Chapter 16 ('Death Comes Too Often At My House')

It was an antique ring, the small red stone gleaming in the dark night.

Lily didn't say anything for a few minutes.

"Come on, Lil." He said, "Say something!"

"Yes." She said, "Of course! Yes!"

James Potter's heart fluttered with happiness as he kissed the girl of his dreams.

Lily joined the Marauders and Rainie at the Potter Manor soon. But, she had decided not to become a member of the Order until after their wedding. James already told her it meant no contact with family, especially the muggle families who had no idea what was going on in their world.

They decided on a small wedding ceremony in the Potter Manor with just close friends and friends after a few weeks after their engagement. James Potter asked for a special permission of absence for Rainie so she could attend the wedding. She was coming in by a muggle train where McGonagall herself took her to the station and Sirius was going to pick her up. But, she never got there. James waited by the door for Sirius and James to come but they didn't. He waited till he got a message from Padfoot that Rainie never arrived at the station.

"I gotta go." He told Remus.

"James, the guests are coming…." He started, "And, what about Lily?"

"Lily will understand." He took his coat. "Rainie is missing, Remus….I can't exactly sit here and drink champagne."

He nodded as he watched James Potter disappear through the door. He stayed to take care of James's guests would be arriving any moment now,

"Did you look at this?" A guest showed a Daily Prophet to Remus. "A girl was found by the river, just a couple of hours ago. Black hair, blue eyes, but rather unrecognizable."

A chill ran down his spine, James and Sirius had left to look for Sirius's cousin, Addriana who was supposed to attend James's wedding with a special permission from Professor McGonagall.

She hadn't arrived and both the boys were freaking out. No one loved Adrianne like her little family of her cousin Sirius and his best friend James, whose home had a place for both the Blacks.

"A name?" Remus asked, his voice shaking.

"No," He said, "It just says no one reported a girl missing, but many people are going missing everyday now."

"Yeah…."

Remus stood there helplessly. He had to stay here because James wanted him to protect the guests.

Sirius came back with his cousin, Adrianna after a few minutes.

"Where were you, Rainie?" Lily almost ran towards her, "Oh my God, are you okay?"

"She's fine." Sirius said, exasperatedly, "She was out looking for a wedding present from James….and lost track of time."

Lily sighed in relief. She sent a patronus to James and a message to come back.

"Oh, God! There you are!" James saw Rainie standing next to the woman he was supposed to marry and he didn't even notice Lily in the perfect wedding dress.

He hugged her.

"You scared me, Rainie." He whispered, "I can't lose you. I can't lose anymore people."

"Come on," Remus came up to them, "Let's get you married, Prongs."

James smiled. The small party of no more than twenty-five people went out in the yard for a modest wedding for James Potter, the ex-Quidditch player for Holy Harpies.

The ceremony was short and sweet, performed by Remus Lupin, a newly ordained minister. It started to rain so they all headed back inside for an exquisite dinner when a Patronus came dancing inside the room. James recognized it as one of the Order members.

"James Potter, report to St. Mungo's immediately."

Everyone looked at James.

"The girl has woken up and asks for James Potter."

Lily raised her eyebrows. Who was this girl who was unrecognizable and was calling for James?

"Do you think you know who it is?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, I think I do." James said, blankly.

"Who?" Sirius, Remus and Lily shouted together.

"It's Caroline." James headed towards the door,

"James!" Lily shouted, running after him.

"Don't stop me, Lily. Don't ask me to stop." He turned back, "Because, I am not going to."

"Do you love her?" She asked. Knowing the answer.

"No." A hurt look appeared on James's face. "And, how can I?"

"Then……" She wanted to know why he would want to see the girl who had murdered his parents.

"I am not heartless, Lil. And, if I don't go when she is hurt so much." He looked straight at her, "Then, doesn't it make me exactly like her?"

She nodded, "I am coming with you."

"Okay."

He took her hand and they both disapparated. James appeared in front of St. Mungo and a nurse directed him and Lily to a room.

"Caroline?" James was frozen.

Her face was distorted. Her whole body was graying and covered with cuts and bruises. It was evident to everyone that Caroline Trent wouldn't make it to the morning.

"James?" She opened her eyes, her voice was low but clear. "You came?"

"Of course!" He came near her, "What happened to you, Care?"

'Care'….That stung Lily. Even though it was her who he had married. It just stung so bad.

Voldemort" happened." She told James.

Lily flinched.

"I finally got the guts to defy him." She told him, "I said I wouldn't bite kids."

Something she said she would do to save herself.

"I never meant it, James." She whispered, "I mean what kind of sick person does that?"

"That's what I thought." James laughed.

He laughed. Lily hadn't heard him laugh in a long long time.

"I am dying, James." She said, "And, I have to tell you."

"You are not dying." James said, firmly.

"I am dying, not delusional. James." She said, "There is no cure for Nagini's poison and I will be dead soon."

James didn't know what to say.

"I didn't do any of it, James." She grabbed his hand, "You have to believe me! I never wanted to join in the first place…..but, but…."

"But what?"

"It was Snape." Her voice got lowered, "He said if I didn't join you would leave me…..and then, I thought he was my friend. He told me you had planned to join Voldemort too."

James looked shocked, so did Lily.

"And, no matter how much I did to dig myself out of it." She had tears welling up in her eyes. "I ended up getting in deeper."

"And, my parents?" He asked.

"Snape, it was all Snape." She sobbed loudly, "I was just there. He was glad to do it. He told me to wait outside. I didn't know……I didn't know…."

He took her hand into his.

"I didn't do any of it, James." She whispered, "It wasn't me…..I wanted you to know that. I can't die knowing that the love of my life hated me."