The Speech (James x Sally)
1st June 2031
“Do we have to have them over?”
“They’re our best friends!”
James wrinkled his nose. “Debateable. Lucian is one of my best friends but is Nina yours? I mean, it could be said that she’s your only friend.”
“Then she’d be my best friend by default,” his girlfriend said from where she stood at the foot of their bed, folding up clothes to put away. “They’re coming over whether you like it or not James. You might as well get over it.”
“But it’s your birthday!”
“Exactly! Hence our friends are coming over for dinner. Now get off the bed and get dressed!”
“Well,” James looked up to her with what he hoped was an enticing expression but Sally thought it just made him look a little mentally unstable, “I thought perhaps we could just spend it alone. You know…”
Sally sighed at that. Like a mother about to talk to their young child, she took a seat beside him on the bed and tenderly cupped his cheek. “I love you, Jim,” she said, pecking his lips softly, “but you’re not exactly long-term entertainment, are you?” She couldn’t help but chuckle at her own joke; standing up after and made her way over to the wardrobe to pick out her dress.
“Oh, you’re just bloody hilarious,” James grumbled.
She merely gave him a small, amused smile before getting dressed. Sally Longbottom wasn’t one to dress extravagantly usually – working in a pub meant she lived most of her life wearing clothes she didn’t mind smelling of booze – but tonight she was looking rather pretty in her wears; a dainty floral dress slipped on along with the ruby and gold necklace James had given her for her birthday. The Gryffindor colour scheme had not surprised her; even her engagement ring was riddled with their house colours.
“You need to get changed,” she said once done.
“I will in good time, my love,” was the reply given as she felt James wrap his arms around her from behind. “We’ve got ages.”
“Half an hour isn’t ages,” Sal laughed, turning around in his arms to face him. As she did, James settled a kissing upon her lips once more which unfortunately did not distract her as much as he would have liked. “Now get dressed. Come on, Nina’ll probably get here early.”
Obediently James released her to pull on a shirt, yelling, “Love you, Sal!” as she disappeared off to check on the food. He had a sappy grin on his face as she yelled that she loved him back.
*
An hour later and Lucian was sat on his friend’s sofa observing the enigma that was his best friend. It made Lucian uncomfortable to think of James as an enigma for the boy had always been very dense seeming, most definitely the most obviously characterised of the group, but this weird falling in love thing seemed to have added a whole new personality to James that Lucian was still getting used to seeing despite James having been suffering from it for nearly four years now.
But even then, James had changed even more recently: he’d had somehow become obedient.
It was very strange. All of the Marauders #2 had plenty of memories of James just being a general gobshite for no apparent reason throughout his life; he refused constantly to do what people wanted him to just because he didn’t like being bossed around, yet with Sally he was bossed around constantly and seemed quite happy about it.
“Are you sure you’re not ill?” Lucian checked for the third time since he had arrived.
“Perfectly fine,” repeated James, “Why?”
He finished laying the table and sat down on the sofa besides his mate. Nina was chatting to Sally in the kitchen.
Lucian shrugged. “You just seem different recently.”
“Different?”
“I don’t know. More mature.”
James smirked at that, crossing his arms with a deliberate dramatic slowness. “Mature. I like that. Does this mean then that you agree I should be the leader of the gang?”
“No,” Lucian shook his head. “Just for that comment, no – I take it back; you’re no more mature than in fourth year.”
His friend laughed, smiling once more so broadly it looked like it could hurt. “I’m just happy,” James assured, “Properly happy. Especially now Sal has moved in – this place was getting lonely with you guys gone.”
It was rare that one could have a grown up conversation with James. He wasn’t one to blurt around his actual feelings all the time nowadays – not since he had gotten together with Sally. Lucian felt quite assured from this that everything was getting along better than just fine and that James was truly as happy as he made out. In fact, he was quite sure he had never seen anyone as happy as James was with Sally.
“Well I’m happy for you mate,” Lucian patted his shoulder affectionately.
“Yeah,” James grinned, “Yeah, it’s good. In fact, I was-” he paused for a moment as the talking in the kitchen seemed to halt, but then continued when Nina’s shrill laugh was heard, “I’m going to propose.”
*
“He hid it in a sock?”
“Not just in a sock. He hid it in a sock and then put it in the floo powder jar on the mantle,” Sally said, serving up the dinner.
Nina couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, he tries so hard, Sal. You’ve got to give him a bit of credit for it.”
“I’m giving him plenty! To be fair, I probably wouldn’t have found it if I wasn’t going to visit Frank. The only other places I go are the pub and yours, and I’d just walk then.”
“This is so exciting though,” Nina squealed, resting her chin on Sally’s shoulder. “You’re going to get married! You’ll be Mrs Sally Alice Potter! You’ll have his children and then our children can grow up being best friends!”
Sally thought her best friend was perhaps taking this a little too far but couldn’t help but be inwardly just as excited about all of this. Shit, Mrs Sally Potter. Who would have thought it?
“He hasn’t asked me yet,” she pointed out whilst adding green beans to the plates.
“You found a piece of paper titled: ‘Proposal Speech’ and a ring. I think it is safe to say he is going to ask you soon. Probably in front of loads of people too because a) this is James, and b) ‘speech’ sort of implies an audience.”
Suddenly the blonde haired girl went somewhat pale. “That little shit.”
“Sal?” Nina pulled away, confused.
“That little shit.”
Out of the kitchen in an instant, Sally went to find her boyfriend with Nina trailing behind in complete obliviousness to what had just happened. “Sal, did I say something wrong?” she called, alerting the boys that they were coming in.
“What’s wrong, dear?” Lucian asked as soon as his wife and Sally entered.
He had an adorably concerned frown on his face that only made Nina want to hug him, but she thought now was perhaps not the time. Instead she stood beside Sally trying to appear like her right-hand man despite the fact she had no clue why Sal was suddenly so frustrated.
James too looked concerned but Sally was too fuelled to find him in anyway adorable.
“Your speech at Albus’ wedding,” she stated.
His concern turned more to confusion. “What?”
“Your speech. The one you begged him to let you do; how does it go?”
“Urm,” James knitted his brows together in thought as he tried to remember. “Thanks for coming to my brother’s wedding, get as smashed as you want as Dad’s paying?”
This was quite obviously not the reply Sally had been expecting for she rather awkwardly spluttered indignantly for a moment before calming down. “Oh Jim,” she then sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck, “That is an awful speech.”
“Thanks, Sal,” he chuckled, kissing her hair and hugging her back. “Should I be worrying about that little tantrum?”
She shook her head against him.
Nina suggested Lucian came to help her in the kitchen which seemed like a very bad idea as Nina was renowned for being a shit cook, but at least her heart was in the right place for this allowed James and Sally a moment alone.
“What was that all about?” James asked once their guests had left the room.
They remained embraced more because of James now than Sally – it was he who had kept his arms around her whereas Sally had pulled back enough so they could converse without her voice being muffled by his general being.
“I was worried you were going to say something else in your speech.”
“Like what?” James gave a mischievous grin, “I’d be happy to hear for inspiration.”
Sally smiled amused. “Nah, I just thought it would be something about us.”
It was James’ turn to turn slightly pale. “Sal, are you-” he rested his hands on her stomach, eyes wide.
His girlfriend just laughed even more now, giving him a rather tender kiss. “Maybe in a few years, Jim, but for now it is just you and me. Is that a problem?”
“Shitting hell, no.” James smirked with clear relief before kissing her in a far more intimate way than would have been vastly inappropriate if Lucian and Nina were still present.
*
1st December 2031
It had been exactly six months since Sally’s birthday when the topic of marriage was brought up again.
The actual wedding of Albus and Isla is another story for another time with its own dramas and shenanigans which hadn’t really impacted Sally’s life much apart from one thing which will be detailed in a moment. No, Sally was quite sure that if James had not done this one very idiotic thing then Albus’ wedding would have passed in quite a blur for although it was rather different in décor than most traditional weddings she’d attended, it was a period of her life when so many of her friends were getting married that it was hard to keep them from blurring together in her memories. Albus, therefore, Sally supposed, should be quite grateful that his brother made his quite so memorable, although she wasn’t entirely sure if that was Albus’ feelings on the matter. It seemed increasingly unlikely.
The fuss had all started when James had taken his stand to do his speech.
To say that Sally was dreading it was an understatement mainly because she knew he would end up saying something stupid, and she was quite right; the speech was filled with stories of why he was not only better than Albus but also his parents’ favourite child. By the end of it she was feeling rather humoured by it all, although more for laughing at her beloved than with him. Her James seemed to have a talent of making a knob out of himself.
The real issue began though when he announced he had another speech to make.
“I just have one more thing to do then I’ll let you all get back to your drinks. Now, you all know, I guess,” he began, reading from a new piece of paper he had just taken out of his breast pocket, “that I’m here with my Sal. Sal, raise your hand, love!”
Her face felt raw with embarrassment. Oh shit, what on earth was he doing? Awkwardly she raised her hand.
“There she is good. Right well, you see, Sally and I have been together since February 2028 and she’s a real intelligent one is Sal. Clever enough to run a pub which I think we can all agree is a lot more important to society than some other careers some people here might have like, you know, being a Transfigurations teacher,” he looked unashamedly to the groom , “Offence meant, Al. But anyway, so as I was saying she’s a real brainbox and all but one thing Sally is utterly shit at-”
“James, can I remind you that this is your brother’s wedding and there are children present,” Harry quickly cut in, giving his twenty six year old son a warning look.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be done in a bit, Dad!” James huffed.
With a roll of his eyes, he returned once more to his prepared speech – taking a moment to find himself again on the page. “Right, okay, yes, brainbox – so, Sal is utterly rubbish,” he gave a quick glance to his dad at the change of wording, “at picking up on hints. I’m not talking just little hints but big ones as well, like me telling her I am attracted to blondes with brown eyes and her not realising I was talking about herself.”
Frank burst out laughing at the back, but he seemed to be the only one else to find this funny. Most people just seemed a bit sorry for both Albus and Isla and, James and Sally for it was becoming increasingly obvious that this was going to end up horribly. The general consensus seemed to be that James was an idiot.
“And then recently I’ve been trying to drop her more hints about other stuff, but she’s missed all of those too so in order that I don’t have to waste another year of my life trying to get her to, I thought I’d say in front of all of these people here today at Albus’ wedding,” he gave his brother a grin. It seemed James was quite aware that he was stealing the limelight from the bride and groom and didn’t care in the slightest, “That I am asking Sally Alice Longbottom to marry-.”
And that was when James was stunned.
*
“Fucking hell, Sal, you didn’t have to attack him!” Fred remarked.
“He was ruining the wedding!” she replied, following as Harry levitated his passed out son up the stairs – Fred and Alex following behind her with half-amused, half-concerned expressions.
Harry set James down on his old bed before muttering, “Rennervate.”
With a loud groan, James’ eyelids began to flutter. “What happened?”
“You were stunned,” Harry explained, putting a pillow behind his boy’s head. “Quite rightly too; Albus’ wedding, James! Of all the ways you could try to ruin it.”
“I wasn’t ruining it! It was a profession of love! I thought Albus would appreciate it!”
Fred laughed from where he stood in the doorway, alerting James to look over and see two of his best friends and girlfriend. “You really are a right git,” Fred chuckled. “That was the shittiest thing you could have possibly done today, mate.”
James shook his head in disagreement. “I could have run away with Isla,” he said, looking to his father, “I think that would have been worse.”
“It also would never have happened,” Harry pointed out.
The previously unconscious boy ignored this comment from his father, instead just staring at where Sally stood looking more than a little bit guilty. It had been a brash action deciding to stun him, one that she was starting to regret a bit.
“I take it you were going to say no?” came James’ question.
The poor thing looked rather dejected at that. Self-conscious even, which was an odd expression to see in regards to James. He was always such a cocky little shit.
“Perhaps we should leave the two of you,” Harry interjected, standing up and heading out of the door. It took a bit of effort for the famous wizard to convince Fred and Alex to go, but soon enough the couple were alone; Sally standing awkwardly on the other side of the room whilst James remained lounging on his bed.
“I’m sorry,” Sally eventually whispered.
“Its fine,” he looked out of the window defiantly. He didn’t think he could stomach looking at her as she rejected him.
“No it’s not. You’ve been planning this for ages.”
“You knew?”
“I found the ring about a week before my birthday,” she admitted.
“Right,” he nodded, “so what happens now then?”
“I don’t know,” Sally shrugged. “I’d like you to try again?”
James frowned at that, turning to look at her with a slight incredulous. “Try again?”
“Ask me again,” she clarified, looking unsure herself now. “In private. I didn’t exactly appreciate the audience, Jim. I think I’m going to spend the rest of my life with your cousin Molly looking at me pitifully.”
“Mol would have done that anyway,” James couldn’t help but laugh even though he wasn’t feeling particularly peachy. “She thinks anyone who goes out with me is an idiot.”
“What would she think about the person who married you?”
James stared at her for a long moment before raking a hand through his hair. “Look, Sal. You’re going to have to be blunt with me here because I’m fucking confused. Do you want me to ask you to marry me or not because you’re being incredibly fucking vague.”
“See! Now you know how I feel!” Sally exclaimed, “How do you expect me to know if you’re asking out or to move in with you James if you talk so bloody vaguely all the time? Now you know what it is like!” She was grinning brightly now; the smile only seeming more and more radiant as she moved to lie besides him. “But as for a ‘blunt’ answer, I would love to marry you, James. Thank you for asking. Where’s the ring?”
A conflict of emotions surfaced then; James didn’t know whether to be ecstatic over her answer or pissed that he hadn’t be allowed to do it properly. “No,” he said, deciding on the latter, “We’re not engaged.”
“Why not?”
“You didn’t let me do the speech.”
“That was a piss poor speech, James!”
“Then we’re not engaged.”
Sally groaned. Why she was so in love with this frustrating boy she would never know. “Fine! Do your bloody speech!”
“The whole speech? Not just the short version I started doing downstairs?”
Reluctantly, Sally nodded her head. She made herself comfortable on the bed sure that they would be upstairs for a while.
Grinning like a maniac, James immediately got up and retook out the parchment from his pocket. It took him a total of seventy three minutes to finish the several pages he had written, during which Sally seemed to find herself laughing until her sides hurt for the most part for James wasn’t exactly a poet. By the end of it though, James took a seat on the bed and asked Sally if she would marry him.
And for some absurd reason - that Fred swore for the rest of his life had something to do with how much champagne she’d drunk that day - she said yes.