Written for Louise Foxhall's Triptych Competition

Not Thrilled

June 2021

Lily wondered what Vic saw when she looked in the mirror. Did she see past the long, silver-blonde hair, china-blue eyes and pretty features that so many others admired or was she, like them, so captivated by her outwardly beauty that she saw nothing else? It didn't seem fair that she was marrying Teddy, not only marrying him but taking him away from her.

After smoothing down her sea green bridesmaid dress Lily sighed and looked out the window. The chair was just barely high enough for her to actually be able to look out the window without a great deal of effort, a result of her distinct lack of height. Yes, she was thirteen and her mum said that she would probably have another growth spurt, but the truth was that she knew she wasn't going to grow much more, everybody knew she wouldn't grow much more but nobody would say anything.

Except Teddy.

Teddy was always the one who she felt was her real brother, not annoying James and too-weird Albus. When she was little and the two gits wouldn't play with her she knew that she could count on Teddy. Who was the one who would read her Muggle comic books? Who was the one who would let her dress him up in her mum's jewelry and have a tea party with her stuffed animals? Who was the one who always included her? More importantly, who was the one who answered all those questions, the ones she'd had after that day when her mum and dad told her what really happened when Voldemort was defeated? Teddy.

And now he was marrying her. Victoire, the annoying older cousin, the one who always made the boys drool, the one who was so bloody…perfect. Vic could wear anything; everything came in Vic's size instead of hers. She had been so annoying whenever they had to go to Shell Cottage. Lily could hear her as if it was yesterday.

"Maman, please do not let little Lily go into my room! I do not want babies to muss my things!"

Yes, she was five and had been in the garden and dripping with mud, but it was the tone that Vic has said it that has always irritated her. Now that same cousin stood in her perfect, French-designed, French-made wedding gown. The annoying part was that it looked…perfect. Thankfully Rose walked over, put her arm on the back of the chair and leaned in to whisper.

"I may vomit."

Lily stifled a laugh, looked over to see if anyone was paying attention, and was relieved when they weren't. "It is a bit much, isn't it?"

Rose rolled her eyes. "Only the best for Victoire."

"I still don't know what he sees in her." Rose rolled her eyes yet again so Lily continued. "Besides from the obvious. She's been horrible this whole time. The fittings, everything. Rosie, have you seen anything?"

After a deep sigh Rose shook her head. "I may be a seer, Lils, but that doesn't mean I can do it on command. Oh wait, I'm getting something now…" She put her fingers to her temples. "Yes, yes, it's going to be a très beautiful wedding and everything will be absolute perfection and you're going to be annoying because she's marrying Teddy. Oh, and Mum and Dad will have a row about how much firewhiskey Dad will drink at the reception."

Lily snorted, causing Victoire and her bridesmaids to give the girls an exasperated look. After they'd turned back to Victoire, Lily leaned her head back on the chair. "I'm not a seer but I can figure out the one about your mum and dad. Really, they'll have a row? Astounding. Alert the press."

An elderly woman in expensive robes with an oversize feathered hat walked into the room and clapped her hands twice. "Les filles, le temps est à portée de main. Places, s'il vous plait."

Lily looked up to Rose. "Well?"

Rose reached for Lily's arm and pulled her up. "She says they're ready and it's time to take our places. I really wish Victoire would have picked England for the location, I'm tired of translating everything."

-ooo-

Lily stood next to the table, impatiently waiting for her mum to fix her hair. During the ceremony a piece of hair had fallen out of the elaborate style that Victoire insisted all the bridesmaids wear, and Lily's attempts to tuck it back into place were highly visible to the guests. After a few minutes Lily shifted her weight, as the low heels were fashionable, yet very uncomfortable.

"Lily Luna Potter, stand still or I'll never get this fixed." Ginny shook her head and took out her wand. "I suppose I'll do Mum's trick. Hold still." With a wave of her wand Lily's hair shot back up into the style and firmly stuck into place. "Now don't touch it, it'll be sticky for at least a half hour."

"Mum! What did you do?" Lily reached towards her hair but Ginny stopped her arm.

"What did I just say? I'll take care of it later tonight." She pursed her lips and gave her daughter 'the look.' "And remember, this is a happy time, Lily. Victoire is your cousin and Teddy…"

"Is our Teddy." Lily's voice was far from enthusiastic. "I know, I know. But why…"

"We've been through this, over and over. Teddy and Victoire are married now, so you'll just have to get used to it. Honestly, Lily, I don't know why you're so upset about this. Teddy's an official part of the family now."

"But he was official before! Dad's his godfather, that's official."

"Problem?" Harry Potter sat down at the table next to Ginny and gave his daughter a quick once over. "Don't worry, Lily, your hair looks beautiful."

"That's not it, Dad!" Lily sighed dramatically and walked away from her parents. They didn't understand. Nobody understood except Rosie. She made her way through the crowd around the cake and drinks section of the room and scanned for Rosie's curly brown hair. Finally, after almost giving up and deciding to hide in some unoccupied room far away from everyone, she saw her cousin sitting next to her father at a table far away from everything. Both of the Weasleys were sitting there as if they were waiting for a train that was overdue by hours, nursing drinks and looked bored out of their minds.

"Rosie!" Lily sat down hurriedly next to her cousin. "You have to help me; I'm going to go mental if I don't do something."

"No kidding, Shorty." Ron took a sip of champagne and made a face. "I know this stuff's expensive and classy and all that, but it tastes like shite."

"Dad." Rose rolled her eyes, took a hold of her sparkling juice and stood up quickly. "Um, Lily and I are, um, um…"

"Bye." Ron waved at the two of them. "Oh, Rosie, if you see your mum send her over this way. And if you see Hugo, tell him to stop it."

Lily looked at her uncle oddly. "What's Hugo done?"

Ron shrugged. "Dunno, something, probably."

Lily and Rose wandered through the guests, only stopping momentarily when they informed Hermione that Ron was looking for her, and then made their way off towards a table that seemed empty. As soon as Rosie a voice came from the chair.

"Get off you cow!"

Lily's eyes widened. She sprang up from her chair and pulled. As soon as the invisibility cloak was removed an irritated James Potter sat in the chair, visible to all.

"James!" Lily narrowed her eyebrows. "Dad will kill you if he finds out you've nicked his cloak!"

James reached out and snatched the cloak away from his sister. "And he won't find out, will he Lils? Remember, I know you didn't stay over with your roommate Marjorie, you went out on a date with that twat."

"How did you…" Lily huffed, decided against saying something and sat down in a chair next to her brother. "And what in Merlin's name were you doing?'

A smirk spread across James' face. "Well, I heard one of Vic's cousins say something about me, so I thought I'd hide out here and see what they had to say. You know, if I could…"

"Oh shut up, James." Rose threw a fork at him. "I really don't want to hear about your sick little fantasies."

"Thinking of getting married like Teddy?" Lily waggled her head back and forth. "You know, since you try to do everything Teddy does? Going to be an Auror, too?"

"Merlin, no!" James looked as if he'd been slapped. "Why limit myself to one bird? More than enough of me to go 'round. And no, Lils, I'm not going to be an Auror. I get enough of the 'eldest son' shite as it is. And I don't do everything Ted does."

Rose coughed into her hand. "Bullshit."

"Piss off, Rosie." James stood up. "Besides, have you heard what Ted's done? He went and bought a house. I'm not doing that. All that work? You know how much Dad has us working on our place. Godric, no, I'm going to have a flat. Let someone else take care of it. Now if you two cows will bugger off I'm going to find a bridesmaid." He winked at them. "Or two. You know, my Dad's famous."

Lily rolled her eyes. "I hate him."

"Of course you do, it's James. He's always been a prat." Rosie propped her head up with her elbow, which narrowly missed someone's leftover cake. "And did you know Ted bought a house? Can't imagine what that's like. Only the best for Victoire. Probably in the best part of London with only the finest furniture…"

"And a staff of ten house elves." Lily leaned her head onto the back of the chair. "Food flown in daily from France, trips everywhere in the world to the most fabulous locations. Oh, and probably a fat promotion at the Ministry. 'Oh Victoire, the Department of International Magical Relations would fall apart without you! You can't be a clerk; we're promoting you up to the top spot!' Stun me now."

The girls were silent for a moment until Rose looked over suddenly. "Wait a tic, did you really sneak off for a date with your boyfriend? Graham Kent was stupid enough to risk your Dad? What'd you do?"

"Yes, we did. Told Dad I was staying with Marjorie, and I did. But I just got there a lot later than what he thought. We just went to Madame Puddifoot's. To be honest it wasn't that much fun. He kind of made a show that we were out. He was nicer when we were alone, though."

"At least you have a boyfriend." Rose took a drink of her sparkling juice , made a face and waggled her glass. "Think we could get the real stuff?"

"Right. Like they'd give a thirteen year old girl a real drink. You're fifteen but it won't work. I heard Mum say there's an age-check charm on the glasses. Seventeen minimum."

"Bollocks." Rose made a face and then looked hesitantly over to Lily. "Um, have you ever had any of the real stuff?" After seeing Lily shake her head Rose nodded. "Me neither. Oh well."

Lily's shoulders slumped. "Now what? I did what I was supposed to, I was a good little bridesmaid and now what? This is boring."

Rose heard her name and saw her brother Hugo walk by with Albus and HR Boyd. She noticed that HR looked at Lily and then turned away suddenly. "Um, maybe we should ask them if they want to dance?" She motioned towards the boys."

"With who?" Lily looked to where Rose had pointed, but instead of the boys there were two elderly, and quite rotund, wizards standing next to each other and drinking. "Rose, I know you're desperate…"

"Sod off." Rose returned to her almost empty sparkling juice. "At least we only have to endure this until Ted and Vic leave. Mum said they're sending all of us back to the hotel."

"Brilliant."

-ooo-

The time had come for Mr. and Mrs. Lupin to leave for their honeymoon, which caused a large crowd around the couple. Lily stood next to her parents as Ted and Victoire made their way around. Finally, almost at the end of the farewell, they reached the Potters. Ted embraced Ginny heartily as Vic hugged Harry and kissed his cheek. Lily watched, almost hoping they wouldn't notice her and her lack of enthusiasm, but then Ted held her tightly in his arms.

"Pixie, I'm so happy you were here. Wouldn't be right without you, you know. Can't have my little sister not be in the wedding."

Lily smiled as Ted's hair changed to match her shade of red. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Ted."

His eyes softened and he leaned down so only she could hear. "Give it some time, you'll get to know her like I do. I know she's your cousin, but…"

"Lily!" Victoire was there suddenly, embracing her and kissing her on each cheek. "Oh Lily, I am so sorry I've been so horrible. I will make it up to you, chèri. After the honeymoon I want all the girls to come stay when Ted's away, you, Rosie, Molly, Roxie…"

Lily saw Ted look at her from the corner of her eye. She swallowed hard. "Of course, Vic. Sounds lovely. It was so beautiful and you look so wonderful."

With that the newlyweds left them to say goodbye to Bill and Fleur Weasley. Lily stood and watched, Victoire's invitation still ringing in her head. A visit to their house with all the girl cousins? She was going to need to talk to her Uncle George. That was going to take a lot of Patented Daydream charms. Maybe he'd perfected ones that would last longer than thirty minutes.