Lily Potter (Harry Potter's Twin)

Chapter 85

Three o'clock the following afternoon found Harry, Ron, Fred and George standing outside the great white marquee in the orchard, awaiting the arrival of wedding guests. Harry had taken a large dose of Polyjuice Potion and was now the double of a redheaded Muggle boy from the local village, from whom Fred had stolen hairs using a Summoning Charm. The plan was to introduce Harry as "Cousin Barny" and me as "Cousin Debby" and trust the great number of the Weasley relatives to camouflage us.

I watched the boys below me from the window of Ginny's room, the place that the ladies were getting ready. Once I was done, I helped Hermione's state. She needed to look beautiful as ever, I wanted her to look as beautiful as ever. Ron was seeing her in a new light and that needed as much support as I could give it.

"So, Lily," she whispered as I did her eyeshadow, adding a bronze shade to her crease. "I know something happened."

I glanced at Ginny who was helping the bride situate a goblin-made tiara on her dainty head, far from ear shot...

"You are right, a lot happened, actually," I said, glad her eyes had to remain close, otherwise she would give me a Hermione-ish look.

"Did you and Fred split up?" she asked in worry.

"No, nothing of that sort!" I said, pausing from the shock.

"You just aren't wearing your promise ring," Hermione, eyes now open, gave me the look.

"Oh, right," I said, blushing. "Eyes closed!"

"Why aren't you wearing it?" she asked.

"I..." I didn't know if Fred and I were telling anyone, he hadn't asked Sirius, nor I ask Mrs. Weasley. I didn't want to seem like I was stealing any thunder from the wedding. "You have to promise not to tell anyone!"

"I promise!" she whispered, sounding worried again.

I bent next to her ear and spoke in less than a whisper, "I asked Fred to marry me last night and he said yes."

Hermione froze. I dipped into a gold color and placed it on her eyelid.

"So, we are technically engaged, he took the ring to get something added to it, I'm not sure just yet," I continued. "But, it's still a promise to be married as soon as we can make that happen, whenever the time is right. We had talked about breaking things off, you know, like how Harry and Ginny did. But, I think getting married is a much more likeable choice."

Hermione took a breath, smiling widely.

"I knew it!" she said. "I honestly thought you guys had done it but, getting engaged is much more exciting news."

My hesitation to reply made her eyes flash open.

"You guys...." she whispered, even more exuberant.

"Shh, his family is here!" I glanced at Ginny again. "But, yes, we..."

Hermione seemed to be in unfamiliar territory. Usually, her and I only spoke strictly about book-smart related things, barely branching off into anything that couldn't be debated about. The basis of our friendship was arguing over curse theory. We never were the gossip-type friends.

"We don't have to talk about it," I said, sensing that this was a subject she was unfamiliar with.

"Lets just go back to the engagement," she suggested. "Why aren't you telling anyone?"

"Well, it's definitely not the right time, with another wedding happening as we speak," I started. "And it was not planned in the slightest, I should have asked Molly first, there isn't even a ring yet."