How to Lose a Wizard in 10 Days

Chapter Four – The Meeting

Following Lana's orders, Lily and her friends obediently arrived at the Leaky Cauldron in the evening, trying to test their look on finding a poor fellow for Lily to write her article on. They went in and Lily grinned at Tom.

"The usual?" Tom asked, raising his eyebrow. 'The Usual' for Lily hadn't changed ever since the days she graduated.

"Yes, please," Lily replied.

"I'll just have water," Arabella replied.

"Me too, but with a cherry," Katie added.

Tom nodded and went off to get their drinks.

"Hrm…" Katie mused. "Maybe you should start looking now. I see a lot of fine guys in here."

"That's the last thing I need," Lily said. "Is a hot guy that I'm supposed to drive away in 10 days?"

"Oh yeah," Katie said. "But it'll make the article more believable."

"True, true," Arabella agreed.

Tom came back and handed them their drinks. "Have fun tonight, girls," He said, winking at them as if he knew what they were up to.

Lily, Arabella, and Katie walked away slowly, thanking Tom.

"Geeze," Arabella said. "That was weird."

"Too weird," Katie added, eating her cherry. "Mm, this is good."

"My butterbeer tastes a hell of a lot better!"

"Does not."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does too."

"Does not."

"Does too."

"DOES NOT!."

"DOES TOO!"

"STOP!" Arabella cried, coming in between Katie and Lily. "Geeze, I swear you two sometimes act like you're a toddler."

"I think that was the first time you commented me ever since I met you," Lily said sarcastically, sipping her butterbeer and looking pleased.

"Don't get used to it, hon," Arabella warned, laughter shining through her eyes.

"I still think water is better," Katie sighed, drinking her water.

"No way," Lily replied, getting into it again. She could have the most weirdest arguments over the stupidest things. Oh well.

"Anyways," Arabella interrupted. "Shouldn't you be finding that unfortunate bloke you promised Lana?"

"Yeah," Lily sighed. "I suppose you're right. I haven't … well, dated since Hogwarts, and I don't know if I'm ready." Lily shifted uneasily.

"Oh, come on, Lils!" Arabella said, patting her on the back. "I know you can do this. Go muster up some of that sexiness you stored away in a bottle!"

Lily laughed. "I wish."

"Just try your best," Katie said. "What have you got to lose?"

"My dignity and pride," Lily said, still not convinced. "Maybe we should do this tomorrow. At a better time."

"No, we're going to do it now," Arabella said firmly. "And that's that." Arabella pushed Lily into the crowd of faces and disappeared with Katie.

"Great friends I have," Lily mumbled to herself and sighed. She straightened herself up, getting ready to flirt.

Lily sighed. Getting a guy was well… tough! The first guy she flirted with was married, the second one did drugs, and the third one was… ok, let's not talk about the third one. She got a glass of vodka and started drinking. 'Maybe this'll help…' She thought dejectedly. She had to find a man by tonight. Well, maybe tomorrow… She felt a rough hand touch her shoulder, reading to snap at the person who dared bother her. Lily turned around and saw herself face-to-face with a man about a foot taller than her, broad shoulders, a nice smile, chocolate brown eyes, thin black-framed glasses, and his hair… all the angry feelings disappeared. That hair! Lily just wanted to go crazy with it!

"Excuse me, Miss," The man said. "What's your name?"

"Lily Evans," She said, holding out her hand. The mystery man took it and kissed her while murmuring, "James Potter."

Lily nodded. "Are you single?" She blurted out. Ugh. Mistake Number One. Wait, this was good! She made a mental thought. Her first mistake!

James nodded. "You?"

Lily nodded too.

'Damn, this conversation is boring…' James thought. 'Better ask her out.'

"Hungry?"

"Starving."

"Leaving."

"Now?"

James nodded.

Lily smiled. "Hold on…"

"Meet you out front," James replied.

"Guys!" Lily said excitedly. "I think I found a guy!"

"Ooh, where?" Katie asked excitedly.

"He's outside the door, but I don't know if you can see him well," Lily said.

"Cute," Arabella observed. "Ask him if he has any brothers."

Lily winked. "I don't think we'll have a lot of time for asking, if you know what I mean…"

"You slut!" Katie exclaimed through her chuckles. "Okay, shoo!"

Lily grinned. The Perfect Article… it was already on its way. On her way to the door, Lily reached for her little satin bag and pulled out a paper and a mini quill.

First Mistake: Asking for Marital Status right after I met him

Lily stuffed everything inside her back and strolled to the door.

James opened it for her and Lily stepped out of the restaurant, shivering a little. James asked, "Are you cold?"

Lily nodded slightly.

James grinned. "No problem," He replied. "I can fix it." He got out his wand and tapped it to Lily's shoulder. "Calado." He muttered, doing a swish-and-flick technique. Lily's shoulder turned green while she laughed.

She dug through her purse until she got out her wand. "I believe," She replied sinisterly. "It's Caldo." Warmth from the tip of her wand spread through all of Lily's body. She felt better immediately and sighed in pleasure.

James blushed. "Sorry, I'm not very good with Charms…" He replied. "I'm better at Transfiguration though!" He said brightening.

"Really?" Lily asked. "Transfiguration is my worst subject. And in Charms – well, I have a degree in that. Plus, my other writing degrees."

"Wow…" James said. "So are you a Charms professor?"

"No," Lily said. "I'm quite the opposite."

"And what would that be?" James grinned. "Stripper?"

Lily chuckled. "You wish. I'm a journalist. For Teen Witch magazine. Are you a stripper?"

James sighed. "This may surprise you, but… no, I am not a stripper."

Lily pouted and ran her fingers over his chest. "We could've had so much fun together if you were!"

"Well, we can always pretend…" James winked.

Lily laughed and looked at him. "You're pretty funny," She said.

"You are too," James replied. "Since we are both oh-so-starving, I better get my broom. Accio Cleansweep!" James yelled, putting his wand up. James' brand new Cleansweep came zooming through the air a few seconds later.

"Nice ride," Lily commented, nodding her approval. "Mine's better. Looks more new because it's polished."

"Oh, really?" James asked, arching an eyebrow. "What would a glamorous lady like you be riding a broom for?"

"To play Quidditch, duh," Lily replied obviously. "I try to get my friends and play, but they think it's boring and would rather have another day at the shopping centerl."

"Ah, so you're a tomboy?" James said, grinning. "I like that."

"Not so much of a tomboy…" Lily interjected. "More like… a girl who likes, wait no, loves Quidditch."

"That's great," James smiled. "Because I like, wait no, love Quidditch too." He said, imitating Lily's mistake.

"Isn't this a peachy start?" Lily asked, looking into his eyes. She broke away the gaze by questioning, "So where are we going?"

"Anywhere you want," James said.

"Wow, even the shopping center?" Lily teased.

"Okay, maybe not the mall," James groaned. "Something … entertaining."

"I don't know," Lily mused. "All I ever do is work, eat, and sleep. Oh yes, shopping's another thing. And Quidditch, of course."

"Such an interesting lifestyle…" James remarked sarcastically.

"Like yours is better?" Lily said, cocking her head. "I don't think so Mr. Potter."

"Well, it is," James said. "I also work, play pranks, eat, sleep, and play Quidditch. Oh yes, I watch the telly too."

"Ah, you're muggle born?"

"No, but my best friend is a half," James explained. "Quite a great invention, if you ask me."

"Truly," Lily agreed. "So, where to?"

"I have no clue," James said, scratching his head. "How about my place? We can watch the telly, if you want."

"Sounds great to me," Lily shrugged. He looked so cute scratching his head!

James let Lily climb onto his broom and them he climbed onto it himself. Wrapping his arms around Lily's petite waist, he kicked off into the night sky.

"Hm," Lily commented. "And you said I was the one with the interesting lifestyle?" Lily raised her eyebrow, looking at James' apartment.

"I know it's not exactly organized," James said, blushing a bit at his messiness. "You really can't help it if you live with 2 other guys."

Lily sighed. "Why must all the cute ones be slobs?"

"So you're calling me cute?" James grinned.

"Maybe," Lily teased. "Where's the telly you promised me?"

James pointed to a corner of the room. A rusty little television sat on a few hardcover books.

"Nice stand," Lily smiled.

"One of a kind," James replied, walking over to turn it on. A cartoon was playing.

"Aww, I love cartoons!" Lily exclaimed, settling into his couch, intently watching it.

James smiled. "Excuse me, won't you? I'm going to change out of these clothes."

"Sure," Lily replied absentmindedly, staring at the television.

A/N: Ugh! I didn't know how to end this chapter. I'm sorry for making it shorter than usual. I don't want it to much like the movie / If anyone would like to make any suggestions or anything, please email me or review.

I hope you liked this chapter, I think I could've done better. When James meets Lily, I suggest you listen to Jay-Z – Excuse Me Miss. I was listening to that song :) And I put some of the lyrics in the very beginning.

Love Always, Angeline