A/N: I'm afraid I've exhausted my repertoire of creative alternatives for the boys' (increasingly frequent) swearing so I hope no one minds the occasional four letter word in here. I've updated its rating to 'mature', which feels reflective of the story generally (can you believe the boys are eighteen already?!) Enjoy!

...

Chapter 40 - The Proposal

James didn't think he could ever remember being this happy in his entire life, and his life had been a very happy one, it had to be said!

He truly did have everything. He had his friends, he was head boy and quidditch captain, his parents had recovered from their recent bout of flu and, best of all, he had Lily Evans.

He went to bed dreaming about her and he woke up the next day thinking about her. Her beautiful red hair and green eyes were always on his mind and there was absolutely nothing he'd rather do than sit by the lake with her, her head resting in his lap, and discuss their plans for the future together.

He knew he wanted to marry Lily from, if he was being honest, some time in his fourth year. There was no one in this world he had ever loved quite as much. It was like someone had put an angel on earth just for him.

He smiled as she ran a blade of grass playfully along his arm. They were on one of their dates in the Hogwarts grounds, taking advantage of the March sunshine. They'd popped in to see Hagrid for tea and then taken a little private detour on their walk back to the castle (he really couldn't keep his hands off her!)

Lying here with Lily now, he felt that if he had the choice to freeze time forever right now, he would take it.

"James, these last few months with you have been the best I've ever had." Lily said, smiling up at him. "I think you might be the love of my life."

He bent down and kissed her (again!). "You've always been mine."

She smiled and then she sat up and frowned. "James…"

"Lily." He smiled.

She looked down at her hands. She was playing with her fingers, twisting the ring she wore (not yet the one James hoped she would wear one day), and looked suddenly a little unsure of herself.

James frowned too. "What's up?"

Lily sighed and met his eyes. God she was beautiful. "My sister Petunia has invited us to dinner in London." She told him.

"That's great!" James grinned. "I love London. When are we going?"

Lily smiled. "This is why I love you." She said, kissing him again. "But you don't know my sister…"

James did know of Lily's sister. It sounded as though the older girl had been jealous of Lily for having magic while she was a muggle and had done her best to make her younger sister feel responsible for the distance between them, which to James seemed incredibly unfair and unkind. He couldn't say he particularly wanted to meet her, but if Lily wanted it, he'd go. And he did love London.

"Is it something you want?" He asked her. "We don't have to go, you know." Lily was always being kind and giving people chances. It was one of the reasons he fell in love with her.

Lily looked at him through watery eyes. "I do want to go. I want to give her another chance. I want things to go back to how they were between us, when we were little. We're sisters. We loved each other once. Don't you think we can love each other again?"

James squeezed her shoulders. "Anyone who doesn't love you is mad. I'll do whatever you want Lily, just let me know if I need to buy one of those hideous muggle tuxes. I don't want your sister thinking you're dating some sort of wastrel."

Unfortunately, it seemed that was exactly what Petunia Evans and her fiancée Vernon Dursley thought about James when they met him and Lily for dinner in London.

"He asked me at Christmas." Petunia told her sister, extending her hand where the diamond engagement ring that sparkled there was probably visible from Mars. "Of course he asked Daddy first. He does things properly, my Vernon." She simpered at the beefy, neckless man sitting beside her.

"That's great!" Lily said, smiling at them both. "So, er, you met at work?"

"That's right." Vernon said, leaning back a little in his chair and exposing his large belly. "Petunia is quite the best secretary at Grunnings there ever was. I saw her and I knew I had to have her for my own."

Though it sounded a little possessive to James, Petunia was still beaming at the man. "Vernon's a senior executive." She told them proudly. "They've just offered him a new company car."

"That's right." Vernon said, summoning the waiter over with a click of his fingers. "It's a BMW."

"Big man's wheels?"

It had been a genuine question from James and not entirely a joke about Vernon's weight. But Vernon narrowed his eyes as the waiter hovered questioningly beside him with a menu.

"Go on then, Potter, what is it you drive?"

"A flying broomstick." James said and he thought he saw the waiter's lip twitch.

"Let's order." Lily said, quickly taking the menus and thanking the waiter. "This is so lovely, thank you for inviting us. I'm sorry we didn't see you at Christmas, Tuney, we must have just missed you."

Lily had taken James to her family home in Cokeworth to introduce him to her parents. Though they'd stayed until Christmas Day, it seemed the timings with Petunia didn't work out as she would be arriving in the afternoon, when Lily and James had already agreed to go to James' parents.

"Your mother and father told me you go to… Hogwash." Vernon said to Lily, gesturing vaguely as he made little effort to remember her school's name.

"Hogwarts." Lily corrected him. "That's right. We both do."

"What A-Levels are you taking? I took english, history and physics at Smeltings. I went to Smeltings." He told James, who had assumed as much.

"We don't do A-Levels, we do NEWTs. I'm taking potions, transfiguration, defence against the dark arts and charms."

James wondered why this information wasn't more interesting to Lily's sister or her fiancée. He remembered Peter's sisters when they had visited all those years ago and how excited they'd been to hear about life at Hogwarts but Vernon seemed barely to be listening to Lily.

"A broomstick, did you say?" He said, turning back to James. "How fast can it go?"

"About nought to one hundred in eight seconds." James told him.

"Oh is that all?" Vernon said and James was left to ponder the absurdity that he was getting into a 'competition' about this with a muggle.

"What does your BMW do then?" James said, hoping he'd guessed the make of the man's new car correctly.

"At least twice that." Vernon said, which James of course had no way of verifying.

"Well, that's great. But the broom does have the added advantage of being able to fly."

Vernon looked like he wasn't sure if he was being made fun of or not. "Cars usually get out of my way when I honk my horn at them." He told James. "I'm never late for work."

"One of the reasons I fell in love with him." Petunia said.

James grinned. Oh this man really was fun. "How wonderful for you." He said seriously. "What a smashing achievement."

Vernon looked again like he wasn't sure if he was being made fun of or not.

"Pudding!" Lily said, smiling at the waiter as he passed. "I think I'll get the…"

"What do your parents do?" Vernon barked at James.

"Well right now they're probably sitting in the front room listening to the wireless." James told him, also ordering the chocolate tart from the menu.

"You know what I meant." Vernon snapped. "What do they do for work?"

Lily frowned at Vernon. James supposed it was a rather rude question. Was this man really that obsessed with how much money or status someone had? Well, James could have some fun with that.

"They're wizarding royalty." He told Vernon with a smirk. "The Potters beat the Blacks at the Battle of... Hogwarts in 1066. It's a very important point in history, you must have studied it at Smeltings. Anyway, since my family inherited the crown they haven't needed to work."

"You are making fun of me!" Vernon shouted, getting to his feet and glaring at James in what he wondered if was supposed to be an intimidating way.

Vernon Dursley looked just as much of an idiot standing up as he had done sitting down. More so, as James could see the gravy stain on his white shirt more clearly now. His face was ruddy and his lips (and wiry moustache above them) quivered in righteous indignation.

James smirked up at him. "My dear fellow, what could I possibly find amusing about you?"

Vernon slammed a hand onto the table, causing the cutlery and wine glasses to rattle alarmingly. "Petunia, we're leaving." He said firmly.

"Oh no, please don't go." Lily said. "James wasn't making fun of you."

Of course he had been but he thought it was best not to contradict her.

"I have to listen to quite enough rubbish from the idiots in marketing without getting extra doses on my nights off thank you very much. It was nice to have met you, Lily. If you decide to rethink your choice of partner I hope to see you again some time."

James had to admit feeling a little guilty as Petunia got hurriedly to her feet, throwing her napkin down on the table and fishing in her purse for some coins.

"Leave it, Petunia." Vernon said, taking her arm to lead her from the restaurant. "James here is from wizarding royalty. He can foot the bill." And, with one last glower back, Vernon Dursley and Petunia Evans left.

Lily burst into tears.

"Oh Evans." James said. He really must start calling her Lily more. Especially at times like these. "Lily." He amended, putting a gentle hand on her back. "Please don't cry. It's alright."

"I… I… so wanted it to go well." She sobbed.

Quite a few people in the restaurant were looking over curiously now. James pulled a reassuring sort of face at them and turned back to his girlfriend. "Darling, it's OK." He said gently.

He'd never used that term of endearment with her before. It was something he generally associated more with old people, but he must have heard it so often from his mum and dad it had just slipped out. It was true though. She was his darling. He hated that the dinner had been a disaster for her, though from what Lily had told him, they shouldn't really have expected any better.

But Lily deserved better. She was such a good person and she gave people chances, even when it ought to have been patently obvious they didn't deserve it. She was simply too kind for her own good.

She removed her napkin from her face to look at him. Her mascara had run down her cheeks and her eyes were red and watery but she looked more beautiful to him right now than she ever had before.

"Let's go home." He said.

…

James decided to propose to Lily shortly after that. He discussed it with Sirius who agreed it was an excellent idea. "You've basically loved her since she was the only person brave enough to tell you what a prat you were!"

But Lily Evans was more than just brave. She was kind, loyal, funny and so very beautiful. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

He went to the jewellers in his town with his parents (who both adored Lily too) and chose her an emerald engagement ring.

He wasn't sure how traditional Lily was. It seemed that asking the dad's permission was a big thing for Petunia, so he thought he'd better err on the side of caution and 'ask permission' (Lily really had changed him!) Fortunately the Easter holidays were coming up and James could use going to see Lily in Cokeworth as the perfect prerequisite.

Mr Evans had beamed and clapped him on the back and Mrs Evans had burst into tears and hugged him. "Oh James, we're so delighted for you!" Mrs Evans sobbed. "You've made our Lily the happiest we've ever seen her."

James beamed. He vowed to keep doing so for the rest of his life.

He proposed to her in a little clearing in a forest near her home. It was a gorgeous day with beams of sunlight filtering through the trees and a little stream running nearby. He felt his heart beat hard in his chest as he got down on one knee and looked up at her - the sunshine catching and highlighting her beautiful red hair.

"Lily Evans. I've loved you since the day I met you. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and be my wife?"

Would she say yes? Please say yes…

"Yes!" Lily said, bursting into tears and hugging him tightly.

They stayed together in that clearing for a long time. James felt so happy he was sure he would burst. Life really couldn't get any better than it felt right now. Lily Evans had agreed to marry him. He could dance!

Lily's parents threw a small engagement party for them. Sadly Petunia and Vernon couldn't make it. They were moving to Little Whinging (which James thought was very appropriate) and apparently Vernon couldn't get the time off work.

"Didn't you want to invite Severus round, Lils?" Lily's mother, Rose, asked her as she poured drinks.

"Mum, Sev and I aren't friends anymore."

James knew Lily and Snape had been friends growing up around here. Lily had not told James exactly why (she was still so kind), but she had told him Snape had 'needed her'. James was finally beginning to empathise with Lily for how she had treated him in their first year (and subsequent five..) at Hogwarts. He really had been a bit of a prat.

"Oh no." Rose said, frowning. "I bumped into Eileen at the greengrocers the other day and she didn't say anything!"

"Oh." James thought he saw Lily blush a little. "He probably hasn't told her. Don't say anything. I don't want him to get in trouble."

"Why would he get in trouble for not telling his mum you weren't friends anymore?"

"No, not his mum. His dad. His dad…" but she faltered, glancing quickly at James. "I shouldn't say."

Mrs Evans sighed. "That Tobias Snape. I dread to think how terribly he treats that poor boy."

Snivellus? 'That poor boy'?

"Yes, but don't go on about it now, mum."

"He's always been a mean drunk." Rose continued anyway. "I remember the fights he used to get into at The Nag's Head. He was unkind too, always saying how the pub must have been named after his wife. Then he'd go home and beat her and probably his poor son too." She looked quite upset now.

"It's OK, mum." Lily said, going to hug her mother. "Sev's strong. He's well out of it now."

Well out of it? The sodding bloke had signed up for the death eaters! He'd gone from the cauldron into the fire!

"I hope so. I hope there's some other nice girl to cheer him up out there. I always thought he had a bit of a thing for you, Lils."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly mum. Sev was my best friend. That's all he ever was to me."

James was having a very strange feeling in his chest and stomach and wasn't sure he liked it at all.

"What were you and your mum saying about Sn-everus and his dad the other day?" He asked Lily as they sat together in her parents' garden.

Lily looked a bit guarded. "I'm not telling you. It's not fair that you know his business."

"Is he a bully?"

Lily sighed. "You could say that."

James felt that odd feeling again. What was it?!

"Why did you decide to go out with me?" He asked her. "I thought you hated me for the way I treated Snape. And I never liked him. I still don't." Greasy git...

"Did you really hate him that much?"

Well yes, obviously. Snape was a foul git who wore greying underpants and had greasy hair and a big nose.

And then he felt it again. He could see how childish he'd been.

And Snape had been a child too. He'd been an innocent, frightened child.

Tears burned suddenly in James' eyes. But no, this wasn't right. Lily had asked him a question. Why did he hate Sev so much? Sev? Snivellus.

"Because I suppose I just do." Was all he felt able to say.

…

Lily's parents were killed that night.

There was a sudden loud bang and Lily and James sat up in bed. "What was that?"

Both still in their pyjamas, they tiptoed across the landing (they hadn't been supposed to be in the same room), and crouched down by the bannister.

There was the sound of men's voices. "…why he thinks he needs to come to this muggle dungheap... It'll be easy. One quick kill. The kids will be putty in our hands."

James waited to see what would happen. And, as they began to climb the stairs, he pointed his wand and said "impedimenta!"

The spell succeeded in sending one of the two men falling back down the steps. The sound seemed to have woken up Lily's parents (James was surprised the front door hadn't!) as there was a sudden loud shout from their bedroom.

"Mind out, girly." The other said, passing Lily towards her parents' room.

"Oi!" James said, standing up and glaring at the man. "Who the ruddy hell are you and what are you doing in my girlfriend's house?"

The man grinned. It was an awful, evil grin, showing his hideous yellow teeth. "Don't you mind, son. We've got other plans for you."

"Wait a minute!" James said.

But the man had pushed past him and opened the door to Lily's parents' room.

"Expelliarmus!" Lily shouted at the same time as James yelled "incarcarus!"

But the man had cast a spell too. His had set off a bright green light which lit up Lily's parents' bedroom like the aurora borealis.

Except it wasn't beautiful. It was very, very ugly.

"MUM! DAD!" Lily screamed.

"LILY!" James yelled, running after her as she pushed past the man and fell upon her parents.

"Oh my God." She sobbed. "OH MY GOD!"

Harry and Rose Evans were, quite clearly, dead. Their eyes were blank and staring and their expressions one of shock as they gazed, unseeing, at their beloved daughter.

Hatred and rage burned inside him like fire. James spun around to face the man. Though he was angry enough to punch him, he drew out his wand. "Expelliarmus!" He yelled, just as the man shouted "immobulus!"

"Finite!" Lily shouted, unfreezing James and picking up the man's wand from where it had fallen. "Hold it!" She shouted, pointing the wand at the man.

His friend had joined him now too. He was a tall man with black hair and a slightly pointed face. He looked like he could have been a ministry employee.

"We don't want to hurt you James Potter and Lily Evans." The shorter man said with a wide, ugly grin. "We've got special orders for you."

"Special orders?!" Lily shouted. "Special orders from who?!"

Grief had enraged her. She was like a wild animal, glaring at the men through her tears with mesmerising ferocity.

"Special orders," the man who'd spoken said, coming forwards and smirking at her. "From you know who."

"Oh screw you know who!" Lily shouted. "I'm not scared of that fear-mongering, barbaric, evil excuse for a human being, Voldemort."

"How very dare you."

James swore loudly.

There, standing behind them, having appeared by magic (though no kind James could think of right now) was a man. But was he a man? He was pale. So pale his face looked like a skull and his eyes were red and inhuman somehow.

"Who the fuck are you?!" James said.

The man smiled (if you could call it a smile) and edged closer to them, his eyes still on Lily.

"I believe your lovely fiancée can tell you that."

Lily shook her head. "I won't call you it. I won't call you the stupid name you've come up with for yourself. Why don't you tell everyone who you really are, you coward?!"

James stared at her in amazement. Lily must be terrified. Yes, he could see her hands were shaking. Yet here she was talking back to the darkest, most dangerous wizard of their time without breaking eye contact.

"Such bravery!" Voldemort (for that was surely who this was) said. "It's exactly why I wanted you, Lily Evans. And you, James Potter. Head boy and girl at Hogwarts. Both brilliant, so I hear, and both… what's this I hear, James, organising defence groups in the castle to fight against me?"

How the actual ruddy hell had Voldemort heard about the Mouldy Voldy club?

His heart was beating furiously. This was Voldemort here in the room with them. This man was the darkest wizard of their time - responsible for all the murders and disappearances across the country. This was his chance. His chance to finally take him down. To end this, once and for all. But could he really kill him?

James drew his wand and pointed it at him. "Incarc-"

But Voldemort had already drawn his own wand.

"Protego!" Lily yelled before he could speak.

James' spell collided with Voldemort's who sent another spell which hit Lily's shield charm.

"James, we need to disapparate!" Lily told him frantically as he too cast a shield charm to protect them both.

"I don't want to fight you!" Voldemort shouted. "I want you to join me!"

"We'd never join you!" Lily shouted.

"Never in a million years!"

He felt Lily grip his arm tightly and turn on the spot with him. He felt the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a tight tube and then, before he knew it, they were back in James' parents' front room. Voldemort's face and Lily's parents still racing through his mind like a horror film that had got stuck.

He couldn't stop shaking. Lily was being violently sick on the floor.

"James! Lily!" Euphemia rushed into the room, falling to the ground beside them. "My dears, what's happened?"

James forced himself to sit upright. "Lily's parents." He croaked. "Voldemort." He was shaking very badly.

His dad rushed into the room. "James!" He cried, collapsing to the floor as well. "Are you alright?"

Lily was sobbing. She was shaking like a leaf in the wind and seemed to barely register James' mother, who had a gentle hand on her back was trying to get her to talk.

James told his parents what happened. They made them tea (what else could they do?!) and listened, horrified, to the story.

He excused himself for a moment while his dad sent an owl to Dumbledore. He needed his best friend.

...

A/N: as I'm keeping my story canon compliant, I sadly did need to kill off the Evanses and as James and Lily apparently thrice defied Voldemort in their short lives, I needed to get a move on. I hope it didn't feel too shoehorned in!

Neverenoughmarauders (my own lovely friend who has helped me so much through this!) and I had a good discussion about whether we think James or the others may have felt any remorse for the way they treated Snape in later life. I'd be curious to hear others' opinions, but I'm of the mind that James at least did. From all I've understood of him he was a generally decent person and his treatment of Snape was something it seems he can't even explain to himself. I'd love to know what anyone else thinks!