"Was there a third body?" asked James kneeling by the bodies.
"No, we searched the house and wreck but there was no other body," replied White. "Where were you anyway? We received your Patronus but when we came here you weren't here."
"I was busy getting help," muttered James, tears falling from his eyes.
"But these injuries on your arms and face?" asked Dorcas.
"Ran into three death eaters, escaped," replied James. "Now's not the time for it. We. . . we have to search her."
"Could they have kidnapped her?" suggested Moody.
"No. we were here, they didn't kidnapped anyone," replied Sirius.
The doe erupted from Lily's wand flew with lightning speed.
"Only if we could track those damn things," said Dorcas through gritted teeth.
"We've to wait, and hope at least she is alright," said Lily sitting beside James and hugging him.
"Oh! she will be very devasted if she finds out," said James and Sirius nodded.
There was a loud crack, and they all pointed their wands at the source of the sound.
"Whoa! Chill. I didn't know these many were waiting for me. What happened, Lily? I recie. . . ." she stopped abruptly as she watched the house. "NO! NO! NO! This can't be."
She moved forward and saw her parents, lying lifeless on the ground. Remus caught her as she wobbled.
"Shh..." he gently helps her sit.
"Why? Why us? First Lily's parents, then James' and now mine. Why?" she sobbed. "I left for an hour and . . .and. I should have been there."
"You would have been killed if you were here," said White.
"Where were you?" asked Remus.
"Mum was cooking, so, I went out to get some dessert, when I met Bertha Jorkins. . .and we began talking, and I was with her till Lily's doe appeared," she sobbed.
"So, Bertha saved a life," sighed Peter. "Her habit of talking non-stop finally did some good."
They all spend the next few days at Sirius' house to support Marls. Lily thought it was only luck that saved Marls or else she too would have been dead. If Lily were to ask three years ago if she believes in luck, she would have laughed and said 'NO', but now after encountering Voldemort and having fought so many battles, she believed in luck strongly, she wasn't dependent on it but she saw it as hope.
"Guys, we've decided to postpone the wedding for now," James said when all seven of them were sitting together. It had been a difficult choice but both James and Lily had talked that it wasn't a good time to have celebrations.
"Are you stupid?" asked Marls bewildered. "Look, I will be honest, I am feeling down but there are people dying daily, we're just lucky enough to survive. If you postpone it now, you'll continue postponing it forever. I think a wedding is what we need at the moment."
"But. . ."
"No, but, Lily. I know why you're postponing it but that's stupid. We need some cheering in dark times. So, please just stick to the schedule. I don't want your sister to change her mind and steal my position as 'maid of honour.'"
"I agree with Marls, James. I may not be able to attend the wedding if you postpone it even by a week," said Remus. "I have to go on a long mission."
"Where?" asked James.
"Dumbledore has asked me to join the group of werewolves before the next full moon, so as to spy, and if possible to look for members who'll be willing to join us," Remus bit his lips and fidgeted.
"That's. . . that's dangerous," said Lily finally after minutes of silence.
"Don't worry about me, they're trying to include people like me with them, so it shouldn't be that hard," Remus gave a weak smile to them. "I will be fine. It is for Order. Dumbledore has said that I can quit anytime."
"Okay, then, you lot will have to help us finalize the wedding," James smiled.
"So, Wormy, how's work at Ministry?" asked Mary.
Peter shrugged, "Boring, I have to sit and write and organize pamphlets, all day with thirty others in a small, suffocating room. The pay isn't that good too."
"You all don't have to worry about money, I for now have enough to support you, I am saying this, especially for you Moony," said James and Remus nodded.
"Did you hear? Voldemort attacked a muggle village with an army of inferi, Benjy was there, he said, around ten muggles were killed and many died," said Sirius.
"Yeah, and there are reports of several sightings of him at once," said Lily.
James shook his head. "He is out of the country for the moment, dunno why, but it can't be good."
"Out of the country, where?" asked Remus.
"Has left for Bulgaria, that's all I know," answered James.
The rest of the day was spent with them talking, happily, forgetting that a war was going on outside of their home.
To be honest, James was very tired of all the workload but still, he wanted to make this wedding a grand one, he was grateful that Lily has requested for a small gathering but he wanted it to be the best day of her life, of his life. The main problem in having a grand wedding was that James has to keep an eye on his budget as who knows how long the war will last and has to make sure that proper security is given to them, that day.
Due to James' fear, who didn't want another Aunt May incident, they had decided to keep the wedding a secret from the outer world. Only their friends and trustworthy Order members were told about it.
James wanted to invite, his three friends Adam, Ryan and Tracie too, but after a lot of discussion with Lily has dropped the idea. Yet, he was able to persuade Lily, to at least let them know that Jack was getting married and that due to security reasons they can't come.
So, here he was sitting with them, drinking in celebration, he was glad that they had understood him.
"I would have wanted to eat a full meal and cake rather than a drink," joked Adam, who was the most upset about missing Jack's wedding.
"Give it a rest, Adam," Tracie rolled her eyes. "He's already risking enough."
"Alright, alright. Tell us who the lucky lady is at least," smiled Adam.
"She's the most wonderful person I have ever met, she lightens my day with just a smile. She is a warrior, is helping us in this shit and when things get shittier, she's there to help me. It's a dream come true. I dreamed it but was never sure that it'd truly come true one day. I just hope everything goes right and I could give her all the happiness that she deserves."
"Oh, Merlin! Our boy has fallen hard for her," Ryan patted his back.
"He sure has," chuckled Tracie.
"Jack, I still want a grand party when it all ends, a big grand party, with loads of firewhisky and also Bouillabaisse, Merlin's shaggy pants, I ate them once and I fell in love with the Bouillabaisse," said Adam dreamily.
"Sure Adam," Jack laughed at the expression on his face. "So, anything that I should know about?"
Ryan leaned closer and started speaking in a quiet voice, "They are now not letting families with power to remain neutral, you either join them or support them or else get killed."
"Also, they have begun attacking Goblins too, an entire family of Goblins was killed near Nottingham," added Tracey. "The Goblins were very angry here at Gringotts."
"Ministry officials had to come and calm them, those bloody rude gits, won't listen to anyone easily," sneered Adam. "If they were a bit cooperative, the entire thing would have become easier for me."
"He's digging his own grave," sighed Jack. "Well, it's good for us."
"But the problem is there are more supporting families than opposing and those who are opposing aren't able to live long or their family members have gone missing," said Ryan. "There was this one of The Smith family, the descendants of Helga Hufflepuff herself, their daughter who worked at Ministry has gone missing when her father opposed to supporting. Now, they are unwillingly forced to fund them or else lose their daughter."
"I know about them. . . . Hapzibah Smith, I know about her, the descendant of Hufflepuff, yes," said Jack.
"At least, we still have Ministry and Dumbledore," said Adam assuringly. "He is the greatest wizard, defeated Grindlewald and even you know who is afraid of him."
Jack nodded sadly. The fact that Dumbledore won't be around for a long time was the most depressing thing for him and he didn't wanted others to know about it as it would cause panic among them.
James entered the cottage happily to find Lily sitting on the couch reading a book, he skipped to her and lay on the couch with his head on her lap, he looked up at her with a huge grin. She looked down with the same expression.
"Just one more day, Lils," he said excitedly.
"Just one more day," she laughed at his excitement and kissed him. "Where were you, anyway?"
"Gone to make sure everything was ready for tomorrow," he said taking away the book from her and making her lay next to him on the small couch. "I can't wait to call you, Mrs Potter," he began kissing her affectionately.
"Neither can I," Lily confessed. "Someone is very excited."
"Of course, I am. But I don't understand that you showed everyone your dress but not me," he pouted.
"Potter, you will get to see it only tomorrow, and also I will be with my girls tonight, away from you,"
"Why? Why?" he asked bewildered.
She sat on him and leaned to kiss him, "Because, James, it's tradition. We can't see each other on our wedding day before the ceremony."
"But we still have the whole day before you go. So. . " a devilish grin appeared on his face.
"So. . " Lily said pretending to think deeply. "So, let's enjoy our last time as fiances, unmarried, carefree couples."She squeaked happily as James changed their positions and removed his shirt before attacking her with kisses all over her body.
In the evening Sirius, Remus, Pete Mary and Marlene arrived at their cottage, the boys were to stay with James, and the girls were to take Lily with them.
After half an hour-long goodbyes which included a lot of kisses, James and Lily were finally separated.
"You guys are completely hopeless, can't even say a quick bye, even when you will be meeting in less than twenty hours," Sirius shook his head.
"You won't understand, Sirius," sighed James.
"Anyway, let's begin the bachelor party of the stag," sniggered Sirius and the other threes laughed.
"So, what's the plan?" asked James. "Look, we aren't leaving the house. Lily made me promise that whatever we do, however destruction we do to the house, we will not leave the house, and I agree, it's not safe."
"Wonder what they'll do to my house," shrugged Sirius.
"Sirius, focus here," Remus rolled his eyes.
"We can't go outside but we can bring someone in, right?" grinned Sirius.
"Who?" asked Peter.
"How about a stripper?" chuckled Sirius.
At the same time a silver light ball landed, a doe appeared and Lily's voice rang, "James Potter if you bring a stripper then beware I will make sure that you are properly feeding to a Hippogriff."
"Jeez! How did she know about it?" asked Sirius bewildered.
"Well. she has Marls with her," chuckled James.
"That's rude," said Sirius.
"Let's get serious, Sirius," snorted Peter. "And began the party."
All in all, it was a pretty normal MARAUDER LEVEL party, all of them drunk, Sirius breaking down in tears that James has grown up so much and Remus rolling his eyes and patting him, Peter was somehow covered in chocolate, flour, salt, butterbeer, and Merlin knows what, James was just enjoying his last night as a bachelor with his best mates and antlers on his head. They enjoyed some jokes about Hogwarts' days which would have been inappropriate with the girls around, they danced, made fun of past memories, Sirus cried, Remus danced like a Hippogriff, Peter did the impressions of the professors, Sirius sang, James drank and enjoyed.
The home ended up as a complete mess, and James knew that it was worst than what Lily would have hoped. So, he decided to ask Pardey to do some cleaning.
Lily smiled as she took another sip of wine, she was rather impressed with this calm last night party from Mary and Marls, they all had just got great food, and talked about James, wedding, Lily wore her dress and so did the others, they all squeaked happily, and then after playing few games, they simply sat and talked.
It was then that the door opened and Lily's heartbeat increased at the sight.
"BELLATRIX!" she shouted, jumped to her feet and took out her wand but just when she was going to hex her, she saw the small girl standing in front of the woman. "Leave the child and I may grant you mercy," Lily warned.
"LILY STOP!" jumped Marls.
"It's Bellatrix, a death eater, how did she get in? We have placed strong protection on the house," Lily said waiting for any movement to attack the new arrival.
"It's Andromeda, Sirius' cousin, calm down, Lily. She's not Bellatrix, she's her sister, Andromeda, remember," said Marls.
"Are you sure?" Lily still didn't dare to lower her wand.
"Mum! she's a fiery head," said the girl and then Lily watched her purple hair turn red.
"What the. . How?" Lily gasped.
"Lily, lower your wand. It's Andromeda and her daughter Nymphadora," said Marls.
"DORA! It's DORA, I like Dora," protested the girl.
"Sorry," said Lily lowering her wand. "It's just I am always ready for such things."
"It's okay, dear. Lots of people get mistaken and it's good that you're on alert, it's need of the time," smiled Andromeda. "I remember once in Leaky Cauldron, I got all my stuff for free because the shopkeepers thought I was my evil sister Bellatrix."
"So, you too aren't on good terms with your sister," sighed Lily.
"No. Do you have a sister too?"
"Yeah, she's a muggle, not evil just a bit odd, jealous, hate-love, kind of sibling. She refused to come to my wedding."
"Sisters can be odd, dear. Don't let it upset you. I am here to help you with tomorrow."
Finally, it was the day of the wedding, Lily arrived at the location with Mary, Marls, Andromeda and Dora. It was a lovely place and seeing that all the effort she and James had put into it in the short interval of time was totally worth it.
The stage was decorated with a variety of flowers, chairs were all put up properly, and the few servants who were hired were giving the place some final touches. Luckily, the weather was excellent, not too much sun but not too cloudy. It was just perfect, Lily had prayed for it not to rain and nature has heard her. It was like nature itself wanted to make it a perfect wedding.
The Order members were all already there, making sure the security was tight. No one knew when and where they were going to get married except for close friends, Moody and Dumbledore until today in this morning, the plan was to make sure they had all their free time today which Dumbledore and Moody happily helped with. And the fact that Dumbledore will be here himself was the best security one can ask for.
Lily sat in her room, eating breakfast and wondered what James must be doing, was he here yet? What if he got in some trouble last night, got too drunk and forget or he might have got cold feet?
"Is James here?" she asked to Marls, who jumped an inch in her seat.
"Merlin! Lily, you don't have to speak so loudly. Yes, your dear fiance is here, was looking over the last arrangements and trying to sneak up on you," chuckled Marls.
"Wanted to make sure you're still ready to marry him. Are you?" smirked Mary.
"Of course I am," said Lily. "Just feeling nervous."
"It happens dear. I drank a bottle of mead an hour before my wedding," chuckled Andromeda.
"Yeah, Lily. I was nervous too," said Alice and Lily relaxed
"What if James is getting nervous too?" she got panicky again.
"The boys are with him and also Ted and Frank are there," assured Andromeda.
Lily was relaxed a bit but was feeling like she'd throw up any moment, though at the same time, she was happy and excited too. She at the moment just wanted to run to James and go into his arms, he is best at calming her in these scenarios.
When only two hours were left and she began to get ready, she began missing her mother, father, and Petunia. She has always thought that on this special day of her life, they'd be by her side but fate has different plans, and she has no relative by blood by her side.
She wondered whether James was missing his parents, uncle and especially his Aunt too. It must be a bit hard for him, he has told her that he has avoided and escaped all the weddings after that wedding which never happened, it was the day he lost his second mother. Lily wanted to make sure his boy was okay, she wanted to hug him, to calm him and to calm her.
"Lily, you are all ready," said Mary. "Just your smile is missing."
Lily tried to smile but couldn't, she wanted her family to be here, she wanted to be with James now. She pasted a fake smile on her face.
Just then there was a knock on the door.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" asked Marls, opening the door only a little. "Shouldn't you be with James?"
"Oh, My God! Did he get cold feet? Has he ran away? What happened Sirius? Is he okay?" asked Lily panicking.
"He's a Gryffindor, he will never run away," said Sirius from behind the door. "Let me in, I have a message from him for Lily."
"NO"
"Marls, let him in," ordered Lily. "What is it, Sirius? If he doesn't wants to marry, I understand, he has a bad past."
"No, he can't wait to see you in this dress," winked Sirius. "He gave me this to give it to you." He passed her an envelope.
Lily opened it and saw that it had a picture in it, of her family and his family together, all waving happily. There was a note attached to it:
They are all with us in our hearts and are watching us happily, so be happy.
I LOVE YOU, SO SO MUCH.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU, MRS POTTER
"Aww," Lily's heart melt. "Sirius give him a kiss from me, please."
"Are you going to kiss me?" he smirked to which Lily hit him with a stinging hex. "OW! Okay. But Eww, I will ask Remus to do it. Bye."
Lily looked down at the photo again and smiled, she has made the best decision to marry James. She kept the photo close to her.
James waved at the Order members and his professors, they were all he had for a family now. He saw the old lady with tears in her eyes smiling at him, James walked up to her and hugged her.
"I am so glad you came," he said to her.
"Wouldn't have missed it, you are just like my child," said the lady.
"You know, Minnie, I never said it but today I will, you were my mother at Hogwarts," he said.
"Thanks, dear," she wiped her tears and smiled at him. "You have grown so much. Euphemia will be proud of you."
He stood up at the front with Sirius, and his other two friends hoping that everything went right today. Then the music swelled from the snitch-shaped balloons, and everyone went silent. James' heart swelled with lots of love and admiration at the sight before him. The sight he has dreamed of a thousand times.
A great collective sigh issued from the assembled people as Dumbledore lead Lily up the aisle, Lily gliding, Dumbledore beaming and winking happily.
Felix was in lead, walking proudly, she was dressed a little too in a white dress. Mary and Marls in their golden dresses were looking prettier.
Lily was breathtaking, her white dress was emitting a strong, silvery glow, her green eyes brighter than ever, and her red hair just perfect. She was an angel that was walking towards him, for him, to be with him, to be his and to take him as hers.
Their eyes locked and the love exchanged, they both grinned brightly at each other.
"Here's your lady, James," winked Dumbledore as James reached out to take Lily's hands. "I am so happy that you gave this old man the chance to escort you, Lily."
Lily smiled at the old man. "You're like a father. . . "
"No, grandfather," James interjected winking at Minnie.
"You're like a father, a guardian to us, Professor. It was my honour to have you here," said Lily.
"I thought you were going to ask Slughorn for escorting you," whispered James.
"I was but have you looked at him? He's already drunk," she whispered jerking her head at the said professor, who was talking animatedly with Hagrid.
Both of them giggled at the sight.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said a tufty-haired wizard in a singsong voice. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls. . . ."
But Lily and James were too busy giggling and looking at each other with watery eyes that they didn't pay much attention to the minister. Lily thought it was the nerves and seeing each other after what seemed to be a long long time that they both were doing this. Nah, she decided, they both are just too happy with each other that they can't hide it.
"Do you wanna say your own vows?" the minister whispered asked.
"Yes, I want," Lily whispered before speaking loud and clear. "James, when you proposed to me you gave a long heart-touching speech but I never got a chance to say anything but today I wanted to. James Potter, we didn't start off on good terms, we were rivals before becoming partners and friends. I don't need to tell you how many times I have hexed you and how many times we've duelled as the professors here know it clearly."
" Very clearly, dear," said Minerva.
"We became partners in a competition and I got to see the real side of you, it didn't take us long to become friends and then best best friends, sorry Sirius but we're best best friends. To be honest I never thought we'd end up marrying so early or even marrying when we became civil friends to each other but yet here we are and I am very very happy and glad that we did. The moment when I realized that you were the one was a dark day, I was not sure whether my parents have survived that attack or not, their reply wasn't coming and I was thinking the worst. But that night you stayed with me all night, you talked to me, made me understand what life is, you promised to be with me Until the very end, you gave me hope, and that was when I knew I will marry you one day for sure. We've seen up and downs in life, we lost friends and families, and we had good times and bad times but we stick together with each other as each other's moral support. I don't think I would have made it this far without you. James, you mean everything to me. I have came to final conclusion on many decisions in my life by just looking at you, somehow I knew that you are right. I never told anyone but on our first day at Hogwarts before coming to the school, I only knew of one house but then I listened to you talking about Gryffindor, and I realised this is what I want to be, I want to be a loyal, courageous and a brave girl, in fact, that who I was and who I am.
Words will fall short to describe how much I love you. Your one single gesture today just before the ceremony made me assure that this is the best decision of my life. James Potter, I love you with my whole heart and I want to be and I will be with you UNTIL THE VERY END."
"Do you want to speak anything minister?" whispered the minister
James was crying and so was she, he opened his mouth but nothing came out, he opened it again. "Lily, I am the luckiest man alive, I think myself to be lucky to have such a wonderful angel choose me. Lily, in all these dark cold times you are my warmth and light. I love you and I will be with you UNTIL THE VERY END."
They exchanged rings with teary eyes while giggling from time to time.
"Do you, James Potter, take Lily Evans to be your wedded wife?"
"I do."
"Do you, Lily Evans, take James Potter to be your husband?"
"I do."
"Go now in peace and live in love. United by the most powerful bound in the world, love. I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kis. . . " but before the minister could finish his sentence, James has already leaned and Lily has already raised on her tiptoes and they kissed.
The clappings and cheers from the small crowd and the sobbing of Sirius, Mary and Marls, all went unnoticed by the newlywed couple as they only knew each other and the world dissolved.
"James, we're married now," Lily said happily looking at him.
"Yes, Mrs Potter, we're married," he grinned.
"I love you," she flung her arms around his neck and he lifted her in the air.
"I love you too."
The reception went well, with the Marauders and the Prewett brothers putting up a magic, dance-comedy show.
"Lily, I want to dedicate a song to you," James said to her at last. "I think this is the perfect moment for the perfect song for the perfect person that you are and the perfect couple that we are. Wanna dance on it with me?" Lily nodded.
Everyone went silent as James took hold of her hand.
"I found a love, for me
Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me"
James has put his hands around her waist and she has put her hands around his neck, both of them looking at each other and nothing else.
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow
Your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine"
Lily buried her face in his chest and closed her eyes as he too buried his face in her shoulder and closed his eyes. Both of them held each other tightly.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it
Darling, you look perfect tonight
Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home
I found a lover, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our ownWe are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this
Darling, you look perfect tonight
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight."
"James, you and only you deserve to be with a wonderful, brilliant, brave, clever, powerful witch like me," she grinned through tears.
"Arrogant," James snorted as tears fell from his eyes too.
They both laughed and kissed.
James held her tightly in his arms and planted a kiss on top of her head. He thanked every god for this moment.
The rest of the evening was spent in eating, talking, dancing, singing and enjoying.
"Lucky that we've got a strict security and protection here," said Moody to the couple. "Very hard to get security these days."
"It's all thanks to you, Alastor," smiled Lily.
"How's it going at the ministry? Is the minister still hiding in her office?" asked James.
"Sadly, yes, she received a death threat a few weeks ago and then last week there was an attempted attack, of course, we caught them but it was very close," answered Moody. "The Giants' attack has increased, destroyed an entire village near Helmsley."
"Blimey!" James shook his head.
"We are attacking them now, tracking them and killing as many as possible,"
"How?" asked Lily.
"Killing curse, of course. Got full freedom from the minister herself. now we're trying to push them back into the mountains into hiding."
The things that Moody continued to tell for about twenty minutes were all disgusting, they were rescued by the Longbottoms who dragged them for photos.
And then Lily found herself standing with James, arm in arm in their house, both were super tired but super happy too.
"Wow! The house looks even cleaner than what I left with," commented Lily.
"Asked Pardey to do it as it was very messy in the morning. Merlin, I miss him a lot and his cooking," said James.
"Hey! I am a good cook," Lily protested.
James snorted, "No offence, Lils, but we both know how true that is."
"Great way to talk to your wife on the first night," Lily shook her head.
"So, we've tonight and a whole free day tomorrow, wanna go to France now or in the morning?"
Lily turned to look at him, they had planned to spend a day away in France but now after she has heard Moody, she was feeling upset.
"James, I am not feeling that well after Moody's talk, I am afraid. We'll be back into the war just after tomorrow and it gets hard to spend time peacefully alone with you. So, I want to spend each second with you in our warm comfy house rather than a fashionable hotel," she said looking up at him, her sadness and fear visible. "I...I know we chose it ourselves but now I just want to be with you and not give a shit about other things. After tomorrow we'll be back with either order work or going on creating traps as Thanatos, and it's all scary. I am afraid James. Can we please stay together, holding each other in our house?"
James gave her a sad smile, "I understand, it has been hell out there. I too want rest and I think we've the best opportunity. Let's just stay together."
"I hope our room is just as clean as the rest of the house," she said holding him while she removed her heels. "Finally free with these devils. Let's go." James swiped her off the floor, picking her in bridal style. Lily shrieked in surprise.
"It's tradition," James smirked at her.
In the morning, James was woken by a crashing noise that came from downstairs, he looked at Lily, still asleep, his first thought was that it was Felix but he saw her asleep on the chair in the room. He grabbed his wand from the side of the table gently making sure not to wake Lily, who was holding him, he focused hard to hear for more.
"It's afternoon, don't worry they must be gone," it was Sirius' voice, James relaxed.
"Why have you dragged me here?" it was Remus.
"We can;t talk about it in front of Marlene or Mary or Peter. I want to talk about your mission. You hate Fenrir but still, you're going to join him."
"Yes, it's for Order, Sirius. We're not arguing about it again. James has no problem with it."
"He's stupid at these things, he trusts people blindly,"
"So, you don't trust me?"
"We are here talking, aren't we? You're hiding something. Are you thinking of killing Greyback?"
"Don't be stupid, Padfoot. I am a spy, I have to. . ."
"Will you kill him if given the chance?"
There was silence for a moment, James lifted his head to hear every sound.
"I... I might kill him."
"That's what I wanted to hear."
"Don't tell James, he is strictly against the idea of killing anyone. He was angry that you killed that death eater but didn't say anything."
"He likes to think that this is some saintly world, this is WAR and you kill in a war or die. Look, Remus, they will pursue and lure you to join them."
"I know, stop it, Sirius. Everyone has given me a talk, I am tired of it, you, Moody, Dumbledore, Lily, and James, he bloody was talking about it yesterday for an hour. I don't like it that he has to support me, at least there it will cost very less."
There was silence again.
"When do you have to leave?"
"Tonight, thus I will be with them two days before the full moon."
"Okay. Listen, I have got some information about the address of a death eater, Carter, he escaped after killing a family of muggleborns in Swindon."
"How did you get this info? Order?"
"No, actually through James, he got it from his source. I asked him to go and capture him but he denied saying it wasn't worth the risk and that he'll leave it for Aurors to do so but there's a lot of politics there. Carter has a stronghold at Ministry, he'll get away."
"What's your point?"
"Let's go and get him."
"We can't do that. James won't approve of it."
"Carter is a murderer, he deserves this. James doesn't have to know about it."
"It was through his source that we get this info."
"Are you with me or not Remus, or do you want to let him kill another family? Marlene will never approve of it, and Peter isn't good at this. They both follow James strictly and would never do anything that he disagrees with. We've to do it. We can prevent him from hurting others. This is war, Remus."
"Okay, but this better remains between us and also about Fenrir."
And then they were gone.
A pain rose in James' chest. it wasn't betrayal but it felt like one. He has trusted Sirius with this and was more relaxed around him as a result the address has slipped from him.
James didn't want to go after Carter because only he knows about his misdeeds and James wanted to catch Carter red-handed, and not go raiding into his house, the main reason, so as not to raise suspicions and endanger his sources.
If the death eaters even get a hint of a spy they might not spare even the labourers, and James wanted the labourers to remain behind, he didn't want them to get hurt, he was thinking of the big picture here.
Sirius has betrayed and so has Remus.
They might see it as good but it was too dangerous.
They would understand how hard it was for James to kill if they knew that James has been watching Voldemort kill someone at least twice a week in his sleep, many times the kills were repetitive but that didn't stop them from being horrible.
James has held back a lot, he has because he wanted to do everything opposite to what Tom Riddle did. If James has never seen these memories, he was sure he'd do things a lot differently but now he was doing things after thinking twice, doing the opposite of what Tom did. Tom was using terror as his weapon to get followers and James was using friendship to get friends to defeat him.
James looked at Lily, she has been worried about the war, she has confessed she was afraid and so was he. She has clutched him tightly all night as though afraid she might lose him. Moody was really a tactless person.
James held Lily tightly, gently rubbing her back and planting kisses on her forehead. He just hoped that the war gets over soon. He decided to get ready and cook for her in order to cheer her up.
Lily woke up to find James was not by her side, she looked up at the clock, it was twelve in the afternoon, she yawned and stretched her hands, she was quite disappointed with James, they had decided to stay together but he was not here.
She went down and heard music coming from the kitchen, he was cooking, she walked up to him and hugged him from behind. "You said you wouldn't leave."
"Well, someone had to cook or else a certain person will get all angry," said James.
"What are you making?"
"Pancakes." Lily continued holding him tightly with her face buried in his back the whole time he cooked. "Lils, are you okay."
"Yeah, I am just stupid and hungry too."
"You can tell me, you know, right?" he said turning to her and cupping her face, her eyes filled with tears.
"I. . . Well on my last mission when I was trailing a pair of Death Eaters with Dorcas and Kingsley, I saw them torture a half-blood family. . . there was this three-year-old girl, and . . . and they tortured her too. Kingsley didn't let me help them as we have the orders to reach to their base. . so. . I was just forced to watch the family being tortured and yesterday. . .the family that Moody was talking about was theirs. . .the girl that died at St. Mungo's was that girl, I didn't knew she died. James, I could have saved her but. . .but"
"Oh, Lily," James felt her knees giving away, so he caught her as she sobbed. "You were ordered not to do that. It wasn't your fault."
"James, I could have saved her," she sobbed. "She was just so cute and innocent but they still didn't leave her."
After ten minutes they sat in their bed and ate pancakes, trying to forget about the war but failing.
"We'd be going to Hogwarts tomorrow if we were still welcome," Lily said.
"Yeah, it feels odd to not go there," James sighed.
"Instead of boarding the train, we'd be looking over the security tomorrow,"
"Actually, we aren't."
"What do you mean? We have been tasked to do so."
"I know, but I talked to Dumbledore in the morning and Sturgis and Dearborn agreed to cover up for us. We both are on two weeks' vacation."
"Why did you do that? We had decided to not have a honeymoon so that we can continue to serve the Order," Lily asked completely confused and shocked.
"First, because you deserve a rest, we have been involved every day and night in war, either for Order or our own night ones. Second, I want to go to Albania and I am not leaving you behind, not when you are in so much danger. Third, I think we need to focus on killing Voldemort now and not just capturing his followers."
"How are we going to kill him? He's very strong and did you forget about the Horcruxes?"
"I know, he's very strong but we can at least make him vulnerable. Dumbledore has got three of them, the fourth is in Gringotts, which we will try to steal in the last only. The fifth is the diadem of Ravenclaw, I don't know where it is, but there's a chance that it might be in Albania. The sixth according to me he has not made it yet but we've to be completely sure that he either makes one or he has not made it. As for killing him, we can hope that before Dumbledore takes his last breath this year, he has killed Voldemort by then."
"Should we take anyone else with us? Sirius or Marls?"
James' expression saddened, "Threes a crowd and I am disappointed in Sirius and Remus too."
"Why?" James explained her to what he has heard in the morning. "Oh," was all Lily about to say, James was deeply hurt by it.
"I trusted him with it and he has gone to attack or probably kill them, which is the last thing I want now. No attention. He thinks I am weak and stupid to not want to kill them unless it's my last option. I don't want to stoop so low, after seeing all those people being killed by Riddle. It hurts that he'll use my information to go after them," James buried his face in his hands.
"It's not his fault, James. He doesn't know how you feel about killing, he is just acting as a war soldier," Lily consoled him.
"Yeah, you're right," he smiled at her. "We'll change our appearance for safety and also we will try to get the minority groups to support us."
"I will be with you," she kissed him. "Until the very end. Let's go and enjoy, away from United Kingdoms."