James smiled brightly when he opened the front door of his family house at Godric Hallow to see his beautiful fiancee in the door. He started to usher her in, but she shook her head and handed him a small, velvet box. Slowly, his smile faded.

"We can't do this," Lily told him. "The things they're saying. The Prophet, our classmates, even our friends, my friends. Florence was saying the most awful things this morning-" She grew more and more frantic as she spoke. Finally, James put on a finger on her lips, and held up the box she'd forced into his hand.

"When does Lily Evans ever care about what people think?" he reminded her. "So what if the Prophet called me a blood traitor, and calls you- well, it doesn't matter. You-Know-Who wanted us, wanted you, a Muggle-born. And what did we tell him?" Lily fought a smile breaking out on her face.

"Not today," she replied. "Well, you told him that. I hexed Malfoy to keep him from killing Sirius."

"And you didn't say yes just to humor me, did you?" he asked, starting to lean on the door frame.

"Of course not!" she replied. A frantic looks started to pass her face again, James gently put a hand on her chin, and brought her face up to look into his eyes.

"Than I don't see what the problem is, Lilypad," he said. "I won't be happy again if you say no now." A blush crept up her neck, underneath her spatter of freckles, which faded quickly as she glared at James and slapped his hand away from her.

"That is emotional blackmail, James Potter," she declared, reaching for her wand. James caught her wand hand wrist, and pulled her close to him, leaning his head down to hers.

"That was the absolute truth, Lily Evans," he whispered, just above her ear. He pulled his head away, leaving her with a slightly dazed look in her eyes. He pushed the velvet box back into her hand. "Join me for tea?"

"Of course," she replied, shaking herself out of her haze. He moved back, out of the doorway to let her in.

"I got a new pack of Sugar Quills in the cabinet. The boys are supposed to be coming 'round for dinner, if you want to stay," he offered, as she breezed passed him.

"As long as you're not planning on serving that awful curry."

"Lily, that's the only thing I know how to make."