The first thing James did after that was inviting his three best friends to Godric Hollow for a celebration.

Remus, Sirius and Peter arrived at the house, full of curiosity. James met them at the door, beaming like a Cheshire cat. "I'm marrying Lily. We are engaged!"

Peter thumped James on the back and yelled, "Congrats, James!"

"I am so glad for both of you, Prongs," said Remus, smiling broadly.

Sirius was grinning almost as widely as James. "We always knew you two would get married."

As James took them to the dining room for the food Lily had made, he uneasily felt that though Remus and Peter's gladness was genuine enough, his own best friend's was not.

It would have been enjoyable evening, just like old times. But James could see that Sirius looked wistful somehow, and it kept him for having much fun too.

After dinner, Lily went upstairs to write a letter to Petunia and give the Marauders time together. They reminisced about old times for some time. Then James beckoned over to Remus and said, "Remus and I are going to bring few Butterbeers."

Remus followed James without question. Once out of others' earshot, James told Remus to take Peter somewhere; he needed to speak to Sirius alone.

James didn't go in till Peter and Remus had left the room.

--------------------

James joined Sirius, who was sitting on an armchair, staring into the fire. "Hey, Padfoot."

Sirius looked around. "Hey, Prongs. Congrats again. It was great news."

James looked at Sirius keenly. "You don't really mean it."

"What?"

"I've known you for eight years, Padfoot; your lies don't fool me. Tell me what's wrong with you. Why can't you be glad for my and Lily's sake?" He didn't bother to hide the accusation in his voice.

"I am glad for your sake," mumbled Sirius, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets.

"You're not. You've shown often enough that you detest Lily," said James, his temper beginning to rise. "Even though she is going to be my wife in a few months. What kind of person doesn't feel happy on his best friend's happiest day?

Sirius' unfathomable gray eyes stared into James' angry hazel ones.

"I'm sorry," he said. "But everything has changed since you started going out with her. We're not like we used to be—"

"We would if you would stop going into your moods so often!"

"I don't want to fight with you, James," said Sirius quietly. "G'night." He got up and went out of the door, shutting it softly behind him.

James clenched his fists as he stared after his best friend, the entire euphoria of the evening having vanished.

He muttered an excuse to the others about why Sirius had gone, and that night, he went to sleep with heavy heart.

--------------------

Late next night, Moody sent an urgent message through his bear Patronus. "Meet us at Dubly Welsh Forest as soon as you can."

James and Lily hastily finished their dinner and Apparated to the place Moody had mentioned. Remus met them at the entrance of the forest.

"This place is called Boggart Swamp," said Moody. "Voldemort's top Death Eaters have arranged a meeting here. We think they will attack the Muggle Presidential building. They are gathering their forces here—then they directly go for the attack."

Moody handed them a note. "Here's our plan."

The three of them studied the note. It described the spots they needed to cover, and who will go where.

When Sirius Apparated to the outskirts of the forest, he caught sight of Remus. "Hi, Moony!"

"Hi!" said Remus, handing Sirius the note.

But Remus couldn't help noticing that James and Sirius didn't greet each other. In fact, there was a definite coolness in James' posture now. Remus found it highly disturbing.

He took James aside and asked hesitatingly, "Did something happen between you and Padfoot, Prongs?"

"I'm sick of him," said James flatly. "I wish he wasn't so selfish that he can't even be happy for us. At least you and Peter—"

"Shh!" said Remus urgently.

James glanced around, and his heart sank suddenly. Sirius was standing with his back towards them, studying the note, but he couldn't have helped overhearing James' words.

Sirius turned around and gave the note back to Remus, and James' eyes met Sirius' for a brief moment.

James felt strangely cold and miserable when he saw the look in his best friend's eyes, and he realized that he had never meant to hurt Sirius at all.

Before he could say anything, however, Frank called Sirius, and the latter joined the group entering the forest. James thought he had never faced the prospect of such a long and miserable night.

--------------------

When they were waiting in their positions, Death Eaters began apparating near the forest. They were much more in number than Moody had anticipated. Only James, Lily, Remus and Alice were outside the forest. The best part of the forces had entered the forest.

Most of the Death Eaters came without hoods, and they saw that Moody had been right; Voldemort's best forces had come. There were Wilkes, Rowle, Doholov, Karkaroff, Bellatrix, and uncountable others.

James raised his wand and cried, "Reducto!" the same moment as Remus said "Expelliarmus!", forcing a major group of Death Eaters to scatter. Lily and Alice reacted fast too, and got two young Death Eaters down, but there were too many of the enemy for them to gain the upper hand.

Within moments, they were completely surrounded; Remus and Lily had been stunned.

James and Alice tried to shield them, as they deflected and shot curses.

After few minutes, however Rowle and Doholov shouted and collapsed, their robes on fire.

Frank, Dorcas, Marlene, Hestia and Moody had emerged out of the forest. As they joined forces with James and Alice, the Death Eaters were caught by surprise. Hestia rennervated Lily and Remus, and they dashed to take on another group.

A fierce fight ensued, and though the Order was still outnumbered, they didn't give up.

Wilkes was pushing Lily further away from the main field. James was looking around frantically.

"Frank, where's Sirius?" he yelled.

Frank looked confused. "He was with us in the forest!"

James didn't wait for another moment. He sprinted towards the forest.

"JAMES!" Lily screamed as four Death Eaters surrounded her.

James glanced back. "REMUS! Remus—help her!"

Remus rushed towards Lily, shouting back at James. "Where are you going?"

James didn't stop to anwer—he sped into the forest.