Chapter Eleven:
Four And-A-Half Years Later
"Am I late?" Lily Potter asked, taking James` invisibility cloak off her and her son as she stepped inside and firmly closed the door behind her.
"No, actually, you`re right on time. We`re still waiting for Mel and Mary..." I tried not to think about what their absence might mean. Neither of them were that big of targets right now…and yet… "Well, Alice and Violet are already here, and so are little Neville and Ernie!" I said, trying to fill the depressing void of our friend's absences.
Harry held his arms up, and I lifted him into a hug. "How`s the flying coming, pal? Have you gotten to the moon yet?"
I spun him around a couple times as he giggled, much to Lily`s apparent amusement, before finally setting him down.
In the living room, Violet and Alice were trying to talk about anything but current events. When we walked in, Ernie looked up curiously at Harry, while Neville just continued to play Exploding Snap.
Harry looked up shyly at his mother, who smiled and motioned for him to go join the two boys.
"So, any luck recently? I heard about Bristol, but James and I just aren't up to date on these things recently because we can barely leave the house. As it is, we have to wear the cloak every time we go out." Lily settled down next to Alice, resting her wand on the coffee table.
"Frank and I caught the Carrows last week and Dumbledore`s worried He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is going to try something soon. Dumbledore…Dumbledore thinks He wants you and James, Lils."
"We heard. James is going crazy, cooped up in that house all the time…"
The mood turned grave, and the boys looked up at their mothers, wondering what was wrong. The four of us tried to smile (but it came out a bit weak) to reassure them everything was fine.
But as the kid went back to playing, our situation was anything but fine. Violet and Fabian hadn't seen Fabian`s brother Aiden in months, not since before March, when he and five other wizards were declared missing. Alice was facing death every day, hunting Death Eaters and trying to make it so Neville would never have to grow up in a world where you didn't know who to trust. Lily and James had to cloak themselves in secrecy just to get groceries, because of the constant fear that Voldemort was coming for them…
There was a knock at the door, and I leapt up and hurried out of the room, eager to restrain the pain. Opening the door a crack, two people that appeared to be my best friends were standing on my front step.
"We solemnly swear that we`re up to no good." The redhead declared in a hush, and I allowed them in, checking down the street to make sure the square was still clear. Once they were inside, I locked the door, even thought I knew locked doors would never keep out the evil.
"Mel, May, glad you could make it. I was beginning to get worried."
When the boys saw us walk in, there were cries of "Aunt Mary! Aunt Melody!" filling the air.
"I tried fake-wand thing like you told me last time! Daddy said he really appreciates you telling me these things!
"Can I wear your glasses?"
Mary adjusted her glasses on little Harry so they would stay on his nose. "You look just like your father." Harry beamed.
"How`s Katie?" Mary asked, as if she actually wanted me to go on about my niece for the next hour.
"I`ve been telling her stories about when her dad was little. That, and showing her the best ways to sneak snacks off the top shelves. Needless to say, I`m her favorite aunt." I said proudly.
"You`re her only aunt, Mattie." Lily reminded me.
I set out some caldron cakes on the coffee table, and Melody gasped. "Mattie! Why didn't you tell me!" my best friend squealed in delight as she hugged me. I knew she liked sweets, but…oh, that`s what she was gushing about…. "Congratulations! When did he ask?"
"What? Mattie, what happened?"
I held up my hand that Mel had just saw moments before. A twinkling, delicate silver engagement ring rested on one of my fingers.
The boys were very confused at the sudden collective gasp following the silence.
"When did he propose?"
"When`s the wedding?!"
"How could you not have said something earlier?!"
I was unable to hide my massive smile. "I`ve been meaning to tell you...by the way, would you guys like to be my bridesmaids?"
"Of course!"
"Are you bloody kidding? Absolutely!"
"Actually, Mel… I don't want you to be a bridesmaid."
"…What?"
"I was kinda thinking, there`s this maid of honor gig that you might be interested in instead…?"
I was answered by a rib-crushing hug.
"So when did he propose?" Alice asked.
I smiled and twisted the ring on my finger. Every time I thought about it, I couldn't help smiling.
"Well… Sirius and I were walking in the park…and you know how he has to hide from Death Eaters who are trying to get him to get to James? Well, recently he`s been meeting me in the park as a dog and I play Frisbee with him or something, because it's the only unsuspicious way I can talk to him, what with Death Eaters following anyone even slightly connected to the Order. I`m pretty sure Mulciber was following me yesterday at the muggle supermarket!"
"So, anyways, I was walking with Sirius in the park along one of the trails, when he takes off, like he`s seen a squirrel or something. Obviously, I couldn't yell at him to get a grip with muggles and Death Eaters around, so I had no choice but to follow him into the underbrush. I finally, after falling and tripping through the thick forest, found him in a clearing. He had transformed out of his amimungi, and was standing there, just staring at me with this weird look on his face."
Even Harry, Neville, and Ernie were sitting quietly on their mothers laps as I continued, "I asked him what was going on, but he didn't say anything. Then, an owl came down and dropped a note on the ground between me and Sirius. I started to pick it up, but another owl came down and dropped another note next to me. The next thing I know, it`s raining paper." I laughed.
"Sirius was smiling now, sheepishly. I managed to grab a falling paper out of the air. On it, someone had simply written, 'Will you marry me?' .I looked up, and there was an owl on my shoulder. And in its beak was this." I gestured to the ring on my finger.
"So.. You said yes?" Violet interjected.
"Shhh! She`s getting to that!" Melody whispered, impatient but good-naturedly.
I smiled. "I looked at him, and he raised an eyebrow. Naturally, I said no."
"Liar." Alice declared, some of her old spunk showing for the first time in a long time, despite the troubles outside the door.
"No, really. I just grabbed the ring and ran. I plan on pawning it off within the week, and retiring early." I said quickly, positive my face was as red as Lily`s hair. .
They laughed at the outrageous story that was blatantly untrue. "I think Remus is going to be the best man, I don`t know if Sirius has asked yet, though."
"He hadn`t got the chance, last heard." Lily supplied, obviously having known about the whole thing from James and Sirius. "I hope he does soon, though, Remus has been extremely down recently."
"Hasn't everyone?" Alice asked. She looked at her watch, and the mirth left her eyes. "I have to go. I promised Alastor …" trailing off, thoughts of tasks ahead had already prematurely taken her from us.
"I understand. It was nice seeing you and Neville. Will you be able to come to the wedding? It`s November 19th."
"I`ll be there. See to you later." Alice got up and everyone exchanged hugs before she took Neville by the hand, disapparating into the night.
After Alice was gone, people started to remember that they (unfortunately) had to go before the sun went down and the bad guys prowled or, rather, terrorized the streets. One by one, after all the caldron cakes had been consumed, they each walked out into the cold, cruel night.
Melody was the last to go. "So what colour are the bridesmaid dresses going to be? Pink?" She joked.
"You wish. I was thinking… maybe a silvery-grey."
"Are you going to invite Sirius`s parents?"
"He doesn't want to…he hasn't talked to them in years….and James` parents are gone, so they can`t stand in. I want him to send them an invite at least, but he`s dead against it. He says they`ll send Death Eaters to our wedding. And Regulus…"
Mel was quite, the sound of death ringing in our ears. Hugging me goodbye, I felt the sadness in her breath. "I`ll write you when I get home. I promise. I miss seeing you all the time."
"Me too, Mel. Me too."
She too left, and I was alone in my house. It was so good to see all my friends together and safe again.
Little did I know that it would be the last time I would ever see them all that way again.
For three weeks, everything was fine.