The Party

Chapter 3: The Harm

"-and then, he helped me up. Oh Merlin, his hand! It was so strong and rough and manly!"

"That's nice Lily. You already told me this several times in the past hour, remember?" My best friend asks, annoyed. She doesn't believe me. How can Alice not support me in this time of pure need and helplessness? I draw my chest up high and look her in the face.

"Alice King, I thought you were my friend! How could you-hic-betray me like that? You have to believe me! I'm serious- mah ha! I'm Lily, not Sirius!"

"You're more sloshed then I realized, maybe I should take this…" she reaches for my drink. I snatch it back.

"No! It's mine!" I dump the rest of the contence into my mouth. "See there's-hic- no more." I reason, holding the plastic cup out.

"Okay…? Don't get any more or you will do something so stupid that you will regret in the morning, it's seven thirty and I'm not sure when you want people to head out. But I'm going to go and make out with Frank Longbottom over there, see you later." She turns to leave me alone.

"Can I come?"

Alice gasps and points. "Look! There's James Potter!" I whirl around to where she is pointing and stumble.

"Whoa!" I am about to fall when strong, rough, manly hands catch me.

"Carefulll ther-Evans. Don' wanna fell over."

"Hiya Jamesie." I reach up and lace my fingers in his hair. "Y'know, I've always-hic- wondered what it would be like to comb your hair. It's so soft and th-hic. And I haven't ever mentioned to you that your eyes are a perfect shade of toasted marshmallow gold." I giggle. "Wow! I never said anything like that about you to anyone but my diary before!"

James smiles. "Awe, thanks Lilsy! I always liked that 'bout you. You can see th' beau'fulness in every'ne, well, 'cept me so now it's every'ne!"

We burst out laughing and snorting, earning a few looks from people passing by but I don't care. I am with the love of my life.

"Hey Lils-its gettin' dark out here. Err, maybe we should head hic inside." He suggests in a gentlemanly fashion. I look at the sky, it is getting dark and the sun is almost hidden by the horizon.

"You are so right, love. Come on, before it rains." I say solemnly.

"We wouldn' wanna get wet."

I giggle. "Carry me!"

So, he puts an arm under my knees and across my back and lifts me, only to stumble after a few steps and fall right on top of me.

"Whoa!" I land on my back with his face right smack in the middle of my chest.

"JAMES!" I exclaim.

"Yeah?" Comes his muffled reply. Clumsily, I shove his head off and he rolls it on my stomach, smiling like some sort of child who found out Christmas was coming three months early.

"Sorry Lilsy. I fell.

I sigh "If we are going to get married, James, you'll have to respect me." He gets off me and leans closer, cupping my face in his hand.

"Of course me little Lilsy flow'r. The hic last thing I wan' is for you to feel disre'pected 'cause of me." And with that, he leans forward even more and just as our lips brush, we here the loud, penetrating voice of Remus Lupin.

"Hey! Prongsers! Whose wand is bigger? Padfoot believes it to be his but it is so painfully obvious that mine is the larger sort."

James gets up and walks to his friends. He is so loyal to them. I follow.

"Guess what Sirius!" He turns to face me, eyebrows raised. "James and I are getting married!"

His face is unreadable to me. "I am officially the only being at this party not wasted to the last brain cell."

"Not fair, Paddy!" Remus says loudly. "It takes a lot to get you under."

"Do not fret Moony-kins; I have all intentions of getting drunk out of my mind, much similar to these two dimwits over here."

James smiles and looks at me. "That's us Lilsy! We were the dimwits!"

Sirius barks out a laugh. "No, Prongs, you are the dimwits."

James looks offended. "Moony's wand is way bigger." He sniffs.

"But, look at all these cool carvings on Sirius's." I protest.

"Yes, thank-you Evans-"

"Hey! She's a Potter now. Merlins-be'rd. Get it right." James slurs proudly.

"Right. Well, you two kids have fun while it lasts because in the morning, I am sooooo telling your mum that you eloped and didn't invite her. And remember, no Lily and Prongs junior's until after the honeymoon." Sirius claps James on the back and walks away.

"...Honeymoon…" James mumbles.

"Let's get another drink, James." I pull his hand to the bowl.

And that, my friends, is the last thing to register in my mind for the rest of the night.