A/N: Hey guys, just a quick thing before I start. I'm trying to do this in the most accurate way that I can. We all know that they died on October 31, 1981, making both of them 21. Well we also know that they graduated when they were 17/18. To have 9 months of pregnancy and then of course, Harry's first year, since we do know he was a year old when it happened, as Sirius got him a broom, I kind of pieced together that they got married either at age 18-19. So since Lily and James were in school from 1971-1978, we know that they had three years together, so I'm having them get married the summer/fall after school, as that seems the most plausible in my eyes. If you disagree or have proof that this is wrong, please let me know! Thanks.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except for the plot (:
One more week. That's all the time I had left of my home. Of being completely safe. One more week and then I was officially done with my schooling. One more week. Only seven days. This is where I had grown up, the place where I first learned, first loved. I couldn't picture myself not at Hogwarts, and yet it was happening. And this was an ending. No matter how many of the teachers told us now our lives were officially starting, I didn't believe them. I had already lived 18 years, and I had seen things that no 18 year old should. And yet it was a beginning in a way. It was the beginning of my life with James, a new beginning, a new chance.
The last few days went by so fast, and before I knew it, I was packing, only setting aside my robes for graduation, which was tomorrow. I sat down on my bed and felt the soft, cool sheets that had always comforted me. In two days I would have a completely new bed, a new room, a new house. Everything new. And yet it still didn't feel real.
Before I could stop myself, I was thinking about all of the things that had happened over my seven years here. All of the friends I made, the enemies, the fights, the injuries, but most importantly the lessons and loves that I had learned.
And then the tears were flowing. I really wasn't coming back. I was losing my home. As I sat there, taking in my room, just searching, the door opened, and James took one look at the tears soaking on my cheeks, walked over to me, sat down right next to me, and took my hand. I leaned against him habitually and he kissed the top of my head, burying his nose in my hair.
We stayed like that for a very long while, and I'm pretty sure he had even shed a few tears as well. The nostalgia hit me so hard, and I couldn't contain it. What was going to happen to all my friends? Before I could voice my thoughts to James, a brilliant phoenix appeared from a poof of fire. James and I looked up at it, confused.
"Fawkes?" James said, obviously recognizing the gorgeous bird. It seemed satisfied that we were together and cawed slightly. It flew over to us and dropped a note into James outstretched palm. And then with a burst of fire it was gone.
Slightly hesitant, James opened the small note.
James and Lily,
I would appreciate it greatly if you could spare a little bit of time right now to come visit me in my office. I have a very urgent message to share with you. Please come as soon as you can.
P.S. I love Droobles Best Blowing Gum.
We stood up automatically. Grabbing hands, we walked down from my room and started our way to Dumbledore's office.
"Lils, you ok?" James asked, looking sideways at me. I smiled at him and took his arm and put it around my shoulders.
"Of course. I'm just going to miss this place. That's all. I wonder what Dumbledore needs." I said, trying to slyly change the subject. He caught on but didn't push the subject. He merely shrugged.
"It's Dumbledore. What are you going to do?"
"Good point." I said grinning at him. We walked together the rest of the way in comfortable silence, enjoying the other's company.
We got to the stone gargoyles and said the password quickly. I knocked on the door and heard a slight enter along with a murmur of people. We pushed open the door together and froze at the entrance. Gathered around in foldable chairs was probably the most different group of people I had ever seen. Some I recognized, some I didn't.
"Ah, Lily, James, go ahead and sit down. We're just about to get started." James and I took seats next to a small man in a bowler hat and Sirius, who looked just as confused as I felt. Two more people entered the room and filled up the remaining spots.
"Ok, now that everyone is here, I would like to do introductions first, before I explain. As most of you know, my name is Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of this school. Now if you would proceed." He pointed to the wizard on his left.
He cleared his throat. "My name is Edgar Bones. I work at the ministry along with my wife, and my sister also works there." Dumbledore nodded and then gestured to the next person.
"My name is Caradoc Dearborn. I work at the Apothecary Shop in Diagon alley." On and on it went. These were the names I didn't know: Dedalus Diggle, Elphias Doge, Aberforth Dumbledore, Benjy Fenwick, Mundugus Fletcher, and Sturgis Podmore. These were the names that I did: Emmeline Vance, Fabien and Gideon Prewitt, Peter Pettigrew, Alastor Moody, Dorcas Meadows, Marlene Mckinnon, Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Rubeus Hagrid, Alice Martin, Frank Longbottom, and Arabella Figg.
"Now that we're all friendly, I'd like to make a small announcement. I have invited you all here because Lord Voldemort has risen to an incredible power, and he needs to be stopped. All of you here are very valuable and talented in your own way, whether it be physical, magical, or you just have a remarkable brain. I would like to start a group of people who are fighting against Lord Voldemort and his supporters, secretive of course for safety, but I would like you all to be in it. I have already come up with a name, and it is called The Order of the Phoenix. You do not have to join here, but you will have to be subjected to a Memory Charm if you choose to leave, for I'm not willing to throw this all away with a bad slip of the tongue. So if you would like to join, I will have you sign this sheet for a permanence feel of things, if not, please inform me and we will get you on your way immediately."
Sirius immediately lunged for the paper and signed his name exuberantly across the top in huge cursive letters. When I raised an eyebrow at it, he said, "So every single person, even with the worst eyesight can see my name, first." James signed beneath his, and then I signed. I handed it to Dedalus who was besides me and he squealed and dropped his hat. I quickly turned around and shot a bewildered look at James, who burst out laughing. I glared at him slightly before he stopped and patted my head clumsily. I felt like I had missed out on a bad joke or something.
Everyone signed the paper, Peter hesitated slightly but did sign it, I don't think anyone caught his hesitation other than Dumbledore and I however.
"Now that that is all settled, I would like to thank you all for coming, and our next meeting will be revealed to you in all different ways, just be prepared, and don't trust anyone other than the people in this room. Thank you. You may all leave." he said ominously. We thanked him quickly and then left the room, walking together.
Alice, Frank, Remus, Sirius, Peter, Emma, James, and I made our way to the head common room, wanting a little bit more privacy. When we got there, we all settled in before the questions started.
"I wonder why Mary wasn't asked." Alice said worriedly, shaking her head and sitting on Frank's lap on the armchair.
"Dumbledore will have his reasons." said Lupin, always the wise one. We nodded in agreement. The rest of the night went reasonably fast, the people leaving in pairs with a whispered goodnight, not sure what to make of the day's events. With a jolt, I realized graduation was tomorrow.
"I'm going to head upstairs. I'm a little tired." I said, yawning and stretching like a cat. James and Sirius, the only two left nodded distractedly. I bent down and kissed James' forehead before walking upstairs. I showered quickly, distracted and brushed my teeth vigorously. I hurriedly put on my pajamas and climbed into my bed, running over the day's events in my head. I knew I had done the right thing of course. Fighting Voldemort would always be the right thing. I just couldn't help but think I was putting people at risk, people I cared about. If Voldemort knew openly that I was fighting against him, not that I was that important, but he could use people I loved as bait, knowing I would do anything to stop him. But that was the danger of fighting him, and it was a risk I was going to take. I laid there for awhile, just thinking and staring up at the ceiling when James came in, in his pajamas also.
"Do you mind if I stay with you tonight? It's one of the last times we're going to be here, so I figured we might as well stick it out together." he said, and I knew that if I said no he would turn around and go back. Leaving me options.
"Of course. Come here." I said and he walked over to me quickly, pulling back the covers and hopping in, shivering from the cool air in my room. I pulled him to me quickly, wanting to feel his warmth, inhale his scent. I nestled my head at the bottom of his neck, and he wrapped his arms around me, our legs tangling together.
Once we were comfortable I looked up into his eyes and whispered, "I love you James Potter." he bent down and kissed me gently on the lips.
"As I love you Lily Evans." and we fell asleep, comforted by the others presence, knowing we were safe in each others arms.
We woke up early, the sun beaming through the windows that I had forgotten to curtain the night before. We laid there for a while, just taking in each other's presence, knowing that this was one of the last moments at Hogwarts. We got up shortly after that. He showered while I tamed my massive head of curls. We got dressed in our robes quickly, and then headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. We sat at our usual spot which was already quite full.
"The one thing I'm going to miss most about Hogwarts," Sirius said, shoving food in his mouth. "Is the food." I ate my fill and then sat engaged in the conversation, wondering how I was going to live without all of my family here. McGonagall came eventually and had all of the seventh year Gryffindors follow here outside by the lake and near the forest where there were many chairs lined up. She had us sitting in alphabetical order, so I was near the front, next to Sirius. We make small talk for some time before everyone else filled in to the seats behind us all. It was weird seeing the whole school somewhere outside of the Great Hall.
Dumbledore walked up to the large podium sitting on the stage like structure. He cleared his throat and waved his hands and people automatically got quiet. He then pointed his wand to his throat, magnifying his voice.
"There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying. Here at Hogwarts, we have taught you to follow with your head, and do the smart thing. But doing the smart thing, and doing the right thing are two completely different circumstances. I have hoped that you would be able to figure out these things by yourself in these years, and learn to appreciate the small things in live, your own piece of forever. Your schooling can't obviously last forever. Every good thing must end. But this is a new beginning. You are now starting your lives out into the real world, where there are real people and places and battles and you must be careful to never forget to lead with your heart, and not your head for when there comes a time when a decision must be made and something must change, every one of you will be prepared to be great."
Tears were threatening to flow over my eyes now. Dumbledore continued to talk about life, and friendship and love, finally he seemed to be drawing to a conclusion.
"I hope that all of you will do something for this world one day, and that someday, we might all live in peace, and cherish together." He then stepped back, bowed slightly and went back to his seat. We all stood up and applauded loudly, even earning some wolf whistles.
McGonagall stepped up to the podium now. "I will call all of your names and you will step up and receive your diploma of sorts," she smiled slyly to herself. "You will then stand as still as you can while the Sorting Hat is placed on your head, where it will utter the one word that truly describes yourself, if you wish. But only to yourself, no one else will hear it. You do not have to do this however, it is only by choice, for you could learn a great deal about yourself."
"Narcissa Black." McGonagall called shrilly. A tall girl with blond flowing hair stood up gracefully from the Slytherin section and there was scattered applause. She accepted the "diploma" and sat down on the seat, choosing to hear the word. Her face formed a shocked expression and she quickly removed the hat and walked back to her seat. Sirius was called next and he was applauded hugely along with many wolf whistles and cries from his fan club. He also chose the seat and looked slightly unnerved but never less still got shocked responses when he gave McGonagall a huge hug and kissed her on the cheek, making her go beet red and stammer words no one could here.
Names were continuously called from other houses and then it was Lily Evans. I stood up shakily and walked, trying to be slow, up the steps and grabbed the paper they had given me. I shook McGonagall's hand and then Dumbledore and making a hastily decision sat aboard the seat and jammed the hat on my head.
Ah, Lily Evans. I heard in my head. You shall do great things in your lifetime and shall save many people with your gift. You are love.
It was silent after that and I took off the hat gently and sat back down at my seat. How could I be love? That wasn't even an adjective. And I was pretty sure it was only suppose to be one word, not a whole sentence. But it unnerved me, what he had said. My gift. What was that suppose to mean? I tried to look nonplussed and watched the rest of the graduation in silence, clapping for my friends. James took the hat, along with Mary, Alice, and Remus, but Peter and Emma chose not to, which I didn't question them on. Once the last name was called, we all stood up and McGonagall shot fireworks off of the end of her wand which spiraled into shapes and designs, trailing down on the rest of us with what felt like snow. We all took off our top hats and threw them in the air, screaming and jumping up and down. I hugged Sirius, who kissed me on the forehead and then I turned around, only wanting to see one person, who was of course, waiting for me. My lips found his quickly, and it was easy to lose myself in all of the commotion. He grabbed my hand and pulled away, looking me in the eye. And before I could say a word, he was leaning down on one knee, in front of the whole entire school, pulling a small black box out of his robe pocket, and said,
"Lily Evans, I will love you unconditionally, every single day of forever. Will you marry me?"
A/N: dun dun dunnnnnn. sorry for the cliffhanger here! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, i sure liked writing it, even though it's slightly boring, a lot of important things happened. I have some comments to give to people:
Voldemort is Going Down: YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO GET EVERY SINGLE NAME RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS.
i-fell-hard-4-harrypotter- don't worry, they're not going to, i was going to have it that way anyway.
Loslote: you're the first person to guess all the names, even though you got it wrong. Alex Benson is not a parent, nor is Matthew Dunlop, they're just people who go to my school who i borrowed the names of, but you get first for trying.
Jade2nightwing: you guessed Seamus' mom first. nicely done!
Thanks for reviewing guys, keep them coming, and so will I (: