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 will stay the same.

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. I know I said the rating might change, but I think I'm going to keep it at T.

P.S. This is a fluffy chapter, so be warned, I know not everyone loves fluff, but this kind is important. Tiny bit of smut, nothing you would desperately want your parents out of the room when reading though ;-)

Muggle It

Confessions

Lily awoke hours later to see the sun beginning to dip behind the hills. It took her a moment to realize that the view she was seeing was slightly different than the one she had become accustomed to over the last few days. She also realized that she could feel warm breath tickling the back of her neck.

The past days events flooded back to her as she smiled and glanced down at the tee-shirt clad arm wrapped around her waist. She could feel the pressure of his chest pressed against her back, the weight of his head resting on her hair.

James's leg was entwined with her own; their bare feet were tucked around each other.

He has cute feet, she mused. She had had the distinct displeasure of being force to go on a trip to the beach with her family and Dursley earlier that summer, and he had absolutely grotesque feet.

She shuddered at the memory of seeing her future brother-in-law in that ghastly one piece red bathing suit. If she hadn't been so worried about messing it up and making herself forget everything, and right before the NEWTS no less, she would have explored the option of a memory charm.

Though she doubted that would be enough to burn the memory of him running down the beach after the young boy who had asked if Seaworld was on its way to help him back into the water, or if they still needed to be contacted.

James did have a point when he said showing up with him at the wedding was only going to make Dursley look all the worse. But she could have showed up with a mountain troll and done that as well.

James's knobby knees were nothing in comparison to the sight of blond back hair poking out between rolls of fat.

Merlin, help Petunia on her wedding night.

She chuckled softly at that, scolding herself for being so mean.

"What's so funny?" A sleepy voice asked from behind her.

"Nothing." Lily said as she carefully rolled over to face him.

"Sure. You were laughing about something." James countered as he smiled at her.

Lily felt herself get a little light as she saw how striking he looked in the hazy light of the sunset. He was adorable when he first woke up. His hair was sticking out in every direction, his eyes were groggy, but still had that mischievous light they always seemed to poses.

"Fine. I was thinking about Petunia and Dursley. And what a wonderful time they're going to have on their honeymoon."

James shuddered dramatically.

"My sentiment, exactly." She said.

"Where are they getting married?" He asked as he reached over to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. With the sun hitting the back of it, it looked like it was practically glowing.

"At the church our family's always gone to, and then the reception is going to be in our back yard." She smiled sweetly at him. "So, you'll really go with me?"

"I told you I would." He said as he continued to play with her hair. "On one condition remember?"

"I know, I know. I have to tell Lavinia." She rolled her eyes as she said it, working to hide her smile.

"And what exactly are you going to tell Lavinia?" That mischievous light was now a flame as he smiled at her.

"That I lost a bet."

"Oh, a week with me and you finally developed a sense of humor. After a couple years, you might actually be funny."

Lily pushed his arm playfully. "A couple years, you say?"

"A couple, a couple hundred…I'll take what I can get." He said with a serious smile. "Oh, and you have to tell your parents about me."

"I'm not telling my parents." She said quickly.

"Why not?" He asked, looking a little hurt.

"Because I happen to like you very very much; and I would hate for your friends to find out you were killed by a muggle insurance agent. Because that's what Daddy's going to do when he finds out I was living in the same house as my boyfriend." She smiled playfully at him as he gulped.

"Right…I think you have a point there. Tell you what; I won't make you tell Lavinia if you don't tell them."

"Deal." She grinned. "Is James Potter afraid of a big bad muggle?"

"Hey, I met your dad, remember? He was a very intimidating guy."

"That didn't keep you from mouthing off to him."

"I did not mouth off!" He said, trying to sound offended.

Lily raised her eyebrows, smiling. "We can tell them later. But you're still coming to the wedding with me, and…" She grinned. "You're dancing with me."

"Oh you don't want me to do that."

"Oh yes I do." She countered.

"You see the thing is, I happen to like you very very much; and I would hate for your friends to find out I was the one who broke all of your pretty little toes." He smiled at her with his adorable cocky smirk.

"I'll wear closed toe shoes."

His smirk slid right off his face. "Really, Evans, I don't dance."

"Really, Potter, you do." She was the one smirking now, watching him squirm. He reached over and began running his fingers through her hair again.

"Fine, if you want me to dance with you, I will." He said.

"I'd like that. Besides, you best get used to it. If you plan to take me to the 7th year dance, you better plan on dancing with me."

"The 7th year dance…that's a long time from now." James grinned and mused.

"I have a feeling time isn't going to be a problem for us. Were going to have a lot of it." She said confidently as she looked at him. "You're the one who told me were going to end up together, and that I just hadn't realized it yet."

"You're right, I did. And I meant it. For as long as I can remember, whenever I've looked into the future, thought about what I want to do, you've always been there. I always knew that as long as I had you, nothing else would matter." Lily had never seen him look as serious as he did right then.

"You didn't even know me." She said softly, still gazing into those eyes.

"Yes I did. You are the girl who is always late to class the first week of school because you help the first years find their classes and the bathroom. You're the girl who tries to be nice to everyone, even slimy greasy haired Slytherins, because that's the type of person you are. You're the girl who made me a calendar that counted down the days until I got to go home and see my parents when I was homesick first year." James smiled gently at her. "I still have that calendar."

Lily looked at him, not quite sure what to say. "I had forgotten about that." Was all she could manage.

"I didn't. It was our first week at school, back when we were friends."

"We've always been friends James...but I guess we did get along better our first year...untill you stole my bra." She said with a slight scowl.

James just stared at her, smiling a reminiscing smile. "We had met on the train, remember? You were so nervous because you were a muggleborn, and I tried to make you feel better."

Lily smiled. "You didn't, you made me feel worse by showing me that spell…I thought I was even more behind than I already did."

"Oh." He looked a little disappointed.

"But you made me laugh. I remember that." She pointed out quickly. "I was upset because Petunia had thrown a fit and wouldn't come onto the platform with me. And you made your ears change colors to cheer me up."

James blushed and ran his hand over his hair, messing it up even more. "That wasn't on purpose. I was trying to conjure you flowers."

Lily grinned at him. "Well, it helped none the less."

"I could have done it. That was one of the few spells I knew. But you just made me so bloody nervous." He admitted.

"How could I have made you nervous, I was only eleven?" She said.

"Yeah, and you were the prettiest eleven year old I had ever seen…prettiest girl I had ever seen."

"Yeah right."

"You were wearing a brown skirt with a white jumper, knee high socks and those funny black and white shoes…and you had a purple barrette with a butterfly on it, pinning back your hair."

Lily just gaped at him. "How could you possibly remember that?"

"Lets just say you made an impression." He said, shrugging a little. "Then Sirius walked into the car and asked to sit with us and I almost decided to hate him for the next seven years."

"You got over that pretty quickly when you realized that he supported the same Quidditch team as you." She poked him in the arm teasingly.

"And yet somewhere along the line we went wrong with you. The Wasps." He shook his head disappointingly. "That Bagman is a ponce. You might as well be a Cannons fan."

"In my defense, I don't support any team. That shirt was a gift from Lavinia, her cousin plays for them." She smiled wickedly. "I actually don't care for Quidditch at all."

She laughed as James got a completely horrified look on his face. "Take that back." He jokingly threatened.

"Nope." She smiled. "But, I can't say I'm completely adverse to the Gryffindor Quidditch team…You do look cute in those robes."

James grinned proudly, subconsciously puffing himself up a bit, which only made Lily smile more.

"Well, I'm sure my naturally athletic physic helps."

"Well, that and your bright red robes, draws attention away from your swollen head." She said lovingly.

"Yeah, you know I noticed that…But you know what they say about a guy with a big head right?" He leered playfully at her and wagged his eyebrows.

"James Potter!" She smacked his arm, trying not to laugh.

"What, they have to wear bigger goggles." He had a face splitting grin now as he leaned in. "You need to get your mind out of the U bend Evans."

"Funny."

"I am, aren't I?"

"I can barely contain myself." She drawled.

"Yes, I have that effect on women, but try to. I'm not that kind of guy."

She rolled her eyes in exasperation.

James just continued to run his fingers though her hair, which was now shadowed by the dusk. Lily smiled as she lay there, staring into his eyes which were locked on her.

"How is it, you always make me smile?" She asked him seriously.

"You can't help it. You love me." He replied, just as serious. He didn't even flinch at the surprised look on her face.

Lily searched for something to say. She knew she needed to say something, anything.

James just smiled though and leaned in and kissed her softly. He let his fingers wander to the back of her head where he let the thick red mass tangle itself around his fingers as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.

She kissed him back passionately, everything from the previous night and day quickly disappearing as she lost herself into him.

She felt him pulled back a little, just enough so his nose was still nestled against hers as they shared the pillow.

Lily looked into those deep hazel eyes and couldn't help but feel warmed by them. She knew what was coming, and she was longing to hear it.

"I love you Lily. I always have…and I always will." He finished. She nearly melted when she saw how nervous and, vulnerable he looked.

She closed her eyes happily and leaned in and kissed him gently before pulling back.

"I love you too James." She whispered, as she reached up and traced her fingers along his cheek softly.

She had never been so sure of anything in her life. She had known, from the moment she looked into his eyes in the reflection of the train's window that it was true.

There had been no denying it, a good deal of fighting it, but no denying it, something about James had captured her. Something about him that made it so she could look past the fact that he had the tendency to be an idiot, or an arrogant prat…or that he smoked. He was everything she needed.

And apparently he felt the same way. Because he looked genuinely beside himself, to the point she was sure she saw a tear forming in the corner of his eye.

She scooted closer and kissed him. James immediately kissed her back, as his hand left her hair and wrapped itself around her waist. She could feel his fingers on her back, finding the skin between the waistband of her jeans and the hem of her shirt.

Merlin those fingers…

He caressed her innocently as their kisses became more and more fervent and her fingers found his hair.

Merlin that hair…

She felt him pull her against him tightly and with a skill she preferred not to know where he learned, and roll both of them over. He shifted so he was supporting his weight on top of her and gently traced his fingers along her cheek.

"Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" He asked, not taking his eyes off of hers.

Lily opened her mouth to say something, then paused and closed it, blushing, not sure what to say.

"If you're looking for a word, incredibly is the only one I can think of that comes close." He said with an amused smile as he cupped her chin and let his thumb run along her lips. "Personally, I've never been able to think of a word that comes close enough."

"Sometimes you are too charming for your own good."

"You think I'm charming?"

Lily just smiled as she laid back into the pillows. "You have your moments."

"Well, coming from the person who once called me an arrogant, bullying toerag who you would prefer the giant squid over, I'd say that's quite a complement."

"You grew up…for the most part." She clarified with a smile.

James shrugged a little, still grinning. He leaned down and kissed her, deciding he had been away from those lips for much too long. She seemed to mirror that feeling because she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down closer.

James hand ran up the side of her light cottony button up jumper as he grinded up against her gently.

Their hair was in complete disarray. Lily's fingers clenched James back, pulling at his tee-shirt as she tilted her head to let him gain better access to the nape of skin where her neck met her shoulder which he was kissing tenderly.

She had no idea what time it was and she no longer cared. Nothing else seemed to matter with the comforting weight of James blanketing her, his gentle touches, those incredible kisses. She had never felt so out of control in her life yet so safe at the same time.

His lips once again found hers, the taste of salt still lingering on them. She melted into him, loving the feel of his slight stubble rubbing along her chin and cheek.

She felt his warm hand on her side, rising up. Soon it cupped her breast, only a thin layer of cotton and lace between the two of them. Lily felt a warmth she had never felt shooting though her, along with a newfound sense of apprehension.

"James." She said softly, the nervousness clear.

"Oh…I'm sorry." He quickly moved his hand out of her shirt and onto the pillow next to her hair.

"It's just…maybe we should slow down some."

"Ok." He smoothed down part of her hair. "That's fine, whatever you want." He said sincerely. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's alright…I've just…well, I've never done…this." She said, blushing. She tried to glance away but he refused to let her break his gaze.

"That's ok Lily. I don't want you to feel pressured." He rolled over and let her sit up.

"You're not mad?" She asked nervously.

"What? Of course not." He said, smiling. "I'd be a liar if I said I didn't want to but, I'm in no hurry. I've finally got you thinking I'm charming, I'm not going to mess that up."

Lily smiled a little, still blushing a little.

"Ok, just one question…so I know. Um, is this a permanent decision, or more of a rain check?" He asked.

"Well, seeing as I have no intention of becoming a nun anytime soon, I don't think it's a permanent decision." She teased.

"You know what I mean…do you want to wait until were married?" He asked, looking anxious.

Lily just grinned.

"What?" He asked, apprehension growing.

"You said when were married." She pointed out, smile growing.

"Oh, well…I'd be an idiot to let you get away."

"You're right, you would be." She said. "And I don't know."

"About which part?"

"The first one…I don't know, can we just take it slow, and see what happens?"

"Of course. But, if that's your choice, I'll wait for you. I've waited this long…I can wait a couple more years." He said, with only a small amount of pain audible in his voice, only slightly strained smile.

"You're a good man James Potter."

Now there was nothing strained about his smile, it was pure pride.

"Um…" The nervousness was back in her voice. "What about you…have you ever?"

"Oh."

His reaction told Lily all she needed to know.

"Oh." She replied quietly.

"Just once…the beginning of last year. You were dating that Hufflepuff bloke, the one with the big ears so I started seeing Kim, in Ravenclaw." He started explaining.

"James, you don't have to, it's alright, it's not like we were together." She cut in desperately. Kim usually sat that the lab station next to her in potions and she didn't want to spend all of next year trying not to think about her playing hide the wand with James.

"I regretted it immediately." He said, looking at her slightly disappointed face.

"Oh," She tried to hide the fact that she was disappointed, and knew she was doing a horrible job.

"Why?" She asked. She knew she shouldn't, but she seemed to be feeling slightly emotionally masochistic at the moment.

James just smiled lightly and with a small laugh looked at her like she had just asked him the world's stupidest question. "Because, Lily, It wasn't you."

"Oh." Was all she said. She looked up to see James still looking her in the eye. How was it he always seemed to know what she was thinking.

"You still love me?" He asked, trying to pass it off as a joke. Lily just reached over and cupped his cheek with her hand and smiled at him.

"More than ever." She patted his cheek playfully. "Now come on, I'm starving and I think we missed dinner."

James groaned a little. Lily wasn't sure if it was about missing dinner or having to get out of bed. She had a feeling it was the latter.

"Oh come on." She rolled off the bed and pulled on his hand. "I'll even make you something."

James grinned and followed her out the door, draping his arm over her shoulder.

Maybe Sirius was right, perhaps they were playing house.

But if that was the case, she really did like playing with James.

"Ah, Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, I see you're awake." Ms. Brinkley said as they came into the kitchen.

"Yes, sorry, we were comparing notes and drifted off." James explained, trying to sound innocent and convincing. He was doing a horrible job of it.

Ms. Brinkley just raised her eyebrows at both of them. "Well, there's some supper in the oven keeping warm. I'm heading to the library for a bit of reading, so please clean up."

"Yes ma'am." Lily said.

The woman gave them a curt nod and walked out. It had been fairly obvious from the time they had arrived that Ms. Brinkley was not thrilled about having two teenagers in her very neat house.

"That's going to be Petunia in thirty years." Lily theorized after she was gone. "Only she'll be looking after Dursley and whatever little spawn they have."

"You really don't like Dursley do you?" James asked as he sat up on the counter. He reached into the cupboard next to him and pulled down two plates as Lily pulled a pan out of the oven.

"I really don't. You've never met him, you'll see." She explained as she began dishing both of them up. "He's just…He's everything you're not…wait, that didn't sound right. He's not like you."

"That's a good thing, right?" He asked as he handed her two bowls.

"A very good thing. According to him, Petunia's going to stay home and take care of the house and children, while he brings home the bacon. Petunia wouldn't dare mention what we are to him. And his sister…Marge. I've only met her once but, those people belong in an institution." She paused to catch her breath to continue her rant. "And I'm about to be related to them!"

James just smirked.

"It's not funny" She pouted.

"So I'm guessing you and Petunia don't share the dream of having a house right down the street from each other someday?"

"Ha!" She scoffed. "I don't want to be in the same time zone as she and Vernon."

James now had a small smile tingeing at his lips, like he was trying to hide it.

"What?" She said, looking at him curiously.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about how that might be a little hard to find if you plan to stay in England."

"Alright, so I would settle for a long enough distance to make day trips highly inconvenient. Hogsmeade has been considered a time or two."

She set the two plates and bowls down at the small kitchen table and James slid off the counter, smiling.

"I could get used to this." He said as he sat down.

"Don't even think you're getting out of helping me clean up though." She said.

"Yes Dear."

She rolled her eyes and sat across from him. "This is going to sound strange but, where do you live?"

"You don't know where I live?" James asked.

"No." She laughed a little. "And I always wondered how you found out where I did."

"Emmeline will tell Sirius pretty much anything."

"How comforting."

"And to answer your question, I live in Godrics Hollow. My family's' been in that village for generations."

"Godric, as in Godric Gryffindor?" She asked as she leaned forward, intrigued.

"Ledged has it that's where he was born. But no one knows for sure. There are a lot of Wizard families who live there though, Muggles too."

"Do you like it there?" she asked.

"Yeah, I love it there. But you'll see, you're going to come visit me, right?" He looked at her hopefully. "Because I'm going to miss you like crazy after we leave here."

"So am I." She took a sip of her water. "But it's only a week after that until we go back to school."

"And you're going to sit with me on the train." He pointed out.

"Of course I am, were heads remember? We have to patrol the train." She smiled at the new found realization on his face.

"Oh bugger, that's right."

"I'm still mad at you for not telling me earlier you're Head Boy."

"I don't want to make a big deal about it." He said, pushing at his food.

"But it is a big deal, you seriously underestimate yourself James. You're extremely smart." She paused. "Not always when it comes to common sense, but academically you are."

"No one expects me to be Head Boy, my own mother thought it was a joke, remember?" He reminded her as he continued to push his food around.

"Yes well, no one expected me to ever cave in and go out with you. You never let that slow down your slightly, fanatical, pursuit of me. The James I know never cared what other people thought of him."

James couldn't help but smile a bit.

"And if nothing else just think, we get to patrol the school at night together."

Now James couldn't help but grin. "Ohhh Lily. I could show you things at that school your pretty little head couldn't even imagine." He thought for a moment. "You know, now that you know about Moony, I think that makes you an honorary Marauder."

Lily narrowed her eyes a little. "We had a deal remember, I don't want to hear about all of your little stunts."

"There's nothing little about most of our stunts. Didn't you see Sirius try to ride the Giant Squid last year?"

Lily giggled. She had missed the actual show, but she had seen the large teacup size bruised along his face and arms from where its tentacles latched on to him.

"His parents were furious when they got that owl. They threatened to pull him out of school, something about sending him to Durmstrang to straighten him up." James grinned. "Then they threatened to make him cut his hair and take out his earring."

"Oh, now that is serious. What did he do?" She asked with a smile.

"He never went home. That's when my parents started paying for him"

"It's too bad he doesn't get along with them."

"You've never met the Blacks. His father is…terrifying, and his mothers a piece of work. We stopped going over to visit him after third year, actually he stopped inviting us. He's embarrassed by them. They were always calling my family blood traitors and Remus a dirty halfblood." James shrugged a little. "We've never minded having him around though. He's family."

"Your friends mean a lot to you, don't they?" Lily asked.

"The world." He said seriously. "And nearly as much as you do."

Lily beamed at him from across the table.

"Just don't tell them I said that." He said quickly.

She laughed and nodded. "Your secrets safe with me."

"Miss Evans, you have a telephone call."

Lily looked over to see Ms. Brinkley standing in the doorway. She and James were just putting away the last of the dishes.

"Oh. Ok, thank you."

James had a genuine grin on his face. "You go take that, I'll finish up here."

She glared playfully at him and tossed the towel at his face.

She sat down in an old fashioned armchair and picked up the telephone. "Hello?"

"LILY!"

Lily pulled the receiver away from her ear and winced as the two high-pitched voices vibrated though her eardrum.

"How are you?" The voice of her best friend Lavinia came thought the line alone this time.

"I was perfectly fine until you nearly made me go deaf." She said, slightly disgruntle over the auditory assault.

"Oh don't be mad Love, we just miss you!" This time it was Emmeline. "Isn't this awesome? I'm on Lavinia's other line."

"So, how's the muggle life, from the viewpoint of a muggleborn." Lavinia questioned.

"It's perfectly fine." Lily said as she watched James take a seat in the leather armchair across the room, so conspicuously he might as well have been holding the paper he was reading upside down.

"You should find a way to come over." Emmeline said.

Lily smiled wickedly. "You want me to come over and watch dirty movies with you?"

She ginned as James nearly choked and dropped the paper.

"Ohhh, James is there, isn't he?" Lavinia asked, sounding delighted.

"Yes."

"So, how close have you come to killing him?"

"No, how many times as he asked you out?"

"Yeah, I have three sickles on four. Emmy thinks two." Lavinia informed her.

Lily looked across the room at James who was trying not to peak over the paper too much at her. She caught his eye and he just smiled sheepishly at her and motioned his head to the door, indicating that he was leaving. He set the paper down and was about to walk out.

"Actually, you're both wrong, He's only asked me out once." She said, causing James to halt. "And…,"

She bit her lip in a resolved way. She loved him. Part of loving him was admitting that to her friends. "I said yes."

The other end was dead silent, for a few moments that was, until unrestrained laughter blasted though the phone line, making Lily pull it away from her ear quickly.

"Stop laughing." Lily demanded.

"You're…you're dating….you're dating James Potter?" Lavinia asked in disbelief between fits.

"Yes. I am." Lily said proudly, or at least as proudly as she could while they laughed like she had just told them she fancied Snivelus.

"Oh Merlin, he did it, didn't he. He finally got you with a love potion." Emmeline said, laughing almost as much as Lavinia. "It's ok Lily, we'll be over soon with the antidote."

"If you two don't stop, I'm going to hang up." She looked at James who actually looked slightly hurt at their reaction. "Hold on."

She motioned for him to come over. When he got there she picked up his hand and squeezed it and pulled him down to give him a quick, soft kiss.

"I'm going to go out for a smoke." He told her.

Lily nodded and kissed him again. He ran his hand over her hair as he walked out of the room.

"Ok, what was that…I heard kissing?" Emmeline exclaimed.

"You're kissing James Potter!" Lavinia nearly shouted.

"Yes." Lily replied coolly. It was one thing to laugh and make a joke or two, she had done that herself, but they were making it sound like she was kissing Snivelus now. She shuddered at the idea.

"So you two can just stop making such a big deal about it. I'm seeing James now, I don't have to justify myself."

"Whoa, Lily, were just surprised is all." Lavinia said, trying to smooth things over. "You have to admit…It's a little surprising. How long has this been going on?"

"About…six days." Lily said, unable to really believe it had only been six days. She felt like they had been together much longer than six days.

"Oh, so it's not that serious then?" Emmeline asked.

"Well, I wouldn't say that." Lily said, sounding a little nervous.

"Oh Merlin, you're not shagging him are you?" Lavinia asked, sounding concerned.

"Goodness, no! It hasn't even been a week."

"So, is this like a summer thing or do you think you might stay with him when school starts?" Lavinia asked, still sounding as if she was waiting for Lily to burst out laughing and tell her it was all a joke.

"I'm in love with him." She said confidently. "So, laugh if you want but, it's not a spell, it's not a potion. I fell in love with him. I think I did a long time ago; I just wasn't ready to admit it."

"Wow. Ok, tell us everything."

James sat on the porch leaning against the rail smoking, praying to whoever would listen that Lily wouldn't be realizing how much better she could do right now.

"Mr. Potter?"

James turned around to see Judge Hawthorne standing in the doorway. James quickly put down his cigarette.

"Oh, good evening Sir." He said politely.

"Thank you, say, I was just having a brandy with a friend in my study, would you like to join us?" The Judge asked.

James snuffed out his cigarette and put the butt in his pocket. "Alright."

James followed him into an old fashioned study that reeked of stale cigar smoke and brandy. His eyes immediately went to a tall, skinny man sitting opposite the Judges formidable looking chair and desk. He had watery eyes and a rodent like face.

"James, this is Walter Nott, a business associate of mine. Walter, this is James Potter. He's been staying here with another student for a school project this past week."

Nott couldn't have been six or seven years older than James, but the air around him was anything but innocent.

"It's nice to meet you." James said as he shook his hand warily. The man' wand was poking out from his stiff black robes.

"And you." Nott said, looking him up and down. "Potter, yes, I know of your Father. He works in the department of Mysteries with a friend of mine."

"Does he?" James asked, trying very hard to keep the coolness out of his voice.

"Have a seat James." The judge pointed him to one of the chairs.

James sat down stiffly.

"Brandy?" The Judge offered him a crystal glass full of dark amber liquid.

"Thank you." James said as he took it. He brought the glass to his lips and tipped it back, but didn't let the liquid touch him. Ever since having a chat with one of his dad's mates, he was always a little wary about drinking things he hadn't prepared himself; especially when he as in a room with a known pureblood fanatic.

Constant vigilance.

"So James here is thinking about a career in Quidditch." The Judge told Nott.

"Well, I'm still not sure, I haven't decided on that, or going into the Auror training program." James said nonchalantly.

However the slight twinge on Nott's face was anything but a causal itch.

"An Auror you say?" The watery eyed man asked.

"Yeah. I really admire everything they do. Especially in these dark times."

"Yes, they do have their hands full these days." Nott took a long sip. "The entire situation has been blown completely out of control if you ask me. But, the Potters have been a pureblood family since the beginning of the line, so many people are willing to look past things like that these days, don't you agree?"

"Not at all." James said simply. "Purity of blood is an archaic idea. I've never seen any indication that someone's blood makes them a better wizard."

Nott's lip curled a little. "It's the fact of the matter. Mudb…muggleborns…they don't have the same…decency that we do. Trying to bring their ways into ours. Not that I mean any offence to you Sir." He nodded politely at the Judge.

"Of course not." The Judge nodded back.

"I can't say that I agree with you Mr. Nott." James said as he faked another sip. "In fact, I was reading an article not long ago that talked about how if Pureblooded wizards were only to marry other Pureblooded wizards, in five generations or so, there would be no wizards left to teach because they would all be squibs or severely handicapped from all of the inbreeding that would have to occur."

Nott redden slightly. James had a feeling it was more anger than embarrassment though.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not fond of the idea of marrying my second cousin." He said with a slight smirk.

"Well, who would like another brandy?" The Judge asked hurriedly, trying to lighten the mood.

"I'm fine." James answered.

Lily hung up the phone smiling. She had just spent the last half an hour gushing about James, and it was fun.

She peaked outside but no one was out there. She frowned a little and went to the kitchen to look for him, and rub in the fact that he was now not only going to the wedding and dancing with her, but he was getting her champagne and holding her purse as well. Because by the end of the conversation both Lavinia and Emmeline were frightfully jealous of her.

She came around the corner just as James was coming out of the Judges study with a man she didn't recognize.

"Nice meeting you." He said curtly.

"Yes you too, and think about what I said." The skinny man said, before slipping out the door.

James hadn't even bothered to reply to him.

"Who was that?" She asked, watching him go.

"Walden Nott, apparently, he knows my father." James was watching him as well, but not with the curious look Lily had. He didn't trust that bloke.

"Oh."

James followed Lily into her room and closed the door.

"James. Were going to get in trouble." She pointed out, smiling a little.

"I won't stay long…you did what I asked you, right? You haven't told anyone here that you're a muggleborn?" He asked anxiously.

"No, why?"

"That guy, Nott, he was saying a lot of stuff, Pro-Pureblood and such…it just makes me nervous is all." He said as he glanced out the window.

"You really are a little paranoid James." She said as she walked up behind him and set her hands on either side of his waist.

"Like I told you, I'd rather be paranoid than dead." He said offhandedly.

She kissed in-between his shoulder blades before resting her head on them. "A lot of people feel that way about muggleborns; it's just something you get used to after a while."

"Well you shouldn't have to." His voice was slightly defensive. She felt the tenseness in his shoulder fading though. "How are your friends?"

"Insanely jealous, seeing how I now have the best looking boyfriend in school." She didn't need to be looking at him to know he was now smiling.

"So they finally stopped laughing then?"

"They did after I told them that I loved you."

He turned around and cocked his head at her a little. "You told them that?"

Lily smiled up at him. "Well, I do." He leaned in and kissed her softly, still smiling.

"I love you too." He said, barely two inches away from her.

"You better, because they are going to be taking the mickey out me for this for the rest of our lives." She said sweetly, before kissing him again.

"I'm fine with that. You should have just said yes years ago and avoided all of this."

"Nope, I like all of this. This is perfect." She wrapped her arms up around his neck. "Now, fifteen more minutes and then this little witch is going to bed...alone."

"Tease."

"Prat."

She kissed him before he could think up a comeback.

She didn't know that had been his plan.

AN: If you haven't noticed, I like writing longer chapters. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and a Big thanks to all of those who review. Reviews make me more willing to blow off the math homework I'm supposed to be doing to write. I hope you enjoyed.