Epilogue
Lucius Malfoy slithered out of trouble. His father, Apollo Malfoy, the greatest wizard bureaucrat of the age, managed to convince everyone that Lucius had no part whatsoever in the causing of the epidemic, no matter what Lily, Sirius and James said, and a poll of the school governors was held in favor of Lucius ("I suppose gold buys votes," Alice had shouted to the governors as parting words).
It was finally May, and time for the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff locked antlers for an excellent match with borderline fair play and silly antics that had the crowd jumping up and down. The representatives from England Int'l gave James their card and told them could have a spot on any Quidditch team in the England vicinity, maybe on the national team if he was up to the competition. He could drop out of school and start this summer, if he wanted. James declined. He told them he'd consider it after he'd graduated.
Lily and James didn't officially start going out until seventh year, as it is told. They were engaged during the Easter holidays, in honor of a memorable day trapped in a cellar.
Ten minutes after the Hogwarts Class of '82 Graduation, the risers were packed away and graduation gowns were replaced with formal wear. The Great Hall put away with the colors of four houses and instead decked the hall with lots and lots of white. The four tables were replaced with pews.
The bride walked down the aisle in a white dress with a green sash and lovage in her bouquet. Alice, Margaret and Ginger were lined up in horrible, frilly pink dresses on the bride's side, and Sirius, Peter and Remus in crisp suits on the groom's. Albus Dumbledore was the Master of Ceremonies.
Twenty minutes after they had ended one life, Lily and James started another.