Cruel Reality...((James))

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Lily Evans stared blankly at the opened letters lay out in front of her. Each one saying the same thing, each one another rejection. Before leaving Hogwarts she'd acquired applications for all the internships she could possibly have an interest in, her heart set on one more than any of the others. Not many people knew, barely anyone if she was being truthful but she'd always liked the idea of becoming a Healer. She wanted to help people, she wanted to be on the front line healing people. Lord knows she had the qualifications, she had a kind heart, she was loyal, dedicated. In a nutshell Lily was perfect for the job, yet she'd been turned away. The letters were all the same:

Dear Miss Evans, 

                    We regret to inform you...not what we're looking for...feel free to reapply later on in the year...

St Mungo's, The Department of International Magical Cooperation, The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, all three of them had turned her away with the same excuses, she wasn't what they were looking for, she didn't have the right qualities needed, all of them were the same. At one point even her grades were mentioned, it had been claimed they were too good for the position she was applying for. It was insane and if she was honest, transparent. Lily knew deep down why she'd been declined, it had nothing to do with her grades or her not being right for the position, because she was, she knew she was perfect for the positions...all these rejections had to do with who she was, her blood status. 

Muggle-Borns were struggling in this community, she hadn't realized just how bad it was till she'd graduated and stepped out into the real world. People were either being cruelly dismissive, or simply sugar coating the real reason they didn't want you around, that's exactly what was happening in these letters. She knew the truth because she'd seen the papers, heard the rumors, heard the taunts. It made her miss school, the safety of the castle, the warmth of the Gryffindor Tower. Graduating she'd known things would be changing, but she hadn't expected things to be so hard and so real so soon.

Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply, no longer feeling welcome or at home in the world she'd grown to love. Opening her brilliantly green eyes again, she looked around noticing the parlor was slightly more busy than it had been when she'd come in. No one paid her any mind and she was once more very thankful for that, the last thing she wanted was for people to see her sitting alone, upset at her table beside the window. Shaking her head she looked down at the letters again before wiping away the tear that had rolled down her cheek away lightly, blowing out a light breath. 

In truth she'd expected this, she'd been told to prepare herself by many people, many friends but she hadn't expected it to hurt. Not only did it hurt though, she was beyond frustrated and angry. It wasn't right, she deserved the chance to show them what she was capable of, why couldn't they give her that? Twirling a lock of her fiery red hair around her fingers, she pulled it around to her mouth and unconsciously began chewing on her hair, a clear signal she was feeling slightly more anxious than usual. 

Glancing at the clock she noted James was a couple minutes late. Her boy-friend was set to be meeting her, and she was eager for the distraction. If anyone could make her feel better it was him, though that said he was also the same person who could get her so riled up she felt like screaming. She loved him though a lot more than she'd ever expected, maybe she should tell him that? Shaking her head she closed her eyes and took a breath, wanting to shake off this dark cloud that had settled over her before he arrived.

[James Potter]

James was running late to meet Lily, but the fault was entirely his mothers. She'd started on at him about all the usual 'when are you going to do this' and 'when are you going to do that' nonsense that she always did, but this time it was 'when are you going to let us meet her'. Had hadn't quite known what answer to give to that. As much as he wanted to take Lily to meet his parents, he'd actually rather it if it was a time when his father wasn't home. 

They'd twigged on quickly enough that he was seeing someone, and the barrage of questions had started from that point on wards. One of the first questions out of his father had been about what family she was from, and by family, he was trying to judge her bloodline. Why did people still care about blood, for Merlin's sake! 

Well, regardless, his father had looked confused when he hadn't recognized the surname Evans as being from a known line, but he hadn't given up trying to work out how she faired up. The look of his face when James had told him that Lily was muggle born... well, let's just say it hadn't been the best reaction it could have been. His mother was a little more open minded it seemed, and she'd seemed... fine about it. She still asked loads of questions and stuff, but she didn't seem to be so fussed about blood. James would be fine taking Lily to meet her, but he didn't know what to expect from his father if he was face to face with Lily right now. Hopefully, he just needed a bit of time to absorb.

As James entered the Ice Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley it only took a second for him to notice her familiar red hair over by the window. The closer he got, the more he got the feeling that something was wrong.  She seemed closed off and keeping to herself, and if he knew Lily at all, he knew that was a sign that something was on her mind. Slipping up behind her, James wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You're upset. Talk to me?" 

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Without sounding petulant Lily didn't think any of this was fair. Though considering what was going on in the world today she figured she should at least be thankful she was only dealing with rejection and not something much, much worse. Though considering how hard she had worked over the years, how hard she'd worked to master everything she came across, she couldn't help but feel that she'd done it all for nothing. It wasn't right and no, it wasn't fair.

So lost in her own musings and such, she hadn't noticed the new arrival into the parlor nor had she noticed as he approached her. So when those two familiar arms wrapped around her she jumped slightly, though relaxed just as quickly, smiling softly when James pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. "You're upset. Talk to me?" he said and she unconsciously leaned back into him, taking a breath as her eyes drifted back onto the papers on the table, sighing softly she nodded towards them.

"I heard back about those internships..." she told him softly. Her hand came to rest over his own for a moment before she picked up one of the letters, smiling though it didn't touch her eyes. No, she still felt sick. All that hard work, all those hours spent doing her best, studying, achieving the best grades in school and now she was finally in the real world, rejected from the jobs she wanted to do with no idea what came next. Did she look elsewhere or would she face the same discrimination?

"According to all three I either don't have the qualities they're looking for or my grades aren't good enough..." she said, shaking her head and looking at James briefly before reaching for the letters and folding them up, "I think we both know it's nothing to do with either of them though..." she said softly, it was her blood, that's what it was she was sure James knew it too. She had to get used to the idea that this was how it was in the real world now, she'd have to deal with this stigma and prejudice on a daily basis. It confused her as to why James was willing to put himself through that too...he cared she knew he did but he didn't have to put up with this.

"I guess I'll have to figure out something else..." she said, never the kind to simply stop and wallow. She was beyond upset sure, but she was determined not to let three rejections hold her back. Looking at James she smiled softly, "Please tell me your days been better so far?"

[James Potter]

Lily had been so lost in thought that she clearly hadn't heard him come up behind her, and she jumped when he touched her, making him chuckle a little, but not for long. He wanted to know what was dragging her down. It was then that he noticed all the papers - letters - on the table in front of her.

"I heard back about those internships..." 

James didn't need to hear any more to know exactly what they said. He let out a sigh and hugged her just a little tighter. Lily picked one up and James found himself glaring at the envelope, and feeling annoyed that she had to be put in this sort of position. She would be fantastic in any job she got, but no one seemed to open their eyes enough to see that. And in a way, it kinda made him feel bad that he'd had it so easy to get a job. He didn't have to try at all...

"According to all three I either don't have the qualities they're looking for or my grades aren't good enough...I think we both know it's nothing to do with either of them though..."

James pulled one of the letters from her and flipped it open, needed to see their petty excuses for himself, and sure enough, there it was. Actually, he'd pulled out the letter for the International Cooperation department in the Ministry and he glared at it. Heck! He was half tempted to storm in their and demand they rectify their mistake. "This is just wrong... B*stards..." And he was supposed to go work in that office? He had a feeling he didn't want to have to face the department bosses. He'd definitely have a few things to say to them.

"I guess I'll have to figure out something else...Please tell me your days been better so far?"

"Or appeal against it. There's no reason you can't fight for your cause." He kissed her before letting go and moving to take a seat at the table next to her. He ran a hand through his hair as he sat and let out a sigh "My mother wants to meet you. Surprise surprise." He managed to crack a grin.

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The way his arms tightened around her and that was comforting. To think if she'd remained as stubborn as last year, she could have missed out on this, missed out on James and how right this all was. He had a strange effect on her, a comforting one, one that led her to believe that no matter what she may think or feel, this definitely wasn't the end of the world. There was still plenty out there for her right? She was Lily Evans, she didn't give up or let anything, not even rejection hold her back...right?

"This is just wrong... B*stards...Or appeal against it. There's no reason you can't fight for your cause."

Lily returned the kiss, fighting against a pout as he let go of her to sit at the table, even though he was next to her she actually missed him. Strange right? Smiling slightly, embarrassed somewhat at her irrational feelings. Tucking her hair behind her ear she picked up the letters, looking at the envelopes before shaking her head and looking at James, smiling softly. "I'll think about it but not sure it'd do any good." she told him, he was right, she could appeal but was it really worth it if that's what they all thought of her? As James ran his hand through his hair, she tilted her head slightly wondering what was on his mind, he didn't seem himself.

"My mother wants to meet you. Surprise surprise."

That surprised her. In the months they'd been dating neither had met the others parents, her own were eager to meet him and she wanted them to, it was Petunia she was putting off him meeting. Then again she had no doubt her boy-friend could handle himself, he'd proven that many a time. Reaching over she took his hand, "You seem thrilled about that." she chuckled, leaning over to press a kiss to his cheek before pulling back, her hand still in his as she sighed softly, not missing how he only said his Mother and not his Father. "My parents are dying to meet you too...probably best we get it over with sooner rather than later..." she said, making a note to arrange it for when Petunia went away with that fiance of hers.

[James Potter]

"I'll think about it but not sure it'd do any good."

James could hear doubt in her words and he was pretty sure that she was just saying that because it's what she thought he wanted to hear her say. He could understand if she didn't want to do it, after all theyd just acted in the way that they had - refusing her on the basis of her bloody, but that didn't mean it would be impossible to still get a job. Lily was head strong, he could vouch for that, and if she used that to her advantage then she'd be able to get further than she thought right now. "Dont give up so fast - you know you're good enough, just make them see that, too."

Lily took his hand and he moved so that he had a better hold of hers, and gave a light squeeze. The 'meet the parent' talk had come up a few times, but so far nothing had come from it. His father was proving hard to convince right now, and from what he could gather, it was Lily's sister, rather than her parents, that was disapproving right now. He didn't really understand why her sister was such a big deal, but he had to admit, even if not out loud, that he was a little worried at meeting her parents. Heck, lily had hated him for enough years of school, there were chances that she might have told her parents some of the stupid stuff he'd done over the years... And that wasn't really the sort of conversation he wanted to be caught up in... How was he supposed to explain all the stupid things he'd done to annoy her over the years?

"You seem thrilled about that. My parents are dying to meet you too...probably best we get it over with sooner rather than later..."

James grinned and shook his head. "You don't know my mother. She'll hound you with questions if you give her half a chance. Anyway, the big question - who meets who first?"

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"Dont give up so fast - you know you're good enough, just make them see that, too."

His faith in her and her ability to see this through was amazing, he actually believed in her that much? Truth was, if she was being honest with him and herself she would admit he was right, of course he was, she'd never backed down before. Not in the face of adversity or ignorance. It forced her to push on, to prove herself good if not better than most pureblooded wizards, but she wasn't so sure she wanted to keep fighting for acceptance in places she knew, someone like her, would never get it. Some people would never be able to open their minds enough, some were just scared and that she could understand. However she was Lily Evans, plain and simple, if there was anyone that could turn this around it was her. She knew she may not get into the places she wanted but she wasn't going to stop applying, she wasn't going to roll over and play dead, she'd find something to do, she always did.

The meet the parents topic was one they'd touched upon a few times, though there'd always been some reason not to do it. At first it was because the relationship was so new and not as serious but now, they'd been together for a good long while with no end to the relationship in sight. So obviously the next step was to meet each others parents, there were other steps to take too of course, but Lily had so far managed to avoid them. Truth was, meeting the parents was big enough, anything else could wait for now, at least until the right time or she felt completely, 100% ready.

"You don't know my mother. She'll hound you with questions if you give her half a chance. Anyway, the big question - who meets who first?"

Lily smiled, questions she didn't mind. She'd always been able to get most adults on side, but she knew just how important it was getting his Mother's approval. Maybe it wasn't such a big deal to James, maybe it was but to Lily, she did have an innate desire that the woman like her, maybe even his Father. When it came to her own parents she wasn't worried, neither ever had a bad word to say about anyone and they knew how important James had become to her so she knew they'd be on board. Of course they remembered him from the few times Lily had cursed his name over the years but they often laughed at her frustration, her Dad even pointing out that 'once upon a time' he'd been chasing her Mother and she found him irritating, according to her Mother, all the big loves started that way.

"Well I'm not worried about my parents, if you want you could meet mine first." she suggested, thinking maybe his Dad needed some more time. Brushing her hair behind her ear she smiled and shrugged, "I think maybe we get them both over and done with over the next week, that way we have the rest of the summer to just enjoy." she said with a smile. There were a few events with her muggle friends she'd been invited to, if all went well maybe she could convince James to tag along, if he was in fact interest in hanging out with Muggles. "So what do you think? I could have my parents clear their schedule for Friday...?"

[James Potter]

"Well I'm not worried about my parents, if you want you could meet mine first."

James let out  a small laugh. "I'm not worried," About? Her meeting his? Well, meeting his dad, perhaps, because James really had no idea what it would take to get him to accept that this was real, and that James really didn't give a damn about the whole 'pureblood' nonsense that seemed to cause more problems than they were worth in this world. As for meeting hers? Yeah, he was a little worried about that, simply because he had been a complete prick towards Lily for years when he hadn't known any better. But hey, it's not like there was some easy handbook explaining it all. 

"I think maybe we get them both over and done with over the next week, that way we have the rest of the summer to just enjoy. So what do you think? I could have my parents clear their schedule for Friday...?"

This time, he really did laugh. "Eager much, babe?" Friday. Okay, he could be prepared to face the possible wrath on Friday. And muggles... how did things even work with muggles? He'd grown up being told things about wizarding families, and kinda high status ones, too, because his parents had always sort of expected him to do the normal thing and marry someone from a good pureblood line or something. He had the feeling though, that some of the things he'd been told about those situations, wouldn't really apply to this. It was like a whole other rule book. James liked to think he was fairly... okay, around muggles. He liked to think he could fit in and not say something completely stupid, but he'd never been inside a completely muggle house, so there was high chance he would do something completely stupid. And making a bad first impression just wasn't going to work. "Friday works. And I'll talk to mine and see what they say. Mum will be fine with whenever but... you know..." He didn't really need to say that his dad was a different story, she already knew that.

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"Eager much, babe?"

When James spoke and laughed at her she rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders lightly in response, "I just figure we've put it off for this long, sooner we get it over and done with the sooner everyone's happy." she told him, sticking out her tongue playfully at him. It was true she wasn't worried about her parents, in fact she was rather eager for them to meet James. Lord knows they knew enough about him, they trusted her to make the right decisions though, they knew she was in no way daft, so she already knew they were sure she knew what she was doing with James. Even if this wasn't a forever thing, it was happening right now and right now she was happy, that's all they said they wanted..Petunia on the other hand, well suffice to say the red head was dreading that meeting...

"Friday works. And I'll talk to mine and see what they say. Mum will be fine with whenever but... you know..."

Lily smiled softly and nodded her head, yes, she did know. It was obvious James's Dad had some trouble accepting their relationship but then again who didn't, it was just that kind of time right now. She just had to hope that when and if they did meet he'd at least keep an open mind. "Well Mother will be pleased, gives her an excuse to try new recipes." she joked, her Mother truly did love spending time in the kitchen and would find any excuse to try some new and lavish recipe. Lily meanwhile was too restless to be content in something like that, she loved to be in the kitchen she did but she'd take keeping her head buried in a book anytime.

Taking her hand back away from James's she picked up the letters and folded each one back up carefully, placing them back neatly in her bag. What she did with them when she got home was still up in the air, she was torn between burning them, tearing them up or putting them away in a safe place. Though it seemed pointless to keep them she sort of wanted to for some strange reason. "So, what we doing today Potter?" she asked him, shooting him a warm smile and eager to get their day together started. It hadn't started out with the best news on her part but she wanted to at least forget about the rejections for a while...at least before she had to tell her parents, something she wasn't particularly looking forward to. They just couldn't understand no matter how much they tried.

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[James Potter]

"I just figure we've put it off for this long, sooner we get it over and done with the sooner everyone's happy."

They had put it off a bit, but then, for the first few months they'd been in school, so it wasn't really an option. And the summer... well, it had been pretty new, too, because a relationship outside of the school environment worked pretty differently from one inside. They needed time to work things out and adapt to the change themselves before they starting bringing family into it.

"Well Mother will be pleased, gives her an excuse to try new recipes."

James grinned. "Food is food, so long as it's edible, I'll eat it." He couldn't really imagine his mother ever bothering with cooking and recipes... she'd probably just tell the house elves that she wanted something 'spectacular' and put her efforts into making the rest of the house look good. He knew her well enough to know that's how her priorities tended to work.

He watched as Lily started to fold the letters back up in their envelopes and put them away in her bad. He knew they bothered her more than what she was letting on right then, but she'd only talk about as much as she was willing to talk about.

"So, what we doing today Potter?"

"You tell me. What do you want to do?" He stood up and held his hand out towards her, waiting for her to take it to tug her to her feet. Getting out of the parlor was the first step, what they did beyond that, he really didn't mind. "Be warned, if you say shopping I refuse to go near Florish and Blotts."