Chapter 1: The Mystery Man

Summary:Lily and James are the optimum Aurors in the industry, but have just about had it with one another... Petunia, Lily's best friend and sister, finds herself in a promising relationship … What happens when the affairs between three unlikely people get tangled together? A story full of lies, lust, and love.

Authors Note:This was one of those random inspirational ideas that I thought might have some potential. So, I'm using this first chapter as my 'test' chapter. If I don't get a good enough response on it, I probably won't continue with it, so please please pleeeease review and tell me your thoughts. A simple 'Awful', 'Good', 'Great' would be awesome!

Enjoy

.:meg:.

Hauntingly Beautiful

The deception of love

Consuming one's soul.

Wonderfully deceiving

Yet hauntingly beautiful…

"And I don't give a hen's arse about what you have to say about it!" Lily Evans slammed the stack of papers in her hand down heavily on the desk separating her from the man in front of her. The one man who could drive her up the wall with a single look.

"Evans, you're being completely unreasonable!" James Potter replied leaning his hands on the desk, and staring threateningly into her eyes.

"No, James. I'm not being unreasonable," Lily's sudden shift in tone sent James's head reeling.

He quickly regained his composure. "It's not like he's going to act like he used to in school."

Lily obliged to her instinct to laugh at his comment. "Oh, because he's changed so much?" She rolled her eyes unprofessionally, "the both of you for that matter." She kept her gaze fixed on his, and sighed heavily. "I will not allow Sirius Black to be a trainer for the girls division in Auror Training, that's my final word Potter."

She quickly gathered up the papers now lying scattered on her desk, straightening them with a single tap against the hard wood. She placed them in a folder, holding it out for James to take.

"Take these to McClain." She ordered, taking a seat in the chair resting idly behind her desk. James snatched the papers form her hands heading toward the door.

He paused just as he was about to walk through, turning back to Lily "You didn't know me then, and you don't know me now." He continued his stride out the door. "Don't think that you do."

Lily was shocked at first by his comment, but as the thought of the pile of new applications that were about to come in flooded into her brain, James's words were pushed aside.

0oo0o0oo0o0oo0

Lily walked through the door to her flat letting out a heavy sigh as she tossed her bag onto the floor. She sluggishly headed toward the couch, laying down when she reached her destination. Her eyes closed of their own accord, and her thoughts began racing over the day's events. She had so much work to do…

She laughed at the irony. Working when you're off work.

"What's so funny?"

Lily jumped high off the couch, managing to whack her hand against the metal coffee table standing next to her.

As she looked behind her, she noticed a beautiful woman with flowing brown hair watching her amused.

"Merlin, Petunia," Lily said addressing her now smiling sister. She clutched her chest as her heart rate began to slow. "How many times do I have to tell you to warn me before just deciding to greet me when I come home?" Petunia walked around the couch taking a seat next to Lily. "And might I add to my house."

"Sorry, Lils," Petunia said shifting so she could tuck her feet up underneath her. "But my reasons are justified."

"How so?" Lily asked as she too made herself comfortable.

Petunia frowned at her. "Aren't you going to play the hostess and ask if I'd like anything to drink?"

Lily shoved her gently with her foot making Petunia laugh. "I was only joking." She added. "Anyway, I have great news."

Lily straightened as she listened intently to what Petunia was about to say.

"I met a guy a couple weeks ago," Petunia said, her eyes sparkling happily. Lily's face broke out into a huge grin. "And as of last night we're dating."

Lily let out a squeal, momentarily scolding herself for acting so childish. It really wasn't professional to squeal was it?

"Tell me about him," She said standing up and heading into the kitchen. Lily knew that Petunia had had the worst luck with boyfriends. They all ended up being egotistical prats.

"He has dark hair, and the most stunning eyes," Petunia called from the lounge area as Lily grabbed a tub of ice cream, and two spoons. "Oh Lily, he's so perfect. He's really sweet, and loving. He gives me little compliments for no reason; he even brought me two dozen roses last night after we had gotten together." Lily walked back into the lounge room. "He's different than the others Lils. I know it."

Lily handed Petunia one of the silver spoons, and pulled the lid off the ice cream tub. "He sounds absolutely wonderful Petunia." She said smiling happily. She really hoped Petunia was right. "What's his name?"

"James," Petunia said and Lily laughed suddenly. "What?" Petunia asked worriedly.

"Nothing," Lily replied still chuckling softly, "I just know a James, and thinking of him being the way you just described your James is just funny. He's a complete arsehole."

Petunia smiled. "My James is definitely anything but an arsehole."

"You better be right about this one Petunia," Lily replied digging her spoon into the tub of ice cream.

0oo0o0oo0o0oo0

The entire Auror Department was used to hearing their top two Aurors arguing from their office, so it was no surprise when Lily Evans voice was being carried down the corridors as James Potter argued with her.

"One of these days we're going to show up to work, and one will have killed the other," commented a woman with dirty blond hair, and dark green eyes.

"Tell me about it, Melissa" Replied the woman sitting next to her. "I've actually started bringing earplugs to work."

Melissa McClain laughed, moving her chair back from her cubical to get a look through the open door of her boss's office where all hell seemed to have broken loose.

"It's because it's a Friday," She murmured shaking her head as she went back to work. "It's always the worst on Friday's…"

"Just because you are second in command doesn't mean that you can make all the decisions." Lily attempted to keep her voice calm, something she hadn't achieved as of yet.

"And just because you are one position above me doesn't mean you can make all the decisions," James countered.

"For once, Potter, can we not fight?" Lily said feeling tired and worn. This was how work always was. Well it actually hadn't always been that way… not before James became her co-worker.

"I'm not the one who starts it," James mumbled.

"What was that?" Lily asked sitting on top of her desk, her arms folded over her chest.

James was sitting in his desk chair with his head propped against his hand. "I didn't say anything," He replied, picking up an application lying on his desk, and beginning to examine it.

Lily watched him for a moment, wondering for the hundredth time what she had done to deserve this. Working with Potter was a nightmare to her; an inescapable nightmare.

"How many do you want to let in, Evans?" James asked breaking the heavy silence.

Lily glanced down at the stack of applications still sitting on her desk, all unlooked at. "Around fifteen," Lily replied defiantly.

"Evans, have you not been listening to what I've been telling you for the past thirty minutes?" James asked looking up at Lily incredulously. "We're in a war. We need more than fifteen! We can't afford to lose all of our Aurors."

"And as I said before, it's not only your decision," Lily replied.

James actually rolled his eyes, something he did only on rare occasions. "You'd be making a mistake. I say we go with thirty or so. We have to have enough to compensate for the ones who won't make it through the year," He spread out three papers onto his desk. "You know as well as I do that not everyone will be with us by the end of December."

Lily knew it. Of course she did. She was the Head of the Auror Department. "Twenty then." She stood from her desk, walking over to James's desk, and taking a seat on top of it.

To anyone who wasn't familiar with them, the gesture would seem friendly, but all their coworkers knew that it was Lily's way of overpowering James and making it clear that what she said would be going.

James let out a sigh, as he stamped an application as 'rejected', signed it, then handed it to Lily for her to review. "Fine. Twenty."

Lily smiled contently, taking the paper, and walking back over to her desk to begin reviewing the mountain of applications on her desk.

She loved when Potter realized he was wrong, and the smile would have remained on her face if he hadn't decided to comment again.

"But thirty is still the more reasonable amount."

0oo0o0oo0o0oo0

"So when do I get to meet him," Lily asked Petunia as they sat down for lunch that same day.

"Today, actually." Petunia grinned at the look of shock on Lily's face. "I asked him to meet us for lunch."

"Brilliant," Lily replied placing her napkin in her lap. "I finally get to meet this mystery man you keep boasting about."

Petunia laughed. "I really think you'll like him Lily. He's incredibly smart, much like you." Lily laughed good-naturedly.

"Oh, I don't know about that Petunia. I'm pretty smart, I'll have to take that as a challenge," She joked taking a sip from her glass of water.

"Oh, there he is, Lils," Petunia said excitedly, "I'll go get him." She stood from the table, brushing herself off and running her fingers quickly through her hair. "How do I look?" She asked nervously.

"Gorgeous as always," Lily replied smiling as Petunia walked off behind where she was sitting. She grabbed her glass of water, and took another drink as she waited patiently.

"Lily," Petunia said walking up behind her. "This is James," Petunia said introducing the tall, messy haired boy standing next to her. "My new boyfriend."

Lily's eyes widened as she recognized the man in front of her. "Potter!" She practically yelled as James's expression matched hers perfectly.

"Evans!" He exclaimed looking at her unbelievably.

"Hang on a second," Lily said shaking her head, trying to figure out just what was going on. "By James, you meant…Oh, Merlin," Lily closed her eyes rubbing the sides of her head with her fingers.

"You two know each other?" Petunia asked looking between James who seemed to have lost the capability to talk, and Lily who was now mumbling incoherent words to herself.

"Of course we bloody know each other!" Lily's eyes snapped open and she blatantly glared at James. "I'm his boss! Plus we went to school together for seven long years!"

Petunia's shocked expression caused Lily to glare at James. He should have known that Petunia Evans was related to her!

Petunia turned her attention to James who was standing close beside her, "why didn't you tell me!"

"I didn't know!" James defended himself.

"Oh, this is going to be so much fun!" Petunia said smiling broadly. "I'd love to hear some stories from you guys about when you were in school."

Lily sent a glare at James, who was avoiding her gaze. Petunia wasn't taking the obvious hint that the two people standing next to her didn't like each other. That was an understatement. They loathed one another.

"Have a seat, James," Petunia said motioning toward the booth seat across from Lily. James slid in, sending Lily an awkward smile. Lily forced herself not to laugh at his somewhat smothered attempt.

"So you're an Auror?" Petunia asked James.

"Yep," James replied, "And your… charming sister here is what I have to call 'boss'."

"What do you mean what you have to call boss?" Lily retorted, "I'm a person, Potter, not a thing."

"Why do you two use each other's last names?" Petunia interrupted.

Lily sent James a look, clearly telling him to reply to her question. She was interested in where he'd take it.

"Just used to how it goes at the office, I guess," James replied moving his arm around Petunia's waist.

Lily frowned. She wanted to somehow show Petunia the dark side of James that she knew. The side that would drive any woman mad.

The waitress appeared quickly taking their order. Lily, having completely lost her appetite at James's arrival, ordered a small serving of nachos.

"So tell me some stories about when you guys were at school," Petunia asked excitedly as she leaned slightly into James.

"Lily's a much better story teller than me, I must say," James responded, sending an amused look at Lily.

"Oh, I don't know about that James. You and your friends seemed to have the most stories to tell if I recall correctly," James's smile only widened as she spoke. "Why don't you tell us about the time you and Sirius planted yourself in detention after attempting to give all the first years chicken wings."

"You did that?" Petunia laughed, and Lily only scowled as James smiled down at her sister.

"Only because I was immature then."

"Only then, Potter?" Lily added. "I'd say you're pretty immature now."

"Lily," Petunia said warningly. "What has gotten into you today?"

"Sorry," Lily mumbled. She felt like a little girl back in school getting in trouble by her teacher.

"So, what type of things did you do at school?" Petunia asked James.

"I was Quidditch captain my last two years," James said, receiving a confused look from Petunia. He turned to Lily, "Don't tell me you never told your sister about Quidditch, Evans?"

Lily shrugged as their food was set down in front of them. "I was never interested in it so it never crossed my mind."

"How can you not like Quidditch?" James asked stunned.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, James, but watching you ride around on your broom for Merlin knows how long, isn't exactly what I'd call fun."

"It's not just riding around on a broom, Lily," James replied using her first name mockingly. "There's more to it than that."

"You'll have to enlighten me some day, Potter," Lily replied putting a chip into her mouth. "For instance, when I'm no longer your boss, and I don't have to put up with you everyday."

"Or when I'm your boss, and you have to listen to what I say," James remarked smirking at her.

Lily let out a laugh, "Right, James. Keep on dreaming."

"I need to use the lady's room," Petunia said sliding out from the booth. "Please don't bite each other's head's off before I come back."

Lily continued eating her food, blatantly ignoring James as he sat across from her, simply staring at her with his arms folded over his chest.

"So how are you doing, boss?" James asked breaking the silence.

"I was doing perfectly fine until you showed up," Lily replied picking up a nacho from her plate.

James reached across the table taking it out of her hand, and sticking it in his mouth. "Thanks," He replied through a mouthful of food.

Lily gave him a disgusted look. "I don't know what my sister sees in you, but it's apparently not obvious to anyone else."

"I think it's just you, Evans," James replied. "No one else seems to have a problem with me."

"Well it would make sense wouldn't it? You and your little 'Marauder' friends always playing pranks on me," Lily folded her arms across her chest, mimicking how James was sitting, "After the hundredth prank you pulled, it began getting old."

"You know it was because I liked you," James replied, a lopsided grin on his face. "I thought I made that clear by asking you out a hundred times."

"One hundred and eight to be exact," Lily replied absentmindedly.

James laughed, "You counted?"

"I knew there'd be a day, such as this, that I could throw it back in your face," Lily replied triumphantly.

"Touché, Evans."

Petunia returned taking her seat once again next to James, who wrapped his arm around her waist instantaneously.

Lily rested her head against her hand. This was going to be a long lunch break…

0oo0o0oo0o0oo0

"I'll see you tonight, James," Petunia said giving him a quick kiss on the lips before hugging Lily goodbye. "And try not to kill each other before then," She added with a small laugh making both James and Lily smile.

"That'll depend on how Potter behaves for the rest of the day," Lily replied as Petunia walked away. She smiled as her sister waved walking the other direction.

For an instant she had completely forgotten that Potter was standing next to her, and it would have really been perfect if he hadn't ruined that by saying, "We need to get back."

Her smile faded as she glanced at him. They headed toward the Auror Department, and made their way back to the office.

James closed the door behind them.

"Listen, Evans," He said leaning against his desk and folding his arms across his chest. "I know we don't get along," Lily let out a snort, "but I don't want our dislike for one another to get between your sister and I."

Lily watched James carefully as he spoke. "I agree, Potter. This is the happiest I've seen her in a long time," She noticed a soft smile spread across James's face. "And as much as I don't understand what she sees in you," James's hint of smile vanished, "I'm not about to ruin it for her."

0oo0o0oo0o0oo0

Lily closed the door to her office, locking it up before turning around.

"All set?" Melissa questioned as she flipped the last of the lights off, and came to where Lily was now standing looking rather tired.

"I suppose," Lily said to her friend. "Thank Merlin it's Friday. I'll get at least some extra sleep tomorrow."

"Don't you have to work on plans for training with James?" Melissa asked.

"Nope," Lily replied with a smile on her face, "I let him leave early today to go on a date, so he said he'd make it up by doing the plans himself."

"Who's the lucky girl?" Melissa asked. She had always found James extremely good-looking, and for her first month of working at the Ministry had the biggest crush on him.

"My sister," Lily replied nonchalantly.

"You're kidding!" Melissa exclaimed as they stepped onto the lifts. "How did you take that news?" She could only imagine what Lily must have looked like when she found out who her sister was dating.

"I just about blew his bloody head off for not realizing that she was my sister," Lily replied. "You'd think he'd at least ask if I was related to her or something!"

"Well, Lils," Melissa tried to reason, "it's not like he was probably doing too much thinking about her name when he asked her out. I doubt he even made a connection between you two's last name's being the same. And, I mean, he has a right to date whomever he wishes."

"Yes, but it's still my sister!" Lily responded. "I just can't believe this. It's enough having to be around him all day at the office."

"At least Petunia found her own place so they won't be at your flat all the time," Melissa pointed out, and Lily's spirits seemed to lighten somewhat.

"You want to come over to my place for a bit?" Melissa asked as they entered the main atrium where the Aparation Stations were located.

"I better get home," Lily replied, "I still have a few things I need to get done before the weekend starts. Tomorrow?"

"Sure," Melissa replied giving Lily a hug. "I'll see you around."

"Bye, Mel." Lily replied, and with a small pop Melissa vanished.

0oo0o0oo0o0oo0

If I do end up continuing, it might not be for a little while. I would really like to finish up "Summer with the Marauders" (one chapter to go!) before continuing with this one.

Please review!