Of Fellytones, Cravings and Family

(A Lily/James story)

By Heart4Happiness

1979 – The wedding of Frank and Alice.

d a n c i n g

"… with a spinning dial. Those Muggles like to call it a fellytone! Imagine that, eh?"

She has never seen anyone more fascinated by Muggle inventions than Edward Perkins.

"Erm, yeah, I know that, I'm a Muggle-born."

"Never! My goodness, you must tell me about those clothes the Muggle men wear, trousers, I mean, what possessed them? They look like long undergarments, for Merlin's sake!"

"Yes, they do, don't they? Um… sorry, Edward, but I must go and find my husband, he said he went to get drinks but…"

"I believe you're looking for me?"

James appears from nowhere, grinning.

"No drinks, sorry love, someone seems to have spiked the punch. Just like old times, eh?"

"I… um..."

"Beg your pardon, Edward, mate, but I do owe my wife a dance, and if I remember correctly, this is one of her favourite songs. Happy Easter. Let's go, dear."

He whisks her away, straight onto the dance floor.

"Actually," he says, "there were several bottles of Butterbeer over at the drinks table. But then I thought, sod drinking, let's dance instead."

"Oh did you now?"

"Yes. Now," he says, taking her waist, "my shoulder?"

"You amaze me."

He winks cockily. "Glad to be of service."

1980 – The Potter household.

c h o c o l a t e e g g

This year, he presents her with the largest egg she has ever seen; elaborately decorated with purple wrapping and gold ribbon.

"Thank you," she says, "but it's rather big."

"Oh yeah," he replies, placing a gentle hand on his wife's rather impressive bump, "don't think I haven't noticed your craving. And… oh! A kick!"

Lily chuckled. "I suppose he's upset he doesn't get any chocolate."

"You still think it's a boy?"

"Without a doubt. I think it's a maternal instinct, and it must run in the family, because my mum knew I was going to be a girl. Although she did think my sister would be a boy, but that hardly counts, because…"

She is silenced with a kiss.

"I love you," he mumbles, kissing her neck, "but dear, you do tend to ramble on."

"I do?" she says, "I thought you love it when I talk."

"Course I do," he replies, "but that egg needs eating."

She smiles, leaning forward to unwrap her chocolate.

"Darling," he says, "please don't have one of your hormonal moments and start wanting something like bacon with your chocolate."

"Bacon? Ergh, James, that is disgusting."

She pauses for a moment.

"But could you fetch me some ketchup?"

1981 – The Potter garden.

s p r i n g

The air is crisp and clean as the little family bundle themselves out into the garden.

"Look, Harry," says James, "it's spring, see? There's a little birdie in a nest; hello birdie!"

Harry, who is wrapped in many blankets upon his mother's insistence, laughs at his father and waves his arms around.

"He thinks you're stupid," says Lily, laughing, "don't you, dear? Yes you do!"

James pretends to pout, and bows down to his son, whispering, "Women, eh?"

"Oi, Potter," she slaps him playfully on the arm, "don't go giving him ideas. Don't listen to Daddy, he's being a prick."

Much to his wife's surprise, James smiles broadly.

"What's got you grinning like a fool?"

"Just…" he scoops up Harry, laughing, "I'm Daddy!"

"Well of course you are."

"Lily, don't you realise? I'm going to be a proper Daddy! I'm going to teach him how to fly and take him down to watch matches… he's going to be a Tornadoes supporter, I know it. He's got good taste, see. And then he's going to grow up a bit and go to Hogwarts; I suppose Sirius'll want to give him the map. And…"

"James, dear," says Lily, "that's rather far from here, don't you think? I mean we have to get out of all this rubbish first…"

"I suppose we do," he replies, frowning slightly, "but we will get through this. Together."

"Together," she says, hooking her fingers around his, "I'd like that."