Lily and James were going out a bit in their seventh year. That's all I really need to give for background. I took out a little bit of stuff from before, because I think it'll fit better in my other L/J fic.
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It was the end of their seventh year, and they were on the Hogwarts Express. Everyone vowed to stay in touch and to visit each other often.
James was going to be an Auror, Sirius hadn't decided on anything yet, and Remus was to become an Unspeakable.
Clara and Sara were both going to join the Foreign Relations part of the Ministry, and Rebecca was going to work for Gringotts. Lily wasn't certain what she wanted to do, but being an Auror sounded very appealing to her.
Peter couldn't find a job that would accept him aside from washing tables in the Leaky Cauldron, so that was what he had to do.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Why do you think you would make an excellent Auror?" the severe Ministry official that was interviewing Lily asked.
"Because I was Head Girl at Hogwarts, and was able to get past many obstacles that only one other person could tackle," Lily responded, her head held high.
"Who was this other person?"
"James Potter, who has already been accepted as an Auror."
The official's eyes widened a bit. So this was the girl young James had told them about. He had mentioned that she was the only one who was stronger than him… and that she would make one of the best Aurors if she came. "That is all," the official concluded the interview after a very long pause. "We will contact you within two days."
"Thank you for your time," Lily said, gracefully standing and shaking his hand.
After Lily had left, the official opened his door and said, "Get me James Potter."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"She came, James."
"Really? I knew she would!" James said happily. "Are you going to take her on?"
"That's why you're here. What do you think?" the official asked in a helpless tone.
"She was the only one at school that could get higher marks or out smart me. If you would accept me, you should definitely accept her," James said, completely serious for a rare moment.
"We'll take her on, then. You can go now, James."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Oh, excellent!" Lily breathed after opening the letter she'd received.
"I'm going out with Vernon now," her sister, Petunia announced from across the table.
"Mom, Dad, they accepted me! I'm going to be an Auror!" Lily exclaimed at the same time.
"That's wonderful, honey!" said Lily's mother, hugging her.
"Have fun," Lily's father said to Petunia.
After Petunia had left, Lily said, "James is an Auror, too."
Lily's father had a slightly disapproving look on his face. He was proud of his daughter, but he wasn't sure that he liked the sound of James Potter. Her mother, however, said, "That's nice, dear. It'll be lovely to have someone you know working with you."
Lily smiled, and then said, "I'll be renting a room in the Leaky Cauldron, and then finding a permanent flat. I won't want to bring any dangers back to you two."
"We'll help you find the best one when you're ready," Lily's father assured her.
"Thanks."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
It was two years later. Lily was one of the best Aurors, and one of the most experienced. James had actually quit the previous year, and gone to play Quidditch for England.
It's a shame, really… he was quite good. Lily thought as she attempted to find her way to the house that some seriously evil wizards were supposedly hiding in.
"Lost?" said an amused voice.
"Yes," Lily said, quickly turning around. She came face-to-face with a black haired man several years older than herself.
"Tom Riddle," the man said, holding his hand out.
"Lily Evans," Lily said, accepting the hand and shaking it.
"Where are you off to?" he said, curiously.
"This address," Lily said, showing him a slip of paper.
"Oh, I can get you there in no time. Would you like to grab a cup of tea, first?"
"All right, then," Lily said with a faint blush.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
She's very pretty, Tom thought as he regarded her over his steaming cup. They were talking about themselves, Tom telling her about how he'd caught the person who'd unlocked the Chamber of Secrets while he was at school.
"So THAT'S where I hear your name from," Lily interrupted as he told about the service award. "I had to polish that one time when I got detention because some of my friends had messed with my wand... I got James a detention, too, when I accidentally threw our Charms professor out the window."
Tom looked startled for a moment, then began to laugh easily. "How could you accidentally throw a professor out the window?"
Lily launched into the full story about herself, Sirius, Remus, James and Peter, and all the wild pranks they would pull. She had been included in many of them after that one detention... though it still amazed her that James had managed to become Head Boy after all the trouble he'd caused.
"Sounds like you had a good time at Hogwarts," Tom said quietly, "And your parents must have been a very strong witch and wizard."
Lily spit her mouthful of tea back into the cup, almost choking over her laughter. "Mum? And Da? Wizards? They're muggles! So is my sister, Petunia... and just about all my other realitives."
"You're a mudblood," Tom said, disgust and disappointment contained in his eyes.
Lily stiffened. He had just done something that would be the equivalent of calling her a whore to her face. "I prefer muggle-born, if we have to talk about it at all."
Knowing immediately that he'd crossed a line, Tom changed the route of discussion. "Would you like to get to that house now?"
"Yes," Lily said, a bit coldly.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
"Here we are," Tom said, gesturing up at a small, bleak house. "Perhaps I will see you again, Ms. Evans," he added, taking up her hand and kissing her fingertips.
"Perhaps," Lily agreed, and went on to corner the wizards within the house.
