Sirius sat next Ashlynn on the floor of James parents' house watching the commotion coming from the kitchen where James and Lily were greeting the many Potter relatives. James's father Charles Potter came in with a smile for Sirius. "Hullo second son!" He cried happily, as he hugged the younger man.
"Hello dad." Sirius said with a smile and then he turned to Ashlynn. "Dad this is Ashlynn Malfoy, my girlfriend."
Ashlynn gasped and looked up at Sirius that had been the first time he had put a title to what they were. "Hello Ashlynn it's nice to see Sirius bring a girl home!" Charles said shaking the young witch's hand.
"It's nice to meet you sir." She said softly.
Charles laugh and then called into the kitchen. "Doreen come in here for a moment!" The small black hair witch came in and smiled at her husband adoringly.
"Yes Charles?" She asked.
Charles held out his arm and looked at Ashlynn. "Did you know that Miss. Ashlynn is Sirius' girlfriend?" Charles asked with a wink and a smile and suddenly Ashlynn knew where James got his sense of humor.
"Charles don't embarrass the poor girl. Now come into the kitchen and talk to your family." She said and pulled her husband into the kitchen once again leaving Sirius and Ashlynn alone.
"So I am your girlfriend?" She asked looking at Sirius a small smile playing on her face.
Sirius laughed and shrugged. "You might as well be. I care about you, and I think you care about me." He said as he brushed a piece of her hair away.
Ashlynn smiled and nodded. "I do care about you Sirius, I don't allow just anyone to snog me you know!" She cried. Sirius grinned as he leaned over and kissed her deeply.
"Sirius!" James called looking at his best friend. "Hands off the maid of honor!"
Sirius pulled away from Ashlynn with a wicked grin. "I can kiss my girlfriend any time I want. Plus I'm the best man; I can kiss the maid of honor if I want to!" He retorted with a wink. James nodded and shook his head as he went back into the kitchen.
Sirius chuckled softly and then looked at Ashlynn. "Are you ready for the wedding tomorrow?" He asked.
Ashlynn nodded. "Yeah all of Lilly's stuff is upstairs as is mine." She said softly as she looked down at her hands. "I still can't believe she wanted me to be her maid of honor."
Sirius laughed and then pointed at Lily's other bridesmaids. "Would you want to choose either of those to be your maid of honor?"
Ashlynn smirked up at Sirius. "I guess your right. Think we should join them?"
Sirius shook his head. "Nah. I like sitting here cuddling." With those words, he pulled Ashlynn closer to him and rested his head on her shoulder. In the kitchen, Lily touched James' shoulder and nodded towards Sirius and Ashlynn.
"They look so cute together; it's nice to see Sirius getting close to someone besides you." Lily said softly. James grinned and then nodded in agreement.
Ashlynn kept her eyes closed as she lay in the spare bedroom of the Potter's house. She thought long enough she could picture herself being home in her soft bed with the warm black velvet blankets that held the Malfoy crest on them. She could just hear Dobby bringing up her breakfast tray and talking her ear off. The one thing she missed from Malfoy Manor the most was that little house elf.
Her door was pushed open and with that, all hopes of falling asleep again were dashed against the rocks. "Good morning!" Lily called as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Morning." Ashlynn said as she finally opened her eyes. "How do you feel?"
Lily shrugged and sighed. "I feel fine, a bit nervous but I expect that comes with today." She said with a grin.
Ashlynn nodded slowly and then looked down at her own hands. She still wore her engagement ring that Rabastan had given her, along with the Malfoy ring she had received on her 17th birthday along with the matching watch. Lily sighed and then took Ashlynn's hands in hers. "Did you love Rabastan?" She asked peering into the grey eyes of the youngest Malfoy.
Ashlynn pulled her hand away and sighed. "Love? No our marriage was to be one of force, one for making pure-blood babies." She said with a small laugh. "Come on though let's get you some breakfast."
Lily giggled and rushed out of the room as Ashlynn slid out of the bed slowly. With a sigh, she slowly took off her engagement ring and slipped it into her bad. That was the first time she had taken it off in two years. She closed her eyes and remembered how Rabastan had asked her to marry her. With a shake of her head, she also pulled the Malfoy ring and followed Lily out.
When she entered the kitchen Lily was being served breakfast by Doreen Potter. "Ashlynn come in, come in dear!" She cried happily. "Don't be shy at all."
Ashlynn came in and sat down quickly. "Thank you Mrs. Potter." She said quietly.
Doreen grinned and shook her head. "Please call me Doreen. Now would you like something to eat?" She asked with a smile.
Ashlynn nodded. "Yes." She answered and then paused. "Please."
Doreen soon floated a plate of food to her and sat down with the girls and her own plate of food. "So Lily are you ready to become a Potter?" Doreen asked as she took a bite off her eggs.
Lily nodded slowly and smiled. "I am. I can't wait to marry James, and start our own family." She said.
Doreen smiled and then patted her hands. "Good. I want as many grandbabies as I can get!" She said with a smile. Then she turned over to Ashlynn and smiled. "And what about you my dear how long have you been dating my other son?" Ashlynn flushed and quickly took a bite of food so she did not have to answer. Doreen and Lily began laughing. "It's already sweetie I'm just glad that Sirius found someone who makes him happy."
Lily nodded in agreement. "You should see him Doreen, he smiles when ever she's in the room."
"He does not!" Ashlynn said as she took another bottle.
"He does to and anytime your name is mentioned he smiles. Plus the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is looking; I'd say Sirius Black is in love."
Ashlynn rolled her eyes as she picked up her plate and brought it to the sink. "He is not in love with me." She said and walked out of the room without another word.
"What is wrong with her?" Doreen asked softly.
"I don't think she knows what love is." Lily said softly.
"Poor girl." Doreen said with a frown. "Well maybe Sirius will cure her of it."
Lily nodded and took another bite. "I think they will both be good for each other." She said.
Ashlynn sat in her room playing with her engagement ring. She sighed as she pushed back on the ring and closed her eyes. She hated that she could not rid herself of the past. Ashlynn shook her head as she also pushed on her Malfoy ring. She hated that she could not stop thinking about her past.
With a sigh, she looked out the window and could see Sirius and James emerging from the tent in the backyard. She gazed at Sirius' form and thought 'Lily was wrong about Sirius loving me right?' Her gazed was torn away from the window when Lily came in with a grin on her face.
Lily paced back and forth, as they waited for the wedding to begin. She sighed and looked at Ashlynn who flashed her a reassuring smile. Lily flashed one back and look down at her slim white wedding dress. Her red hair hung freely and a small tiara rested on top of her head.
"Are you ready?" A tall man asked.
Lily nodded and grinned widely. "I am ready." She said and picked up her bouquet of violets that matched Ashlynn's dress.
Ashlynn started to walk out and Lily grabbed her hand. "I'm happy you're here with me, Ashlynn. We may not have known each other that long but I think of you as my best friend." Lily said with a warm smile.
Ashlynn nodded slowly and smiled. "Thank you Lily, I feel the same way." She said softly. With those words, the girls made their way through the house and into the backyard.
They walked into the backyard where a large white tent was set up. Lily giggled and grinned widely seeing it. "Oh I'm so nervous." She whispered to Ashlynn.
Ashlynn smiled and laughed. "It is one of the biggest days of your life!" She said and then kissed her cheek. "For a happy marriage."
Tears sprung to Lily's eyes as the traditional kiss on the cheek was suppose to come from a mother or sister in the wizarding world. "Oh Ashlynn!" She cried. "Thank you so much."
Ashlynn smiled and shrugged. "It's no big deal Lily." She whispered and then went and stood in front of her as the tent flaps were pulled open.
The walk down the aisle went by quickly for Lily and she was so excited to see James in his dress rooms. Sirius' eyes had not left Ashlynn since she had appeared in the tent.
"Ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls James William Potter, and Lily Gwyneth Evans in marriage. The marriage they are creating here has roots in themselves, and the love, friendship, and guidance each of us has offered them. They have asked us to be with them here today, because we are a community of loved ones. We rejoice in the ways life has led them to each other and brought them to the place where they now stand." The elder wizard, Anthony said bringing silence to the whole tent.
Turning to James, he looked and said. "James, the woman who stands by your side is about to become your wife. She will look to you for comfort, for support, for understanding, for encouragement, and for protection. You must never take her for granted, and always consider her along with yourself."
James grinned ear to ear and took Lily's hands in. "Lily, as freely as my parents have given me life, I join my life with yours. Wherever you go, I will go. Whatever you face, I will face. For good or ill, in happiness or sadness, Come riches or poverty, I take you as my wife." He answered.
Turning to Lily, the wizard said. "Lily, the man who stands by your side is about to become your husband. He will look to you for comfort, for support, for understanding, for encouragement, and for protection. You must never take him for granted, and always consider him along with yourself."
Lily smiled back at James with tears welling in her eyes she said, "James, as freely as my parents have given me life, I join my life with yours. Wherever you go, I will go. Whatever you face, I will face. For good or ill, in happiness or sadness, Come riches or poverty, I take you as my husband."
Sirius stopped listening at this point the just kept staring at Ashlynn. She was beautiful in the dress of purple her blonde hair was really offset by it. When he zoned back in the couple were exchanging vows. "Do you James, take Lily to be your lawful wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live."
"I do." James said happily.
"And do you Lily, take James to be your lawful wedded husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live."
Squeezing James hand, she grinned. "I do."
Anthony smiled happily and said. "Then I declare you bonded for life! You may kiss the bride." With that James, grabbed Lily dipped her down low and kissed her deeply.
After the wedding guests had cleared away and the tent had been taken down Sirius, Ashlynn, Lily and James stood in the backyard ready to leave. For the next couple of weeks Ashlynn would be living at Sirius' flat in London to give Lily and James some time alone. Lily hugged Ashlynn close and whispered. "I love you."
Ashlynn stood shocked for a moment. The last time anyone had ever told it had been her mother. "I love you too Lily." She said and then moved away.
"Have a good time you two!" Sirius cried as they both got onto James broomstick.
"Hey Ashlynn try not to end up in a Hogwarts bed on your trip to London!" James cried laughing. Ashlynn laughed loudly and then waved goodbye to everyone.
Doreen shot forwards and wrapped Sirius in a hug. "Be good to Ashlynn." She whispered. Then pulling away, she smiled at her and said. "Don't be a stranger! It will be nice to have some company around here."