Jolene

September fifteenth 1978

It was the wedding of James and Lily Potter. It was the glowing light during a time of great turmoil. Everyone was hoping to escape the realities of war for at least a night to celebrate their friends wedding. Firewhiskey was being passed around as though it was water and everyone was laughing, one would expect no less at the wedding of James Potter. Dinner had just finished being served and everyone was quietly talking to the rest of their table mates. James and Lily sat at the main table smiling at one another looking the happiest they have been in months. They were so glad that so many people could come considering most of their friends were in the Order and some people had to make sure that Voldemort didn't take over completely while everyone was enjoying the wedding.

Suddenly someone calls out "SPEECHES!!" after that the entire group was chanting for the speeches the wedding party had created for the bride and groom. Marlene McKinnon and Alice Longbottom both made moving speeches. They were mostly about Lily giving them hope and how they would both murder James if he hurt Lily.

"I wouldn't dare hurt Evans... I mean my precious Lily-flower" James said with a wink toward Lily who just rolled her eyes in response.

"Okay! Okay! I know you have been waiting for the Great Sirius Black to make his speech so I suppose I will have to give the people what they want! That is what you want right?" Sirius declared loudly to the rest of the wedding guests. The guests in turn began yelling for Sirius to get on with it.

"Let's get this over with Black" Lily said with a sigh but the sides of her lips quirked up betraying her.

"Okay, Okay this song is dedicated to Prongs my dear old friend and the fiery Miss. Evans or should I say the new Missus Potter"

"Hit it Frank" Frank Longbottom and some of the other guys start playing instruments. James is confused but Lily recognizing the song smiles in fond adoration.

"Lii-ly, Lii-ly,Lii-ly,Lii-ly

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Lii-ly, Lii-ly,Lii-ly,Lii-ly

Please don't take him just because you can

Your beauty is beyond compare

With flaming locks of auburn hair

With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green

Your smile is like a breath of spring

Your voice is soft like summer rain

And I cannot compete with you

Lii-ly"

By this point everyone was laughing so hard Sirius had a hard time keeping a straight face and James and Lily kept grabbing each other to stay in their seats. After that first section Remus and Peter joined in the singing.

"He talks about you in his sleep

And there's nothing I can do to keep

From crying when he calls your name

Lii-ly

And I can easily understand

How you could easily take my man

But you don't know what he means to me

Lii-ly"

Everyone who knew the original song by Dolly Parton began to join in the fun. And while she denies it, it has been said by one Sirius Black that he saw "ol' Minnie" singing with the rest of the guys.

"Lii-ly, Lii-ly,Lii-ly,Lii-ly

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Lii-ly, Lii-ly,Lii-ly,Lii-ly

Please don't take him just because you can

You could have your choice of men

But I could never love again

He's the only one for me

Lii-ly

I had to have this talk with you

My happiness depends on you

And whatever you decide to do

Lii-ly

Lii-ly, Lii-ly,Lii-ly,Lii-ly

I'm begging of you please don't take my man

Lii-ly, Lii-ly,Lii-ly,Lii-ly

Please don't take him even though you can

Lii-ly, Lii-ly"

"Well" Lily said finally collecting herself after Sirius had finished his rendition of "Jolene" "I suppose I expected no less from you Black after all you and James are practically attached at the hip"

"Thank you my dear" Sirius said bowing

"That must have took you from when the song came out till just last week to decide it would be the "perfect" joke to do at our wedding" Lily said smiling patronizingly at Sirius.

"Yes it did take a whi-" Sirius started and then realized Lily was making fun of him "James your wife is making fun of meee"

"Oo wife I do like the sound of that" James said getting a far off look in face until he smiled down at Lily looking at her, the light of his life.

"Prongsie this is not the time to become a sap for Lily" Sirius whined.

"You knew James was always a sap for Lily when he met her for the first time Padfoot" Remus said smiling at his little family fondly.

The rest of the night was perfect. Sirius and James toned the pranks down to only ten throughout the entire evening so Lily counts that as a win and her and James spent the rest of the evening with their friends enjoying the freedom while they still could.