Tony: high-toned; stylish.
April 11, 1978
"This thing is going to suffocate me. Are you sure it's on right?"
"Yes, James, I'm sure. Now quit pulling at it and walk," Lily instructed, pulling James's hand away from the stiff suit collar buttoned under his chin. "Tuney said it was right up this way…."
Lily led the way up a street crowded with people in evening wear, couples clutching one another's arms as they hurried into softly lit shops and cinemas, children abnormally subdued under their mothers' watchful eyes lest they ruin their good clothes. It was obviously a nice part of town, and she was glad she had had the foresight to get James an ordinary Muggle suit.
"So what's this bloke supposed to be like, anyway?" James asked, taking a few long strides to catch up with her and slipping an arm around her shoulders. "You haven't said much about him."
"I'm not actually sure," Lily admitted, scanning the addresses of the buildings.
"What do you mean you're not sure?" James inquired, raising an eyebrow. "He's marrying your sister. Haven't you even got an idea?"
"Well…." Lily bit her lip. Yes, she had an idea what sort of man her sister might pick out, but she wanted to reserve judgment until after she'd met him. "You know Petunia and I don't talk much. You saw what she was like the other night, and that was with Mum and Dad riding her to be polite."
"Not even Sirius's brother is that cold to him," James agreed, wincing at the memory of dinner the first night he'd arrived.
Lily had persuaded James to come home with her during their last Easter holiday. Petunia was set to be married at the beginning of July, and the last thing Lily wanted was for her family to meet her boyfriend for the first time at Petunia's wedding. Her sister already seemed to think Lily stole her thunder enough.
'Here it is," said Lily suddenly, stopping outside one of the glass-fronted buildings in the middle of the block.
"You've got to be kidding me," James said, looking the restaurant up and down. It was easily the most upscale place in the whole down town. Through the frosted glass windows they could see silver platters being wheeled out to tables spread with gold-embroidered tablecloths. Waiters wore swayed vests edged in silver and the conversations were almost certainly about stocks and golf games and the latest runway styles.
Lily sighed as she spotted her sister's pale hair at the back of the dining room streaming down the back of her salmon cocktail dress. She was already showing off this Dursley fellow's money.
They pushed open the heavy glass doors and made their way to the table Petunia and her fiancé occupied. Vernon Dursley stood up and offered a hand to James as Lily hugged her sister. His beady eyes traveled up and down both of them.
"How do you do?" he said stiffly.
Lily saw James's face split into a grin and felt her heart sink. She knew that look.
"Very good, old chap, very good. How have you faired this fine evening?" he asked, sitting down and making a business of settling his napkin over his lap.
Lily sat down beside him, already feeling the evening slipping out of her grip.
A/N: :D I was rereading a bit on Pottermore (open to everyone, now, so hopefully book two will be coming along soon) and got this idea. Hope you like it! Thanks a million to all who have reviewed or are planning to! :)