Chapter Nineteen: Meeting a Mum

"Are you sure about this?" Lily asked nervously as she and James took their seats in their Heads compartment. The two were required to stay there for the first leg of their trip, in case anything went wrong and so students would know where to find them.

James grinned affectionately at her. "It's fine, Lily, really. I wouldn't have said yes if I didn't want to."

"But… you were so unfairly put on the spot by Alice," Lily argued.

"I could have also said that I wanted to help my mum with spring cleaning," James put in.

Lily frowned. "So Peter was lying, then? Why would he do that?"

James mentally smacked himself on the forehead. Dammit, Potter, you almost gave it away! Peter had said no just because he knew that James would be especially angry with him if he said yes.

"No," James quickly covered, "that was just an example. Pete always goes home for Easter… to help his mum and for the delicious Easter cookies she makes," he finished with his usual grin.

Lily chuckled, muttering, "Typical Peter."

"So, Lily," James said seriously, "tell me about this… cousin of yours." He raised his eyebrows. "I hear from Alice she was deciding factor in who you were bringing to the wedding."

Lily flushed a bit. "Well… not deciding per se, but… I certainly thought about it.

"I refused to ask Sirius because I knew that put those two together and well… she would hold it over me for the rest of my life, how my date liked her better than me."

"Sirius wouldn't do that," James frowned, "if you explained it to him."

"I know, James," Lily smiled, "but really, how well would he have been able to hide it? Plus, I wanted someone who I could have a fun time with. Sirius is great and all… but really, we can't talk about much, can we?"

James had to agree with that. They were too opposite to be really good friends.

"And Remus would have been nice, but well… it is… that time again." Lily shrugged. "So really, it was down to you."

"Oh, thanks," James said sarcastically, "so I wasn't first choice, eh?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "No one in particular was. But…" she glanced at him. "I'm glad you're my date. I think," she flushed and looked down, "I think I'd rather have you here than anyone else."

James looked towards the window to hide his pleased grin.

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A few moments later, Lily abruptly said, "So you wanted to hear about Shannon, then?"

James nodded.

"Shannon is like the sister I never had… well, sort of. She has all the nastiness of Petunia—although she has no clue that I'm a witch, other than the fact that I go to a boarding school 'on scholarship' in Scotland.

"Anyway, unlike Petunia, Shannon is always bragging about what she has and I don't. With Petunia, it's all about what I have and she doesn't. Well, Shannon is rather condescending towards me and I always dread seeing her." Lily stopped and flushed. "And well… I don't want her making such a big deal if I don't have a date—because I know that she will.

"And I wanted to have my date be someone who—well—you know—be someone who I could show off and know that he wouldn't…"

"…Fall for her," James finished. He looked at her with a slight smile. "Although the prospect of being used isn't that thrilling," he teased, "I'm glad you have that faith in me, Tiger."

Lily grinned. "Haven't called me that in a while."

James shrugged. "Well, if we're going to be 'dating', we should have pet names, don't you think?"

Lily looked at him. "Oh—I thought we'd just be going as friends." She looked down, embarrassed. "I thought it would be rather pathetic if she found out that we weren't really going out."

"Then let's not have her find out," James said. "That just means we have to act like a couple… well… all the time. Just in case."

Lily conceded by nodding, then grinned slyly, "All right… Jamesie Poo."

James glared at her while she burst out laughing, then joined in himself.

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Somewhere, Albus Dumbledore was smiling.

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"Lily!" A woman with reddish-brown hair and gray eyes waved.

"Mum!" Lily grinned. Unconsciously grabbing James's hand, she led him towards her mother.

"Oh, Lily, it's so good to see you!" Her mother hugged her youngest daughter tightly. "And who is this young man?"

"James Potter, ma'am," James said with a smile, holding out his hand for her to shake.

"So good to meet you, James," Rose Evans said enthusiastically. "Lily refused to tell me who she was bringing, just saying that she would bring someone and—" She stopped for a moment, then said, a tad suspiciously, "Are you… are you the same James Potter my daughter has done nothing but complain about for the past six years?"

James chuckled. "That would be me," he said, taking a mock bow.

Rose Evans laughed with delight. "I knew it! Ever since I heard about that incident where you turned her hair green—"

"Mum!" Lily cut in.

"—I knew you and she would make a match of it one day. How delightful!"

James glanced at an embarrassed Lily. "Well, it took us long enough," he said with a grin. He gave Lily a "play along" look and she grinned wickedly at him before saddling up next to him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Well, James," she said sweetly, "the only reason why it took us so long is because of your prat-ish ways."

"Not to mention your beast-like temper, Tiger," James replied right back with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh, you two are so sweet together!" Rose Evans laughed. "Well, we best be off! Your sister was throwing a fit when I left and I left your father to calm her down."

Lily gave James a "Get ready" look and, taking their luggage, the three left.

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Arriving at the house, James was surprised at all of the cars that were parked in the Evans' driveway (James was also supremely glad that he had taken Muggle Studies as well, so he could survive without magic).

"Mum," Lily frowned, voicing James's thoughts, "what's with all the company?"

Her mother sighed, exasperated. "The relatives, of course. You know your grandparents and great-aunts and –uncles, Lily. They absolutely loathe hotels. It's a good thing that we have so much room."

And they did. While the Evans' house was no mansion, it was still quite large, with a beautiful porch and chair swing.

"Let's go inside, children, and we can have my husband, Andrew, show you where you're to stay. Oh—and Shannon will be here shortly, Lily, with her boyfriend, so you kids can get acquainted after you unpack." Lily inwardly groaned.

Before they entered the house, Lily took James's hand and said nervously, "You ready?"

James squeezed her hand and gave her a peck on the cheek. "When you are," he said, his eyes telling her she wasn't alone.

And so, they went in.

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A/N: First off, sorry sorry sorry about not putting in my favorite part in this chapter. I decided I needed this chapter first as a kind of filler to help the story along. Don't worry; it will be in the next chapter, I promise!

I'm going to be hurrying chapters out quickly because I want this story done by the time Harry Potter #6 comes out—you supposedly will learn more about Harry's parents and I hate writing about things that don't stick with the story, so, in order to be kept in canon, I have to finish before I'm—well—not!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed—I really appreciate it!