N/A: Hello, everyone! This is the official last chapter! The next one will be the epilogue! So saaad! I will miss this story so very much! Well, let's leave the sappiness for later and get on with it, shall we? On you go, now...

P.S.: HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you who celebrate it, which I do not ^^

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#46 – A Snowy Wedding

The twenty-fifth of December came earlier than ever that year. The sky was white with clouds that had been emptied of snow the night before. The garden was covered with it: white, fluffy snow. Except for the flowers, they had been kept magicall y to last all year long and not die due to cold or heat.

In his old bedroom, lying facing up and biting on his lip, James Potter was scared. Not of the wedding, of the marriage, of the cerimony, but of making a complete fool of himself and Lily hating him forever. He didn't want to fuck up. He wanted it to be perfect. James knew she'd look beautiful – since, frankly, when did she not? – and knew the bridesmaids had done a good job with everything. The decoration began arriving the morning before and it all looked great! The cake was delicious. The day was shaping up to be quite a good day. There was a knock on his door and James stood up.

'Come in.' He said and Sirius walked in wearing a happy grin.

'Morning, groomy!' he greeted. James smiled back and nodded.

'Good morning, Pads...' he murmured.

'Wedding jitters?' asked Sirius, sitting on the edge of the bed. James shook his head.

'I'm just nervous. Don't want to screw it up, you know?'

Sirius snorted and patted him on the back. 'Dude, you'll do fine! Just don't worry so much! It's Christmas!'

James agreed. It was no good worrying too much about it. He'd be fine. And at 5, he'd be married to Lily Evans. He, James Potter, was getting married to Lily Evans, the Lily Evans with the beautiful green eyes and feisty attitude, at 4:30! She'd be his and he'd be hers. Forever. Bonded for life, he thought.

'Have you written your vows?' Sirius asked bringing James back to Earth from his transe.

'Yeah... I don't know if it's good enough, though... And I actually might make something up on the spot...'

'Oh, yeah.' Sirius commented, standing up and going to the door. 'I know how you like to be spontaneous... Just do what feels right, mate.' He then left, leaving a thoughtful James behind.

What feels right, James thought, thing is everything feels right when I'm with her...

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'GET UP!' Lily's eyes darted open when Hestia began screaming in her ears. The redhead yawned and stood up, frowning.

'What time is it?' she asked, looking around only to find her three dutiful bridesmaids staring right back at her with huge smiles on their faces.

'Ten to ten!' answered Emmeline with a squeal. Lily sighed and buried herself in the cocoon she'd built with her covers.

'Too early. Going back to sleep. Night-night.' She moaned. She then heard Hestia groan and got her sheets and duvet removed from her comfy, warm self. 'Hestia!'

'You have to get up! We have six hours to get ready!'

Lily rolled her eyes as she got up and began putting on her robe. 'i can get ready in ten minutes! What I can't is get sleep! I spent the whole night twisting and turning, couldn't get a decent position to sleep!' she said.

'Nervous?' asked Mary, hugging her friend. Lily shook her head.

'No... I just got so used to sleeping curled up against James and without him the bed is just so cold.'

'Awn, how cute! Well, after tonight, you'll be with him forever!' said Emmeline. 'Now, come, we made breakfast! Plus we got the guys to come hourly to give updates on the location!'

'Wonderful!' said Lily with faux-enthusiasm.

The girls left Lily's bedroom and went to the kitchen, where Sergio seemed to pout.

'What did they do to you, Serg?' Lily asked, picking him with a laugh. The cat was all groomed and fluffed, and even had a tiny bow on its collar. He hissed with his head turned to Hestia. Lily was always impressed by how amazingly clever her cat was, then she remembered he was a magical cat and therefore completely distinc fom the regular Muggle cats her old-lady neighbours had when she was growing up in Surrey.

'He has to look nice. I regret nothing!' Hestia said, glaring at the feline. Lily snorted and let Sergio go.

A few minutes later, when the girls were happily chatting during foaming cups of tea and scones made by Emmeline – which tasted absolutely fantastic – Remus came in through the front door with a grin. Apparently he had a key, Lily observed while watching her friend take a seat next to Mary and eating a scone.

'Morning, ladies.' He said smiling.

'How's everything at the Head Quarters? All going according to my schedule?' asked Mary, the Major Maid of Honour. She had been like a colonel ever since given the job. It was remarkable how she handled catering people and dress people and flower people. Best person for the job, Lily thought with a smile.

'Aye aye, Captain!' said Remus, saluting her. She shoved him and chuckled. 'The flowers are in place, the chairs look very girly and wedding-y and James is pissing his trousers, he's so nervous.'

'What is he nervous about?' asked Lily, raising an eyebrow and growing a little scared he'd back out.

Remus chuckled and shrugged. 'He's afraid he'll screw up and you'll all be mad at him.'

'He better not, then.' Said Mary. Emmeline and Hestia laughed. Lily glared at them.

'He won't do anything wrong! James will be perfect!' she protested.

The girls laughed and Remus shook his head with a smirk. He finished his second scone and tea, then stood up.

'Well, I've gotta dash. Sirius will be here in an hour for the next update. And maybe something to eat? We'll send James to get food for lunch... Ah, well...' he shrugged.

'Ok. Bye, Remus!' Mary said and he was out the door. Lily looked at where he had been with a smile. He was going to James. Her fiancé. Her future husband. In a few hours, she'd be married to James Potter. She'd be Lily Potter. Lily Potter. That sounded pretty nice. Lily Potter.

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'Oh, man... Oh man!' James was pacing nervously in the louge. He was having a hard time tieing his tie. 'Oh, man!'

'Mate, are you alright?' asked Sirius, joining him. He was wearing a very nice black suit with a dark green tie, just like the one James was trying to tie. 'Having knotting issues?' he asked with a grin. James groaned and jumped nervously.

'Help me!' he squeaked at which Sirius laughed.

'Let me check this...' Sirius then did the tie and James sighed in relief. 'I thought you were an expert in these things...'

'Oh, mate, I'm so nervous it's amazing I haven't forgot how to walk yet.' James said and Sirius chuckled, patting him on the back.

'Just think, when this is all over, you'll be married to Evans.'

'No. I'll be married to Potter.' James winked and they both left the lounge for the altar. It was quarter past four and the guests were all there. 'You have to go for the bridesmaids...' he told Sirius who nodded and left, leaving James alone next to Dumbledore, who was going to minister the wedding.

'Nervous, James?' he asked with that voice that seemed to be millenia old.

'Very much so, sir.' James admited, with a weak smile. 'But good nervous, you know?'

Dumbledore chuckled and nodded. James always thought he looked an awful lot like Santa, especially when he laughed, which was a bit ironic and made James think he'd been a really good boy that year, being able to get such an amazing present: Lily as his wife. 'Happiness does come in the strangest of ways. And being nervous doesn't have to mean something bad.'

'I agree... Dad says he was scared shitless – oh, sorry – when, hm, when he married Mum.'

Another chuckle-nod combo and Dumbledore smiled fondly at the dark-haired boy, no man, standing in front of him. 'Even the wisest get nervous.'

'Indeed.' Said James, but he stopped when suddenly music began to play. He looked at the end of the aisle and Sirius was walking down with Mary. They both had huge grins and she was wearing a pretty dark green dress that matched Sirius' tie. She was carrying a bouquet that had flowers which James could not name, but was pretty nonetheless. They seemed happy and light, and that made James feel less intimidated.

He looked around at their guests. The Longbottoms. Fabian, Gideon and Billius. Marlene with Kingsley. Gwenog was there, too. A few of this father's mates. They had a little less than a hundred people, which was quite a small number, given the amount of families with which the Potters were acquainted. His friends from Hogwarts were happiest, apparently, finally being able to see James marry Lily. Finally. James smiled at the thought while he watched Remus and Emmeline enter, both smiling at him, then at each other upon realising probably how unlikely this situations might have seemed only three years before.

It was strange how things happened. One day they were fighting and the other they were together as a couple. Of course, a lot had happened in-between, but it all seemed unimportant now that the wedding was happening. Their beautiful, green-garden-y-themed wedding, decorated with loads of flowers, because Lily loved flowers and because James loved Lily. And he also felt that with the lilies and tulips there, Elizabeth Potter was watching over them, smiling with pride, hopefully, at her son. James smiled as Remus patted him on the back then went to stay behind Sirius. Peter and Hestia were close to him now and butterflies began to fly about in his stomach. Lily was close. He could feel that. As soon as they arrived at the alter, the song changed to Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D. James' jaw dropped.

Lily and his father appeared. Mr Potter looked proud and joyous with his daughter-in-law's arm linked with his. And she looked beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking. Gorgeous. Angelic. Radiant. Resplendent. Sublime. Dazzling. Pulchritudinous. Divine. And so much like herself. She was wearing a beautiful white gown and her hair fell on her left shoulder like a crimson cascade. She was carrying a bouquet of pink tulips. He then looked at her face and felt his eyes fill with tears as they locked with hers.

She was so happy. She looked so happy. And she was crying as well. Tears of joy. For marrying him. James felt like he could just run up to her and kiss her forever. But Hestia and Mary would kill him if he did. So he waited. A few minutes later, they approached the altar and Mr Potter smiled as he shook his son's hands and handed Lily's arm to him.

'Take good care of her, son.' He said with a smirk and a wink, giving Lily a kiss on the cheek and going to his seat on the first row.

'I will.' James replied with a whisper, taking Lily's hand and squeezing hand to show her how happy he was. Their eyes met and it was like they were stuck in their own little world. Just them, Lily and James, and it was perfect. It seemed ages before anyone spoke.

'Ready?' asked Dumbledore and the couple seemed to realise there were people around them. They turned to face the elder and nodded. 'Ladied and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of two faithful souls...' he began and James was completely focused. Except that he wasn't. Because all he wanted was to kiss Lily, since they hadn't seen each other since the day before when he was kicked out of his own home. When he came to, it was time for the vows and he was supposed to speak first. Dumbledore looked at him with a smile and nodded for him to start. James cleared his throat and took a small piece of parchment from his pocket.

'Ok. Lily, I love you. I've loved you from the first time I saw you and I still cannot believe you agreed to marry me.' Some people chuckled and so did Lily, so he went on. 'We've been through so much together and everyday I know that you are the best thing that's ever happened to me. You saved me from myself, I was an "arrogant toerag" and because of you I grew up.'He heard Sirius snicker behind him and grinned. 'My father once told me you have one moment, the moment when everything is perfect. And this is mine. Being here with you, getting married, bonded for life. I love you, Lily, and I always will. No 'til death do us part rubbish, always as in for all eternity.' He finished and looked up to Lily's teary smile. It was her turn, so she cleared her throat as well and smiled before she spoke.

'James. Oh, James, I've missed you.' She sighed and the guests laughed. 'Hm, if you told me three years ago I'd be getting married to "bloody-Potter" right now, I would have punched you the face, ha-ha. But, yes, I am and I couldn't be happier. You are my family, my friend, my everything, and I've literally never been happier than I am right at this moment. Looking at you with the realisation that in a few minutes we'll be bonded. I love you and I'm so glad you never gave up on me because I don't think I would've survived the last year without you. So thank you for loving me. And I promise I won't stop loving you even after the world has ended and the next big bang happens!' she smirked and he laughed. So she was trying to win the best vow contest? Well, he'd give her that one, since he was getting the honey moon anyway. They looked at Dumbledore, who quickly wiped a tear and motioned his wand.

'Do you, James Potter, take Lily Evans as you wife?' he asked and James nodded forcefully.

'I do.'

'And do you, Lily Evans, take James Potter as your husband?'

'I do.' She said fondly, tears streaming down her face.

'Then I declare you bonded for life.' He raised his wand and sparkled and little stars started to rain from it, on top of the couple, like a silver shower.

'Can I kiss the bride now?' James asked, looking at the elder wizard after the shower was over. Dumbledore chuckled and nodded.

'Yes, you may.'

'Awesome.' James sighed in relief and held Lily closely, then kissed her passionatedly, while everyone else cheered and laughed with happiness for the newly weds.

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'We're married!' Lily said for the hundreth time when she and James were waiting to be called to the main room for their first introduction as Mr and Mrs Potter. 'We're actually married!'

'I know!' agreed James with a squeaky voice. 'You're my wife!'

'And you're my husband!'

James looked at her, admiring how beautiful her face looked with a little bit of smudged mascara on the corner of her eye due to the tears, and unruly hair from the snogging session they had only three minutes previous.

'I love you, Evans.' He said.

'It's Potter, Potter.' She smirked and he grinned, oulling her for another kiss.

'Ahem.' They heard Sirius clear his throat behind them and parted breathless. 'Come on, pervies, I have to introduce you.' He said with a smirk. James and Lily held hands and smirked back.

Sirius then opened the doors and clinked his glass of Champagne to get everyone's attention.

'Ladies and Gents, I'd like to introduce for the first time, Mr and Mrs Potter!' he yelled, and Lily and James entered in the midst of cheers and cries. They looked around and smiled, taking it all in. All the happiness. For them. As a married couple. Forever. James could not be happier. Except that he could. He knew he'd be a thousand times this happy the day he and Lily started their little family. It was all going according to plan.

After that people came to greet them. First Mr Potter. He hugged his son and his daughter-in-law, tearfully.

'That was a tearjerker!' he said, refering to the cerimony. Bride and groom laughed and hugged him again, in a kind of group-hug that got them all a bit shaken. The came the rest of friends and acquaintances.

Twenty minutes later, they were finally able to sit on their table and enjoy being at the reception. At their table sat Sirius, Remus, Peter, Mary, Hestia and Emmeline, so it was just like old times at Hogwarts.

'This feels like school, sitting together for a meal...' said Hestia.

'True!' agreed Mary, laughing. 'By the way, food is delicious!'

'How does it feel being married?' asked Emmeline. James and Lily exchanged a look and shrugged.

'Same...' Lily answered. 'Although I do feel a littke tingly. Like I'm floating a bit or something...'

'That's probably from the silver shower, love.' Said James. 'I feel that, too... It's weird.'

'Is it wet or something?' asked Remus.

'Not wet. Ticklish.' Lily replied, supporting her chin on her hand. 'Isn't it cool that wizards use the shower thing instead of a ring?'

'It does make more sense...' answered Sirius. Everyone looked at him questioningly. 'What? It does! It's literally a life-long bond!'

'He's right, you know...' nodded Hestia in agreement. 'It was such a beautiful wedding, guys!'

Lily stood up and went to hug her. 'And you pretend to be all tough! I saw you cry your eyes out there!'

''Couse I cried! I love you guys!'

'Awn!' said Mary and Emmeline. Remus and Sirius rolled their eyes.

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'Ok, everybody!' said the DJ in charge of the dance floor. The whole reception stopped to look at him. 'It's time for the bride and groom's first dance! Give it up for Lily and James Potter!'

Lily and James stood up and went hand-in-hand to the dance floor where the first chords of 'At Last' by Etta James began to play. James held Lily and they swayed.

At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song

'I love you so much, Mrs Potter.' James whispered in her ear as they danced and he felt her shiver under his touch.

'I love you too, Mr Potter.' She said kissing his neck with a smile on her lips.

Oh yeah yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover
The night I looked at you

They parted a few inches and James just looked at her face, memorising every feature. Again. Her red lips, her green eyes, the contrast of the white of her skin with the rosy tone on her cheeks, and he counted her freckles. It all made her seem so Lily, and so his now. He was madly in love with that woman.

And I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known

'Can you believe we're actually married?' she asked in a whisper. He chuckled.

'It all seems to unreal...'

'Like a dream...'

'Nah... This is much better than a dream.' He said, smirking.

'Why do you figure?' she asked raising an eyebrow.

'Well, because when I wake up, I actually get to be with you and be your husband... And I wouldn't trade that for the world.'

'Want some crackers with that cheese?' she asked and they laughed.

Oh yeah yeah, and you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in Heaven
For you are mine

At last

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N/A: This is it! Well, minus the Epilogue, which is coming in a couple of days. Oh my God... I can't believe this is over...

I'd like to thank you all for the support and just for reading! It's been an amazing journey and I hope you're able to follow my next story! It's still untitled, but it should be in around the same time as the epilogue.

Anyways, thanks to all my faithful readers! You're awesome and I honestly love you all! Thank you! Thank you! Thaaaank you! Millions of hugs and kissed! And Happy 2012!