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embrassemoi · 4 years ago

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Surrounded by the Moon and Stars ✷ 26

Pairings: Sirius B, Remus L, [F]Reader CW: Language, prejudice against MB, blood/injury, sexism A/N: as always, unbeta'd

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Chapter 26: Human Anatomy

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May 4th, 1976

Following the Mary incident, there were two Death Eater attacks in Birmingham plastered all over the Daily prophet now clutched in everyone’s hand. Y/N watched from the sidelines as Lily gripped her copy so strongly that it began to tear where her fingernails were.

Distantly, she could hear Marlene and Dorcas attempting to distract them by fighting over the last Chocolate Frog. Y/N ignored them, her mood dampened from the news and played with her food idly. That was until she felt Sirius nudge her underneath the table, quietly placing the now stolen Chocolate Frog into her hand.

It was clear that she and Sirius reached a standstill. Ever since his outburst, he hadn’t been avoiding her — they still snuck around — but his witty and snarky comments were gone. He’d become more reclusive, shy, even, and couldn’t keep eye contact for too long. A few times, she even caught him entertaining other women and it caused her to stiffen up, laugh bitterly and chip away at any logic, reason — manifesting in irritation and resentment.

It was a game of cat and mouse and Y/N was the cat. So the gesture was surprising. She took it from him, smiling as she ripped open the package and split it into two, giving him the larger half. He gave a reticent smirk and went back to his desert.

Sirius Black was confusing.

She saw Remus had put down his copy of the prophet, who pressed his lips together to hide his amusement as he looked between the two. His brow rose; she looked anywhere but him.

It was nearing the end of dinner when James finally joined, just coming from his career consultation. He went over to Ravenclaw’s table first, talking admittedly with Emmeline before making his way over. He was uncharacteristically nervous as he sat down beside Y/N.

“Saved you a plate,” Peter greeted. A large plate of spaghetti hovered in front of him. Normally James would’ve dug in within seconds, but instead prodded at a meatball with his fork. Everyone noticed but ignored it.

“What took you so long?”

Sirius grinned. “I bet McGonagall was listing off the Quidditch teams that want him. Which one is it? Appleby? Puddlemere?”

“I call Ballycastle,” Marlene warned, “I want their spot!”

James remained quiet.

“Don’t tell us you’re going to live off your trust fund,” teased Remus, but it had a questioning tone.

James’s gaze flittered to Lily’s paper before he spoke.“They all reached out.”

Everyone gave a loud round of applause and cheers; Y/N ruffled his hair while Peter conjured one of the floating candles to explode into confetti.

“That’s amazing! Congratulations, Prongs! You deserve —” “I’m turning them down, for now.”

Everyone went still, smiles fading and utensils dropping.

Remus was the first to speak. His eyes glossed cautiously around the table before leaning in. “Want to go somewhere a little more private? To talk?”

James took a deep inhale, peering over to Mary’s empty seat. Still shaken up, Mary had been hiding away in her dorm. As Marlene liked to say, she was pulling a sickie, and nobody could blame her. Then James’ eyes strayed towards Y/N.

“I told McGonagall that I’m enlisting once school’s done.”

Peter placed a tentative hand on him, “What did you say?”

“Er… after everything that’s happened…” He took a deep breath, “I’ve been thinking… I don’t want to live in a world where the people I care about are judged — innocent people are being… slaughtered... I can’t — I can’t just sit here and let it happen! And the war won’t end — not unless people are there to fight.”

Lily ripped her newspaper as she snapped, “This isn’t the time for jokes, Potter. You can’t just say that and —”

“I’m not joking,” James states calmly yet firmly. “Quidditch can wait until the wizarding world is safe.”

Nobody spoke until Dumbledore dismissed dinner.

“I said the same to McGonagall,” Sirius added. Everyone’s head whipped towards him.

“Is this a sick plan you two haven’t told me about?” Remus scolded. His voice was laced in something Y/N couldn’t place but teetered on the edge of indignation.

Sirius shook his head. “No. Never mentioned it to him. It’s just… I want to fight people like… my… family.”

The phrase echoed in her head: my family… What did that mean?

“Then that’s what I’ll do too.” Marlene states.

Dorcas whipped her head towards her. “No, you won’t.”

“Potter’s got a point,” Marlene says. “What good will my influence — power and position I’ve got as a Pureblood do if I don’t put it to use? Besides, my brothers have all enlisted already. They help with the Ministry and Dumbledore.”

Y/N and Lily stayed quiet, both shared a look — the first time either made direct eye contact since their fight. It communicated worry and pure dread.

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May 14, 1976

“You pincushion. You’re going to break if you aren’t careful!” She’d been waiting outside the hospital wing for Remus who hobbled his way out with a pink flush.

The Marauders and girls were taking ‘partnering up’ seriously. The Marauders escorted any Muggleborns around the castle at night; James, Peter and Sirius using their blood status while Remus used his height and prefect title as leverage. Even Marlene made sure every first or second year was escorted safely too.

In particular, ever since the mention of enlisting and Mary’s attack, James and Sirius were ruthless — merciless to anyone that showed even the slightest allegiance to the other side. More hexes, jinxs and pranks ensued.

Remus tilted his head as his body shook with quiet laughter. “Just a tumble.”

“Clumsy giant.”

He ignored her, going to take her bag off her shoulder to carry.

“Now you’ve lost it — give it.”

“I’m fine,” he grunted, going to dangle the bag so she wouldn’t be able to take it. But Remus staggered forward a bit, having to stop walking and balance himself out. Y/N noticed, sighing as she linked her arm with Remus’, letting him lean against her for support as they walked.

He did seem peaky, she worried, he waved it off. The Marauders did say he’s ill…

“Are we picking up Butterbeer?”

“Mary and Marlene are getting it.”

“Oh… Mary… How is she?”

Y/N sighed as they turned and left through a secret passageway and into the yard. Today was the last Quidditch game of the year. “I’m not sure… we’re not exactly close and Marlene refuses to spill.”

“I’m glad she’s… okay — out and about. What about you?”

“Me?” She turned to Remus.

“No one has tried to hurt you, have they?”

“Nope.” Best to lie.

Remus loosen up at that. His head tilted to hear her clearer, body hunched over as if he’s trying to get closer.

His soft messy curls were strewn messily around like he just rolled out of bed. “Do tell if someone does. I know you can defend yourself but we all need to be there for each other.”

“Of course. You too?” He hummed.

The hot sun beat down against them as sweat began to form on her forehead. Remus wore a light sweater — just by looking at him, he made her feel uncomfortably warm.

“You’re not hot?” Y/N asked.

He dropped his head a bit and a sudden far-away look filled his eyes. “Erm — not really. I just prefer it.”

She instantly felt bad from his reaction. “Well, at least you look dashing.”

He nodded, smiling before making grabby hands. Y/N glanced sideways, already fishing out her cassette player from her pocket.

“All you do is use me for this thing.” “Hush.”

They walked together down the path, arm in arm, over bumps and dips. Both laughing at the other before Y/N noticed a fairly large ball of black trailing on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was as tall as Flitwick and as long as Marlene’s broom.

Y/N felt herself stop, pulling away from Remus who was about to open his mouth. A rush of excitement filled her. “Is that a dog?!” She already let go of Remus, motioning him over as she dashed off into its direction.

The dog must’ve heard her footsteps before she came to a stop in front of it. Now, slowly walking up, her hand stuck out and waited for the dog to approach.

“Hi there, buddy!” She smiled largely as the dog sniffed her. There was the slightest hesitation before its head rubbed against her hand, moving happily as its tail wagged. Its head bowed, presenting its neck as a sign of submission. It even nudged her. She rubbed the side of the dog’s body. Its fur was shaggy, matted with a bit of dirt which had her nose wrinkled.

Remus eventually appears, watching them but once the dog notices him, it goes rigid, pulling away from Y/N, even going as far to growl at her. Although it’s weak, she still rips her hands away as the dog keeps its gaze on Remus.

“No! Please come back?”

The dog stopped growling, letting her pet him again but bared its teeth to Remus. Remus doesn’t seem to care as he watches the scene intently, a smirk crosses.

“I didn’t know Hogwarts had a dog!” Y/N scratches behind its ears. “You must be Kettleburn’s, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, he’s been around,” said Remus.

“Oh yeah? You seem like such a good boy!” Y/N then stands, picking up a stick before waving it, throwing it far. The dog bolts to retrieve it. “Why didn’t you tell me there was a dog?”

“I’m more of a cat person.”

The dog comes dashing back, stick in mouth as it runs circles around her. She goes to bend down, fingers gliding through its matted fur before getting caught. “You’re kind of disgusting.”

The dog looks at her, its eyes adjusting to open wider while Remus bursts out laughing. Y/N glances at him, questioning his unusual behaviour before reaching to grab the stick from its mouth. She transfigured it into a dog brush and went to work.

"... Kettleburn has really been neglecting you."

Remus’ hands go up to wipe his happy tears before dropping down to sit beside her. She can even feel his body shake with laughter. “You sure you don’t want to leave this mutt be?”

The dog growls at him, Y/N giggles.

“I don’t think he likes you much.”

His face level with the dog. “Don’t like him either.” The dog barks and Remus practically howls.

“So…” he has a sly smirk that tells her he’s up to no good. The light catches onto his eyes, glinting with golden specs like they were infused in him. “You and Padfoot have been chummy lately.”

The wagging tail halts and Y/N stops combing as they both stare at him. The dog pulls away from her grasp and growls at Remus. This time, it’s guttural and deep, sounding like a warning and losing its playful tone.

“I — ugh —” She falters, mentally slapping herself. “We’ve been getting along since Oats. Studying, spending time together… I got tired of fighting.”

“Mmm, I bet.” His voice is condescending. “I heard you want to be a Healer.”

“Yeah?”

“Say then, do you guys study —” The dog goes and bites down on his jeans, tugging harshly, drawing her attention but Remus continues to study her.

“Look at me, not at him,’” he says cockily. He leans in a challenging manner that has her flustered. He repeats, “Do you guys study… I don’t know… human anatomy?”

The dog barks madly — so loud that they’re getting stares from passing students. Y/N swore she could’ve died there while Remus bellows with laughter: his question answered. She bolted up, remaining silent and marched away from him who hobbled behind her, yelling out false apologies.

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Gryffindor, unsurprisingly, had another amazing win against Ravenclaw. James had improved as Captain drastically — confident with his position and team. Marlene improved too, she was almost as fast as the Snitch itself and never let a single Bludger slip past her while James scored goal after goal.

She and Remus still stuck by each other, walking down the rickety wooden stands as they observed the sea of red robes swarming the pitch. James pulled Emmeline into a kiss before he was holstered up by the Gryffindor team. Sirius was cheering him on while Peter was missing, having to leave right after the match for detention.

James then glanced back, along with Marlene, who waved while the two students grinned widely, sticking their thumbs up, fist-pumping in the air as a sign of congratulations.

But it wasn’t long until trouble came their way. Y/N wasn’t sure how Remus knew, but he suddenly went mute, his head perked up and swivelled around. In a fluid motion, he grabbed her wrist, pulling her flush against him; his hand wrapped around her protectively as he shifted his body to cover her and then bucked down; just before a Bludger came barreling their way.

Remus whipped his wand out, pointing at the Bludger that was hurling back, turning it into a balloon.

“The fuck?” Remus breathed out.

From where they stood, they were obscured by the shadows and wooden stands. The crowd couldn’t see them and the Gryffindor team was too occupied to notice. Cackling sounded from one of the exits. It was Crabble, Snape and two other Slytherin’s she didn’t know the names of.

“How cute! Ickle Lupin protecting his Muggle bitch!” Crabble said, flashing a dark smile.

“What did you call me!” Y/N shrieked, still in Remus’ hold before he finally let go.

“Watch what you’re saying,” Remus cautioned, voice dropping low. He stood tall as waves of authority emitted from him while he held his wand tightly, stepping in front of her. His broad shoulders squared. “Thirty points from Slytherin. You don’t want detention, do you?”

“That’s all you got? House points?” Snape taunted. “Loopy Lupin — acting tough in front of his girl.”

“Heard she’s fucking Potter,” the Slytherin said. He had blue eyes and dirty-blond hair.

“I heard differently,” the other nameless Slytherin blurted. He licked his lips in a snake-like motion. “Have you seen the way she and Black are around each other so much now? A Mudblood and a whore!”

She drew her wand.

“Aw, trembling itty, bitty baby!”

“That’s enough, Barty,” drawled Snape. Barty held his wand, toying with it before he lifted his wand, ready to cast a spell.

“Expelliarmus!” Remus shouted at him. Barty’s wand flew from his grasp but wasn’t lucky before the unnamed boy shouted, “Levicorpus!”

Instantly, Remus was grabbed by the ankle, hauled up into the air. Y/N saw him wince, all his belongings thudding to the grass.

“Aw, Rosier,” Snape said coolly. He took a few steps in a twitchy manner, “Stop playing with the poor mutt!”

But before the Slytherins had an opportunity, Y/N shot a spell at Remus, floating him down gently while Snape and Crabble directed a spell at her.

“Protego!” She cried as an invisible shield expanded between her, Remus and the Slytherins. The barrier was so powerful that they all stumbled as Remus went to retrieve his wand.

“Lupin can’t even protect himself! You had to let a girl do it too!” Crabble shouted.

“A Mudblood and a Half-breed! A match made in heaven.”

Angrily, Remus stood, a black ball of light shot out from the tip of his wand at the feet of the Slytherins. A small boom rumbled the ground, sparks of fire emitting but not enough to start a fire. They jumped back and Snape threw another spell.

“Ad sectis!”

Y/N barely had time to block it as a gust of wind knocked them back. It wasn’t a spell she knew of. Remus sent another hex at them but was blocked.

“Dangerous bloke, that Loopy Lupin,” Snape jeered, directing his words at Y/N while the Slytherins laughed. “You ought to be careful who you run around with. Let alone your boyfriend.”

“Shut up!” Remus shouted. “Shut the fuck up!”

“Where do you think he goes every month?” Snape taunted before backing up from them, rejoining the other Slytherins who left, all bellowing, “AHH-WOOOO!”

The reverberation from Remus’ spell drew the Marauder’s attention as they arrived. James saw them, marching up side by side with Emmeline and Sirius. He wore a large smile as he pressed several kisses to the side of Emmeline’s head. “Whiskers! Moony! Did you see that score!”

Remus and Y/N breathed in deeply, dazed and shocked. Remus stumbled over but she clutched his arm to keep him upright.

“Don’t listen to anything they said,” implored Remus.

“Wait… James,” Emmeline said, “I don’t think somethings right.”

“Moony, you’re awfully pale…”

“Shit! Are you guys bleeding?”

Y/N’s eye travelled to a large slash that travelled up Remus’ jaw and leg, blood seeping out at an alarming rate but the cut was shallow. Y/N in turn only then realized the damp liquid was now travelling down her arm. Her arm was also slashed, not deep, but the amount of blood was concerning.

All their voices began chatting over the other as the girls arrived by now; Dorcas rushed up to Y/N, prying Remus off of her as James and Sirius took Remus and sat them on a nearby bench.

“— happened?”

“— Y/N — Remus —”

“Lift your leg —”

“— get to the wing —”

“Merlin’s beard!” Lily shouted. “Give them some space!” Her eyes were on Remus but shifted to Y/N. Hesitantly, Lily walked up to her and bent down in front of her but still kept her distance.

“Okay, we need to get you patched up.” James stood, looping an arm around Remus and stood up.

Marlene rubbed her shoulder while Lily spoke, both James and Sirius doing the same for Remus. “Would you like us to come?”

She shook her head as the girls reluctantly left, but clutched Lily’s wrist as she stood. In a small voice, she asked, “Stay?”

Lily nodded her head and bid her goodbyes with the girls.

“Right, okay. I’ll see you later?” James said to Emmeline who pressed another quick peck to her cheek. Instead of the hospital wing, Remus asked, and was very adamant, about being brought to his dorm where they hauled in Y/N and Lily.

Sirius managed to get the bleeding to stop and worked on Remus before going to patch up Y/N who sat in James’ bed. The curtains were drawn just close enough for them not to be seen while Lily and James feverishly spoke to Remus.

“Ah!” She hissed as Sirius wrapped her arm carefully. Her free hand went to grip on his arm and he looked up at her apologetically.

“M’sorry — and we’re done.” Sirius tosses a quick smile, “You did amazing.” Sirius placed his material to the side and went to hold her hand gently. “What happened? Don’t you dare tell me a lie because this is serious.”

“I thought you were Sirius.” That joke never got old

Sirius broke out into a grin before it quickly vanished again. “Who did this?” He urged voice hardening yet kind. “Please, trust me.”

And she did.

Y/N reluctantly retold the story. Sirius went stiff. She grabbed his arm to bring his attention back to her. “Don’t do something that’ll make it worse. Don't you dare go looking for revenge. Promise me.”

He nodded his head but looked conflicted. At the same time, James pulled back the curtains; Y/N ripped away.

She looked around the room. “Where’s Lily?” “I told her to leave,” Remus cuts in. “I didn’t think that she would’ve liked to hear about the Snape part.”

Her eyes locked with James who wore the same expression as Sirius; he knew. And so she repeated herself, enunciating every word to the boys. “Don't. You. Dare go looking for revenge.”

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booksarelife-stuff · 4 years ago

Text

Gold Rush

Jily (James Potter/Lily Evans), Minor wolfstar

Word Count: 4856

Lily didn’t expect to be having these feelings for James when 7th year starts. Featuring a jealous and pining Lily.

Read on AO3

When James caught her eye from across the Gryffindor table, she didn’t expect a fluttering feeling in her chest to blossom.

Summer had been kind to him in ways that almost made Lily angry. He seemed to grow into his features. His cheeks had lost all the baby fat, making sharp cheekbones appear, and he had gotten new glasses that seemed to frame his face a lot better and highlight his hazel eyes. The dimple in his left cheek still made appearances when he smirked and god, his jawline was heavenly. His voice had also deepened to a nice even baritone that when Lily first heard it, it had taken a second to realize that James had spoken.

Alarm bells started going off as he smiled at her. She quickly smiled and turned away, hiding the blush that was starting to form on her cheeks.

She could not be thinking about James Potter like that.

~~~

Lily hadn’t been particularly thrilled with having to share a living space with just him. It could be worse, as she had been expecting Remus and he wasn’t the tidiest. She had been in the boys’ dorm a few times and it was never messy, but Remus told her that it was because James cleaned it.

It hadn’t been bad, besides the fluttering in her stomach when he walked in.

Lily was reading a book on professional level charms, her legs stretched out on the sofa by the fireplace. The head dorm was nice and Lily wondered if it changed based on who were the heads that year because it resembled the Gryffindor common room closely, with more cushy furniture than necessary.

She was about to turn the page when the bookcase that hid the entrance swung open.

She hated the butterflies that formed in her stomach.

James stepped in, soaking from the rain. He had had Quidditch practice.

“It’s raining horribly,” he said as a greeting.

Lily opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. His hair was flat for once in his life and sticking to his forehead. He had a curl plastered on his forehead. His t-shirt was clinging to him. James wasn’t buff, but he was lean and his defined muscles were nothing to laugh at.

“I swear I almost drowned in mid-air,” he said. “Is that even a thing?”

“No, I don’t believe so,” Lily said, turning away and looking at her book. He got out his wand and started charming himself dry.

“Practice went okay otherwise,” he said, finally getting his shoes dry.

“How’s the new seeker?” she asked, not looking at James as he flung himself into the sofa across from her.

“Doing good. Just need to make a few improvements on her techniques,” he said.

Lily spared a glance and wished she didn’t. His legs were spread out and his head threw back, exposing his neck. She hoped that he didn’t see her blush.

“Who’s the first game against?” she asked.

“Ravenclaw,” he said. “They got a strong keeper, but I don’t think they’ll be a problem. Hufflepuff has a great line up though and it has me a bit worried.”

“It’ll be fine. Gryffindor always pulls through,” she said. James laughed a little.

“Yeah, but doesn’t mean I can’t try to eliminate a struggle,” he said. Lily looked up and saw he was looking at her. “I like it when I can crush them with little to no problems.”

Lily rolled her eyes.

“I think a struggle is a better show of feat,” she replied. “Shows how you work under pressure.”

“Ah, but when there’s no struggle, it shows that we don’t have any weakness,” he said.

“Spoken like a true Gryffindor,” Lily said. James laughed and the butterflies in Lily’s stomach started up again.

James asked about what she was reading and she found that she forgot about the anxiety that had started to surround her when he was near. He was easy to talk to, always had been when they weren’t intent on arguing for the sake of arguing.

When Lily joined in with James at the breakfast table of trying to throw sausages into Sirius’s mouth, that’s when she knew she had a problem.

Lily was never one for rules, especially if they were unfair. She upheld the ones she agreed to, sometimes bent them when she saw fit, but the outward display of joining in the Marauders was crossing an invisible line.

Lily didn’t see that line until Marlene pulled her aside after History of Magic and casted a silencing charm around them.

“So when did you realize you’re head over heels for James?” she asked. Count on Marlene to always jump straight to the point.

Lily almost dropped her books.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

Marlene rolled her blue eyes at Lily.

“Come off it,” she said. “It’s obvious. The Lily that despised him fifth year would never have spent the morning trying to break his sausage-throwing record or share your notes with him.”

Lily felt angry.

“Just because I’m being friendly doesn’t mean I like him!” she hissed. Marlene was unphased by Lily’s anger.

“Oh Lily, don’t be upset. He’s fit as fuck and a decent guy,” she said. “I would be shocked if you didn’t!”

“You know how much I hate crushes,” Lily said, fighting the urge to stomp her foot like a child. “It’s pointless!”

Marlene laughed.

“Sometimes, you can’t fight it,” she said. She waved her wand and the silencing charm around them faded. “Let’s get to lunch.”

Lily walked beside her in silence, fuming.

There were a few reasons why Lily hated crushes. She hated how they painted the world in rose colored glasses, obscuring truths. She thought about the crush she had had on a 7th year Ravenclaw when she was in fifth year.

Lily didn’t remember his name, just that she had tried many times to speak to him when they were at the library at the same time. Lily felt like she was flying every time she saw him, with every word he spoke to her.

Then came the bone-crush. He kissed her one day over her charms homework and the next day she found out he had a girlfriend, a fourth year Hufflepuff.

Lily felt disgusting and immediately told her.

When she looked back at that experience, she felt hot anger and embarrassment. The rose colored world she had seen had blinded her from the truth.

She should have noticed how flippant he was when she asked him questions. How once he caught on to Lily’s crush, he would find a table in the back, out of the way from passersby. Lily had thought it was because he wanted alone time, not because he was hiding from his girlfriend or anyone who might rat on her.

She had vowed that she was never going to make an utter fool of herself again.

Lily pushed down her anger and looked forward to have a nice peaceful lunch with her friends that she missed so dearly. Alice, Dorcas, and Mary were waiting for them at the end of the table, but as Lily’s eyes looked on, she found a sight that made her almost vomit.

There was James, sitting across from Amelia Bones, a Hufflepuff in their year.

He was flashing her his signature smile and laughing at something she said, running a hand through his messy hair.

She peeled her eyes away and took her seat next to Alice, forcing herself not to stare at them.

She picked at her food and tried hard to pay attention to her friends.

“Hogsmeade is next week, right?” Lily asked, suddenly.

“Sure is,” Mary said, sipping some of her juice.

“I want to get plastered at the Three Broomsticks,” Lily said. The girls laughed.

“It’s date,” Marlene announced. “I’ve been waiting to see you drunk since you took that shot of firewhiskey.”

Lily rolled her eyes, thinking of the time Marlene snuck a firewhiskey up to their dorm last year and Lily almost threw up after one shot.

The girls started planning the trip.

Despite her resolve, she shot a glance at Amelia and James, who were just getting up from the table. James met her eyes and winked at her, to which Lily rolled her eyes because it let her do something other than blush.

~~~

Lily would be an idiot if she thought that she was the only one to notice James. That didn’t mean she had to like it though.

James had been asked out three times in one breakfast and though she had no claim to him, it was grating on her nerves.

“So Prongs,” Sirius started as the brave third year who just asked James this morning left. “You’re turning into quite a lady killer.”

James snorted.

“I’m starting to think someone is cursing them,” he said. “It’s mental.”

“Face it, Prongs,” Sirius said. “You’re a hot ticket item.”

“They’re dying to have your babies,” Remus said, not looking up from his copy of the Daily Prophet.

“They’re going to kidnap you and force you to go on a date with them,” Peter added.

“Probably going to slip you some love potion,” Lily said. James whipped his head and looked at her.

“I expect them to gang up on me, but you Evans? Betrayal,” he said.

Lily smiled and bit back the green monster that was going to reel it’s head if she thought about it too hard.

“I know what’s going on,” she said.

“Please, be our insight into the female mind,” Sirius said, brushing a strand of dark hair behind his ear.

Lily rolled her eyes.

“Teenagers are horny,” she said. “James is headboy, plays Quidditch. Every fifteen year old’s dream.”

Lily kept her eyes on her tea as she took a sip. She could feel his eyes on her. What she really wanted to say is that she got it. She got why these girls were dying for James. Lily herself felt like she would die in order to have James touch or snog.

She was trying to get that to stop.

“And he’s fit,” Remus said. Sirius glared at his boyfriend. “Objectively speaking. Not my type, sorry James.”

“I don’t take it personally,” James grumbled, taking it personally.

“Just be happy you can get a date,” Peter said. “I can’t get one for the life of me!”

“How about this Pete,” James said, resting his elbows on the table. “Tell me who you fancy and I’ll ask their bestfriend out and see if I can’t get a double date?”

Here was the bone-crush. Here is where the misery came and grabbed Lily.

“You’d do that for me?” Peter asked, his eyes wide.

“Once,” he said. “I’m going to help you woo the pants off of this girl and hope you get a second date on your own.”

If Peter said who he fancied, it was lost on Lily. She stared at the cup of tea in front of her, watching the surface of the liquid vibrate.

She could imagine going on a date with him, so vividly it hurts. She could practically picture walking with him down the slope, hand in hand. Sitting across from him at the Three Broomsticks and stealing his chips. And that image hurt as she watched them plan their double date.

James nudged Lily, jarring herself out her thoughts.

“Time for Transfig,” he said. “Ready?”

Lily nodded and stood up. As she grabbed her bag, she saw Remus watching her. He gave her a small smile and she tried to return it.

James, Sirius, and Peter were already walking ahead of them when Remus came beside her.

“So, I take it you’re against the double date?” he asked as they started up the stairs.

“No, why would I?” she asked quickly.

Remus sighed deeply and just shook his head. They caught up to the other boys.

~~~

Once Lily heard James was taking Amelia Bones to Hogsmeade, she was even more determined to get wasted at the Three Broomsticks. She was a rational person. She knew that getting wasted to forget a stupid crush was immature, but she could be immature for a night.

She put more effort into her appearance than normally for a girls night out. Normally she would be fine with jeans and a jumper, but Mary had suggested they act like they were going to the hottest nightclub in the U.K.

Lily didn’t have a lot of clothes appropriate for that, but Mary was her size and had tons of sparkling dresses that she was willing to let Lily borrow.

Mary had picked a gold sequined dress that was a little shorter than Lily was used to, but she knew she could make it work. It was strapless and Lily had a slightly bigger breast than Mary, so Lily placed a sticking charm on the sweetheart neckline.

Lily also did some beauty charms. One to make her hair have more beachy waves than her own slightly sad waves. The make-up charms turned out better than she thought as her emerald eyes looked bigger with the eyeliner charm.

She checked the time, gave herself one final look over, and then grabbed her coat, and left her room, stepping out in the common room. She heard something fall as she closed the door.

James was standing at his door, staring at Lily like he was deer caught in the headlights.

He was ready for his date, a nice dark green shirt and pants that had been pressed. He looked good and Lily hated it.

“Evans, what are you wearing?” he asked. Lily looked down at her dress.

“A dress?”

“You look…” he started, eyeing her up and down. “Stunning.”

Lily felt her cheeks heat up.

“Thanks. It’s for the girl’s night,” she said. The air felt awkward as the silence fell.

James looked away, clearing his throat.

“Where are you going? For the girl’s night,” he asked, picking up his wand that he had dropped.

“Three Broomsticks,” Lily replied. “Where’s your date?”

“Madam Padifoots,” he replied.

“Aw, that’s romantic,” Lily said, forcing a smile.

“Pete picked it,” he said. “I would rather be drowning in some Butterbeer.”

Silence fell again. Lily wanted to say something, but she found it hard. James hadn’t looked at her since he picked up his wand.

“Well, have a good time,” Lily said, making her way to the bookcase.

“Same,” James said.

The walk down was freezing, but once Lily sat in a booth, squished between Mary and Dorcas, she realized it was worth it.

They started out with some food, but soon enough the drinks kept coming. Lily felt wobbly as her and Mary sang a Muggle song on the top of their lungs. She was spinning when Alice admitted her and Frank had had sex in his childhood bedroom over the summer.

She was absolutely gone with Remus and Sirius stood at the end of the booth.

“You lot are cut off for the rest of the night,” Remus said. Lily started giggling at his stern expression.

“Oi! Remy,” Mary said, her words slurred. “How big is Black? We have a bet.”

“I’ll have you know I’m packing,” Sirius said, not the least bit phased.

Lily snorted.

“He’s average,” Remus replied. All the girls started laughing. Lily felt tears in her eyes as Sirius elbowed Remus.

“He’s joking,” Sirius said. Remus shook his head, unknown to Sirius, and the laughter started again.

“We’re escorting back to the castle,” Remus said.

The loud “aw” that escaped their lips was enough to make the rest of the bar turn and look at them.

Marlene almost fell when she tried to walk and Remus ran out for a second. He came back with James.

Normal, sober Lily would be ashamed of herself in the morning.

“James!” she yelled. James smiled and widened his eyes. “I’m drunk!”

James ran a hand through his hair and smiled, his dimple making an appearance.

“I can see that, Lils,” he said.

He helped her up off the bench and caught her as she stumbled. His hand was warm on her arm and goose flesh appeared.

“Let’s try to get you back in one piece, alright?” he said.

“Carry me,” she said, giggling. James gave her a look she was too drunk to read into.

“I will if I have too,” he said.

He helped her put her coat on and then placed his arm around her in order to steady her walk.

The rest of the group was in front of them. Mary and Dorcas, stumbling, but they were fine compared to Alice, Marlene, and Lily. Alice was Sirius’s back while Marlene was basically using Remus as a cane.

“Where’s Peter?” Lily asked.

“He had a pretty nice date,” James replied. “I think they’re still out.”

At the mention of the date, Lily pouted.

“So your date was nice?” she asked. She hated that tears were forming in her eyes.

James took a moment to answer.

“I mean, Amelia and I just talked about our Divination project. I told her it was for Pete,” he said. “We aren’t interested in each other.”

Lily’s heart soared and her eyes dried.

“Why’d you get all dressed up if it wasn’t a real date?” she slurred.

“Because it was real for Pete and Ingrid,” he replied.

“It’s a shame,” Lily said, frowning.

“What’s a shame?”

“That Amelia could pass you up looking like that!” Lily said, stumbling into him a bit. “I mean your arse looks fantastic! Almost as good as your Quidditch pants.”

James paused for a second and Lily almost tripped but James caught her and steadied her.

“You’re more drunk than I thought,” James said. Drunk Lily didn’t notice the tightness in her voice.

“Yes,” she said. “And it’s fantastic!”

“You won’t be saying that tomorrow,” he mumbled.

The boys brought them all back to the head dorm, which made the girls squeal and get excited about a sleepover. James deposited Lily on the couch and quickly made his way over to the potion station in the corner of the room.

“I love the dorm!” Alice chirped, looking around.

“These couches are ten times better than the ones in the tower,” Marlene said, curling up on the couch by Dorcas.

“I agree,” Mary said.

Lily’s eyes wandered to James, who was at the potion station. She was staring at him, but was jared when Sirius sat next to her.

“How many drunk head girls do you think entered this dorm?” he said, smirking at her.

Lily threw a pillow at him.

“Probably all of them,” she replied. “You don’t make head girl without a dash of mischief.”

Sirius raised his eyebrows at her.

“Lily Evans and mischief? I find that unlikely,” he said. Lily felt offended.

“Who hexed Avery to make his voice high pitched, huh?” she said, crossing her arms.

Sirius widened his steel blue eyes.

“That was you?” he said.

“Of course it was bloody me! He called me a mudblood and I just snapped!” she fired back.

“That’s not mischief then Lils, that’s justice,” he said. Lily laughed, loudly.

“And I’d do it again,” she said. “I also stole Snape’s potion essay once.”

“Evans!” Sirius said, clutching his chest like he was scandalized.

“He was being a prat! He kept going on and on about he was the best in potions! So I took his essay before it was due,” she said, rather proudly. “He got detention and I found a major error in his essay. I circled it and stuffed it back into his bag.”

Laughter erupted around her, making her feel warm and proud. Alice was clutching her side.

“What else have you done, Evans?” Sirius enquired, leaning back on the cushions and crossing his legs.

Lily hummed and thought for a second.

“I changed James’ quidditch robes to neon pink in fifth year,” she said.

“That was you?!” James exclaimed from across the room. “I didn’t talk to Sirius for a week!”

Sirius doubled over with laughter.

“I remember that!” Mary said, clapping her hands. “You did it because James threw a piece of parchment at you and asked you out in the middle of the hallway!”

Lily remembered it and laughed.

“He was such an arse!” she said.

“Was, did you say Evans?” Sirius inquired.

“Yes, was,” she confirmed. Sirius shot her a look.

The conversation drifted away from Lily’s mischief to how Mary engorged Marlene’s tongue when she thought she told the school one of her secrets. Lily’s eyes drifted back to James, who was bent over a steaming cauldron. Lily, ever the potions master, decided she must know what he was making.

She wobbled across the room and stood next to James, so close their arms bumped.

“Whatchya making?” she asked.

“A sober-up potion for you lot,” he said. “Then I’ll make a hangover-be-gone tomorrow for you guys.”

“I don’t want to sober up,” Lily pouted. She grabbed James’s arm and leaned her head against it. James didn’t say to protest it.

“You’ll be thanking me in the morning,” he said with a smirk. Lily rolled her eyes.

He was finely chopping the roots and Lily watched him, her could feel the muscles on his arms move, but she didn’t want to move and James wasn’t pushing her away.

“Shouldn’t you dice them?” she asked. James scoffed.

“You’re drunk and you’re still critiquing my potions,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have to critique if you did it the right way.” James erupted in laughter.

“Trust me, Evans. I’ve made this a few times,” he said. Lily didn’t reply, she just watched the cauldron bubble from her spot on James’s arm.

“I’m sorry about asking you out that way in fifth,” he mumbled.

“It’s okay,” she said. “You were just an obnoxious little boy.”

“You don’t think I'm still an obnoxious little boy?”

“Nope,” she said. “You would have never made headboy if that was the case.”

“True,” he said. He turned the potion off and stirred it until it was a clear color. Lily let go of his arm once he was ready to pour it for them.

Lily drank hers and watched as James started handing out the rest to her friends.

As the minutes ticked by, she realized she was going to regret a lot in the morning.

~~~

Lily remembered everything of her drunken night clearly, which is why she was determined to put as much space as possible between her and James.

She told him he had a nice arse! That was something she could never come back from. Ever.

He didn’t mention it and she was grateful for it. He did get her back from making his Quidditch uniform pink and during breakfast when her black robes turned a stunning shade of pink. When she made eye contact with James down the table, twirling his wand in his fingers, she just laughed. She left them that color for the rest of the day.

The only thing is that James started walking closer to her in the corridors when they patrolled together. His arm brushing against hers constantly. She often wondered what would happen if she just grabbed this hand. Which is why she started making the distance bigger.

Lily was spending her time in their shared common room when he was gone or at practice. She knew the time that James would be in and made sure to either be at the library, her bedroom, or in the Gryffindor Tower with the girls.

She was packing her things up, about to move to her bedroom before James came back from practice. She wasn’t expecting the bookcase to swing open ten minutes early and reveal a sweaty James Potter.

She fought the urge to get up and run without saying anything, but she held firm and tried to put her books away without looking like she was trying to do so as fast as she could.

“Hey Evans,” James said, smiling a little at her.

“Hey Potter,” Lily said as evenly as she could, darting her eyes back to her textbook.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you in a hot minute,” James said.

Lily glanced up to see him standing by the couch.

“We ate breakfast together,” she pointed out.

“You sat like, three people away from me,” he said.

Lily took a deep breath. She was getting irate and couldn’t quite place why.

“I talked to you in Transfiguration,” she pointed out.

She heard James sigh.

“I just asked to borrow a quill,” he said.

Something in his tone made Lily look at him. He was standing at the side of the couch looking utterly frustrated, running a hand through his damp hair.

“I don’t know what you’re getting at,” Lily said, looking back at her book before their eyes could meet.

There was a heavy silence.

“I don’t get you,” he said after a moment.

“‘Get me’?” Lily asked, snapping her book shut. Lily looked up and saw that James looked frustrated.

“One minute, I feel like we’re finally getting on and then next you act like I’m a second year who just wants to pull your hair,” James said.

“We are getting on,” Lily said, crossing her arms.

“Are we?” he questioned.

Lily stood up, anger flaring in her stomach.

“Well, we were,” she said, crossing her arms.

James took a deep breath and turned away from Lily.

“Can you just tell me what is going on?” he snapped. “I know I’ve done some pretty shitty things in the past. I’ve been trying to be better! Snape cursed me in the hallway and I didn’t curse him back because I knew you’d be upset!”

James opened his mouth like he was going to say more, but he quickly shut it. He just stared at her from across the room, his chest heaving slightly. Lily had seen an angry James quite a few times, but there was something in his eyes that showed Lily he was more hurt than anything.

“It’s not your fault,” Lily said, holding his gaze.

“What isn’t?” he asked.

“Me being weird,” she said, throwing her hands up.

“Explain it to me. Because one second you’re telling me I have a nice arse and the next, you can’t even look at me,” he said.

As Lily stood across from James, she realized that there was no way out of this mess besides the truth. Lily didn’t know if she was ready to throw her cards down, but God, she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Because I can’t stop thinking about you!” she yelled. “Every bloody day, I see girls tripping over themselves to get a scrap of your attention and I feel like I’m a fool!”

James’s jaw dropped as Lily fell silent. She felt heat rise in her cheeks and wishes she could stuff the words back into her mouth.

“What changed?” James asked. It was so low, Lily almost didn’t hear it. His eyes kept her captivated.

“A lot of things,” she replied. “Like the fact that you weren’t an utter tosser last year and this year.”

“You told me I was one quite a few times if I remember correctly,” James said, a smirk on his face.

Lily smiled a little, despite the feeling that she messed something up between them.

“It was different,” she said. “You just… know how to make people laugh, even when teasing them.”

James smiled, wide and bright and Lily finally looked away, choosing to stare out the window and look at the bright blue sky and fluffy clouds that were outside.

“I don’t want to get hurt James,” she said.

Lily felt him walk over.

“Why do you think I’d ever hurt you, Evans?” he whispered from beside her.

“Because you’ll realize there are better options out there,” she said. James snorted.

“I have nothing against the other girls in Hogwarts, but I doubt there is anyone that could ever compare to you, Lily,” he said. “Especially to me.”

James placed a hand on her shoulder and Lily turned to look at him. He was still sweaty from Quidditch, his glasses were crooked, but Merlin, she had never seen a better sight.

“Fancy a dinner in Hogsmeade?” he asked. She smiled.

“Hogsmeade is in two weeks,” she pointed out.

“I’m not waiting two weeks,” he said. “We don’t have patrols tonight. I’ll be ready in twenty, if you want to go with me that is.”

Lily hesitated for a second, not because of James, but because sneaking out. James seemed to get this.

“You said yourself, ‘what’s a head girl without a little mischief?’” he pointed out. Lily smiled and nodded.

Lily didn’t think James’s smile could get wider but it did.

“Give me twenty minutes!” he said, moving to turn around and rush to his dorm.

“Wait a second,” she said, causing James to pause.

Lily threw all caution to the wind . Just cupped James’s face and brought it down to hers, capturing it in a kiss that made Lily wish she had done this sooner.

#jily #james potter/lily evans #james potter #lily evans #marauders era #harry potter #no voldemort because I said so #inspired by taylor swift like always #sirius black #remus lupin #wolfstar #everything I write is anti-snape #jily fic #jily fanfic #Harry Potter fanfic #James x Lily

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the-demelza-robins · 5 years ago

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american high school!jily (i)

hi! here’s the first chapter of my american high school au! it’s also on ao3 and ffnet!

LILY EVANS DOES NOT THINK OF JAMES POTTER. She does not think of him — loud, funny, arrogant — as she walks to the bus stop each morning (she does, however, regret the fact that she doesn’t have her driver’s license yet). She does not think of him as she gets her textbooks from her locker (she does think of Roger Davies, though). She does not think of him as she moves from classroom to classroom, notebook to notebook, assignment to assignment. She does not think of him as she takes yearbook photos and attends Feminists of Northwood High meetings. She does not think of his eyes (hazel) or his hair (dark brown, almost black, always ruffled does he even try) or his face (a mishmash of features that, admittedly, only he can pull off).

There are, however, plenty of other people — girls, especially — who do think of James. Girls who think of his eyes (captivating, intense) and his hair (perfectly messy) and his face (jawline, glasses). Girls who watch him sit at the best table in the cafeteria with Sirius and Remus and Peter, trading jokes back and forth and smiling easily, and wish, fervently, that they could be pulled into his vortex, into his charisma, into his confidence.

Lily doesn’t look down on these girls — no, that would be borderline misogynistic of her. She just doesn’t understand the appeal, because, to her, James Potter has always seemed a little too sharp around the edges, a disco ball made of jagged glass, to provoke any feelings of fondness or… more. Her impression of him is no doubt colored by Sev, who, despite now being the poster boy for fucking Brietbart, used to tell her things. Used to tell her what James would do, how his friends — “they call themselves the Marauders, Lil, how presumptuous is that” — would take a laugh at his expense. James Potter is smart, the thing is, and observant, and he knew just what to say — just what buttons to push — in order to get Sev where it really hurt.

Whatever. The point is, James Potter is sharp, and Lily doesn’t want to prick her finger.

So, when James walks over to Lily on the first day of October and asks her to go out with him, ignoring the fact that she’s fulfilling her very important duties as yearbook editor-in-chief by taking photos of the soccer team — Roger Davies is the “keeper,” which Lily has learned means goalie, and James is a striker, whatever the hell that means, and Lily thinks it’s unfair that James gets all the glory when Roger is the backbone of the team, but whenever she tries this argument on her friends, they dismiss it on the grounds that she has a not-so-tiny crush on Roger and therefore is biased — Lily says no.

“No?” James repeats, and for a second Lily feels almost bad for him, ruffled hair and eyes blinking at her from behind those glasses of his.

“No,” she affirms. “I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.”

He nods, and twists around to look at Sirius, Remus, and Peter, who are all laughing — at him or at her, Lily can’t be sure, but either way it makes her skin prickle — from the sidelines. “Hey, she said no!”

“Fuck,” Sirius says, his voice carrying in a way he must be aware of. “Sorry, Evans!”

Lily is a little surprised that Sirius knows her name. Surprised, perhaps, because she thinks of him only as Marlene’s fiercest crush, the reason why so much Taylor Swift leaks out of her friend’s aging Toyota. No, Sirius is not a person, not in Lily’s head. The collision of these two worlds — Marlene’s and reality’s — makes her very uncomfortable.

“For what?” Lily yells back, rolling her strained neck (that camera weighs heavier than she remembered — technically taking photos is below her paygrade, but fucking Lucius skimped out again because of a “family emergency” and she has to get them in in time, and besides… a plausible excuse to look at Roger is certainly not something she would ever pass up on.

“Sorry for unleashing James on you, it was a dare,” Sirius shouts, and one of the practicing soccer players tells them to either shut up or go somewhere else. Lily rolls her eyes and makes a decision. She could walk towards them, cross the social line, discover what “unleashing James” means.

She doesn’t. She shrugs and walks away.

“See you around, Evans?” James calls, voice strangely strangled-sounding. She thinks she imagined it.

***

The next time she sees him, he’s probably drunk, holding a red solo cup in his left hand and high fiving Sirius with his right. She watches him from across the room — it’s not intentional, she tells herself, but she does— as he chats with his friends.

“Lily. Lilylilylily,” a drunk Dorcas whines, tugging on Lily’s sleeve like a four year-old.

“What?” Lily asks, recalibrating and facing her friend.

“Mary. It’s Mary. Mary from P.E.”

Following her friend’s gaze, Lily confirms that Mary from P.E. is indeed also in Sirius’s house for this random party, chatting with Romilda Vane, a sophomore a year younger than her. “I see her.”

“Why is she talking to Romilda?” Dorcas asks, way too loud, and Lily drags her friend up the stairs and through the nearest door. The abundance of death metal memorabilia tells her that they’re in Sirius’s bedroom.

“I thought you were done with Mary.”

“I never started with Mary,” Dorcas says petulantly, plopping unceremoniously onto the unmade twin in the corner. “Mary is pretty. Mary is sweet. Why is Mary speaking to Romilda Vane?”

“Maybe Mary likes Romilda Vane,” Lily suggests gently, sitting down on the bed next to Dorcas.

“I thought Mary liked me.”

“I don’t —”

“I think that Romilda should go home. GO HOME, ROMILDA.”

“Don’t shout, someone might hear,” Lily replies, thinking of the cracked-open door.

“Then they can join me in telling Romilda to go home.”

Lily is about to formulate some response to this when the door swings open, and who but James Potter steps in, arm slung around Gretchen Prewett’s waist, hair messier than usual. He’s whispering to the girl, smile tugging at his face, and just as he’s about to lean in, he sees Lily.

Is it just the lighting, or does his face go slightly red? Lily knows hers did. James opens his mouth as if to say something, but nothing comes out.

Gretchen’s eyes shift from Lily to James and back. Lily grabs Dorcas’s hand and pulls her friend past them and down the stairs.

Around a half hour later, James and Gretchen follow.

***

“Evans!”

Lily slams her locker door shut and turns towards the voice. “What do you want, James?”

“Sounds like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” he responds, that annoying, way-too-full-of-himself grin on his face.

“I’m betting you did, considering that your hair looks like that,” Lily shoots back, shouldering her backpack. She has plans to meet Sev, plans involving ice cream, and doesn’t want to be late because James Potter decided he wanted a verbal sparring partner.

James whistles. “Nice one. Listen, Lily…” he pauses, and for a second she sees something like vulnerability on his face. The halls are basically empty now — it is a Friday, after all, and no one lingers if they can help it — and for a second it feels like the air has compressed around her, around them, until the only sounds in the world are James’s intake of breath as he prepares to speak again.

“There’s — my mom has a garden that she’s working on, and I remember you saying that you like flowers, and — well — do you want to garden with me? Sometime?”

“Lil?” The air expands again.

Lily turns, and there’s Sev, standing with his too-long hair and his messenger bag, looking confused and angry and betrayed, most of all.

“Of course it’s Snivellus,” James mutters, and all of the vulnerability is gone, the mask of self-assurance pulled firmly back into place.

A lot has happened in the past five minutes, but those words are the only ones that Lily latches onto. “What do you mean, ‘of course it’s Snivellus’?” she snaps, turning back to face James in full, with all of the fiery self-righteousness only a seventh grader can possess.

James opens his mouth and closes it again, eyes shifting between Lily and Sev. “Of course,” he says, voice cool and measured, “it’s Snivellus. Your guard dog, huh, Evans? See the big bad James Potter and he’ll come running, because God forbid you talk to anyone — hang out with anyone — but him.”

“You’re out of line, James,” Lily says, feeling her cheeks coloring and hoping that Sev won’t notice. “I would never pick flowers with you.”

With that, she turns on her heel, towards Sev, towards ice cream, towards the planned banality of the afternoon.

When freshman year began, things shifted. Sev joined the Alternative Media Club and started spouting shit. People noticed James, and he stopped noticing Lily. Roger moved to their town from Seattle. Life seemed more pressing, more tangible, more present. And that was that.

***

Besides, Lily has other things — other boys — to worry about. She’s had a massive crush on Roger Davies since freshman year, and for good reason: he’s kind. Considerate. Talks to the frosh even though he’s a senior like her and has every reason to ignore them. Has a killer smile, the right height, and broad shoulders. Perfect.

If only — well. She and Roger are perfectly friendly, but she doubts he knows anything about her; she doubts he thinks anything about her. Logically, Lily has known this since freshman year, but, still, she stays within his sightline. She wore makeup tonight, more than usual. She hopes he’ll look up and see her, like the male love interest does in all of Marlene’s favorite movies; hopes he’ll realize that the one he’s been looking for has been right in front of him the entire time.

Lily knows how stupid she’s being. She also knows that, when he does (finally) make eye contact with her (once, but she swears he held it for a second longer than normal), her heart starts to race. So there’s that.

***

James joins yearbook, with means that Sirius, Remus, and Peter join yearbook. Lily was tempted, when they first showed up outside room 304, to tell them to leave — she knows their respect for authority is basically natch, and she needs order if the yearbook is going to be any good this year — but she bites her tongue. James ignores her, anyway, or at least he does until discussion of the theme comes up. Roger and Lily had already settled on Outer Space, and the rest of the staff were on track to agree — that is, until James stands up and makes an impassioned speech in favor of Animals, egged on by Sirius shouting “hear, hear!” every few minutes. Lily shuts it down and sends the so-called Marauders to take photos of the Bible Study club as punishment. James bounds out of the room, camera bouncing against his chest in a way that makes Lily want to tear her hair out because he’s gonna break it.

When the meeting’s over, Roger walks out of the building with her.

“You were good with them,” he says. “James and — the rest.”

“Oh,” Lily says, and she’s definitely blushing now. “Thanks.”

He smiles — an easy grin — and walks towards his car. Marlene honks from hers, and Lily hops in. Later, when Mar drops her off at her house, she has a text from an unknown number.

Potter broke the camera — Roger

Lily knows she should be mad about the camera, but she can’t quite summon the emotion. Instead, something glittering flutters through her.

Roger Davies’ number is now in her phone.

***

James doesn’t have an excuse at the next meeting. He just stares at the floor when Roger asks how the camera broke, and Lily can’t help but notice that it’s unlike James to be quiet. Ever.

She shrugs the thought off; she has work to do. Important work, like getting official pictures of every club, affinity group, and forensics team in her sprawling, one-thousand student high school. Later, walking down a back stairwell and marveling at her luck at being able to get the photos for both the presidents of Cheese Club and the cohort leaders of Girls Who Code in the same fifteen-minute time frame, Lily hears voices. Familiar ones.

“Why didn’t you just tell them?” the first one says. Lily immediately identifies the lazy drawl as Sirius’s.  

“What kind of friend do you think I am, idiot?” James’s voice — sharper, yet friendlier, even as he insults his friend — replies. Lily looks over the banister and sees that the pair is standing on the steps a flight down, (new) cameras around their necks.

“It’s just Peter,” Sirius snorts. “Not a big deal. His dad would’ve paid for it anyway.”

“You know how Roger is with Peter,” James says in a hushed tone that makes Lily lean even further over the bannister. “He’d tear him to pieces. Besides, it’s just a camera. Mom’ll be happy to reimburse the school when she hears why I said I did it.”

“Will she, though? You know how she gave us that whole speech about responsibility and digging our own graves and stuff like that.”

James stiffens slightly, the lines of his jaw and the straight of his back becoming slightly more pronounced as he fiddles with his hands. “I’ll talk to her.”

“But she said —”

“I know what she said, Sirius.”

“But soccer —”

“I’ll figure it out!” James says sharply. After a second, he buries his head in his hands. “Sorry. ‘M really tense. It’ll all work out.”

Sirius stands. “It better.”

Lily’s phone starts to vibrate, and she hurries back up the stairs before she’s discovered, mind reeling.

You know how Roger is with Peter. He’d tear him to pieces.

The Roger she knows — thinks she knows — would never hurt someone, and definitely not over a stupid camera. Right?

***

“I can’t believe — he’s insufferable — the camera —”

“We have insurance,” Lily says, watching Roger pacing the room.

“That we had to fight to get the school to sponsor! Ms. Rodriguez is going to freak the fuck out and… Jesus, Lily, why aren’t you more upset by this?”

“Because it’s not a big deal! We’ll get the new camera and chew James out, and he won’t go it again.”

At this, Roger stops pacing. “No. We need to kick them out.”

“What?”

He puts his hands on a desk between them, leaning in ever so slightly. “Lily. They broke a camera. They’ve cost this school — us — hundreds of dollars. And they’re not even good at yearbook! They only joined because —”

“Because what?” Lily asks, annoyed.

Roger purses his lips. “Not my secret to tell, but it’s so fucking obvious.”

“Then tell me.”

He shakes his head, runs a hand through his hair. “No. Can we at least… put them on probation?”

“Yearbook probation?” Lily says disbelievingly, trying to reconcile this version of Roger with the one in her head, puzzle pieces mashing against each other but not sliding into place. She doesn’t understand why Roger is so upset, but James’ words keep echoing in her head. He’d tear him to pieces. “I didn’t know that existed.”

“You’re right. It’s fine. I’ll email Ms. Rodriguez.”

Lily exhales. “Thank you.”

He shoulders his bag, takes a deep breath. “Okay. I have practice, but I’ll text you once I’ve sent the email.”

Lily knows she should be ecstatic at the promise of more communication with him, but, as she watches him go, she can’t quite summon the excitement. You know how Roger is. No, she doesn’t.

read part two here!

#jilytober #jilytober 2020 #jily #jily fic #my writing #mine #lily evans #james potter #harry potter fanfiction #jily au #james x lily #jily fanfiction #sirius black #marlene mckinnon

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slyttherins · 4 years ago

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A Jily wedding | Wolfstar

Summary: Slices of life leading up to Jily’s wedding

Pairing: Sirius Black x Remus Lupin / James Potter x Lily Evans

Word count: 2589

James, Sirius and Peter sat at a table at the Leaky Cauldron, drinking beers and celebrating James' last days as an unmarried man.

''I can't believe you're getting married. Married!''

James rolled his eyes and finished the last of his beer. ''Shut up, Pads.''

''I mean, who would've thought you'd end up marrying Evans. All those years of trying and failing to get her on a date finally gave something.''

On the other side of the table, Peter snickered, remembering how desperate James had always been for her during their years at Hogwarts. Someone will without a fail mention it during their speech at the wedding. There were so many good stories about James Potter's grand flirting techniques - and failures -, it would be a shame to not share some with their guests.

''Moony, where are our beers?'' James called out to him.

''Coming!'' he replied from the bar, only now receiving the tall glasses. ''You're getting the next round,'' he told Peter when he sat down.

Sirius wrapped an arm around his shoulders and toasted to James - again.

''I don't get it. How can you be so calm about this? You're getting fucking married in twelve days, Prongs!''

The closer they were to their wedding day, the less nervous James was - unlike Lily who was a nervous wreck, planning everything with his mother. Sometimes, she'd ask his opinion on things like cake toppers or flowers, but James always told her the same thing: I don't care, do what you please. To some, it could pass like he was behaving like an ass, but he truly didn't care whether there were white or blue or yellow flowers on the table-centers. To him, all that mattered was that his beautiful fiancé would become his wife at the end of the ceremony. That Lily Evans would become Lily Potter. The rest...was just confetti.

''Is Petunia coming?''

Remus Lupin knew nothing about weddings, but, unlike the other marauders, he was helpful. He had come to the Potters' to help Lily with some last minute preparations like the final seating chart and making sure everything was in order for next week - and she couldn't be more thankful.

Lily looked down. ''No. She...she isn't,'' she replied, feeling her eyes welled with tears.

Remus pursed his lips into a thin line, now regretting asking. ''I'm sorry.''

''She made her choice a long time ago. I don't know why I ever thought for a second that she'd send a positive RSVP...''

''She's your sister. You're allowed to be upset.''

''I thought she could make an exception for one day, for my big day, and put her hatred against the wizarding world aside, but I guess not.''

Family was a difficult subject for Lily Evans. Mainly her relationship with her sister, Petunia. They used to be very close, but her witch abilities put a strain between and their relationship had kept deteriorating until they became completely distant.

Two years ago, Lily - alongside James - had attended Petunia and Vernon's wedding. Although they hadn't talked the whole night, Lily saw this as a step into rekindling their relationship, but Petunia had proven wrong when she didn't return the favor and checked the RSVP as 'no' for Lily's wedding.

''My parents cannot make it to my wedding either. It's so sad to think that on my big day I won't have any family there to see me walk down the aisle. I don't even have someone to give me away to James-'' She pushed her face in her hands, more upset than she let on.

Remus' heart broke at the sight of a crying Lily, five days before her wedding. She didn't deserve this. She deserved a beautiful wedding with all of her loved ones in the attendance. A wedding filled with love and happiness.

He squeezed her forearm. ''You have me. I can be your family for one day.''

At Hogwarts, she and Remus had become best friends - much to James' jealousy. Their friendship wasn't to the marauders' level, but they were very close - thanks to being both prefects, and studying and potion partners.

If James were there, he'd add that they were both bookworms too.

Lily raised her head, the couple tears she had let slip now visible. ''You'd do that?''

Remus nodded. Yeah, he'd do that.

This morning, a letter had arrived from Madam Malkin announcing that their robes were finished being crafted and that the boys could come in and try them on in the afternoon.

The accent color of the wedding was a rich purple-y red color which somehow suited everyone. When Madam Malkin revealed the robes to the marauders, they were pleasantly surprised and excited to try them on.

Everyone's robes were different while being cohesive, just like their personalities. The base of the outfit was simple: white shirt and black trousers - except for Peter who was the ring bearer. James, as the groom, had a cloak, a vest - matching with his best man - and a bow tie. Instead of a bow tie, Sirius and Remus had matching ties. Remus also had suspenders instead of a vest because Lily prefered that for him - and, according to Sirius, he looked fine.

''How do I look?'' James asked, standing in front of the floor length mirror and perfecting the cloak over his shoulders.

''It looks nice. But, won't you get hot in this?'' Peter replied, slouched in one of the chairs, munching on some snacks and leaving crumbs on his nice dress shirt.

''Probably. I'm only wearing the cloak for the ceremony, though. Padfoot? Moony, what do you thi-'' James turned around and groaned, seeing the two kissing in the corner. ''Bloody hell, can you two not suck faces for ten minutes?''

At James' voice, Remus pulled away and looked down, sheepish. ''Sorry.'' His lips were slightly red and a piece of his hair was sticking up at the back.

Sirius, on the other hand, was unbothered and still staring at Remus as if he was some bone to munch on. ''If Evans hadn't put Moony in bloody suspenders and fit trousers, it wouldn't be an issue,'' he defended, taking a seat beside Peter. ''Have you seen his ass-''

''I don't want to hear it!'' James interrupted before Sirius could finish, raising his hands to cover his ears like a child.

Madam Malkin appeared in the fitting area. ''Everything alright here? I heard screaming.''

''All good, Madam Malkin,'' Remus replied politely with a small smile, hoping she hadn't noticed his burning cheeks.

Sirius looked smug and Peter was snickering in his seat, amused by the situation.

''If one of you tears or stain anything before the wedding, you'll be paying for the repairs,'' James warned them - Peter included.

One week before the wedding, James did the unthinkable and walked in on Lily trying on her dress. It wasn't intentional - he didn't even know she was home -, but Mrs. Potter had shooed him out of the room quickly, screaming that it was bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding.

''I didn't even see the dress!'' he promised from the other side of the door. ''But, just so you know, I'd still marry you if you were wearing a pillow case.''

Lily had laughed. She was going to marry that idiot. ''And you better have a dress robes when I see you at the altar, Potter.''

''So...who's next?''

''Next what?'' Remus asked, confused.

''Who's the next marauder to tie the knot?''

''Well, Peter. But I suggest you take a seat because that's not happening for a long time. Have you seen him flirt with Dorcas? He can't even pick up that she isn't interested in boys!''

They both bursted laughing.

''It must be you, then.''

Remus choked on his tea, almost spittering it all on himself. ''You know Sirius and I can't get married, Evans.''

''Not now, obviously.''

''Even if we could, marriage isn't Sirius and I's deal. We love each other very much, but have no intention on getting married - ever.''

Although it could sound nice to call Sirius his husband, Sirius' view on marriage had been heavily tainted because of his family and blood purity obsession. In the Noble House of Black, you didn't marry out of love, but to keep the bloodline pure. Toujour pur.

A few years ago, his parents had even tried to force him into marrying his cousin, Narcissa. Sirius had found it morally disgusting and was very thankful when Narcissa married Lucius Malfoy.

''He might changed his mind for you.''

''How was your afternoon with Lily? Has she gone all bridezilla yet?'' Sirius asked when he heard the door of his and Remus' shared flat open and close.

Remus chuckled as he removed his boots. ''Surprisingly, no. She'd have all the reasons to, though. She received some last minute RSVPs and has nowhere to place them on the seating chart, the florists got the wrong colors for the arrangements and the Ceremony Official mixed up his dates and Lily and James' date isn't available anymore,'' he explained. ''If I were her, I'd be crying on the floor - but don't tell her that.''

Sirius laughed and went around the counter to greet Remus properly, abandoning the sandwich he was making himself. ''Your secret's safe with me, love.'' He kissed Remus who scrunched his nose, smelling a mix of exhaust and leather on his boyfriend.

''You've taken out the motorcycle?''

''Yeah. I went on a ride with Prongs. We came up with a genius idea to drive him to the altar on my motorcycle, but there's very small chances Lily will let us.''

''With reason.''

Much like Remus, Lily wasn't a fan of that motorcycle. Motorcycles itself were dangerous and had a high risk of fatalities, but Sirius' was huge and fast and could fly, which made it ten times more dangerous. Plus, James and Sirius were very reckless on that motorcycle and had once been chased by muggle authorities.

The ceremony went on smoothly - if you don't count Peter almost dropping the rings. James had shed a few tears when he saw Lily in her white dress and Lily didn't forget her vows, which she had been nervous about. Her memory wasn't the best under stress.

After saying 'I do', everyone had moved to the magically enlarged ball room for the reception. As expected, the place was beautiful. Rich purple-y red and white flower arrangements, chic drapes, floating lights and a massive cake.

Like expected, Sirius had filled his best man speech with embarrassing anecdotes of the couple - mainly on James' end. He did tease a bit Lily too - otherwise it wouldn't have been fair -, but he was harder on James, as expected. The guests had laughed and James was embarrassed, which was all Sirius wanted.

''You just wait for payback on your wedding day, Padfoot,'' James threatened as they shared a shoulder hug.

Lily might not have gone all bridezilla on her wedding planning, but she insisted on handing her guests a list of rules for the night. There weren't too many and they were simple and basic. No pranks. No gorging yourselves at the buffet table. No exhibitionism. No drunken speeches. No getting so wasted you can't walk. No white for the women attending.

Some were specifically hinted toward one or more people, but she figured that all their guests could use those rules.

Lily had joined Remus at a table as the guests danced to rest her sore feet. She had charmed her shoes before putting them on so they wouldn't hurt her feet from wearing them all night, but the charm must've worn out by now.

''Mrs. Potter,'' Remus greeted, nodding his head.

The redhead chuckled and took a sip of her champagne. ''That's me.''

''You look beautiful, Lily. Radiant.''

''I can't believe I'm married, Remus. Married! This is insane.'' She smiled and took another sip.

A few feet from them, Sirius' shirt was halfway unbuttoned and his tie was undone as he danced with James, a drink in his left hand. His hair was pulled into a messy half-up, too hot to let them down fully, and Remus watched with discouragement and endearment. They looked ridiculous.

''Seeing this makes me regret what I just willingly signed up for.''

Remus laughed. ''Worry not, we're in this together.''

''They look like idiots.''

They laughed and James held on to Sirius who's drink tilted and almost made a mess. Sirius brought it up to his lips and kept on dancing with his best friend.

''You think Sirius will make it till the end of the night? How many drinks has he had?''

At this moment, Sirius tripped on his own foot, making him vacillate and almost falling. More than he should've.

''I'll handle him,'' Remus assured.

When Remus decided it was enough, he pried Sirius from the room and led him to one of the couches in a secluded part of the ball room to - hopefully - sober up before going home.

Lily had offered them a sobering potion, but Remus had declined it, knowing Sirius would be annoyed and want to drink more after - which he really shouldn't if he doesn't want to get alcohol poisoning. It wasn't his first time dealing with a drunk Sirius - and he didn't really mind. He was easy enough to manage.

Sirius' head rested against the high armrest of the couch, sprawled like his bones had been replaced with jelly. Drunk and dazed, he reached out for his boyfriend and dragged him down with him, making Remus squeal in surprise.

Sirius took hold of his hand and brought it to his face and leaned into it as Remus sat on his lap.

''Where's your tie?'' Remus asked, not seeing the silky strip around his neck.

Sirius looked down and shrugged, only now noticing that it was in fact not there anymore. He shrugged, not caring much about the lost tie. It's not like he had planned to wear it again.

''You're very drunk.''

''And you're very pretty.'' Sirius wrapped his arms around Remus' neck and started kissing his jaw lovingly and drunkenly. ''I love you, Moony.''

In his last stage of drunkenness, Sirius Black was a needy and affectionate drunk - before blacking out, that is. Once he was past the goofing with James stage, he was the neediest person, wanting nothing else than to hug, cuddle and kiss everybody he knew - especially Remus.

He'd look around the room, searching for Remus just so he could wrap his arms around him and kiss his face and flirt with him. To love and be loved in return. It was all a drunk Sirius wanted - needed.

Remus tried to resist Sirius' kissing and pulled away, insisting on keeping his promise to Lily and following her wedding rules. He looked down at the raven haired wizard, seeing clearly how much of a mess he looked with pieces of hair were falling into his heavy eyes, a soft smile across his lips and the smooth skin of his chest on display from his half buttoned shirt.

''Shall we go home?'' Remus took a piece of Sirius' hair and twirled it around his fingers.

Sirius shook his head in protest, feeling the effects of alcohol dissipate a little. ''Wanna stay a little more,'' he said...only to change his mind less than a minute later, which made Remus laugh.

''Let's go say goodbye to the newlyweds, first.'' Remus helped him get up from the couch and walked back to the party area.

#wolfstar #wolfstar fic #jily #jily fic #sirius black #remus lupin x sirius black #Remus Lupin #james potter #lily evans #harry potter fic #marauders era #wedding fic

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chaoswillfallrpg · 5 years ago

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LILY EVANS is TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD and a JUNIOR RESEARCHER in THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC RESEARCH WING at THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC. She looks remarkably like ELLIE BAMBER and considers herself aligned with THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. She is currently TAKEN.

→ OVERVIEW:

Lily Evans always had a suspicion she was special. Raised in Cokeworth to librarian JILL EVANS and school teacher JOHN EVANS, Lily had a relatively simple upbringing. The Evans house was like something out of a storybook, with a white picket fence and a gate that slammed hard on it’s hinges every as she ran through it on their way to school. In the garden various types of flowers bloomed including water lilies which floated on their pond and petunias lining the garden all after which both Lily and her older sister PETUNIA were named. Having a sister was a special connection to Lily. Petunia was her best friend and her protector from the day she was born, never once leaving her side. Petunia helped Lily to ride a bike for the first time without stabilizers across the green towards Spinners End and shared with her all of her favourite toys. Although the Evans house had enough bedrooms to house both the girls separately, Lily and Petunia were happiest together and shared a pale pink bedroom with glowing stars on the ceiling they stared at as they whispered secrets to one another before they slept. Lily’s childhood was magical before she even knew that real magic existed in the world. She saw beauty in the first snowflake to fall in their garden in December to the dragonflies that danced upon their pond in the spring.

Her life truly began to change when Lily was around seven years old. The flowers Lily and her sister danced around had a funny way of dancing too when Lily twirled around them. As she grew older she realised it was not simply the wind that coerced them into a waltz. Cupping a flower her sister had picked for her in her hand, Lily could make it flourish and bloom before the petals turned to butterflies that flew away into the sky. Lily’s magic was beautiful and although such abilities would frighten most Muggle children it only made her more eager to look at things in her world more closely. Petunia became jealous of Lily’s magic, saying cruel and spiteful things which made tears fill her eyes and roll down her cheeks. It hadn’t been so bad at first, but when Lily befriended SEVERUS SNAPE from Spinners End it signalled the beginning of the end for the Evans girls friendship. Severus Snape was an awkwardly quiet boy, very different from the outgoing and frienly Lily Evans. He was hesitant to be her friend at first, avoiding her gaze as he sat alone on the green by his house, until slowly but surely Lily managed to coax him out of his shell.

Severus didn’t seem to mind when Lily made odd things happen, in fact he found the things she could do quite wonderful. A look of awe in his eyes each time she would blush apologetically for making it snow which often happened when she spoke about her sister with a heavy heart. Severus was the first person to explain magic to Lily, giving context to the strange things she could do. She was a witch and one day she would arrive home from school to a letter from PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE telling her she had been selected to attend a magical school for people just like them. Of course when Lily’s letter came, Petunia was delighted to find out her sister would be attending boarding school, upstting Lily more than Petuina was aware. Collectng her books from Diagon Alley was a magical experience for Lily that Petuina also seemed intent on ruining, from her nasty comments to constant complaining that shocked passers by. Before she boarded the train to Hogwarts Lily hugged Petunia once, knowing it was quite possibly the last hug she would ever give her again and shed one small tear into the crook of Severus’ cloak before vowing to fully embrace her new life away from home.

Sorted into Gryffindor, Lily quickly befriended MARLENE MCKINNON, MARY MACDONALD and DORCAS MEADOWES who were very unique characters. Although Mary was also a Muggle-Born, they were bubbly and friendly, seemingly unphased by the hustle and bustle of this new world that Lily felt slightly intimidated by. The beginning of classes signalled a new found confidence for Lily as she quickly established herself amongst her peers as an incredibly talented witch. A firm favourite of her professors, particularly PROFESSOR SLUGHORN and PROFESSOR FLITWICK, Lily’s talents began to attract her both positive and negative attention at school, as people flocked to be her friend and ask for her help with their studies. Others began to feel disdain toward her brilliance. JASPER AVERY in particular enjoyed bullying Lily calling her a “mudblood” and encouraging his friends to do the same as she repeatedly bested him academically. Lily had a very thick skin, however and was known to aim a plethora of cleverly orchestrated insults and the occasional hex back his way. Garnering a reputation as someone that although was gentle hearted was not to be underestimated, JAMES POTTER was someone who learned this of Lily the hard way.

A fellow Gryffindor, James Potter was a terribly arrogant boy who seemed to believe his good looks made him entitled to any attention he desired. Though she had seen glimmers of kindness within him, Lily believed James and his best friends SIRIUS BLACK and PETER PETTIGREW were self-entitled bullies and spent the majority of her time at school attempting to remind James that he was an arrogant toerag. REMUS LUPIN, the other member of their group, was nothing like his friends. A quiet and studious boy, Lily was very fond of him and eventually came round to the idea of James, Sirius and Peter being more than just a thorn in her side after both Lily and Remus became prefects in their fourth year. Around the same time Lily began to notice a shift in her relationship with Severus who seemed saddened by Lily’s acceptance of a group of boys who enjoyed bullying him, although Lily had always stepped in to defend Severus whenever it was brought to her attention. Having always thought it important to defend Severus, Lily had no idea he secretly despised her getting involved until it was too late. A more skilled duellist than Severus with a more confident facade, Lily thought nothing of throwing herself forward to defend Severus until the day he turned on her for it. Referring to her as a “filthy mudblood” in front of his dorm mates. The two had been drifting apart for some time, though she had still considered him her best friend.

Lily had never been phased by people discussing her blood status, but for Severus to suggest she was lesser than everyone else because of it shook Lily to her core and pierced her heart beyond repair. The remainder of her time at school was spent firmly with the Gryffindors, with Lily focusing on her school work and enjoying her final years at Hogwarts. Graduating top of her class and as Head Girl, Lily quickly applied for a job as a Junior Researcher at The Ministry of Magic, hoping to continue her academic career studying experimental Charms. Taking up a little apartment with Marlene in Diagon Alley, Lily had adjusted to her new life outside of Hogwarts, frequenting the pub with Peter and going to and from work each day. That was until Professor Dumbledore approached her. Lily had experienced first hand the hatred the hatred of Muggle-Borns. The Order of The Phoenix was set up by Dumbledore to act as a line of defence to protect those like Lily and expressed an interest in joining as soon as the idea was floated. Assigned EMMELINE VANCE as her mentor, Lily has enjoyed training with The Order and sharpening her skills under a highly experienced and intelligent witch. With the prospect of a war looming as more people go missing in London, Lily is determined to stand up for what she believes is right and has found herself being more open to developing new and existing relationships in light of what’s to come.

→ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Blood Status → Muggle-Born

Pronouns → She/Her

Identification → Cis Female

Sexuality → Up to Roleplayer

Relationship Status → Single

Previous Education → Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Gryffindor)

Societies → N/A

Family → Petunia Dursley (sister)

Connections → Marlene McKinnon (best friend/room mate), Dorcas Meadowes (best friend) Mary MacDonald (best friend), Peter Pettigrew (best friend), Remus Lupin (best friend), Sirius Black (close friend), James Potter (close friend/potential love interest), Maren Linwood (friend), Emilia Grey (friend), Cassiopeia Kim (friend), Cressida Abercrombie (friend), Gilfred Abbott (friend), Caradoc Dearborn (friend), Poppy Hookum (friend), Aurora Sinistra (friend), Emmeline Vance (mentor), Severus Snape (former best friend/adversary), Jasper Avery (adversary)

Future Information → Wife of James Potter, Mother of Harry Potter

LILY EVANS IS A LEVEL 7 WITCH.

#lily evans #ellie bamber #marauders #marauders rp #marauders rpg #order member #ministry #research wing #magic #taken witch #taken #taken order member

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tadasgay · 6 years ago

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the shitty summer camp au you didn’t ask for but definitely deserve

@jilychallenge | vs @diggorye 😘😘😘

prompt: “i got lost on this campground at night and i am so sorry i thought this was my tent and now i’m waking up next to you and um hi this is just a little awkward” camping AU

(originally this was a lot longer but it had to be cut because i couldn’t find it in me to be happy with where it was going. this au rly warrants a 40k word fic written by someone who is not me)

___

The only bad part about summer camp, Lily thinks, is that when your sister decides to call you at one in the morning to ask if you’ve taken her hair straightener with you (to camp) and if you could please stop stealing her stuff (which you haven’t), is that you have to walk around in the dark for ten minutes before you can get even a hint of reception (if you’re lucky). And then, of course, you have to listen to your sister accuse you of taking stuff you don’t even want nor need for another twenty minutes, in the dark, alone, in the middle of nowhere, where anyone could creep up on you, and then the last thing you’ll ever hear as some weirdo without a life artfully murders you is your sister whisper-shouting about how you really need to stop taking her stuff without asking.

Something should be done about this, really.

“Come on, Tuney.” She sighs, one thumb between her brows as if that can single-handedly hold the oncoming wrinkles back. The light outside the tutors’ cabins suddenly seem very far away. “My phone’s about to die. Could we please do this when I’m not standing in a bush?”

She hears Petunia suck air in deeply on the other end through her teeth. “Lily, you’re not seven anymore. You can’t just skirt responsibility every time you get caught doing something wrong.”

“I know that. Which is why if I had stolen your hair straightener, I would have told you already.”

“You’re completely ignoring my point–”

Brightly, Lily goes “okay, bye!” and punctuates it by ending the call.

Let Petunia be mad. It’s much better than Petunia fuming over Lily in a coffin six feet under because she accidentally tripped over a root in the middle of the night and died. They probably wouldn’t find her body for at least six more hours. Rigor mortis would have done all sorts of funky things to her body by then. Think of the children, she telepathically tells Petunia, across all those kilometres, it’s enough to traumatise anyone for life.

There’s enough light from the moon to get her back to the tents. She remembers to dodge the beginnings of a shallow creek just outside the spindly trees she’d been hiding in; to walk around the prickle patch separating Mary’s and Regulus Black’s tents. The grass sighs as a gentle wind passes over it, and she is a shadowy girl, filling the night.

She unzips the opening to her tent as quietly as she can and shimmies over to her designated corner. Her clumsy hand bumps into someone sleeping on top of her sleeping bag in the darkness; she might need to have another word to Dorcas about keeping to her own side in the morning.

She lays down, banishes all thoughts of Petunia and missing hair straighteners, and dreams.

___

She wakes some time before sunrise, or some time quickly after she’d fallen asleep; she’s not too sure. There’s something unusually heavy on her torso, and when she sleepily pushes it off her, she realises that something is not quite right.

James Potter stares at her from her side. There’s enough light from the distant moonlight to see that he’s somewhere between confused and horrified, snatching his arm back like he’s been burned.

“What are you doing here?” She whispers loudly.

“I could ask the same of you.” James retorts.

“I–” Lily starts, looks around the tent, and realises with sudden clarity that she doesn’t need to have a word with Dorcas in the morning. For starters, Dorcas isn’t here. Secondly, there is no way Dorcas got replaced by the sleeping forms of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin Doctor Who style. “I am totally in the wrong tent.”

“How’d you get in here?” Laughter lurks between the letters.

“Through the zipper.”

“Why are you here?” He corrects.

“It’s not like it was intentional.” She whispers hotly. The worst thing she could do right now is wake up the others and be subject to even more humiliation. It’s one thing for James to relay the series of events to his friends, quite another for them to experience it with him.

A quick note about James Potter: calling him a walking headache would be too much of a compliment. He’s committed a long list of atrocities, including kicking a ball at Dorcas on the first day during the welcome party and not apologising; very loudly calling Evan Rosier a ‘gossipy creep’, which is true, but she still wouldn’t have said it to his face in front of everyone; and being very annoyingly attractive from every possible angle.

Their two brief and infrequent interactions had been enough for Lily to understand that he was pretty, and funny, but foolheartedly arrogant, and kind of a total prat. Like, what kind of person won’t stop touching their hair? Or thinks it’s funny to try cover their own friend in craft glue? Don’t they know that trying to get that stuff off is akin to human torture?

She is getting used to living with the unfolding mystery of herself, and being into James Potter is just something she’s going to have to accept.

Once she lives this down.

“Hey, you don’t have to leave.” He goes when she starts to roll herself off the mattress. “McGonagall made Peter clean the kayaks for sneaking into Bertha Jorkins’s tent the other night.”

She makes a face, not that he can see it. “Well, that’s what he gets for trying it on with Bertha and then telling everyone about it.This is entirely a mistake.”

“You wanna explain to her how you got in here in the – what? Middle of the night? What were you doing out there, anyway?”

“If you must know,” her voice is clipped, even in a whisper, “I had an urgent family phone call.”

“In the middle of the night?”

“That’s not important!”

“What is important, though,” he sounds far too earnest, “is that McGonagall will at the very least take your phone off you if you get caught gallivanting between tents in the dark, even if you’re her favourite. So you don’t need to feel bad about staying here. Unless you’re super uncomfortable with it.” He adds quickly, because apparently he’s not as prattish to his core as he’s made himself out to be. “I’ll stay to my own side and everything.”

She ignores the tell-tale beat of her wanting heart. Why does he have to be considerate? Doesn’t he know what he’s doing to her poor, delicate heartstrings? “I don’t think you’re trying to do anything untoward with me. But I can’t ask you to stay on your own side of your bed.”

“Good thing you’re not asking. I’m offering.”

This moment, at age seventeen, with a cute boy in the dark, should be a moment magical enough to fall in love. It isn’t. But it should be.

Really, it’s just extremely awkward.

She swallows, then smiles. “Thanks for not kicking me out of your tent just yet.”

“Any time. I apologise in advance for whatever shit gets stirred in the morning.”

She lies back down, leaving an ample amount of space between them. She’s on the very edge of the top of the sleeping bag, but she’s had worse sleeping arrangements – namely, being slept on top of by Dorcas. She doesn’t know how she’s supposed to sleep when her stomach is rolling about like an ocean in a storm, but she’ll certainly try.

Her mouth is dry when she goes, “well, I’d say it’s better than cleaning kayaks.”

“Jesus, would you two shut up?” Sirius says.

___

(Later, Lily will think that a summer romance should go like this:

They fall in love at first sight. It’s meant to be a punch to her plexus, followed by everything you’re meant to feel when you fall in love; like they’re unwinding into each other, like their hearts beat as one, yada yada yada. She is not supposed to trip over her tongue around a cute, brash boy, or get into his tent, or have her friends manipulate them into spending time alone together. She is supposed to be confident and cocksure and charming. She’s meant to dazzle him with her smile and wit.

Later, Lily will think that, perhaps, the whole thing is total bullshit.)

___

PETUNIA: Found it. PETUNA: Antonia from across the road was borrowing it x

#jilychallenge #jily #fanfiction #maybe one day i'll clean up the 3k other words and post it :+)

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siriuslyblack12 · 5 years ago

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chapter 3

“Pete, mate, as much as I love you, this is genuinely the worst idea that anyone has ever had, and I fucking mean that.”

The four marauders, most popular people in the school, doted upon and loved by almost everyone they crossed paths with, all attractive in their own ways, seemed to be at the lowest point they’d ever experienced: kneeling behind a bush onlooking Mary MacDonald and her friends. To any passing person, this would seem like incredibly creepy, perhaps even stalker behaviour. They would like to inform you that, no, that was not their intention, rather to do a good thing for their friend. Peter had been innocently crushing on Mary from the very first moment he’d seen her, and he was finally wanting to do something about it.

When Peter had suggested ambushing her as she was outside for PE, something she was very passionate about, the other three had laughed, until realising that he was deadly serious. So there they were, clichéd binoculars in hand, watching as Mary ran laps around the freshly cut grass, waiting for their moment to strike. Her hair was in tight box braids, falling down to almost her elbows, moving from side to side with the effort.

“How does she even do that? She must have ran around that about 15 times!” Peter squeaked, obviously impressed .

“Just because you can’t do two without collapsing.” James laughed in a manner that Remus initially thought to be a little mean, but further inspection and Peter’s own smile showed the playful banter.

“I’d like to see you try, Prongs.” Sirius jabbed.

“Fuck off.”

“Gladly, but unfortunately Wormy here requires our assistance.”

Peter shifted uncomfortably from where he was sat, seeing that Mary had now stopped to chat with Dorcas, catching her breath. He hadn’t bothered to organise exactly what he was planning to do, thinking that he could wing it, but he was now having serious doubts.

What exactly would he say to her?

What if she rejected him?

Suddenly feeling sick, he looked over to his friends who were snacking on chocolate, scrolling through unopened snapchats and talking to himself respectively, hoping for some sort of copout.

“Alright, now’s your chance, just walk up to her and work your magic.” One of them said, Peter wasn’t paying enough attention to know which.

“What exactly is my ‘magic’? Sounds gross.” He replied, hand fidgeting.

“Awe, c’mon, you’ll be fine! Channel your inner… me.” Sirius stated, with a wink thrown in Remus’s direction, who then flushed the same colour as the berries on the bushes. Peter groaned, waiting for the floor to swallow him whole. Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen, instead he was lifted and pushed right into Mary’s arms.

Damn Sirius.

His eyes raised to meet kind ones, dazed and confused, but kind. She placed her hands on Peter’s shoulders to steady herself, lingering there for longer than necessary and twisting her fingers in the material. Realising what she was doing she briskly cleared her throat and dislodged herself from the boy. They looked at each other for a moment, neither really knowing what to say or do, searching each other’s faces for a clue in.

Dorcas called out, “Mary, coach needs us on the track. What’s going on?”

“I’ll be right there, you go.” She said, before turning back to Peter with a flutter of her eyelashes. “Did you need anything?”

Internally screamed internally, wanting to say it but not knowing how, his friends still watching him encouragingly. “No, no, never mind.” He stammered, immediately regretful. Mary’s eyes narrowed, but she smiled sweetly and walked in the other direction. She’s getting away. Do something..

“Hey, um, Mary?” His hands heavy on the back of his neck as she hummed in acknowledgement. “You-, do you-, um,” It’s not that hard. “Do you want to, maybe, go out with me sometime? Only if you want to, you can pick the place and everything, I just thought-“

“Of course I will, Pete.” She grinned, making him do the same, both grinning stupidly at each other until she jogged away to thread her arm into Dorcas’s, laughing as friends do.

The three other boys stalked forward, shouting praise and clasping Peter on the back. Maybe he did have that magic that Sirius was talking about.

Remus observed quietly through the following days as Peter and Mary grew closer, spending almost all their time together. He thought they were rather cute together, hesitant touches and lovesick glances, though obviously in their ‘getting to know each other’ phase. He couldn’t help but feel jealous, not of them themselves but of the idea of it, just having that closeness with someone (that someone preferably being Sirius) was appealing. He was a hopeless romantic, though too afraid to admit it.

He and the others sat at their lunch table, as per usual, eavesdropping on another group’s drama. It was ridiculous, but funny, and ridiculously funny. Tiffany had allegedly cheated, and was now being scolded by her boyfriend, whilst her other friends rallied around her; Remus felt as if he was overstepping some sort of boundary, but alas, it’s not as if he could help it. They were shouting over the noise of the entire canteen.

“This sounds rich coming from you!” Tiffany shrieked, “You cheated on me a month ago with Nina Hudson, and I didn’t say a thing.”

“What-, no I didn’t, that was just a rumour.” The boyfriend matched her volume.

“You did so, she told me herself.” She turned her nose up proudly.

“I didn’t! I swear on my life.”

“You’re such a bad liar, you-, you-, shitbag.”

James laughed loudly, cheering her on whereas Sirius looked disinterested, possibly sharing Remus’s own discomfort. He’d have guessed that he would have shared the same enthusiasm as James, the two being inseparable and frankly obnoxious when paired together, but that wasn’t the case.

Lily spoke from Remus’s left, “I feel bad for them both, don’t you? Having their relationship so out there like that.” Ironic considering all James could talk about was the ocean blue of her eyes.

“I don’t see the point.” Sirius said disconnectedly, “Why does there have to be so much fuss about it? Everyone pairing of, who’s fucking who.”

Remus had taken a sip of water that he all but choked on when James replied, “Just because you’re not getting any.”

The two bickered as they often did, the two practically being brothers. It had always baffled Remus how one moment they loved one another, and the next they were wrestling, punching, kicking as people said boys did. It was also confusing how Sirius could have such a strong sibling with one person and be so distant from his own brother. Remus couldn’t recall a single conversation the Black brothers had had, nor did Sirius like to talk about it.

“Come to think of it, have you ever had a girlfriend?” James questioned, the table immediately silencing as he said it.

Sirius stammered and blushed, “Well no, I’m… just looking for the right person, nothing wrong with that.”

James looked at him, breaking the amused tone. “Excuses, excuses. How long will it be until you find this ‘right person’ exactly? Plenty of birds would kill for a date with you.”

“I don’t know James!” Sirius snapped, rising and packing his bag. “I’m going to class, don’t wanna be late.”

What’s going on? He’s never early.

Maybe I could find out.

“We best go too, Re. The library awaits.” Lily chorused, bringing him out of his thoughts. He threw one more look to a disgruntled Sirius, halfway across the room by now, before scuffling to follow the girl.

“What d’you think is up with him?”

James and Remus were sat in Physics, test papers in front of them, the latter hard at work scribbling something or other when James whispered over to him. For the rest of the week the boy in question had been strangely distant from his friends, making excuses as to why he couldn’t hang out that were about as thin as a paper bag. A nerve had been struck, showing itself as he avoided the help of those around him. Remus felt sorry for him, desperate to piece together exactly what was going on.

“I dunno,” He said, earning a glance from their professor. “Should we do something?”

“I’m sure he’ll come around. He loves the drama, I guarantee he’ll be back to himself in no time.” Remus doubted this, but he trusted that James was his closest friend, and ultimately the person who knew him best; making him the most qualified for judgement.

He trailed off, “I guess… it just sucks to see him like this, you know?”

“Of course, I get that, but there’s not really much we can do. We can’t sit here and beat ourselves up about it.” James was always the mother hen.

“There should be no need to talk during this test, thank you very much.” Their professor reminded flatly, finishing with a pointed look to the two boys. Remus waited until she turned her head back to laptop, typing away, before speaking again.

“Has he seriously never had a girlfriend?” He asked, more out of his own interest than actual care, but no one had to know that. He’d only had 1 himself, one of those primary school girls who held hands with you once before breaking up with you over text. He was vaguely aware of the few that James had had, including a fling with Marlene before she’d realised her sexuality. Turns out one of the only girls James hadn’t dated was the one he wanted to the most.

“Not that I know of, I think he’s just embarrassed.”

“Are we talking about the same person here?” Remus asked sarcastically, hoping to amuse the other. It seemed to work well as James let out a laugh that was followed by another warning from the professor, this time more stern.

“Do you think it’s about Regulus? Something might have happened there that he hasn’t told us about.” James said thoughtfully and seriously, looking behind him to see the very boy he’d just mentioned, pale face pressed almost right into the paper, bony fingers wrapped around a pen.

“That’d make sense,” Remus responded. “There’s no way of actually knowing until he comes around though.”

“I wish he’d just tell us, everything would be so much easier.”

Remus thought about that for a moment, replaying it in his mind. Telling people what’s the matter could help.

Maybe that’s advice I could take.

Remus alternated between pacing up and down the concrete of Lily’s driveway, and standing perfectly still to lower the rate of his heart. It was dark with the evening sun, but this simply couldn’t wait. His thoughts were far too loud in his head to wait any longer.

He had to tell Lily.

He had to tell Lily he was bi.

The two had always been close, but as of late they’d been spending more and more time together. Bitching about their friends, helping each other study, and Remus felt like he was living a lie. His chest tightened with every word he spoke, and he simply couldn’t continue without confiding in her. It was eating him up, swallowing him whole, biting at his dignity and heart. He wasn’t exactly sure why he hadn’t already told her, putting it down to a combination of imperfect timing and chickening out last minute. He was now determined that he would. He had to be.

Lily gazed out of the window to find him in one of his pacing staged, fingers nervously picking at a cut on his hand. She scrambled up before her sister could see what she was looking at and intervene, heading straight for the door.

What the fuck is he doing here?

Her fingers fumbled with the keys as she tried to unlock the door before anyone noticed what was wrong, which was becoming increasingly harder as she heard the screeching voice of her sister ring through the house. When she finally got the right key, shoving it into the lock and fumbling for a few more minutes to turn it the correct way, the door opened to a shaking and shivering Remus staring back at her.

He blinked, throat closing up as he worked up the courage. Lily gave him a look, tried to convey ‘why the hell are you on my doorstep unannounced at 8 in the evening on a school night’ as best she could.

He opened his mouth to speak and was startled as the words fell out of his mouth like a waterfall of emotion. “Lily, I’m bi.”

“Cool, anything else?” She was surprised but it came out effortlessly smooth.

Remus hesitated, “Wait, you’re okay with it?”

Lily came out onto the step to meet him, closing the door behind her, and gestured for him to follow as she set off down the street. “Re, of course I’m okay with it. Dorcas and Marlene have been out for ages, there’s nothing to be worried about.”

“I know, I know,” he said breathlessly. “But it’s different… I thought-, I’m a boy,”

“How is that any different? I love them, and I love you, nothing’s changed.” Lily suggested gently. “Am I the first person you’ve told?”

Remus looked down at his feet, carrying him weightlessly through the street. The tension had evaporated. “Yeah, you were the first person that came to mind, not that I wouldn’t have told you first anyway-“ He added quickly. “I just, I wasn’t planning on telling anyone, not right now anyway, but then James said some poetic shit about telling people what’s up and how it helps and… I don’t know. This is stupid.”

She cut his rambling short, “It’s not stupid, god, none of this is stupid. I’m proud of you!”

Remus finally eased into his words, “I never really realised it, never had that lightbulb moment where it all comes to you at once and you know exactly who you are. It was always just something in the back of my mind and I tried to ignore it but the more I did that the more it came forward and forced me to deal with it.” She hummed in acknowledgement. “For a long time I had no idea what was going on, you know?”

Why? He remembered thinking. Why me?

“But then, a couple of month ago, I saw people like me for the first time. They were always there, but I’d never really seen them. So I looked into it and got my shit together and stopped fucking… denying it.” Reflecting on his past self, it all seemed rather stupid. “I’m sorry for dropping all of this on you, you’ve got your own stuff to-“

She cut him off once again. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Remus” She never calls me by my full name. “If anything I’m sorry that you had to go through all of that.”

He looked at her, fully this time, and felt his heart pull. In his mind he’d known she was going to be okay with it, of course she would, but seeing it play out in front of him was emotional to say the least. He was so grateful to have her. The two continued to walk as another layer of friendship and love was shared between the two.

She raised her eyebrows knowingly as she said “It’s Sirius, isn’t it?”

“What-, what are you talking about? I don’t,” He spluttered, wondering if he was ready to tell her about that particular problem.

She chuckled, “You’re about as obvious as a person carrying a sign that says ‘I’m in love with Sirius Black’. I’m not stupid.”

“I never said-,” He sighed as she put a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from walking further. “Sirius is my friend.”

“And Peter was Mary’s friend, and we all know how that turned out for them.”

Were they really talking about this?

Remus let out a low, wounded sound, “Lils-“

“Not that you asked me, but I think you’d be really cute together.” Her smile was warm and inviting, but not warm enough to get burned. No going back now.

“Fuck, Lils, I really like him. I think… I think I might love him. A little bit. Maybe.” He slumped his head onto her shoulder and groaned comically.

She laughed, a real laugh, and petted his curls reassuringly. “I know, mate. It’ like I said, you’re not exactly the least obvious person in the world.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do? He’s straight for fuck’s sake!”

A smirk painted her face. “Just hold out hope, you never know what’s going to happen.”

“Lilith Jane Evans is do you know something that I don’t?” Remus raised his voice.

A laugh escaped from her lips as she pulled him into a hug, “You’ll have to wait and see, Remus Elizabeth Lupin.”

“My middle name is not Elizabeth.”

“And my name isn’t ‘Lilith’, I’m not that posh”

Sirius watched Regulus from over the feast in front of him, eyes trained on the way his fingers drummed lightly on the table. Everything looked to far too expensive to even touch, plates and glasses lined with gold embellishments and 5 different forks lined up next to them. He hated family dinners with every fibre of his being, especially when everyone was set on edge by news that Sirius had just shared.

Regulus hated when his brother did that, gave himself a rebellious reputation that he would do anything to avoid. The boy was much thinner than Sirius, skin pale with an tint that was almost green, limbs longer and face flatter, with his hair cut short and curling around his forehead.

“Why aren’t you eating, boy? Is this not good enough for you?” The cold voice of Mr Black tried.

“I’m not hungry.” He said simply, voice devoid of the personality he would usually have an abundance of.

His mother shook her head from wear she was sat, “is that any way to address your father?”

Sirius shifted angrily in his seat, “I’m not hungry, sir.”

This earned a shallow and cold smile from his mother, a stark contrast to the smiles he was used to from his friends throughout the day. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? I’d take a clue from you brother if I were you, at least he can get it right the first time round.”

The table fell silent as Regulus sank down into his chair, hesitant to meet the eyes of anyone. “He’s only so willing because he’s scared, sir.” Sirius said with a bite. “Must be miserable, to have your own children afraid of you.”

Mr Black stilled, the moment so tense he would be grateful for a pin drop. His fingers curled around the arms of his chair as he stood ever so slowly, towering over Sirius with anger boiling behind his eyes. The tension only grew as the man’s voice came out as quiet as a whisper, “As far as I’m concerned you are no child of mine.”

He continued, voice rising with every syllable “You say you’re not hungry, then I suppose you wouldn’t mind if you didn’t finish this meal, or any meal for the rest of the weekend, eh? Would you be hungry?

Regulus gasped, still desperate to keep his voice low and unheard as he squeaked his brother’s name.

Sirius rose to his father’s level, voice wavering. “I’d rather starve then spend another minute in this hellhole.”

“Then leave! Get the fuck out of my house!” Mr Black boomed.

And so he did.

#as we grow older #wolfstar #remus lupin #sirius black #coming out #pining #angst #love #fluff

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marlmckitten · 8 years ago

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(She Had) Just Enough Time ~ Chapter 2: Family Bullies

(A/N: Just for some clarity, this is 100% only Marlene’s perspective of things. When they were fresh to Hogwarts, Sirius would not have known any better than what his family had taught him. Which is the reasoning for how pompous ass in the first chapter. Also the fact that this is a fanfiction with only my opinions in it anyway so you have to go with what I’m thinking. ;) With that said, if you do have any headcannons for any of them, but specifically Mary MacDonald & Dorcas Meadowes, let me know cause I have not explored them very much before this. And also thank you for all the comments and encouragement, here is some more. Long term, this is going to follow Marlene all the way through her life, highlighting all the Blackinnon moments.)

Not very much changed between their relationships as classes started. Lily and Marlene wasted no time growing into very close friends, until they spent almost every day together. Marlene found that she quite liked Lily’s friend, Severus, as well. And the three of them got along well, as long as Lily was present. When she was there, Snape was great and smiley and happy, and Marlene always enjoyed his dry sarcasm and quick wit. But with the red-head absent a darkness always took over him, which made Marlene wonder about his life outside of Hogwarts. Something told her that it wasn’t very good, and she wished that she could help somehow. Meanwhile, Dorcas and Mary were fun as well and when Marlene wasn’t with Severus and Lily, she was with them instead. It was easy enough to ignore Black and Potter, who had taken in the squeaky boy now as well. Marlene could hold her own against them just fine, even when Black thought he was clever enough to try insulting her in French one day.

“La fille aux cheveux laids-“ He had said across the hall, with the clear intention of going on.

But with a simple smirk, Marlene cut him off, “Bonjour tête de caniche. Je parle Français aussi.” And that managed to shut him up for at least a few hours. Lily appreciated it even more than Marlene did and went on for the rest of the day asking Marlene to say different things in French. Marlene never minded showing off when she was good at something so by the end of the day she had taught Lily a very random assortment of French words that she would surely never use again.

“Can you teach me at least enough to keep Potter away as well? The two of them are driving me completely mad already, why do they think they own the school anyway? Sev always told me that purebloods think they’re better than me, but what ever gave them that idea? So far I’ve been doing really well at everything, even though I have less practise than they do!” And it was true, Lily and picked up easily on every subject, where Marlene had struggled a little more. Luckily for her, and the two other girls, Lily was more than happy to help them out. And by the end of the first week, they were all still just excited to be at school and learn more magic. If the worst they had to endure was Potter, Black and Pettigrew, they could do it.

The second week went the same, and so did the third and forth, and soon weeks turned into months and most of the first years were much more settled. Almost everyone found some friends to make do with, mostly within their own houses, Severus and Lily being the main exception. The more timid boy who Marlene had remembered to be named Lupin slowly became friends with both Lily and with Pettigrew. Overall he got along with everyone, although didn’t seem to talk a lot with any specific person, he kept his life to himself, despite many attempts at getting him to open up a little more. Even Marlene’s charismatic personality had tried, but it didn't go anywhere and so she gave up very shortly afterward. If he wanted his space, she would give it to him, she was never much of one for being too pushy.

Potions became Severus’ best class, but he always was most interested in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Whereas Lily excelled in almost all her classes, but particularly Charms. Marlene did okay in her classes, preferring Charms as well, and not loving Flying as much as she hoped she had. She had a feeling it was something to do with how Potter so easily glided around from their very first lesson. He did almost as well as Lily in most subjects, with Sirius right behind them, both boys put in minimal effort. It was infuriating to Marlene and whenever she got a particularly good grade Black would turn with a grin and make sure she noticed how much better he did than her. “It’s not fair, he’s had more practice,” Marlene whined one afternoon as they were leaving History of Magic. “He slept through the class and did better on the pop quiz at the end than I did, how did he do that?”

But it was Severus who cut in this time, “He has probably been forced to remember trivial information for most of his life. A lot of pureblood families do those types of things. It wouldn’t surprise me if they also taught him some instruments and a lot of etiquette.”

“How do you know all this and I don’t?” Marlene pouted, “We’re both half-blood right?”

Severus nodded, “My mother told me, it was how she grew up.”

It was the first time Marlene had heard any mention of his family, but when she asked further questions, he sprinted away, claiming to be late to get to the library. “He’s a mysterious one, isn’t he?” She asked Lily. “Maybe not to you but…. He’s a little weird.”

Lily laughed and agreed, there was no sense denying something that everyone else was already picking up on to be true. Lily seemed lost in thought when she finally said, “If that’s true though, and they were raised that strict, I feel bad for them, don’t you?”

“Potter and Black?” Marlene wrinkled up her nose immediately, “What is there to feel bad about? They’ve been horrible before even bothering to get to know any of us. They’re nice to each other, because they have the same amount of arrogance. And tolerate Pettigrew because he does things for them, runs their errands and strokes their egos.”

“I guess,” Lily said, but just then they heard a commotion up ahead and Potter was practising new spell they learned on Severus. Black was sneering and cheering him on. Lily’s face dropped, “I take it back.”

It was Marlene who spoke up first, “You guys really have nothing better to do than pick on boys who are smaller than you?”

Sirius laughed, “Hey there, Split-Ends, care to join?”

But Marlene saw Professor McGonagall approaching from behind, so she smirked, “Join you doing what exactly, Black?”

“Reminding Snivillus here how gross he is-“

“POTTER! BLACK! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!” The strict voice came from behind them and Marlene grinned. If he hadn’t have spoken up, McGonagall only would have blamed Potter, so Marlene took it as her work being completed. Severus ran off and Lily chased after him. The boys lost Gryffindor some points and were both given detention. Marlene returned to her common room in a much more cheerful mood than before.

“What are you so smug about?” Mary asked her friend. She was sitting by the fireplace, homework spread out around her feet.

“I got Black into detention,” she replied happily, plopping down on the couch next to Dorcas, “What are you reading?”

“Book,” Dorcas replied simply, clearly too absorbed in its contents to be bothered.

Mary laughed, “She’s already caught up on her homework, now she’s just showing off.”

“We had homework?” Marlene replied in surprise.

Dorcas rolled her eyes and took her book upstairs, while Mary and Marlene stayed up late finishing their work. They were still up when Lily returned, looking still upset about the earlier events. “I hate them!” She said loudly, frustration brewing in her voice. But she didn’t say anything else, only stormed up to their dorms. Marlene felt bad for her friend, she knew that Black and Potter were getting under her skin, mostly because of their unfair hatred for Severus. It couldn’t be easy seeing your best friend from childhood constant being picked on.

***

It wasn’t until after Winter Holiday’s that Marlene finally put together who the blond girl over at the Slytherin table was. Frequently she would be shooting glares over at the Gryffindor’s, when she wasn’t distracted with her own friends. But one afternoon she saw her standing in the hallway with a darker haired girl and Black. She paused unsure of what she was walking into until she heard the blonde say, “How can you say it is not a big deal, at least Potter is pureblood but that Pettigrew boy… Its a death wish, Sirius, don’t be so stupid!”

The oldest of the three spoke next, “Leave him alone, its not his fault which house he was sorted into. And it doesn’t even affect you, Cissy!”

“It affects us all, Andromeda. You think I do not notice you spending time with those Hufflepuff’s? You are both working against the family name, and our parents are going to be unstoppably angry when they find out!”

The one called Andromeda narrowed her eyes, “Don’t you date tell mother and father about me talking to people you know nothing about. Unless you want me to tell them how undignified you are when you’re drooling all over Malfoy.”

“I do no such thing!” The blonde shrieked in reply.

But Black cut in between them, “What was the point of this ‘meeting’ again? For you two to yell at each other, or yell at me, because if I don’t have to be here, I have other things to attend to.”

“Like getting yourself chopped from our family tree?” The blonde witch scowled.

But Andromeda sighed, “Narcissa is right, Sirius, be careful. We both know how much rage your mother holds, don’t give her reason to lash out.”

“That hardly seems fair, I have to act correctly just because mother dearest has some anger issues?”

“It is because you are a Black,” Narcissa replied, Marlene noticed her posture to be very straight and she held her head high. “Both of you. We must act a certain way, and you in particular, Sirius, are boasting about your name, than you had better act like it as well.”

“What makes you think I’ve been boasting about my name?” Sirius replied, slouched against the wall. A habit that Marlene had noticed he had picked up from James.

“You are not exactly quiet when you speak, cousin,” She went on, still keeping her composure even in her anger. “But if you keep up these habits the yelling you received over break is only going to get worse.” With that the blonde witch apparently decided she was done with their conversation. “Just do not forget who you are. You’re too good for that Pettigrew boy, and for the rest of your house. For Potter as well, he is going to get you into trouble! Her eyes glared at Andromeda before she left down the corridor, her shoulder brushing against Marlene on her way out.

“McKinney, eavesdropping now? Is your life really that dull?” Sirius said angrily, before also sulking away.

It was only the oldest left, looking at Marlene. Her eyes were kinder than the other two, she looked as if she wanted to say something, but then sighed and walked away slowly. Marlene was standing on her own in the hallway, and after seeing a glimpse of his family she understood why he was so pompous. But with a shake of her head she thought of all the times he was caught bullying Severus. It was no excuse, and his cousins only seemed to be worried about him. If anything he should count himself lucky to have family his age, all Marlene had were brothers who wee already grown and gone.

#(She Had) Just Enough Time #Just Enough Time #Marlene McKinnon #Sirius Black #Blackinnon #Sirius x Marlene #Marlene x Sirius #Lily Evans #James Potter #Peter Pettigrew #Dorcas Meadowes #Mary MacDonald #marlmckitten #fanfiction #Blackinnon fanfiction

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