Chapter Two: Marriage
(Severus' POV)
Lily looked beautiful. That was all I could think of as I watch Lily and James Potter stand in front of the church, about to say their wedding vows. Sirius Black stood next to James as his best man. There was no surprise there. If not Sirius Black, it would have been Remus Lupin or Peter Pettigrew.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" a tall wizard with thick brown hair, and sparkling blue eyes said, addressing the crowd "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls"
Why couldn't that be me up there, about to marry Lily? I thought. I knew the answer Because you were an idiot, and called her Mudblood. Lily had eventually forgiven me, but things were never the same with us. She never called me her friend, she never talked to me more than was necessary, and two years later, she was dating James. Now, not even three years after graduation, they were about to be married. No doubt their house would soon be filled to the brim with their children. James and Lily's-not mine and Lily's. It was James Lily would grow old with, not me. Potter would be her married name-not Snape.
James and Lily entwined their fingers together
"Do you, James Adrian Potter take Lily Rose Evans to be your wife? To love and to cherish from this day forward? In sickness and in health? For richer or poorer? As long as you both shall live?"
"Until death do we part and after" James said, smiling at Lily. Lily smiled back. A blind person would have been able to tell that Lily loved him. Her love radiated off of her, though the entire church.
The wizard turned to Lily "Do you, Lily Rose Evans take James Adrian Potter to be your husband? To love and to cherish from this day forward? In sickness and in health? For richer or poorer? As long as you both shall live?"
"Until death do we part and after" Lily said
I glanced around the room. Albus and Minerva were up near the front of the church. Minerva was smiling, her eyes full of tears. Dumbledore had a big smile on his face as well.
"Then I declare you bonded for life."
The wizard waved his wand over the heads of Lily and James and a shower of silver stars fell upon them, spiraling around their fingers. A roar of applause broke out. Even I managed to have a little bit of genuine happiness for Lily, and I joined in.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" called the wizard "If you would please stand up!"
Everyone did so, and this is where the wedding changed. Usually, the wizard leading the ceremony would make the seats the guests sat on disappear. But Lily had told me she had insisted on some muggle traditions in her wedding. James, who was determined to please Lily in every way he could, agreed without a second thought. Lily and James walked up the aisle to the doors. We would be taking the very short walk from the chapel to Lily and James' new home, with the newly weds leading the way. The wedding reception would take place at the house.
Lily and James reached me, and I saw Lily turn. She made eye contact with me briefly, and gave me a slight nod. I returned it, and watched her leave. I then waited, and once I was the only one left in the chapel, I left.
I didn't go far. I walked out of the church, then went to lean up against the wall of the chapel, and watched as the huge crowd of people from the wedding streamed into the house. I sighed sadly. Nothing would replace the hole in my heart that watching Lily and James get married had created.
"Aren't you going to attend the party, Severus?"
I jumped and spun around. Dumbledore was standing behind me.
"I'm not in much of a partying mood, Headmaster" I said
"I can understand you not being in much of a mood to celebrate, but you must at least congratulate Lily, and wish her a happy life."
"She won't want to talk to me" I said
"I think she'd be willing to hear you are happy for her" Dumbledore said
I glanced off at Lily and James' house. "I'll wish the married couple congratulations, have one drink, and then I'm returning to Hogwarts. I have a lot of work to do"
"Get a plate of food to take back to the castle, at the very least" Dumbledore said "Lily is a fantastic chef, and she and Molly Weasley cooked it all this morning. I'd be a waste to pass it up"
I nodded, only half listening, then walked down to the house.
I had just finished my one and only glass of firewhiskey, when I felt someone touch my shoulder. I spun around and saw Lily standing there in her beautiful wedding dress.
"Hello Lily" I said, with a slight nod "Congratulations"
"Thank you" Lily said "I am glad you came, Severus. I didn't think you would. I know you and James didn't get along in school"
"You invited me" Severus said.
"I invited Petunia too, but she isn't here" Lily said.
I didn't know what to say to this, so I said nothing.
"Lily! There you are!"
Lily and I turned to see Sirius walking over to Lily.
"Your husband wants you" Sirius said, taking Lily by the arm "It's time for the newlywed's first dance."
"Sorry Severus, we'll talk later" Lily said as she was all but dragged away by Sirius.
A minute later, the room got quiet at the sound of a spoon hitting glass. I turned and saw James with a glass goblet raised in the air.
"Before my beautiful bride and I have our first dance, I'd like to make a toast to her. If you'll please raise your goblets"
Everyone in the room did so
"To my new wife, the beautiful Mrs. Lily Potter"
"To Mrs. Lily Potter!" the crowed cheered
"To Mrs. Lily Potter" I said quietly, raising my empty goblet a little.
The music started up, James took Lily in his arms, Sirius took both of their goblets from them, and their first dance began. That was my cue to leave.
Once again, she's gone I thought as I walked away from the house The chances of her coming back to me are possible, but they are not very probable
Author's Note: The writing in bold can be found on pages 677-679 in the American hardback copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The inscription on the tombstone can be found on page 328
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