"That was a rather boring wedding, Lily. The person beside me was snoring, I swear."

"I'm just happy everything went smoothly and you didn't stand up in the middle of ceremony and pull down your pants or something."

"What made you think I would pull down my pants?" James asked, picking up two cups of punch from the refreshment table. He handed one to Lily and kept the other for himself.

The wedding ceremony went rather well, Lily thought... not including James calling her name while she walking down the aisle. The rest of the ceremony went fairly well though; James sat like a good boy and the bride and groom said their "I Do" without a problem. Of course, because the ceremony went so well, that could only mean the reception would be a disaster. Lily just had this feeling something was going to happen, and she wasn't going to like it.

Everyone piled into their cars and drove back to the Evans home for the reception. After they got there, James spent at least twenty minutes throwing up in the bathroom. Obviously, cars did not bode well with him. The backyard was decorated with white ribbons, bows, and flowers. Everything was white, except for the grass and guests. Vernon and Petunia had their first dance and now everyone was either sitting at tables stuffing their faces with dinner or dancing. Overhead lights were turned on as dusk came around.

Lily shrugged, looking around. "Well, you're definitely crazy enough to do it."

She received no reply as James abruptly put his punch down and held his stomach.

"I cannot fathom how a fifteen minute automobile ride makes you so sick, yet you can fly 600 feet in the air upside down on that broom of yours without giving a thought," Lily pondered aloud, regarding him with an amused look.

James scowled at her as he waited for a wave of nausea to pass. "My father had me on a broom before I was two - it's natural to me. Flying is sleek and smooth. The broom moves with you. I can't say that about the contraption we rode earlier."

"I can just picture you now, a baby Potter causing all sorts of mischief on a tiny broom."

He laughed a bit and was about to reply when Lily's mother's called behind them. "Lily, come over here for a moment!"

The two shuffled through the crowd and James waved in greeting to Eva Stansburg, who was standing by Lily's mother. There were a few other middle-aged women standing around. Lily smiled politely and gestured to James. "Mother, this is who I was telling you about - James. James, this is my mother and Charlotte Burns and Eva Stansburg -"

"I met James at the ceremony! What a wonderful boy he is!" Eva complimented. James grinned an immodest grin. "You're lucky to have such a charming boyfriend, Lily."

Lily was listening now. Did Eva just say what she thought she just heard? No, that couldn't be possible. Because Lily was SURE Eva had just called James her boyfriend! This wasn't happening!

She turned and took his arm with an iron grip. He winced slightly. "James, would you mind having a word with me? Now?" She tightly smiled at her mother and her friends.

"Why of course, Lily," James replied, looking a bit guilty now.

They started to move away, but were stopped by Lily's mother. "Lily, what is this? You're dating this boy? When were you going to tell your father and I?"

Oh Merlin. Oh MERLIN. Her mother hadn't even known James for two minutes, hadn't even said a word to him, and now she thought they were dating!

"Mother, James is not my boyfriend." Lily said, trying to keep her voice down, so she didn't attract attention.

"But, Eva just said-"

"I know, but it was just a misunderstanding."

"Lily -"

"Mother, really, it's just a misunderstanding - isn't it, James?" She gripped his arm tighter.

"Oh - Oh, yes, ma'am. It's just a misunderstanding. We're -"

"Just friends from school, nothing more."

Her mother looked skeptical for a moment. "... Alright."

"WHAT was that about? Hmmm? Why does Mrs. Stansburg think we're dating?"

James looked down guiltily. "I sat with Eva before the ceremony. We were just talking and one thing led to another. Before long she somehow got the impression we were dating." He shrugged. "What does it matter anyway? Your mother knows it's not true."

Lily couldn't believe him. He was acting as if them dating was no big deal. "How does just talking lead to us being in a relationship? What did you say?"

"I don't recall."

"You don't recall." Lily repeated in exasperation. "Okay, well, in case you did forget, Potter, we are not dating." Lily stopped and put her hand to her forehead. "I'm going to walk around for a while. Alone. Will you please try and restrain yourself from telling anyone else we're dating, or heaven forbid, engaged? I'd rather my parents didn't go nuts or Petunia get mad at me for stealing her day." She moved away.

James caught her arm, "Come on, Lily, don't be mad. I'm sorry, okay? I was just having a bit of fun. Let's go dance, alright?"

"Dance with yourself." She tugged out of his grip and walked off.

Lily couldn't believe him. Out of all the things he could have done at the reception, this was one of the worst. Now her mother was going to think there was something between her and James - which, by the way, there WASN'T.

"Hey Lily," a charming voice greeted her. Oh joy. Another prick.

She turned from the refreshments table. Because she was feeling sorry for herself, Lily had been eating these little chocolate squares. They were quite good. She forced a smile.

"Edward, hi. It's been a while."

Edward was one of Vernon's cousin's. He was a rather good-looking bloke, about her and James' age.

"I know. I've been busy though, you know."

"Oh, yes, yes," Lily replied vaguely.

"I've got football practice everyday and then there's my job at the newspaper office," he said importantly.

"Really. What do you do at the newspaper office?" She asked distractedly, her eyes starting to glance around the backyard.

Edward hesitated. "Oh, well... you know. Newspaper stuff." Clearly, he hadn't thought she'd ask about what he actually did at his job.

"I see. Well, I've been away at boarding school."

"Cool. Did you know they're remodeling my school?"

"No ... I was away. At boarding school."

"Right. It's quite interesting. Because since I'm on the student council, I'm in on the building designs and -" Blah, blah, blah. Me, me, me. Just smile and nod and he won't know the difference. Lily took another chocolate square and nodded. She wondered what James was doing. Hopefully not off telling someone they were shagging or something.

Her eyes wandered over to Petunia and Vernon, who were sitting at the largest table, chatting away. Or more like, Petunia was chatting, Vernon was eating at least his fourth piece of wedding cake.

"Say, you came with that James Potter fellow, didn't you?"

Lily turned her attention back to Edward. "What?"

"I asked if you came with James Potter."

"Oh. Yes. I guess." Lily wondered how many people James told about him being her date. She hadn't told anyone so far, excluding her parents, and Vernon's boss, Mr. Madison. Lily had a feeling Mr. Madison wasn't going around telling everyone James was escorting her; he didn't seem like the talkative type.

"Do you think he'd mind if I asked you to dance? I got these new shoes yesterday and what's a better way to try them out then dance? They were fairly expensive, I have to say, but with my job, well, I can pay for them." He boasted.

Lily made up her mind then that she wasn't going to dance with Edward. "Well, actually Edward, that's very kind, but -"

"But she promised to dance with me."

Argh. She was NOT dancing with James Potter either. She told him to leave her alone! Lily's eyes darted around for an escape. They found one a few feet away, eating cake.

His name was Peter and he was eight-years-old. He was the son of one of Petunia's friends. "I'm sorry, but I promised Johnny here a dance."

"My name's Peter." Whatever! She didn't care. As long as she would haven't to dance with either one of those pricks.

"Right. I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I'm promised to this fellow right here." With that, she was off to dance with her eight-year-old savior.

"So, your mother told me about what happened." Her father said as he danced with her. He had cut in after her dance with Peter.

"About what?"

"She said something about you and that Potter fellow dating, but that it was just a misunderstanding."

"Oh. Yeah, it was just a misunderstanding. Believe me, dad, if I was dating someone, you and mum would know."

He laughed. "I do. Besides, I thought it was rather odd considering you haven't always said the most pleasant things about him."

"Yes, that's true." Lily laughed and gazed around the reception. "James just got a little... carried away while he was talking to one of mum's friends earlier, at the ceremony."

"I see ... and that's why you're avoiding the boy."

"I'm not - well, yes. I am. He gets on my nerves sometimes, dad."

Her father laughed, and the conversation almost seemed over when -

"I mean, he's annoying, but we're sort of friends. Sometimes." Lily wasn't sure why she felt the need to explain James Potter to her father. "He's more of Remus' friend, and that's the main reason why he came at the last minute. Not for me."

"Ah, I see. Not for you." Her father shook solemnly then paused. "Well, he seems like a nice boy, tonight at least."

"He's... exactly that. A boy." She shrugged.

Sensing Lily didn't want to talk about James anymore, her father changed the subject. "Have you heard anything about the Head Girl position?"

"No, not yet. I probably didn't get the position, dad. Besides, there are a ton of other people who could probably do better job than me," Lily admitted.

"Maybe it got lost in the mail. I'll asked the postman about it tomorrow," he joked.

She smiled, both of them knowing any letter for Lily would not come by the postman. "Maybe."

"Your sister seems happy." He nodded in Petunia's direction. Lily looked over her shoulder.

"Yes, she does. She was a bit nervous earlier, wasn't she?"

"Only a bit."

"Of course. You know what, dad? I'll be sure not to be nervous on my wedding day, for everyone's sake."

Her father smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

The refreshment's table was the best place to be at any reception, party, reunion, etc. Just think about it. It has plenty of food in case your hungry. Also, if you're bored or unsure of what to do or no one's asked you to dance, you can just hover around it and eat, therefore making yourself look busy. The only problem was that everyone seemed to stop by the refreshment's table at some point.

Or, at least, it was a problem for Lily. She didn't want to talk to anyone - not that there was anyone worth talking to here, other then her parents and a few selected people who weren't like Vernon and Petunia and didn't think she was a freak.

"Lily."

"Go away."

"You can't avoid me forever."

"Try me."

"You're being ridiculous now. It really wasn't that big a deal."

Lily paused to swallow a bit of cake. It tasted like heaven. And the icing was to die for. No wonder Vernon was stuffing his face with it. She inwardly reminded herself to thank the baker bloke the next chance she saw him. "Oh, I'm being ridiculous? You're the one telling everyone you're my date, like that's a big deal. Really, Potter, it's just a wedding. I didn't ask you here - you only came because the person I did ask turned up sick. This doesn't change anything between us. Honestly, we're not even friends half the time. Get those thoughts out of your big head."

There was a few seconds of silence as James ran a hand through his hair, an anxious habit Lily was well aware of by now. "Well, I wish we were friends all the time." He then took a piece of cake. "This any good?"

Lily met his gaze, ready to retort. He gave her a little shrug and apologetic half-smile. She suddenly felt rather sorry about what she said. Perhaps Petunia wasn't the only one overreacting today. She chose to drop the bickering for now and also gave a little shrug in return, an unspoken apology between the two.

"Delicious."

What happened in the next few minutes was something close to a blur. There they were eating cake, the next second, a series of loud cracks were heard. The bride and groom began jumping around at their table, yelling.

Of course it was James. Of course he had somehow stuck no-heat fireworks under Petunia and Vernon's table. Of course Vernon stumbled around the backyard, his pant leg catching fire and Petunia frantically trying to put it out. Of course.

And now she and James were sitting on the roof of her father's garden shed. Yes. To hide from Petunia. Lily quickly pulled a ladder out of the shed and leaned it against the structure. They climbed up, Lily lecturing James the entire time. The shed was a fairly good hiding place, tucked away from the reception area and hidden by trees.

Lily was almost positive she wouldn't be sitting on the roof of her father's shed if Remus had been able to go.

"You just couldn't resist, could you?"

James loosened his tie and undid the first button or so of his shirt. "I hate wearing ties." He then took off his jacket and rolled his shirtsleeves to his elbows.

"Don't ignore me, James Potter."

"You seemed to find ignoring me perfectly fine earlier."

"I had good reason to ignore you."

"I hate when you lecture me. You know I just block you out, right?"

Lily pushed him in the shoulder and peered toward the reception area. Things had begun to calm down. Someone threw the bowl of punch on Vernon's pants. Vernon looked okay, other than humiliated by his lack of pants. The rest of the wedding party just looked bewildered. Lily knew Petunia would be having words with her later. Because Petunia would automatically believe she had something to do with this. Which, in this case, she did. She winced.

"When will you grow up?"

"Probably never. You like me for it though."

"I do not."

"Of course you do," he said with complete assurance, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She chose to change the subject, unsure how to respond. "I hate dragon pox. I wouldn't be sitting on my dad's shed roof with you making stupid remarks if it wasn't for the dragon pox."

"No, you wouldn't, would you? You'd be standing next to the refreshment's table, talking to Remus about the homework we were assigned over the summer." Since the roof was flat, James laid down on his back to gaze up at the stars that were now shining upon them.

"And that would be bad how?" Lily asked.

"I make your life more interesting, Lily. You know I do. You make mine more interesting too, though."

He said that last part quickly as if he thought Lily was worried she didn't make his life more interesting or something. "I'd be sitting in my room right now, eating pumpkin pastries with Sirius and reading quidditch magazines. This is so much better."

Lily would give just about anything right now to be in her room. Granted, she didn't want to be with Sirius Black, eating pumpkin pastries, or reading quidditch magazines. She told James this, and he smiled.

"What's Sirius ever done to you?"

"I'd tell you what he's done, but the list is simply too long. I'm afraid it would take all night."

"Ah, well. I probably know most of what he's done to you simply because I was in on his jokes."

"Yes, you were."

James shifted slightly to look at her. "I messed up tonight, didn't I?"

"What?" Lily asked, a bit startled at the serious tone in his voice.

"With the fireworks and the whole dating thing."

"Oh, well…"

"I'm sorry."

Lily looked down at him and caught his gaze. Then, she tilted her gaze to the stars. "You didn't mess up tonight. I mean, yes, the dating stuff was absurd and, yes, the fireworks were a bit much. But … I admit it was quite funny." She chuckled quietly, and lowered her voice to imitate one of Vernon's groomsmen. "' We need the punch bowl, get the punch bowl!' "

James snickered, and imitated one of Vernon's grandmothers: " 'Vernie! Oh Vernie!' I've never seen a man pull his pants down so quickly."

"Ha! … We're terrible." Lily held her hands up to her mouth to stifle the laughter, quite unsuccessfully. "They were having such a perfectly nice - perfectly nice wedding and -" She couldn't finish through the laughter. It was as if laughter was releasing all the day's stress.

Her companion grinned over at her. "Okay there, Evans? You seem to be caught in a giggle fit."

Lily took a deep breath through the laughing. "Yes, yes. It's just sometimes you get going and can't stop, you know?"

"That's the best kind of laughter. My favorite, actually."

"I would have thought all forms of laughter were your favorite. You do it so often."

"Yes, well, not as often as I'd like anymore, I admit." James ran a hand through his hair as a frown replaced his smile. "Other than that awful automobile contraption, I've actually enjoyed being away from the wizarding world today. I never thought that day would come." He gave a hollow laugh.

A flash of dread filled Lily. She wasn't used to the boy beside her speaking in such a sad voice. He was always so carefree. She sighed. "Yes, I've read about the attacks and disappearances in The Daily Prophet."

"Then you know there's been more lately."

"Yes," was all she could think to say at first. Then, "Is everyone all right? Everyone we know? Do you know of anyone -"

"Everyone's fine, Lily. As far as I can tell anyway, which isn't much considering I only know what the Daily Prophet's been printing. How accurate that paper is is anyone's guess. They'll print anything that will boost their sales. What about Sylvia and Agnes? Have you heard from them?"

Lily thought about her two best friends. "Just received owls from them a couple of days ago. They seem to be alright." She paused. "Do you think that man is behind all this? Voldemort and his Death Eaters?"

"Presumably. They always wear masks, no one can identify who the attackers are. The dark mark is always left behind in the havoc they create."

There were a few seconds before Lily spoke. "I don't like being so disconnected when such terrible things could happen to those I know. I just… I wish I could do something."

James glanced at her. "There's nothing you could have done for the people who've been attacked, Lily. There's no reason to feel guilty."

"I know, it's just... I feel like I'm not a part of the wizarding world when I come home. I'm so isolated and cut off from that world."

"Maybe it's better that way."

James caught Lily's expression and hastily continued, "What I mean is, maybe it's safer for you here, where you can lie low. They're after witches like you, Lily."

"Witches like me." Her words were slow. "Muggleborns, you mean."

James sat up and ran a hand through his hair, not meeting her gaze. "Well, yes."

Was it really possible that she had just been complaining that this had been a horrible day because James had done a few stupid things, because her sister was a bit irritating? Merlin, those people who were attacked, those people who disappeared, they were much worse off. She shouldn't complain. At least she was alive.

Another thought occurred to her. James said she was safer here, in the muggle world, but was she really? He didn't know that another wizard they both knew lived not too far from her. Sev.

What if he told one of them where she was? Lily wouldn't put it past her former friend.

A shoulder bumped against hers, and Lily turned to see James giving her a small smile. "Sorry to bring down your giggle fit. That's just been at the back of my mind all evening. This may be one of the last times we get to enjoy ourselves for a while. It has to get worse before it can get better."

"I suppose," was her only response.

They sat in silence for a while, both of their moods soured considerably. Lily, however, decided to take James' words to heart and try to enjoy herself. He was right; who knew what this year could bring?

"You know my sister is going to kill me now, don't you?" She stated in a half joking way, conjuring a candle and lighting it with her wand. She set it between them. It was getting really dark.

"I doubt she'll kill you."

"You don't know Petunia."

"I guess I don't. What, do you two not get along or something? I wasn't really feeling the love at the reception."

Lily laughed, but it was hollow. "Pretty much."

"Why not? Just the usual sisterly disagreements? 'Oh, you stole my favorite shoes!', 'You ruined my sweater, Lily!' "

"No ... There's more to it."

"What is it?"

She didn't feel like talking about Petunia anymore. "It's nothing, alright?" Pause. "You mentioned you'd be hanging with Sirius tonight if you hadn't come. Why is Sirius at your house? Is he staying over or something?"

"I guess you could say that." James said carefully.

"You guess."

"There's more to it." He mimicked.

They sat quietly, listening the guests below as everything started returning to normal. Petunia was now clinging to a startled Vernon, who was wearing a tablecloth around his lower torso for lack of anything better. Lily felt a bit guilty. While she didn't get along with her sister and vice versa, Petunia didn't deserve this. It was her wedding day, after all.

Lily wondered how long they would be up here. Petunia and Vernon were going to catch a train that left at 10:00 to some unknown destination for their honeymoon.

Another song started playing. It was slow and sweet.

"Can I finally get a dance from you? Or is there someone else you'd like to dance with first?" James asked sarcastically, standing up and turning his head right to left, as if looking for Lily's other many dance partners.

She watched him in the dark for a moment, thinking how much she didn't want to dance with this boy right now, after what they'd just talked about. But, for reasons unknown to her, she took his hand anyway. He gave her hand a squeeze and coaxed a small smile from her. They were both trying to enjoy themselves, even if it was unwilling enjoyment.

They danced for a while, for a few songs. Lily was surprised at how quiet it had gotten. They didn't said anything to each other as they danced, and the music remained slow and low. The guests were beginning to trickle off, headed home. She heard the crickets playing alongside the musicians who were hired for the reception. It was kind of peaceful up here on the roof. Even if she was in the arms of, all people, James Potter. Who would've thought? Once again she thought about the oddity of this situation. Certainly she could never see him in the Great Hall or charms class again without thinking about this strange day they shared together.

She could see him smiling lazily and staring at something to the side of her head. Or maybe he was staring at her hair, she didn't know. Lily wondered what James saw in her. Why he was always trying to do ... whatever it was he was always trying to do around her. She decided that he was a mystery she would never truly figure out.

"Lily, did I already mention your dress is nice?"

"Yes."

"Did I say your hair looks beautiful?"

"No..."

"Brilliant. Your hair looks beautiful."

Lily rolled her eyes, but was inwardly thankful their usual banter had started rolling again. "Thanks."

"Well?"

"Well what?

"Aren't you going to say my hair looks good?"

"Keep dreaming, Potter."

"You have icing on your cheek."

"Oh, it's probably from the wedding cake. I dug into that culinary work of art a little too much. I'll look like a cow soon..." She trailed off as James reached to brush off the icing. After a few seconds, she was fairly certain the icing was gone, but his touch remained.

Then the kiss happened.

Maybe it was music, or the stars, or the brilliant cake. Maybe with the wizarding world falling apart around them, she didn't know when her next kiss would happen. Or maybe she was just going nutters after everything that had happened that day. Lily didn't know the reasons, but she kissed him back. She'd never kissed James before.

He was a nice kisser.

His lips were soft. They were sweet too, probably from the cake he'd had just before they ran off from the reception. His arms had pulled her closer to him and his hands were tracing words or circles or maybe even squares or - oh, who cared what they were tracing? It was nice. For once that day, everything was nice.

Her hands were in his messy hair, making it even more messy (and she hadn't thought that was possible!), then they were on his shoulders, then his arms, then back to his hair. She couldn't make up her mind. Her thoughts were scattered. Now wasn't the time for thinking.

All Lily knew was she liked it and that his glasses were kind of poking into her nose, but she didn't really care at the moment.

Her eyes opened slightly at the smell of something burning and hazily she wondered if more fireworks had gone off. Then she noticed it was brighter on the roof. Of course, there was the candle she had conjured a little while ago, but now it was really starting to get bright. She managed to extract her lips from James' and glance around his tall figure.

His pant leg had caught on fire. From the candle that was sitting just inches away.

His pant leg had caught on FIRE.

Now, the first thing Lily would have done if she was not snogging James would be pull out her wand and put it out. But... she was snogging with James right now, so she couldn't exactly do that. Especially with his lips moving down her neck and - no. She had to get James off her. He was on FIRE for Merlin's sake!

Lily didn't know why James hadn't noticed this small fact yet. Apparently, he was too distracted with kissing her neck to notice his LEG was on FIRE. She might have felt a little proud of her apparent affect on the boy if she liked him in that way, but of course, she did not.

"James..." She started, but stopped as he found her lips again. Oh no. Lily was starting to think her kissing companion was going to let his left leg burn off without even realizing it.

"I've been wanting to do this all night," James murmured quietly against her lips.

"James…"

"I knew... knew you…"

"… James."

"... fancied me."

No she didn't.

"James Potter!" Lily gave a sharp push to his chest. "If you didn't already notice, you're on fire!"

James only looked at her with glazed eyes before blinking in confusion, wondering why in the world she had just ended their perfectly great snogging session. He finally looked down at his left leg and the fire. He frowned slightly, knowing something was different, but not realizing what yet.

Lily had gotten hold of herself now and pulled out her wand. "Why are you just standing there, you buffoon?" A jet of water streamed out from her wand to James' leg. That seemed to get his attention. It was strange; a jet of water got his attention, yet blazing fire eating up his pant leg didn't?

The fire went out instantly. Lily had to light her wand to see James' leg properly - the candle had gone out too. Thankfully, the fire hadn't gotten to James' skin yet. It had just burnt away half of the pant leg. She supposed he deserved it, after what he'd done to Vernon. She stifled a chuckle at the irony.

They stood, breathing heavily for a moment, just staring at James' pant leg. Finally, Lily looked up the same time as James and they caught each other's gaze.

And then everything seemed to come into place.

She had snogged with James Potter.

James' leg had just been on FIRE.

And more importantly, they had just snogged!

All because of that stupid piece of icing from that delicious wedding cake. Or, if you wanted to trace the blame back even further, it was all because of that rotten dragon pox.