Prompt: Starting a new job/meeting a coworker
"Welcome to Puddlemere, son."
"Thank you, sir." James shook the man's hand, trying hard not to wince at his booming voice or the blinding lights of the locker room. He and Sirius had gone out to celebrate his return to England, after two years playing abroad, and he was suffering the consequences of it today.
"Let's introduce you to the team, and I'll show you around."
James nodded in agreement, wishing he'd remembered to pick up a hangover potion from the apothecary on his way over. Johnson, the team's head coach, started his tour in the locker rooms– and showed James which locker was his. He was then shown the training grounds, the corporate offices, and the conditioning gym.
"And our final stop of our tour," said Johnson, "is the team training room. This is where you'll work with trainers, healers, and physical therapists to stay in top condition for the season. We actually have a new staff member– well, she's been here for almost two years now, so not really new new– who has helped our team tremendously."
"How so?" James asked, curious despite the pounding headache he was nursing.
"Brilliant witch. Took muggle technology and recorded our players, and was able to analyze how to make them better players!" James tensed. Johnson's description fit a very specific witch he knew, but would like to avoid at all costs. "Who is–"
"Ah! Here she is now!" Johnson cut him off as they entered the training room, "Puddlemere's secret weapon: Lily Evans!"
James stopped dead in his tracks, the growing pit dread in his stomach suddenly eclipsed by the pounding of his heart in his chest.
Evans turned to face them at the sound of her name. She seemed surprised to see them there, but she clearly knew he'd be stopping by at some point.
"We were lucky enough to get Evans almost two years ago…." Johnson continued to speak, introducing the two new colleagues, but James had tuned him out.
He couldn't do anything but stare– taking in all that was the same and all that had changed since he'd last seen her, Merlin, two years ago. She had the same dark red hair, and the most piercing green eyes he'd ever seen. She no longer was the wisp of a girl she'd been, but now had the body of a woman –James noted appreciatively. She stood straighter, her shoulders back– more confident. But other than that, she was the same Lily Evans he'd always known. The one he'd loved most of his life.
And suddenly he was back in sixth year. Enamored with a girl, now a woman, he'd never get to have. No– that wasn't true. In school he had eventually won her over. He'd known what it felt like to be loved by Lily Evans. And then he'd gone and mucked it all up. He didn't know if it was the distance or the time spent apart, but Lily Evans was even more than he'd remembered. But this was his penance. To be around her constantly, but unable to have Lily Evans ever again.
"... was studying to be a healer before all that unpleasantness at the Ministry…" Johnson finally concluded his introductions.
"Evans," he said, praying his voice wouldn't break.
"Potter," she returned, leveling a cool gaze his way, "It's been a while."