A couple moments of stunned silence followed the Dursley's exit. No one could believe that Petunia and Vernon had just upped and left. Lily looked to James helplessly as her mother remained standing there, not knowing what to do.

"Mum, it's alright," Lily said soothingly as she began to rub her mothers back – much like she had done for her as a child whenever Lily was upset about something.

Mrs. Evans forced a smile. "How about that roast then?"

"Sounds good to me," James said, standing up to offer assistance in any way.

"I suppose we can eat in the kitchen now," Mrs. Evans sighed, glazing off in the direction of the dinning room with a longing look in her eyes. This was going to be the first time they had eaten in the dinning room since Mr. Evans death.

"Why? You went to all this trouble of setting up the dinning room," James told her, staring appreciatively at the effort Mrs. Evans had put into the table. Her finest china and silverware were out, along with fresh folding napkins.

Mrs. Evans smiled at him wistfully. "Yes, but there are only three of us."

"I want to eat in the dinning room," Lily insisted. "This is a special occasion Mum," she reminded her mother, holding up her hand and flashing her dazzling ring.

Mrs. Evans smiled – it was small but it was real. "That it is," she said, putting her arm around Lily's waist. "Alright, we'll eat in the dinning room."

James carved the very tasty looking roast and they all ate in appreciation.

"It's ashamed Petunia is missing this," Mrs. Evans said sadly after they had finished eating and started making elaborate plans for the wedding.

Lily didn't say anything, she felt the same – about the old Petunia that is.

James fought back a small surge of anger that coursed through his body. Petunia was causing her mother – and Lily – so much pain. He had to admit he was neither surprised nor sad that Petunia had left and insisted on never going to the wedding. The only sadness he felt was for Mrs. Evans, who clearly wanted her daughters to get along, and for Lily – who missed the person her sister used to be.

"How about a turquoise suit?" James joked, trying to make the mood light again. He wriggled his eyebrows and winked. "I know I'll look good in a turquoise suit!"

"If you wear turquoise, we'll slaughter you," Lily said threatening, meaning ever word. She hated the colour turquoise!

Mrs. Evans nodded in agreement. At first, she had looked horrified at the mere suggestion – then it occurred to her that James was just joking.

"When are you planning the date?" Mrs. Evans questioned, glancing at the two of them as they gazed at each other with that look of pure love in both of their eyes. It tugged at her heart – she was happy for her daughter, there was no mistaking that – but sometimes Mrs. Evans missed Mr. Evans more then she could bear. It hurt a lot.

"As soon as possible," Lily responded, smiling at her mother and James.

Mrs. Evans looked surprised. "Why though, you have all the time in the world!"

Lily's expression darkened in memory if the news she had recently heard about an old friend of hers. Amelia Douglass had been tortured and killed by Death Eaters for information.

"Not in these times," James replied softly. His face too was troubled.

Mrs. Evans nodded in understanding; after all, she knew about the troubled times. Not every single morbid detail, but enough to make her shudder as the chill of James's words reached the depths of her bones.

"Alright," she said, forcing a smile. "Do you have a month picked out?"

"I was hoping September first," Lily replied, twisting her fingers and glancing at James. They had mentioned in it passing, but had yet to pick out an actual date.

"Any particular meaning as to why you want to marry then?" Mrs. Evans questioned, raising her eyebrows and taking a sip of the champagne they had broken out in celebration.

"Well…" Lily hesitated, again glancing at James. She didn't want him to think she was an emotional twit or anything.

"It was the first day we met," James replied softly, holding her gaze with a passionate intensity.

Mrs. Evans smiled widely, delighted. Even though it was only a few months away, she was already brimming with excitement and plans.

"Lily love, what are you doing tomorrow?" she questioned, the idea of shopping for a wedding gown popping into her mind.

"Just doing a little shopping with James," Lily replied. "We still need to buy kitchen items, bathroom items – thinks like that."

"How long do you suppose it will take?"

"Probably all day, with the amount of places we need to go to," Lily replied.

"Alright, then the very next day you must be free! We need to hurry up and pick out your wedding dress, along with the bridesmaid dresses!" Mrs. Evans insisted, setting her cup firmly down on the table.

"Uhoh, she's in planning mode," Lily joked. "It took her a total of three weeks to fully plan Petunia's wedding."

Mrs. Evans beamed with delight, pleased with the compliment.

"However Mum, we were planning on…well…" Lily hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to word it.

"Go on!" Mrs. Evans urged, dying to hear the news.

"Since most of the people we know who are going to be at our wedding are witches and wizards, we were thinking about having a wizard wedding," Lily finished, praying the words didn't upset her mother.

They didn't, and she smiled widely at the idea, her eyes glazed over in thought.

"What exactly is a wizard wedding? I'm having a hard time picturing it," Mrs. Evans confessed.

"Well, instead of suits the men wear dress robes – the women can still wear their dresses – and there is just a lot of, well, magic involved," James explained.

Mrs. Evans looked excited about that last point. "Magic?"

"Yes, like instead of rice they all throw wand sparks at us," Lily smiled. "And little things like that."

"Wand sparks?" Mrs. Evans frowned slightly. "That sounds dangerous."

"Don't worry Mum, it isn't! It's like mini fireworks coming out of wands that vanish as soon as they reach you! It's supposed to be good luck!" Lily said reassuringly.

Mrs. Evans thought it over slowly and then nodded. "I like the idea! When can we get started planning?"

"Right now," Lily laughed, her heart light and happy.