#Pre-relationship Jily

[neverenoughmarauders]

Love, immortal

@jilymicrofics | January 2025 prompt #5: Sonnet | Words: 907

'Write her a love poem already, why don't you?' 

James glanced over at Sirius, who was leaning against the grey stone wall along the seaside, cigarette in hand. 

'Or a sonnet,' Remus suggested with a small smile. He was the only one who wasn't smoking, on account of his lungs already being in an abysmal state. Technically speaking they shouldn't really smoke around him, on account of his health. Well, James supposed none of them should be smoking on account of their own health either.

'Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.'

James rolled his eyes. Trust Peter to recite the easiest lines of the most famous sonnet. Sirius' lips twitched slightly as he casually picked up where Peter's memory would likely have failed him.

'Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And Summer's lease hath all too short a date.'

Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines, James found himself continuing in his mind, though there is nothing too hot about the sun at present. And often is his gold complexion dimmed. That was certainly true. Though it was no longer summer in Scotland. If summer had ever visited these parts of the island.

'I dunno what you're talking about,' James lied. 

'Oh, but you do,' said Sirius as he nodded towards the two people standing a little away from them. James permitted himself another glance at the red-haired girl. 

And every fair from fair sometimes declines, By chance, or Nature's changing course, untrimmed. 

Was it too much to hope his feelings would decline? He wanted nothing more than for Lily Evans to be what she had always been, Snivellus' unlikely, and almost as annoying, friend. 

'Her?' James tried to inject as much disbelief as he could into his question. 'You're out of your mind, mate.'

The bell sounded for class, and James dropped the stub of his cigarette. But neither he nor Sirius made any move to leave, so Remus and Peter didn't either.

​Lily and Snape had to pass them to get back into the courtyard, and James was damned if he was going to miss this opportunity to say hi. Merely to annoy Snivellus, naturally.

As she turned towards them, the sun sent an unlikely ray down to greet them, and Lily's auburn hair glowed in the otherwise grey landscape that was the sea, the wall and the sky. Her emerald eyes caught his own for the briefest of moments, and James was sure his heart skipped a beat.

But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st.

She was bloody beautiful, James had to concede that much. Beautiful, and smart, and funny. Snape, who had no sense of humour, would never truly appreciate that side of her. And she was brave, so very brave. 

Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade, When in eternal lines to Time though grow'st.

Lily could have died, wanting to run in after Snape like that. Going into that cave was dangerous, yet she had fought their teachers to let go of her. Wanting to throw away her life on the off-chance that her friend had survived his stupid adventure. It was why - well, better James than her, and nobody had paid him any attention. Not before it was too late to stop him.

'Alright Evans,' said James as Lily and Snape came past them. 

The git had been unhurt, in the end - but for a sprained ankle. But he had been stuck. 

'Good to have you back, Potter,' Lily nodded. A small, rational part of James reminded him she was being polite, but a much louder voice was busy celebrating. It was good to have him back. She thought it was good that he was back.

'Sign his cast, will ya?' Sirius asked lazily and drew a black marker from his red and gold blazer. 

To James' immense relief - and slight embarrassment - Lily accepted the marker. She took his injured arm gently with her left as she wrote: Thank you! LE 

She even added an X. 

Snape scowled behind her. 

'Bastard,' Sirius muttered as Snape threw James one more loathful look, before leaving with Lily. 

'A little gratitude wouldn't go amis,' Remus agreed.

'James nearly died saving that greasy git's life,' said Peter, unnecessarily. 

'Fuck him,' Sirius muttered, 'fuck you too for that matter,' Sirius told James. It wasn't the first time. Sirius hadn't quite forgiven James for running after Snape. For risking his own life.

James paid Sirius little attention. As they turned to walk back to class, his gaze kept falling on the words from Lily. The pain, the boredom of the last week, it all seemed worth it, now that he had this eternal proof of her gratitude. The ending of Sonnet 18 came back to him:

​So long as man can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee.

Shaking his head as if to free it from these chains that were his growing feelings for Lily Evans, James put his good arm around Sirius. It was ridiculous, whatever this was. A stupid crush. It certainly wasn't love. He wasn't about to spurt nonsense about eternal love that lived on long after they were all gone from this world. Love wasn't eternal. Only lovesick poets were foolish enough to believe love could ever change the world.

---

Thank you for reading Love, immortal - I always appreciate a kind word or a kudos on AO3 too <3

[petalsandantlers]

for @jilymicrofics/ march prompt n.2: chaperone (1000 words) regency AU

enjoy xx

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Lady Lily Evans had made a habit of avoiding Lord Potter at every possible turn.

It was not an easy task, given the season’s insistence on hosting insufferable balls and outings, where every eligible woman was meant to flutter her lashes and charm her way into a man’s regard. Lily, for all her mother’s best efforts, found herself wholly unsuited to the endeavor.

It was not that she lacked beauty—she had been told often enough that her red hair was a rarity and her green eyes remarkable. Nor was it that she lacked wit—if anything, she had too much of it, sharp as a blade and just as likely to cut. No, the trouble was that she had no patience for pretense. She would not simper, she would not curtsy demurely when she disagreed, and she would certainly not be charmed by James Potter.

And yet, somehow, she had been saddled with him.

“I do not require a chaperone,” she hissed as they strolled through the rose gardens of Lady Macmillan’s estate. The evening air was cool, perfumed with the scent of late summer blooms. Behind them, a few other couples took similar turns around the gravel paths, watched closely by watchful mothers and vigilant aunts. “This is entirely unnecessary.”

James, the picture of casual elegance in his dark coat and cravat, merely grinned. “And yet, Lady Evans, here I am.”

She shot him a glare. “I know full well why. Your mother and mine are in league.”

“They are, rather.” He did not seem the least bit bothered by the fact. “I find it charming, don’t you?”

Lily made an exasperated sound. “Hardly.”

Her mother, in a fit of desperation after yet another suitor had left their house red-faced and insulted, had contrived with Lady Potter to ensure Lily had at least one acceptable escort this season. James had been all too willing to take up the role, much to Lily’s eternal vexation.

He was not the worst of men. That, Lily would grant him. He was respectable, wealthy, and of good family. He was clever, which she might have appreciated were it not for the fact that he used that cleverness almost exclusively to irritate her. And then, of course, there was his utterly infuriating ability to smile as if everything in the world was delightfully amusing, especially her indignation.

“You needn’t look as though I have personally doomed you to misery,” James remarked, glancing down at her. “You might even find my company agreeable if you gave it a chance.”

She scoffed. “Highly unlikely.”

“And yet,” he mused, “we always seem to find ourselves in each other’s company. A rather telling pattern, don’t you think?”

Lily did not dignify that with a response.

They walked in silence for a moment, the sound of their shoes crunching against the gravel the only thing between them. Other couples meandered ahead, slow and dreamy in the moonlight, whilst she and James were locked in this endless battle of wills. It was exhausting. It was—

“I heard about Lord Snape,” James said suddenly, voice quieter, more serious. “He left your house in quite a state.”

Lily pursed her lips. “He deserved it.”

“I’m sure he did,” James said, and though his tone was light, there was a flicker of something else in his expression. “Still, I hope he did not distress you overmuch.”

Lily hesitated. It was a rare thing for him to drop his mask of amusement. She was not quite sure what to do with it.

“He said something unkind about my sister,” she admitted after a moment, voice clipped. “I did not take it well.”

“Good.”

That startled her. She turned to look at him properly, and he was watching her with an intensity that stole the breath from her lungs. “Good?”

“Yes.” His mouth quirked up in a half-smile. “You should not take such things well. You ought to send every fool who insults you or those you love running.”

She did not know what to say to that. Her fingers curled against the fabric of her gloves. “My mother was not pleased.”

“No,” he agreed. “I imagine she was not.”

Silence stretched between them again, but this time, it was different. Less combative, more… thoughtful.

The path curved, bringing them back toward the great house, where the light and music of the ball spilled out into the night. Lily exhaled slowly, gathering her wits.

“I suppose I must thank you,” she said begrudgingly. “For this… chaperoning business.”

James raised his brows, clearly surprised. “You suppose?”

She gave him a look. “Yes, well, I am certain you are only enduring it to please your mother, but it is preferable to some of the alternatives.”

James stopped walking then, and Lily, caught off guard, did too. She turned to face him, irritation flaring again—until she saw his expression.

“I am not enduring anything,” he said, his voice quiet, steady. “Do you truly think I need my mother’s prompting to want to be near you?”

Lily’s heart skipped, stuttered. Her throat felt suddenly dry. “I—”

“I have danced attendance on you all season, not because I was made to, but because I wanted to.” His gaze burned, something raw beneath the teasing veneer. “And if I am to be your chaperone, Lily, then let it be known—I am only protecting you from men who are not me.”

Her breath came short. She did not—she could not—

Somewhere inside, a new set began, violins sweeping into a waltz. The world pressed in, too many eyes, too much heat, and yet, for a moment, it was only the two of them, balanced on the edge of something precarious.

Then James stepped back, offering his arm, his expression shifting into something lighter. “Shall we?”

Lily hesitated—only a fraction—before she placed her hand upon his sleeve.

And as they stepped back into the light, she wondered how long she had been mistaking the battle between them for anything but the beginning of surrender.

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[jilymicrofics]

James will learn eventually 🤣

@myheadsgonenumb

A Grave Error in Judgement

@jilymicrofics

June 2023 - prompt 11: Grave

‘Ah, Mr. Potter, I fear you may have made a grave error in judgement,’ Professor Dumbledore said, though his lips were twitching. And well they might, for James looked absolutely ridiculous, sitting there with bright pink hair and his lips hexed so they were blown up like a puffer fish.

‘Honestly, Professor,’ he said, though his words were mumbled through his swollen lips, and made indistinct. ‘I don’t know why it’s me you’re talking to. She’s mental, that Evans bint. Look what she did to me! Go and talk to her!’

‘But Mr. Potter - what did you do to her first?’ 

James’ eyes widened in indignation. ‘That was a joke! I didn’t mean to drop a Bearded Brew into her pumpkin juice. I was aiming for Sirius - as a laugh!’

‘Be that as it may, she did rather look like a yeti by the time the draught had finished taking effect.’ 

James folded his arms and didn’t say anything. 

‘It took Madam Pomfrey almost three hours to defuzz her.’

James just pressed his pufferfish lips together in an obstinate line and shook his head.

Dumbledore sighed. ‘Well, I think ten points from Gryffindor, is in order and an apology to Miss Evans.’ 

James spluttered. 

‘And I think the moral of this sorry tale is: never - never - cross Miss Evans, if you know what is good for you. You may go.’  

…

‘I’m not saying “sorry”,’ James told Sirius when he was back in the dorm. ‘It was just a laugh.’ 

‘I think maybe you should, mate.’

‘Never! She’s a proper psycho. Honestly, have you ever, in your whole life, met anyone quite as irritating as Lily - The Lunatic - Evans?’  

Sirius only smirked. 

‘What?’ James demanded. 

But Sirius continued to say nothing, and just got on with his homework with an infuriating, I-know-something-you-don’t smile on his face. 

‘What?’                     

Word Count: 307

[up-to-some-good]

Jily prompt:

"Why did you lie?"

“About what?”

“Saying you were out of curfew to cause mischief. You were only helping a sick friend”

Hey! Sorry it's taken so long for me to get here. I hope what I've written was worth the wait :)

(cw for implied abuse. It's not explicit, but the Black family values are hinted at)

April 1977

She wasn't looking for him, not in particular. She was doing her usual prefect rounds on her own, Remus still in the hospital wing recovering from the full moon. James happened to be walking in the opposite direction. That was all. She wasn't looking for him.

"Promise I'm not up to anything, Evans," he called out when he saw her approaching. "I'm heading back to the tower from detention. Got a note from McGonagall and everything, if you want to check."

She shook her head, slowing to a stop as they met in the middle of the corridor.

"No need, Potter," she responded. "McGonagall let's the Gryffindor prefects know if she has a late detention, just in case."

"Alright. I better get going, then, lest I end up caught by a less forgiving prefect."

He nodded a goodbye to her before continuing to walk towards Gryffindor.

"Hey, Potter?" she called out to him.

He stopped again and turned back to face her with one eyebrow raised.

"Why did you lie?"

"Sorry?"

"The other night, when McGonagall gave you detention. She told us you were out after curfew, said you claimed she interrupted your mischief before you could get started, but that wasn't true. I saw Sirius in the common room that night with a pain potion for his migraine. He said you got it for him, since he hates the hospital wing. Why'd you lie? Pomfrey would have vouched for you."

James sighed and walked back to her.

"Sirius didn't have a migraine. He broke a rib over Easter when he was home and didn't want anyone to know about it," he explained. "So he only agreed to take the damn potion if I got it for him. McGonagall caught me on my way back, so I lied."

Lily doesn't know what to say to that. If she thinks back on it, Sirius has been slightly subdued in the week they've been back. He seemed better when she spoke to him last, so she assumed he'd just had a bad break. Clearly, she wasn't far from the truth.

James turns again while she's thinking, starting to head back to the dorms again. After a moment, she starts walking on her way too, before pausing and looking back at him for a moment.

"Hey, Potter?"

"Yes, Evans," he says with a sigh, but he's smiling when he turns to look at her.

"You're a good friend."

He grins at her and does a small bow.

"Thanks, Evans. Have a good night."

[annabtg]

Anemoia

(uncountable) (neologism, uncommon): Nostalgia for a time or a place one has never known.

Harry and Ginny leaf together through Harry's favourite photo album.

Read on AO3 Completed, 748 words.

[hp-fanfic-archive]

Lady Fate by jjameslily Pairing: James/Lily Rating: G Word Count: 1k “I beg you—go out with James, marry him, and have his beautiful, practically-blind, curly-haired children.”

[florenceafternoon]

I need a time breaks down your mind and body/ don't you let it touch your soul moment with canon divergence jily

[di-daynamic]

@jilymicrofics May Day 30: Dawn

Lily Evans sat on the rooftop, looking at the sky, chin resting on her knees around which she’d wrapped her arms.

It was a comforting position. Self-soothing was something that Tuney would’ve sneered at, or called stupid, but Lily found it made an excellent emergency replacement for her mother’s hugs.

Dawn was rapidly approaching. Another new day, more slogging through lessons and eating and homework and pretending the world wasn’t going to hell around them.

She remembered the headlines she’d read recently – both in the Daily Prophet and in the muggle newspapers her mum sent her occasionally – detailing the gruesome killings and progress of the new Dark Lord’s rise to power.

She wasn’t too proud to admit that it scared her. She had her mum and Tuney and several cousins in the muggle world, and so many friends here in the wizarding world - blood-traitors and muggle borns alike – to worry about. Any of them made a good target for this organization, particularly due to their relation with Lily.

Lily, who was a sixth year muggle-born prefect who scored top marks in Potions, Charms and Ancient Runes and was in the Slug Club, as well as being friendly with and romantically pursued by several purebloods.

It wasn’t that she regretted doing as well as she could or being kind and amiable enough to have so many friends. It was just that. . . Attention wasn’t the best thing in the current climate.

Lily worried. She worried constantly.

“One sec, Padfoot, I’m nearly there—Evans?�� A surprised voice made her turn quickly, drawing her wand. She was quick to the trigger these days. “Woah, easy there.”

“Potter,” she grumbled as she stowed her wand back. “You do realize curfew hasn’t been lifted yet?”

“I could say the same thing to you,” he pointed out, smirk not leaving his face. “Anyway. Sorry, Sirius, Mirror off.”

“I am a Prefect,” Lily wanted to draw herself up self-righteously, but felt too tired to do that, and instead just turned away. “Just – do whatever you want to. No need for anything on my behalf. You can call Black back.”

Potter raised an eyebrow, looking infuriatingly handsome. “Not like you to be so – resigned, Evans.”

“What would you know about what I’m like?” She snarked half-heartedly.

“Well, when you have a crush on someone, you tend to try your best to find out everything about them,” Potter laughed. “And I’m proud to say I did that very well with you. So I do know what you’re like.”

“Proud of all the wrong things, aren’t you,” Lily muttered, but she couldn’t help a small amused smile. “What’re you doing up here, then?”

“And there’s the interfering busybody we all know and love,” he said cheerfully.

Lily hated Potter. She hated how he made her like him despite being a bullying arse. She hated how his eyes gleamed when he won quidditch matches or their potions matches, how handsome he looked when he flew, how incredibly he led the quidditch team and his tutoring group, how easily he brought her laughter and happiness.

“Answer the bloody question, Potter,” was the response she settled on, hopefully not giving away the mixture of emotions she was feeling. “It’s nearly dawn.”

He gave a fake look of surprise. “So it is!”

Lily tapped her Prefect’s badge mock thoughtfully. “So how many points would you say being out after curfew is worth—”

“Fine, fine, I’ll tell you,” Potter said hurriedly. “Don’t take points, Ravenclaw’s close enough already. I’m scouting out the area for something we have planned for day after tomorrow.”

“The roof?” Lily raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t see how the Marauders could use this area. “Curiouser and curiouser.”

“Ah, Alice in Wonderland. What a ridiculous story,” he commented, grinning.

“How do you know about Alice in Wonderland?” She asked disbelievingly.

“I do take Muggle Studies, you know. Sides, Remus has a whole collection of books, and the rest of us like to nick the weird looking ones.”

“Alice in Wonderland is pretty weird,” she agreed, looking out at the sky, which was lightening to an orange golden from the blue.

“And a great inspiration, if I do say so myself,” Potter grinned cheekily, coming closer to her. She debated stepping back.

“So, what you’re planning for here has to do with Alice in Wonderland?” She asked.

“You’ll see. What’s Your Highness doing out here now anyway?”

She gave him a look, crossing her arms. “Thinking. Something you wouldn’t be able to understand.”

“Oof. Harsh, Evans.” But he was smiling. “What about?”

She wasn’t sure what compelled her to answer honestly, but looking at Potter, she did so anyway. “Newspapers. What’s going on out there.”

Potter’s grin dropped. “Ah.”

“Indeed.”

“It’s. . . Pretty bad, yeah.” Potter’s hands were behind his back as he looked on to the horizon, where dawn approached. “You saw the latest? Seven muggle families pillaged and murdered, and one witch dragged out of her house?”

Lily exhaled quietly. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.” Something struck her, and she spoke without thinking. “How can you think of silly schoolboy tricks when you know all that and know what it means, same as me? I certainly can’t.”

Potter was quiet for a moment, and she wondered if he was lost for words for once. “It’s because. . . Well, that’s me. That’s us. We need to find something to laugh about, something to do in the midst of. . . All of this. If we don’t, then, well. . . What are we fighting for?”

A brief silence, and then Lily replied: “That was profound, Potter. Especially for you.” She teased lightly, trying to ease the tension and not ruminate on how striking and compelling and resonating that answer was.

“Thanks, Evans.” He said dryly.

Find something to do, to laugh about.

She thought back to school, and more than the drudgery, the knowledge she was gaining, the fun she had with her friends. It was more than a waste of time.

She smiled suddenly. “No. Thank you, Potter.”

They stayed there for a while, watching dawn break.

[rosieswriting]

Wrapped up in you

Remus Lupin x reader

Summary: you look good and Remus is a love sick puppy

Note: pre established relationship. A bit of Jily English is not my first languaje!

Warnings: not +18 but suggestive content

Words: 1,9K

You looked good—really good. After what felt like ages of trying on clothes, nothing had felt quite right for the party at the Ravenclaw common room. But this… Merlin, you felt like the hottest person at Hogwarts

“Are you trying to kill poor Remus? Because with that outfit, you might actually do it” Lily teased, grinning as she looked you up and down. You rolled your eyes, though a satisfied smile played on your lips as you took one last look in the mirror.

Remus and you had started dating not so long ago, one month, two weeks and three days to be exactly. After years of crushing on your best friend, you had finally gotten together, thanks mostly to James and Lily who were desperate to have double dates with someone.

“You look good too, Lils” you replied smiling to the redhead “Pretty sure James is going to be drooling across the common room” you teased slightly.

She chuckled, giving you a playful nudge before opening the door. You followed her down the stairs to meet up with the Marauders in the common room, where the four of you had planned to head to the party together. As you descended, you could already hear their laughter echoing up the stairs. When you stepped into the common room, all four boys turned to look at you both.

“Lily Evans,” James announced, rising dramatically, “I vow to cherish you until the end of time because, somehow, you get even more beautiful every day.” He walked over to Lily, giving her a soft kiss.

Sirius came over with a teasing grin, throwing an arm around your shoulders. “Didn’t know you could clean up this well.”

“Shut up,” you laughed, playfully nudging him off.

“I think you might’ve broken Moony” Peter said, smirking as he and Remus rose from the couch.

With a chuckle, you slipped out from Sirius’s arm and walked over to Remus, cheeks warming under his intense gaze. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again, like he couldn’t quite form words. You walked over, feeling the blush rise to your cheeks as he took in every detail—the way your hair framed your face, your lips, the curve of your smile. When you stopped in front of him, he wrapped his hands around your hips, giving a gentle squeeze as he took you in one more time.

“You’re…” he trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper as he finally managed to get out, “Merlin, you’re beautiful.”

Your eyes locked, and a shiver ran down your spine. “Thank you,” you murmured, a soft smile on your lips. The world faded for a moment, leaving just the two of you, wrapped in quiet admiration.

But Sirius, ever the charmer, had other plans. “Alright, lovebirds, are we going to crash this party, or are we just standing here staring all night?” he called, leaning against Peter with a grin.

You and Remus exchanged a chuckle, glancing at Lily and James, who were equally lost in each other. Everyone nodded, and with a shared laugh, you all began making your way out of the Gryffindor common room and toward Ravenclaw’s.

Peter and Sirius led the way, joking about how much they’d drink, while Lily and James giggled beside them, whispering in each other’s ears. You and Remus lingered behind, his hand in yours, his thumb lightly brushing over your knuckles. Every so often, you’d catch him looking over at you, his gaze warm and gentle.

“You’re quiet,” you murmured, giving his hand a light squeeze.

A flurry of thoughts raced through your mind. He’d called you beautiful, but… was he just being polite? Had he changed his mind about your outfit? Or maybe he had now realized that you actually looked bad? Had you tried to much? Was the outfit to much? Did he think you were too much? Did he-

Just as your thoughts started spiraling, he stopped, giving you a look so tender it silenced every worry. “You left me speechless, love,” he said softly, smiling in that way that made your heart stutter. “I still can’t believe we’re actually together.”

Your heart soared, and a wide smile spread across your face. This was what made you fall for him—those words, so simple yet so grounding.

“Well, you’d better believe it,” you said, a playful warmth in your tone. “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“As if I’d ever let you,” he teased, letting go of your hand to wrap his arm around your waist, pulling you closer. As you stepped into the Ravenclaw common room, you realized you hadn’t even noticed the journey there, entirely wrapped up in each other.

The Ravenclaw common room was packed, wall to wall with seventh-years letting loose. Tables had been pushed to the corners, each stacked with bottles of Firewhisky, Butterbeer, and a random assortment of Muggle liquors someone must have smuggled in. The music pounded through the room, drawing most people to the makeshift dance floor in the center, while the more daring couples could be spotted snogging in shadowed corners. A few others leaned by the large windows, passing around enchanted cigarettes, smoke curling lazily into the air.

Sirius caught your eye from across the room, his brows raised in that mischievous way of his, and you knew exactly what he was going to say—and that you were going to say yes.

“Ready for some shots, my dearest friend?” he asked, grin wide and challenging.

“As always.” You gave him a mock salute and turned to Remus, who was watching the exchange with a knowing smile.

You wrapped your arms around Remus’ shoulders, leaning in to press a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. There was a hint of something electric beneath it, that small thrill you always felt whenever you kissed him, no matter how many times you had. But you didn’t let it go too deep, not wanting to get lost in him when Sirius was already waiting.

“Careful, alright?” Remus murmured as you pulled back, his hand resting gently on your waist, his gaze warm but cautious.

“Yes,” you whispered with a reassuring smile, planting one last kiss on his cheek before turning back to Sirius. Remus chuckled softly, watching you go with a fond look.

The two of you weaved through the crowd, pausing here and there to greet friends and familiar faces, laughter and chatter filling the room around you. Ever since the start of the year, you and Sirius had developed a little ritual of sharing shots at every party. It had somehow strengthened your friendship, a unique bonding ritual that always left you laughing by the end of the night.

As you reached the table, Sirius uncorked a bottle of tequila with a flourish. “No jokes aside, you really do look stunning tonight,” he said, pouring two shots and giving you a genuine smile beneath all his teasing.

“Thanks, Siri,” you said, smiling back. “And I hate to boost your ego, but you’re looking pretty good yourself.”

“Oh, I know,” he smirked, flipping his hair back in a mock display of vanity. He handed you a shot glass, clinking it against yours before you both downed it in one swift gulp.

The tequila burned going down, and you both winced, making exaggerated faces of disgust. “Still awful, every time,” you laughed, shaking your head.

“Awful but worth it,” he shot back, pouring another round without waiting for you to protest. “To making terrible decisions we’ll laugh about tomorrow!”

“Cheers to that,” you replied, grinning as you took the second shot with him, already feeling the warmth of the alcohol spreading through you.

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught Remus watching you with a soft smile, leaning casually against the wall with James and Lily. Every now and then, he’d shoot a glance your way, and you could feel the quiet affection in his gaze, even from across the room. Sirius followed your gaze and nudged your arm.

“You two are love-sick puppies” he teased, filling two cups with Butterbeer and passing one over to you with a smirk.

“We are not,” you said, shooting him a playful glare but gratefully accepting the drink. “We’re just… happy.”

Sirius chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Sure, happy. At least now the rest of us don’t have to suffer watching you two make eyes at each other from across the room, pretending it’s not obvious.”

You laughed, taking a sip. Sirius was right—after all the glances, lingering touches, and awkward silences, everyone else had caught on long before you had. You had probably been more transparent than you’d thought.

“Alright, alright, so maybe we were both a little clueless,” you admitted with a laugh. “But we’re here now, aren’t we?”

Sirius shrugged with a grin. “I suppose I’ll allow it. But really, you’ve got Remus so wrapped up, it’s a miracle he can think straight.”

You grinned and roll your eyes playfully. At some point both of you decided that one shot wasn’t enough. You left the cup on the table and start taking more shots.

 “Finally!” James called, reaching out to pull you both into the mix with the rest of the students. How many shots had you have? You were not sure, but the party was going great.

Sirius threw you a wink and headed to join Peter, who was challenging some Ravenclaws to a drinking game, while you spotted Remus near the edge of the dance floor, looking a little shy but grinning at you. You stepped up to him with a smile, holding out your hand.

“Care to dance?” you asked, warmth in your voice.

Remus took your hand, pulling you close as the music picked up, and you swayed together, everything around you blurring into background noise. With his arms wrapped around you, it felt like there was no one else there. He looked down, brushing a few strands of hair from your face, his gaze soft.

“Stop looking at me like that” you slurred out, already drunk.

“I can´t when you look this hot, love” he muttered pulling you even closer to him and smirking. He had been smoking, you could smell the cigarettes when he talked.

You didn’t know what came over you. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through your veins, or the confidence that had settled in after a few shots. Or maybe, it was just the way Remus looked at you—like you were the only person in the room, and Merlin, he was the most beautiful boy you’d ever seen. Whatever it was, you closed the small gap between you, pulling him into a kiss. This time, neither of you held back.

His hands tightened on your waist, fingers digging in like he was anchoring himself to you. You ran your hands through his hair, tugging him closer as the kiss deepened, turning messy and desperate.But you liked it. You liked him, you loved him.

After a breathless moment, you both pulled back, eyes glazed and cheeks flushed. Remus looked down at you, his lips parted as he tried to catch his breath, a dazed grin spreading across his face.

“Your dorm or mine?” you asked, breathlessly, voice filled with barely-contained excitement. There was no way you were staying at this party now.

“Mine,” he said without hesitation, his voice thick with the same intensity, his hand already tugging you towards the door. Neither of you spared a glance at your friends, who were far too drunk to notice your swift exit..

Don’t get him wrong—Remus absolutely adored your outfit. But he’d adore it even more once it was on the floor of his dorm.

[saintsenara]

Do you think James and Lily's marriage would have lasted if the two survived the war? I've seen a lot of different versions of this, ranging from "they divorce within a couple of years because James is still the privileged pureblood asshole that he was in school" and "they have a genuinely strong marriage built off of mutual honor and love that would have survived and probably given Harry some siblings".

thank you very much for the ask, pal!

my opinion is quite boring - i think james and lily would have had a perfectly ordinary, perfectly unremarkable, perfectly happy marriage, which may very well have resulted in more children.

broadly, this is because i think a lot of the "james and lily would never have lasted" takes are just cope from fans who dislike jily as a pairing either because they don't like james and don't want to see lily with him or because they prefer him with a non-canon partner.

while marrying your teenage sweetheart and expecting the relationship to last would probably be considered quite unusual in the real-world context in which most readers live, it's clearly the norm in the wizarding world. almost every heterosexual couple we meet in the pre-epilogue canon got married when one or both of them was still a teenager - tonks and lupin are the only definite exception. james and lily would exist, then, in a context where their experience was considered entirely standard - and this would give them things like a social circle at a similar life stage which would make sustaining their relationship easier.

particularly because james and lily do genuinely like each other. while we don't see very much of them in canon - since their roles in the story are to be fragments, never seen or known in any significant way, as an illustration of what was taken from harry [and sirius, and remus] by voldemort - it's apparent even in their few scenes together that they are sincerely compatible.

[and mutually interested in each other - i'm afraid that "james forced lily into a relationship" or "james would never change from who he was at sixteen and so they'd break up" takes really don't hold water. she likes him when he's sixteen! he doesn't need to deceive her! i don't actually think she'd have regarded it as evidence of some horrifying deficiency of character that he continued bullying snape without her knowledge!]

harry's great tragedy is that he's someone who longs for a completely average life - it's his greatest desire! the thing he sees in the mirror of erised! - but has this ordinariness stolen from him when voldemort makes him the boy who lived. james and lily surviving allows him to have that.

although that's obviously nowhere near as interesting as what actually happens....

[petalsandantlers]

Jily prompt:

"Why did you lie?"

“About what?”

“Saying you were out of curfew to cause mischief. When You were only helping a sick friend”

Hi, thank you for the prompt! hope you enjoy xx

Lily found James Potter exactly where she expected him—leaning against the stone wall just beyond the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, arms crossed, head tilted back as if he had all the time in the world. His tie was loose, his hair even more disastrous than usual, and there was a streak of dirt across his cheek. He looked every bit the troublemaker he was meant to be.

Or at least, the one he pretended to be.

“Out late again, Potter?” she asked, stepping forward, arms folded.

James startled a little, but his smirk found its way back quickly. “Evans,” he greeted, straightening. “Fancy seeing you here. Did you miss me?”

“I think McGonagall might kill you if you keep sneaking out after curfew.”

“Ah, but then who would keep her on her toes?”

Lily rolled her eyes but didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she tilted her head and studied him properly. He looked tired. Not just the usual lack of sleep that came with too much Quidditch practice or too many late-night prank planning sessions with Sirius, but properly exhausted. His eyes were rimmed with shadows, and his posture, though casual, was too loose—like he’d been holding something heavy all night and only just set it down.

She knew, of course. She had known for a while now.

“Why did you lie?” she asked, quieter now.

James blinked, his smirk flickering. “About what?”

Lily hesitated. She could let it go. Let him keep pretending. But she was never very good at leaving things alone.

“Saying you were out of curfew to cause mischief,” she clarified. “When you were only helping a sick friend.”

Something passed over James’ face—something fleeting and unreadable. Then, just as quickly, he grinned. “Ah, well. Trouble sounds much more exciting, doesn’t it?”

Lily’s lips pressed together. “You know I know, don’t you?”

James didn’t respond immediately. He just looked at her, something quieter settling over him. When he finally spoke, it was without bravado.

“I figured,” he admitted. “You’re too clever not to.”

Lily exhaled, running a hand through her hair. The halls were quiet, the castle asleep around them, but this moment felt startlingly awake.

“You didn’t have to cover it up,” she said eventually.

James huffed a laugh. “Didn’t I?” He shifted, glancing down the corridor as if weighing whether he should just make a break for it. Then he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Look, Evans—Lily—it’s not really my secret to tell. And even if it was…”

“You don’t want people knowing you’re a decent person?” she finished for him, arching an eyebrow.

James smirked again, but it was smaller this time, softer. “Bit of a blow to my reputation, yeah.”

Lily shook her head, something warm curling in her chest. She didn’t know why she had followed him tonight. She had told herself it was just to make sure he didn’t get himself into more trouble, but standing here now, she thought maybe she had just wanted to see him.

See this version of him. The one who stayed up late helping a friend. The one who let his guard down when he thought no one was looking.

“You’re an idiot,” she told him, but there was no bite to it.

“And yet,” James said, tilting his head, “you’re still standing here talking to me.”

Lily opened her mouth, then closed it again. He had a point.

A few beats of silence stretched between them. Then James exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Alright, well. If you’re done with the interrogation, I should probably get some sleep before Moony wakes up and gives me hell for fussing over him.”

Lily hesitated. “James.”

He looked at her, brows raising slightly at the use of his name.

She swallowed, pushing past the strange feeling creeping up her spine. “You don’t have to do everything alone.”

Something in James’ expression shifted, just a fraction. And then he smiled—smaller, realer than before.

“Neither do you,” he said simply.

Lily didn’t have an answer for that.

So she just nodded and watched as James turned, making his way toward the boys’ dormitory.

And maybe, just maybe, she stayed there a little longer than she needed to, watching the spot where he had stood, thinking about all the things he never said.

[liiilyevans]

Midnight Ramblings ��💜💜

 “i’m cold, can we cuddle?” - Jily

PS: bonus points for pre-relationship 😍

Transfiguration class outside was the stupidest idea that James had ever heard of, especially in the dead of winter. McGonagall had finally gone mad, it seemed. Even if they were transfiguring live plants. Lily was next to him rubbing her hands together like mad to keep warm.

"How much longer do you think we'll be out here?" she said through chattering teeth.

He and Lily had both taken their turns, but they still had at least a dozen students to go through, and not all of them were geniuses at Transfiguration like he was, so they had to get feedback and corrections. James guessed they'd be out here until the end of class time.

"Fuck I know," James muttered darkly.

Even the heating charms were no use in this blinding wind. If he were playing Quidditch. it would have been different, but he was just standing here waiting for everyone else to hurry the fuck up.

"I'm freezing," Lily said, her breath turning into fog in front of her face. The bottoms of his glasses were starting to become blurry with the condensation from his own breath.

"Here," James said, pulling the side of his jacket open so she could be a little warmer. Lily took the opportunity to slide her arms around him, her mitten-covered fingers clutching at the sweater he was wearing. Pressing her face into his chest, she shuddered against the cold, and James tried to keep his breathing relatively normal.

Friends could huddle together against the cold. There was no reason for him to make this out to be more than it was. He could be normal about this.

"Are you two cuddling?" Sirius called as he and Remus finished up their turn.

But his friends could not.

Lily spun around and shoved Sirius into the snow as soon as he got close enough. Severed him right. Then she was right back against his chest, and James couldn't breath.

"I'm cold," she said as if that were explanation enough.

James hoped his eyes conveyed enough; shut up, shut up, shut up. Remus, bless him, didn't comment, just raised his eyebrows in that smug way of his, while Sirius brushed snow off his coat.

[my-castles-crumbling]

Do I count as a multishipper if I only ship certain ships as being previous to my otps happening?

Like, I ship Bartylus, Bitchkiller, Jily and Moonwater, but only pre-Jegulus, Rosekiller and Wolfstar

So I don't ever see them in my brain as actually staying together permanently, more as like a teenage-young adult relationship that happened before my otps got together

I...hm...I mean, I'm not the authority on multishipping lol. I feel like that's not really multishipping because you don't see multiple possibilities as endgame, but that's just my opinion. The cool thing about fandom is there's not really many steadfast rules lol.

What do other people think?

[yallthemwitches]

I just wanted to say how much I love how you keep in mind the 70s for the marauders era. I was a bit surprised that most in the fandom tend to automatically lean more towards the disco bell bottom vibe in their depictions but I always thought they would be more on the British Punk movement in the mid 1970s that was pushed by the youth culture due to social unrest and a desire for rebellion against established norms. So if in muggle clothes my mind tends to lean towards influences from Vivienne Westwood and more tighter clothes like the band Blondie (Debbie Harry is my fashion icon!) but I love all the fashion from that era! (I feel like Sirius is the one does get depicted with these influences the most consistently). And even the snippet of James and Sirius fleeing from the police, I always thought them wearing those T-shirts with the golden phoenixes could have been actual Queen band T-shirts they bought while in the muggle world that they thought both looked cool and could represent The Order at the same time lol

Hi! Yes! I love keeping my jily and marauders canonically in the 1970s because a. its fun and b. I genuinely find the time period fascinating and perfectly fitting for their arcs within canon (lots of civil unrest, societal change etc. etc.)

I agree that the general idea of Lily really does skew towards ABBA, Fleetwood Mac lover (or if we are going modern TSwift girl)....but if you are one of those people reading this I'm really sorry to disappoint because that's not my girl....

I have a very strong head canon that Lily had a very eclectic taste in music and personal style due to many bored summers back in Cokeworth. She would have bopped along to ABBA and loved a good Tusk track from Fleetwood Mac, but I think her music tastes would have probably skewed more pre new wave/punk/glam for a few reasons:

Her best friend was Severus Snape: During our teens we usually glob on to whatever our friends like--it's kind of natural because navigating the world on our own sucks. Honestly, I think Snape would have had very little tolerance for music much less muggle music, but if you put a wand to his head he'd much rather play a record by, say, The Damned or Leonard Cohen than the glitzy disco pop that is ABBA. Lily brought various styles of music into his life and he was the litmus test (better or worse). Naturally she would gravitate to listening to music he would stomach because that would mean making him happy. (See below about her relationship with music+James)

2. Her life...kinda sucked: If you haven't caught on by now, I like my Lily a little bit tragic. If we just focus of what we know from canon we can compile this info about her: She came from a poor factory town, parents are somehow out of the picture by the time of her death, sister hates her guts (since childhood), best friend morally betrays her, and she's ostracized and discriminated against in the WW because of her blood status. Now, I'm not saying people with shit lives can't be listening to the top pop 100 charts, but in a great generalization sad/angry people listen to sad/angry music.

3. She was part of a fascist resistance group (or grew up with the mindset to join one): Again another generalization but a radical political leaning like this would probably poise her closer to a punk/grassroots movement than anything else.

Now, on the other side of that coin ( I know you didn't ask but I'm giving you the hc anyways) I think James would be a top 100 pop girlie (and also a 60s stan haha)....and I think Lily found that really refreshing. One of the things I like about Jily is that James was the breath of air Lily had always desperately needed. He was a confident, loyal, positive, action oriented person who stuck up for the people he loved to a fault. He never knew half of the suffering Lily grew up with (nor Sirius or Remus for that matter) and I think that's why all three of those characters gravitated towards him: he was the symbol that hope and happiness were possible.

For this reason, I always hc that James would like disco and love song pop hits and those high glam artists like Sweet or David Bowie. I also think he would be very skewed towards 60s sounding music because the WW (in my hc) is a decade behind the MW as far as culture and influence so he'd be still bopping around to The Beatles, and Donovan and The Kinks like that shit wasn't old news---and again I think Lily would love him for it because it was adorable.

Most importantly James' golden rule was that If Lily loved it, he did too (or at least respected it). Unlike Snape who would groan through some album she brought over, James would enthusiastically listen and (love it or hate it) be eager to understand why she liked an artist. He wasn't dismissive when he didn't like something and challenged her to think about her tastes in a positive manner.

I also agree with you about muggle clothes, but I think Lily would still be eclectic to match her music tastes. I think summers she would be a t-shirt/shorts or halter top/jeans person. She was feminine but it was natural--white eyelet shirts, a pinafore or two for nicer occasions. I think her style would probably fall somewhere into a Stevie Nicks meets Patti Smith situation, but she aspired to wear more edgier oriented clothing ( and did but only for shows/going out).

For James and Sirius: I always find it a little funny that James and Sirius are styled so differently in fics/art because those two did everything together and-again- teenagers tend to follow each other. Granted, these two are pretty big personalities so there would be a small difference, but I think generally both would be a t-shirt jeans/trousers guy with some sort of jacket (leather for Sirius/ Suede for James). James would skew a bit more 'straight' and Sirius more punk but I don't think either would be as overt as people like to depict (they weren't in the MW that often so there was no need to really flesh out this style beyond easy basics).

Sorry for the rant but I LOVE a good meta conversation about fashion and music. If you are at all interested I made a Lily playlist of what I think she would have listened to. I'll link it below!!

[hp-fanfic-archive]

Boys Don't Cry by YouBlitheringIdiot Pairing: Remus/Sirius, James/Lily Rating: T Word Count: 30k Podfic available here Read by: Sobreezy Length: 5 hours (WIP) There is silence as Remus looks at him. A suffocating stillness that is anything but calm. There is punishment and absence there, hanging between them, a hurt so thick he thinks he could slice it open. His chest aches with how hard he is pushing down the need to cry. He wishes Remus would yell at him, scream at him, pummel him senseless. He thinks there could be goodness trapped somewhere inside him, somewhere deeper than the need to bawl. He thinks if anyone could find it, it would be this lanky boy.

[alwaysakin]

Harry Potter Fic Recs

Hey guys! I'm back again with more fanfiction recs (ignoring the ungodly amount of work I have to do). This time it's for my childhood fandom, Harry Potter (and obligatory reminder to read the fanfics, not buy the books)! Includes Dramoine, Wolfstar, Jily, Gen, and more (parings both expected and unexpected).

Pre-Marauders Era

Thirty-Five Owls by Letterbalde - Dumbledore/Grindlewald, and old fic, but a classic. 35 letters sent between these two in love old men after Grindlewald's imprisonment. Made me cry.

Love Letters by mautadite - another tragic Dumbledore/Grindelwald story, this time told in reverse.

Metamorphosis by Metalomagnetic - Voldemort travels back in time to kill Dumbledore, but falls in love with him instead. Both hilarious and oddly touching.

silver memories by Space_Samurai - In a pensive, Newt and Thesus Scamander stumble upon memories of Dumbledore and Grindlewald they were never meant to see. Grindledore, and Newt is a good friend in this.

Marauders Era (Both War and School)

Mortal Once More by SheofTheBookAndSong - Regulus Black/Fabian Prewett, but mostly focused on the Black brothers (with minor Wolfstar). Regulus ends up as a spy for the order (essentially taking the place of Snape). With Dumbledore aware of the horcruxes, a lot changes... Deeply sad but good!

Drinking Games by darkbluedark - an AU where Lily creates an alternative to Veritaserum and tests it on the Mauradeurs. A certain rat is discovered quicker. Minor Jily and Wolfstar.

Two Boys Named Harry by PottingPotter Plots - a bitter sweet story about the boy who was Harry Potter's namesake. Also features Jilly at its start.

Loyalty by Fantismal - the villain origin story of Peter Pettigrew. A nuanced and mildly twisted take on how prejudice shapes a person.

Glass of Water by lyin - Lily and Sirius's slow crawl towards friendship in their 6th year divination class. Sweet and vaguely ominous.

Time Travel

Yesterday is Tomorrow (everything is connected) by IAM_Kneazle - Hermione/James, and hands down the best Hermione travels to the Marauders era fic I've ever read - though technically, she's reborn as an Evans. It's hilarious and very period accurate to the 1970s. It also explores the magic system a lot, and its development of Petunia especially is wonderful. Also stands out for starting at 5th year.

Blood and Gold By ObsidianPen - Tom Riddle/Hermione - she travels back in time to kill Voldemort before he rises and ends up getting... more involved than she would have liked. Amazing worldbuilding, particularly of magical America. Dark and twisted romance that has me hooked.

Three's Family by darkbluedark - the fic where Draco and Harry accidentally travel back in time to the Marauder's era - and reveal way too much to the order by complete accident. Somehow both hilarious (I spit out my water multiple times) and deeply tragic.

Golden Trio Era AU (AKA Main Series But Better)

The Shower Slip by Ray_Writes - in a universe where Peter Pettigrew cares enough about his hygiene to secretly shower in the Burrow, Arthur suspects Molly of cheating, and things spiral for the better. Somehow both funny and heartwarming.

that's the art of getting by sarewolf - where Remus is the one to raise Harry, after a distress call at the Dursleys. His self-loathing is at times hard to read, but his relationship with Harry is great. The eventual Wolfstar is bittersweet, but great too.

The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy by speechwriter - Hermoine/Draco, and the best AU fic I've ever read of Harry Potter. What starts as a simple divergence (Draco takes Dumbledore's deal to go into hiding instead of trying to kill him) gradually spirals, as he's slowly forced to confront his own prejudices (and ends up unwillingly horcrux hunting with the trio). Doesn't try to whitewash Draco or the other Slytherins, but provides the nuance and growth that canon lacked. Also unique for having no bashing at all (in fact, rarely for a Dramoine story, Ron is treated better than canon DH). This is sad, but great.

a means to a triumph by Naodrith - Regulus survives and takes the charms position in Harry's second year. A lot changes as a result. Featuring Draco Malfoy getting adopted by Hufflepufs (they're seriously great in this fic), Regulus/Remus, and toxic ex boyfriend Barty Crouch Jr.

honey honey by aenoeskova - the one where Marlene McKinnon becomes Harry's primary school teacher. Featuring little Harry and Dean, and an army of cute, overachieving muggle children. Honestly a love letter to teachers. Based on Matilda.

Crack

Regulus Black and the Way Things Changed: A Not!Fic by imaginary_golux - a series of short notes about how the Harry Potter series would have changed if Regulus, not Snape, was the potions master. Highlights include Sirius glitter bombing Voldemort and Hedwig being the one to defeat him.

justifiably petty by Anonymous - All of Hogwarts is united in one goal: to take down Umbridge by any means necessary. It goes completely off the rails (with a satisfying conclusion). Short.

Wrong Place, Wrong Time by ssrha - not a manipulative Dumbledore, but a deeply alcoholic and fundamentally done one. Featuring Albus breaking his ex Grindlewald out of prison, Lucius Malfoy accidentally becoming a revolutionary, and Harry just being done with all the stupid adults around him. Includes Grindledore, and Ron/Harry.

On the Significance of Names by sshra - Harry decides to work through his tramua by having more children, and giving them increasingly horrible names: includes Dobby Kreacher Potter and Peter Wormtail Potter.

Harry Potter Totally Sucks by dracgotgame - a drunk Dudley Dursley and Draco Malfoy start a hating-on-Harry-Potter club. Minor Drarry.

Modern AU

Careless Texter by GhostofBambi - a Lily/James story where the two of them start texting each other, not knowing who the other is. Super cute.

This Island of Ours by Northernlightz06 - a Jegulus and Wolfstar story, with trans!Regulus. The one where Regulus is a park ranger, Sirius doesn't know he's alive, and the Black family messed everything up (but it's getting better)!

Self-Inserts/OCs But Good

The Company of Another by sleipnirismypbaby - completely ordinary self-insert into Aunt Petunia soon after she gets Harry. A super sweet kid fic (I love Dudley and Harry in this) with some feminist themes.

Cajamarca by CrashingPetals - a Bill Weasley/OC AU that does a great job delving into South American cursebreaker lore! Defenitely enjoyed this one.

Double Trouble by Meeceisme - a self-insert into Draco Malfoy's twin sister, who spearheads a generational revolt of pure-blood girls. Heavy feminist themes, and portrays the Malfoy family sympathetically while not shying away from their bigotry. Sadly unfinished.

Spring is like perhaps a hand by IridescentRoomba - a self-insert into Dudley's younger sister Daisy. Daisy is super cute, and her clumsy attempts to give Harry a better childhood are great. A cute examination of family and 1990s British culture.

Fractured Fairytale by Tsume_Yuki - featuring a Lovegood self-insert in the 1920s who adopts Tom Riddle, and slowly falls in love with his father along the way. Amazing wizarding world building and accurate depiction of Tom Riddle Sr.'s trauma.

Stardust and Secrets by francisthefairyqueen - a self-insert into Regulus and Sirius's much younger sister, Cassiopeia Black. I absolutely love this fic, especially how it starts at the start of Harry's fourth year, only providing small context clues into what happened during the first wizarding war. Really realistic regarding how little self-inserts can do as children, and the world-building of the wizarding world is amazing! Cass is paired with Bill, and their relationship is really cute and innocent. What really blows me away, though, is her effect on the people around her: Draco, Tonks, Hestia and Chiara, and especially her estranged brother Sirius. Enjoyed the inclusion of Hogwarts Mystery characters!