Summary: When a class assignment pairs two students who have never seen eye to eye together for two weeks during the summer, sparks are bound to fly, along with tempers, tears and clothing? JPLE. Rating may change.

A.N.: J.K.Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers, they all own Harry Potter. I own nothing. I can barely afford gas for my car let alone try to copyright a story for a fanfic site. And if you, Mrs. Rowling would just put out a new Harry Potter book each week we uber-fans wouldn't have to take matters into our own hands and hope to Merlin you don't sue us for plagiarism.

This isn't my first fic just the first one I've had the nerve to post, most of the time they are just a very weird catharsis. I appreciate your opinions so please review and tell me what you think! Will update often. Rating will most likely change later just to be on the safe side.

Muggle It

Ch. 3 Damn Austen

Knock—Knock—Knock

"Oh, yes do come in."

They were standing outside a large country manor looking at a woman who looked about as friendly as a Blast Ended Skewert.

"My name is Ms. Brinkley. I am Judge Hawthorn's housekeeper." She said primly.

They walked in, following her down a long hall. "This is the dining room, dinner is at five every evening. The kitchen is to your left, you will be responsible for your other meals."

Lily smiled as James went slightly white at the idea of having to cook for himself.

"And I will be needing your wands."

"Oh, right of course." Lily started digging in her bag. James put his hand on her arm to stop her.

"I'm sorry Madam, not to be rude but we won't be handing over our wands."

"You're not to be using magic." She answered.

"Yes I know, and you have my word that we wont but Section 5-1 of the Wizarding Bylaws states that no witch or wizard is required to hand over their wand unless they are being tried by the Wizengammot or have been instructed to do so by a member of Magical Law Enforcement.

Both Ms. Brinkley and Lily stared at him in slight shock as he stood there looking quite serious.

"Well if it's found out that you two have been using magic you'll be asked to leave."

"We wouldn't dream of it Ms. Brinkley." Lily looked at James imploringly and he just nodded.

"Well let me show you to your rooms."

"James! What the hell was that?"

Lily stormed into the guest room he was staying in, her green eyes on fire. "These people are opening their home to us and you treat them like they were telling you to hand over one of your kidneys!"

"Ah, no, I'd put up a much bigger fight for my wand than one of my kidneys. I mean I have two of them and I can always get a healer to re-grow the one they took."

He couldn't help but chuckled a bit. "But how did you like my little performance back there?"

"I thought it was rude. And since when do you know Wizard bylaws by heart?"

"I don't, I made all that rubbish up."

"James!"

"Well, we still have our wands, don't we?" He said, grinning at his own cleverness.

"We can't use them."

"Yes, well I don't always use my brain, but it doesn't mean I don't want it with me." He rolled his eyes at her still puzzled expression. "Evans, think about it. We're here, cut off from the Wizarding world, do you really want to be without your wand? What if something happens? Someone attacks us?"

"Oh Merlin James, your so bloody paranoid." She rolled her eyes and walked out. As she did she heard him call, "I'd rather sound paranoid than be dead."

The room was beautiful. She figured it might have been his daughter's room at one point. Pretty pale pink sheets and a lace bedspread, elegant cherry furniture. She felt like she was in a princess's room or something.

She walked over to the large window and moved aside the curtains and felt her breath catch. It reminded her of reading about what Pemberley must have looked like. A beautiful lake, rolling green hills, it was magnificent.

If only to further the similarities between this place and her favorite book, there went James. He was walking down by the lake alone, one hand shoved in his pocket the other….Was he Smoking!

Lily narrowed her eyes to see. Yes, he was definitely smoking. 'Idiot' she thought. Figures he would be the type to think he looked so cool with a cigarette hanging stupidly out of his mouth. Which he didn't.

He looked like an idiot.

A stupid idiot.

Well, it might have looked a little cute.

What with his messy hair and upturned collar, it was a bit rebellious.

Stupid! Not rebellious, stupid!

Slightly cute but still very very stupid. Definitely stupid.

Lily watched him walk along and kick a rock into the water. He looked, sad, or angry, or both and she liked neither. She did tend to be too hard on him sometimes. He was just trying to look out for her with the whole muggle thing. And it probably was safer to have their wands nearby.

She thought about going out to him. No, he would never let her live it down if she was concerned for his well being. He probably wanted her to come down. Why did she want to go down? It was James. She had hurt his feelings hundreds of times. So why should this time be any different.

Maybe because this time he actually looked slightly hurt. Or because she couldn't stop thinking about all the things she wanted those hands of his to do to her. His hands, his lips, his…Why does he have to be such a stupid idiot!

Lily took a deep breath, straightened her skirt and knocked on the large wood door.

"It's open."

Lily walked in and saw James with his back to her at an elaborate writing desk, his owl waiting patiently.

"Hi." She said nervously as she stood there, holding two steaming cups. "I brought you some coco. A peace offering if you will."

He turned around, "A peace offering?" He leaned back in the chair, grinning. Lily resisted the urge to throw it on him. It would be a lot easier if he didn't look like he had been expecting to see her.

"Well, were stuck in this house together for two weeks. We at least need to be civil to one another. So, here."

She practically shoved the cup into his hands.

"Thanks."

"Your welcome. Were not supposed to be using our owls. Muggles don't use owls." She motioned to Moe.

"Yes but you see, my parents are not part of this little game, and unlike yours, do not own a telephone. I promise is wont use him often, so don't tattle on me."

She sneered at him and he just laughed.

"Besides. I swore to my mum I would let her know I arrived safely."

"You're writing to your mum?"

"Yes, as hard as it might be for you to believe. My parents happened to be quite fond of me."

"Well someone was bound to be."

James just chuckled as he tied the letter to the owl's leg and let him out the window.

"I see Moe made it alright."

"Yes. Moe did. And you can stop laughing at my owls name anytime."

"I'm sorry. It's just, I would have though you would have given you owl an, I don't know, better name."

"I was seven. And Moe is a good name."

Lily sat down in the armchair across from him without really realizing what she was doing. "Seven? Most people didn't get their owls until they were in school."

"I got him for my seventh birthday from my parents." He shifted a bit. "My dad worked a lot, went out of town on business and such. So he gave me Moe so I could always get in touch with him."

Lily couldn't help but smile a bit. "You and your parents are really close aren't you? You've mentioned them a few times today."

"Well, yeah. We are. It's just the three of us so we've always looked out for each other."

"What about your grandparents?"

"They've all passed away. Both of my parents were only children. So it's just the three of us, always has been."

"Sometimes I wish my family was like that."

"Big family?"

"Well, it was, since I started Hogwarts my grandparents have all passed on, save my dads mum, but she's on her way out. And I don't have any aunts or uncles either. I meant just my parents and I."

"Surly Petunia isn't that bad?"

"She can be. I've always wished I was an only child."

"It's not that great. Gets lonely. That's why I went out and brought my own sibling home."

"Sirius?"

"Yeah."

"He really lives with you?"

"He did. Wanted to try being on his own this summer. Last summer he lasted at home for all of, I think it was two days, before showing up at my house at one in the morning. Mum and Dad consider him like a second son, their actually paying for Hogwarts for him this year."

"But, why? Doesn't he get along with his family?"

James just tutted a little. "Come on Lily. Just from the ones you've seen at school, Bellatrix and Narcissa Black, his brother Regulus. Can't you tell what kind of family the Blacks are? Sirius wants nothing to do with those kinds of people.

"Their Death Eaters?"

"Well, none of them have been convicted. Cissy just got engaged to that Malfoy bloke who was a few years ahead of us, Slytherin. My dads dead certain he's one, his father definitely is. And Bella just married Rodolfus Lestrange. He hasn't been convicted but his brothers in Azkaban. Andromeda, their older sister, who's Sirius's favorite cousin married a muggle and was disowned."

"Just because she married a muggle?"

"Yup. Their good people though Andromeda, not the Blacks," He quickly clarified. "She and her husband Ted have this little girl, Dora, she's three. Padfoot and I got to baby sit her back in June. I'm telling you now, never play hide and seek with a kid who's a metamorphmagus."

"Someone let you and Sirius care for their child?"

"Yes. I happened to be very good with kids. They love me."

"I can't believe I never knew that about Sirius."

"He doesn't talk about it much, will probably kill me for telling you."

"Then why did you?"

"Because I know your not the type of person who will make sure everyone in the school knows what a fucked up family he has."

"Don't swear."

"Yes Dear."

"Don't call me Dear."

"Yes Sweetheart."

Lily frowned playfully at him as he just laughed. "I can't believe it's only you and your parents." She said, "I though all pureblood families were huge."

"Of course their huge, they have to make sure they have lots of second cousins to marry."

"Aren't you pureblood though?"

"Technically, I suppose. We Potters have always been a bunch of blood traitors though. And damn proud of it." He puffed out his chest pointedly, making her laugh again.

"Blood traitor?"

"It's what pureblood families call other pureblood families who could give a damn if their line stays that way. I've never thought that someone's bloodlines are any indicator of the type of person they are. I happen to be a pureblood because my dad, who happened to be pureblood, fell off his broom and happened to meet my mum, who happened to be pureblood and also happened to be the on call nurse at Mungo's that night."

"That's how your parents met?"

"Yeah, he regained consciousness just in time to hear her tell her friend what an idiot he was for trying something so stupid on his broom. He knew he wanted to be called an idiot by her for the rest of his life."

"That's oddly sweet. How old were they?"

"He was twenty five, she was twenty one. They were married a year later and I came along in two. All because some idiot tried to play chicken while standing on his broom."

"Well I guess we know where your get it from."

James shrugged a bit and took a sip of his coco.

"So your mums a nurse?"

"She was. She went out on maternity leave and never went back. Couldn't bear to be away from me."

"Right." She scoffed, still smiling at him. "What does your dad do then?"

James shifted uncomfortably again and took a nervous sip of his drink. "He…well he, er…Um."

"Never mind. Sorry. I was being nosey."

"No, you weren't its just…I'm not actually supposed to talk about it."

"Oh, it's alright James. Really. I'll just, go, I'm probably bothering you anyways."

"No, please, don't go. I just…," He looked slightly desperate. "Can I trust you to keep a secret?"

Lily looked slightly curious now. "Of course."

"I mean you can't tell Lavinia or anyone."

"I learned first year never to tell Lavinia anything."

"Ok." James actually scooted his chair in a ways, leaning in. "He's an Unspeakable."

"Really?" Her eyes lit up a bit. "That job must be fascinating. But, why can't you tell anyone."

"Well, everyone knows about them but, can you think of any you've heard of, any names in the paper, any mentioned in classes?"

"Well…" She thought for a moment as she realized she hadn't. "No, never."

"Exactly. It didn't used to be like that. They've always tried to keep their identities low key. However since things started getting bad the ministry has even made requests to the Daily Prophet not to revel any. We know, obviously, the guys, they know but that's just because they spend so much time at our house, a few family friends do but…We just tell everyone he has a random ministry job."

"But, why?"

"You Know Who would love to know about all the things going on inside the Department of Mysteries. One of my dad's coworkers has already been killed. Dads already been put in the hospital twice. First it was the Cruciatus, then with a badly preformed Imperus Curse. People want to know what he knows, and they would do anything to get it." James finished quietly.

Lily knew he must be serious, James never said anything quietly. "Is he alright?" She asked, genuinely concerned.

"Course he is. He's a Potter."

There was the James she knew and loved. Loved? When had it changed from loathed? She quickly put the idea out of her head, reminding herself strictly that it was just a saying.

"My mum worries about him though. Obviously. But that's why I'm not supposed to tell anyone."

"Then why did you tell me. You could have very well told me he has a boring Ministry job." She said while she stared at him intently, waiting for his answer.

"I didn't want to lie to you. And my parents won't care that I told you. They like you."

"I've never met your parents."

"Yet."

"Then how do you know they like me?"

"Well, granted they've had a very biased point of view but, they know all about you."

"Talking about me, have you?" She said more flirtatiously than she had planned.

"You might have been mentioned a few times." He answered. Now he was the one staring intently at her. Lily couldn't help but feel like those hazel orbs were looking into a part of her that no one had ever bothered to look. "And now I know that I was always right about you."

"What do you mean?" Lily asked, feeling herself blush under his stare. He always looked at her like that. However, this was the first time she didn't want to throw a Conjunctivitis Curse at him.

"You didn't ask me."

"Ask you what?"

"Stuff about my dad's job. Even Sirius, when I told him he pestered me for the inside scoop. What they were doing. What they had in there. You didn't ask."

"Well, its top secret, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"I just assumed you couldn't talk about it so I didn't want to put you on the spot." She said, looking perplexed.

"I don't know anything about it, but it doesn't stop people from asking." He said as he kept staring. "It means a lot that you didn't ask."

Lily wasn't sure what the big deal about not asking was. However she could see that it seemed to mean a lot to James. She had half expected him to go rattling on about all of the important things his father did and all of the cool secrets he had been privy to. The fact that he hadn't was quite, refreshing.

"But, listen to me, been blabbering on about myself again. What about you. Why don't you and your sister get along?"

Lily startled at having the conversation having gone her way so soon. Truthfully she hadn't heard a word he said. Those eyes had to have a charm on them.

"Sorry, What?"

James chuckled softly. "I asked why you and your sister don't get along."

"Oh."

James shifted in his chair and before she could answer and said, "This thing is terrible. There's a porch, just down the stairs. Its still plenty warm out."

"Er…"

"Come on Evans." He tried to put on a cheerful smile but she could see the desperation in his eyes. He had never wanted anything more than for her to say yes.

"Well, until it gets cold."

"Alright then." He looked very very pleased.

Lily settled into the gliding rocker and knew she should have been less surprised when James took the empty seat right next to her.

They sat there quietly for a while watching the stars twinkling on the surface of the lake. "It's really beautiful here. Isn't it?" She asked while looking at him.

"Yeah, it is. So, are you going to answer my question?"

"What question?"

"The one I've asked you twice already." His eyes sparkled. "I'm beginning to think you can't concentrate when you're around me Evans."

"Hardly." She lied.

"Why don't you get along with your sister?"

"We just, don't."

"There has to be a reason."

She went to say something snippy but stopped. He didn't look as though he wanted to harass her, but was genuinely curious. "I don't know. We were never close. Then I got my letter and everything went to hell. She doesn't like magic."

"I kind of picked up on that when she said she didn't want another freak in her house."

"I'm so sorry. Don't pay any attention to her." She said, looking embarrassed.

"I was more offended she called you a freak than being called one myself."

Lily wasn't sure how to respond to that. Except to ask him if he had been put under the Imperius Curse. James Potter wasn't exactly known for taking others feelings into consideration. Then again, James Potter had surprised her a few times today.

"She's probably just jealous of you, because you can do magic."

"I doubt it. She didn't like me much before I became a witch."

"I don't see how that's possible."

That had to be the fifth time today he had said something indisputably nice to her. The worst part about it was that Lily found herself becoming a little more breathless each time.

"Well, apparently it is." She searched for something else to say, anything to keep her from looking over at him. He was sitting so close, smelling so good. His face had a sort of kindness that she had never seen on it before. "It will probably get worse anyways. Now that she's with, Vernon."

The disgust in her voice was clearly audible as she spoke his name.

"I'm getting the feeling that you might not like Mr. Dursley very much. Am I right?" James said with a cheeky smile.

"Oh, it's not that I dislike him," Lily smirked, "It's more like I absolutely detest him"

James laughed lightly "I still can't believe your sister is engaged." There was no hiding the surprise that was clearly audible as he spoke.

Lily looked at him in complete shock, surprised that he would be so blunt about it. Most people were kind enough to just smile and say 'Oh how wonderful for her' when she told them Petunia was engaged. It was…refreshing.

"Sorry, that was rude." He said quickly.

"No, actually your reaction was much kinder than mine was. But you haven't met Dursley yet." Lily couldn't stop the giggle that left her. "They go together quite well, He looks like a great giant pig in an ugly blond wig and she looks like a horse that put on a dress and cheap lipstick. I was grounded for a week when I suggested they walk down the isle to Old McDonald had a farm."

James roared with laughed and just looked at her. "And here I though you were this sweet little thing."

"There's a lot you don't know about me Potter." Her cheeky smile was now matching his.

"I know." He just stared at her and leaned in a little. "But I want to know everything."

"What are you doing?"

"I think I'm making my intentions quite clear." He said as he leaned in closer.

"Don't. "

"Come on Evans. Don't tell me you don't feel it to. I know I haven't done things right in the past. I know I've messed up but I want to change that. I know you could feel the same if you just gave me a chance."

He was inches from her now. She could feel his breath mixed with the cool country air. The energy between them was almost tangible.

"This isn't a game James."

"Merlin Evans! I know that." He said, sounding exasperated.

"Then why are you still calling me Evans? Huh? How am I supposed to take you seriously when you won't even use my first name?" She asked, not taking her eyes off his.

"Lily." He whispered as he ran his fingers through her thick red hair pushing it behind her ear and chanted softly, "Lily, Lily, Lily, Lily."

His hand cupped her cheek as his thumb traced softly along her neck. "You've been fighting this because you think I'm the same prat I was back in fifth and even sixth year. This isn't a game; it's not a conquest, its you. And I know you saw that today. I know you've been seeing it for months you're just too damn proud to admit you might possibly have been wrong about me."

He paused, but not letting her take her eyes off of him. "Lily, I need you to be wrong about me because I care about you more than you could possibly imagine. I know you don't feel the same but I'm hoping that someday you will."

"James."

"No. Let me finish. I signed up for this whole thing thinking it would be a kick, seeing your face after finding out you had to spend two weeks with me…and it was but. It was also because I knew I might never get another opportunity like this. You've never given me a shot, not that I deserved one most of the time but, I'm trying now. Really trying to show you that I'm someone who can make you happy. And I have two weeks to prove that to you."

And with that, he leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead as he ran his hand back through her hair, clenching it gently in his fingers.

"Think about it." He kissed her forehead one last time and got up quickly, and walked back into the house without so much as a glance over his shoulder.

He didn't have to. He knew she was sitting there, mouth agape, watching him go. And she knew he was smiling over that fact.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there, staring out at the lake, looking for answers. Elizabeth had been wrong about Mr. Darcy, hadn't she? He ended up being the one person who made her happy, despite his arrogance.

The lake still hadn't given her the answers as she walked up to her room quietly, pausing only at his door. It was quiet inside but she was sure he was awake.

She briefly considered knocking but hurried to her own room instead. It had been a long and very confusing day, and she still didn't know what she was going to say to him tomorrow.

A.N: Hey everyone, thank you so much for all of the positive feedback! It's nerve-wracking waiting to see what people think. I'll try my best to update often but I'm a college student so some weeks are more hectic than others. Thanks for reading and reviewing!