Disclaimer: The characters you all recognize – J.K.'s; the characters you don't recognize – mine.

Author's Note: Hello there. I've been reading a lot of L/J stories in a long time, and I've wanted to write a story about the two, but haven't had any ideas what to write about. Well, I finally found an idea. I thought it would be interesting if I wrote a story in which the two of them meet by chance – they completely have no idea of each other until one moment when they accidentally meet. Hopefully you would all like this story. I don't know if its been done before; if it has, then I apologize. Anyhow, this isn't a love/hate story or any typical L/J. I'm hoping this is a somewhat original story. So please let me know what you thought of this story by reading and reviewing this story. Thanks a lot! By the way, this story is based on the movie, Serendipity. 

Chapter 1: Do You Believe in Destiny?

It was another summer day at Diagon Alley. Witches and wizards of all ages walked the cobblestone streets of the market, gazing at windows and talking animatedly about everyday news and gossip. Amidst the throngs of people, a 17-year-old girl with auburn hair and emerald-green eyes made her way through the busy streets, walking towards Flourish and Blotts. "Thank you," she said with a sincere smile, as an old wizard held the door open for her to step in. Breathing in the smell of books, she gazed at the many books stacked on the tall shelves of the shop, carefully reading the title of each book as she passed. She gave a heavy sigh. How will I ever find that book? There must me millions upon millions of volumes and hardbacks in here, she thought to herself. Without a warning, something heavy fell on her head, making the girl lightly yell in pain.

"I knew I should have said watch out before dropping that book down there!" said the shopkeeper with a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry about that lass! I hope I didn't do any damage?"

"Oh no sir," replied the young lady, rubbing her head with a smile. "I'm fine. Although I am wondering if you could direct me to the shelf where I can find Belinda Bathwick's latest, Summoning Charms and More: The Complete List of Magical Charms to Ease Everyday Life."

"Ah yes. A lot of customers have been asking for that," replied the shopkeeper. "Just continue on down this row of books. There should be a small table full of newly released books at the end of this here row. Hopefully, there are still some copies left."

"Thank you sir," said the young girl, immediately following the simple directions given to her by the shopkeeper. Seeing the table the kind man had mentioned, the auburn-haired girl briskly walked towards the table, a triumphant smile creeping on her lips. The last one, she thought, quickly grabbing the hardbound book off the desk. She stopped, however, when she felt an opposing force tugging the book away from her. "I'm sorry, but I saw this book first," she said calmly, looking at a boy who looked around her age. He had messy, black hair and hazel eyes, hidden behind thin-framed glasses. He had a shocked but apologetic look on his face.

"I thought I saw this book first," replied the boy with a lopsided grin. "But it looks as though you're in a much greater need of this book than I am…"

The teenage girl's eyes widened in apology, guilty for not thinking about the boy's possibly important need for the book. "Oh what was I thinking? You probably need this book for something much more important than simple reading for fun! Why don't you go ahead and take the book? I'm sure there will be other places where I can get it!"

The boy smiled. "As much as I need to brush up on my charms skills, I can't accept this book," he replied, running a hand through his already messy hair. "I believe it's against the gentleman's code to refuse the request of a beautiful stranger. So, I'll just put this book back onto this table here and slowly walk away…" He smiled at the girl, gently prying the book off her grasp and setting it on the rectangular desk.

The auburn-haired girl was about to speak in protest when an old wizard walked between her and the boy, grabbing the book off the desk. "I've been looking all over for this!" he said with a hearty chuckle. "Today must be my lucky day!" The man started to walk away, oblivious to the confused and slightly surprised looks the two teens were giving him.

"Excuse me sir, but I believe you have my book there," said the boy, lightly tapping the man on his shoulder.

The man turned around, the jovial twinkle in his eyes slowly subsiding. "What are you talking about, lad? It's on the table, isn't it? I can claim it as mine as much as you can."

The young man looked at the red-haired stranger in front of him, pleading with his eyes for her to help him. "Actually sir, my boyfriend and I were just deciding as to what we should…what we should…"

"Er- what we should wrap the book with: expensive wrapping paper or just…a page from the Daily Prophet," recovered the boy, smacking himself mentally for such a lame excuse. "You see sir, I was planning on giving this book to…her – my girlfriend's – mother. As a present, you know?"

The wizard looked at the two, a bewildered expression on his face. "What in the world would a full-grown witch do with a simple book of charms?" he asked, clutching the book to his sides. He waited as the two teens looked at each other for answers.

"Er…Because…"

"Because my mother adores charms! I remember her telling me it was her favorite subject while in school," said the auburn-haired girl quickly, giving the old man a warm smile. "And my dear…Jon here isn't exactly on her good side at the moment."

The boy adjusted his glasses, giving his "girlfriend" an amused grin. Wow…she's a quick thinker, this one. After a few seconds of waiting, the man finally gave a loud, hearty guffaw. "Haha! I've been there boy! Tell you what – take the book and give it to you girlfriend's mother. I wouldn't want to see such a perfect couple such as you two break up over a book," he said, giving the messy-haired boy the hardbound text. "Good Luck," he added, patting the young man on his back, leaving the two teens in quiet laughter.

"Well then, here you go –" said the young man, handing the book to the emerald-eyed beauty. "Better pay for it now before I change my mind – or before someone else gets a hold of it!" He gave the girl a cheery wave and turned around, walking away from the table.

"Thanks again!"

~~*~~~*~~

"You have a nice day, dear!" said the shopkeeper, handing the young woman her change. "And try not to stay out in the sun for too long. It might be bad for you!"

"I will," she replied, giving the man a jolly wave and a smile. Stepping out into the streets of Diagon Alley, she was greeted by the hot rays of the sun lightly kissing her pale skin. The young lady looked at her watch and started walking, intent on getting something to lightly snack on. I have three hours until mum, dad and Petunia arrive at the Leaky Cauldron – plenty of time to eat and walk around, she thought, entering Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Shop and breathing a sigh of relief (there weren't as many people in the ice cream parlor as there were in Flourish and Blotts).

The redhead slowly walked towards the counter, wondering what to order, when she suddenly turned around at the sound of her name. She smiled, her eyes looking at a mother wiping ice cream off her young daughter's cheek. "Lily! I told you to be careful," the woman said with a sigh. She turned her gaze at the teen. "May I help you?"

"Oh no, I thought you were calling for me," she replied apologetically. "I suppose Lily is a rather common name. Well then, have a nice day!" she gave the mother and daughter a sincere smile and turned around, intent on finally ordering something to eat. Her mild hunger passed, however, when she walked right into another person, falling to the floor. You should have taken that woman's advice, Lily, she thought to herself, carefully gathering her things – her Flourish and Blotts purchase splattered with the cold, flavored dairy of the person she walked into.

"Are you alright?"

The young woman looked up, surprised to hear a familiar voice asking her a question, and took the hand being offered for her to take. "Yes, I'm alright…sorry about that," apologized the girl, giving the messy-haired boy from the bookshop a sheepish smile. "Well, this is the second time I run into you this day."

"Oh yes! I knew you looked a bit familiar," said the boy, wiping some ice cream off his glasses. "I see you bought the book – smart move there."

She smiled, giving him a gracious look. "Yes, and I meant to thank you for letting me buy the book but then you left before I had the chance. So, how can I repay you then?"

"You don't really have to do anything. But if you insist, then maybe you can sit with me for awhile?" the boy asked, embarrassment absent from his voice. "I'm waiting for some friends of mine and it would really be horrible if I didn't have anyone to wait with until they arrive."

"Alright. I think that's a fair enough deal," replied the girl, smiling. "And I might as well buy you another cup of whatever it was you were eating, since the one you've just bought seems to have been spilled on the floor."

~~*~~~*~~

"So tell me, is your mother really good with charms?" asked the boy, setting his spoon onto the table. The two had been sitting at the same table for two hours, watching people walk by the ice cream shop. Neither one, throughout the whole two hours, had said their name to the other. Each was so comfortable with the other's company, that the issue of names never came up.

"Well, my mother is good at charms, but not magical charms," the girl replied, amused at the confused expression on her newfound friend's face. "It's really hard to explain…"

"Well, if it's difficult to explain, then I won't pursue the subject," replied the young man with a grin. He looked at his watch. Damn! I have to meet up with Sirius and Remus. I'm sure those two are patient enough to wait a few more minutes, he thought, watching the auburn-haired girl in front of him gingerly drop her spoon onto the glass cup, making a clinking noise. She looked at him seriously.

"So…what's your favorite word?"

"My favorite word?" the boy repeated, shocked at the sudden question.

"Yes. I believe that a person's favorite word says a lot about their personality," said the emerald-eyed girl, giving the other teen an inquiring look. "So what is it then?"

"Destiny."

"Destiny?"

"Yeah, destiny: fate; fortune…"

"Do you believe in destiny?"

The messy-haired teen ran a hand through his hair. "I do, actually. It's a wonderful thought, having the insurance of that you serve some purpose in this world," replied the young man, leaning back in his chair. "What about you then? Do you believe in destiny?"

"I suppose I do," replied the pale-skinned girl, resting her elbows on the table and clasping her hands together. "I believe that every single person in the world is destined to be someone and to be with someone…"

The boy looked at the person in front of him, taking in the warmhearted and passive look on her face, admiration apparent in his eyes. He was very intrigued with the girl's positive acceptance of destiny. "So then, what's your favorite word?"

"Serendipity," she replied with a smile. "The phenomenon of fortunate accidents."

"And why is that your favorite word?"

"It's a very positive word, isn't it? Reminds me that things happen for the best – whether they be on purpose or on accident," answered the girl casually.

"So you're saying then that serendipitous events can lead to one's destiny?"

"I suppose you can say that…"

A sly grin spread across the young man's features. "So then, my accidentally grabbing the same book as you and your accidentally running into me – does that mean we're destined to be together?" He looked at the auburn-haired girl with expectant and mischievous eyes, waiting for her response.

"Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't," she replied with a giggle, stealing a glance at her watch. "I thought you had some friends to meet?"

"What? Friends?" said the boy, bewildered, looking at his own watch. "Oh shit! I've totally forgotten about them!" exclaimed the teen, quickly standing up, running out of the shop. "It was really nice seeing you again!"

The girl stifled a small giggle, watching the boy weave through the throng of shoppers, emerald-eyes filled with amusement. "Bye..."

~~*~~~*~~

16-year old Sirius Black heaved an impatient sigh, glancing at his watch. "Remus, what time is it?"

"What? Didn't you just look at your watch?" asked his friend, sending him a bewildered look. "Did you forget how to tell time? Oh wait – you never knew how to do that before."

"Hardy har har! That's very funny, Moony," said Sirius with a roll of his eyes. "I just wanted to confirm that my watch is on time. We've been waiting here for over an hour. Where is Prongs, that bloody git?"

"Maybe he met a girl somewhere, fell in love with her, and completely forgot about us…"

"That doesn't make sense, Moony. Prongs would never ignore us over a girl."

"Of course you're right," replied Remus with a smirk. "It's your job to make us wait while you're off snogging some girl."

Sirius was about to reply on his defense, but was cut off when he saw a tall, messy-haired boy approach them. "Well it's about bloody time, James! I thought you wouldn't get here before my 90th birthday!"

"Sorry about that. I lost track of time," apologized their friend, panting. "I was off doing something."

A mischievous smile crept across Sirius' face. "So Jamesie, what were you doing and who were you doing it with?"

"Shut up, Padfoot," exclaimed Remus, smacking the back of his friend's head. He turned to look at James. "Say Prongs, where are your glasses?"

"Bloody Hell! Stay here – I left it at the shop!"

"Yes, don't mind us…we're just your best friends and all that…" muttered Sirius, rolling his eyes at James' retreating form. "We've only been waiting for an hour…"

~~*~~~*~~

James ran back to Florean's shop, mumbling to himself along the way. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid," he murmured, walking through the entrance of the now crowded shop, marching to the table he was sitting in. "I can't believe I left my glasses he—" He suddenly stopped, a small grin creeping across his lips. "I told you: we're really destined for each other…"

"Hi…well…I left my book here," replied the girl James was talking to just a few minutes ago, an embarrassed look on her face. "And you seem to have left these before you left," she added, handing the boy his thin-framed glasses.

"Er…thanks," said James, slightly red. A few awkward seconds passed, each not knowing what to say to the other.

"Well then…I better go…my parents will be waiting for me…" began the girl, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, turning to leave. She stopped, however, when a warm hand gently took a hold of her arm.

"You're leaving already?" asked the boy, disappointed. "I honestly think it's a clear indication that something will happen between us, since we've been running into each other a lot this day…"

"I'm sorry…but I really must go," replied the girl apologetically, starting to walk away.

"Can't you at least tell me your name?"

The young woman turned around slowly, a sincere smile on her face. "If it is true, what you're saying – that we're destined to be together – then I assure you, it isn't necessary for you to know my name. Besides, you haven't told me your name either…"

"I'm James," he said with a lopsided grin, waiting for her to speak. "Well, aren't you going to say something?"

"My name is…you'd have to find that out for yourself," replied the girl. "I'll give you a hint: it's four letters long…well then…I'll see you around, James." She gently laid her hand on his shoulder, giving the boy a small kiss on the cheek and walking away. My name's Lily…

*~~**~~~**~~*

So…how was it? I know…it's a pretty bad first chapter. I hope it wasn't that bad or anything like that…sorry if I kept referring to lily as girl or anything similar to that word (and the same with James). I hope I didn't confuse anyone by doing that. What else… oh yeah: if you felt that some of them were out of character, I deeply apologize for that. I'm not an L/J writer – this is my first story of that coupling. Please review this story. Once I get a few reviews, then I'll continue this story. If not, then I'll not write the second chapter and just continue with my R/H story. Well, thank you for taking the time and reading this chapter…and if you have some time, read my other stories too…have a nice day!

~~:Azaleafaye:~~