August [j.p]

031- But what you did was just as dark

You know I left a part of me back in New York
You knew the hero died, so what's the movie for?
You knew it still hurts underneath my scars
From when they pulled me apart
-
hoax

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"Promise me you're sure about this." Lily whispered into the darkness of the dawn.

"I'm sorry that we didn't work out Lily but I think we both knew that it would never have lasted. I think I've found forever and I'm not screwing it up."

"You might've already done that." Lily laughed.

"Maybe." James laughed back hoarsely.

"I'm scared to move on." She admitted as their soft laughter died down. "Moving on means accepting our fate as strangers and I'd rather be heartbroken than forget you."

James smiled sadly at her, "I need her Lily. I fucking need her. Please."

"Okay." She agreed before gathering her clothes and making her way to her own bedroom on the other side of the house.

She wasn't ready to move on. Not by far. And she hated James for asking it of her.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

The group of Hogwarts students sat restless on the porch with untouched mugs of tea in their hands.

"What's taking the fucking horse so long." Sirius grumbled.

"Looks like my boyfriend is mire excited to see your fiancé than you are Prongs" Remus tutted, finally taking a sip if the lukewarm liquid.

"August takes her bloody time." He agreed with Sirius. Nerves bundling up in his stomach at the thought of her finding out.

Did he tell her?
She didn't tell him things. This could be his secret.
He'd just have to life with incurable guilt for the rest of his life.

So distracted by his thoughts he didn't even realize when the large carriage landed on the snowy pathway and a blonde haired girl clambered out.

Excitedly she waved before coming closer, Sirius making a start and sweeping her up in his arms before anyone else could even make it down the stairs.

"August!" He squealed like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Sirius!" She returned his excitement. Tightly wrapping her arms around the boy's torso.

"Back away you dog." James laughed as he engulfed her in his own hug before placing a chaste kiss on her cold lips.

"Oh my god she's gorgeous." Lily said shocked.

"Fucking hell she makes my bi-panic rise." Marlene gaped.

"Well, it all makes sense now." Lily defeatedly whispered.

"Hey!" Alive scolded. "Don't even think about comparing yourself to her. You're both beautiful and you're both amazing women and you shouldn't put yourself up against her Lils. You're amazing." The girl rubbed the redheads back.

Her heart breaking for her closest friend.

August felt relieved to be in James's arms again. All of her worries about their possible failed marriage drifting away until all she could smell was his wood and smoke scent.

"How are you?" He whispered.

"Over the moon." She laughed up at him her eyes meeting his.

They were the most beautiful pair of brown eyes he had ever seen and he could lose himself in them.

"Come meet the girls." He grabbed her hand and pulled her forwards leaving Remus and Peter to struggle behind with her suitcase.

"What does she keep in this thing?" Peter asked as he grunted.

"A secret lover for when James fails to perform." Remus uttered annoyed.

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August was desperate to make a good impression on James's other friends. The Marauders were easy enough to impress but she was never sure how it would be with the girls.

"Hello." She smiled at them.

"Hi." A brunette girl eagerly stuck out her hand as the shorter one snickered behind her hand. "I'm Markene McKinnon."

"August Williams." She returned the handshake.

"I'm Alice and I hope you didn't think my laughing is rude, it's just I think Marlene might object at your wedding ceremony."

The girl had dark curly hair and barely even reached her bust but August already got the sense that she didn't want to mess with Alice. Or Marlene with her striking features. Or Lily with her green eyes that burned right through her."

"Nice to meet you Alice." English felt strange on her tongue after months in France again.

"Lily." The redhead held out her hand and offered a small smile. "I love your hair, you must teach me how to do it."

"Yeah, of course. But only if you tell me where you got your shoes."

Lily wished she could hate August but it was incredibly hard when she saw the adoring loom in James's eyes and the sweetness that the girl radiated.

Merlin, when would something go her way?

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Euphemia Potter wasted no time with wedding planning. It was to be held in three days as invitations were sent out a week earlier and nothing had even been arranged.

August had begrudgingly sent one out to her mother knowing that the consequences would be even worse if she didn't.

But she grappled with the small envelope in her hand as she sat alone on the porch while James and the others were inside enjoying a game of Scrabble that Remus was absolutely dominating.

"Are you alright?" Someone asked from behind her.

"Lily? Right?" August smiled up at the girl.

"Yeah, mind if I sit."

"Not at all."

"Who's that too." She asked, looking at the unaddressed envelope.

"My best friend. Well, I don't know what she is anymore. It's complicated."

"I'm sorry, that must stink."

"It really does." August laughed.

"I think you must send it, you'll regret it years from now if you don't do what your heart is telling you to do."

Lily glanced at the girl seated next to her. No wonder James was so utterly consumed by her.

The girl was blond from root to tip, born to bring more golden sunshine into this world. It showed too. It showed in those soulful blue eyes as bright as any glacier yet so very warm.

"Where have you been all my life Lily Evans." August exclaimed dramatically.

"Trust me, you'll probably take that back one day."

The urge to tell her was bubbling up in Lily's throat and it felt like it might just spill over. Before August could even give her a confused look she was already back inside.

With raised eyebrows and a simple shrug of dismissal August addressed the letter and finally sent it off into the night.

Lori Normandy
13 Wicker Avenue
New York
America