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runin-reads · 5 months

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James/Lily vs James/Sirius: a case of accidental queer coding

Jily (James/Lily) is a pairing central to the HP universe in the sense that had they not been married, Harry Potter, the main character, would cease to exist and neither would his story as we know it. Yet we are left with only a few brief glimpses of their relationship in canon whilst other pairings are textually far more fleshed out– take Prongsfoot (James/Sirius), for example, who are frequently portrayed as The Duo, not just by those closest to them (Lupin) but by many others too such as McGonagall, Flitwick and so on. Harry himself could see how close they were during SWM in OOTP and this is someone who had a very limited time with Sirius and close to none with James.

Queercoding is described as “the subtextual coding of a character in media as queer. Though such a character's sexual identity may not be explicitly confirmed within their respective work, a character might be coded as queer through the use of traits and stereotypes recognisable to the audience.” One character comes to mind when I think of “queercoding” and that’s Sirius Black. He’s estranged from his family, goes against the norms associated with his upbringing, there’s no mention of any ex-girlfriends and most notably he has intense love and devotion for his male best friend; James Potter. At first glance, James had led an incredibly hetero-normative life by virtue of his wife and son, but through his relationship to Sirius there’s leeway to reach a queer reading of him as well.

As recognised by countless characters and even Sirius himself, Prongsfoot come in a two-for-one deal:

“Do you remember who his best friend was?” “Naturally,” said Madam Rosmerta, with a small laugh. “Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here — ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James Potter!” “Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course — exceptionally bright, in fact…” “You’d have thought Black and Potter were brothers!” chimed in Professor Flitwick. “Inseparable!”

The use of the word “brothers” in the above quote is one reason why fans don’t interpret Prongsfoot as queer-coded and/or romantic. However, it’s important to note that Sirius never referred to James as a brother, and there’s no canonical proof to suggest that Flitwick was close to James and Sirius– he was their teacher, not their friend or confidant. He isn’t calling them “brothers” either but rather he’s saying that word to express how strong their bond was. Hence why I believe an exclusively fraternal reading of their relationship doesn’t hold much weight.

They are, however, established as each other’s closest friend and most trusted confidant.

“Harry had the distinct impression that Sirius was the only one for whom James would have stopped showing off.” “Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was the best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. “I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me.” “Lily and James only made you Secret-Keeper because I suggested it,” Black hissed

On multiple occasions James and Sirius were described as a unit– The Unit– within their friend group. Lupin said they were “the cleverest students in the school.” They were the “ringleaders” of the Marauders; always on the same page and in agreement with each other.

“Then, with identical fluid movements, they reached into their back pockets.”

Even during their very first encounter, they quickly and effortlessly become a team.

“Got a problem with that?” “No,” said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. “If you’d rather be brawny than brainy–” “Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?” interjected Sirius. James roared with laughter.

This excerpt from DH also neatly sums up the Marauders group dynamic:

“To Sirius’s right stood Pettigrew, more than a head shorter, plump and watery-eyed, flushed with pleasure at his inclusion in this coolest of gangs, with the much-admired rebels that James and Sirius had been. On James’s left was Lupin, even then a little shabby-looking, but he had the same air of delighted surprise at finding himself liked and included”

Lily herself acknowledged Sirius’ importance in James’ life in her letter to Sirius, where she all but says that only he could lift James’ mood whilst the Potters’ were hiding from Voldemort’s forces.

“James is getting a bit frustrated shut up here, he tries not to show it but I can tell — also, Dumbledore’s still got his Invisibility Cloak, so no chance of little excursions. If you could visit, it would cheer him up so much.”

On the other hand, Jily is portrayed in a less compelling way for lack of better words. I spoke about this in my other meta but to summarise it briefly: Lily is James’ wife, the mother of his son and… that’s pretty much it. In the books they’re barely spoken about as a couple, unlike Prongsfoot who are always mentioned together as if they were a package deal– which they were, as recognised by practically everyone. That’s not to say Jily has zero textual backing, though it is far and few between.

“How come she married him?” Harry asked miserably. “She hated him!” “Nah, she didn’t,” said Sirius. “She started going out with him in seventh year,” said Lupin. “Once James had deflated his head a bit,” said Sirius. “And stopped hexing people just for the fun of it,” said Lupin.

Conclusion

What we do know about James and Lily’s relationship is limited to the following: Lily disliked James because he and Snape were enemies, James developed feelings for her first, they began dating in seventh year once James had matured, they got married when they were nineteen to twenty years old, had a child together. The end.

On the contrary, James and Sirius are constantly implied to be each other’s closest, most loyal friend; each other’s most trusted confidant. They are equals in every conceivable way. Both were popular, from wealthy backgrounds and intelligent. Throughout the entire series Sirius’ only priority was Harry, James’ son. He went through unfathomable lengths to protect Harry: he was the first to escape Azkaban, he snuck into Hogwarts with all the dementors around and lived off rats during the GOF so he could be close to Harry, the last piece of James he had left.

There’s also evidence to suggest Sirius was a narrative parallel to Snape. There are two adults in Harry’s life who sought to protect him due to their respective relationships with one of his parents. Snape was a double agent for Dumbeldore out of love for Lily; Sirius escaped Azkaban to protect Harry out of love for him, an extension of his love for James.

All these factors are why I believe that by not fleshing out Lily as a character and Jily as a couple, JKR accidentally queer-coded Prongsfoot.

#prongsfoot #bambibelle #starbucks #jily #james potter #sirius black #lily evans #marauders #james x sirius #hp meta #relationship study #prongsfoot meta

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summersareknives · 1 year

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im back🕺 ! i actually do have some fic recs!! enchanted to meet you by starswatchingstars (wip) is so so cute and based on enchanted i love it. annoying by godforsaken_mess (also a wip) is a texting fic & it is SO funny i adore it.

okay and for more taylor songs lets see.... the archer, lover, & paper rings!!

also sidenote im obsessed with doa its so GOOD i cant wait for the next update🫶

anon i missed you . don’t ever go away like that again.

AND AND I READ THE TEXTING FIC ??? it’s literally so good ??? i love love love it and i shall be impatiently waiting for the next update.

thank you for turning me onto this fic i love u even more now

NOW FOR THE TAYLOR -

the archer - SIRIUS - now in terms of doa , OBVIOUSLY james is the archer. like that’s his code name and everything . but in terms of canon n shit ‘all of my enemies started out friends’ ???? that’s literally HIM. case closed , the archer is mr sirius orion black’s song.

lover - JILY - this song is so incredibly jily to me. two lovers who were meant to be finally getting together and being stupid and mushy together ahhhh i love them so much. ‘you save all your dirtiest jokes for me’ lily saving them for james i can just IMAGINE it. ‘at every table , i’ll save you a seat’ james not letting anyone sit in lily’s seat because it’s her seat and hers only . i’m gonna write them in the background one day , just u wait.

paper rings - WOLFSTAR - now u knew this. ‘i hate accidents except when we went from friends to this’ DUDE. DUDE. DUDE. ‘i like shiny things but i’d marry you with paper rings’ ahhhhhh i love it i love it . IT’S THEM. THAT’S IT.

AND FINALLY . thank u so so much for the love for doa !! i’m hoping it comes out pretty soon and i’m very excited for this chapter. and , just because your my favourite person ever , a little snippy snip

( and as usual anon , come talk to me . i have an ask game ask me questions from there. give me more taylor songs to do. just come chat to me. tell me stuff about u . love u come back soon <333)

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sunshinemarauder · 3 years

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Thousand Out of Ten - Jily fic

dedicated to the lovely @bluebirdling who wanted me to tag her when I posted this!!

Read on AO3

"McKinnon, what's the best snog you've ever had? It better be me."

Sirius waggles his eyebrows at Marlene, who snorts and elbows him in the side. Next to her, Mary has her arm slung around Marlene's shoulders, and she's chatting with Remus. Lily's a few steps behind her friends, watching the conversation with interest, and Peter is hovering on Sirius' left, perking up immediately.

James smiles slightly, warmth filling his chest. He's glad that their friend groups are getting along— in fact, they're getting along so well that he's spent more time with the Gryffindor Seventh-Year girls these past two months than all of their first five years of Hogwarts.

"Don't flatter yourself, Black. I was fifteen and drunk; I hardly even remember the kiss."

Sirius scoffs in response, and James snickers, remembering the New Year's party they had thrown in the Common Room during the fifth year. Marlene had been dared to kiss Sirius, so she'd waltzed over to him, pulled his head down to hers, and kissed him for several seconds before letting go. Many people had thought they'd get together after that, but they'd ended up dancing around each other, flirting terribly, until Marlene came out as a lesbian at the end of the year.

"Best snog... Florence Garter, nine out of ten," Marlene decides.

"Florence?" Mary interjects, wrinkling her nose. "But she was two years older than us!"

Marlene only smirks in response, flipping her hair over her shoulder and ignoring Mary and Lily's scandalized exclamations.

"You never told us!" Lily cries. "Mar! It's the friend code!"

"Worst snog," Marlene continues, continuing to ignore her friends, "Is definitely Matthew Langden. I was a fourth-year, he was a fifth-year, and it was my first kiss."

Mary makes a retching noise and sends her friends into a fit of giggles. "That's the bloke whose mouth smelled of garlic, isn't it?"

James can't help but bring his hand up to his mouth to discreetly check his breath, before lowering it quickly, embarrassed, and hoping that no one noticed.

"Definitely a two out of ten max. Your turn, Remus," Marlene says, inclining her head to where he stands, hands tucked awkwardly into the pockets of his robe.

"Well..." Remus clears his throat, his face flushing. "I've only had a couple of kisses, but... worst one? Veronica Stinch. It was a Dare in third-year," He adds with a grimace. "She was a year above us, remember? Three out of ten. It was unbelievably awkward."

The group continues to move down the hallway at a snail's pace, with no specific destination in mind other than the Common Room, jostling and laughing with each other. James is content to remain on the sidelines, smiling softly as his friends enjoy themselves.

"And best?" Sirius prods, a wicked smile on his face.

Remus coughs, definitely blushing now. "Rather not say, actually."

A chorus of oohs comes from the girls, and Lily pouts adorably, her green eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Come on, Remus, it's part of the game!" She says brightly.

Remus shakes his head and ducks it, embarrassed, still blushing. "Maybe another time."

Sirius is still grinning widely, but he only claps Remus across the back and turns to James.

"What about you, Prongs? Best and worst songs?" Sirius suggests, raising an eyebrow. James tries to keep his eyes from darting toward Lily but fails miserably. He reminds himself that he's allowed to look at Lily, but not when the conversation is about snogging, because he's likely to give away his emotions just by eye contact. And now that they're properly mates, he wouldn't ruin that friendship for anything, least of all his unrequited affections for a certain redheaded Head Girl.

Now flustered, James turns his attention back to Sirius. "Er, worst snog... Louise Pickory. It was some party in the Hufflepuff Common Room back in our fifth year. I think we were both drunk," He admits sheepishly. "Three out of ten."

"And the best?" Someone asks, and James is startled to find that the voice belongs to Lily, who's watching him with an even expression. He tries to keep himself from blushing, and his hand jumps to his hair, missing it nervously.

He thinks back to who his best kiss was with. It could be Liv Smith, the Hufflepuff who had been a year above them that he had had a with-benefits relationship during fifth-year, or maybe Catherine, his Muggle girlfriend the summer after...

"Moira," He decides, naming the ex-girlfriend that he dated the first few months of his sixth year. "Moira Cashington. She was a good kisser." He tries to push away the uncomfortable prickling at the back of his neck from talking about his exes with Lily Evans.

Marlene whistles in response, and his attention is pulled away from Lily, who had tugged her bottom lip in between her teeth, her expression unreadable. Marlene raises a knowing eyebrow in his direction, and he smiles sheepishly in response.

"Rating?" Mary asks curiously, a hand on her hip.

"Erm," He says awkwardly, ruffling his hair again. "Nine out of ten."

Once again, he doesn't meet Lily's gaze and instead turns to where Sirius and Peter stand, the former looking incredibly amused.

"Prongs," Sirius drawls, leaning forward with an expression that screams trouble, "If you had to kiss dear Evans here, what do you think you would rate it?"

James' eyes widen and he immediately thinks ten out of ten, obviously, but knows that if he blurts that out it would be painfully obvious that he still has feelings for her.

Carefully avoiding her gaze, he says as casually as he can manage, "I dunno, an eight, or something?"

Lily makes an affronted noise and he turns his attention back to her, immediately regretting it. Her lips are pursed and her bright green eyes are narrowed, her hand perched on her hip at the waist of the gray school skirt that flares out past her hips. She looks bloody gorgeous, and she doesn't even realize it.

"You think I would be a worse snog than your ex?" She asks, sounding annoyed. James blinks, confused and slightly alarmed, but with enough sense to know that whatever answer he says is going to be the wrong one.

Meanwhile, their mates are looking on with badly concealed amusement, Sirius openly grinning by now.

"I didn't say that!" James says quickly.

"You said I would be an eight," Lily says stubbornly. "And Cashington was a nine, so you think I'm a worse kisser than her."

James opens his mouth and closes, trying to choose his words carefully.

They've completely stopped walking now, their group of seven pausing near a staircase to watch James and Lily argue.

"I mean..." James trails off and knows by Lily's murderous expression that he's said the wrong thing, but he can't figure out why.

"I don't know! How am I supposed to know?" He defends, starting to become slightly annoyed. Lily's still glaring at him, a hard expression on her face, and he half expects her to whip out her hand and hex him even though he's done nothing wrong.

"You think I'm such a prude that I would be an awful snog," Lily accuses.

James gapes, alarmed. "I never said you're a—"

She takes a step closer to him, her thick red hair tumbling over her shoulder, hands still on her waist, eyes still blazing.

"You think I'm an eight out of ten?" She demands, now so close to him that he can't think straight. His thoughts are consumed by Lily, Lily, Lily and the smell of her conditioner wafting up to his nose.

"No, I—" He stammers, words failing him.

"Well," Lily says, barely an inch away from him. His gaze is trained on her lips; red and soft and incredibly enticing. It's like the rest of the hallway has fallen out of the picture, and it's just James and Lily's red, red lips.

"I'll have you know that Lily Evans doesn't do anything less than astounding, and that includes kissing," She says lowly, her breath ghosting his face. Then her hand grabs his collar and he's shoved backward, his legs and back hitting the stone wall, and her lips are on his and he can no longer form any coherent thoughts.

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thequibblah · 2 years

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hiiii i really love come together!! it's my favourite canon retelling of the marauders <3 i was wondering if you could take us through your planning process, like how you keep up with so many characters and plot points, because you're an amazing writer and i'm genuinely curious about how you manage it!

aw thank you! the short answer is, i kind of don't (LOL) and the biggest learning experience from this has been that it's ok to change parts of my process as i go along, which i'll explain a bit more about in a second.

so, i used to plot all in one massive google doc with subheadings but it got so unwieldy it started to stress me out ha. here's what that looked like

but i realised pretty soon that i was struggling with this for various reasons — i plotted like this when i worked on an original novel a few years back, except there i colour-coded the text so that i'd know what plot arcs each scene was touching on, what emotional beats i wanted to draw out, etc, but when i thought about doing that for this fic i was instantly overwhelmed, because so many scenes are actually doing double duty and accomplishing multiple things at once

so then i switched to using scapple, which is actually really helpful — i'm a big visual learner, and i didn't realise how difficult it was for me to process my text/bullet-point outlines until i used a mind map. so what was useful here was being able to colour code each scene, so that i knew what "belonged" to what plotline

disclaimer: these screenshots are slightly off since i was too lazy to go back and change things that i wrote differently while drafting LOL but you get the point

so, this looks a bit wild, but note that plotlines/character arcs are highlighted a certain colour, so i remember just at a glance to, say, call back to an earlier jily scene when writing a later jily scene. OR, i can just look at the outline and know that, say, one plotline has fallen through the cracks a bit over the past few chapters — so i need to weave it back in again, and make sure i think about what's happened in the meantime.

you'll also notice there are a bunch of arrows pointing to/dipping out of the scenes. this is to tie scenes together across chapters, and keep track of plot points i want adequately foreshadowed. e.g. you can see that one arrow that's half cut-off is "nobody does it better" (LOL), which i made sure cropped up repeatedly from 33 to 37 so that it was believable that a bunch of magical kids would remember a james bond song well enough to make the banner at the quidditch match. i also was keeping track of letters to/from petunia leading up to vernon proposing, sonorus so that i was properly integrating it into the story once we were back at hogwarts, etc.

i have become woefully bad at keeping my scapple outline clean and up to date of late, because i also use scrivener, which has its own in-built scene outline card corkboard thing. so basically very early on in the two weeks of drafting i sit down and create the chapter in scrivener by dividing it up into scenes. i keep track of POV (though this might change as i begin to write) and pencil in what needs to happen in each scene

for instance, here (i'm now much neater in the outliner HAHA and i title the scenes as they actually end up in the chapter)

now i ALSO have a discord server just for myself LOL and so here's where i jot down random thoughts as they come to me and keep things for easy reference

so when i do that drafting-in-scrivener phase, i go through the "upcoming chapters" thread and pick out everything i noted and make sure to include there

thats really the gist of it! is it inefficient to use basically three methods of outlining at once? probably. but they do sort of serve different purposes, and i think adding the discord really helped too because it means all the random 3 am thoughts that come to me dont get lose in the ether since i cbf to get up and get my laptop

let me know if there's anything else you're curious about, i love talking about my process™!

#ask me #anon #come together #writing tag #ct spoilers

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chdarling · 3 years

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so what you need to do is set up a secret burner tumblr account that we can only find through like, some national treasure-esque adventure across america and THAT tumblr account’s only post is your Venmo information so we can just throw money at you whenever we want. Now I know what you’re thinking: how do we keep JKR’s bloodsucking lawyers from simply doing the treasure hunt and finding your account and suing you AND ME for this amazing idea for money-making??? WELL the clues are obviously hidden in your new updates, kept secret by some sort of secret code that you invent. Now I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING: HOW DO WE GET THE CODE? There’s a SECOND code, hidden in a riddle, hidden on the back of an extremely OBSCURE historical document. Not something basic like the Declaration. I’m talking like, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. Really underground shit. Now, I know what you’re thinking: wouldn’t that just be easier to steal? And to that I say, yes, of course it would be, I’m not Nic Cage, I’m not a miracle worker, not all of us can steal the Declaration of Independence.

Anyways, I think they’re just calling it “Flormes” because that doesn’t have the same ring to it as “Jily” and they’re all angy that it’s a GREAT IDEA AND WILL MAKE FOR GREAT CONTENT (or it’s funny and they want to wind me up. Me specifically. Who, like i said in the earlier anon ask thing, literally did not know this story existed before Monday). A name like “Flames” means it’s a kickass ship. Which it is. Even if you’re just using it to slowly nudge two idiots together. :)))) love it

This gave me a good giggle this morning, thank you 🤣

I’m gonna keep my Venmo to myself HOWEVER I am extremely tickled by the idea of a treasure hunt whose cryptic clues can only be found deep within the depths of my obsessive Marauders fanfic…. 😈

Solve THAT ONE, Nicolas!

#ch answers #maybe the treasure is Remus Lupin being happy #or jily with no tragic ending HMMM #or Flormes AU

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startanewdream · 3 years

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Single rider

So there was this post on Tumblr and the idea was just to fun to not write it, so...

Here it is the Muggle Jily Amusement Park AU just for the fun of it:

__________________________

James can't believe he was betrayed by Peter Pettigrew.

They have known each other since they were eleven. They have a group together. They have shared secrets.

And still, Peter has left him alone with Sirius and Remus.

It's not that James is bothered by them. He is happy his two friends have finally decided to stop being idiots and realized they have feelings for each other. He just wishes he isn't feeling like a third wheel in the event he is most excited to since forever - oh, well, in the least ten months at least.

Ever since it was announced the reopening of Hogwarts Amusement Park of Witchcraft and Wizardry, James is dreaming of going there. His father always spoke of how he loved the Park before it was closed forty years ago.

James had collected all news about the renovation and the new rides and he had memorized the map of the Park, just by studying the information available at their website.

He knows exactly which rides are featured in the Park and he already loves, even before going there, the Gryffindor Zone, where the most radical rides are located. James has studied the map enough to trace the exact perfect route to the Lion Roar Thrill Ride, the Park's greatest and most exciting roller coaster.

Pure steel. Ten inversions. Drop length of 450 feet. Reaches 130 miles per hour.

Just the thought of it gives goosebumps to James. It is everything James could wish for in a roller coaster.

He had planned carefully, had bought the tickets in advance and had calculated how early they had to leave home for there, to guarantee they would be one of the first in the line for the Lion Roar.

What he hadn't planned was that Peter would have a panic attack at the idea of going on a thrill ride and that Sirius and Remus would be much more interested in the Amortentia Tunnel than going in what is already one of the world's best roller coasters.

But since James can never be accused of being a bad friend, he uses all his knowledge of the Park to take them to Slytherin Zone, where the water rides are, before running to Gryffindor Zone.

He lets out a cry when he sees the already huge queue for the attraction, but there is nothing he can do now except getting in line with everyone else. The expectation time is fifty minutes in the line. That’s fine; he already waited for months.

It’s hot and there isn’t much shadow in the line, but James doesn’t let this damper his mood. He hears the delighted cries of the people who are in the ride and lets this encourage him. Just thirty minutes more. Then fifteen. He already sees the end of the line - the portraits where people enter to board the cars.

Then, finally, it’s his turn. The attendant calls for the next two persons and James confidently takes a step to pass through the portrait.

‘Hey, hey’, the attendant - a Prefect according to the terms used in the park - stops him, looking at him with a frown. ‘Where is your pair?’

James blinks.

‘What?’

‘Your pair. This is a ride for couples’, the Prefect notes tediously and points to a board right next to them.

All cars must have two people.

James stares, dumbfounded, because there was never any warning on their website, in any of the reviews he read, on anywhere.

The Prefect calls two friends in the line behind James, closing that turn, and that wakes him.

‘So - I can’t go?’

The Prefect raises his eyebrows and points to the next line of the board.

Singles will be paired.

‘Just wait here, in one or two minutes we will find you a match’.

That seems a little bit offensive, but he won’t complain.

‘Can I go in the first car?’ he asks instead, and the Prefect nods distractedly.

It shouldn’t be too difficult, James thinks. There are many groups with an odd number of members. Parents with a single kid. Someone else who was also left by his friends. It takes more than three minutes, however, and James is already considering an app for matching people with similar interests in thrill rides - maybe he can convince Remus to help him with the codes -

‘Stay here, you will go in a moment with him’.

James blinks and he returns to the Earth just in time to see a girl smiling nervously as she walks to his side. He glances at her, for the first time forgetting about the ride. It’s a gorgeous girl, the same age as him, with dark red hair that she keeps in a braid, though he sees strands of hair escaping and flying with the light breeze; James feels a strange urge to take the hair out of her face. Then he sees her eyes.

Bright green eyes.

‘Hi’, the girl is saying to him, her voice distracted, not really looking at him.

He resists the urge to sigh.

‘Hi’, he answers, late, but he thinks she didn’t hear him because the Prefect calls them at the same time.

‘Through the Fat Lady portrait’, he says, pointing to the first portrait.

Oh, yes, that’s why he is there. For the Lion Roar.

Not to fall in love at first sight with a girl that he will share a ride for two minutes and eleven seconds.

The girl is glancing at him, expecting, and James grins.

'You first', he says, trying to sound nice, but the girl just sighs. James sees her hands are shaking.

That makes him frown. He remembers Peter's pale face that morning, when he refused to go to the amusement park with them, and James recognizes the fear in that girl's eyes.

But she walks with her head high through the portrait and he follows her, still stealing glances in her direction. She shudders before entering the car and she flinches when the safety bar is lowered, but she doesn't say anything, doesn't look like she will give up.

He feels admiration growing inside him. James never feared any ride, enjoying every radical sport he could try just for the adrenaline rush; but the redhead by his side - his partner for the ride - has a determined expression on her face, despite the fact her knuckles are white, her hands gripping tightly the bars.

'It is safe', he hears himself saying before he can control herself. The girl turns her head to him as much as the bars allow her.

'What?'

'This ride. It’s safe. There is no danger'.

'I know', she replies, looking confused. 'There was never an accident at Hogwarts Amusement Park before'.

'Oh. Sorry, I just thought -'

The girl gives him a sly smile.

'I look that nervous?'

'Well -', he begins, unsure of what to say, but she flinches once more when the car starts to move. Then she blushes despite her white face.

'I am a bit afraid of heights', she admits, looking rather nervously at the long tracks ahead, rising in the direction of the blue sky.

'And you came to one of the world's tallest roller coasters?'

'Yes'.

'But - why?'

She chuckles slightly.

'Because I can. When I was younger my sister laughed that I wasn't tall enough for the rides. So here I am. In every ride there is'.

James decides he will have to propose to that girl someday.

'I am James!', he cries, as the wind grows stronger around them.

'Lily!', she screams back, and she sees her looking rather worriedly at how high they are now.

'It will be fine', he promises, and she looks at him, their eyes locking. After a second, she gives a tiny nod, a smile lifting up her face and she looks calm for the first time since he met her.

He smiles back, wondering if somehow he can grab her hand - just for a little more encouragement, of course -

When they drop.

-------------------

Two minutes and eleven seconds later, the roller coaster is coming to a stop, and the safety bars are lifted.

'That was amazing!', Lily says, and though her legs are still shaking, there is a wild excited grin in her face.

'Fantastic!', James agrees, beaming too, still feeling the lingering effects of the thrill of the ride - that rush of adrenaline pumping through his vein, his muscles still tightened and his heart beating faster than normal.

Then he looks at his partner ride, her face flushed and vivid, and he thinks his heart won't slow down any time soon.

'So', he begins, as they start to descend the stairs, and hopes he sounds nonchalant. 'You are here alone?'

'Yeah, I got the ticket for today on a contest, and none of my friends could buy it. Tickets sold out one month in advance!'.

'I stayed until two in the morning to buy them', James admits. She seems amused.

'Adrenaline junkie, are you?', teases Lily and James flushes.

'I like the thrill'.

'You are in the right place then', she notes, glancing around to the other rides around them in Gryffindor Zone.

'And you?'

'I enjoy facing challenges', she shrugs like it's nothing. 'Trying to look brave'.

'You are brave', he notes, not minding to show his appreciation.

She laughs.

'Did you see me trembling there? I bit all my nails in the line'.

'But you went. That's what Gryffindor Zone is about'. He picks his park map to show her the slogan. 'Gryffindor, where dwells the brave at heart'.

Lily gives him a radiant smile and James thinks her smile makes him feel more exhilarated than any roller coaster could ever make.

They enter together in the store at the end of the ride and, as James glances around the red and gold merchandising, Lily goes straight to the photo booth.

'Number 394, please', she asks the attendant. Then she turns to James with a teasing smile on her lips. 'Want a copy of our moment, partner?'

Their moment.

James nods.

'So, why are you single?', she asks, and for a moment James wonders how she knows his relationship status before realizing what she means.

'My friends ditched me for a love ride'.

'Love tunnels? They are so dull’, she says, in a mocking voice that makes him chuckle.

'There is not a single fall in them', James agrees as if that is scandalous.

'Maybe that's why couples snog there. Pure boredom'.

He nods, even as it comes to him that maybe love rides don't sound so boring with the right partner.

The attendant returns with their photos and James opens the folder to see a picture of him and Lily, right after the first fall - they are both looking exhilarated and dizzy, but his eyes concentrate on Lily. She is beaming, her green eyes sparkling even in the photograph, her face flushed from the thrill.

And he sees that, at some point during that fall, their hands were really close, almost touching.

'I guess I will see you around?', he hears Lily asking him, and there is a curious expression in her face.

Looking at her, James feels like he is back at the top of the roller coaster, right before the 450 feet drop and the whooping feeling it causes.

And he always welcomed that feeling.

'We could go together if you like', he says, his heart beating fast and he knows it’s the adrenaline.

She bits her lips for a tiny second before smiling.

'Partner ride?'

'Maybe lunch partner too? I know where all the best food trucks are, I promise you'.

'I may grab your hand', she warns, playfully. 'You know, just for support'.

'I would very much enjoy it. Being your support, I mean'.

He doesn't think he fooled her. Her eyes are shining.

'Then let's go. I heard the Firebolt Free Fall is the best drop ride in the country'.

And she offers him her hand.

The next photo they buy, James hopes, they can be holding hands.

And the Amortentia Tunnel doesn't sound so boring anymore.

#Jily #Muggle AU #Jily Fanfic #Silly and Fluff #James Potter #Lily Evans #Rollercoaster ride #to be edited later #sorry for any mistakes #t: fanfiction

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thejilyship · 3 years

Note

Jily + arguing + 'You're not understanding this, James.'

I made it fem!jily, because that’s what I wanted to do.

This did get away from me.

2.4k words

ff.net | ao3

They argue all the time now.

When Lily complains to Mary about this, while Jamie is out with her friends so there’s no chance of her overhearing, Mary reminds her that they have always argued. That there has never been a time where they knew one another and didn’t argue.

Lily doesn’t know how to explain to Mary that it’s different now.

That if she sits next to Jamie at breakfast and accidentally bumps her arm against Jamie’s arm, then the incident will spiral into a heated argument about the importance of personal space and Lily listing out the top ten reasons she’s never sitting next to Jamie again.

Only Lily doesn’t have a list of any reasons to never sit next to Jamie again, and she leaves the table feeling frustrated and a little sad that she can’t even enjoy breakfast with her friend anymore.

If they are partnered together in class, if they have to do patrols together, if they run into one another in the owlery, it doesn’t seem to matter what they’re doing or where they are, they will find a way to be at each other’s throats and it’s not fun like it used to be. It’s not playful, it’s not entertaining, Lily no longer seeks out these interactions. She avoids them, and so she’s taken to avoiding Jamie as well, since she can’t seem to have one without the other.

And fighting with Jamie like this, it just hurts.

Mary just laughs at her when she tells her that she’s no longer speaking to Jamie. Wishes her luck and flicks her on the tip of her nose.

They are roommates, so avoiding her entirely is quite the task.

Lily still resents getting flicked.

She’s head girl, so it should be easy to avoid doing rounds with Jamie. But one night when she’s meant to patrol with Remus, Jamie showed up instead.

“No,” Lily said, narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. “No, I’m not patrolling with you.”

“Then you’re patrolling by yourself.” Jamie was glaring at her, like Lily was the reason that Jamie had been such a pain in the ass lately. “Remus isn’t feeling well, and he asked me to cover for him. I didn’t know that he was set to patrol with you or I would have told him to ask someone else.”

Lily frowned.

She didn’t want to patrol with Jamie. But she couldn’t patrol by herself, not after what Wilkes and Mulcieber did to that Ravenclaw boy last week.

And Jamie knew that. Lily wanted to believe that even if they had been sleeping facing opposite directions simply to spite one another, Jamie wouldn’t leave her to patrol the corridors alone. (At least, Lily was facing the opposite direction. They both slept with their canopy pulled entirely shut, so there was no way for Lily to be certain that Jamie was facing away from her, but she had a feeling.)

They stood across from one another outside of the Gryffindor common room, silently glowering until the portrait opened and a fourth year walked out, saw the two of them and quickly muttered something about having left their book in the library.

Lily waved them off and then sighed.

“Alright, fine. Let’s just get this over with.”

“I love and appreciate the enthusiasm, Evans.”

“Spending time with people who openly can’t stand me is one of my favorite things to do. Especially people who were my friend up until a couple of weeks ago.”

Jamie tilted her head back and forth with a mocking look on her face and Lily clicked her tongue.

“What did I even do? Why have you been so angry with me?”

Jamie crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

Lily ground her teeth together and clenched her fists. Fine. They didn’t have to talk.

They remained silent until they reached the next corridor.

“You’re the one who’s angry.” Jamie muttered.

“Me?” Lily answered immediately, as though they hadn’t walked in silence for two and a half minutes. “It seems like everything I do bothers you! You threw a pair of my shoes out the window yesterday because they were on ‘your side of the room!’”

Jamie shrugged. “Mary accio-ed them back.”

“You still threw them out the window!”

“Okay, well you charmed all of my robes lime green! Slughorn gave me detention for that!”

“Because you spilled ink all over my history essay!”

“Well you wouldn’t look at me while I was talking to you!”

“Why can’t we get along anymore?” Lily shouted, startling a pair of Hufflepuffs as they rounded the corner.

“Get back to your dorm,” Jamie snapped at them, and they exchanged looks before hurrying off. “I don’t know.” She said this to Lily.

“Well I hate it!” Lily carded her hand through her hair. “Why aren’t we friends anymore?”

Jamie’s tense shoulders relaxed a bit, and her voice was quieter, “I don’t know.”

“That’s not good enough.” She looked over at Jamie, trying to catch her eye, trying to find something about the other girl that gave her some kind of hint as to what was really going on. “I hate being upset with you.”

“Well then stop.” Jamie said, purposefully unhelpful. She was trying to start another row. Lily was not going to have it.

“Fine.” She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment and then dropped her shoulders. “Fine.”

Jamie glanced over at her, cautious and disbelieving.

“Glad that was so easy for you.”

Lily knew how Jamie was when she was needling, when she was looking for a big reaction, and normally she fell for it. But this was the first time in a week that she’d allowed herself to be around Jamie without pretending that the other girl didn’t exist, and she wanted answers. So she wouldn’t be falling for any of Jamie’s taunts.

It had always been hard to be Jamie’s friend.

It had always meant keeping secrets and treading carefully, and while sometimes it had felt like it was all too much, like she was going to explode with the pressure her secret built up inside her heart and her head, most of the time, she just liked being around Jamie. She liked making her smile and talking about classes and doing their homework together. She liked helping Jamie with her hair and teasing her about how her socks never matched. She liked finding excuses to hug her, to sit closer to her in the Great Hall. She liked pretending to need help in Transfigurations so that Jamie would spend extra time explaining things to her. Coming up with reasons why she needed to borrow her jumpers.

Once she pretended to be out of shampoo just so she could ask Jamie if she could borrow hers. She’d spent the entire day distracted.

It had taken Lily an embarrassing amount of time to work out what all of that meant.

It hadn’t been until the end of sixth year when Lily realized that she most certainly fancied Jamie Potter.

And now, two months into their seventh year, Lily was sort of terrified that she was losing her friend before she mustered up the nerve to tell her the truth.

She didn’t want to lose Jamie.

“It’s not easy. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to you.” Lily said. “But you’re my friend and there is clearly something going on. So, until you tell me what it is, I’m not going to shout at you or retaliate anymore. I’m tired of this.”

“Sure. I’ll give that five minutes and you’ll be back to telling me how much you can’t stand me.”

“You’re not understanding this, Jamie.” Lily huffed. “I can’t stand how things are between us right now. I can’t stand that I can’t talk to you like I used to. I can’t stand that you never look at me anymore. I can’t stand a lot of things about this situation that we’ve created, but you? No.” She shook her head, looking back at Jamie.

Her face was al scrunched up and her knuckles were white. She dropped her arms from over her chest and shoved them into the pockets of her cloak.

Lily waited. They made it down two more corridors and Jamie still hadn’t said anything.

“Jamie,” Lily said almost afraid now. Was it too late? Had she accidentally did something that had made Jamie upset with her without realizing it? Had she somehow started all of this.

Jamie swiped at her cheek and turned her head away.

Lily reached out and stopped them both in the middle of the corridor. “Why are you crying?” She asked, not sure if she’d ever seen Jamie cry before. Her worry bubbled up her throat.

“I’m not,” Jamie said quickly, but she was.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Please.”

Jamie reached up and grabbed a fistful of her own hair. Then she threw her hands in the air and huffed, “I’m gay, Lily.”

Lily stared at her blankly, but when she didn’t continue, Lily nodded. “Yes. I know that. You told me when we were fourteen. You told everyone when we were fourteen. You asked McGonagall if she could make an exception to the dress code so that you could where rainbow socks over your tights. You told Mary and I that you wanted to marry that chaser from the Harpies-”

“I know that you know!” Jamie interrupted. “And I know that we’re friends, and I know that I’ve been a bit of a dick recently, and I know that you’re overly affectionate with all your friends-“

“What are you going on about?” Lily was so confused by the sudden turn in their conversation that she was no longer worried that Jamie didn’t want to be her friend anymore.

“You’re always hugging people! Me, Mary, Remus, Marlene, Alice, Frank- your friends! You hug your friends. And you compliment them all the time, especially Mary, which is fine!” Jamie put her hands up, palms facing Lily who still didn’t have a damn clue what she was going on about. “You’re exceedingly kind and wonderful and all that.”

“Then why have you been fighting with me for the last month! Why have you been acting like you want nothing to do with me?”

“Because it got too hard! I was just trying to put up some boundaries, for my own sake, and then it got a little out of hand.” Jamie’s hands were back in her hair now. “I didn’t mean for things to go this far. I don’t want to be fighting with you all the time, I just… I don’t know what to do.”

Lily chewed on her lip. Lily had, in all likelihood, been quite obvious about how she felt about Jamie, perhaps Jamie had noticed. “Was I making you uncomfortable?”

“No.” Jamie answered quickly, looking up and down the hall. “Of course, you weren’t.”

“Then what boundaries were you trying to set?”

Jamie opened and shut her mouth a few times before she looked Lily in the eye and just huffed in frustration. She smiled at her, though even that looked frustrated. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“You didn’t mean for what to happen?” Lily was going to shake her if she didn’t spit it out. Jamie covered her face with her hands and Lily reached out and grabbed her wrists, pulling her hands down. “Come on, Jamie. We’re so close. Just tell me what happened.”

Jamie took a deep breath, looking down at their hands and then brought her gaze up to meet Lily’s.

“If I did something or said something that made you uncomfortable, just tell me so that I can never do it again. I want to go back to being able to smile at you when you walk in a room instead of feeling like I need to leave immediately.”

The corner of Jamie’s mouth quirked, but then fell back down. “Please don’t smile at me anymore.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“Lily, I fancy you. I tried to stop, I didn’t mean to start, but I fancy you and sometimes being your friend is hard.” Lily tightened her grip on Jamie’s wrists and felt as though she’d been frozen. “I don’t mean for it to be hard, and I know that that’s something I have to figure out, clearly in a different way because I’ve mucked everything up recently.”

“Jamie,”

“I know. And like I said, this is for me to work through, I’m not expecting-“

“Jamie shut up.” Lily let go of her wrists and took a small step back.

“Rude.” But she stopped rattling on.

“Do you mean that? Do you really fancy me?”

Jamie ran her hand through her hair and nodded. “Yes. I do.”

Lily felt laughter pushing through her and she spun around as it erupted, her face splitting into a giant grin. She steadied herself and put her hands on Jamie’s shoulders.

“Did I break you?” Jamie asked, narrowing her brow.

“Maybe,” Lily stepped closer to her, this time so the tips of their shoes were touching. “I have felt like you’ve broken me so many times in the last couple of years.” Jamie seemed to be the frozen one now as Lily leaned forward until their foreheads were resting against one another. “The next time you tell me that you fancy me, can you do it so that it doesn’t sound like an apology?”

Jamie’s eyes were searching her face and Lily slowly brought her hands up from Jamie’s shoulder to cup her face, to brush her thumbs over her cheeks. Jamie’s eyes fluttered closed and then she strained against Lily’s hold until their lips connected.

It was a short kiss, but sweet and full of hopeful disbelief.

“I fancy you, too,” Lily said, her hand pushing through Jamie’s curls.

“Yeah,” Jamie said against her lips, Lily could feel the start of her smile, “I haven’t seen you kiss any of your friends like this before.” Overly affectionate with all your friends. Lily laughed quietly.

“Not like this,” Lily agreed.

The tension that had built up between them over the last month melted away further with every kiss, until Lily felt completely pliable in Jamie’s arms.

When they pulled back, when they had finished smiling dumbly at one another, when they had remembered that they were supposed to be doing rounds and restarted, holding hands this time, Jamie let out a low hum. “I guess I owe Sirius five galleons.”

Lily started laughing.

And Jamie made sure she kept laughing for the rest of rounds.

#jily #jily fic #fem!jily #fem!james #Anonymous

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blitheringmcgonagall · 4 years

Note

002 James?

Yesss! I love James ❤️ whoever you are, thank you xx

How I feel about James:

James is basically my ideal man. That doesn’t mean he’s perfect but... (fuck it, yes, he is, he completely is).

I hadn’t realised it I think until @lizardcookie pointed it out, but my idea of James is that he had has a very high moral code of chivalry, I don’t mean open the door for me, I mean having high morals/ sense of fairness, and that if you give your word you keep it, that he would never even consider betraying his friends in his wildest dreams, that sort of thing? Or think twice about risking his life and fighting for what is right? And a bit old fashioned, but not in a misogynist way, I just mean maybe in how he speaks, the music he likes, because his parents were much older and he had no siblings...

I think he started off being a bit of a show off - imagine having no siblings, with older parents, DYING to meet other kids his age, wanting desperately to impress and being extremely good at Quidditch and academically in school? He was a pain, basically (a likeable pain).

But what other people like Lily couldn’t see was that as well as being an immature git, he was intensely loyal and kind to his friends- that he was protective af of his friends and worried about Sirius and Remus and Peter for all different reasons. He is extremely accepting of people just as they are, he is not at all prejudiced - see how he and the others accept Remus without any issue after the find out his secret- and so he clashed immediately with the mini Death Eaters in school. He found the bloody lack of action in Hogwarts by teachers on issues like racial slurs, and attacks on muggleborns like Mary, infuriating and wrong and he took them on and didn’t care if he got into trouble.

I bet hearing a bit about Sirius’ home life and the fact that without doubt the mini Death Eaters tried to attack/goad Sirius made James mad, and activated his White Knight Syndrome (he needs rescuing from his need to rescue others - yeah, look, I find that an endearing quality in James’ case, taking in the strays - the disowned heir, the werewolf, the lonely mediocre boy).

However despite being a gifted wizard he didn’t invent cruel hexes like Sectumsempra or Levicorpus like Snape (even if he once used the second one on Snape - and who else did he learn it from if not from the very boy who invented it? I’m looking at you, Severus!!) - the marauders are described by teachers as the equivalent of the Weasley Twins, not vicious thugs. He invented a complicated map with his friends (omg what fucking nerds) and they spent ages becoming illegal animagi just to help their friend. Risking Azkaban.

He rescued Snape from Remus during the infamous Prank and I think that was a major turning point for him. He didn’t think twice about saving his enemy’s life. But it made him grow up, fast. He deflated his head. Dumbledore made him Head Boy so he was definitely a safe pair of hands, commanded respect, trustworthy, and popular enough to fill the role. And Lily started to see that her opinion of him had been poisoned by Snape over many years (Snape was jealous, canon alludes to the fact that he saw Lily watching James, so I think Snape guesses she fancied James before Lily did!!) and that he had also changed a lot... and the rest is history!

All the people I ship romantically with James:

Lily Evans

I have read a few Jegulus fics which I liked (because again the White Knight Syndrome strikes back) but I prefer Jily because I think Lily may have been a target but didn’t NEED saving she damn well didn’t... and he loves her.

My favourite James in fanfics?

Anything by @elanev91, @lizardcookie @bcdaily @ghost-of-bambi @petals-to-fish @littlejeanniebean @likeawildthing (and james from “Alright, Evans” as my fav classic fic.

And my version? James in We Can Be Heroes (canon fic from after The Prank)

My non Romantic OTP for James:

Sirius Black, except they were so close they were like brothers, and I adore everything about them, Prongsfoot all the way! so I also this in a way Remus was his best mate? And we get very little info about these two in the books which is sad.

My unpopular opinion about this character:

I imagine him as having great pecs and beautiful biceps and fine forearms, a gorgeous chin and mischievous hazel eyes and... no, I can’t think of anything unpopular.

Ok fine, I think he would have gone mental and lost it with Remus for believing Sirius was the spy?

One thing I wish had happened in canon with James:

No Halloween 1981 deaths, thank you!!!!

My OTP:

Lily Evans

My crossover ship:

None

A headcanon fact:

#I love these #james headcanons

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gryffindormischief · 4 years

Note

Kiss prompt: number 16 and jily. Thank you!

16. when one person’s face is scrunched up, and the other one kisses their lips/nose/forehead

A/N: so basically @petals-to-fish and I wrote this in a text message thread and then copied it into a doc. Truly a surprise partnership event so if you enjoy it was both of us and if you don’t like...I was gonna say bug petals but I can’t do that so I guess fight me? We had super fun writing this so I hope it translates to reading too.

FF and Ao3

meme

____

Lily Evans is not happy.

Which is odd because generally speaking she’s a pretty genial sort. But even the most devil-may-care among us occasionally face circumstances that dampen their spirits. And as it turns out, the stock market, asinine comments from professors, and a general overuse of the analytical bits of her brain in recent days have led her to the current grumpy state of things. Complete with wrinkled forehead, scrunched nose, and slim shoulders risen to ears.

And if there’s one thing that James Potter cannot abide, it’s wrinkled forehead, scrunched nose, shoulders in ears Lily. Not because of any issues with attraction or supportiveness. James Potter is two things wholeheartedly - one, perpetually infatuated with one Lily Evans and two, fully supportive of her slightly crazed focus on intellectual pursuits. In fact, the second relates back to the first in worrying degree.

Still, when he begins to think he can actually see the knots forming in her shoulders and the ‘crazed focus’ turns to ‘stressed ball of rage,’ he’s physically incapable of not stepping in.

So on one such Tuesday evening, James Potter tugs her rolling desk chair back from the kitchen table (a horrible interior design combination that sets his artistic senses roiling) and presses a short kiss to her crinkled forehead. “Alright, Evans?”

In return, he simply receives a grunt with no visual or audible response beyond. Even her eyes, normally sparkling with some sort of lovely emotion, are dead.

That just won’t do, so he leans in for a quick peck to the tip of her nose.

This finally brings a bit of clarity to her expression, like the clouds clear from her ‘limpid pool like’ green eyes (there was a time she definitely slugged him for saying that) and then her lips part and she lets out a low, terrifying growl. “Fucking memes. Who the bloody hell says ‘more memes’ as damn academic feedback?”

James scratches the back of his head, face twisted into a confused grimace. “I dunno. Maybe your professor doesn’t get all this stuff either?”

He gestures vaguely toward the textbooks, printed outlines graffitied with scrawled notes, color coded flash cards, and more than a few empty packets of jelly babies. Enough of the latter that James is fairly certain Lily’s veins may by flowing with a slightly more gelatinous version of lifeblood. That’s how it works, right?

Lily slumps and lets her head droop backward so the weight of it sends her chair rolling aimlessly. “He said my last presentation was ‘boring and out of touch with reality’.”

James scoffs, “you’re the most in touch with reality you’ve ever been but I will agree that you are a bit boring.”

Lily shoves him back in retaliation, “I am not boring!”

“You talk about the stock market at tea now.”

Her face pales, “oh God, I’m turning into my sister.”

It’s James’ turn to wrinkle his nose, “you are most definitely not your sister.”

“Do you know anyone else who talks stocks at tea?”

“Yeah, your sister's husband.”

Lily smacks her hand on her forehead, “oh God, I’m becoming Vernon!”

It’s really too funny, and if Lily could pull herself from the haze of academic frustration and massacred gummy candies, she’d probably find the whole situation amusing. But in her current state, one which James has come to know arises from time to time when the rigors of her degree rear their ugly heads, he’s learned laughing matters do not always allow for laughter. Not if one wishes to keep one’s head in place. So he opts for dry humor that hopefully provides the appropriate level of commiseration combined with lightness that will bring Lily back from the brink of murdering her professor in the car park. “Memes are known as the gritty, worldly representation of our times. A true academic would know this instead of obsessing over understanding the stock market.”

She blinks at him, no break in her grumpy demeanor, and he knows his joke has fallen flat before Lily even speaks. “Excuse me, I understand it just fine.”

Fix it James, fix it before you’re the one being murdered in the car park. “I mean me, your cute, befuddled and artistically inclined fiance.”

That turns her from blind rage to a lower simmering anger, one that allows for her contemplative and plotting wheels to begin turning. And then she focuses on him with single minded purpose. “You should be making me memes.”

James blinks and dusts his knuckles over his t-shirt, which would seem much more posh if the image of an iron on Keyboard Cat didn’t rest just inches below his fingers. “I charge for commissions you know.”

Lily spares him half a glance before she shoves to her feet and clicks the kettle on a bit more vehemently than strictly necessary. “It’s bloody dividend cuts, James - HOW COULD MY PROFESSOR MARK ME DOWN BECAUSE I DIDN'T INCLUDE CARTOONS IN A GRADUATE LEVEL PRESENTATION?”

When he reaches to turn her from angry contemplation of the rain streaked window, she’s little more pliant, even tilting her face to his when he nudges her chin. Accepting the press of his lips to hers, just a short, sweet thing.

James brings his brow to hers while his palms brace on either side of her hips. “Lily I am trying to understand, but also I think it’s clear that I do not understand.”

For the first time, she does grin and some of the clouds seem to clear from her eyes. Ah, best not to contemplate those long enough to travel back down the ‘limpid pools’ route, especially when progress is being made. Lily pats his cheek and resumes her work preparing tea, pulling mugs, spoons, and all other necessary implements from their hiding places in the tiny kitchenette. “It's OK James. You’re the looks and I’m the brains.”

Choosing to accept the jibe as a compliment - no one said James had a problem with confidence - he nods and pushes himself up onto the countertop. “I will be the first artist in history to claim my own undeniable beauty as inspiration for my greatest works.”

“James you draw me more than anything...”

He shrugs, busying himself with opening the honey jar. Lily’s apparently not content to let it drop. “Especially my tits.”

“Only because I don't have any,” James supplies easily as the hot water blooms dark and the air fills with the scent of bergamot, “Because if I had tits they would be amazing.”

At this pronouncement, he finds Lily’s movements have stilled, spoonful of sugar hovering over her mug while she stares at his chest. Like she’s trying to picture him as is, just with the addition of breasts. For all his mind is creative, he can’t quite decide what size breasts he’d have and for some reason, it seems like Lily’d be the best person to answer the question.

Though this is almost certainly something drunk Sirius has contemplated and decided with absolute certainty.

Lily shakes away the cobwebs and stirs sugar into her tea, eyes wide and expectant. “So the meme thing?”

James swirls honey into the dark depths of his tea and shakes his head, rueful. “If I do free consults my artistic brand is worthless.”

Snatching the pack of custard creams off the countertop, Lily storms toward the living area and grumbles back over her shoulder. “Fine...well I no longer do free artistic head scratches.”

James follows in her wake, pausing only to ensure the kettle’s been flicked off. The only thing worse than the stress of academia is the flat burning down around your ears. “Your threats are as meaningless as these memes you need for a PowerPoint.”

Lily’s frown deepens into a scowl, though it’s comfortingly aimed at the world in general and not James in particular, as she grumbles around a mouthful of tea and biscuit. “It’s a graduate level class James, graduate level. It’s supposed to be boring!”

He wrenches apart the custard cream with an expert twist-then-pull motion and dunks the custard-free half in his tea. “Lily these are nerd memes we’re talking about...it’s still boring.”

Eyes narrowing, Lily’s formerly generic anger is definitely all James all the time right now. “See now you’re going to lose tit privileges.”

“But my nude study!”

Her grin is feral and dangerous. It would be enticing if he weren’t watching his actual muse drift away like errant crumbs from his custard cream, lazily abandoned to the nap of their grey-beige carpet. “Yes...all ‘nude studies’ will be suspended.”

He’s not completely artistically focused though, and certain bits of James are forever susceptible to the wiles of Lily Evans (hopefully Potter once they’re both graduated) and he can’t help leaning forward with a lilt of flirtation in his voice. “Are you trading your body for memes, Lily?”

“We live in the darkest timeline James,” Lily says with a sigh, though her voice is a little strained, eyes warm with want.

Perhaps their foreplay really is as odd as Sirius says.

James leans backward, tossing one leg over the arm of the couch and doing that little eyebrow quirk Lily’s angrily admitted makes her feel things. “I guess I’ll have to go old school and have Sirius pose nude.”

Lily’s cheeks warm. “And the breasts?”

He’s positively eating this up now. “I have an imagination Lil.”

“That you use to picture Sirius with my breasts?”

“As you said, we’re living in a dark timeline,” James ruffles his hair and pushes his mug onto the end table so it settles in the ring stained into the surface the second day they owned it two semeseters ago, “the stock market could crash tomorrow and we might have to live off my commissions.”

“Ah yes,” Lily slowly licks the exposed cream from her cookie, gaze never leaving his, “rake in that dough with custom stock market memes.”

He kind of can’t breathe and he may be having a heart attack. Still, his sass ability will be pried from his cold, dead hands. “People need laughter and I am a connoisseur of humor.”

There’s a sense of triumph in his chest when Lily makes the first move, rising from her chair, dish in hand, and leans over to breathe in his ear, “Hey connoisseur of humor, start drawing me some memes.”

She’s gone before he can get his brain to grind into gear which quells the victorious feeling of only moments before. He’s such a sucker. So soon enough he’s following her into the kitchen like a needy puppy, “I need inspiration.”

Once she’s deposited the first round of dishes on the counter, James crowds her back against their rainbow sticky-note wall. It’s got everything from running grocery lists, to ‘gag worthy’ love notes, to James’ half arsed doodles that Lily gets oddly sentimental about. She stammers a bit, neck craned to look up at him, before she eventually gathers herself. “We’re living in a pandemic. The market is the lowest it’s been in decades. There’s your inspiration.”

He tries the kiss thing again, forehead, nose - this is where her eyes flutter shut and he knows progress is being made - and finally her lips. When he pulls away, Lily nearly moans at the loss as he murmurs, “See now you’re just making me sad with things I don’t even really get - low market?”

She laughs and he feels the rumble as he picks his way over the delicate skin of her neck, nuzzling, nipping, teasing. It’s not until he reaches her collar bone that he continues, “I understand it’s bad but also why? What are these numbers Lily?” his hands push the hem of her jumper and with a little help Lily hooks her leg around his waist, “Who makes them up? What the hell do bears have to do with any of it?”

“It’s math, James,” Lily sighs, rolling her hips against his.

James returns his lips to Lily’s and she deepens the kiss, only to be thwarted when he wriggles enough to request removal of some clothing. She divests him of his t-shirt and then quickly begins exploring his newly exposed chest. Part of him would like to just table the discussion for later (or never) but he’s got two motivations for continuing. First, Lily will be truly enraged if he goads her into abandoning her work too soon, and second, there really is something to their weird not-really-foreplay foreplay that makes it all the more satisfying when they go for it. So he continues running his fingers over her skin in circuits and extends the conversation, “I skipped all of maths and my teacher passed me only because she never wanted to see me again.”

“It’s a good thing I love you or I’d hate you sometimes. Damn artsy jock getting passed because of nepotism,” Lily growls.

“I dunno, I think you enjoy posing,” James laughs against her lips, “And the physical benefits of my ‘jock’ superlative.”

“Of all sports, Hockey really shouldn’t make me all hot and bothered,” Lily grunts as her hands squeeze his buns, “But you’re just so obnoxiously attractive with all the skating and the muscles and the hair.”

James muffles his moan against her shoulder, taking a long, steadying breath that somehow provides the super human ability to pull away. Which is difficult on a personal desire level and also in terms of his inclination for self preservation because Lily truly looks like she might off him.

“I’ve heard the obnoxious bit from said maths teacher,” he slowly disentangles them, “But the attractive note is a nice addition.”

“Where are you going James?” Lily practically whines and hell she’s quite hard to say no to.

But he must, for the sake of future James’ continued inhabitance of the land of the living and also Lily’s GPA.

So James grasps her hands in his and pushes his forehead against hers. “I never thought I would say this, but before we shag, you need to work on your meme library.”

With an almighty groan, Lily complies, and James puts the kettle on again. One mugful’s worth of caffeine is not going to get them through the evening.

While he prepares their tea once again, this time swapping out Earl Grey for Oolong, Lily settles back in with her laptop and notes. It does seem that the mini break loosened the muscles in her shoulders, brought them down from round her ears. She’s chuckling as she scrolls through Google when he wanders over, steaming mugs in hand.

James claims a seat next to her, setting their mugs down before tossing one arm over the back of Lily’s chair so he can lean in close and offer his artist’s eye. Although in meme territory his penchant for immature humor is probably more useful.

It’s all quite relaxing and even a bit fun as they nudge each other, drawing attention to particularly funny ones that Lily begins saving to a folder marked ‘mArKET MemES FOr CRaZY’. Until Lily clicks to load the next section and James’ gasp results in still hot tea rocketing its way up through his sinuses.

Luckily, he manages not to spray the honeyed drink all over the computer, but it does take him a moment to recover. LIly’s staring at him wide eyed and patting his back comfortingly when he finally manages to choke out, “That - that meme is from a damn porno!”

She offers him a tea towel and once she’s content he’s not having a seizure, turns back to the indicated image. “Uh do you know this from personal experience or was that something you discovered from context?”

James swipes at his nose before removing his glasses to clear the lenses. “I’m reading between the lines, Lily.”

“This is a meme. There’s two lines and a picture.”

“A picture’s worth a thousand words.”

Lily rolls her lips, contemplative, then takes a long drag from her mug. “I wonder,” she taps her chin, “I wonder if you could make the ‘in front of my salad’ meme fit my presentation,” she turns to him, distressingly gleeful, “I could see how many porn memes I can shove in here before my professor drops me from the course and I get called to the Dean’s office.”

A laugh rises from his chest like a surprise and James can’t help but goad her, “The virtual Dean’s office you mean - getting suspended is much more fun if your face looks like a potato.”

Lily saves the ‘porn meme’ and continues her scrolling, “Are you somehow speaking from personal experience?”

“Nah, just that good ol’ imagination of mine at work again,” James says, tapping his temple and leaning in close.

Eventually, she reaches the end of the stock market memes, which is odd because it feels like the internet is infinite, and also not too surprising because how much more niche can you get. She’s pulled up PowerPoint gets the slides opened in mass editor mode and pauses to survey them like a brooding monarch assessing the troops. “Okay but how many memes per slide is too many?”

James shakes his head, “The limit does not exist.”

Lily’s eyes light, “Damn you, that’s a good meme too. I’m putting it on the stock market crash slide.”

Elbowing her side excitedly, James nearly prods the screen in his haste - only stopping at Lily’s ‘don’t put your mitts on my baby’ look - and indicates the tab for transitions. “You should do some flashy animations - imagine Caveman Spongebob flying in from off screen - oh shit can we add cheesy glitter clip art?”

Her grin matches his own, oh hell she would have been a worthy comrade in primary, “Yes. Also I’m definitely citing every meme in full APA style.”

James smacks a kiss on her lips and she smiles even wider, “My citation slides alone will make up half the slideshow.”

He gets swept up, throwing out ideas and pulling up photoshop on his computer to craft some truly horrendous comedy in meme form, mind whirring with ideas. “Ok picture this...ending with The Most Interesting Man in the World - ‘I don’t always use memes in a presentation, but when I do it's because my professor is barmy.”

“You’re fucking brilliant James - you get to stay.”

And he does stay, well into the early hours. Past one when Lily inhales an entire bag of crisps and begins ranting about inflation, and half past two when she bellows louder than a fog horn in the moment she believes her entire presentation has been deleted, and finally quarter of four when she finally hits save, confirms her Most Interesting Man meme has in fact been removed, and finally re-titles the presentation, forgoing the original moniker, ‘here’s some memes arsehole.’

In all that time, he does spell and grammar checks, offers the ‘layman’s’ point of view, rubs shoulders, brews tea, even finds a roll of cookie dough in the back of the icebox and bakes it up fresh. They consider the presentation from all angles, test it out, and even set it to auto play like they’re watching a film, complete with fresh popcorn.

After, he expects a long lie in, late and very unhealthy breakfast, some sort of afternoon frolic in bed - or maybe a revisit of the whole wall bit - post-late breakfast, and then probably a kip in the fading sunlight like they’re a couple of prissy cats.

He does not expect to wake at ten-oh-five in the morning with Lily’s mobile pressed against his nose, blue light sending his already haywire eyesight into worse disarray. “Uh Lily dear. I can’t read a word.”

She shoves his glasses into his hand and he drags them onto his face, smudgy but good enough to do the job.

Still, it takes a moment for his gaze to focus and when he does, the laughter that bubbles out of his chest must be a mixture of post-all-nighter insanity and complete incredulity at the state of the world.

Right there glowing at him in boring Arial font on Lily’s school email app lies a message from her professor. No ‘Hello Lily’, no ‘Dear Ms. Evans’ not even an auto signature. Just four uncapitalized words like she’s shoved a bored academic already skidding on a banana peel into a midlife crisis right over into the despair of an old crusty man - ‘no more memes please.’

#Anonymous #from petals to gryff #blarg writes things #jily au #jily au fic #James Potter x lily evans #James x lily #blarg writes eavesdrop #technically #but this is a standalone magic fic from the coolest cats #tadaaaaa

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majicmarker · 4 years

Note

hey i’m sorry i feel like this might be rude and i know you get a lot of grief from ppl as it is, but don’t you have friends who write jily? do you not read their stuff anymore either? again not trying to be rude i’m just curious about fandom habits when authors move on to other ships, etc

[note: this is the most unnecessarily loquacious reply in the history of all my blogs. u know it’s true bc i just said “loquacious” in all seriousness, so don’t say i didn’t warn y’all.]

nonny, i’ve gotten enough truly shitty asks over the years to recognize that you really aren’t trying to be rude. so i’m gonna try, too, but i’ve left this message sitting for days on end and all i can think is, like... idk. i just don’t. and that’s not on you, it’s just a whole “cherry on top” kind of thing.

to my knowledge, none of my friends or mutuals from past fandoms read what i’m writing nowadays. so, yeah, i’ve stopped dipping my toes into ships that no longer interest me. because, frankly, i’ve felt weird about jkr and hp for a few years, and — more to this particular question — i lost interest in jily a long time ago. i, personally, understand why i stuck around to read here and there for awhile, but more recently i’ve unpacked that and i don’t see the point anymore.

i remember being a part of the jily fandom, as it was my first really immersive experience, so i understand the curiosity. but i’ve also experienced how fandom can eat away at you, how it can feel like an escape from irl issues, but then, actually, how it can make those issues worse. that was probably more of a lesson i learned being involved in GOT, but looking back further i understand how my investment in jily/hp did a disservice to myself, too.

fandom, fanfic, fan-whatever, it’s supposed to be fun. it’s not a job or a responsibility or a moral code or a hill to die on. i’m having fun now, writing crossover and crackship fic, and stories i cook up from a showverse of which i’ve only seen two episodes (and a year in bethyl has done more for me than any time spent elsewhere). i don’t want to be a part of **fandom** anymore, i just want to take the potential of a really good romance and run with it.

so, okay, yeah, there are writers in the jily fandom i’m friends with, ones i admire, but i don’t really know why you’re asking me if i’m still reading their stuff? i haven’t expressed interest in that ship in years. and if this is more about personal relationships than individual interests, well, i shouldn’t be expected to read their fic when (again, to the best of my knowledge) they’re not reading mine.

this goes for ships i wrote for in both hp and GOT, tbh. i’ve been fielding — and, okay, more often deleting — similar questions whenever i start writing something new. i shouldn’t be beholden to other people’s fics, no matter our relationship, any more than they’re beholden to mine. none of them get these sorts of asks about me, as far as i know, so i just don’t really know what i’m doing here.

and like, honestly, the more i write for smaller fandoms and crackships, the more i’ve rediscovered how much fun writing actually is. i’ve gotten better, i’ve learned more, i’m having a blast, and i don’t give a shit about the source material or get overly stressed about how long it takes me to get through updates (people are nicer here, more patient and understanding). it’s done wonderful things for my mental health, my free time, and my original writing pursuits. i like where i am, whether or not ~Everyone supports my decisions.

tl;dr i don’t write or read jily anymore. nor jonsa, for that matter. pls don’t try to make me feel guilty for that. i don’t see any finger-pointing at anyone else, and i’m kind of over being the punching bag abt this stuff. (@ nonny, again, i don’t think that was your intent, i just deal with this fairly regularly so i’m kinda ~~aaaaahhh~~ abt it.)

#anonymous #ask

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maelstromdeparture · 4 years

Text

just a suggestion but can we have more ship names for characters that are actually cute and kinda fun as opposed to just squishing names together? because like i distinctly remember most of the young justice ship names being creative and fun, like spitfire and traught and chalant. like those were fun and infinitely better than something like waltemis or datanna.

i’m not saying to do this instead but to do this too, because let’s face it, sometimes the best there is is to just squish two names together, like clintasha or percabeth for example.

but come on you can’t tell me that jily is a better name than like wolfstar or something. and can we just talk about klance? like yeah, it’s cute and easy to remember, but they’re freaking color coded. They Are Color Coded. why was this not used????? can we not just call them purple or violet or indigo? there’s an endless amount of names for the color purple, just saying i think that’d be fun

so. in conclusions we’re creative people and some of these shipnames are ridiculous and it’s all kind of ridiculous anyway so we may as well make it fun and fun shipnames make things more fun :)

also please can we do this for miraculous ladybug? because things are out of hand here. not to be controversial but must we have four names for the same ship in different outfits? also, i love lukanette but it’s a pain to spell and it just looks wrong. i vote for like musicnote or something (clear as a music note?? i mean that seems kinda important to the ship on a whole)

#shipping #shipnames #we're creative let's make this happen #lukanette #adrianette #okay #i can admit that i like that they rhyme that's nice and cohesive #but it doesn't take away from my point #percabeth #clintasha #i don't even know how many ships i mentioned i give up #pjo #avengers #young justice #miraculous ladybug #this ended up way longer than i was intending #i know people aren't about to change shipnames now but can we use this more often in the future because it's a lot of fun #klance

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downn-in-flames · 5 years

Text

9.9 Out of 10, Highly Recommend (chapter 1)

2 bets. 10 days. Endless shenanigans.

{A Brooklyn 99 meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Jily fic}

Read it on: HPFT | AO3 | FFnet

THE BET

At 10 pm on a Tuesday night, James Potter and Lily Evans are both rather impressively drunk.

They don’t know this particular fact about one another though, because they’re at bars across town from one another, with totally different groups of coworkers.

Although if you asked Lily, she really wouldn’t be surprised to learn that James was drinking on a Tuesday - that’s not too far out of character for him, anyways. James, on the other hand, would be absolutely gobsmacked to learn that cookie-cutter rule-follower Lily Evans was getting smashed on a weekday, when they’ve got work tomorrow.

She has good reason for it though - she’s celebrating. She’s only found out earlier today that she’s getting promoted to sergeant in a new department, which is just one step closer to her dream of becoming captain of a whole precinct and then commissioner of the entire NYPD.

In other words, her entire 25-year plan is right on track.

“The precinct is going to be weird without you,” Mary says, taking a sip of her beer.

From anyone else, that would be a mild compliment at best, but from Mary, that’s practically the equivalent of an overly emotional hug, sobbing and all.

Mary may be one of Lily’s closest friends, but she’s always been an impressively impassive and private person, even with people she’s known for years.

“She’s right,” Marlene adds. “Who’s going to get onto Black every time he decides to do something ridiculous like fill the vending machines with rotting vegetables?”

“And then stop Lupin from punching him, because we all know how he feels about the office vending machine,” Mary quips.

It’s an odd thing to be passionate about, but Remus has an impressive level of dedication to the office vending machine, which is in all honestly probably older than all of them and can only be filled with candy bars because anything larger gets stuck.

Lily laughs - it’s louder than her normal laugh, a sure sign that she’s surpassed Three-Drink Lily. “You’ve got Kingsley and Dumbledore for that.”

Marlene rolls her eyes. “Please. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great at their jobs, but when have they ever been able to rein in Lupin and Black?”

“When have I ever been able to rein in Lupin and Black?” Lily replies, before frowning at her now-empty fourth drink.

“You’re able to rein in Potter, and Potter is able to rein in Lupin and Black.”

Lily scoffs at that, because, in her opinion, she doesn’t have much control over Potter either. And if she were more sober, she’d elegantly manoeuver right around that particular topic of conversation, because it’s a viewpoint she’s always differed with her co-workers on.

But she’s just crossed the threshold into Four-Drink Lily, and Four-Drink Lily has conversational grace equivalent to Peter doing ballet. That is to say, none whatsoever.

“I’ve got no more power over Potter than either of you.”

Marlene giggles at that. “You can tell yourself that all you like, but you know he has a thing for you.”

“Trust me,” Mary adds. “I have to watch him make heart eyes at you all day long. He definitely likes you.”

Mary’s desk does face James, so that claim is actually pretty plausible.

Lily still doesn’t buy it though. “Oh please, Potter doesn’t like me. He likes the idea of me.”

“Meaning?” Marlene prods.

“He’s created some idealised version of me in his head,” she says. “I’m the hot coworker who sits at the desk next to him - it’s practically a fantasy situation. And as such, he’s built me up in his head as this dream girl of his - and that’s the girl he has a crush on. Not me.”

Mary rolls her eyes. “Fuck, I’m going to need another drink if you’re going to psychoanalyze people this hard tonight.”

“Can you get all of us another round while you’re at it?” Marlene asks. “It’s your turn to buy anyways.”

“One beer, one whiskey Diet Coke, and one cosmo, coming right up.”

“You’re a doll, Mary,” Marlene replies, knowing full well that the term of endearment will annoy her coworker.

“Fuck off, McKinnon,” Mary retorts, before getting up and heading over to the bar.

Marlene almost immediately turns back to Lily. “Why are you so convinced he doesn’t actually like you? What proof do you have of that?”

“Potter’s the idealistic type, we all know that,” Lily replies reasonably. “He decided I’m his dream girl when I got assigned the desk next to him, and hasn’t paid attention to any evidence to the contrary ever since.”

The other girl eyes her skeptically. “And that evidence is?”

“We’re so different.” Lily has no idea how that’s not abundantly obvious to everyone.

Lily’s the type of person who has a 25-year life plan. James is the type of person who can’t think more than three days in advance - it’s why most of the precinct has taken to sending him calendar invites for every little thing. Lily color codes her sock drawer, and James has had the same empty Coke can sitting on his desk for the past four months and eight days.

She’s kept count of it. It’s been on her nerves for four months and seven days.

“They say opposites attract, you know,” Marlene replies, smirking. “But really, I don’t think you and Potter are actually that different. Yeah, you’ve got different habits and whatnot, but at the same time, you’re both fuelled by the same things. I know you say he’s blinded by a version of you that he’s created in his head, but you’re blinded by an imaginary version of him too, babe.”

“Am not,” Lily answers stubbornly.

“Honestly, if you just gave him a chance, I think you’d find that you two are good for each other.”

Mary returns with their drinks at that moment, which gives Lily a little bit of time to think through Marlene’s comments.

Lily would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t find James good-looking. It’s kind of hard not to find the boy attractive, what with the dark, messy hair, the sharp jawline regularly dotted with stubble, and the cute little dimple on his right cheek that pops out when he smiles. Not to mention that he’s over 6 foot and decently built - a bit on the skinnier side, but Lily’s always kind of preferred that to the gym bro archetype - all of which puts him firmly in the realm of exactly her type.

He’s also actually pretty funny, and some of his overly dramatic antics serve to lighten the mood on particularly stressful days at the precinct. And he was the first person to congratulate her today when the news broke that she was getting promoted.

So yeah, she’s definitely attracted to him, at least a little bit. But she’ll never admit to that - it’d practically be social suicide amongst her co-workers - and they’d inevitably blow it way out of proportion. Thinking a guy is cute and funny doesn’t equate wanting to spend the rest of your life with them, no matter what Marlene may believe to the contrary.

“I’m telling you, I doubt he’s actually into me like that,” Lily finally says, taking the first sip of her fifth drink. “He wants one part of me, and that’s it. The rest is something he’s created in his own mind. He’d take me for a ride, realise he doesn’t actually like the real version of me, and drop me.”

“And I say you’re wrong,” Marlene replies, taking her cosmo off of Mary’s hands.

“I’m actually with Marlene on this one,” Mary says. “He’s into you, full stop.”

Lily hates being outnumbered. And she also hates being told that she’s wrong, which is probably what fuels what she says next.

“I guarantee you that, if Potter knew what I’m like in a relationship - what he’d be signing himself up for in going out with me - he’d realise he’s not actually into me,” she tells them both. “Fuck, I’d even put money on it.”

“And I’d put money on it that he’s half in love with you, and ‘knowing what you’re like in a relationship’ wouldn’t change that one fucking bit,” Mary replies.

“You’re wrong,” Lily replies, looking Mary dead in the eye.

It’s a dangerous decision, getting into a staring contest with Mary, who could probably kill a man with a glare alone, but Five-Drink Lily isn’t afraid of anything. Even if she is pretty sure Mary keeps at least one knife in her combat boots at all times.

“What’s the wager?” Marlene says, breaking Lily’s concentration.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s the wager’?” Lily asks.

“Well, you two both just made a bet, and I’m just curious what’s actually on the table here.”

“That wasn’t an actual bet!” Lily defends immediately.

Mary scoffs. “Yeah, because you know you’ll lose.”

Lily whips around to look at Mary again. “I do not! But a real bet has to have a comprehensive set of rules associated with it, not just vague statements.”

“Let’s make that ‘comprehensive set of rules’ then,” Mary replies, and the use of air quotes has Lily feeling like her friend is most definitely mocking her. “You leave the office in ten days - that’s a built-in timeline right there. Starting tomorrow, you go after him. You take him out on a couple dates or two - no sex required, unless you just really want to, in which case, go for it I guess. You ‘show him your real self’ - but you’re not allowed to dramatically sabotage anything either. If he’s done with you by the time you leave the precinct, you win. If he’s still half in love with you at that point like I know he will be, I win.”

The speed with which Mary just came up with a fully-thought-out proposal almost shocks Lily, but then again, Mary’s only been drinking beer the entire night and has an alcohol tolerance equivalent to her and Marlene combined. So she shouldn’t be surprised, really.

“I can’t date a coworker,” Lily replies.

“Black and Lupin are fucking engaged,” Mary retorts. “You absolutely can date a coworker.”

Mary’s not wrong, per say. There isn’t anything in their HR manual about dating coworkers; it’s a rule Lily’s instituted for herself moreso than anything formalised by the NYPD. Future commissioners don’t get themselves involved in office romances.

“You can suspend your own rules for this,” Marlene adds, all but reading Lily’s mind. “You’re leaving in ten days - there’s no consequences to this like there would be if you still had to share a workspace afterwards.”

She… does have a point.

“Lily’s just making up excuses because she knows I’m right, and she knows she’s going to lose,” Mary says casually, taking another sip of her beer.

Sober Lily is already competitive as hell, and drunk Lily is that intensified tenfold.

“You’re on, McDonald,” Lily says, slamming her drink down on the table so aggressively that a little bit sloshes over the side. “Loser has to sit through one of Peter’s homemade cheese tasting demonstrations - and eat all of them.”

Betting money might’ve been the original proposal, but the comedic value of forcing Mary to sit through Peter’s impassioned explanations of all the possible cheese varieties is worth far more, from Lily’s perspective.

“And has to organise Black’s Drawer of Horrors,” Mary adds, grinning wickedly.

One of the drawers in Sirius’ desk has been filled with a whole host of terrifying objects over his tenure at the precinct - ranging from prank toys to food that’s probably sat there for years. Even Lily, who gets a thrill out of organising pretty much anything else, doesn’t want to get near that thing with a ten-foot pole.

But Lily won’t have to. Because she’s going to win. “You have yourself a deal,” she says, holding out a hand for Mary to shake.

Mary reaches out and shakes it, gripping just a tiny bit harder than necessary. Lily resists the urge to cringe at the force of it - that’s exactly the display of weakness Mary wants to see.

Marlene looks up from the message she’s been typing on her phone and claps her hands delightedly. “Oh, this is absolutely the kind of office excitement we’ve been needing!”

Lily arches an eyebrow at her. “We work at a police precinct. You really think that’s not exciting?”

Marlene shrugs. “Taking down crime rings and whatnot is cool and all, but the juicy gossip is what I’m really here for.”

Lily shouldn’t even be surprised by that, really. Honestly, Marlene could probably have a pretty decent career in reality TV if she ever decided to leave the precinct.

“There’s not going to be any juicy gossip,” Lily says. “James is going to go out with me twice, realise I’m not what he signed up for, and that’ll be the end of that. No juicy gossip involved.”

“Whatever you say, Lil,” Marlene laughs.

That’s really all there is to it, Lily tells herself. She’s going to win this bet, start her new job, and forget all about James Potter and his stupidly perfect jawline.

On the other side of town, James is on his fourth beer and absolutely thriving.

The four of them - Remus, Sirius, Peter, and him - are on a mission to taste-test every brewery in New York City. They’re nowhere close to accomplishing that goal yet, but they’ve made pretty decent headway and enjoyed acting like overblown beer snobs in the process.

“Ah yes,” Sirius comments, holding his drink out in front of him. “The hops in this brew are particularly pronounced.”

“There’s an earthy aftertaste to this one,” Remus adds, swirling his stout as if it’s a fancy glass of wine.

“And this one tastes like piss,” James replies, completely ruining the fake-classy theme Sirius and Remus had going with their commentary.

“Come on, guys!” Peter says earnestly. “Beer tastings are meant to be a serious affair!”

Sirius isn’t swayed at all. “They’re meant to get us drunk, Wormtail.”

James always wonders what other people must think of them when they hear the group of men calling each other by weird nicknames like Wormtail and Padfoot. In all honesty, James himself isn’t quite sure why the names have stuck as long as they have - they were originally inspired by the first major crimes each detective took down when they were all assigned to the newly-formed 73rd precinct, and they’ve lingered ever since.

Peter took down an organized crime ring from the inside - he was the rat, as the ringleader so eloquently called him in court. Hence, Wormtail.

“You sound like Fenwick,” James adds, before draining his glass.

“Nah,” Remus replies. “None of us are drinking pilsners. Ergo, couldn’t possible be Fenwick.”

They all laugh at that - Benjy Fenwick’s obsession with pilsners has definitely become a running joke throughout the office, despite the fact that the guy doesn’t even work there.

“You’re also nowhere near as much of a dick as Fenwick was,” James tacks on.

Sirius looks up from his phone. “Fenwick wasn’t actually that much of a dick. You just didn’t like him because he was fucking the love of your life.”

James crinkles his brows in disgust. “Fenwick is definitely not the love of my life.”

Admittedly, yeah, Fenwick isn’t ugly - he actually kind of resembles a guy James had gone on a couple dates with in college - but he has the all the personality of a loaf of white bread.

Ergo, very much not James’ type.

“You massively misinterpreted the usage of the word ‘fucking’ in that sentence,” Sirius corrects. “The love of your life is the person he was fucking.”

“Evans isn’t the love of my life either,” James replies defensively.

Well, not yet, at least. James could definitely see her becoming the love of his life though. He almost spilt his coffee all over himself the very first day she showed up at the precinct (he managed to contain the spill to one sleeve, in the end) because fuck, the detective he was supposed to be sharing a desk with shouldn’t have been that beautiful.

And then she opened her mouth and James started falling for her even more.

So yeah, at this point, he’s pretty hopelessly smitten.

And because he’s utter shit at hiding his feelings, all of his friends know it, most of the precinct knows it, and hell, Lily probably knows it too. Trying to argue to the contrary is a bit of a hopeless endeavour.

Remus looks at him skeptically. “Maybe not love of your life, but pretty damn close.”

James shrugs, picking up another one of the IPAs they’ve got on the table. “Doesn’t matter much though - she’s leaving the precinct in 10 days and I won’t have much reason to see her after that.”

When he first heard the news of her promotion, he’d secretly been kind of sad that he wouldn’t have an excuse to see Lily everyday anymore. But he also knows how important getting a promotion and moving up in the police department is to Lily, so he’d given her a bright smile and congratulated her anyways.

“Or, you could actually make a move sometime in those 10 days so that she actually wants to hang around with your dumb ass even after she leaves.”

James glares at Sirius.

“But you don’t have the guts for that, do you?” his best friend challenges.

“Pads...” Remus warns.

Padfoot, like the dog. Inspired by the major drug operation Sirius had sniffed out.

Sirius waves off his fiancé. “Prongs, you’re my brother, so I mean this in the nicest possible way, but you’re absolutely shit with people you’ve got a crush on, and Evans is no exception. You just make doe eyes at her from afar and that’s not going to get you anywhere.”

He’s obviously trying to get a rise out of James - giving him shit for all sorts of things that he knows James can’t stand being called out on - and maybe a more sober James would recognise that, and let Sirius have his fun without rising to the bait.

But that’s not the state that James is in right now.

“I am not shit with people I’ve got a crush on,” he argues. “I just happen to respect Evans’s boundaries because I don’t think it’s very professional to openly flirt with a coworker in the workplace.”

It’s not like the NYPD is known for its sexual harassment policies, so honestly, James probably wouldn’t get in any sort of trouble if he did decide to repeatedly ask her out on dates until she relented, but he’d never want to make her uncomfortable like that.

Hence, his (slightly pathetic) pining from afar.

“I’m not asking you to get a harassment complaint filed against yourself,” Sirius replies immediately. “In fact, I rather like Evans, so if you do manage to do something that warrants a harassment complaint or makes her uncomfortable, I’m formally obligated to kick your ass. But I’m just saying, this is your chance to shoot your shot before she’s no longer one desk away from you.”

Peter laughs. “Please. Prongs could never get Evans to fall for him in that period of time.”

Prongs could refer to the antlers on a stag - and James does love rocking a good pair of reindeer antlers from time to time - but the true derivation of that name was from James escaping and diffusing a hostage situation using nothing but an unloaded gun and a fork.

But damn. Hearing that insult from Peter stings - after all, the guy has had an even longer dry spell than James has. Really, he’s got no right to go around critiquing James’ wooing skills.

“Could too,” James replies childishly, only barely resisting the urge to stick his tongue out at his friend.

“Care to make an official bet on that?” Sirius asks, smirking. “I’ll take you up on that one - loser has to sit through one of Wormy’s cheese demonstrations.”

“Oh yes!” Peter claps his hands together delightedly, completely missing the point that this is a form of punishment for losing. “I’ve been needing more people to practice on!”

“I’m not making a bet on Evans,” James replies obstinately. “She’s a person, not a prize to be won.”

“Technically, you’re not betting on Evans,” Remus replies, serving as the voice of logic at the table. “You’re betting on your own abilities. If you win, you’ve managed to actually nail the partner of your dreams; if you lose, no one is any worse off than when you started. This is an entirely non-objectifying situation on all accounts.”

When Remus puts it like that, James has to admit that he’s got a pretty good point. And there’s no possible outcome to this that hurts anyone. Well, other than James himself if he fails, but honestly no more hurt than if he’d never even taken a chance with Lily to begin with.

He just has to… actually manage to charm the woman that’s shown absolutely no romantic interest in him up until this point.

Should be easy enough, he thinks to himself, and almost laughs aloud at his own internal sarcasm.

But he’ll also never turn down a bet - especially not when all his friends have been giving him so much shit all night. James Potter is a lot of things, but a coward is most definitely not one of them.

So he turns to Sirius, grinning wickedly. “You’re on. But two rules: you three can’t interfere at all, and no one tells Evans about it until it’s over.”

Sirius looks vaguely surprised. “You’re actually taking me up on this?”

“Come on, Pads, you know full well that I don’t back down from a challenge.”

James isn’t lying on that one. It’s gotten him into a fair share of sticky situations - most frequently with a particularly problematic cop in the Major Crimes Unit, who has basically made it his life’s goal to antagonise their whole precinct (but mostly James) on a regular basis.

“Plus,” James muses. “You’re right. I’ve got ten days until I’ll never see her again - if there’s ever a time to take a risk, it’s now.”

“You do realise she’s still going to be friends with all of us, and she’s only moving - ”

“Moony, hush,” Sirius waves a hand in front of Remus’ face, stopping him from finishing that sentence.

The way Remus earned that nickname - and the way he stopped a major car chase in progress - is still a story that none of the boys can get through without laughing.

“So we’ve got ourselves a bet, Prongs?” he continues, extending a hand out to James. “If Lily falls in love with you by the time she leaves the precinct, you win; if she wants nothing to do with you, I win.”

It feels like there’s a significant gap between ‘falling in love with him’ and ‘wanting nothing to do with him,’ but James doesn’t give that technicality too much thought. This is his dignity (and a cheese tasting with Peter) on the line.

So he takes Sirius’ hand, giving it a firm shake. “Let’s do this.”

Ten days from now, he’ll have made Lily fall for him, proving his romantic competence once and for all. His friends will inevitable find something else to give him shit for, but James will thoroughly enjoy his bragging rights.

Or alternatively, he’ll be sampling Peter’s homemade gouda, but James isn’t letting himself entertain that outcome right now.

#jily #jily fanfiction #jily fic #harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #hp fic #hp fanfic #james potter #lily evans #jily au #jily fanfic #modern au #jily cop bet fic

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october31st1981 · 6 years

Text

Baby, I’m Trying

Originally written for Jily Secret Santa 2016 for the prompt “modern single parent AU.” I realized I never posted this fic to my own blog, so here it is.

She ought to know by now not to try to surprise James.

When they were twelve, she’d jumped out of a cupboard, intent on frightening James to get him back for unraveling the hem of her friend’s already threadbare uniform. He’d been so startled that he’d slammed the cupboard shut and Lily ended up with a bloody nose.

On his eighteenth birthday, she’d made the mistake of trying to throw him a party without telling him. She had half their year assembled in his house when he called to cancel their afternoon plans because his mother was taking him to Belgium.

Over the years, it’s become clear that James is far better at providing surprises than receiving them.

It’s probably foolish of her to think that this time will be different. But she’s just gotten home after studying in France during her summer and fall terms, and the only person that Lily wants to see is James Potter. They wrote letters, certainly, and talked on the phone, but it doesn’t compare to seeing him gaze at her with a warm smile or a smarmy grin from right in front of her face. He’d joked about her meeting someone while in France, but part of her thinks it was true, because she’s never been so eager to come home in her life.

And she’s missed him, missed all her boys, really. So she stands outside James’s and Sirius’s flat, knocking on their door with a grin on her face.

Sirius pulls open the door, wearing what looks like a bib and holding a plush toy in his hands. “Moony, if that’s you, you better have brought nappies—Evans!” His face breaks out into a broad grin.

Careful to avoid the mess on his bib, Lily steps into Sirius’s arms. “I’m back,” she says. “Dare I ask about the nappies?”

The smile on Sirius’s face dims. “Maybe I should let James explain.”

She releases Sirius, stepping past him into the flat. The room looks messier than usual, with an assortment of items she can’t begin to explain scattered on the floor. “Where is he? I know I should’ve called, but I thought it’d be a nice surprise this way.”

“Is that Lupin? Tell him it’s Code Yellow, false alarm,” James’s voice calls as he enters the room.

Lily’s heart speeds up a bit as he comes into view. His hair is longer, and he’s got a smudge of what looks like carrot on his cheek, but he’s still the same. She is so caught up in staring at his face that it takes her a moment to realize that he’s holding something. Someone, in fact. A baby, no more than six months old, clinging to him firmly.

Lily blinks, looking down at the child. She thinks the baby blinks back. “Are you… babysitting?” she asks. She knows Alice and Frank Longbottom had their baby not all that long ago, but it seems a bit odd that they would choose James to mind their son, considering he’s an only child and has probably never held a baby in his life.

“Er, no,” James says awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. He wears an expression not dissimilar to the one he wore in Year 12 when he told he’d accidentally melted his Head Boy badge. “This is Harry. He’s… Well, he’s mine.”

Surprise, Lily thinks, feeling a little light-headed.

“Yours,” she repeats slowly.

“Mine,” he says, nodding. As if pleased by this announcement, the boy in James’s arms reaches out to him, using an impossibly tiny hand to grab at his glasses. James runs a placating hand over the baby’s hair.

Lily can’t stop staring. “You weren’t pregnant when I left.”

Sirius, who hasn’t spoken since James entered the room, scowls and mutters, “Lucy.”

Suddenly, Lily understands. When they’d been in secondary school, James had dated Lucinda Talkalot, whom he knew from his football league. Lily hadn’t liked her. Mary said it was because she’d fancied James something awful back then, but in truth, Lily had doubts about the girl. She wasn’t good at keeping friends, and to James, loyalty was more important than anything. At least, it had been. By the fond look James is giving the baby, Lily thinks that everything else in James’s life might be suddenly outranked.

“You and Lucy…” Lily trails off, looking at James significantly.

“At that Halloween party last year,” he confirms.

Her eyes drift to the baby again. Harry. He has a shock of black hair on top of his head, and his eyes are like James’s, but brighter. Hazel. Still, she feels compelled to ask. “And you’re sure?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“We talked on the phone,” Lily says weakly. She thinks of all the times where he’d hesitated in a conversation, saying he’d explain later. She supposes now is later. “You couldn’t have mentioned a baby?”

Shifting Harry to his other hip, James offers a one-armed shrug. “It seemed like in-person kind of news.”

There’s not much she can say to that. So instead, she asks, “Can I hold him?”

James looks taken aback, but he nods, approaching her slowly. “Mind his hands,” he says, placing the baby in her arms. “He likes to grab.”

And sure enough, as soon as the baby is in her arms, his tiny fists are wrapped up in her long auburn hair. Harry giggles, and Lily can see why James looks at this kid with such affection in his eyes.

Lily gives him her widest smile. “Hi, Harry.”

Over the next few weeks, the story tumbles out of the boys in pieces. How Lucy hadn’t told James about the pregnancy until Harry was already several weeks old. How she’d decided to give him up in the hopes of giving him a better life, but had hesitated at the thought of James, and shown up with the baby at his doorstep. How that day had been the last they’d seen her.

“Are you mad at Lucy?” she asks James one evening as they sit on the floor of his living room. She presses a stuffed lion against Harry’s nose, who garbles delightedly back at her.

James pauses, and then shakes his head. “Not for giving me Harry,” he says quietly. “For not telling me the first place, maybe, but I’d rather have him than not.”

“I suppose I never imagined you’d be a dad this young.” She’s only two months older than James, and she’s barely creeping up on twenty-one.

James looks at Harry. “I always sort of reckoned that when I did have a kid, I’d be married. Something for the long run, y’know.”

Lily can see it. James, in a cottage bustling with children, committed to one person for the rest of his life. He’d be happy like that. “You will be,” she says decidedly. “Just have to adjust the order.”

He raises an eyebrow suggestively. “Are you offering, Evans?”

She pulls Harry into her lap, resting her chin on the top of his head. “Sorry, Potter. My heart already belongs to someone else.”

James sighs wistfully. “Thrown over for a younger man.” He strokes a hand gently on his son’s face. “My fault for making you so handsome.”

“Thank goodness Harry has a father who’ll teach him modesty,” says Remus from the entryway. Sirius’s return from classes is flagged by the arrival of both Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.

“That’s what you’re for, Moony.” James grins. “When you’re finished that teaching degree, I fully expect you to inform my son about the ways of the world.”

Remus groans. “If I finish this teaching degree,” he mutters. “Vector isn’t pleased about all the class I miss.”

“Cow,” interjects Sirius, pulling a face.

Lily frowns. “You can’t help that you get sick, Remus. She ought to be more understanding.”

Remus shrugs. “She’s big on attendance.”

“Had to drop her last year,” adds Peter, shuddering. “Missed four lectures and she threatened to fail me.”

James nods sympathetically. “After begging to switch to night class so Sirius can watch Harry while I’m at school, last month I had to tell her I was an hour late because Harry threw up on me. Three times.” He glances at Lily. “You sure you want to choose him over me? He’s well-practiced in the art of projectile vomit.”

Lily doubts Harry knows he’s being talked about, but he babbles when his father is looking in his direction. She turns her gaze downward. “Still him. No contest.”

James beams at Harry, or perhaps at the two of them. “Yeah, I’d pick him too.”

When Lily first notices the shift between them, they’re in a park. Harry’s too young to be able to run around, but he loves being outside anyway. Spring has arrived, and he’s growing like the weeds that are starting to make their way out of the ground. He twists and turns in his pram, eagerly trying to take everything in.

James trainers are undone, as always, so Lily is keeping her eyes on Harry as he kneels down to tie them.

An elderly woman passes by and tells Lily, “Your son is adorable.”

Lily blushes. “Oh, he’s—”

“How old is he?” the woman asks.

“Just coming up on eight months,” replies James, standing up.

The lady smiles, eyes crinkling at James’s boy. “That’s a good age. Before you can blink, he’ll be running around and it’ll be all you can do to keep up. Make sure you still make time for each other.”

James seems to realize the woman’s mistake, and he meets Lily’s eye. She thinks he’s going to correct her, but instead he says, “Good advice.”

Good advice rings through Lily’s head for at least two weeks after, and it has her flushing every time she has to look him in the face. She’s not fool enough to pretend what she was feeling when she was in France didn’t mean anything, but things are different now. James has Harry. Harry, the love of his life, who has shaken his world irrevocably. She’s not selfish enough to try to alter the life that he’s only just started to build.

But Sirius sees it. She knows he does. He can be annoyingly perceptive when it comes to things that concern James Potter.

He manages to hold his tongue for two weeks. She is watching Harry with Sirius during James’s maths lecture when he finally says to her, “So, how long’ve you been in love with James?”

Lily wants to say I’m not, but what comes out is, “France.”

Sirius picks Harry up and raises him up in the air. “So, not as long as he’s been in love with you.”

Her heart stutters, and she takes Harry from Sirius and spins him around so she has an excuse to hide her face. “James isn’t… his heart is occupied at the moment.”

Sirius laughs. “You don’t think Prongs has a heart big enough for all of us?”

Lily turns. Harry’s hands are tangled in her hair again, as they usually are these days. “I can’t ask him to make any big changes right now. Harry deserves the whole world.”

“That’s why.” Sirius says, with a smile that’s both sincere and smug. “Harry matters to you, and that matters to him.”

“I’m not going to tell him,” she says firmly. Her heart protests, but it quiets when she looks at Harry, who has burrowed himself in it as deeply as his father. “I’ll do it when he has more time to decide what he wants.”

Sirius won’t tell him either, Lily knows that much. Still, he gives Lily and Harry a lingering glance as they hold onto each other, “He already knows what he wants, Evans. This is it.”

Lily hesitates about what constitutes the right time, but she knows herself enough to be certain she wouldn’t even consider saying something if she weren’t in it for the long haul. Soon, it simply becomes a matter of finding a moment alone.

In the end, Harry is one who changes things once again. When he turns a year old, James decides to throw Harry a spectacular birthday party. There are dozens of balloons, paper stars on every surface of the flat, and a man in star-spangled robes who claims to be a magician (though he never does any tricks). By early evening, Harry is too exhausted to continue, so he is put to bed and the adults decide to open a bottle of wine.

When James is in the kitchen getting a corkscrew, she slips in, hands behind her back.

“I have a surprise for you.”

James grins, turning around. “It’s not another baby, is it?”

“I hope not, or he won’t be very comfortable in this box.” She moves her hands in front of her and hands him a neatly-wrapped gift. “When Petunia and I were little, we used to have a tradition. On our birthdays, we would give our mum a present, since she was the person who gave us life and spent the whole year looking after us. I thought, since Harry’s too young to know how much you do for him, I’d step in for him this year.”

He falters, looking a bit flustered. “Evans…”

Lily looks at James fondly. He still has paper stars in his hair from the party. “You’re a good dad, James. I hope you know that. Harry’s lucky to have you.”

“I’m lucky to have him,” says James, setting down the present. He hesitates for a moment, and then adds, “And you.”

She’s not sure if she steps closer or he does, but there’s less distance between them in the next moment. “I’m lucky that Harry’s in my life too.”

James reaches a hand to cup her cheek. “We’re all very lucky.”

And when he kisses her, Lily can’t help but agree.

#jily #jily*#james potter #lily evans #harry james potter #mine #that submission i received with jss 2016 fanart reminded me i never posted this here #at least not with me as the source lol #i have a follow up piece for this half written

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thequibblah · 3 years

Note

Both I guess 🤷🏼‍♀️

hahaha that's fair! it's kind of a longterm project where i'm like, constantly daydreaming about the immediate future in the story, and then thinking of distant nuggets and putting them down in my outline so i know to include them later.

i started out with... probably 10–12 chapters outlined? and they got vaguer as they went, because i did want to leave room for characters changing (which they did, a lot, especially in that span of time!). i had events set out for as far as chapter 20 (which turned out to be chapter 22), but didn't really fix them in context until i got there. then when i was publishing chapter 22 i had events for chapter 29/30, but not necessarily what came in between. and now i'm publishing 37, and plotting 40. so i'm usually a couple of chapters ahead of the curve, which i find is necessary so i have the space to foreshadow things in a gentle way (which i'm not always successful at LOL). after i got a very useful mind mapping app and started colour-coding my plotlines, i've gotten much better at making sure things i've seeded come to fruition.

so i have these "floating pieces" of scenes that i know will happen in the future (and of course these get cut quite frequently if i realise they won't work) that are at the end of my outline, so i can easily drag and drop them into a chapter when i'm ready to include them. usually when i'm writing a chapter i outline the one ahead of it, to make sure i am furthering/addressing the plotlines i'm including in, say, 36, in chapter 37. and if i know, say, germaine is not in 37 as much, i put a reminder for myself in 38 to loop her back in. (characters dipped in and out of the story a lot in the early chapters, but now that everyone has a plotline of some relevance i try to have jily + two of lily's friends + some death eater developments (either in the castle or outside it) in each chapter. otherwise too much would be left off the page!)

with that in mind i just make a little scene list, with questions in it for myself (e.g. "james and lily talk about petunia — what does james say?") so i can figure it out as i go. then when i finish writing a chapter i make sure to go answer those questions according to what i did end up writing so i don't forget when outlining the next one lol

some chapters obv are a lot easier to plot than others, like if i know what's happening in an arc well enough to see it at the scene level i will probably be able to outline the whole thing in decent detail in, like, 45 mins? which obv makes writing it way easier. but even chapters i think i know well get last-minute additions, e.g. 39 changed because of random on the spot things i added to 38. which i think is important for flexibility and spontaneity reasons!!

#idk if this answers your question at all HAHA #ask me #anon

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chierafied · 6 years

Text

Careful What You Wish For

12 days of jily Christmas, Day 12.

#24: Mistletoe

T. Canon. 1,2 k words

Sirius stood on a rickety chair, poking at the Christmas decorations hung around the Gryffindor Common Room with his wand.

Garland and baubles and tinsel and ribbons. But not a single sprig to be had.

Sirius sighed in exasperation, muttered a few choice words.

“What are you doing?”

Sirius started, almost fell off the chair.

“Trying to find some mistletoe.”

Remus raised his eyebrow.

“Why? Because it worked so well with Marlene last year?”

“It should’ve worked,” Sirius muttered under his breath.

“Well it didn’t, though the black eye was fetching.” Remus smirked. “And after that fiasco, I doubt you’re going to find any mistletoe here.”

“Damn it.” Sirius hopped down from the chair. “I need it.”

Remus shook his head. “Still didn’t learn the lesson?”

“It’s not for me, Moony. It’s for Prongs.”

“Huh. I always thought you’d go for Peter.”

“Don’t insult me, Lupin. Me and Pete? Please!” Sirius rolled his eyes. “And it’s not that, either. It’s for Prongs and Evans.”

Remus’ eyes narrowed. “Why do you need a mistletoe for James and Lily, exactly?”

“Because it’s getting so bloody painful to watch the two of them.” Sirius crossed his arms. “I swear to Merlin I’m going to choke on all that unresolved tension any day now – and yet neither to them is making any moves!”

“It does get awkward,” Remus agreed, “but it’s been a long time coming, as well. Leave them be, Sirius.”

“Moony, they’re going to die of old age before either of them asks the other out.”

“No they’re not. They’ll figure it out without your meddling.”

“They’ve had six and half years to figure it out,” Sirius retorted. “And I’m not meddling, I’m helping.”

“Sure you are,” Remus muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm.

“Little faith, Moony,” Sirius said, jabbing an accusing finger at him. “It’ll work, just you wait and see!”

Sirius stomped out of the Common Room, and set out on his mission to find a sprig of mistletoe.

Lily was curled up on the sofa in the Gryffindor Common Room, engrossed in a book – an old favourite of hers.

The Common Room was never as quiet as it was over the Christmas break, so she was going to make the most of it, and enjoy it as long as it lasted. Soon enough, the students that had gone home for the holidays would return, and the usual chaos would fill Hogwarts’ halls once again.

She noticed movement at the edge of her vision a moment before James Potter casually leaned over the backrest of the sofa, bringing his face within inches of hers.

“Getting lonely, being here all by yourself?” he asked.

“I have a book to keep me company,” Lily replied, but the corner of her lips twitched.

“I was just gonna ask if you fancied a hot chocolate.”

Lily raised her eyebrow, and put down the book. “There’s hot chocolate?”

“There can be,” he replied, flashing her a grin.

“I’m in. Show me to the hot chocolate.” She got up, left the book on the side table and walked around the sofa.

She followed James out of the Common Room, smiled to herself as she felt his hand brush against her thigh as they climbed out of the portrait hole.

Seeing the corridor was empty, she twined her fingers with his, bumped him with her shoulder.

“So… was that code back there, or is there really going to be hot chocolate?”

He laughed, gave her hand a squeeze. “There’s gonna be hot chocolate,” he promised. “But I was hoping to get some snogging done, too.”

She slanted him a knowing look, her lips curving in a flirty smile. “Sounds good to me.”

They snuck into a secret passageway. James turned and pushed Lily against the wall, his lips crashing against hers.

She wound her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and gave his lower lip a playful nip.

The kiss was long and involved, and lingered until they had to break out for air.

His beaming smile was bright enough to light up the dim passageway.

Lily giggled, pushed away from the wall and pulled him along.

“Hot chocolate first, snogging later,” she told him, tossing him a look over her shoulder.

“It’s a date.” He grinned.

Later, sneaking back to the Gryffindor Tower, as their excursion had run long and it was past the curfew, Lily pressed close to James, bit her tongue to swallow her laughter.

“Do you think the others know?” she asked James in a mirthful whisper.

James’ hand pressed against her lower back, in a way that had become familiar to her in a very short amount of time.

“They don’t have a clue,” he said, his hazel eyes dancing with laughter.

Sirius had been prepared to scour the whole Forbidden forest if need be to find mistletoe, but in the end he didn’t have to; he’d scored some from Hagrid.

After that, it was hard to stay patient, bide his time until the opportune moment.

But finally it came, one evening when he was lounging on the sofa in the Gryffindor Common Room, keeping half an eye on the wizarding chess board where Remus and Peter were waging a battle.

Lily came down from the girls’ dormitories, and crossed the Common Room.

The portrait hole opened and James, half-way into the room, paused mid-climb to keep the way open for Lily.

And Sirius sat up, grinning madly. His hour had come, at last.

He dug out the sprig of mistletoe, levitated it with a quick swish and flick of his wand and let the mistletoe zoom across the Common Room.

“Prongs,” he called out. “Evans.”

They were just passing each other in the portrait hole, and turned to look at Sirius.

“Look up,” he told them gleefully, ignoring the tingling between his shoulder blades, where Remus’ glare was boring into his back.

James and Lily frowned, but did glance up.

James stared at the mistletoe like a deer caught in the headlights.

Lily arched her eyebrow and turned to give Sirius an unflinching look.

“You know the deal,” Sirius said, smirking. “Embrace the Christmas spirit.”

The two of them were looking at each other now; a long, meaningful look, almost as if they were communicating without words.

James raised his eyebrows.

Lily shrugged a shoulder.

Sirius held his breath.

And then, James cupped Lily’s face and bent to kiss her.

Sirius beamed, patted himself on the back.

Finally! And all thanks to him.

“I told you it would work,” Sirius said smugly, slanting Remus a look.

Remus watched the pair – still kissing – with his arms folded over his chest, his eyes narrowed. “Seems like it,” he replied, though his voice carried a hint of suspicion.

Sirius turned, only to see that James and Lily were still going at it and, in fact, were quickly becoming rather entangled with one another.

His glee faded a little. He let the mistletoe drop to the ground.

“Okay guys, mistletoe’s gone,” he told them.

Apparently sticking tongues into other people’s throats had something to do with impairing a person’s hearing, because neither Lily nor James responded to Sirius’ helpful hint.

They heard the Fat Lady’s faint complaints, but even that didn’t make James or Lily untangle or move away from the portrait hole.

Sirius turned his back to them, faintly disgusted.

Remus was smiling at him. “Nicely done, Padfoot.”

“Shut up, Moony,” he retorted glumly.

Behind his back, Lily’s and James’ kiss was still going strong.

#12daysofjilychristmas #jily #jily fanfiction #fic: JL #chie writes

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