Chapter eleven: Affianced
On the fourteenth of Valentine's Day, Lily woke up to an amaryllis flower, her favorite. She smiled against her pillow and reached out for it. It smelled wonderful and she smiled even brighter into its soft petals.
When she was dressed for the day and went downstairs to the Common room, there was another on the mantle with a note that just said, 'For Lily-flower'. That was what James called her. She beamed at Ariel who was just watching on with Remus and a smile. James was still avoiding her, but maybe that was changing. She wasn't even sure why it began in the first place. Still, she loved the flowers.
At breakfast another arrived by owl, with an affectionate peck on the cheek from said animal. History of Magic, one suddenly appeared on her desk. In Herbology, a procession of first years came through looking for "Lily-flower" each with their own amaryllis for her. James didn't attend a class the entire day.
Every class was like this with the professors watching on with their own smiles at the romance they had seen build from the beginning. Severus watched too, his bitterness slowly rising around him in a hateful shroud. Potter showing off his prize like the Gryffindor he was.
Lily couldn't remember a day she had smiled so much her cheeks hurt like this. She wanted to find James and thank him, but he was nowhere to be found. The other Marauders weren't giving him up either. She studied in the library and opened a book to a pressed flower on the page she needed, but she and Madame Pince were the only ones there.
Lily could remember the first time she met James and the Marauders. It was on the Hogwarts Express. She and Severus had been getting onto the platform at Hogsmeade and they came running through, bumping into everyone in the process. When they ran into her and her friend, they insulted him and ran off again. Except there was a moment when James looked at Lily and Lily looked at James and he smiled. She glared. She hadn't noticed how handsome he was until third year when he glued Severus' shoes to the floor. He laughed and his head was back into the light. Lily remembered scolding herself for thinking such thoughts about him. She didn't really blame him for the end of her friendship with Severus. That was her own doing, though she planned on fixing that if she could.
"Please tell me you know where James is," she asked Ariel and Remus on the way to dinner. They exchanged mysterious looks and shook their heads.
"But you know how he is about food," Ariel said reassuringly. "I'm sure he'll be in the Great Hall."
Lily hoped so, but he wasn't. The Headmaster, with his pink dyed beard started the feast and she picked at her meatloaf. Remus and Hermione watched their friend, waiting for it. Then the candles around the Hall dimmed and there James was in front of the High Table with a grin. He waved his wand and stopped.
"What's that charm?" He asked to no one in particular. "That one that makes your voice louder?"
"Sonorus!" Remus yelled to him.
James pointed. "Yes! Thank you, Moony. Sonorus." And his voice was heard throughout the room, even though as soon as the lights had dimmed, he had everyone's attention anyway.
Minerva stood up, her lips tightened to nonexistence, but the Headmaster put a gentle hand on her arm to stop her.
"At least wait and see why he's gone through the trouble," he whispered with a twinkle and a smile. She reluctantly sat down and James continued.
"Ladies, gentlemen, not so gentle men, Slughorn's hair piece," then he smirked. "Sirius and I named it Betsy."
Professor Slughorn reddened with a good-natured laugh. Lily watched, confused as ever at what he was doing.
"Today is Valentine's Day," he said simply. "So what better day to do this?" James came over the Gryffindor table and climbed up to stand on it. "Lily Wisteria Evans, I love you." Her eyes grew wide. "I have loved you since the moment I saw you, and I will love you until the last moment I see you and longer. Will you, Lily-flower, marry me?"
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Severus felt like his heart had been ripped from his chest. He knew they were 'together', tried not to think about it, and now? He watched her emerald eyes fill up and her red hair move as she nodded vigorously.
"Yes."
He thought he had died with that one word and found himself unable to breathe, to react. He could feel his rage bubble up within him, boiling over the top, and he pushed himself away from the table and left the Great Hall. Hermione watched with worry and looked to Remus, who nodded. James and Lily were kissing and the hall had erupted in sporadic cheers. Hermione congratulated them and left to follow her father.
"Severus, stop."
He tensed at the voice, his body trembling in anger. Severus turned to Ariel. "Did you know?"
She hadn't seen him so angry since before the Final Battle. Or maybe this was the angriest she had ever seen him. He looked dangerous.
"I- "
"Did. You. Know?" He growled, stepping closer.
Hermione hung her head. "I had the theory."
Severus laughed humorlessly. "Oh, well then that's okay," he said sarcastically. "Just the theory. You encouraged this! You approve!" He accused loudly, his voice echoing but drowned still by the noise of the Great Hall.
"Yes, I did and I do."
"Why?" He pleaded desperately. "Why would you do that?"
Hermione breathed in and out. "Because I knew they would be happy together. They love each other. He loves her."
"I LOVE HER!" He shouted with a break in his voice at the end. "I love her and she could have loved me back. I could have made her happy too. You! You ruined it. You killed any chance I may have ever had with her."
"What chance?" She asked. "You two haven't spoken in years."
Severus beat his fist against the stone wall, leaving blood. "It could have worked itself out. She just needed time to forgive me. I know it. You. Don't ever come near me again."
He went to walked away, but stopped at her shouting after him, her voice shaking. "She is never going to love you, Severus. Never! Lily and James are happy together and if you don't accept that, you'll kill yourself with it."
"Then let me die." He said simply, and walked off.
