New story as i promised. Okay so Provacative Indulgence didn't do so well, ah well no biggie, I'll still write for it.

I got a couple of comments earlier and for those who dont know My Stories (two of my best ones I'm sorry to say) were deleted.

A Sweet Refrain and Indulge Me and because i didn't keep the typed up version i no longer have them in my posession.

Anyways, Here is Indulgent Prosecution. I hope you'll like this one more but i must add there was another one i was thinking of writing.

I wont be posting unit a couple weeks from now so You'll either get a new chapter for this one or a new story...lol

PLus wiht the book comin hout i think most of the details in here will have to remain the same.

Disclaimer: I dont own anythin HP related

Indulgent Prosecution

Chapter 1: The shadows of yesterday

Lily Evans tucked a lock of her wavy auburn hair behind her ear before reaching out to cover her friend's hand from across the table.

'How are you doing Syd?' Lily asked her closest friend earnestly, then knowing the answer would be her normal "fine" she gave her a mock glare before asking again, 'how are you really doing? And answer honestly now.'

Dark haired, Sydney Lombard smiled ruefully, 'Other than the fact that I feel as though I'm a walking house you mean?' she asked and Lily chuckled a little. 'I'm doing fine love, really.' The dark haired girl replied.

But Lily still couldn't help feel concerned. She had known Sydney since they were eleven and now here almost a decade later where they were both twenty she couldn't help but feel just a little protective. After all her friend was pregnant, six months along too and single.

As it was Sydney was lucky she had her uncle's inheritance to live on, having had to take a break from her training as a nature journalist. She had enough capital to last a couple of years if she didn't splurge and by then she'd be back on her feet and able to work again as a clerk in the huge lawyers firm downtown.

Lily knew Sydney didn't plan to be pregnant and alone at such an early age but the girl was determined to stick it out and raise he child on her own because of that, Lily was more than proud of her.

'I'm sorry I've been unable to see you this past month,' Lily apologized, 'some birthing coach I am.'

'Nonsense honey, you're in line to be the next assistant prosecutor for the London district and I bet with this last case you've wrapped up the Minister of Magic will definitely give you that promotion.' Sydney said with enthusiasm Lily didn't feel as she was still brooding.

'Still honey I shouldn't be too busy for you. I have my commitments and you're one of them, the main one actually.' Lily said.

'I know sweetie and I love you for it, now lets get dessert I'm craving strawberry shortcake, cocoanut ice-cream with hot fudge sauce and nuts.' Syd said with relish and Lily grinned, well at least she's showing her usual spark for food she thought.

…

'The healer says everything is going as well as was expected and I'm to deliver exactly around the due date.' Syd said, relief plain in her cultured voice as they walked arm in arm on the short way to Syd's flat.

'I'm glad honey,' Lily said smiling as she watched Sydney pat her rounded belly affectionately.

'Me too because I had been hoping the stress from early in my pregnancy hadn't caused harm to my little munchkin.' Sydney said lightly, looking at the windows of the small stores they passed by, but Lily knew how it had pained her to get through that bad time in her life so the light tone her friend opted for was not the least bit reassuring.

'She also said that the heat wave that's expected will make me feel faint so it's a good thing I'm home most of the time—' she was saying and suddenly startled, Sydney stopped.

'What is it?' Lily asked.

'I thought I saw…no it couldn't be. It must be my overactive imagination since we were talking about the baby's health.' And what caused it. Thought she didn't say the latter words aloud Lily felt them.

'What did you see?' Lily asked.

'It's silly really, but I thought I saw …you know what never mind it couldn't be him. He's not in the country much less in the city so it couldn't have been him.' Sydney said airily. Lily didn't ask but she had a feeling she already knew who "him" was. It could only be the father of her unborn baby—the only reason there would be distress temporarily stinging her voice. And as far as Lily knew—she made it a priority to know here he went after abandoning her friend—the thick-headed bloke was in Sicily. Sydney made a waving motion to wave away the fact that she thought she saw her ex but Lily had felt the slight tremor that passed through the woman.

Hoping to pacify her, Lily hugged her. 'Don't worry about it Sydney, the only thing you have to concern yourself with is the little life growing inside of you.'

'My mind and knows you're right and my heart does to but there are times when they both wish for other things. Things that I know are never likely to happen not after what occurred that day. Since he doesn't know about the baby I don't want him to see me and I know I'm never going anywhere near a man ever again but,' she stopped and sighed, 'I had hoped to be married and have a father for my baby.' She said as they continued walking.

'But I don't think I can or want to date anytime soon. Swearing of men for a while seems like a good idea for me right now because all I want to do is protect my baby.'

Lily knew what her best mate didn't add however—that many men didn't care for ready made children—it was after all an impossible situation but in all reality Syd had already lost her hope for a family with that bastard. Lily was no romantic, but she hoped that after all the pain receded her friend can once again move on with her life.

…

Lily herded Sydney to the couch then started fixing the girl a cold drink

'Lily you don't have to wait on me,' Sydney called to her and Lily could see the rounded girl, from where she was, trying to get up from where she had propped her on the couch.

'I know I don't but I'd feel better doing something for you before I go back to the office.' Lily said walking back in and set a tall glass of decaffeinated ice tea for her. 'Here you go drink up. I left the rest in the pitcher in the ice box. Now I'm off, owl or call if you need anything.' Lily rattled off.

'Yes mother,' Syd said grinning and moved to follow Lily to the door.

'I can see myself out—' a knock sounded then she grinned, '—and answer the door. Now stay and I'll send whoever it is inside or get rid of them.' Lily said and pulled open the door.

The face at the door however, was so totally unexpected that Lily just stood there in shock.

'Lily,' the man said surprised then offered a tentative smile, of which Lily didn't return.

Calmly, rationally and in a soft voice Lily grated out her question. 'What the hell are you doing here?' He looked taken aback at her hostility and then some surprise registered on his face. He hadn't expected this reaction from her; she realized seeing as how she had always been nice to him in the past.

Did he honestly expect her to talk to him serenely after what he did to Sydney? Or—Lily thought glaring at him—what he didn't do?

'I came to talk to Sydney,' he said.

'No, actually that's not what you're here for. Actually you have no business here, no reason to even look at Sydney anymore much less talk to her and actually,' Lily said taking another breath, 'you gave up whatever right you had five months ago.'

'Certain circumstances have come to light and I need to discuss things with Sydney,' he said vaguely and stubbornly but before Lily could retort Sydney called out from behind her.

'Lily? Who's that at the door?' Sydney asked as she came up behind Lily from the living room.

'It's me,' the bastard said huskily stepping into view.

Lily heard a gasp and she turned just in time to see all the blood drain from her friend's face.

'Andres,' Sydney had all but gasped as she rested her hand protectively against her growing mound.

'Sydney,' Andres Constantine said at the same time, speaking her name almost reverently but as he eyes followed her hand it was shock that registered when he looked down at her belly. Shaken, he took a couple steps backward and exclaimed, 'you're pregnant?'

…

Lily walked into her office and almost slammed the door before she caught herself. Okay she shouldn't be angry, at least not angrier than the person who had the right to be anyway.

She sighed and shook her head to clear it. Lily still couldn't believe she left Andres Constantine alone with her best mate. The same Andres Constantine who ripped the heart out of the most decent girl Lily had ever known and Lily didn't think Sydney's heart could take a blow that like one again.

Dropping her purse ungracefully onto her desk Lily began to pace.

After all it was a while before anyone was scheduled to enter her small office so she can be grumpy.

Who did the man think he was anyway? Lily thought then stopped and paused in contemplation.

Okay so he had been lied to and manipulated, Lily learned all that a while ago but his biggest crime ever was thinking those pictures were real. If he had really known Sydney there would have been no question that they were fakes.

Sighing Lily rounded her desk and sat down with her head between her hands. She hadn't wanted to leave the idiot and Sydney alone but there was no other choice. No matter how much she wanted to be the one to take the stress of seeing the Greek playboy again for her friend Lily knew they would have to work it out on their own.

Andres seemed to know that because the look on his face when he saw Sydney's condition was the only reason Lily had willingly backed off. There had been shock, guilt and wonder and now that she thought about it he seemed happy. Blowing out a huge breath she thought about it some more.

Lily remembered distinctly, the day Sydney came to her flat in a shaken stupor. Little by little she had learned of what had her friend in such a state. Andres had come to her room in a rage. They had been staying at his parent's house in Greece and because of propriety had had separate rooms.

She knew Sydney had felt strange going to another country and had hoped Andres's family will make her feel secure but what happened was not even close and now that Lily had heard the entire story she was still uncertain that although both Andres and Sydney were manipulated into their current situation trust would always play a part in their lives.

Angolos was the younger brother of Andres had produced pictures of certain intimate situations between himself and a Sydney look-a-like to his brother. It was a complex plan, one that was executed and received flawlessly. Andres believed everything mainly because his mind distorted what he saw in the exchanges made by the people he loved. And so he kicked her out.

Sydney had come home shattered and—as she found out a week or so later—pregnant. At the time Lily was beyond furious. She'd wanted to hunt down the man and demand answers and she had just enough of the resources she needed to do so but Sydney made her cool down a little and Lily sort of understood. She couldn't bring herself to do another hurtful confrontation.

'I love him Lily but if he never did trust me in the first place how can I fight for something that I'll never win.' Sydney had said. 'It's his entire family against me. If they plotted to make me look like I slept with his brother imagine what other things they'd be likely to do. No I will not have my baby exposed to something that hateful.' She'd been adamant about that.

But no matter what she said Lily knew she struggled with her emotions. She'd wanted to be accepted so badly by them. Angolos had seemed nice, he was the only one in the family that had talked to her and she was happy.

At least there was one who liked her and accepted her right?

Wrong.

Andres had said before Lily them in the flat that he was wrong and he had been manipulated according to him Angolos used the friendly camaraderie between him and Sydney to please his father by framing her in the photos.

There had been other things but Lily knew that even though she felt a strong urge to protect her friend, he needed to explain things himself first. And whether Lily wanted him leave Sydney alone or not, he owed her an explanation and Lily was not going to be selfish and deprive her of that.

Then a knock sounded on her door and her secretary said as she opened the door half way, 'Ms Evans the DA would like to see you in his office on the main floor in an hour.'

'Thanks Mira, then can you cancel my 2 o clock appointment with Mrs Jasper and reschedule it for tomorrow?' Lily said wearily not bothering to correct Mira O'Connell on the use of her name.

'Sure thing,' she said turned to leave but then doubled back, 'uh Lily, I think you're going to be very surprised when you get there.' Then with that mysterious comment said, Mira closed the door.

Lily dropped her hands onto her desk and then buried her face between them. Just about know she would have loved curl up in a corner—despite the heat—and sleep. It was one of her idiosyncrasies, her worst one actually but there was hardly much she could do about it. It seemed as though she could never get enough.

Shaking her head to clear it she rummaged around for her closing report absently wondering what in the world Jonathan Myers could want with her. After a half an hour of doing steady work Lily crossed to her cabinet and pulled out her leather hold all from where she had placed it earlier.

Since there was no apparating in the Ministry of Magic she had to walk to the level above her, where all the great movers and shakers of the Ministry of Law were. Fifteen minutes later she met with the head administrative assistant who led her in.

'Ah Lily you're early, that's terrific and I see great minds think alike,' Jonathan Myers said jovially when she opened the door. At fifty Myers' sideburns were a distinctive grey and he had been the youngest DA in history at the age of twenty-nine. There was a man seated in one of the chairs at Jonathan's front and Lily smiled politely at him wondering who he could be. As soon as she crossed the threshold both men stood up.

'Lily I would like you to meet Mr James Potter and I am happy to say the two of you will be working frequently together in the near future.' Mr Myers said but Lily didn't hear past the name and as the man in front turned Lily realised she hadn't seen this bloke in 2 years.

Worst yet—Lily thought as the rest of her boss's words echoed in her brain—apparently they'd be working together.

How the hell did her day seemed to float around men from the past?

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