CHAPTER 2

I'll never miss a beat

I'm lightning on my feet

And that's what they don't see

I'm dancing on my own

I'll make the moves up as I go

And that's what they don't know

Lily had taken to New York, despite missing London terribly. The wide New York streets were packed to the brim with people of all ages, races and magical abilities. Lily supposed her favorite part about living amongst muggles in New York was that they were unbelievingly oblivious to the magic around them. Even now, as she walked up the steps to The Magical Congress of the United States of America, Lily was shocked no muggles stopped to even look at the building. It was as if magic warded their glances away.

Lily's heels clicked on the tile floors of the large hall as she made her way to gather the usual morning coffee for her boss and his employees. After three weeks on the job, she was getting pretty good at the usual routines her boss sent her on in the morning. The only sad part about it all was that Lily was getting pretty tired of delivering coffee and snacks all day.

There was a certain smell hanging in the air as Lily walked into her boss' office several minutes after gathering coffee cups. The room smelled vaguely like thick aftershave and tickled Lily's nose in a way that had her doubling over to sneeze. Lily did not have a quiet or polite sneeze, and as such, her body jolted back. The five coffees that were balancing in her arms tumbled to the black tile floors.

Expresso splashed up onto Lily's white pantyhose and covered her vintage suede shoes. Lily's boss looked up from his papers, raising an expressive eyebrow as she cursed under her breath. Lily lightly skipped away from the coffee now steaming across the office floor. The men standing by the closest desk laughed into their cigarettes, eyeing the coffee stains on her clothes.

"Not quite lightening on your feet, are you Red?" one of them, Gregory Milch, sneered in her direction.

"Bless you," Andrew Johnson offered, but he was still sniggering.

Lily blew her red hair from her eyes before pulling her wand from her pocket. Lily's willow wand swished through the air as she muttered a cleaning charm, watching the coffee disappear into nothingness off the floor. The coffee on her clothes, however, would take a more complex charm and some time. Lily's boss met her apologetic stare and he pushed his glasses up farther on his bumpy nose.

"Go ahead and get us new coffee, Evans." he waved his hand at Lily, dismissing her, "clean yourself up while you're at it."

Lily was aware of every man in the office sniggering while she slowly backed out, mortified. She'd only been in her internship for four weeks and they'd already stripped her of any self-preservation she'd once had. She was supposed to be a department intern for MACUSA's Auror department but had somehow ended up as a secretary for the supervisor of the department contracted to the Auror department for paperwork.

Lily took notes for her boss, Mr. Albert V. Perschky. She also fetched his coffee, got him lunch, sent out owls on his behalf and took his wand for cleaning. Not once, in the last three weeks, had she been asked to sit in on a trial. She hadn't even been asked to take notes at trials and she would've jumped at the chance.

She'd gotten nothing but great recommendations from her supervisors back in England where she'd worked for the Ministry of Magic as an assistant to a Healer. She'd been so excited to come to America and learn more of law and order yet...she was currently being treated like a secretary. Lily was becoming frustrated and testy, but she hadn't come all the way to America for nothing.

She'd planned on speaking to Mr. Perschky that morning about attending a few trials. Lily's friend Sterling Shields in the Auror department had suggested she remind Perschky that she had come from the Ministry of Magic and wasn't some young witch right out of Hogwarts. Lily was going to follow Sterling's advice...until she unceremoniously dropped coffee all over Mr. Perschky's office. It would've been less humiliating if it had just been Mr. Perschky in the office but sadly his whole entourage made up of the Magical Law Enforcement department had been there to witness her misstep.

Lily took a deep breath as she leaned against the wall in the elevator, pointing her wand at her dress edges to try and get the coffee stains out efficiently. Another girl, about Lily's age, got into the lift on the sixth floor. Her pretty blue eyes took in Lily's trying to clear her dress, then they fluttered down to the empty coffee mugs by Lily's feet. Sympathy raised in her pretty face.

"Did you take a fall?"

Lily looked up to meet the pretty blue eyes and shook her head while admitting her blunder, "sneezed it out of my hands, actually."

"Magical Creatures department?" the girl assumed.

"Department of Law Enforcement."

"Yeah that makes sense, Greg Milch wears enough aftershave for all six of those men," the girl laughed, her eyes warming as she pulled out her own wand, "let me help."

"Thank you." Lily said, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"Hey," the girl saw Lily's eyes brimming with tears and eased her, "shake it off."

"I just feel so stupid." Lily declared, "they already think I'm a fool."

"Three weeks ago, I accidently burned both copies of standard operating procedures for No-Maj memory removal," the girl rolled her eyes, "you're doing better than me."

Lily finally felt a real smile break her features. The girls eventually got all the coffee off Lily's clothes. Lily bent down to pick up the three coffee mugs, feeling self-conscious under her knew friends knowing stare. The girl offered her hand when the doors to the elevator opened and they both walked out together. Lily juggled the cups in her arms to shake hands.

"I'm Sophie Turner," the girl said kindly, "Department of No-Maj Misinformation."

Lily still wasn't used to muggles being called No-Maj in America. She pulled her hand back to grip one of the cups falling out of her grasp.

"I'm Lily Evans."

Sophie's eyes lightened up, "Lovely, Lily."

"You're lovely for helping me."

"I've got nothing better to do." Sophie said, "you're from the UK aren't you?"

"Guilty." Lily said as they girls walked over to the long table of coffee machines.

Lily passed the coffee cups to the house elf closest to her. The elf bowed shortly before refilling the cups with coffee. Sophie placed one manicured hand on her hip, watching Lily with a curious smile. Lily smiled at Sophie faintly, dancing on her toes to keep her nerves from showing.

"Thank you again, for your help." Lily told the girl, "it means a lot."

Sophie waved at Lily's thank you, like it was no problem, "we all have bad days."

Sophie startled Lily when she helped pick up one of the cups. Lily took the other cups and the girls walked back over to the elevator. Sophie's killer heels clicked against the gold speckled tile as they walked. Lily looked the girl up and down, taking in Sophie's perfect curls and flawless clothes that looked right out of a magazine called Witch Weekly. Based on Sophie's accent, she must've been from the southern states, but Lily didn't know much about America.

"What brings you to the states?" Sophie smiled prettily at a man who held the elevator for her.

Lily also passed the man a smile before jumping beside Sophie in the elevator, "I took an internship in the Auror department, I'm planning on applying to be an Auror Department Healer when I get back to England."

"No way!" she said excitedly, "you must work with my cousin Sterling!"

Suddenly, looking at Sophie, Lily knew that she wasn't lying about being related to Sterling Shields. They both had pretty blond hair, pale skin and were unbelievably good looking. Sterling and Sophie also had a similar smile, making Sophie almost appear to be the girl version of Sterling.

"I wish I worked with Sterling more," Lily told his cousin thoughtfully as the doors closed, "but I've been fetching coffee instead of working cases."

Sophie raised her brow, "were you expecting something else?"

"More excitement, maybe?" Lily confessed, shrugging, "I used to go on raids back home In England with Aurors like Sterling all the time."
Sophie eyed Lily as sympathetically as she had when they first met.

"Oh, bless your heart, you know these wizards are archaic." a man in the elevator with them shot Sophie a look and Sophie ignored him, "witch rights are a joke and if you want their respect, you gotta earn it."

"I shouldn't have to earn anything." Lily said stubbornly as the elevator opened and the girls got out on Lily's floor, "Back home in England—"

"You aren't in England anymore." Sophie reminded her, "Wizarding America is a whole different world from yours."

"But I've got so much experience—"

Sophie cut Lily off, "just keep doing whatever Perschky asks."

Lily was about to argue but Sophie put a finger to her lips because they were at the office door. Sophie entered the office first and Lily witnessed how utterly maddening it was. Every man in the room burst into wide grins when Sophie strode in. They didn't have the same sneers as they normally did when Lily entered, no, they looked at Sophie like she was walking over to them holding a bloody dragon's trove of treasure instead of steaming coffee.

"Turner," Gregory Milch took one of the coffee cups from Sophie, eyes fluttering down to her breasts, "looking positively striking this morning."

Sophie shrugged off Gregory's predatory eyes as she passed the cup to the other official, "eyes to yourself, Milch or I'll be talking to my father."

Lily walked in behind Sophie to complete opposite reactions. No one even glanced her way as she set her coffee mug on Perschky's desk. Mr. Perschky looked at Lily, before glancing over Lily's shoulder at Sophie.

"Sophie," Mr. Perschky crooned, "your department will be wondering where you've gotten off too."

"They won't notice a thing," Sophie crooned back before placing a hand on Lily's shoulder, "just decided to help her bring in the coffee, no worries."

"Did Red tell you that she dropped coffee all over the floor." Milch snorted into his mug, "clumsy as a troll."

Lily didn't bother telling Milch she hated when people called her 'Red' as a nickname. Her face in his general direction probably told him enough.

Sophie turned flashing eyes on Milch too, "Lily said she sneezed and now I know why, you're wearing enough after-shave for a dragon, Milch."

Lily bit back her own smile, sending Sophie a glance to show her appreciation. Milch shook his finger at Sophie, but he wasn't frowning. Instead, Milch seemed charmed by Sophie's attack.

"Your trouble, you are."

Sophie flounced a bit, tossing her vibrant blonde hair, "why do you think my daddy made me leave home for the summer?"

"Probably to get you married off." Milch chortled.

All the men laughed, and it was sickening as Sophie giggled too, but Lily knew what Sophie was doing. Lily knew the blond witch had clearly learned how to play the political game early, just based on the dead look in her eyes as she turned back to Lily. Sophie squeezed Lily's arm lightheartedly.

"Let's go, let these men drink their coffee and pretend to have more brains than a puffskin."

Lily allowed Sophie to tow her from the room. Lily looked back at her boss, about to ask if he needed anything else so she didn't leave without an explanation, but Sophie saw and tugged Lily out the door before it was possible to even say a word. Sophie wanted until the door was closed before she tutted her tongue at Lily.

"What?" Lily asked, tediously brushing at her curled hair.

"You were going to ask him if he needed anything."

"Well, yeah, I am his intern."

Sophie snorted, "did you want him to make you get more coffee?"

Lily huffed, crossing her arms, "what do you mean?"

"That kind of behavior is seen as nagging, to men like Mr. Perschky." Sophie explained, "if you keep popping up to ask for things to do then he's going to keep sending you on coffee runs."

"So, what," Lily asked, "I just sit around waiting for him to give me something to do?"

"No," Sophie snorted again, looping her arm through Lily's, "you go find something to do."

"Like what?"

"Preferably something fun."

Sophie started leading Lily down the white hallways, arm forcing Lily to stay right at her side. While they walked, people's eyes shifted to take in Sophie first, and then Lily. Lily couldn't really blame anyone for looking at Sophie first, if only because Sophie was so beautiful. She almost looked like a muggle film star from the 1950's and Lily would've told her so, had Lily not known that muggles weren't well loved in America.

Sure, growing up in England hadn't been perfect, purebloods hated Lily just because she was born from two muggles. At the same time, England didn't outlaw wizards or witches from marrying a muggle if they so saw fit. England also tended to be more relaxed around muggles, where Americans were stiff and uncultured.

"Down this hall is the Major Investigation Department," Sophie pointed down a dark left hall then down a dark right hall, "and down there is The Department of No-Maj Misinformation, where I am!"

"Do you work there?" Lily asked.

"No, just a summer intern like you." Sophie chuckled, "the department head owed my father a favor."

Lily straightened her dress, feeling very self-conscious next to Sophie, "but they didn't treat you like an intern."

"It's because they're afraid of my father." she laughed again, but the relaxed nature didn't quite reach Sophie's eyes.

Sophie took Lily on a tour of the whole building. They only stopped to grab lunches for each Department, carrying them back up by floating them through the air. After they delivered lunch, Sophie walked Lily up to the top of MACUSA's building. The roof was 40 stories high, so much so that Lily felt like she was flying over New York. Lily looked around with bright eyes, but Sophie looked around dejectedly until she saw the awe on Lily's face.

"You think it's pretty?" Sophie asked.

"You don't?" Lily shot right back.

Sophie leaned against a railing and looked down to the patterned streets and people who looked like ants. The grey sky was reminiscent of England and Lily was even used to the smoggy air, thanks to growing up in a canning town. Sophie rocked against her heels, staring out at the grey with sad eyes.

"There's not enough green." Sophie glanced at Lily, "back home, the trees hang with moss and there's so much grass that every park is prime for picnicking with some sweet tea and fried chicken."

Lily leaned against the rail beside Sophie, "where are you from?"

"Savannah, Georgia." Sophie said.

"I have no idea where that is." Lily said, giving Sophie a pathetic sort of smile, "Sorry."

Sophie's red lips lifted softly, "that's okay, hey, maybe I can take you for a weekend!"

"I was planning on traveling while I was here." Lily said, "if only so my mum won't be terribly disappointed by my stories when I get back."

"Well then," Sophie stood upright, her skirts fluttering in the breeze, "I'll send father an owl as soon as I get to my apartment, he'll pick a time that I can show you around our old plantation."

Sophie and Lily took lunch together in the main courtyard, sitting at one of the many picnic tables under soft green leaves. Tiny fairies that looked as if they could be related to pixies rushed around carrying plates bigger than their heads to the tables. Lily watched two fairies get into a fight with a man over tomatoes in his salad as she ate her meal, content with the company. Beside Lily, Sophie was eating a scone, totally ignorant to the fairies fighting.

Suddenly Sophie perked up beside Lily and waved eagerly to Lily's right, "Sterling!"

The male version of Sophie Turner appeared, blue eyes bright and shiny. Lily felt her cheeks redden just at the sight of Sterling Shields. Lily had met him on her first week in New York, when he'd toured her around the offices. He was handsome, charming and cut quite the figure in his Auror robes. Sterling looked between both girls, looking ecstatic to see them together.

"I was planning on introducing you two this weekend!" Sterling said, falling into the bench beside Lily, "but it seems you two are already acquainted!"

Sophie waved her scone at Lily, "saved her life this morning when she sneezed coffee all over Perschky's office."

Lily placed her face in her hands when Sterling chuckled deeply and said, "I heard about that." he turned his eyes on Lily who was mortified again, "I told Greg Milch that next time he ought to fetch his own coffee."

Lily lowered her hands to smile hesitantly at the handsome Auror, "Thanks Sterling."

Sterling winked at Lily before considering his cousin, "Now you can stop complaining at dinner that you don't have any girlfriends in New York."

Sophie stuck her tongue out at him, "you can leave now."

Sterling chuckled and then stood up, straightening his Auror robes before studying Lily again. His blue eyes were like stars as he stared down at her, taking in everything from her red curls to the steady blush on her cheeks. Sophie raised an eyebrow beside Lily, watching Sterling and Lily make heart-eyes at each other.

"Maybe I ought to get a different picnic table." Sophie commented sassily.

"Eat your biscuit." Sterling shot at his cousin before sending Lily a wink and walking away.

Lily placed her chin in her hand and propped her elbow on the table, watching Sterling walk away. Sophie nudged Lily with a finger, her own blue eyes sparkling perceptively.

"What?" Lily asked her new friend, trying to pretend to look interested in her pantyhose.

"He's single." Sophie told her, "want me to tell him you're interested?"

"No," Lily spun on her new friend, "he's way out of my league."

Sophie popped a raisin into her mouth before saying, "Lily, you're hot. Why do you think he couldn't stop looking at you?"

"I had food in my teeth?"

Sophie laughed, kicking Lily under the table before suggesting they both get a drink together after work. Lily agreed, finding the fair-haired witch to be pleasing company. Sophie had a magnetic charm that Lily was drawn too, especially since Sophie was so confident at MACUSA. Lily had a feeling she could learn a lot from Sophie while also gaining a very sweet friend.

Sophie and Lily took their lunches together the rest of that week. Sophie's smiling face was always waiting at the base of the building in the mornings and the girls collected coffee together. By the end of the week, Lily had adopted Sophie's mentality and Sophie had adopted Lily's job with her.

Greg Milch sneered when the girls would arrive with coffee in the mornings, "do witches always have to be together?"

"Milch, do you always have to be a sexist git?" Lily shot back.

Milch, instead of getting angry, just snorted into his coffee. Sophie and Lily winked at each other when they noticed the red tint of Greg Milch's cheeks. After Lily stood up for herself, Milch left her alone, for the most part.

Any other snide remarks from the men in her department were always ignored. Lily would shake off their intrepid comments and prove that she was smart, capable and lightning in her feet. She would keep her head high and get by until it was time to go back home. It helped that somehow, Sterling had taken to eating lunch with the girls.

His hand always found some way to brushed against Lily's.

His eyes were somehow always trained on her face.

Sterling was everything she wanted but Lily had no idea she was about to run into someone who'd be everything she never knew she needed. Lily said goodbye to Sterling and Sophie at the entrance to the underground, telling them she had to take the train because she didn't have a safe apparition point near her apartment. That was a lie, she just wanted to take the train. There was something so nostalgic about the underground engines and noises. Probably from all the years taking the train to London with her mum to catch the Hogwarts Express.

Lily walked down the stairs into the subway station. She was caught up in her own head, trying to figure out if she wanted to take the leap and invite Sterling over for dinner. She wasn't a great cook, but she was a decent baker. Perhaps scones and tea would entice her American Auror to take a chance on her.

Lily fell onto a bench and didn't bother looking over at the boy seated on the bench. He was bent over a piece of parchment, pencil working away. The summer heat was stifling, even underground, and that caused Lily to pull her red curls up into a bun with the scrunchie on her wrist. Her hands had only just fallen back to her lap when a pencil dropped onto the floor, hitting her blue suede shoes. Lily glanced over at her bench warming companion only to pause.

Dark hair, dark eyes and a wide-eyed stare akin to a deer caught in the headlights of a muggle car. His jawline was cut, like it was stone. He was a trim fella, with hella good hair that seemed to have a mind of its own. A soft shadow of dark curls wrapped around his rather large ears, but it was his growing smile that caught her eyes. Something about him was familiar, like she'd met him before.

"Left your cat at home?"

"What?"

And she didn't know how a stranger on the subway knew about Juniper but based on his accent she knew the stranger was British. Lily wondered if they went to Hogwarts together, but she didn't recognize him from any of the Quidditch games or house parties. She would've remembered a smile that attractive.

Then he stuck out his hand, "James Potter."

Thank you everyone for your reviews! I love this story, however short and sweet it is! I've got her capped at 15 chapters and don't have a lot to add so don't worry, when I say short I mean it this time! LOL!

Love all of you so much!

Petals