Aside from the terror going on around them, James and Lily were determined to have the best, most memorable wedding they could. Although Lily had to put a stop to James when he mentioned having veela serve the drinks, which she was sure was Sirius' suggestion. She also knew, from just hearing about her sisters' wedding, she was not going to turn into a bridezilla.
Both of their parents were over the top excited for them, and they also never failed to put in their opinions on matters. They all were curious if they would have a muggle wedding or a magical wedding. James, of course stated that regardless of which route they went, as long as they were married, he'd be satisfied and the happiest man alive, which earned him a few laughs and jokes from Sirius.
James asked Sirius to be his best man, with Remus and Peter also standing up him. Sirius immediately set to work on giving his best friend and brother the best bachelor party ever heard of.
Lily asked Marlene to be her maid of honor, not even once considering her sister, regardless of how her mother tried to change her mind about it. She also asked Dorcas and Alice to stand with her, of which they both were elated.
The wedding was the next day, and everything was ready. Lily had found the most beautiful dress, and her mother was giving her the veil she wore at her own wedding. They decided to have the wedding at the Potter's manor. Lily only had her parents coming, so they didn't have to worry about wizardry secrecy, and her parents were beyond elated to be involved in the wizarding world even for just a day.
"James, can you believe we're getting married tomorrow?" Lily asked him as they were sitting outside her parent's house on the swing.
Holding her hand, and playing with her hair with the other, James said, "Honestly Lily, it seems surreal to me. How long have I been holding a torch for you, and me saying one day you'd marry me? Now that that day is almost here, I feel like when I wake up tomorrow it's all going to be a dream."
Lily chuckled. "Well James Potter, you managed to snag me, and I don't plan on going anywhere," she said before she kissed him.
Breaking their kiss and causing them to jump, a pop rang through the air, and Sirius appeared. "Bloody hell, can't you wait till the honeymoon to do that? We have a party to get to!"
Lily laughed, while James groaned. "Padfoot, you won't even tell me what we're doing or where we're going!"
"Exactly!" Sirius grinned mischievously. "That's part of the fun! Now tell your woman good night and you'll see her tomorrow."
James shook his head before turning to Lily. "I'll see you tomorrow beautiful."
"I'll be the one in white," she smiled, before giving him another kiss. Pulling away, she held up a finger. "One moment," she said before walking fiercely to Sirius, who was taken by surprise when she grabbed his ear and pulled him hard towards her, causing him to screech.
"Bloody hell woman what-"
"Listen closely Black. If you dare cross the line tonight and in any way, make it so James doesn't make it to the wedding tomorrow wide eyed and his usual sober self, I will make your life a living hell. Are we understood?" she smiled.
"Of course Lils," Sirius said, still cringing from her squeezing his ear.
Grinning, Lily let go of his ear, and said, "Lovely. Do have fun, but not too much fun," as she patted his cheek.
"Prongs, are you absolutely sure you want to marry this one? She's fiery, and kind of scary," Sirius said, cringing away from Lily, keeping his eyes on her.
"Absolutely I do!" James said, laughing as he joined them. Giving Lily one last kiss, he managed to say, "Love you Lils," before being apparated away by Sirius.
oOo~oOo~oOo
It was her wedding day—their wedding day. Lily couldn't believe she was about to walk down the aisle and become Mrs. James Potter. Gazing at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but think of all that had happened in such a short time—all the things they witnessed in the future, the things they knew were going to happen, or would happen if they didn't prevent them from happening. Even through all of that, Lily knew in her heart this was right. She loved James.
Wiping a small tear just before her mother knocked on the door, she turned around.
"Oh my dear, you look breathtaking!" June said, tears forming in her eyes. "My baby is getting married!" She said as the tears started to fall.
"Mum, please don't cry—I'll start crying," Lily said going to her mother to wrap her arms around her.
"Oh I know, don't mind me," June said, wiping her tears as she pulled away from her daughter. "How I wish your sister were here," she said sadly and quietly.
Lily sighed. "I know mum, but you know why." She really didn't want to get into it with her mother again.
Shaking her hands at her daughter, she said, "I know, I know dear. It just hurts me to see my daughters at odds with each other." Stepping back to the door, she said, "Are you ready dear?"
Smiling, Lily nodded, knowing her father was right outside the door waiting to walk her down the aisle—down the aisle to the rest of her life.
oOo~oOo~oOo
James was nervous—no he was terrified. What if she decided this was all a mistake, a big joke, and decide to leave him at the alter? No, Lily wouldn't do that to him. But what if she remembered that marrying him would finalize all the events they had seen in the future? Having a son, getting betrayed, getting murdered by Voldemort—the list went on and on.
Remus, noticing James' nervous and scared expression walked over to him, as people were starting to arrive. "Hey mate, how's it going?" he asked clapping him on the back.
"I can't do this," James said, running his hand through his hair, his eyes darting around as if looking for an exit.
Remus' eyes opened wide, in shock. "What? You're barking! You've been waiting for this day since first year!"
"Moony, this is it," James said in a panicked voice, finally looking Remus straight in the eye. "If this happens, there's no going back! We'll have Harry, go into hiding, get betrayed," he said, choking a bit with a nervous glance towards Peter who was laughing with Sirius and a guest. "We get killed, I mean, this is like a death sentence," James gasped, making his hair stand on end with how much he was running his hands through it.
"Ok, James, James!" Remus said as loud as he could without causing panic to everyone arriving. He grabbed James' shoulders and made him look in his eyes. "Mate, this is not a death sentence. Yes, what you and Lily saw was the future, but it's not set in stone. We are all working hard to make sure that future doesn't exist! Right now, we just have to take it day by day, and today you are marrying the love of your life!"
James calmed down and started to breathe. "You're right," he said, smiling and straightening his tie. "Alright, how do I look?"
Remus chuckled. "Well, you've definitely looked better."
Suddenly Sirius popped up and pulled something from inside his cloak. "Here mate, you look like you could use a nip." He handed James a flask. Without a second thought, James grabbed it and took a long gulp. He sputtered, and said, "What the bloody hell is that?"
Sirius grinned. "Whiskey. You wouldn't try any last night, but this stuff is bloody amazing! Muggles sure know what they're doing when they make this," he said before taking a drink himself, and stuffing the flask back in his cloak.
Out of nowhere, Charlus Potter put his hand on James' shoulder. "Do you boys mind if I have a moment with James?"
Nodding, James' friend gave him reassured smiles before leaving to talk to some guests. Turning to James, Charlus said, "Son, I know we haven't really had much of a chance to talk, but I want you to know how proud I am of you. You've grown into a fine young man and Lily is very lucky to have you."
"Thanks Dad," James said, "That means a lot."
Before they both lost control of their emotions, Charlus clasped his hands together. "Alright, let's get you married!" He nodded towards his wife, who was signaling to him it was time to get started. "Boys, let's get started," he said to Remus, Sirius, and Peter, who walked over to join James at the end of the aisle. Music started playing, and the guests began to take their seats.
James was nervous—incredibly nervous. He understood what Remus had told him, and he was right, but this was the moment he had been waiting for since he first laid eyes on Lily. He couldn't actually believe this was happening! He couldn't focus on the guests smiling up at him, his parents beaming with pride, he couldn't even focus on Sirius and Remus taking bets along side him. No—all he could focus on, was Lily Evans, the girl he'd held a torch for since he first saw her, the girl who he traveled to the future with, the girl who would become a mother to Harry, the girl he would protect with his very life, the girl he was fighting with to change the future they saw, walking down the aisle on her father's arm. Her dress was beautiful on her, her flaming red hair shimmering, and her emerald green eyes shining up at him. She was the only one in the garden at the moment. Nothing else mattered to James. This was it.
She finally reached him, and as the wizard officiating the ceremony said," Who gives this bride," James realized he needed to breathe and come back to earth.
"Her mother and I do," Robert Evans said, giving Lily a quick kiss on the cheek before placing her hand in James'.
She was here—standing with him, about to take their vows and become husband and wife. The words the wizard was saying were distant to James, but he seemed to know when to repeat the vows, and place the wedding ring on Lily's hand.
"If you may, take out your wands," the wizard said. They did so, and repeated the words he said, not only officially, but magically binding them together. After gold sparks from their wands wove together and disappeared, the wizard said, "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife." After a few seconds, Lily laughed, startling James who had been looking too deep in her eyes to notice what was going on. He realized everyone was chuckling now. "Mr. Potter, you may now kiss your bride," the wizard official said with a smirk.
"Right," James said with a grin. He grabbed Lily and kissed her like he had never kissed her before. As soon as their lips touched, sparks flew from behind them, startling, and surprising everyone, but James didn't notice. He was too entranced by Lily's kiss and embrace. They finally broke apart when he heard people laughing and clapping. He smiled at Lily, who was beaming with love, as she smiled at him, and then at their guests. He turned to his groomsmen, who were paying Remus.
Sirius shrugged. "You didn't look like you were going to make it through mate." He winked at James with a sly smile.
James didn't even care. He was married. Lily Evans—no, Lily Potter was now his wife.
oOo~oOo~oOo
The wedding party was beautiful! Lights covered the gardens, people were dancing and drinking, eating cake—well after Lily had thrown cake in James' face. Sirius couldn't stop laughing about it.
Spinning around on the dance floor with James—her husband—Lily couldn't help but feel so incredibly happy. Gone were her thoughts and fears about what they had to do, and what could happen if they didn't succeed. No, her every thought and feeling was here now with her husband.
"So," James whispered in her ear while dancing, "is this everything you ever dreamed it would be?"
Lily sighed. "Oh James, it's absolutely perfect! Even if Sirius is making a fool of himself trying to flirt with Marlene."
Gesturing to the two, they saw Sirius trying and failing to ask Marlene for a dance. They couldn't help but laugh, as Marlene finally gave up on Sirius and grabbed him by the collar of his robe and pulled him to the dance floor.
"Pathetic. He's supposed to be a god to girls, but he can't ask Marlene for a dance?" James quipped.
"I think it's adorable," Lily said, lying her head on her husband's shoulder. This night was everything and more. Seeing her friends, her parents and now in laws, and her former classmates and teachers dancing and laughing—it was as if the rest of the world was on standstill as everyone enjoyed tonight. She grinned as she lifted her head to whisper in James' ear. "When can we get out of here, my husband?"
James suddenly turned red, and started looking around as if seeing if anyone would notice if they just disappeared right then and there. "Now my darling wife, we can't just leave our guests," he said with a sly grin.
"Hm, well, then I guess you won't get to see what I chose to wear tonight when it's just you and me," she practically purred in his ear.
"Alright now, you minx, that's not-"
He was cut off by screams and flashes of light. Suddenly, everyone had their wands out and were heading towards the screams.
"Lily, get –"
"No, I'm not leaving you!"
"Lily, you have to get your parents out of here!" James told her firmly, grasping her shoulders.
Lily suddenly became pale, eyes wide, looking around for her parents. She looked back at him and kissed him. "I'll be back Potter."
"You'd better be," he said before running towards the chaos. Flashes of blues, red, and green were flying everywhere. But he could see why. There were Death Eaters everywhere, attacking guests. He stunned a Death Eater who was battling Alice and Dorcas. He saw people lying on the ground, not knowing if they were simply stunned or if they were already gone.
He suddenly found himself before three Death Eaters, battling with them, throwing up defensive spells, giving them all he had. Somehow the Death Eaters had begun to split and surround him, and he didn't know if he could keep up the banter and the protective spells from all three directions. Just as he was trying to think quick about what to do, he was slower getting the barrier up, and was hit with a spell, and flew backwards.
As he struggled to get up, he saw his wife standing in front of him, shooting spells of all kinds at his attackers. She was fierce, and she was a force to be reckoned with. Her hair was flying behind her, her face was stern and focused, and she was intense. James suddenly felt very glad to be on this side of her wand.
He had just stood up and joined her, when another dark figured appeared before them. "My friends, is this anyway to treat the bride and groom?" The Death Eaters suddenly stopped attacking at his appearance. His voice made James and Lily shiver. "I was astonished to hear that you were getting married, but not too surprised. Perhaps a bit disappointed." He said, walking in front of them, their wands still raised.
"You have no right to be here," James hissed at him.
"Oh, but that's why I was disappointed," Voldemort said calmly. "The very fact that I was not invited to this occasion."
"Why would we invite you?" Lily growled.
"Because my dear, I could be your saving grace," he smiled at them. "You see, the world is changing. More and more half bloods and mudbloods are gracing our world, and it must be stopped. But you my dear," he said looking straight at Lily, making her shiver. "You are special. You are not only a mudblood, but you have powers only imaginable and seen in purebloods. With you by my side, you would be safe from what will be coming to this world."
James growled. "Don't you call her that! She's more than you'll ever be you snake!" His wand raised higher, ready to strike him down.
"Do not be a fool," Voldemort turned to James. "Do you really want to be on the losing side, and risk losing your wife? Because you know she will die."
James yelled and he and Lily both shot spells at Voldemort. It was so blinding, until a dark cloud appeared and he and his Death Eaters vanished, leaving nothing behind but an echo of his cold laugh, and the injured and dead.