Chapter 2: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Welcome to chapter 2! This is quite long, but it is a series... lol. Anyways happy to know that you wanted to keep reading! Enjoy!

Thank you JKR for the lovely harry potter series, you own all of this! And thank you Lemony Snicket for the chapter title!

2:30 a.m. my alarm clock read as I turned to look at it for the fiftieth time.

I was tossing and turning thinking about my new job. And Potter. And that damn binder.

I went straight home to my flat after my interview and then spent the whole evening with Marlene watching stupid muggle television. I just didn't want to read a million pages of quidditch statistics. Ya I applied for a job in the quidditch industry but that doesn't mean I fancy reading 600 pages of it.

I told Marlene all about Potter and the predicament I was in.

"Let's go visit! Oh please Lily? It would be like old times!" Marlene begged. Her big brown puppy dog eyes were staring me down.

"Absolutely not! And it's not like I know his flat number or anything, anyways. Besides, he's probably at the pubs."

"You need to listen to me. If James got even hotter than seventh year, I want to take a look at that. How fit is he?" She was seriously starting to sound pathetic. Marlene had a string of boyfriends but none of them stuck. She was boy crazy for sure.

"Well he practically was in the same bloody uniform. His arms look less stringy and more muscular. Veins, Marlene, VEINS."

Marlene loved veins on boys.

"And then his jaw is much more square, like more carved. And the stubble was a plus. More than a five o'clock shadow, but less than scruff, if you know what I mean."

She nodded excitedly.

"Was it awkward between you? I mean you were so close and then poof, it was like nothing ever happened."

I looked down and remembered seventh year. Potter and I were close, but after graduation we both pretended we the other ceased to exist.

"No it was fine. I mean nothing more than friendly, but he did mention coffee one day-"

"You're going on a date with James Potter!" She screeched.

"Bloody hell, Marls! I'd like to hear my children's first words!" I said as I covered my ears.

"Lily, what the hell! I've been here for more than two hours and this is the first mention of a bloody date?" Marlene was completely upright and ready to pounce on me if I said another word she didn't like.

"It's just coffee. And it was more of a polite 'let's get coffee,' but not real invitation."

"Whatever. If you shag don't even think I'm not going to want every detail." I tackled her as I yelled "Ew ew ew!"

Now it's 2:30 and I'm starting to second guess my relationship with Potter. I mean did we even have one? We're coworkers now and I would hate to ruin our friendly nature.

I need a distraction. I need that binder.

I scramble out of bed and go to my mess of a living room and kitchen. I remember putting it with my bag when I walked in, but then when Marlene got here she wanted to see it. I'm looking through a tornado of blankets and pillows on my couch I can't find it at all. Not even a trace.

I sigh and check the kitchen table, by the front door, and even back in my room. Nope. Not anywhere.

As I begin to panic I hear someone outside my door. I go slowly to the peephole and grab my wand from the counter.

I see a mess of black hair and then I duck down.

Can Potter seriously be at my door?

I sneak another peek and then I jump back as the person on the other side knocks.

I go by the mirror in the hall and fix myself up as best I can. I have on my glasses, my hair is a mess, and my pajama top and knickers.

Pants! I need pants!

I race to my dresser and pull out a pair of shorts.

The person keeps knocking and I start to freak out a bit.

I slowly open the door to see Sirius Black.

"Evans!" He yells as he throws his arms around me.

"Black? What the hell? It's the middle of the night!" I exclaim pushing his drunken body off me.

Then I see a tall figure running towards the door and it's none other than Remus Lupin.

"Lily I'm so sorry! James told him you lived in the building and refused to stop knocking on every door on the fourth floor. I'm surprised we haven't been arrested yet." He grabs Sirius and holds him off me.

"So good to see Lily Flower. Been so long!" Sirius yells and stumbles into the hallway.

"Ya. Tragic it's been so long, really." I say dryly, realizing how out of the blue this is.

"Great seeing you Lily, but I got to get him home. I heard about the job, too. That's great!" Remus congratulates me and then gets a hold of Sirius.

"Hope to see you round!" He yells as they walk down the hall.

"By Evans! Love yooouu! Whoops! Don't tell Jamesie!" Sirius calls behind him.

Remus gives a Sirius a death glare then pushes him out of sight.

I retreat back into my apartment. What did that mean?

Don't tell James? Weird.

I push that thought to the side as I remember why I'm up so late. The binder is still missing.

I decide to go to the bathroom and then find it in the morning. Maybe a drunken Black was what I needed to get to sleep.

I walk into my loo and see the binder on my sink counter.

"There you are!" I say out loud. Thank Merlin I would've been so dead if I lost this.

I pee then fall asleep with the binder right on my bedside table.

I spend a good portion of my morning reading. The binder has 35 different sections including

-History of the United

-Head Coaches and Managers

-Current Team Member Biographies

-Season Game Schedule

-Practice Schedule and Routines

-Statistical Analysis

The list goes on and on.

I get to member bios and the first one is captain James Potter.

James H. Potter

DOB: 4/27/60

B. Status: Pureblood

Position: Head Captain, Chaser

Height: 6'1

Weight: 167 lbs.

Huh, I never knew I was older than Potter.

Then I hear a crack and Marlene is in my flat.

"Well, hello. I have a front door, you know." I greet her.

"Hello, love! You, me, lunch. Now. Get on something cute. I'm serious Lily. No loafers or pants. Unless they are so tight you need help closing the button. And you need to wear that top we got from Draquer! The shop in Diagon Alley, remember?"

"Where are we going to lunch?" I ask as I leap to my feet and follow her to my bedroom. I never turn down lunch.

"I'm not sure yet. But we're walking. I'm breaking in my boots. Now hurry up! I haven't got all day!"

I tame my hair into more bouncy, full curls and do my makeup. Marlene picks out this short button up denim skirt she somehow found and a low cut, tight sweater.

"You're joking? I don't need a side job, Marlene!"

She looks at me curiously. "Side job?"

"Prostitution!" I yell.

She laughs and forces me into some maroon stockings and a pair of ankle boots.

"Gorgeous. Hurry up now, let's go!" She ushers me out of my flat and down the elevator. Where's the fire?

"Okay so I was wondering if you minded stopping in to grab a coffee round the corner? I am completely useless without it and I haven't had a drop today." She asks me really stressing how non-upbeat she is. How ironic.

"I don't mind. Really nice girl works in there. She's memorized my order." I respond.

We make out way into the bakery and I scan the room for Sylvia to see if she working and my eyes land on a dark mop of hair reading the Daily Prophet.

"Mar-fucking-lene. You did not." I whisper severely as I give her a death look.

She smiles back sweetly and replies, "Oh I did."

I turn to look at Potter again and I noticed that he sees me.

"Evans!" He yells with a mouthful of muffin. Lovely.

I smile back at him as he ushers us over. I turn to look at Marlene and mouth "Fuck you"

She just smiles and follows me to Potter's table.

"It is so weird how we hadn't seen each other in two years and now we see each other twice in one week? What a coincidence!" He says as Marlene and I sit down.

I look at Marlene and respond, "Ya it is so strange!"

She laughs and says, "James I don't think I've seen you since I came to one of your Falcon games a year back!" Then Marlene slowly looks over at me like she's said something awful.

"Oh ya! You came with the lads and met me after! That was one hell of a party." He says to her.

Marlene went to one of his matches without me? With just the Marauders and her? And they partied? What the hell, how am I just now knowing about this?

"Lil, you've seen him play! Isn't he amazing?" She asks me as I'm thinking to myself.

"Oh! Ya you really can fly, Potter. Surprised you ever managed to get that big head of yours off the ground!" I say a bit too harshly.

Potter seems a bit taken aback at my comment, but laughs it off.

"Ya," he laughs nervously, "I heard about last night and I just wanted to apologize for Sirius. He's such a tosser sometimes. I mention one word about you and he went bonkers." James says changing the subject.

"Oh no it was fine! I love getting woken up and man-handled in the middle of the night! Not a problem!" I'm starting to get more and more angry at Marlene and Potter. If she wanted me to interact with him so damn much, why wasn't I with her at the Falcons game? Why didn't she ever tell me? What happened at that party?

"Look Evans I really am sorry. I had no idea he would do that." He says sincerely. He seems hurt at my tone I was using.

"It's over. Look we have to go. Marlene get your coffee and let's move it. We don't want to be late for lunch." I say to her sternly. I stand to get up and she looks at me confused and slightly hurt as I order her around.

I just look at her plainly. She shoots me a quizzical look.

"Ooh-kay. Uh, James lovely seeing you. I hope to see you around." She gets up and runs to the front quick to grab a coffee.

"Is everything okay, Evans? You seem a bit off." He pulls my arm closer and says in a low voice, "Did Sirius hurt you?"

I jump back. "No! Of course not! Remus got hold of him and they were on their merry way." I respond.

"Good. Okay I guess I'll see you on Monday, then. Bye." He says with a wave and I go to meet Marlene at the front.

"What has gotten into you? I didn't realize seeing him would make you so mad!" She says starting to get angry at me.

We start walking up the street as I say, "Falcons game? Last year? Marauders? Party?" I say very pointedly.

She stops in her tracks and scoffs.

"Is that really what you're mad at? That I was at a party without you?" She says defensively in disbelief.

"With the Marauders! What the hell is that?" I yell. How could she not be seeing how much of an odd thing this is.

"I'm allowed to have friends other than you, Lily!" She screams. We're making a scene so I pull her to the side.

"I AM friends with those people! Hardly a stretch, don't you think?"

"Please! You haven't spoken in two years to them! And why would we invite you after silence? I wouldn't say you were still close! Plus you're not exactly entertaining to be around with the Marauders. You get offended so easily and become bored. It's like I have to babysit and entertain you! It's so annoying!" She adds getting more and more into a rant.

"Go on. Say it then. Don't hold back or anything. It's not like I'm your damn best friend." I say hurt at her words.

She knew she went too far when she said Shen had to babysit and entertain me. She's always been the extroverted, bubbly girl while I'm more introverted. Not anyway anti-social but maybe a tad less outgoing.

Marlene sighs and realizes what she's said. "Look I'm sorry, Lily. I really didn't think you would ever find out."

"Whatever. Why don't you go have lunch with the Marauders since I'm such a damn chore to be around? Don't worry, I understand, I'm not going to be fucking invited anyways!" I yell as I turn on my heel and disparate. The last thing I saw was Marlene's eyes go sad.

I stomp into my flat and go lay down on the couch, so angry at Marlene. It wouldn't even have been a big deal if she had just apologized. She's so bloody proud.

I look on the coffee table to see that the binder is, once again, missing.