Chapter Text
Lily woke to her alarm the next morning, and as she grabbed her phone to switch the incessant noise off she noticed a series of unread messages, all from James, the earliest being time stamped at the completely ludicrous time of 4:59am. Sinking back under her quilt she opened her messenger app.
Good Morning Lils : )
Not a morning person huh?
Swimming unit starts today – which one is a better look for the teacher to rock at the pool?
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Lily couldn’t help but laugh as she looked at the pictures he had sent in which he was modelling various swim suits – Boardshorts and a rashie, boardshorts with no rashie, a teeny red pair of budgie smugglers and alarmingly, a fluorescent green Borat mankini. She felt her face begin to flush. Dear lord the man was fit-as-fuck.
Just so you know it’s currently one vote for the Borat.
It’s probably best for your career if you don’t get arrested for indecent exposure. Better make it option 1 ; )
What, don’t you think the principal would appreciate this fine bod?
Probably not.
Where do you work anyway?
Hogwarts College, PE teacher. The lessons are being held at the Hogsmede rec centre if you felt like popping in to ogle ; )
Interesting career choice. And thanks for the invite, such a shame, I’m like super, super, busy today. Maybe next time.
I’m devastated. So what do you do for work?
I have a shitefully boring office job. I hate it with every fibre of my being.
And you still work there because?
Sadly, because it pays reasonably well and I need the money. I have plans to hopefully quit soon though. Just need to push through a few more months
And then what are your plans?
I’ll be finished with my degree (finally) and with a bit of luck I’ll get a teaching job all of my own. Kindergarten to 2nd grade in a perfect world.
Hogwarts is a K-12 school. I’m happy to put a good word in for you with our principal if it would help…
I may just take you up on that offer Mr Potter.
What the hell were you doing up before 5 anyway? I didn’t even realise they had a 4:59 in the morning as well as the evening
Morning run
Ewwwww, why do you hate yourself so much?
Just the opposite. I love the buzz it gives me. It’s amazing. Running, watching the sun come up and the world come to life.
I must be more sleep deprived than I first thought, you just made early mornings sound almost worth it with the whole sun coming up and the world coming to life thing
I’ll have to drag you out with me one day. Although maybe for a sunrise breakfast instead of a run if you’d prefer?
Breakfast sounds so much more pleasant than running
It’s a date : ) And now, alas, I must bid you adieu. Staff meeting at 7:30, and I’m running late. Have a good day Lil
Lily swore as she realised how much time she had wasted chatting with James, and flew out of bed and into the shower. 15 minutes later was washed, dried, dressed and racing out of the door to the train station, praying she hadn’t missed her usual train. Dolores would kill her if she was late.
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Hey, how was your day?
Ugh, don’t even get me started. How was swimming?
Surprisingly good. Everyone was relatively well behaved. Didn’t even have to give out any detentions for attempting to drown each other which is a first.
But back to your day. What happened?
My bloody boss happened. I mean, she happens every day, but today was particularly painful.
What did she do? I’m good at revenge plots if you need ideas…
Where do I even start? She treats me like I’m some brainless trainee. I literally do her job for her while shes off screwing the boss (yes, actually screwing, its like the worst kept secret in the company) while she takes all the credit. I’m not supposed to give people my own email address, but rather hers so she can monitor everything that comes in. Same with the phone, I have to ‘pick up’ all the calls from her number, even though they are 98% of the time for me. She controls the office heating to her specifications regardless of anyone else. Today it was like 45 degrees inside. It’s September. But she was cold, so on goes the heating. But the thing that got to me most today was when she made a major mistake on something she actually worked on herself and then told Fudge it was my fault. Despite the fact that I questioned the mistake a week ago and was told it wasn’t my concern.
Remind me again why you haven’t quit yet?
Remus asks me that question pretty much daily. Unfortunately for me that damn money tree in the backyard hasn’t sprouted yet.
Ha, mine wont grow either.
So, ummm, not that I don’t love this messaging thing we’ve got going on, but do you think maybe I could get your number and call you instead?
Oh, ok, it’s XXXX XXX XXX
(Incoming call from Unknown number)
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me, James.”
“I kind of figured. Wouldn’t have answered the phone otherwise”
“You don’t like talking on the phone? We can go back to messages if you’re more comfortable with it. I really don’t mind”
”No, its fine. Just normally don’t answer to unknown numbers”
“Right. So what are your plans for the weekend?”
“Hanging with Bear. Sirius called me today and asked if I’d mind having him for the weekend cause he wants to whisk Rem away for a surprise weekend getaway”
“Yeah I heard about that. Anyway, I was wondering if you (and Teddy obvs) maybe wanted to hang out for a bit this weekend?”
“Ummm, yeah, sure, that’d be good. What did you have in mind?”
“Does Teddy like the park?”
“Well, he is 5”
”Given I have basically no experience with 5 year olds I’ll take your sarcasm as a yes”
“How can you have no experience with 5 year olds? You literally teach them”
”Actually, I don’t. I take the high school grade PE classes”
“Oh, sorry”
“Nothing to apologise for, you didn’t know. Anyway, we’ve established Teddy likes the park, but do you like picnics. I know this great place?”
“Not sure, I’ve never really been on one”
“How have you never been on a picnic? I thought every one our age was dragged on them by their parents as kids”
“Well, it’s possible that my parents did it when I was little, but I don’t remember them. And after that I didn’t exactly have a normal life. Picnics weren’t a thing we did with my first foster family, and then well, yeah, I just didn’t”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you”
“You didn’t upset me. I just don’t like talking about that period of my life. But yes, I would like to go on a picnic”
“Excellent. We can hash out the details later in the week”