XXXXIX. WEDDING BELLS RINGING

     Sirene got ready and all dressed up for the wedding with a very very excited James behind her who was going on about getting to meet Lily and her family. Sirius was talking about meeting Neveah, and Sirene, well, she was kind of still thinking about Andrew, he hadn't sent her a letter back yet, and she completely gets it, his father just died, he needs time. except she doesn't... she's selfish for doing that — she knows, but she cant help it. It's like every fibre of her body is telling her that Andrew hates her guts and he's annoyed by her sending him letters and candies everyday.

     "Look at you" Sirius wolf-whistled at his best friend who was busy slicking his ash brown hair back, "Turning all sophisticated for the girlfriend's family, are we?"

     "Shut up, Pads" Remus grumbled trying to make his hair presentable, "I want her family to like me"

     "That's gonna be tough" James joked but immediately straightened up when he saw the look of exhaustion on Remus's face. Sirene smacked James on the back of his head before trying to fix her hair herself.

     "They're going to love you, Moony" Sirene said with a small smile, "Nobody can hate you — its physically impossible"

     "She's right" Sirius said motioning for Sirene to come over so he could do her hair, as he went through her thick locks detangling them with a hairbrush and then putting it in a low bun, "Besides you're every parent's wet dream — they're lucky to have you as a soon-to-be-son-in-law"

     "Thanks" Sirene said to Sirius before switching positions with him so that she was the one doing his hair now, "So, did she tell you about her parents, or..?"

     "Her parents are aurors at the ministry" Remus said fumbling with his tie, "That's all I know, she didn't really tell me much about them"

     "What else do you want to know? How her parents met and fell in love?" James sniggered as everyone gave him an exasperated look, "Just trying to diffuse the tension."

     "There is no tension" Remus said, "It's
fine I'm meeting up with her parents on the day her brother is getting married, nothing stressful about that."

     "Yikes" Sirene said breaking the silence.

     "Now who's joking in a serious situation?" James said to Sirene who mocked him by mouthing the same words in an exaggerated manner.

     "Ok, everyone calm down!" Remus exclaimed, "Nothing to stress about!"

     "Mate, at this point, you sound like you're trying to convince yourself"

✨

     "Evans" James said with a huge grin on his face, Lily came forward with her flowy red dress that matched her hair, "You look ravishing"

     "Potter" Lily said copying his tone, the smile on her face widnening, "You don't look too bad yourself"

     Behind them Sirene made a gagging noise making James and Lily passed her a glare. "Do you plan on flirting all day, because we kind of have a wedding to get to"

      "Joseph get back here, you are not ruining this for your daughter!" a stern voice called out from behind Lily as two figures came into view, Sirene assumed they were Joseph and Emma Evans, "I'm not ruining anything! I just want to meet the guy!"

     "Dad, really?" Lily said to the tall man with red hair who smiled at the kids as they waved back awkwardly, "You promised me you wouldn't say anything!"

     "I'm not saying anything" Mr Evans raised his hands in mock surrender, "I just want to see your friends that you talk so much about"

     "Don't mind him" Mrs Evans said with a small glare directed towards her husband, "Is that the James you keep talking about, Lily?"

     "Mum!" Lily groaned as her face redenned up, "We're leaving!"

      "Not before they all introduce themselves" Mr Evans said, "Joseph Evans" he raised his hand forward for James to shake.

      "James Potter, sir" James said giving his hand a firm shake.

      "Firm handshake, you do sports?" Mr Evans asked James who nodded weakly as the hold on his hand tighened.

      "Yes" he squeaked out before clearing his throat, "Yes, sir, uh I play Quidditch, I'm a chaser"

      "Interesting" Mr Evans nodded, "I used to play sports myself, rugby, violent game"

     "Joseph" Mrs Evans said with a warning tone taking his hand away from James's, "I'm sure he gets your point, honey"

     "Right" Mr Evans said, his gaze then turned to Sirene, the intimidating look melting away as a smile much like Lily's took its place on his face, "And who might you be?"

     "Sirene Black, Mr Evans" Sirene said with a small smile as she shook his hand, "I'm one of Lily's-"

     "Best friends" Mr Evans said with a grin, "We know, she's told us all about you"

     Sirene smiled back at him and then wiggled her eyebrows at her best friend who gave her a glare. James glanced uneasily between the Evans, Mrs Evans seemed to notice that he was getting uncomfortable and stepped in.

     "Well, it's been a pleasure to meet you all" Mrs Evans smiled at the kids, "Come back soon so we can get to know you a bit better"

     "Of course, Mrs Evans" James said, "We have to go now"

     "Yes, of course" Mrs Evans said, "Have fun and be home before midnight, ok?"

     "Ok, mum" Lily said giving her mom a small side hug, "See you both later"

     Sirene, James and Lily then walked away from the house, James's hand found Lily's and their pace slowed down.

"I feel like I might puke" James said to his girlfriend who chuckled at him, "Seriously, your dad is really intimidating"

"Oh, don't be such a pussy, James" Sirene said rolling her eyes earning a smack on her hand from both James and Lily, "Ow, talk about an abusive friendship"

"My dad's only intimidating for the first few days" Lily said in a comforting voice, "Once you get to know him — he's a really sweet guy"

"Maybe for you" James scoffed, "He's your father"

"Trust me, he's going to love you" Lily rubbed his arm, "It's hard not to love you, James"

It's hard not to love you, Black.

Venom, really not a good time to remind me of him.

No, I know it isn't, but I did it because it's fun.

Bitch.

"So, how are we getting there?" Lily asked as she looked around for some sort of mode of transport, "I don't see a car or something..."

"I'm glad you asked, Lily flower" James said rubbing his hands together in glee, "Because....drumroll please"

Sirene and Lily stared blankly at him.

"Yeah, ok" He said removing the invisibility charm from the brooms, "Tadaa"

"Potter" Lily said, "You know I can't ride a broom"

"I know, that's why I'm gonna be the one riding it" James shrugged looking at Lily who gave a wary look to the broom.

"Heh" Sirene said chuckling a bit at her own joke, "You know what that could mean—"

"You've got such a filthy mind!" James said shaking his head at the girl, "I don't want you around my girlfriend and become a bad influence for her"

"Hey" Sirene said with an offended tone, "Your girlfriend was my best friend first, chicks before dicks!"

"Exactly!" Lily said putting an arm around Sirene's shoulder and poking her tongue out to James, "Seriously though, I don't know if I can—"

"Lily, he wants you to hold on to his waist while he rides the broom" Sirene said in a monotonous voice making the couple redden, "Just go with it"

✨

"Oh my godric!" Lauren said as she came into the view, her blonde hair falling down in perfect curls, "Thank Merlin, you're all finally here — Remus has been stressing all this time and I can't be with him because I've got to greet the guests, so will you handle him, please? Also, you all look beautiful! This way please"

"Thank you" Sirene and Lily chorused together, "You look like you might need a break, Lauren" Sirene said.

"Why do you say that?" Lauren said chuckling, "Is it the rambling?"

"Maybe..." Sirene shrugged, "No worries though, the place looks wonderful"

"Thank you" Lauren said as her smile widened, "I chose the colors — the bride wanted hot pink and we didn't know if she was serious or joking, but it turned out pretty alright, didn't it?"

"Yeah, it did" Lily complimented, "Looks really good"

"There are the rest" Lauren said motioning to Neveah, Sirius, Remus and Marlene who were all chatting up by the food table, "I'll be with you as much as I can, but right now I've got to go deal with the Bride's siblings"

"Of course" Lily gave her a smile, "We'll meet you later"

Sirene, James and Lily joined the rest and soon fell into a conversation about the food, but then somehow the conversation turned into talking about the murders happening, everyone's moods soured but they knew not talking about it won't do any good either.

"The muggles in my village are dying at an alarming rate" Remus said rubbing the bridge of his nose, "With my sick mother, I don't know how long I can stay at their place, and me being a werewolf only makes my parents and I a bigger target"

"I've been thinking about moving out, you know?" Sirene said making James's head pop up at an alarming rate, "When I'm done with school, maybe some place we can all live at? With the thing Dumbledore told us about - it can be safe if we all live at the same place"

"Count me in" Sirius said, "And about the order" he received glares from everyone and took it as his cue to not directly speak about it, "I'm sure it can't be that bad, no one would really know about it, would they?"

"Oh, they would" James said nodding as he took a sip of the butterbeer in his hand, "The ministry is tracking everyone no matter who you are, the only reason they can't do anything about it is that they won't be able to find direct proof"

"But why would the ministry want to do something about it?" Neveah said joining the conversation, no one expected a Slytherin to be invited to join the order, but here she was, "Isn't it an advantage for them? Dumbledore's practically doing their job for them"

"The ministry isn't what it used to be" Sirene said in a hushed voice, "There are a few chosen ones that people can trust, but outside of that most of them are you-know-who's supporters"

"Not just the ministry" Lily said, "Most of the people - there are barely a few pureblood families that we can trust, including the Potters and the Rosiers from Andrew's side, but that seems about it. Most of them want to join his stupid parade and actually murder innocent people"

"My father works in the muggle artifacts' department and he's been hearing about the dark lord creating an army of some sort" Marlene said, "Not just deatheaters, but people who work under the ministry without a mark and can spy on the people"

"It's all very complicated" Remus said, "At times like these it's better if we don't make a lot of noise, keep our head down and just be out of trouble as much as we can"

Lol keep scrolling....