Ok guys … I more than sorry here but I couldn't update before. I had so time off so days ago and thought about this chapter. I hope you'll like it and review!
So much had happened in the last course of days. Lily had been to the appointment with her family's lawyer and had listened to her parents' will seated in a room full of dignity, walls covered in shelves full of law books, diplomas all over the wall behind the lawyer. She wasn't listening to him though, she was looking at Petunia. Her sister was sitting straight in her comfortable armchair not even touching the back of it. Her thin lips were white because Petunia was tightly shutting them and not a single time did she looked at her sister or even acknowledged her presence in the office. That is until she learned that Lily was granted a particular piece of jewellery she dearly wanted. It was a very nice pendant looking like a flower with a tiny diamond on one of the silver petals. She had always loved this pendant and was enraged that Lily was going to have it. Lily could see the disappointment in her sister's eyes and was about to abandon the pendant to her sister when she remembered what this one had done to her. Burying her parents without even telling her where they were resting for eternity. She took a deep breath and signed the papers the lawyer handed to her barely realizing she was given half the price of the house's sell and some jewellery. She could have given away all of that for a look from her sister. After signing, Petunia stood up, shook the lawyer's hand and just left. Not a single look was shared with the woman she once called a sister. Lily closed her eyes and then opened them to a puzzled lawyer and shook his hand as well before leaving. She had a job interview in one hour and she had to get ready.
When she arrived at the Potters later that day, she was glad the boys weren't there because she needed some time alone to cry. In the last days she had lost all of her family. Her parents to Voldemort, and her sister to her hatred of magic. It was very difficult to go on now.
"Is everything all right Lily?" Mrs Potter asked her.
Lily jumped at these words because she was so immersed in her thoughts that she didn't hear Mrs Potter arrive. She liked her very much. She wondered how James could be so bad with such a mother. Well not that he really was that bad in fact … She sighed and looked at Mrs Potter.
"I've been better" she answered her.
Mrs Potter looked at her concerned and then smiled this grin Lily had seen so many times on James.
"Wanna have a good laugh?" Mrs Potter offered.
"Sure" Lily said wondering what it could be.
"I'll show you pictures of James when he was a kid and tell you stories about him. He did so many silly things.
The two women went to the living room and Mrs Potter conjured muggle and wizard pictures to show and entertain Lily. James and Sirius found them laughing like crazy women when they arrived home some hours later. The best part of the evening was a phone call from the company where Lily had her job interview telling her she was offered a summer position.
Starting a new job wasn't an easy thing. There were lots of adjustments to be made. Getting up earlier, dressing accordingly, getting used to names, processes, software, places …
Lily hated this adjustments period. It made her feel stupid to bet the one not knowing anything. She knew it was normal but she hated it nonetheless.
Lily wanted her life, be it personal or professional to be perfect. This is why she spent her first week asking questions and taking notes even if she hated it. After her first week, things were starting to get better. She knew how to deal with most of things and she didn't need to ask as many questions as before.
James's parents were very curious about her muggle job and were asking lots of questions. Lily's job was the hot topic during dinners. She was glad she could live at the Potters, in the wizard world, and work in the muggle world. It was feeling good. When she told them she sometimes had to prepare some coffee for her boss and colleagues during her short training period, Sirius laughed out loud before Lily could inform them that she had been offered a new responsibility.
"Making coffee? Now that's an achievement!" he teased.
"Oh yeah? Well I'd love to see you try and make coffee, at work that is, providing you can find a job." Lily sharply snapped. Things were at a status quo with Sirius but even if Lily had forgiven him and accepted his offer of peace, she found it difficult to accept his teasing because she always was wondering whether or not he was just teasing or trying once again to be harsh to her.
"What you think I can't make coffee?" Sirius asked.
"The thing is I highly doubt you can even find a job to start with." Lily told him.
"Oh yeah? Well we'll see then! James and I had nearly finished our project so we'll soon be able to find a job, right James?" Sirius said asking help from his best friend.
"Hey! I haven't said anything!" James protested.
"I think Lily's right boy you know"; Mr Potter said trying to calm them down. "Working would help you to grow up."
Lily smirked at this imagining the two boys working. Her smile faded away when she saw them at work one week later though...
"Hey Lily flower", Sirius greeted her. "Seems we're colleagues now" he said blinking at her.
Lily was speechless seeing Sirius and James seated in her office. She was going to ask them to clarify the situation when her boss entered and smiled at her.
"Well Lilly it's only been two weeks but seeing the great job you've achieved so far, we've decided that you could use the help of interns. These boys are here to help you." Mrs McCloud told Lily.
Lily devilishly smiled at her words. "So technically speaking, I'm on charge of them, right?" she tried to ask innocently while grinning at Sirius.
"Totally" her boss answered before leaving Lily's office.
She then turned to Sirius and told him "Come. I'll show you the coffee machine. Sirius looked outraged and James found it difficult not to laugh.
"Prongs get control of your woman man; she's going to drive me crazy I swear!" Sirius said while following Lily.
Lily then showed Sirius how to prepare coffee and they came back in her office with three mugs. She then sat at her desk and explained them what their job will consist in. The day passed very quickly and when 5 p.m. was approaching, Lily noticed that Sirius and James were constantly checking the big clock on the wall.
"You know guys it's not very wise to check on the clock on your very first day of work" she teased.
The boys blushed and looked not at ease. They were looking at one another as if silently communicating. Sirius looked at Lily.
"The thing is we have a surprise for you," he started.
"No, Sirius has a surprise, I've just been helping." James interrupted him.
"Well whatever, we, well I have something to show you and it would be great if we could leave now." Sirius pleaded her with puppy eyes.
Lily looked at the clock and started to clean her desk. "Ok but the surprise's better be good!"
"Oh trust me, it will be!" Sirius solemnly swore.
As soon as they got out of the building, Sirius guided them towards a little street and looked for something inside a garbage bin.
"What the hell are you looking for?" Lily asked checking if any muggle could see them.
"There!" Sirius shouted taking an old shoe out of the garbage.
"What's that? Lily asked.
"A portkey. It'll be activated in 2 minutes." Sirius proudly explained.
"What for"? Lily asked suspicious.
"Trust us Lily." James seriously answered.
At said time, the three young persons grabbed the old shoe and were transported on the place were the surprise was supposed to be.
As it was Lily's first ever travel through portkey, it took her more time than the boys to adjust to her new location. She first tried to clean herself for she had landed on her back and was covered in dust. She then looked at the two beaming boys and her eyebrow arched.
"Ok what's the big surprise? You guys look way too satisfied to be honest." Lily started to say while looking around her. Her face suddenly became white and tears threatened once more.
"Are we …" she trailed … "Are they …" she tried to continue but failed as a sob escaped her mouth. Quickly both boys were on her sides comforting her.
"They're over there, first one on the third rank." Sirius said.
Lily slowly made her way to the place Sirius had indicated her and finally was able to give her final goodbye to her parents as she caressed the marble stone where their names where engraved. Sirius and James where looking at her from their initial spot not wanting to disturb her and only moved towards her when she gestured them to come.
"Here Lily," James said handing her a bouquet of lilies.
"I don't know how to start to thank you guys." Lily started.
"It's Sirius you have to thank," James said "I've barely helped him".
To Sirius and James's utter surprise, Lily threw herself at Sirius and cried thanking him in the same time. Sirius was very uncomfortable and proud in the same time.
"Sirius this is the nicest thing someone ever done for me." Lily told him, "It was so important you know," she continued.
"I know Lily flower, that was my way of saying sorry" Sirius told the red-headed girl.
Lily looked at him and hugged him another time in a way Sirius understood as "everything is ok between us now" and then turned to hug James as well.
"Thank you James" she muttered in his ear.
James couldn't help but feel on cloud nine. He was holding his girl and she was thanking him.
"Anytime Lily, anytime."
That night, dinner at the Potters was very happy, Lily, James and Sirius talking about their job and explaining to Mr. Potter what was internet and how it worked. Mr. Potter declared it fascinating and it concluded a great dinner made by Mrs Potter with a wonderful chocolate cake as a dessert.
On the day after though, the happy atmosphere was threatened by Lily's supervisor. She hated him the moment he entered her office. He was about 50 years old and was full of himself and much too touchy for her taste and much less to James's taste. Lily hated to have to work with this man and to hear him claiming to be the one that chooses her for the project. Luckily enough the project was great. Lily was in charge of a TV commercial for a summer campaign called "Do not abandon your pet". It was commanded by a pet food manufacturer and it was supposed to help people to be responsible when it comes to their pets and holidays.
Lily was full of ideas and the boys were very interested in the way muggles were working. The only problem was touchy-man and James to a certain extend because she saw that he was very nervous each time their supervisor was entering the office and Lily knew he was trying to restrain himself from punching the man. Sirius soon realized the same thing and tried to calm him down and help Lily in the same time.
They were now looking for movie pets agencies to get catalogues to start their "casting" because they had decided that they needed pets such as dogs and cats for the commercial. Lily had seen strange looks between James and Sirius but had decided they were joking around and was back to her work. That afternoon, James and Sirius had to go to some of the agencies to get more information and Lily was supposed to work on the budget. And of course, touchy-man used this moment to come into her office. He offered her tea and even had biscuits with it. Lily sharply refused and excused herself telling him she had to go away otherwise she'd miss her bus to go back home. How she hated this man! He was going to spoil her summer job damnit! She immediately decided that she'll never send the boys outside together once again, one of them will always stay with her. Sirius preferably, because James was seriously coming close to an utter "out-of-control" state towards that man.
When she arrived home, she decided to check on Sirius to talk to him about what had happened and entered his room. She was surprised to see Remus and Peter were there with James.
"Oh" was all that Lily could say. She was very uncomfortable because she didn't know how to react and she didn't know how Remus and Peter were going to react.
"Er .. I wanted to check something with Sirius about work but I guess I'll see you later then," Lily started while retreating towards the door.
"Hey Lily, I'm glad you're here," Remus started under James and Sirius's approving looks. "And Peter is too, isn't it Wormtail?"
"Er yeah … Hi Evans," Peter said, getting nasty looks from the other boys. "So how are you … Lily?" he quickly added.
"Fine, thanks." Lily answered. "How about you?" she politely enquired.
"Well we were teasing Prongs and Padfoot about their muggle job" Remus said smiling.
Lily smiled at that. "They're doing great you know. I'm proud of them, I mean it's their first ever job, muggle job that is, and they're doing great things, and I've got a great news for them". Lily said looking at the boys and then more particularly at James.
James felt his cheeks getting all red but couldn't help but look at Lily, she was so beautiful and best thing was she had just said she was proud of him!
"Er sorry to break this intimate 'we're-all-alone-in-the-world-looking-at-each-other' moment but what's the great news Lily?" Sirius interrupted them.
His comment made them both blush even more and Remus, Peter and Sirius laughed at them.
"Tomorrow morning, early morning that is, we're going on a location my supervisor had indicated me. Mind you, we'll have to leave very early." Lily beamed.
James's face fall. "How early?" he asked.
"Well around 5 would be perfect, why?" Lily asked him seeing how crestfallen he was.
"Er" he started pleading the other boys to help him with his eyes.
"We're kind of having a Marauders night tonight so technically speaking I don't think we'll be in a good shape tomorrow morning." James lamely explained. He knew what was going to happen. All these weeks where Lilly seemed to appreciate him and maybe starting to feel something more towards him were going to be shattered into piece within the next second as her red-headed temper was going to have the better on her. She was going to shout, maybe even slap him and call him names and leave. He certainly wasn't prepared for the shock he received when he gathered enough courage to look at her seeing that nothing was happening. She had a look of utter disappointment on her face. He wasn't prepared for such a cold and collected reaction.
"Well then if you have something else planned … You know where I work I'll see you tomorrow then whenever you feel good enough to come". Lily said going out of the room not even saying goodbye.
"Ouch" said Sirius.
"I'm sorry mate", Remus apologized.
"What should I do?" James asked "There's no way I'm leaving you guys alone tonight you know how important it is, but there's no way I can't be here for her tomorrow. She trusted me, hell she even said she was proud of me and now … everything's broken.
"I know that James," Remus started, "But it seems to me that Lily has become as important to you now".
"I'll go with you guys, but I'll be there for her as well tomorrow morning!" James firmly stated.
Lily was surprised when the first tear fell down along her cheek. Why on earth was she crying? James's behaviour wasn't that surprising after all. Once a Marauder, always a Marauder. How stupid of her to think he could have change in such a short time. What were these tears for? Anger? Disappointment? Maybe both. Anger at herself for being so stupid and disappointment at him because, well because she as starting to like him again. That'll teach her! She determinedly brushed her teeth before going to bed and took her wand to shut the curtains tights for the bright full moon was giving her a hard time to fall asleep.
But that of course was nothing compared to what poor Remus had to go through. Hell would have been a better description. Although these painful periods of his life had been considerably eased after his fellow Marauders had achieved to become animagis, it still was hell. He was very glad that James had finally decided to stay because Padfoot and Wormtail wouldn't have been enough.
True to his words, James stayed as much as needed and then left to get as much sleep as he could. What surprised him thought was the fact that Sirius followed him as soon as Remus was secured with Peter to take care of him. Sirius saw the surprise in James's eyes.
"I might not be in love with her but she's a great girl and I'd love to be her friend. And I hate disappointing her as much as you do." Sirius said as they arrived in the house.
The two boys quickly made their way to their rooms and quickly fell asleep.
They were a little scared the day after when they arrived in the kitchen at quarter to 6 to find it empty as Lily had already left. They quickly ate their breakfast and secured their apparition to the building of the company, hoping to find Lily there before she left for the location with her supervisor.
During that time, Lily was waiting for touchy-man in her office dreading the moment he'll enter and see that she was all alone. The moment arrived and Roger entered her office delighted to see that she indeed was alone.
"Ah my dear Lily," he started, "I'm so proud of you; I knew I had chosen the right person as soon as you entered the building. Surely you know that I'm the one that chose you right?"
"Thank you Sir, now could we go back to work?" Lily offered as she really was starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Ah Lily, you have such a beautiful voice, does your boyfriend know that?" Roger asked dangerously making his way towards Lily.
"Indeed" said an enraged James as he entered Lily's office closely followed by an equally pissed off Sirius.
"Late, aren't we?" Roger said.
"Actually I asked them to be here at 6, and they're right on time". Lily said relieved to see the two boys.
"Well you have the directions Lily. Have a good day." Roger said getting out of her office.
"Thank you guys, now let's go to this location and our work on the commercial will be finished". Lily stated.
"So will be the holidays" Sirius said.
There I'm finished. I hope you guys like it! Please read and review! You'll make my day! Flames are welcomed as long as they are constructed criticism.