Charles came through the floo, dusting off his jacket as he called out for his family. He wished James would coming running to him, tackling him with a hug like he used to do when he was younger, but that had stopped years ago. Instead his wife came racing in, her arms wrapping around him. "I was so worried," she whispered, planting a kiss on his cheek, then moving to his mouth.

"I'm safe," he told her. "And I'm glad you are too." He kissed her back. "Where are the boys and Lily?"

"Lily is getting dressed and the boys...Well, the boys were supposed to be inside ten minutes ago cleaning up."

"Relax, Anthony won't care how my sons look…" A devilish look crossed Charles' face as kissed her once more, then pulled away. "Besides, if they don't come in I have more time with my lovely wife."

By now the older man had dropped his bag and embraced his wife wholeheartedly. They spent a few minutes just holding each other before Agatha spoke. "Just so you know, Lily and James aren't on speaking terms."

"Of course they aren't." Charles pulled away, taking a few steps back from his wife before laughing.

"How could you possibly know that? Did James speak with you?"

"No," he replied. "But they're like us. Let me guess, Lily finally thinks she likes James, but now he's angry at her for some unexplainable reason, which probably means that because he doesn't want a bruised ego or to be rejected, he's rejecting her before she's gets the chance when he really likes her."

"I knew I married you for something other than looks or money." Agatha pulled in for a kiss again.

"Mum, can you two please refrain from these lavish displays of affection in public?" It was Sirius. He was in a wrinkled shirt with creased pants and a pair of muddy trainers.

"It was private before you got here," Charles said.

"In that case, you should move away from the fireplace, which is how I assume our guests are getting here." Sirius nodded in their direction and cleared his throat. As they began to move towards the door of the office they heard shouting. "Looks like James is out of his moody stage and had transitioned to anger. I think it was the Quidditch."

"I'm going to go diffuse the situation," Charles said, pecking his wife on the cheek one last time.

By the time the Reeves showed up the house had become a minefield. Lily and James avoided each other, seeming to repel like two magnets. She sat at the table while James stayed next to his father and Sirius chatted with Agatha.

"Is there a reason you're hiding?" Michael asked as he sat beside her.

"Not hiding, waiting," she said.

"For what?"

"I don't know." She looked up at the ceiling and then at his face. "How are you?" she questioned.

"Lily, I don't want to do this now. I just want to get out of my head for a bit."

"I know the feeling." She glanced around the room and saw Sirius and James sneak off to a corner while the adults were busy talking. "Do you actually want to be here?"

"Not really, but I did it for my dad," he responded.

"Come on," she whispered, pulling at his hand. "I'm going to give Michael a tour while we wait for dinner to start," Lily said, the Potter's just smiled while James and Sirius had disappeared.

"Where are we actually going?" he asked.

"To get my wand and my purse," she told him and he raised an eyebrow. "I know we're still underaged, but that's how you get on the Knight Bus, do you have wallet?"

"Yeah,"

"I don't think I have any Wizarding Money left, just Muggle Money, it's just a few sickles for the bus fare."

"Bus fare?"

"We're going to muggle London," Lily said with a smile.

"Muggle London?" he questioned.

"Maybe not London, but the first muggle town we find." Lily went to her room and Michael lingered in the doorway why he watched her exchange her flats for those sort of canvas sneakers that were popular with muggles and grab a light jacket along with her purse. "There's a second set of stairs that lets us off by the front door, they'll never know we're gone." She walked over to her desk and pulled out a sheet of parchment and a quill penning a quick note. "I'll leave it by the front door, it'll be fine."

"Don't you think it will be dangerous?"

"We're getting pizza," Lily said. "Besides I need to get out of my head for a while, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do too."

Lily forgot what it was like to be in a place without magic. Michael and her sat in a quaint pizza parlor, slices of pizza, bowls of salad and a basket of bread sticks sat in front of them. They got looks from people around them, most of them were giving them funny looks. Most of the other customer's were teenagers dressed casually compared Michael and Lily.

"I'm getting a soda, do you want me to get you one?" she questioned.

"Yeah, listen I will pay you back as soon as I figure the conversation out."

"You can buy my lunch first Hogsmeade weekend, alright?" she asked. "It's easier that way and besides you paid the bus fare."

"Orange?" she questioned, he nodded and she grabbed her purse walking over to the counter where the cashier stood. "Hello, two orange sodas please." Lily pulled out her wallet and calculated the total in her head.

"It's on the house." The teen smiled at her. He was as tall as James, but he had short dark blond hair. His hands paused on the cups. "Wait, I do need some form of payment."

Lily rolled her eyes and slapped the money on the counter. "You're unbelievable," she rolled her eyes. "All you boys are the same."

"Whoa, I was just going to ask your name," he said. "My name's Jonah."

"Lily," she replied as he turned around to fill the cups. "Sorry, I've just haven't had the best luck with guys."

"The guy you're with looks pretty nice."

"Michael? He's just a friend, besides he's three years younger." She ran a hand through her hair and looked up at him through her eyelashes. "We both escaped our parent's dinner party."

"Oh, well I'm glad you took refuge here. So, how old are you?" He turned around again with the two cups. "I'm seventeen."

"Sixteen," she told him. Jonah smiled and grabbed a napkin and marker they use to write on pizza boxes with. "What are you doing?'

"This is my phone number, but I work nights so you'll get my parents if you call after three and before ten."

"Thank you," Lily responded, tucking the napkin in her purse and grabbing the sodas. "For both the number and the drinks." She laughed, tossing her hair behind her ear. As she began to walk towards the table Michael rushed toward her.

"We have to leave," he said.

"What?" she questioned then turned to Jonah. "This is Michael."

It was the teen pulled the drinks out of her hand and set them on the counter. "Unless you want a scene to happen we need to get out of here and get them home." He looked behind him to see two familiar looking boys through the window. "And they saw you."

"Great," Lily muttered. "We were supposed to get away from them too."

"Who are they?" Jonas asked.

Lily and Michael stared at each other trying to think of something to say. "My brothers," she supplied. "They never take anything seriously, they always try to get a rise out of people." When she finished the doors flew open and came James and Sirius.

"I understand, but when you get home tonight, maybe give me call around ten and we could talk about it." Jonah leaned against the counter, giving her a soft smile.

"Thanks, I think-"

"Evans!" Sirius shouted. "Lily-flower it's time-"

"He's drunk again," Lily muttered as she took one last look at Jonas before walking towards James. "Why-"

"I'm not drunk, but it's a good cover with the muggles," Sirius whispered. "Now, I think we should get home before mum and dad do."

"Are they looking?"

"They will be if you don't come home now, both of you," James said grabbing Lily's arm.

"What are you talking about?"

"We sort of burnt dinner, told mum and dad that we weren't hungry and were going to play Qui-"

"I hate football!" Lily shouted and both boys looked confused.

"Wonderful cover," Michael muttered looked at Jonah, then at the other people that they caught the attention of.

"You don't have to like the cover, they bought it." James tugged on her arm.

"Why are you doing this?" she questioned. "Let us get in trouble, take Michael back I can handle myself." With that she pulled her arm away, taking a step back.

"That's right you don't need help or people you care about you." James threw his arms in the air as he looked around the room. "Why did you take him with you? Because he's the one that knows you the least."

Lily looked away from him and at the other people in the restaurant. Suddenly she was self conscious and took a step forward so she could whisper at James. "We're making a scene."

"Godric, Lily, you think I care? Because I really don't. You think you can dazzle everyone with your pretty smile and little laugh..You let them see that sweet prefect girl, but if they get too close you can't have that?" He looked around and walked over to the counter where Jonah was. "Let me guess, you hit on her?" James questioned. "Who wouldn't? I mean even in that pretentious pure blood outfit with the muggle shoes she looks pretty great." He smirked at Lily before turning his attention back to the Jonah. "She acted all indignant when you used a line, am I right?"

"Yeah…"

"She always does that, but then you played the nice guy card and she flipped her hair told you her name...Here's a hint though, don't waste your time. I've tried every trick in the book."

"You're her brother…" Jonah replied. "Right?"

"Maybe we should all leave," Michael said. "James…"

"No," he said and then redirected his attention back to the teen behind the counter. "She told me that I'm her brother, that's new, why haven't you used that before Evans?" he turned around.

"James, you're embarrassing me more than usual," Lily said.

"Embarrassing you? Oh, I'm sorry because you're such an important person to me that I value your opinion."

"That's it mate, we're leaving," Sirius said grabbing his arm.

"I'm not done," he said trying to jerk his arm away.

"You are," Sirius said, then looked over at Lily. "Can you just be the dame in despair for once and let James be your King Wonderful?"

"It's Damsel in Distress and Prince Charming," she said, "And one second." She walked up to the counter and pulled the napkin out of her purse before setting it down."Thank you, but I don't think I'll be calling you."

"Good luck with your boyfriend," he said. "And you were wrong, he looks like he takes you seriously."

"Sometimes a little too seriously, and he's not my boyfriend."

"In that case…" He began to tear the napkin up. "I don't think I could possibly be more attracted to you then he is."

Lily rolled her eyes and turned around scanning the restaurant before racing out the door towards the Knight bus.