AN: Okay, I'm going to try to fix the paragraphs. Please tell me if it's more confusing. Thanks, all! :)

Disclaimer: Common knowledge

Chapter 17: I Don't Wanna Know

Lily let herself in the door of her parents' house, exhausted from crying.

"I'm back!" she called.

"Lily?" Mrs. Evans came into the foyer. "Here, let me help."

She took the bag of groceries from her daughter and carried it into the kitchen. Lily followed her. "Mum."

"Yes, dear?"

"I want to go back."

Her mother froze. "Lily, I know Petunia's been a little………fussy lately, but it is nearing her wedding. Can't you bear it for just a while more?"

She turned to her daughter—and gasped. Lily's eyes were red and swollen, and her face was blotchy.

"Lily! Have you been crying?"

Lily fell into her mother's outstretched arms. "I saw James, Mum."

Mrs. Evans pulled away in shock. She knew about James. Lily had told her about him, and the entire incident. "James is……..here?"

"I need to go back. Sirius and Remus and Peter………they have to know."

Mrs. Evans nodded, her face creased with understanding. "Alright then. Go pack."

Lily stood in the doorway the next morning.

"Are you all set, sweetie?" her mother asked. "Everything is with you?"

Lily nodded. "I'm good, Mum. Thanks."

Mr. Evans stood with them, shaking his head. "I still don't understand why Lily's leaving at a time like this."

Mrs. Evans elbowed her husband. "There's no need for you to know." Lily smiled gratefully at her mother.

"Have a safe trip," her parents said.

Lily nodded. "I will. Bye, Mum. Bye, Dad."

Lily got on the bus with her stuff. She stared out the window, remembering James's face yesterday as he looked to the side. There was something so different about him. And if he was in London, why hadn't he come to see them? Why was he in Muggle London? As she sat there thinking, she saw something out of the corner of her eye.

"Oh my gosh, James."

Grabbing her things, she called out for the bus to stop.

The driver protested. "We're in the middle of the street!"

"Please," Lily begged.

Seeing her desperate expression, the driver sighed and relented. Lily leapt off, trying to catch up with the tall figure of her boyfriend.

"James!" she hollered. "JAMES!"

He didn't stop, and Lily was so focused on him that she inadvertently crashed into a man talking on his mobile phone.

"Why don't you watch where you're going?" the man snapped as Lily struggled to get up from off the ground.

"Hey, it was just an accident," a gentle voice intervened. Lily looked up to see………James. He knelt down beside her. "Are you okay?"

Lily was speechless. "I………"

James smiled and gave her a hand up. He picked up her fallen things for her. "Come with me. I think you need to sit down for a while."

He led her to a small arts-and-crafts store. "Hey Elsa!" he called a pretty girl sitting at the counter. "Give up that comfortable perch for a while."

The girl jumped up when she saw Lily "What happened?"

"She took a pretty bad fall. I suggested she sit down for a moment," James replied, setting her bags on the floor.

The girl sat Lily down on a chair. "What's your name?" she asked.

"L-Lily," Lily stammered. "Lily Evans."

James gave a little jerk. The girl turned to him. "You know her?"

James gazed thoughtfully at Lily. "I can't remember," he said finally.

"Well, at least be a gentleman and get her a glass of water instead of just sitting there," the girl ordered. She turned back to Lily. "I'm Elsa, by the way. Elsa Saram. That was Evan."

Lily nodded dumbly. There didn't seem to be much she could do.

"Sorry about that confusing conversation earlier. Evan's got a touch of amnesia. Doesn't remember a thing about his past."

Understanding dawned on Lily. So that was why he had never gone to see them. Why he had not reacted upon hearing her call. He didn't remember them at all. He didn't remember HER.

James returned with a glass of water. "Here you go, Miss Evans. Feel better?"

Lily nodded. "Loads."

He smiled. "So, where are you headed? I'll accompany you."

Lily stood. "Thank you."

James's heart gave another twinge as he walked alongside Lily Evans. Glancing at her once more, he took in her long red hair, sad face, and petite frame. He couldn't help thinking how beautiful she was. Her features were sad but that couldn't hide their loveliness. And she seemed so familiar. Like he had met her before, but he couldn't place where. Finally, he opened his mouth. "Have we met before?"

Lily's head jerked up, excitement rapidly filling her eyes. "You remember!"

James shook his head. "No, not really, I don't remember much. It's just that you look so familiar."

A smile formed on her lips. "We were schoolmates, James. At Hogwarts, a wizarding school. Can you remember, James? Hogwarts?"

James shook his head, starting to feel a weirded-out. "Um, I have to go back to work. Will you be okay on your own, Miss Evans?"

She seemed to deflate before his eyes. "Oh. I'll be fine."