a/n: if you ever need inspiration, use the Almost Totally Random Writing Exercise Generator. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to endorse it but it's fab, and it's how we ended up with this, from shattered glass.

forty-eight - want

(It's messy and bloody and they were outnumbered from the start.)

Lily was having lunch with Mary in The Leaky Cauldron on one of her rare days off from the Order when the Death Eaters had struck, firing curses and hexes and other Dark spells into the bustle of shoppers milling around Diagon Alley. She'd first noticed the commotion from the screams coming from outside; glancing out the window, she'd seen two people fall and the shattered glass of a shop front, so she'd sent a Patronus to Moody and James.

When the others arrived, they'd jumped into the fray, but from the off Lily had known it would be a difficult one to win. The Death Eaters were heavy in numbers and struck imposing figures with their masks and robes; many of the shoppers were women with children who'd Apparated as soon as they could so there were few people left to defend those who had to stay.

Fabian yells as a Blasting Curse and a stream of fire shoots over his head and hits the building behind him, ducking out the way just in time. He slings a curse back at his opponent, and Gideon hurls Water-Making Charms at the shop but the fire has quickly taken hold and roars through the property, flames flickering ever nearer to the other shops in the street.

Lily's just knocked down a Death Eater - his mask comes off as he falls and she vaguely recognises the pointed face of Igor Karkaroff - when a delighted cackle reaches her ears. The dark haired witch in front her twirls her wand and nearly hits James, but Lily gets there first, sending a Shield Charm his way and then an Impediment Jinx at Bellatrix.

With a snarl, the older woman turns on Lily. The two begin to duel, and as their flickering jets of light are crossing, the force of the fire raging in the building behind them blows the glass from its pane. Lily, distracted as a body comes thumping down in front of her, screams when Bellatrix hits her with the Cruciatus Curse, and gasps a spell to send back.

"Lily?" James calls, cursing as he deflects a hex and swipes his wand back at his opponent.

"Fine!" comes the breathless reply, and he flashes her a glance just long enough to see she's battling again, her long red hair flying wildly with shoulders squared as she dances around Bellatrix's capering curses. He blasts Rosier backwards and turns to look at her properly. She'd stepped up for him, fighting his battle, and there's a new determination in her face that says Bellatrix will not win, not this time, and her eyes are bright and he can't help himself; before he can stop them, the words trip over his lips and he's reaching her and saying, "Lily. Marry me, Lily."

"What?" Lily pulls up short with her attention diverted and her wand arm drops to her side, Bellatrix's spell sailing narrowly over her shoulder.

James throws the witch back with a forceful hex and grabs Lily's hand, bringing her to him. "I love you," he says. Sirius swears loudly as a Death Eater shouts another curse at the building, already weak from the flames. It begins to crumble and tiles from the roof drop perilously down to the ground.

"Hold!" he cries, alerting the others while shooting a Stabilising Charm at the roof. "Prongs!"

"I want to be with you forever," says James, hazel eyes searching Lily's. "Marry me?"

"Is now the time, mate?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"Yes, I'll marry you," laughs Lily. She grabs James' collar and kisses him, bloodied hands winding through his hair, and he pulls her flush against him as the building explodes, holding her face in his hands, not caring about the dirt smeared on his face and the dust that's settled over both of them.

"Incoming!" yells Peter, shielding his head, and Remus runs forward, forcing the couple to the ground.

"Evans! Potter!" Moody growls, coming toward them with his wand trained on a Death Eater. "Go and dilly-dally somewhere else, the building's just come down and we've got a battle to fight!"

James just grins at him; he brushes dust from Lily's hair and pulls her to her feet. "Ready, love?" he asks, giving a hand to Remus.

The girl smiles at the two boys standing next to her, twirling her wand between her fingers. "Ready."