#maker: EastwindMLK

[jilychallenge2023]

26 December 2023

Since it's Boxingday, we have a whole load of goodies for you. A lovely fic by @eastwindmlk : Lucky Charm and another one by @nena-96 : Cold Hands and a Warm Heart Read and Enjoy on ao3.

Some jily songs we got sent by you all to enjoy

From @sofargoneao3 Song: Wonderland 😭

From @thecasualauthor18 A song that absolutely makes me think of Jily is "Love Love Love," by Avalanche City.

and from our lovely @chiechie97 song: This December, by Ricky Montgomery

[jilychallenge]

Sirius watching these two from afar (probably still in his pyjamas)

This month's @jilychallenge took a while to get started but when I had the idea this morning it came through!

Prompt: “everything is just a competition for you… isn’t it?” “isn’t it for you, too?” & the trope Fake dating I only really focused on the second one. Partner: @annabtg AO3

She could have picked any time to ask him a favour, honestly, there would have been plenty of times better than rushing this between classes. But her Intro to Alchemy class was right next to his Ancient Runes and it made sense to walk together. It made sense to fill the silence with idle chatter, the weather, their class and inevitably the Hogsmeade trip that weekend. 

Lily sternly reminded herself that there was no time like the present. Especially because it was already damn near impossible for her to catch a moment without Sirius in earshot. So, she sucked in a deep breath through her teeth, which faltered their steps. “You alright, Evans?” James asked at the sound and presented her with the opportunity. 

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice flipping unconvincingly, and an awkward smile made the corners of her lip jump up. “Yes,” she said again, this time more firmly, before rushing into her next words before James could get a remark in. “I’ve been meaning to ask you for advice, rather an insight.” 

James’ eyebrows slid up towards his hairline and he nodded slowly. “An insight? Into what?” he replied, his curiosity carefully measured, as if she had not learned to read him like her favourite book over the past few months. 

Lily wrung the strap of her bag, hoping to dispel some of the nervous energy that settled in her fingers. “Well, I was thinking of asking Sirius to go to Hogsmeade with me. Think he’d be keen?” The words stumbled out of her mouth clumsily, an uneven rhythm that betrayed her uncertainty. Still, her gaze did not waver from his face. 

So, she saw his eyes narrow and the smile on his lips grow tight while he processed her words. She watched James run his tongue over his teeth under his lips before nodding curtly. “I reckon he’d be keen, you two are mates,” he answered after, what she assumed was him assessing her intention behind her question. 

“I wasn’t going to ask as mates, though,” she pointed out and watched the mildly amused mask slip for a moment. 

His jaw tight, teeth clenched as James smiled back at him. “Didn’t know you fancied him like that,” he remarked, his tone flat. 

“What’s not like?” 

“Yeah, I guess. I don’t know if he’s keen but…” 

“But what?”

They paused at the door of his classroom and they peered inside to see Sirius already in his seat. “But nothing,” James muttered, his shoulders slumping as he deflated. “I’ll check with him, alright? See for rounds.” 

“Not if I see you first,” Lily shot back with a bright smile, her fingers brushing along his sleeve before grabbing his hand and giving it a brief squeeze. Only to turn away before he could react.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

Come evening, Lily stood waiting for rounds when around the corner came, not her Head Boy. She tried to not be disappointed at the sight of Remus, she liked him, and it would hurt him to see her be less than glad to see him. But she was disappointed. “He wasn’t feeling up for it?” she asked when she fell into step with him. 

“He’s been…” 

“Moping?” 

“You could say that,” Remus said with a scoff and an affectionate smile on his face. “Care to tell me why James is being a miserable sod, or should I guess?” He gave her a side-eyed glance and a bump with his hip, trying to encourage her to say something. 

Lily just hummed and shrugged while pulling a face. “Nothing that didn’t need to be done,” she answered, a smug smile playing around her lips. “So, neither of them said anything to you then?” 

Remus stopped and grabbed her hand when Lily didn’t to tug her around. “Neither?” 

Well, shit. “Freudian slip,” Lily said, her lips pressed into a thin line. She made an attempt to pull him along to continue their rounds. Remus wouldn’t budge. He just dug in his heels and let her attempt to move his dead weight. “Oh come off it!” she complained, trying to put all of her weight into pulling. 

“Tell me,” Remus said calmly, letting his hand go slack, and she could feel her fingers slip. Lily was forced to put her efforts to move him on pause. “How bad can it really be?” At that, Lily clicked her tongue and decided to completely give up on making him move; Releasing Remus’ hand to tuck hers under her armpit, hugging her own chest with a sour expression on her face. 

Lily jutted her head towards the empty hallway, her eyes darting around the collection of paintings—One more willing to wag their tongue than the next—and hoped that Remus would understand. 

Reluctantly, Remus followed and walked beside her in companionable silence while they rounded off the first floor. 

They were stuck on a staircase that decided to move while they were on it when she spoke. “I asked James to ask Sirius to come to Hogsmeade,” she explained, her head moving from side to side as she made her confession. 

“Is that it?” Remus chuckled and she didn’t need to look to know he was wrinkling his nose in amusement. 

The laugh died when she added: “As my date.” The silence that followed was heavy, filled with shock and confusion. It lasted long enough that Lily was irked by the way it made her nervous and decided to shoot Remus a glare. 

He was clearly trying to work out what to say, his mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land. So, she gave him a moment to recover and climb to the top step, waiting for the stair to connect once more. 

“Well,” Remus eventually started, his tongue pressed to the back of his teeth while he, again, mulled over his words. “That is not something I expected to hear.” 

Lily deadpanned and breezed out through her nose. “If Potter wanted me to go with him, he should have asked,” she said casually, a knowing smile spreading across her lips. Which did not go unnoticed by Remus who only had to raise a brow to entice the words out of her. “I’ve asked him out at least five times now and he somehow always misconstrues my intentions. So, I decided to give him a little nudge.” 

“By asking out his best mate?” 

“By having his best mate stand me up and be forced to finally take me on that bloody date himself,” she corrected and watched as Remus’ attitude pivoted from shocked to impressed. 

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

The morning of the Hogsmeade trip, Lily’d made sure that she was early just in case James decided to head out before everyone else. She was standing reading as she leaned against a pillar in the courtyard, huddled in her cloak against the morning chill when he passed her by. 

“Big plans?” Lily asked from the shadows and watched James jolt in surprise, turning to look where her voice had come from. She flashed him a smile and stepped into the early afternoon light. 

James offered her only a polite smile, eyes making a quick sweep from crown to sole, no doubt taking in her date outfit. A dress she knew he liked, she’d caught him staring at her in it several times. It had been a deliberate choice, and she was glad she made it when she watched him gulp. “No, just a quick trip. Nothing special,” he said with a shrug. 

Lily smiled softly and hummed. “Picking up some supplies?” 

“That’s the plan.” He nodded and he jumped up to his hair to smooth it back. “What about you? Have anything special planned for your date?” It was clear that he was uncomfortable asking this, but he really was doing his best to be a good friend. 

This realisation almost made Lily cave and confess the plan to him, but they were so close. All she had to do now was deliver the hook. “Oh just, you know, date things. That is if Sirius hasn’t overslept too much. Was he on his way when you headed out?” 

James’ expression shifted the instant she asked her question. “No? Was he supposed to be?” 

Lily just nodded and hummed innocently, like she didn’t know this was going to happen. “We were supposed to meet fifteen minutes ago.” 

He blinked a couple of times, turned to the castle and then back at Lily before petting his pocket, presumably for the super secret mirror only everyone knew about.”Are you sure? Cause he was still in bed when I left.” 

“Yeah, pretty sure we said ten,” she told him, forcing the corners of her lips downward, making a real attempt to look disappointed. “I’m sure he’s just forgotten the time and is rushing now,” she said optimistically, knowing full well that he wouldn’t be there for at least another forty-five minutes to check if things worked out. 

James’ brows knit together while his focus shifted between her and the bridge leading to town, his teeth massaging his bottom lip. “You know what? How about we wait for him to show over a butterbeer?” 

“I thought you wanted to be quick?” 

“Well, I also want my best mate to not be an arse but seems like I won’t be getting my way today regardless. So, I’d rather spend it with good company.” 

“You don’t have to chaperone me, I’ll be fine,” Lily protested, mostly for posterity. 

James laughed at this and offered her his arm. “It’s no bother, I hate seeing you disappointed.” 

She gladly hooked his arm through his, letting herself be pulled closer, leaning into him as they started down the path to the village. “So, you’re my substitute date then?” 

“I wouldn’t say that, but I could be if you’d want me to be.” 

Lily fell silent for a moment, letting the words hang between them as she worked up the courage to say the words. “I’d love a real date with you.” 

They stopped suddenly, James pulling her to a halt so abruptly she nearly pulled out of his grip. “Do you mean that?” His voice was smaller than she’d ever heard it before, uncharacteristically uncertain. 

“Yes.” was all the answers she could give him, all the answers he should need. 

The crease between James’ brow deepened, the look in his eyes intense. “Then why didn’t you just ask me?”

A pained smile painted across Lily’s lip, recognizing the pain behind the words.  “I did. I have. You just…” 

“All those times? The last trip? The lake? The library?” 

Lily nodded as he listed several of her attempts to do something romantic with him, and he’d assumed it had been just her being friendly. “All those times,” she confirmed, her shoe scuffing the cobbles. 

James raked a hand over his face and groaned. “So, then, why ask Sirius?”

“To get your attention,” she replied simply, matter-of-factly. “If you’d think we’re dating, if you’d think that he stood me up you’d do… Well, this.” Lily motioned vaguely between them and the world around them.

James sucked his teeth and looked away, clearly frustrated. “It worked,” he muttered, clearly irritated. 

She stepped forward, closing the space between them, and lifted her hand to cradle his cheek. A rush of warmth crashed over her when he immediately leaned into her palm, his eyes closed. “You are both the worst,” he complained as he turned his head to kiss her palm. 

“Bad enough to not want that date?” she questioned, her heart hammering against her ribs, fast and painful. 

“No, I, shamefully, have to admit that you need to do a lot more and a lot worse than this to make me turn down a proper date with you,” he told her earnestly, his eyes soft as he looked at her again, this time feeling different. 

“Then let’s go.” 

[jilychallenge2023]

30 December

Part Three of One Kiss At Midnight by EastwindMLK is here !! Continue reading or start at the beginning.

a song rec from the amazing @eastwindmlk

Enjoy and come back tomorrow for the last part of this sweet fake dating fic (is there anything better?)

[jilychallenge2023]

29 December 2023

Another double day for Jily love! part 2 of @eastwindmlk "One Kiss At Midnight" and a lovely fic by @nena-96 "She's the light, in his Darkness" Enjoy them on ao3

[jilychallenge]

more ice creams 🥰

For this month's @jilychallenge I have been partnered with @elliemarchetti with the prompt Person A is looking forward to an ice cream and person B takes the last one.

Did I stretch the prompt a little? Yes, but you will just need to squint to find it! This month also features Chaotic Sirius. 1804 words under the cut!

“I really don’t see what the big deal is,” Mary complained as Lily dragged her feet to the ‘guard station’ at the gate of the newest event that she’d dragged Mary to. 

Rolling her eyes, Lily stood in front of the temporary wooden structure and humoured her friend by posing for a picture that she would more than likely be flooded with somewhere in the coming week with copious attempts to cajole her into posting them. 

Which was something she was not quite comfortable with yet. Most of the people she worked with still had no idea this was how the star student spent her weekends. The few people who did find out had spotted her in photos posted by the events. 

It also turned out that one or two had actually seen her at the event itself, which made for good lunch break conversations. She’d learned a lot about historical costuming, and her watch and reading lists had grown exponentially. 

All things considered, she was quite happy with the way things had turned out. They were even going to meet a few of them on the grounds as soon as they had done the rounds and likely bought more than either of them intended to. 

“Are you disappointed there are no knights this time round?” Mary asked, while they strode down the path, locked arm in arm. Dodging sword handles and sweeping tails. The dusty palace paths were lined on one side by white canvas tents that held the shopkeepers, the other side with flower beds. 

Despite there being plenty of open space on the other side of those flowers, it felt more cramped than the other events they’d been to. 

The sun was burning far too hot for the early spring, but when she mentioned it to Mary, the weather gods decided to mock her. A sudden splash of rain instantly made everything mucky and humid. A photographer had cornered them, and she watched a Disney princess steal away the hand-bound diary she’d had her eye on in the meantime. It was when she was quite unceremoniously shoved aside by one of the Schuyler sisters while trying to buy another trinket for her dress that Lily decided she had enough. 

“Let’s go find the food,” she suggested in a tired tone, fanning herself as they tried to manoeuvre out of the tent. Wedged somewhere between drinking horns and bonnets made from scrap fabric while people perused the wears, all of them too absorbed in the to buy or not to buy to notice two women trying to get out. 

They followed the path to one of the paths, now a lot less dusty than before, down to one of the central hubs. Where they’d set up large tents with rows of tables and benches reminiscent of the mess hall at boarding school. 

Here the people that came to drink and be merry would gather almost as soon as the event opened. Now, you could see cliques of similarly dressed people raising horns and tankards with ale. Wave around large meat skewers and smell the wood-smoked salmon that Lily had looked forward to. 

“So, where do we start?” Mary asked, surveying the options, her hands at her sides and clearly far more ready to attack than the redhead. 

Lily pushed her tongue against the roof of her mouth, checking her coin purse, and wrinkled her nose in annoyance. “The coin place. I need to trade some money.” 

“You didn’t get any at the gate? Why?” Mary groaned, throwing her head back dramatically as she pulled her along to the little caravan. Or rather, the endless line of people who’d made the same mistake as Lily had. 

Huffing and puffing, the pair slowly made their way to the front, where she exchanged her very real pounds for carnival tokens. The whole while, the pair of them discussed where their journey of snacking should be starting. 

Only to throw the entire plan out of the window when they finally had said coins. They were both hot and grumpy, and there was only one thing that was going to fix this. 

Ice cream. 

It was hard to miss the fake pirate ship waving a flag with a cartoon ice cream cone in a pirate hat. So that was where they were heading. 

“I don’t know if the Jolly in Jolly Rodger meant chuffed, but I have decided that it does now,” Lily remarked, practically skipping to their net and jute awning to read the menu of The Skull and Cones Sundae shop. Both of them giggled at an impressive list of punny names and delicious-sounding specials. 

Watching a few people leave with a fish-shaped cone that was richly filled, they decided that was precisely what she wanted. “I don’t know what that is called, but I want one,” Mary decided with a nod as they joined the slow-moving line. 

One by one, they watched as the stack of fish-shaped cones disappeared. Much to their disappointment, they realized that they would likely only be able to get one once they would finally make it to the front of the line. 

This led to a disappointing bout of boulder, parchment, sheers, and then the pair of them decided to share the one they would get, and then they would let the person scooping pick a second for them. This way, both of them were happy and neither of them needed to decide. 

Both Lily and Mary too fixated on staring at the cone, believing, or rather hoping, that if they kept staring at it, the person in front of them would not do the unthinkable and snatch the last one away under their noses. 

So, naturally, that is just what happened. The person in front of them dressed in a green cape, a leather strappy contraption and, most bravely of all in this heat, a red scarf ordered and the last cone was carried away. 

Devastated, Lily’s eyes followed it to where a surprisingly familiar-looking brunette was working on constructing the intricate frozen treat. She blinked a couple of times and then she heard it. 

“Lily?” 

And immediately her head snapped to find the sound of her name. For a moment, her despair about being unable to have the treat she’d been hoping for melted away. “Hi,” she greeted him, breathless as usual. 

Honestly, it was just unfair at this point. For all intents and purposes, James should have looked ridiculous in his cartoonish get-up. She would not be surprised if it included the red and black striped trousers that seemed to come with every cheap Halloween version of a pirate. 

“I like your bandana,” she chuckled, watching him flick the shiny polyester cap with a wonky skull and crossbones printed on it. Unable to stop beaming while he flicked one of the tails dramatically, winking at Lily. 

From the corner of her eye, she could see Mary roll her eyes at the pair of them. “You work here now?” she asked, equal parts amused and impatient. 

“No, I am just wearing this because it looked fun,” James shot back without missing a beat, taking a deep breath. “How about I get you two something cold and then you can sneak around back in time for me to take a break? Saying the last bit a little louder, summoning Sirius from behind the curtain, wearing something even more outlandish. 

Something in the back of her mind told her that he was supposed to be a pirate called Patchy, not that she could quite remember why or where she might know the costume from. 

He sauntered up to the counter, pushing James away from the counter, and flashed a charming smile at them, fake gold tooth included. Somehow still looks beautiful under all that ridiculousness. “Arr, what can I do you lassies for?” Sirius asked, and both of them had to stifle a fit of giggles.

“Well, we wanted one of those shark cones, but you seem to be out,” Lily sighed as she fanned herself, looking at the menu just past him. “So, I suppose I’ll settle for whatever you recommend and how you went from knights to… This.” She motioned at their outfits. 

Rubbing their lips together, both James and Sirius peered around. Just double-checking that they really were out of the cones she mentioned. Frowning as they reached the same conclusions as they did. 

It was then that Sirius darted away, snatching the cone they’d watched being made for the lady in front of them, away just as Remus was handing it over. “So, sorry,” he told the very surprised woman. “Unfortunately, the Shark Attack Scooper is sold out. Can I offer you an alternative?”

Everyone blinked, looking intently at the cone in his hand and at the uncomprehending look on the woman’s face. “B-but you’re holding it,” she stammered, confused, and started reaching out for it only to have Sirius hold it away further from her and hand it to James, who stood behind him.

“My deepest apologies, ma’am, but I must insist that you select something else,” he pressed. His tone was polite, but it absolutely suggested that there was no room for discussion. 

The only thing that was keeping this from turning into a ping-pong of yesses and nos was that Sirius was keeping up an impressive display of firm, but polite hospitality. Which was more impressive, considering he did just steal her order away from right under her nose.

Before they could get too engrossed, James snapped them out of the near childish back and forth. “Come on,” he said, nodding his head towards the back. The mysterious behind-the-scenes Lily had been dying to see. 

They manoeuvred through the guy lines of the awning, dodging miscellaneous parts of a pirate ship and skipped over a pair of crates to where James was waiting for them. Holding his hand out to help Lily over.

Both were a little too distracted with each other to notice that Mary was still struggling to get to meet them. He pulled her closer, already leaning down to claim the kiss that had become the way they greeted each other. Every one of them is better than the first one. 

Lily couldn’t help but wonder when the unwillingness to part after the hunger for another kiss would turn to a hunger for more. Or rather, when this hunger would finally consume her. The heat from the early afternoon sun rivalled by the heat his touch ignited in her. 

When their greeting was interrupted by Mary taking the cone from his hand and sneaking past them. “Don’t mind me, I am just taking this before it melts like Lily’s dignity,” she stage-whispered, shooting her friend a wink. 

And just like that, Lily still missed out on her ice cream. 

[jilychallenge]

nearly missed it! But more winter times in June

For this June @jilychallenge decided to add one more instalment to my Ren Faire AU!

Part 1 Part 2

Prompt: Under the mistletoe at a work event

Partner: @fiendishfyre

This month's Galavant Song:

Maybe it was something about it being a leap year and down sort of retrograde. She would have to ask Ginger about that when lectures started again. Because it was only some sort of freak occurance in the stars or an ancient type of course that led Lily to be dressed up in het another fancy dress.

In all fairness, this was for charity. Something about education for underprivileged victims of… Frankly, Lily could not remember and it did not matter. She was doing this for a good cause and if that meant donning a krinoline and bonnet, singing Silent Night until she was ready to toss the glockenspiel in the large bonfire in the square. So be it.

She was going to do it with grace.

The night before the Dickens Christmas Market, Lily's mother had curled her hair and made her sleep with a silk cap on to ensure the ringlets would set just right.

That morning Lily had complained about just how fanatically her mother has pushed the pins onto her hair, securing the Holly adorned headdress to said perfect curls.

Now, on one of her very generous breaks to explore the foar herself, she was wriggling them free. Idely strolling past the stalls lined with sweets and chotchkies. Baubles and figurines. All things Lily did not particularly want or need. But they were so lovely.

Once past the lantern lit shops one of the vendors offered her a hot chocolate and to warm her up he'd added a very generous pour of orange liqueur. Something she gladly accepted, her cold fingers clutching at the souvenir mug.

She took a cheerful stroll along the cheerfully lot Christmas trees, humming an off tune rendition of We Wish you a Merry Christmas and letting her feet decide where they were heading.

After a short stroll, it seemed that her feet were particularly interested in the horse and carriages. Not that she was surprised, she'd been rather charmed by the notion of carriage rides in the snow.

Admittedly, she was a lot less charmed after she'd actually met a horse. The wild thing she'd mounted at some distant family friends farm had tried to throw her off as she desperately had clung to it's mane.

Only to be told later that the one she'd selected had never been broken in and was practically wild. They'd been so impressed with the fact that she'd managed to coax her way onto it's back that theyd nearly forgot to come to her rescue.

Ever since the she'd regarded everything equine with a healthy dose of reluctance.

She'd been assured that these were well trained and their handler was the picture of professionalism. She had nothing to worry about.

And so it came to be thar a slightly tipsy Lily approached the great black and white beast with conviction. Strolling up to it conveniently, only to jolt when it neighed loudly just as her hand reached out to stroke the silken coat.

“Well, aren't you a beauty,” she placated, her finger tips barely brushing its large head. “There is no fear in you, is there?” She asked it and as if she was understood, the horse breezed. Making her pull her hand back for a moment. Almost melting when it turned into her touch.

Its wet nose pressed against her palm and for just a moment, Lily revelled in the fact that this horse seemed to like her.

“Gertrude, you little minx,” the familiar voice from behind her scolded. “You are not flirting your way to another snack, you are on a diet.”

Lily couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. One, the horse was named Gertrude. Gertrude! What kind of name was that? Certainly not something you’d call a horse. Two, was to feel a little betrayed by it. Her? For making her think she was after affection rather than a treat.

But all of that was overshadowed by the fact that she knew that voice, and that voice was not supposed to be here. That voice belonged to someone that looked far too dashing in his cape and top hat.

James. Sir James, if you will. Who she had thought about scandalously snogged the last time she had found herself at a costumed occasion. But despite there having been plenty of opportunities, they had not.

She looked at him with a coy smile, wondering how long it would take for him to recognize her with all these new trimmings. The hair and the bonnet really making a whole world of difference. “Should I start to worry that you’re stalking me?” she questioned after a moment of seemingly nothing.

There was something incredibly entertaining to watch the realization dawn on his face, like a light flickering on slowly, doubtfully at first. And then a bright smile lighting up his entire face. Suddenly leaning against the horse to inch just that little bit closer to her. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Lily knew that she should have rolled her eyes at this, but there was something about this man. Being around him made her want to be one of those swooning maidens, giggling and batting her eyelashes.

She rolled forward, balancing in the balls of her feet as she closed some of the distance between them. Her hand landing on his chest, pretending to pick a piece of straw off his lapel and running the thick fabric between her fingers. “So, what are you doing here?”

“Taking you on a carriage ride,” James answered casually, extending his hand to invite her to climb aboard. Motioning to the driver's bench and giving her a moment’s pause. Her heart was racing in her chest, a giddy feeling starting in her toes as he offered something she’d had wanted to do ever since she was a little girl.

The problem was that she was technically working. Could she really afford to be whisked awayHe reached to adjust the silk ribbon of her bonnet, playing his role of being brazen and charming bachelor. Smiling broadly enough to crinkle his eyes behind his lopsided glasses and flash a dimple that she had not noticed in their prior encounters.

He was still inching closer. Close enough to share the same breath, his finger curling behind the clasp holding her cape closed. Tugging her closer. “Where do you think you’re going?” James asked, his eyes flicking upward.

Lily followed his eyes upward, wondering what it was for. It did not take long to notice that dangling above them from the lantern dangled a bundle of delicate greens and pearly white berries.

Mistletoe.

She stared at it for a moment, wondering if she should make some excuse. She was working, he was working here too, it seemed. It was unprofessional and… Her train of thought disappeared when her eyes met his. In this light, she could see the flecks of green in the whirlpool of gold that drew her in.

Her eyelids fluttering, lashes brushing her cheeks before letting them close. The heat of his face close to hers was welcoming. The anticipation having build enough to ignore the musty scent of horse that clung to him.

Their noses bumped, his glassed pressed uncomfortably into her cheek but his lips met hers.

Finally.

Lily knew that this kiss should have felt incredible and romantic and hard-earned. But honestly, it was a little awkward and too wet for her liking. Objectively, it was a terrible kiss. Maybe one of the worst ones she’d had in a while.

But when he pulled away, all that she wanted to do is claim another one.

[jilychallenge]

Tbr - but excited!! Princess & Problems = idiots in love, surely??

That little nudge helped loads! Here we are with the august @jilychallenge

My partner is the lovely @aeligsido

Our prompt:

“I’m a Disney face character and you’re my canon movie counterpart but the mutual attraction is real and it’s becoming harder and harder not to call you by your real name instead of stage name.

There are 3k of Disney fluff under the cut!

As many a morning James and Sirius strolled into the crew area arm in arm, laughing back and forth about something the other had said. Both cast a glance at their lockers, only to find that they, in fact, did not pick up wardrobe yesterday.

“So, any idea what we’re up to today?” Sirius asked, pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth while the pair of them tried to figure out where their assignments would take them for the morning.

James made a questioning sound in the back of his throat trying to recall his schedule for the day and drawing a blank. “I think I am in Magic Kingdom today. But… Yeah, no. That is all I got,” he answered eventually. The two of them impatiently waited to look at the shift roster on the wall.

Sirius shouldered him out of the way, just as they got to it. His fingers walked down the list of names. “Fucking shitballs, I’m up for Gaston, again,” he complained.

James snorted, schooling his features into a mask of mock seriousness. “Padfoot, not in front of the mouse!” he scolded, his head jerking to Peter passing by, the giant mouse head in his arms. The three of them locked eyes for one long, silent moment before dissolving into side-splitting giggles and a firm back slap from Remus, who passed looking awfully comfortable in his steward gear.

The four of them met at the summer selection program and later moved into a flat together, where they split the outrageous Paris rent into a more comfortable number. It was nice having friends at the job when the days were long and more physically demanding than he had ever imagined they could be.

“I…” James turned his attention back to the stained printout, following the slightly faded ink of the perpetually low ink printer to his name. “Eric!” He finally concluded, rather relieved to not be stuck in something too warm. The heat had been stifling the past few days and Kristoff had been absolute murder. By the time he was backstage he practically had to peel the costume off his body. His under layer completely drenched.

He was utterly and completely content with his assignment when Sirius had to go and ruin it all. “Who is your redhead?” The phrasing was deliberate and not appreciated, the eyebrow wriggle was downright insulting.

James made very sure that his mate knew just how he felt about his question by mustering his sharpest, most unimpressed look. Which was mostly inspired by his GCSE English teacher, who did not share the same fondness for exploring the boundaries of creative, yet school-appropriate, smartassery. “I know what you’re trying to make me say,” he pointed out tiredly as he scanned the list once more. Looking at the character names, his fingers slowly follow the line marked ‘Ariel’ back to the names, praying that it is literally anyone but-

“Lily Evans,” he groans, his shoulders sagging as he resigns himself to a shift of psychological torment and a night of relentless teasing. “Fuck me.”

Which earned him two very distinct responses simultaneously.

“Not in front of the mouse!” From Remus.

“It would be about fucking time.” From Peter, who was the only one that withered at Remus’ glare. - It simply did not hold the same sort of heat that the other two were used to. Private school privileges, they’d once called it.

Sirius draped an arm over his shoulder, making use of the half an inch height difference. - they’d measured – his silver eyes glancing around as a smile curled onto his lips. “If you need a moment to… relieve yourself before your shift, I’ll collect wardrobe,” he teased with a wink, earning himself a firm elbow in the ribs, which did nothing to stop him from laughing loudly at his friend’s predicament.

“Very funny,” James repined, his hand jumping to his hair, trying to smooth out the frizz, inwardly cursing the humidity for making it untameable. Well, more untameable than it usually was. “She just…”

There was a collective groan. Remus ducked out with just awkward finger guns to announce his departure. “Yeah, I need to get to Studios, Kingsley is always early. So… imma dip too,” Peter announced, glancing down at the head his his arms before hurrying off.

James peered after them a slight hurt look fading in his eyes, his lips pressing together into a thin line. “I think I scared them off,” he said with a disappointed huff.

Sirius just nodded slowly, placing a wet kiss on his cheek. “You’ve been mooning pretty hardcore over Evans the past few weeks.” This information was new to James, who had been certain that he had contained himself. He knew for a fact that he more than once, or twenty times, stopped himself from mentioning her.

He pushed his hand under his glasses and groaned. “I am such a goner, am I not?”

“That is not the word I’d have chosen, but yet.”

“What-”

“Canard.”

James peered out from over his hand with a deadly glare which only resulted in Sirius shuddering dramatically and grasping his chest for his amusement. “Maybe you make a point. I resent the point because I am not just blindly waddling after her, but I guess. Maybe. Have you seen her, though?”

Sirius’s tongue darted out of his mouth the way it always did when he was stalling and he did not have the patience for it today. “Just spit it out!” James grumbled, letting out a sharp breath before adding a reluctant “Please.”

“Well, she is lovely. I really cannot disagree with you there,” Sirius started and James could just feel a ‘but’ coming up. He sunk his hands into his pockets, waiting for his friend’s judgement. Trying to look as casual as he could as he strolled alongside him. “However,” -There it was. - “You’ve been down bad and she’s clearly not reciprocating your advances. We’re worried.”

James’ eyebrows slid upward in surprise. “There is a ‘we’?”

Sirius nodded, shoulders putting up nonchalantly. “Basically just the gang. Since we’re subjected to your endless lionising-”

“Lionising? Nice one, Pads,” he interjected, offering a half-mocking, half-exparated look.

“-Merci, anyway. Your endless lionising over this, albeit, lovely woman that does not even give you the bloody time of day. Is she still ignoring that drink's invitation?” James laughed, a single, awkward bark as his hand jumped to his hair and his lips pressed together into a slightly pained smile. “Yeah…” he started to say, his eyes not quite meeting his friend’s when he rushed through the rest of that answer. “That might be because I never actually sent that text.”

He met Sirius’s glare with an apologetic grin and let his shoulders sag when Sirius groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I suppose that does the trick. Just so you know, I turned down tickets to a really good cabaret singer in solidarity and I am miffed, maybe even a little peeved”

This time. James did actually shrink away from him, genuinely feeling bad for not actually having worked up the nerve to ask her out. “I did ask her in person, sort of,” he said, his tone doubtful.

“Care to define ‘sort of’?”

James pushed his tongue against the back of his teeth for a moment, clicking his tongue as he nodded slowly. The more he considered it, the stupider it sounded. But Sirius was not the type to let this go. So, he kept his eyes on his shoes. Scuffing his converse on the linoleum floor of the backstage while admitted. “I asked her, in passing, if she wanted to come for drinks,” he muttered, risking a glance up at Sirius. “She…uh. Asked for a rain cheque because she had a jujitsu class.”

Sirius’ expression went from expecting to unamused. “So, you asked again, right?” His head tilted forward, wordlessly pressing the question. “Right?” Sirius repeated, this time a little louder and a little firmer.

“Right…” James repeated his voice sliding through half an octave, which should be telling enough. And sure enough, he could hear the impact of his friend’s palm against his forehead and the frustrated exhale.

They fell silent for a moment, the only sound between them was the sliding of metal hangers of the clothes rack, trying to find their costumes for the day. The tension mounted while garment bags were pulled and styrofoam heads with wigs were clamped under arms.

“It’s not like I intended to never ask again, but she also didn’t bring it up herself either.” James continued their conversation once they were out of earshot of the biggest gossip on property. Rita, their dedicated wardrobe attendant and custodian of their personnel paper. Which was gossip disguised as noteworthy crew news.

They knew better than to give her even the smallest of sound bites if they wanted her to stay out of their business.

“Look, mate. I know that she makes you nervous-”

“-Terrified, really.”

“Alright, terrified then. That has never stopped you from doing anything before. Still doesn’t-” Sirius paused to give a warning to James not to interrupt as they sat down at their stations. “So, why can’t you relocate some of that courage to ask out a girl who is actually into you.”

James’ eyes narrowed for a moment, trying to gauge how much of Sirius’s words were bullshit. Or rather, encouragement. He did not really see the difference in this case. Before heaving a dramatic sigh. “You can’t know that,” he accused, his voice nothing more than a mutter.

Sirius leaned over, an arm wrapping around his shoulders as he squeezed him close. “James, my dear, clueless friend. I know. I have been her prince too. She sure as hell does not look at me that way.” His shoulder received a shove and when James looked at Sirius again his back was turned, silver eyes gazing over his shoulder. “Now, be a darling and braid my hair?”

His fingers combed through the silky, black locks while he twisted them together in a tight plait. “Are you sure it is affection though? Because watery eyes might just be… allergies? I think she mentioned grass pollen at some point.” James was sure that if he had not had Sirius’s hair in his hands, his friend might have turned around to glare at him.

“She’s into you, I promise!” Sirius vowed while he wound the elastic around the end. Letting it drop between his shoulder blades for Sirius to pin it in place. “Just try it!”

James trusted his best mate, of course, he did. He just could not help but wonder, what if he was wrong? What if it was really just allergies or acting and what if she didn’t really have a jujitsu class? She could just as well have been avoiding him and that is why she never asked again. Clearly, she had no issues asking people if she’d asked Sirius to a show.

Now that he thought about it, maybe she liked Sirius. Which was when he started to spiral. Or spiral worse than he had. Or worse.

By the time that Sirius' flick to the forehead snapped him out of his thoughts, he was fully convinced that she had severe allergies, her main one being a severe aversion to one James Potter. But she humoured him because she was actually in love with his best mate.

“Oi! James protested, rubbing at the spot before shooting Sirius a half-hearted glare which his friend returned with such vigour it made unease crawl down his spine. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Then don’t think stupid things,” Sirius shot back instantly, making James bristle indignantly. How could he even know what he thinking? As if he could hear him, Sirius answered that question too. “Because you’re my best mate.” His expression softened and a hand gripped his shoulder reassuringly. “It is also written all over your face.”

At that James made an attempt at composing his face and wondered if there was any point to it. Sirius just had a way of knowing. Fixing the mark Sirius’s reprimand had made in his make-up, James contemplated. Doing his best to actually consider his friends’ opinions instead of letting himself be tempted by the spiral.

He was fixing the wig, plucking at the synthetic strands to have it sit just right when James finally gave in. “ Fine, I’ll ask her the moment we get backstage, okay? One last try.” It couldn’t hurt, right? His fingers ran nervously along the collar of his shirt, his eyes closing while he took a moment to really feel the character. Mentally preparing himself before the mere sight of his princess would render him completely useless.

“Break a leg!” Sirius encouraged him. From behind his hands grasped him firmly by the shoulders and steered him out of the door to where he knew they would be meeting. His heart thumping against his ribs, his entire body tingling with excitement. Or maybe it was nerves/ He could never really tell.

Regardless of how unhealthy it might be, the sensation was exhilarating. Just what he needed to get him pumped for hours of smiling and interacting with guests. He often joked that this feeling must be the magic of the mouse. Usually, when he said this, his friends would call him a dork. They weren’t wrong.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed a swish of sea foam green, a cascade of copper curls and his heart skipped. She was beautiful, she always was. But he could not help but resent the costume. The make-up covered up the light dusting of freckles along her nose. The wig could never quite capture the charm of her natural auburn locks.

His princess was beautiful, but the woman underneath outshone her a thousandfold.

“Lovely of you to show up,” Lily told him teasingly, fluttering her lashes at him. “Ready, my prince?”

James drew in a deep, steadying breath and offered Lily his arm with a brilliant smile. “For you, my princess, any time,” he replied, glad to hear his voice was steady as they walked down the tunnel that would lead them right to the gates of The Magic Kingdom. All the while listening to the easy chatter between her and Sirius.

Normally he would mix himself in, and join the conversation. But normally he was also not working up the courage to ask Lily out. Actually, ask her out this time. No hiding behind after-work drinks or casual hang-outs.

Even though Sirius insisted that Lily liked him, he couldn’t help but wonder if Sirius was just as blind. The way she smiled at him just felt flirtatious and she had asked him on a date. The final nail in the coffin was the way Lily blew him a kiss before they parted ways.

Without Sirius there to stop him from overthinking this, all James could do was focus on the work. Not on the words that spun in his head. ‘Pick me, choose me, love me.’ But he wasn’t some medical drama heroine. He was just… Him. Chances were that he would sound creepy rather than romantic.

The words spun in his head until only the last two remained and every time he looked at her they bubbled up to the tip of his tongue where he had to force them back. Now was not the time or the place. Not to ask her out and certainly not to shout ‘love me!’ at her.

He doubted that it would ever be the right time to do that. Shouting his feelings off the rooftops might just need to stay proverbial.

James was glad for the busy day, with lines of people waiting to meet them. Priding himself on making people blush and fluster as they posed and chatted. Only occasionally falling silent when he would catch a glimpse of Lily, ethereal and charming while she mentioned fins and dinglehoppers. Hugging crying, snotty little boys and girls with the grace of a princess.

It was in one of these moments that someone caught him looking. A boy, maybe twelve, not that he could tell anymore. For all that he knew this boy could be anywhere between eight and seventeen. Regardless, this one was observant. “Are you in love with her?” he asked and completely took James by surprise.

For just a moment, he fell completely out of his role. Hazel eyes lingered on the captivating form of Lily, looking angelic while she pushed her curls over her shoulder. “Very much,” he breathed, a longing smile on his lips. “Lil- She is my princess, after all. I couldn’t imagine loving anyone else.”

His eyes landed back on the boy, who beamed at him. “Do you think everyone gets a princess?” The question coaxed a soft chuckle from his lips. James crouched down, placing a firm hand on his shoulder as he looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, I think there is a princess, or prince, out there for everyone. As long as you are brave enough to go and find them,” he said resolutely and watched proudly as the boy nodded. “Just remember to be smarter than me, alright? When you find her, don’t let her go back to the ocean first. Sea witches are rather nasty business. Ask her.”

The boy nodded so eagerly, that James worried he might hurt his neck. “Alright then, you go ask the lovely lady with the mouse pin about the very special necklaces and pick one you think she’ll love.” James winked at him as he nudged the boy towards their steward for directions. Only caught a glimpse of him dragging an adult towards Main Street as the next person stepped forward.

For just a moment, James turned to look at Lily at the same time that she sought his eye. Her smile was almost shy, eyes darting away as if caught. In that moment, James wondered two things. One, if maybe Sirius could be right and two, how insufferable his friend would be when he was forced to admit that.

That was something to deal with later. After he finally asked his princess to the ball.

[jilymicrofics]

The neighbour right now 😳😳 @eastwindmlk

Written for @jilymicrofics prompt: Horrified Word count: 286 NSFW warning

“She saw us! I know she did!” Lily shuddered, horrified as she peered out of the kitchen window. Her fingers made a gallant effort to close the buttons of her top. Something that would have been a lot easier, were it not for her husband’s hands still underneath.

He was clearly trying to distract her from the fact that their new neighbour had just walked by while they were making good use of the fact that Harry was out for a play date.

A soft groan rose in her throat when James’s lips suckled on her neck, her pulse racing. “She’s already seen us now, love,” he murmured in encouragement. The feeling of his hands tugging at the cups of her bra made her head swim.

He made a good point, not that it mattered much. His hips ground into hers and the fire flared up once more. A needy whimper escaped her lips. Her hand reached up to slide into his hair, keeping his lips to her neck.

“They’re going to be scandalized in a small town like this, Potter,” she told him quietly, making no effort to stop him from bending her over the kitchen counter.

“Absolutely horrified,” he chuckled in agreement, fingers disappearing into the front of her shorts. “So, I think we should give them something good to gossip about, then. Make it worth it. Don’t you agree, Mrs Potter?”

A gasping moan affirmed his words as he stroked her through the thin fabric of her knickers. Emerald eyes sparkling as she reaches out and pushes the window open, the spring breeze flowing into the kitchen.

Rolling her hips into his hand. Moaning in delight, she smirked; “Let’s get into some trouble.”

[jilymicrofics]

Oooooh this one is short but spicy 🌶️ @eastwindmlk

Prompt: Tension (76 words) - @jilymicrofics

The relationship between James and Lily has always been tense. Like a string wound tight on the verge of snapping.

In their fifth year, it almost did. Singing a collection of insults and curses.

What neither of them expected was how. In their seventh year.

The tension finally became too much. The frayed string snapped.

It would end with them on the couch. Clothes strewn around the room. Curses the only words that they could remember.

[jilychallenge]

🥳🥳

For May' @jilychallenge I started two plunnies. One was Dillweed in a Fancy Metal Can and the other is this.

Partner: @charmsandtealeaves

Prompt: University Football/rugby/field hockey training is open to the public, on a very hot day star player A takes a shower from a water hose and B walks against a lamppost bc B might have been staring

Either read on AO3 or under the cut!

It was Wednesday evening in The Leaky Cauldron, which meant the lads had gathered in the back of the dingy establishment for their weekly team gathering. Well, James liked to call it their team gathering, it was mostly an excuse to grab a pint in the middle of the week for most of them. 

In front of them, on the large oval table in the back, they assumed was supposed to be their ‘event space’ that none of them could imagine would actually be used by anyone but them. After all, they’d celebrated most of their big moments around this table ever since uni. 

“I am sure we can manage,” Sirius commented, his finger gliding down the print-out with their pub league charter. Smirking as he tapped, their first match. “The Hog’s Head team always sucks. I’m pretty sure good ol’ Mundungus still pretends to be their striker.” 

Both the men rolled their eyes and a snicker went through the collection of young men gathered. Glasses clinked together. “Wait, Mundungus is their striker? The one that sells pot? Owns the pawnshop?” Frank asked curiously, squinting at the paper. 

“It almost feels bad to be playing against them. At least we don’t need to run too fast then,” Peter grinned, downing half of his pint in celebration. 

While James would not celebrate an easy win as readily as his friend, he could not help but feel a little bad for the middle-aged blokes having their first game against them. But he supposed that is why they had a point system instead of a knock-out. 

“We play Babberton Arms the week after, they’re usually decent, same goes for The White Wyvern.” It was then that a name caught his eye, there was a pub in the league that he wasn’t familiar with. They were new on the sheet, and what was more surprising was that their listed captain was one ‘Lily Evans’, a woman. 

Sirius noticed his hesitation, throwing his arm over his shoulder as he leaned in to look as well. “Anyone know The Three Broomsticks?” he asked, the team falling silent for a moment before Kingsley supplied:

“It’s a small gastropub down in the village. Nice place, little highbrow, though.” This caused a couple of people to pull out their phones to look it up. 

“They have a good menu.” 

“The lady who runs it is a total MILF.”

“I think I had a date there once. Nice place.” 

So far, it sounded pretty good. James reckoned he would probably recruit Sirius to go on a recon mission soon. Spend an evening there to scope out the competition. It would be fun. While he would never admit it aloud, he was not opposed to something a little finer than this. 

Peter, who started laughing, holding out his phone for everyone to get a glimpse of what was on the screen drew everyone’s attention. As far as James could tell, it was a team picture. All the players were posing in front of the metal goal that was part of their local park. 

He was not entirely sure what was too funny about it, but several people were chuckling and scoffing when the phone passed to them. “They’re all females?” Someone asked, clicking their tongue and earning a round of laughter. 

“We’ll be fine; I am sure a bunch of girls are not going to take our cup,” Remus commented, squeezing James’s shoulder. 

Sirius was quiet until someone made a remark about how they would at least have a good time looking at them run, pretending to jiggle a pair of tits, making the rest of the table burst into hysterics.

Easily and masterfully redirecting the jokes in an effort to cut short this sort of talk. By joking. “All I know is that we might want to put Pete in goal because he has never scored with a girl once in his life.” 

There was a short bout of silence around the table before the first person broke, Benjy snorting loudly and slapping Peter, who was not looking as amused as the others, on the back hard enough to hear it connect. 

“I just think we shouldn’t be too quick to judge them, it looks like they actually train,” James deducted, having found the profile himself and scrolling through the public posts. Finding out some interesting things about this other captain. 

Lily Evans and he had a few mutual friends, mostly people from the pub league and a bloke that went to the same gym as he did. 

They liked similar bands, she attended a Lord of the Rings marathon he’d been unable to get tickets to. 

By the looks of it, she and her friends dressed up. 

She volunteers for or supports multiple charities. Her work involves a white coat, which intrigued him.

Her red hair was natural, and her green eyes were breathtaking. 

He also found a post about wanting to start this women-only footy team. With dates and times when they were supposed to meet up.

James leaned in a little too close, to squint in the background of one of her throwback pictures where he could swear he knew the grease ball she was toting along when his finger slipped and he accidentally liked a picture of her on holiday. 

“Fuck, fuck, shit, fuck no,” he muttered to himself and frantically tapped the little thumbs up, only to be offered more options. By the time that he finally figured out how to unlike it, he’d left a heart, angry and laughing reaction, and there was no way in hell she did not know he was stalking her Facebook. 

Turns out, he did not need to be physically talking to someone to put his foot in his mouth. His ineptitude with the dinosaur that was Facebook did just fine at making him look like a right idiot. Though it must be some record, taking less than ten seconds.  

What made it worse was that, not a minute later, there was a buzz, the light on his phone blinking blue. A Facebook notification. Worse, a friend request from one Lily Evans.

After having ignored the notification for several hours James found himself staring at it, bending over his container of Szechuan noodles. Staring long and hard enough for Sirius to elbow him in the side. 

“If some spicy text got you this wrapped up, I need to see it,” he chuckled, trying to lean over to see what James was staring at. Not shrinking away from the glare he received, much to James’s disappointment, he was reminded that his best friend was not intimidated by him in the slightest. 

Turning the screen to show off the notification bar, rolling his eyes at Sirius snorted. “Isn’t that the captain from the Broomsticks team? What does she want from you?” 

“Maybe she wants to plead for mercy?” he suggested with a smirk, his thumb hovering over the decline button. Why would he accept it? It wasn’t like he knew her. His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth for a moment before selecting ‘accept’. 

He might not know her personally, but he was not going to turn down the possibility of spying on their new rivals. As team captain, it was his responsibility to be prepared for anything. This certainly had nothing to do with the bikini picture he spotted earlier. 

---

By the time that his phone buzzed the following Saturday, while he was stretching before their first game, he had completely forgotten about this happening.

‘Good luck today! {insert football emoji and a smiley]

Squinting against the glare of the rising sun behind him, he could almost make out the picture of the redhead rival captain. There was a nervous roll of his stomach, eyes darting around the field. Wondering if maybe she was here to spy on them. But most of the crowd was distinctly more follically challenged and would not look nearly as good in a black one-piece as he had learned Lily did. 

He reacted to the message with his usual lion emoji before tossing the phone into his bag. Not wanting to get too distracted.

What did not help was checking it again at half-time, only to find a new message. 

‘You should pay more attention to that centre back.’ 

Making his eyes roam the stands in search of a hint of the spy, but if she was there, she was hiding in the crowd. 

‘We’ll be fine! He’s no Matt Clarke.’ 

The message was sent before he realized it, a reference to his favourite team that his friends would likely get. But would she? He supposed she could always google him if she wanted to know, he supposed. The ref blew his whistle and just before he tossed the phone back in the bag he saw the notification pop up. 

‘Think you’re good enough to go up against the Bald Eagle?’ 

She knew. And he considered that maybe he was already in love with this stranger. 

---

Just like that, his recognizance mission was compromised. Or rather, forgotten about. Until Peter asked casually while beating him mercilessly at a game of FIFA. “Did you hear the chick team won their first game seven nil? Maybe we should try and catch one of their trainings. See if this was just a stroke of luck.” 

He did not even have the decency to look at the screen when he tipped in another goal against him. 

James considered accusing him of cheating, but what was the point? The last time he did that, they were in college, and it had been embarrassing enough to still make him cringe today. “I did see a post about it on Lil’s timeline. I think they meet every Thursday.” 

The characters on screen celebrated the end of the game, and he immediately flicked to the main screen, not particularly feeling like seeing his pathetic stats.  

Peter grumbled something about the stats being there for the both of them before falling silent. Giving James a confused look. “Lil? You two are that friendly already?” 

He pulled up his shoulders and ran a hand through his hair. “I’d like to think so.” 

“Are you two secretly chatting or have you just become intimately familiar with her beach holiday pics?” Peter was still laughing between the coughs when his elbow landed in his stomach, throwing his hands up in defence. “Right, right! Got it! It’s both.” 

James shot him a playful glare and pulled up his shoulder, eyes returning to the screen to select another formation for his team. Certain he could out-strategize his friend’s undeniably superior skill. 

“I’ll go check them out this week.” 

---

The sun was starting to set when James and Sirius slunk into the park, rugged up in oversized cardigans they borrowed from Remus and stylish baseball caps that were generously donated by Kingsley. Who did insist they were not to adjust or bend them, as they were, collector's items. Or rather, they would be one day, and he was not going to risk it. Which did lead to a rather loose fit on Sirius and a promise of a very bad hair day for James. 

The pair of them carried a picnic blanket and book to look less suspicious. If they pretended to hold a book club. The biggest risk they ran was to look like nerds. 

Which they were. Not that James or Sirius would openly admit to this to anyone but each other. They are rather skilled at hiding their general nerdiness under a layer of muscle and smooth talking. Even if the smooth-talking occasionally included references to their nerd media of choice. 

James had overthought the time they should be arriving. Not too early, or they would notice something was off. Not too late, because then they would not get enough time to observe. After a lot of mulling over, James decided that twenty minutes after practice started should be perfect. 

He knew that their team took, at least, ten to fifteen minutes to waffle and joke around, and ten minutes was a quick warm-up. Which meant that they would probably wander in just as they started playing. 

Once he spotted the group of women, or rather, a collection of bouncing ponytails, James learned he was wrong, and he could not be happier about it. They were still warming up. Better yet, they were stretching and it was utterly enchanting. 

No matter how hard he tried, which was not very hard, he could not take his eyes off their captain. The feisty redhead he’d been texting off and on since Saturday wore a bright smile and a pair of criminally tight bike shorts as she dropped into a low lunge. 

A sight that he was clearly not prepared for. If it had not been for Sirius grabbing his arm, he might have walked straight into a rubbing bin. Frankly, he’d have deserved it for shamelessly staring. But what was a mortal man like him going to do? Avert his eyes when given the chance to glimpse at a goddess?

But as Sirius spread the blanket on the field across from the training, where he could resume his research in peace. The book he was pretending to read was open in his lap, his phone in his hand. He could not help himself. 

‘Good luck! [insert football and lady running emoji]’ 

Only after hitting sent, James realized that he might have just blown their cover. If Lily had done the same thing he had done when he got her message, it would not take a genius to figure out who they were. If there was something he’d learned about her over the past week or two was that she was, in fact, an actual genius. 

If the gods were merciful, she would see the humour in this. She’d not said anything about his little bikini picture snafu, which was arguably a lot creepier, and he had profusely apologized for it after a few pints to settle the nerves. 

That had been what had really set off their chatting. Messaging back and forth to the point that he had his eyes glued to his screen even while watching footy.  Remus had made remarks about it, which meant it had to be painfully obvious. 

Not that the screen was any sort of distraction now, for obvious reasons. However, there was also a less obvious and far more concerning reason for his mobile to lie discarded on the blanket. 

They're good. 

No, that was an understatement. They were terrifyingly competent. It was intimidating and did things to him, he would rather not admit to. 

“Prongs, I think we’re fucked,” commented Sirius after they watched a tall blonde flip throw the ball with such ease their jaws were on the floor. 

James swallowed, nodding slowly at his friend’s assessment. “So fucked.” A firm shove jolted him out of his trance to notice that, across the field, several of their rivals had turned to look at them. Most of them took this moment to catch their breaths, hands set into their sides. James could see their breaths form little clouds in the cooling evening air. 

He reeled in his jaw and raised a hand in an awkward greeting. As if he was not already done for, Lily raised her hand in what he thought would be an awkward wave back. Only for her to flip him off before winking and returning to her practice. Her jumper had ridden up and exposed a swath of tattooed skin on her side. 

Hand to his chest, James fell back into Sirius’s lap as if shot. Maybe he had been, because he was unwell. They’d never even spoken face-to-face, and he’d already decided on a May wedding at the Riverside, four kids and a Newfoundlander named Elvendork. 

Sirius peered at him with, what seemed like, genuine concern as James raked his hands over his face. “You right, mate?” he asked, the cap sliding forward as he tipped his head down to look at James. 

“Yeah. Yes. Though I could do with the incessant urge to make a fool of myself for her,” he groaned, an offended tsking rushing past his teeth when his friend pushed the cap down over his eyes. “Oi! Can you blame me? Just look at her!” 

Sirius looked up while he wrangled the cap back into place, taking a long moment and then some before sighing in defeat. “I vote Irish wolfhound and late spring. I look good in lavender.” 

“I was thinking Newfoundland,” he answered, a smirk playing around his lips.

“Only if I can be the godfather,” Sirius bargained, the raise of his eyebrows caused the cap to slide forward once more making James snicker. He let himself be pushed up and to his feet. “Go talk to her! Don’t do anything stupid,” his friend encouraged. 

James shot him a playful glare, tossing his own cap towards him and fixing his hair. Well, as much as it could be fixed. His feet already carrying him down the slight slope to the field. “It’s not like I am going to run into a lamp post,” he joked, tossing a grin over his shoulder seconds before connecting with just that. 

In his defence, the ladies were having a water break and Lily had taken off her jumper, standing there in just her sports bra, sweat glistening in the setting sun. Her hair was frizzy from the humidity and surrounded her like a halo. 

If that had not been enough, Lily had laughed, her head tilted back in delight and James was pretty sure he would move heaven and earth to be the one to make her laugh like that. Which was the thought that spun dizzily through his mind while he reeled from the impact. 

James staggered back a few steps, rubbing the side of his face that had made the actual impact. His glasses askew while he sat back down on the grass, blinking the spots from his vision. 

When his eyes focussed again, Lily was right there, her forehead creased with concern. Before he could think about it, his mouth moved. “Marry me?” Which was probably the first time that James Potter ever was truly mortified by something he had said. Mouth opening, this time intentionally, to apologize. 

But before he could, she laughed, and the sound was pure and surprisingly not like she wanted to run away. “How about you take me for a drink first?” 

The vigorous shake of his head made him reel all over again, but James didn’t care. ”It’s a date.” 

(A little reference vid, because I can.)

[jilymicrofics]

@eastwindmlk 😂

Prompt 3: Jolly (533 words) @jilymicrofics This went about as well as James Acaster's flapjacks

The usual collection of sixth years sat around the fire in the Gryffindor common room; Bottles of butterbeer scattered around, a collection of sweets littering the table as the conversation drifted to their holiday plans. 

Peter had lamented having to freeze his bullock off in Warsaw, visiting his grandmother, who would constantly be asking if he was hungry. Hugging the pillow, he was holding tightly against his chest. Listening to people offer solutions. He could refuse to go, stay at Hogwarts, or stay with friends. There were plenty of options. “I missed her, though. She’s getting ancient, and I don’t want to miss my last Christmas with her just because I was whinging too much.” He decided and nudged Dorcas next to him. “What about you?” 

Her chestnut complexion darkened slightly as she admitted: “I’m spending Christmas with the McKinnons.” Marlene beamed at her from across the circle. They’d been dating for a while now, and it seemed that it was finally time to meet the parents. 

“So, just you, Marls, her parents and her what? 15 bothers?” James snorted, earning a shove from Marlene. 

“Eight, Potter. Though I don’t expect you as a discount pureblood to understand,” Marlene teased and stuck her tongue out. Starting a round of mutters about the Sacred 28 and their bullshit. Which obviously turned their attention to the next person. 

Sirius just grinned, throwing his arm around James’s shoulder and squeezing him. “I am spending my time with my discount, pureblood family and Remus.” Who nodded slightly, being mid-drink. 

Which left one person unaccounted for. Lily. Who made no move to tell about her plans for the holiday. Occupying herself with a chocolate bar as she hoped that the topic would pass her by as they chatted over who else would be there, and the food they were looking forward to. 

But she did not want to fully rely on luck. So, before there could be a lull in the conversation, the redhead rose to her feet. She offered to get them the fruitcake her sister had sent and disappeared up the stairs to her dorm at the first slightest sound of agreement. 

James was sitting in the window at the bottom of the stairs as she bounded down, the heavy loaf in her hands. Jumping at the sight of him. “Potter, what are you doing here?” Lily huffed, hand clutching her heart as she looked him over. 

“You never told us your Christmas plans, and then you mentioned your sister sending you something,” James explained, unperturbed by her glare. “Just wanted to extend the offer to you as well. You’re welcome to come and stay at mine. My parent would be thrilled. You could meet my dad, he’s almost as nuts about potions as you are.” 

Lily could feel warmth blossoming in her cheeks, his offer having her studded silent for just a moment. “Thank you… James. But I am going home, despite my sister’s wishes for a jolly holiday without the wicked witch of the south.” She wasn’t sure if it was true, but the way that offer had made her feel, she could not take it. Not when he was finally just her friend.

[jilymicrofics]

We were wondering where the tag was 😂

I wish you would write a fic where Jily joins the Jily Microfic Discord!

James sat hunched over the piece of muggle technology that Harry had gifted them for the holidays. He was squinting at the electronic letter from an unknown address. “Lils, darling? Do you know what a ‘discord’ is?” he shouted over his shoulder to his wife just outside the open doors, tending to her herb garden. 

Her face appeared, dark streaks littering her features and another one being smeared across her forehead as she swiped her hair away from it. “Discord?” she repeated, confusion evident in her voice. 

“Someone invited us to join one. It has a picture of a friendly…” His sentence trailed off as he made a motion, thumbs gyrating and fingers wriggling. “From one of those home arcade machines.”

Emerald eyes narrowed for a moment, another smudge of dirt adoring her jaw as Lily deciphered what he meant. “Joystick?” she questioned, uncertain of her own words. A smile crept onto his face, but before he could say anything even remotely lewd his wife cut him off. “Don’t you dare, Potter! We are solving this discord mystery before you get any funny ideas!” 

James huffed, blowing an errant lock of hair from his forehead and adjusting his glasses. “Should we call one of the kids? Or would take make us terribly cliché grandparents?” he prompted, nodding to himself as he leaned back over the box and traced his finger along the square to move his pointer. 

“What are you doing?” Lily got up, stretching her back as she leaned on the windowsill, watching him full of curiosity. 

His eyes flicked to her, a grin stretching over his features. “I am accepting the invite, of course. It would be terribly rude. I can always click it away if it is one of those fish letters Henry talked about.” Aware that their oldest grandson would be very disappointed in them if they’d fallen for something he had warned them about time and time again. 

“Oh, there are rules!” James muttered to himself, skimming over them as he already motioned to accept them, only to be stopped by his wife. 

“Did you read them?” 

“Yes.” 

“Really?” 

He paused and let his shoulders sag as he admitted. “More skimmed them, but I am sure they are fine!” Ignoring the look of disapproval that blew in from the window, he pressed the green square and watched a whole new list of names appear on the side of his little box. 

“They are asking for our house! There are so many Gryffindors here!” He exclaimed, delighted. “Maybe this is for alum, and we can finally see what people are up to without having to rely on the papers,” he said with a grin and went through, clicking the pictures he thought applied to them. 

Pausing for a moment, pushing his glasses back up his nose as he curiously read the next item on the reading list that had appeared. Falling silent, eyebrows furrowing as he slowly started to click through the list. 

“I don’t think I am supposed to be here,” he mused, looking up at Lily for a moment before letting his eyes fall back on the words on the box. 

“What makes you say that, dear?” Lily asked, leaving her gloves on the sill as she made her way inside, casting a quick scourgify before sitting down next to him, her reading spectacles being slid out of her hair in an effort to read with him. 

“These are all…” 

“-Stories, yes.” 

“About us?” 

James nodded slowly, not sure if he should feel worried about this. “Us, the lads, Harry, your friends. Just endless stories,” he replied, his voice growing faint with confusion. 

“I think you might be right, this is not for us,” Lily agreed, though her eyes were still moving over the words. Her finger reached out to one of the items on the list. “Can you click that?” 

At her request, James clicked the label that said art when Lily pointed it out and clicked one of the grey squares. Something he should not have done. Jolting, he reached out and smacked the lid back on the box, almost trapping his wife’s fingers between. 

“I think that was enough of that!” He practically squeaked, taking off his glasses and frantically polishing them on his pocket-handkerchief. “Maybe not ask the grandkids to look at it, after all.” 

Rubbing her knuckle where the lid had caught her, Lily gave him a disappointed look and levelled him with a look. “I didn’t see, so I can’t tell,” she admonished, reaching out to reopen the box stubbornly ignoring his warning hand on the lid. 

“James, let me see!” She demanded, and all he could do was shake his head at her. “Fine, then you describe it to me.” Her arms crossed over her chest while she raised an expectant eyebrow at him. 

James licked his lips, wondering how on earth he was going to describe the image that was burned into his eyelids now. Taking a moment, then another, before a sly smile slipped across his features. “How about I show you instead?” 

[jilymicrofics]

As a lover of board and card games myself this was a delight.

May I suggest Bedpans and Broomsticks? That one has also destroyed a few friendships in our house 😂 @eastwindmlk

In the cards

So,I originally wrote this for the Bittersweet challenge for @jilytoberfest where, and I got to turn an angsty quote into a sweet one. “You have given me so much pain.” has inspired this cracktacular piece of fiction. It did get yoinked at some point, but I will reupload for your consideration this @jilymicrofics (807 words) Enjoy!

Game night was always a big thing with the Potters. It was the one night a week when no one was allowed to make other plans. They took turns picking and bringing games, ordered food and poured generously from whatever alcohol was being served that night. It was cosy. Something to look forward to during the week. This was one of those weeks that James really looked forward to a night of friendly competition and hours of conversation.

Depending on whose turn it was to pick the game, the night turned out differently. James favoured co-op games, working together to get to the goal. Sirius, on the other hand, liked trivia games, things that he knew he would excel at. Peter preferred the silly sort of game, something active and guaranteed to give you the giggles. Remus always seemed to find amazing niche games with complicated plots and mysteries. Rich in storytelling and creative solutions.

And then there was Lily. Lily had a way of finding the most competitive, aggravating, friendship-ending games. Which had all started with Monopoly, a game that was now banned from the table. As a direct result of a gruelling, no-prisoners game that lasted seven hours before they collectively gave up. Which launched a series of game nights that only a masochist would enjoy. So clearly, all of them had the time of their life.

Other games brought by the redhead and subsequently banned were: Sorry, Settlers of Catan, Scrabble and for unrelated reasons charades. Which they mutually agreed was better kept for when they were forced to stay family-friendly. It did not always go wrong though. There had been a few fine games and one that everyone seemed to enjoy a lot more, despite multiple squabbles and disagreements. Risk, which was added to the permanent rotation.

Tonight was Lily’s turn and everyone was equal parts excited and apprehensive. Hoping she would finally fail in her streak of finding the worst games. So, when James got him and saw the pack of cards sitting on the table in the living room. He was relieved. Cards were usually fine. They had several card games they rotated. But this was Lily they were talking about.

For a moment James inspected the package, it looked innocent enough. Pretty straightforward too. But this was Lily. He was sure that there was some chaos involved, but he really could not see too much pain in a card game called UNO. Little did he know just how wrong he would be.

The first few rounds were rather tame. While the rules were simple, everyone seemed to hold back a little. Testing the waters. Not wanting to get into too much trouble until after dinner. Much to Remus’s dismay, Chinese food arrived. Halting the round for everyone to eat their fill and crack open another bottle of wine.

What happened next was the most unfortunate set of circumstances James could have ever imagined. He was riding high with only two cards left in his hand, the colour in his favour and he even had a mythical plus four cards ready to mess with Remus on his right. But right before the round could get to him Sirius threw down a skip card, moving his turn to Remus instead. Which was disappointing, but he could do another round.

Or not. Luck seemed to be smiling down on him when Remus reversed the turn order. That is where it all went wrong for him. Emboldened by his stroke of luck, he threw down the plus four proudly announcing: “Uno!” He smirked along the table when he caught the glint in Lily’s eye. And as if in slow motion he watched Sirius place a plus two on the board. Watching Lily doubt what card she should be putting down, made him nervous. For good reason too. Watching her place down another plus four.

Peter added a plus two, deciding on the colour red. His lucky colour. Which did not let him down when Remus was merciful, playing a reverse card. Seemingly saving him from his fate. The rollercoaster continues with Lily putting on a third plus four. It was now all up to Sirius, who paused just long enough for James to remark: “You have given me so much pain already. Just do it.”

Deflating when his friend placed down another plus two. Making the total cards he was drawing sixteen. Enough cards to force them to reshuffle the pile just so he could draw more. Muttering, much to everyone’s entertainment. “Lils picked this game alright.” Feeling hands on his shoulders from all sides. Consoling what would be a devastating loss on his part. Something only mildly mediated by Lily saying “Don’t worry love, I will make it up to you when everyone leaves.” Her wink made him feel only a little better.

[jilymicrofics]

No more baby’s pulling on ears! 🥳 @eastwindmlk

Prompt: Frost (160 words) - @jilymicrofics

There was a velvet box that sat on the kitchen counter next to the half-unpacked bag of groceries when Lily entered the kitchen. Squinting tiredly after a surprise nap with baby Harry.

“Darling, what is this?”

Picking it up, she turned it around in her hands. Her eyes found James in the door frame with a smile on his face.

“You said you wanted frosting.”

Blinking at him, confused, the redhead held up the little box. Turning it around for him to get a good look.

“Frosting for cake, James. This is not frosting.”

He closed the distance between them, gently taking the box from her fingers and opening it up for her. A set of diamond and gold studs sitting there.

“You said that Harry keeps grabbing them, and I thought maybe you’d want something you could wear.”

“That’s really thoughtful.”

Lily sniffed, cursing her hormones under her breath as her husband kissed the stray tears from her cheeks.

[jilymicrofics]

Oooh love a little Euphemia POV @eastwindmlk

Written for @jilymicrofics prompt: Blossom, Jan 1 Word count: 298

Euphemia Potter prided herself on her green thumb; she claimed to have never once let a plant die. As long as you did not consider that temperamental weeping fig that seemed insistent on ruining her record,. 

But it went further than that. The Potter matriarch nurtured everything that was placed in her care. Rearing them with great care and consideration. Even when they were temperamental. Giving them everything they needed to thrive. 

Nothing proved that more than her pride and joy, her darling son, whose fevers she soothed, humming sweet lullabies until he stopped crying. Who she held while he kicked up a storm, meeting him with her calm waters and leading him out of his tempers. 

Who she had sent off to Hogwarts, holding back tears because she did not want to dampen his excitement as he hung out of the train window, promising he’d write every day. He was waving so vigorously that she joked about his arm falling off. 

Her son, who wrote about adventures, wolves, hijinks, and best friends, She grew to love the boys as much as they’d let her. In one case, as her own. 

She treasured all the notes, the letters, and the doodles he sent her. Even the peeved letters of the headmaster and the praise from his professors. She loved all of them indiscriminately. Treating them like strands weaving the tapestry of his life. 

Following one strand with particular interest. A witty, intelligent rival that made his quill dent the paper, the ink spilling as he mentioned the hue of her auburn locks and the way she made him work for her attention and affections. 

She did not miss fate’s sense of humour when she learned that her name was Lily. A flower to make her dear son blossom. 

[jilymicrofics]

Uh oh 😟 looks like these two have some stuff to work on @eastwindmlk

Written for @jilymicrofics prompt: Troubled Word count: 247

It was simply a fact of life that James and Lily argued, sometimes all day. Most of the arguments were harmless, just petty bickering done with suppressed smiles and an abundance of eye-rolling. Others were poorly concealed flirting, where they’d argue practically nose to nose, with playful glares and suggestive smiles.

This was neither of those things. The air around them crackles with animosity. The prefect’s office suddenly felt too small. Both their hands were placed firmly on the desk between them.

“How fucking dare you,” Lily hissed, her jaw tight, eyes narrowed to slips. “No, that is unacceptable.” Giving her head a curt shake, the Head Girl leaned closer threateningly. “If you can’t be bothered to do it yourself, maybe you shouldn’t have taken the badge.”

James’s jaw set, pushing himself off the desk and straightening up. Towering over her, he let out a sharp breath.

She could feel a shiver run down her spine while his lips curled into a venomous smile. “Well, I am sorry to have troubled you, then. I’ll fix it, my damned self,” he spat in her direction, tugging his robes straight before barging out of the room.

Leaving Lily alone to deflate on her own, face buried in her hands. “Good job, Evans,” she muttered to herself before attempting to focus on the schedule once again. Maybe it was better that she’d ask Alice to cover her patrol with James.

After this debacle, what was the worst she could say?