James and Lily held their wedding in late November—just as Frank and Alice had before them, they chose to have it outside of Britain to reduce the possibility of Death Eater interference. They picked a secluded Greek island that would also serve as their honeymoon spot, protected from wizards and Death Eaters alike by as many wards as they could cast. The location was gorgeous, with crystal-clear water and warm summer-like air and lush trees strung with softly glowing lights that twinkled like fireflies. James had even summoned up a little tiki bar for the occasion.
James had, of course, chosen Sirius to be his best man, which meant that Sirius was also the one tasked with the responsibility of smoothing out his suit and straightening his tie while James bounced up and down on the balls of his feet in front of the levitating mirror. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this," he whispered. "Me, marrying Lily Evans. How did I get here again, Padfoot?"
"Well, you were very persistent, for one," Sirius replied, smirking. James looked so ridiculously happy, and Sirius was thrilled for him, but the sight of his happiness also gave Sirius a sneaky pang of jealousy for how strong his relationship with Lily was. He and Remus were hardly even in a relationship anymore; they certainly didn't act like it.
"You're not getting cold feet, I take it?" Sirius asked.
"Most definitely not," James assured him. "I have whatever the opposite of that is." He broke out into a giant, goofy grin. "I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world right now. I can't wait to see Lils in her dress—she wouldn't let me see her before the ceremony. Some old Muggle superstition or something. But I don't care; it means I get to be surprised today. She's going to be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"You always think she's the most beautiful woman you've ever seen."
"Er, you guys?" Peter poked his head inside the little shack where they were preparing, with Remus, the other groomsman, standing over his shoulder. "I think they're ready for you."
"Great." Sirius averted his eyes from Remus and clapped James on the shoulders, forcing out a smile big enough to match his friend's. Today was James's day; he wasn't going to let his own problems get in the way. This was too important.
James took Sirius's arm and let him lead him outside, Remus and Peter following behind. The wedding guests—Order members, mostly, along with James's parents and a few other family friends—were seated on either side of the flower-lined aisle, a luminescent stage hovering a few inches off the ground at the other end of it, golden underneath the soft evening skies. Still arm in arm, James and Sirius made their way down the aisle, every one of their steps perfectly matched. Padfoot and Prongs, each of them forever in sync with the other; if only Sirius and Remus's relationship could work so effortlessly.
They stepped up onto the stage, Sirius lining James up on one side of the bearded wedding officiant before finally releasing him and stepping back. Soft string music was echoing gently through the trees, seeming to be coming from everywhere all at once despite the lack of instruments present. Fleamont and Euphemia Potter were smiling up at their son from the front row, as well as their semi-adopted son Sirius standing behind him. On the other side of the aisle, a red-haired toddler began to cry in his mother's arms; he was one of Molly Weasley's young twins, nephew of Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Molly quieted him by popping a pacifier into his mouth.
The music began to swell as the bridesmaids stepped outside and began their walk down the aisle, their soft lilac dresses fluttering behind them in the breeze; all of them were from the Order, Alice Longbottom and Dorcas Meadowes and Emmeline Vance. Marlene McKinnon was last, serving as the maid of honor—she wore one of Mary Macdonald's old pearl necklaces to represent Lily's closest friend. The bridesmaids took their position on the stage opposite James and his groomsmen, crossing their arms neatly behind their backs.
Next came the ring bearer and flower girl, both young children: the ring bearer was a dapperly-dressed eight-year-old named William Weasley, Molly's eldest son, and the flower girl was Michael Clearwater's four-year-old daughter Penelope. Penelope threw multicolored lilies into the crowd (a nice touch thought up by Sirius) while the Weasley boy walked silently beside her, holding the rings out in front of him on a satin white pillow. When the two of them reached the stage, he handed the pillow to Sirius, who released the rings from their bindings with a simple flick of his wand and pocketed them.
And then, finally, it was Lily's turn. Sirius heard James's sharp intake of breath as she stepped out, led forward by Dumbledore in lilac robes that matched the bridesmaids'. Lily's dress was beautiful, made of layers of light gossamer fabric that tightly hugged her waist and flared out around her legs, tiny gemstones glittering among its folds. Her hair was down and loosely curled around her shoulders, and she wore a long veil enchanted to float slightly above the ground behind her. She also wore a brilliant, pink-lipped smile that was joyful enough to bring tears to James's eyes. He loved her so much, Sirius knew. And because of that, despite how fiery and stuck-up and self-righteous Lily could sometimes be, Sirius loved her too.
Dumbledore took her slowly down the aisle, slow enough for her to beam down at all their guests as they peered raptly up at her. But by the time she reached the stage, her attention was fixed only on James. Dumbledore placed his hand in hers and stepped aside, allowing them to take their places in front of the officiant.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the officiant began, "I welcome you all to witness the joining together of these two souls in eternal matrimony. Our world is currently facing a darkness that most of us have never witnessed the likes of before—but it is ceremonies such as this one that remind us all of what we live and fight for every day." Sirius found his gaze drifting over towards Remus, but he quickly turned away before Remus could notice. "It is my honor to marry this wizard to this witch in front of all of you, and to play a small part in the everlasting happiness that they will experience by each other's sides." He spread his arms out behind the couple. "James Fleamont Potter, do you take Lily Rose Evans to be your wife, from this day until your last?"
"I do," James murmured, so quietly that Sirius doubted anyone off the stage would be able to hear it. But he wasn't speaking to them—his words were just for Lily.
"Do you swear to cherish her, to care for her, to be her greatest friend and confidant, and to hold her in your heart, now and always?"
"I do," James said, slightly louder this time. He reached behind him to take the ring he'd bought for Lily—a simple golden band, just as she'd requested—from Sirius, slipping it onto her finger.
The officiant repeated the vows for Lily, who responded just the same and gave James his ring. The way they looked at each other was like the rest of the world had fallen away, like the two of them and their vows were all that was left.
"Then," said the officiant, "I happily pronounce you James and Lily Potter, husband and wife." He smiled at James. "You may now kiss your bride."
James wrapped his arms around Lily's waist and pulled her into a kiss, and everyone in the crowd rose to their feet, clapping and cheering. Sirius cheered the loudest of all. He felt a lump welling up in his throat: James, his James, was now a married man, a husband wedded to the former best friend of his childhood rival. We aren't children anymore, Sirius thought. We're real, marriage-worthy, Voldemort-fighting grown-ups.
But for the night's reception, at least, he was going to ensure that they all partied like they were still the carefree Hogwarts students he so often wished they could be.
