Before it Began
By. SkyQuill
Summary
James knew he was in love at first sight, but what would it take for Lily to love him back? Read their story leading up to their deaths and discover the dangers they faced and the loves and friendships they shared.
Disclaimer
I do not own most of the characters and places or anything else that may seem familiar. J.K. Rowling has the exclusive claim to this as well as the general plot that formed this fanfic.
Chapter 10: Love is in the Air
"How about this?" Lily asked addressing Callidora and Cadence at the breakfast table, "Three bedroomed flat off Diagon Alley. Available immediatly for rent." Callidora made a face while Cadence shook her head,
"We don't want something so close to Diagon Alley, it's always to busy, we'll never get any sleep!" Cadence explained throuhg a mouthful of cornflakes.
"I hear Sirius is looking for a place too." Calli' added matter of factly.
"What about Remus and Peter?" Lily asked surprised.
"Well Remus has already got a place hasn't he?" Mrs. Summers informed them as she bustled over, clearing away their dirty dishes, "And from what I hear from Mrs. Pettigrew Peter's inherited a house from a great uncle or something. Of course James has already got his parent's old place, poor dear."
"Oh. Well lucky Peter, we can't even find a flat yet! Or even a small house!" Cadence grumbled. Mrs. Summers shot her an encouraging look,
"I'm sure you'll find something dears." Cadence shook her head s keptically and beckoned to the others. They were all going to Alice and Franks to help prepare for the wedding tomorrow. The three of them were considerably happier then they had been at Serena's funeral. In fact, the three of them hardly had time to dwell on it between looking for a place to live and getting ready for the wedding. Two days ago they had spent the whole day shopping for wizarding wedding dresses. Calli', Cadence and Lily had easily found the yellow dresses Alice wanted but they had remained shopping for Alice's dress for almost eight hours. Sighing at the memory, Lily helped herself to some Floo powder and stepped into the grate. She spoke the address clearly and allowed the green flames to engulf as she was transported to the soon to be Longbottom's residence.
"Finally you're here!" Alice exclaimed the moment Lily removed herself from the fireplace. "We've still got to decorate and set up the cairs and everything!" Lily couldn't help but roll her eyes,
"C'mon Alice we've got all day." But Callidora arrived from behind her, cutting off Alice's indignant response. They all waited patiently for Cadence for a moment and then set off. The church was in walking distance from the house so they really didn't need to apparate.
"Franks already transferred the stuff to the church. He did it late last night so no muggles would notice it all floating down the road." Alice chattered happily. Callidora smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. Maybe one day she and Briac would get married...
"Wow, it really nice inside already!" Lily exclaimed once they had entered the small brick church. "And the receptions going to be in the basement?" Alice nodded vigorously as she hurried around, ensuring that all the chosen decorations and flowers were there.
"So where should we start?" Cadence asked brightly. Decorating the church and reception area took almost all day. Using magic made it go a little faster mind you. Calli' and Alice fixed arrangements of daffodils and baby breaths all through the aisles and around the basement walls. Lily and Cadence took it upon themselves to magic the tables into place in the basement. After that, they headed upstairs and began casting levitating charms on baskets full of white and yellow confetti. Frank showed up in the evening bringing with him a large cardboard heart which bore a 'Just Married' heading. The letters had been charmed to change from gold, to silver to white and back again.Alice had hired a few house elves from her family and friends to prepare the food for the next day. But finally they finished at around ten o'clock PM.
"Wow." Calli' said breathlessly as she stepped back to admire their handiwork, "It looks great." Lily had to agree. The spacious rooms looked amazing. Alice certainly seemed happy. Her eyes were teary and her cheeks a bright pink.
"Thanks so much you guys!" she whispered gratefully before they left. After assuring her it was no big deal the girls flooed themselves back to Cadence's. Yawning as she entered the Summer's kitchen she wanted nothing more then to go to bed and sleep. However Mrs. Summers hurried up to them the moment she spotted them.
"Lily, Proffesor Dumbeldore's sent an owl for you." she explained handing her a large parchment envelope. Lily took it curiosly. Wondering what it could be she hurried upstairs to Cadence's room with her friends and tore it open.
Dear Ms. Evans,
I would be quite grateful if you would oblige to meet me at the Leaky Cauldron on Thursday at about three o'clock in the afternoon?. We will be using a port key from their to go to my office at Hogwarts. Ms. Callidora Prewett would be most welcome to attend as well but otherwise I ask that you come alone. This will be a meeting of most importance so please do not go telling people about this letter. Please reply as soon as possible.
Hoping you are well, Albus Dumbledore
Lily gawked at it for a moment,waiting for Cadence and Calli' to finish reading it from over her shoulder. Cadence looked quite offended.
"What's that all about?" Calli' finally asked.
"Dunno, but I suppose I should meet him." Lily replied feeling baffled, "Sorry Cadence."
"Hmpf!"
"I'll come with you Lily." Calli' volunteered, shooting Cadence a tentative look. Lily nodded,
"Don't worry we'll tell you all about it Cady!"
"Whatever. When's the meeting?" she replied huffily.
"Day after tomorrow. Thursday." Lily replied. "Well I suppose i'd better reply." Calli' handed her an ink bottle, quill and a sheaf of parchment. Taking it gratefully Lily smoothed the paper out across Cadence's desk. Unscrewing the ink bottle's lid she dipped the quill into it and set it upon the parchment, poised to write.
Dear Proffesor Dumbledore,
Ms. Prewett and I would be most pleased to meet you on Thursday at the Leaky Cauldron. Looking forward to meeting you,
Lily Evans
"That looks good." Calli' said reading over Lily's short letter. "Here you can borrow my owl." And she strode across the room to a large cage which sat near her temporary bed. She extracted a large screech owl and brought him over to Lily.
"Thanks." Lily said as she fastened the letter to Calli's owl's leg. "You've got to bring that to Proffesor Dumbledore at Hogwarts." LIly informed the owl. With a low hoot, the owl spread his cast wings and swooped out of the window Cadence had hastened to open.
"Well we better get to bed. Don't want to be late for Alice and Frank's big day!" Cadence said shortly. Nodding, Lily changed out of her clothes and flopped into bed. She fell asleep almost immediatly but dreamt of meeting Dumbledore who told her she would have to become a death eater and kill her friends. She refused adamently but was turned into a horned toad. She awoke sometime later with a start. With no recollection of the dream whatsoever she and the other two hurriedly changed into a t-shirt and pants and went down to breakfast.
00000
Callidora, Cadence and Lily arrived at Alice's house at exactly eight o'clock. Alice was already waiting for them, looking frantic.
"Alice, "Cadence said firmly, "How long have you been up?"
"Since three o'clock." she replied meekly, the teacup she held in her hand shaking violently. Gently Lily took the cup and brought it to the sink.
"I suppose it's natural to feel nervous." Callidora was telling Alice reasurringly. Looking rather peaky, Alice nodded.
"C'mon, we've all got to get ready. Alice why don't you shower in your bathroom and the rest of us can take turns in the downstairs one." Lily suggested. They really had to get busy. The procession started at one o'clock. "We can change into out dresses at the church." Again Alice nodded wordlessly. The three of them watched her go slowly up the stairs. Suddenly Frank apparated into the kitchen. Lily jumped at the sudden noise but relaxed immediatly.
"Hey girls. Just arrive?" he asked breathlessly. Calli' nodded. "Good, good, i've just been making sure everythings ready. Now if you'll excuse me i've got to go and make the house elves are well supplied." And with another pop he apparated out of the kitchen.
"I'll shower first shall I?" Cadence suggested brightly. Her frostiness from the previous night had completely melted at the prospect of this happy day. After all the girls had showered, they grabbed their dresses from the spare room and hurried off to the church. When they arrived they found Alice's mother hurrying here and there setting up last minute details. She was clothed in elegant dress robes of pink. Lily who had never seen a wizarding wedding suddenly had a thought.
"What are the guests going to be wearing? Dress robes?" Alice nodded distractedly.
"C'mon." Calli' said kindly taking a trembling Alice by the arm, "Lets get you into that room and change." Lily and Cadence followed her into the preparation room. A feeling of excitement mounting greater by the minute the girls helped Alice into her bridal gown. Thin shoulder straps came down into a sequined bodice part and down into a flowly skirt. Magically flashing, opalascent flowers glimmered around the bottom of the dress. Once the other girls had climbed into their own gowns, flowy yellow silk, they began applying Alice's makeup. Lily began working with various powders and shimmers on her face while Calli' and Cadence tackled her straight honey hair. When they had all finished Alice's face glowed and her hair was done into a neat bun with a few yellow flowers attatched. Lily thought they must be a magical flower for they let off the most exotic scent.
"Do you think i'm making the right decision?" Alice asked suddenly after she was done admiring her appearance.
"Of course honey." quipped Alice's mom who had come in to help, "If you love him."
"Of course!" Alice exclaimed.
"I'm sure you're just feeling nervous." Cadence said. "You're taking a huge step in your life. You're committing yourself to a lifetime with Frank and a future with a new family." Alice looked positively frightened.
"You're not helping." Lily muttered as she curled her dark red hair.
"Don't worry Alice." Calli' said soothingly as she took over. "If you love him then you know what you're doing is right." Alice nodded.
"Alright, i'm ready."
The procession went beautifully. As Lily went down the aisle she shot James a dazzling smile as she spotted him in the crowd. And when Alice finally came down the aisle, it seemed as though everyone was holding their breath. Her round face radiated with happiness as she and Frank exchanged her vows.
Lily couldn't help shedding a few tears as they sealed their future with a kiss. If only Serena could have been there. The reception afterwards was magical too. Alice and Frank coming from pure-blood wizarding families were able to have a full-fledged magical party.
Lily danced the night away with James and couldn't help wondering if they would ever get married. Cadence and Sirius also seemed to be having a great time. A wide berth was given to them on the dance floor for they were dancing most erratically and occasionally knocking someone over.
The best part of the wedding was when Alice and Frank led the closing dance. The gazed into each others eyes the entire time, Alice crying with happiness. Lily relaxed into James arms wistfully as the dance ended. She couldn't believe her best friend was finally get married to the man she loved.
And Lily found herself realizing that she might just be falling in love as well. She didn't hesitate to tell James this. But to her surprise James got there first.
"I love you Lily." he whispered into her ear. Looking up, she kissed him sweetly on the lips, and whispered what her heart was screaming.
"I love you too."
A/N: Well I hoped everyone enjoyed this chapter. I'll update as soon as possible, which will be precisely in four or five days so sit tight! Please review! And ttyl