TRENTE ET UN

lily luna's a weasley first then a potter!

"SO WHAT ARE you guys doing for the end of year thing?" Albus asked as they ate lunch. Lily and James looked at each other with knowing smiles as they ate cheese and charcuterie. The four kids were sitting together as the adults were at a vineyard. 

James and Lily sat together and Al and Lily Luna on the other side. Lily Luna wasn't listening as they fumbled with their blue bracelet, but immediately perked up at Albus's question. 

"Funny you should ask," James started. "Lils would you like to do the honors?"

"When we get back to school, we will announce a quidditch tournament between the houses," Lily started, but Albus groaned. "What's wrong with that?"

"Gryffindor always wins and J's ego is going to be bigger than the country," he grumbled.

"That's fair, but I wasn't about to take that away from him," Lily explained.

"Typical," Albus grumbled.

"Well if Scorp asked you to keep the tournament would you?" Lily challenged.

Albus didn't response, but just cursed under his breath, blushing a little.

"And my point," Lily said with a victorious voice. "And then after, we're going to have a ball." 

"A ball?" Lily Luna asked.

Lily hummed and nodded enthusiastically. 

"You're telling me this now?" Lily Luna exclaimed. "We have so much to plan!"

"It's alright! James and I are doing most of it, you just have to show up looking stunning!" Lily soothed.

"Exactly my point!" Lily Luna exclaimed. "I have to find the perfect outfit to wear! And you do too!" 

"How about we help each other?" Lily asked with a smirk.

"And we can choose Al's — " Lily Luna said excitedly.

"No, absolutely not," Albus interrupted.

"Oh come on," Lily Luna begged. "Just one eeny weeny suit?"

"I'm obviously going to match with Scorpius, so no," Albus insisted.

"Fair, I'm backing off, perfectly valid excuse," Lily Luna backed up. "I will stay in my lane from now on."

"Thank you," Albus said as he took a swig of his tea. 

"You and me then!" Lily Luna exclaimed as they looked back at Lily with excited eyes. 

"Alright," Lily said with a blasé smile.

"Right now," Lily Luna insisted.

"Oh, right now, got it," Lily whispered as she got up and grabbed Lily Luna's hand. 

The two of them walked hand in hand up the stairs to Lily's room.

"So," Lily said as she sat herself on the bed. "What's the plan?"

"Well we obviously have to go to the shops in town!" Lily Luna exclaimed, sitting next to Lily.

"Now?" Lily asked, looking at them intently.

"Yes now!" they moaned as they got up and grabbed a sweater from Lily's pile with a mischievous smile. 

"Alright, if you're going to steal a sweater that means I choose the shops we go to," Lily declared.

"Duh," Lily Luna replied. "You're acting like I've been here before."

"Fair enough," Lily conceded.

Lily Luna took Lily's hand as she apparated them to the town. She led Lily Luna up and down the street until she found the perfect shop. 

Lily dragged them inside and instantly saw their eyes light up at the sight of the perfect outfit. Lily knew that Lily Luna would adore it. They bounded over to the mannequin, which held a emerald green, two piece jump suit that was androgynous and very Lily Luna.  

The jumpsuit was wide legged, but the exciting part ( for Lily Luna Potter at least ) was the top half. It was high waisted and reminded Lily of something Harry Styles would wear ( except with a little more titty showing ). The top half was a green corset top that was a little bit looser and less curvy, but still structured.

"Oh my god," they breathed out as they traced their hand along the fabric.

"Do you want to try it on?" Lily asked with a knowing smile. 

Lily Luna nodded enthusiastically as Lily waved over one of the attendants, speaking to them in rapid French. The attendant, who they would learn was named Justine, had starry eyes as she lad them over to the changing area, asking, in English, if they needed any help.

Lily Luna shook their head as Justine looked at Lily to confirm that she didn't need any additional help and upon receiving confirmation, left them to it with a happy smile. 

Lily Luna spent a considerable amount of time in front of the mirror, adjusting the two piece as they saw fit before they let Lily see what they were wearing.

"Come on!" Lily begged from the chair outside the changing rooms. "I want to see! I bet you look amazing!" 

"Alright," Lily Luna mumbled.

 They stepped out from behind the curtain and Lily gasped. They looked amazing in the two piece. 

"So, do you like it?" Lily asked.

"Well do you like it?" Lily Luna asked back.

"It doesn't matter if I like it. What matters is that you feel pretty in it," she replied as she stood behind Lily Luna as they looked in the mirror together. "So do you feel pretty?"

They hesitated, but upon gaining more confidence, nodded with a smile, "yeah, I do." 

"Perfect," Lily replied as she kissed Lily Luna on the cheek.

She wrapped her hands around their waist and squeezed and placed her head on their shoulder. The two of them stared at their reflections in the mirror with content smiles on their face. 

"Would you like to buy it?" Lily asked.

"Haven't got any money on me," Lily Luna replied with a sad smile.

"You don't, but I happened to take the liberty of telling your mum James and I's plans for the end of the year and she fully supported this little shopping excursion and ... voila!" Lily said excitedly as she pulled out Harry's credit card.

"Dad never lets anyone take the muggle card!" Lily Luna exclaimed as she stared at it.

"Who do you think I talked to after?" Lily asked.

"You're the best," Lily Luna replied with a giddy smile, pulling away from the brunette. 

"Only for you," Lily said with a wide smile as she cocked her head to the side. "Now get out of the outfit so we can buy it and then you can wear it whenever and wherever you want."

"Aye aye captain," Lily Luna saluted as they backed into the changing room and pulled the curtain again.

They emerged again with the two piece draped over their arm and back in their regular clothes. Justine took the jumpsuit off of their arm, making small talk as she rang up the two piece at the register. 

Happy with their purchase, Lily Luna swung the bag as they exited the shop. Lily held out her hand expectantly, but Lily Luna looked confused.

"We have to get you something to wear!" Lily Luna exclaimed.

"Oh I'll just be scurrying around making sure nothing goes wrong. I'll just wear one of my old ones," Lily said with a smile.

"Your dad would be offended at that statement, we're getting you another outfit! And besides, support small businesses!" they replied.

"I really hate you sometimes," she grumbled.

"Yeah yeah," they dismissed. "Let's go!" 

Lily Luna dragged Lily out of the store after waving goodbye to Justine and saying merci in their best friend accent and dragged the brunette up the street until a dress shop caught their eye.

"In here," Lily Luna said excitedly.

"Oh dear," Lily muttered.

"You should wear something white!" Lily Luna exclaimed, looking at her intently.

"No, no I should not," Lily quickly shut down.

"If not white, which I totally think you should wear, how about your signature blue?" Lily Luna offered.

"I like blue," she replied with an innocent smile.

"But it's not white," Lily Luna grumbled.

"What is it with you and wanting me to wear white?" Lily asked with a scoff.

"No reason," they said quickly as they disappeared into the shop. 

Lily rolled her eyes and entered soon after, greeting the clerk in French. Lily Luna came bounding up to her with multiple ball gowns draped over their arm, a couple of white ones included.

"I've found some for you!" they exclaimed.

"I'm sure you have," Lily replied as she tried to suppress a smile. 

"Well go on!" Lily Luna exclaimed as they shoved her into a changing room.

Lily shook her head and tried it on anyway. The first couple of dresses weren't great — some were too small and some were too big ( and they didn't have other sizes ). Another one just washed her out, but the last two were a silvery blue and ( begrudgingly on Lily's part ) white one that fit perfectly and looked good. 

Another strange occurrence that happened was that ( probably due to Lily Luna's vivacious personality ) people gathered in the seating area outside of the changing room, cheering Lily on as she tried on dresses. Best part is, they all gave their honest opinions.

It was straight out of a movie, but honestly, for Lily Edwards, that wasn't the weird thing that had happened or that she had heard that holiday. When she stepped out in the blue dress, all of the little old ladies started to excitedly murmur in French. 

She twirled a little bit and laughed as they clapped and cooed. She had to admit, the dress was beautiful. Floor length, with a silky base layer and silver, celestial embroidered chiffon over it. The top was a corset bodice that was sheer except for two cups, that, too, was covered in the celestial embroidery. She felt like a princess as she twirled in the dress and the cut was very flattering on her. 

However, much to Lily Luna's satisfaction, she also looked stunning in the white dress. It, too, was floor length and had a slight train. It was a corset gown with semi-sheer off-shoulder long sleeves. Its sleeves cinched around her wrists, billowing out above it. And at the back, the dress dipped a little into a slight 'v' shape. It felt lighter, to Lily, than the blue dress. It might have been the softness of the fabric. It was much more simple than the previous dress and more elegant. More Lily. 

As she walked around in it, someone opened the door to the shop and a slight spring breeze was let in, making the dress flutter beautifully.

"Look, I don't care if you like the blue one, we're getting you that one," Lily Luna exclaimed as the French grannies agreed with them. "You look like a goddamn princess and James is going to fall in love with you all over again."

"Thanks for the pressure, Lunes," Lily replied sarcastically as she looked at the dress in the mirror from different angles. 

"Anytime," they replied with a sarcastic smile. "Uh- monsieur? Nous ... would like ... uh ... acheter ... le ... dress ... s'il vous plait." 

"Oui, petit fleur," he said with sparkling eyes and a wondrous eyes. "You look devine, mademoiselle." 

"Merci beaucoup, monsieur," Lily replied with a honey glow smile. 

Lily quickly changed back into her previous clothes and handed the man her dress ( that Lily Luna would've have hexed her if she didn't buy ), deciding on the white dress ( albeit via threat and disapproving looks from 10 French grannies ). 

Lily admired Lily Luna as they chatted away with the grannies as they taught them little bits of French and they explained the whole reason why the Edwards and Potter families were there. And then, the grannies came over and cooed over Lily, speaking in rapid French about romance.

How Lily Luna had managed to communicate the entire story of Lily and James in a couple of hours to a group of ladies who understood very little English, was beyond Lily. She turned away from the grannies as she was handed the bag, which she accepted with a smile and a wave goodbye. 

She eventually got Lily Luna out of the shop ( after a couple more minutes of granny time and browsing the options ) and back home to their awaiting parents, in a pop.

"There you are!" Gael exclaimed as he saw them. "We thought you'd been eaten by wolves!"

"Dad-" Lily breathed out. "And you just gave up looking like that?"

"Eh- what's another child?" Gael replied mischievously. "The Potters have three! We might have stolen Albus just for the fun of it! He's much better at the piano than you are."

As if on cue, Albus quickly ran down the stairs and sat down at the piano and started playing 'Flight of the Bumblebee'. He turned and stared at Lily as his fingers moved across the keys at a rapid pace. He did not break eye contact until the entire song was finished and he smiled smugly. 

"That's it, I'm done," Lily announced as she laughed and walked up the stairs. 

She threw open the door to her room, threw the bag to the side and flopped on her bed, only to hear a groan in pain. She quickly scrambled off and saw her boyfriend groaning into the comforter from pain.

"This is why you look where you're going!" he groaned loudly.

"It's not my fault you were just randomly in my room!" Lily exclaimed. "But seriously are you ok?"

He looked up with a red face and a wide smile.

"Yeah, I just want to make you feel bad," he said mischievously.

"I hate you!" she exclaimed as she tackled him into a hug. "But, unfortunately, I also missed you."

"It's only been a couple of hours," he said with a laugh as he wrapped his arms tightly around her and nuzzled his face into her neck.  

"Let me be," she grumbled as she collapsed onto her side. 

Her and James were lying on the bed, on their sides, facing each other. She smiled as he tucked some of her hair behind her ear and she reached forward, kissing him quickly, but he refused to let her pull away. He placed his hand on her exposed cheek and deepened the kiss, smiling as he did. He eventually pulled away and set his forehead against hers. 

"Your dad told me," she said quietly. "About your grandparents. I've been meaning to tell you."

"He did?" James asked softly.

"Did you know?" she asked as she pulled away and looked at him intently.

He hesitated, but nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, a note of hurt lacing her voice.

"Because it didn't change how I felt about you," he explained. "I still loved you and I love you now, no matter who my grandparents are." 

"I know, but I feel like that's the type of stuff you should have told me, not your dad on spring holiday," Lily said softly as her eyebrows narrowed. "Because it's a pretty big deal. We're basically reincarnations, so that means my life hasn't been my life."

"Yes, it does," he insisted. "You made your own choices — "

"Did I?" Lily asked. 

"Yes, you did," he insisted again. "Because first of all, she wasn't in Ravenclaw!"

Lily laughed a little bit at his exclamation.

"I find it really weird too," he mumbled. "Almost like I haven't made my own choices either. But I don't know — I've had more time to think about it ‚ but at the end of the day, if it means that I get to lead this incredible life with people who love me and who I love right back and I get to date this total badass who is kind and funny and loving, then I would willing accept whatever prophecy or reincarnation or coincidence or whatever the hell happened with us any day." 

"And I wouldn't give up my dads and your family and my friends for anything," she replied as she started to tear up a little. "And I don't know — this really brilliant boyfriend that I have who thinks about things and is generous and attentive and authentic. And I think that at the end of the day, as much as I absolutely adore control, I love you a little bit more." 

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he mumbled. "I should have and it's my fault. You deserve the right to know." 

Lily took in a deep breath and smiled slightly.

"I forgive you, but never keep anything like this from me again," she said seriously. 

"Cross my heart," he said with a smile.

She nodded and scooched closer to him and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she rested her head on his chest.

"I think it's Ted and Victoire's anniversary today," he said out of the blue. 

"Is it?" Lily asked as she shifted her head to face him as he hummed and nodded.

"He sent me a letter the other day. Apparently married life is so different from what he expected. Like for example he doesn't use an alarm anymore, he wakes up to her walking the dogs and she goes to sleep only when she hears him come in from work. They said it's quieter than they expected," he explained.

"Huh," Lily said softly, thinking. "Anything else?"

"Well apparently she's really into house plants like succulents and her and Neville owl weekly to talk about them. Also they've started putting together the nursery and it's duck themed," he continued.

"Ducks? That's so cute!" Lily giggled.

"Yeah, apparently there's a lot of them where they live in Yorkshire," he said.

"Are they little yellow duckies or real ones?" she asked.

"Dunno," James replied. "Guess we'll have to visit and find out."

"That would be fun," Lily said with a smile. "Victoire could probably use all the help she can get with a baby. Have they come up with a name list?"

"Mostly gender-neutral ones," he replied.

"Sensible, let the child decide for themselves," she hummed.

"Names like Brooklyn, Lark and Oak," he replied.

Lily burst out laughing at the list and he soon joined in.

"That's a ridiculous list of names," she said through her laughter. "What is going on with millennials? Is it the bad filters or the skinny jeans?"

"Maybe it's the side parts," James suggested with a playful smile. 

Lily burst out into her witch cackle as she rolled on her back, eventually opting to cover her face with his chest, while propped on her arms. She felt his chest vibrate from laughter as well as they laughed at the baby names. 

"I'm sorry but Lark?" she asked through laughter. "The amount of therapy they'd have to put that child through due to bullying."

"Well do you have any better options?" James asked through his laughter.

"Than Oak?" Lily asked incredulously. "I could name a few off the top of my head!"

"Well..." James pressed.

"I don't know — I quite like the name Peter, though, considering wizards haven't had great luck with people named Peter, maybe not. And I have always liked James, even before I met you. I love the old queen like names like Margaret and Elizabeth and Victoria," Lily rambled. "I don't know, they just seem powerful. And any name is gender neutral if you make it, but if you want typically gender neutral names, I quite like August. I find it to be beautiful. And this one's a bit millennial, but I love the song 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles, so maybe Jude as well. What about you?"

"Well, my family kind of has the thing now where we name everyone after family members. But honestly, that's such bull, like Minerva McGonagall literally raised my father, just as much as nan, so maybe Minerva," James replied.

"You seem pretty passionate about that one," Lily said as she smiled up at him.

"She kind of raised me too I guess," James mumbled. "Beat some humility into me while mum and dad were being mum and dad." 

"We could freak your dad out and have a kid named Harry," Lily joked.

"And live in Godric's Hollow," James said.

"That could be fun. It's a beautiful neighborhood," she replied.

"And there's this house there that I've always loved. It's abandoned now, not my grandparent's house, but it was this old lady's. It's a beautiful house," James said.

"That sounds beautiful!" Lily said. "I only have one request as of now."

"And that is?" James asked.

"Could we make the kitchen green? Like a nice sage green?" she asked. "I've always loved it. We could paint it ourselves!" 

"Yeah, of course," he replied with a smile. "And we could have this wallpaper that my Aunt Fleur sometimes makes where it's floral, but the flowers grow and change with the season."

"That sounds heavenly," Lily breathed out. "And we could have a clock like I've heard your grandmother has."

"You could always make sure I was actually at quidditch," James joked.

"Not like that," she said. "Because that clock is built on love magic, right? And I'd want as much of that in our house as possible." 

"And we could have little Harry and little Minerva on there," James continued with bright eyes. "Any more?"

"I'm not pushing more than two humans out of my body," Lily grumbled.

"Fair enough, and you could have your own art studio out in the back," James said. "With all of the Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald records that you could want." 

"And we could have extra guest rooms for when Lorcan and Fred visit and Lysander and whoever he's with," Lily said. "Each with their favorite sweets."

"You're wicked, you know that?" James asked.

"Only the best for my boys," she said with a content smile. "And we could have a big garden that the entire family tends to with a gazebo and lights and a pond with koi fish or something!"

"And we could grow azaleas and tulips and lilies," he mocked.

"Haha very funny, but also roses and carnations please," she said with a smile.

"Or we could go out into the countryside with a bigger estate and have a whole farm if we wished or woods," he said. "Woods are always fun."

"Teach them ancient witchcraft," Lily suggested. "Stuff that doesn't require wands like manifestation and crystals and astrology. Estelle would love it."

"And we'd have Uncles Lorcan, Lysander, Fred, Ben, Teddy, Henry, Albus, Scorpius and Charlie and Aunts Nyah, Ruby, Victoire, and Estelle. And then just Lunes I guess?" James said.

"Too many uncles," Lily mumbled. "They could be coven master Lunes?" 

"Blue bracelet?" James asked and Lily nodded. "They would love it." 

"It sounds wonderful," Lily hummed.

"And my dad's dad's dad had a manor of sorts in Cornwall, but it was destroyed during the First Wizarding War by the Death Eaters," James suggested. "They added a lot of protections to it, so muggles don't really go there and dad knows where it is. We could go there and rebuild something."

"But would your dad be ok with it? I mean it is where his father grew up," Lily asked.

"Probably, we could ask," James suggested. "And besides, I've always wanted to visit at least once. There must be so much magic present there." 

"And then we could have a huge garden!" Lily exclaimed giddily.

"And then we could have a huge garden," James repeated softly as he shifted onto his side so Lily was on her back and he was facing her.

Then reality hit.

"Did we just plan a life?" Lily asked, her eyes wide. 

"I think we did," James shrugged.

"Oh," Lily breathed out, her eyes searching the ceiling. 

"Do you want to try and live it with me?" James asked, looking at her intently. 

Lily went silent, staring at the ceiling, until, finally, a soft smile found its rightful place on her face.

"Only if we paint the kitchen sage green," Lily teased softly.

"I think that can be arranged," James teased right back.

"But- but not right after Hogwarts," she said looking over at him. "I want to wait if that's ok."

"I'd wait until my death bed for you, darling," he replied softly. 

She blushed as she looked over at him, her smile growing wider ( as she tried and failed to bite it back ). She turned on her back and tackled him into a hug. Once she had relaxed again, they both melted into the hug as she nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck and he kissed her shoulder. 

The rest of holiday wasn't a dream, because they now believed that everything was, in fact, real. Instead, it went by like your favorite song as you dance around in your room at golden hour, free and truly alive. 

When the end of the holiday came all too soon, the Potters bid their goodbyes to the Edwards family, promising to cook together and drink copious amounts of wine. They knew that they'd be around each other for a very long time. 

And so, the blue shutters were closed again that season, Lily bid farewell to the magical house once again, knowing she'd see it again very soon and they all went back to England. To their normal lives with a new sense of peace and love. 

But, as the reality set in about some flowers blossoming in spring, other things have to be left behind. It was the natural cycle. And so, excited desperation set in at the thought of growing up and leaving Hogwarts for the time being. 

"You ready?" James asked, looking at Lily at Platform 9 3/4 with their families surrounding them. Albus and Lily Luna had already made their way onto the train so they could give the two 7th years some time to be sad. 

"It's the worst feeling," Ginny said kindly. "Knowing that this is the last time, but there's nothing you can do about it."

"But what wonderful things you both have to look forward to," Harry finished for her.

"I would not know what they are talking about," Pierre said. "As everywhere I have left, I have not missed. Us French are deliberate like that, but I can imagine."

"Pierre that did nothing," Gael tutted. "Just remember to enjoy it, sweetheart." 

"I love you dad," Lily said as she hugged Gael. "Je t'aime papa."

"Good luck, ma cherie," Pierre said as she engulfed him in a hug.

She looked over at James who was hugging his parents, but a little bit past him, she saw something that took her breath away.

Henry Stints hugging his mother goodbye and then turning and hugging his step father. A smile found itself on her face. 

She turned and faced Ginny and Harry and gave them each hugs, bidding them goodbye as James did the same with Gael and Pierre. 

Lily and James turned around to see Lorcan, Lysander and Fred waiting for James, but he looked over at Lily.

"You go," she coaxed.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Positive," she said softly. 

She watched with a smile and a small sense of deja vu as she saw him head off across the platform. He turned around and stopped dead in his tracks, also getting deja vu from the first time he saw her and swore to himself he'd win her. Looks like he was right. 

She looked away first and walked over to Henry and his parents.

"Excuse me, I'm lost," she said in a mock confused voice.

"Oh sure where — " he said as he turned around. "What?"

"I'm Lily, it's nice to meet you," she said as she stuck out his hand. Henry laughed as he grabbed it and shook it, remembering their first meeting being exactly like this. 

"I'm Henry Jacob Stints," he replied with an amused tone. "And this is my mother Mrs. Stints."

"Although you may call me Georgiana," she said kindly. "And this is Adhar."

"It's lovely to meet you Lily, Henry has told me all about you," he said as he shook her hand.

"It's lovely to meet you too Adhar," Lily said with a kind smile. 

"Shall I show you to the train?" Henry asked as he held out his arm.

"You should say goodbye first," Lily whispered as she stepped back.

"Bye mum," Henry said as he hugged her one last time. "Bye Adhar."

Henry also hugged Adhar and was about to leave before his mother grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

"Take these to Will, dear," she said gingerly as she handed him a wrapped stack of presents. "And ... I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks, mum," Henry said softly. 

They shared a look that only meant things were good before he turned away and looked at the train. Lily took his arm and led him to the door that they'd entered, looking back one last time. 

She glimpsed James trailing after his friends and blew him a kiss. He caught it before bounding into his usual compartment. He had hunted through every compartment in the train during his first ride to find this one, because if you climbed on top of the seats, right where the bags went, you could still read: 'Property of James, Sirius, Peter and Remus. KEEP OUT!'. 

The boys sat in their usual positions and while they were melancholy that they'd never have this moment ever again, they relished in the liminal space between home and school. The place where they had found each other and thus themselves.

On the other side of the train, Lily and Henry trailed down the compartments and finally found it. It was the last one along the row and had 'Lavender + Parvati' in a heart etched into the window sill along with other couple's names. And so, they sat together for the last first time. Just Henry and Lily. Because this was how it started and this was how it ended.