Chapter 2- Old Friends

Disclaimer- None of it's mine well that is except for the plot

Lily blew a strand of her hair out of her face having no free hands to push it back. She had been busy ever since the club opened pouring drinks. Music was blaring from the speakers. People were dancing. And of course every now and then they needed a drink. Moving from one person to another along the bar mixing each drink to the person's specifications. Finally she reached one corner of the bar and looked up at the man standing there. He was dressed all in black, with black unruly hair, and black sunglasses. Walking over and asking, "What'll it be?"

"Butterbeer," he replied simply.

Lily stood there a bit shocked was she hearing right. Did he just ask for butterbeer? She hadn't had that in years, "We don't serve that here sir. I'm afraid you'll have to go some where else to get that."

"Lily is that any way to treat a friend," He asked simply.

"How can I know if you a friend if I can't even see who you are?"

Removing his sunglasses, "So you can't even see it's me-"

"Sirius," Lily screamed reaching over the bar and giving him a hug, "God it's been ages."

"I'm glad to see you too Lily," He replied hugging her back, "When do you get off work I'll take you out to get some dinner or breakfast as it may be. We'll catch up."

"Not till mid-night," Lily said exasperatedly. Just then Whitney came out from the back. Tapping her friend on the shoulder she whispered, "Go Lil, I'll take over."

Turning to around to face her friend and smiling, "Thanks Whit."

"Any time."

Turning back to Sirius, "Let me get my coat."

Sirius starched out in his chair, "So who would have thought that Lily Evans head girl top of her class would ever leave the magical world. And those in it," he added as an after thought.

"I really didn't leave," Lily replied searching for words to continue, "I just am taking an extended leave of absence," pausing for a moment then adding, "And who would've thought that Sirius Black would ever be getting married?"

Sirius smirked at this comment. That was Lily for you. Always quick with words and just as soon turn them against you, "Well you didn't write."

"Neither did you," Lily shot back.

"Ooo Lily I'm hurt," he replied in fun, "Okay as much as I'd love to continue this fight," Sirius said with a smile, "I have real business here."

"Yes and what is that?"

"I am here at Ana's request, and I repeat you are cordially invited to the graduation of Auror training of Mr. James Potter," He finished with a flourish.

"And here I thought you came to see me," Lily replied in mock disappointment.

"Yeah well that's the perk of not sending an owl. But we've really missed you Lils all of us," Sirius said being serious for the first time that night.

Lily just sat there she really didn't know how to respond. It would be great to see all her friends again. But to have to deal with the whole James situation was frightening to her. Sensing that Lily wasn't comfortable with what he had just asked Sirius added, "Listen Lily none of us, and when I say none I mean absolutely no one knows. No one knows what James told you or asked three years ago. Ana's speculated that it has something to do with why you left. But you don't have to come. But I am begging you please come back if not for James or me then at least for Ana and Nichole. You don't have to see James if you don't want too but they really miss you. I've missed you."

Wiping a stray tear away and taking a deep breath, "Sirius I dunno if I can handle this. Not now anyway. I just. I really miss Ana and Nichole, but to bring back all that-," Lily broke off not knowing what to say.

"Lily, I can't make you do anything I never could but-"

"I'll come," Lily said cutting him off. Lily would have to face James again some time. And truth be told she missed Ana and Nichole. It would be great to use her magic again. She hadn't in such a long time that she wasn't sure that she remembered how.

"Lily if you don't mind me asking one more question of you. I'd like to know why exactly why you left."

Taking a deep breath again before answering, "Well I was scared of commitment. I wanted to be free and I couldn't find that there."

Interrupting Lily, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up scared of what commitment exactly?"

"Scared of James I guess. He asked me to marry him and I as much as I loved him I couldn't take it. At least not yet I was young. I wanted things to be interesting to have an adventure before I married and settled down."

Sirius just sat there. On the one hand he had suspected that this was what had happened all along, but to finally here it. And find out why for three years he hadn't heard from possibly one of his best friends was just startling. He had never known Lily to run from anything in her life. But this he could see, "Lily no one would be ready at eighteen. You really can't blame yourself."

"But I do I just have to think what if I hadn't run away. What would life be like?"

"Well maybe you deserve to give James a reason for your answer? And maybe to find a piece of mind for yourself?"

"Enough with the guilt trip I've already said I would come didn't I," Lily answered wiping a few more tears away.

"Yeah I'll pick you up tomorrow. Ana was smart and made me take muggle transportation. Flying in and airplane," Sirius said exasperatedly.

"Okay see you tomorrow," Lily finished getting up and pulling out of her bag a piece of paper scribbling her address down and handing it to him.

Lily flopped down on her bed in the Leaky Cauldron. It had been a long flight, but then again it was always had been. She had met Ana at the airport and then came here. Ana was just like Sirius happy to see her, yet she had many questions that she wanted answered. They will go perfectly with each other. Lily thought to herself. Ana seemed to think that she and James would get back together, but Lily wasn't ready to jump back into that again just yet. Ana and Nichole were coming over to go out for drinks in an hour. It would be good to see Nichole again. And even better that Lily wound not have to be the one making the drinks. Sirius had kindly backed out of the get together saying he had some stuff that needed to be done. But he was planning on having dinner with them all tomorrow night.

Rolling over on to her side she noticed that a white owl was waiting patiently on the desk. Sitting up and walking over to it, "Hey girl it's been awhile hasn't it?" Lily asked the owl noticing that it was her own owl from when she had been in school. Carefully untying the piece of parchment attached to Hermia. Breaking the seal and proceeding to read the message. Which she was surprised to was from her mother.


Dear Lily,

Sirius stopped off by the house to find out where you had been all theses years. I thought that you might like to use your owl again. Even though you told to me to get rid of her I couldn't help but to keep her. I hope everything works out.

Love,

Mom

"Thanks mom you know me better then I know myself," Lily said folding up the letter and laying it on top of the desk.

Lily greeted her friends when they showed up. Each looked different then they had in their school days, but they would always be Ana and Nichole. Ana was tall and had long straight black hair always pulled back in braids. Nichole was shorter then Ana and had short curly blonde hair.

"Lily it's good to see you again," Nichole said hugging Lily, "It really has been to long."

"Yes it has," Lily replied.

They all went down into the Leaky Cauldron to order drinks and catch up. Each wanted to know what Lily had been up to the last three years. Lily told them all about Whitney and Angle's.

Ana was surprised that Lily co-owned a club, "I never thought that you would end up owning a club Lils."

"Right place right time," Lily said shrugging, "I work all night, sleep during the morning, clean up in the afternoon and repeat just about every night."

"I could never do that. Too much work," Nichole added.

"Well you guys now know what's new with me, what's new with you all?"

"Well as you know Lils Ana's marrying Sirius, I'm single, and James is-," Nichole
stopped there looking over at Ana.

"James is what," Lily asked, "Guys come on. This is not seventh year all over again. We aren't dating remember."

"Well," Ana started taking a deep breath, "He's engaged," she mumbled.

James stretched out on the couch. He had just told Sirius, Lupin, Ana, and Nichole. They all had been shocked. They each secretly expected him to get back together with Lily. He often wished he had. It was different he decided. Amie would be good for him. He hadn't really dated after Lily. Then he had ran into Amie, she had some how had helped to ease the pain that Lily had left.

But how many times had he thought this only to come back to the same conclusion. He wanted Lily. So why was he marrying Amie?

"Because you royally screwed it with Lily," he told himself.

He had started many letters to Lily. Each trying to explain why he had done what he had but they all ended up in the same place, in a nice little stack in his desk collecting dust. But he thought she didn't write either. His sister Becca had often told him that true love always comes through and just wait Lily'll come back. That had not happened. And at the way things were looking it probably never would. Amie was defiantly not Lily, but as close as he could find. He had found relief and comfort in her. She might not have Lily's beautiful green eyes, but he often got lost in Amie's blue eyes. She loved him and he loved her back. He just had to remember that. He had to shut out that voice that kept telling him to find Lily and demand an answer out of her. James jumped as heard a knock at his door. Getting up to go see who it was knowing that more likely then not is was, "Sirius, come on in," James said opening the door.

"Hey mate I was just in the neighborhood and decided to invite you to dinner tomorrow night. With me, Ana, Nichole, and please by all means invite Amie along. We'd all love to meet her considering we have three things to be celebrating."

"Three?"

"Yeah you graduating training, your engagement to Amie, and," Sirius hurried through the next part, "Lily's back in town."

James just stood there in total shock, "Lily?"

"Yes, James you know her. You can't have forgotten that fast. You remember Evans, you two dated for like two years," Sirius said then as an after thought, "She sure hasn't."

"When did you see her?"

"I looked her up. She's been living in New York for the past three years running a club no less," Sirius said with a smirk.

James was too shocked to speak. This was not the time for Lily to show up. He loved Amie, Lily was over she had rejected him right? So why are you trying to convince yourself that you love Amie when you clearly love Lily, his mind kept telling him.

"I don't think I can make-," James started.

"Oh no you don't boy. You owe it to yourself and to Lily to go and at least talk. And I didn't take aneight hour plane ride twice to have you chicken out. Besides you'll have to face her sooner or later. I think once Becca learns Lily's back she'll end up at your house for the reception after your graduation mate."

"You've given that speech before haven't you?"

"How do you think I got Lily to come? Magic? Well I did have to modify it a bit."

A/N- Thanks to all of you who reviewed Hope you like the chapter and review it.