Chapter 3: Desperate

What's up dedicated readers? Muchas gracias for reading my fic. Please please please PLEASE review! For all I know this could be garbage. Anyways holla at JKR for a bomb little book series called Harry Potter. Without her this wouldn't exist! XOXO

I had torn my whole flat apart. Books thrown off shelves, clothes strewn on the floor, even my pantry was ransacked.

How could I have lost literally the only thing I wasn't supposed to lose?

I had tried numerous spells, but it seems that the binder has a few safety

precautions on it to protect it from other teams. I mean seriously, the last time I saw it, I was on my couch and then Marlene popped in. Poof! Now it's gone.

I was getting desperate. Tomorrow was monday and if I didn't have it, I not only would have put the team at risk, but my job would be history. Not even history, it would have barely even happened.

Not being able to call Marlene because of our fight, I rang my other good friend Alice Fortescue, but she told me she was on holiday with her boyfriend, Frank.

Running out of time and options, a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

I went down to the lobby of my building and asked the lady at her desk, "Excuse me, but I was wondering if you could tell me which flat number James Potter was in? I know he's on the second floor, but he never told me which flat."

The elderly woman with over drawn coral lipstick on gave me and pinched look and said, "Nice try, sweetie. I know your just some crazy fan of Mr. Potter's trying to catch a glance. I obviously," she looked down at herself, "wasn't born yesterday."

I give her a short smile. "I can see why you would think that, but my name is Lily Evans, flat 4D, and I am an old mate of James' so please just tell me which room he is. Really it is urgent." My tone was polite, but my temper was running short.

"Go bother someone else, missy! I'm old and I have things to do!" She yelled as she waved her hand at me, as if to swat me away.

I huffed and turned on my heel.

Wow I really have to get crafty now.

I go up to the second floor and knock on the only door that I'm aware of who lives there.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mrs. Brandt, I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor and tell me which door was James Potter's?" I ask sweetly with a cheery tone.

She looked me p and down then adjusts her glasses.

"Wait, your that Lily girl! Oh come in! Come in!" She grabs my arm with her long bony fingers and I am shoved into her flat.

It's very gaudy and ornate. It smells like candied fruit and candle wax. She closes the door behind me and leads me to the sitting room.

"Jamie has told me all about you! He says you were top of your class at school! And a head of the new department at his futbol management."

Oh yeah, sometimes I forgot that muggles are in this building. Potter obviously tweaked his life story for her.

"Yes! I cannot believe he changed your mind about me so quickly, if I'm being honest." I say surprised at how much nicer she is being to me.

"Oh well, any friend of Jamie's is a friend of mine! So what did you need, dear?" She asked.

"His room number. I'm actually missing something very important from work and I need his help."

"Oh! That's not very responsible of you. What happened to it?"

"It just just disappeared into thin air. I'm really worried. So his number, again?"

Time was running out. I needed to get to James.

"Oh he's right across the hall in 2G!" I hop up and she looks at me quizzically.

"Where are enough off to?" She asks as I grab my purse from her coffee table.

"I'm really in a hurry for this binder. Thank you so much, Mrs. Brandt! I owe you one!"

I run out the apartment and rap on Potter's door.

Nothing so I knock again quickly. Finally he opens the door in just a towel around his waist.

"Hello? Evans?" He goes a bit pink in the cheeks.

"Potter I know I was rude to you yesterday but I hope we can put that behind us. I need your help. I've lost the binder." I say quickly. I try to ignore his rippling arm muscles, toned chest and chiseled abs. Seriously? It's like he was sculpted by Jesus!

"And we need to find it quick! So let's go! Clothes on, Potter!" I push him forward, my hands lingering a bit on his chest, and march into his apartment because I will not take no for an answer.

"Evans, you really shouldn't walk into a naked blokes flat. It's sketchy and it's rude. By the way, how in the bloody hell did you lose the binder?!" He yelled as he close the door.

"I don't know! One minute I had it and the next it was gone! It was like someone snatched it!" I reply trying to make a defense for myself.

He walks into his bedroom which is covered in clothes on the floor to change as he says, "Why should I help you? You were down right awful to me yesterday." He cracks the door for privacy, but just enough so I can still hear him clearly.

"I really don't know what got in to me. Marlene and I had a huge row and I was just jealous of this party last year she went to without me. I don't know why I thought it was such a betrayal." I say gaining my senses of how I over reacted.

"Well if I'm being honest, I was shocked you weren't there. I kept looking for you during the game once I saw Marlene , but it was just her the boys. Almost cost me the match, Evans. You're distracting even when you're not around." His breath hitches and then he exhales.

Hm, what did that mean? I try to keep the conversation going.

"So it wasn't that fun?" I ask.

"Not hardly. I think Marlene remembers it more than I do. I was drowning in firewhiskey. She liked being the only girl with us."

Obviously Marlene's boy crazy nature got the best of her. He came out in a navy tee and dark grey pants. Damn.

"So tell me everything about this binder mishap. I'm serious, don't leave anything out."

Potter tells me. We start to walk out as he pockets his wand and wallet.

I take a deep breath and begin my story.

"Okay, so yesterday I was reading it on my sofa and then Marlene popped in unexpectedly. She mentioned lunch and to start getting ready so I hopped up and went to get dressed. Then I left with her shortly after to the bakery. I saw you, left, then fought with Marlene on the side of the street. Then I popped back into my flat, for dramatic effect of course, and just kind of hung out. I put on my pajamas, watched all the trashy muggle TV I could, made dinner, it was chicken, and then went to sleep." Potter had been nodding along the whole time patiently.

"So you spent the day back on your coach and it wasn't there?" He asked after thinking for a moment.

"Ya I definitely would've remembered it being next to me. I don't even remember what I did with it once Marlene got to my apartment." I replied. We were in the elevator going back up to me flat now. We were alone and Potter was right next to me. I could feel his breath.

"Hm... maybe you mindlessly out in somewhere 'safe' and then forgot." He suggested.

"But I don't remember doing that. And even if I didn't remember where, I would remember putting it somewhere." I said back to him. We reach my door and I let us in.

"Woah, Evans, I thought my place was a disaster." Potter said as he looked around.

"Potter, I'm really freaking out now. I mean seriously where could it be?" I said frustrated and stressed.

"Okay okay calm down. We will find it. But you owe me one, ya know." He said jokingly. He began shuffling around a few things and looking under furniture.

"Did Marlene know about it?" He asked.

"Uhh ya. I just told her I had a binder full of stuff I had to read before monday and left it at that." I replied. Why would he ask that? Did he think she took it?

"Well Marlene maybe grabbed it thinking it was hers! You know her! She can be a little spacey sometimes." Potter said nonchalantly.

"Marlene is not spacey. She's smart. Junior assistant to the minister smart." I replied defensively. Why was I so quick to defend Marlene? We were fighting after all.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just mean she could have grabbed it on accident, possibly."

"Well were not really on speaking terms right now. But I do need it back. Maybe you should go and ask her?" I say. I mean I'm desperate for the binder, but not desperate enough to apologize first. She called me a bore.

"Evans, I doubt the fight was that serious." Potter said like it was nothing. Boys were so stupid. Of course it was serious! What did he know?

"She called me boring and that I needed to be babysat. Not really music to my ears, Potter." I crossed my arms an popped my hip. It was my 'don't mess with me' stance.

"Oh shit. That's harsh. You're not boring! Hello! Just searching for a bloody binder is fun with you!" Potter said. He was just being so nice to cheer me up, I told myself.

"Hahaha very funny. I doubt this was how you wanted to spend your day. Please just go ask Marlene for me?"

"Fine. Got any floo powder?" He asked looking around the room.

"In the vase next to the fireplace." I answer.

He walks over and grabs a handful. Throwing it in the flames, he sticks his face in and I wait.

After a few minutes he comes up and with an adorable amount of ash on his face, says "She hasn't seen it since the bakery yesterday. And she told me that she sorry. And wants to talk." I walk over to wipe off his face. Smiling I dust off his cheeks and nose.

"The bakery?" I ask. "It was never at the bakery." I didn't remember it ever leaving the flat.

"She said it was in your bag. She remembered because I was sticking out and kept scratching her." He answered blushing at all the ash coming off on my hands.

"Well okay, maybe it's there. I know a girl who works there and she would help me out if I asked.

"I really love this place. I mean have you had the scones? Evans, the scones! They're amazing. And the black tea! It's like I had never drank a drop of tea in my life." Potter said once we walked into the shop.

Yes! Sylvia was working. He follows me to the format where I ask, "Hey Sylvia! Okay I think I dropped something of mine her yesterday. Have you seen a blue binder anywhere?"

She smiles at me and takes an extra long look at Potter then answers, "Yes! The bust boy found it. I have it right in the back. One sec." she turns around and enters the door to her left.

"Oh thank Merlin! I never thought we would find it!" I exclaim. A huge wash of relief over takes me.

"Ya it would be bloody embarrassing to be hired on friday and fired on monday. I would have to pretend I never knew who you were." Potter said as he leaned up next to me on the counter.

"I would die of humiliation. Trust me, you would never see me again."

Just as I said it, Sylvia comes back with the binder.

"Here you go! Ya know Lily, I never knew you had a boyfriend." She added as she handed me the binder.

"Oh! No no he's not my boyfriend! He's just an old mate of mine." I say quickly. Both of our faces have gone red and James reaches over to shake Sylvia's hand.

"James Potter."

"Sylvia. Nice to meet you. You're in here often, classic scone with black tea, two sugars right?" Oh I see she memorized all the orders. I thought that was our thing Sylvia. Order whore.

"Yes! Oh jeez maybe I should take a break from baked goods for a while." Potter laughs.

"No! I love seeing you come around." Sylvia says all giggly and flirtatious.

"Well we best be off. Thanks again Sylvia! Bye." I wave and drag Potter with me.

"Okay Potter you have been the best. Seriously I would of never thought of checking back here. I truly owe you won." I say as we exit the shop.

"It's no trouble. Maybe I'll use it later while we're working together. All right I've had a lovely day with you Evans, but I'm off with the lads tonight. I'll see you bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow morning. Keep and eye on that binder!" He gives me the quickest peck on the cheek and runs off to the pub down the corner, waving back at me.

I slowly reach up to feel the spot where he kissed me and then apparate home.