The Last Few Words

The Last Few Words by Erika Skyfire

Chapter 6~

I look up from the parchment and smile at my husband, who is oblivious to my glance. I set a wriggly Harry on the floor and stand to stretch. James is rather interested in my story, and doesn't notice when I walk over. I wait for a moment before folding my arms, wondering when he'll notice me.

Eventually he looks up, wide-eyed at my stern appearance. I laugh. I lean over and kiss his lips. He smiles and throws the papers to the side, pulling me into his lap. I laugh again and smile as he kisses me a couple more times. As I pull away I see two bright emerald eyes glancing up at me from next to James' leg. Harry is watching us, a smile on his face as he sees us happy. I scoop him up into my arms.

"I think he was getting lonely," I say to James with another smile.

"Mmm..." James just buries his face in my hair and I chuckle.

"Would you like me to sit here? I can find something to write on, and I need a break from that desk..." James is nodding at me before I finish, so I slip off his lap with Harry to find the materials I need.

Three minutes later, I sit on the couch with my legs draped over James. Harry sits on my thighs, clinging to my free hand. My other hand is a flurry of activity as I continue writing my thoughts...

~*~*~*~

My life brightened. About a week after that kiss, James asked me to be his girlfriend, and I accepted happily. Nothing happened the next few months, but I was content with just being with James. He and I would meet up in Serenity Tower whenever we could, and slowly we became closer and closer. I could not imagine life without James.

Soon, it was the End of the Year feast. There was a small party afterwards for seventh year students that wouldn't return the next year. The planning of it mostly fell on the Head Boy and Girl's shoulders with only a handful of Prefects to help. So James and I were pretty frazzled and were glad when the party was done.

I couldn't help but feel sad about leaving. A lot of my life had changed at Hogwart's. I'd lost my parents, lost Kira, but gained a very dependable boyfriend. But leaving was like leaving them all behind. Leaving behind the grief, of course, but losing the security of the walls around me that I was accustomed to. I missed them both.

There was dancing at the part. I only danced with James. While we would twirl around the floor, I would lose myself in my thoughts. I was terrified of the world - wizarding or Muggle - because I had nowhere to go. I had a week of helping the staff prepare for the summer, and then I was free. Wherever I wanted to go. I was thrilled at the idea of being able to go where I wanted, do what I wanted, and be who I was. But the practical side of my mind bickered with that.

You can't go where you want, you have to pay for food, lodging, traveling... you'd have to get a job, and I'm sure you won't just find your dream job waiting for you someplace - Merlin, you don't even know what you want to do! And you already are yourself; you don't need those things to define who you are.

It was extremely irritating.

~*~*~*~

"Lily?" James asked softly to the redhead, who he was holding in his arms as they swayed.

"Hmm?" was the distracted reply.

"Where are you right now?"

Lily looked up at him, apparently surprised that he had noticed her inattentive mood. She shook her head with a small sigh and snuggled back into his arms, saying, "Just thinking about the future."

She could feel James tense up a bit. When she looked up again, she saw his face was a bit flushed, and she blinked.

"Something the matter?" She asked softly.

James seemed to contemplate. After taking a moment to decide, he grabbed her hand and muttered, "Lets get out of here," before pulling her away and off the dance floor. When they reached the doors, Lily looked back and saw Sirius and Remus standing near the refreshment table. They were sending odd smiles to her and James' back, just before she was led out into the hallway and out of sight.

She followed James up to Serenity Tower. There were a few candles lit, and the windows were wide open, letting in the cool air. James sat down on the couch and drew Lily to sit next to him, cuddled in his arms. She smiled. They sat in comfortable silence, in which Lily nearly fell asleep. But the moment she began to nod off, James started speaking.

"Lily, you know I owe you everything."

James pushed Lily up, so he could look her in the face. She inwardly slapped herself to wake up and peered into his eyes.

They were a swirl of mixed emotions. So tender and endearing, but filled with nervous anticipation and - worry? She placed her hand on his neck and rubbed comfortingly, unaware that her own eyes were twisted with emotion; emerald eyes that reflected the candles and starlight, showing affection and love as well. They waited in that silence for a moment, before James leaned over and gently kissed her lips.

It was much like their first kiss, like all their kisses were - soft and tender, eventually deepening. Eventually James pulled away.

"Lily, I love you. Ever since you comforted me about my mother, I have. And... and," he paused, apparently trying to draw some courage, "and I know we're young, but I can't bear the thought of being away from you. So... I was wondering if you'd do me the honor..." he put his hand in his pocket and withdrew a small, velvet box, "of being my wife."

He opened the box to show a small round diamond set on a band of shimmering platinum. It was perfect, delicate for Lily's small hands - nothing gaudy, just simple beauty.

Lily stared. Nothing had prepared her for this. She hadn't expected James to be that serious about her. But was she? She didn't know. She dropped her gaze while she thought, trying to ignore James, who was squirming. She considered. Ever since Kira's death, James had rarely left her side. In her grief, James comforted her. That made her backtrack. Was she worth him? She remembered how he said she'd helped him with remembering his dead father; she remembered how she helped him through his mother's death. She thought of how they would sit in front of the fireplace for hours in comfortable silence. And then the memory of their kissing rose in her mind and she smiled slightly.

This all passed through her mind within ten seconds, but for James it felt like ten minutes. He fidgeted uneasily. Lily glanced back up at him, her small smile still playing on her lips.

"Yes, James."

James' face suddenly broke out into the largest grin Lily had ever seen. He leaned over and kissed her quickly before taking the ring out of the box and sliding it on her finger. It fit perfectly. Then he kissed her again.

~*~*~*~

The faces on our fellow students were classic. The moment I walked in the Gryffindor Tower with James, half the population of Gryffindor girls dragged me over to the fireplace so they could all look at the ring properly. There was a continual chorus of 'you're so lucky!' and 'I wish that would happen to me!'

I'd never been so happy in my life. When I looked over at James, Sirius had clapped him on the back saying, 'I knew you could do it!' Remus just looked pleased and Peter went, 'Ohhh, so that's where you disappeared to!' But he wasn't paying attention to them. He was smiling at me. And I remember smiling back.

The wedding was a couple months after that. I had had time to alter my mother's dress so it was a bit more fashionable and fit properly. There were no bridesmaids. I didn't know my fellow dorm-mates well enough to feel like asking them, and besides, no one could replace Kira.

The weeks to the upcoming wedding were difficult. James was needed at his family's home to attend to business that had waited for him since his mother's death. Before he went, he saw that I had proper housing and company. I stayed with an older lady named Madeline Rousky who was very cheery for being a sixty-five year old widow. She baked me a cake when I turned eighteen. She also was delighted to give ideas for the wedding.

Then the wedding day came...

~*~*~*~

Lily checked herself in the mirror. Her hair was pulled up with small curls escaping, the soft tresses framing her face. The dainty tiara was in place and the veil tucked into her hair. She smiled a little, looking over herself one last time before walking to the double doors that would lead into the small chapel where the wedding would take place. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and waited.

The doors opened and the music started.

As Lily walked down the aisle, the small congregation of people stood. She kept her eyes forward, watching the wedding party. She didn't dare look at James yet, until she was halfway up the aisle. At that time, her green eyes met his and all fear vanished. She was marrying the person who knew her best, who loved her despite her flaws, who would never leave her.

James had felt he'd never seen anyone so lovely. Her dress was elegant and traditional, made of soft silk that contrasted beautifully against her naturally pale skin. Lily's red hair gleamed, her emerald eyes sparkled, her lips curled up in a small smile - she was beautiful. He had been quite nervous when the music began, because there were swirling thoughts of doubt to his ability to care for her - but the moment he saw her, the thoughts drained away. All he knew was that he loved her.

Lily walked up to the podium and turned to James. He smiled and mouthed the words 'you're beautiful' to Lily. She blushed a bit, a smile forming on her own face. And the ceremony commenced.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..."

~*~*~*~

During those moments, I felt like I would burst. When we made our vows to each other, I felt the world sing. Sirius, Remus, and Peter were all beaming, James looked how I felt, and I'm sure I was practically glowing with how happy I felt.

Then we kissed. Our love mingling, our vows stated, and we were united.

I know it sounds rather... corny. But since that day, I felt a piece of my soul bind to him, and his soul to me.

~*~*~*~

I smile. I tickle Harry's nose with my quill. He giggles and grabs at the tickling instrument. I pull him closer and coo in his ear. He coos back. I laugh at our simple game and then stand to start dinner.

I sit Harry in his chair and find a large pot. I take it to the sink and peer out the window as it fills with water. The sun has set and it is now dark outside, but something out there triggers my instinct. I frown and brush the thoughts away. There is nothing out there, I tell myself.

But I couldn't convince myself.