, but tried to help him out. Finally, Sirius looked at him and held his hand out, fingers towards James.
"All the roses in the garden, they bow and ask her pardon," Sirius started, sounding thoughtful, "for not one could match her beauty."
"Maybe if he was marrying the Queen of all Argyll." Remus laughed at him. Sirius grinned and broke into song, Remus following.
"The swan was in her movement, and the morning in her smile."
"Hey! That's what we should have done!" Peter exclaimed.
"Go to Scotland?" Sirius asked. "With all those Jocs?"
"We could've gone to see the old school." James laughed at the thought.
"Played some Quidditch." Remus pitched in.
Sirius nodded, then it hit him, and he hopped up. "C'mon then."
They looked at him expectantly. He rolled his eyes at there lack of faith in him. "We'll just head over to the Leaky Cauldron. We can scrounge up another team there."
"And play where?"
"In Diagon Alley." They laughed at his wild idea, he nodded exaggeratedly, then explain. "It can be like Extreme Quidditch."
"Quidditch is already extreme!" Peter threw in.
"Ah, it'll be fun." Sirius turned around and walked out the door, not even bothering to see if they followed. He took a last swig of his drink and popped over to inside the Leaky Cauldron for some drunk flying. His mates, as always followed.
:: A short one I know. But I'm sure you will like the next installment. Which will hopefully make its debut soon…flighty creatures these chapter are…
Before I go, I would like to remind anyone who is reading this-what one, two people?- that another story of mine 'Thorns' is how Sirius and Ava meet, how James and Lily get together, and a slow draw of Peter to the darkside. Remus-kins as well. In case anyone is wondering. So if you'd like the back story…. Thanx to je suis une pizza, i did as you so graciously requested :)
