Chapter 48

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did I'd live in an apartment that was larger than Harry's cupboard under the stairs.

A/N: Sorry this has taken so long. The holidays have made things crazy. I'm not crazy about how this chapter turned out but I have been trying to work it out for weeks and I hate making you wait any longer. Constructive criticisms would be much appreciated.

Lily had just sat down to breakfast on Wednesday morning when the Owl Post arrived. Newt landed in front of Lily with an envelope that could only be from her parents tied to his leg.

"I love Muggle stationary," Katie said. "It comes in such pretty colors. Parchment gets so boring."

Lily chuckled as she removed her letter. Newt nipped Lily affectionately, took a sip of orange juice from her goblet, and then took off for the Owlery.

Lily opened the envelope and removed the letter from her mother. She stabbed at a sausage absentmindedly as she began to read.

"Um, Lily?" James asked a few moments later.

She was now sitting with the fork held half-way between the plate and her mouth. Her forehead scrunched up as she read her letter.

"Is there something wrong, Love?" James asked when she didn't respond.

"No," Lily replied. "I just, well, I'm not sure what to think to be honest. It's not an unreasonable idea, I suppose, I'm just not sure if it's a good idea either."

"Huh?" James asked.

The rest of their friends were also looking curiously at Lily.

"Second paragraph," she said handing the letter to James.

Now as far as James coming for Easter dinner. I think it's very sweet that he's worried about leaving his parents alone. If they don't have anyone else to have dinner with why don't you just invite them as well. It sounds like their situation is somewhat similar to ours. It would be nice to get to know them better.

"Um, well, it would certain make things interesting," James said. "What about Padfoot?"

"I suppose he would have to come too, wouldn't he," Lily said giving Sirius an appraising look.

"Wait, where do I have to go?" Sirius asked. "Are you even going to tell me what you are talking about?"

"We could always take his wand and put a silencing charm on him," James suggested.

Lily laughed, "Then he'd just have to communicate using gestures and I'm not sure that would be any better. Knowing him it might be worse."

"Would one of you please explain what you are talking about?" Sirius repeated sounding annoyed now.

"Lily's mum wants to invite my mum and dad to Easter dinner," James replied.

"And we were discussing how you would obviously have to come, too," Lily said. "Since you were already planning to spend the holiday with them."

"And so we were discussing whether or not to put a Silencing Charm on you while you were there," James replied cheekily.

"Bugger off," Sirius said.

"Wait, your mum and dad want to invite James's mum and dad to Easter dinner?" Marlene asked.

"Apparently," Lily replied. "What do you think, James?"

"Um, I'm not sure," James replied.

"So are you going to introduce your parents to each other?" Katie asked.

"It is kind of a terrifying thought, isn't it," James said looking at Lily.

"Just a bit," Lily agreed. "Why don't we discuss it later. I don't have to send my mum an answer right this second."

"Sure," James agreed.

At nine o'clock James met up with Lily in the Common Room to begin their evening patrol of the corridors.

"So," Lily said, "Our parents, having dinner, together."

"Yeah," James said. "The idea is a little scary."

"How do you think your parents would feel about having dinner with Muggles?" Lily asked nervously.

James looked at Lily, slightly surprised by her question. He had to admit he wasn't sure about how he felt about formally introducing their parents to each other but it had never occurred to him that his parents being Wizards and hers being Muggles would be an issue. His concerns had more to do with, well, whether he and Lily were ready for their parents to formally meet.

"I hadn't even thought about that to be honest," James said with a shrug. "My parents don't care that your parents are Muggles. If anything my dad would probably be ridiculously excited. He's fascinated by Muggles. I was more wondering if we are ready for our parents to meet."

"And there's that," Lily replied.

"I love you," James said, "And I think my parents will like your parents."

"But introducing our parents to each other falls pretty high on the serious relationship scale," Lily suggested.

"Yeah," James said. "Not that I don't see our relationship as serious," he added quickly.

They both laughed nervously.

"We could just agree," James said after a few moments. "I mean, it was your mum's idea and not ours. So I don't see how they can read too much into it, right?" James asked nervously.

Lily sighed, "This conversation might be easier if we stopped ignoring the elephant in the room."

"The elephant in the room?" James asked.

"It's an expression. The elephant is the thing you're avoiding mentioning even though it's obvious," Lily explained.

"You mean like how couples who introduce their parents to each other usually have long term plans?" James asked.

Lily nodded.

"Well, I'll tell you what. If we agree to this insanity, I promise not to propose at dinner," James said cheekily.

Lily laughed nervously, "Honestly, James."

"Well, someone had to say it," James said staring resolutely at the floor.

"It's not that… I don't… Oh, curse my mother and her craziness," Lily sighed.

"It's alright," James said. "I know exactly what you mean."

He took her hand and squeezed it gently before pulling her close to him and wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

They walked quietly down the corridors for several minutes both lost in their own thoughts.

"So," James said, breaking the silence. "What are we going to do?"

"Oh, let's just agree," Lily said. "You're right, it's not like they'll be expecting you to propose over pudding. We are probably the ones reading too much into it."

"True," James said chuckling. "I was thinking I'd at least wait until we'd finished our N.E.W.T.'s," he added jokingly.

"James," Lily said whacking him playfully in the chest. But James also noticed her flushing slightly.

James kissed Lily's temple gently and she smiled in response. The most terrifying part of this conversation was that she didn't find the idea of James proposing particularly scary. He made her indescribably happy, he was loyal, he treated her well, he was sweet and thoughtful. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Would it freak you out if I told you the scariest part of this whole conversation is that it's not nearly as scary as I think it should be?" Lily asked.

"No," James replied quietly. "Because that would mean it wasn't just me feeling that way."

Lily lifted her head off of his shoulder and looked at him.

"I admit, I haven't really given the idea much thought before now but I feel like it should feel scarier than it does," James continued. "But if I ever decided to, well you know, I wouldn't do it until after we graduated."

James looked at her nervously. What he said was perfectly true. The idea of marrying her had occurred as an occasional passing thought but he had never given it any serious consideration until her mother's letter had arrived. He had figured they would cross that bridge when they came to it.

"So I'll tell my mum yes to asking them then?" Lily replied.

"Yes. Now, does your mum want to write my parents or should I do that?" James asked.

"Her letter made it sound like she wanted us to write them," Lily said.

"Alright, I can do it tomorrow."

"Oh, and in all the craziness I almost forgot," Lily said.

"What?" James asked.

"Mum says that you can come stay with us for a couple of days if you like," Lily said. "She said you could come before Easter if you wanted. She and dad offered to pick us up from the station but I was thinking it would be easier if we just apparated," Lily replied. "Mum tends to forget that I can apparate. I think it freaks my parents out a bit to be honest."

"You apparating freaks your parents out?" James asked.

"Well, I think it's the idea of it really not the actual apparating. I mean, Muggles can't apparate obviously and the ability to disappear from one place and reappear in another is something out of science fiction," Lily said with a chuckle. "So it's just hard for them to wrap their heads around the idea."

"Science fiction?" James asked.

Lily laughed. "You know what science is, right?" Lily asked.

"Yes," James said looking slightly offended. "The study of outer space and gravity and plants and animals and all that."

"Right, so science fiction is made up science. For example, Muggle technology that hasn't been invented yet," Lily said. "Like a machine that would let you disappear from one place and reappear in another would be something you might see in science fiction."

"I get it," James said grinning.

"So do you want to stay at my house?" Lily asked.

James grinned.

"Of course, Love," he replied wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "And we can go see a movie while I'm there?" James asked.

Lily chuckled. "Yes, James we can go see a movie. Actually, there is a science fiction movie out that I want to see. I apologize that it's a sequel but I will try and explain to you what happened in the first movie so you will understand the plot."

"Wicked," James replied with a grin.

Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"I'll write mum tomorrow and let her know to expect you," Lily told him.

"And don't forget to tell her about Sirius," James said.

"Oh, right. I will," Lily said chuckling. "At least we know dinner will be interesting."

Later when James returned to his dormitory he found his friends were all still awake.

"So did you decide what to do about your parents?" Sirius asked as James sat down on his bed.

"Yeah, we decided just to agree," James said with a shrug.

"What made her mother suggest it?" Remus asked as he flipped through the pages of his DADA book.

"Well, they invited me to dinner," James said. "But I feel bad leaving mum and dad all alone. Which I know is stupid but," James said with a shrug. "So I guess when Lily told her mum that she decided it would be nice to invite them, too. Apparently, Lily and her parents don't really have any extended family either."

"I have always been under the impression that introducing your parents to your girlfriend's parents was a serious thing," Sirius said.

"Yeah, we talked about that fact, too," James said kicking off his shoes and lying back on his bed.

He stared at the canopy above his bed avoiding eye contact with Sirius.

"Are you thinking about asking her to marry you?" Remus asked curiously, looking up from his homework.

"Come on, Moony, we haven't even finished school yet," Sirius said with a roll of his eyes.

"Honestly, I hadn't really given it much thought before her mother suggested inviting my parents for dinner," James replied carefully.

He had his friends' full attention now.

"But," Sirius said.

"But, I don't find the idea nearly as terrifying as I feel like I should," James said. "It's more like when you're playing Quidditch and you go into a really steep dive from high up terrifying versus I'm cornered by Death Eaters terrifying. If that even makes sense."

"We're only eighteen, mate," Sirius said. "It's a little early to be making a life time commitment."

"I'm not going to ask her tomorrow," James said sounding slightly exasperated. "Her mum's offer to have my parents over just got me thinking about it. If I decide to ask her, you'll be the first to know."

Saturday night found James and Lily sitting in the Gryffindor Common Room with their friends. Unlike most Saturday nights, however, the atmosphere was subdued. There had been another Death Eater attack, only this one had targeted Muggles with, as far as the Ministry could tell, no connection to the Wizarding world whatsoever.

Lily was curled up on James's lap, her head resting on his shoulder. Lily had wrapped one arm around his waist while the hand of the other was held gently by James's. His other hand was gently rubbing her back.

They had been discussing the article in The Prophet for the better part of an hour but Lily had just been listening. The Death Eater attacks had affected the Muggles before but they had always been collateral damage; in the wrong place at the wrong time. But this had been deliberate and brutal. They hadn't even had any connection to magic. It appeared that they had done it for fun. Lily didn't understand how anyone could be so sick. Those poor innocent people.

Somehow this attack made everything feel more real. It had burst the bubble of safety Lily felt being at Hogwarts. What if the next time they went after Muggles they weren't so indiscriminant? What if they attacked families of Muggle borns? Her parents or her sister? They had no idea what was going on in the Wizarding World. Lily had never told them. At first she hadn't said anything because she was afraid they wouldn't let her go to Hogwarts if they knew what was going on. But as the war had continued and become more serious, more dangerous, she had wanted to protect them. Not so much from the Death Eaters themselves but from the fear and worry. It wasn't until now that she had considered that they could be in any danger.

"Hey."

Lily looked up to see Mary and Abby approaching.

Lily looked at Mary, "How are you doing?"

"Fuckin' shitty," Mary replied looking as worried as Lily felt. "You?"

"I think fuckin' shitty sums it up nicely," Lily replied.

James squeezed Lily's hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

"I will never understand Muggle baiting," Sirius said angrily. "Fucking cowardly thing to do!"

"Muggle baiting?" Mary asked.

Lily lifted her head off of James's shoulder and looked over at Sirius.

"Yeah," Sirius said. "Using magic to screw with Muggles. It's called Muggle baiting."

"This goes beyond Muggle baiting," James said, the anger evident in his voice. "I mean Muggle baiting usually involves bewitching keys to shrink when they look for them or enchanting their tea sets to bite. This was torture for fun."

"I wonder how bad it really is?" Marlene said quietly.

"What do you mean, 'how bad it really is?'" Lily asked.

"Well, this is really the first time something like this has really been reported on in detail but my mum says that the Ministry has been really leaning on The Prophet to keep things quiet. She says they aren't reporting half of what's actually happening," Marlene replied. "So I wonder what else they've been doing to Muggles that hasn't been reported on. I mean, they couldn't very well keep this quiet. It was all over the Muggle news, too."

"A right little ray of sunshine, aren't you, McKinnon," Sirius said sarcastically.

"She's right, you know," James said. "My parents having been saying the same thing. The Ministry is trying to hide just how bad it really is. For political reasons of course," he added in a bitter tone.

Lily laid her head back against James shoulder and he rested his head against hers. He felt so helpless just sitting here. He could feel the tension in Lily's body. He moved the hand that had been rubbing circles on her back and began massaging the muscles in her neck and shoulders instead.

"Speaking of my parents," James whispered in Lily's ear. "I got a letter from my mum today."

Lily looked up at James, "What did she say?"

"That she and Dad would love to have Easter with your family," he said. "She says dad was practically bouncing up and down at the idea of visiting a Muggle house."

"Really?" Lily asked.

James rolled his eyes. "I told you my parents don't care," he said quietly. "They wouldn't care if you were a Muggle. And neither would I," he added pressing a kiss to her temple.

"I love you," Lily whispered kissing his jaw.

"I love you, too," James said smiling.

"Oi, love birds, if you're gonna be all disgusting find yourselves a nice broom cupboard or something," Sirius said.

James glanced at Remus who smacked Sirius in the head.

"Thanks, Moony," James grinned.

"My mum wants to know if they can bring anything," James said turning his attention back to Lily.

"Oh, um, I don't know," Lily said. "I guess I could write my mum and ask."

"I could have my mum owl her directly if that's easier," James suggested.

"Yeah, that might be," Lily said. "Though I'm sure my parents would enjoy something Wizardy."

"Something Wizardy?" James asked with a chuckle.

"Chocolate frogs, Elf-made wine. You know what I mean," Lily said grinning. "My parents are fascinated by magic."

"I'll send my mum a letter tomorrow and have her owl your mum," James said grinning. "Oh, my mum also says that I can stay with you. So we can go and see that movie."

"Excellent," Lily grinned.

James leaned over and placed a kiss on Lily's mouth.

"Oi, seriously, find a broom cupboard," Sirius said again.