For the first nine months after graduation, Lily had worked as a temp in the muggle world, like her mother had in Cokeworth. In London, the jobs were varied and with her skills, her pay was fairly high considering she was only 18. Much higher than any starting position in the magical world for a muggleborn. She was thankful she had been taught typing and shorthand by her mother, along with cooking and dress-making, all skills gained during her school holidays. Lily had held down a full time job in the summers since her fourth year for an estate agents in Halifax, a bus ride from home.

As the top student at school she may have dreamt of an apprenticeship or internship, but as a muggleborn she knew opportunities were slim, despite the reassurances of her friend Alice Longbottom or her teachers Horace Slughorn, Filius Flitwick or Minerva McGonagall. In truth, most muggle born and muggle raised half bloods were expected to enter trades, even an apprenticeship was a long shot in the narrow, bigoted and a very closed shop where family connections were everything. In the underground network of connections between the outcasts of magical society, Lily had met Ted Tonks and his wife, Andromeda. Through them her CV had passed through the channels where blood meant nothing and skills meant everything.

She knew her new appointment was not just as a PA or secretary but as a recruit for the network of operatives working to prevent the rise of another Grindelwald and to keep a check on the blood supremacists lead by the Black, Lestrange and Malfoy families.

The tall willowy titian haired young witch had settled on a dark suit and white blouse, play and functional matched with dark tights and court shoes. She put her long hair into a bun and opted for powder and a neutral lipstick, rather than full make-up. She wanted to give the impression of efficient, she could dress if the occasion needed it. This was her first day and first impressions counted. She was not just a pretty young thing, not with an IQ of 146.

The house was a play three storey Georgian terrace in the city. It had dirty windows and the exterior looked careworn, but as she had found out at eleven appearances, where magic was concerned were deceiving. The heavy oak door opened as soon as she knocked. She was shocked to see the hall was lit by electric light. She noted the runic array protecting the 1950's fuse box. Such mixing of magical safeguards on muggle technology was entirely foreign in Europe. This American raised halfblooded Lord of the Houses Slytherin, Gaunt and Peverell was unlike any wizard she had met. She suddenly felt giddy with excitement about her new job.

…

The Leaky Cauldron was very crowded. It was Friday night and most had finished work and were either eating or having a few drinks before heading home. James Potter was nursing a butterbeer as he looked at his watch again. Lily, the most punctual girl in the world, was forty minutes late. The dark haired wizard was still dressed in his work robes, of an apprenticed Auror. He had been in a rush, sure his girlfriend would have already been sat waiting for him. He was hungry, but waited as he remembered it had been a hard fought battle to get Miss Evans to even date him and he now started worrying that his love spent so much time in the muggle word she might want to forget about him altogether. It wasn't his fault she couldn't get a decent job or apprenticeship. The stupid rules at Hogwarts stated the teachers could not take apprentices and he knew at least four of the teachers had tried really hard to get Lily a mastership in either Arithmancy, Runes, Potions or Charms. James Potter would sing her praises to all except he was just a trainee, he was due to pass in January to be a Junior level Auror. He hated the fact they could not date openly, Charles Potter was a patient man but he had feet in two camps, to follow family and tradition or to follow his heart. Time was running out at Christmas his father was hosting a ball, it was the start of the formal courting season. His father wanted his son married and the current political climate meant he had to marry a wizarding raised witch. As heir of Potter and Peverell houses, he was a sort after groom of impeccable lineage and comfortable wealth and influential political position. The tall dark haired aurora trainee shuddered at the thought of marrying any of his second, third or fourth cousins. New blood was needed and he hoped his father would settle on a foreign bride since the 'Bloodline Preservation Act' meant he could not marry his love, his beautiful Lily. The witch would most likely be a good companion and mother, but the witch who he was hand-fasted to, who was his hearts-desire, though society would call her a harlot, a mistress or a concubine. She was brilliant and fearless, a true lioness. He dreaded his impending engagement. It was a technicality to Lily Evans, the fact they could not legally bond, she stated that 'living in sin' was acceptable and normal for muggle. If only life was so carefree and without obligations and duty for the Potter heir. He was an only child, the son of an only child. No well raised witch would have lost her maidenhood before marriage. The passing of that god forbidden legislation banning muggle or muggle-borns marrying above their station had been the day they had started their doomed love affair. No wife, however meek, would stand to be cuckholded or the chance that the other woman would be blessed with magical children.

He ordered a shot of fire whiskey. He would talk to Lily tonight, break it gently to her that the future was one of stolen moments, but the truth was his father would not understand his choice of love and desire over the stability of magical Britain. He was a Lord and had to marry within his station. She could offer no dowry, no family heirlooms, no grimoire and no pedigree. The elders of the Wizangamot had decreed that the weakening of bloodlines had to stop, the rumour was a 'Suitable Marriage Act' was scheduled for the next session with the Ministry acting as matchmaker. He would be forced to marry one of his prim and proper cousins for sure. His father arranging his marriage at Yule was the lesser of the possible evil. His father had already had half the dowagers in France, Ireland and Britain arranging his 'match". He would give anything to live a simple life with his darling flower.

The cloaked figure who flooed into the dingy bar was dressed in high quality robes, haute couture from Paris. Her hair dressed in a simple but elegant chinon. The titian haired, lithe and tall form of Lily Elanor Evans, on first glance could pass for 'pureblood', but in the small and narrow minded magical community everyone knew exactly who she was, an upstart mudblood with ideas above her station. She walked into the Leaky Cauldron and paused until James made eye contact. She walked upstairs to Room 8. Tom had already laid out supper and dressed the room with two bouquets. In eight minutes, her lover would join her. They could not even talk in public. Their love reduced to stolen moments and whispered conversations over communication mirrors when truly alone. Lily knew she was playing with fire and that she would get burnt, but it was thrilling and dangerous and she believed, in her heart of hearts that love would conquer all.