A/N: Ok. So here you go. As for the poll…most people like summer because of vacation (really, that's shocking!)….As for this chapter's poll…(Relating to HBP)…Do you think Harry and Ginny will get back together? 'Cause I was pissed when they broke up…it was just so stupid…anyhoo….read, review…
Chapter Twenty-Two: Invasive Ideas
The rain was flowing heavily that Thursday afternoon. From where she stood, sipping her coffee and looking out the window of the lounge, Lily could tell the water splashing on the streets below was cold. It was the first of October, the leaves on the trees outside had all turned various shades of reds and browns, and some trees had already lost their leaves. She loved the cold and she loved the rain, and although it made the work atmosphere stuffier and made many of her coworkers irritable, she couldn't help but feel relaxed and content, especially as the rich coffee scent wafted around her.
Her solitude was interrupted as two young women—maybe a few years older than she burst into the empty lounge. It was half past two, and most employees had already had their lunch. Lily recognized the two late diners as Cynthia and Becky—she had never bothered to learn their last names. Cynthia was tall and thin; she had bright blue eyes that always looked excited. Her hair was very curly, and she had put her dark chestnut locks into a loose bun. Cynthia was the department receptionist and Lily had always found her strikingly beautiful. Becky was a happy sort, short bodied, curvy, with blonde hair and a bright smile. She was the secretary of one of the most influential judges on the Wizengomot, Barty Crouch.
They noticed Lily once they had both taken a seat at the large oak table.
"Hello there, Lily, didn't see you there for a moment—care to join us?" Cynthia asked, looking up at Lily with friendly eyes.
Lily smiled. "Oh, well I've already had my lunch break an hour or so ago…"
They both were staring up at her now and it made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
"At least join us while you finish your coffee, surely you don't want to get back to old Madam Bones too soon?" Becky continued as she pulled a salad out of her lunch bag.
Lily, seeing no harm in staying for a few minutes longer, decided to take a seat beside Cynthia.
Moments later, she was wondering why they had even bothered inviting her to sit down in the first place, they were wrapped up in their own conversation and had barely recognized Lily at all, besides offering her portions of their salads.
"So tell me, Cynthia, as you have failed to mention your date last night…how did it go?" Becky said.
Cynthia sighed and rolled her eyes.
"That bad, huh?" Becky concluded, taking a sip of water. "But he looked so promising. Tall, that blonde hair…he's rich too, of good blood…has connections."
"Oh he as all that, he mentioned it about fifty times---before the food came." Cynthia added. "And then he had the nerve to try and invite himself inside when he dropped me off."
Becky sighed. "What did you tell him?"
"I didn't tell him anything—he came right in and we had a wonderful time. You know how I can't resist a man with a little edge."
Cynthia's laugh echoed throughout the small room, and Becky shook her head, smiling. Lily had almost choked on her coffee.
"So are you going to see him again?" Becky inquired eagerly.
"Oh, no, I don't think so. When he left this morning I made it perfectly clear that the actual date was dreadful and that I never wanted to see him again." Cynthia replied nonchalantly.
Becky shook her head. "Not that great of a shag, then?"
"Not good enough to sit through another date like that." Cynthia quipped, smiling, her excited cerulean eyes reminding her that Lily was still there.
"So Lily, are you seeing anyone?" she asked attentively. Becky was staring at her now as well.
Lily smiled; although she had been caught a little off guard, she always enjoyed an opportunity to tell someone she was marrying James Potter.
"I'm engaged." Lily answered, finishing the last of her coffee.
"Really?" Becky exclaimed. "That's so exciting! Is he handsome?"
"Wealthy?" Cynthia added to the inquiry.
"Very handsome." Lily replied. "And he is fairly well off."
"What's his name?" Becky pondered.
"James Potter."
"Potter!" The two girls exclaimed at the same time.
"You get to marry a Potter! Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Cynthia asked, flabbergasted. "The Potters are one of the most influential families in all of England!"
Before Lily could point out that she only saw both Cynthia and Becky for a few seconds on a normal day and that she had never had real conversation with either one of them, Becky started talking again.
"So how is he?" Her light green eyes lighting up.
"He's a wonderful man, I couldn't ask for anything more." Lily replied, wondering what kind of question that was. Why would she marry a horrible person?
Becky and Cynthia both giggled.
"She means in bed." Cynthia elaborated.
Lily nodded slowly, realization coming over her. She prayed her face wasn't turning too red at her embarrassment.
"Oh, well yes, of course." She started, both of her companions staring at her. "We, um, well—"
Just then, Becky gasped. "Crouch is back from his lunch, I've got to go!" she pointed at the man walking by. He was wearing all black and looked very serious in a way that reminded Lily of Professor McGonagall.
"I better get back too, I've been getting a cup of coffee for long enough." Lily interjected, taking her opportunity to get away from the two—however nice—prying girls.
A minute later she found herself in the quiet of her cubicle. Madam Bones hadn't even noticed she was gone. She sighed and tried to get back to work.
Ten minutes later she found herself looking at the same document on a man named MacNair and that her eyes were glazing over. She wasn't getting any work done because she couldn't get it out of her mind.
Sex. Sure she'd thought about it. How could she not? James was always so pleasing and handsome. Did James think about sex? Sure he did, Lily told herself. Probably more than she did, especially with Sirius around, always bringing the subject up. Did he want to? Of course he did. Did he expect it of her? No, she decided. They talked about it. Once. Last spring. James said he'd wait as long as she wanted. Did he still feel the same way? Lily couldn't help but feel that he really wanted to; especially with the look he had given her the other night on the couch. It had been so imploring, so full of desire. He loved her. She loved him. She trusted him. Lily sighed and put down her quill as she thought. There was only one question left. Did she want to?
She thought about James and closed her eyes. He came into view. He looked absolutely amazing, as usual. His dark messy hair, his dark, energetic eyes, his goofy glasses that would make anyone else look like some sort of prick. His body. His toned, beautiful body…
She did. It was decided. She really, really, would like to make love to James Potter.
But the timing would have to be right, and when would she bring it up? She sighed. She could think of the details later…she had to get back to work before Madam Bones, or to her dismay, Owen, came to check on her.
James stepped out of the hot shower, reaching for a large blue towel on the counter top. He dried his hair first, tousling it just so. He wrapped himself up and grabbed his glasses, placing them on his damp nose. As he left the bathroom and entered his bedroom, the steam left his glasses foggy.
A knock came to his bedroom door. An unexpected knock, a polite knock. A knock that would not come from Sirius, as he liked barging in on people.
"Come in." James called, wrapping his towel tighter. His mother might be at the door, after all.
The door opened and Lily walked in, smiling at him, her cheeks turning slightly red as she found James in a towel.
"Hi." James greeted.
"Are you ready?" Lily asked him, looking around his room, her eyes darting anywhere but to James' half naked body.
James walked towards her. "For what?" His eyebrow was quirked slightly and he was grinning.
"For…for…the meeting, James. Did you not know about it? We got the message on our watches this afternoon, Sirius has already left…and I figured I'd come by…just in case you didn't know…because you usually owl me after you find out about a meeting." Lily said this all slow, James was getting closer and she could smell the soap he had just used in the shower.
"Meeting? Oh!" James said in a surprised voice. "I didn't have my watch on for a little while today, Moody made us take off all jewelry. Something about a spell back firing and burning our wrists…he's a bit dotty…"
"Yes, well, there's a meeting at eight, and it's already ten till…" Lily replied. She smiled at James' appearance. He was looking down at her, a perplexed expression crossed over her face, his glasses were sliding down his nose. He looked adorable. She stepped closer to him and brought his head to hers, kissing him in a swift motion. James, slightly taken aback, responded quickly. Lily then let go and made her way to the door. "I'll wait for you to get changed. Have you had dinner?"
James shook his head and Lily shut the door.
He appeared a few moments later, dressed in a pair of jeans, a blue sweater, and a water repellent cloak to wear in the rain.
Lily handed him a sandwich, which he took hungrily.
"Ready?" she asked, studying him for a few seconds.
James nodded, as his mouth was much too full.
"James, Lily, glad you could make it." Professor McGonagall greeted in her professional manner.
James gave an apologetic look to Lily. They were almost ten minutes late. Lily, however, just smiled and took a seat in the back of the classroom.
"Should I serve my detention now or later, Professor?" James asked sarcastically. This was uncannily like being late for Transfiguration.
"Just take your seat, James." Professor McGonagall replied, trying her hardest not to smile at her former student. "We were just discussing some offensive strategies."
"All right, well, continue." James grinned at her again and took a seat beside Lily.
"We seem to think that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is meeting with his supporters in a few locations—one of them is bound to be very isolated and heavily guarded with old, dark magic. We also think he has a few more public meeting spots, places that are openly supportive of the Dark Arts. We want to find these locations. If we can find where he's meeting, there are opportunities for spies and such."
"Do we have any ideas where these locations are, or are we just looking for sand in fairy dust, Professor?" James asked in a bold manner.
Several of the people surrounding them turned to look at James, nodding their heads.
Before Professor McGonagall could answer, Dumbledore, who had otherwise been unnoticed by many, stood up.
"We have a general idea. But only very general. We are trying to eliminate places we know they can't be meeting to find the places they could be meeting. It's a difficult process, but I think, if it is accomplished we will have gained a definite advantage over Voldemort."
A few people gasped. Peter did, James noticed. He was sitting beside Sirius, Remus, and Grace and looking terrified. James glanced at his friends and suddenly got an idea.
James stood up. "I think I can be of assistance, Headmaster. As well as all of the Marauders, if they want to, that is."
Lily looked at James with an eyebrow raised.
Dumbledore smiled.
"I'll need everyone's help, James; but I think you're right---the Marauders could be of particular help in this case. Talk to me after the meeting."
James nodded and sat back down, exchanging looks with an ecstatic Sirius, an interested Remus, and a worried Peter.
"What are you on about?" Lily whispered.
James smiled at her.
"Lily, if there's anything I know, it's marauding---and what better skill to have when looking for top-secret locations?"
"Right." Lily replied, amazed at James' cleverness. "Well, I want in on whatever you four are doing."
James knew he couldn't object to Lily, so he merely nodded his head and put an arm around her. Together they listened to other updates in the Order of the Phoenix.
At the end of the meeting the Marauders and Lily rushed over to greet Dumbledore.
He smiled at them all and his blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon glasses.
"What do you want us to do?" James asked.
Sirius nodded. "Where do we need to go?"
Dumbledore chuckled lightly.
"Follow me to my office. Would anyone care for a lemon drop?"
Lily nodded and took a candy from her old Headmaster's offered hand.
Once they were all seated in his office, Dumbledore pulled out a large map. James recognized it as Diagon Alley. Certain places had a bright orange phoenix hovering over them.
"The places marked with the phoenix are locations we know are true to the Order." Dumbledore announced, as the five of them hovered over his desk, looking at the map.
Lily noticed that Olivander's and Florean Fetiscue's shops were of those marked and she smiled.
"We still have a number of unmarked shops—Madam Malkin's, for example." Dumbledore started. "As Diagon Alley is barrier between Muggle and Magical London, it is important that we search all these areas. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if none of the places here were the head quarters of the Dark Lord, but we must check the most obvious places before we move on to more suspecting places—Knockturn Alley, for example."
The five former students nodded and listened as Professor Dumbledore continued.
Half an hour later, they found themselves walking down the spiral staircase. James and Sirius were talking eagerly, devising plans that seemed a little outrageous and foolhardy. Lily and Remus talked of more rational ideas, while Peter stared at the floor with his hands in his robe pockets.
"Are you okay?" Lily finally asked him as they made their way back to the classroom.
Peter looked down at her. He wasn't that much taller than she, at only five eight, and the fact that he was slouching brought them almost to eye level.
"It's nothing, Lily. I'm just tired." He replied in a soft voice. He gave her a small smile. "Thanks for your concern."
Lily nodded as she thought of James' words from the other night. Peter had seemed a little depressed then, hadn't he?
"Well if you need anything, I'm here for you." Lily said, giving him an encouraging smile. "And so are your friends."
"I know." Peter replied, without saying anything more.
"Let's go out for a drink, come on, Moony, Prongs—Evans and Wormtail, I know you all want to." Sirius proposed. "I want to see you piss drunk, Evans."
"I don't know about getting piss drunk, Sirius, but I'd be more than happy then going for a drink. Care to join me James, or are you too tired from training?" Lily responded, smiling and reaching for James' hand.
"A night with my favorite people? I wouldn't miss it for the world." James said, flashing a cheesy grin and an exaggerated wink.
Remus chuckled. "I can come too."
"It's settled then, you coming, Wormtail?" Sirius asked, draping his arm over Peter's shoulders.
Peter shook his head. "I better get home. I'll see you all later. Have a good night."
Ten minutes later, they were all huddled in a booth at The Three Broomsticks, talking and laughing together.
"And then Frank was so embarrassed that he let us break for lunch early so he could go and fix his trousers." Sirius said, his usual mischievous glint in his eye.
"You really shouldn't disrespect your mentors like that." Lily scolded slightly, fighting to suppress a giggle. "It's not polite."
Sirius waggled his eyebrows at her, as she was sitting across from him, curled up beside James.
"Sod off, Lily, you're not Head Girl anymore."
Lily gasped in an affronted manner, and resorting to kick Sirius from under the table.
"Ouch!" Sirius yelped. He turned to James cupping his hands over his mouth and whispering loudly, "Mate, I should warn you, you're girl is playing footsie with other men…" Sirius winced as Lily kicked at him again—she was wearing heels, after all.
James laughed and turned to Lily. "Next time kick him harder…he doesn't get kicked enough…"
"Some friend you are." Sirius retorted. He draped his long arm over Moony and gave him a manly pat on the back. "At least I have ol' Moony here."
Remus shoved Sirius' arm off. He was looking rather tired and worn out as the full moon was the next evening, but was determinedly happy.
"Get off me, Padfoot…hell if I'll have Lily kicking my shins…" Remus smiled as he lifted his pint of mead.
"I see how it is." Sirius replied, "Lousy rotten friends."
POLL: Do you think Harry and Ginny will get back together?
Thanks to: Lexy Granger, Ro, Scooter5710, Lost Fairy815, Bianca, IAMSOAP, Kaen, riduculouslyriddikulus, elise bentwin, Missing Summer, harry-and-ginny, xxxxparvati-patilxxxx, Hermione-lilypotter1234, luv24+Alias, chikichiki, and Tricdksty One.
Bianca: The Flawed is the sequel to the Tragic Flaw.
Hermione-lilypotter1234- I graduate June 9, 2006 …not soon enough…
And of course …thanks to my beta, whom I appreciate very much. And you may love me by the next chapter, if things keep going according to plan.