~ October 31st, 1976 ~
Lily wrapped her arms around herself, alone in the back of the cab. It was cold, for the fall. She supposed no colder than normal, but it felt unseasonably so.
Probably because of the bright pink monstrosity she currently wore, which had no sleeves. Her bare legs trembled under her short skirt, and she cursed Petunia seven ways to Saturday.
Today was the day of her sister's wedding.
Even on a normal day, it would have been a miserable occurrence for Lily. But it was made all the worse by the fact that their parents were gone and were never coming back. It had barely been a month. She wouldn't have attended at all, and Petunia wouldn't have let her, but it was their dying wish.
That Lily attend Petunia's wedding, and that she be a part of it. So, here she was, cold and feeling more alone than she had ever felt, withering in the ugliest bridesmaid's dress known to wizards and muggles alike. She was not maid of honour.
She found that to be a blessing, in this instance. She had no desire to stand up in front of her sister's guests and lie about how wonderful she or her soon-to-be husband were.
The cab went over a bump and she hissed as it jostled her and exposed her back to the cold air. Why didn't this infernal cab have any heat? Had Petunia ordered that too? It seemed like something she would do.
At the thought, Lily deflated. She did love her sister. Despite everything. All of her anger went out of her, replaced by a bone-deep hurt, as old as she was. A tear slipped down her face.
Her sister hated her, like she always had. Her friends had grown distant with her grief, her parents were gone, and there was no kindness to be had from anyone. Merlin, even the cab driver didn't bother to turn on the heat for her.
Her heart was breaking, and she didn't know how to fix it. She wiped at the hot tears running over her cheeks, sniffling, and tried to control herself.
It was just a wedding. Just an ordinary wedding. She could keep to herself and no one would even notice when she slipped out as soon as the dancing began. Petunia had turned everyone she knew against her; it wouldn't be hard.
She sighed, resting her head against the cool glass of the window. What she wouldn't give for one kind word. A smile. Something to show her that the world was worth something.
The war had barely begun, and it was already too much, the stakes too high. Her parents were dead because of her, and Petunia knew it. Had screamed it at her, when they'd found their bodies together. She wasn't wrong. It was magic that had killed them, crushed the air from their lungs. Dark magic.
Lily forced the thoughts out of her mind. She had to suffer through the horror of this wedding, she needed to stop giving into her despair. That would only make it worse.
"Here, miss," the cab driver grunted. So apparently he could talk. She handed him his money and sighed as she zipped up her purse and made to open the door.
But before she could, someone held it open for her.
Someone with very familiar messy black hair and glasses. Hazel eyes that sparkled as they landed on her, even in her ugly dress.
"Hey Evans," James Potter said with an easy smile. "Fancy seeing you here."
Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
"Potter?"
"The one and only." He bowed at the waist and then gestured for her to get out of the cab. She did, staring at him in shock, unable to believe that he was real, that he was standing mere feet in front of her.
James Potter was standing in front of her. In muggle finery, at a church ten minutes from where she'd grown up. He was the only thing kind and familiar in a sea of hostility. And he was here for her.
"You good, Lil?"
Those words prompted her to do something entirely un-Lily-ish. She threw herself into his arms.
He grunted in surprise, staggering back a step before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into him.
She stepped away from him once she realized what she'd done, and he let her, eyes guarded.
"Why?"
"Why am I here?" She nodded. "I didn't want you to have to come here alone. To suffer through this wedding so soon after your parents…" he trailed off helplessly. "When mine died…I can't imagine the strength it requires to even be here, much less knowing that she blames you for it."
Lily stared at him, wondering why she had ever professed to hate him.
"I can leave, if you want," he said quietly, looking down at his muggle dress shoes.
He swallowed as she considered him, and she was surprised to find that she didn't want him to leave.
"Stay," she said softly, hooking her arm through his. He looked down at it in wonder before nodding to himself and guiding her into the church.
He walked her to her seat and took the seat next to her. She grasped his hand and he swallowed, apparently speechless.
"James." His brown eyes met hers, so many emotions and unsaid things swirling through them. "Thank you."
His features softened. "Any time, Lily-flower."
