Okay guys, here it is, my new ff. I don't really know how often I'll be updating but I hope you'll give it a chance: Rated R for Later Chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything familiar!!!

My quote for the week: "When I read about the evil of drinking I stopped reading." Henry Youngman(1906-1998).

No Looking Back.

Chapter 1—Trying to start over.

With a month to go before spring Lily personally couldn't wait. With the days starting to get back longer it was great to walk to work in the daylight. For once however she was not carrying her briefcase with her. She bloody well didn't need it today for today she was handing in her resignation.

Lily reached the building where she had done legal legwork for the past seven months. As she walked up the steps she recalled what had urged her to accept the position in London. She had moved from Brussels to Mayfair after her life had taken a downhill plunge.

Of course her best friend Charlie would have told her to pull herself together and surge on ahead but Lily didn't want to think about her best friend right now, it hurt too much. After it was because of her that she moved to Mayfair in the first place, not that Charlie knew of any such thing.

Pushing open the door that led to her boss's office Lily took a claming breath and approached the man who had decided that just because Lily didn't want his advances he would make her life miserable. With a small smile Lily handed her married boss her resignation adding that she was not leaving any notice so he should hire a temporary paralegal at least before he could find a replacement for her.

It was three minutes later Lily found herself on the streets again, this time with a brief smile on her face and as always since leaving Brussels Lily chanted don't look back.

…

Lily had just finished walking through the streets of Hogsmede when she apparated into Diagon Alley. There were still two more days before she started working for a private firm that looked after middle class magic families. She was staying at the Leaky Cauldron until she could find a flat she could afford. Her thoughts reflected over to her school days where she remembered her best mate then she thought about the man she loved—her best mate's husband.

Sighed Lily stopped and shook her head to clear it and just as suddenly as she had stopped she started walking again and crossed the street without looking. But this time something launched out at her and she froze.

The thing that launched out at her was a cart and the man pushing brought it to a screeching halt just a couple of inches before her. Unnecessarily she felt her anger pique. The man was glaring at her too. She could see his intense hazel eyes focused on her and felt the unnatural need to lick her lips. His mouth was set in a straight line but oh want a mouth it was.

Beautifully sculpted and so she wanted to trace it, biting back the urge however she left sexy lips standing where he was and resumed crossing the street towards the leaky cauldron. The man couldn't have been a year or so more than her own nineteen years.

She waved hastily to the barkeeper and was just about to stomp upstairs when he called out to her. 'Ms Evans.'

'Yes, Thomas,' Lily asked politely walking up to the older man but he looked at her with concern.

'Is something wrong Ms Evans?'

'No-well yes someone almost ran me over with a stupid cart.' She stated in a slightly angry tone.

'Some people today aren't careful.'

'Yes well Mr Sexy Lips shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets.' Lily muttered under her breath.

'Pardon?'

'Oh no it's nothing but um what did you want to speak to me about Thomas?'

'Oh that's right sorry my memory slipped. You see I overheard a place that will be perfect for you to look at. The flat is average but I don't really know the details but I asked the chaps who were reading it if I could have a copy.' He said and rummaged under the counter. 'Here it is, I think it'll suit, a young girl like you will like it.'

Lily accepted the paper and smiled honestly, 'thank you Thomas, I'm very grateful you were keeping your ears open.'

'No problem, I'm only too happy to help. The lads I borrowed it from didn't mind. One of them was going to look at on of the last remaining ones. I hear there is about three left.'

'Thanks Thomas I'll look into it.' she said and took the paper up to the room with her.

…

James Potter could believe the audacity of the girl he almost ran over. She looked at him as though he had purposely been looking for her to run over. On top of that he wasn't in the wrong.

The stupid but—he unwillingly noted—beautiful girl had stepped uncaringly into the street. But as James continued to push the cart laden with items he grimaced when he realised it took in more of her appearance than he should have. He remembered her eyes and especially her hair. The latter was a piercing green but her hair was a golden red the sparkled when it had touched the sun. But to him the best part of her was her legs, slim and long. He had a fetish for long legs.

He muttered a curse then shook his head, what the hell was he thinking? He had seen a lot more gorgeous girls than her so there was no need for him to be thinking about her like that. But there she was Ms Long legs, in his mind's eye indisposed on leaving. Grunting he kept on pushing the cart and then grinned ruefully as he realised something. She probably thought he was some kind of street vender. She wouldn't know that he was help on of his best mates set up an antique shop.

Catching his thoughts he reiterated firmly, he was not going to think about some girl that he was never going to see again. It wasn't probable and besides he had more important things to do like getting that flat…and going to a secret meeting about saving the world.

…

Lily apparated to the street in London that held her flat. It was in a bright area surrounded by a lot of trees and flowers just five minutes outside of London. She was supposed to be here at eleven or so the realtor told her. Another person was supposed to be seeing the neighbouring flat as well. As she stepped closer to the entrance she noticed a young girl standing there. It seemed that she was waiting for someone.

The girl turned and saw Lily, she lit up and Lily could see how pretty she looked. The girl was barely fourteen with dark hair and hazel eyes, which somehow felt familiar to her.

'Hi there, you must be the realtor. My cousin owled and said he would meet up with you in the front remember? Right it's a beautiful area, grandmamma and Ariel will be pleased, more so Ariel than Grandmamma I can tell you that.' That girl said and before Lily could correct her assumption about being the person in charge of the flats she started on again.

'Grandmamma doesn't want James moving out you see; she'll miss cooking for him. He eats practically half the food. Ariel would much prefer coming over to see him here though, that way they could be alone. If you meet her you'll realise the same thing I did, she's a bit—' the girl cut off the expletive word that she was about to use when she saw two people up behind Lily.

'James!' She cried and ran into his arms. Lily smiled faintly at the girl's enthusiasm as she turned around but when she recognised the man in front of her.

'You're the other tenant?' and with the look he gave her over his cousin's head she knew he heard the hidden nastiness behind her comment. Well what the hell had he expected, she obviously didn't like him, he very nearly killed her didn't he?

Okay no he didn't she conceded but he looked so bloody arrogant, it seemed natural to dislike him but then he smiled. Not that it was aimed her way though, he smiled at his cousin and it was obvious to her that he cared a lot for the girl.

'Right I suppose I ought to introduce the two of you shouldn't I?' the realtor said putting away her notes. 'I hoped the two of you don't mind I put you in the same time appointment wise.' She said then ploughed on. 'This is James Potter,' she said to Lily then turned, 'And this is Lily Evans.'

Lily recognised the name, so he was a Potter was he? She heard about them, the Potters and she wondered where he fit into the family tree.

…

Evans? Somehow James knew the name but that question didn't stay in his mind very long. She was going to but the flat nest to his? Bugger, he never thought he would see her again but to have her living just a few feet away form him would be annoying. She clearly didn't like him and he could say the feeling was mutual.

'Good now if you all with just follow me I'll show you to your flats. I understand you're interested in the slightly smaller one Ms Evans?'

'Yes.' The Evans girl answered.

'Good then Mr Potter will be able to acquire the larger room with no hassle.' The woman clucked and then proceeded to walk ahead of them up the stairs.

She paused at the entryway before indicating that this was his flat. She opened it with her wand and James grasped the feel and size of the rooms. Yes this will do just nicely.

…

Lily meanwhile wandered over to the other flat while the realtor was showing the other flat off to James Potter. She liked it, there was a large master bedroom and the smaller one would serve as a guest room or perhaps an office of sorts.

It was only when she finished looking around that she decided that she was going to buy it. Just then the realtor woman bustled in and started listing the points of the flat.

…

'James this is very fab, I can't believe you're giving me my own room.' His cousin Sienna gushed and then eyed him slyly.

'There's enough room for a huge bathtub in your washroom you know.'

He scowled at the direction her thoughts were heading. What was wrong with girls her age today? There was no way his fourteen-year-old cousin was needling him about shagging people in the bathtub. Thank Merlin the woman had left to deal with Evans he would have been mortified if she had overheard.

'No I don't and you shouldn't either.' He said warningly.

'If you say so Jamie.' She said. He knew she knew that she was the only one who could get away from calling him Jamie, not even his best mate can call him that without expecting a hex to be directed his way. 'I hope Ariel agrees with you.'

'Sienna there is no more Ariel, I ended things weeks ago.'

'But how come you never told me that?' she wanted to know.

'Oh I don't know maybe it was because you were at Hogwarts all that time?' he said and she stuck her tongue out at him.

'Jamie, be serious, isn't it time you settled down?' Sienna said so seriously that James let out a bark of laughter. His cousin was one in a million. Both of their parents had been killed that same dark night. Their fathers were brothers, he was twelve and she was six and they'd gone to live with their grandparents after it occurred.

His grandfather died more than a year ago and when his grandmother died, hopefully not too soon, he was the one who had to take care of Sienna. Of course she would take the matter right out of his hands when she turns seventeen, she could wait to be independent. But for now anyway bother he and his grandmother indulged her.

'Why don't you find someone for me then oh great one then maybe I will?' he said joking.

'Really? Great I know who, my mate Anna's older sister Hannah.'

'You mean the play actor? I don't think so.' He said quickly, she wasn't taking this seriously was she? Sienna was just about to suggest someone else when the realtor came in the flat once more.

'Will you be taking it sir?'

'Yes.'

'Good I'll draw up the papers then you and Ms Evans can sign them.'

'Yes good,' he said. Evans was taking this flat? Oh why was Merlin punishing him this way? He had no time for an ill-tempered girl—a beautiful ill-tempered girl—his mind corrected.

Tuh, what did his mind know about the opposite sex anyway, they always confused the hell out of him.

…

'So mate you're living next to a girl?'

'Yeah, so Padfoot what of it?' James asked when he and his cousin sat with best mate for lunch.

Ignoring his comment Sirius leaned forward and asked a stage whisper, 'so was she hot?'

'She's all right.' He said trying to appease the woman hunter but apparently not succeeding because he looked sceptically at him. Sirius was not going to hit on his new neighbour.

'No she's really pretty Sirius,' Sienna said glaring at James. He winced slightly; he'd totally forgotten that his cousin saw her.

'Better even, I think she's probably prettier than Ariel and she's way more nicer too.' She said smiling and James grunted. Not a confirmation not a disagreement but he noticed Sirius smirking at him.

'Not hot huh?'

'What does she know? She's fourteen and besides that one is not my type at all.' James defended himself.

'Sirius don't listen to him—but wait oh there she is.' Sienna said pointing in front of them and sure enough Ms Long legs walked into the Leaky Cauldron and waved at Tom before going upstairs.

'Did you see the legs on that one?' Sirius said in awe.

Well duh, 'No.' he said instead.

'James my man you disappoint me.' Said with feeling. 'I would have picked that up a long time ago.'

'Sirius, language.' James said ignoring the insult and trying to keep Sienna from turning more into Sirius. The man was a bad influence and he wondered what was wrong with him.

'The girl knows more than we do, she corrupts us not the other way around,' he protested but shut up when James looked at him warningly.

And to go for a change of topic James ventured to work, which is always safe.

'So how was work today?' he asked, it was his day off today but Sirius had to go in early, well it was demanded that he go in early.

'Wouldn't you know old man Karim put me on desk duty for six weeks!' Sirius exclaimed warming to his subject. Sirius hadn't followed orders in the last raid the aurors did. He had been warned before about his disobedience to the leaders so James figured it was about time they pinned him to the wall. But he on the other hand was in another division on the other side of London but he knew of Karim.

'You don't say…' was all he said as he listened to Sirius list all the horrible points of his boss.

'Yeah then I told him the only way I was ever doing desk duty was if I transferred to the downtown London branch.' He said then grinned. 'Old man Karim agreed, he said that it would be a holiday for them all.'

But James horrified. 'You're going to be working in the front desk of my workplace for six weeks?'

'Yup, isn't that great. I bet Aberforth will be trilled.' Sirius said excitedly.

'Yes …' he said 'great.' Oh joy, he would never get any work done now.

I hoped you liked it, please read and review. I'll have the next chapter up by Friday and maybe tonight I'll have the 10th chapter of A sweet Refrain up!

Sasha