Are You Coming

Are You Coming?

Chapter 1

"Mother, I don't want a party," James said sharply. "I'm too busy as it is."

"Well it's high time you found a bride, James. This will be the perfect chance to meet the perfect woman," his mother said roughly.

"I'm too busy, mother! Don't you understand, I have neither the time or interest to date women!" he snapped.

"James, it's time you sorted your life, you can't dwell on past events forever!" she exclaimed.

James looked at her blankly, "I don't know what you mean."

"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about," his mother replied.

James fixed her with a look that plainly said 'don't you dare bring that up'. "It's nothing to do with that," he said.

His mother's stare bluntly stated that she didn't believe him. James' gaze quickly turned to that one of challenge and defence that he bore whenever the subject came up.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Mother, look," he began.

"James, it's one night off, I'll plan it… you won't have to worry…"

"Okay," he cut her off. "Look, you sort it, mother… I've got an important meeting, sorry."

"Okay, sweetheart, I'll see you soon." she said, giving him a hug.

James returned it in a fake manner, "goodbye, mother."

It took James twenty minutes to get into the office. He checked through the mail, but there wasn't anything important. James owned a big publishing company that published all sorts of magazines; including his long time favourite, Quidditch Weekly. But James didn't have time to watch Quidditch anymore. He was surprised that he hadn't remained his youthful character for long. He'd changed so much when she had left him and never contacted him again. He couldn't bear thinking about her though, it hurt too much to remember what they'd had and had lost. Not that James thought about it anymore, he'd moved on, or so he told himself. The fact of the matter was that James had completely lost all trust in women. So he didn't let them into his life.

His secretary, a pretty blonde, came in, "Mr Potter, Mr Bradley is waiting for you in the meeting room."

"Okay," James said gruffly.

Scott Bradley was James main competitor in the industry. He was an attractive man, also in his early twenties, with blue eyes and long blonde hair. He was the complete opposite of James, with brash features and was slightly stockier. He stood at five foot eleven and was also very rich. James ran a hand through his dark hair, which was the only wild and untamed thing left about him. He sat down at the desk opposite Bradley.

"Potter," Bradley greeted.

"Bradley," they politely shook hands.

James had always been competitive with this particular man, right since fourteen when their parents had introduced them. Unlike James, Bradley had gone to Durmstrang School. They had both gone into the same industry and with their range of similar publications, the two's rivalry had gone from bad to worst.

"What's wrong, Potter? You seem distracted. You do need to concentrate if you're to stay in business," Bradley said halfway through the meeting.

James fixed him with a stony gaze, "thinking about a conversation I had with my mother this morning."

"Oh," Bradley said simply but his tone was filled with that malicious glint of enmity.

"My mother is insisting that she organises me a party, the basic objective being that I will find a suitable bride," James sighed.

"I've never understood why you don't seek a woman of your own. Don't you want to continue your business with a line of children?" Scott asked.

James shrugged, "I don't have time to pursue a line of my own. From my previous relationship; I realise that relationships take up time, children would take up even more time and that's time I don't have to spare."

Scott shrugged, "the woman I date gives me what I want and I don't spend that much time with her."

"No?" James asked softly, he thought life must be terribly unfair for the poor girl. Scott didn't seem like a good partner. "Let's continue with the business."

"Good idea, Potter."


"Mummy!" the only child of Lily Evans cried, rushing up to his mother.

He was a small boy of five, with dark messy hair, green eyes and a thin build. In his mother's eyes, he looked a lot like his father. But that was a secret she'd never discussed with anyone else.

Lily bent down, her long red hair framing her face elegantly. She put her arms around the small boy carefully. She kissed the crown of his head and took his lunch bag off him. It had an image of a dalek from Doctor Who on it.

"Bye, Harry," a small boy with red hair and freckles, who Lily knew to be Harry's best friend, said.

"Bye, Ron," Harry said, from snuggled into her embrace.

Lily smiled, "are we ready to go?"

"I haven't said goodbye to Hermione," Harry said, looking upset that he had forgotten his other friend. Harry was very easy to upset. He took everything very personally; a sweet trait that Lily was sure would be exploited later in his life.

"Well quickly go and find her then," Lily said, stroking his back in a comforting manner. "I'll wait for you here."

"Okay, mummy."

Lily watched the small boy scamper off. She smiled to various parents and children in Harry's year, knowing that the parents all either felt sympathy or disapproval for her. She was so young compared to most of them and none of them knew the story of how Harry had come to be with her. Most thought him to be the result of a drunken one-night stand. A teenage pregnancy caused by carelessness. Lily had never gotten close enough to reveal the story of her passionate love and loss of James Potter. Even Harry knew little about his father. He didn't even know his father's first name. Just the surname, Potter, that he too went by. The subject hurt Lily too much for her to bring it up often.

A few minutes later, Harry came rushing back to her. "Sorted," he said.

"We can go then?" Lily asked, amused.

"Yes," Harry said, breathlessly.

They walked up the side of the street, Harry holding his mother's hand tightly.

"What did you learn about today?" Lily asked.

"Oh, well we were learning about ladybirds today… and then we made clocks and practiced telling the time," Harry told her, excitement showing in his young features. "Red and black clocks, with ladybirds on the hands… not real ladybirds, obviously… wooden ones."

"I see," Lily said, "and what time is it now?" she asked, placing her wristwatch in front of her son's face.

"Quarter to four," he said proudly.

"That's right," Lily said with a laugh.

"Mummy, can we go home through the park?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Lily smiled slowly. She walked with him hand in hand until they reached the park gates. Lily ushered him in gently, enjoying the fresh air on her face.

The grass was fresh green as it was a hot summer's day. Tadpoles swum in frisky circles, playing hide and seek from the Sun in the reeds. Children who had just left school were playing. They used the lake as their ocean, the hills as their mountains and the climbing frames as their ships. Moving from bow to stern. A woman in a pair of corduroy dungarees walked her Yorkshire terrier through the rose gardens. Another man sat with a book in the shade of the bandstand.

"Do you want an ice-cream?" Lily asked, as they passed the stand.

"Yes, please," Harry said.

She brought two Mr Whippy '99' flakes. "Don't let it ruin your appetite for dinner," she warned.

"Yes, mummy."

They paused at a bench and sat down to eat.

"I was talking to Alex this morning," Lily said softly.

"Really? Cool!" Harry exclaimed.

Alex Marshall was one of Lily's friends. He was a substitute beater for Harry and Ron's favourite team, the Chudley Cannons. Harry had loved Quidditch ever since he was very young. His mother had been teaching him to fly for just over a year now. Though she'd always expected James would have wanted to teach him. Harry's school was a muggle Primary School, but Lily knew Ron's mother and they were also a wizarding family. Hermione, however, was muggle and it was strictly forbidden for Ron and Harry to tell her about 'wizard stuff'. Harry couldn't imagine not being a wizard. He couldn't actually do any magic yet, but he knew when he was older he'd be going to a Wizard school called Hogwarts and he'd learn magic there.

"He said the Cannons are starting a children's Quidditch team, I thought you might like to try out for it," Lily told him.

"Can I?" Harry asked, his eyes wide with excitement. "Really?"

"Yes. Come on, we need to get home so I can start making dinner," Lily said, giving him the last of her ice-cream.


"How was your day?" Lily asked Scott as he sat down at the table.

"Not too brilliant," he admitted, "the head of our competing firm came for a meeting. Their sales are still ten per cent better than ours."

"Oh," Lily said, stroking his shoulder. She put his plate down in front of him. "Any ideas how to sort it?" she asked, giving Harry his dinner. She grabbed her own plate of food, before sitting next to Scott and placing a comforting hand on his thigh.

"No," Scott replied taking a mouthful of food. "I suppose I'll have to organise a big meeting for tomorrow."

Harry sat there quietly, eating his food. He'd been told many times not to interrupt Scott when he was discussing business. It didn't help that he didn't understand any of what Scott was talking about. Harry didn't get on well with Scott at all. He was harsh and blunt with him. Scott didn't like caring for a child that was not his own. He didn't feel Harry should be his responsibility and was annoyed he had been landed with him. It was Harry's father's job to bring him up, not Scott's. But he put up with him, so he could keep Lily with him.

Lily smiled at him, "I'm sure it will sort itself, darling."

"Mummy?"

"Yes, Harry?" Lily asked, as she and Scott turned their gazes to look at the little boy.

"Could you help me pour some more drink, please?" he shuffled in his seat.

"Course," Lily replied, pouring him some more juice into his cup.

"Aren't you old enough to pour your own drink?" Scott asked.

"Scott, it's fine," Lily said slowly, "the carton's very full."

Lily sighed; she knew Scott would never make a good father. Not for Harry and not even for his own children. Lily was especially careful to prevent a pregnancy by him. He could never care for a child. Lily didn't want to have a child with him. She didn't think Scott wanted a child… except possibly for the selfish reason of carrying on the company. It was sad for her, as she'd always wanted a large family.

"Darling, eat your vegetables," Lily said to Harry.

"Okay, Mummy."


"Prongs!" Sirius greeted, "long time, no see."

"Hello, Sirius," James said, looking up from the sheet of parchment he was writing on. "Why are you here?"

"I came to invite you out to the pub; it's been ages since you've been out with us!" Sirius said, "Thought we could have fun."

"I'm sorry, Padfoot, I have to finish this report," James said, pushing his glasses higher up his nose and rubbing his eyes wearily.

"You can do it tomorrow. You look like you could do with a rest, mate," he continued. "You really do look very tired."

"Sorry, Sirius, this is important," he said.

"Oh, come on, Prongs, you'll enjoy yourself, you always used to."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, there is no possibility. I need to keep up with the work and the sooner I get it done, the sooner it will be finished."

"You know what, Prongs. You're no fun since Lily left," Sirius said sadly.

"Padfoot, shut the hell up!" he snapped. "I don't want to hear anything about Evans. I am just too damn busy! Can you please leave!?"

"Fine!" Sirius growled, "Call me when you're ready to have time for your friends."

"Yeah, I will… which will be never!" James called back, "close the office door when you leave!"

"Go to hell, Prongs."

"Perhaps you should go there yourself," James growled to himself, turning back to his report. "Stupid dog!"


"Come on, Harry, bedtime, honey," Lily said, standing from her space on the sofa next to Scott.

"Awww, do I have to, Mummy?" Harry whined.

"Yes," Lily said, taking his hand in hers and picking him up. She gave Scott a smile and kissed her son's cheek. She slowly walked up the stairs, cuddling him to her chest. She helped him brush his teeth and wash his face, before they went into his bedroom together.

He lay down in his bed and Lily pulled the covers tightly around him. She pressed a kiss to his forehead and turned to switch off the light.

"Mummy," Harry said quietly in a questioning tone, causing her to turn around and face him once again.

"Yes, baby?" Lily asked.

"What do you think Daddy's doing now?" he asked, his face the picture of innocence.

"Well, I imagine he's getting ready for bed too," Lily said, trying to flush out images of James flooding her mind. It wouldn't do to have her memory full of thoughts of him, especially as she'd be bedding Scott soon. It wouldn't do to call out her ex's name in such a moment.

"No! In his life?" Harry posed.

Lily sat on the bed next to him. "Well, I expect he's living in a nice big mansion, is a successful business man and has the perfect wife, just like his mother always wanted. I expect he's very happy too."

Harry sighed, "Didn't his mother like you very much?"

"No," Lily said simply. She bit her lip. It was such a hard subject for her to talk about.

"I don't see how anyone could not like you, Mummy," Harry said in earnest. "You're so kind and very pretty."

Lily held the sweet boy towards her. "Thank you, baby," she breathed into his mess of dark hair.

"And I think Daddy must have loved you very much," he continued.

"He did, Harry, your father and I loved each other very much," she promised stroking his hair. "Never doubt that."

"I don't, Mummy."

"Good. Now try and get some sleep," Lily suggested.

"I will."

"There's a good boy. Goodnight," she gave him another kiss on the forehead. "I love you."

"Goodnight, Mummy, I love you too," Harry replied, turning over in his bed.

Lily switched the light off and crept out onto the landing. She walked into the master bedroom, where Scott was lying out on the bed. The room was baby blue with cream sheets and curtains. Lily grabbed a knee-length, cream nightgown out of the wardrobe and went to change in their ensuite bathroom.

Scott was frowning slightly when she went in.

"What's the matter, honey?" Lily asked, lying down next to him. He ignored her. "Scott?" she tried again.

"Hmmm?" he turned to look at her with his beautiful blue eyes and Lily realised how well matched they were against the wall of the bedroom.

"Are you okay?" she repeated.

He sighed, "You saw that guy from the cannons again today, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Lily said truthfully. "He wanted to tell me about the children's team they're starting. He suggested Harry could get coached there. Nothing to worry about."

"I hate it when people say that. It's just words…" Scott said.

"Not from me," Lily said sharply. "Scott, darling, you asked me this last week, and still, you are the only guy for me."

"What about Harry's father?" he asked harshly.

"I'm not with him anymore, I'm with you," she pointed out.

He nodded slowly, giving up. "Show me how much you care, Lily," he said shortly, "make love to me."

"For you, baby, yes. But only for you." She leant over his blonde head.

He kissed her deeply and removed her nightgown, groping at her body. Lily sighed, wondering why this was becoming such a routine activity with Scott. It had used to be so exciting, but now it seemed little off being a chore.


James sighed, placing down the report on his desk. Finally it was finished. He yawned and stretched, his back sore from being cramped in one position all night. He rubbed his eyes for the hundredth time that night, too tired to even fetch food or drink. He hadn't eaten yet. He checked the clock, it was gone twelve.

He rose from his seat and padded his way over to the door, pausing to flick the light off. He strode along the hallway, glad that he didn't have to worry about waking up a wife or children.

Once in his bedroom, he removed his shoes, shirt and trousers. He then crawled under the covers, unconsciously pushing his mind through haunting memories.

Memories of her.

But he was alone. Oh so very alone.


Sorry for the long wait, my chums. I am so very excited about this fic. I am determined to give you all better quality and more developed writing throughout. Could you guys do me a teeny favour and give me a review?! I'm also wondering who saw Scott as the boyfriend before I introduced him having dinner with Lily and Harry. :P I enjoyed writing that bit lots! :)

School starts next week! :( I am thinking updates could be a long time coming! Awww!

In the meantime, check out the fic I am coowriting with Cool-Mulle, there is a link to it at the top of my profile. I can't really give you a summary- the one I wrote before is CRAP! But please check it out! It's a VERY good fic. Well thought out- I believe.

My love to all my readers and reviewers!

-James' Lily Flower xoxo