Chapter Seventy-One
In Love
And for the boy who's given me the sweetest love I know
I wish for him another love so he won't be alone
But I am bound to walk among the wounded and the slain
And when the storm comes crashing on the plain
I will dance before the lightning to music sacred and profane
(Stranger to the Rain - Children of Eden)September 3rd, 1977Mia snuggled into the warm chest beneath her, a sleepy grin crossing her face as she
felt long arms wrap around her body. She thought that James's farewell party had gone
perfectly on their first night back to Hogwarts, starting with Lily kissing her brother in the
middle of the Gryffindor common room. Mia's heart had swelled at the sight of the head
of black, messy hair attached to the long, auburn locks; it reminded her of Harry and
Ginny's first kiss in the very same spot.
Sirius and Remus had eagerly stepped forward to tease the pair, but Mia stood firmly
in their way, allowing her brother and the love of his life a quick escape. James and Lily did
not surface for breakfast, so when they turned up in Charms class holding hands, it was
the perfect opportunity for the entire male population of Gryffindor House to whistle and
hoot at them, and gain a unified "Aww!" from the witches.
James never looked so happy, and Lily looked like a brand new witch, cleansed of
all the sadness that came from ending her friendship with Snape, the memories of being
treated poorly because of her blood status, and thoughts of her home life and scornful
sister. Somehow, this new love was fixing them both and, by extension, had offered healing
to those in their tight-knit circle of friends and family.
Lily—and therefore James—insisted they had Head Boy and Girl business to attend
to Friday night. Despite the couple not even being there for it, Sirius insisted on throwing
yet another party to celebrate the fact that, though it had taken him six years to do it, James
finally won over his witch.