Life After Graduation

Lily stirred in her sleep the next morning as her alarm went off, grumbling slightly she opened her eyes to see James was already awake facing her with a small smile on his lips. “Morning love,” he said his hand reaching around to rub her cheek.

“Good morning,” she said returning the smile. “Why are you up so early? It is only seven.”

“I have been up for about twenty minutes now, I woke up and was unable to fall back to sleep,” James replied before rolling on his back to stretch out. “I’m too excited about today…and tonight,” he said with a smirk which caused Lily to playfully punch him.

“Well I must get ready,” Lily said as she rolled out of bed before turning around to smile at him. With that she slipped into the bathroom to shower not bothering to dry her hair, and just putting her pajamas back on once again. The plan was to meet at her cousins’ house to prepare since she lived the closest to the church but she needed to go get her mother first.

“I will see you later love,” James said with a wink when she came to kiss him goodbye. When she was gone he rose from the bed as well going to shower. He still had a few hours until he needed to be fully ready at twelve thirty since they ceremony began at one. The plan was to go to lunch with his groomsmen and to visit a barber to be properly cut and shaved, Sirius needing it the most since his hair had become longer than normal.

Lily’s hair had been pulled into a pony tail with a few parts of her hair twisted before going back into it. The pony tail itself was curled then pinned to her head making it like a bun in the back with white baby’s breath pinned in as well. Her makeup was very light and natural since her skin was already beautiful without the help of it.

“I can’t believe it is today,” Lily said excitedly as her bridesmaids changed into their dresses. Their makeup was a light blue to match the dress and their hair was half up half down with small ringlets throughout it.

“Ready to be suffocated?” Lily’s mother joked as she placed the corset top around her then began to tightly pull at the laces. It was really not needed in her opinion Lily was already skinny enough but that was how the dress was designed.

Lily took a sharp intake of breath as her mother began to pull and she grabbed the back of chair for support. “It is tighter then I remember,” Lily said before laughing as her mother finished up the last bits. It was twelve now and they only had a half hour left to finish getting ready, though only Lily was left who needed to finish.

With the help of the other girls as well as her soon to mother in law, Lily pulled on the main part of the dress which had a straight cut that hugged tightly to her body, revealing the tops of her breasts which were pushed up from the corset. The sleeves were very thin made of white sheer that barely covered her shoulders and gave no support they were only there for look. The top was heavily beaded and tight until it reached her hips where it fanned out a great length with fewer beads. They opted to attach the train and place the veil on once they were at the church. “Ready?” Lily asked turning around to face everyone and she saw her mother crying a bit.

James was already at the church and he was pacing around the room while everyone adjusted ties and boutonnieres. His nerves were starting to get to him, but he was more excited than anything else, and time seemed to be dragging.

“Relax your making me nervous and all I have to do is hand you the ring,” Sirius said as he looked for the little boy running around that was to be ring bearer. It was James’ younger cousin who was only six years old and already stated his unhappiness about having to walk with Maggie, Lily’s little cousin who was to be flower girl.

“Ready?” James’ father asked popping his head into the room. All of the guests had arrived and were taking their seats. Nodding James checked the time it was quarter till one, turning around to his friends he pulled Sirius into a tight hug before moving to Remus and Peter, then his two cousins. “See you out there mate,” Remus said as he watched James leave with his father.

Lily adjusted the veil on her head slightly before turning around to see her father standing there. All the girls had left to line up and she could hear the music begin to play though it was slightly muted from where she was standing. “This is it,” she said quietly as she walked over to hug her father.

“I love you button,” he said quietly as he held her close feeling tears in his eyes. He was giving his last daughter away but he knew it was to a good man.

She could feel tears in her eyes as well, but quickly wiped them away, leaning down to pick up her bouquet of white roses and an assortment of light blue flowers. Quietly they walked out of the room, the only sound was Lily’s muffled heels on the carpet and the hiss of her train behind her. She came to the back of the line and smiled at the last two people standing there which were the two young children.

It seemed to take forever but finally the bridal march began. She could hear the muffled sound of everyone standing up and Lily took a deep breath. “Relax my child,” she heard her father say. Slowly they made their way around the corner into plain view of everyone. Lily glanced at the two small children holding hands halfway up the aisle, then she looked up at James and smiled widely.

When the march started James stood upright and looked at the entrance waiting for Lily to appear and when he saw her it took his breath away. “She is gorgeous,” he heard Sirius whisper and James just nodded in agreement unable to get a word out. Even though it was cliché James thought she looked like an angel walking down the aisle, the light around her seemed to radiate.

Lily glanced to the side where her mother sat before she climbed the few steps to James and saw Petunia had indeed not shown up. She turned back to her father giving him a hug, then watched him take James’ wrist leading his hand to Lily’s like tradition before going to take his seat next to her mother.

“You look beautiful,” James said quietly as they faced the preacher. He was unable to take his eyes off of her throughout his speech. Finally the vows came and James reached behind him to get the small piece of paper from Sirius since they had both opted to add their own with the traditional.

Facing each other fully now and James looked at his paper before looking up at Lily to start. “Where do I start Lily? From the moment I met you, you took my breath away, and I knew that you were the only person for me, even though it took you seven years to figure that out,” he said smirking a bit as some other people laughed before he continued, “I promise that I will love and cherish you for the rest of my life no matter what happens, I love you, I always have and I always will.” Gulping slightly he folded the piece of paper back up handing it to Sirius, taking the ring now. Following the preacher James then said. “I James Ryder Potter take you Lily Evans as my lawful wedded wife in sickness and in health in rich and poor till death do us part.” With that he slipped the ring onto her finger and he glanced up at her smiling and he could see tears in her eyes.

Taking a deep breath Lily read her vows, her voice shaking and cracking slightly throughout it. Doing just as James did she followed the preachers words, “I Lily Keturah Evans take you James Potter as my lawful wedded husband in sickness and in health in rich and in poor till death do us part,” and she pushed the gold band with their names engraved onto it on his finger before looking up at him to smile, sure her makeup was running down her face.

They stared at one another while the preachers voice boomed, “by the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife,” and then he paused for a second to close his book. “You may kiss the bride.”

James did not need to be told twice, he let go of her hand and gently lifted the veil off of Lily’s face. Not pausing he pulled her into a passionate kiss as the audience clapped and cheered, James swearing that Sirius was the loudest of them all.

“For the first time in public I present to you the newest Mr. and Mrs. Potter,” the preacher finished before stepping back from the alter. Hand in hand they walked down the aisle as people threw rice and flower pedals on them as they descended the stairs and crawled into the limo, James having to pause to stuff Lily’s train in before her himself climbed in.

Waving goodbye to the crowd he shut the door before turning around to face Lily, “how does it feel to be Mrs. Potter?” He asked her with a huge smile as his hand grasped hers.

“Amazing,” she said quietly before leaning over to kiss him once again. The ride to the reception was about a twenty minute drive, so she sat back as James poured them each a glass of champagne, honestly she was surprised he was not asking her questions about how they could get a TV in a car or a refrigerator. Taking hers they clinked them together lightly before each took a sip.

“You looked…look amazing,” James said quietly as he lowered his glass from his lips, the thumb on his free hand rubbing the back of hers.

“Thank you,” she said quietly before leaning in to kiss him once again. Lily had never been so happy, so far today had been the best day of her life. She placed her glass down in a cup holder before she gently placed her hand on the side of his face.

James returned the kiss his hand pushing aside the poof of her dress out of the way so he could grab her side lightly moving himself closer to her. After a second he pulled back and they told each other how getting ready had been. “I swear Sirius was going to lose it when the barber began hacking away at his hair,” James said before taking another sip of champagne.

“He looks better though,” Lily said looking at James. “How did he manage to get your hair to lay flat?” She asked him half teasing but also curious.

“Not sure,” James said with a shrug, “some liquid stuff.”

They were one of the last people to arrive at the reception and James climbed out first before offering his hand to Lily. First things first were pictures before everyone began to drink and ties came off and food was spilled on dresses.

“Mum can you get this off?” Lily called from a side changing room and both of her mother’s appeared and began to unsnap and untie all the clasps before folding it up nicely and placing it in a box. Lily felt about ten pounds lighter without it and it was easier to move around now.

When Lily re-emerged she and James danced the first dance together with the lights low and some fog, thanks to Remus and Peter, which covered the floor. “I love you,” James said quietly to her and he leaned down to kiss her as they danced.

It came time for dinner and speeches and Sirius jumped to the gun first begin James’ best man. “First things first congratulations to Lily and James,” he said and raised his glass a bit while everyone clapped. “I have known James since we were both eleven years old, he has been my best friend and was always there for me whether it was issues with my family, or we were just hanging out in our rooms talking. I’ll never forget the first time he saw Lily, he would not stop talking about her, and he constantly said that she was the girl for him, though no one believed. Then in October of our last year James decided to try one more time,” Sirius said and paused to smile at Lily and James, “and that time Lily accepted. I have been lucky enough to be close friends with them, and I have never seen two people so in love before and I wish you the both the best of luck.” With that he raised his glass again and everyone took a sip out of their own.

Then came time for the garter removal and the bouquet toss and everyone at the reception had a bit to drink, though some more than others. “Ready?” James asked Lily smirking as she took a seat in the chair. He slowly slid his hand up her leg and looked at the group of people watching and winked as cameras snapped all over the place, and Lily blushed violently. Just as slowly as his hand went it up it came back down to reveal a blue lace garter. Turning his back to the group of guys James threw it over his shoulder then turned around to watch the scuffle.

“Break it up,” James called laughing and he saw a hand wave in the air showing he was victor, and he pushed his way through the crowd to reveal it was Remus. “Oh God, you are going to be too shy to do it aren’t you?” James asked him with a smirk.

“Not at all mate,” Remus said with a goofy grin, the only reason why he had gone for it was because he was slightly tipsy so he did not care about it.

Lily rose from her chair and threw her bouquet in the air over her should, the girls were less violent over it and out came Melinda blushing but ready.

James and Lily stood in the front of the group to watch Remus slide the garter up a very red faced Melinda’s leg. “Go Remus!” James yelled which caused Remus to freeze slightly out of embarrassment.

Near the end of the night Lily was surprised to see her sister had arrived with Vernon and was sitting off to the side with her parents. “Don’t go over there,” James said quietly, “it would give her the satisfaction, act like you don’t even see her.”

Lily nodded and walked back to the main table giving her sister the cold shoulder the rest of the night. At one point during cake Petunia looked as if she were coming over to talk to Lily but Lily just walked the other way delving into conversation with one of James’ aunts. Around nine people began to leave, and all that was left was Lily and James as well as both their parents and the marauders.

“You two haven’t left yet?” Remus asked with a smirk as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m surprised James hasn’t been all over you yet,” Peter piped in.

“Guy! Our parents are still around!” Lily squeaked a blush covering her face as she turned around to face the four older people on her right.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” Lily’s father said with a smirk.

“Everyone knows what happens on a wedding night and all honeymoon,” James’ father added causing all the parents to laugh.

“We should get going before someone else says something embarrassing,” James said looking around generally amused about what everyone was saying, though he could tell Lily was highly embarrassed.

After saying their goodbyes Lily and James held hands before apparating with a pop to their honeymoon, not having to worry about their clothes since James parents had brought them to the hotel already earlier that day.