Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the other characters that are in the Harry Potter books. J. K. Rowling does, like everyone already knows.

Author's Note: Thanks to kelala, J Black, mzeileen, padfootandprongs4ever, pinkraindrop21, KLLRS, moony128, libyanauthor, lOvEiNhEaVeN, lilynjamesAAF, Niux, Banana Princess, dee, oceanjewel, watervolleyhp, mereschino, DarkBird1345, Aquarius21, Daman5, 3mZ, acf8990, hpandfriendsruletheworld, Miss Myrtle360, Jade, Harry and Ginny 4eva, Juicilyn, death during life, and Ashley for reviewing either the new or the old version of chapter 12! It means a lot to me!

"Alright, James," James's boss, Edric Botolph, began, "We've got to get you a new partner."

"Sir, I'm a big boy, I can handle myself without a partner," James responded.

"James," Edric began, but was cut off by James immediately.

"I'm a Potter, Edric, not some baby off of the street. I know what I'm doing, and I can handle this completely by myself. I mean, look at my father and my uncle, neither of them had partners and they did just fine," James explained.

"That was a different time, a time when everywhere we turned there weren't death eater attacks."

"True, but they went through the pressure and both succeeded. And let me tell you, sir, that I am just as capable as the two of them, maybe even more capable," he informed his boss.

"As true as that may be, you haven't been here long enough," but once again Edric was cut off.

"So what, just because I'm not over the hill doesn't mean I can't do it. In fact, I think it means that I'm even more able."

"Now James, you listen to me, no one can do this job alone at a time like this, no one," Edric finally told him.

"But sir…"

"James, you know how I feel about you and your entire family for that matter. The Potters have always been known to be extraordinary wizards, and trust me when I say this James, I have full confidence in you. But times have changed, and you can't do this alone. For god sake, I have a partner, and I'm head of the department!" Edric explained.

Seeing that James was not completely satisfied with his reasoning, Edric continued, "Besides, this guy I picked out for you, you'll love him. The two of you are beyond alike; both top aurors, young guys, and desperately in need of a partner."

"What happened to his old partner?" James asked.

"St. Mungos, was under a pretty nasty curse from one of You-Know-Who's supporters."

"Can you at least tell me who this guy is?" James questioned.

"Jason, Jason Everard," Edric told him before turning and leaving.

James knew he had heard that name before, he knew it sounded so familiar. But where did he know it from? 'Maybe I went to school with him,' he thought.

He was caught off guard when he heard someone open the door that would lead to his and the new person's office. A man came in; he had brown hair, brown eyes, and stood about an inch or two shorter than James. James stared at him, still not being able to place the mystery person.

"Can I help you?" James asked.

"Oh, hello, you must be James Potter. I'm Jason Everard," the man announced, holding his hand out for James to shake.

"It's nice to meet you," James replied, still not being able to place where he had known Jason from. His name was so familiar, even his looks were somewhat recognizable.

The two men started to make a decent conversation, and actually had a few things in common with each other. For instance, they both attended Hogwarts, however Jason was two years ahead of James and in Ravenclaw house. Both men had an interest in Quidditch as well, although James had been captain of the Gryffindor team, and Jason just cheered his team from the seats.

Once the conversation started to die down, Jason announced that he should probably start unpacking his little box of stuff from his old office. James nodded and went back to working.

In no less than twenty minutes, Jason was done and started at some paper work himself.

"Hey, I'm going to get some coffee, do you want any?" James asked.

Jason turned from his desk and replied, "Sure that would be great."

James was just about to leave when something on Jason's desk caught his eye. It was a photograph of a beautiful woman with dark red hair, she was standing beneath a tree in bloom. She picked up one of the fallen blossoms and brought it close to her face, showing her almond shaped emerald eyes. It was a photograph of Lily.

'Why would he have a picture of Lily?' James silently asked himself. 'They could be friends, I assume. But just a picture of her, of only her, that's a bit odd.'

James realized that he must have been staring because at that moment, Jason asked, "Beautiful, isn't she?"

"Indeed," James replied, his heart beating faster as each second passed.

Jason picked up the picture, admiring it, a small smile playing at his lips. "She's my girlfriend," he told James.

And that was it, the moment James knew he couldn't be in any more trouble than he was now. All his pranks from Hogwarts wouldn't add up to as much shit he was in right now. He couldn't be more screwed: he was having an affair with his partner's girlfriend.

"Do you know her?" Jason asked.

"Know her, why would I know her?" James quickly asked.

"Oh well, it's just that she was in Gryffindor too, same year in fact," Jason responded.

"Oh, um, Lily Evans, yes now that you mention it, it does sound a bit familiar. Just a little bit though, I don't believe I knew her that well. Just you know, knew that she was the red head in class that got brilliant grades," he replied. He knew he should have stopped talking after his first sentence, but he couldn't help the rambling that followed it, it just sort of slipped out.

"Of course," Jason replied, a little hesitant at his words, "Are you alright?"

"Alright, me, yes I'm fine, just fine," he responded, "Just need my coffee and I'll be better than ever."

"You sure coffee is the right thing? You seem a bit shaking," Jason told him, a truly concerned look on his face.

"Oh yes, coffee will be great, so I'd best be off getting some. Did you say you wanted decaf or original?"

"Decaf," Jason responded, his face still showing a confused and worried look.

"Right, I'll be back in just a second."

As James left the room, he let out a huge sigh. 'Dear god, what did I do to deserve this?' he questioned.

888888

After twenty minutes had passed, James was positive that it was time to go back into the office. With two large cups of coffee floating nearby him, James opened the door, took the coffees and placed one in front of Jason. The other he took for himself.

He was just letting the hot liquid pour down his throat when he heard the most unexpected voice.

"Jamie, baby, I've been here for nearly ten minutes waiting for you," Emmy told her boyfriend, a huge smile spread across her narrow face.

James spat out his coffee into the mug, pure shock ran through his veins, as if the day couldn't get any worse. "Emmy, what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just wanted to stop by and see you, sweetheart," she answered, going over to him and sitting on his desk.

"No reason though?" he asked.

"No, just wanted to see you. I haven't been able to see you in such a long time, baby. It feels like month since we last, you know," she hinted at him.

James could feel his eyes popping out of their sockets, this could not be happening. Emmy Sellick could not have used those words, especially in front of other people. "Emmy, why don't you go home, and I'll stop by once I get out of work."

"Jamie, what's wrong, are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure, because I was talking to Jason, and he said that you were acting strange," Emmy informed him.

"You talked to Jason?" he asked, looking over to see Jason smile at him.

"Yes sweetheart, I'm so happy that you finally have a new partner. I know how tough it was getting over the tragic news of Sam. But I mean, after nearly a month, they finally found you a new partner," said Emmy.

"Yeah," was all James could say.

"Well, anyways, before I go, Jamie, good news. I invited Jason and his girlfriend out to dinner with us tonight. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"What?" James asked, his voice raised very loudly.

"Out to dinner, with Jason and his girlfriend, Lily is it?"

"Yes, Lily Evans," Jason responded.

"Out to dinner, tonight?" James asked.

"Yes, baby, are you sure you're alright?" Emmy asked, placing her hand against his forehead. "You feel warm and clammy."

"I'm fine," he told her. 'Dinner tonight. Dinner tonight with my girlfriend, my partner, and the girl I'm sleeping with. This is going to be interesting,' he told himself. Then, 'What the fuck am I thinking. This is going to be the worst bloody night of my fucking life.'

Author's Note 2: Okay, here's chapter 13! Hope you all liked it! Please review!