Chapter 24 Finally
Can you feel the love tonight, the peace the evening brings, the world, for once, in perfect harmony, with all its living things -The Lion King "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"
"See you out there," James kissed me quickly and hurried off with Sirius, Peter, and Remus to the boys' line. I jumped back and forth from foot to foot, extremely hyper.
"Lily, calm down!" Dorcas laughed, putting a hand on my shoulder and trying to subdue my jumping.
"I-can't!" I bounced. "We're-graduating!" I ginned hugely, clapping my hands like a little girl. "We're graduating!" I squealed, gripping her shoulders. "I can't believe it's finally happening!"
"I know, I know!" Dorcas put her own hands on my shoulders. We linked hands and spun around, giggling gleefully until McGonagall called the Gryffindors to attention. I looked for James in the boy line and we locked eyes, smiling. This was it, I conveyed silently. Every moment from first year on was preparing for this. We were done.
"Attention!" McGonagall called sternly as the other three heads of houses began to give their speeches to their own students. "Attention, all of you! A few words before we head out. I want to make myself known-I am proud of all of you. You stood brave in the face of the impending war. Even though you graduate today, you are all still Gryffindors at heart. Brave. Chivalrous. Courageous. Even when you leave these walls, you will never truly leave in spirit. Remember your Gryffindor spirit when a friend is in need, when your bravery is called upon, when you stand up for what you believe in. You were placed in this house for a reason. Remember that reason, and live honorable lives. No matter what befalls you, if you have the courage to face it-that is half of the battle right there. Good luck, to each and every one of you." She nodded.
"Whooo!" I yelled, surprising myself. But several others began to yell and soon we were yelling and screaming, stomping our feet and clapping, hugging and crying with happiness. Marlene, Emmy, Alice, Dorcas and I embraced in a five way hug, each of us crying to some extent.
We finally made it out onto the grounds by the lake, and I made it through my speech without tripping, a feat of which I had previously thought impossible. I made it back to my friends, legs shaking, with a huge smile on my face. James's speech followed and then he sat down next to me, kissing me in front of everyone. I blushed at the cheers and cat calls that followed. We embraced and the applause greatened-I sobbed once with happiness, completely overjoyed that we were all surrounded by people that loved us and had been betting that we would end up together, judging by the money exchanging hands behind us.
Dumbledore began to call the students across the stage, and James and I only let go of each other's hands when I was called.
"Lily Evans, going on to become an auror, beginning training next year. Congratulations, Miss Evans." He nodded, shaking my trembling hands and handing me the diploma. I felt bad for him, who had to shake my sweaty, trembling hand. I walked off into the applause, finding my parents in the crowd and smiling as I made my way over to the rest of the students that had already been called. Sirius gathered me in a bear hug.
"Are you crying?" I asked suspiciously, pulling back to look at his eyes.
"That's perfectly ridiculous," he scoffed, rolling his misty eyes. "Sirius Black does not cry."
"Today he does," I teased, gently flicking his forehead.
"James Potter, aspiring to become an auror, starting his training next September. Congratulations Mr. Potter-now you will be able to put all of your pranking to good use-fooling and catching dark wizards!" He clapped to James and the rest joined in, perhaps the loudest yet. Like Sirius, James took a deep bow toward the crowd, and jogged jauntily back to us. I jumped into his arms and he spun me around, and Sirius clapped him on the back.
"My mum's crying, look," I pointed at my mum who was absolutely sobbing into my father's shoulder-he himself looked a bit emotional. Though they were far from the only ones-the majority of the mothers out there were crying, and so were some of the men.
"I present to you," Dumbledore bellowed in his magically magnified voice as the last of us gathered at the far end of the stage. "The class of nineteen-seventy-seven!" He waved his wands and fireworks burst into the air, every color imagineable, all of our names sparking and whizzing around the words "Hogwarts, 1977." Colorful bursts of glittery sparks and flames ignited the sky, swirling and twirling merrily. I turned around, suddenly coming face to face with Severus, a smile forgotten on my face.
"Congratulations, Lily," he said quietly, looking slightly nervous. He stuck his hand out and I shook it, smiling a small smile at him.
"Congrats, Sevvy," I pulled him into a hug and he was too stunned to move for three whole seconds before wrapping his arms back around me. "Good luck." I turned back to James and we threw our hats into the air-on cue they exploded into sparks, lighting up the sky even more. Mass hugging ensued, and it was almost like some sort of happy riot. Somehow Remus, Dorcas, Marlene, Sirius, Peter, Emmy, Alice, Frank, Peter, James and I managed to get into half-pile, half hug, laughing and crying.
"You girls are so teary!" Sirius proclaimed, hugging Marlene so tightly he lifted her off her feet.
"Oh, don't pretend you weren't crying a bit," Alice scoffed, slugging his arm. Frank scooped her up into a hug and kissed her ringed finger as she beamed. "You'll all be getting the invitations soon, the wedding's a few weeks away!" She squealed. Soon the parents came and began to walk off individually with their children, but James and I refused to be separated. Our parents met, talking animatedly about muggle versus magical life. They seemed to get along splendidly.
"Take a walk with me?" James questioned, taking my hand.
"Yes," I beamed up at him, waving at our parents as we let them know where we were going.
"Race you to the lake," James teased and got off in a head start, taking off running.
"James Potter!" I shrieked, tearing after him. It took until the hills surrounding the lake to catch up to him and I shouted-
"Revenge!" As I jumped on his back, sending us tumbling and rolling down to the grassy banks.
"I won," I said playfully, rolling out from under him as we came to a stop.
"Jumping on me does not count!" He protested, pulling me to my feet.
"Head starts don't either!" I retaliated, kissing him happily. The sun was shining down, not a cloud in the azure sky.
"I guess we're even then," he sighed, wrapping his arms around my waist as we began to walk. "I saw you talking to Snape," he said evenly. "And I thought it was nice."
"Really?" I looked at him, surprised.
"Yeah," He nodded, messing my hair. "I love you so much," he said softly, pulling me into a hug.
"I love you too," I grinned happily, looking up into his hazel eyes. We swung our entwined hands and I wished we could stay like this forever-happy and in love, in this exact moment. "Lily, can I ask you something?" He said suddenly. Oh my godric, was he going to propose? My mind immediately jumped to the least possible conclusion. Of course he wasn't! That was perfectly ridiculous! I chided myself, blushing.
But James knelt.
One knee.
And reached into his pocket.
And pulled out a box.
And opened it to reveal a ring.
I gasped, beginning to tremble.
"Lily Evans," he began softly. "I love you more than anything in this world. I can't stand the thought of living the rest of my life without you, much less one second. I've loved you since I first saw you, and will love you forever," he pledged, taking my hands as tears poured down my face. "Will you marry me?"
"Of course I will!" I cried and he stood up. I flung my arms around him, kissing all over his face. "I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you so much!" I cried with emotion, finally kissing his lips. I wrapped my legs around his torso as he spun me, our joyous laughs echoing out over the lake. The Great Squid even surfaced not far from shore, blinking a huge eye at us.
Even he approved.
"The ring was my mum's engagement ring, but I had it changed some-garnets here for your birthstone," he whispered, slipping it on my finger, and a shiver ran down my back. I had never had a ring on that finger before-it meant so much more than what it looked.
It meant I was engaged. I was engaged!
"It's perfect," I promised, kissing him again. "I am so happy right now," I squealed, kissing both of his cheeks.
"Me too, I am the luckiest man in the world!" He laughed and we spun until we fell, looking up at the sky.
"Oi! James! Did she say yes?" Sirius called down later, with James's parents behind him, looking hopeful. James helped me up, and taking my hand, we walked to the top of the hill.
Instead of answering he showed them our entwined hands, and my ring.
"CONGRATS, BOTH OF YOU!" Sirius bellowed, pulling us both into a hug. "FINALLY!"
"Oh, welcome to the family, Lily!" James's mum gushed, pulling me into a hug. "From the minute James first wrote home talking about you, I knew he was going to marry you someday," she sighed, teary-eyed. My parents came over as well-
"So you're engaged, now," my father sighed, eyes misting as he picked me up in a hug. "And he asked permission, like a gentleman."
"Of course he did!" I beamed, kissing him on the cheek and hugging my sobbing mother.
"You're engaged?" Marlene shrieked, running over the crest of a hill with Dorcas, Emmy, Alice, Frank, and the rest of the Marauders on her heels.
"Yes!" I squealed, showing them my ring. I was absolutely glowing with happiness, and so was James-I don't think we left each other's sides that whole day.
Lily Potter, I thought to myself happily.
I liked the sound of that.
One week later
"I now declare you bonded for life!" We rose to our feet and clapped as Alice and Frank kissed under the flowery archway, sparks flying from the preacher's wand and zipping around their entwined hands. They broke away and smiled at each other to tumultuous applause-I grinned at James across from me in the groomsmen section, linking arms with Dorcas, who was the maid of honor. Marlene, Emmy and I were the other bride's maids. Remus, Sirius, and Fabian and Gideon Prewett were the other groomsmen along with one of Frank's cousins.
Following after the outdoors ceremony, the evening wedding reception took place. The wedding was small, but even that was rather risky because of the recent spike in Death Eater activity.
"How does it feel to be married?" I asked Alice when she twirled by me on the dance floor.
"Amazing!" She beamed, and James and I laughed.
"That'll be us in a few months, love," James said, pulling me close to him as the tempo slowed.
"I can't wait," I whispered. "Too bad Peter couldn't come. He's been so busy lately."
"I know-he won't tell any of us what's stressing him out so much!"
"Maybe he's just upset that school is over, and he no longer gets to be with his best friends every day," I stroked James's hair.
"Maybe," he agreed, but he sounded doubtful.
"The Peter we know couldn't have gotten himself into anything too sinister, besides," I grinned. "It's not like he went and joined the Death Eaters." James cracked a smile.
"Good one. Peter-the Death Eaters-that's laughable," he snorted.
"I know," I agreed happily as we twirled. The dance floor was bleached white stone, in the open air-lights strung from trees worked together with the half moon to light the sprawling yard. The reception was taking place in Frank's backyard, and just beyond the dance floor was the forest. "Alice Longbottom," I sighed, looking over to the happy bride and groom, dancing like they were the only two people there.
"Lily Potter," James whispered, kissing me. "Want to take a walk? We can talk about our wedding."
"Yes," I nodded happily, taking his hand and admiring how my ring caught the light. "I've always wanted a fall wedding," I confided as we glided over the dew-sprinkled grass, my periwinkle blue dress floating around my knees. My red hair was down and curled meticulously around my face.
"I haven't really thought about it, but that sounds nice-outside?"
"I think that would be beautiful, with all the fall colors."
"What if it rains?"
"Are we magical or not, Potter?" I rolled my eyes teasingly. "What if we trip while walking down the aisle? What if we choke when feeding each other the cake?" I knocked my shoulder against his.
"Hmm...this wedding business sounds deadly," he said, mock-serious. "Maybe we should just elope in India. That's what my cousin did," he grinned. "Quite a shock when we found out. We don't have the invitations out, do we?"
"No, but I've got them, they're stacked on the table at your parent's house. I needed to ask you about the colors, I couldn't decide." James nodded, pulling me into an embrace at the edge of the woods, swaying to the sound of the music from back with the rest of the wedding.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you more," I smiled cheekily.
"Not possible," he kissed me. "I've loved you ever since I saw you."
"You loved me longer, then," I clarified, putting my hands behind his neck. "Not more."
"We'll see about that!" James challenged, spinning me around.
"Uh-huh. By the way, I've been meaning to ask you-where did you learn how to dance?"
"My mum may have made me take lessons when I was eleven," he admitted, grinning embarrassedly.
"Aw, little James learning how to dance!" I cried. "I wish I could have seen that!"
"Yeah, well. After a few lessons I got so sick of them I slipped a can of tarantulas in and set them loose-they wouldn't let me back in after that, and my mum was too busy laughing to scold me," he recalled, a faraway look in his eyes.
"Oh, James," I sighed, kissing him again. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Marry me," he reminded me as I rested my head on his shoulder. "Of course."
"Of course," I laughed. "Where are we going to live? We can't just keep bouncing back and forth between our parents' houses." For the past week we had been dividing our time at both of our parents, not wanting to leave each other's sides for even a minute. We weren't sleeping together, though-we had both talked about that, and agreed not to until we were married.
"We can look for houses tonight-my parents left me a lot of money in my bank, my inheritance," he reminded me. "So we can start off using that money, and when we become aurors, then-did you hear that?" He interrupted himself suddenly-the music had stopped from behind us, and several screams pierced the night.
"Let's go see what it is," I said grimly and we drew our wands, advancing.
"Where are they?" Someone was roaring amidst the screams.
"Stupefy!" Alice and Frank yelled, sending the Death Eater sprawling. We ran into the small crowd-
"Here they are!" The masked Death Eater yelled. "We ask you again," the man talking had a low voice, and was breathing hard. The room was deathly still-Death Eaters had us completely surrounded, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Marlene and Sirius holding each other in terror, and Frank shielding Alice from a Death Eater. James took my hand. "Join us, Lily and James Potter, escape from this filth and serve the Dark Lord-"
"Our answer is the same!" James yelled, voice shaking with anger. "We will never serve the Dark Lord!"
"Our answer will be the same until the day that we die. Get out," I snarled. "You are all horrible."
"You don't know who I am," the Death Eater growled.
"I know more than you think," I was struck by memories of my time with the Death Eaters, which I hadn't thought about in weeks. "Besides, I know what you are and what you can do. That's all I need." The Death Eater was silent.
"You must be pretty desperate to beg us twice to side with you," James scoffed. That was too much for the Death Eaters.
"Crucio-"
"Protego!" Frank yelled, stopping the first Death Eater that whirled on him and Alice.
Frank's mom herself was a fighting wonder-left and right she shot down spells, whirling and twirling with her wand. Augusta, I thought her name was. James and I fought back to back, aware of the other at every second.
"Stupefy!" I yelled at a death eater who got too close. He shot backwards on his feet, skidding and landing on his bum. He quickly jumped back up and shot the Cruciatus curse at me, but it flew wildly askew and missed me completely.
"We will meet again, Lily and James, and the next time we meet, we will not be so lenient to those who so rudely disappoint us."
One by one, the Death Eaters began to dissaparate until none were left.
"Everyone!" Frank stood up on a table, magically magnifying his voice. He took in the scene-not much damage had been done, but everyone looked disheveled, weary, and tired. The band had long ago disapparated. "My wife and I want to thank you all for coming, but now we must end the celebration early in case they return. We had a marvelous time, and hope you all did as well. Go home and protect your houses. Stay brave. Good night. He stepped down and everyone said their good-byes to Alice and Frank before they left on our honeymoon. Dorcas, Marlene, Emmy and I all said our good byes to Alice and Frank, wishing them good luck before dissaparating. Marlene and Sirius embraced for a moment and Sirius joined us. Together, the three of us left to Sirius's house.
"You didn't tell me the Death Eaters were scouting you," Sirius said as we hurried inside.
"I'm sorry, Sirius, we didn't want to worry you," I told him as we began to cast magical protections. "James, we can't stay here, we can't endanger Sirius and your parents, they're looking for us now, we've got to go."
"What? I'm coming with!" Sirius protested.
"No, Padfoot, stay. We don't want anything to happen to our best ma-" Knock knock knock.
We fell silent immediately, hearts pounding. James whispered, "Knox!" And grabbed my hand as the entry way fell into darkness. We could hear his parents' voices murmuring upstairs-whoever had made the knocking noise, it wasn't them.
"Hello, James, Lily, and Sirius."
"It's Dumbledore!" Sirius said, relaxing and striding forward.
"Wait!" James and I cried simultaneously. "It might be a Death Eater pretending to be him," I hissed in Sirius's ear.
"Good. Now ask me a question only I would know-never open the door to someone in the dead of night, especially after what has just transpired, even to your best friend or lover. The Death Eaters will stoop to any low of impersonation to get to you. Now each of you, ask me a question."
"When was our first official Order of the Phoenix meeting?" I called.
"The day after school finished, June 11th. Mad-Eye Moody and Minerva McGonagall were two adults present."
"What was the detention that you got James and me out of in first year, and why?"
"The detention, Mr. Black, was with Professor Muddlegrub for rigging her desk to explode with dung bombs when opened. I got you out of the detention because I felt a bit of mischief did not warrant missing the first three quidditch games of the year."
"I remember that," James whispered. "What is Dumbledore's favorite muggle candy, that he always have in his office?"
"Lemon drops," he said drily, and James strode forward to let him in.
"Well done. I have been informed of the recent event at Alice and Frank Longbottom's wedding," Dumbledore said grimly, turning on the lights with a wave of his hand. We continued on into the living room, and took our seats in the comfortable chairs and couch. "And the Order of the Phoenix is holding a meeting. James, all of the members of the Order are waiting for my signal to apparate into the room, if you would release your shields momentarily, for a span of twenty seconds. We have much to discuss."
"Yeah...hang on..." James muttered incantations, and Dumbledore fiddled with a dial in the inside of his cloak, pushing a button and setting a timer as soon as James said he was ready. Within the next few seconds, the living room was filled with Members of the Orders, minus Alice and Frank, who had left for their honeymoon in South America.
"Hello again," Dorcas said, plopping down on the couch next to Sirius, James and I.
"I'm going to tell my parents what's going on, if that's alright with you," James looked to Dumbledore.
"By all means. We are using their house, after all." James jumped to his feet and scampered up the stairs. A tired looking Remus, Emmy, Peter, and Marlene crowded over to us after James reclaimed his seat.
"Hey, Peter, where did you go? You weren't at the wedding," Marlene observed. Most of the people here that had been present at the wedding still had their dress robes on.
"I-I was busy, my mum and I were visiting my uncle," Peter squeaked.
"Attention, all of you!" Dumbledore stood, putting his hands up. "Voldemort is gaining power, becoming more active than ever. He has even begun to recruit some of you," he looked around at the pairs of eyes intently facing him-there were around twenty people here, and James's living room housed them all without too many people having to sit on the ground. "Lily Evans and James Potter have been approached twice, and twice defied the Death Eaters. I urge each and every one of you-if you are approached even once, come to me. Once the Death Eaters have you in their sights, you no longer possess any safety you could have had before." Murmuring rippled around the room. James gripped my hand tightly, and I unconsciously twisted my engagement ring around with my fingers, the diamond surrounded by garnet and set in gold. "I have called you here today to discuss the dilemma of Lily and James. What do you think the appropriate measure would be to ensure that the Death Eaters leave them?"
"Go into hiding, maybe," one of Alice's cousins murmured. "For a few months, just until they forget about you."
"Precisely," Dumbledore looked pleased. "And I have all of you here today to make a promise to yourselves, and to your friends. To be ready to come when called to fight against the Death Eaters, should they threaten one of your fellow members. Also, if you are able, to offer your homes up as a shelter, should any of them need it." We all nodded, agreeing, looking from face to face. "Most of you know each other now, and will grow to know each other more as the months pass by. One stand at a time, we can bring down Voldemort's reign of darkness and terror." No one shuddered at the use of his name-not among us, his greatest opposers. "If we can counteract the darkness with love and light, we will survive. Together, united, we can fight. Alone, we are hopeless." We began to clap, and Dumbledore smiled almost bashfully.
After a while of mingling and talking, everyone left. Everyone but Dumbledore. He looked at Sirius, James and I from across the living room where he had just emerged from the shadows.
"Do you really think James and I need to go into hiding?" I wrung my hands.
"I do, Miss Evans. Voldemort and his Death Eaters are not the sort of people to be taken lightly, or underestimated in any way, even a small bit. They kill without mercy, and since you refused them, to which I am proud of you both-since you refused to join them, they will likely hunt you down. I suggest lying low for a month or two, just until their immediate anger blows over. I would suggest a member of the Order willing to open their home to you, but I am afraid that will not be enough."
"I have some muggle cousins living off Broadford. That's completely on the other side of England, the north side," James spoke up. "Lily and I stayed there overnight the first time they came after us, we could go again, they've already got some magical protection around their house."
"That sounds wise," Dumbledore nodded. "I suggest you depart immediately. Enjoy your summers, you three, and I have high hopes for you all in your future careers-you all want to become aurors, correct?"
"Yes," Sirius said, and we all nodded.
"Bye, Professor," James shook his hand. "I know you're not our professor anymore, but it feels wrong to call you anything else."
"Quite alright," Dumbledore nodded, looking at James fondly. "Good luck, both of you. And congratulations on your engagement," he grinned at me and I blushed, smiling down at the floor.
"What time is it?" I asked Sirius as soon as Dumbledore left and James leaped up the stairs to pack and say goodbye to his parents.
"Eleven, why?"
"I've got to dissaparate over to my house and grab my things. Tell James I'll be back in a minute."
"Alright, give Vernon a kick in the arse from me."
"Doubt he'll be there, but I'll pass on the message if he is," I rolled my eyes sarcastically, walking towards the door. I took a deep breath and held my wand out, walking into the night.
"Hang on, hang on. D'you really think I'm going to let you go out there by yourself? Prongs would kill me!"
"I think I can manage to get across the street," I rolled my eyes, though I was grateful for the company. The Death Eaters had set my nerves on end. We managed to make it out of the apparation boundaries safely, and my last sight was Sirius waving cheekily in front of James and Marlene's huge mansions.
I landed with a crack in the living room, in front of my parents watching a movie.
"Ahhhhh!" My mother screamed loudly, bolting upright. "Oh, it's you, Lily. You gave me a fright! How was the wedding?"
"Sorry, Mum," I said, striding forward to hug her and my father. "It was fine. Listen, the Death Eaters are trying to recruit James and I, and they're going to try and hunt me down. I can't stay here, I don't want to put any of you in danger-I'm sure they won't both you if I'm not around. It will just be for a month, I promise, don't cry, mum," I hugged her again as she cried, and my father put his arms around us both grimly.
"Is James going to be with you?" My father put a finger under my chin. I expected him to give me "the talk" for about the umpteenth time since after I'd introduced them to James, but he surprised me.
"Yes, we're going to his muggle cousins' house near Broadforth."
"Good. I feel much safer having him with you, I get the feeling he'd jump in front of a bullet for you," my dad said honestly.
"I'd do the same for him," I smiled a bit tearfully and my mother absolutely sobbed.
"Oh, Lily!" She cried. "When did you get so big? You're-you're eighteen now!"
"I know, mum," I said patiently. "And I've really got to go and pack."
"We're coming with," my father said firmly. "And can't we come and see you sometime? I know it's only going to be a month, and you were in Greece for longer..." he trailed off.
"I don't think so, dad," I said sadly as we climbed the staircase. "I really don't want them knowing you're connected to me. You two can't imagine how ruthless they are. They're murderers, and it would be very bad to underestimate them," I said grimly, recalling Dumbledore's earlier words. I quickly cast an extension charm on my suitcase and began to pack everything from my pillow to socks. "They're like a band of muggle serial killers only much worse. Like the KKK, maybe, times ten," I tried to find an accurate comparison as I shrunk my pillow and threw it in the suitcase. I loved packing with magic, it was so bloody easy.
"We know, honey. We're just worried about you," Mum said as she handed me pajamas. "On a completely unrelated subject, you and James will be sleeping separately, correct?" She looked at me sternly and I rolled my eyes.
"Honestly, woman!" I cried dramatically. "Do you have no trust for me at all? Yes, we'll be sleeping separately, I've already told you we've talked about that subject."
"Yes, we trust you, dear. Well, mostly. Sometimes...alright, less than half the time," my father joked, ruffling my hair as I closed the lid on my suitcase.
"Ha, ha, you're both hilarious," I said sarcastically, hugging them both. "Bye," I whispered, and disapparated with a crack.