REPUTATION • [j.p.] ✔️

[36]

Chapter Thirty-Six:
Jessica Verity Potter

•••

BEFORE THE FIVE Marauders left Hogwarts, Dumbledore assembled a meeting with them. It was time they joined the Order. Or at least in a week once Jessie and James were seventeen. The first meeting they attended was two weeks later. Jessie and James awkwardly asked Moody if they could set protective spells over their small wedding ceremony later this summer.

They'd picked a date. Sirius was the best man of course. Lily was the maid of honor. And Remus was walking Jessie down the aisle. Everything was perfect.

Except for the honeymoon. Moody insisted that they didn't have time for that, but Dumbledore was there when they asked. His exact words were, "They're young. Let them live a little!"

"Albus, you know I'm with you on everything, but Jessie and their future child are prime targets for Voldemort!" Moody had argued.

"Alister, I assure you, he will not attack unless he's certain of where they are or if they have their baby!"

"Can we stop discussing a baby I'm not even pregnant with yet?" Jessie had yelled at them.

Dumbledore smiled at Jessie. "See. She's not even pregnant yet."

"Oh my god, I'm leaving," Jessie exclaimed getting up at leaving. "And James and I will have a honeymoon. Backpacking throughout Great Britain! Never settling for long so Voldemort never finds us!" she shouted at Moody. She stormed out.

James cleared her throat. "She gets a little—"

"James! Don't you dare finish that sentence!" Jessie's voice cried out.

James pushed to his feet, hurrying out after his fiancée. He loved her but the wedding was making her anxious. The sudden realness of the war around them was a weight on her chest. James knew she drank three cups of coffee each morning because she tossed and turned throughout the night.

James settled on the porch steps next to Jessie. She was resting her head on her knees.

"I'm scared," she whispered, not moving besides that.

"So am I, Jess. So am I," he said kissing her head.

"How are we supposed to have this wedding when there is a war on the horizon?" Jessie demanded, looking up at him with a deep frown. Her hands trembled as they hugged her knees to her chest. "How?"

James sighed, his arm wrapping around her. "Well, we can't let fear win. I mean, Jess, we're Gryffindor for crying out loud. If we aren't brave, how can anyone else be brave?" he demanded.

Jessie frowned a little bit. "I suppose you're right..."

"Aren't I always," he grinned down at her.

Jessie laughed softly, turning to hug her fiancé. She was desperate for the day she could call him her husband and then the father of her child. That would be the day her life was full and complete. It was all she could ever want from this cruel world: her family.

•••

Their wedding came and went. It was small, but it was everything Jessie wanted and more.

Remus walked her down the aisle, the girl already crying. She'd always wanted her father to walk her down the aisle. Always pictured it. She could never find the words to express her gratitude for her best friend.

Despite her tears, James thought she looked stunning. Her wedding dress was a simple, short white dress and she wore no veil since they had a small budget to work with. Her hair was curled and her makeup done. She looked like a goddess.

James had blown the entire wedding budget on her wedding ring. An opal instead of a diamond just as she requested. James' ring had him and Jessie's initials carved into it. It was easily his favorite thing that he owned.

And now, he had Jessie too. Not in the sense that he owned her, but in the sense they'd vowed to be with each other in sickness and in health, until death do them part.

James had also written his own vows that he told her that night in their room at their small apartment: "Jessica Verity Potter. I love you now and forever. The world is scary right now, but I will never let a hair on your head be hurt. Not a single strand. You are my whole world, and we will make a world perfect for our future family. I love you," he said leaning over to kiss her.

Jessie smiled up at him, kissing him sweetly. She had tears in her eyes now. She had his face cupped in her hands, caressing his cheek. Her husband. The love of her life.

"I've already said these words before, but you were sleeping. I believe they hold more meaning when you're awake: James Fleamont Potter, you captured my heart from the moment we met. And I cannot imagine spending my life with anyone that isn't you. In the end, it will always be you. And I cannot wait to spend forever with you and someday meet Harry James Potter. I'm sure he'll look just like you, and have a knack for mischief, too. I love you forever, darling."

It was now James' turn to cry. No, he was sobbing in her chest as he held her close. He'd never felt such joy to know that he was to spend the rest of his life with Jessie.

He had forever with her.

•••
[Published 05/18/18]
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A/N: Yes, this is short but I have more coming your way soon! I have a very long car ride tomorrow morning and I'm hoping to churn out a few chapters for Reputation so I have them all set! Thank you for 20k!!!