Chapter 48: Diliges I, honor et revertia eius
Hermione quickly found use for her new garden office. It was perfect for her, mostly because it was private, but also Sirius had placed on it every protective enchantment that he had placed on the flat. His upbringing was once again, a great asset.
Dumbledore had taught Hermione how to produce a patronus that was capable of communicating, and she would often use this as a primary method of communication between herself, Dumbledore and the members of the newly created Order of the Phoenix. Hermione had attended some of the meetings, after making suggestions as to who was trustworthy enough to join. After the debacle with Wormtail, she was extra careful to check the back-stories of each and every person. She urged Dumbledore to utilise the same kind of care when instating the members.
Hermione’s room-mates were planning to join the Order themselves at the next meeting, now that they were all of age and out of school.
Voldemort had remained to be relatively inactive in the past few months. Any murders or disappearances that had taken place, or been heard of, were undertaken purely for the sick enjoyment of the more ‘un-hinged’ Death Eaters. Once again he was creating fear out of the unknown. No one, not even his most prized Death Eaters knew what he was up to, or why he was doing it.
In Hermione’s mind, Voldemort had not taken such a great reprieve from murder before, and like most others in the Magical community, it made her more scared than ever.
It was on one of these days when she most acutely felt the pressure of the task ahead, that Hermione was making effective use of her new office that there was a furious knocking on the door.
She had been very caught up in her work: a plan to kill Voldemort with the assistance, but minimal involvement of others. There was a great need to prevent the Death Eaters from knowing that there was an organisation such as the Order of the Phoenix, but at the same time, prevent them from knowing any of the plans that such as organisation might create.
Hermione had been so deeply absorbed in thought that the violent knocking jolted her out of her thought, and quite frankly, scared her out of her wits.
She grabbed her wand in one hand, waved it in the direction of the door to unlock it, and then held it ready to attack. She wrenched open the door to find a slightly dishevelled Lily staring back at her.
“Oh my goodness! What happened? Are you alright?”
Hermione was ever prepared from hearing the very worst news imaginable, and of course, he mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion without any logical reason.
“Look!” shouted Lily, thrusting out her left hand.
A platinum band encrusted with tiny diamonds glittered over her ring finger.
“Lily,” said Hermione slowly, trying to keep the excitement from her voice, “does this mean what I think it means?”
“James proposed!” shrieked Lily so loudly that her voice reverted around the entire office, and the entire corridor behind her.
“Aaahh!! That’s so exciting! My brother and one of my best friends getting married! Lily, I am so happy for the both of you!”
A tumult of emotions coursed through Hermione was she absorbed the information. She was first and foremost, glad that it was not bad news. She was also very happy for her brother and friend.
Lily, all but dragged Hermione out of her office and down the stairs to their apartment. When she reached it and went inside, she saw that the others had begun to celebrate. Butterbeers, Firewhisky and Madame Rosmerta’s finest Oak-Matured Mead, were being passed around, and James was topping up everyone’s glasses with dizzying rapidity.
“Mione!” he cried as he ran over to embrace his sister, “I’m getting married!”
“I heard,” said Hermione, with a massive grin covering her face, “would you care to explain how you got her to agree?”
Flashback
“James! Where are you taking me?”
“Just be warned Lily, we are going to be apparating. I’ll side-along you – hold on!”
Both James and Lily entered the darkness, bodies crushed up against one another. The couple endured this for only a few moments, before landing on a warm, sunny beach.
“Where are we?” said Lily, slightly awe-struck at the beauty of the landscape.
“That’s for me to know, and for you to enjoy,” replied James, looking very pleased with himself that he had managed to make a positive impression.
“Ok, so why are we here?”
“Can’t a bloke take his, much-loved, girlfriend out on a romantic date without some kind of ulterior motive?”
“No,” replied Lily with a hint of laughter in her voice.
“Ye of little faith...” said James as he proceeded to direct Lily to a picnic rug that was covered in all manner of food and drink.
Lily managed to eat her way through all kinds of pies and sandwiches. There were cakes, breads and buns. Jellies in a spectrum of colours, and a variety of fruits and cheeses for dessert.
James only nibbled at all the food, seemingly distracted. It was not until the early evening that they finished eating and they lay on the rug, sipping champagne and watched the sunset.
Fireflies began to move over to where they were sitting, and created a soft glow around them.
“James, they are so beautiful, what d’you say we collect a few in a jar and take them back home.”
As she said that, the fireflies began to move around in a more synchronised manner, configuring themselves into actual words.
“Will you marry me?”
Lily turned back to James in astonishment, only to find him bending down on one knee.
“Lily, I love you with all my heart and I want to be with you forever...Will you marry me?”
Lily kissed him with such enthusiasm that she knocked him backwards into the sand.