Chapter 36: Romance Around Every Corner

A/N: I wrote this WHOLE thing... and my brother deleted it. So I have to start from scratch. And that's not very good since I have a tiny case of writers block. Note:

In chapter 15 I put that the transparent water was now translucent. There is a difference. I should know... I studied that in science and my teacher didn't have me do jack the last semester of science. Maybe you should pay more attention in science if you don't know the difference! Thanks!

I was thirteen when I wrote most of the lines for Never Let..., and Lost In Love..., so you might think I don't know how eleven year olds act, but apparently I'm closer to the age than you are, AEN since you're calling me a stupid fourteen year old. One more flame on Never Let..., will result in its removal from Thank you!

My apologies for anything I have EVER or will EVER misspell. I was never the best reader in my class. Hell, I don't even know my phonics! So... whatever. If you understand what I'm putting than who cares if I put "your" instead of "you're" once or twice. WHATEVER!

I cannot post after the 24th of this month. So... I'm finishing a load of things I should already have done; had not my brother been a dirt bag and delete all my crap!

Lastly: Don't you hate it when people leave unsigned reviews that are flames? It's like... you can't even tell if they have a story. So you can't right well know what they mean, can you? So yes AEN if you have stories you'd like me to read then send them to me.

Critics Are People That Know The Way, But Can't Drive The Car.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Romance Around Every Corner
"Are you sure you want to move here?"

I looked around the empty house. It was collecting dust even though it had only been deserted for five months. James opened the door to his parent's old room. The house had been his ever since his parents were stolen from him, six months ago. The house-elves scurried in before we did and started cleaning as quickly as they could. James sighed, running and hand through his hair.

He nodded. "Of course, of course. It's my right to have this house."

I sat on the bed. "I know. And my parents—"

"I know that your parents have been nothing but good to me," he said quickly, sitting down on his parents' old wardrobe. "But we've been out of school for five months."

I smiled. "I meant no offense."

"Neither do I."

I kissed him lightly on the lips. "So we should get the movers to move our clothing in here."

"There's not much to move," he replied. "It shouldn't take more than two hours."

"All right."

Within an hour and a half we had all our clothing in the closest and the more homely objects were on shelves for people to see. I was putting pictures on shelves and moving food into cabinets. James was taking some of the Gryffindor things down.

"Why are you doing that?" I asked, holding out a glass for him to take a drink from.

"I don't know... I just want a change, you know?"

I nodded, sipping on my drink. "Let's go to bed."

Our first night was the roughest. Body parts clashed together. Hands hit faces; legs kicked backs, elbows smacked stomachs. We acted as though we had never slept in the same bed before. James turned on the light, sitting up. I look at the clock that read three thirty.

"If I just hold you we could sleep—"

"What if I don't want to be held?"

"Then you pay the consequences tomorrow, if we don't get any sleep," he laughed evilly.

I grinned. "What consequences would that be, Mr. Potter?"

He laughed again. "Snog me senseless all day tomorrow!"

"When I get home from work?"

"No, you've got to skip work."

I sighed. "You're mean."

He laughed. But unfortunately for him, he got sleep and we both went to work the next morning. Over the next few days the big house took time to get used to. What made it homelier was the fact that the Marauders were always popping in to visit. Sirius was in the most and didn't like the prospect of living by himself. Our first five dinners were spent with Sirius. I rolled my eyes as he rang the doorbell and when I answered it, he swept me into his arms as though he had just come home to his loving wife.

This happened day after day and it became a tradition; James always ended up coming into the room and hexing Sirius. A couple times Sirius dodged it, but other times, he spent the rest of the time with us tap dancing thanks to James.

Our one year grew nearer by the day. Soon we had barely any time for joke and fun. James tried to make everything easier by flying around the house on his broomstick. I came home to find them flying up and down the stairs, throwing fruit as they went. I yelled at James for that. He didn't understand how it was a big deal but eventually we just started laughing about it and went on cleaning up the mess he made. That caused a food fight in itself.

During Christmas time of year I still had to work. We were mastering the Unforgivables... It was probably the worst time of my life having to inflict pain on the helpless spiders. But then I remembered James getting hit by that curse and I just imagined all the horrible things Voldemort has caused, and it became easier for me.

James worked for the Daily Prophet; and for the Order he listened for all the gossip floating around the Ministry. Sirius was a bartender in Hogsmeade where he listened and spied for Dumbledore as well. Peter had received a job at Gringotts and was having a terrible time trying to ask them to join the Order's side. Remus was training to be a Healer and he was also spying for Dumbledore. They had very little to do at Christmas time of year, and spent most of it in our house.

Marlene worked in a Ministry office; Edgar was an Unspeakable. Amelia and Dorcas worked part time in Diagon Alley, but were too, training to be Aurors (though the Bones' were clueless to Amelia's training). John became a Ministry official that worked close with the new Minister of Magic and though he wasn't an Order member, he did keep Dumbledore informed with any strange activities. Edgar, Marlene and Dorcas were all spies; they investigated Ministry officials and sometimes even trailed Death Eaters... Edgar did more so, since he was an Unspeakable, which is very dangerous.

I didn't see a lot of them during out first Christmas together, but we spent a couple hours in Hogsmeade, while James and the Marauders went shopping. The house was quickly becoming more Christmas-y. The guys put a lot of mistletoe up. Unfortunately for them, when Sirius got stuck under Peter had to kiss him on the cheek. James never once got stuck under but whenever the other guys got stuck under I had to free them of the mistletoe. Can you say jealous?

The first part of Christmas was spent with all of us hanging out opening presents. Once again, Sirius managed to rack in more presents than James and I put together. He still wanted to help us unwrap ours! Sometimes I wonder when that boy will grow up. It's quite entertaining all the same. The latter part of Christmas was spent out in the snow. James asked me to go for a walk with him, and with our hands linked, we walked outside in the snow.

"Happy Christmas," he said lightly.

I laughed. "It's been Christmas all day!"

"But you know what today is don't you?"

"Nope..."

"It's our one year, love!"

"If you don't count the break up," I said loftily. But I covered my mouth. "Oh, sorry—"

He shook his head. "This isn't time for us to be upset at past mistakes."

I smiled, ruffling the snow out of his hair. "My parents want us to visit tomorrow for Boxing Day."

"Oh really?" he asked, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"Do you want to go...? I mean if you—"

James smiled, pushing me against the wall of our house. "I love you." I opened my mouth to return the phrase when he started to kiss me. I felt him smile against my lips and we sat out there in the snow kissing on and off; whilst enjoying each other's company.

My parents had us over for Boxing Day the next day and we spent most of the day with them. After dinner I heard James ask my father for a private word. My father entered the room after their discussion with a smile on his face; James blushed lightly across the top of his cheeks. When we Apparated home that night I interrogated him about the discussion; he wouldn't answer.

New Years Eve was when it all happened. I came home from a day at work totally exhausted. Everyone was there at home waiting for me, but James told me off for coming home late. All our friends stared at him strangely as he pulled me aside and started yelling at me. I insisted that I couldn't owl and that Mr. Crouch wanted to talk to me. He stared at me.

"What did you stay for?"

"He wanted me to finish this report for him. I told him I could come in early tomorrow but he wanted it done now—"

James rolled his eyes. "Is there anything in this world you enjoy more than work?"

I sighed. "Spending time with you... yes."

"Oh, don't pull that rubbish over me. Merlin, Lily! You know what?"

I stared, gulping. "What?"

"I asked Crouch to keep you late," he said, his face softening.

"Why?" I asked in confusion.

"So I could be ready to do this," he bent down on one knee and took my hand in his.

Tears welled up in my eyes and I laughed. "You did all this for—?"

"Yes," he whispered. "I decided... that since we spent our entire childhood arguing... that we could end it arguing."

"What d'you—?"

"Shhs... I want this to be special."

The lights faded in the room and out of nowhere popped dozens of roses. I looked around gasping as I heard quiet music. A light breeze filled the room and I looked up smiling. Somehow, it was snowing inside of our house. It was snowing! James fumbled with something in his pocket. He pulled out a small box and held it in his right hand.

"I've chased you for long enough. And you know how much you mean to me. I love your smile, your laugh... your love for life."

I brought my eyes down to meet his feeling the snow engulf me.

I laughed. "I can't believe this... Wow."

He sighed. "I know I'm not the best person in the world... and I know that you're the most important person in my life. I know I'm no good at giving speeches," he laughed before continuing. "But I know my feelings so... Lily..."

Tears were falling freely down his face and mine matched. I nodded, asking him to continue.

"Will... will you marry me?"

I smiled, leaning down to kiss him, as he slipped the ring on my finger. It had a big diamond on it; emeralds that were shaped in an L form were on the diamond. The band was gold and it was engraved LJ in entwined letters.

"Whoa... James... Wow... this is... too much. How can you afford—?"

James kissed me and I stopped questioning him. "Nothing is too expensive for you, love."

"I love you..."

He awaited my answer and I hugged him tightly as I noticed our friends file around us.

"James... of course I'll marry you!"

"She can't say no to a ring like that!" Dorcas said, laughing loudly.

I smiled at them all. "I'm getting married! We've got so many plans to start!"

James laughed at me, holding my hand in his. "Calm down, fiancé—"

"That sounded weird," laughed Sirius.

"I think it sounded perfect," I said, leaning on James.

"Me too."
Two months after our engagement work was the last thing on my mind. My parents, along with the girls and I were busy making wedding plan. Our wedding was scheduled for late November. Though I wanted to have it sooner rather than later, I really wanted to have it during the winter when it snowed.

"November good for you, love?"

"Whatever you think is best," he replied, flipping through the paper.

I sighed. "Do you care at all?"

He dropped the paper. "Of course I care."

"Well you don't seem to want to plan this with me—"

"Lily," he said shaking his head. "I don't want to cause disagreement. Besides this is your day—"

"Our day," I said.

He shook his head. "Your day, love. Think about it... who walks down the aisle last? You. Who has to stay hidden so the groom can't see her? You. Who is given to their husband? You."

"I don't like that phrase," I said scrunching my nose in discuss. "But yeah, I know. It's supposed to be how I dreamed about it—"

"Exactly. As long as you're there, I don't mind if it's covered with roses, lilies, or petunias! As long as you're there, and you're happy, I don't mind!"

I smiled. "That's either you being lazy or you being really sweet," I laughed, sitting on his lap and kissing him.

He laughed. "What do you choose then?"

"The latter. You're just a sweetie pie!"

He laughed. "Fit that into your vows, will you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Is Sirius going to be your best man?"

"Yep," he said, laughing quietly. "Is Dorcas your maid of honour?"

"Truthfully," I said, looking at the ground. "I wanted Petunia to be my maid of honour. But... you can't always get what you want, I suppose."

He titled my head up to meet his eyes. "Oh, cheer up, love. I'll get you a big dress... and a big... erm... whatever else you get!"

I laughed. "And the sad part is, you're serious."

"What's so funny?" he asked grinning.

"You know you can't pick out my wedding dress, silly!"

He stuck out his tongue. "Of course I know—"

"I've already got a good wedding dress anyway—"

"Have you?" he asked in surprise.

"I decided that I wanted to wear my mother's dress," I replied looking at my nails.

"Oh... well... is there anything I can do for you? Buy you something?"

"You can kiss me."

"Fair enough."

His grin caused me to giggle as he pulled me into a light kiss on the lips.