Lump In My Throat (Talk Me Down)

Chapter Eleven or Lump In My Throat 

January brought with it some of the coldest weather Lily had ever seen, with exceedingly thick blankets of snow and downright Arctic wind.

This particular Saturday—and according to McGonagall, for the next few Saturdays to come—instead of being curled up in bed, like she would have much preferred, Lily was holed up in the school library.

She had Susan Adams for company and, while under normal circumstances that wouldn’t be a problem, in light of recent developments, things had become extremely awkward. At least, they had for Lily.

Her teeth were chattering but she was also sweating, and it was all very uncomfortable.

Thankfully, Susan remained blissfully oblivious. Otherwise things would have been undoubtedly much more agonizing.

“I just… I don’t understand them. How am I supposed to charm something without saying the spell? Is my wand supposed to guess what I want, or what?”

Lily leaned back in her chair, lost in deep thought. She tried perusing her mountain of notes, flipping through the pages in her brain until she found an adequate explanation.

“It’s sort of like Transfiguration,” she started, “in the sense that it requires loads of concentration. Usually I can do charms without even thinking, but these gave me a little bit of trouble in the beginning, too. They’re different from verbal spells, and so you have to go into it with a completely different mind-set. You have to focus really hard because, since you’re not actually saying the spell, you’ve got to tell your wand what you want in another way, you know?”

Susan nodded in understanding. “That does make sense. Couldn’t Professor Flitwick have told us that?”

“Probably,” Lily shrugged. “But I guess it must be a sore spot for him, with it being so similar to a different class, you know?”

Susan smiled and turned to look Lily in the eye.

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Merry-Go-Round (Talk Me Down)

Chapter Ten or Merry-Go-Round // One of Those Nights

Christmas holidays passed as they usually did with turkey for Christmas dinner, Petunia’s entertaining commentary and a drunk Uncle Walter shouting at the telly. They’d already been back at Hogwarts for a full week, and yet Lily’s mind remained in Cokeworth. Or, at least, that’s what she told herself.

In reality, the things she could not, for the love of anything, stop thinking about were things that had indeed happened over break, but not in her hometown. As usual, James Potter was the one stuck in her brain because he really was a confusing creature, wandering around with his lopsided grin and crooked glasses, strutting like he owned the bloody place.

She had met up with her friends on the twenty-third, and it had been inside a slightly chilly Leaky Cauldron that Mary had told them that she’d broken things off with Bertram.

“Oh, thank Merlin,” Marlene had sighed, causing Lily to whack her on the arm. “I’m sorry, Mary. It’s just that… well, he’s a dick. And you deserve better.”

“I know,” replied Mary. She twizzled the yellow straw between her thumb and her forefinger and, looking down, she added “Took me long enough to realise, eh?”

“Getting out of a rubbish relationship is always hard, Mary. Please don’t beat yourself up about it,” assured Lily, placing a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder.

“Thank you, girls.”

That had been sound advice. Solid, non-offensive, and supportive.

She should have quit while she was ahead.

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Shake, Bend and Break (Talk Me Down)

Chapter Nine or Shake, Bend and Break

(December sixth)

"This is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous plan you've ever come up with." Then, breaking into a grin, James added, "Of course I'm in."

"It'll be brilliant," agreed Peter.

"Well, let's go, then."

"Are we actually doing this? Are we really going to pull this off?"

"We always do," Sirius assured Remus. "Plus, Aberforth loves us."

At last, the holidays were less than a week away. And it was just as well; both the students and the professors were exhausted, as it had been a very tiring term. The grounds were coated in thick layers of snow, and it was too cold to even consider going outside.

That particular Thursday morning, during Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall decided it would probably be best to double-check if the students who had signed up to go home during the holidays still wished to do so.

She'd just taken a scroll out of her desk drawer when someone screamed. With her wand at the ready, she quickly hurried over to the door, but when she opened it, she was greeted with, not one, not two, but dozens upon dozens of-

"Are those goats?" someone asked.

Two or three managed to make their way inside the classroom and, after Elizabeth's shrill cry, the students – on Thursdays, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs always had their Transfiguration classes separately – promptly flooded out of the room.

It was a good thing, Lily realised, that none of the Marauders had come to class that day.

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Bird Set Free (Talk Me Down)

Chapter Eight or Bird Set Free

It was already the end of November, and the holidays were only a couple of weeks away. Thus it was prime exam season, and so the students were facing tests and quizzes on a roughly daily basis – not to mention, of course, the numerous practical demonstrations in nearly every subject.

In fact, a few of the Gryffindor sixth years were spending – although Sirius would argue they were wasting ­– their Saturday in the library, revising for the upcoming Defence Against the Dark Arts exam.

“Which two spells,” Remus began, reading from a piece of parchment, “if mixed, cause the victim to sprout little tentacles?”

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You Stole My Cauldron (Talk Me Down)

Chapter Seven or You Stole My Cauldron

(Immature Slytherins)

It was the first day of the month, and Lily Evans hadn’t made it to class.

She was supposed to be in Potions.

Instead, she was in the Hospital Wing, visiting Cassie Higgs, a fellow Gryffindor girl, who had shown up shaken and bruised to the infirmary the previous day.

Lily wasn’t worried about skipping class; Slughorn was halfway in love with her already, and a quick explanation of what had happened was sure to keep her in his good graces. And, after all, Professor McGonagall would back her up.

She had run to the Hospital Wing as soon as she had heard about what happened, leaving her breakfast half eaten.

Lily tried talking to Cassie about what had happened, but her efforts were proven fruitless, as Cassie could not recall anything from the incident. Lily, however, had her suspicions. She really should have known.

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in another life (we could have had it all)

They meet in law school. Criminal law, senior year, to be precise. Professor McGonagall drones on and on about mens rea and strict liability and because it is an eight a.m. class on a Monday, most students are half-asleep. Potter's not, of course. He loves it.

"And the purpose of diminished capacity is… Potter?”

"To negate mens rea." McGonagall nods, and Lily swears she can see the corners of her mouth twitching.

The months go by. Eventually, because it is only natural, the two of them fall in love, and they fall hard. It’s the kind of love that lasts for better or for worse, forever. Lily’s never believed in soulmates, (Potter does, of course,) but, at the risk of sounding cliché, it feels like the familiar tug in her heartstrings was meant to be.

They could have had it all, but in the end, they both choose their careers.

It’s a mess, and it hurts more than anything, even more than the time Lily was fifteen and her sister went missing, only to wind up in the hospital a few days later. Potter doesn’t feel like a sibling, he feels like a part of her. It feels like her heart is being torn in two and he’s taking one half with him.

Neither of them wants it, but it’s how it has to be.

(Four years later)

It's nine in the morning when she steps foot inside the courtroom. She walks to the bench, sits down, and fumbles with a loose thread in her robes. People start coming in, defense attorneys and witnesses and the jury and him.

She still sees him from time to time, out of the corner of her eye after a long case, in the back of her mind when she's trying to fall asleep. He's turned into a brilliant lawyer, like she always knew he would. She stayed in law school, studying to become a judge.

When the clock ticks half-past-nine, he runs his hand through his hair - she's glad to see that hasn't changed - and stands up. Today isn't about James Potter and law school reunions; it's about Tom Riddle and his organ trafficking business. The british government has been after Riddle for years now, and Lily prays Potter doesn't muck it up. Riddle's guilty, she's sure of it, and yet she can't do anything if the prosecutor doesn't do a good enough job.

"Good morning. My name is James Potter and I am the prosecutor in this case." His voice is deep - deeper than she remembers - and his face is set in a serious expression, one she hasn't seen him wearing since his father's passing.

The trial passes in a blur, and even though his closing statement ended with "and in conclusion, may I say that black robe is very slimming on you, Your Honour," she can't help but feel somewhat foolish.

She shouldn't have been so on the edge about his performance. He nailed it, of course. And now, Riddle's in jail. Fucking finally.

When she reaches her office, he's beat her to it, undoubtedly waiting for her. Something is pulling the two of them together, time after time, and she doesn’t know what it is. It can’t possibly be fate, (because there is no way fate can be this cruel.)

"Potter."

"Evans," he nods, fully aware of the fact that they can only drop the pretence once she shuts the door. And so, she does. "Long time no see, eh?"

"I know. It's been the most peaceful month I've had ever since I met you." He clutches at his chest, and she smirks.

"Ouch."

“You did wonderful back there. I particularly liked your closing statement.”

“Well, you know me.” She does, even though he’s different now. Grown up. Life isn’t his playground anymore, it’s serious. His posture is straighter, his eyes are sharper. But not everything has changed. His smile is still the same, and the dimple on his left cheek is still there. They are both still head over heels in love with each other, but Lily knew that was never going to change.

Her gaze drops to the floor, and she asks, "do you remember-"

"Of course I do," he finishes. "Criminal law. Your hair was in a braid."

She steps closer and their foreheads touch.

"I'm sorry, James," she whispers.

"It's not your fault."

"If it got out, Riddle's lawyer could easily convince the jury of favouritism. We've been after this for so long-"

"I know."

There’s silence, but it feels like their hearts are in deep conversation with each other. Beat, beat, beat.

"I love you, you know,” she says, because it’s true, because it is the only thing she knows to be true.

"I'll always love you."

His lips touch her temple, and he leaves, under the promise of someday, somehow.

Slipping Into The Lava (Talk Me Down)

Chapter Six or Slipping Into The Lava

James Potter was in a mood. In a Quidditch mood, to be precise; already on Captain mode, even outside the pitch, ordering people about while simultaneously keeping a smile plastered on his face. Entirely too cheerful, cockier than usual, as though the victory was secure. No other team had practiced as much as Gryffindor, and James would know. After all, he was the reason the pitch was never available for practices.

It was match day.

At about eleven o’clock, the team marched to the changing rooms, clad in scarlet robes and protective armour. All that was left was the war painting.

“All right, boys,” he began, gripping his broom. Dorcas coughed. “And girls. It’s time.

“Meadowes, Hastings, I hope you had a big breakfast. Can’t have you getting hungry in the middle of the match, can I? I mean, I’m good, but one brilliant chaser doesn’t compensate for two distracted ones, yeah? Macmillan,” he continued, “if I see you getting distracted by Black’s pretty arse, I’ll bench you and use a second-string player who could probably do your job better than you, so cool it. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Potter,” the team chorused.

“We’re going to go out there, and we’re going to trounce Slytherin. No unnecessary fouls, let’s try to keep this clean, all right? And Boot?”

“Yes, Potter?”

“Catch me a snitch, will you?”

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new jily fic?

guys around this time last year, I started writing Fate Works In A Funny Way, and over the course of 2015 I managed to finish it. I’ve been really thinking about writing a new multi chaptered jily and marauders fic, with more layers, more characters and more development of the relationships. I have around 4000 words written already, but nothing is settled yet.

If I were to post it, would you guys be interested in reading that? 

there’s a reason for all those love songs

If you asked James Potter at what point he figured out that he was absolutely in love with Lily Evans, he wouldn’t be able to give you a straight answer. James didn’t even know the answer to that question, or even what love actually was.

You see, for James, love wasn’t about grand gestures or majestic declarations of love (that was something he’d learnt from Lily). Love was the way he felt everytime he looked at her.

So, for the first time since I’ve joined Tumblr, I decided to host a blog of the month type thing. Except this will more more of a Blog of the Holiday - meaning, Halloween. I will probably do the same during Christmas.

rules:

winner wil get:

runner ups will get:

(thank you to hauntedremus for the layout and sorry for borrowing it)

Fate Works In A Funny Way - CHAPTER TWENTY!

OF BLOWOUTS AND LUNCH

In Which there are a fair few arguments, some lasagna to die for and James Potter meets Vernon Dursley.

CHAPTER NINETEEN - FATE WORKS IN A FUNNY WAY

Of Predictions and Heart-to-hearts

In which we meet Emmeline Vance, may the force be with you and it’s the holidays at last.

send me your fav writing tips and i will put my phone on shuffle and give you a song rec!