You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 40

Six months had stretched out into a long, quiet eternity for Mira. Since that night in the garden, since she had watched Regulus and Evan disappear into the shadows of the war, a single moment hadn't gone by without her worrying for them. She lived in a state of constant, low-level anxiety that hummed beneath her skin like a live wire. She scanned the Daily Prophet every morning until her fingers were stained black with ink, looking for their names, for a mention of an arrest, or even a missing person's report. But there was nothing. In a world consumed by darkness, no news was the only good news she could hope for.

To keep her mind from spiraling into the worst-case scenarios, Mira threw herself into anything that would occupy her hands. She even took up knitting lessons with Euphemia, who was absolutely delighted that someone else finally showed a genuine interest in her hobby. They would sit together for hours by the fire, the rhythmic click-clink of the needles providing a steady beat to drown out Mira's thoughts.

But the biggest distraction of all was the whirlwind of Lily and James's wedding. With the date set for mid-December, the Potter household had become a headquarters for lace samples, cake tastings, and floral arrangements. Mira, Lily, and Marlene were together practically every day, moving from shop to shop in Diagon Alley, trying to ensure every detail was perfect.

James, much to everyone's initial shock, had been entrusted with finding the perfect wedding venue. He took the job with a level of seriousness that was both touching and hilarious. He didn't just look at places; he conducted full-scale investigations. He made detailed drawings of ballrooms, took extensive notes on the quality of the lighting, and presented every single venue he visited to the entire family as if he were presenting a top-secret war strategy. It was entertaining to watch him pace the living room, pointing at sketches with a serious expression while Monty and Mia cheered him on.

By the time December rolled around, everything was finally decided. The venue was booked, the dresses were fitted, and the invitations had been sent. Yet, despite the perfection of it all, there was one thing Lily and James simply couldn't settle on: the bridal party.

It was now the evening of December 10th, just a week before the wedding, and the final decision still hadn't been made. Mira wasn't even aware it was still a point of contention until she found herself in the kitchen with Lily, James, Mia, and Monty. They were all covered in varying amounts of flour, baking batches of holiday cookies and bread for the neighbors.

"What do you mean you haven't decided yet?" Mira bellowed, her eyes wide as she leaned over the counter to punch down a ball of dough with perhaps a bit too much force.

"Just because you know everything that's going to happen doesn't mean everyone else does as well, Ro" James replied. He looked up from his tray of star-shaped cookies, dusting a cloud of flour off his shirt and readjusting his glasses.

"Lils, you're the sensible one" Mira said, looking toward her friend. James let out a mock gasp of offense, but Mira ignored him. "There's only a week left. You need a Maid of Honor and a Best Man."

"I know, I know" Lily sighed. She flopped down into one of the wooden kitchen chairs, looking completely exasperated. Her face was flushed from the heat of the ovens, and she tucked a stray red curl behind her ear. James immediately dropped his cookie cutter and rushed to her side, rubbing her shoulders with a look of pure devotion.

"I mean, the answer is right there if you ask me" Mira shrugged. She turned back to her dough, kneading it with a steady rhythm.

James and Lily shared a long, meaningful look. They had been debating this for months, weighing friendships and loyalties, but seeing Mira so casual about it sparked a thought. Maybe they were overthinking it. Maybe they just needed a push from someone who saw things more clearly than they did.