Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Harry Potter, I don't own any poems of e.e. cumming's, and nor do I own Romeo and Juliet. If I did, I'd either be so rich I wouldn't know what to do with myself, or dead and buried.

A/N: I'm back with another story, this one an AU Lily/James fic with the plot line following Shakespeare's famous play Romeo and Juliet. I'm not sure whether I'm going to continue it, it will depend how this first chapter is received. If I do continue it there will be many references to Baz Lurhmann's film Romeo +Juliet, hence the title James + Lily. Every chapter will begin with a quote from one of e.e. cumming's poems. I hope you enjoy it, and all comments are welcome, just press that little blue button and tell me what you thought.

this mind made war

being generous

this heart could dare )

unhearts can less

unminds must fear

because and why

what filth is here

unlives do cry

- e.e. cummings

Dumbledore looked out the window, deep in thought. The sky was bright blue, with white clouds dotting the sky. The sun shone brightly through the window, throwing a beam of bright light across the large desk in the centre of the room. Dumbledore sighed. The day would be perfect if there were not two large fires burning high and bright for all to see right in the heart of London.

There was a knock on the door and Dumbledore turned abruptly from the window.

'Come in.' His deep voice was commanding.

A house elf peered in through a crack in the door. 'Prince Dumbledore, sir, the Potters and the Evans' are here for you.'

'Very well, Bobbin,' Dumbledore said, sitting down heavily on his grand mahogany chair. 'Bring them in.'

Four men strode in. Two were young and handsome; two were old and stubborn. Dumbledore gazed at each of them equally as the two older men sat down in their respective chairs, while the younger men stood behind them, their hands firmly clasped behind their backs.

Dumbledore was silent for a while, watching his long fingers clasped together from beneath his half-moon spectacles.

'You all know why I have called you in today,' he began, watching each of the men carefully in turn. 'What happened in the heart of London today is unacceptable. Do you understand me? Unacceptable.' Dumbledore hardly raised his voice, but the four men understood the underlying anger and threat in his words. 'I know that the hatred your families share run deep. But this violence has got to stop. We cannot go on like this. Innocent lives are being destroyed because of your prejudices. Now is the time to forget, and forgive.'

The two young men glanced at each other, frowning deeply.

'Does anyone want to explain what was going on today?' Dumbledore asked, resting his hands on the table.

The young man on the left nodded. 'There was another brawl, sir.'

Dumbledore inclined his head slightly. 'I know that, Remus. Was it about anything I need to know? Or just another affray born of the same injustice?'

Remus looked at the other man, dislike etched onto every crease in his face.

'It is always about the same thing, sir,' the man on the right remarked.

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. 'As I thought, Severus. I have spoken to both your families a number of times. Potter, Evans, this has gone on for far too long. Your mutual dislike has got to end. During this time especially…'

The older men shuffled uncomfortably in their seats.

'It is high time that you learnt to accept each other's differences. We cannot afford to go on like this – having our own civil war in the midst of something much greater and more evil than yourselves!'

Now all four men looked uncomfortable. Dumbledore's words struck home.

'Before I can let you go, you have to understand how serious this matter is. If there is another brawl, if another person is killed because of your family hatred, I will not make excuses for the law again. I will not hesitate in dealing out the penalty – death. Do I make myself clear?'

The four men looked at him silently. Dumbledore sighed deeply and waved the door open with his hand. As the men watched him, he stood abruptly and turned around to stare out of the window again, signalling that the conversation was over.

The four men walked out, each caught in their own thoughts. Remus closed the door quietly behind them and Dumbledore relaxed his tense shoulders, sighing and closing his eyes for a second. If only this pain and suffering could cease.

There was a loud bang, and Dumbledore's eyes flew open once more as a bright plume of smoke rose above London. He hoped with all his heart that it would come to an end soon.