Since George and Ruth's bodies weren't found in the rubble, they didn't have a traditional funeral. Petunia had put together a sort of memorial service instead and sent Lily a very short, very impersonal response to her lengthy, personal letter telling her that it would be held at St. Gregory's church on Aug 20th.

Entering the church where Petunia and Vernon had been married, Lily clung desperately to James' right arm. She looked at the people sitting in the pews on either side of her and they nodded gravely and rather awkwardly at her, as if someone had told them that was how you acted towards a grieving daughter. The organ music sounded off-key and sinister to her as she reached the front of the church. James helped her slide into the pew next to Petunia and followed her in. Petunia turned to Lily and, letting the hand holding her handkerchief fall to her lap, scowled with a look of utter revulsion and fear. She scooted closer to Vernon, who wrapped a beefy arm around her bony shoulders, and began sobbing quietly. Lily felt about five years old again. She clenched her shoulders and tightened her body; fiddling with her hands in her lap. James gently kissed the side of her head and, when she turned her face to look at him, there were tears in her eyes.

"Come here," he whispered and wrapped his arms around her.

The service began with a blessing from the Vicar. He went on to speak about the glory of the Evans' next adventure and the happiness their survivors should feel for them. He spoke of the tragedy of the faulty electricity in the building, but remarked that it was all part of God's plan. Petunia delivered the eulogy and, to Lily's expectations, the speech was peppered with "Vernon and I's" and not a single, "Lily." The grief she felt at the sudden loss of her parents mingled with anger at her sister's insensitivity. Petunia returned to her seat; refusing to look at Lily. James held her hand tightly in his lap while the congregation placed flowers under the pictures of George and Ruth at the front of the church and walked behind her with his hands on her still clenched shoulders as she marched up with a single white lily. He waited a few steps behind her as she kneeled to place the unblemished flower under her parents' picture. When she stood and walked back to him, he gently kissed her on the crown and placed his hands on either side of her face. Then took her hand in his and walked her back to their seats. She squeezed his hand tightly and refused to let go of it through the final words of the vicar.

When the service ended, Petunia stood and, begrudgingly, gestured for Lily to follow. The sisters stood at the front of the church; accepting condolences from congregation. Lily didn't even recognize most of these people. Vernon's parents were there and his sister Marge. They had thrown their arms around Petunia; sharing deeply in her grief, but given Lily rather disgusted looks. James stood next to her; their hands still tightly clenched together. Lily was sure that if wasn't there, she would have collapsed into a pile on the floor. She tried to be gracious to all the people filing by, but wanted to burst into tears the entire time. Petunia looked somewhat the same.

When the last person had kissed Petunia awkwardly and left the church, Petunia took Vernon's arm and began to leave.

"Petunia," Lily called. "Aren't we going to talk about this?"

Petunia turned on her heel and the grieved scowl was plastered on her face again. "What exactly do you suppose we talk about?"

Lily looked up at James for moral support. He nodded.

"It wasn't faulty electricity that blew up the bus station," she said slowly, her eyes prickling. "It was…" She sighed and put a hand to her forehead to regain her composure. "There's a mad murdering wizard running around. I haven't told you." She shrugged, "There was never a point."

"Well what is the point of telling me now?" Petunia's face was growing uglier with rage by the second. "Aren't you all mad and murdering?" She looked sourly at James.

Lily exhaled loudly. She would not yell at Petunia. "He blew up the station Petunia. It was in the paper."

Vernon's grip on Petunia's bony shoulders tightened and the color in Petunia's face was suddenly gone.

"How dare you," she said through her teeth. "How dare you turn our parents' death into another way for you to bring up your abnormality?"

Lily felt the hot tears finally falling down her face. James tightened his grip on her hand. "That's what happened, Petunia."

Petunia's already tear-stained face became ugly with contortions as more liquid fell from her eyes. "I can see that your fiancée has had quite an effect on your thinking. I always knew you were a freak, but I never thought you'd be delusional."

James stepped forward; a scowl growing on his face.

"This has nothing to do with James, Petunia," Lily sobbed; her free hand flying up to her face. "He killed them. It was him. Why can't you accept that?"

Petunia was baring her teeth in complete anger. "Our parents' death at least resulted in one good thing. We no longer need stay in contact. Come on, Vernon."

She scowled at Lily and James once more and then grabbed Vernon's hand. He glowered at them as he led her out of the church. James and Lily watched them leave; he scowled back at Vernon while she continued to cry with a hand held to her mouth. When they disappeared, James wrapped his arms around her and her face fell hard into his chest. She sobbed loudly; leaving his dress shirt a mess.

"Lily," he said quietly. "It's alright. We knew she'd react that way."

"I know," she said into his chest. "But…why is she so horrible?"

"She doesn't understand," he kissed her on the head.

"She doesn't want to understand," Lily muttered; turning her head so that her cheek was pressed against him.

"Maybe not," he brushed her hair back with a hand.

"James," she looked up at him. Her face was a mess of smeared mascara, tears, and saliva. "Let's go home."

He nodded, took her by the hand and they walked out of the church.

Gwen returned Remus' visit two weeks after their Italian rendezvous. She had returned from Italy and she and her parents were back at their home in London. She met him at Sirius' flat early one morning. Remus was unbelievably grateful that Sirius was at the station that morning. Still touchy about the Gwen situation, Sirius had been spending a lot of time there lately. When he was home, Remus always felt he was walking on eggshells.

"So," Gwen wore her typical huge grin, as he opened the door. She leaned against the door frame. "What are we doing today?"

He smiled and, somewhat awkwardly, kissed her lightly on the lips. Her smile grew.

"I was thinking we could just hang out around Diagon Alley. We should probably stay away from the flat later on," he cocked his head a little.

"Awww," she nodded. "The scorned lover is still angry?"

Remus nodded. "I just think it would be a bad idea for the two of us to be together around him. You know, the couple thing…"

"So, he doesn't do bitter, he does angry?" she smirked.

Remus chuckled. "Exactly. Let me clean up the breakfast dishes and we'll go. Come on in."

She laughed as she entered the flat. "You clean the breakfast dishes? How responsible."

Remus smiled and led the way to the kitchen and she climbed up to sit on the counter; swinging her legs back and forth like a hyperactive child.

"You look even tanner," Remus glanced at her while he scrubbed oatmeal from a pot.

"Well, the Italian sun," she made an airy gesture with her hand and wore an aristocratic face. "Here," she launched off the counter and pulled out her wand rather dramatically. "Let me help you with that."

She picked up a bowl and began rinsing it out.

"Thanks," he smiled at the girl scrubbing dishes next to him. For some odd reason, he felt the need to kiss her right there. So, he did. She laughed and kissed him back.

"What was that for?" her face beamed.

"Felt like it," he shrugged.

The two spent another gloriously romantic day running through Diagon Alley. Today, Gwen tried to convince the man working in the Magical Menagerie that she was Hazel Chinowyth. Sadly, he was Ms. Chinowyth's uncle's best friend and had met her on more than one occasion. Gwen sighed, shrugged, and then tried to convince him that she was really Aphrodite Jones. She even started singing All My Horklumps Live in Yorkshire so loudly that Remus' face turned bright scarlet. He had pulled her out of the store again.

They sat in front of Florean Fortescue's for hours eating sundaes. Gwen had tried to get free by pretending she was Fanny Freidman – the writer for Witch's Weekly. They people watched, Gwen made rude faces, Remus laughed heartily. It was as perfect as the day in Tuscany.

"I heard about Lily's parents," Gwen said in a softer voice as they walked home hand in hand. "How is she?"

Remus sighed. "She'll be alright. She always is. But she had a huge row with her sister at the service. Her sister won't believe that You-Know-Who was responsible for their deaths."

"How awful," she said quietly; tightening her grip and looking up at Remus.

He nodded. "She was devastated for a few days, but I think she's pulled out of it now."

They had reached the building. Looking up, Remus saw the light streaming from the third floor window, signaling that Sirius was home. He frowned and looked down at Gwendolyn. She was bathed in moonlight and looked perfect. He sighed with a lopsided grin.

"Well, I guess this is it then," he said.

She frowned slightly. "I guess so."

"This was wonderful," he took her other hand.

She smiled hugely. "It really was. Our first actual date."

Remus furrowed his brow a bit as he realized that she was right. A smile crossed his face. "It was, wasn't it?"

"It just felt normal didn't it?" she laughed.

He nodded. "Like we've been doing it for years."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and cradled the back of his head with her left hand. He leaned down to kiss her in the fading heat of the August night. His hands were splayed on her shoulder blades and pulled her close. They stood there for an indeterminable amount of time; their lips connected under the soft moonlight and the harsher yellow light flowing from the upstairs window.

When they separated, Remus looked into Gwen's beaming bright blue eyes and was immediately overcome with guilt. He had to tell her.

"Gwen…" he said quietly. "I…"

"What is it?" she asked, cupping his face in her hand. Merlin, she was beautiful there smiling at him. Smiling at him. The longer he stood there looking at her, the more nervous he became. She would bolt, he knew it.

"I really had a good time." he said quickly; looking at the ground.

"Goodbye," she whispered; blushing a little.

"You'll be alright getting home?" he asked. No one could be too careful these days.

She nodded. "I'm apparating. I'll be fine."

Reticently he let go of her. She smiled softly at him and, with a pop, she was gone. Remus stood there for a few moments; drinking in the night and what had happened that night. Despite the guilt that flooded his body, Remus couldn't help but feel a sort of weightlessness when he remembered the way she had curled her hand around his neck. Slowly, blindly, he walked into the building and up the stairs. He hoped Sirius was going to bed soon.