James looked at the ivy covered building incredulously. Once again, it looked more like a place for his grandmother than for him. It was a three story wooden home, covered in wild ivy and flower baskets. It sat on the muggle side of London by the water. The Thames led into these gated canal areas and the place sat just along the side of a yacht dock. He eyed the dock curiously, half hoping they could relocate the event to onto that instead. Taking a deep breath, he quickly climbed the four steps of the building, walked across the wooden deck, and opened the door to face his fate.

Which really, wasn't all that bad. The ivy and flowers gave way to a true English pub, dark wood and the smell of campfire all around. Two lads stood behind the deserted midday bar watching the football game on an impossibly small television.

He spotted Lily sitting at the other end of the bar, staring at an equally tiny television with the same game on. Her hands held either end of the set, gripping as one of the teams drove towards the goal. "Stop him!" she cried just as the bartenders yelled, "Go! Go!" The player scored on the break away causing the two men behind the bar to jump up and down and Lily to pound the bar in frustrated rage.

She watched the dancing bar men with a scowl before smiling slightly at the two young, fit blokes dancing like idiots. She looked around to see if anyone else was there to see it, to laugh with her when she spotted James by the door. Only he wasn't sparing the men a glace. His eyes were glued on her. She tried to hold back a blush.

He smiled as they made eye contact and walked towards her. Lily started straightening herself out, adjusting her dress nervously. 'Why on earth am I primping?' Lily scolded herself in her head. But she couldn't help but admire her good work with James' makeover and feeling like she could use the primping in order to look presentable next to him.

He looked smashing, downright and proper gorgeous. 'Screw the tie,' Lily thought to herself. James wore a clean pair of dark, straight leg jeans with a white bottom down shirt all topped with a well-tailored, black corduroy jacket. He looked like he had walked straight out of a romance novel.

But even without extra primping, James was admiring Lily's appearance just as much. The tight, brown wrap dress clung to her like a second skin. She wore a pair of heels tall enough to give her already shapely legs even more tone. Her hair, again curly, was worn in a ponytail and tossed lazily to the side, falling over her shoulder.

"So glad you found it here alright," she said when they were a few feet away from each other. "We're right upstairs. I'll show you the way."

James smiled and grabbed her, pulling her into a tight hug. "It's nice to see you too Lily-Pad!"

Lily smiled against the corduroy jacket before pushing her way out of his arms. "Mr. Potter." She frowned up at him, not actually mad.

"What?" James said innocently. "Friends can't hug?" He knew snogging her was probably off limits but he thought hugging might still be on the table.

"I'm your matchmaker today James," Lily said quietly, not making eye contact.

"Okay," said James smiling wider. "Double hugs tomorrow."

"You have a date tomorrow if we do our work right tonight Mr. Potter," she said, moving back towards the entrance hall. "You can hug her as much as you like... within reason."

James followed her out and toward the stairs. "Whatever you say Lily-Pad."

As they started up the stairs, Lily went on business autopilot. "This little gem of a place is owned by David Cartwright. Do you like it?"

"Yes, I'm surprising pleased."

"Thought this would be your style once you get through the door," she cast a glace at James. "Anyway, Dave's a wizard but most of his clients are muggles. So just a heads up, first and second floors are no-magic zones. Third floor is all magical clientele so minor spells are welcome."

James nodded in understanding as they reached the third floor landing. "But no NEWT level stuff?"

"I think that's a safe bet," Lily smiled and led James into the main area. "This will be the social hall for the mixer. We're still setting up. You'll meet all the girls here. Then, you'll move to a private room downstairs for your two mini dates. For now though, I'll introduce you to Enrique, your mixer bachelor partner. He's in the holding space you'll be waiting in while the girls arrive. We already have a drink and some hor d' ouvres waiting for you."

The pair walked into a smaller room on the other side of the building.

"Who's winning?" asked Enrique staring at Lily, ignoring James completely.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Enrique, meet James. James, Enrique."

Enrique came forward extending a hand, which James took and shook. "Nice to meet you James. Really. But it would be even nicer to meet you if you could give me an update on the game. They won't give me a damn television up here."

"Chelsea just scored. They're leading 2 to 1 with 4 minutes left," Lily answered with a sour look. "Happy now?"

Enrique smiled flirtatiously at Lily. "Very," he said, scanning her body.

She stood up quickly. "Well, I need to help the others finish setting up. I'll leave you boys to get to know each other." At the door, she quickly decided to add, "No wizard duels before the mixer though."

James laughed. "We'll do out best to save it for later if the need arises."

"You can learn from this one Ricky," said Lily with a smile and quick as a flash, she was out the door and the men were left alone in the small, sun filled room.

James moved over to the mini-bar and pulled out a beer. "Want one?" Ricky nodded. James threw the bottle at him and grabbed another for himself. Ricky grabbed it with ease and popped it open with his belt buckle.

"First timer?" Enrique asked.

"I'm assuming this isn't yours?"

"Third time around." He took a deep swig of his ale. "Not really complaining though. Once you've been matched by Ms. Evans, going to bars to pick up women just doesn't cut it. Plus having Lily around isn't too much of a pain for the eyes either."

James decided to ignore the last comment. "So Lily really can pick 'em then? No ogres waiting to attack out there?"

"Oh, all women are ogres. Just some of them are fun to look at."

James put his bottle down on the table. "So why didn't the first two times work out for you? If you don't mind me asking?"

Enrique shrugged. "They didn't fit into my lifestyle. Lily and Beth say I have 'control issues' which is bullshit," he said, pulling out the finger quotes. "Just because I create perfection at work as a plastic surgeon doesn't mean I need it at home. I just have high standards for women. And if they can't live up, she's not the one."

James nodded. "What are your non-negotiables then?"

"Well, Lily made me cut it down to twenty."

"Isn't it normally five?"

"I started with 57."

James eyebrows lifted. "Oh."

"Yeah, I know. But I don't want much really! I just want a girl who cooks, doesn't smoke, likes to hit the gym, wakes up early to run, doesn't mind pet snakes, doesn't snore, doesn't take up a ton of closet space, isn't no stinking vegetarian and who doesn't disagree with me too often."

"Not into big debates then," James said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Just get tired of always winning them," he said cockily.

James stared his him for a moment before a grin began to take over his face. "Where's the loo?"

"Round the corner mate."

"Thanks," said James, draining his bottle and heading out the door.

As soon as he locked the door behind him in the single stall bathroom, he pulled a small mirror out of the inside pocket of his jacket. "Sirius," he called into the glass. Moments later, the face of his best mate appeared.

"Glad you decided to reconsider my offer to join you! I knew you would Prongsy my boy."

"Shut up Sirius," said James, leaning against the sink. "I just met the other guy being matched. He's a huge tool. Total Slytherin, Hufflepuff hybrid type." Sirius pulled a face of revulsion. "I need your help messing with him."

"You can always count on me mate," Sirius barked in laughter. "What were you thinking?"

James came out of the bathroom a reasonable amount of time later and returned to the holding room, resisting the urge to peek into the social hall. He could hear female voices and laughter floating from the room. He wasn't sure if he was exciting or dreading meeting the people those voices belonged two.

Closing the door behind him, James moved to the couch in the room and sat down smirking. "So Enrique," James eyed the man's suit jacket. "That is a beautiful suit jacket. Did Lily pick it out for you?"

"No actually," Ricky said flattered, smoothing down the garment. "This baby is all mine."

James shrugged out of his own corduroy jacket. "Do you mind if I try it on?"

Ricky smiled kindly. "Might be a bit big on you but I can't see why not." He pulled his off, not quite as gracefully as James. "Just be carefully to keep any mess off it."

James handed Ricky his corduroy jacket, accepting the larger boring black one. He tossed it on and checked the pockets. "Nice," he said, running his hand across the inside liner and pockets. "Where did you get it?"

"Harrods. I find they have fantastic service… for a muggle store. Surprising really."

James walked behind the bar. "Another beer?"

"Sure," answered Ricky.

James bent down to grab one from under the counter. While bent low, he placed the mirror, still reflecting Sirius' beaming face into the inside pocket on the suit coat. "Lager or Ale Ricky?" James popped his grinning face above the counter. "I can call you Ricky right?"

I thought originally that I would post the entire mixer at once but then I had so many fun things to play with, I decided to split it up a bit. Plus a few of your said you liked shorter chapters with more updates. And as I've already written the beginning and part of the middle of the mixer, I thought I'd give you this to keep you until I finish everything else.

I must say, I think you're all going to like what's coming up! I read all your suggestions and some of them were FANTASTIC! I'm going to have to save for later (and I'm itching to use it, trust me). But anyway, here is chapter 10!

Since I intended to post the whole mixer before the 50 review/charity donation deadline, I will extend the 50 review deadline to by the time I post chapter 12!

As always, read and review, give me your ideas, your souls, your thoughts!

Best Wishes and DFTBA!

Melissa