Hi everyone! I know this took forever, it has been crazy busy at my house. There were some parts that I didn't like and had to redo numerous times. Then my editor did not send me the chapter thought e-mail, so I had to do my corrections off of a paper copy (I'm v. lazy with that sort of thing) and mid-terms and fundraisers and plays are happening and I'm lucky if I have time to sleep. Hopefully this chapter makes up for the lateness.

-Jill

Disclaimer: All Ms Rowling's. I started reading the 6th book again. And man do I LOVE Harry!

Rating: M for definite innuendos and language.

Of Davis and Formalities

Marlene's world fell apart the day she got off the train. Her best friend hated her and none of the others trusted her. She and Lily were always close and great minds think alike: she left. France did marvels for her. Taught her how to relax and hold her alcohol, but something was missing. She loved Vienna, but her favourite place was Rome. She fell in love with it. She took a part time server job at a wizarding pub.

It came as quite a shock when she saw Lily walk into her pub one day. The life changing event all too fresh in her mind, she never took notice of Lily.

Marlene was a smart girl; Ravenclaw Prefect, so it didn't take her long to catch on to Lily's secret. They had been best friends for years.

It started a little after Davis Faxon announced his secret wedding to his Healer. He came into the pub with Lily. This happened night after night, week after week, they came together and left together completely wrapped up in each other. It didn't take Marlene long to see what everyone else missed.

Once or twice she thought about going and talking to Lily. Obviously Lily had moved on or she wouldn't be wasting her time with Faxon. Marlene, however, second-guessed herself when she heard that Davis and his wife were getting divorced. Lily would be representing his wife. This changed on the night it's finalization she saw Lily and Davis toasting to "Qudditich, love and the plonker Italians".

She considered going to the paper; they would piss themselves over a story like hers, but deep down, she still felt bad about what she had done to Lily. She decided more than once, to keep the secret safe.

She never saw Davis and Lily together again. Davis would come in occasionally; only it was now to be noticed (alone) to keep up his Qudditich star image. She assumed Lily left, she assumed that Lily's conscience had gotten the best of her and she fled. But Lily never ran. Marlene knew her friend well enough and Lily never ran.

"Excuse me, miss? Could you possibly get me some water?" Davis smiled at her.

She nodded and reached behind the bar for a bottle of water. With him smiling at the cameras, she threw the bottle hard at his stomach. He caught it without turning his head.

"I don't think this is the best way for you to behave with reporters around."

"I don't care; I want you to stay away from Lily."

Davis looked around. "Sorry hon, I don't see any lilies here."

"You know what I mean." She glared.

He held her stare and smiled. "I remember her talking about you," he looked down at her name, "Marlene. About how you have trouble noticing if a man is taken or not."

"Hypocrite."

"That's a harsh word."

"It was meant to be."

"I never slept with another man."

"You know what I mean."

"No, sorry, luv, I don't."

"You and all your affairs; yours with Lily."

"Do you have any proof? Do you have pictures of me with other women?"

"I have seen you here with Lily!" Marlene said out of frustration.

"Sorry luv, two friends having tea does not count as an affair."

"So why were you denying that you knew her before?"

Davis' smile grew. "You really should be on your best behaviour with reporters around." And he left.

The next day James was a mess. He locked himself in his office and refused to show any signs of communication. Jane stopped by at lunch and only after a half hour of coaxing he let her inside. She didn't stay in long; just because he let her in didn't mean he would talk to her.

Jane sat with Marlene in her cubical.

"I don't understand, he was fine last night."

"There had to be a turning point."

Jane thought. "Now that you mention it. He was rather quiet after her found out that Qudditich player retired, Davis Faxon I believe. But it's stupid to get all worked up over that."

"Potter, let me in."

Silence.

"James, please let me in."

Silence.

"Look, I know something that might interest you."

Silence.

"James, it's about Faxon."

The lock clicked and Marlene walked in.

James was sitting at his desk, dark circles under his eyes.

"James, you look like shit."

"What about him?"

Marlene sat down.

"Davis and Lily were together in Rome. I assume they had an affair."

"And now he's in London."

Marlene looked startled. "London? He's here?"

"Yes. Apparently he went to see Lily the other day."

Marlene frowned. "He's bad news, James."

"He was."

Marlene gave him a questioning look. "Excuse me?"

James sighed. "The bloody git retired! Now there's no chance he'll be traded to England. We were supposed to get him next year!"

Marlene stared. "Is that what all of this is about?"

James looked confused. "Yes."

Marlene glared. "You're hopeless, James."

He slid back into this chair. "I know. Let me wallow in peace."

Marlene always walked by Lily's apartment. She was hoping that Lily would be sitting at her window like she did in Hogwarts, also because it was the quickest way home. She didn't know why, but that particular night, after coaxing (forcing) James out of his office, she decided to visit Lily, try to manage a clean slate.

She knocked a few times before she heard footsteps. Faxon was standing there in a short pink bathrobe.

"You."

"No name tag to check this time Faxon."

"Marlene," he smiled.

"Is Lily here?"

"That," he took a drag of his cigarette, "is classified information."

"Fuck, are you pissed?"

He leaned against the doorframe, blocking her view from what little apartment she could see. He breathed out, the smoke clouding her vision. She waved it away and he laughed.

"Maybe a little."

"Is Lily too?"

Like clockwork, Lily's laugh made itself known as an arm wrapped around Faxon's waist. He looked down at her over his shoulder.

"Marlene's here."

Lilys hand dropped and she retreated back into the apartment.

"Don't feel bad luv, she doesn't like many people."

"She's supposed to like me. I'm her best friend."

Faxon laughed. "You were her best friend."

"Fuck off."

Faxon smiled.

Marlene rolled her eyes and left.

Davis watched her go. He threw his cigarette into the hall and went inside.

Lily was late, she was never late. Remus began to pace the aisles. As of yesterday (according to the Prophet) Lily's case was officially closed. To no great surprised she had won and was paid handsomely for it. Remus could see her going out and celebrating last night, but she never let her fun interfere with her work.

Remus rested on the back shelf of books and listened intently to the hustle and bustle outside the store hoping to catch any sign that Lily was on her way. The bell rang and Remus heard footsteps growing closer to where he stood.

"Lily told me I would find you here."

Remus was rather shocked to find the same man that he had read about in the Prophet standing in front of him.

Davis smiled and took Remus' stunned silence as one he had met so many times before.

"A fan? Do you have anything I can sign?"

Remus shook himself out of a daze and frowned out of impatience and chose to ignore Faxon's last remark.

"Where's Lily?"

"She's…" Faxon laughed to himself. "Incapacitated at the moment, she will be here by three."

Remus stared at Davis. "How do you know? She would have owled me."

"She would have, but as I said, she has been very busy and needed some quiet time. She sent me out to tell you." All the while, Davis had a satisfied smirk.

"Alright. Tell her, I'll see her at three," Remus narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"Spiffy. She also wants to know if you would like to have a permanent position here. I think she wanted to you cover mornings and she would handle afternoons."

Remus continued to glare. "Lily knows I can't have a permanent job."

Davis smiled. "She said you'd say that. She told me to say that of course you can, and you can take as much time as you need off." Davis held out his hand. "Formalities."

Remus considered for a moment and then took Faxon's hand.

Davis's smile grew. "I'll inform her immediately."

"How was your first day back?"

Jane smiled at James as they sat down to dinner. "Wonderful."

"No sarcasm, Janey," James said in concern. She laughed.

"Of course not. I guess I really needed some time off." She cut into her chicken. "Marlene is coming over tomorrow night for drinks."

James choked. "Excuse me?"

"Marlene, from your office? She's very nice and she told me that you and her go way back. I thought it would be nice. How come you never mentioned her before?"

James wiped his mouth. "She was Lily's best friend."

Jane frowned. "Well, you're clearly over Lily, so I don't see why this is such a big thing. Just throw on your charm and everything will be fine."

She clearly didn't remember what he had done with Lily's best friend. Thinking he had dodged a major bullet, he didn't press the issue.

"Lily's starting to grow on me."

James choked.

"Did you know that she kindly took over for me while I was away?" Jane continued.

"Kindly?" James repeated. "Are you feeling ill?"

Jane laughed. "Of course not, James. Why would you say that?"

James narrowed his eyes and did a mental check list of all possible signs of any sort of curse, hex or potion that might be at work. "No reason. You don't say."

"Oh James, don't tell me you didn't know."

James approached this topic delicately. "What if I did?"

Jane smiled. "I would only curse you so that the only way you would be identifiable would be by your name that your mother wrote on the tag of those robes."

James shook his head. "No, had no idea."

Jane narrowed her eyes and glared. "James Potter I cannot believe you!"

"Janey, please don't make this a big thing. I was protecting you."

"Bull shit."

"I was!"

"Then how come I am mad right now?"

James shrugged. "I don't know, maybe because you're irrational?"

Jane laughed. "I'm irrational? I'm not the one who hid the fact that my ex-girlfriend took over my current girlfriend's job in fear of being yelled at."

"I didn't keep it from you because of that."

"Sure James. Then why do you avoid any type of confrontation with me that might end in a yelling match?"

"I don't like when people yell!"

"Would you like it if Lily yelled at you?"

James sat still, his face clear of emotions.

"Why would you say that?"

Jane began to cry. "I don't know, James. I just don't like the fact that you knew and didn't tell me."

James walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I should have told you, I'll give you that."

"I'm sorry I yelled. I was being irrational. I just don't like her."

James laughed softly. "You hardly know her."

"I know her well enough to know that she loves you."

James pulled away. "How would you know that?"

Jane paused. "She looks at you that say way that I look at you."

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