Ch. 19 A New Life
"Wait...I think he ran the other way," James yelled as Lily and him ran down the cobblestone street.
Lily looked in both directions. "I'm not sure. You go that way and I'll go this way," she said, pointing down two side roads.
"But, but...it'll be dangerous Lil..." he started.
Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm a trained auror, I know how to take care of myself. Now, hurry!" She called back, sprinting down one road. She changed her pace into a jog as soon as she was out of his sight. Almost sure he had gone down this way and knowing that it was a dead end, she saw no need to hurry. Then she saw him.
Severus Snape was looking desperately at the stone wall in front of him, not noticing at first that she was there. Finally, giving up, he turned around. He was wearing his hair in that ridiculous pony tail again, but it looked strangely attractive on him. Lily felt a deep pang of regret looking at him and seeing his expression soften from one of hatred to sadness. She hadn't seen him for over two years, and then it had only been in passing.
"Lily," he said softly, looking up at her.
"Severus," she said, equally softly, trying to keep herself from crying.
He laughed a bitter laugh, and took a step towards her. "So I suppose I should just turn myself in. You're the great Lily Evans, famous auror. Do you need me to do anything before you haul me away?"
"Severus..." she stammered a little, a single tear falling down her cheek. She knew she should arrest him, he was evil, a death eather...but all she could think of was how glad she was to see him alive. "I've...I've missed you so much..." she said, feeling strangely faint and very pathetic. He probably didn't miss her nearly that much and was glad to have her out of his life forever.
Suddenly, he ran to her, taking her into his arms and holding her. "I've missed you too, Lil," he whispered. "I...I hate this life. But, I...I can't get out!"
"There...there must be a way," she said, pulling back from him and looking him in the eyes. "Maybe, maybe you could move to America or Japan or someplace. I'm sure you could hide from them somewhere."
"No," he said, hopelessly. "There's nowhere I can hide from Voldemort. He's too powerful. Infact, I shouldn't even be talking to you now. I'm putting you in danger..."
Lily laughed. "I'm putting myself in danger by being a auror anyways."
They stood in silence, for a moment, and then suddenly Lily had a brilliant idea. "Dumbledore!" she screamed out.
"What!?" Severus asked, glancing quickly around in all directions. Finding no one, he turned back to her. "Shh Lily. You will bring every witch and wizard within a hundred blocks here!"
"Oh, sorry...but Dumbledore Sev!" she continued in a whisper. "Go to him! I'm sure he can help you to get out. Maybe you could be a spy or something. He's the only wizard that Voldemort fears after all..."
Severus's eyes lit up with a look that Lily hadn't seen in him for a long time, hope. "Lily..." he said, hugging her again, "you're a genius! That just might work!" He then picked her up and spun her around in a circle.
Lily started laughing. "Yes, now...put me down!"she said grinning. Finally he released her.
"Thanks, Lil," he said, giving a little coy grin again. "And once I get my life back together, can we can be friends again?"
"Of course," she said smiling.
He waited a moment, looking into her eyes, and then sighed and said very uncertainly, "I wonder Lily, if after I get my life together again, could we ever be...more than friends?"
Lily's stomach dropped. She had hoped that Severus would be over her by now. She sighed.
"I take that as a no, then," he said softly, and half turned away, looking embarrassed.
"Oh Sev," she said, desparingly, "I saw your memory book...I shouldn't have–but I did. I–I just want you to know that I did love you too. I really wanted you to ask me to the ball, but I was embarrased to tell you. But now...I–I'm in love with James."
Severus grunted as if he had been punched in the stomach. "Wow, that's...ironic, isn't it?" he said, a wry smile forming on his lips.
"Yea," she said, smiling back.
"So, there's no chance that I can win you back?" he said, hope rising in his voice.
Lily sighed. "Severus...James and I are getting married tomorrow."
Lily felt terrible as she saw an expression of intense pain go over Severus's face. He recovered quickly, pushing the pain down inside of him.
"Well," he said sighing. "Then I guess this is my last chance."
"Last chance to do wha..." she cut off as Severus pulled her into a passionate kiss, releasing all of his frustration and feelings into that kiss. After a while, Lily finally remembered where she was and pulled back.
"Severus..." she said breathlessly, "I...that–that isn't going to change my mind..."
Severus sighed giving his coy grin again. "I know it, but I've wanted to kiss you for so long, and it was my last chance..."
Just then, they heard the sound of running footsteps coming up behind them.
"James," Lily said, sounding panicked. "He'll want to bring you in..."
"Don't worry," Severus said, smiling. "I can get away if you release the non-aparating field you put on the area..."
Lily nodded. She had forgotten all about that. She quickly released her portion of it, which would collapse the whole thing. Unfortunately, James would also know that she had released it because he had helped to form the spell.
"Good bye, Lily," Severus said, walking a few paces back.
"Good bye Sev...will you come to the wedding? I'd really like it if..."
"Come to see you married to Potter? Are you insane?"
"Yea–well I guess so," she said, sadness overcoming here. "I just want all of my friends to be there..."
He sighed. "I may come by for a few seconds to see what you look like, but you won't see me. But at least you can know that I came..."
"Ok..." she said smiling. "Thanks, and sorry. Good luck with Dumbledore."
"Thanks," he said, as the footsteps got even closer. Finally James came in sight and Severus quickly disaparated.
"What!?" James said, out of breath. "You let him go? Lily–"
Lily sighed. "It was the right thing James. He's going to Dumbledore–he's going to change..."
"So he tells you," James said, sounding unconvinced and worried. "I just don't want him to hurt you..."
"I know him better than you do, James. I'm sorry–I know this is hard for you, but please trust me, ok?"
"Ok," he said softly, pulling her into a hug. "I just hope he wasn't lying and isn't plotting to kill you right now."
Lily laughed. "Kill me...Severus? Never...maybe you–but that's of no consequence to anyone..."
James gave a cry of protest as she pulled away and walked back down
the street, laughing.
***
"Oh you look gorgeous Lily!" Tara said, beaming, but Lily saw a tear forming in her eye. Tara was, of course, Lily's maid of honor and was wearing one of the many formal Paris designed dresses that she modeled for a career, when she wasn't spying for the order, that is.
Lily looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a simple, yet elegant white gown with princess sleeves and her hair was put up with ringlets coming down all around her head. Tara had done her make up, so it looked perfect. She sighed.
"It's so weird that the day is finally here...I can't believe it," she said softly.
Tara sighed. "Me neither. I mean marrying James...honestly girl!" she said in mock scolding.
"Tara..." Lily started, grinning.
"I know, I know...he's wonderful etc. etc., but I told you a long time ago I would be put out if you married James, and I have to live up to it!" She paused for a moment. "Are you nervous Lily?"
Lily thought for a moment. "No," she said finally. "I mean it's weird moving from one stage of my life to another...but I love him so much...and I feel like this is right."
Tara sighed and nodded. "Ok. If you had answered differently, I would have hauled you off. You can't just marry him because you feel like he's the only chance you've got...which of course is far from the truth."
Lily grinned. "So what about you and Jean-Claude?"
Tara burst out laughing. "Jean-Claude? I only brought him because he wanted to go to England. We're just friends with no romantic interest what so ever."
"Sure...sure..." Lily said, smirking.
Tara sighed again. "You have less than two minutes before we have to go march out there...I feel like I'm losing you forever..."
"You sound like my mother..." Lily giggled.
"Well, young lady, I'm filling in for her right now, so deal with it," Tara smirked.
Just then, Dumbledore entered. "It's time, Lily," he said taking her arm. Lily smiled at him as Tara walked out of the tent first and onto the grounds of Hogwarts to the beat of the Wedding March.
Lily had felt a little apprehensive about holding her wedding at her old school, but since the Potters had died a year earlier, they had no real home. It was also the only place that was truly protected from Voldemort and his followers. The drawback was that all of the guests had to arrive by carriage, but Lily and James had decided that it gave it a romantic air.
A few moments later, Lily and Dumbledore followed Tara out into the grounds. They were surrounded on both sides by her friends and family. At the end of the aisle, James and Sirius were waiting for them.
The wedding ceremony passed in a blur for Lily, but she remembered that it had been beautiful. She was marrying the one man she loved more than anything else in the world.
***
After the wedding ceremony, they had had a lovely celebration party. Tara still didn't seem like she had fully forgiven James, but in the end she gave him a hug and told him to take care of her. She saw many of her old friends from school and work. Petunia and her husband chose not to attend.
She didn't see Severus, but she believed that he had lived up to his word and had come, which was a comfort to her.
When the evening wound down to a close, all of the guests got in the carriages and went off to Hogsmeade where the happy couple would board a train for their Honeymoon. Because they didn't have much time, they had decided to go to stay in Northern Scotland for a week before returning to their work in the order.
The carriages finally reached the train station in the town, and Lily followed James onto the wedding decorated train, waving to her friends. The train jolted to a start, and Lily was reminded of the first time she had met James, on the Hogwarts Express. How her life had changed since then.
She waved to her friends until they were out of sight.
(A/N) Cheesy I know–but deal with it–I'm a busy college student!
And I'm so so sorry this took so long! Thank you reviewers–I love y'all!!!!!!!