Mary
My husband and I walk through the streets of this town. Godric's Hollow, they call it. It's weird, this place feels familiar, like a memory from a past life that you can't quite remember but you know existed. My Lily runs around, admiring the decorations adorning the cottages. I love the name Lily. I once used to know someone by that name. I don't remember a thing about her, I assume I was a young child, because I would remember her otherwise, surely. This place reminds me of a fairytale, one where a group friends battle hardships and grow up together.
I walk until I see a man sat in front of an abandoned and crumpled house, tears on his face. He looks strangely familiar, but not in a typical way. Where most people look familiar in the sense that they have a recognisable face, this man had the kind of familiar face that you've never seen them before but also see them everywhere. Eyes that you see in honeycombs, scars that you see in cracks in the pavement. Clothes that you see in your grandfather's wardrobe, lanky limbs that you see in the trees. I let my husband and daughter walk away before I approach the man, a hesitant smile on my face.
"Excuse me, sir, are you okay?"
He looks down at me and his eyes seem to flash with something akin to recognition but he wipes his tears and speaks, his voice hoarse and quiet. "I'm okay, ma'am. Just some bad memories from halloween."
"Would you like to talk about it?"
We sit on a bench and look up at the house. It must've been beautiful. The remains are tattered and have ivy climbing up the crimson walls. The broken windows remind me of those stained glass windows you see in churches, and it must be sadly stunning in the sunlight. I would pay to see that. For now, I'll settle for the typical monotone greys that paint the sky. The man has silent tears running down his face, a few getting caught on the scar on his cheek. I have to resist the urge to wipe them away, as if I've done so a million times. Finally, he speaks.
"My friends used to live here, in this cottage, them and their son."
"...What were their names?"
"James, and Lily."
"Maybe it will help to tell me about them."
The man took a deep breath. "James... well there wasn't just one word to describe James. He was kind, and determined, and everything good in the world combined into one man. He was happy, and fun, and would wake up at 5 in the morning just to go for a run," he sniffled, "even though we told him not to. He would check all of our essays and correct anything that was wrong, even though we told him not to. He- he waited six years for the girl of his dreams, and when he finally got her, he freaked out for three hours over whether she was taking pity on him. She wasn't, of course. Lily was just as besotted with him as he was with her. Lily was like a straight shot of espresso to the soul, and we all loved it. She was the kind of girl that men would go to war for, and believe me, James tried." He sniffled again. " Lily was the one that would remind us all to eat breakfast, or that we had homework. She could name every star in the sky, and could tell you he legend behind each one. She was going to be an astronomer, and a healer, but instead she was a soldier in a war she didn't want to happen. She had so much potential, they both did."
Memories flooded back to me like a bucket of ice had been poured on my head.
----------------
"James get the hell off of me or I swear to Merlin-"
"Relax Lilyflower, you're strong!"
"Someone get the camera!"
"Already got it Rem!"
"Cheers Marley!"
----------------
We were sat around a campfire, the sun setting on the beach behind us. I was leaning on Sirius, singing along drunkenly to the radio as we all watched James spin Lily around and sing along happily, "ooh love, ooh, lover boy.... watcha doin' tonight?!"
"Never let this end," I mumbled to Sirius as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
----------------
Lily, Marlene and I were sat in our dorm, as my hands plaited and unplaitted Marlene's hair, over and over.
"James officially asked me out..."
"What?!"
"Finally!"
"You owe me then galleons"
"Shut up Marls, I'll give it to you tomorrow"
"You betted on us?!"
"... oops?"
----------------
"James Fleamont Potter I can't believe you!"
I was sat in a tree with him as he told me about his plan to surprise Lily for her birthday.
"She'll love it!"
"I know righ- How do you know my middle name?!"
"Peter told me"
"Bloody prat"
"Don't talk about him like that!"
"Sorry Marymoo"
"It's okay Flea"
----------------
"Remus you little-"
"Woah there red riding hood, calm yourself or your face is gonna match your hair"
"He stole my book!"
I smile at Lily glaring at Remus from across the room."
"And he will give it back when he's finished. Now, why don't we go up to the astronomy tower and you tell me the myths again?"
"... All of them?"
"All of them."
----------------
"I think I'm going to propose, what kind of ring does Lily like?"
----------------
"James proposed!"
"That's great Lils!"
"Would you be my Maid of Honour?"
"Of course!"
-----------------
"Do you, Lily Evans, take James Potter to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do."
"Well then you're married! Hurry up and kiss!"
We all laughed at Peter's antics.
-----------------
"lily... something happened."
"What's wrong Mary?"
"Marlene, she- there were Death Eaters, and- oh it was horrible- she-"
"Mary."
"She didn't make it out, neither did Dorcas-"
-----------------
"Remus... something awful has happened..."
-----------------
"Remus?"
He brushed tears off of my cheeks. Had I been crying?
I hugged him tightly, my face buried into his chest. When I finally looked back up and into those honeycomb eyes, enough emotion in them to drown in, I couldn't help but cry again.
"I have to go, Marymoo, it isn't safe."
I pull away "... Keep in touch. Please."
Remus stood up and began to walk away, pausing after a few steps. "Mary?"
"Yes?"
"... It was good to see you again."
I stared at him as he walked away, until he was nothing but a shadow, one with the sunset.
I heard some footsteps and thought nothing of it until I heard a voice. "Obliviate"