A/N: Hey all! I'm so sorry that I took so long to post this chapter! I've been super busy! I hope you like this chapter. Its mostly just a chapter to introduce more characters from the HPverse and also to show the changing dynamics between James and Lily.
MSupernatural (special shout out! Thank you sweetheart!) pointed out that she felt that Lily was too overpowering. Did you all get this vibe as well? Please let me know. I'll try and explain where I was coming from to you, like I did for her. Thanks to all who reviewed or followed or favourited the story. I always smile when i get those notifications.

DreamHawthorn: Thank you dear! That's so sweet. Here's the next chapter! :*
H
uflepuff girl14: Haha. Thanks. (:
MSupernatural: Thank you very much for pointing this out! Please leave more reviews on what you think! 3

Thanks to dizuz, DreamHawthorn, huflepuff girl14, Caroline Evans Potter, XMisfitLeaderX and BatDoo for following.

I post about my writing schedule on tumblr (cinnamoncoffeecharms)if you wanna check it out. (:

Also, I did the final edit and posting of this chapter quite late at night, sorry if there are any mistakes!

Disclaimer: Anything resembling HP belongs to Queen JK. I just simply play with them. (wink wink)


James threw the door open with a bang and took two steps towards Lily's bed. With one sharp tug, he yanked her warm blanket off her body.

"Get your BLOODY ASS out of bed!" He turned and marched out the door, smirking slightly as he pulled his shirt over his head.

He had barely reached the kitchen counter when he heard her thundering down the stairs.

"What the flying FUCK James?" Lily exclaimed, her hand waving wildly at the staircase.

"If YOU can't be responsible enough to wake YOURSELF up in the morning…" James leaned over the counter, one finger jabbing accusatorily in Lily's direction.

"Couldn't YOU at least wake me like a decent human being?" she shot back.

It was a little hard to be annoyed with her, when she was standing in front of him, in nothing but a large shirt, her hair sticking up at weird angles and bright green flames in her eyes. But just a little.

"Well, little miss bossy, you can't have your cake and eat it!"

"Are you always this much of an asshole? Or is it just in the mornings?" Lily stopped yelling, her voice low yet cutting.

Something in him flamed up and James was out from behind the counter in a flash. He towered over her, inches apart, his dark brown eyes flashing dangerously.

"Don't call me an asshole." He said, his tone deadly. He knew that she only meant it as an insult, but she had hit a little too close to home.

"Well, don't call ME bossy!" Lily raised her voice again, standing on her tiptoes to glare at James. James knew that he had hit a nerve too but he was sure as hell not going to back down first.

There was a minute of silence in the kitchen, both Lily and James standing up against each other, breathing heavily from their heated argument.

His head was reeling, half of him wanted to hit her but the other half of him…

Lily turned away first, fisting her hands in her hair. "Urgghhh! I wish I could just slam you against a wall and ch…"

"Most women want to, some of them do." Recovering from his loss of control, James leaned back against the counter, picking up his cup of coffee. He sent a devilish grin in Lily's direction.

She spun around, her eyes widening slightly as his words sunk in. Before he knew it, she was biting down on her lip, her eyebrows furrowed. She finally gave in and let the small smile creep across her face.

Whatever remainder fight that she or he, for that matter, might have had was definitely gone now.

"Git."

"Go get ready, we're supposed to meet the neighbours today." He replied, idly flipping the opened newspaper, his mind everywhere but the news.

She finally left the kitchen, but before he could even release the breath he had been holding, her smiling voice rang down the steps, "Just you wait Potter. I can ruffle your feathers just as well".

Much as he resisted, James grinned at her threat, a low sensation stirring in his stomach.


"Where do you want to start?" Lily put her sunglasses on and brushed some stray hairs off her face.

James shut the door behind him, slipping on a shoe as he walked up to Lily. "Go down our row and come back up the opposite."

He reached out and tugged on Lily's necklace, pulling it out from her shirt. "Remus needs to identify our neighbours."

After a moment of silence, Lily smiled at James, a little sly smile, which made James wonder what exactly she was up to. "Let's go then. I'm starting to want lunch already."

They crossed their lawn and up their neighbour's driveway. She knocked on the door and pattering footsteps approached the door.

Lily knew she had to move quickly, and right on time, so that James couldn't question her about it. Just as the door swung open, she slipped her hand into the back pocket of James' jeans and squeezed. He tensed immediately, and Lily let a little snort of laughter escape her at the sight of his face.

A little, old lady stood at the doorway. Lily saw her take in James' stricken expression and her own grin and watched as the woman's brow furrowed slightly.

"Hello! I'm Lily, this is James. We've just moved in next door." Lily smiled warmly at the plump lady in front of her, selling her cover easily and doing her best to not focus on how nice James' behind felt in her palm.

"Oh, yes! I saw you both come. I'm Gwinnie." She scrunched up her nose as she introduced herself in a conspiratory whisper and Lily couldn't help but think of her mother, who would often do the very same thing.

She bit back the sad smile and waited as Gwinnie leaned back into the house and hollered down the corridor, "RUTH! RUTH! COME MEET OUR NEW NEIGHBOURS! RUTH!"

"I'm coming Gwinnie. Must you yell?" Another elderly woman approached the door, her irritated voice preceding her. She was the very opposite of Gwinnie. Ruth was tall and thin, much resembling the cigarette held between her knobbly fingers.

She puffed out a smoky breath and cracked a wry, half-hearted, smile at James and Lily. "Welcome to the neighbourhood," she said dryly, "Now, what do you want from us?"

"Ruth!" Gwinnie tutted disapprovingly. "What can we do for you, sweetie? Would you like to come in?"

"We're playing scrabble. Fun." Ruth's voice clearly indicated that scrabble was the least fun thing that she could imagine.

"And tea! Join us?" Gwinnie reached out and rubbed Lily's arm and at the gesture, Lily moved slightly towards Gwinnie, pulling way from James.

Gwinnie's eyes flickered to Lily's outstretched arm, disappearing behind James' back, and her eyes twinkled with amusement. "OHHO! Ruth! We have ourselves some lovebirds." She shook her head from side to side, grinning.

Reaching out, she placed a hand on James' chest. "Well, I can see why you like him, sweetpea. He's quite fit. And rather good looking too." Lily laughed as James flushed, wondering to herself why she found it so adorable.

Gwinnie and Ruth seemed harmless, and her gut instinct, which was normally right, was to like and trust them. But she could never be too sure.

James' voice cut through her thoughts. " We're throwing a house warming party. Friday evening. Inviting all the neighbours. We'd love for you to come."

"Of course, dear. All the neighbours, you say?" she shared a quick look with Ruth, which did not go unnoticed by the two agents.

"Why? What's wrong?" Lily prodded ever so slightly, hoping that the old ladies might mention something of use.

"There are just some suspicious characters living here. But you'll see. Come Gwinnie! Our scrabble awaits."

As soon as Lily heard the door shut behind them, she turned to James.

"Good start?" he asked

"Yeah. I think so. Let's go."

They had only walked a few steps when Lily felt James shove her slightly.

"OI! What was with the butt grabbing?" The corner of his mouth quirked up despite him trying to suppress the smile.

In response, Lily shot back a half smile and waggled her eyebrows at him.

"I see what you're doing. This is war Evans." James jogged up the steps to the next house, Lily close behind, laughing.

A man with long, straggly hair, clad in a bright purple and yellow outfit answered the door.

Before Lily could say anything, James spoke. "Hello", he extended a hand, "I'm James, this is LIL."

Prat. Lily clenched her jaw and forced a smile. "We've just moved into the neighbourhood."

The man looked at James' outstretched arm but didn't move to shake it. "Lil. Does that stand for large-ion-lithophile elements? Lil. What an odd name. I'm Xenophilius. Xenophilius Lovegood." He hummed a small tune before speaking again; "Beautiful sky isn't it? If only it wasn't so… blue. Well, maybe the crumpled horn snorkack will make an appearance. It rarely does in winter."

Lily and James both stared at the man in front of them, their mouths agape. James head snapped down to look at her, a questioning look in his eye. Lily mouthed back 'I don't know' just as a rich laugh rang from the house.

"Oh Xen! Stop confusing them. Hi. I'm Meredith. Sorry about my husband. He's mad. But I love him dearly." It was clear to Lily that the woman did love him, her voice was soft and tender when she spoke of him and her silvery blue eyes sparkled with warmth. "You must be our new neighbours? Can I do something for you?"

"James. And Lil"

"LilY" she said through gritted teeth. Man was the git ever going to stop? "We're having a party on Friday. We'd love for you to join us."

The blonde woman beamed. "Oh that's wonderful! Xen and I will be there."

"Thank you!" James and Lily turned and made their way down the porch steps, moving to the next house.


Lily was walking ahead of him to the next house. The house was clearly uncared for, the porch covered with a layer of dust and the grass slightly overgrown. Lily knocked on the door as James came up behind her.

The door opened to reveal a young man with black, shoulder-length hair, and eyes resembling coals. The hair on the back of James' neck rose, a warning sign that was almost always accurate. James stepped closer to Lily.

"Hello. My name is Lily Evans." Lily began speaking, but James hardly thought that the man was listening.

His black eyes were raking over Lily's delicate features and down her attractive figure, slowly and greedily. James felt an unpleasant burning sensation roaring in his stomach. He lifted his arms and brought them around Lily's waist, pulling her back against him.

She squealed, then giggled, her vanilla scent encompassing James' senses. "This is James, my boyfriend." James felt a little squirm of delight at her words, but brushed it off.

The man's eyes snapped up, as though seeing James for the first time. "Boyfriend." He spoke slowly, breaking the words apart, contempt flaring in his eyes.

"Yes. Boyfriend." James spoke definitively, delivering the point across. "We're living together, just moved in a couple of houses down."

"We're having a party on Friday. You'll come? Mr…?" Lily left the question hanging.

"Snape and I'll see." With one last longing look at Lily, he slammed the door shut.

"What a creep." Lily said shaking herself as she moved down the pavement. "I still can feel his eyes on me. Urgh. And you! Someone getting a little handsy yeah?"

James smirked, as they strode across the street. "Just doing my job well, Lil."

"Goddammit James! LILY!" She smiled though, and took his larger hand in hers, tugging him up the steps of the next house.

She rang the bell of the house and James flexed his fingers holding Lily's hand. He had held many girls hands before, and it puzzled James why this time it felt so intimate. He had had to already check himself multiple times through the day, reminding himself that she – both of them – were just playing a part. It was purely show.

A blonde woman opened the door. She was the very picture of poise. "Oh God." She spoke in a drawl. "I've told you a hundred times. We're not interested in anything that any of you have to sell." She began to shut the door, but Lily reached out a hand and stopped the door from shutting.

"No. We're not sales people. I'm Lily and this is Jamie."

Fuck. Did she just do that?

"Oh no. Missionaries?" the woman sounded exasperated by their mere presence.

"We're your new neighbours. Not sales people. And not missionaries either." Lily interjected.

"We're throwing a party. Our house, on Friday evening. We came to invite you and your family." James lifted a hand to point at their house down the street.

"Ohhh. I see. Well. If I have nothing better to do."

The door swung shut. James let out a huff. "Narcissa Malfoy."

"Hmm?" Lily was still staring at an emblem on the door.

"Narcissa Malfoy. That's her name." He indicated a small template by the doorbell.

"Come on. This morning's taking a turn for the worst."

They both made their way to the next house, unaware of their still intertwined hands.


Lily was getting increasingly frustrated. She had already rung the bell repeatedly, knocked multiple times and called out. When was door going to open? She knew there was someone inside. She could hear footsteps and music playing. She raised a hand to knock again, when the door opened. A beautiful young woman with crazed eyes and slightly crazed hair stood before them, a completely bored expression on her face. "Stop ringing. I don't care." And she shut the door with a bang.

Lily bit down on her lip and James squeezed her hand. She didn't quite understand it, but for someone whom she disliked so much, she found the warmth of his palm enveloping her oddly comforting.


The door of the next house was opened by a young ginger boy. He must have been 6 or 7. "Mum's really busy. Baby Fred has made a mess, Baby George is making another, Percy is crying, and Charlie is ruining Dad's peonies." The young boy rushed through the last part of the sentence, taking a big breath.

"Oh really?", James knelt down, so that he was looking at the boy in the eye. "You alright mate?"

The boy nodded his reply and shot a toothy grin at James. He grinned back. The boy reminded him of a younger version of himself and he felt a rush of affection for the child in front of him.

"Okay then. I won't ask for your mom to come to the door. She sounds a bit busy. But can you do me a favour? Tell her that the new neighbours are having a party on Friday evening and want all of you to come, including Baby Fred and Baby George. Can you do that?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically, his face set with the responsibility of James' request.

"Thanks mate. You're a life saver. And if you ever want to escape your little brothers, ask your mom and you can come hang around for a while with your new friends, James and Lily. Okay? Bye mate."

James and Lily waited for the boy to disappear back into the house before they turned and walked over to the last house on their street.

While waiting for the door to be answered, James turned to Lily, cocking his head to the side. "I like that boy. He looks like a really good kid." Lily looked back at him, something indecipherable in her gaze and surprised James by sliding an arm around his waist.

The door swung open and a young man and woman stood in front of them. Both of them smiled warmly at James and Lily.

"Hello. We've just moved in across from you and we wanted to invite you over for a house warming party that we're having." James said, smiling back at them.

"I'm Lily and this is James. He seems to have forgotten to introduce us." Lily added. James smiled and laughed.

"Hi. Frank. My fiancée Alice." Frank reached out and clasped Alice's hand in his.

Alice smiled again. "Welcome to the neighbourhood. It'll be so nice to have another young couple around. When I was out earlier, I saw you stopping at some of the other houses, you could barely keep your hands of each other. It was adorable."

Lily blushed, and James ran a hand through his messy hair.

"Stop embarrassing them Alice! We'll be there. See you Friday." Frank shut the door, laughing at Alice's bluntness.


Back in their own house, Lily removed her own necklace and ear bug, then turned to James. "Lunch?"

"Oh God, yes please. I'm starving."

"Okay. I'll drive." Lily made to grab the car keys on the dining table but James was quicker.

"Ha! I don't think so." he sang as he stepped through the front door.


A/N: How was it? Let me know guys! Your reviews keep me enthused about writing this story, so please drop in a word if you feel like it. Even if you just wanna chat, you can PM me or message me on tumblr, I'm pretty nice. (:

Have a great day!