Beyond Hogwarts -Chapter Three

-=Beyond Hogwarts; Chapter Three=-

Lily wasn’t nervous anymore; she was simply radiantly acceptive of everything, and as James leaned down and kissed her lightly, she couldn’t hear their friends clapping, couldn’t see anything, and felt nothing but his arms around her.
   When they broke apart, it was as if someone had turned the volume up so high it was almost deafening as Lily threw her few flowers into the group. Eva, wrestling Lora aside, caught them before she broke her fall on Frank Longbottom, who in his turn fell to the ground, breaking the ice like a pack of dominoes.
   Their friends stormed them with hugs and tears, laughter and good wishes. Eva had been the first to break from her position and swamp her friend with a breath-choking embrace.
   “Lily—oh, Lily! It was beautiful, it was lovely, it was magnificent—I want you to plan my wedding and provide my husband!”
   Lily laughed as James tightened his grip around her waist. “Thanks, Eva—for everything, I’m guessing.”
   Lora wrestled her way through, flinging herself first around James’ neck and then around Lily’s. “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!” she shrieked through large grins. “It was beautiful! I cried!” she gasped, pointing to her red-rimmed eyes. “I cried, you hear me! It takes a lot to make me cry! I cried!”
   Remus elbowed her in the side. “Lora, dear, you’re making no sense and a scene—Mr. Potter, congratulations!” He hugged his friend, then turned to Lily, hand outstretched mock-formally. “Mrs. Potter, what a pleasure.”
   “I like that,” James grinned. “Lily Potter. It sounds nice!”
   James’ parents were the next to come up to them; in floods of tears, Mrs. Potter hugged and kissed both of them, smiling widely.
   “I couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect ceremony—I know you two’ll be happy…”
   Lily was engulfed in Mr. Potter’s strong hug as he whispered in her ear.
   “You’re the girl I always hoped he’d find, and I hope he lives up to you.”
   Lily’s eyes were starting to turn wet. “Thank you—thank you…”
   Sirius was talking animatedly with James, and at the sight of two faces, Lily slipped her hand out of his arm and stepped towards her friends.
   “Lily,” Severus smiled. “It was marvelous.”
   Lucius hugged her. “You’ll be happy with him—even if he is a Gryffindor that beat us at winning the thousandth Quidditch Cup!”
   Lily tossed her head. “You’re just jealous of his flying, aren’t you?” she laughed.
   “Jealous?” Severus asked. “Not in the least. Do I get a hug, though?”
   She smiled as she flung her arms around his neck. “’Course you do.”
   “Lily!” James called. “Padfoot didn’t get his hug!”
   Lily let go of Severus. “Thanks—for walking me down the aisle. I wouldn’t have rather had my father do it.” Whirling around, she trailed her way through her friends before clasping her hands together around Sirius’ neck.
   Severus stared after her. “Why does Potter always get everything?”
   “Huh?” Lucius asked. He was alone; Serena hadn’t attended the wedding.
   “Nothing,” Severus mumbled. “Nothing, that’s all.”
   “If you say so,” Lucius said skeptically.
   Lily couldn’t remember a day that she had enjoyed more. It was all she had ever dreamed of in a wedding day—all she’d ever hoped she could experience. The island was a haven of glory for her; the white sand, coral sky, cerulean waves, and the draping, elegant trees with the thickets of flowers huddling at their roots. The sun was setting, throwing a golden coverlet over the clouds and a scarlet tone onto the sky, and her white dress and golden jewelry were throwing off cornsilk and red glints softly.
   Mrs. Potter let a hand fall on her shoulder. “Lily, dear, are you all right?”
   “Yes,” Lily murmured. “I’m fine—better than I’ve ever been.” She turned to the lady. “Can I call you Mum?”
   Her mother-in-law’s lips parted slightly, and she reached for her new daughter, hugging her tightly.
   “I won’t ever be able to replace your mother, but I’ll do my best.”
   Lily leaned her head on her new mother’s shoulder, a tear running down her cheek. “Thank you—thank you. I—I—well, for everything.”
   James fought his way through Peter, Lora, and Remus to Lily and his mother. Putting an arm around both of them, he looked slightly concerned. “What’s wrong?”
   “Nothing,” Lily smiled, wiping a tear away from her eye.
   “That, Mrs. Potter,” James grinned, “is an outright lie.”
   “It is, come to that,” Lily agreed vaguely.
   James frowned, but didn’t pursue the subject. Instead, he took her hand in his, looking at her new ring.
   “You know, I’ve got no idea on where we’re going for our honeymoon.”
   Mrs. Potter smiled at him. “James, I’m letting you two have the galleon—I know Lily loved the trip here, so you’ll travel in that. Everything else you’ll find out.”
   James mock-frowned. “What’s the catch?”
   Lily elbowed him in the stomach. “Must you always be so suspicious?”
   “I must,” James grinned. “Around you, my mother, Sirius, Malfoy, and Snape, I must.”
   What at usual Muggle weddings would have been termed a reception was held both on the top deck of the ship and on the shore. The boys, Severus and Lucius included, had been roped into setting up; they had spent at least five minutes engaging in the War of the Flying Table Legs, which was quenched speedily by Lora’s Attack of the Tablecloths. They were ordered to repair everything in moments, however, and no lasting damage was done.
   When Lily, her arm in her husband’s, stepped onto the sands, her eyes glowed. The splinters that had adorned the sands and waves had been rearranged into a long, teakwood table covered with a white tablecloth that had a golden one draped over it. The golden plates from the ship had been brought out; linen napkins embroidered in gold thread were stacked at one end of the table, several tureens and pitchers filled with things that smelled irresistible had been placed between large platters filled with food like chocolate German coffee cake slices and almond pie slivers. Flares of fire: torches and candles, lit up the table with a golden light, besides shining into the water with an elegant luster.
   Lily moved about as the happiest girl in the world that night; James couldn’t help thinking, as he stole glances at her, that he had married the loveliest girl in the world. There wasn’t anyone he knew with the charm she flung carelessly around her, the eyes with the otherworldly glow, or the ease with which she could switch from one role to another. This evening, when he had watched her tip a crystal glass to her lips while listening intently to something his father was telling her, a vivid image of an ancient queen conferring with an ally…
   He shook his head. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered to Sirius. “I’m married to her and I can’t keep from looking over at her and thinking that she’s awfully pretty and I’d like to get to know her.”
   Sirius nodded. “That is ridiculous.”
   “You’re not supposed to agree with me!”
   “Whoops,” Sirius observed. “My mistake.”
   Once, during the evening, a flitting thought dragged at Lily’s mind. It was Tom she was thinking about—to imagine that he could have had all of this happiness, the dreamlike bliss…that was shoved brutally away by both his own craving for power and the Ministry wizards. Of course, in his eyes it would never be by both things. It was only the Ministry that had killed Litharelen, not his own madness for control and immortality.
   However, Lily pushed those thoughts out of her head; what had happened had happened; nothing could be done about it, and it wasn’t going to be allowed to ruin her wedding night.
   Their friends Apparated or used the Floo network to get back to their respective homes around one in the morning, when the candles started to flicker tiredly and the platters were almost cleaned off completely. Mr. and Mrs. Potter, after removing all traces of anything from the shore with several flicks of their wands, called the young couple over to them, laughing.
   “Have fun,” Mrs. Potter admonished.
   “And don’t get arrested,” James’ father added sternly, looking sideways at his son.
   “Make sure you bring me back something from everywhere you visit!” Eva threw in before she Apparated.
   “Don’t kill anyone.” Mr. Potter was ticking things off on his fingers.
   “Including yourselves,” his wife winked.
   “Do not spend over half of our estate.”
   “But if it’s to bring me back an albino tiger, go right ahead.”
   “Don’t sink the ship,” James’ father sighed.
   “And don’t ruin the largest golden pitcher. I like that one,” Mrs. Potter grinned. She pulled both of them into a tight hug. When she pulled away, she blinked hurriedly.
   “That’s that. I don’t have to bother to tell you to enjoy yourselves.”
   “No,” James agreed. “You don’t.”
   He shook hands with his father, who was smiling broadly at the two of them, and patted his mother consolingly on the back.
   “Don’t worry, Mum…we’ll be gone long enough for you to recover from the nervous shocks I’ve given you over the years.”
   “Yes,” Lily quipped, “and then you’ll have even more fun wrecking the poor lady’s improved health.”
   Mrs. Potter clenched her hands into fists. “I will not cry,” she practically howled. “Go on, you two. Board ship.”
   James let a mischievous smile play across his features, but Lily didn’t catch it. She hardly had time, anyway; seconds later, she was whisked into the air, swung around twice, and being carried across the gangway to the deck, the long, white train cascading behind her.
   He finally let her down; they were both next to the railing. James waved wildly to his parents.
   “Goodbye! Goodbye! Make sure you survive without me!”
   Lily pulled his arm down firmly, placing it around her waist. “James, you’re making a dreadful scene.”
   He grinned at her. “Well?”
   She shrugged, smiling, shaking her head. “You’re entitled to make your scene, I suppose. They’re your parents, after all…”
   There was a slight rocking movement, and the ship started to drift through the water. James frowned.
   “Where’re we going?”
   “That’s my secret.” Lily tossed her head.
   James kissed her. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s safe, allowing you to have this many secrets!”
   Later that night, Lily was sitting on the bed in their room, in a long, golden, flowing nightgown and looking through a book of ancient languages when James fell onto the pillows next to her.
   “What’s that?”
   She closed the book swiftly and pushed it underneath the mattress. “Never mind.”
   “If you say so,” he gave in. “So…did you enjoy yourself? Today, I mean.”
   A haunted smile flitted across Lily’s face. “Of course—I’ve never liked anything as much as I did our wedding.”
   James grinned. “That was a most correct response.” He ran his hand through her hair, letting his arm slip around her shoulders.
   Lily woke up around seven the next morning; the sun streaming into the window had woken her up. Blinking several times, she shook her head wildly; her hair fell around her shoulders, hanging to her waist and draping onto the sheets. Swiftly, she looked towards the window. The sun had barely risen; several clouds were still tinted a primrose pink, but otherwise they were golden, with a bright coral blue sky. Lily smiled.
   She looked down next to her; James was still half-asleep. Wrapping her arms around her knees and resting her head on them, she nudged him in the side with her foot.
   “Wake up!” she whispered.
   Strangely, her words penetrated his mind, and he opened his eyes to the blast of sunlight.
   “Ouch!”
   Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes, blinking wildly. “Ow!”
   “That all you can say?” Lily asked. “It’s a beautiful morning.”
   “Yeah…” James mumbled. “I noticed.” He finally got used to the bright yellow beams and looked over at Lily. “Morning.”
   “Good morning,” she replied cheerfully and a tiny bit wistfully. “It certainly is.”
   He smiled at her, putting an arm around her shoulders. “I’m having a hard time believing you won’t evaporate any second now.”
   Lily leaned against him, sighing. “I honestly hope I won’t.” She gazed at the shadows of the entwined rings set in the large window; they were falling on the wall opposite her. “However, I think that with all the times I’ve been poking myself with forks at dinner and tripping over table legs in broad day- and candlelight, I’m pretty sure I won’t.”
   James kissed the top of her head. “Trust you to ruin the mood.”
   She nodded. “I’ll ruin it even further by asking you if you want something to eat.”
   “You know me too well. I’m supposing there’s going to be food in the dining room.”
   Lily laughed as she swung her feet out of bed. “I’m guessing you’re right.” She quickly rearranged the golden nightgown; then slipped her arms into an indigo dressing gown, tying the sash loosely. “I’m ready.”
   “You’re not getting dressed?” He raised his eyebrows.
   “I fail to see the need of that. We’re the only two people on here.”
   “True,” James agreed sleepily. “In that case, I’ll bring it in here. Hang on.” Quickly, after putting on his own bathrobe, he left the room, closing the door quietly. Lily let herself fall back onto the bed, leaning against the footboard and gazing pensively into the clouds outside the window.
   James was back in seconds; he was balancing a pot of coffee and two cups in one hand and a plate of crumpets, eggs, and pancakes in the other. Sitting down next to her, he handed her the plate and a white cup with a gold rim.
   “Coffee, my lady?”
   Lily smiled. “How much sugar did you put into there.”
   “Lots,” he stated simply, pouring some of the searing hot liquid into her cup. “Quite a lot of lots.”
   She tipped the cup to her lips, taking a swallow. “Yes,” Lily agreed, “you did put lots in there.”
   “I didn’t overdo it, did I?” he asked concernedly, cupping his hand around hers. “Want me to get some more?”
   “No,” she giggled. “You’re acting just like a devoted servant.”
   He broke a crumpet into pieces for her and handed her the plate. “I’m enjoying it, too. After all that time I thought I’d only see you at Snape’s wedding or something-well, I’m definitely counting the many blessings I’ve got.”
   “You thought,” Lily eyed him fixedly, “that I’d marry Severus?”
   “Er-well, he has liked you for some time, and…er…well…” James looked embarrassed. “I was assuming the worst.”
   “Don’t be such a pessimist,” Lily said firmly, kissing him. “Enjoy yourself. I’m letting you take me places I intend to get pleasure from, and you might as well like them, too.”
   “Oh,” James laughed, “so if I don’t have your taste, I won’t enjoy our honeymoon?”
   Lily set her cup down on a table next to the bed. “No,” she said thoughtfully, “I think you’ll like where I’m taking you. Or, rather, where I’m letting you take me.”
   “Sure,” James beamed at her. “The last thing I’m doing is questioning you-look how our wedding turned out!”
   “Thank you,” Lily smiled. “That gives me lots of faith in me.”
   Several hours later-the galleon was magically skimming the waves immensely quickly, at the speed almost of an airplane, though when they stepped onto the deck, the wind only blew sedately through their hair-their ship entered the mouth of the Mediterranean, and what seemed like moments after that, their ship was docking in a city-Alexandria, at the mouth of the Nile in Egypt.
   Lily was running her hands calmly through a chest of Galleons stored behind the paneling in their bedroom-James knew the ship’s plans well, and he had unearthed that store for her. She was kneeling in front of the chest, counting out coins.
   James sat down next to her. “What’re you doing?”
   “Well, we’ll need money, won’t we?” she smiled. “I can go in and out of Madam Malkin’s or Gladrags Wizardwear without having to spend thousands of Galleons, but ancient Egyptian markets are something else.”
   “Wait.” James frowned. “An ancient Egyptian market?”
   “I’ve got a thing for ancient Egypt, I know,” she admitted. “But I’ve read about the portal several times, and this shouldn’t cost too much.”
   James raised her to her feet. “What are you planning to do?”
   She placed a finger on the cleft above his mouth. “Ssh. Trust Lily. Lily knows best.”
   And so, a quarter of an hour later, they stepped off of the gangplank into the bustling mass of Alexandria.
   Lily steered both of them dexterously through the crowds; it was almost as if she had been here before, James mused. However, he didn’t have much time to, for in merely moments, they were inside a rather shabby-looking building, with a short, dark, fat man adjusting pictures of an oasis on the walls. He looked up as they entered; he bowed deeply.
   “What may I do for my lord and lady?”
   In spite of herself, Lily had to smile. “Fifty-seven B.C., please.”
   “I should be enchanted,” the man smiled. “Forty Galleons is the price.”
   James stepped forward, nonchalantly pulling out a handful of gold. Carelessly counting out several pieces of it, he poured them into the man’s hands, somewhat understanding what this place was.
   The apparent owner bowed again as he gestured to a crude fireplace behind his desk. “Step inside. It will take you where you want to go.”
   James felt Lily take a deep breath as she held his arm even more tightly than before. Both of them setting a foot inside the fireplace, they were conscious of dust, of detritus flying around them in a maelstrom of sand, until it stopped gently, and the couple shook their heads almost in unison, trying to get the dizzy feeling out of their heads.
   Lily smiled; they were still inside the same, dusky shop, but outside, the atmosphere, what they could see of it through the slanted door, had changed. It had more light; the noises had everything farthest from car motors, and a bell could be heard tinkling through the clamor. James looked down at Lily, who hugged him.
   “It worked! I was almost scared this was a hoax; but come on,” she smiled, twirling around before kissing him. “There’s an agora out there-and we’ve got all the time in the world!”
   The first place James spotted was a stand sporting all kinds of chitons, from silk to coarse sackcloth for the slaves of a household. He pulled on Lily’s girdle.
   “Look, over there!”
   She smiled at him. “Just what I was looking for. We don’t really blend in with what we’re wearing, do we?”
   “Not remotely,” he agreed. It was true, too. No one else was wearing red or golden wizarding robes, and James, for one, was starting to want to tear the sleeves off of his; it was getting extremely hot.
   Lily smiled enchantingly at the owner of the stand, fingering a linen blue chiton, a gown that fastened at both shoulders and hung to the ground from there; some had slits in the sides. The owner nodded his head deeply at them.
   She pulled an emerald green silk chiton off of the counter, along with a blue sapphire silk one she held behind that. Holding both of them against her body, she turned to face James.
   “What do you think?”
   “Elegant,” he nodded. “The green looks good on you.”
   She blushed, letting her hands run over several other goods. Picking up a white piece of linen, she folded it around his waist.
   “You could do that,” she appraised. “A red cloak over one shoulder, too. I saw one over there.” She gestured to the cloaks draped over one end of the counter.
   He frowned. “A cloak?”
   “Don’t be silly, you won’t be hot,” she beamed as she fingered the blue garment she had picked out for herself; she was pleased to note that the slit was in back of the gown, whereas the ones on the emerald green one came up to her waist on both sides. The blue gown would show very nicely, she ruminated, letting her teeth flash in the Egyptian sun.
   “We’ll take these four,” Lily told the owner, pointing to her two selections and the ones she had made for James. Her husband stared at her as the owner gave a total.
   “How’d he understand you?” he almost gaped.
   Lily shrugged. “It’s got something to do with the portal. What we speak he can understand. Which means ‘ssh’ for right now.”
   James saw the wisdom in that, but as soon as he had handed Lily a few talents, the currency of that time—they had obviously been magically exchanged, too, in their journey—he ducked out of sight for a moment. By the time Lily had been offered a place to change out of the golden robes she was wearing into the chitons, he had returned with a pair of sandals for both of them, which he handed to Lily as soon as she emerged.
   “Your slippers won’t do well in this sand. Here.”
   She smiled as she slid her feet into them. “Thank you, darling.”
   “Darling?” He raised his eyebrows. “I can get used to that!”
   She laughed merrily, and as soon as he had emerged, with the scarlet cape flowing over one shoulder and the white cloth around his waist, she took his arm, leaning against his shoulder.
   “If I were an Egyptian noblewoman out in the marketplace, I’d be ravishingly jealous of me.”
   James ruffled her hair. “We’d better get you some jewelry, then, so I can have every single man in this marketplace wanting to strangle me.”
   “What?”
   “You’re a very pretty girl, and I’m hoping that these people understand the sacredness of marriage vows.”
   Lily blushed again, and when she raised her eyes, they landed on a small, dark shop; the door was hanging open, the walls were of a sandy clay, and there was a little girl with dark hair playing on the doorstep.
   “Look! I think it’s a shop for oils and incense!” Ignoring his laughter, she pulled him inside the shop; exiting with fragrant candles, at least twenty sticks of incense each, and a reed basket thrown in as part of the deal, which was hanging on Lily’s arm.
   James mock-sighed as he maneuvered his way through a group of chattering, plump, middle-aged women, all with straight noses and children holding onto their legs. “I’ve a fear that Father’s estate is going to end up being burned to the ground with all of these candles and things.”
   “Nonsense,” Lily smiled. “I’ve got too much sense to let that happen.”
   “Beautiful, yes,” James grinned, “humble, no.”
   “You should talk!” Lily accused. “Who was the one that—“
   “Okay, okay, I’ll stop!” he intervened. “I’ll stop.”
   “Very good. Oh!” she pointed. “Jewelry!”
   James raised his eyebrows so high they were hidden by his mass of untidy hair. “I’ve got a feeling I’ll be spending a while at this stand.”
   “Oh, you will!” she agreed heartily. “Look at that bracelet with the jade eyes!”
   James grinned, running his hand over a pair of golden earrings. “These have tigers-eye opal stones, besides the dangly stuff.” He held one up to her ear. “I like that one on you.”
   Lily laughed and pointed over his shoulder. “There’s an anklet—it has pearls in it! And little bells!”
   “Bells?” James asked skeptically. “I never thought you had a thing for bells.”
   “You’re right,” Lily realized out loud. “I don’t, do I?” She shrugged. “I’m supposing it’s simply the glory of jewels.”
   “I suppose so, too. Look at that arm-ring over there—it’s almost exactly like the one you wore for our wedding, isn’t it?”
   “It is,” Lily agreed. “Except this one is authentic, it twines around one’s arm much more, it’s got real emeralds for eyes, and it’s lots more expensive.”
   “Oh, I don’t care!” James exclaimed. “Put it on your arm; I’m buying it for you!”
   As he threw the money down on the table, she laughed loudly; he swung her up and around into the air, and her long hair flew into his face.
   “I’m enjoying this more than you, I think. I’m just about bursting with pride, thinking about how envious that group of men that just passed us is. They actually glared at me; one of them pointed to his sword. I don’t think he likes me much,” James grinned.
   “That reminds me,” Lily grinned, “we’d better look for a stand that sells swords. I want to get you one. I might be able to buy a small dagger, but I want you to have a sword. It would make you look so much like a heroic, handsome, brave soldier…” She sighed dreamily.
   James smelled something; he sniffed the air loudly.
   “Lily, I smell fresh bread and garlic. As soon as you’re finished here, I’m kidnapping you and taking you to that vendor’s across the way from here.”
   For an answer, Lily picked up a necklace.
   “Look! Real lapis beads, and with pearls interwoven in them, too!”