#jilytober2022 fic

[charmingwillow]

Two years ago, Lily turned down her boyfriend's public proposal. Her town and family haven't forgiven her for breaking his heart but she's come home and there's a few things from her past she'll have to confront.

Bells marked the hour when Lily pulled into town, echoing from the small white church on the corner. A few cars sat in its parking lot, alone and fogged over from the cold. A sign announced an upcoming event in block letters, though it seemed that whoever set it up was missing an E.

Meryl Fenwick 1935-2022 Beloved of her family and community Servic3 Saturday, 11am

Lily slowed to a stop at the red light and stared at it, her emotions swelling as a broken laugh escaped her the same time her eyes filled. She imagined Meryl herself seeing it, scoffing, and leaning over to Lily.

“I must not be too beloved if they couldn’t bother to buy a new set of letters,” she’d grumble in a low voice before adopting a warm smile for everyone else’s benefit.

Lily loved that about her, the confidence she shared in her. Many claimed to know Meryl Fenwick but not many were in her inner circle of trust.

The bells ended, leaving only the mechanical tick of her blinker, and a ringing in her ears in their absence. The doors of the church opened just as the light turned green, and Lily kept staring long enough that the car behind her honked, startling both her and the people leaving the church.

They all turned to see what happened, and Lily thoroughly wished they hadn’t. Ducking down slightly, she felt their eyes on the car as she went, registering first the out of state plate and then her. As she drove by, she imagined them seeing her red hair, their bewilderment turning cold and aloof.

She wasn’t far off; when she glanced at her mirror, she saw them all still standing there, still staring at her car.

“Welcome home,” she mumbled bitterly to herself. “Haven’t you missed it?”

Read Chapter 1

Updates every Sunday this October.

[blitheringmcgonagall]

A mix of 31 prompts and microfic prompts…

@jilytoberfest

Prompts 1 & 2

Prompt #3: fire and #4: “I know, but I wanted to”

Sirius Black heaved an irritated sigh.

“For Merlin’s sake, I’m surrounded by incompetent fools!” he muttered to himself.

“Ha! If you think you can undo Prongs’ idiocy when it comes to anything remotely related to Lily Evans - good luck with that!” Peter snorted, downing a contraband lurid cocktail that Mary had concocted. It was supposed to look like a mint milkshake - it reminded Sirius of swamp water - vague rotten egg smell and pond scum colour. It was wonderfully lethal.

“I swear to Circe, if they haven’t gotten their shit together by May, I shall be forced to stage an intervention!” Sirius said, folding his arms.

“Oh? And what kind of intervention would that be?” Remus asked, leaning into him and giving his shoulder a gentle push.

Remus was a bit drunk and much more generous than usual with physical affection, which Sirius deeply appreciated.

“A successful one,” he said in a lofty tone, resting his head against Remus’ own.

“Can’t wait,” Remus hummed.

***

James sat slumped in his seat, hand holding up his head, watching the dancing couples, eyes following a particular fellow Gryffindor - vivid green eyes, cheeky grin, cobalt blue dress twirling.

“She’s never going to go out with you.”

He turned his head slowly.

“Snivellus,” he sighed deeply. “What can I do for you?”

“There’s no point sitting there staring at her like a creep! She hates you.”

He hesitated. Had he actually been staring at her like some weirdo?

Looking up he saw Sirius reaching for his wand, Remus glaring at Snape and Peter’s eyes twitching nervously towards the professors’ table. The problem with friends who happened to have Furry Little Problems or furry alternative selves was that their hearing was too sharp. Minerva McGonagall was looking over at him too, wearing a sour expression, although she couldn’t possibly have heard the conversation?

“Apologies to Evans if I was making her uncomfortable,” he said.

“You don’t care how she feels, you just want to force her to go out with you, you disgust me! You disgust her!”

Sirius Black was on his feet and Remus Lupin had his wand out and McGonagall’s lips were a stern line as she dropped her napkin (was anyone else able to convey such disappointment and authority in such a tiny gesture?)

“For fuck’s sake, shut- “ he growled, feeling his shoulders tense, fingers finding his wand. In another lifetime, say this time last year, he’d have hexed Snape already.

Just then he caught Lily’s eye. She was looking at the with concern, her smile gone and replaced by drawn brows and pursed lips. Poor Evans, imagine having to deal with two stupid, selfish wankers like them…

He breathed out slowly, forcing his shoulders down and placing his hands in the air, a placating gesture.

“Look, Snape, you’re probably right - I’d say I do disgust her. I have no intention of asking her out, alright?”

One side of Snape’s top lip lifted in disgust, but he clearly wasn’t expecting that answer and couldn’t find anything to say. He stood there awkwardly for a moment.

“Can i interest you in a snack? Beetroot crisps? Twice fried chips?” he said.

Snape glared at him suspiciously.

“A glass of butterbeer?”

The thin boy squinted at him. James smiled, all laid back innocence.

“Wondering why I’m offering? I know, but I wanted to.”

“Fuck you, Potter!” he spat out, turning around and marching off in the direction of the Slytherin tables.

“Prick,” James said to himself, knocking back an entire glass of firewhisky.

“Alright Mr Potter?”

McGonagall was looking at him with an unreadable expression. It was difficult to answer when his eyes were watering from the strong alcohol.

“Right as rain. Fit as a charmed fiddle,” he coughed.

“Water, was it?” She asked, sniffing in the direction of the empty bottle.

“Something like that… a liquid, anyhow,” he said, with a sheepish grin as he ruffled his hair.

***

“Oh gods,” groaned Remus, face palming. “I can’t listen to this, it’s too painful.”

“Prongs is a useless liar when he’s drunk,” Peter noted helpfully.

“He’s an out and out idiot at the best of times,” Sirius said, wisely downing the remainder of his drink.

“Bit harsh, Padfoot,” Remus sounded amused.

“No, that’s it. I’ve told him time and time again. I’m not idly standing by while he makes a balls of everything. Tonight takes the biscuit.”

They watched as James moved towards McGonagall, who was muttering under her breath in response to his ineptitude.

“Care to dance, Professor?” they heard Prongs say.

“Smooth,” Peter said.

“Foolish,” Remus said.

McGonagall’s left eyebrow raised. Prongs swayed.

“Perhaps another time, Mr Potter,” she said, not unkindly, patting his shoulder in what could only be described as a consoling manner.

“Right. Another time. When I’m less drunk.”

“Precisely, next year’s Hallowe’en Ball, perhaps.”

James’ mouth gaped.

“Right. Spiffing. Merlin!”

“Holy shit!” Peter squealed.

Sirius was inclined to agree with him.

***

On the first of May, Sirius Black walked into Dumbledore’s office, unannounced.

“Professor, we have a problem,” he said, without preamble, sitting himself down opposite the headmaster’s desk and placing his right foot on his left thigh.

“Good evening, er, Mr Black. How kind of you to call in for a… chat. A problem, you say? May I be of assistance?” Dumbledore asked, periwinkle eyes curious as he reached over for the sweets. “Lemon sherbet?”

Sirius Black shook his head.

“A problem. Of the very irritating, long-standing variety. And I know how to fix it!”

[annabtg]

Never Really

For @jilytoberfest 2022 prompt 18: "Nah, she didn't."

Read on AO3 or under the cut!

Fluff, 433 words.

--

“How come she married him? She hated him!”

Sirius remembers Lily’s gaze resting on James during History class, while he’s busy doodling on the corner of his book. He remembers her sitting up in alarm when she notices Sirius watching her, and withdrawing with a shy smile and her cheeks slightly pink when he winks at her, with the mutual understanding that her secret is safe.

He remembers her unfailingly on the Quidditch stands during the Gryffindor games, cheering louder than everyone and marvelling at James’s fantastic assists and impressive goals, even as two days before she had been scoffing at him for thinking he’s something special just because he can handle a big red ball.

He remembers her jaw dropping to the floor when she arrives at Platform 9 ¾ to find James wearing the Head Boy badge, a “You?” that’s almost accusatory, only to overhear her later in the train telling her friends that “I’m not worried at all, I’m sure he’ll do a terrific job.”

He remembers her arguing with James for the better part of an hour about the best way to approach Volume-Reducing Transfiguration – James has got it right, of course – and not budging on her opinions even when he has shot down all her arguments one by one, choosing instead to cross her arms and scowl at him; but when they make their joint presentation next week, they’ve gone with his method.

He remembers James all but stumbling into the dormitory late one night after patrol, dazed, grabbing him by the collar and telling him with wide eyes “She kissed me, Padfoot, I don’t even know what happened, she had been so mad a moment before and then she just –”

He remembers James and Lily playing wizard’s chess in the common room, Lily somehow winning and exclaiming “In your face, Potter!” with a triumphant finger at him; he remembers James tugging at that finger and pulling her close, kissing her hard, and Lily cupping his face and kissing him back for so long that the chess pieces start complaining that they’re being neglected.

He remembers Lily during their last month of school, going about her day with an elegant diamond ring on her delicate finger, her friend Mary calling her future Mrs Potter and Lily rolling her eyes, but her smile soft and warm at the mention of the name.

And he remembers her in her wedding dress, glowing as she looks at James with perfect, undisguised adoration. A room full of their loved ones, friends and family, and she’s only got eyes for him.

“Nah, she didn’t.”

--

Thankies to @oneofthesirens and @nought-shall-go-ill for their help and support!

[gryffindormischief]

Leave

@jilytoberfest microfic #18

“Evans!”

“I’m ignoring you, Potter, take the hint,” Lily yells back, not sparing a glance behind as she runs toward the entryway.

“Evans - Lily. Please! I put my shirt back on and everything,” James shouts through the rain, now calmed to a light drizzle.

Lily sucks in a breath and turns quickly. “Are you bloody kidding me? Why not just plaster posters around saying I shagged you in in the Forbidden Forest?”

“First of all, that is an excellent fantasy, I’m so glad you suggested it.”

Lily freezes halfway to shoving his shoulder, pulling her hand back as if she’d been burnt.

“Second of all,” James continues, his voice pitched lower, “We didn’t even toss the quaffle, let alone catch the snitch.”

Scoffing, Lily starts to turn on her heel, but James grasps her arm at the last minute. “Lily, it’s alright!”

“Just let me leave, please.”

“I will, once we just say it all out loud. It’ll be way less upsetting that way,” James says, “Trust me, that’s how Sirius got over Pete accidentally shaving his head the summer after Third Year.”

Lily blinks, rain still pattering lightly on her freckled cheeks. “Sirius didn’t speak to Peter for at least six months and when he did it was to jinx his shoelaces.”

“Lily.”

“Fine! Fine, alright. I Lily Evans, accidentally touched the bare nipple of you, James Potter!”

“And?”

Lily stares.

James steps close enough that the rain falls from his waterlogged hair onto her wringing hands. “And?”

Her response comes out as a hiss, “And then I cupped your dumb pectoral, you wanker!”

[nought-shall-go-ill]

(For @jilytoberfest’s Prompt 22: Quiet Mornings)

Posting early because of a busy weekend

Bathilda Bagshot may have been old, may have been “batty”, but she prided herself on her exceptional hearing, thank you very much! One didn’t write the best-selling Hogwarts history of all time by just reading after all. So, Bathilda Bagshot knew a thing or two about the auditory medium.

And those Potters, they were loud — so very, very loud.

She supposed she couldn’t blame them. They were probably used to the idea that no one else could hear. Only those with knowledge of the house could, after all. And those people were naturally very few and far between.

But, consequently, they were loud! So very very loud!

And it spoiled Bathilda’s quiet mornings. Her peaceful quiet mornings! Oh, how she had loved her quiet mornings! Revelled in them. Needed them.

And then those Potters came along!

It was mostly the baby, of course. First, the teething. Oh, the teething! Poor mite was up all night with the pain, and Mummy and Daddy did all they could, but the screams came around like clockwork with the rooster’s crow. Bathilda came over with a potion or two from time to time just to shut the poor dear up. And that poor lovely girl always cooked for her afterwards. How lovely! So very kind she was, Bathilda often thought, though exceptionally loud!

And, oh, then, of course, came the talking! The babbling! How was that baby so talkative? So loud! Of course, it was probably from his father. Lovely man, lovely lovely young man he was. Always had a cheeky tale to tell, and so helpful around the house. So charming. Still, never had Bathilda heard a voice so loud!

That wasn’t the worst of though, was it? No, this was a young couple. A young married couple. And Bathilda had been young once too. She knew what it was like! (Knew all too well from when her nephew had stayed with her too, though no excuse for his lack of silencing charms, I dare say.) And well, Lily and James… it was enough to make an old woman blush! No wonder they had that darling boy so young. They certainly had plenty of practice…

Still, everyone involved must have enjoyed themselves, as they were so. very. loud!

It was strange then when that November 1st things became so quiet. The crowds came later, of course, — the paparazzi, the tourists, the aspirant mourners — and they were loud, annoying, irritatingly loud. But that first day the morning was as quiet as a mourner’s mind.

And in that moment, she just knew.

Bathilda never enjoyed a quiet morning again. Why ever had she before? There was no life in quiet.

She’d blast her wireless, sing to the birds, tell herself a cheeky story or two, maybe get the cooking started!

Anything to keep it loud.

[kay-elle-cee]

Magic Like This || Read on Ao3

“Do you want to go?” He presses. “It’s not that simple.” If only it was. Of course she didn’t want to go. The boy in front of her shrugs. “It sounds simple enough to me: it’s going to be miserable for you. Don’t go.” Lily blinks at him—he speaks as if it’s the easiest thing in the world to just live by your own rules, put yourself first. He’s standing there, staring at her as the concept winds its way through her mind. What Lily really wants, if she’s being honest with herself, is to spend the day with James Potter.

My fic for the @jilytoberfest Bittersweet Challenge. Prompt: "Don't Go" but make it fluff.

[cascader]

dust on the counter

for @jilytoberfest's prompt 21: "We'll be alright." Order!Jily, canon divergence. rated g. read below, or on ao3 with my other jilytober fics.

________

“Lily…”

“He’s going to find out, James.”

“We don’t know that for certain.”

“We do. Have any of us ever been able to hide anything from him? During school, or with the Order?”

“The stakes are higher now. We’ll be smarter.”

“He’s a Legilimens, James. One of the very best there ever was. As soon as we’re alone with him, he’ll know.”

“He doesn’t know there’s anything to know. He won’t be looking.” 

“Do you honestly believe he fully trusts any of us? After the ambush at Portree, after the Prewetts? I might even be disappointed if he wasn’t probing us all as often as he could.”

“He isn’t. He wouldn’t do that. He recruited us, he trained us. He’s known us since we were eleven. He’s practically family.”

“James, at the very least, he’s going to be able to tell I’m pregnant. Soon enough, that’ll take only a passing glance, not Legilimency.”

“But that doesn’t matter if he doesn’t know about the prophecy. If anything, he’ll just bench us earlier than I ever would’ve been able to persuade you to on my own.”

“The prophecy getting back to him is only a matter of time. He’s much closer with Sybil than we are. We just got lucky. We won’t get lucky again. We have to fight for ourselves.”

“Lily, even if he does… would that really be so bad? Even with my family vault, he’s got connections we can’t imagine. He could keep us safe.”

“We can keep ourselves safe. We need to keep our baby safe. The war is the most important thing to Dumbledore, James. Not our family. I…I would sacrifice myself for this war. I really would. I would not sacrifice this family.”

“Lily…”

“You know I’m right. You don’t even agree with what you’re saying. You started putting our things in order and converting money from the vault before I even asked. I think you’re looking for an alternative, darling, because this is the last moment we can turn back. But we can’t. There isn’t an alternative.”

“I know. I do know. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“James, darling…”

“I… I don’t mean to make this harder. I can’t help it. I kept hoping something would change. That it would never come to this, even as we were planning for it.”

“I know, love.”

“I… I wish we could tell Sirius. I wish we could tell Remus and Peter. The world feels a lot smaller than it used to, doesn’t it? Than it used to even a year ago. The whole world has two-and-a-bit people in it now.”

Lily takes a shuddering breath and skims her thumb across his cheekbone. “I know, darling. Are you ready?”

James breaks his gaze from his wife’s to survey the cramped flat they’ve called home for almost three years now. It looks the same as it usually does, by design. Shoes left haphazardly by the door, dust collecting on the kitchen table and counters, the rubbish bin half full. Their bed is unmade and their closet is mostly full. Framed photos line the walls, a mix of Muggle and magic. Their loo has two toothbrushes in it and no pregnancy tests. On the dresser in their bedroom are two tickets for a film the following week and a note from Lily to James reminding him to pick up more milk. On their Gryffindor-red couch lies James’s favorite jumper, an old Puddlemere one, and Lily’s copy of Persuasion.

James adjusts the strap of the bag on his back, and then the frame of his glasses. He clutches his wand tightly in one hand and takes his wife’s in the other. 

He looks back at Lily, and there are tears shining in her lovely green eyes. He kisses her on the forehead and feels a tear of his own drip down his cheek and onto hers. 

“We’ll be alright,” Lily says. Her voice catches, then breaks. “We’ll be just fine.”

James drops her hand to clutch her tightly around the middle, and he feels her do the same.

“I’m ready,” James whispers.

Lily sobs, and then she turns on her heel.

[majormaybe1]

Climb

Requested by @joyseuphoria written for @jilytoberfest microfic “climb”

“I thought I would find you out here.” Sirius said climbing through the window and out onto the flat roof. “Want to talk about what’s bothering you?”

Lily was silent for a long moment as she stared out over the Hogwarts grounds. “If I agreed to go out with him I’d just be putting him at more risk. He can stay out of this war if he stays away from me.”

“He was never going to stay out of this fight. Even if he had never met you, even if you cut him out of your life, he’s going to join this fight. Because whats happening out there is wrong and James is a noble prat sometimes but he always fights against what he knows is wrong. I’ll say this though. He’s loved you since before he knew what love was. You can’t keep him out of the fight Evans but maybe you can give him to fight for. Having you is just going to make him fight harder to come home.”

“I love him too. I don’t know when I fell in love with him and I haven’t even been able to tell him yet but I do.”

“I know. You wouldn’t be thinking of running right now if you didn’t love him. But running is just going to hurt you both. You don’t waste good Evans. Not in times like this. You should tell him you love him.”

“I will.”

“I think you already did.” James’ voice was filled with all the joy in the world as he leaned against the window. “I wanted to check on you. Guess I got here at the right time.”

I write BlackEvans brotp better than jily so I’m just going to leave that there.

[jilytoberfest]

Masquerade challenge Fic 5

Dress(Take It Off)

Oh no! Lily forgets that it's James's birthday because she's been so busy with work and the Order, luckily she has a few ideas of how she can make it up to him...

The guesses can be done on the reblog/comments of this post/ao3 page! No author is to confirm nor deny the guesses!!

Happy reading!!!

[arianatwycross]

Chapter 13:

A day in the life of primary school teacher, Lily Evans.

Read here or start from the beginning

[blitheringmcgonagall]

Prompts #1-5

Prompt 16: “I on the other hand can never hate you”

“Merlin, fuck!”

Euphemia looks up over her reading glasses, left eyebrow raised. It is unusual - aside from Quidditch - for her normally mild mannered son (who she has, on occasion, referred to as so laid back he’s horizontal) to curse in front of her.

“Language, James!” Sirius said, tone aiming for a passable version of Unimpressed McGonagall.

He looks over at Mrs Potter and rolls his eyes primly. She huffs in agreement. He has clearly done a stellar job of hiding his glee.

“What is it, dear?” she says. “Please don’t tell me that you’ve already received a detention for next year? I’m going to have to avoid Minerva at the next Board of Management meeting if you- “

“Mum!” his brother looks affronted, as though pre- start of Year detentions are an unheard of achievement (he and Prongs had in fact managed two each this time last year).

“What news, Prongs?” Sirius has to bite his cheek to stop a massive grin splitting his face.

“I…” James clears his throat and looks at him with deep concern. “I’ve no idea why, or how, old chap, but for some gods-forsaken reason it looks like…”

“Yes?” he leans back into his chair, all casual elegance.

“Er, well, you see… well, Dumbledore’s obviously lost the plot entirely and…”

“And what, Prongs, my dear fellow marauder, my brother-in-mischief, my loyal, dependable, all-out rebel, rebel?” Sirius should in fact be awarded a medal for his superb acting prowess.

“And… er…”

Euphemia says nothing, but she stretches out her hand and beckons the letter towards her with such authority that Prongs hands it over wordlessly. She almost drops it in shock.

“Merlin, Circe and Godric! Dumbledore’s appointment you Head Boy!” she stares at her son. “Is this a prank, James Fleamont Potter?”

“No idea, mum,” James looks at her in equal bewilderment, then turns to Sirius. “Is it?”

No it is not. It is not a prank. Dumbledore delivered.

James Potter is head Boy. Lily Evans is Head Girl. The world is one small step away from seeing - Flowerpot, Jily, Smitten Idiots, whatever you want to call his useless friends - get together. It is now as inevitable as James running a hand through his wild bird’s nest head in the next ten seconds.

“Of course not!” he feigns an offended look. “You as Head Boy, eh?”

“Oh gods!” James says, sticking both hands in his hair. “What have I done, how did I do it, and how do I get out of it?”

Sirius smile pleasantly.

“You don’t,” he says, clapping James on the back firmly. “You’re stuck with it, Prongs, you swotty nerd! Moony and Wormy are going to disinherit you, blast you off the marauders family tree, and whatnot. I, on the other hand, can never hate you.”

James looks suitably concerned. His mother looks, well, bewildered and shocked - but pleased. And suspicious. She’s holding Dumbledore’s letter up to the light, looking for proof of authenticity…

He cannot wait to see Lily Evans’ reaction to this news!

“You do know that Evans is Head Girl, right?” he says, stretching loudly.

He can see the cogs turning in Prongs’ head.

“Oh,” he says.

He sits up straighter.

“Oh…”

Sirius puts his hands behind his head, and leans back in his chair, front legs of chair in the air.

“Uh-huh,” he replies, a picture of smug satisfaction.

[blitheringmcgonagall]

@jilytoberfest microfic prompts & 31 prompts…

Prompts #1-4

Prompts 5 (climb) & 6 (“Why do you have two ice cream scoops but not any food?”)

“Good evening, er, Mr Black. How kind of you to call in for a… chat. A problem, you say? May I be of assistance?” Dumbledore asked, periwinkle eyes curious as he reached over for the sweets. “Lemon sherbet?”

Sirius Black shook his head.

“A problem. Of the very irritating, long-standing variety. And I know how to fix it!”

“I see,” the old man’s eyes twinkled, and Sirius noted how simultaneously amused and shrewd they could look.

“Yes. Well, the fact is that Evans and Potter have been mad about each other for ages, at least for all of 6th year and frankly, I’m sick of it. I know you are too. Lost a bet with Flitwick in April, didn’t you?”

Dumbledore stared at him.

“Flitwick pays me a retention fee to keep him updated on their progress. I was able to appraise him of the fact that diddly squat had changed since March, February, Christmas - you get my drift,” Sirius said.

The fact that the professors had a betting pool which included among other things - whether the marauders would successfully pull off a splendid prank without getting caught, whether Hagrid managed to find a new dangerous beast to befriend, or whether his stupid friends managed to get a life and start dating - wasn’t that surprising. It just proved to him that most grown ups led extremely boring and unstimulating existences.

Mind you, those were more or less the kinds of pointless things they themselves bet on - Peter had won a galleon last week for betting Dumbledore would buy a new pair of roller skates before the NEWTs started. And he had won two galleons for betting that David Bowie would climb to number one in the muggle charts and that Evans and Diggory would be toast before the Equinox (so what if he’d had a hand in the ending of that blight of a relationship? Evans had been telling MacDonald that she wanted to break it off in a gentle manner before he’d gotten involved. He had simply speeded the whole train wreck…)

“Anyway, the fact is, you need to make Prongs Head Boy next year,” he finished triumphantly.

“I see.”

���Yes, it’s very simple. Evans is definitely going to be Head Girl, correct?”

Dumbledore hesitated.

“Don’t even bother denying it, Sir, professor Slughorn told us last week. She’s outstanding.”

“Yes, um, that may be correct,” the headmaster replied cautiously.

Of course Slughorn had said no such thing.

“Excellent,” Sirius grinned. “But as for Head Boy… there’s no obvious candidate, is there?”

Dumbledore regarded him silently.

“I mean, you and I both know Remus Lupin would be a great Head Boy, but you’d never risk giving it to him. Plus he’d hate all the attention and he’d be terrified someone would find out about his furry little problem, and he’d feel too guilty having someone else do his duties on full moons and all that.”

He stopped. Dumbledore hummed in possible agreement.

“The Slytherins this year are all a bunch of Voldy-supporting, bigoted wankers - no offence intended,” he said, raising his eyebrow in challenge.

Dumbledore raised his palms and shrugged.

“Ha! The Ravenclaw chaps this year are all far too introverted to want to boss everyone about. The only good candidate in Hufflepuff is Diggory,” he grimaced. “And frankly that chap is far too irritating, he already got hexed through the Veil and back on five occasions so far this year. If he makes Head Boy, he’s screwed.”

Dumbledore looked glum.

“Which leaves Gryffindor. What you need is a strong, well liked character you can rely on. Someone who knows how to lead and is experienced in managing a team under difficult circumstances. Someone who is a pureblood- those bastards would throw a fit if one muggleborn head girl is appointed, let alone another less than thoroughly inbred fellow - yet somehow manages to hate bigotry and has a record of standing up against mini Death Eaters in this school.

Someone with positivity coming out of his arse. The type who sees a thunderstorm and starts talking about the benefits of a cold shower. You know, sees the best in all his fellow students despite being surprisingly and unexpectedly intelligent to boot? The sort of chap who is always looking for solutions, tenacity to beat the band, and gives most people third chances and whatnot. And yet, unbelievably, is practically universally well liked and respected. At least half of the wankers who dislike him still fancy him rotten. Which only leaves the usual suspects - and frankly, you and I both know that if you appointed someone they approved of, we’d all be screwed.”

Dumbledore shifted in his chair, hands steepled in front of him.

“You really think he’d be Head Boy material?”

Sirius rolled his eyes.

“Yes. He’d hate it. And so would I. But he’d do a damned good job of it.”

“When I mentioned Mr Potter as a possible option, Professor McGonagall expressed grave concern about the amount of pressure he’d be under, were he to retain the title of Gryffindor Quidd- “

“Don’t be ridiculous, Sir, you’d have to pry the Gryffindor Quidditch Captaincy from his cold dead hands.”

“On that, I do agree with you, Mr Black.”

“Of course you do, you’re not an idiot, unlike bloody Prongs,” Sirius sniffed.

“Hmm, I’m not sure we want an idiot as Head Boy,” Dumbledore mused, leaning forward.

“Well of course not, frightfully irritating. I’m ready to hex his ball- ballast off! But if they get to be Heads together? I guarantee the best working relationship of any Head Persons in the past fifty years, plus a top tip in your betting pool… situation.”

Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled.

“Top tip?”

“Life hack,” Sirius nodded, hand outstretched. “Do we have deal, Sir?”

Dumbledore leant back into his armchair and smiled benevolently.

“I had, of course, been planning on giving Mr Potter that role since he managed to fight off your cousin Bellatrix’s rather dangerous attack on students in Hogsmeade in April. Do you think you could also pass on a few useful tips concerning Hagrid’s latest furry friends?”

Wiley bastard.

“Consider it done, Sir.”

Dumbledore stood and shook his hand.

“And what about you, Mr Black - you don’t fancy the role of Head Boy yourself, do- “

“Haha! Godric’s gonads, no way in hell!” Sirius snorted aloud. “Dealing with horse manure from all sorts of shady bastards and always resisting the urge to hex them all? Attempting civil conversations with the likes of Snape? Mulciber? Wilkes? I’d rather eat Hippogrif dung with raw billywig maggots, er, no offence, Sir.”

“None taken, Mr Black, none whatsoever,” the Professor replied mildly. “Some celebratory ice-cream, perhaps?”

“Thank you, Sir.”

The door closed behind him with a jaunty slam.

“Yessssss! Operation Smitten Idiots is a go!” Sirius punched the air with his fist and grinned in elated triumph. “They better fucking name me best man AND godfather to their first born, or there shall be war!”

“What are you on about, Padfoot?” the most idiotic half of the Smitten Duo asked as he rounded the corner, ice-cream cone in his hand.

“Abraxan racing results, Prongs, Best Man came first.” he said, winking at Remus, licking the chocolate and raspberry ripple.

Remus stared at him (mind you, Remus was very partial to chocolate, so that was the most obvious reason why he’d stare at his lips, wasn’t it?).

“Why do you have two ice cream scoops but not any food?” Remus asked, clearing his throat.

“I merely entertained our Headmaster with witty conversation and he felt obliged to give me ice cream by way of thanks.”

“Good news, then? Do we get an extra day off for Merpeople National Feast Day, or whatever barmy idea you came up with?” Prongs asked, pushing himself off the wall with his foot.

“Don’t be ridiculous, old chap.”

“Well why are you looking so pleased with yourself then?” His best friend rolled his eyes and scuffed his shoe against the stone pavement.

“Top secret, Prongs my deer, top secret!”

[gryffindormischief]

Ash

@jilytoberfest MicroFic #2!

“Alright there, Evans?”

Lily blows out a breath, a release of tension and an attempt to clear her overgrown fringe from her eyes. Unsuccessfully on both counts. “Fine.”

“I s’pose you have some purpose in avoiding your wand,” James says softly, squatting at her side.

“I used to be able to build a bloody fire,” Lily groans as she swipes at her hair, ash streaking across her brow.

“I - ”

“And I used to be able to sleep, and do a shop, and see the sun, and bloody hell have a birthday party for my husband.”

Gently, James draws Lily’s hands from the fireplace, eyeing the sparks shooting from her fingertips. “We did have a party, Cinderella.”

Fat tears roll from her freckled cheeks and pool on her darkened fingers as Lily sniffles, then collapses into James’ chest. She lets out a shuddering breath and James finds his hands following the circles he’s learnt to soothe Harry when he’s in a strop.

“I hate Voldemort.”

Smiling softly against her hair, James drawls, “I think - if I can inflate my head a bit - this is more of an ‘I love James issue’.”

Lily’s answering laugh is sudden, a shock to her system. “Prat.”

“A prat you love.”

“Even if you’re right, some of this is about Harry too,” Lily mutters, snuggling closer.

“My son,” James says, “I still win.”

[kay-elle-cee]

Jilytober prompt 2: "You didn't have to do this."

Thank you for the prompts, @jilytoberfest!

(also sidenote when I'm not on a work trip I may try and make these a little nicer looking but really i'm literally sitting on the floor of my hotel room typing this + maybe tomorrow's as the computer charges lol.)

It's the delicate scent of cinnamon that stirs her awake. Blinking a few times, her eyes focus on the man cracking open the bedroom door, a sheepish look on his face.

"I didn't mean to wake you," he says softly.

Lily shakes her head, a sleepy smile pulling at her lips as she sees the tray in his hands. "You didn't, I was getting up anyway."

She plants her hands on either side of herself and pushes into a sitting position, made much more difficult in this last month of her pregnancy. James quickly crosses the room to assist her and ends up just hovering over her nervously when she swats away his offer.

"I'm fine, James, I promise I'm not breakable." Her eyes focus on the tray in his hands again—porridge with cinnamon and berries, two eggs on the side, and a few buds she knew he'd picked from the garden behind their cottage. She feels her heart squeeze tight and tears threateningly prick the backs of her eyes.

"You didn't have do this," she breathes in awe, willing those tears to stay put. James places the tray next to her on the bed and places a hand on her swollen belly, his other arm wrapping around her and tucking her into his side.

"The doctor said two weeks of bed rest, Lil." He's stroking her arm gently, soothing both of their heightened nerves with regards to the pregnancy. "Let yourself rest." She lets out a sigh and he buries his lips in her wild morning hair, placing a comforting kiss on her head.

"I know it's easier said than done," he consoles. "I know you're itching to get back to The Order, to get back to finishing Harry's room, but let me handle that for you. You've done so much already, love. Let me help."

Lily sighs again, but it's carrying less weight. She tilts her head back to look up at her husband, his hazel eyes swimming with love and adoration and concern, and she knows she can't deny him anything.

"Thank you," she whispers, covering his hand on her belly with her own, entwining their fingers.

"I love you," he responds, bending down and capturing her lips in a slow, lazy kiss. When they break apart, his eyes flicker to their entwined hands, their future resting snugly below. "I love you both"

Other Jilytober ficlets here.

[nought-shall-go-ill]

The Light Come Shining

Lily Evans’ wings were cut — severed, cauterised — before she could even take off.

After a childhood argument gone wrong, Lily is cursed to live with a rare affliction: she cannot be seen, heard, touched or sensed in any way by anyone, except Petunia Evans and Severus Snape. As she grows older, she learns of love, prejudice, choice, limitations, but most of all she learns that sometimes the ones who truly see us may be the ones who cannot see us at all.

Angst-to-happy-ending, 21,000-word one shot coming October 12th to an Ao3 near you.

[nought-shall-go-ill]

The Light Come Shining

Lily Evans’ wings were cut — severed, cauterised — before she could even take off.

After a childhood argument gone wrong, Lily is cursed to live with a rare affliction: she cannot be seen, heard, touched or sensed in any way by anyone, except Petunia Evans and Severus Snape. As she grows older, she learns of love, prejudice, choice, limitations, but most of all she learns that sometimes the ones who truly see us may be the ones who cannot see us at all.

ONE SHOT | WIZARDING WORLD AU | MATURE | ANGST TO CHEESY ENDING | 22,059 WORDS | COMPLETE

Read it now on Ao3.