They met up with her friends at a little pub nearby. James spotted Paul and Tanya. The other one he didn't recognize. He was of relatively average height, with dark hair and a friendly smile. James didn't see anything right off that made him believe her claim that Joe – who the third person had to be – was gay, but he decided he should give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Ah, we meet your boy at last," Tanya said, kissing James on the cheek. He glanced at Lily to see if she had a problem with it, but she was busy exchanging kisses with Joe.

James gritted his teeth. He didn't see how she could have fallen for a line like that if the bloke went around trying to kiss her.

James held out a hand for him. "I'm James. Lily's boyfriend."

Lily raised her eyebrows. "In case you thought he was the other James. You know, the one I just use for sex," she told Joe, who laughed.

"Darling, if I were you I'd use this one for sex," Joe said, looking James over.

James took a full step back in retreat. "Yes, well. Luckily, she's her, and you're you, and I'm me. So, there's no problem."

Tanya laughed. "Yes, that is lucky." She turned to Joe. "You're scaring the poor boy."

"Oh, maybe he likes to be scared. I'll play any game he wants," Joe said, winking at James.

"Umm . . ." James said, looking to Lily for help. Unfortunately for him, she just laughed.

"You should see him with his mates at school, Joe," she said. "They're always touching each other, and 'wrestling' on the ground."

"Oh, be still my heart," Joe breathed, clasping a hand to his chest. "Tell me you have pictures. Or better yet, video."

Lily shook her head. "Well, now, if I ever get one, I'll know where to market it."

"Lily," James said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward him. He may have put her between himself and Joe, but he didn't consider it an act of cowardice. If the man was gay, he'd consider her a barrier, not a target.

Lily kissed James lightly. "He's teasing you James," she told him, smiling. "The thing about gay men, is they have an excellent radar for picking out other gay men. I'm sure you didn't set his off." She glanced at Joe for confirmation. "Or should I be worried?"

He shook his head. "Straight as an arrow," he said. "Much to my sorrow." He sighed dramatically. "Such a waste."

"Speak for yourself," Lily said, pulling James into a seat next to her. She nodded to Paul. "You two have met, yeah?"

"Couple times," Paul said, shaking hands with James.

"Good to see you again," James said, aware that he probably still seemed uncomfortable around Joe.

"So you two go to Uni together?" Tanya asked.

Lily nodded. "Yep," she lied easily. "James isn't exactly what you'd call a scholar though, so I'm sure he'd rather hear about you lot."

"Hey, now. I'm at least competitive with you in all of our classes," James defended himself.

"Yes, well that fact that you can do so well without ever apparently putting in any effort is still a sore spot with me," Lily told him. She shook her head. "Anyway, I meant you don't like studying, or talking about studying."

James nodded. "Fair enough," he said. He didn't know what a "uni" was anyway, so he probably shouldn't press the issue of whether or not he'd want to talk about studying, if studying were a part of a "uni."

"Well," Joe said, "there's not much to tell. Tan and I have been friends forever, which is how I met our Lily here. Paul, Lily and Tan all work together." He smiled at James. "Now tell us about Uni. Do you play football?"

James looked to Lily for help. He had a vague idea that football may be a bit like quidditch, but he didn't see how that could be possible. Obviously the brooms, bludgers, and snitch would be out. That just left the quaffle, some goals, and a pitch. Which would make for an incredibly dull game.

Lily shook her head. "James is more the . . . bookish type. Even if he doesn't like to read the textbooks for class. Haven't you been reading Shakespeare lately?" Lily prompted him.

He nodded eagerly, excited to finally have found a topic he could discuss. "Yeah, he's fantastic. I'm surprised more people don't read him."

The three muggles stared at him blankly. "They require it in secondary school," Tanya said after a moment.

"Yes, of course," James said, groping for a way to recover. "I meant voluntarily. I'm surprised more people don't choose to read it on their own."

Joe nodded. "It's beautiful, isn't it? I love watching it on the stage though. It's so much better in the flesh than on the page."

"I haven't seen it performed," James told him, getting a shocked gasp in return.

"How can you not have seen it?" Joe asked. "Any?"

James glanced at Lily. "I think maybe he was born a cretin," she offered helpfully.

"Ah," Tanya said. "At least he's evolved since then. Paul still won't read – or even go see – any Shakespeare."

James watched them exchange a look. He'd have to ask Lily later if Paul and Tanya were a couple. They certainly seemed that way at the moment, but he had never heard Lily mention it. And he was absolutely certain it was against the rules at the bar. Something to keep an eye out for over the course of the night, at any rate.

For now, it was time to order drinks. The rest would come later.