Disclaimer: None of the characters in this fan fiction belongs to me. They're owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. The only ones that belong to me are those that you don't recognize.

A/N: Thank you everybody who reviewed! You guys are so wonderful!

To DracoNGin527: I'm sorry. I am not going to be specific about there first day. It's really brief. I don't want to waste time on it, because, if you read the little note down there, I have some plans for future chapters that I am dying to put up. So, I'm trying to make it there as soon as possible.

To Hi_There: First of all, hi and thanks for reviewing. Second, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH PENGUINS! I love them! They are so cute! That's why I made Sirius a penguin. = )

Okay, last night, before going to bed, I had a bunch of great ideas for this story. Too bad it can't happen yet. So just wait, it's worth the while, I assure you. If you want a little peek at what it is, then review or email me. I'll give you a little hint. That's all I can promise for now. I don't want to spoil anything.

Chapter 12

Lily and Bella had a great day of work. Mr. Pikes was a wizard, probably around his mid-forties. He not easy to please, for he demand the best out of all of them. Lily and Bella made a lot of friends in their department. Everybody was wonderful. Lily even overcame her shyness and nervousness. They came home from work later that day and found James and Sirius sitting in their living room pigging out and watching muggle television. They came in just in time to here Sirius say "Wow. This muggle box thingy rocks!"

"It's called a television, Sirius," Bella said. "How did you guys get in here?"

"Well," James said. "We are wizards, you know."

"Oh yeah," Bella said, plopping down on the couch next to Sirius. She leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Tired, baby?" he asked.

"Very. Work is fun, but very tiring."

"What about you guys?" Lily asked, sitting down next to James. "Didn't you start your Aurors' Training School today?"

"Yes, we did," James said. "It was cool. A bit difficult, but nothing I can't handle. Just like Hogwarts. These things just come naturally to me."

"You know, James," Lily said, grinning up at her boyfriend. "One day, your obnoxiousness is going to come back and bite you in the butt."

"Well, until that day, why don't you give me some practice?" James said slyly. "So I can get use to it?" Then he ran as Lily whacked him with a pillow.

"Man," Lily complained. "I have one perverted boyfriend."

"I was just kidding, Lily," James said, sitting down again.

"Where are Remus and Peter?" Bella asked.

"Peter is off who-knows-where," Sirius said. "And Remus left right after school to get ready for…you know…" He pointed to the calendar. It was the week of the full moon.

"Oh."

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Over the next few weeks, things were going great. That is…until one day…

Lily wrote and published a wonderful article on some new news about Voldemort that made the front page. Everybody congratulated her and Mr. Pikes personally called her to his office.

"I-I'm nervous," Lily said. "Mr. Pikes usually criticize."

"Yeah, but you did a wonderful job on that article!" Bella said encouragingly. "He probably wants to give you a promotion or something."

Lily entered Mr. Pikes' office uncertainly. "Mr. Pikes?" she asked. "You wanted to see me?"

"Oh yes," he said, getting up from his desk. "Please, sit down." He motioned toward a couch in the corner of his office. Lily sat down nervously and within moments, Mr. Pikes joined her.

"Lily, I want to congratulate you on your article. You did a marvelous job."

"Thank you," Lily said, loosening up. This wasn't as bad as she thought. She thought wrong.

Mr. Pikes scooted closer to Lily, placed his arms around her shoulder, and said, "I see great future for you, Lily."

"Thanks, Mr. Pike." Lily edged away a bit, not wanting to look rude or anything.

"I've had my eye on you. You have great talent. With a bit of a little something more, you can expect great things." He tightened his grip around her shoulders and placed a hand on her knee.

Lily stood up right away. "Excuse m-me, Mr. Pikes," she said. Lily's a bit scared. "I d-don't feel very comfortable."

"Ah, Lily. There's no reason to feel uncomfortable. Come. I see great things in you. If you follow me, then I can promote you."

"I-I…I'm going to go. Excuse me." Lily ran out of the room.

"Lily?" Bella asked. "What's wrong?"

"Let's go, Bella. I'll tell you on the way home."

"But work doesn't end for about another two hours."

"Well, let's take the rest of the day off." So they left.

"What's wrong, Lily?" Bella asked once they were walking down the street.

"My meeting with Mr. Pikes…I didn't feel very comfortable."

"Was it something he said?"

She shook her head no.

"He didn't do anything offensive…did he?"

"He…he sort of…crowded me."

"Oh my god! I can't believe it! " Bella cried, as they entered their apartment.

"'Oh my god' what?" came James' voice. Once again, he and Sirius were hanging around their apartment.

"You can't believe what?" Sirius asked.

"Mr. Pikes, our boss, was--"

"No, wait," Lily said. She didn't want James to worry.

"Your boss was what?" James asked.

"Nothing." Lily lied.

"Tell me, Lily."

"It's nothing, James. Really."

"Fine. If you won't tell me, I'll ask Bella. Bella?" James asked, turning to her.

"Er…well, he does have a right to know, Lily," Bella said, ignoring Lily, who was mouthing 'no.' "Mr. Pikes was hitting on Lily."

"HE WAS WHAT??" James exploded.

"Oh, no…" Lily muttered. "James, I pulled away before he did anything, all right? No big deal."

"Yes, big deal! Some guy is hitting on my girlfriend; yes, I think it's a big deal, Lily. You have to quit."

"Quit? But I love my job! Besides, don't you trust me?"

"I do trust you, Lily. It's Pikes I don't trust. Please, Lily. Resign."

Lily sighed. "All right."

"Bella, I think you should quit too," Sirius said worriedly. "I don't want you working there anymore."

"I guess. I don't want to work there if Lily isn't. But where will we find jobs like these?"

Lily picked up a magazine on their coffee table. "Hey, guess what?"

"What?" Bella asked.

"Witch Weekly is looking for some journalists."

"Cool."

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A/N: Please review!