Author's Note: Hey guys. Sorry I didn't post a second chapter last night I
got distracted again. so my apologies. I hope you all liked Meeting James.
So in my apologizes I think this chapter might be fairly long. So please
enjoy! Here's some thank yous:
MerlinHalliwell- Yes, that's the premise. don't worry everything will be fine. hehe.
Buggy-such- Well, since you have me so figured out. you must know the ending? Wait, nevermind we all know the ending. we just don't know how it got there. and this wouldn't be a Lily/James story without Voldie, so of course that sack of crap shall be here. in fact I wrote a very good scene with him a few days ago. but you have to wait to see it. haha....
Bell- I'm sorry I didn't write another one. but I hope you enjoy this one. EEP! I hope to get this done today (Sunday Central Standard Time: 3:52pm) It was a Rocky Night so I was distracted! I sorry. I'm trying.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur- Yes, but we don't know how close or separate they are in technicality, so she's less then 2 years younger as if she'd have gone to Hogwarts the year after James and Co. I thought I had explained this. *sighs* I guess I'm not doing my job. going to have to make sure I do. I'm glad you like it though. so. yeah. Thanks for the review!
Celine- James doesn't know she's not a trained witch yet. He's figured that since he put the ad in the Daily Prophet that she is and that she's just a little odd about using magic for cleaning and cooking. but that's it.
MegHarts- Yes, yes she does. heh.
By the way all you readers, I have a tendency of putting little hints in the minor details that don't seem to matter much. So, beware! It's your only warning as I get vaguely annoyed when I have to answer questions that the answers are already given for. but I LOVE YOU ALL! So I won't gripe too much!! I hope you enjoy this lovely chapter. A few more things will be answered here so read & review!!! ~Frankie~
Chapter Nine: Getting To Know You
By eleven she completely finished two guest rooms and made her way to the kitchen to begin a meal and deal with the dishes from James' breakfast. Passing by James' room she knocked on the door. "Yes Lily?" James asked as he opened the door. He was now wearing dark blue jeans and a maroon button- up shirt.
"I was wondering if you wanted anything specific for lunch." Lily said looking at James' left ear instead of his chocolate brown eyes.
James thought for a moment, "I think that anything you want to make will be fine," James said unconsciously running his hand through his already naturally untidy black hair.
"Alright. Sorry if I disturbed you," Lily said and began to turn away from the door.
"Really, it wasn't any trouble at all. In fact would you mind if I joined you in the kitchen? It would save you a trip back up here to tell me lunch is ready," James said and Lily realized why he kept talking even when there was nothing to talk about. James Potter was lonely, terribly lonely.
"If you really want to I have no problem with it," Lily said and smiled an honest smile that caused her whole face to light up beautifully.
James smiled right back and wondered what caused all the shadows in her eyes and how much he'd like to make them disappear completely. They walked into the kitchen and James sat down at the table to watch Lily examine the cupboards for ideas.
"Do sandwiches sound okay?" Lily asked looking over her shoulder at James from the open refrigerator door.
"Sound wonderful," James said and smiled at her again.
Lily pulled the sandwich makings out and walked over to the pantry for a loaf of bread. "Anything you don't like on your sandwich?" she asked as she took two plates down from one of the cupboards.
"I don't like onions," James said and his nose crunched up in an adorable puppy like way.
"Me either," Lily said and chuckled lightly at the face James was making before turning back to fix the sandwiches.
They made chit chat and small talk about everything and James suddenly suggested, "Why don't you take the day to get used to the place? I mean, it's a fair sized house and you should learn your way around before you starting working full time," he said before taking a bite of the sandwich Lily had prepared.
"Why?" Lily asked bluntly trying to get James to admit his loneliness.
"Well, I would like to get to know more about you because at this point all I know is you're a wonderful cook," James said and his explanation was good enough for Lily.
"So ask what you'd like to know and I'll answer," Lily said and took a bite of her sandwich.
"Okay," James said pausing before asking, "What were you doing before Leslie hired you?"
"Looking all over London for a job," Lily replied.
"Why?" James asked believing there to be a story behind her job search.
"I was living with my sister and her vile husband and I didn't want to any longer so I left and came to London from Surrey to start my own life," Lily said pleasantly.
"Why were you living with your sister?" James asked and watched the shadows return to Lily's eyes before returning briefly.
"My parents died in a car accident when I was 15 and I needed a guardian; Petunia needed a maid," Lily said calmly though she felt anything but.
"I'm sorry," James said genuinely sad that Lily hadn't had a happy past few years which led him to his next question. "How old are you exactly?" he asked.
"I'm still 17, but in two months my birthday comes. I hope that's not a problem for you," Lily said hoping he wouldn't fire her for being too young.
"No, not at all; I'm only 19 myself so it doesn't make any difference to me," James said quietly and found himself wishing inexplicably that she was already 18 before brushing aside the thought and ignoring the reason behind it.
"You're only 19? And this is your own house?" Lily asked awestruck ad the thought.
"Yes, it was bequeathed to me when my parents died. I stayed with my Uncle Frank here until I completed Hogwarts," James said quietly.
"Hogwarts? That's the second time in three days I've heard of that place. What is it?" Lily asked ignoring the question of how James parents had died for now.
James looked up wide eyes and everything fell into place. His musings on why Lily used muggle cleaning products, didn't use magic to make meals, she was a muggle. "Who did you hear it from?" James asked trying to mask his surprise.
"My friend Arabella's grandfather. It was the strangest thing. He dropped by her house and asked me all sorts of questions; like did I ever have any invitations to boarding schools when I was younger, and when I said no he asked if I'd ever heard of Hogwarts and then said he had to talk to Bella before he left abruptly," Lily explained looking confused and fiddled with something around her neck.
"Arabella Figg?" James asked looking confused.
"Yes! How do you know her?" Lily asked tilting her head so some of her hair fell loosely into her eyes and she brushed it away.
"We are friends from school," James said quietly and distinctly remembered that Arabella's grandfather had died in their 3rd year. "What's that you're playing with?" James asked.
Lily looked down and saw the ruby and emerald pendant between her fingers. "Bella gave it to me. She told me not to take it off and that she wouldn't take no for an answer. I completely forgot it was there," Lily said dropping the pendant so James could get a better view of it contrasting against her lavender shirt.
James looked at it and recognized the charm and the craftsmanship from a shop in Diagon Alley. It was designed to let whoever held it's counterpart know when the wearer was in danger and also tended to have a forgetfulness charm on it so the wearer didn't take it off. He also saw that the emerald was an entirely different charm and he didn't recognize it. "It's probably best to follow Arabella's advice," James said and began wondering why Lily was in contact with Arabella if she was indeed a muggle. "When was the last time you saw her?" he asked quietly still looking at the second jewel on the pendant with a questioning glance.
"Er, the day before yesterday I left her house. She was very kind and took me in the other night when I was about to fall asleep beneath a tree in the park across from her house," Lily answered meekly.
"You should probably tell her where you are," James said still confused as to what attracted Arabella's attention and who exactly her 'grandfather' was.
"I would but I forgot to get her address," Lily said quietly embarrassed that something so important would completely slip her mind.
"I could write her and let her know where you are," James said planning to do so either way and ask what the hell was going on.
"I would appreciate it so much James, thank you," Lily said and smiled brightly at him.
"No problem, just one more question, how did you find out about this job?" James asked wondering how Lily got a hold of a Daily Prophet as they weren't supposed to be seen by muggles, and just looked like blank parchment if they were to see one.
"Well, when I was in London yesterday a very rude young man with very blonde hair threw a newspaper at my feet and told me to get a job. The only thing that looked interesting was this," Lily explained quickly at the jump in conversation topics.
"Do you still have the paper?" James asked eagerly.
"Yes, it's upstairs in my room," Lily said and watched as James stood up and grabbed her hand leading her up the backstairs to her room quickly.
"Please let me see it," James said in an important sounding voice.
Lily walked over to the desk and opened a drawer pulling out a piece of parchment and handed it to James who looked it over carefully and muttered under his breath, "Malfoy," though it came out sounding like a hiss.
"Who?" Lily asked quietly wondering why the name seemed to make James angry.
"Lucious Malfoy. He's a bastard son of Slytherin," James said heatedly, confused, Lily just waited for James to explain. "I'd better go tell Bella where you are. She'll be worried. I'll see you in a few hours. Go visit the Library or something until I get back," James said brushing off Lily's confused expression and leaving room heading down the stairs before Lily could protest.
Lily followed him down the stairs but didn't find him anywhere in the house. She went up to her room and stood looking out the window looking very confused. She shook her head and walked over to her bedside table and took the book she'd selected from the Library the day before and began to read waiting for James to return as she lounged on her bed. Shaking her head at her inability to concentrate she marked her place in her book and climbed off the bed. She grabbed her journal and a pen from her desk and climbed back on the bed to write.
Diary,
This has been the strangest day. I've gotten a job as a maid with a man named James Potter and he's rather strange. He knows Bella though, so I guess he can't be all that bad. In fact he's really quite nice. He reminds me of Bella's grandfather with all his unusual questions. James went to see Bella in fact just a little while ago and I wonder why he left in such a hurry. I get the distinct feeling that people know something about me that I don't even know and that bothers me. I wonder what's going on at Bella's. I really do.
~ L
She finished her entry and pushed her journal a side before taking up reading yet again and waiting rather impatiently for James to return.
Author's Note: I hope you like this chapter. I'm not sure if things entirely make sense yet but I hope so. Please review and give your feedback! ~Frankie~
MerlinHalliwell- Yes, that's the premise. don't worry everything will be fine. hehe.
Buggy-such- Well, since you have me so figured out. you must know the ending? Wait, nevermind we all know the ending. we just don't know how it got there. and this wouldn't be a Lily/James story without Voldie, so of course that sack of crap shall be here. in fact I wrote a very good scene with him a few days ago. but you have to wait to see it. haha....
Bell- I'm sorry I didn't write another one. but I hope you enjoy this one. EEP! I hope to get this done today (Sunday Central Standard Time: 3:52pm) It was a Rocky Night so I was distracted! I sorry. I'm trying.
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur- Yes, but we don't know how close or separate they are in technicality, so she's less then 2 years younger as if she'd have gone to Hogwarts the year after James and Co. I thought I had explained this. *sighs* I guess I'm not doing my job. going to have to make sure I do. I'm glad you like it though. so. yeah. Thanks for the review!
Celine- James doesn't know she's not a trained witch yet. He's figured that since he put the ad in the Daily Prophet that she is and that she's just a little odd about using magic for cleaning and cooking. but that's it.
MegHarts- Yes, yes she does. heh.
By the way all you readers, I have a tendency of putting little hints in the minor details that don't seem to matter much. So, beware! It's your only warning as I get vaguely annoyed when I have to answer questions that the answers are already given for. but I LOVE YOU ALL! So I won't gripe too much!! I hope you enjoy this lovely chapter. A few more things will be answered here so read & review!!! ~Frankie~
Chapter Nine: Getting To Know You
By eleven she completely finished two guest rooms and made her way to the kitchen to begin a meal and deal with the dishes from James' breakfast. Passing by James' room she knocked on the door. "Yes Lily?" James asked as he opened the door. He was now wearing dark blue jeans and a maroon button- up shirt.
"I was wondering if you wanted anything specific for lunch." Lily said looking at James' left ear instead of his chocolate brown eyes.
James thought for a moment, "I think that anything you want to make will be fine," James said unconsciously running his hand through his already naturally untidy black hair.
"Alright. Sorry if I disturbed you," Lily said and began to turn away from the door.
"Really, it wasn't any trouble at all. In fact would you mind if I joined you in the kitchen? It would save you a trip back up here to tell me lunch is ready," James said and Lily realized why he kept talking even when there was nothing to talk about. James Potter was lonely, terribly lonely.
"If you really want to I have no problem with it," Lily said and smiled an honest smile that caused her whole face to light up beautifully.
James smiled right back and wondered what caused all the shadows in her eyes and how much he'd like to make them disappear completely. They walked into the kitchen and James sat down at the table to watch Lily examine the cupboards for ideas.
"Do sandwiches sound okay?" Lily asked looking over her shoulder at James from the open refrigerator door.
"Sound wonderful," James said and smiled at her again.
Lily pulled the sandwich makings out and walked over to the pantry for a loaf of bread. "Anything you don't like on your sandwich?" she asked as she took two plates down from one of the cupboards.
"I don't like onions," James said and his nose crunched up in an adorable puppy like way.
"Me either," Lily said and chuckled lightly at the face James was making before turning back to fix the sandwiches.
They made chit chat and small talk about everything and James suddenly suggested, "Why don't you take the day to get used to the place? I mean, it's a fair sized house and you should learn your way around before you starting working full time," he said before taking a bite of the sandwich Lily had prepared.
"Why?" Lily asked bluntly trying to get James to admit his loneliness.
"Well, I would like to get to know more about you because at this point all I know is you're a wonderful cook," James said and his explanation was good enough for Lily.
"So ask what you'd like to know and I'll answer," Lily said and took a bite of her sandwich.
"Okay," James said pausing before asking, "What were you doing before Leslie hired you?"
"Looking all over London for a job," Lily replied.
"Why?" James asked believing there to be a story behind her job search.
"I was living with my sister and her vile husband and I didn't want to any longer so I left and came to London from Surrey to start my own life," Lily said pleasantly.
"Why were you living with your sister?" James asked and watched the shadows return to Lily's eyes before returning briefly.
"My parents died in a car accident when I was 15 and I needed a guardian; Petunia needed a maid," Lily said calmly though she felt anything but.
"I'm sorry," James said genuinely sad that Lily hadn't had a happy past few years which led him to his next question. "How old are you exactly?" he asked.
"I'm still 17, but in two months my birthday comes. I hope that's not a problem for you," Lily said hoping he wouldn't fire her for being too young.
"No, not at all; I'm only 19 myself so it doesn't make any difference to me," James said quietly and found himself wishing inexplicably that she was already 18 before brushing aside the thought and ignoring the reason behind it.
"You're only 19? And this is your own house?" Lily asked awestruck ad the thought.
"Yes, it was bequeathed to me when my parents died. I stayed with my Uncle Frank here until I completed Hogwarts," James said quietly.
"Hogwarts? That's the second time in three days I've heard of that place. What is it?" Lily asked ignoring the question of how James parents had died for now.
James looked up wide eyes and everything fell into place. His musings on why Lily used muggle cleaning products, didn't use magic to make meals, she was a muggle. "Who did you hear it from?" James asked trying to mask his surprise.
"My friend Arabella's grandfather. It was the strangest thing. He dropped by her house and asked me all sorts of questions; like did I ever have any invitations to boarding schools when I was younger, and when I said no he asked if I'd ever heard of Hogwarts and then said he had to talk to Bella before he left abruptly," Lily explained looking confused and fiddled with something around her neck.
"Arabella Figg?" James asked looking confused.
"Yes! How do you know her?" Lily asked tilting her head so some of her hair fell loosely into her eyes and she brushed it away.
"We are friends from school," James said quietly and distinctly remembered that Arabella's grandfather had died in their 3rd year. "What's that you're playing with?" James asked.
Lily looked down and saw the ruby and emerald pendant between her fingers. "Bella gave it to me. She told me not to take it off and that she wouldn't take no for an answer. I completely forgot it was there," Lily said dropping the pendant so James could get a better view of it contrasting against her lavender shirt.
James looked at it and recognized the charm and the craftsmanship from a shop in Diagon Alley. It was designed to let whoever held it's counterpart know when the wearer was in danger and also tended to have a forgetfulness charm on it so the wearer didn't take it off. He also saw that the emerald was an entirely different charm and he didn't recognize it. "It's probably best to follow Arabella's advice," James said and began wondering why Lily was in contact with Arabella if she was indeed a muggle. "When was the last time you saw her?" he asked quietly still looking at the second jewel on the pendant with a questioning glance.
"Er, the day before yesterday I left her house. She was very kind and took me in the other night when I was about to fall asleep beneath a tree in the park across from her house," Lily answered meekly.
"You should probably tell her where you are," James said still confused as to what attracted Arabella's attention and who exactly her 'grandfather' was.
"I would but I forgot to get her address," Lily said quietly embarrassed that something so important would completely slip her mind.
"I could write her and let her know where you are," James said planning to do so either way and ask what the hell was going on.
"I would appreciate it so much James, thank you," Lily said and smiled brightly at him.
"No problem, just one more question, how did you find out about this job?" James asked wondering how Lily got a hold of a Daily Prophet as they weren't supposed to be seen by muggles, and just looked like blank parchment if they were to see one.
"Well, when I was in London yesterday a very rude young man with very blonde hair threw a newspaper at my feet and told me to get a job. The only thing that looked interesting was this," Lily explained quickly at the jump in conversation topics.
"Do you still have the paper?" James asked eagerly.
"Yes, it's upstairs in my room," Lily said and watched as James stood up and grabbed her hand leading her up the backstairs to her room quickly.
"Please let me see it," James said in an important sounding voice.
Lily walked over to the desk and opened a drawer pulling out a piece of parchment and handed it to James who looked it over carefully and muttered under his breath, "Malfoy," though it came out sounding like a hiss.
"Who?" Lily asked quietly wondering why the name seemed to make James angry.
"Lucious Malfoy. He's a bastard son of Slytherin," James said heatedly, confused, Lily just waited for James to explain. "I'd better go tell Bella where you are. She'll be worried. I'll see you in a few hours. Go visit the Library or something until I get back," James said brushing off Lily's confused expression and leaving room heading down the stairs before Lily could protest.
Lily followed him down the stairs but didn't find him anywhere in the house. She went up to her room and stood looking out the window looking very confused. She shook her head and walked over to her bedside table and took the book she'd selected from the Library the day before and began to read waiting for James to return as she lounged on her bed. Shaking her head at her inability to concentrate she marked her place in her book and climbed off the bed. She grabbed her journal and a pen from her desk and climbed back on the bed to write.
Diary,
This has been the strangest day. I've gotten a job as a maid with a man named James Potter and he's rather strange. He knows Bella though, so I guess he can't be all that bad. In fact he's really quite nice. He reminds me of Bella's grandfather with all his unusual questions. James went to see Bella in fact just a little while ago and I wonder why he left in such a hurry. I get the distinct feeling that people know something about me that I don't even know and that bothers me. I wonder what's going on at Bella's. I really do.
~ L
She finished her entry and pushed her journal a side before taking up reading yet again and waiting rather impatiently for James to return.
Author's Note: I hope you like this chapter. I'm not sure if things entirely make sense yet but I hope so. Please review and give your feedback! ~Frankie~