Chapter 7:

Lily awoke the next morning and smiled. She threw her arm across the bed where it fell upon the soft comforter with a slight thud. Lily scowled as she realized that James' side of the bed was empty; she had been hoping to wake up with him in her bed as usual, and the severe lack of boyfriend made her groan loudly and close her eyes again. She forced them back open and sat up, propping herself against the headboard and glancing over at the wrinkled covers next to her, even though she knew there was no one there. Lily frowned again and dropped back down onto her pillow, rolling over and falling back asleep for another few minutes of peace before she absolutely had to get up - a fact that only made the start of the day worse than James' absence already had.

When she opened her eyes again 10 minutes later, Lily sat up in the bed again and looked around. Her anger quickly subsided as her eyes found the folded piece of parchment perched on her bedside table, and, underneath it, a single red rose. Lily smiled and pulled the soft comforter closer to her bare breast as she leaned over and picked the note and the flower up. She sniffed the rose first, breathing in its gorgeous scent before she placed it next to her on the bed and turned to the note. James' untidy handwriting greeted her as she did:

Lily,

Good Morning, sleep-head! I'm sorry I left without saying good-bye, but you looked so peaceful sleeping there, and I didn't want to wake you.

I got called into the Ministry early and had to leave to help out with some big crisis that's happening.

(Lily's forehead wrinkled at what might be happening, and she wondered if James was in any danger going to the Ministry to help out.)

Don't worry, though - they just needed some of us Aurors-in-training to fill some other positions for a few days while the higher up officials go out to handle the disaster, so I'll be perfectly safe.

(Lily trusted that James was telling her the truth, and her worry instantly disappeared at his reassuring words.)

I can't wait until your briefing is done and you're back home in a few days. Have fun in your meetings (I know you will!), and remember to keep Remus in line while I'm not there (Lily smiled at this) and give him and the professors my best.

Missing you already,
Love,
James xoxo

Lily smiled and took another whiff of the rose before placing them both back on her nightstand, throwing off her covers and forcing herself out of bed. She glanced at the clock, and then rushed off to the bathroom to take a quick shower before her first meeting.

Lily let the warm rush of water wash over her hair one last time to get any extra conditioner out and then turned off the tap and hopped out of the large shower stall. She shivered as the cold air of the morning met her wet skin and grabbed her robe, tightening it fast around her and shoving her feet quickly into her waiting slippers. Then she crossed the bathroom and walked into her bedroom to the closet to pick out clothes for the day.

Many miles away from Hogwarts, James was in the employee's lounge having a cup of coffee and chatting with some other new workers taking a break. The news played softly on the magically powered television that was floating behind him.
"Some big emergency this was, eh?" said one of the guys, sitting across the table from James. He had sandy hair and a crumpled copy of The Daily Prophet sat on the table in front of him.
"Yeah, right. And here I was all worried, worried my girlfriend too, I'm sure, all over nothing. I mean, the jobs we're on are damn easy anyway...don't see what the big deal was," James replied, taking another sip of his coffee.
"You got yourself a girl then, mate? Not a surprise, I mean, you're a handsome 'feller," the other guy joked. James smiled and pulled out his wallet.
"Well, thank you, Jake, I'm all a-flutter. But unfortunately I'm taken," he pulled out a photo of Lily from his wallet and set it down on the table between them.
Jake let out a low whistle. "That's her?" he asked, picking up the photo. Lily flashed him a big grin and pushed her hair behind her ear as he studied her.
"Yep, that's Lily."
"Well, you got yourself a real looker there...how'd you manage that? A few screws loose up in the little lady's noggin?" he joked, passing the photo back. James took and slid it back into his wallet, smiling.
"Nope, not with Lily," he replied. He took the last sip of his coffee and stood up. "Actually, Lily is...well, perfect…she's perfect." James blushed slightly as he said it, causing Jake to roll his eyes.
"Well, I'm happy for you, mate," he said, flipping the paper up.
"Thanks." James turned to leave but stopped when he heard Jake's voice calling to him.
"Hey James!" he said, causing him to turn around. "She's special. Don't ever let her get away," he said, and James could hear a little sadness in his voice.
He looked down at his feet and then back at his friend, nodding his head. "Yeah..." he said. "Thanks, Jake," and then he turned and walked out into the hallway.

"Now I assume you have all read the school handbook that was sent to you this summer and understand all of the rules. Yes, Mr. Camden, even the returning teachers; it's a revised version every year, remember. Now..." Lily zoned out as Professor McGonagal's shrill voice continued past boring piece of information after boring piece of information about the upcoming term.
Lily looked up as she felt a pair of eyes on her. As she did, she caught Jay's piercing blue eyes with her emerald ones. He winked at her as she watched him watching her. Lily blinked and looked away, towards Remus, who was sitting to her left. He was blatantly asleep, mouth slightly agape, with just a slight hint of drool about to escape his lips. Lily giggled silently for a moment and then hit him slightly on the chest.
"Wha- oh..." he said, coming to and looking around, realizing where he was. He made an 'oops' face at Lily and sat up a little straighter in his seat. "How long was I out?" he whispered to her, stealing a glance at McGonagal, who was rambling on about something new but entirely as boring as before.
"Not very long. I think you're fine," Lily whispered back. She giggled again and wiped the side of his mouth off. "Ew," she laughed quietly looking at her hand and wiping it on the seat next to her.
"Haha, thanks, Lils," Remus said.
Lily sighed. "The things I do for James' friends..." she said, pretending to be put-out.
"Shut up," Remus told her, punching her lightly on the shoulder.
"Ow!" Lily squealed slightly louder than may have been smart, and she covered her mouth instantly as if to hide the noise.
"Shhh!" Remus whispered, though he couldn't keep the grin off of his face as he did it.
"Remus, Lily? Are we interrupting anything?" the Professor's voice called over to them. Lily looked up to see McGonagal's gaze settled on her and Remus; all of the other teachers were quiet, looking around at them too. Lily glanced over at Jason, who smirked and made a face at McGonagal behind her back. Lily couldn't help but giggle a little, despite herself.
"Lily?"
Lily turned back to the professor and instantly turned a bright shade of red.
"Uhh, nothing- I mean, no...Professor," she replied and then, "Er, no, Minerva," she corrected herself. "Excuse our rudeness."
"Er, yes, please continue," Remus added awkwardly, his face also turning slightly pink.
"Why thank-you, Remus, how kind," McGonagal replied curtly. She turned back to the other faculty. "Where was I? Oh yes..." and off she went again.
Lily looked at Remus. He made a face at her and she threw eyes at him and forced the giggles down. She pointed to the professor. "Listen!" she whispered.
Remus rolled his eyes and yielded to her directions.
Lily looked around again and found that those same blue eyes were watching her. She smiled quickly at Jason and then turned back to listen to McGonagal.

"Thank-you, sir," James said, taking a signed slip of parchment from the Ministry Official sitting at the desk in front of him. The official nodded and sent James on his way with the paper in a small folder with 'private' stamped across it.
James exited the office and walked down the hallway. He smiled and said hello to the people he met on his way and stopped once or twice to have a quick talk with some of them. As he turned a corner, not looking where he was going, he suddenly felt himself hitting something large and solid. He felt hot liquid pour onto his shirt and his robes and looked up to see a luminous face filled with bright blonde curls.

"Oh my- I am so sorry!" the girl squealed with embarrassment,
James looked up to see that the curls belonged to Lyla, the Minister's daughter he had met by the fire on his first day. He smiled at how flustered she was getting.
"No worries, Lyla," he said, pulling out his wand and flicking it - as soon as he did, the stain lifted from their clothes and vanished into thin air, everything good as new.
"Thank-you," Lyla said, meekly.
"You're welcome," James replied, smiling at her; she was still shaking just a little bit. "So...how have you been?" James leaned against the wall to talk to her. Lyla looked astonished that he was still talking to her.
"Oh! Well, I've been, I've been good…great! You?" she replied, trying to act as casual as James was. She folded her arms but her coffee cup got in the way, so she put it down, blushing and then re-crossed her arms. James almost laughed.
"Good, good. A little difficult adjusting to this whole "career" thing, but I'm sure it gets better," he said, smiling.
Lyla leaned ever so slightly closer to James; she caught the smell of his cologne and blinked before replying. "Yes, I promise it will," she grinned up at him, boldly (and as casually as she could) stepping toward James.
He sensed what she was doing but stayed where he was. He could feel his pulse quickening just a little, but he also felt that he should not be feeling this way.
"Promise," she said again, laying her hand on his chest.
He looked down at it and then smiled. "Yes, well see, it is a little more difficult with Lily also having a job. She's away at a briefing before she returns for the rest of vacation. She's been offered a job teaching at our old school, Hogwarts!" he said in a very chipper voice.
"Lily?" Lyla asked.
"Yes, I mean, so I'm here, training most of every day and now she's away and I went to see her, but then I had to get called here suddenly. It's quite a change to seeing each other every day like we were used to. But we'll just have to adjust, won't we?" he sneakily threw her a big grin, showing off his pearly whites. He knew it would work to throw her off of him, but it was still hard for him somehow, knowing that it would.
"Yes...um, who is Lily?" she asked, as nonchalantly as she could. Her hand was still laid upon the front of James' shirt.
"Lily? Well, she's my girlfriend," James replied, coolly.
"Oh, um-" she pulled her hand back and turned. Then she turned back suddenly. "I have to g-go..have to go, goodbye, James.." and then she scuttled off down the hallway.
James grinned but couldn't help himself to watch her as she hurried away from him. She didn't look back.

A/N

Ahhh, sorry for the long wait..i didn't know I was this far behind on this site, but this is a longer chapter so I hope it makes up for it and I can promise another chapter very soon!

Enjoy!

Jes xo