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 17: New Year's Magic

"Oh tonight is going to be so much fun!" Cadence gushed happily as she ran her wand through her hair, turning her many waves into bouncy curls.

"I know I can't wait. Thanks so much for inviting us you two." Callidora agreed, smiling as she admired her reflection in a mirror.

"No problem." Alice answered from where she was doing Lily's makeup. All four girls were currently at the Longbottom's residence, preparing for a New Years Eve Ball. The Ministry of Magic Auror's group was hosting it and Lily and Alice had invited the others.

"Thanks Alice. Are we all ready to go?" Lily replied when Alice had finished. Calli' and Alice nodded but typically Cadence was still fastening her jewellery in place.

"We can't go yet!" she wailed rather childishly. Calli' rolled her eyes,

"Come on, the guys are probably already waiting downstairs."

"I know, it's just i'm not good with these stupid clasp thingys..."

"Cadence!" all three girls chimed.

"Hello, you're a witch! Use your wand and hurry up!" Lily snapped.

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"Where are the girls?" Sirius asked impatiently. He stood by the door in his navy dress robes looking irritated.

"Probably getting ready." James replied calmly. He had chosen to wear deep red colored robes. "You know them."

"Yeah I suppose..." Sirius responded glancing at his watch for the billionth time that evening. Peter was not coming as his mother was ill. Remus was sitting serenly on the sofa. He was dressed in a smokey blue colored dress robe and looked the calmest of the all. Frank who was currently in the kitchen and dressed in brown robes had been pacing all night. He wasn't exactly keen on the idea of leaving the saftey of his home. Death Eater Attacks had doubled since Christmas. Ten murders in only a short week...

Sirius was antsy and impatient as usual but James was another case. He had more pressing matters on his mind then death eaters or getting to the food in a hurry.

"Ah, here they are." Frank boomed as he re-entered the sitting room. James' head shot up and his eyes fell on Lily. She seemed to float down in her silky green dress robes which contrasted perfectly with her dazzling eyes. Her hair had been tied up in an elegant knot and she wore the beautiful necklace and bracelet James had once given her.

"Your look beautiful!" he crooned in her ear as he took her hand. Instead of replying, she thanked him with a kiss and a brilliant smile. Alice came down the stairs next. She had chosen magenta dress robes and her hair was, like Lily's, tied back gracefully. Callidora followed her friends and greeted Remus warmly in her lush purple attire. Her hair was straight though decorated neatly with a small butterfly ornament over her right ear. Finally Cadence descended, her reddish brown hair bouncing up and down in pretty spirals. Her robes were a light orange and could only look good on her. Sirius took her arm as she reached the last step.

"Thank you." she said promptly and beamed at him. Sirius grinned and leaned towards her to tell her something. She giggled and blushed most un-Cadence like.

"Well, are we ready?" James asked breathlessly. He tore his eyes away reluctantly from Lily to address the others.

"I think so." Alice replied and led them out the front door. She tapped the lock behind them and her and Frank apparated simutaneously to the Ministry, Calli' and Remus followed suit and soon the only trace that someone had been in the yard was their footprints.

Once at the Ministry, Frank took the lead. He marched them to the Elevator and to a brand new floor which was only available on Christmas.

"Oh it's beautiful!" Lily exclaimed appreciatively once they had stepped off the elevator. Silvery robs containing glittering candles floated across the crowds of dancing and chatting people. Silver butterflies flew amongest these bubbles alongside swarms of petite fairies. Dozens of spindly, silvery blue tables sat scattered against the sides and little 1979s zoomed across the room as well, occasionally settling in someone's drink or hair.

"Yeah...Well shall we go and get drinks?" Remus asked Calli' as he gazed around.

"Sure." Callidora replied and grinning back at her friends, allowed herself to be led off into the hustle.

"I think it's going well between them." Sirius said unexpectedly as they two made their way to one of the spindly tables set up against the walls.

"Yeah. Calli' seems to be quite happy." Alice replied.

"Remus too." James added, "He seems alot happier then he's been since Serena died."

"Do you think there was something going on between the two of them?" Cadence asked, sitting bolt upright. Sirius and James broke into laughter.

"Oh no, no, no!" Sirius gasped as his fit subsided, "They were cousins. Didn't Serena ever tell you?"

"No!" Lily said feeling shocked. "How come he never said anything at the funeral?"

"I dunno, he's had alot on his mind. Besides, I don't think their families got along." James explained.

"Oh..."Alice said softly.

"Well never mind this." Frank said watching their conversation with great amusement, "Are you girls thirsty?"

"Oh yes." Alice replied for them.

"We'll go get them." Sirius volunteered readily. James nodded his agreement and all three guys swept off across the dance floor and to the refreshment table. Cadence watched them go with a dazed expression on her face. Lily who was used to this expression sighed,

"What's up Cady?"

"Oh- What? Nothing, I was just thinking..." Alice and Lily shared a look.

"Well that much was obvious space cadet." Alice remarked. Cadence turned to them suddenly as though she had only just realized they were there.

"So?" Lily pressed curiously.

"I was just thinking, "Cadence repeated slowly, "I think Sirius has really matured since we left Hogwarts." Lily thought for a moment,

"Yeah, I suppose. But what about it?"

"No nothing. It's just he's never been with a girl this long before..."

"Well a year and a few months is quite a while Cadence." Alice told her patiently.

"I guess. I was just thinking you know? About how we've all changed. I mean Lily's been with James for a year now, Alice, you're married and now Calli's going out with Remus. I just mean, wouldn't it be funny if we all ended up with one of the marauders?" Lily couldn't help herself, she burst out laughing. Sometimes Cadence brought up the stupidest things.

"Frank isn't a marauder!" Alice said sounding offended.

"I know, but he should be. He fits the qualifications, better then that Peter anyways!" Cadence retorted, grinning at Lily's laughter. Alice smiled in spite of her self and the girls were still clutching there sides when their dates returned. Remus and Calli' were with them.

"Ah so you've returned!" Cadence commented mischieviously as the guys passed out drinks. "I thought you'd left us for good."

"No, we just needed a break from you." Callidora joked back. "We just wanted to get dancing right aways."

"Yeah, what are we waiting for?" James said. Lily noticed he shot an oddly furtive glance at his friends as he offered his hand to Lily. They were all gazing at her rather unusually. "Would you care to dance fair lady?" Ignoring Sirius' gleeful stare and Remus' lit up one, Lily beamed and took James' hand,

"I'd love to." James led Lily away from the others and onto the dance floor just as the orchestra struck up a slow song. James snaked an arm around her waist, still clutching her right hand in his left. Lily gladly place her free hand onto his shoulders and let him swirl away with her. The song soon ended but Lily and James remained and continued to dance, though this time at a slightly faster rate. Sirius and Cadence soon joined them, followed by the others. In no time, three hours passed and it was then that they realized midnight arrived in five minutes time.

"Do you wanna go and wait outside?" James asked as he panted for breath. Having danced almost non-stop, both he and Lily were breathless and pink cheeked,

"Sure." They both headed towards a porch which had obviously been magicked so that it was portal like. When Lily stepped out into the crisp air she felt sure they couldn't actually be underground anymore.

"I thought the Ministry of Magic was supposed to be completely underground?" Lily asked confused.

"I think all of it is except this part. This porch and the other ones across the room are all designed so that they're really above ground." James replied matter-of-factly. He released her warm hand and devulged it into his pockets. Lily frowned at this peculiar behaviour and leaned against the railing. She began to shiver in the chilly air and light snow. Yet still James did not comfort her, which he would have usually done. Lily looked at his face and pondered his serious expression for a moment. She began to shiver even harder as wild thoughts began racing through her mind.

He's breaking up with me! No, why would James break up with me? It would make more sense for me to break up with him. But I don't want to do that! I love him! And I thought he was supposed to love me too? Or maybe he wants to start off this year new...Oh no...

"It's midnight." James said softly, breaking her panicked thoughts.

"Oh, right." Lily replied, her teeth chattering violently. Nervously, she turned her head and avoided James' gaze, fearing what he might say. But James didn't say anything. He stood firmly in the two inch snow and stared determinedly out to the vast, snow covered forest below and before them. Lily sighed, wondering if she might suggest they go inside. But she felt too anxious to leave and thus contented herself with a self-warming spell.

Feeling warmth run back into her toes made Lily feel slightly braver. Turning her head slightly she tilted her head to the side so she could peek at James again. When she did, she felt her jaw drop open.

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James led Lily out onto the snow covered porch which led off from the warm ballroom inside. It was cold outside, but the conditions were perfect for what he needed to do...

"I thought the Ministry of Magic was supposed to be completely underground?" came Lily's soft and bewildered voice from beside him. Startled from his nervousness, he hastened to answer her question, while keeping his voice quite steady. Once she looked a little less confused her let go of her had and plunged it into his pocket, bracing himself for what he'd told himself he'd do all night...

Silence fell momentaily between the two and James imagined he could hear the cloak ticking down the seconds to midnight. Finally a cheer echoed from inside the hall.

"It's midnight." James informed Lily quietly. She turned to face him awkwardly,

"Oh, right." James was now so preoccupied he didn't notice the way her teeth clacked as she stood bent agaisnt the snow, or the way her skin shivered for warmth. James fiddled with something in his pocket as he geared himself up tell Lily the thing that had been the purpose of this date. As he played around for time he noticed Lily staring stubbornly in the other direction and felt a pang. He needed to do it now. Taking a deep breath he extracted his wand and gave it a wave, all the while focusing in his mind on a certain spell. Just as he was going to reach for Lily's now still arm she turned to look at him. He froze momentarily then seized her hands.

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"James?" Lily asked uncertainly, enjoying the warmth of his hands on hers. Surrounding them now was a group of ice sprinkled red roses. They were the most beautiful she had ever seen. James smiled nervously back at her and while keeping hold of her hands with one of his, he reached back into his pocket. Lily felt an odd swooping sensation in her stomach when he revealed a small, velvety black box.

"James..." Lily said yet again and felt tears come to her eyes.

"Lily, "James began, "I have loved you ever since I laid eyes on you. For years I strived to gain your affection and now that I have, I have never been happier. I know it's been a short while, but i've loved you so much longer that..."

Lily gulped and felt a tear slide down her cheek.

"Will you begin this year with me, as my fiance? Lily Evans, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Lily cried and let him slide a glittering diamond ring onto her shaking hand. Once in place, she threw her arms around him and pressed her lips to his.

"I love you so much." she told him as he swung her around.

"I love you too, more then you can imagine, Mrs. Potter." James murmured in reply. They broke apart grinning.

"Lily Potter." Lily echoed, if possible, smiling wider then she ever had before. "I like it." James kissed her again.

A/N: I know it's been such a long time since I last reviewed and I know this was a really short chapter but please bear with me. I only stopped it here because it just didn't seem to fit right to add more at this point.

Yeah and sorry about the wait, i've been lazy. School work's taking up so much of my time by the time i'm finished, i'm not in the mood to write. Anyways hope you all enjoyed, I personally did, but then again, I wrote it.