The First War Chapter 10, a harry potter fanfic

Life's greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved. - Victor Hugo

A child is a curly, dimpled lunatic. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chapter Ten

"Mum, dad, I'm going to James' house now." Lily called from the kitchen.

Mr. Evans walked into the room, "Sweetheart, I still don't understand why it is that you have to go there."

Lily blew out a breath, "I've told you daddy; James doesn't know what to wear to a muggle wedding, so I'm going to help him with it."

"I understand not knowing what to wear to a wedding, but I don't understand why you can't just tell him to get a suit and have his parents help him from there."

Lily smiled, kissed her father's cheek, "James' whole family is made up of wizards and witches, there hasn't been a muggle in his family for ages. They don't wear the same kinds of clothes that we do, and when they try it doesn't always come out right."

Mr. Evans looked at his daughter skeptically, "Don't you wear a normal school uniform when you go off to school."

Lily laughed slightly, "Yes, and I also wear wizarding robes over them, and a pointed black hat in class, and a cloak when it get cold. That's not something Petunia's going to want people to be wearing at her wedding."

"I suppose you're right." Mr. Evans said.

"Michael, stop badgering her." Mrs. Evans said walking in.

"I'm not badgering her Sarah, I'm questioning."

"Dear, from where I'm standing it sounds the same." Mrs. Evans replied. Then turning to Lily she said, "Have a good time Lily, we'll want you back by six."

"You want me back by dinner?" Lily asked.

"Yes, and I thought that you could bring James as well."

Both Lily and Mr. Evans gaped at her. Mrs. Evans laughed at the two of them, "I thought it would be nice to get to know him before your sister's wedding."

"Er, alright." Lily said. She heard the clock chiming ten o'clock and looked down at her watch. "I'd better be going, or I'm going to be late. Bye mum, bye daddy." She said kissing each of her parents in turn. Then with a pop she disapparated.

She appeared outside of James' house and quickly walked up the walkway to his door. "Lily! Hey!" James said opening the door as she got to it.

"Whoa, holy shit." Lily said jumping. "How did you know that I was here?"

"Oh, er, I heard you apparate." James said flushing slightly.

Lily narrowed her eyes, "You heard me?"

"Yeah."

"What, were you waiting by the door?" Lily joked. She glanced up at James, who had turned a darker shade of red, and laughed. "You were, weren't you?" She ruffled his hair, "That's sweet." Then she stood on her toes and kissed him lightly.

"That's me." James muttered and deepened the kiss.

"Jim, are you going to let the girl come up for air?" Mr. Potter called from the house. "You're mother and I would like to say hello to her as well."

James and Lily pulled apart, "Sorry dad, I just couldn't help myself." He said grinning.

Lily laughed, "Hello Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter. It's good to see you again."

Mr. Potter hugged her, "Have any new muggle stories for me?"

"Grayson! Lily's just gotten here, she can tell you about muggles later." She turned to Lily, "Hello dear." She said kissing Lily's cheek. "It's good of you to come and take Jimmy shopping."

"Well, it is my sister's wedding that he's going to, so it's the least I can do." Lily replied.

"You've obviously never gone shopping for clothes with Jimmy before. The stories I could tell you from when he was young."

Lily looked interestedly from James to his mother, "Really?"

"Oh, yes, there was this one time, Jimmy was, what, five or six?" She said looking at her husband, who nodded at her. "Yes, well, Jimmy'd grown so much that he needed all new clothes for the summer, and we'd been out all day. In the last store we went into Jimmy decided he didn't want to try on anymore clothes and refused to come out of the dressing room." Lily laughed. "That's not the best part, I told him that he had to try the clothes on or he'd be walking around naked."

"Mum!" James cried. "Lily and I really need to be going." He said grabbing Lily's arm and pulling her towards the door.

"Don't be such a spoilsport James. I want to ear the rest of the story. What did he do Mrs. Potter?"

"Bless him, the dear said 'fine,' then came strolling out of the dressing room stark naked. I was so shocked that he got by me, and he ran around the store for fifteen, maybe twenty minutes before I could catch him and get him to put his clothes back on."

Lily burst out laughing, "I'll keep that in mind today."

"Come on, we've got to go, it's going to take a while to get down to the store." James muttered pulling out of the house.

"James, wait." Lily called. "My mum and dad wanted to know if it was okay for James to come to my house for dinner."

Mr. and Mrs. Potter looked at each other, "Sure, after the two of you are done shopping you can bring your things back here Jim and then I don't see why you can't go to Lily's." Mr. Potter said.

"Okay, cool, thanks dad." James said, though he did look a little nervous.

"You'd better be going kids." Mrs. Potter said.

"Bye Mrs. Potter, Mr. Potter." Lily called.

"You're parents want me to come for dinner?" James asked.

"Yeah, I was just about to head over here and my mum told me to ask you for dinner, said that she and dad should get to know you more before my sister's wedding." Lily answered.

"Oh," James said swallowing, "that's good."

"Come on James, it wont be bad, you've already met my mum and dad."

"Yeah, but it was only for five minutes, and a good chunk of that snogging you."

"Don't be nervous, they're not going to kill you." Lily replied.

James paled, "Don't joke about that Lily."

Lily smiled, "Even if daddy did go crazy and decide to do something, you could always use magic and be nice and safe."

"Yeah, yeah, you can laugh, but my parent's first impression of you wasn't of the two of us snogging."

Lily shrugged, "I guess. So, do you still run around starkers when you don't want to try on anymore clothes?"

James blushed, "Of course she told you that story."

Lily stopped walking and kissed James. "Is that a yes?"

James raised an eyebrow, "Why, you interested?"

Lily laughed, grabbed James' hand and started walking again, "I've already seen you naked."

"True enough, but that doesn't answer the question."

"No, I don't suppose it does. No, I don't want to see you running around the store stark naked."

"What about when we're finished?" James asked hopefully.

Lily laughed, "Is that all you think about?"

"What, sex?"

"Yes, sex."

"Only if it's with you darling." James replied.

Lily punched his arm lightly, "Come off it. So how much further do we have to go?"

"Not much." James replied. "This would be so much easier if we could ride brooms down."

"Or drive."

"You can drive?"

"Yeah, I just got my license."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I took the test for it right after we got back from school. I told mum and dad that I really didn't need to, with apparating and all, but they thought it would be a good idea, so I did."

"Huh, just another one of Lily Evan's amazing talents."

"Oh, yeah. You know me, full of hidden talents." Lily said rolling her eyes.

"I just bet you are." James replied, and had Lily raising an eyebrow. "Anyway, we're here, this is the store that mum said that we should go to."

They walked into the store and looked around, "I don't think this is the department that we want to be in." Lily said gesturing to the shoes and purses.

"No, I don't really think I want to use a purse."

"Can I help you?" A woman asked.

Lily and James turned around, surprised to see her, "Er, could you tell us where the men's section is?" Lily asked.

"Right this way? Is there something specific that you're interested in?" The woman questioned.

"We're going to a wedding and I need a suit to wear." James answered.

"A wedding? Aren't the two of you a little young to be getting married?"

Both Lily and James turned red, "No, er, my sister is getting married, not me." Lily replied.

"Of course. Here we are; why don't I help you pick some suits out?"

"No, that's alright, we'll manage on our own." James said.

The woman looked annoyed, so Lily added, "If we need any help we'll come and find you."

"Alright." The woman said suspiciously as she walked away.

"What's her problem?" James asked absentmindedly looking at the suits.

"She probably thinks we're going to steal something or, I dunno, trash the place, or something." Lily replied. "I don't think that we should get you a black suit."

"No, and why is that?"

"It's a bit much. Here, try these ones." Lily said handing James three suits. "We can get the shirt and tie after we find a suit."

He looked at the suits "Isn't this one black?" He asked.

Lily looked over, "No, it's navy blue."

James looked at the suits again, "If you say so. I think I like these ones better." He said gesturing to the brown and gray suits.

"Why?"

"Because I can tell what color they are."

Lily laughed, "Just go try them on."

"I've a feeling this is going to take a lot longer than I thought it would."

"Just as long as you don't come out of that dressing room naked we can probably make it fast. Then we can spend a couple of hours just hanging out."

"I thought we were going to your house for dinner." James said coming out from the dressing room wearing the navy blue suit.

"Mum said to be back at six, it's only" She looked down at her watch, "twelve now. It'll take us an hour or so to get back, so we've got five hours to find you a suit and then do whatever we want. That one doesn't fit right, it's a little too big in the shoulders, and tight in the arms. That's weird."

James shrugged, "I'll go try another one on."

"Okay."

James came back a few minutes later in the brown suit, "I look like a piece of shit."

Lily giggled, "No you don't. That one doesn't fit badly; you're just going to have the pants hemmed." She titled her head, considered, "Go try on the last one."

"Alright."

"Wait, I found a shirt that'll match the gray suit, go try it on with the suit so we can see how it goes."

James took the shirt and walked back into the dressing room.

"James?" Lily called after a few minutes. "James? Are you alright? You've been in here there a while." She walked into the dressing room area.

"Miss, I'm sorry you can't come back here." A young man said.

"I'm just looking for my boyfriend; he came in here a while ago and hasn't come out."

"I'm not really supposed to let you back here."

"I won't be long, I promise."

He looked at her for a minute, "Okay, but make it fast."

"Thanks. James, are you still in here?" Lily called.

James poked his head out of one of the stalls, "Lily? How'd you get in here?"

"The guy at the front let me in, are you going to let me see that last suit or are you going to come running out of there naked?"

"Cute." James said. "Just wait until I see your parents later. We'll see why kind of stories your mum tells about you."

Lily rolled her eyes, "I was a perfect child, I did nothing wrong."

"Yeah? And I'm Dumbledore."

Lily shrugged, "Now come on, let me see how you look in this suit."

James stepped out of the dressing room, "What do you think?"

Lily felt her jaw drop, "Wow."

James grinned, "Yeah, I thought you'd like this one."

"You're going to have to get the sleeves shortened, but otherwise."

"So, what, do we just need to get the tie?"

"Yeah, you can get away with wearing your shoes from school."

"Good, you don't want to know what happens when I have to go shoe shopping."

Lily grinned, "I can only imagine." She stood on her toes and kissed James lightly. "Hurry up, and change so that we can hang out for a while."

"Will do."

"So, do you want to go back to my house for a while? Or do you want to stay in town and walk around?"

"Let's go back to your house." Lily replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, one town's the same as the next really, and we can do magic at your house." Lily answered. "Plus, we can have lunch at your house, and your mum's cooking is amazing." Lily stopped for a second, "You cook with your mum."

James looked over, "Yeah, so?"

"So, does your food taste as good as your mum's does?"

"I'll cook for you sometime and you can see for yourself."

"Really?"

"Yeah, sure, I like it. Just don't tell anyone."

Lily grinned, "Secret's safe with me. Are you really going to cook for me?"

"Yeah."

Lily stopped and kissed James deeply. "I can't wait."

James grinned, "If I knew that you'd like me to cook for you I'd have offered years ago."

Lily smiled, "I'm going to have to tell my friends that you cooked for me."

"Lily, you said you wouldn't tell."

Lily sighed, "I know, but none of them've ever had their boyfriends cook for them."

"So you want to outdo them?" James asked amused.

"Not outdo, exactly, I just want to let them know that the guy that I'm in love with can cook and cooks for me."

James grinned, "Alright, but say it again."

"Say what?" Lily asked feigning ignorance.

"You know what." James replied.

Lily sighed loudly, "Oh, alright, I love you."

"I love you too." James replied kissing the top of her head. "You know I don't think that I'm going to get over being able to tell you that."

"I hope that you don't, because I like hearing it."

"I love you." Lily grinned at him. "Mum, dad, we're back." James called walking in the door. When they got no answer Lily and James looked at each other. "Mum, dad, are you here?"

"Oy, James, your parents left you a note." Lily called from the kitchen. "Here." She said handing it to James who draped his garment bag over a chair.

"'Dear Jimmy, blah, blah, blah, we had an Order meeting, we'll be back later. Have fun at Lily's. Love, mum and dad.'" James read.

"You're parents are in the Order?" Lily asked surprised.

"Yeah, my parents are really outspoken against Voldemort. Plus they both have high connections in the ministry so they can really help out; even if they're not doing, you know, physical things for the most part."

"Every little bit helps." Lily murmured. "Like what we do at school."

"Yeah, exactly." James replied. "Since mum and dad aren't here, do you want me to make you something for lunch?"

Lily glanced down at her watch, "Something light, it's one thirty, so I don't want anything too heavy. Does this count as you cooking for me?"

James glanced over his shoulder, "No, I'll still make you dinner sometime."

Lily hugged him, "Brilliant. I really can't wait."

James grinned and kissed Lily. He kissed his way from her lips to her neck, concentrating on the sensitive spot under her jaw. Lily gasped and tangled her fingers in his hair. James ran his hands across her belly, "James." James kissed his way back up to her lips, traced them with his tongue before slipping it between her lips.

Lily moaned into James' mouth as he lifted her up and sat her down on the counter. "James." She said turning her head.

James nibbled on her ear, "Yeah?"

"James, you have to, oh god." She moaned when he nipped at her jaw.

"I have to what?"

"What?" Lily asked.

James grinned, "I have to what."

"Stop, you have to stop. James, we're in your parent's house."

"They're not home."

"We're in the kitchen. What if they come home?"

"Okay," James said breathing heavily, "you're right." He lifted her off the counter, set her on her feet, "Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

"The pool."

"You've got a pool?" Lily asked. "How did I not know that? I spent a week here over Christmas."

James shrugged, "I guess it didn't come up. Come on."

"I don't have a bathing suit."

James grinned. "You're not going to need one."

Lily raised her eyebrow, "And what if you're parents come home?"

"We'll be able to hear them when they come back."

"How?"

"Some kind of charm that my mum did ages ago. When people apparate into or near the house there's a bell that goes off. And we'll be far enough away from the front of the house that we'll have enough time to get dressed and everything."

Lily raised an eyebrow again, "Are we going to be naked."

"Damn right we are." He said kissing her again. He lifted her shirt over her head and let it drop to the floor. Once they were fully undressed James picked Lily up and put her over his shoulder.

"James!" Lily squealed. "James, put me down."

"Nope." James replied. "But I'd hold my breath if I were you."

Lily's eyes went wide, but as she knew from previous experience James wasn't kidding, she held her breath. She squirmed away from him when they were under the water, "You've really got to stop doing that." She said treading water.

"But it's fun." James replied. "Come here."

"No, I don't think I will." James' mouth dropped open and had Lily laughing, "That's what you get for tossing me in a pool, again. Now, all you have to do is catch me."

James watched as Lily ducked under the water and swam in the opposite direction. After ten minutes and a lot of splashing later Lily let James catch her. "Caught you." James said kissing her nose.

"So you did." Lily replied. Her eyes blurred and she wrapped her legs around his waist when he slipped inside her. "So you did."

"Do I look alright?" James asked.

"Bloody hell James, for the last time, you look fine." Lily said exasperated. "Come on let's go in."

James wiped his hands on his pants, "Okay, let's go."

Lily laughed and opened the door, "Mum, daddy, we're here."

"Lily? Good." Mrs. Evans called, "We're in the dining room dear, come in, dinner's almost ready."

Lily pulled James to the dining room, "Daddy, you remember James."

Mr. Evans stood up, stuck out his hand, "Yes, of course." James shook the offered hand, "Though it's a little hard to recognize you when you're not attached to my daughter's lips."

James visibly paled and Lily's mouth dropped open, "Daddy!"

Mr. Evans laughed, "Michael," Mrs. Evans said as she walked into the room, "Michael, are you teasing him?"

"No, Mrs. Evans, it's fine, really." James said. "It's nice to see you again."

"Good man." Mr. Evans murmured and had James grinning.

"You too, dear. Lily, help me bring the food out."

"Er, yeah, sure." Lily looked at her father. "Be good."

Mr. Evans shook his head, "My girls, they don't like when I tease their friends. They should be used to it by now. Don't think I mean what I say, Lily's told her mother and I about you, and you make her happy, so I'm okay with you, for now. If you hurt her however…" Mr. Evans trailed off.

"I'll do my best not to hurt her, sir. Though I can't promise that I won't do something to upset her, I probably will. But I'll do my best by her, that I can promise."

Mr. Evans eyed him, "I appreciate honesty."

Lily and Mrs. Evans came out from the kitchen, "What are you talking about daddy?"

"Nothing." Mr. Evans replied quickly.

Lily narrowed her eyes, "Daddy."

"I was just telling your dad about Quidditch." James said.

"You were?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, yeah he was." Mr. Evans said.

Lily eyed them narrowly, "What's Quidditch?" Mrs. Evans asked.

James' mouth dropped open, "You've never told your mum about Quidditch?"

Lily shrugged, "I guess it never came up. We never really talked about sports."

"Weird." James said. "Quidditch is the wizarding sport. It's played on broomsticks."

"Broomsticks?" Mrs. Evans asked.

James smiled, "Broomsticks. Then there are seven players on a team and there are three hoops on either end of the pitch."

Mrs. Evans nodded, "Alright, I follow that."

"Three players on each team are called chasers, they take a ball called a quaffle and try to get it through one of the hoops, every time they do, they get ten points for their team." Mrs. Evans nodded again. "There's one keeper on each team who tries to keep the chasers from scoring."

"Sort of like football then." Mrs. Evans said nodding.

"Football?" James asked. "Oh, right. We studied that in muggle stories, yeah, kind of like that. Then there are two players who each get bats and try to hit two other balls, called bludgers, at the other players to keep them from scoring or whatever for their team. Then the last player on each team is called a seeker. The seekers only have one responsibility, to catch a small ball called the Golden Snitch. It's really small and really hard to see and near impossible to catch. So the seeker who catches it for their team gets one hundred and fifty points from their team, and they end the game. Since the games ends when the snitch is caught the team whose seeker catches the snitch usually wins."

"Interesting." Mrs. Evans said. "What position do you play?"

"I'm a chaser." James replied.

"He's also the captain of the Gryffindor team, mum." Lily said.

"Really? You must be good then."

James shrugged, "I guess so."

"James is one of the best players in the school." Lily said. "He could play professionally if he wanted to."

Mr. Evans looked at him, "Is that so?"

James shrugged, "It doesn't matter really, because I'm going to be an auror."

"An auror, that's what you want to be, isn't it Lily?" Mrs. Evans asked.

Lily nodded her head, "Yeah."

"That's like an elite police force, yes?" Mr. Evans asked.

James looked over at Lily, "It was the best way I could think of to describe aurors."

James thought about it for a moment, "I guess your right."

"Good for you." Mrs. Evans said. "It's good that you put doing what's right over sports."

"We've always told Lily to stand up for what was right and for what she believed in. So far she's done us proud." Mr. Evans said.

Lily blushed, "She usually does speak her mind." James said.

Mrs. Evans smiled, "She always has. There was this one time when she was eight or nine, she came home from the playground very smug and self satisfied. She wouldn't tell us why, but we found out later when we got a call from the mother of a boy down the street."

"Oh, mum, do you have to?" Lily moaned.

"It's only fair, Lil, my mum told you stories about me, so now I get to hear some stories about you.

Lily huffed as Mrs. Evans smiled, "As I was saying, Mrs. Reed was furious; apparently Lily had kicked Tommy in the shin and sent him home in tears."

"I was eight and Tommy was twelve and he called me a freak because," Lily paused, "I don't even remember now, actually. Anyway, so I kicked him in the shin and told him that he shouldn't call anyone a freak." Lily explained.

"Yes, and Tommy had conveniently left the teasing out of his story, and Mrs. Reed had a talk with him. But the boy did wind up with a bruise the size of Ireland."

James grinned, "Yes, I see how you were a perfect child there, Lily."

Mr. Evans laughed, "Perfect? I used to get more gray hair from the antics this one put me through in a week than Petunia would give me in a year." James grinned again.

"Come on dad, I wasn't that bad." Lily muttered. "Mum, since we're done would you mind if we went for a walk."

Mrs. smiled at her daughter, "That would be fine dear. Go have fun."

"Sorry about my dad." Lily said when they were outside.

"Don't worry about it; my parents are the same way. You've met them, so you know."

Lily shrugged, "I know, but still."

James draped his arm over her shoulder, "I hope I'm like them when my kids are old enough to date."

Lily smiled, "I can see you being like that."

"Yeah?" James grinned.

"Absolutely. Not just with the girls either, I can see you being like that with all your kids."

James laughed, "How many kids do you think I'm going to have?"

"How many kids do you want?" Lily asked.

"I never really thought about it. At least one of each I guess. How many kids do you want?"

Lily laughed, "I dunno, a few I guess." Then she continued absently, "Emily is convinced we're going to have twelve kids, since we're going to be shagging all the time."

James coughed, "What!"

Lily tuned bright red, "Oh, er. I, er, I didn't… I'm sorry."

James laughed, "No, it's okay. Do you think about us having kids a lot?"

Lily's blush darkened, "It was right after we got back from Christmas holiday, I told Emily how much I fancied you, and I asked her what I should do about it. She told me not to worry, that pretty soon you and I would be married with twelve kids." She mumbled.

James smiled, "Maybe we should think about it."

"What? Having twelve kids?" Lily asked.

"No, getting married."

It was Lily's turn to choke, "Are you serious? James, we're only seventeen years old."

"Not this minute; after we graduate."

"James, I don't know what to think. I mean bloody hell James, we'll only be eighteen. Most people who get married that young aren't happy; they wish they would have waited until they were older."

"I know, but not everyone who gets married young is miserable with it."

"Name one couple that you know that got married at eighteen and don't regret it."

"Easy, my parents got married when they were eighteen. And they're two of the happiest people I know."

"But they're not the rule James, they're the exception."

"I know that. But, Lily, if you love each other and you know that it's not easy, that marriage is hard work, and that you have to compromise, then it works."

Lily was at a loss for words, "I…"

"Take a deep breath, Lil. We're not getting married tomorrow, or even next week. I love you, and when I think about tomorrow, or next week, or next year, bloody hell, even ten years from now you're there, with me. And that's all you really need to know right now."

Lily sighed, "I love you too. It's just such a big step. And we're so young."

James kissed her temple, "What do you see when you think about the future?"

Lily closed her eyes, thought for a moment, "You're there, too."

"So, it's not such a big step after all then."

"No, I guess not." Lily replied, "Well, we're back to my house."

"So, we are." James replied, looking down at his watch, "I've got to be going soon, my parents don't want me out too late. They worry with everything going on."

"Okay, say hi to them for me." Lily said. James' hand wrapped around the nape of her neck as he bent down to kiss her, and Lily's fingers tangled in his hair as the kiss deepened. "I'll see you next week."

"Saturday at noon, right." James confirmed.

"You should probably be here a little bit earlier. So that way there's some extra time, you know, just in case."

"Okay, so, about eleven then?"

"Yeah, that'd be good."

"Alright, I'll see you then." James said kissing her forehead, "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Petunia, you've been in the bathroom for two hours, I have to get ready too, you know." Lily yelled pounding on the door.

"Lily, stop banging on that door." Mr. Evans said.

"Daddy, I need to shower and get ready. Petunia's been in the bathroom forever."

"Sweetheart, it's her wedding day, give it a rest."

"It's ten thirty daddy. James will be here in half an hour and we have to leave in an hour and a half." Lily explained.

"How about this, sweetheart, if your sister isn't out of the bathroom by the time your mother is out of the bathroom then you can use ours."

"Okay. You look very nice daddy." Lily said straightening his tie.

"Thanks."

"That blue makes your eyes stand out and it make you look very handsome."

"That's what your mother said. I still don't understand why I needed to get a whole new suit, my old ones fit just fine." Mr. Evans mumbled.

"You can't wear old clothes to your daughter's wedding." Lily replied.

Mr. Evans smiled, "You sound more like your mother all the time." He draped an arm over her shoulder, "Come on, kiddo, let's go eat something."

"Careful, you don't want to get anything on your clothes, mum will kill you." Lily said taking several things out of the refrigerator.

"What is that?" He asked pointing to a lumpy ball of aluminum foil.

Lily shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Well, I'll be adventurous. It's last night's meatloaf. Sweetheart, get me a couple of slices of bread." Lily handed him two slices of bread, "Besides, if something does happen, I can just have my little witch fix it for me. Mum need never know."

"Mum need never know what?" Mrs. Evans asked

Mr. Evans glanced over his shoulder, "If I spilled something on me, Lily could just fix it, and there is no need to worry."

"That's true, I keep forgetting that you're allowed to do magic now." Mrs. Evans said. "I would have loved to be able to do the kind of things that you do."

Lily grinned, "It is pretty cool." She agreed. "It's nice to be able to do magic outside of school."

"I'm sure it…" Mrs. Evans started, but she was interrupted by a loud bang. "What was that? Did a car backfire?"

Lily squealed, "James is here. Oh god, I'm not dressed or even showered yet."

"How do you know that was James?" Mr. Evans asked.

"That's the sound of someone apparating." Lily explained jogging to the door. She opened it and blinked, "Mr. Potter?"

"Hello, Lily, good to see you."

"Mr. Potter, what are you doing here?"

"Dad wanted to come and see your house." James said stepping out from behind his father. "Though he keeps saying that he just wants to say congratulations to your sister in person."

"Your mother and I agreed that it was the polite thing to do, Jim. Besides, I wanted to meet your parents." He said to Lily.

"They're right in the kitchen, follow me." Lily replied gesturing towards the kitchen.

"So, what, were you waiting by the door?" James asked cheekily, "We didn't even get the chance to knock."

Lily rolled her eyes, "Sorry darling, I'm not you." James raised his eyebrow, "My parents and I were sitting in the kitchen and the windows are open so we heard you and your dad apparate."

James pressed his lips together and shook his head, "Why couldn't I have come up with something like that."

Lily walked into the kitchen laughing, "Mum, dad, you remember James." Both her parents nodded at James, "And this is James' father, Grayson Potter."

"Good to meet you, I'm Michael. This is my wife Sarah." Mr. Evans said gesturing to his wife.

"Nice to meet you both. I'm sorry that my wife couldn't be here, she had an appointment."

"No, we should get together when you and your wife are free, since our kids are dating." Mrs. Evans said.

"That would be lovely, I'm sure that Isadora would like that. I know that she would love to meet you, she's very fond of Lily."

Mrs. Evans smiled, "We're fond of James as well, he's a very nice young man." She glanced over at Lily, whose eyes were wide, "Lily, how come you haven't gotten ready yet?"

"Petunia's been in the bathroom for the last two and a half hours and I couldn't get in there."

"I told Lily that she could use our bathroom." Mr. Evans said.

"Alright, dear, you better get going you don't want to be late."

"Er, alright." Lily said looking around; her eyes locked on James' who looked slightly uncomfortable, "I'll be quick."

Lily dashed up the stairs to her room, grabbed her wand, and conjured her stuff from the bathroom. She grabbed her stuff, ran past the bathroom door and stopped when it opened slightly. "I told you not to do your freakish thing around me." Petunia said sticking her head out of the room.

"I wouldn't have to if you wouldn't have taken two and a half hours in the bathroom." Lily replied.

"It's my wedding day."

"Well let me fall to my knees and praise you then, your highness."

"You're so annoying; I can't believe that we're related." Petunia said.

"Tell me about it. I've always thought you were switched at birth, but mum and dad are convinced that they got the right baby. They said that that the woman in the bed next to mum was certifiably insane, but I think that just proves my theory."

"God, I can't stand you."

"It's a good thing that you're going getting out of the house then isn't it, you're not going to have to see me anymore."

"I've been counting the days until the wedding because I won't have to see you anymore."

"If that's what you've been looking forward to on your wedding day, it really doesn't say much for Vernon, does it?" Lily said, and then dashed into her parent's room and into their bathroom.

Lily jumped in the shower and took one of the quickest showers she'd ever taken in her life. She was ready in forty minutes; she threw her stuff into her bedroom on her way down the stairs. "I'm ready." She said walking into the kitchen.

"Oh, Lily, good, we were just going to get you." Mrs. Evans said. "Is your sister still upstairs?" Lily nodded, "Okay, I'm going to go get your sister, we have to leave soon, so we can go take pictures at the church."

James turned as Mrs. Evans walked past him, "Wow, Lily, you look amazing." Lily was wearing a strapless, lilac colored, silk dress which fell just below her knees; her hair fell in soft waves to the middle of her back.

She blushed, "Thanks."

"Darling, you look lovely." Mr. Evans said.

"Yes, Lily, you do look very nice." Mr. Potter agreed.

"Thank you." Lily smiled at him. Mr. Potter smiled back, then started coughing.

James' eyes went wide and he stared worriedly at his father. "Mr. Potter, are you alright?" Lily asked, a sudden picture of James and Sirius talking about Mr. Potter being very sick the year before popping into her head.

"Don't worry; just a little summer cold." Mr. Potter replied.

"Dad, are you sure that you're alright?" James asked.

"I'll be fine Jim. Nothing to worry about." Mr. Potter answered, coughing again. "Just a little tickle in my throat."

"Would you like a glass of water, Grayson?" Mr. Evans asked.

"That would be lovely, thank you Michael." Mr. Evans handed Mr. Potter a glass filled with water, who took several slow sips. "There that's much better. Don't look so worried there Jim, your father's as healthy as a horse."

"Okay, dad."

"I'm going to be going; I told your mother that I wouldn't stay for too long." Mr. Potter said. "Jim, I'll see you when you get home later, Michael, we'll figure out when we can get together with our wives, and Lily, I hope to see you soon as well."

"Bye, dad."

"Bye, Mr. Potter."

"Goodbye, Grayson." And with a pop he was gone.

"Alright, everyone, we're ready to go." Mrs. Evans said.

Lily glanced over her shoulder and her jaw dropped. Petunia looked lovely. Whatever it was she did in the bathroom for three hours certainly worked. Lily thought.

Lily was sitting in the first pew, between her mother and James. She heard James snicker when the first of Petunia's bridesmaids walked down the isle. "How did you get out of wearing that hideousness of a dress?" James whispered to her.

"Vernon's sister, that one," She said nodding her head at Marge, "was supposed to be in Ireland for the wedding, but she had a change of plans. She tracked us down at he dress shop when I was getting mine fitted. So, I insisted that she take my place in the bridal party."

"That's pretty good. I'm impressed."

"I know. I wasn't sure it was going to work, but not only did I not have to wear that thing, I got to invite you, since I proved I was so mature by giving up my place."

James snickered again, "So, really, for you it was just a win-win situation, huh?"

Lily grinned at him, "Damn right it was."

The wedding march started and everyone stood up, "Why do we have to stand when they start that song?"

Lily shrugged, "I dunno; it's tradition. Besides it let's you see the bride as she's coming down the isle."

People gasped and started murmuring, "Your sister looks really nice." James whispered, "Emily and Alice told me that your sister looks a bit like a horse."

Lily bit her lip to keep laughing, "She spent three hours in the bathroom in the morning; whatever she did in there worked incredibly well." She smiled as her father kissed Petunia's cheek. "I'm happy for her. I hope that she's happy."

"Lily." Her mother hissed, "Stop talking."

"Sorry mum." She looked at James and shrugged.

The minister stepped up, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the presence of this company, to unite Vernon and Petunia in holy matrimony. Marriage was ordained by God in Eden and confirmed in Cana of Galilee by the presence of the Lord, and is declared by the Apostle Paul to be honorable among all men. On this occasion we begin by asking God's blessing on this marriage service. Let us pray."

Lily zoned out slightly during the wedding mass, jolting slightly when James grabbed her hand. She grinned over at him.

"Vernon, do you take Petunia to be your wife, and do you commit yourself to her in the holy bonds of matrimony, to give yourself to her in love and work, to invite her into your being so that she may fully know you, to forsake all others and remain faithful to her, to cherish her above all others and respect her individuality, to encourage her to be herself and grow in all that God intends?" The Minister said.

Vernon smiled, "I do."

"Repeat after me, I, Vernon, take you, Petunia, to be my wedded wife,"

"I, Vernon, take you, Petunia, to be my wedded wife,"

"to have and to hold,"

"to love and to cherish,"

"to give and to receive,"

"to speak and to listen,"

"to repent and to forgive,"

"to respect and to honor,"

"and together to go forth along the path which God has provided for us."

"and together to go forth along the path which God has provided for us." Vernon slipped the ring on Petunia's finger, and Lily heard her mother sob.

The minister turned to Petunia, "Petunia, do you take Vernon to be your husband, and do you commit yourself to him in the holy bonds of matrimony, to give yourself to him in love and work, to invite him into your being so that he may fully know you, to forsake all others and remain faithful to him, to cherish him above all others and respect him individuality, to encourage him to be himself and grow in all that God intends?" The Minister said.

Petunia smiled tearily, "I do." And Lily's mother sobbed again.

"Repeat after me, I, Petunia, take you, Vernon, to be my wedded husband,"

"I, Petunia, take you, Vernon, to be my wedded husband,"

"to have and to hold,"

"to love and to cherish,"

"to give and to receive,"

"to speak and to listen,"

"to repent and to forgive,"

"to respect and to honor,"

"and together to go forth along the path which God has provided for us."

The minister smiled, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Everyone in the church clapped.

"Come on." Lily said pulling James to the steps outside of the church.

"Where are we going?"

"Right here." She said stopping on the steps and grabbing two small pouches. "Here, this one is for you."

"What is it." James asked.

"Rice."

"Rice? We get a snack?"

"What? No, I thought you took muggle studies."

"We didn't cover weddings that's covered in NEWT level muggle studies. So what's with the rice?"

"You take it and throw handfulls at the bride and groom as they come out of the church."

"Why?"

Lily stared at him, "Honestly, I have no idea. It's good luck I guess."

"How is throwing rice at someone good luck?"

"Er, it shows that you're going to be able to afford food?" Lily replied.

"You just made that up, didn't you?"

"Yes, yes I did."

James laughed and kissed Lily lightly, "Okay then, let's throw some rice at your sister and her husband."

A/N: Review, let me know what you think... :o)