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Author: girlyswot Story: Time's Winged Chariot Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 14 Words: 14,262
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world all belong to J.K.Rowling. I’m just grateful she lets me play in it from time to time. James walked slowly down the boys’ staircase, carrying the Invisibility Cloak over his arm. Lily was already anxiously waiting for him at the bottom of the girls’ stairs. He went over to her and took her hands in his. ‘Okay?’ he murmured. She nodded, but he could feel her trembling. ‘We don’t have to…’ Lily raised her clear green eyes to gaze into his own. ‘I want to. I’m just a bit… nervous.’ James squeezed her hands. ‘Me too.’ Lily seemed to draw comfort from this. ‘Truly?’ He nodded, smiling ruefully. ‘It is going to be okay, isn’t it?’ She tried to sound confident. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ James had thought about this. ‘Even if it’s a disaster tonight, it doesn’t change anything. I’ll always love you Lily and the rest… well, I’m sure we’ll get it right sooner or later.’ She looked up at him, eyes shining. ‘Do you mean that?’ ‘Of course.’ ‘Oh.’ She let out a long breath and rested her head on his chest. James put his arms around her and held her close. ‘Come on then, sweetheart. Show me this Charm-breaking you’ve been practising.’ Lily smiled and turned to the archway leading up to the girls’ staircase. She muttered a spell and as she passed her wand over the entrance it began to glow with a pale pink sheen. Next, Lily raised her wand to the upper edge of the Charmed area and began to probe it, as if looking for something. At length she found what she was seeking, hooked her wand into the Charm and gently pulled it away, twisting her wand so that the pink barrier wrapped around it, rolling up into a gleaming cylinder. Lily looked over to James. ‘Can you climb over?’ He leapt onto the third step, taking care not to touch the shimmering pink at all. Lily carefully unwound the charm, sealing it back into place until it disappeared from view once more. She smiled with satisfaction and walked upstairs muttering, ‘Follow me’ to an invisible James. ‘You’re incredible,’ he murmured. James slipped past when Lily opened the door to her bedroom. Discarding his Invisibility Cloak, he began to prowl about, fascinated by this new insight into Lily’s life. The papers on the desk were tidied into neat piles and clothes were carefully folded on the bedside chair. Comparing it with the chaotic heaps of stuff he was accustomed to, he wondered if she’d cleaned up specially, then decided she probably kept it like that all the time. Lily was busy putting Silencing Charms on the walls and a Locking Charm on the door. She grabbed her towel and pyjamas. ‘Don’t wander off,’ she instructed James. ‘Don’t make a noise, and don’t snoop!’ He grinned. ‘I won’t be long.’ When Lily returned, she found James lying on her bed reading a book she’d left on her bedside table. He’d taken off his shoes and socks and wore just a rumpled T-shirt and flared jeans. Seeing Lily, he began to read aloud: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’ He snapped the book shut and laughed. ‘She knows her stuff, this…’ he looked at the cover ‘Jane Austen. What’s it about?’ Lily folded her clothes and hung up her towel while she told him. ‘It’s about the world’s most stuck-up, arrogant man who looks down his nose on everyone and, because he’s rich and handsome, they let him get away with it. All except one.’ Lily shot James a quelling glance. ‘She sees just how arrogant he is and mocks him for it. Sound familiar?’ James showed an innocent countenance. ‘Then he realises that despite her low social status, her lack of fortune and her vulgar family, he loves her. Only by then she’s too aware of all his faults to see beyond them.’ Lily paused, watching James’s disappointed reflection in the dressing-table mirror. ‘And that’s how it ends?’ Lily shook her head. ‘He does something incredibly kind for her sister which makes her realise he’s not such a prat. So when he asks her again, she realises she loves him after all. He gets over his pride and she gets over her prejudice and they live happily ever after.’ ‘Mmm.’ James raised a disbelieving eyebrow. ‘Sounds a bit far fetched to me.’ Lily grinned. ‘I agree. Why would anyone ever fall for such a proud, arrogant idiot?’ James reached out and began to tickle her. ‘Like you did?’ ‘No!’ she cried in a suppressed screech. ‘Who said I fell for you?’ He increased his torture, pulling her until she lay beside him on the bed. He rolled on top of her and grinned down at her flushed face. ‘Say it,’ he ordered. ‘What?’ She was still trying to get her hands free to exact some revenge. ‘Say that you fell for me,’ he explained patiently. Lily bit her lip. ‘Oh, all right. I fell for the proud, arrogant prat who could never resist showing off and whom everyone adored.’ James bent as if to kiss her but she held him off and continued. ‘And then I found he was kind and gentle and thoughtful and generous and I fell for him all over again.’ She curled a hand into his dark hair and pulled him down into a long, loving kiss. James waited on the stairs, watching as Lily broke the Charm again. Her red hair tumbled over shoulders which, he now knew, were lightly dusted with tawny freckles. ‘Okay.’ She nodded to him and he made his exit. Before she could disappear up the stairs again, James took hold of her arm. ‘Lily, I just wanted to say…’ She looked up at him with such love and trust, he felt he might burst with happiness. ‘…that was the most incredible… You are the most incredible… Thank you.’ ‘You too.’ Lily was blushing but smiling happily. ‘Look, I know you said it was too soon. And I really don’t want us to have another another row about this, so if you just want to say no, that’s fine. But… well, maybe I’ve got it all wrong, but it seems to me that things have changed. Not just last night. Though, of course, last night did change things…’ James ran his hands through his hair in desperation. ‘I’m so bad at this.’ He laughed shakily. Lily was looking at him with such patient tenderness that suddenly he knew he could say anything to her. ‘Lily, will you?’ James gazed pleadingly at her. ‘Not straightaway, I don’t mean. We can wait as long as you like, but if you’d just promise that some day…’ She stopped him with a kiss. Then she moved her mouth close to his ear and whispered something. James gave a great roar of triumph and lifted Lily quite off the ground. She was laughing and then they were kissing and hugging and laughing together. ### Every year Lily dreaded the end of year journey back to King’s Cross on the Hogwarts Express. She loved and missed her family and looked forward to seeing them, but she hated having to say goodbye to her friends and give up magic for two months. This last time her feelings were even more mixed than usual. She was desperately missing her family and trying not to think about the fact that she wouldn’t be seeing them. At all. And she was sad to leave school. Hogwarts felt like such a secure place, known and reliable. But she was going home with James. They’d have a month together before they got their NEWT results and she knew James had big plans for making the most of it. She was over age now and had no restrictions on using magic. And, much as she’d loved school, there was part of her that was glad to be done with books and exams and timetables. If she were completely honest, none of these thoughts were uppermost in Lily’s mind during her last morning at Hogwarts. She packed her trunk and ate her breakfast, giggled with the girls and helped the prefects organise the school onto the train but all the while she was reliving moments from the night before. And that one moment when the early morning sun was streaming into the Gryffindor common room and she was being swung into the air and she’d known that she and James would be each other’s forever. They’d barely spoken since then. James had passed her chair at breakfast and muttered that he was going to sit with the boys on the train. Lily nodded her consent and allowed herself just one glance at those twinkling eyes. He caught his breath and she saw him swallow hard before he stood up and moved away. Platform 9¾ was its usual busy self as parents tried to locate their children and the Muggle-borns headed straight through the wall to where their families waited beyond. Seventh years who’d passed their Apparition tests simply waved their goodbyes and disappeared. Lily hugged all her friends, extracting promises that they’d all come for James’s birthday party next weekend. She was surprised when each of the Marauders in turn bent to kiss her cheek and wish her well. Eventually, only she, James and Sirius were left standing on the platform. James clapped Sirius on the shoulder. ‘Coming for lunch tomorrow?’ Sirius nodded. ‘Tell your mum you think I haven’t been eating properly lately. Exam stress, perhaps?’ Lily laughed. ‘I don’t think you need worry, Sirius. Mrs Potter seems to think it’s her life’s work to feed you.’ They all grinned and James slipped an arm round Lily’s waist. Sirius raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘I’ll be off then.’ Lily smiled shyly but James waved his friend off impatiently. ‘Well!’ Lily turned to James. ‘Well,’ he agreed, curling a hand into her hair and pulling her towards him. ‘Listen, sweetheart.’ Lily was engaged in kissing along his jaw. He put his hands on either side of her face and turned it up to look into her eyes. ‘You’re not regretting it? Haven’t changed your mind?’ He spoke lightly but she could see a nervous muscle twitching in his cheek. Lily shook her head firmly. ‘No. I haven’t changed my mind about anything.’ ‘Good.’ James smiled in evident relief. ‘I sent an owl to Mum this morning so she’s not expecting us for a couple of hours yet. We have some shopping to do.’ Lily looked surprised but went with him to Diagon Alley willingly enough. They left their trunks at the Leaky Cauldron and wandered hand in hand along the street. When they reached Flourish and Blotts, James stopped. ‘I’ve got to go to Gringotts. Why don’t you wait here? Go in and browse the Advanced Charms section or something. Okay?’ He bent to kiss her cheek and disappeared, leaving Lily staring after him. Shrugging her shoulders, she did as she was told, wondering if perhaps she might find something for James’s birthday present. ‘There you are!’ James smiled at Lily from between the shelves of books. ‘It didn’t occur to me you’d be in the Quidditch section. Looking for some new moves to impress me with, darling?’ Lily put the book she’d been skimming through back on the shelf. She’d given up the idea of getting James a book. He’d want something much more fun. ‘Where are we going?’ she enquired, when James led them down an unfamiliar sidestreet. ‘Here.’ He pointed out a little shop on the right. Its dirty window was barred and darkened but Lily couldn’t mistake the flash of diamonds resting on the dark blue velvet background. ‘Come on.’ James was holding open the heavy door, for Lily to go in. ‘Oh!’ She put a hand to her chest and looked around her in wonder. It was Aladdin’s cave. A wizened little man with pomaded hair hurried forward bowing and nodding and smiling. ‘Welcome, Mr Potter, sir. And welcome to this lovely lady, who I believe I have not yet been privileged to meet?’ He looked up at Lily expectantly, his smile revealing several gold teeth. ‘I… I’m Lily Evans,’ she stammered, taking his proffered hand and having her own shaken vigorously. ‘Henrik Orzel. At your service, Miss Evans.’ He waved his arms expansively and a large red velvet sofa appeared. James and Lily sat down and were immediately offered all kinds of refreshment. Lily accepted some pomegranate juice and the most delicious Turkish delight filled with pistachio nuts. She was slightly unnerved by Mr Orzel’s fixed gaze which never seemed to leave her face. After a few minutes Orzel clicked his fingers and began shouting orders. A succession of shop assistants appeared, each bearing a velvet covered tray with… Lily gasped… the most exquisite rings she had ever seen. ‘Goblin made,’ announced Orzel proudly. ‘Each one entirely unique, of course. The finest quality stones, the purest gold.’ Lily looked at James in amazement. He nodded encouragingly. ‘Whichever you like, sweetheart. Why don’t you try one on?’ He beckoned to the nearest assistant who knelt in front of him. James picked up the ring, a finely wrought gold band delicately chased with flowers and leaves, studded with rubies and emeralds. As he slid it onto Lily’s finger, she could feel it moulding itself to fit her perfectly. ‘No, no,’ declared Orzel. ‘Too heavy for such a delicate hand.’ He motioned another assistant forward. This time a spray of sapphires and diamonds glittered like a wave against the velvet. ‘Oh,’ breathed Lily, ‘this is beautiful.’ ‘Beautiful, yes,’ admitted Orzel, ‘but not for a fire-head like you, my dear.’ James laughed and slipped the ring from her finger. After half an hour, when Lily was beginning to feel utterly bewildered by the number of rings she’d tried, James slid a simple gold band onto her finger. It was set with square cut jewels graded from palest yellow diamonds through deep golden topazes to scarlet red rubies which, when it was fitted to Lily’s hand, emitted a flash of fire. ‘Perfect!’ proclaimed Mr Orzel whose red face beamed with satisfaction. ‘Well?’ James checked that Lily was happy. She looked up at him speechlessly. ‘It’s… incredible,’ she stammered, struggling to find words to describe how the ring reflected exactly the way James made her heart flash with fire. ‘It just feels… right. Perfect,’ she echoed. ‘Good.’ He squeezed her hand and went to pay. Lily was still looking down at the ring in wonder when James led her out of the shop. But the eyes that she turned to him when they got outside were troubled. ‘What is it?’ She grimaced. ‘I love it, James. I really do.’ ‘But?’ He folded his arms across his chest and waited. Lily looked down at the floor and muttered. ‘It wasn’t cheap, was it?’ ‘Oh, I’m sorry, darling. Had you set your heart on a cheap ring?’ he enquired, his hazel eyes flashing dangerously at her. She looked pleadingly up at him. ‘Don’t be cross. I just… Are you really sure you want to spend all that money on me?’ ‘Arrogant, rich and handsome, remember?’ She couldn’t remember him ever sounding so angry. Not with her, anyway. ‘Are you really?’ It had never occurred to Lily that James might be rich. His parents’ home was comfortable, but not spectacular. And he never flashed money around at school. Not like some people. ‘Which?’ His monosyllabic answer showed no sign of softening. ‘Well, I know you’re arrogant.’ She kissed one corner of his mouth. ‘And I think you’re incredibly handsome.’ And the other corner. ‘But I don’t have a clue about your financial situation.’ ‘Ah.’ His shoulders relaxed just a little. ‘Well. You remember your pile of gold?’ They’d been together to check the contents of the Gringotts vault Lily had inherited from her mother. She’d been pleasantly surprised at the unexpected wealth waiting for her. ‘Yes.’ James blushed uncharacteristically, spreading out his hands in a self-deprecating gesture. ‘Well, I inherited, I don’t know, maybe fifty or a hundred times as much when I was seventeen.’ ‘Oh.’ Lily thought about this. ‘And your parents?’ ‘Have quite a lot more,’ he confirmed. ‘And the house, of course.’ ‘Of course,’ she repeated. ‘And you’re an only child, so…’ ‘…so I’ll inherit everything. Yes.’ Lily regarded James steadily for several minutes, noticing the redness creeping around his ears and neck. ‘Quite a catch, then?’ Lily sounded as if she might be joking. Or not. James shrugged cautiously, still looking embarrassed. ‘Good job I didn’t know all that yesterday.’ Lily called over her shoulder as she began to walk back to Diagon Alley. ‘I might have been tempted to marry you for your money.’ She winked at James and they both burst out laughing. He grasped her hand, ‘Come on. Mum’ll be getting frantic.’ ‘Did you tell her?’ ‘No. But I bet she’s guessed.’ Lily glanced down at her new ring once more. ‘It really is beautiful, James. Thank you so much.’ ‘Can’t you thank me better than that?’ he enquired innocently. ‘I thought we were in a hurry.’ ‘Not that much of a hurry,’ he murmured. ‘James?’ Lily pulled away after a few moments. His lips curved into a smile and he pulled her back towards him. ‘No, James. Did you hear that?’ ‘What?’ A second scream, louder than the one Lily had thought she heard, made them both reach for their wands. They eyed each other for a second, then James nodded and they turned, faces set grimly towards the ugly flashes of light and the now persistent wailing of more than one voice. With a shiver, Lily remembered something James had said to her once, long ago. He’d told her that they had to be together, to show Voldemort how wrong he was. And then he’d said he would be proud to fight a battle for her. To die for her, if it came to it. Well, it wouldn’t come to it today, she would make certain of that. Lily lifted her head high and stared into the masked face of the Death Eater who was cornered in the unused doorway, shooting hexes in every direction. She raised her wand, pleased to see that her arm was steady. Her throat was dry and she had to swallow hard before she could open her mouth to utter the spell. Their war had begun. A/N This completes the second in what I hope will be a trilogy of Lily/James fics. The final part of the trilogy is not yet begun and I’m not certain how soon it’ll reach the top of the list. But I hope you’ve enjoyed it and the first part in the series: Had We But World Enough and Time.
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