James Potter was standing at the bar watching the dance floor. It had been a tough few days at the Ministry and he just needed a drink. He was working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Unlike his father and brother, James wasn't an auror. He worked as a lawyer and he loved his job.
Taking a gulp of the scotch that he was holding in his hand, James's brown eyes scanned the dance floor. His eyes fell on a red headed witch dancing quite too close to a tall blonde man. Thank Goodness his uncle and aunt weren't there to see their only daughter dancing in that manner even if it was with her fiancé.
His eyes continued to scour the floor. James noticed a few familiar people dancing including his trainees at work. He quickly turned his head away from them. He did not want them to see him. They would be obligated to ask him to come over for a drink and make small talk. His subordinates were just that-his subordinates. He did not believe he could mix with staff and be objective about work matters.
Unfortunately, Paul Smithson saw him and waved before beaconing James to join them.
James reluctantly walked over. "A quick drink," James said to himself.
"Mr. Potter, a drink?" Paul asked him after a firm quick handshake.
"No. I'm just finishing my scotch and then have to go over to my cousin's place for dinner," James lied politely.
James looked around at the small group. There was Michael Porter, Alex Cartwright and Aiden Gray. All of them had attended Hogwarts but since they were a few years younger, he had no recollection of them.
"Hello, boys." A coy, feminine voice said behind them. James turned his head to his left to see another person on his team- Amanda Mason. She had wrapped her right arm around the waist of Alex Cartwright. They gave each other a peck on the lips. He had no idea that the two of them were dating.
Amanda looked around the group and was surprised to see James there.
"Hello, Mr. Potter." Amanda said sweetly.
"Please call me James. We aren't in the office." Even as the words left James's lips, his body cringed. He hoped this informality wouldn't follow back to when they went back to the workplace.
"Mandy! I turn around to get us drinks and you disappear. Here's your Lemon Drop Martini," Said a cheery voice.
James looked to see Charlotte Malfoy, another colleague and his cousin's soon to be sister-in-law.
Charlotte looked around the group and smiled at everyone. Her smile sort of stiffened when she saw James. She looked annoyed to see him.
James was just going to make an excuse and detach himself from the group when someone called his name. He turned around to see his cousin, Rose Weasley.
"Hey cousin," James said warmly.
"Hey to you too. Where have you been? You missed Sunday afternoon brunch 3 times in a row," Rose leans over to hug James.
"Been real busy," James said hugging Rose back. "Where's your fiancé?"
"Talking with some friends. You'll be there tomorrow right?" Rose asked.
"Tomorrow? Tomorrow? What was going on tomorrow?" James racked his brain and gave Rose a puzzled look.
"Oh my gosh! I can't believe you forgot! It's my engagement party," Rose sounded pissed that he had forgotten.
"Haven't you been engaged for a few months now?"
"Yes. But with all the uncles, aunts and cousins I have, this was the only date that would suit everybody. You better be there." Rose poked James's chest with her finger.
"I will. I'm sorry that it completely slipped my mind but mom would have definitely reminded me in the morning." James gave his cousin a sweet apologetic smile.
Rose rolled her eyes and looked over James's shoulder. "There's Scorpius."
James turned to see Scorpius talking to Charlotte. Both the blonde headed siblings looked like they were teasing each other. Charlotte stuck her tongue out at her big brother and then leaned over to whisper something in his ear. Scorpius's mouth just hung open and Charlotte called out, "Oh, Rose, would you like to know something about your soon-to-be-husband? I'm not sure you'd want to marry him after I tell you…" Scorpius placed his hand on his sister's mouth so she couldn't get a word out.
Rose smiled at James and said, "I've got to go and save Scorpius. Or maybe Charlotte."
James watched Rose walk away towards the mocking duo. He used it as an excuse to watch Charlotte. She was so beautiful with her short, platinum blonde hair. Her gray eyes were shining with mischief.
James looked away before someone noticed him gawking at Charlotte. He excused himself from the rest of the group and moved back to the bar.
"Another scotch. On the rocks," James told the bartender.
"Hey, we're leaving. Don't forget about tomorrow," Rose said. She had come over to goodbye James.
Scorpius came over and clapped James on the back . James turned to see him and saw that Charlotte was next to him as well.
"Didn't have a chance to say hello to you before but we have to leave now, mother wants us to be at her place early in the morning to help with the last minute stuff." Scorpius said.
"Do you need me to come early and help out tomorrow," James asked.
"No but thanks, mate. I think mom has everything covered," Scorpius answered.
"I'll be going too," Charlotte said. "I'm so sleepy."
"Why don't you ask one of your friends to walk you home or take a taxi? I don't think you should be walking in downtown muggle London alone." Scorpius said.
"I'll be fine. My flat is 5 blocks away. No cab will take me there." Charlotte said absently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and looking into her purse for something.
"James, could you walk Charlotte to her flat?" Rose asked James.
"Ah…Sure…I guess I could," James said.
"Don't be silly, Rose. I am a big girl and can walk home without a chaperone besides James isn't ready to leave yet."
James finished the rest of his drink and looked at Charlotte. "I'm ready now."
"Oh. OK." Charlotte said surprised.
Rose led the way out of the club holding Scorpius's hand. Charlotte was close behind them. As James walked with the group, he noticed a few men looking at Charlotte. He couldn't blame them. She looked amazing in her short tiered ruffle red skirt and her sleeveless black t-shirt. She wore simple slingback heeled shoes that made her long slim legs even longer.
Once the four of them were out of the club, Scorpius and Rose said a quick goodbye and went on their way. James and Charlotte walked in silence for a while and then James asked, "So, how do like working at the Ministry?"
"It's fine," Charlotte answered.
"Fine? You don't like it do you?"
"No. No," Charlotte objected. "it really is nice but a little too monotonous sometimes."
"Yeah. I remember being a trainee and hating it but it gets better once you finish up your first year." James said.
"My dad wants me to work at Malfoy Industries just like my brothers but I don't think it's the place for me."
"Well, at least you'll always have the option if you need it," James said and turned to look at Charlotte. He never realized how petite she was.
"Wow!" Charlotte said suddenly, "There's a new billiards place there."
"Do you play?" James asked.
"A little. It's been awhile since I've played." Charlotte said looking at the place curiously and longingly as they passed it.
"You know we can go in for a bit if you like," James said.
"No. That's Ok. You must want to get home." Charlotte said still looking eagerly at the place.
"We can stop in for a few minutes," James opened the door for Charlotte.
"Thank you."
"Charlotte walked in and looked around. It looked pretty deserted. There were a handful of people drinking beer at the bar and a couple playing at one of the tables.
"This is disappointing. I was expecting lots of people playing billiards and we could watch them. We can leave, if you like?"
"Would you like anything?" The waiter came over and asked them.
"Not sure. We're still discussing it. Give us a moment, won't you?" James said.
After the waiter left, Charlotte said to James, "We can stay if you like or we can go to my flat, I think my roommate just got some imported beer. He said it's good."
"Your roommate is a "he"?" James asked surprised.
"Alex is my roommate. Alex Cartwright." Charlotte answered. "He's so sweet but I don't think I'll share the flat with him much longer."
Charlotte turned around and took out her keys from her purse. James assumed that the decision to have beer at her place must have been made so he followed her out of the billiards place.
Once they were out on the street, Charlotte said "My flat is right around the corner. Do you live close by?"
"Not too far away. Do you have the floo system at your flat?" James asked.
"Yes. The ministry doesn't like giving non-wizarding areas a permit but daddy pulled some strings," Charlotte said.
"Great. I'll floo from your place after a beer."
Charlotte's flat was three flights up. Once they got there, James was longing for a nice cool beer.
Charlotte unlocked the door and walked in. James followed and looked around at the small flat. The kitchen was on the right side as soon as one entered the flat. The living room was small but homey.
"Make yourself at home. I'll be back." She disappeared into one of the rooms that James could only assume was hers James sat on the sofa and stretched his limbs.
"The beers are in the fridge," Charlotte called out from her bedroom.
James shrugged off his jacket and walked to her fridge. There were quite a few different kinds of beer. Taking out a Dado Ilex, he opened the bottle with an opener. Taking a sip, he glimpsed at the taste.
"Didn't like it?" Charlotte and come out of the bedroom and was wearing a pink T-shirt and grey cotton lounge pants. She had washed her face clean of any make-up so that she looked fresh.
"It was…unexpected." James said.
"The beer you're holding has this weird herbal taste. I don't care for it much myself." Charlotte said walking to the fridge and opening it.
"These are real good. I'll pour you a little for a taste," Charlotte said. She bent over to get another bottle of beer and then opened the freezer for a frosted mug.
James smiled at the view and took another sip of the Dado Ilex.
"Here," Charlotte poured a little of the beer she was holding into the mug and gave it to James. "It has a chocolatey taste."
James drank it and said, "It's good. Not great but good."
"Not Great? You're kidding. This is best beer of all time." Charlotte argued.
"Give me an ordinary beer. Nothing fruity, tooty or rooty." James said.
"Fine. You're so boring. Has anyone told you that?"
Charlotte took a Budweiser and gave it to James. She leaned against the fridge and took a long swig of her beer.
"Let's sit. My feet are killing me," Charlotte said walking towards the couch and sitting on one end of it.
James sat on an armchair next to Charlotte and asked her, "How long have you been living here?"
"The week I joined the Ministry. I met Alex at the training camp and he was looking for a roommate. So I went home, packed up and moved in."
"You mentioned that you wouldn't be living here much longer."
"Well, I think Mandy might be moving in here soon. Those two are getting pretty serious," Charlotte said.
"I thought you would be leaving the ministry."
"Why would I do that? Would you like me to leave?" Charlotte asked.
"Well, no but I thought you would eventually work with your father and brothers."
"Maybe one day." Charlotte did not elaborate."How come you didn't become an Auror like your father," Charlotte asked finishing her beer and moving to the kitchen to get more. She looked at James and held up a bottle of beer asking him if needed another.
"Sure. I'll have another." After Charlotte gave him the beer and sat down, James said "I didn't want to live in my father's shadow. I was feeling… trapped, I guess."
Charlotte looked at James and said, "Better than living in Draco Malfoy's shadow."
"Oh shit, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking…I'm sorry." James was feeling like an ass.
"No that's fine. Really." Charlotte insisted. "I love my dad but he made mistakes. He just pays for it every single day. People look at him and think he's a monster but he isn't. He's a really great dad and he loves my mom and…you should see him on birthday mornings wearing this dorky apron that Scorpius and Leo made for Father's Day years ago. He makes us pancakes and squeezes fresh orange juice- Muggle style." Unexpectedly Charlotte's eyes start to tear up. She clears her throat and looks at James and gives him a weak smile. "I'm sorry. I'm really close to my dad."
James comes over and sits next to Charlotte on the couch. He puts his arm around her shoulders and she looks up at him. James reaches out to touch her blonde hair. It was so silky and soft. Better than what he had imagined.
"You know, I've been wondering about you since you joined the Ministry," James said.
"Wondering?"
"Wondering." he repeated. "Wondering why you've been so distant from me. You are quite a chatter-box with all your fellow trainees and when my dad stops by you talk to him but," James traces the frame of Charlotte's face with his index finger, " whenever I'm around, you clam up."
"I don't clam up," Charlotte protested.
"Yes. You do." James insisted. Truth be told he never went out of his way to talk to her either. From the second he set eyes on her, he wanted her. And that was dangerous.
"I'm not clamming up now am I? And I think my mouth has much better uses than talking when I'm around you."
Charlotte was looking at his lips and moved closer to him. Her lips parted ever so slightly. James leaned over and kissed her very softly on the lips. It was like he was getting her permission to really kiss her the way he longed to. He moved back slightly and looked deep into her gray eyes.
Charlotte answered his request by reaching out and touching James's cheek with the back of her fingers. He immediately moved one hand to the back of her head and the other hand to her waist.
They started to kiss passionately. Their hands were all over each other. Both of them started to moan as James touched her soft smooth back.
Charlotte moved her lips from James's mouth to his neck and started to kiss him. She moved up to his earlobe and started sucking it. Her tongue was rubbing the sensitive skin.
James's breathing started becoming shallow and quick. He felt like every nerve ending was on fire and the biggest fire was settling in his groin.
James unclasped her bra and moved his fingers along the sides of her breasts. Charlotte let out a groan of pleasure. James smirked when he heard the noise of pleasure which quickly turned to shock as Charlotte got on her knees and moved on to James's lap, straddling him.
James pulled off Charlotte's shirt and pulled her bra off. He moved his hands slowly across her chest and looked at Charlotte's face. Charlotte's face was flushed her eyes were closed and she was biting her lower lip. He leaned closer and cupped her left breast. He started to suck on the nipple and with his other hand, he was massaging her other breast.
"Oh. James," Charlotte hissed. Both her hands were buried in James's hair and she was pulling it.
James moved his mouth higher up and started kissing Charlotte's neck. His hands moved to her back and he gently started to rub it.
Charlotte took a hold of James's face and kissed his mouth.
James pushed Charlotte gently off his lap onto the sofa. He covered her body with his and started to pull Charlotte's pants down.
"No. James. Please stop," Charlotte said her voice full of desire.
James immediately raise himself up by placing all his weight on his forearms. Their faces were inches away from each other. They looked into each others eyes. Gray met brown.
James started to get off Charlotte when she caught a hold of his shirt. "No. I meant…Let's go into the bedroom."
"Are you sure?" James asked. "We don't have to."
"We have to. My roommate might be coming home anytime now," Charlotte said.
James got up and pulled Charlotte to her feet. They start to kiss and James lifts Charlotte up so that her legs are wrapped around his waist. He carries her to the bedroom and closes the door with a swift kick of his foot.
How was it? Reviews, please!