tanglled-thoughts

[tanglled-thoughts]

For @jilymicrofics August prompt Castle. Words 421.

“You seem a bit nervous.”

James smiled, lacing his fingers through hers as they continued walking up the gravelled path. The morning sun was already warm on their skin, the sky a soft baby blue.

“Nervous?” He repeated, his eyes on the ground. “Nah.”

Lily had been admiring the lush green hedges that lined their path, watching a few bees and butterflies hovering over the delicate flowers.

But her own nerves spiked.

“Do you think it will be that bad?” She asked, suddenly worried.

“Will what be bad?”

“Will they really hate me?”

“Who?” James asked, looking at her with utter confusion.

“Your parents, of course!”

At this James snorted, then chuckled as he pulled her into him for a quick squeeze. “Lil, they’ve heard absolutely everything about you for years. Believe me, they already adore you.”

The slight tension he’d felt in his body evaporated as he held her close to him, his arm around her shoulder and hers around his waist as they continued walking. “It’s just… erm…”

They rounded the corner of the last of the pristine bushes, and Lily suddenly stopped short.

Her breath caught as her mouth fell open, eyes widening at the sight of the stone building at the end of sweeping driveway.

“It’s… a castle,” she said weakly, frozen to the spot and staring in complete surprise.

James stopped next to her too, biting back a nervous smile and watching her through the corner of his eyes.

“You live in an actual castle,” Lily reiterated, her tone laced with incredulity as she took in the beauty of the Potter’s home.

James’ stomach swooped, a rush of affection for her hitting him as he watched her wide eyes sparkling in open awe.

Bloody Sirius, winding him up. It was impressive really, how many “Prince Charming” jokes he’d managed to come up with.

“I mean, it’s not a big castle,” he responded, a dimple popping as a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Really small, as castle’s go. Hardly a castle at all in fact.”

Lily finally tore her eyes a way to shoot him a look, not quite managing to hide her own smile, but didn’t dignify that with a response.

He laughed easily, finally stepping forward but turning on his heel to face her as he walked backwards towards his home.

“Come on,” he said warmly, outstretching his arms and lacing his hands once again through hers. “There’s a sun deck with some brooms on the turret.”

“… of course there is.”

[tanglled-thoughts]

Dear Lily,

Well, Homer isn’t back yet, which I can only assume means he’s been seduced by those majestic American mountains one hears so much about. Or perhaps he’s decided he’s had enough of dreary old England and has gone off to start his new life as a cowboy. I assume that’s the sort of thing most Americans do, though I admit I have only a cursory knowledge on this front, having never been to the States myself. My dad did once, though. Spent a week on a Muggle dude ranch out in Wyoming. Or was it Wisconsin? I can’t remember, somewhere terribly American sounding where they have a lot of cows. Anyway, it was a great laugh, according to him, so maybe Homer’s onto something.

If he doesn’t turn up soon, I’ll send this letter via Virgil, my parents’ rather doddering old owl. I’m not strictly speaking supposed to use him for cross-country journeys, but London isn’t all too far, after all, and though it’s only been a few days, I am anxious to hear how you are settling into life with that charming sister of yours. Do let me know.

The quill that had been scrawling this cheerful missive paused, and James Potter scrubbed a hand over his face, frowning intently. Nearly a full minute passed before the ink-dipped nib of his quill returned to the parchment.

Read on AO3.

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@jilymicrofics july 28: stargaze

“And that one?”

“Cassiopeia,” James answers immediately.

Lily steals another secret glance at him, absolutely captivated by how the nearly full moon, still two nights away, reflects off his glasses, giving his hazel eyes a soft, glowing warmth. The interplay of light and shadow on his face reveals the gentle lines of his features and that ridiculous mop of hair that falls carelessly across his forehead. He looks particularly beautiful like this and she’s just on the verge of telling him.

“That’s Greek as well, yeah?” she asks.

He nods, the movement causing his hair to brush against the grass of the Quidditch pitch. “Cursed by Apollo,” he says, and Lily almost, almost, almost laughs, but she manages to keep it together, instead murmuring a vague, “Oh wow.”

James takes it as encouragement to continue. “She rejected him, so he gave her the gift of prophecy, with the cursed exception that no one would ever believe her.”

“He sounds like the compassionate sort of god I’d like to worship,” she snorts.

James laughs, and the movement causes the back of his hand to graze hers in the space on the grass between them. Lily's breath catches, wondering if this fleeting touch will be the one that finally makes him reach out and intertwine their fingers.

His hand retreats again, and Lily has to physically stop herself from groaning.

“Why are all of the Blacks named after stars?” she asks, trying to divert her impatience.

“Masochism, probably,” James says casually, even as he grins up at the stars. “Follow-up question.” He turns toward her, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose as his cheek presses into the grass. She swallows and makes herself hold his gaze. “Why are all the Evans girls named after flowers?”

Lily laughs, their faces close enough that her breath ruffles a stray curl of his hair across his forehead. “Definitely masochism.” She shifts her hand so that it intentionally brushes against his again. “I’ve never really felt like a Lily.”

This time, he doesn't move his hand away. Instead, he presses back with the back of his hand. “I think it suits you. I think it’s lovely.”

She feels herself flush, even as she chuckles. “Lovely Lily,” she drawls, sarcastically.

“Hey,” he says softly, and finally—finally—his fingers catch hers. “Hey.”

She squeezes his hand. I’m right here, the motion says.

“Can I tell you something?”

She hums in affirmation.

“I made all that shit up from before,” he whispers. “I don’t know anything about astronomy.”

She giggles, absolutely delighted, turning to bury her face in his shoulder. “Can I tell you something?” She waits, for dramatic effect, and then grins up at him, her face flushed. “I know.”

He pulls back, their hands straining between them. “What?” he demands.

She’s practically hysterical now, snorting into his shirt. “Cassandra,” she says, using her free hand to swipe under her eyes. “The story you told. That’s Cassandra! And besides, it's Delphinus up there anyway.”

James yelps. “Why the hell did you let me witter on like a prat?”

“I quite like your wittering,” she replies cheekily, using their joined hands to pull herself a little closer.

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I couldn't resist 🤭

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Beware good people of Godrics Hollow, the guys are in town!

Or when Harry takes quality time with his father and godfather...

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Join me in celebrating married Jily this March! This fest is open to anyone who loves Lily and James Potter and their love.

Make it canon or divergent! Muggle AU? Regency? Celebrities? Absolutely. Have a fic where Jily get together and want to write a follow-up with them married? Go for it!

All fanworks - art, fic, moodboards, playlists, edits, drabbles/microfics, etc - are welcome! Be sure to tag your works "#alight with happiness jily fest"! An AO3 collection will be open for submissions closer to the event.

[tanglled-thoughts]

It’s Friday… you know what that means:

Read Chapter 2 on AO3.

James Potter always knew he wanted to build a family, he just hadn’t found the right person to build it with - yet. Freezing his sperm at Gringotts Sperm Bank was a no-brainer really. He’d have children when he found the right person, and now he had an insurance policy. Then Lily Evans walked into his place of work with her son - the spitting image of him.

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Decorating Godric's Hollow with all their friend and family

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At first, the only thing that registered was the heavy thump of pain that echoed through the body like the aftershocks of a quake, each heartbeat a blast reverberating against this battered bag of flesh and bone.

Then, slowly, Sirius became conscious of the fact that the heartbeats were his own, the pain his own, and he began to make further inquiries into the status of his body. He discovered that he was lying on his stomach, cheek and palms pressed to the hot earth, and they ached. There was some sort of pressure atop him, keeping him down. He couldn’t move. After a heart-stuttering moment, he determined with relief that he could — though it was most unpleasant — feel his legs. They also ached, all the way down to his tiniest toenail. Even the gums of his teeth seemed to ache. His skull clanged like a ringing bell.

He tried to determine where he was, to remember how he got here, but he came up empty. Perhaps he’d been attacked by his cousins again. It felt about the same.

It occurred to him at this point that he might open his eyes. He tried it. It didn’t make much difference. He could only see straight ahead — all an endless, dusty grey — and of that he could only glimpse a sliver as there was most certainly something large and painfully heavy atop him. Like a wall. It was as though a wall had collapsed on him, pinning him to the ground.

That didn’t make any sense.

Read on AO3.

[tanglled-thoughts]

2023 Jily Award Winner Round-up:

Favorite Canon: Mistletoe Mishaps by @annabtg

Favorite Magic AU: Chasing Life by @mppmaraudergirl

Favorite Muggle AU: And Then the Symphony Starts by @mppmaraudergirl

Favorite Angst: And Then the Symphony Starts by @mppmaraudergirl

Favorite Fluff: To All The Kudos I've Left Before by @wearingaberetinparis

Favorite Smut: Call It What You Want by @wearingaberetinparis

Favorite Humor: Up in Arms by @mppmaraudergirl

Favorite Characterization of James: Deception and other ways to find love by @annasghosts

Favorite Characterization of Lily: and all the pieces fall by @downn-in-flames

Favorite Microfic: It's not fake anymore by @abihastastybeans

Favorite Art: At the library by @blvnk-art

Favorite Fic of the Year: Chasing Life by @mppmaraudergirl

Favorite Author: ritaskeetered a.k.a @wearingaberetinparis

Favorite New Author: @annasghosts

Favorite Reviewer: @annabtg

Favorite Artist: @blvnk-art; @constancezin; @maluceh

[tanglled-thoughts]

“Here we are,” said James, breezing into the bookshop as merrily as the jingling bell that announced their arrival. “Hotbed of dangerous political activity, and all that.”

He peered around cheerfully. Though he, Remus, and Peter had arrived on the early side, arms laden with signs for the protest they’d crafted in the dormitory earlier, the place was already quite full of activity. He’d been inside this tiny little shop once before, and it had been utterly empty. Today, however, it was teeming with people, all students, all milling around picking up books and chatting.

“Blimey,” said James. “I guess we successfully got the word out?”

“I’d say so,” agreed Remus. “Here, give me those signs, I’ll set them up on a table over there to hand out later.”

“Right you are.” James unburdened himself of his political paraphernalia and turned back to beam around the shop, basking in the bustle of activity as one might enjoy a really sunny day. He’d been quite grumpy on the way over, to tell the truth. They’d taken that tunnel hidden behind the mirror, not wanting to draw attention to their protest signs and Muggle clothing, and James had engaged in a good sulk most of the way about the fact that Sirius had opted to stay behind to “get to know Garrett.” It didn’t take a genius to spot that Sirius was, one might say, up to no good.

Read on AO3.

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- Come on Evans, you're crazy about me! Just admit it!

- No!

- "No" what? No, you aren't crazy about me, or No, you won't admit it?

- No.

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He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.

At least, not at first. He’d been working on his essay on poison antidotes (trivial stuff, he couldn’t wait to get to N.E.W.T.-level, leave the rest of these third-year dunderheads behind and learn the real art of potion brewing) when he’d been distracted by a reference in the text to something call a bezoar. He was in the library, waiting for Lily to meet up with him as they often did on Friday afternoons, but she was late, as she often was, and he found himself irritated by his own shameful state of unknowing, so he’d got up to find another book that would provide an answer to this new, itching question. His studies often lead him down such circuitous paths of learning. It may not be the most efficient method, but there was a reason he far excelled his classmates in every subject.

As he stood to begin this hunt for knowledge, he noticed something that made his skin crawl: Sirius Black and James Potter were seated only a few tables away, partially obscured by one of the library’s tall shelves, so that Severus hadn’t noticed them before. All Black would have to do was tip his chair back and he’d easily spot Severus sitting behind him. 

This felt like an unbearable intrusion. This was his place, the one part of the castle where they weren’t supposed to bother him. And yet, here they were. Intruding. He wondered if they’d sat there on purpose, if that was their goal, to make sure that Severus knew that nowhere in the castle was safe from their hooliganish behavior, their constant torment that had steadily escalated in the nearly three years they’d been at school.

Read on AO3.

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Those brave, darling kids.. I think nothing other than Harry being targeted would have made them leave the war and go into hiding. 

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October 26th

“Not important,” he said with a bashful grin, and - no, James Potter couldn’t be blushing - “The woes of an over dramatic lovelorn idiot from what I’m told, I don’t exactly remember the specifics - that will be the firewhisky.”

Lily felt an unusual jolt in her stomach, and once again her heart began to beat faster, though she wasn’t exactly sure why - she raised an eyebrow, pondering how exactly how she (and Rob bloody Davies) factored into that conversation (lovelorn?). Her eyes danced over the hand still nestled in his mess of dark curls, at the unruly locks that fell just over his eyes…

JilyExpress fic chain 1 - G rated

It was common knowledge that soup was only for for the sick, or so Lily thought. Be it for her nemesis (he got promoted to love crush a few months ago) to refute that fact and cause an all out war in the Gryffindor common room. And that’s how Lily found herself on top of one of the couches there, arguing her case in front of the makeshift jury— Remus Lupin, Mary MacDonald and Benjy Fenwick.

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"Look at this good boy! And he's so intlligent! Can we keep it, please? "

"..."

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18th of October

“Sorry,” James said kindly, casually flicking his wand which resulted in the click of the door unlocking, “I actually didn’t mean to wind you up that time.”

With her escape route now available Lily immediately felt some of her anger/embarrassment disperse and she sighed more to herself than him, “Why do you think we argue over everything… I mean, we are quiet literally in the middle of a trial of our peers over soup.”

James smiled that gorgeous infuriating smile of his and shrugged.

JilyExpress fic chain 1 - G rated

It was common knowledge that soup was only for for the sick, or so Lily thought. Be it for her nemesis (he got promoted to love crush a few months ago) to refute that fact and cause an all out war in the Gryffindor common room. And that’s how Lily found herself on top of one of the couches there, arguing her case in front of the makeshift jury— Remus Lupin, Mary MacDonald and Benjy Fenwick.