Life, War and Love

by Lorelei Candice Black

Part1: marauder time. Added Character: Rose, Lily's best friend, neighbor of James. Old curses, Voldemort, Love... Rose's father(pureblood supremacist) tricked her into accepting an old marriage contract, if she doesn't find a 1stborn pureblood to marry her, her father will chose for her. Dumbledore is her godfather. Sirius, Marauders, James/Lily, Severus (eventual half redemption)

Life, War and Love

Part 1: Marriage or death

Harry Potter, During the time of the Marauders.

Rose (made up character) and Sirius

I am labelling it complete because it could be considered over, but there will be a second and third part that will be posted in chapters 2 and 3 later if people love this sotry enough.

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Rose Prewett considered herself a rather normal 6th year Gryffindor student at Hogwarts, and she loved being in this school.

She loved her friends, her studies, her godfather, her grandmother... The only thing she really hated, was everything else about her. She hated being an only child, her father's only heir and only chance at furthering his precious bloodline. She hated being a pureblood and she absolutely loathed the fact that her father was a supremacist for Pure Blood who only wanted her to marry a pure blooded wizard.

He would have been happier if she had been sorted into Slytherin, she knew it. He had been disappointed when she had written to him with he news that she was a Gryffindor. While her grandmother had answered the next day, her father had waited 5 weeks before he wrote back to her and he hadn't mentioned her sorting in his letter. They never discussed it at home either.

Anytime she brought up something close to it, he changed the subject.

Not only that, but her father had decided to take matters into his own hands to ensure what he believed was best for HIS Bloodline and, she didn't know how, but she was now under a magical contract. Well, that was a lie, she did know how he did it. Her mother's sister, who died when she was 15 due to a grave illness, was under such a contract and by making Rose sign some paperwork so that she could claim her dead mother's inheritance (mother who had died a while back, while delivering a still born baby boy, leaving Rose all alone with her -at times- mad father), so that it could pass over to her, he somehow managed to include her dead aunt's contract. So, while she believed to be getting a house near the beach, some jewelry, interests in a store in Diagon Alley and a lot of gold, she was also getting her dead aunt's obligations and contract signed over to her.

She had to get married to a pure blood first born wizard from a respectable family before she graduated and if she couldn't chose someone suitable and be engaged to him by this Christmas, a couple of months before her birthday really, then he'd chose for her and she knew that he'd marry her to someone she'd rather die than end up with.

She could easily guess that her father would love to marry her to someone like Crabb or Goyle, two idiot and gorilla looking Slytherins students that her father thought would be perfect to further along his bloodline. He'd find the worst of the worst, just to punish her for existing and trying to resist his wishes. He might even go so far as to marry her to a much older man, one of his friends. He was capable of this, she knew it.

At first, he wanted to force her to get married at the end of her 6th year, but she was lucky enough that her grandmother and her famous godfather, Albus Dumbledore, had managed to get her a little more time. She had to be engaged before she turned 17, but she had until Graduation to actually get married.

Of course she had tried to get out of this contract, she knew that Albus tried as well, but nothing could be done and she was determined to kill herself before any wedding to someone she hated, though she hadn't told that fact to anyone. She had only written it in her diary, like she wrote everything else in it.

So, knowing that her time left on Earth was limited, she had decided to live her life to the fullest from now on. She wouldn't hold back from anything she wanted, she'd have fun and simply live her life fully. She had made a list of things to do, fun things, sometimes barely legal things.

A bucket list.

Like the other day when she slid down the stairs to the Astronomy tower while standing on a large book. That was fun, and exhilarating, and something she had never done before. She had also taken a few walks inside the Forbidden Forest, and met with Hagrid's Spider friend Aragog, not something she'd do again, but she had done it at least. She had spent a little moment talking with him, telling him that she just wanted to know more about his species and since she was with Hagrid, they didn't harm her.

Though she had to admit that introducing Aragog's human hungry descendance to her father was tempting at times and she did joke about that with them. It only made them appreciate her more. Somehow, she knew that if she got lost in their part of the woods, they would not harm her.

While in the Enchanted Forest, she had crossed another item on her list: hug a unicorn. Not only had she hug the unicorn, but she got to ride it for a while, and she had loved it.

She had also written on her list that she wanted to go skinny dipping in the lake, and she was planning on doing it during the next full moon. Skinny dipping was on her list, and swimming under the moon light as well. So swimming naked under the light of the full moon was a great combo of both.

There was an item on her list though, that would require all of her bravery: Kissing Sirius Black, on the lips.

She had always had a crush on him, though she stopped herself from feeling too much for the boy who could be considered a serial monogamist. He went through girlfriends like some of his classmates went through underwear. But she did want to kiss him, or maybe even make out with him, before she died, so she put it on the list. She figured that she'd keep this item for last. Maybe kiss him right before she took the poison she wanted.

Another item on her list was to see Lily Evans and James Potter happy together, because Rose was sure that they were meant to be. She just had to work hard in the next few months to make sure it happened.

Her best friend Lily Evans was the only one who knew the truth about the contract her father had forced on her and the muggleborn was determined to find a way out of it for her best friend. She refused to believe that it was unsolvable, there had to be some sort of solution to be found.

That's why Lily was presently at the library, studying magical law with a series of books the Headmaster had suggested to her, though he had informed Lily that he had personally found nothing helpful in them, but had admitted that having a new set of eyes could always help. Maybe, being a muggle born witch, she'd think of something he hadn't though of. She was sure that she'd find a way out of it or even a loophole.

Of course Lily and Rose knew that Rose's father would have no problem feeding his daughter a love potion or cursing her to obey his every words, so Rose had decided that she'd kill herself at the so called engagement ceremony, before her father could influence her and force her to live a life where's she'd only be a prisoner and a forced pure blood baby maker.

Rose got along with a few members of her family though, but not many of them.

Her cousin Molly and her twin brothers, Gideon and Fabian, were the only family outside of her grandmother that she kept in touch with, that she got along with. Molly had recently married Arthur Weasley, a muggle loving pure blood, and Rose was happy for her cousin. Molly was lucky enough to have normal parents who only wanted her happiness. She'd live a happy life, with a family that loved her, and that truly was the most important.

"Hey Lily, giving up on the books?" Rose asked her best friend who walked back in the commun room empty handed.

"Not yet, but I'm taking a break, these law books are giving me a headache and it's only a confirmation that I will not be working in Law after graduation. I was thinking, the only reason your father is doing this is to ensure he has viable heirs, because he can't have any more of them, right?" Lily asked.

"Yes, ever since he got sick all those years ago, he can't have any more children. We think this might even be why my mother died giving birth to my brother and why my brother died." Rose nodded.

"Are we sure it can't be reversed? I've got a feeling that trying to find a magical miracle cure for his sterility would be easier than breaking this contract." Lily suggested.

"A lot of more qualified people have worked on this for a very long time. Nothing has been found yet. Not even Phoenix tears can heal him." Rose shook her head.

"And can't you find someone else to marry? Someone who fits your father's conditions and is nice enough to do this for you? A friend?" Lily asked, desperate.

"Tell you what Lils, if you manage to find someone who can fit in the conditions of my father's magical contract, who can get along with me and be my friend, who would agree to marry me and not force me into anything, someone who's single and would be willing to pretend we're together for several years without getting anything in exchange, knowing that he'd have to be faithful to me, I'll consider it." Rose replied with an amused smile, thinking that it was pointless.

"Alright, I'll get on it." Lily smiled before she walked away.

Rose went back to reading a romance novel she really wanted to finish (it was on her list) while Lily left the common room, a target well established in her mind.

James Potter lived right next to Rose's grandmother's house, and they were friends. Rose and James hung out often in the summer, and had done so ever since they were toddlers. He was also a pure blood.

This thought made Lily frown.

Though she wasn't ready to accept James' flirt as serious, she refused to imagine him married to her best friend. But thinking of James made her realize that there was another perfect candidate available: Sirius Orion Black.

Sirius was a first born pureblooded wizard from a family, a bloodline, that Rose's father would appreciate. Of course he had run away a while back and had broken apart from his family but he would still fit the bill. People always tended to forget that Sirius was a pure blood from a respectable family, but he was. And he was the first born. He'd be perfect for this, especially since Lily knew that Rose had a little crush on Sirius, though she would never act on it.

Lily looked everywhere and finally found the four friends leaving the library. Where they here earlier when she left? Had she crossed them without seeing them? If they had been there, and she had seen them earlier, it could have saved her, and her best friend, some very precious time!

"James! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!" Lily exclaimed, calling out to him before he rushed somewhere else.

Freezing in his steps along with his 3 friends, James turned around, a disbelieving look on his face.

"Lily? You were looking for ME?" He asked, his face showing pure shock.

"Yes, I need to speak with Sirius and you, right now. It's urgent and private." Lily nodded and the boys grew serious, noticing that she was looking more serious than usual.

She didn't have the look of an angry Prefect about to complain about something bad they did or about them loosing points. This was something else.

"It wasn't us, we didn't do it!" Peter exclaimed, making Lily smile a bit.

"Guilty conscience?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Constantly." Peter replied.

James nodded to Remus, who nodded back.

"I'll go to the common room with Peter, help him finish his History of Magic homework." Remus told the two boys who nodded once more.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked.

"Not here. We need a private space. It's serious and can't be overheard by anyone. If this gets back to Rose's father, I'd lose my best friend and this is what I'm trying to prevent." Lily whispered.

"Rose? What's wrong with Rose?" Sirius asked, worried.

He had always had a crush on Rose Prewett, though he hid it from her the best way he could. Unlike James who professed his love for Lily every time he saw her, Sirius had always hidden his feelings, believing that she deserved better than him.

James led them to an empty passageway that very few students knew about. It was large enough that they could face each other and move around without bumping into each other.

"Before I start, I need your word that this will stay between us, that you won't go blabbing about it to everyone! This has to stay between us unless we agree to let someone else know." Lily asked and they both promised.

"Of course." They agreed seriously.

"Rose's father has managed to trick Rose into a magical contract. She thought she was just accepting her mother's inheritance but among everything, her father managed to include a magical marriage contract that had been on her Aunt. She couldn't guess, I mean, her aunt died long before Rose was even born... I can show you everything later if you want but... She was surprised that her father was allowing her to receive it now when he had been fighting for her to wait until she was an adult or married, but she thought he had changed his mind... Anyway, this contract basically states that if by Christmas she isn't engaged to be married to a first born pure blood wizard, her father would chose someone himself and force her into it. She needs to be engaged before her next birthday. That's why Rose is more carefree lately, she's living her last few weeks of freedom. Like when she slid down the astronomy staircase while standing on a book. She just wanted to try, to have fun. She has a backet list, I think. A list of things she wants to do at least once before she dies." Lily informed them.

"My father always said that there was something deranged about that man, and anyone who knows my father knows that he doesn't like speaking badly about people. He never liked him. Only accepts him in our house for dinner parties out of respect for Rose's grandmother, who's a good friend of theirs." James frowned.

"I saw Rose's diary. She knows that her father wouldn't be opposed to force feeding her love potion to force her into this and she's planning on killing herself before the engagement party to avoid it all. I can't let her do this, but I can't let her live her life as a prisoner to some idiot either." Lily shook her head.

"Isn't there any way out of this contract? I mean, her godfather is Albus freaking Dumbledore. There has to be something he can do with all the people he knows." Sirius frowned.

"He's tried everything he can, the Ministry recognizes that the contract was forced, but it's still a binding contract because, well... That's the problem with magical contract made with ancient magic. Even though you know that they're fake, or in this case real but made without true consent, you can't rule them out. Muggle contracts are much easier to dissolve." She shook her head.

"What do you need from us?" James asked, knowing how his own best friend felt for Rose.

"Sirius is the perfect candidate. You're a first born, a pure blood, and a friend of hers. The two of you would get along well. You could get married, stay together a few years and, if you want, divorce as soon as the contract makes it possible." Lily replied.

"You want me to marry your best friend?" Sirius replied, his face pale.

"I see the way you look at her, Black. You don't want her to die either and I doubt you'd like to see her forced to marry anyone else, especially not anyone else her father would chose. Mainly people that share a house with your brother at the moment or have graduated a few years ago." Lily replied and, before either of them could speak, she spoke again, with a little hidden smile:

"Plus, if you get engaged to my best friend and marry her, I'd be forced to spend a lot more time with your own best friend..."

"Marry her, Sirius." James replied quickly, with an amused smile.

"I... Would it even count? I left my family." Sirius shook his head.

"But you're still a Black and their first born, it still counts. Just like we can't get out of this contract, no matter what your family does, they can't deny the fact that you are their first born." Lily nodded.

"Think of your mother's face when she finds out that you leave the family only to marry someone who's bloodline she'd have approved of. And later when she figures out that your wedding ceremony will be filled with Muggleborns." James added.

"Look me in the eyes Sirius, and tell me you wouldn't be able to make her happy, that you wouldn't do anything in your power to keep her alive and out of her father's reach." Lily declared seriously.

"I'll do it. If she'll have me, I'll marry her." Sirius nodded, not even taking a minute to think about it.

"You'd have to be completely faithful to her from the moment she accepts to the end of your relationship." Lily warned him.

"No problem." Sirius nodded seriously.

"Good, let's go to the common room and ask her then." Lily smiled.

They left the passageway and, a few steps later, found themselves in front of Severus Snape.

"Lily! I need to speak with you!" Severus exclaimed.

"Too little too late, Severus." Lily frowned, stepping to the side to walk past him but he stopped her.

"Please, it's important, it's about Rose!" He insisted.

"What do you know about Rose?" Sirius frowned angrily.

"I saw the three of you going into the secret passageway. I was looking for Lily to talk to her about something and I overheard everything." Severus confessed honestly.

"Listening in on our private conversations is kind of becoming a thing for you, isn't it? Didn't you learn your lesson last time?" James frowned.

"I think your conversation is linked to what I needed to tell Lily... Please listen to me!" Severus begged and Lily nodded, making Sirius and James step back from the Slytherin.

"I went in the forbidden forest last night, to gather some specific potion ingredients for an experiment I'm doing and I saw Rose there. We didn't speak, I don't even think that she saw me, but she was gathering several ingredients that could be used to make several poisons. And this morning after potion I saw her pocketing another ingredient from Slughorn's private stock that, mixed with the others, would make a powerful poison. The recipe is in only one book that's in the restricted section and I was just able to check who had looked at it recently." Severus explained.

"Rose." Sirius breathed out, not suspicious anymore.

If Snape was willing to help Rose, then he'd go easy on him, though he was curious as to why he would even care about a Gryffindor.

"I know that you hate me Lily, I deserve it for the way I treated you, but please, I want to help. Rose is my friend too. She hasn't been my friend for as long as you have been, but she was always honest with me, and I want her to be happy and safe. I've copied the poison recipe for you. It's one of the only poison without an known antidote, and I don't think a bezoar would work on it either, though you should probably keep one handy just in case." Severus replied.

Sirius made a mental note, then and there, that no matter how the conversation with Rose ended, he'd order a Bezoar, just in case.

"Thank you, Severus." Lily nodded.

James and Sirius had questions, but they decided to keep them for themselves for now.

"Please, don't hate me anymore, Lily. I miss our friendship, even if it has to stay hidden." Severus replied.

"I can't forget everything you've said, Sev. But I'll think about it." Lily smiled before they parted ways.

"You were actually friends with him?" James asked, trying not to sound judgmental.

"We met when I was a child, at a park near my house. He's the one who told me I was a witch. He was my best friend ever since then but being sorted in Slytherin changed him over time." Lily explained in a small voice.

"Not to be the devil's advocate, because you know I don't like Snape, but he has to survive in this house, with pure blood people who think a certain way. He doesn't have much of a choice while he's at school." Sirius commented.

"True. Anyway, how do we handle the whole Rose thing?" Lily asked.

"You could talk to her, tell her that Sirius is a good candidate and would be willing to do it. Then Sirius would come over and ask her out." James suggested.

They all agreed that it would be the best solution and, when they arrived at the tower, Rose was sitting alone in the same spot as earlier, reading. The book she had in her hands was almost over, she just had a few pages left. They walked towards her, James and Sirius were going to wait by Remus and Peter but, before Lily could speak to her friend, Sirius rushed to her and almost yelled:

"Rose, do you want to go out with me?"

Rose dropped her book at the shock of the situation. She was confused.

"No thanks?" She replied, thinking that this was a joke of some sort.

"We said I'd talk to her first!" Lily shook her head, exasperated, while James joined his friend with an amused smile.

"Lily?" Rose asked, still confused.

"You told me earlier that if I found someone suitable to fill the contract you'd consider it. Here it is. Sirius Black, first born of the pure blood Ancient and Noble House of Black, which is an important family from the sacred 27 your father love so much. Perfect candidate. You'd marry a friend, be happy and live." Lily spoke kindly.

"Sirius? Is he even willing? Does he know that he'd be stuck with me for years? Unable to date anyone else and forced to be faithful? Forced to conceive an heir in the first 3 years of the marriage?" Rose asked.

"I do, and I don't mind. Please, Rose, you have to admit that being married to me would be better than the alternative, right?" Sirius pleaded, dropping to his knees to be at the same level as Rose was.

"So you're not asking me out, you're asking me to marry you?" Rose asked, to be sure.

"Yes, though I should ask you out publicly tomorrow to make it believable to everyone else." He nodded.

"Yes, her father would have people here informing here of things." James nodded.

"And Sirius can expect a note from our beloved headmaster, to make sure he's serious and will take good care of our Rose." Lily added with a smile.

"I forgot about that!" Sirius paled.

"He'll probably ask to see you in his office." Rose smiled.

"Is that a yes?" He asked her.

"Well, I don't want to die, and Lily is right. Marrying a friend is better than dying or being forced to marry one of the Slytherin baboons. Yes." Rose smiled.

"A friend? Yes, for now." Sirius smiled, deciding there and there that if he was going to marry her anyway, he'd open his own heart to her and win hers.

Knowing that they had some details to work out, James, Sirius and Lily sat around Rose while Remus, on the other side of the room, tried to keep Peter from being too distracted.

The common room was empty except for them, everyone else was busy somewhere else or already upstairs.

"So, how do you want me to ask you out tomorrow? Big and attention grabbing or discrete?" Sirius asked her.

"Discreet I think. How about we just come down dating and let people make up their own story of how we got together?" Rose asked.

"Sure, if that's what you want." Sirius smiled.

"He'll need to write a letter of intentions to your father though, right?" James asked.

"Technically yes, but not this time. He'll simply be my date for the family Yule Ball on Christmas and we'll inform my father then and there that Sirius is to be my husband. He should however write to my grandmother about his intentions, to warn her. I'll warn Albus. Grandma told me that if I chose someone, I needed to warn her and she'd feed my father a bit of cheering potion to make sure he accepted it." Rose said.

"My parents will be at this ball, right? We usually go every year." Sirius frowned.

"Probably. Unless they find a reason not to come." Rose nodded.

"Imagine your mother's face when she sees you there, Sirius! And when she finds out why you're there, and with whom. The boy who leaves his family because he doesn't like traditions ends up following them." James chuckled.

"And Lily will be there too since she's spending Christmas break with my grandmother and I. She wants to avoid spending more time with her hellish sister. A muggleborn present at the party! How scandalous!" Rose suggested.

"I love today!" James exclaimed loudly, making the girls chuckle while Sirius agreed.

"The Yule ball will serve as some sort of engagement party. You'll have to come with me to declare your intentions to my father, while my grandmother and godfather are next to him, he'll have no choice but to agree because Albus managed to make him sign an agreement that he'd agree to any husband I choose as long as he fits his conditions. And you do fit his conditions." Rose explained.

"Alright." Sirius smiled.

"I think that's everything, right?" Lily asked but Rose smiled in a way that made Lily frowned.

"What?" Lily asked her best friend.

"If you want me to agree to everything we've just said, you have to do one little thing for me, Lily. One tiny thing." Rose told her friend, making Sirius pause.

"What?" Lily asked.

"You'll have to be James' date to the Yule Ball my father is throwing." Rose smiled, making James smile, as though Christmas had come early and just for him.

"What? I... You... Fine! But I must warn you Potter, if you don't behave yourself until Christmas break, I'll make this evening a true Hell for you." Lily warned James who only smiled at her.

"Your wish is my command, Lily Pretty. And no matter what you do, with you on my arm, this evening will be Heavenly." James said before he stood and called out to Remus and Peter to join them upstairs.

"I'll wait for you to walk down to breakfast tomorrow morning. Goodnight." Sirius told Rose softly before he dropped a kiss on her cheek and walked to his dormitory with his best friends, planning on filling Remus and Peter in on what was going on.

.

Once upstairs in their dormitory, Sirius and James explained everything to Remus and Peter and they were so concentrated on the story and on Sirius' happiness than neither of them noticed Peter. Peter wasn't smiling at first, and when he finally did, it was forced. For the first time, Peter didn't think the world of Sirius. He was jealous.

He had always liked Rose, after all, she never mocked him and was always nice to him. Why couldn't HE date her and marry her? Of course he had asked her out a while back, but she refused politely, acting like he was joking. Now he was going to have to watch the girl he desired marry one of his best friends. Sirius already had the looks, the money and popularity. Did he have to get the girl too?

Shaking his head, he decided to push these thoughts aside. At least Rose would live, which apparently was a victory in itself since she was seriously thinking of killing herself.

.

"You do realize that it means you'll have to spend a lot of time with James Potter from now on, right?" Rose asked her best friend as they sat in their dormitory.

"I do, but he was able to be serious and calm for an entire conversation, which means that you're right and he is capable of maturity. I mean, as I spoke to him, I saw how concerned he was for you, I got to see a different side of him, one you kept telling me existed and I kept ignoring." Lily smiled.

"I knew you weren't as indifferent to him as you let show." Rose chuckled.

"We'll see I guess. I... Please, don't kill yourself, Rose. Please, give this a chance." Lily pleaded with her best friend.

"I promise, I'll give this a chance. After all, I've always liked Sirius. Was it hard to convince him? What did you even tell him to get him to agree?"

"Well, he agreed very quickly actually. I told them everything, and that I thought that Sirius would be a perfect candidate. He immediately agreed. I was barely done speaking when he agreed." Lily replied honestly.

"Really?" Rose blushed.

"Yes, and, I have to confess that I knew you were planning on killing yourself because I saw it in your diary, when you left it open a few days ago. It fell from your bed and I picked it up and... Well, curiosity... Anyway, Severus saw you picking potion ingredients and he found us on the way here. He told us which poison you were thinking of brewing." Lily informed her friend.

"Severus came to speak to you while you were with Sirius and James? And nobody ended up at the infirmary or in detention?" Rose asked, surprised.

"He said he cared, seemed truly worried about you. He overheard my conversation with James and Sirius and knows everything too now. He asked for my forgiveness and my friendship, even if it has to stay hidden." Lily nodded.

"He asked for your friendship in front of Sirius and James? Wow, he must be really sorry." Rose commented.

"I don't know what to do about him." Lily confessed.

"Just give it time, and you'll see if Severus really is willing to change or not."

"You're right. Anyway, you should write a note to your godfather, informing him of the solution we've found before the rumors start running around about you and Sirius."

"You're right." Rose nodded and she immediately started writing a small letter and asked one of the house elves to bring it to the Headmaster.

.

The next morning, Rose and Lily walked down to the common room to find Sirius and his friends waiting for them. He had a red rose in his hand and, when he saw Rose, he handed it to her, knowing that the few people present in the common room would spread the gossip like wildfire.

"A pretty Rose for my girlfriend." Sirius told her to greet her.

"Thank you." She replied with a blush and already people were leaving the common room, planning on telling everyone what they had just witnessed: Sirius Black was dating Rose Prewett.

All the way from Gryffindor Tower until they arrived to the Great Hall, people stared. Rose had placed Sirius' rose in her hair, loving the gesture. He didn't have to do this, after all.

Right before they entered the Great Hall, they crossed Hagrid. They liked the half giant, he was kind and a friend. He hadn't had an easy life, but he still managed to be nice and willing to help.

"Hey Hagrid! What are you doing here at this time?" James asked nicely.

Usually, Hagrid was in his hut around this time.

"Hey kids! Oh, nothing bad, don't worry. A message the centaurs wanted me to pass on to Dumbledore. He told me about you two. Congratulations Sirius, Rose. Dumbledore was relieved. He spent so much time trying to find a solution, reading law books over and over again, reaching out to everyone he knows, trying to find some ancient forgotten law to stop this... Good man, Dumbledore." Hagrid replied.

"How does he know already? I haven't sent the letter of intention!" Sirius frowned.

"I sent him a little message last night, to make sure he knew what was going on before rumors started going all over the place." Rose replied.

"Good thing, too, because everyone is already speaking about it, trying to guess how and when it happened. Even the ghosts and the portraits are gossiping about it. Well, you kids go on to breakfast, have a good day." Hagrid told them before he waved and walked out of the castle.

"So, what's the story if people ask us how you two got together?" Remus asked, curious.

"I think we should use these rumors to have a little fun. We should all have a different story, believable or not, of how they got together. See which one is the most popular." Lily suggested.

"I love how you think!" James exclaimed.

"Sure. I think I'll tell people that Sirius serenated me under the night sky, on top of the Astronomy tower." Rose declared.

"I will if you want me to do it, you know. Though to be honest I doubt you'd find my singing romantic at all." Sirius smiled before he added "I'll tell them that I showered you with roses and other flowers before I asked you out."

"They'll believe it since she has a flower on her today. I'll tell them that Sirius asked her out by kneeling in front of her and promised not to move from this spot until she agreed to date him." Remus smiled.

"I'll give hope to all those girls and tell them that you started arguing and that you kind of ended up agreeing to date on a dare during the argument and that now you're both too stubborn to get out of this." Lily smiled.

"I don't know what to tell them... I could just tell them that I don't know, they just started acting like they were together this morning out of the blue, expecting us to behave like it was normal." Peter frowned.

"Me left... hum... What to tell them... I'll tell them that Sirius wrote 'Will you go out with me?', magically, on everything Rose had in front of her for several days before she ended up agreeing, because even after she refused he kept sending her the messages." James declared.

"I wonder which version will be the most popular." Peter wondered.

"I guess we'll see." Remus smiled.

.

Over the course of the next few weeks, the group of friends realized that there wasn't a version of the story that stood out, but that the students had created their own version, some sort of mix of all of the versions they had heard. Apparently, they preferred a version of the story where Sirius was so in Love that he had persevered for weeks to try and woo Rose, in several different ways, until she had finally accepted.

In one of the rumors, he even saved her life for a very dangerous creature before she agreed to go out with him, falling in love with the hero that he had become. Someone had overheard Rose and Lily saying that Sirius had saved Rose, which he truly did by agreeing to marry her, but the new rumor was that Sirius had braved several dangerous creatures in a battle to free Rose from a crazy person. That fact that none of them had been missing from school or injured in the past few weeks didn't seem to challenge their belief that this was a true version.

"I'm a bit disappointed in you, Sirius." Rose declared with a small smile one day, as she jointed them for dinner.

She took the seat he now always reserved for her by his side, in front of Peter.

"Why? What did I do?" He asked her, wondering if she was truly joking or if he was in trouble.

Things had been going very well between the two of them and he didn't want to screw up.

"I was just in the girl's bathroom and I heard that you love me so much and believe that I should be threated like a princess, so you gave me a golden tiara with actual red rubies on it on the day you asked me to be your girlfriend. They didn't see me when they were gossiping of course but, you know, I kind of like the idea." Rose told him with a smile.

"How about you let me save up for it and I'll get you one for our first wedding anniversary?" He told her with a smile.

"You've got a deal." She chuckled.

They had just started kissing, and she had to admit that she loved it. She didn't know if she really loved him or if he loved her, but he definitely cared about her. So much that he had agreed to be faithful to her and only her for the next several years.

"These rumors are getting crazier and crazier as time passed. How could Sirius have saved Rose from a tower guarded by mythical and dangerous creatures when neither of them ever left school?" Peter frowned.

"A girl asked me if he was dating her on a dare with James. She seemed hopeful. And very sad when I told her it was not." Remus chuckled.

"They'll live." Sirius waved it off, making Rose smile.

Sirius had royally ignored every girl he had crossed since they got together, even the very hot ones who flirted with him. he had never truly ignored other girls while dating someone, this was a first.

.

"So, rumor has it that you and Sirius were seen leaving a broom closet earlier today... Just a rumor?" Lily asked her best friend later, as they sat in their room.

"Nope, not a rumor." Rose replied with a blush.

"So? Details?" The red haired friend asked.

"We kissed... Or... Made-out really... It was... Well it was great." Rose replied with a blush.

"So you liked it?"

"I did. I... I know that our relationship, me and Sirius, it's a bit weird. We haven't really discussed feelings or anything... I mean, you know that I've always had a kind of crush on him, and now I know that I could easily fall in love with him... I mean, he's been very sweet ever since we got together. He doesn't have to be this attentive or sweet, so he must care, right? And he doesn't even look at the other girls anymore. I know because I overheard them complaining."

"With the way he agreed to marry you, I think that he definitely cares. Maybe he even feels something stronger."

"I just don't want to open my heart to him if he's going to leave me and divorce the moment we can do it." Rose whispered.

"I think it's worth the risk though, don't you?"

"Maybe." Rose smiled before she added "What about you and James? Since I'm spending a lot of time with Sirius, you've been spending more time with him."

"I'm reserving any opinions and judgement until after your father's Yule Ball." Lily replied seriously, making her friend laugh.

"What are we speaking about in here?" Their friend Alice asked.

Alice was in her 7th year right now, and studying harder to graduate with the best grades possible. She wanted to become an Auror and her long time boyfriend and fiancé, Frank Longbottom, had graduated the previous year and he was already in training.

"Boys." Rose smiled.

"Ah, yes. You and Sirius, Lily and James, Me and Frank..." Alice smiled back.

"What? Wait, wait, wait! There is no me and James! We're just friends, not even there yet. There's no me and James." Lily shook her head.

"I think that someone is protesting way too much." Alice chuckled in a teasing tone.

"I agree. But she's decided to wait until after my father's Yule Ball to make a decision and James has agreed to not ask her out until that day." Rose replied.

"You're going to go with James, then?" Alice asked Lily.

"Yes, a compromise I agreed on." Lily smiled.

"You're coming with Frank too, right?" Rose asked Alice, a friend they spent a little less time with these days, because she was studying hard to become an Auror.

"Absolutely. Thanks for including me in the invitation, too." She smiled.

"No problem. How are things with his mother?" Rose asked.

"Pretty good. I mean, she was a bit hard on me at first, but I think that she just wanted to make sure that I'd be good enough for her son, that I was serious about him. Now that we're engaged and that she knows we're serious, she accepts me and she's including me in all family functions. You should both receive the wedding invitation for this summer." Alice told them.

"I'm kind of glad that Sirius doesn't speak with his mother any more. I've only interacted with Walburga Black a handful of times through my life but that was enough. I'm very happy that having to plan the wedding with her is not an option. I'll do this with my grandmother and that's it. Well, maybe Misses Potter will help, she's a great friend of my grandmother after all." Rose commented.

"Maybe she'll be busy planning a wedding of her own. By then, you'll be graduated and Lily and James might be together and moving further." Alice smiled, making Lily blush.

"I'm not hearing a complain." Rose whispered.

"I might not be too opposed to this idea." Lily whispered, making the other two girls chuckle.

"It's in moments like this that we can know for sure that James and his friends can't hear what we're talking about, because if they did, we'd be hearing James cheering very loudly and very happily right now." Rose chuckled.

"Please, the entire castle would hear him, even Dumbledore." Alice added, making the other two girl laugh.

.

While the girls were talking and having fun, girl time, really, Sirius was laying on his bed, a large smile on his face. He had never been this happy in his life before.

"Sirius, I don't understand. You seem to be really happy with Rose. You're different with her than you were with any of your past girlfriends, it's obvious that you care more about her than the others. That you have feelings for her... Peter and I were talking and... We don't understand why you've never made a move earlier." Remus asked his friend in a careful voice, trying not to offend Sirius while Peter sat straighter, waiting for the answer he was interested in.

Peter had had this particular conversation with Remus especially for this reason. He was hoping that the werewolf would ask the question he was too scared to ask.

"I've always thought that she was the most beautiful girl in this school, and with time I grew strong feelings for her, but I never made a move because... Well, I believed that she deserved better than me, better than a life at Grimault Place with my family." Sirius replied.

"You never thought about just living somewhere else?" Remus asked, curious.

"I was the heir, the first born. All my life I've been told how my adult life would go on. I believed that there was no escaping it, that I'd never be able to escape Traditions, that I'd be forced into that dark house my entire life and that i'd be forced to lead a miserable life around people I hate. It's only with time, every time I visited James in his home, with his parents, that I understood that I could take a hold of my own future and shape it the way I want. When I left home last summer, that was the first step. Rose was always on the back of my mind, but I had left my home and my mother said that she would disown me if I did. I had nothing to offer Rose." Sirius explained.

"You have yourself, mate, and that's plenty." James replied seriously.

"That's deep, man." Peter nodded.

After Peter's comment, the four boys looked at each other and, then, started laughing and mocking each other.

"Anyway, now my Great uncle left me quite a bit of Gold when he died this summer, so she won't be the only one paying for everything." Sirius said after they had calmed down.

"Well, it's not like there's much to pay for. She's inherited her mother's family's house on the Beach, down south and she'll inherit her grandmother's house in Godric's Hollow, right next to mine." James smiled.

"We'll be neighbors and our kids will grow up together!" Sirius smiled brightly.

"And it works out well because Rose and Lily are best friends too, so our wives will get along!" James commented.

"James, does Lily know that you're planning your wedding and your married life together while you're not even dating yet?" Remus asked, amused.

"Please! I've been planning my wedding and my future life with Lily ever since I fell in love with her." James rolled his eyes.

"Better not tell her yet. Wait until the ball has passed." Peter suggested.

"Peter's right." James nodded.

"By the way, it was kind of Rose to invite both me and Peter to her father's Yule Ball. Unfortunately my parents are taking me along to visit one of the last family member we have so I can't go. Especially since for once we're invited while it's not the full moon." Remus said.

"Well, I've already asked my mother and she said that I could go, so... Maybe I'll meet someone there." Peter smiled eagerly.

"The only available girls you'll meet at this ball will be the likes of my cousins Bellatrix and Narcissa. You can do better, Pete. I mean, Bellatrix is married and all, but, you know, most of the girls there will be like her." Sirius frowned.

"By the way, do you have news from Andromeda? I mean, it made a lot of noise when she married that muggleborn a few years ago." James asked his friend.

"We were never very close, so she never wrote to me. Didn't invite me to the wedding either, but she probably thought I wouldn't be able to go because of my parents. I was not even at Hogwarts yet back then. I think I saw a birthing announcement in the Daily prophet a few years ago, but my family never spoke of her, neither did her sisters whenever they were visiting. You know what, maybe I should write to her, get back in touch. I'd love to have her and her family at my wedding to Rose. I never knew her much but if my mother hates her, she much be a great person." Sirius smiled.

"Anything to see that sweet smile on your mother's face, right?" James joked.

"She might even have a heart attack right there and then." Peter added.

"Come on, Peter, you know my mother can't have a heart attack. She doesn't even have a heart." Sirius joked, and the boys were laughing again.

.

The few weeks separating them all from Christmas break passed quickly and without any major events, though Voldemort was gaining more supporters everyday and his presence couldn't be denied. His name and the name of his followers were seen in the newspaper everyday. Rose was trying not to worry too much about him though, she concentrated on herself for the time being. As long as she was in Hogwarts or in her house, her father or her grandmother's house, she was safe, though she did feel safer at her grandmother's.

Sirius did write a letter to Andromeda and, after talking about it with Rose, it was decided that it would indeed be a great idea to invite her to the wedding, so she and her family were added to the guest list. Andromeda Tonks did reply to Sirius. She was surprised by his letter, but happy to keep in touch with him if he wanted to. She was congratulating him in finding his own path and finding the bravery to leave his family before he left school, something she had been too scared to do. She was even inviting him to visit her during the summer, offering him a place to stay shall he ever be tired of staying with the Potters. They were now corresponding, getting to know each other as family.

Rose already had a ball gown for the Yule ball her father was throwing, and her best friend Lily had one as well. It was agreed that Sirius and James would simply meet them there when they arrived, along with James' parents.

"Are you nervous?" Lily asked Rose as they got ready.

"A bit... What if Sirius change his mind and doesn't ask my father for my hand?"

"I doubt he will. He might not have talked of feelings to you, but I'm willing to bet that they're there." Lily smiled.

"Are you sure he won't end up deciding that I'm not worth the trouble?" Rose asked.

"I don't think anything, not even a Dark Lord or a group of Dragons, could keep him from asking for your hand tonight." Lily replied before she added "Plus, you've been appart for only 4 days and he's already sent you two letters. It means something. Had we been staying with your grandmother and not your father I'm sure he'd have visited every day."

"You're right, I'm worried for nothing." Rose smiled.

"Especially since Dumbledore and your grandmother have your backs. Dumbledore did promise to talk to your father and prepare him discretely so that he'd be happier to accept Sirius as a son in law, right?" Lily asked.

"Yes, he's apparently talked to him about what good students with bright futures James and Sirius were." Rose chuckled.

Rose's ball gown for the ball and very pretty and a perfect mixture of ruby red and gold colors. It was perfect to represent her Hogwarts House and Christmas.

Lily's dress was similar, except that it was a mixture of Gold and emerald green, to complement her eyes.

They had gotten their dresses together during their last Hogsmeade day. They knew that their dates would have simple dressing robes, appropriate for such an event. But they trusting the for finding a way to put at least some frivolity in their outfit. They had overheard them speaking of spells that would make Christmas decorations appear on their clothes when certain words are spoken around them.

"Are you sure that you're not missing your parents?" Rose asked her best friend as they decided on how they'd do their hair.

"Not really. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but Petunia makes everything so hard... I'll visit them on the 25th for dinner and come back to you after and it will be enough. I get that she's jealous, but I never tried to make her look bad or anything... I'm barely ever home and when I'm there, she makes it hell simply because I have a bit of attention from our parents... but she has them for the rest of the year! And they don't tell her anything... I'm tired of it, so now I spent the least time possible with them. I've told my parents as much and they understand." Lily replied honestly.

"It's sad, especially since Petunia and you were best friends before Severus told you that you were a witch."

"I know... I tired very hard to include her at first but... I guess it wasn't meant to be. Anyway, she's bringing home her fiancé for the holidays and I don't really fancy spending time with him. His name is Vernon Dursley and he's... Well..." Lily was looking for words that weren't too mean to describe him.

"Not James Potter?" Rose tried with an amused smile.

"The further from James Potter as you can get." Lily nodded.

"When is she getting married?" Rose asked curiously.

"I know that the date is set and that everything is booked, but she hasn't told me. I'm not invited. She doesn't want people to find out about my 'freakishness'. She says I'd only ruin the day and tarnish her spotless reputation..." Lily frowned.

"Well, who needs her, then? You'll be my maid of honor. We're sisters in everything but blood anyway!" Rose smiled.

"I don't know, that 'Blood Sisters' ritual that we did in 3rd year technically makes us sisters by blood too." Lily smiled softly.

"True. We are family." Rose replied, hugging her best friend close to her heart to cheer her up.

"Anyway, are you prepared for James to ask you out?"

Lily nodded with a blush.

"And do you know what you'll answer him?" Rose asked curiously.

"It depends when he asks. If he asks before the first dance, I'll say no and tell him to ask again later. If he asks before the ball is over I'll tell him that I need to think about it. If he waits until the ball is over, then I'll say yes." Lily replied.

"Good plan." Rose smiled.

Eventually, they were both ready and they joined Rose's Grandmother to walk down the large staircase down into what had been changed to become a ball room. Rose's father had gone all out. There were majestic Christmas trees all around the room, all beautifully decorated and the food and drinks were ready and looked delicious. He had hired a band, the same he hired every year, and Rose knew that they'd play a large selection of songs.

"Cheering potion given with success. Your father is in a great mood and I doubt anything could bring it down tonight." Rose's grandmother informed her before she turned to Lily, who was admiring the ball room.

"This party is his own way or reminding people that he's an important man with big money." Rose's grandmother whispered in Lily's ear before she joined her son to greet the guests, leaving the two girls to admire one of the trees.

"Yes, I'm definitely happy to be here instead of home with my parents and my sister. It's much prettier." Lily told Rose, who chuckled.

"There they are, our beautiful dates!" James exclaimed as he walked close to the girls.

"James! Sirius! I didn't know that you were here already. I'm sorry, we should have been near the door to greet you!" Rose declared, happily accepting a kiss from Sirius and letting him hook her arm to her own.

"No problem, we arrived a bit earlier than planned." Sirius replied.

"And for once my parents were the last ones ready." James smiled.

"I wonder why." Sirius smirked.

"Maybe because you two were eager to join these beautiful young ladies. It's the first time I see you two ready over half an hour BEFORE we have to go." Mister Potter declared as he joined his son.

James introduced his father to Lily, who smiled politely and had already accepted James' arm.

"Now, we're close to the door, shall we stay here so that the Blacks can see that their black sheep is present tonight or should we keep it a surprise a while longer?" Rose asked.

"I'd love to keep it a secret until they see me ask your father for your hand." Sirius smiled happily.

"Then we should move over there, between the trees, near the table. We'll be hidden from the door and able to hide Sirius easily if they come near us." Lily suggested.

After that, the two couple talked and waited patiently for the main guests to have arrived. They spotted Frank and Alice, who came to greet them quickly before joining their family. Sirius' family had arrived but they were presently busy talking on the other side of the room. After less than 30 minutes, Sirius got his perfect opportunity. Albus Dumbledore had arrived, made a circle in the room to greet people and he was now back to standing with Mister Prewett and Rose's Grandmother.

"Now or Never. Be brave, you're a Gryffindor Sirius Black." Sirius declared out of the blue, speaking to himself, before he dropped a kiss on Rose's hand and pulled her with him to her father.

They were closely followed by James and Lily, who were both suddenly very nervous for the outcome.

"Mister Prewett, sir?" Sirius asked, aware that his family had noticed him and were probably confused.

But surely Regulus would have warned them that he was dating Rose, right? They should have at least expected his presence. Sirius couldn't see a reason why his brother, the perfect son, would not tell his parents that Sirius was dating Rose.

"Ah, young Sirius Black! Nice of you to come tonight! You arrived with the Potters, right? Yes, good of you to come, indeed." Rose's father greeted warmly the young man.

Rose was sure that the openness and warmness of his greeting had everything to do with Sirius' blood status. He wouldn't have been this warm if Lily had come to speak with him directly. Though the cheering potion must also have a role there. This was the very reason why her grandmother had fed it to him. To ensure that he'd be less inclined to refuse.

"Thank you, sir, for allowing my presence." Sirius replied, making Albus chuckle.

"Allowing? But you're the most welcome!" Mister Prewett insisted in a cheerful tone.

Rose wondered if the cheering potion her grandmother had slipped her father earlier wasn't a bit too strong and if it really should have been mixed with strong alcool. He'd definitely feel it the next day.

"Well, I wasn't sure you'd accept me, sir. After all, my family and I aren't exactly on speaking terms anymore." Sirius spoke, and even though it sounded like a bad idea to mention it, Dumbledore himself had asked him to mention it.

Indeed, he had spoken to Rose's father a bit and suggested that a first born who isn't speaking to his family would be best, because then he wouldn't be influenced by his family. The husband would then be free to follow Mister Prewett's influence. Of course Sirius was too free spirited for this, but it didn't matter right now. They just needed him to agree to it officially, in front of everyone. Once he sealed the magical engagement bond, here, in front of everyone, it would be unbreakable unless Sirius or Rose truly wanted it.

"That's just a detail, son. Your relationship with your family doesn't matter here, tonight." Mister Prewett waved it off.

"Sir, the reason I came tonight is not only to enjoy another one of your superb Yule Ball, which is always the best of the year." Sirius started, flattering the man the best way he could.

"You're too kind young man." The elder man replied with Albus and Rose's grandma rolled their eyes behind his back.

"I also came to... I came here tonight, Mister Prewett, to ask for your daughter, Rose Prewett's hand in marriage." Sirius declared.

"Well, I do hope it's for Rose, she's the only daughter he has." Rose heard her grandmother whisper to Dumbledore who smiled.

"You do? You want to marry her?" Mister Prewett asked, surprised but still cheerful.

"I do, sir. I know that we have to wait until after our graduation, but I wanted to ask for her hand as soon as possible." Sirius spoke.

Further in the room, his family was curious, wondering why Sirius was speaking for such a long time, and so seriously, to a noble man who followed so closely the tradition he had ran away from.

"Rose, I'm guessing you have no objections since you're by his side?" Her grandmother asked loudly, making sure that it would remind her son of his agreement to let her decide if she chose someone suitable.

"I do agree to marry him, grandma." Rose nodded seriously.

"Very well, young man. I don't see a reason to refuse. You're a strong young man, healthy, first born, pure blood, smart... Why, just the other day Albus was telling me what a prestigious future you and your friend James Potter have ahead of you! Welcome in the family! Both of you stay here. No time like the present to announce it." Her father nodded, clapping Sirius on his back before he turned to the room and called for everyone's attention but using a sonorus charm on his voice.

"My Friends, I must thank you all for coming tonight! You honor me with your presence as always! Christmas is always a magical and happy time for everyone, and I usually just wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I do, of course." he declared with an amused smile and people chuckled politely, knowing that he had paused because he expected people to laugh at his small joke.

"I must also announce my daughter's engagement. She'll marry after her graduation next year and I'm honored to welcome to our family the first born of the very Ancient and Noble House of Black! Indeed, the young Sirius Black just asked my permission to marry my precious daughter, my only daughter. I couldn't dream of a better suitor for her, Sirius Black, come here son! Welcome to our family young man!" Mister Prewett declared and everyone clapped and cheered to celebrate the news.

Well, everyone except the rest of the Black family. They were all starring in shock, expect maybe for Regulus who was standing behind his parents and was smiling. He was probably expecting something like this and yet he hadn't told his parents.

"Now, if you please, Albus Dumbledore, my daughter's godfather, will preside over the Engagement ceremony." Mister Prewett spoke immediately and Rose joined Sirius in front of her father.

"I'm guessing that miss Lily Evans and Mister Potter are to stand as witness of your bond tonight?" Albus asked.

"Tonight and in our wedding ceremony, sir." Sirius nodded.

"No other could hold this place except for them." Rose added with a soft mile to her best friend.

Lily stood next to her best friend, while James stood next to Sirius and Albus pronounced the ancient words to bond his goddaughter to one of the biggest trouble maker of his school. The ceremony was short, but it was meant to be a short affair. Soon, it was over and everyone was congratulating them, clapping and cheering. Of course, they weren't exactly free of their actions after that because everyone wanted to speak with them, to congratulate them in person, and it was tradition to let them.

It was a long time before Sirius faced his parents and the rest of his family, who had followed the movement because it was expected of them but where close to the end of the line.

"You're really something, else, you know that? You leave our home and end up making a new one here and..." His mother started to speak but Sirius' father stopped her.

"Not here, Walburga. Congratulations, son. I hope we'll see you at your wedding." His father spoke.

"Well of course you will, father. It is tradition to invite the groom's family. Who am I to go against such ancient and noble traditions?" Sirius smiled brightly, obviously mocking them but they couldn't do anything about it.

His parents moved away and Sirius only got a nod from his aunt, uncle and cousins before he was faced with his brother. His cousin Bellatrix looked at him like he was a pile of garbage and her new husband did the same. Of course, Sirius was pretty sure that they both followed Voldemort.

"I'm really happy for you, Sirius. I... I understand why you left, I get it now. You weren't happy at home... I... I wish the two of you the happiest life possible. I hope this path you've chosen for yourself makes you happy." Regulus spoke softly, making sure that his parents couldn't hear him.

"Thank you." Sirius replied, surprised.

"And you will be at the wedding, Regulus. You'll definitely be invited." Rose reassured him.

"Regulus?" Sirius asked as his brother was starting to walk away.

"Yes?" The younger brother asked.

"Thank you, for not warning mother that I was dating Rose." Sirius said with a big smile.

"I knew you'd enjoy the look on her face." Regulus chuckled and winked before he walked away.

"Well, Miss Prewett, lovely Fiancé of mine, could I have the honor of this dance?" Sirius asked Rose who smiled and nodded happily.

"Lily? Can I have this dance?" James asked, trying his best to be calm, and on his best behaviour.

"Of course, James. I'd love to." She smiled softly his way, sending hope straight to his heart.

The two couples danced a large part of the night and they had fun, interacted with their friends, celebrated Christmas in cheer. When James saw that his parents were starting to leave, he warned Sirius and they both said their goodbyes. Peter hadn't come after all, but they weren't surprised. Without his friends to push him and bring him, he probably ended up deciding to stay home.

"Lily, I... I was wondering... I... Would you like to go out with me sometimes? Like on a real date? Give me a chance to show you who I really am?" James asked Lily.

"A date?" She asked, surprised.

She was so sure that he'd ask her out, to be his girlfriend right away.

"Yes, a date. And, maybe, if by the end of the date you don't completely hate me, we could consider each other girlfriend and boyfriend?" he asked her.

"I think it's a great idea. Goodnight James, and Merry Christmas." Lily said softly before she dropped a small and soft kiss on his cheek, making him blush and smile brightly.

.

When she came back from visiting her parents on the 25th, Lily was angry and depressed. She had just been home for a few hours and her sisters had managed to find a way to ruin it for her.

Petunia had complained about Lily's presence, about the fact that Lily got presents she deemed better than hers, that her parents dared speak with Lily instead of placing all of their attention on her... Lily ended up leaving 2 hours before she was supposed to after arguing with her sister and her parents.

Of course her parents hadn't said anything mean, but Lily brought them in the argument by asking them why they didn't put Petunia back in her place when she was being like this, that all she asked for was a few hours of peace with her family and apparently she couldn't even have that. She put her parents on the spot, saying that she loved them all but that she wished they'd be a bit fairer and that they would tell Petunia when she's being unreasonable, then she faced her sister and told her that being jealous only excused so much. She reminded them that she wasn't home a lot and that they made her wish she didn't come back at all. Her parents protested, but Lily told them that it came to a point where she didn't want to come back to them anymore, because of Petunia's jealousy and the fact that they allowed her to act this way. If they only wanted Petunia as a daughter, then that's what they'd have.

She ended up giving her parents the address of Rose's grandmother and asked them to drop everything that belonged to her there, that she was done with trying to be one of them. She'd be an adult soon enough anyway. In less than a month she'd be considered an adult in the eyes of the magical community, so she didn't need them.

Of course she knew that she was welcome with Rose and her grandma, they had told her so before and even if the grandmother had refused, Lily knew that she'd be able to move into the house Rose had inherited from her mother.

"Don't worry, it'll be okay. Maybe they'll come around and apologize. We were invited to the Potter's for the evening. Are you feeling well enough to go with us or do you want to stay here?" Rose asked her best friend.

Indeed, now that her father's ball was passed, they were spending the rest of the time with her grandmother, at her house in Godric's Hollow and all they had to do to join James and Sirius was cross the yard.

"I think that an evening with James is just what I need to cheer up." Lily smiled.

Over the course of the holidays, Lily cheered up and even got a visit from her parents.

They apologized, and admitted that they didn't have it in them to tell Petunia off when she was acting jealous because she knew how sad their muggle daughter was of not being a witch. They knew that Lily understood, and they wished she'd come back home to them but Lily refused. She was tired of being the one who understood and made all the efforts and sacrifices. Petunia was in the wrong, and so were her parents and she wouldn't accept it anymore. Her parents understood and after making sure that it was no bother, they gave Lily all of her remaining possessions, while promising to still write to her and to visit her when they could. They also gave Lily enough money to buy what she'd need until she finished school, though Rose's grandmother assured that they could take care of it if necessary.

They also gave her a letter that Severus had dropped off for her. He didn't know that she wasn't coming home after all, so Lily replied to him later, explaining what had happened. She didn't know if he'd even be her friend again, especially since Rose seemed to think that he was in love with her, but she wanted to believe that there was hope for him. He, in turn, told her that he did cross Petunia and her muggle fiancé a couple of times, and offered to get revenge for her.

"Well, I'm guessing Petunia is partying right now. She's won, after all." Lily frowned, sad that no other solution was found and that she had to hurt her parents to get some peace.

"Don't worry about your sister. Anyway, isn't your date with James tonight?" Rose asked.

"Yes, thanks for reminding me. I need to go get ready before it's too late!" Lily nodded.

James had planned a very pretty and romantic date in his parent's back yard. There was a gazebo there that was charmed to remain warm in winter and so they'd eat their dinner there, surrounded by snow and all the wonders that Winter had to offer. There were lights charmed to dance around them throughout the night as well.

Sirius and Rose would spend that time with Rose's grandmother, planning their wedding, or at least start to. They started making a guest list. The ones they absolutely had to invite whether they wanted to or not and the ones they wanted there because they liked them.

They had also quickly decided that the wedding would take place in her grandmother's back yard and that they'd spend their honeymoon in her mother's house near the beach. Then they'd move back in with Rose's grandmother, who wasn't so young anymore and had offered her house to them. She didn't want to be alone and the house was so big that they'd have their bedroom in the opposite side of the house as her grandmother's, giving them their much needed privacy.

"I'd love to sit my mother at a table with Molly and Arthur Weasley and Andromeda and Ted Tonks." Sirius smiled dreamily.

"That would just be mean to your cousins." Grandma shook her head, amused.

"Rose?" Sirius asked his fiancé, seeing her distracted.

"Sorry, I'm elsewhere. I was wondering how Lily and James' date was going." Rose smiled.

"Well, your best friend hasn't come home slamming the door angrily yet, so I'm guessing that everything is going well." The elderly woman replied.

"James would come home slamming the door too, he's a real drama queen when he wants to be. Don't tell him I said that!" Sirius replied, making them chuckle.

"He'd call me on our double way mirror too." He added, showing that he had the mirror on him and that nobody was calling at the moment.

As it turned out, the date went fine and a dreamy looking Lily walked back inside, with a charmed Lily flower in her hair and a new boyfriend.

.

Unfortunately, every vacation ends eventually and they had to go back to school.

On the train back, they crossed Severus, alone, and, instead of exchanging insults as they always did, James and Sirius simply nodded at him and gave him some privacy to speak with the girls. The conversation was short however. He guessed immediately that Lily was now dating James and before he could try to find a way to pretend he was happy for her, his house mates walked closer, so he walked away.

Time passed, and when Lily celebrated her 17th birthday, becoming an adult, she received a letter from her sister, complaining that her parents had put their foot down and insisted that Lily needed to be invited to Petunia's wedding and be granted a plus one. So, this letter served as an invitation as well as a "please don't come, I don't want you here".

"Are you going to go?" Rose asked Lily.

They were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, in front of the fire, with the Marauders around them.

"I don't know... Going just to see her ignore me and glare at me doesn't seem worth it... I just know that she'd go out of her way to insult me and humiliate me if I went." Lily shook her head.

"I think that you should go, and you should take Severus Snape as your date, just to spite her." James chuckled, knowing now the history between them.

If Severus Snape could be friend with Lily, if he could see the beauty and kindness of her, then he couldn't be a completely bad guy.

"Now that I'd like to see." Rose nodded.

"He hates her as much as she hates him, he wouldn't want to go." Lily shook her head with a smile.

"Oh please! He'd take any excuse to spend time with you." Rose rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, Petunia doesn't want me here, she didn't even include a real invitation. There's no date, no location... She just says that our parents are forcing her to invite me and that she doesn't want me there. It doesn't count as an invitation. I'll just keep this letter and if my parents ask me why I didn't go, I'll show them this letter." Lily replied, placing the letter in her pocket.

"It's her loss, Lily. But I think that you should send this letter to your parents along with a note saying that this is once more the proof that you're not welcome in their family and that Petunia will never act like a true sister to you." Rose smiled, hugging her best friend.

Lily didn't answer but she nodded and, the next day, she sent her parents a letter, which included Petunia's small and mean letter. She told them that she gave up on being a member of their family, that she was tired of feeling unwelcome and to be treated like a freak by her sister. That of course she still love them, but that it hurt too much and she'd rather stay away, with people that loved her back and welcomed her in their lives.

.

More time passed, and soon, the end of the year was there, and summer arrived. Their last summer as students since they would enter their 7th year.

No wanting to depend on anyone for whatever she needed to buy, Lily managed to get a small job in Diagon Alley. She was working for the apothecary, helping sort ingredients. She worked normal hours and was happy with the money she earned during the summer.

Lily was still happy with James, and the more time passed, the clearer her future with him became. He had made it clear to her that he'd propose eventually, that he had his mother's ring for this. And she could see it, being married to him, living in his parent's ancestral home, near her best friend. Both families in the back yard, having a cookout, their children growing up together as cousins, or maybe even falling in love and getting married...

They all attended Alice and Frank's wedding together, had fun and enjoyed being young.

Summer ended and their last year at Hogwarts started. Voldemort was more and more present, the war was here, but they had school to finish, though they all knew that they'd end up fighting him one way or another.

The worst war related news yet arrived one November day. Rose's father arrived in the school directly, during dinner one evening. He looked grave and Dumbledore immediately stood to join him, along with Rose and Sirius. Everyone was curious and tried to listen to him. The man looked devastated and spoke in a small voice, and nobody dared use a spell to listen in on the conversation because of the headmaster's presence.

Rose fell to her knees, lucky to be held up by Sirius. Lily, James, Remus and Peter joined the group to help Sirius console Rose.

Her grandmother had died in a Death-Eater attack earlier in the afternoon. He couldn't write it to her, he knew that delivering the news to her directly would be best.

The days separating Rose from her grandmother's funeral went by in a blur, she barely remembered them but was grateful for Sirius' presence by her side the entire time. Her friends came with her. James, Sirius, Lily, Remus and Peter. James's parents were also present of course and, after the funeral, her grandmother's will was read, revealing that everything was left to Rose. The house, the money, everything. Nothing for Rose's father. Everything to Rose, the granddaughter she had loved so much.

When Christmas came, Rose and Lily stayed with her father once more, in his house, until his Yule ball had passed, then she moved back in Godric's Hollow, with Lily, her family. The house had been cared for by her grandmother's house elf and it was as though it had been lived in all this time.

.

When Valentine's day came around, James proposed to Lily, and she agreed to marry him. They wanted to wait at first to have their wedding after Rose and Sirius' wedding but Rose and Sirius both loved the idea of a double wedding. They were so close that the guests would essentially be the same anyway, save for a few family members. By joining the two back yards for the event, they'd have even more room and everyone was very excited about this.

Lily would invite her parents and her sister, and that's it. No other muggles. She was sure that her parents would come but she doubted her sister would show her face.

"Will the two of you also be going on your honeymoon together?" Peter asked James and Sirius one evening, with a smirk.

"Now that's a great idea! Her vacation home is certainly large enough that we'd all have privacy!" Sirius smiled.

"My vacation home? I think you mean OUR vacation home, Sirius honey. And I love this idea too." She smiled back, both of them looking at their best friends expectantly.

"What a honeymoon it will be! My favorite person in the whole world, and my wife, in the same place!" James exclaimed, making the chuckle.

"I think that poor Lily and Rose better bring books, they won't see much of their husbands if you go on your honeymoon together." Remus joked.

"Oh, don't worry about us, Remus. Lily and I have already bought quite a few item of clothing that will convince our husbands to stay in the bedroom with us." Rose replied with a wink in Remus' direction, making Peter blush and look down.

"They match, too." Lily added, loving the fact that she was embarrassing Peter and Remus and teasing James at the same time.

.

Remus and Peter had gone to bed early. The full moon had just passed and they were tired. Sirius and James were finishing some homework and, suddenly, they saw their fiancés, who were supposed to be upstairs in their dorms, trying to sneak out. Not saying a word to them or to each other, they decided to follow them discretely. James grabbed his invisibility cloak and followed them with Sirius, both of them under it. The girls left the castle and went all the way to the lake, a spot hidden behind bushes.

"We shouldn't be here!" Lily complained.

"It's on my bucket list, Lily." Rose argued.

"But you're marrying Sirius and not killing yourself anymore, you do not need it." Lily pointed out.

"I still want to do it, at least once. Come on Lily, don't you want to join me?" Rose asked as she started taking off her clothes.

"Skinny dipping in the lake under the moonlight? No thanks. What if someone sees you?" Lily asked.

Both boys looked down and backed off, so that the bushes would hide their view.

"Oh come on Lily! Who could see us? Even if someone looked through a conveniently placed window, they wouldn't be able to see who is it or what we're doing." Rose rolled her eyes.

"Well, I'm not joining you anyway! What if the boys are going out there tonight?"

"The full moon was last night, they're resting. And James and Sirius were busy finishing a transfiguration homework when we left." Rose spoke and, then, the boys heard her entering the water.

"Think of all the merpeople in there! All the creatures you're giving a free show to!" Lily argued.

"Oh please, they wouldn't be so close to the surface!" Rose rolled her eyes with a chuckle.

"What if Hagrid walks by?" Lily asked nervously.

"He's out of town for a few days." Rose laughed.

"Well, despite all of your good arguments, I'm not joining you."

"As you prefer. But you're missing out, it feels great!"

"You could have waited until you were on your honeymoon to go skinny dipping with your husband, I'm sure Sirius would love it." Lily said.

"Don't worry, we'll go skinny dipping during our honeymoon, and I can assure your there won't be much swimming done." Rose winked at her best friend who shook her head.

"You could have asked him to accompany you tonight, why ask me?"

"Because I had hope that you'd join me."

"I'll join James during the honeymoon." Lily laughed.

"I didn't ask Sirius to come with me tonight because we both agreed to wait until the honeymoon to have sex and if we're both naked... I doubt we could keep out hands to ourselves. I mean, Quidditch does keep them in good shape, doesn't it?" Rose told Lily who blushed and nodded.

Agreeing, James and Sirius left the girls alone and went back to their homework. Half an hour after they sat back down, the girls came back, and both of them had their hair wet.

"Seems like Lily decided to join Rose." Sirius whispered to his best friend with a smile.

"Of course she did right after we left. I knew we should have stayed!" James shook his head.

"Please, you wouldn't have looked without her consent either."

"True, but I would have cursed anyone coming close." James smiled at his best friend.

"Where have you girls been?" Sirius asked, wanting to see if she'd lie to him or not.

"We went skinny dipping into the lake." Lily decided to reply.

She had, eventually, agreed to join her friend, just a little moment.

"We would still be there, it's fun, but we saw someone walking towards the forbidden Forest. We didn't want to risk them coming closer and seeing us." Rose added.

"Who could it have been?" James asked.

"Probably someone going to collect potion ingredients. We think maybe Professor Slughorn according to the shape we saw from afar." Lily replied, sitting by his side.

"Well, as long as you two had fun. Though next time, I'm coming with you." Sirius replied, looking at Rose.

"Absolutely, i'm counting on it." She smiled.

.

The school year ended, and the group of friends graduated without any troubles. One week after the beginning of the summer, they had their double wedding ceremony. Of course Petunia hadn't come, but Lily's parents did come, happy to witness a happy moment in their daughter's life.

Sirius' parents came as well, but they stayed away from him. He knew that they were supporters of Voldemort and even though they couldn't do anything due to Mister Prewett's ministry friends being present, they kept to themselves to avoid the muggles and muggleborn around them. Regulus is the only one who mingled and interacted with people, enjoying a few moments of freedom before he had to go back to everyday life, homework, and the Dark Lord who wanted him to join his Death Eaters.

Andromeda had come with her husband and young daughter, happy to spend time with good members of her family. Molly and Arthur Weasley were present as well, with their children. Molly was expecting again and they were happy.

Rose couldn't believe how happy she was at the moment. When she began her 6th year, she was sure that she only had a few months to live in order to avoid a miserable life, and now, here she was, married to a man she loved and who loved her back, witnessing her best friend just as happily married. They were about to go on their honeymoon, and then they'd live near each other.

For the Honeymoon, it was decided that James and Lily would only join Rose and Sirius after 2 weeks. Indeed, Lily's parents had given them, as a wedding present, 2 weeks all included in a special place and Lily wanted to go, so James agreed, even though he'd be surrounded by muggles. He'd have to watch his behavior but he understood and was willing to do it for his wife.

"Everything alright Misses Black?" Lily asked Rose as they watched their husband goofing around with Young Nymphadora Tonks, who seemed to only have eyes for Remus Lupin.

"Absolutely Misses Potter. I'm happier than I could ever be." Rose smiled brightly.

"Me too." Lily nodded, laughing at how silly her husbands were with the children.

"They'll be good fathers, won't they?" Rose asked.

"I believe so." Lily nodded, already dreaming of a big family.

---

Here we go, the first part is over. Two more chapters to come, probably just as long but it will take some time to write them, though the basic storylines are written.

Review please,

Lorelei Candice Black