Because You Loved Me

By: CarbonMonoxide

Disclaimer: hurrah.

Full Summary: She's an Unspeakable. Cold, reserved, detached… and unnervingly intelligent. He's an Auror. Carefree, happy, relaxed… impulsive and free spirited. They're both in their last year of training, and willing to do nearly anything to gain admittance into the prestigious and well respected Ministry's Special Board. But when the Ministry decides to implement a new "buddy system" to increase the capability of their trainees, Lily Evans and James Potter are going to have to work, live, and think as partners, just like at Hogwarts, except this time, they're older, and there aren't any professors around to keep them in line.

I'm BACK! Finally, right? And some of you thought I'd never update… shame on you, lol, how could you think I would just ditch my lovely story like that…? Well, anyways, yes, it's true, this story's alive and kicking! I edited it a little/added a new chapter, and hopefully it's better now. K, don't have much to say. I'm just stallin'.

Ha, and you're Lenin. Get it? …Umm, nevermind. On to the fic!

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Nolan Prewett glanced confusedly at his two favorite ministry officials, his eyes flicking from James to Lily, and then back to James. "Err, " he started awkwardly. "I take it you guys know each other then?"

Lily just stared at James, intransigently, refusing to look away, as if daring him to say something.

James smiled, his hazel eyes showing amusement as he looked casually at Lily. "We know each other, very well, in fact." he stated, his grin becoming wider.

Lily looked away, glaring at the ceiling. A grin that would normally melt any other woman on the spot, left Lily completely unaffected.

"Well," started Nolan, recognizing that nobody was really paying attention to him. " I guess I'll leave you two alone to get, ah...reacquainted. Meet me in the West Conference Room when you're ready, and I'll explain your responsibilities." With that said, the older man left the room, unable to decipher why his two of his favorite people were acting so oddly.

As soon as the door closed however, James spoke up, a smirk beginning to form on his handsome face.

"So, I guess we'll be working together then, eh Evans?"

"I guess." Lily said indifferently, as she turned away, once again looking at the ceiling. She honestly couldn't believe it, it seemed incomprehensible.James Potter:

The stupid git that had made fun of her on her very first day of school, the stupid git that had made her cry and called her a carrot top, the stupid git that had asked her out nearly everyday since her fourth year, after she had 'grown up' a little, the stupid git that had managed to somehow discourageboys that ever asked or (attemped to ask) her out... the stupid git that somehow managed to get the same grades as her, without even trying…

Stupid git. Stupid git. Stupid git.

Lily couldn't help the feelings of immense retroactive hostility and belligerence that arose within her, as she looked back on those days. And now she was going to be stuck with this crass, obnoxious, stupid, lazy bum of a partner, who would no doubt take advantage of her personality and use it as an excuse to sit back and watch her do both his and her work. God, she had worked so hard to get to where she was today. All those extra hours spent cramming with books, of staying up late memorizing maps and procedures; all the nights she'd given up much wanted hours of sleep to volunteer at the department for "no pay, just for the experience", all the tough, extra courses she'd taken just for more qualifications, all the times she'd attended long, circuitous, unnecessary but helpful lectures instead of going out and having fun with Clara… everything would be lost, because now she was stuck with James Potter. How was she ever going to get into the Ministry's Special Board with someone like Potter as her partner? …Potter, who would personally see to it that they would be the most unprepared, undeserving, incompetent and basically the worst two candidates in all history to ever ask for admittance into the Special Board. Why did this sort of crap always happen to her?

"God, Evans," James started irritably, interrupting Lily's thoughts as he noticed her distant behavior, "At least you could look at me."

Lily whipped around, her eyes wide in anger and frustration. This was just too much for her. It was hard enough for her to get over the fact that all her hard work was going down the drain, but to listen to James Potter's annoying nagging every two seconds would be enough to make her scream her lungs out. "Listen, and listen well, Potter." she started quietly, moving towards him. "We're obviously going to have to work together whether you like it or not, so I would prefer if you for once, acted like the normal, responsible person I know you aren't, and pulled your own weight. I expect you to do whatever work you have to do by yourself and I expect you to do it well, without any assistance from me, because I'm not going to do anything for you, anything, even if it means we're not going to be accepted into the Board. Alright, is that clear? Good. Consider yourself warned."

James stared at her. Damn, she talked fast. And damn, she was hot. Lily looked even better than he'd remembered, and her already amazing figure looked as if it had been kicked up a few notches from the last two years.

"And for Merlin's sake, try not to be such a…" Lily faltered, unable to find the right word to describe the man who was currently staring at her.

"Such a prat?" James supplied helpfully.

"Yes!" Lily said in exasperation. "Exactly! Don't be such a prat!"

"Okay, Evans, let's try to be rational here. I haven't even seen you for two whole years now, and then we suddenly find out we're going to be working together, I've barely said a word to you, and you start screaming at me about how irresponsible and pratty I am. Now tell me, is that being reasonable?"

"Yes." Lily replied shortly, looking up at the ceiling.

"What?" James spluttered. "What's your problem, Evans? And why do you keep looking at the ceiling? What's so interesting about it?"

Lily flicked her eyes back to James. "Well, I'd rather look at the ceiling than look at you." she said coldly. Yeah, she knew it was childish, she knew it was stupid and low, but she was beyond caring at this point.

"What the hell?" James cried out incredulously. "You know," he added, his tone changing,"I can't believe we even dated." He stated, his look of annoyance now gone, as amusement crawled onto his face.

"Shut up." Lily said, annoyed, as she rubbed her eyes. "We never even dated, Potter, and you know it. I don't even know what lifeless, ignorant, stupid person could've started that rumor, so seriously, just shut up." He just had to bring that up, didn't he? This conversation was giving her a headache. Once a prat, always a prat, Lily thought bitterly.

"Fine, sorry. Look Evans, I know you're stressed..." James said quietly, noticing Lily's actions.

Lily was tempted with a sudden urge to scream at him. Well, no rubbish, she was stressed. You would be too, if you found out you were working with James Potter and nearly 48 months of training and studying was going to be worthless. It wasn't exactly a time for much revelry.

"You have no patience, whatsoever, Evans." James muttered, when Lily gave no reply.

"I seem to lose all patience when it comes to you, Potter." Lily replied dryly.

"We're not getting anywhere by arguing back and forth, you know."

"Really? Wow. I never would've guessed," Lily shot back, caustically.

James ignored her, and continued on. "I have something to say, Evans, and it's actually intelligent, believe it or not. Remember what we did, when I miraculously became Headboy, and we were forced to work together as Head Boy and Girl?"

"No." Lily raised her eyebrows and looked at James tiredly. What did Head duties have anything to do with the present situation? That was nearly two years ago. And a lot had happened in two years.

"Well, we made a truce, an agreement, a deal, a-"

"I get it." Lily cut in. "I'm listening."

"So," James started. "Why don't we do as we did two years ago, and make a truce?"

"Okay..." Lily said slowly. "So, you're saying we form a sort of agreement?"

"Exactly."

"To what terms?"

"Well, I'll agree to pull my own weight, show full responsibility, and also the utmost respect to my partner, and I'll try not to be a prat, whilst you, Lily Evans, have to agree to stop bossing me around, stop insulting me, start showing equal respect, and try to have some patience."

Lily stared at him. She never would've thought. James Potter? And her? Agree? Was he actually making an attempt to step up and take responsibility? However, now that she thought about it, it was probably just an attempt to temporarily shut her up. Just because James said he was going to work, it didn't mean that he actually would. And he probably wouldn't, knowing James. Still, she'd almost forgotten about their agreement in seventh year, and that had worked somewhat, hadn't it? She hadn't been expelled or lost her badge. … There was hope.

"So, what do yousay, Evans?" James asked casually holding out his hand. "Is it a deal?"

Lily glanced down at James hand. And then up to his hazel eyes. He looked honest and innocent enough. But since when was James Potter innocent? "Well, it's not like we have much of a choice." Lily said, after a sigh. And with that decision made, she reached up, and took James' hand. "It's a deal."

"Good." James said simply. And without any hesitation, he dropped her hand, and headed for the door. "I think Nolan's waiting for us." he said, as he pulled open the heavy oak door with nearly no effort. "Ladies first." James said, holding the door open.

Glaring at his grinning face, Lily moved forward, and just as she was about to pass him, James spoke.

"And by the way, Evans, I thought I'd let you know. You look incredibly sexy in black."

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