A/N: Well hi everyone. You can go ahead and be mad if you like, as I did promise that this chapter would be out a week after the last one. And it's a bit later then that…so I apologize. I was busy (as usual) and so was my beta. So ha. As for the poll, some favorite winter traditions include: going to church for Christmas eve service and opening presents after, cutting down a Christmas tree, putting up decorations, snowball fights, and Christmas get-togethers with family. And most people think Snape is evil. I don't know what to think…I think he HAD to do it because of the unbreakable vow…but whether he enjoyed it or not…I don't know. That would determine is evilness. Anyhoo, if I don't update before Christmas, have a good one. And a Happy Hanukkah. Enjoy the chapter and review!

Oh, and people. Please check out Amantes' story… The First Four Years. It's good. It's a Lily/James fic that's from their younger days. So check it out.

Chapter Fifteen: Summer Ends

Summer was fading rapidly; the temperature began to decline slightly, the sun shone less, and the leaves began to fall from their branches. Weeks had passed since the last Order meeting. Lily had kept busy with researching case files and doing the work Madam Bones gave her.

Currently, she was standing outside Prim and Proper, a local wedding boutique in Surrey. She was waiting for her mother and Margaret. Both were eager about picking out Lily's wedding gown, Margaret more so, as she had never been in a Muggle wedding shop before.

Moments later, Beverly Evans pulled up in her car; parallel parked, and greeted Lily with a hug. Margaret apparated seconds later and greeted Lily and Beverly with hugs and a kiss on each cheek, and then continued to tell them just how excited she was.

"It's a good thing we picked Saturday, James won't be around." she continued. "I remember when Sam and I were getting married, he kept appearing at random times trying to catch me off guard when I was looking for my gown, but you know, the groom is never to see his bride in her dress until the ceremony. Sam never liked following the rules much, a trait James seemed to inherit along with that unruly hair…let me tell you, there's nothing you can do about that hair." Margaret smiled and had that usual motherly twinkle in her eye, and Lily couldn't help but smile.

"There's nothing you can do? And I thought there was just a grooming spell he hadn't discovered yet." Lily replied, laughing.

"Oh heavens no, Merlin knows I've tried to find one, even come up with one…but it's hopeless. Besides, even if there was one, I doubt they'd use it. They think it has some level of attractiveness to it." Margaret continued while Beverly just chuckled to herself about the two women in front of her. She ushered them into the shop, but they continued talking.

"Yes, James used to mess up his hair even more when girls were watching. Especially when I was near…I swear he didn't know I hated it so much. He thought it made him look like he had just come off his broomstick."

Mrs. Potter just grinned. A clerk nearby raised her eyebrows at the word broomstick, and the three ladies burst into giggles. The same clerk appeared in front of them instantaneously.

"May I help you?" she asked politely.

Beverly nodded. "Yes, we've got a bride here, and she needs a wedding dress."

The clerk smiled kindly. "Oh, really?" she looked at the women and then eyed Lily. "Are you the lucky girl?"

Lily nodded happily. "Yes."

"All right, well, I think we have some styles that will suit you're fashion and figure down this way." She directed them to a corner in the store. "This is where most young women look first. Now, when's the wedding?"

"January ninth." Lily said, just as happily.

"Well let's move you away from the summer selection then!" The clerk laughed, leading them to a wide variety of winter dresses.

"And we have a selection of bridesmaid dresses too, if you'd like to look there afterwards." she added.

Lily smiled kindly. "We might just do that, if it's not too late."

The clerk nodded. "Well, let me know if you need any help, I'll be around the store. The name's Olivia."

"Okay. Thank you." Lily replied.

As soon as the clerk was out of site, the three women started looking through the dresses with girlish excitement. In thirty minutes, they had found five for Lily to try on. One she thought was absolutely hideous, but both Margaret and her mother thought it was beautiful, so Lily thought it best to humor them.

It took Lily twenty minutes to put on the first dress, which was a ball gown type with long sleeves and a long train.

Both Margaret and Beverly heartily approved, but Lily shook her head after looking in the mirrors.

"It's pretty, but not quite…elegant." she said.

Four dresses and an hour later, they were down to the hideous dress, and Lily was frowning.

This dress was tight fitting and sleek with long flowing sleeves.

Beverly and Margaret had to admit that it did not flatter Lily's curvy figure, and gave her permission to take it off.

Lily returned minutes later, slightly disheartened, but eager to find the perfect dress.

She stumbled through a dozen more dresses, finding nothing, before the friendly clerk reappeared.

"Excuse me, are you Lily Evans?" she asked.

Lily nodded in confirmation.

"There's someone waiting just outside for you, I asked him to come in, but he said something about you killing him if he did…" She looked slightly bewildered and Lily just nodded.

"I'll be right out."

She appeared moments later to see James pacing in front of the boutique.

"James! What are you doing here, you aren't supposed to…"

She was cut off by James' kiss, which she returned before pushing him off.

"I'm serious! You aren't supposed to help with the bridal shopping." She stated, although a smile was pulling at the corners of her lips.

James nodded. "I know, but I couldn't resist."

"And aren't you supposed to be at training?" she inquired.

James shook his head. "Lunch break."

"Well really, James…you should probably get going. How'd you find me in the first place?"

"You said you were going wedding dress shopping this morning and my mother asked me last night if I knew where Prim and Proper was, and I just put two and two together and hoped you were still here. I was worried there might be some other Lily Evans in there and she'd come out and take me as her husband. Then what would you do?"

"That's absurd, James." Lily said, trying to sound authoritative, but giggling slightly.

"It could have happened…I deserve a kiss for bravery." he announced, pulling her close.

He leaned in but Lily wouldn't oblige him with a kiss. "No, you've got to leave; I'll see you tonight before Ellie's thing."

James sighed. "All right, did you want to come to my place and then we'll go to Jacob and Allison's?"

"That sounds wonderful." Lily replied. "Now get back to training."

James smiled peevishly and pulled out some catalogs from his coat pocket (he had remembered not to apparate with his cloak into Muggle Surrey, he just hoped his cloak was still in the Leaky Cauldron).

"What's that?" she asked, taking them from him.

"Wedding dress catalogs. Don't worry, I didn't look at them. I just thought you might not find something in there, and you might be able to in those. So." James replied, grinning.

"Oh, thank you!" She exclaimed, hugging him.

"Doesn't that earn me a kiss?" James asked playfully.

Lily broke apart from him and grinned impishly.

"Nope. You'll get your kiss tonight!" She said, before walking back into the boutique.

James grinned and shook his head. "That girl is such a tease." he muttered, smiling all the same before apparating back to the Leaky Cauldron.

Lily returned and Margaret and Beverly were shaking there heads and laughing.

"That was James, wasn't it? Margaret asked.

Lily blushed and nodded. "Yes…he was on his lunch break and tracked me down."

"Sometimes he's so much like his father that it scares me." she added, shaking her head.

She smiled and held up the catalogs. "He brought me these."

Margaret and Beverly both took one and began fingering through them. Lily searched through one and gasped when she turned to the next page.

The dress was beautiful, slightly summery, but beautiful nonetheless. It had an A-line cut, was sleeveless, but came with gloves, had a princess bodice and a long train in the back. The veil was beautifully made, so that it flowed around the face but not in front of it. The fabric was embroidered with small white flowers on top of the white fabric. It was everything Lily had been searching for, a combination of elegance and beauty that she adored.

"Oh, Mum! I've found it!" She exclaimed.

Both Beverly and Margaret came up and looked over her shoulder.

"That would look gorgeous on you!" Beverly stated.

"It would, and James would love it!" Margaret added.

Lily grinned as her mother called Olivia back over.

"Can you get her measurements; we'd like to order this one." She asked, pointing the one in the magazine.

The clerk nodded. "Yes m'am. It'll be here in three to six weeks. Would you like to pay now or later?"

"We'll pay when it comes in." Mrs. Evans replied kindly.

Olivia smiled. "Good option."

"Thanks for your help." Lily stated, just happy that she had found the dress.

"It was nothing, come again!" She said before laughing. "Well, not for a wedding dress, but for bridesmaids' dresses."

Lily laughed unsurely and left happily with Margaret and Beverly.

"Well she was nice." Beverly commented.

"A little odd." Margaret added. "But I don't know too many Muggles, so I can't really judge."

"I thought she was okay." Lily stated.

"I'm starving. Would you ladies like to get some lunch? I know this great place down the corner." Beverly said.

"Charley's place?" Lily asked excitedly.

Her mother nodded, and Lily jumped with delight, Margaret looked at her oddly and she felt inclined to explain.

"It's this cute little diner, you can get the best deli sandwiches there. Mum and Dad used to take Petunia and I down there all the time on Saturdays when we were little."

Margaret nodded. "We'll just have to go there then."

That night Lily apparated into James' flat to find Sirius lounging on their sofa with Charlotte beside him.

Lily smiled. "Where's James?"

Sirius smiled his usual cunning grin and pointed back to the hall where James' room was.

"Getting ready…I swear sometimes the bloke is just like a girl."

Charlotte and Lily shook their heads and Lily went to find James.

After a knock or two, James hastily opened the door, holding his hand on top of his head.

"Lily!" he said with surprise.

Lily smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Are you ready?" she asked playfully.

James nodded and then winced slightly.

"Yeah, just give me a minute to finish freshening up…" He grinned again, but before he could take a step back into the room, Lily caught him by the arm.

"What's wrong with your head?" she asked.

James shrugged. "What head?"

"YOUR head, James. Honestly, let me see." she said with authority, pushing James back into his room.

Charlotte and Sirius, who had only witnessed the interaction and not the conversation, shared a look before laughing.

Unable to defend himself against a determined Lily, James removed his hand, which had been clotting a giant gash with a cloth.

Lily sighed. "How did you do that?"

"In training…we were trying some attack spells on trolls and one had a good punch in him." James smiled and winced again.

"That looks terrible!" Lily exclaimed. "And why didn't Mad-Eye fix it up for you?"

James laughed. "Have you seen the scars on his face? I think he thinks it builds character or something."

Lily shook her head. "Let me fix that. What were you doing to it?"

"Well before you graced me with your lovely presence I had been searching through a healing book, but I hadn't found anything useful yet." James replied in a sarcastic manner.

Lily gave him the look she used to let James know when she wasn't playing around. James simply grinned.

She searched the book for a minute before nodding, muttering a few words under her breath, and then closing the book to look at James.

"Sit down for a minute." she demanded.

"As you wish, my lady." James remarked lightly, holding his head.

Lily pulled out her wand and gave it a swish.

The pain ceased for the most part instantly. James looked at her gratefully and went to put his hand to his forehead.

"Don't touch it!" Lily scolded. "You're going to infect it."

"I thought you healed it." James replied with a pout.

Lily sighed. "It's cleaned up now and I got rid of the pain, but you're going to need to wear some sort of bandage."

"But I'll look like some sort of idiot walking around with a bandaged head." James remarked. "If I had a heroic story maybe…but I just got hit by a bloody troll. They have to be one of the dullest creatures on the bloody planet."

"You are too proud." Lily commented as she went to his bathroom and searched through it in an effort to find some gauze. She knew the boys had to have some, what with their encounters with Remus every full moon.

"Maybe." James said. "But you're the one that's going to have to go to the party with a fiancé with a bandaged head, walking around like a clumsy goon."

Lily smirked upon returning. "I love you now, James Potter, and you are a goon."

James grabbed her around the waist, pulled her down on to his bed with him, and began tickling her.

"Sttopp…" Lily laughed. "Let go, James!"

"No, take it back!" James teased.

Lily, caught between fits of laughter, finally managed to wrench James' arms from her, pin his arms down with hers, and keep him down by strategically placing her knee in between his legs so that it was just pressing on the bed, centimeters away from a very sensitive spot, in James' opinion.

"You've got me, you win, you win." James whispered desperately.

Lily smirked triumphantly. "We're late, and you're going to get hurt again."

"Time doesn't matter when we're together." James said warmly.

"Well that's sweet. But I highly doubt Ellie will feel the same way, as it is her last night before Hogwarts."

"Fine. You win." James stated.

"Yet again." Lily smiled.

Ten minutes later, Lily and James apparated into Jake and Allison's flat, about a half an hour late.

Charlotte and Sirius winked at James and Lily, who raised their eyebrows. Lily went to go say hello to Ellie, and Sirius greeted James.

"She's a rough one, eh, Prongs?" Sirius joked.

James rolled his eyes. "Sod off, Padfoot."

Sirius grinned and patted James on the back. "Just ribbing with you, mate. I'm going to go see how Remus is fairing…girlfriend and ex-girlfriend, deep in conversation!"

James looked across the sitting room, and Grace and Ellie were in an animated discussion, with Lily and Allison listening and laughing. Remus feigning conversation with Jake, Peter, and Charlotte, but it was obvious to two of his best mates that he was listening close to every word that was exchanged between the two girls.

James grinned with his best friend and walked over to talk to Remus.

"Ellie, I'm so jealous. You get to spend another year at Hogwarts…oh I miss it already." Lily sighed with a reminiscent smile.

Ellie scoffed and twirled a piece of her dark hair with her finger. "Jealous? I'm jealous of you guys…out on your own, Merlin, I can't wait. I'm not going to know what to do without you all this term."

"You're going to have fun, don't worry." Allison replied. "All those guys chasing after you like usual."

Ellie couldn't help but giggle, Lily and Allison laughed, and Grace just smiled politely.

"Yes, Eleanor Oakes…do you have any gentleman callers lately? I know last it was Todd or somebody…and then there was that one boy from Hufflepuff. And then there was Remus." Allison counted off.

Ellie's smile suddenly slackened a bit at the mention of her once long-term boyfriend. Grace didn't seem to notice, and just continued to smile.

"Oh that's right, you and Remus did date last year for a while, didn't you?" she asked.

"Yes, for a while." Ellie replied at her replacement. "But it didn't work out."

Lily was eager to change the subject. She knew Ellie didn't care for Remus as she once did, but she was still protective of what they had.

"Have you thought of what you might want to do next year?" she asked.

Ellie turned her attention to Lily and Allison, who was already talking about careers they thought, might suit Ellie, and Grace was giving her opinion as well. Ellie laughed at some of their suggestions, one being a Hippogriff tamer, and had a good time for the rest of the evening.

Sirius and James finally got Remus to relax, soon enough the two groups merged to eat and laugh, wished their best to Ellie and promised to write, and then they were gone back into their separate lives. Some being more connected than others.

"What the bloody hell are you doing, Prongs?" Sirius grumbled. "It's Sunday, bloody Sunday, and you're waking me up and it's not even…" he glanced at his watch. "Bloody hell, Prongs. It's not even seven!"

James smiled. "I need your help. Get dressed."

Sirius glared at him for a moment. "I hate you."

"Well that's nice. I got some toast for you. Get ready so we can apparate."

Sirius grumbled for a few more minutes before throwing on some dirty clothes and meeting James, rather sourly.

"You know, it's only or strong friendship that keeps me from asking what the bloody hell your on about this morning. But Merlin, if you are disturbing me to go curtain shopping or some girly thing like that, I'll kill you."

James just grinned. "You better plan my funeral, then."

Sirius' jaw dropped.

"I'm kidding, Padfoot. Honestly." James said, handing him a paper with a article circled in red ink. "Apparate to that address."

Sirius groaned and nodded, and prepared to apparate, not before grabbing a cup of coffee.

Thanks to my reviewers: Missing Summer, SuburbanMuse, scooter5710, ggyy, Zippy-Wings, Kaean, riduculouslyriddikulus, heather gernenz, blvd, sharp-tongued, glowing-ice, Jude-Harrison, precious421, IAMSOAP, Amantes, Luv24+Alias, chikichiki, and maraudergirl89.

and thanks to my lovely beta. Have a good Christmas!