#lilys ficlets

[shares-a-vest]

Wayne shuffles to the door, desperate to answer the incessant knocking that sounds like whoever is on the other side is going to beat the exterior fly screen straight off its hinges. He is greeted by Claudia Henderson, clutching her handbag strap tight across her chest and looking very serious.

Although it might just be his sleep-deprived inability to gauge the emotions of chipper 9-to-5 receptionists who wear cosy sweaters. He checks his watch. He’s only been asleep for about an hour after getting home from night shift - what with waiting for Hurricane Eddie to finally head off for the garage.

“Hello, Wayne,” Claudia nods and purses her lips.

He scrubs a hand over his face but steps back nonetheless to let her in. Claudia is one step in the doorway anyhow.

“Coffee,” he not-so-much asks as he moves to the kitchen.

“No, thank you,” Claudia says politely, “I usually wait for my morning tea break.”

He looks over to find her pulling out his assigned chair at the breakfast table. She looks nervous, if a little pissed off as she gathers her handbag up on her lap. He blinks harshly and pinches his nose enough to press his forefinger and thumb into the inner corners of his eyes. He really needs to wake the hell up a little more, it appears.

“What did Eddie do?” he sighs, looking over the drying rack on the sink for one of the mugs he has in his rotation at the present time.

“Oh, Eddie hasn’t done a thing!” she insists, a smile evident in her voice, “I’m here about Steve.”

Cubs mug it is then...

He frowns again and turns back to Claudia, confused. And the woman looks like she was expecting such a reaction because she huffs and straightens up, looking like she is readying herself to give a sermon on the kid.

“I need you to help me convince that boy to move in with Dustin and me,” she explains, promptly holding up a defensive hand, “Now, I know he stays here, mostly This isn’t about anything to do with you… Or Eddie…”

She tacks that last mention of his nephew on with a tone and a knowing look.

Wayne clears his throat. It’s certainly far too early in the morning for the ins and outs of that conversation. He flicks the kettle on to drown out the awkward silence between them.

“Have you uh...” he hums and scratches the back of his neck as he searches for words, “Have you talked with him about this, at all?”

Claudia squeaks out a noise he assumes is a negative as he quickly spoons coffee into his mug. He’ll settle for black coffee for now - he really cannot be assed to stand up for much longer, even if he did have the sense to quickly step into his comfy slippers when Claudia came a-pounding on the door.

“And you want my help specifically?” he says, raising his voice above the steaming kettle that is whistling away in boiling readiness.

“Yes!”

He waves a hand in the air, “Well, what about Robin?”

“Oh, gosh, no! I can’t talk to that girl,” he barks a laugh that makes Claudia startle in her seat, forcing her to clarify, “I mean she is a steel trap about that boy!”

Wayne smirks and nods as he heads for the table with his piping hot - and hopefully, heavily caffeinated - beverage, “He’s not the biggest talker when it comes to himself.”

“I’m not one to speak ill of other mothers,” Claudia says in a hushed tone, “God knows, I am not perfect. But where are his parents?”

She rocks a little with each word like she has needed to ask that question for a good long while. Of course, Wayne thinks about Steve’s parents. A lot. Because the boy almost never mentions them.

He shrugs, “He says they stayed away on business.”

“After everything that has happened in this town?” she argues, voice growing shrill with worry, “Did he tell you what actually happened with the mall fire? It was more of that other dimension nonsense!”

He almost chokes on his coffee. He knows a little - there was no way around it with Eddie in the hospital surrounded by all those secret nurses and doctors. But he didn’t know Claudia Henderson knew about some of it too. Still, he decides to remain cautious and gestures for her to continue.

“And he’s been concussed more times than he can remember!”

She slumps back in her seat with a look of such horror, Wayne thinks the sweet woman sitting opposite him considers it her closing argument.

Wayne taps on the rim of his coffee cup. They would have to tread carefully, not ambush the kid.

“He does get a lot of migraines - ” is all he can think to say.

“ - And he has dizzy spells,” Claudia cuts in, leaning forward. He can see tears starting to well up, “I just want him to be looked after. I know he’s a young man with his own life and everything, but he still needs a parent to care for him, to support him.”

“Yeah,” Wayne nods firmly, “Yes, he does.”

[cerise-grenadine]

Summer 1995.

He was still sitting on his rock. He had gone out some time ago to let off some steam after his last Order meeting, but in spite of the bright weather and colourful critters buzzing around, he looked gloomier by the minute.

A short sigh passed her lips; she closed her book shut, stood up and decidedly went outside.

— Severus... do you have a minute? Would you mind showing me that wandless magic we talked about this morning?

Sketching/writing practice 🫣. This isn’t Lily, she’s an OC.

[momo-t-daye]

“Hey, Sirius,” said James Potter, “Why has Snape got your scarf?" “The little asshole was whinging about being cold,” Sirius shrugged, unconcerned by the chilly evening air. “I thought he might gag himself but no luck yet.” “Huh,” said James.

“I still think it’s just a marketing ploy,” the little asshole swathed in woolen scarves said thoughtfully.  “Everyone knows he doesn’t sell firewhiskey to students and his butterbeer is near rancid, but once you’ve hiked all the way up here to check out the goat it’s almost a waste of time to not buy something.” “A giant goat is quite the statement given his, ah, past legal entanglements,” Narcissa said with the sort of obvious delicacy that teetered dangerously close to turning suggestive. “It really must be seen to be believed and the last few have hardly lasted any time at all.” “It looks so flammable,” Lily Evans gushed, bubbling with malicious anticipation. The best thing about the magical world, Lily maintained, was the sheer number of holiday traditions that eventually included lighting something on fire.  Her mother’s nerves had never been up for a proper Bonfire Night and Cokeworth’s Catholics weren’t the type to celebrate it either.

“Hey, Sirius,” said James Potter, “Why has Snape got MY scarf?" “Because Evans said it was cold and you gave her your scarf to be gallant and she then handed your scarf over to him” Sirius replied, without any worries over his best friend’s apparent memory issues. “Right,” said James.

“He’s bound to have put up some anti-arson charms on this one after the fiasco with Dumbledore’s pet phoenix last year and inexplicable triple lightning strikes the year before,” Severus scoffed.  “If it’s properly phoenix-proofed— and I doubt the rest of Hogsmeade would allow him to put another goat up that wasn’t properly phoenix-proofed— we’d need a miracle to burn it down without being caught.” “We’ve got the blessings of tradition with us, Sev,” Lily replied. “Can’t you see? The goat must burn again!”

“Hey, Sirius,” said James Potter, “Why has Snape got Remus’ scarf?" “Because I was foolish enough to take my scarf off inside and Snape picked it up and put it and just looked at me when I asked for my scarf back,” Remus interjected, slightly bitter at his ignoble defeat. “Gosh,” said James.

“Twice is hardly sufficient grounds to claim a tradition,” Narcissa opined. “Three is a far more magically significant number.” “So you’re saying it’s up to us to ensure the sacred fires once more hold back the darkness!” Lily said, full of pyromaniacal resolution. “I say it’ll take planning and proper intelligence gathering, neither of which I’m inclined to do while my mouth still tastes like something died in the Hog’s Head butterbeer barrels,” Severus sighed. “Let’s stop at the Three Broomsticks, Potter will buy us all a round of the special seasonal cinnamon spiced butterbeer, and we’ll work on preparations back at school.”

“Hey,” said James Potter.  “Why hasn’t Snape got—” “Unlike you all, I know better than to leave my clothes and stuff unattended in Snape’s vicinity,” Peter interrupted, smugly snug and cozy. “Oh,” said James. It really was quite cold.

_______

For an assortment @snapecelebration's Snoliday 2023 prompts

[jamespotterbbg]

mini (?) fic: it would’ve been fun, if you would’ve been the one

(crazymateinnit on ao3) - lily evans pov, jegulus getting together.

word count: 605

Lily Evans cried when she saw James with Regulus. He looked so happy, James did, too happy. 

James’s skin shone in the rays of sunlight that cascaded down on him. His hazel brown eyes brimmed and overflowed with warmth, with joy. His messy black hair was fussed from how much he tangled his fingers through it in excitement. 

And the regal, aristocratic looking boy who walked beside James had a fond smile across his face and an affectionate gaze. Their hands were clasped together, fingers intertwined.

Lily had fallen for James much too late. If only she had figured herself out sooner, when he had loved her the way she loved him. It really was her own fault. She could not expect him to wait around forever, she knew. 

James was happy, that was a good thing, but hell, Lily lost it when she saw the two of them. She sobbed into her covers for hours. Mary sat by Lily’s side as everything came crashing down around her. Lily buried her head in her knees, crying into oblivion. 

After a while, her eyes dried and her cheeks were tear stained with red. Then, in the loss of her tears, she became angry. She cursed out the world. She cursed out James for moving on, Regulus for being there, and she cursed out herself.

Lily screamed at herself, pleading with fate to take her back, take her back, she would change everything. She cursed everything until she couldn’t yell anymore, until her voice had gone hoarse.

Lily fell to her knees on the floor and the tears returned in full force. She began to sob again. Mary was at her side in an instant, sitting down next to her. She reassured Lily that it was alright to cry. She was allowed to get upset, to get angry. Mary assured Lily that she had every right. 

Lily didn’t leave her room for dinner, and so Marlene and Alice brought up food from the Great Hall for all of them. Mary refused to leave her best friend’s side, so they brought up four plates. 

They ate, sitting on the floor of the dorm room, in a circle. They told stories and laughed and played games. Lily was grateful that her friends were there for her in such a fashion. 

As she coped, Lily came to better understand her emotions. Throughout the following week, she came to terms with all of these feelings, avoiding both boys all week. 

It soon became obvious to anyone who knew them that Lily was avoiding James. James appeared confused and concerned but everyone else just assumed she had rejected him again. 

As Lily pushed these unwanted emotions aside, she tried to be James’s friend. She stopped ignoring him. Sometimes she struggled to be his friend and just that, but as the days and weeks passed, things shifted back to normal. Well, not normal, because James would never be. But it became normal for them, a new normal. 

Lily slowly, at her own pace, got to know Regulus Black. She learned that he liked flowers, James brought him daisies he picked every morning. Lily found that Regulus could spend days hidden away in the library, just as she could. 

Lily watched how Regulus and James interacted with each other. While it hurt deep inside of her, made her heart ache with longing, Lily was genuinely happy for them. Truly. Lily thought they seemed perfect for each other, almost like soulmates. 

Lily thought to herself, just a touch bittersweet, that if it couldn’t be her with James, she was happy it was Regulus.

[ellorypurebloodculture]

Okay, Petunias been in my head all day so I have three ideas for FSF and I'll take any bone you throw my way: (all of these rely on the idea that Lily and Petunia are still close/Petunia is a follower of Magic)

1. Lily learns from her Sponsors that squib-born children like Petunia can be blood-adopted and gain their magic and works her butt off to gain her rights as a Newblood, just in time for her and Petunia to go to Hogwarts together.

2. Similar to the first, but Newbloods do not have the ability to activate a squib-borns magic, so Lily throws herself into being one of the most eligible Newblood Witches in Avalon and makes Petunia getting blood adopted one of her courtship requirements. (Either by the House interested or their allies)

3. Like the Second, but while Lily is still trying to get her adopted, Severus mentions Petunia's devotion to Magic to Lucius and Pandora (which is practically him waxing poetic in Slytherin), who decide they'd rather like a little sister. Cue Severus having to explain WHY he was talking about Petunia enough that an Ancient House is interested in adopting her. (I loved the Severus/Petunia prices you've done so far)

I just love the idea of the people around Petunia loving her enough to work their butts off to get her a chance at being a witch.

Petunia Evans averts her face when her bedroom door slams open, unable to bear the thought of her sister seeing her cry, the crumpled letter from Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, explaining she cannot attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry resting beside her on the bed.

"I did it, Tuney!" Lily exclaims, her voice bright with joy.

Petunia glances sideways and feels her heart wrench in her chest at the sight of an elaborate hairbrush in Lily's hand; she feels like she's choking as she forces the word "Congratulations!" past her lips.

Lily throws herself onto Petunia's bed, her green eyes fierce with determination, and says, "I'm going to blood adopt you as my sister and then you're coming to Hogwarts with me."

Petunia bursts into tears, but, this time, they're tears of joy and not tears of grief.

[resident-gay-bitch]

Please reblog so more marylene shippers can find this! <3

And comment if you’d like to be tagged when I post it :)

[jegulily-stuff]

Remus, sitting in the Potters' kitchen: And Jugson keeps being an arse about my sick leave. Sirius said we should break his legs but I think I'd get fired for that. I don't know what to do.

Lily: You've come to the right place. Reg, happen to know any of Jugson's dark secrets?

Regulus, not looking up from sketching: He licks poisonous frogs to get high - keeps them in his snuffbox.

Lily: Brilliant. Now James, imagine you're 14 again and you're trying to slip someone a potion as a prank, how would you do that to Remus' boss?

James, excited: Well at Hogwarts I'd have tried to get something into the drinks while they were still in the kitchen. Jugson makes other people get him coffee - I remember you complaining - so I'd intercept that and put the potion in his cup before it even gets to his table.

Lily: So, Remus, what youre going to do is take the toad venom I give you, slip it into his coffee - it won't kill him but he'll have to go to St Mungo's. Mungo's'll advise Poison Control to investigate - don't forget to wash the cup out. They'll find the frogs, Jugson'll lose his license to work in household monster removal or whatever your job's called. We can always tip them off about the snuffbox. How's that?

Remus: That's uh... wow... you're really efficient.

Lily: Yeah, I think we could use this to run the country.

[pickinglilahs]

Jeguily: How it started

This turned out longer than I thought...

Regulus and Lilly met at the Slug Club and bonded over how much they hated it. Fast friends and worked together on potions shit. Study together in the library (sometimes with Remus) cause they just enjoy each other's company.

Once James convinced Sirius to leave Grimuald Place, he starts trying to convince Regulus. It takes weeks for Regulus to even give James the time of day but he eventually gives in just to make James shut up about it. But James keeps checking in on him.

James has since stopped making a fool of himself for lilly but he still really likes her. They are civil and will occasionally talk when they are both studying/hanging out with Remus.

The three of them find themselves studying together (alone) a lot. They bond and become good friends. James is very affectionate and, as they become more comfortable, hangs all over Lily and Regulus (especially when he's tired of studying).

The other two become affectionate too. Leaning on each other, putting their feet up on each other's laps, playing with each other's hair, etc.

Sirius suddenly starts showing up to their study sessions with Remus. The two of them whispering and eyeing the three of them.

Barty and Evan start showing up and conspiring too. The three think it's wired but not strange enough to comment.

Dorcas, Marlene, Mary, Peter, Pandora, and Em showing up to join in.

Lily finally slamming down her quill and demanding to know what theyre whispering about.

Marlene: so which one are you dating?

Silence.

Confusion.

All three of them genuinely have no idea what's going on.

Marlene: which one are you dating? James or Regulus?

Lots of blushing. Lots of 'No, no it's not like that' and 'we're just friends '

Mary: well you all obviously like each other so idk why youre not dating

James (so brave he sometimes borders on stupid): would you two like to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?

[oxydiane]

Anarchy

a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority or other controlling systems.

‘You can’t do this!’ Marlene shrieks and the other members of the Order can only watch with clenched fists. Remus was keeping a hold of all their wands and pointing his own threateningly.

‘Yeah? Watch us.’ Sirius spits back, venom in his voice as he holds Harry with one arm and clutches Remus’ old Prefect badge with the other. It was a Portkey.

‘You can’t just flee— This goes against the plan!’

‘What plan, exactly? The one that got James and Lily killed?’

‘Dumbledore will—‘

‘To hell with Dumbledore!’ Remus yells and throws one quick look to his wristwatch. He feels Sirius’ hand slide over his own, the warm metal against his skin. It was time. ‘We are out of here.’

With that, he lets the wands he had previously stolen fall and Marlene’s terrified face is the last thing they both see before the Portkey activates.

@wolfstarmicrofic

[denimpera]

@wrathofrats tumblr ate my draft i’m sorry babes.

i’m sorry this took literally eight million years, but in compensation for the wait it’s capitalised to be at least readable 🫶 1.6k of mushy swissalps. sh tw.

Swiss whistles as he walks down the worn path to the greenhouse, kicking a small rock along the way. He's got two joints in his pocket, one of which he’s planning to give to their resident overworked earth ghoul. Maybe they’ll share both of them, or, better yet, maybe they’ll shotgun them both and Swiss can get a little handsy-

All three of his ideas go out the window when he swings the door to the greenhouse open and is met with Mountain, hunched over, carving a trowel into his arm.

Mountain looks up at the sudden clang of the greenhouse door being shut, and Swiss can see his hands start to shake as he pales, eyes going wide, mouth opening and closing uselessly as he tries to come up with an explanation. He doesn't have one, he finds, and he's quick to stand up from the old, worn couch and pull his sleeve down, heedless of the blood that's trickling down his arm in rivulets, pooling in his palm.

Swiss feels rooted on the spot, eyes glued to the stain of red seeping through his dusty brown button down. Mountain keeps flicking his wrist, trying to free himself of the pooled blood on his hand as he digs that same trowel into a pot of empty soil on his workbench. It’s obvious that he has no business with it, aimlessly tossing around soil while he wipes the sweat from his brow and attempts, in a conversational tone, “Swiss, what brings you here?”

It’s casual enough to bring Swiss out of whatever shock induced trance he was in, stumbling forward before he thinks about it, catching Mountain off guard when he reaches out to roll his sleeve up. It makes Mountain jerk back like he's been burned, but he doesn't take his eyes off of the soil.

“Mountain, are you okay? What- your arm, you-” Swiss stammers inelegantly, gaping at Mountain as he continues to shovel around the soil, Swiss can see his hand shaking around the trowel, hears the breaths that are coming just a little too quick, and if he cranes his head enough to get a good look at Mountain’s eyes he can see the shimmer of unshed tears in his eyes.

“Mount…” Swiss whispers.

Mountain flinches at the tone, squeezing his eyes shut and inhaling sharply through his nose. “What do you want, Swiss?”

The crease between Mountain’s brow assures Swiss that he feels guilty about snapping at him, but he knows in this state Mountain won’t apologise. Swiss has only seen him like this once; shortly after Dewdrop’s transition, bed ridden, future uncertain. He’s wound up, stressed, closing in on himself. He knows that Mountain feels like he can’t reach out when he’s struggling, that he expects the rest of the pack to see him as a pillar to lean on and therefore can’t let his guard down for even a moment. No amount of reassuring him that no one expects that of him seems to get through to him; met only with a clipped sigh, a wave of the hand, and a practised “I’m fine, stop worrying.”, followed by him quickly walking away with the excuse of tending to the greenhouse.

Swiss wishes he could catch him before it gets this bad.

Swiss’ lack of response seems to irritate Mountain- whether it be from annoyance or fear, he doesn’t know, but Mountain holds his shoulders higher, trying to make himself as big as possible as he pulls in a shuddering breath. “Swiss,” he all but sobs out. “You can’t tell anyone.”

The wet, quickening breaths spur Swiss into action; rushing forward in the small space between them to wrap his arms around Mountain’s shoulders, clinging to him and crushing him into his chest. He holds on tight, holds on until Mountain breaks; the trowel clanging against the workbench as Mountain wraps his arms around Swiss’ middle, heaving a heavy sob into Swiss’ shoulder. Swiss runs one of his hands through Mountain’s hair, a little greasy and knotty, pressing Mountain’s face into his neck, slowly lowering them both to the ground as Mountain cries. Swiss pulls him impossibly closer, cradling him against his chest. Mountain may be taller than him but Satanas does he feel so small huddled against Swiss, shoulders shaking with sobs as he clings to Swiss’ shirt.

Swiss shushes him, whispering words of love into his hair as he presses kisses to the crown of his head, his horns. Hand cradling the back of his head, thumb tracing along his cheekbone. He cries for what feels like hours, full bodied earthquakes of sobs tampering off into gasps and desperate heaves for breath while he shudders- Swiss holding him close and rocking him the whole time. He feels lighter, somehow. Like a weight has been lifted off of his tired, tired shoulders. However, accompanying his relief is bone deep embarrassment.

He clears his throat, coughs a little, “Swiss,”

He feels Swiss hum under his cheek.

“I’m sor-“

“Mount.”

Mountain lifts his head from Swiss’ chest to look at him, questioning.

Swiss speaks slowly, seriously. “If you apologise right now, I will tickle you.”

“I-I… what? I am thou-“ he’s surprised into a sort of squawk as Swiss stays true to his word; fingers moving lightning quick against Mountain’s sides until he lets out an indignant, giggly grumble of “okay, okay!”, pushing weakly at Swiss’ chest until the torture stops. Swiss brings his hands up to hold Mountain to his chest instead, and Mountain melts against him. He lets Swiss pet him, lets Swiss get his fill while Mountain soaks up the affection.

Swiss whispers “What’s going on in that head of yours, huh?” while he traces a finger against Mountain’s temple, so quiet Mountain almost misses it entirely, other hand rubbing up and down Mountain’s back. Soothing.

Mountain takes a steadying breath, ignoring how it trembles on its way out. “So much, Swiss, I don’t even know where to start- and-“

His panicked rambling is cut off before it can even start, Swiss shushing him and tucking a lock of hair behind his ear before pressing his forehead to Mountain’s. “So much going on that if you try and pinpoint one thing, you can’t. Huh, bud?”

He says it with such understanding and patience that Mountain melts even more, nodding gently against Swiss’ forehead, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. “Everything’s just… too much.”

Swiss answers with a hum before asking; “So… when did that start?”

Mountain moves back a little so he can look at Swiss fully, his posture is open and comforting, like he really cares. Like he doesn’t mean any harm or judgement. “Shortly after, um, Dew’s transition. When- when everything was crazy,” he trips over himself trying to veer away from seeming like he’s blaming Dew- he’s not-

“Hey, evergreen. I gotcha, it’s not Dew’s fault. Everything was hectic then.” right. He said that part out loud.

Mountain fidgets with the hem of his shirt, eyes downcast. “Since then, it’s just… become a habit, when things get too much. It helps, I guess, a-and I’m not putting myself in danger, so-“

“Mount, something like this- even if you’re being safe with it,” he emphasises ‘safe’ with air quotes, “opens the gate for it to get dangerous down the line. No matter how safe you think you’re being. You’re hurting yourself, lirio.”

Swiss places his hand atop Mountain’s, supportive. Mountain can’t bring himself to look at him, though. “I…”

“Look, how about we get you cleaned up, make some tea, and then talk about it another time, huh? You got a first aid kit in here?”

Later, Mountain will thank Swiss for his ability to sense when he’s about to spiral, will thank him for being effortlessly understanding and non judgmental.

Now, though, he simply points to a metal tin on the shelf above the workbench.

Swiss jumps up to grab it, sitting down onto the couch and rifling through the contents. He takes out a few bandaids, a wipe, and a bandage, patting the spot next to him after he closes the tin. Mountain gets up from his spot on the floor, sitting next to Swiss on the couch, making Swiss’ job easier by rolling up his bloodied sleeve for him.

Swiss is careful not to outwardly react, Mountain knows he can see the patchwork of previous scars that accompany the fresh ones, he ducks his head and stares somewhere off to the right while Swiss busies himself with gently cleaning away the drying, flaky blood. Cooing when Mountain hisses, tells him he’ll try to be quick. He dabs away as much of the blood as he can, leaving Mountain’s upper forearm clean, tells him he can wash the rest of it off when they go inside.

He sets out the bandaids, decides he’ll only need three at most, and gets to work plastering them over the cuts. He works carefully, gently, but securely. Like he’s used to doing this.

He takes the bandage next, wrapping it around Mountain’s forearm a dozen times before he clips it to stay. Then he rolls down Mountain’s sleeve, petting his wrist thrice. “All done, big guy.”

Mountain exhales heavily and stares down at his sleeve. “Good thing this shirt is dark, right?”

It pulls an unsuspecting laugh from Swiss, who shakes his head fondly before standing, holding his hand out for Mountain, who takes it, letting Swiss help him up. “I'll get the tea started, you change your shirt, okay?”

Mountain nods, squeezing Swiss’ hand. They walk back to the abbey like that, hands swinging softly between them while Swiss tells Mountain why he even came out to the greenhouse, offering to smoke with Swiss after their tea while they talk.

He starts to think that maybe he can let Swiss in, and maybe, just maybe, he’ll be okay.

[mk8-fic-writer]

For @thegobletofweasleys ' Jily Week 2023

Day 2: "In any universe I'd fight evil with you" AU

“Earth over profit! Stand up for Climate action!”, Lily chants with the rest of the 250+ people in the rally against Bill 233, a recently passed bill that emits climate-related taxes for large corporations in hopes to bring more foreign businesses into the country.

The unity and courage of the folks makes her blood rush. This is her place, her cause, this is where she is meant to be. It’s causes like these that fuel her passion to become a journalist.

“Lily, what the hell are you doing here?” she hears someone shout horridly behind her, the voice becoming louder with each passing second.

Snape, she recognizes. Great, here goes the day. “Supporting a cause that’s true to me” she barks back.

He grabs her arm instantly with the aim of pulling her out of the rally. “You don’t understand, do you? This bill is good for companies like larger companies Slytherin Inc, where you and I could work”, Snape sneers, contemptuously.

“Let go of me” she bawls, attempting to free herself from him. “That’s not what I want”.

“Is there a problem here? Ah, Snivellus, long-time, no see”, James enters the picture. Clad in a t-shirt with climate action-related puns. Lily can’t help but smile seeing him, despite the predicament she finds herself in.

“Potter”, he scowls, letting go of Lily.

James in his most aspiring lawyer tone, abrasively says, “Sniv, you do realize that under jurisdiction 451, you’re in no state to trouble a person or persons in rallies or in general. This falls under the law of harassment that you could very well be arrested for.” James clenches his fists, clearly irked with Snape.

Snape grunts and leaves immediately, mumbling something that the pair couldn’t make out.

“Nice t-shirt, Potter”, taking a step closer to him.

He cards his hand through his black, messy locks. “I know you didn’t need saving, Lily but - ”

She cuts him off with a little peck on his left cheek. A slight blush appears on his cheeks.

“What you did was right. I am so glad you came”

Fingers intertwined with hers, he squeezes her hand, “in any universe I’d fight evil with you, including Snape”. Displaying a megawatt smile just for her.

“By the way, is the law you spoke of true?”

“Nope, made it up on the spot”

[shares-a-vest]

Eddie reaches for Steve's fruity-scented shampoo - the stuff he swears he hasn't been using each and every time he stays over. He pops the cap and then the lights go out.

He screams bloody murder and drops the shampoo bottle. He kicks it and presses his palms against the nearest surfaces. One on the tiled wall, the other on the glass as he does everything to stop himself from moving his feet because, if he trips on that fucking fruity shampoo that makes Steve's hair oh-so-silky, he'll go slipping and sliding straight through the glass and into the goddamn toilet.

And he cannot die like that, buck-naked as the day he was born.

Though, if he absolutely had to die in the nude, he'd want it to be while he's railing someone six ways from Sunday...

Preferably the hunk who is bursting in through the bathroom door and waving a flashlight right in his eyes.

Steve opens the shower and reaches in to shut off the water. Eddie palms around and grips his boyfriend's wrist, impossibly warm despite now being wet.

"Are you... uh..." Steve drops the light enough from him to stop spluttering about. Eddie blinks hard, regaining enough focus to find a sly smile tugging at the corner of Steve's lips as he attempts to be serious, "Um, are you okay?"

Alright, maybe falling head-first into the toilet would have been a little less embarrassing than this: Steve staring back at him and snickering. He cups his junk and grumbles.

"Towel?" he spits, holding out one hand.

"Sorry," Steve says as he hands the brown (seriously, why do the Harrington's enjoy brown so much) towel over, "It's just you looked like you were in the middle of some naked jumping-jacks."

"Stevie, I was terrified," he retorts, drying off his arms and hands first so he can get a better grip on anything so he can safely get out of the damn shower before it becomes a fogged-up glass tomb.

But Steve places the flashlight tight under one arm and spots him, hovering one hand and placing the other on his dripping wet hip.

"I know," he soothes, now completely serious, "I was scared too."

Eddie doesn't care that he is mostly wet and that his hair is completely soaked, he goes right into Steve's strong arms, feeling his navy-blue sweater quickly dampen between them. Steve maneuvers around to stop their bodies from completely blocking their light source and hugs him tight.

"So stupid," Eddie can't help but mutter, "How am I more scared of the fucking dark than I was when I was six? Besides, how do you even lose power out here in Richie Richville?"

"Well, considering this house is surrounded by trees," Steve shrugs, "We lose power quite easily in bad weather," he pulls back enough to give a dangerously-teasing smirk considering Eddie's state of undress, "Thought you'd enjoy some candles and what-not, anyway. Doesn't Bilbo Baggins scurry around his cottage with a candlestick?"

Now it's Eddie's turn to move away as he hurriedly wraps the towel around himself - to protect his modesty. Yeah... that.

"Excuse me?" he exclaims, "He lives in a Hobbit hole, for one. And I'll have you know his home is well-lit."

"Come on!" Steve scoffs, rolling his eyes and taking his hand.

He leads them back into his bedroom, which at least has some moonlight peaking in from the windows. And yeah, now Eddie can really hear the source of the power outage. The wind outside and the trees that shroud Loch Nora sound like a goddamn tornado.

"Though I think Rivendell surely must have had some sort of electricity," he wonders aloud as he attempts to focus on something else.

"We can debate the infrastructure of Middle Earth later," Steve chuckles and promptly shoves a pair of sweatpants into his hands.

Eddie steps forward, smiling bashfully.

"You mean it?" he coos, biting the 't'.

Steve's eyes flick to his lips as he bites his own, "I can think of a few things we could do that don't involve the power being on."

Eddie opens his mouth, readying himself for a lame line about their palpable electricity that will probably make Steve laugh when the damn radio crackles.

If a physical object could be a boner-killer, it's the damn radio Steve currently has attached to his hip.

"Steeeve is the power out at your house, overrr!" Dustin screeches the moment Steve fishes it from his back pocket.

"Yes, over," Steve answers. He holds a finger up, silently asking Eddie to wait as they make no attempt to move an inch from each other's personal space, "I'mfine-okaygoodbye!"

He clicks the radio off completely and tosses it on his dresser, paying no mind to the fact it sends his Little League trophy toppling onto the carpet.

[cerise-grenadine]

1996, Valentine's Day — which Severus and Muireann do not celebrate.

– Please hold me? – Always.

She had never liked Valentine’s Day, and it actually grew worse with each passing year. Possibly because she was reaching the age her parents were when they had died. Or perhaps because the meaning of their death was finally sinking in. Or because she had to receive Valentine cards from boys who claimed she was the love of their life but couldn’t be bothered to check the spelling of her name. Or all of these at once.

But at least, he understood. No one understood better than he did. He didn’t think she was capricious for not knowing how to deal with her inner turmoil. He didn’t think she was callous for not wanting to mourn over empty graves. He didn’t think she was heartless because she didn’t want to witness her grandmother’s sorrow. He didn’t think she was monstrous for being angry at her parents. He understood her grief, her resentment, her frustration. He absorbed and absolved all of her bad feelings and just held her tight, for as long as she needed it. And tomorrow would be another day.

---

Drawn with a ballpoint pen after a screencap from Love in the Afternoon, a film I've never seen and don't even know haha. And because I got some of my drawing tools back, I tried to paint with watercolour, which was a bit of a challenge. Hence the digital tweaking (also because the iphone photo turned my colours grey >:( )

And because it is still Valentine's Day, I'm sharing one of my favourite love songs ever, which I listened to while painting. The title might sound cheesy but the text is beautiful. (also yes he calls her "my child" but it's just an old-fashioned poetic way to say "young woman")

I loved you, I love you and I will love you —

[maraudersftw]

Happy Diwali, Claudia! So sorry you're not able to celebrate with your family 🫂. OK, my prompt is: Three, two, one.

Love Robyn

Hey Robyn 🧡🧡 thank you so much! I loved this prompt, and was able to write the silliest thing ever because of it:

Three Two One

“And we’re sure this is going to work?” Lily whispered harshly, one eye trained on the corridor outside as she watched from within the tiniest crack in the broom cupboard’s doors. “Because if this doesn’t work, I’m going to have to hex you for making me sit on top of a dusty old bucket for thirty minutes.”

“Ye of little faith, Evans. It’s going to work. So well that even he will be impressed.” She allowed herself to look at him for one moment—not that she properly could, given how dark it was inside the tiny space, despite the lumos they'd cast—and watched as his hazel eyes flew across the wrinkled parchment spread open over his lap. “He should be here in another fifteen seconds.”

“How are you estimating that?”

“Based on Padfoot’s average speed of walking.”

She stared at him, mouth ajar. “Can’t tell if you’re joking.”

But James simply grinned, teeth glinting bright in the darkness, and when her pulse fluttered stupidly, she turned back to stare at the corridor, cheeks pink. “You’re absurd.”

“Now, now, Evans, we’re on the same team here.” He scooted forward an inch, knee knocking into hers. Lily refused to entertain her heart’s thumping. “Don’t forget we were locked into cupboards three times this week already. Three. Direct your irritation at the right person.”

“The right person being your best-mate,” she deadpanned. “You need to put him on a leash.”

James snickered under his breath, seemingly more amused by her comment than he had any right to be. “If it helps, I’ve tried getting him to stop, but he thinks pushing us into smelly places together will get us to finally snog or something.”

“It doesn’t help,” she said immediately, face heating up. “And shut up, I can hear footsteps.”

He fell quiet as directed, and when Sirius’s form appeared down the hallway, a jagged piece of mirror in hand and a confused frown on his brows, Lily’s eyes flashed meaningfully at James. He nodded, shifting closer as she pointed the tip of her wand to the figure outside, keeping just barely enough space between the doors for the wood to poke through.

“Three, two, one,” James mouthed, folding fingers in sync.

She flicked her wand, muttering the incantation under her breath, and smirked at the yelp of surprise outside.

“WHAT THE BLOODY FUCK—”

“No need to wake the whole castle, mate,” James laughed, throwing open the doors with full dramatic flair. Lily couldn’t blame him; she was feeling pretty arrogant herself.

The Pumpkin-Head jinx had effectively encased Sirius’s head inside the largest, organge-est pumpkin Lily had ever seen in her life. With a little experimentation, she had been able to leave slits for eyes and a mouth on the fruit, so that Sirius—now sitting on the ground, on account of the sudden appearance of an added weight on his head—could see how fantastically he’d been trounced by them. Plus, she thought it quite suited the Halloween decorations slowly coming alive in the castle.

“PRONGS?! What the fuck?! Did you do this?”

Lily scoffed, walking closer. “Please. It was me.”

“Hey! What’s with the credit hogging? I helped!”

“But why?” Sirius cried. “Is this revenge?”

“Actually, yes, it is.” Lily smiled, saccharine-sweet, watching him struggle to get the pumpkin off his head fruitlessly. “No point trying, you prat. It won’t come off for twelve hours.”

“WHAT?” His grey eyes widened inside the pumpkin slits. “Is this what I get for trying to help?”

“No one asked for your help, mate.” James let out a long-suffering sigh. “Least of all us. Also, broom cupboards? Really?”

The pumpkin thunked back against the wall in defeat. “I just thought—”

“There was no need,” Lily said, and shared a secret grin with James. Now came part two of their revenge. With one smooth tug at his hand, she pulled herself flush against James’s chest, fingers reaching up to tangle in the mess of his hair as he leaned down to capture her lips with his. For a moment—or two—or three—Lily lost herself in the warmth of his mouth and arms, body humming with relief at finally being allowed to do this after they’d been cooped up in that cupboard, diligently waiting to strike.

Eventually, a loud, strangled noise had them breaking apart, faces flushed.

“Are you bloody kidding me?!” Sirius’s voice groaned, but Lily could spy a hint of amusement in there now. “I hate you so much that I’m sort of impressed.”

James laughed, eyes bright, and winked at her. “See? Told you.”

[lily-janus]

It's still you

Word count: 272

Warnings: coming out, kissing

@acesidesweek day 1 coming out/self discovery

"Are you mad at me?" Remus suddenly blurted one day.

Patton blinked in surprise, "of course not, Re! What makes you say that?" He took his boyfriend's hand and squeezed it a little.

Remus shrugged, biting his lip. "I donno… you've been acting weird lately…"

Patton withdrew his hand as if he's been burned before he realized what he was doing.

Remus looked at where they're joined hands just were, then back up at Patton, hurt shining in his green eyes. "Something is bothering you, Patty-cake… and you won't talk to me about it… why?"

Patton looked away, he had to. He loved Remus but he just wasn't ready to talk about it yet… it was all so new…

A warm hand on his cheek made him turn to look at Remus again, his thumb stroking lightly, "hey, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

Patton looked into his boyfriend's sincere eyes and took a deep breath. "I… I-I'm…" he stammered, the word getting stuck in his throat.

Remus bumped their noses together lightly in encouragement and Patton's defenses melted.

"I'm Asexual." He finally said, feeling as though a huge boulder has been lifted from his chest.

Remus was silent for a moment, before grinning wildly, "that's awesome! When did you find out?"

Patton smiled, "y-you're okay with it- ow!"

Remus flicked his wrist, "of course I am, silly! It's still you, I don't care what labels you use! …we can still kiss though, right?"

Patton laughed and nodded, "yes, we can-" but he was cut off by Remus engulfing his lips with his, both of them giggling into the kiss.

[ellorypurebloodculture]

Hey! For FSF: Sirius/Lily (maybe something in the Black Bride universe if you're so inclined?) Thanks!

"Oh!" Heiress Lily Black gasped, a hand flying to rest over her lower pelvis.

"What is it?" Heir Sirius Black demanded, worry spilling down their bond.

The tiny, thin, thread-like bond inside Lily tying her to the babe in her womb grew slightly thicker, proof that her and her husband's love for one another had borne fruit.

Her heart overfull of joy, she stared into his beloved gray eyes and announced, "We're going to have a baby."

So much love inundated their soul-bond that she could barely breathe.