Hullo lovelies!

I just updated last night, but here I am again, with another chapter!

I pretty much wrote this whole chapter today, it is very long, and hopefully very lovely. It's kind of my apology for how tragic the last chapter was. I always knew this chapter would be lengthy, but not this lengthy.

Please leave a review and let me know what you think x

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.

For AEdmo13 and Magicalalice xxx

Saturday, July 14th, 1979

Potter Manor

James Potter and Lily Evans' Wedding Day

In the first week of June, Nancy's Mother and younger brother died in a freak car accident; they were walking on the side of the road, a car slipped, lost control, and careened directly into them. Thus, tomorrow Kira and Nancy were leaving the country, they were leaving for North America to start anew. They would have left sooner, but it took some time to get their affairs in order, and they wished to wait until after James and Lily tied the knot.

Mary and Emmeline's passing took a toll on their entire friend group.

Marlene couldn't bear to stay at the cottage after Mary passed—it was filled with too many memories, too many of Mary's belongings, and her caramel smell—so she moved back home with her parents. She proposed that Peter could continue living there on his own, but he politely declined her kind offer. Marlene did take Mary's parents to the cottage so they could collect any of Mary's things that they wanted.

Peter was shattered into irrecoverable pieces, and although he knew it wasn't James's fault, he needed space. Which is why he also refused Hermione's offer that he move into the Manor with them. Peter did, however, accept Sirius's offer to move into his practically abandoned flat.

"I don't blame you, Prongs...it's just I—I can't…" Peter tried to explain at Mary's funeral.

"I understand, Wormtail," James replied, holding his hands tightly by his sides. He wanted nothing more than to reach out and embrace his friend, but they weren't quite there yet.

"I best get back to Mary's parents. They aren't taking this well," Peter said, shifting from foot-to-foot, averting his gaze from James and Lily's. Peter nodded at them curtly before getting lost in the sea of black garments and robes.

Emmeline's funeral was being held at the same time in the same place, and many of their former classmates were in attendance. Including Lysander Smith, the ex-Ravenclaw looked forlorn and broken. There wasn't a lot of time for funerals and proper grieving during the war, but the double loss in such a graphic manner demanded acknowledgment and ceremony.

Sirius and Remus had gone off to pay their respects to Emmeline's eldery parents. Sirius thought it only proper. He wasn't handling Emmeline's loss well, but Remus never left his side; he was Sirius's strength and rock. The pack's sorrow and grief was amplified through their bond; the golden threads were dull and lackluster. Neither Riley nor Pandora had been able to attend as they were in the thick of their NEWT examinations; both witches were distraught at the loss of friends and upperclassmen they had looked up to.

Draco and Hermione were beside Marlene. They hadn't left her side since they arrived. Marlene hated to show her emotions in public, but Draco had drawn her into his chest to hide her tears several times already. Fabian was sturdy presence and was clutching Marlene's hand the entire time.

Marlene's parents were also in attendance. Her Father, Eldric McKinnon was tall, blond, his shoulders broad, and the smile lines around his mouth and by the corners of his eyes were pronounced. He wasn't smiling now. Marlene's Mother, Adelaide McKinnon, was a petite witch—shorter than her daughter by almost a foot—but she was stocky, muscular, and she had a severe stare that melted into something softer whenever her husband or daughter spoke to her.

A despondent gloom hung over the small cemetery: neat rows of graves and headstones, a haunting patch of white flowers at the entrance, a lone yew tree on a small hill in the distance, iron fencing that boxed them in. It was a sad affair, as befitted the lamentable tragedy that had occured.

The funerals were at the beginning of June, and the Marauders—save for Remus and Draco—had not seen Peter since.

Riley had graduated from Hogwarts at the end of the second week of June, and she was due to receive her NEWT scores before the end of the week. With the cottage in Herefordshire left vacant, Sirius asked Marlene if he could use it, and she readily agreed; Sirius and Riley moved in a couple weeks ago. Although, they spent most of their time at the Manor; it was as if they hadn't moved out at all.

Draco and Remus hurriedly picked back up the habit of their morning runs; they needed a way to blow off steam. Sometimes James would join them before he would go to work. James didn't talk about what happened that day, but he poured his emotions into the physical activity; running harder and faster than his companions.

The ordeal had tested James, pushed him to his limits, and he had quickly become one of Moody's best Aurors over the past month. He was more focused and he took every bit of his training more seriously than he had previously. He knew the repercussions if he didn't.

Sirius had sensed the changes in his best friend, and as his Auror partner, he'd also pushed himself harder than before, not wanting to drag James down or hinder him in any way.

Draco would sneak away when he could and continue the initial stages of building Riley's cottage. Hermione would join him as often as she could, but she was rather preoccupied. Lily and James had realised how fragile and precious life was, especially in these dire times, and had thus set an earlier wedding date than they'd originally discussed.

Hermione, James and Lily were overrun with wedding planning. One particularly stressful evening—as the sun began to set—Hermione found Lily in the Orchards (transformed into a doe), lying in the grass in front of Dorea and Charlus's graves. Hermione had joined her, tucking her legs beneath her. She lazily stroked the doe's fur.

And thus, Lily and James's wedding day arrived. The vibrant smells of fauna wafted through the window, and the cream coloured curtains danced in the light summer breeze. The sky was absurdly blue and clear, and the odd, white cloud was fluffy like cotton candy. It was a picturesque day.

Hermione and Lily were lazing in bed, tangled loosely in the white sheets, staring into one another's eyes, their hands clasped. They had several hours before guests began to arrive (their list was fairly short, so they weren't too worried about security, but James and Moody insisted on having practically the entire DMLE in attendance for peace of mind), so the girls were in no rush to get out of bed.

"Is it all a bit mad? Us getting married this quickly?" Lily asked gently.

Hermione reached over to brush some of the crimson hair that had fallen into Lily's eyes over her shoulder. "Of course not, Lilypad. You both love each other…and I think we should take every bit of happiness we can get in this fucked up world we're currently living in."

Hermione rested her palm on Lily's cheek, and with her free hand Lily reached up to grasp it. "It's not that I don't love James…Godric, I am so in love with your toerag of a brother that it scares me sometimes."

"But?"

"It isn't really a but, per say. I—I don't want to rush things because of the war."

Hermione sighed softly, "Lily Evans. I watched you and my brother dance around each other for years. It wasn't your time, you both dated other people, you didn't accept your feelings, and he wanted to give you space—to not continually bombard you with absurd propositions."

Lily's lips pursed at that, but Hermione quirked a brow and silenced any argument that may have fallen from Lily's mouth.

"Eventually, you both found each other when you were ready. You make each other better, and you'll continue to do so for years to come." It stung, knowing that their time was so limited, but Hermione managed to maintain a serene façade as she spoke.

A tiny grin took over Lily's face. "Can you imagine James and I when we are old and grey? I think he'll be an adorable old man. One of the happy, fun ones that plays harmless pranks and flirts with everyone." Lily's brow crinkled thoughtfully. "Flirt in a playful manner, not in the creepy way some old men are prone to."

Hermione could envision it. James and Lily with wrinkles, greying hair, and still ridiculously in love. Holding hands as they took languid strolls through a park. She could envision it and it tore at her heart. "Yea, but you would be the best grandmother. Baking sweets and spoiling your grandchildren rotten."

Lily's eyes widened and she lightly tapped Hermione's hand that rested on her cheek. "Oi! No talk of grandchildren yet. I have to have children first, and Merlin knows that won't be for ages."

A mischievous look glinted in Hermione's hazel eyes, copper and amber flecks burning brightly for a moment. "Do you want to make a harmless, little wager—"

"No. Nope, not gonna happen. I am not agreeing to a wager of any kind you little minx," Lily protested vociferously. She sat up abruptly and released her hold on Hermione entirely. Hermione rolled onto her back, knees partially tucked to her chest as laughter bubbled out of her.

"It should be easy money for you, Lils. If you really believe you won't have children 'for ages' as you put it," Hermione pointed out. She fiddled with an errant, wild curl beside her face that was partially obscuring her vision.

Lily shook her head thrice, wagging her index finger at Hermione. "I know better than to make a wager with a Marauder. I've learned my lesson after Sirius swindled all that money out of me."

"In his defense it was obvious that Puddlemere was going to win that game, and this bet favours you. I am the one taking on all the risk."

"I refuse. Now up you get. Alice should be here any time now, and we have to get ready," Lily demanded firmly, hands folded loosely over her chest. Hermione nodded, waving a dismissive hand as she vaulted into an upright position; the motion caused the bed to rock, and Lily half-bounced in place for a few moments. The strap of her pale pink, satin top slipped off of her shoulder.

"Yes, your Majesty. Today is your big day, and I am at your beck and call," Hermione partially bowed to her friend, smirking.

"Hey, Hermione?"

"Yes, my love?" Hermione asked as she rose from the bed, stretching her arms high above her head as she meandered over to the open window. Smiling as she caught sight of Draco, Remus and Sirius putting up the finishing touches to the makeshift venue they'd created in the back gardens; not too far away from the pool.

"When are you and Draco going to get married?"

The question took Hermione by surprise. She stiffly lowered her arms, letting them fall dully by her sides. Hermione honed in on Draco outside, waving his wand and helping to raise the midnight blue, tented canopy for the reception. "After the war is over," Hermione deadpanned. "We can't tell our whole truth until after the war is done…because of our Unbreakable Vow…and I don't want to get married until we can do that. It isn't our time yet."

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, lips pressed in a thin line; the Vow a warning across the soft flesh of her neck. It was the closest she was going to get to telling Lily everything. The soft sound of Lily's footfalls sounded across the hardwoods, and a warm body enveloped Hermione from behind. Hermione rested her hands on top of Lily's, breathing in and out as slowly and evenly as she could.

There was so much loss still to come, so much they had lost already, but that was not what today was about. Today was about James and Lily, and she was going to ensure that everything went as smoothly as possible. And anyone who tried to get in the way of that would rue the moment they first laid eyes on her.

Hermione's black, open-toed stilettos clipped across the hardwoods as she moved, the fabric of her navy blue, column-style dress brushed against her ankles. The dress was strapless with a sweetheart neckline, and sections of her inked skin were on display, but most of her dragon tattoo was hidden away. It cinched in just below her breasts, and then fell straight down, brushing over her curves. A single layer of dark blue tulle covered the longer section of the dress.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder to make sure the six bridesmaid bouquets were bobbing through the air behind her; satisfied that they were, she picked up the pace. The wildflower bouquets sped up, trailing behind her. There should have been nine, but that was no longer an option.

Hermione sharply rounded a corner and entered the first door on her right. It creaked open, and the brightness of the beautiful day struck her instantly.

Hermione had set aside one of the spare guest rooms down the hall from her parent's old room for Lily and her bridesmaids to get ready in. It was also where Hermione and Lily slept last night. They were upholding the Muggle tradition Lily had 'informed' her of a few days ago; where the bride and groom did not see each other the day of the wedding until the ceremony itself. It was bad luck.

The room was a miniature disaster. Lily and Alice were casting multiple Orchideous spells in quick succession, moving their wands in circles as they yelled the incantation, a pink glow tinged the air every time they cast the spell. Calla lilies were flying through the air, and there was a growing collection of them on the dark hardwood floors.

Alice's dress matched Hermione's, but Hermione could tell she was still barefoot by the way her dress pooled on the ground around her. She'd chopped off all of her hair a few days ago with a pair of sharp kitchen scissors, sitting on the floor in her bedroom in front of the full-length mirror; there was barely three inches of hair on her head. Frank had helped her clean up the back when he came home. A dangling string of diamonds adorned her ears, the earrings glittered as her head swivelled in Hermione's direction.

Kira and Nancy were standing over by one of the two vast windows on the far wall, staring down at the grounds. They were also wearing their bridesmaid dresses.

Nancy's strawberry blonde hair was braided in a milkmaid braid, tiny blue and white flowers and black ribbon were threaded throughout her tresses. Small, round, white gold studs were in her ears.

Kira hadn't bothered to try and tame her curls, they were a wild explosion, but there was a beautiful, artful chaos to them. A plaited headband of small blue wildflowers and midnight blue ribbon pushed the curls back from her face. A long, silver chain was around her neck, and it dipped between the valley of her breasts, disappearing below the top of her dress. Gold was painted on her lips, and lined her bright blue eyes.

Riley was the calmest of the bunch, standing in front of the full length mirror on the far side of the room, twirling back and forth, and delightedly watching her blue skirts spin about in a wide circle. A braid wove across the front of her hairline, and ended on the right side of her head, her pale shock of hair was loose otherwise, and she was wearing a flower crown of cornflowers, and Feverfew daisies. Several silver rings of various sizes glinted on her fingers, and a silver charm bracelet jiggled on her wrist.

Marlene was in between Alice and Lily, hands on her hips, her cerulean blue eyes snapping towards Hermione. "Finally! Can you talk some sense into them? They can't stop mucking about while I am trying to braid Lily's hair."

"It's cause she wants me to do it," Hermione teased, gently closing the door behind her and the bouquets; she levitated them over to the Queen sized bed on the right side of the room, and the pale blue, yellow, pink and splattering of white flowers distinctly stood out against the emerald sheets. A sheer ribbon was wrapped around each of them to match their dresses.

"You look marvellous, kitten," Riley beamed, skipping over to them in her low, strappy heels.

"As do you, my love," Hermione smiled warmly, reaching out and brushing the back of her fingers across Riley's cheek. Riley leaned into the touch.

Hermione turned her attention to Marlene and asked, "and why aren't you dressed yet?. Marlene was practically starkers, merely wearing see-through black lingerie, black stockings and garters, and six-inch high black stilettos. She'd charmed her strapless bra to stay in place with a light sticking charm if Hermione had to guess by the way it clung to the witch's skin. Marlene's dress was carefully laid out towards the top of the bed.

"I've been telling these two to calm down and get ready. The ceremony is in less than an hour!" Marlene groaned, tucking her chin-length, honey blonde hair behind her ears. She drummed an absent rhythm on her chest as she swayed back and forth. Hermione stuttered to a halt opposite Marlene, on the periphery of the small mound of lilies.

Lily and Alice had sheepishly ceased their flower transfiguration, their arms behind their back. Hermione faced Lily, her next breath stolen away as she caught sight of Lily's wedding dress in its full glory. Lily refused to make a fuss, and had gone by herself into Muggle London to purchase the dress. It was the one thing she'd kept as a surprise for the entirety of the planning process.

"Lily, you look—"

"Gorgeous. James may faint when he sees her. I told her all those lovely things already. More importantly, we all need to finish getting ready!" Marlene laughed in exacerbation, throwing her hands up in defeat as she strode confidently over to the bed where her dress awaited her. Marlene played with the front of her dress, smoothing her hands across it, and her lip trembled.

No one said it aloud, but Dorcas, Emmeline and Mary's absence was deeply felt. It was tangible, and Hermione could almost reach out and touch it if she so desired. A heaviness was clutching at their skirts, trying to drag down the levity of an otherwise wondrous day.

"Okay, Miss Evans," Hermione pointed to the white vanity against the wall in between the two windows; it had three mirrors, the outer two faced inwards at a slight angle. "Go and sit so I can braid your hair and do your makeup. We haven't got all day." Hermione cast a wandless tempus charm, cussing lowly under her breath as she noted the time. They had less than forty minutes until Lily was meant to walk down the aisle.

"And for the record, he will," Hermione commented as she guided Lily over to the vanity. Lily picked up her skirts and carefully arranged them about her as she sat down.

"Will what?" Lily asked.
"My brother is going to do one of three things when he sees you: faint, cry, or make a fool of himself."

"Or all three!" Kira called out, speaking for the first time since Hermione had entered the room. Nancy smiled tightly, nodding in agreement, but remained firmly mute. The lustere had been stolen from the witch.

Hermione began parting Lily's hair, meeting the girl's gaze in the mirror, and the pair shared a secret smile. She pictured the three scenarios, and then interesting combinations of them in turn as her fingers deftly braided Lily's hair. She couldn't wait to see James's reaction to seeing his bride. She couldn't wait.

The ceremony was being held on the edge of the Orchards. A rounded white arch was nestled between a pair of trees. A bouquet of cornflowers, tulips, primroses and gypsophila was hanging from the middle of the arch. Navy blue, steel blue and powder blue ribbon had been braided together, and they wound around the arch on either side in graceful curves only to disappear behind the bouquet.

Garlands of cornflowers, primroses and baby's breath were woven with sheer blue ribbon and wrapped around the nearby trees. Small balls of dark blue and white light bobbed beside the arch.

Leading up to the arch were a few rows of white fold-out chairs adorned with sheer blue ribbon and small white flowers hanging from the backs.

The guests were already seated. Kingsley, Lora and Elias Shacklebolt were in the front row beside Lyall Lupin. The Prewett brothers (James Thomas was sandwiched in between them), Molly and Arthur Weasley and their brood of children were on the opposite side of the aisle (James bumped into Arthur occasionally at the Ministry, and the men had struck up a warm friendship).

In the second row was Andromeda, Ted and Nymphadora. Moody was seated beside Nymphadora, and had been curiously eyeing the girl's fluctuating features and appearance that changed every time she saw someone new.

"A metamorphmagus, huh," Moody'd muttered under his breath, tapping his staff across the ground a few times.

Directly behind them was Pandora and Xenophilius. Pandora was the picture of serenity, resting her head on her boyfriend's shoulder. The pair stood out remarkably in their sunflower yellow, bright outfits. Draco tried not to look at them too long because spots began to dance in front of his eyes. Mipsy was seated beside them, bony hands clutching a damp handkerchief as the house elf dabbed at her wide, watery eyes. She was wearing a simple, sky blue frock and a white bonnet.

James, Draco, Remus, Peter and Frank were standing on the right side of the arch, awaiting the rest of the bridal party. Peter may have been absent from their lives since the incident, and this was his first time returning to Potter Manor since Mary's passing, but he was still family and he wanted to be by James's side as he married the love of his life. He'd joked weakly once he arrived that he got to participate in all the fun, without having to deal with any of the stress they'd gone through to organise everything.

"Who is best man?" Peter'd asked shyly. The men were all gathered in James's room where they were getting ready. Frank was using his wand to smooth out any wrinkles in his black outer robes, and the hissing sound of the steam filled the spacious room.

James was illuminated from behind by the sunlight pouring in through the window, the curtains billowing about him, and he grinned brightly. "I told Draco and Sirius to duel for the honour, but apparently they were quite cordial about the whole thing and decided to share in the glory."

Draco stole a peek at Remus, and snorted when he noticed his best mate stealing another glance at the six-year old. Tonks was most certainly not pleased with the red dress she was wearing, her little hands were fussing with the multi-layered skirt and her lips were twisted in irritation. It was adorable.

Draco had used a nifty bit of charm work to block Remus's nose. It would aid with the overbearing mixture of musky colognes and fragrant perfumes that were heady in the air, and it would also stop him from picking up Tonks's scent through it all.

Remus'd known the moment the girl had arrived, and he'd sworn under his breath. With earnest, mildly terrified eyes he turned to Draco and said, "fuck, Paws. It's like Moony—any unease I feel, any unrest, it's just bloody gone. For once he is fucking quiet, calmer than ever."

Remus had asked Sirius about his soul bond with Riley once, about what it felt like to have no control. Sirius snorted and clapped Remus on the back. "It's not like that, mate. I could be with someone else if I wanted to, but it wouldn't be the same. Our magic is highly compatible, it likes each other…and when I am with her…my soul quiets. I feel steady and at ease."

"Doesn't that frighten you?"

"I suppose—sometimes—but I'm not with Riley simply because of our soul bond, Remus. She's a brilliant person who I like spending time with. I want to take care of her, to keep her safe. It's not just a romantic connection. We balance each other out, and we complement each other."

An old photographer friend of Charlus's—Reginald Finch—had kindly agreed to cover the event, and he was standing at the back, snapping shots of the guests, of the groomsmen, and the darling setup.

Reginald was a spindly, dark-skinned man. Neat cornrows lined his scalp, and thick, round glasses sat high on the bridge of his nose. He was wearing a well-tailored plum suit with pointy, black dragonhide shoes. The sunlight shining down on him brought out the coppery undertones in his complexion dashingly.

Reginald had been a Ravenclaw in the same year as Charlus, with quick wit and a sharp tongue that oft found him in trouble. Charlus habitually found himself mixed up in the thick of it, and would gladly aid his friend in any 'disagreements' he'd gotten into. Prior to Charlus's passing, the two men met bi-monthly for a pint and a meal at the Leaky Cauldron or somewhere in Muggle London that Reginald recommended (he was always trying new places, interested in all kinds of cuisine).

The man was well-versed in both worlds as he was a Half-blood whose Mother had died in childbirth. When he received his Hogwarts letter, it was a good shock to him and his Father.

Reginald had taken one look at James, and with a wry smirk said, "you're just as much trouble as your Father was…aren't you?"

James barked out a laugh, and Reginald snapped a picture at the same moment. Reginald shrugged when James shot him a baffled look. "It's always a pleasure capturing such an organic moment." Then he strolled away to nab some shots of the arch and the trees before any of the guests arrived.

Draco had been so lost in thought, he hadn't noticed that all of the bridesmaids were already lined up opposite them. Draco's breath caught in his throat when he saw Hermione. She fiddled with one of her sapphire stud earrings and gave him a tiny wave. She was a marvellous creature, her long raven curls brushed back over her shoulders, and he watched—enthralled—as her red painted lips parted, and her tongue fiddled with her top incisor.

Draco was so bewitched by Hermione, that he almost missed the moment Sirius walked Lily down the aisle. The small gasp that came from his brother snapped him back to reality. Draco's eyes reluctantly dragged away from Hermione's lovely image to his left, and he was at a loss for words.

Lily's white wedding dress made her look otherworldly and regal. It was an empire waist dress:it had a sweetheart neckline, the bodice was lace with intricate floral patterns woven into it, and the off-the-shoulder sleeves were flowy and cut off above her elbows. The tulle skirt floated, and the train trailed several feet after her.

Draco examined the rest of her ensemble. An elegant, thin, silver necklace with a sapphire pendant rested above the swell of her chest (it was Dorea's, Hermione had snuck into Dorea's large jewellery box and found it). Lily's lace veil was the palest of blues.

It was a bit ridiculous, but Lily had given Draco one of the black ribbons she'd tied her hair back with when she was younger (it was amongst her possessions still in boxes) and he'd used it to hold her beauteous bouquet together. Cornflowers, Gypsophila, Nigellas and tiny sprigs of baby's breath were being held in Lily's hands as she marched slowly towards them.

James's fingers moved and he muttered something that Draco didn't catch, but a burst of laughter caught in Draco's throat when he saw the trail of white lilies sprouting from the grass behind Lily, blowing gently in the summer breezes.

Hermione had expertly braided Lily's hair from the front of her hairline back into a bun that she'd formed into a flower, and some flyaways were purposefully framing her face. Hermione had picked up some small silver hairpins last week that had silver roses on the end, and she'd carefully spaced them throughout Lily's braid.

Unshed tears were brimming in James's eyes as Lily stood opposite him, and Sirius squeezed Lily's arm as he handed her off. Draco stepped to the side to make room for Sirius between him and James, and then the ceremony began.

"You look gorgeous," James whispered, his voice watery. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were standing at a downward angle, spaced out partially and facing the lovely couple. Draco was privy to the moment the first tear rolled down James's cheek. He could barely make out Lily's glistening eyes through her sheer veil. Lily handed her bouquet off to Hermione, whose arms were now laden with flowers.

With trembling hands, James took the edges of Lily's veil and gently lifted it up and above her head, the pale blue fabric fluttered down into place. James could drink in Lily's visage properly, and he stroked her cheek affectionately before he took her hands in his.

Lyall Lupin rose from his seat, adjusted his light grey robes and strode to stand at the head, directly below the arch. He was going to officiate the ceremony, and said it would be his honour to bond two people who had wholeheartedly and unconditionally loved his son from the very beginning. Something he was eternally grateful for.

Lyall opened with a kind note about the couple and told a brief story about one of the first times he met James. An apple pie somehow managed to smash into the front of him as James raced away from the kitchen with Mipsy hot on his tail. It drew several laughs at the rambunctious boys actions.

Draco was lost in the moment, the euphony of sounds encompassing the area rolled across his ears but he didn't hear much. Lyall's mouth was moving, and then James was laughing and saying his vows with unbridled warmth.

In the middle of the ceremony, as Lily was tenderly saying her vows, a rustling of noise and muttered, harsh words caught Draco's attention. He risked a peek out of the corner of his eye, and watched one of the Aurors stationed at the perimeter ushering a confused pair into seats at the back of the group. Draco's teeth clenched as he took in their appearances. Hermione had described them to him once or twice, and from their clothes it wasn't hard to guess who they were.

Please don't ruin today, Draco begged silently. Deciding he had spent enough time ogling Petunia and Vernon Dursley, he returned his gaze to Lily and James.

Shortly thereafter, Lily and James raised their clasped hands. Lyall pointed his wand at their joined hands and boldly and confidently spoke the words that had been used for millennia to bind wix together in matrimony. A burst of gold light swirled around the couple, and burning coppery threads laced around their forearms and clasped hands.

Lily and James let out tiny gasps as the explosion of magic settled over them. It pulsed brightly once before the magic withdrew inside of them and bound their magical cores together forever.

The powerful magic settled across the gathering and sank into the ground; its purity would remain for years to come.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife!" Lyall said with a joyous chuckle. "You may kiss—"

But James had beaten him to it, he tugged Lily towards him, and the pair was smiling contentedly as they kissed tenderly. As if for the first time, as if this was the last moment they had to share in the world, and they wanted to make it last as long as they could.

Draco ripped his gaze away, to face his own witch, and jovial tears were streaming down her cheeks, but the smile on her face rivalled the sun. "Together," Hermione mouthed, and Draco understood she meant, "I love you." He returned the sentiment.

Draco was taken by surprise, and flinched in shock as Lily let out a wild bout of laughter—she'd turned to face their guests with her new husband, and instead she caught sight of the trail of lilies. Lily gazed up at James with pure adoration and said, "you are utterly ridiculous, and I could not love you more for it."

All of the pain, all of the grief and sorrow they'd been through and they had yet to endure was all worth it for that one, single moment. As Draco witnessed how madly in love Lily and James were. He also regretted every time he'd used their deaths as a taunt towards Harry during his adolescence.

The thought of Harry caused Draco to turn on his heel, tuck his hands into his trouser pockets and openly stare at Petunia and Vernon. The pair's posture was aberrantly stiff, and they were shooting contemptuous glares down their noses at their environs. Vernon's pudgy face was screwed with disdain as he stared at Mipsy.

Hermione insisted Lily not invite her sister and brother-in-law, not after how dreadfully they'd treated her. Lily wouldn't hear it—endlessly forgiving—and had been resolute in her decision to extend an invitation to her estranged sibling. Draco rued not pushing harder to omit them from an otherwise enchanting day.

I truly hope I don't end up in a verbal spat with them, Draco thought, his head tilting to the side as he examined them further. Although, from the looks of Vernon, it won't be much of a fight.

Lily and James—hand-in-hand—led the procession over to the tented canopy (it was much closer to the house) where they were holding the reception. Lily noticed her sister and gave her a small wave as she passed by. Petunia haughtily stared at her sister, a prim, disingenuous smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. It painted her features with a pinched, tight impression.

Lily faltered for a moment, missed a step, but James held up her elbow and she recovered hastily. She clung to him, seeking comfort and assurance after the deliberate disapproval her sister had bestowed upon her. James shot her a worried look, only catching a glimpse of his in-laws before they were off.

Hermione crossed over to Draco, looping her arm through his and quietly asked, "you saw it too?"

"We shouldn't have let her invite them."

"We were trying to make her happy," Hermione weakly pointed out. "Although, we both know their presence will bring anything but joy."

"I give you full permission to set them on fire if the need arises."

"I was wrong, they may bring joy after all," Hermione said with a sickly sweet smile, her viper-like gaze locked on Lily's muggle relatives.

And with that, the wedding party and all the guests followed after the newlyweds, ready to embark in one hell of a party.

The four posts holding up the tented canopy have garlands matching the ones that had decorated the trees behind the white arch where Lily and James had been bonded for life. Dark blue and white glass balls are floating around the ceiling of the tent, bobbing up and down; there are a few hovering around the tented area as well, ensuring that there is enough light for well into the late hours of the evening.

The sun was lowering in the sky, it wouldn't set for a couple hours, but the warmth of the lazy afternoon was wrapping around all of the tent's occupants; thankfully the breeze had picked up and kept them relatively cool.

On the far left side of the tent were a few round tables, with starch white tablecloths, and dark blue place settings. Polished silverware is nestled on top of crisp white napkins. There are slim crystal vases in the middle of each table with cornflowers and white tulips and various white wildflowers meticulously arranged in them.

Mipsy had created the spread of delectable hors d'oeuvres for the guests. She was busily directing silver trays containing them, as well as fine crystal glasses of elf wine, slender shoots of champagne and stout glasses with a few fingers of deep amber Firewhisky around the tent for the guests to pick and choose from as they liked.

Reginald was milling about, inconspicuous as he snapped pictures here and there. He had an uncanny way of masking his presence that puzzled Hermione.

For the most part, things had been going swimmingly, but the first hour of the reception was unfairly tense for Lily as she mingled. Hermione could see it in the way the witch held herself. Vernon and Petunia had sequestered themselves at one of the furthermost tables, and hadn't budged an inch since. Lily attempted to make conversation with her sister at the start, but it was clear that Petunia was not interested in chatting with her. Vernon failed to acknowledge either James nor Lily.

Anger sparked in her brother's eyes, but Lily dragged him away before he could give the rotten couple a piece of his mind.

Hermione was attempting to be on her best behaviour, but she could not idly sit by and watch this farce go on for any longer. Petunia and Vernon's presence was detrimental to Lily's mental wellbeing, and her enjoyment of her wedding day. Hermione cared too deeply for the witch to allow her to be treated with such obvious contempt when she hadn't done anything to deserve it.

With all the grace she had at her disposal, Hermione wove through the guests. She stopped to kiss Marlene and Fabian on the cheeks, brush a hand over Pandora's bare shoulder and compliment her yellow sundress, and she paused long enough beside Moody to cheekily hex his hair blue.

The man gaped at the flashy show of wandless, wordless magic. He was engaged in light conversation with Ted and Andromeda, and by extension their raucous daughter who was running in circles around her Mother's burgundy skirts. A delighted giggle left Hermione's lips as Tonks copied him.

When Hermione finally reached Petunia and Vernon, she was of an elated disposition, but the nasty sneers she was met with quickly soured her good mood.

Hermione placed her hands on the back of one of the white chairs at their table, standing across from the uptight couple. Her lips parted as she scrutinised them, and she found great joy in watching them squirm under her cold gaze.

Petunia Dursley was a bony woman with blonde hair, a horsey face, an abnormally long neck and the frown lines across her forehead were already quite pronounced despite her young age; she was only a couple years older than them. A string of pearls was around her neck, and a matching pair of earrings hung from her ears. Petunia's hair was neatly arranged about her shoulders, not a strand out of place.

Petunia's dress had a ruffled collar, and the elegant peasant sleeves cinched in at her wrists. The bodice was fitted, but the floor-length skirt hung loosely. It was viridian green and quite fashionable.

Vernon Dursley was a stark contrast to his wife. He was a beefy man who was squeezed into the chair he was sitting on, he had little to no neck that Hermione could account for, and his thick, wiry, brown mustache was expertly tapered into points on either side of his top lip, the bottom a razor sharp, straight edge. His dark hair was slicked back, combed down with unforgiving precision. His hairline was thinner at his temples.

The black suit he wore pulled at his massive figure, but was tailored to fit him. His black leather shoes were pointy, and polished to gleam and one could see their reflection in them.

"Why did you come?" Hermione asked sweetly. She silently cast a Muffliato over them, so as to not disrupt everyone else's festivities.

"I beg your pardon," Vernon said gruffly, folded his arms over his vast middle and glaring at her with his dark eyes.

"Thank you, I shall graciously give it to you," Hermione replied.

Vernon seemed perplexed by her statement, and as he mulled it over, Petunia cut in. Her voice was higher, more annoying than Hermione recalled from the brief interaction they'd once had. "Who are you?"

"Hermione Potter, sister of the groom." Hermione cleared her throat, tapping a finger against the chair she was holding onto to maintain her composure. "Now, I will repeat my priorly posed question. I do hate having to repeat myself, so please listen closely so I won't have to do it again." A tinge of mint tickled her nostrils, and Hermione couldn't help but smile to herself despite the circumstances.

Petunia looked affronted by Hermione's statement, but Hermione couldn't care less if she tried. "If you were going to be miserable, not mingle in the slightest, nor make any effort to engage Lily in meaningful conversation, then, why, did you bother showing your faces."

"I was just about to ask the same thing," Draco's voice came from over her shoulder. He slung an arm around her shoulders.

It hadn't taken long for the groomsmen to abandon their outer robes at one of the tables, and they were in varying states of undress. Draco had unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white, collared, long sleeved shirt; he'd rolled up the sleeves past his elbows. The warmth from his forearm seeping into her bare shoulder melted some of the ire out of her.

"I don't know who you are either, but we were invited. It would have been rude not to accept," Petunia sniffed, her nose swinging upwards further. Hermione could see her nostrils, and the underside of her chin; it wasn't an appealing sight.

"How rude of me not to introduce myself. My name is Draco Abraxas Potter, the groom is my brother. So, let me get this straight—correct me if I've missed the point somewhere—the only reason you deigned to show your faces was because it would be...rude not to?" Draco said slowly, disbelief threaded throughout his words. "You do see the irony in that as you've been nothing but rude and unpleasant since you arrived—may I add—late."

"That woman is lucky we decided to come to this gathering of freaks and abominations!" Vernon said, his voice climbing a pitch higher with each word. His meaty finger was pointed past Hermione and Draco at what Hermione could only assume was Mipsy.

"I hope you aren't referring to my sister as a freak, and that you aren't pointing at my darling house elf. I must insist you lower your grubby hand," Hermione snarled. She was reaching her limit, and red was creeping across the edges of her vision.

These horrid people were going to raise Harry. They were going to neglect and abuse him, and treat him with cruelty and as if they were lesser than them. Her wrath was bubbling up, threatening to burst like an active volcano.

Draco removed his arm from her, and with measured restraint he placed his hands on the table opposite the couple, his eyes frosty and pumped full of icy warning as he spoke, calmly. "Lily Potter is not a freak. She is a wonderful person, and the fact that you aren't capable of seeing that is a failure on your part."

"She is a freak. You're unnatural, all of you. You shouldn't exist," Vernon huffed, hands laced together on his stomach, his face turning an unflattering shade of puce as he spat at them; spittle gathered on his lower lip.

"Unlike Hermione, I will not repeat myself. So open your unnaturally small ears and listen well," Draco said with enough venom to incapacitate a man. Vernon sputtered at the insult, raising a finger, but Draco's eyes sparked dangerously and he cast a silent Petrificus Totalus on the man. "You will do well to stay as far away from my family as you can, and should harm befall any of them—verbal or physical—at your hands. I will hunt you down and make you rue the day your Father decided to poorly shag your Mother and create you."

Vernon's eyes were darting about frantically, clearly displeased by the way Draco was addressing him. If Hermione wasn't vexed by Vernon's words, and there weren't so many witnesses, she would have tackled Draco to the ground and kissed him silly.

"You seem to have a modicum more sense than your husband, so I suggest when I release him, you both take your leave quickly and quietly. I won't permit you to ruin today," Draco instructed firmly. Petunia met his eye and nodded curtly, somehow managing to look mollified and cowed into submission yet disgusted profusely.

"Finite," Draco said, waving his hand over Vernon. The man was foaming at the mouth as he tried to hurl insults and foul words at Draco. Petunia placated him somehow, and the man spat at Draco's feet before the pair retreated hastily towards the Manor. Presumably to use the floo network that the Auror had brought them through earlier. It was odd watching Vernon's unsteady gait beside Petunia's quick, flitty one.

Sirius caught sight of the Dursleys' hasty departure. He reached up to adjust his wand tucked behind his ear and with swift strides made to follow them into the house.

"Glad Padfoot is going after them. I don't trust them not to nick something on the way out," Draco grumbled. Hermione snorted in response. They were horrid, but they weren't entirely classless.

Anger broiled in Hermione's gut, and she wrapped her arms around her midsection as she tried to calm down. She would not cause a scene and ruin Lily and James's special day. Draco seemed to be of a similar mindset as the hinge of his jaw was welded shut and bound with taut wires. A vein across his temple was throbbing and a thunderstorm was raging in his grey eyes.

Hermione and Draco were so wrought with ire, they didn't notice Remus marching over to them until he was right on top of them. Freshly mown grass, parchment, chocolate. Remus's presence bled some of the tension out of them, and Hermione's anger was ebbing away by the moment. She centred her attention on Remus's concerned face and smiled wanly.

"What just happened? That looked rather heated."

"Fucking cunts, the both of them," Hermione growled. The anger wasn't burning as hotly before, instead it was icy cold and surging through her veins. "If it wasn't Lily's wedding day, I would have lit the two of them on fire. Draco gave me permission earlier."

"Pyromania isn't wedding friendly, unfortunately," Draco ground out, his eye twitching.

"Okay. Okay, well, Sirius escorted them out, and thankfully Lily didn't notice. James successfully distracted her," Remus sighed, rubbing at his temples.

Remus let out a haggard sigh, rolling back his shoulders and fixing them both with a stern stare. "You two are wound too tight. How about we get you both a drink, and then we can focus on what today's really about?"

Hermione opened her mouth, vexation still tugging down her brow, but Remus raised his index finger and shot her a stoic stare.

"Your brother and one of your best friends got married today. It is their day, and I don't think they'll enjoy too much more of it if you two are in a foul mood for the remainder of it."

"You're right. But, I need you to know that I was seconds away from charming his shoes two sizes too small and placing a permanent sticking charm on them." Hermione ground out. She let her arms fall to her sides, and busied them by re-arranging her skirt about her.

"Were they really that awful, love?" Remus inquired, loosely wrapping his arms around her shoulders. Hermione sank into him and mumbled, "his thick feet would be stuck in them forever."

"You're scary sometimes, love," Remus replied, affectionately rubbing his hands across her back in comfort.

"They are the worst sort of muggles," Draco said acidly, shaking his head and tapping his hands against his cheeks thrice in quick succession; forcefully snapping himself out of his mood. Minerva McGonagall would one day echo his sentiments.

"You promised us a drink, my sweet Moon, and I expect to be plied with copious amounts of liquor," Hermione declared, pulling back, and her arms slid upwards to grip his chin.

"Like you are trying to convince us to invest in some sketchy business venture, that, or take us both to bed," Draco winked.

Remus momentarily sputtered at the casual proposition, but smoothly regained his composure. "I don't think you would be able to handle me, Paws."

With that declaration hanging in the air, the trio bantered lightly back and forth as they traversed over to the tent and rejoined the boisterous celebrations.

The Marauders were having a grand time. James had been hoisted onto Sirius and Remus's shoulders in the middle of the 'dance floor' and they were cheering and chanting, faces flush as they jumped up and down. Frank and Draco's arms were thrown over each other, and the wizards were downing pints side-by-side. The only groomsman missing was Peter; his heart wasn't in it, and he'd left shortly after the Dursleys' dramatic departure.

Molly and Arthur were seated at one of the tables, tired after trying to wrangle their older boys (who were now running amongst the adults). The Shacklebolts had taken up the table beside them. Lora looked haggard, and older than the last time the Potters had seen her. Elias was comfortingly rubbing her back, and the pair spoke softly as they observed the youths fully enjoying the moment.

Kingsley was in the middle of the dance floor with the remainder of the guests, twirling Hermione into Alice's arms. Pandora grabbed his hand a breath later, and he ended up spinning in a circle with her and Xenophilius. Riley soon joined them, humming under her breath.

Sirius was immensely proud of the fact that he'd gotten his record player to work and that he was able to use magic on it to amplify the sound so that it filled the reception area.

The witches had long since abandoned their shoes on the edges of the tent, and Lily proceeded to gather all of her bridesmaids and they were holding hands and dancing in a circle, stopping to break off into pairs for a few twirls before joining up again. Nancy was finally smiling, and Kira had a glass of elf wine in one hand as she swung around in merriment with her girls.

Gideon, James Thomas and Fabian were creating a mini fireworks show that enchanted Bill, Charlie and Percy Weasley. Tiny dragons chased the boys around the tent.

Reginald had used up a couple rolls of film already, and tucked them into his pockets for safekeeping; instantly loading another once one finished. He wanted to capture every moment he could.

Moody was sitting at the Shacklebolt's table, as was Ted Tonks and Lyall Lupin. The former was tucking into the modest dinner Mipsy had whipped up, nursing his Firewhisky and tapping his foot to the beat of the music. His keen eyes were in constant motion, examining every inch of their surroundings. His hair was still blue. Ted was lightly conversing with Elias and Lyall on the state of the Wizengamot considering the house was divided by their alliances in the war.

Andromeda was bent-double, holding her daughter's hands and dancing to the upbeat rhythm. Remus stole glances at little Tonks every so often, amused when she tripped over her feet. Moony was subdued, and there was a serenity like Sirius mentioned, but it seemed knowing she was happy and safe was enough for Moony.

Sirius threw his shirt into the throng of wix. James and Draco's shortly followed. Draco slid through the cluster of witches, grabbed Hermione round the waist and swung her onto his shoulder. The witch made a loud noise in protest, and carried her over to where her fellow Marauders were awaiting her arrival. The Marauders slung their arms over each other, and Frank snuck away with Alice, his blond curls in disarray, his cheeks flushed and a ring box burning in his pocket.

Hermione ended up between Remus and Draco; they lifted her clean off the ground by the waist and danced in a circle gaily. James and Sirius were waltzing gracefully beside them, their hairlines both damp with sweat. Sirius had a cornflower between his teeth by the stem and waggled his eyebrows at James as they danced. A pink scrunchie was holding his hair back in a short ponytail on top of his head.

It was a grand affair, one that healed their war-torn hearts and let them forget for a moment how divided the Wizarding world had become. The first Wizarding War was like a fungus, slow growing and parasitic on their society. Before you knew what was happening, it had grown out of control, and taken over everything.

Later that night, after all of their guests left through the floo and they all retired to their respective rooms, Hermione lay in Draco's arms, cloaked in darkness.

Draco was lightly dragging his fingers across her upper arm, and her head was nestled under his chin. Hermione softly spoke, "we've gotten to see so much of their lives, yet, it never feels like it will be enough…"

"It won't be. We'll always be greedy and want more. More time, more laughter, even more tears if it means we get to share them," Draco replied. It was the dire truth, a hushed confession in the middle of a dark summer night where the warm winds blew and washed wonderfully over their bare skin.

"It's unfair that I got them for so long…and Harry will barely have any time with them at all," Hermione said, her voice frail and wobbly. Draco dropped a kiss to her curls.

Hermione knew that Draco sometimes didn't think he deserved the time he'd gotten with them, a small, wretched part of him was convinced that he was unworthy of the gift he'd been bequeathed.

"Those horrible Muggles are going to mistreat Harry, locking him in a bloody cupboard under the stairs…" Draco trailed off, true horror clung to his words, as if the reality of it was only now sinking in.

"Promise me that we'll make them pay," Hermione whispered into the night. She shivered as Draco's nail traced the letter 's' along her skin, gooseflesh rose and she snuggled further into him.

"I promise, love. I promise we will make them pay."

The oath appeased her racing mind, and her eyelids dragged downwards, heavy with fatigue. She tried to keep them open for a little longer, but exhaustion from the day took over, and the night claimed her.