James and Lily had been seeing each other again for a month. Things were going well with them, they had started seeing each other when they weren't on dates. James would show up every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Lily's office to take her to lunch, he didn't have to ask it was just implied that he would be there. They were comfortable again with each other. Lily was at the house with Sirius because James wasn't home from work yet.
"So you and Prongs?" asked Sirius slyly, as he put the first aid kit away. He had just gotten back from work injured again, Lily had cleaned him up.
"What about us?" asked Lily, avoiding his eye.
"Have you done the dirty yet?"
"Sirius, that is none of your business!" exclaimed Lily.
"I was only curious, it's strange not having you here."
"We are taking things slow. It'll be a long, long time before we move in together again, if we ever do."
"You will. You two are made for each other, everyone knows that."
"I used to think so too. But now I don't know, but we're trying to get back to what we had," said Lily, deliberately looking away.
"You've certainly been looking very cozy lately."
"Yes, we have."
"So…"
"I am not talking about this with you," said Lily, the heat rising in her cheeks.
"Oh dear, are you blushing?" Sirius teased.
"No!" she snapped. "And if you don't shut up about it, I'll let you bleed out next time."
"You wound me with your harsh words."
"I'll wound you with more than my just harsh words in a minute."
"Oh alright, I'll shut up," laughed Sirius. "Come on, you said there was some film on the teleradio."
"It's television. A radio is where you can hear the voices but not see the people speaking," Lily explained to him for the thousandth time.
"Oh right, I forgot."
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About an hour later, Lily and Sirius were watching Sweet Home Alabama, and Lily was very amused to see that Sirius was getting quite emotional about it. Sirius was flopped down on the armchair, while Lily lounged on the sofa.
"It's just not right, they should be together. Why can everyone else see it but not them?" said Sirius emotionally, while Lily just laughed at him.
"Padfoot?" they heard James call, then the front door slam shut. "Mate, you here?"
Lily couldn't stop her face from lighting up when she heard his voice.
"In here!" Sirius shouted.
"Oh good you're back, a lot of Aurors just got stuck doing the paperwork for the week. I was lucky to get away when I did," said James.
"Well done mate, they'll be there all night," laughed Sirius.
"What am I invisible?" said Lily, who wasn't used to James not giving her his full attention.
"Of course not, hi," said James, leaning down and giving Lily a kiss.
"Hi," she smiled. "You hungry?"
"Starving," said James.
"Okay, you go upstairs and get changed and I'll heat up some food for you," said Lily.
"Thanks you're the best," he said.
"Yeah and just you remember that," she said, pressing another kiss to his lips.
"Oh please get a room," said Sirius.
"You're just jealous," smirked James.
----------------------------------------------
"James, Sirius, are you home?"
Lily, James and Sirius were still watching television. Sirius was still on the armchair, and Lily and James were cuddled up on the sofa. When they heard that voice, they all looked at each other slightly panicked.
"Um…in here Mum," James called awkwardly.
"Would you look at the state of this place? Have you boys never thought of picking up after yourself?" said Miriam Potter as she came into the living room. She was an attractive woman, who had grown old gracefully. She was just over 5 foot, greying hair and hazel eyes exactly like James.
"Hi Mum," said James, getting up and hugging his mother.
"Oh, hello dear."
"Nice to see you Mum," said Sirius, getting up and hugging her after James.
"What happened to your face?" she demanded, pulling away.
"They always come back like that, I don't know if it's Quidditch or it's actually an attack like they say," said Lily.
"Oh Lily dear, come here," said Miriam, hugging Lily.
"It's lovely to see you Miriam. Tea?"
"Please."
"I hope these two don't have you running around after them," said Miriam when Lily gave her some tea.
"No, they just need a little help otherwise they would live like pigs," said Lily.
"Well don't you let them take advantage of you," said Miriam sternly, "and I am holding you responsible for making sure that doesn't happen." She said, pointing straight to James.
"Me?"
"Yes you. Look after her this time or you'll have me to answer to," said Miriam sternly.
"I will," said James quickly.
'I know she means well, but Miriam she makes it sound like James abused me or treated me badly and he never did. Well except when he cheated. But other than that…he never hit me or hurt me in anyway'
"You better," said Miriam. "And you better keep it in your pants. I almost killed him the last time, I couldn't believe it. I could barely even look at him when he told us what he had done."
"Mum, do we have to talk about this?" said James, slipping his arm round Lily's waist and pulling her closer to him on the sofa.
"Oh right sorry. This can't be very pleasant for you dear," said Miriam.
"Um…no it's not," said Lily quietly.
"I'm sorry," James whispered softly into her ear.
"It's okay," she said, leaning into his body slightly.
"Okay we won't say another word about it," said Miriam. "Oh and before I forget, you didn't RSVP Lily"
"RSVP to what?" asked James. Lily hadn't said anything to him.
"The ball of course," laughed Miriam.
"I know I'm sorry I meant to. I will be there, though."
Every year, a lavish ball was thrown at the Potter mansion. This was the first one Lily would attend since she and James had divorced. It was a big traditional affair, full of influential people. But worst of all was the opening dance, where all the members of the Potter family opened the ball with a formal dance. She used to do it with James, but she wasn't his wife anymore, so he would probably do it with someone else.
"Oh good," said Miriam.
"Wait! How come she got an invitation but we didn't?" asked Sirius, outraged.
"As if you two need an invitation," scoffed Miriam. "But before you get yourself into a state, here are your invitations." She handed James and Sirius an envelope each.
"Subtle, mum, real subtle," said James, rolling his eyes.
"What? Let me see," said Lily taking the invitation from him.
"And me," demanded Sirius, snatching it from Lily.
The invitation was addressed to James Potter and guest, but next to that, in Miriam's handwriting, was: "If said guest is not Lily Evans, stay home!"
"Subtlety never was your strong point," said Lily.
"What? I'm excited you two are back together, I might get some grandchildren yet," exclaimed Miriam.
"Mum…"
"I know, I know you're taking it slow. Blah, Blah, Blah."
"Don't worry, mate. It's not just you, she wrote on mine too. Apparently I am not allowed to bring a girl I met in a 'bar or public toilet'," said Sirius, reading verbatim off of his invitation.
"And nothing too fluffy either," said Miriam.
"We are still talking about his date?" asked Lily.
"Yes. But you know what he is like. I don't want to make small talk with some simpering, whining, annoying bunny."
"Bunny?" laughed Lily.
"What else am I meant to call them?"