Lily Potter

I love you and your big stupid face.

-L

#Family Photos

regulusblacx

lily-j-evans:

Lily had been itching for a way out of the Gala from the moment she’d arrived. While it was wonderful to talk to Euphemia and tease Remus about his tux, those were some of the only things that made being here remotely bearable. Her shoes were pinching her feet, she kept nearly stumbling over her floor-length gown that had somehow seemed shorter in the shop, and she wanted to hex every Ministry official that she laid her eyes on, even those with positions as simple as security. Smiling and acting unbothered was harder than any duel she had ever been a part of.

She was collected enough at least to keep her head level and to go no further than gritting her teeth behind her smile but an hour after her arrival, she needed a breather. Just a few moments where she could relax her shoulder blades from pressing together in an effort to adjust her normally poor posture, which was for some reason important. Setting her glass down on a nearby platter, Lily politely excused herself from a conversation she had lost interest in several minutes ago and made her way to the doors of the party. She would have to return eventually, but whoever she was pretending to be was withering away by the second. Maybe she could make up a sudden illness to excuse her permanently… No. She wouldn’t leave James and the others. She would just learn to continue to grin and bare it.

Turning into a nearby corridor, she heard the sound of labored breathing that made her stutter a step. There was a man hunched over, but she could only see his back. Fearing the worst, she quickened her step and gently grabbed what she assumed was a stranger’s shoulder.

“Sir, are you alright? Do you need me to get someone for you?”

@regulusblacx

Regulus should have known that his mother would pull such a stunt. This was exactly the level of manipulation and mind games she was so adept at. She had been especially critical of his choice of robes and hairstyle that night, which in and of itself wasn’t abnormal from her, but it all pointed to her secret intentions. For the last half hour, she had lead him from table to table, introducing Regulus as her rightful son and heir and making a point to say that he was single. At one point, Walburga had thrust Regulus upon a girl from the Parkinson clan and conveniently left to powder her nose. Which left Regulus alone to stutter through a painful conversation with the Parkinson girl, in which he felt so humiliated and awkward he wanted to melt through the atrium floor.

When Walburga had returned, Regulus haphazardly formulated some excuse and took off. He could not understand why his lungs suddenly felt like they were going to combust, why the grand atrium felt so hot and stuffy, why each thought was spiraling in his mind and sending his adrenaline into overdrive. He knew this day would arrive eventually. He was fully aware he would have to fulfill his duty as an heir. But now that it was actually happening, it was worse than he could have ever imagined.

Regulus was not so familiar with the immense layout of the Ministry, which meant he had no idea what sort of corridor he had sought shelter in. He just knew it offered him the privacy he needed to hunch over and try to catch his breath. Was it possible to pass out from an imagined lack of air? Regulus wondered. He shut his eyes, hearing his heart pounding in his ears, when a voice abruptly broke through the sound. He didn’t even process it was someone talking to him until he felt the pressure on his shoulder. He turned, startled, to be met with red hair and concerned, green eyes. Despite not speaking in years, he recognized her immediately. Lily Evans. Or was it Potter now?

“I– n-no,” he said shakily, still breathing hard. “No, don’t do that.” He managed to recover just slightly, straightening his back to compose his stature. His instincts of self preservation had kicked in. He might be falling apart, but he wasn’t supposed to show it.

#Benefit Gala #Regulus Black #active rp

The moment she had seen Regulus Black's face, her hand faltered.

Lily had never had many interactions with him, but the ones they did share were hardly pleasant. While he was never particularly vocal about it, it was difficult not to notice him pointedly avoiding her in their Hogwarts years. It was never much of an issue for Lily of course, with his surname and since they never shared classes because of an age difference. But she didn't need three guesses to figure out why he distanced himself, along with all of the other blood-purist gits. But eventually, she did have to appreciate that it was more complex than she originally believed. She had heard stories from Sirius, and knew their relationship was... Strained. Her being his older brother's friend would hardly put her in his good graces. But he never gave her any problems, so she filed him away with all of the others that hated muggle-born but wisely kept their mouths shut in her presence.

That was, until, she learned of his change in allegiance. It came as a shock to her, to say the least. She knew of other spies that worked for the Order but for anyone in the Black family, other than Sirius, to stand on their side seemed inconceivable. Then again, she supposed that everyone grew up one day.

Regaining her concern after a moment's hesitation, Lily studied him closer. No blood, no obvious signs of any curses or jinxes that she could see. Regulus wasn't howling in pain which was a good sign, but at any given moment he looked as though he might faint.

Don't bring anyone to help. So she was on her own here, terrific. But she kept her face void of any discomfort. "I need you to breathe for me, okay? Just tell me what's wrong. Are you hurt? I won't get aurors involved, but you need to talk to me." Keeping her voice low but firm, Lily gently guided Regulus back against the corridor wall, in a small attempt to prevent them from being scene by anyone that might pass by their corridor. It wasn't smart for them to interact so openly like this.

@regulusblacx

regulusblacx

✰ regulus & @lily-j-evans

✰ location: ministry of magic, benefit gala

By the time Regulus had wrangled himself away from the iron grip of Walburga Black, he felt dizzy. Unbeknownst to the young heir, his mother had sprung upon the opportunity of the Benefit Gala to begin the process of getting him engaged. She had even secretly recruited Narcissa to go around and introduce him to suitors. Never before had his mother demonstrated such forwardness in this matter. Up until now, she had allowed Regulus to live freely, complaining that nobody was good enough for her boy. Her sentiments had switched almost overnight, leaving Regulus reeling as he was paraded around and made to talk to young pureblood women.

When the nerves threatened to overpower him, Regulus stated he was going to step out for a moment before he pushed past the crowd in the atrium. He needed air, which according to his lungs, there seemed to not be enough of. He finally found a door that lead out of the atrium and into a corridor, which gave Regulus the moment of privacy he needed before he completely lost it.

#Benefit Gala #Regulus Black #active rp

Lily had been itching for a way out of the Gala from the moment she'd arrived. While it was wonderful to talk to Euphemia and tease Remus about his tux, those were some of the only things that made being here remotely bearable. Her shoes were pinching her feet, she kept nearly stumbling over her floor-length gown that had somehow seemed shorter in the shop, and she wanted to hex every Ministry official that she laid her eyes on, even those with positions as simple as security. Smiling and acting unbothered was harder than any duel she had ever been a part of.

She was collected enough at least to keep her head level and to go no further than gritting her teeth behind her smile but an hour after her arrival, she needed a breather. Just a few moments where she could relax her shoulder blades from pressing together in an effort to adjust her normally poor posture, which was for some reason important. Setting her glass down on a nearby platter, Lily politely excused herself from a conversation she had lost interest in several minutes ago and made her way to the doors of the party. She would have to return eventually, but whoever she was pretending to be was withering away by the second. Maybe she could make up a sudden illness to excuse her permanently... No. She wouldn't leave James and the others. She would just learn to continue to grin and bare it.

"Sir, are you alright? Do you need me to get someone for you?"

@regulusblacx

Lily Potter's Invitation to the Ministry of Magic Benefit Gala

Lily Potter was not exactly thrilled to receive her invitation to the Ministry's benefit gala. It felt almost like a taunt, one they had no choice but to yield to. Throwing the stupid parchment into the fireplace and forgetting about it would be a sign of bad faith. And with Crouch breathing down their necks with bated breath, just waiting for an excuse to lock them up and forget about the issue entirely... They couldn't afford bad faith.

They just had to flaunt the Potter name for the Ministry's benefit and hope it wouldn't blow up in their faces.

Feeling the ache in her hands, Lily loosened her grip on the opened letter, watching the crinkled parchment loosen.

She needed a dress.

#An Unwelcome Invitation #Benefit Gala #one shot

mighty-prongs

James was beyond tired, he had spent his weekend at the holding cells in the Ministry and it wasn’t exactly the fun experience that he would love to talk about. Of course the Ministry wouldn’t push a member of the press to a break, but they didn’t exactly made it easier on him and the rest.

The Ministry wanted a scape goat and he was sure if he wasn’t certain that Lily and Harry were safe, that he would have cracked. But he was home, and all he wanted to do was hug his wife and son until his heart felt the dread go away.

He entered the houses, silently, as he figured Harry would be sleeping. He was sure that Lily was not sleeping, but he wasn’t sure either, and he didn’t want to wake her up in case she finally got some rest. So he took his shoes off and wandered inside the kitchen for a cuppa, trying to calm himself before facing his family.

@lily-j-evans

#His Return #James Potter #active rp

Lily's first day at St Mungos had left her a wreck. Not only had she come to face Narcissa Black of all people as a coworker, but she was running on fumes. Escaping her problems by throwing herself into other people's. She supposed it did help a bit to think about rapidly growing boils and mysteriously appearing beaks rather than her wrongfully incarcerated husband, but not as much as she'd hoped.

Harry was fast asleep by the time she returned home, which she was more than glad to find. Dealing with a fussy toddler after the day she'd had was something she was worried she might not survive. So after hugging Remus goodbye and assuring him that she'd eaten at the hospital, Lily all-but collapsed into the rocking chair beside Harry's crib. She knew that it was good for her to get out of the house, but she couldn't help but cling to Harry a little tighter than normal as of late. James's absence had been another reminder of just how real this was. Just as they were all starting to catch their breath again, another rug was swept out from underneath. How long could they protect Harry from a world like that?

Nearly an hour after she'd arrived, Lily found herself blinking awake in the darkness of the nursery. She didn't remember falling asleep and had no idea what had woken her up either. But she didn't have to wonder long, hearing the whistle of the kettle from downstairs. She could have sworn she remembered watching Remus apparate away. Had he forgotten something? Or was he just continuing to be lovably overbearing?

Sighing deeply, Lily pushed herself to her feet and made her way downstairs, a yawn in the back of her throat. She would send him off and crawl into bed, looking forward to another morning where her hands would be tangled in cold sheets.

"Remus, I told you, I can manage on m-"

The air had been swept from her lungs as swiftly as if she'd fallen off a broom. He was there, right there. Just making tea in the kitchen as if he'd never left. The bastard. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to yell or cry. But she didn't do either. She didn't leave herself time to overthink it. Sweeping over to him after several moments of being frozen stiff in the hallway, she reached up to hold his face as if it were made of glass. She had so many questions, too many. He wasn't hurt, from what she could see, but he wasn't okay either.

"You're home, you... You're okay."

But she wasn't sure just who she was reassuring this time.

She let out a breath she had forgotten she was holding and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his neck so tightly that it was as if letting go would mean him disappearing.

@mighty-prongs

lily-j-evans:

“That’s exactly what I think, yeah.” Lily retorted with a grin, leaning back in her chair. “You two were never as smooth as you thought you were. You do know that we could all see hickeys too, right?” Their laughter was joined by Harry’s giggles as he shoved his chubby little fist into his plate, followed by his mouth. This house had always been a happy home for him. No matter what was going on, someone was always there to coo and play with him until lately. It felt good to see that be the case again, and the change in atmosphere wasn’t half bad for her either. “He is a good kisser. Not that I’d ever tell him that of course.” She teased, knowing details were the last thing Remus wanted to hear. But it was so rare that she wasn’t on the receiving end of squirm-worthy information that she couldn’t resist. “It was romantic! And my bad, would you rather I mentioned how we mistook your bed for James’s once?” She paused, waiting for the scandalized look she knew was coming before shrugging. “Relax, it was only a snog. Probably.” Lily waited patiently then as Remus finished stirring her tea before he brought it over. She wasted no time searching for the warmth from the mug with her nimble fingers, grasping it tightly as she took a sip and shuddered with delight. Despite the slight burning on her tongue, the taste of a perfectly made fresh cup of tea sent shivers down her spine. Sometimes she seriously wondered how on earth she had been ahead of him in potions. Glancing over at him across the top of the mug, Lily smiled gently and nudged her foot against his under the table. “Thank you for doing this. Seriously. Not sure what I’d do without you sometimes.”

“Oh, shut up.” Remus laughed, brushing off Lily’s comment. “I was always covered in bruises. Nobody was going to think twice about the ones on my neck.” He wasn’t sure that was strictly true but it felt like his only defence. Leaning forward to face Harry as he giggled playfully, he was jealous of his innocence, of the fact that he was still so blissfully unaware of the darkness in the world he had been born to. He tried to picture the future, a teenage Harry who might cringe with embarrassment if he and Lily even considered having the same conversation in front of him. That future felt so far away, so out of reach. He knew Lily was trying to make him cringe too, but he refused to back down without putting up a fight. “Do you want me to list the many ways Sirius is good with his mouth?” He teased. It felt strange making such a joke when he was no longer with Sirius, but even separated they felt like more than friends. He opened his mouth to continue, but was interrupted by Lily’s unexpected admission. “Wait- you what?” He asked, distracted from the makeshift competition they had started. “You know, this is exactly why I don’t trust either of you. James was bad enough on his own, the second you started liking him he became an unstoppable force.”

Grinning as he looked back on many hushed conversations, he could still recall the way both James and Lily had talked to him about their feelings for each other. He might joke otherwise, but he was very glad they had ended up together. They were such good people, and so deserving of the happiness they had found. What he had with Sirius was fiery, and passionate, but he sometimes longed for the same constant love that James and Lily seemed to share with each other. Watching with a degree of satisfaction when Lily took a sip of her tea, he was content that he didn’t need to worry about her working with nothing in her system to fuel her. Even if it was essentially water and sugar, it had to count for something. “Don’t…” He murmured, pulled back into the seriousness of the situation, why Lily was so desperate to get away for a day. “You’re always there for me, Lily… I’m here for you too. That’s the only way we’re getting through any of this… right?”

Lily remembered noticing that Remus was always covered in bruises when they had first met. Of course, they weren't even close to friends back then but the boy who looked as though he had lost a different fight to a different troll every single day was hard to overlook. She'd just assumed he was being picked on and asked McGonagall about it around Christmas in their first year. The Transfiguration professor had just told her that everything was under control and that there was nothing to worry about, but there was also a very firm warning not to go poking her nose where it didn't belong, which was smart. Lily really was clueless about everything back then. Something she seriously envied now. And it was an innocence that Lily would die to protect for her son.

"Okay! Okay, you win! Just stop talking!" Lily laughed, mock-gagging over her tea. Thinking of her friends brought her a great deal of comfort, but if she had to imagine Sirius and his "skills" for one more second, she might need to be a patient at St Mungos rather that an intern. "Oi, James got some of his best ideas from me, thank you very much!" She supposed both James and herself both became vastly different people from loving each other. Better people. She let loose, he matured. There were countless nights in their sixth year of school where she would complain endlessly to Remus about James's antics, but overtime those complaints began to sound uncomfortably like gushing. It was a wonder he never rolled his eyes so hard that they fell out of his head, but then again, she was there for him about Sirius in turn. They weren't even best friends, really. He was her brother. Which made swapping between the silly and the serious so easy. They never needed to pretend with each other.

"..Right. Together." She echoed, and for the first time in a while, she actually believed it.

But the tender moment was interrupted by Harry babbling rather loudly, seeming to finally notice that the attention was no longer on him. Lily grinned softly at him and wiped at bits of pancake stuck to his cheeks with syrup, before downing the last of her tea.

"You're right, love. Time for mum to get to work." She sighed, pushing herself up from the table with a small stretch. "You're sure you're alright on your own? I could always see if Marlene is busy."

@swearwolfremuslupin

by-shimei

Harry, be safe. Be strong. Always.

-Lily J. Potter

#Family Photos

Lily Evans Playlist (As per Fractured au)

This is an UNFINISHED playlist!! Please leave recommendations if you have any!!

1 hour long

Lily Evans:

Killer Queen (Remastered 2011) - Queen

Take A Hint - Victorious Cast; Victoria Justice, Liz Gillies

You're Somebody Else - flora cash

Turning Tables - Adele

i don't think we can be friends - Hollyn

Congratulations - Rachel Platten

Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore - Paramore

When He Sees Me - Sara Bareilles

I Wont Say (I'm In Love) - Hercules Cast: Susan Egan, Lillias White, Vanéese Y. Thomas, Cheryl Freeman, LaChanze, Roz Ryan

Can't Help Falling In Love - Haley Reinhart

Skipping Rocks - Taia Bohne

Paper Rings - Taylor Swift

Honey Honey - Mama Mia Cast; Amanda Seyfried, Ashley Lilley, Rachel McDowall

18 - One Direction

Dear Friend - Dayglow

Young Blood - Bea Miller

Fire N Gold - Bea Miller

Sign Of The Times - Harry Styles

#My Playlist

lily-j-evans:

Sitting together and taking the piss out of the other Marauders had been what bonded the two originally, and it continued to be one of Lily’s favorite hobbies. They couldn’t help it back in Hogwarts, everything back then was filled with so much energy constantly. Lily and Remus were the closest to relatively normal out of the group, making it easy to laugh at the absurdities of their daily lives with their friends. So continuing that tradition now was second nature, even if it was a bit more morbid. Lily’s tensely pursed lips split into a wide grin at the reminder of Sirius and Remus’s exploits. “Behind the greenhouses? No wonder Professor Sprout was always taking points!” Lily gasped in bewilderment, remembering how crabby the middle-aged professor always seemed when teaching Gryffindors. “And I couldn’t help it! I was too busy snogging your other best friend on the Quidditch stands.” As they laughed in nostalgia, Lily’s self-sabotaging hand gave Harry’s little foot a gentle squeeze which brought her back from reminiscing. As difficult as the reminder was, they weren’t in fact lounging in the Gryffindor common room. They had responsibilities, and they weren’t safely out of danger. But they at least had these little pockets of respite to keep them sane. Her smile faded as the laughter died down, but not completely. She was glad that Remus hadn’t protested her running away to work. Of course, it wasn’t as if she didn’t love spending so much time with Harry, but she was going stir-crazy. She couldn’t stare out the cottage windows any longer, thinking that any second now, James would be home safe. And realistically, she just wasn’t built to be a stay-at-home mother anyway. Even though the Potter family had enough money to conceptually keep her happy and healthy without ever needing to work, that just wasn’t her. She could feel herself falling out of practice each day. It was beginning to become uncomfortably difficult to even conjure her Patronus to keep Harry entertained. Lily watched Remus get up and carry Harry to the kitchen with a sigh. She knew what he was doing before she heard the sound of the kettle being switched on, which made her reluctant to follow. But she soon followed anyway, sitting at the dining table. She ruffled Harry’s hair again as he was sat in his high chair, a habit she had picked up since he was born, but especially recently. He had his father’s hair. “Alright, mum.” She teased, quoting Remus from countless times before, where she had helped care for him on bad days. Especially leading up to and out of the nights he would disappear.

@swearwolfremuslupin

Originally posted by jellycolors

“Oh, come on. You think we were inexperienced enough to get caught?” Remus grinned mischievously, remembering how simple everything had felt while they were still at school. Their time at Hogwarts really wasn’t so long ago, but centuries may as well have passed by. He missed worrying over Potions homework, and not whether one of his best friends was going to come home from the Ministry. Wrinkling his nose at Lily’s comeback, a quiet laugh managed to escape him in spite of his thinly veiled concern. “Gross, please don’t put the image into my head. The last thing I want to think about is kissing your husband.” Making sure Harry was settled in his chair, he moved back to the kettle to focus on making Lily’s drink. “And the Quidditch stands? How cliché. You know I’m almost disappointed in you.” Turning to shoot Lily a pointed look when she called him mum, he couldn’t help but appreciate the sudden irony. They really were playing each other’s roles today. “Very funny.” He deadpanned, throwing a teabag and some sugar into a mug. He had known Lily for so long now that he prided himself on being able to make tea just the way she liked it. “Like you don’t do this to me every month. The least I can do is make sure you don’t go to work on an empty stomach, it isn’t healthy.” He had done far worse when it came to abandoning self care, something she most definitely knew. But he also knew he was right, and he had the truth on his side. How could she argue with him when she was so often making his point? Finally happy with his brew, he set the mug down in front of his friend, taking the seat opposite her so that he could help to keep Harry entertained. “Drink up.”

"That's exactly what I think, yeah." Lily retorted with a grin, leaning back in her chair. "You two were never as smooth as you thought you were. You do know that we could all see hickeys too, right?" Their laughter was joined by Harry's giggles as he shoved his chubby little fist into his plate, followed by his mouth. This house had always been a happy home for him. No matter what was going on, someone was always there to coo and play with him until lately. It felt good to see that be the case again, and the change in atmosphere wasn't half bad for her either. "He is a good kisser. Not that I'd ever tell him that of course." She teased, knowing details were the last thing Remus wanted to hear. But it was so rare that she wasn't on the receiving end of squirm-worthy information that she couldn't resist. "It was romantic! And my bad, would you rather I mentioned how we mistook your bed for James's once?" She paused, waiting for the scandalized look she knew was coming before shrugging. "Relax, it was only a snog. Probably." Lily waited patiently then as Remus finished stirring her tea before he brought it over. She wasted no time searching for the warmth from the mug with her nimble fingers, grasping it tightly as she took a sip and shuddered with delight. Despite the slight burning on her tongue, the taste of a perfectly made fresh cup of tea sent shivers down her spine. Sometimes she seriously wondered how on earth she had been ahead of him in potions. Glancing over at him across the top of the mug, Lily smiled gently and nudged her foot against his under the table. "Thank you for doing this. Seriously. Not sure what I'd do without you sometimes."

lily-j-evans:

Lily couldn’t help but smile bitterly, remembering their hope during the seventh year. The five of them being so confident, aspiring to be heroes. To help people, to join the Order and stop the Death Eaters once and for all. But the only thing that met them after Hogwarts was death, injustice, and betrayal. And the Ministry sure didn’t make matters any better. “Sirius has never been good at feeling helpless. None of us have, but him especially.” She asserted, remembering the look on his face in the wake of Peter’s massacre. The guilt, the self-loathing. As if he should have been the one to notice what had fooled everybody. No matter how much everyone had assured him that he wasn’t to blame, Sirius had never quite been the same after that. None of them had. Everyone went home blaming themselves, but none like Padfoot. “He’s Sirius. Of course he isn’t listening to anyone. Even though I’m always right.” She tried to joke, prying her hair out of Harry’s sticky fists. “But… He loves you, you know. No matter what he says. And no matter how cosmically pitiful he is at expressing his feelings. He adores you. Maybe even more than I do.” Remus had been the one that Lily spoke to the most when she was warming up to the Marauders. He was the calm one, the one who didn’t pester her. To this day, he especially would always be one of her best friends. Even on days like today, where she tried not to notice just how much her hands were trembling. Lily surrendered Harry to him, smiling softly at how quickly he took to his uncle. If anything were to happen to her and James, a possibility that felt frighteningly real lately, Harry’s two uncles would be the godparents. It was made clear before he was even born, but that didn’t make it any less comforting to see in action. “I’m fine, really.” Lily assured, straightening up a bit as if that would prove her point. “I’m actually starting at St Mungos today. The worst time they could have called me in, which is why I asked you to help with Harry for the day. I won’t be home until after dinner, though.” She recounted, pausing only when she noticed the careful concern on Remus’s face. “I need to stay busy. Sitting around all day wondering if my husband is ever coming home is driving me mad. I can’t sleep, I can barely eat. This is the only thing stopping me from breaking down Crouch’s door. I have to do this.” @swearwolfremuslupin

Originally posted by jellycolors

Remus held his tongue. He wanted to point out Sirius wasn’t the only victim, but he knew, once upon a time, he would have agreed with Lily. The only reason for his frustration now was the fractured relationship he shared with their friend. A quiet laugh escaping him as Harry reached for Lily’s hair, it was a brief, but pleasant distraction from the conversation at hand. “Yeah, he probably does, and it shows.” He teased, choosing to make a joke out of her statement. It was far easier to do that than to dwell on the possible truth behind it. “You never offered to snog me behind the greenhouses so… you let me down.” A weight seemed to be lifted from Lily’s shoulders the moment he took Harry from her, and it became clear to him just how much she needed someone to take care of her. Like James, she spent so much of her time working to care for her friends, her family. She so often came last, and that really wasn’t fair. They were in this war together, they would get through this war together. “Work might be a nice distraction…” He prompted. “You always were good at healing.” He had long since lost count of how many times she helped him with particularly stubborn injuries. More often than not scratches or bites required a variety of techniques, both Muggle, and Magical. Lily knew which ones were most efficient, which remedies complimented each other versus which remedies should never be mixed. He felt sure he would have a lot more scars without all of the help she offered him. Bouncing Harry a little as he settled more comfortably against his chest, it was a relief to find he was content. Part of him felt sure he would be disappointed to realise Sirius wasn’t present. “It’s okay, stay as long as you need to. I don’t have anywhere to be.” He assured her. “I know… you and James are the same. His inability to sit still used to drive me insane.” Smiling at her, he made his way towards the kitchen, determined to make her drink a cup of tea if she wasn’t going to eat anything. The source of the sweet maple syrup scent became obvious as he entered the room, and Harry pushed away from him, leaning outwards towards his high chair, a chubby fist grabbing for one of the pancakes Lily had cut into pieces. Flipping the switch for the kettle, Remus picked up a triangle of pancake, soaked in syrup, and handed it to Harry so that he could chew on it. “You’re having something before you leave,” he told Lily, leaving no room for her to argue with him. “Even if it’s just a tea or a coffee… you wouldn’t let me go to work on an empty stomach.”

Sitting together and taking the piss out of the other Marauders had been what bonded the two originally, and it continued to be one of Lily's favorite hobbies. They couldn't help it back in Hogwarts, everything back then was filled with so much energy constantly. Lily and Remus were the closest to relatively normal out of the group, making it easy to laugh at the absurdities of their daily lives with their friends. So continuing that tradition now was second nature, even if it was a bit more morbid. Lily's tensely pursed lips split into a wide grin at the reminder of Sirius and Remus's exploits. "Behind the greenhouses? No wonder Professor Sprout was always taking points!" Lily gasped in bewilderment, remembering how crabby the middle-aged professor always seemed when teaching Gryffindors. "And I couldn't help it! I was too busy snogging your other best friend on the Quidditch stands." As they laughed in nostalgia, Lily's self-sabotaging hand gave Harry's little foot a gentle squeeze which brought her back from reminiscing. As difficult as the reminder was, they weren't in fact lounging in the Gryffindor common room. They had responsibilities, and they weren't safely out of danger. But they at least had these little pockets of respite to keep them sane. Her smile faded as the laughter died down, but not completely. She was glad that Remus hadn't protested her running away to work. Of course, it wasn't as if she didn't love spending so much time with Harry, but she was going stir-crazy. She couldn't stare out the cottage windows any longer, thinking that any second now, James would be home safe. And realistically, she just wasn't built to be a stay-at-home mother anyway. Even though the Potter family had enough money to conceptually keep her happy and healthy without ever needing to work, that just wasn't her. She could feel herself falling out of practice each day. It was beginning to become uncomfortably difficult to even conjure her Patronus to keep Harry entertained. Lily watched Remus get up and carry Harry to the kitchen with a sigh. She knew what he was doing before she heard the sound of the kettle being switched on, which made her reluctant to follow. But she soon followed anyway, sitting at the dining table. She ruffled Harry's hair again as he was sat in his high chair, a habit she had picked up since he was born, but especially recently. He had his father's hair. "Alright, mum." She teased, quoting Remus from countless times before, where she had helped care for him on bad days. Especially leading up to and out of the nights he would disappear.

@swearwolfremuslupin

We're here waiting for you.

#Family Photos

lily-j-evans:

As strange as it sounded, worrying about Sirius and Remus’s on-again-off-again relationship was one of the most relaxing things she had been able to focus on in the last twenty-four hours. It was funny back in Hogwarts, like an inside joke. Sometimes Lily would partake in the bets the other two Marauders would place for just how long they would be together or apart that time. But lately, it felt as if they had really grown up. The moment that Peter destroyed that street, killed those people… The moment that he had betrayed his family, the air became heavy. So heavy that if you weren’t careful, you just might choke. “I should’ve known. I’m so sorry, Remus.” Lily sighed, pulling the door open wider for Remus to let himself in, then closing it behind him. “I suppose it was only a matter of time. He hasn’t… Been himself lately, has he.” She said softly, combing her fingers through her baby’s stubbornly unruly hair as she carried him into the sitting room behind Remus. “I can try and talk to him if you’d like? With everything that’s been going on, he needs a friend. And with James being…” Lily stopped herself short, doing what she could to suppress the shudder creeping down the back of her neck. He was fine. He was clever. She used to hate that about him, but now it was what she clung to most in his absence. She sat down on a caramel-colored loveseat and began bouncing an increasingly fussy Harry on her knee to recenter herself. As it turned out, talking about it was much harder to do than dwelling silently. She blinked her stinging eyes a few times before smiling again to meet Remus’s gaze. “He’ll be okay. We all will.” But this time, she wasn’t at all sure whom she was reassuring.

Remus shook his head, brushing off Lily’s apology. It wasn’t her job to know whether he and Sirius were arguing. Even he sometimes grew bored of it, knowing at some point in the future they would inevitably kiss, and make up. “None of us have…” He murmured, nodding in response to the statement. It was sad, but true. The Marauders had taken a blow they couldn’t come back from. That alongside their work with the Order was enough to break even the strongest of people. A smile tugging at his lips at the mention of talking to Sirius, he appreciated the sentiment, but he couldn’t think of anything less productive. “He won’t listen to you.” He insisted, unable to keep a subtle hint of bitterness out of his tone. “He won’t listen to anyone. But if you want to spend an hour running in circles, then by all means…” A sigh escaping him, he couldn’t deny the fact that Sirius needed a friend. Maybe it could be Lily. Or maybe Sirius would only push her away too. Swallowing the nerves that climbed steadily up his throat when he thought of James, and his current predicament, he carefully reached out to take Harry. Prying him gently away from Lily in an attempt to give her some space. Harry put up a temporary fight, but the moment he realised who was holding him, he settled, nestling his head into the crook of his neck, his tiny hands beginning trace the scars there. He followed them with an innocent curiosity, one that felt so warm, and genuine. “Of course we will.” He agreed, trying to convince himself that was true. Maybe if he said it enough times then it would be. “But you need to take some time for yourself, you can’t always be worrying about us, you know. Have you had breakfast yet?”

Lily couldn't help but smile bitterly, remembering their hope during the seventh year. The five of them being so confident, aspiring to be heroes. To help people, to join the Order and stop the Death Eaters once and for all. But the only thing that met them after Hogwarts was death, injustice, and betrayal. And the Ministry sure didn't make matters any better. "Sirius has never been good at feeling helpless. None of us have, but him especially." She asserted, remembering the look on his face in the wake of Peter's massacre. The guilt, the self-loathing. As if he should have been the one to notice what had fooled everybody. No matter how much everyone had assured him that he wasn't to blame, Sirius had never quite been the same after that. None of them had. Everyone went home blaming themselves, but none like Padfoot. "He's Sirius. Of course he isn't listening to anyone. Even though I'm always right." She tried to joke, prying her hair out of Harry's sticky fists. "But... He loves you, you know. No matter what he says. And no matter how cosmically pitiful he is at expressing his feelings. He adores you. Maybe even more than I do." Remus had been the one that Lily spoke to the most when she was warming up to the Marauders. He was the calm one, the one who didn't pester her. To this day, he especially would always be one of her best friends. Even on days like today, where she tried not to notice just how much her hands were trembling. Lily surrendered Harry to him, smiling softly at how quickly he took to his uncle. If anything were to happen to her and James, a possibility that felt frighteningly real lately, Harry's two uncles would be the godparents. It was made clear before he was even born, but that didn't make it any less comforting to see in action. "I'm fine, really." Lily assured, straightening up a bit as if that would prove her point. "I'm actually starting at St Mungos today. The worst time they could have called me in, which is why I asked you to help with Harry for the day. I won't be home until after dinner, though." She recounted, pausing only when she noticed the careful concern on Remus's face. "I need to stay busy. Sitting around all day wondering if my husband is ever coming home is driving me mad. I can't sleep, I can barely eat. This is the only thing stopping me from breaking down Crouch's door. I have to do this." @swearwolfremuslupin

A Favor From A Friend

According to her watch, it had been twenty-four hours since Lily had last heard from her husband. She checked it nearly every five minutes as if that would speed up time. But all it did was make each second spread into hours. Had the Ministry discovered some key piece of evidence linking them to the scene? They had been so meticulous, so careful. With how desperate Minister Crouch was becoming, she wouldn't be surprised if he had invented enough evidence to have James locked away forever. People knew where the Potters stood, their allegiance to Dumbledore and the Order had never been in doubt. The only thing keeping them from behind bars was the distinct lack of substantial evidence other than common sense. But without so much as a word, it was easy to flinch at the thought that they just wouldn't get away with it this time. The loud beeping from the microwave interrupted her desperate thoughts as her son squirmed impatiently on her hip. "Alright love, just hold on. Mummy's going as fast as she can." Lily whispered against his temple, unable to stop herself from smiling as he clumsily repeated the word "mummy" back to her. Though it sounded a bit more like "mehmee." "Mummy, that's right!" Lily cheered, nuzzling into his wild dark brown hair as she opened the microwave door and pulled out a small blue plate of cut-up leftover pancakes. She was far too exhausted to make something special for Harry like she did most mornings, so she settled for the good old-fashioned microwave. It required much less thinking than magic did, that was for sure. After single-handedly spreading butter and pouring syrup, the sound of the doorbell melody made her tensed shoulders slacken just a little. Finally. Though they were right on time, it still felt like they had taken ages to arrive. She did feel a bit guilty, calling them so early in the morning. But with this being her first day at St Mungos, and her sitter being sick, she didn't have much of a choice. Setting down the syrup bottle, Lily shifted Harry onto her other hip while he tangled his chubby little fists into her hurriedly combed red hair. After taking long, rushed strides down from the kitchen and down the hall, Lily sighed in relief at seeing a familiar face. She didn't waste any time pulling Remus into a one-armed hug, breathing in the familiar scent of coffee and pine. "Merlin, I've missed you." She breathed, knowing they had seen each other far too recently for such a greeting to be warranted. But she hardly cared now. Pulling back after one final squeeze, Lily looked over his shoulder and frowned. "Where's Sirius?"

@swearwolfremuslupin

lily-j-evans:

The loud beeping from the microwave interrupted her desperate thoughts as her son squirmed impatiently on her hip. “Alright love, just hold on. Mummy’s going as fast as she can.” Lily whispered against his temple, unable to stop herself from smiling as he clumsily repeated the word “mummy” back to her. Though it sounded a bit more like “mehmee.” “Mummy, that’s right!” Lily cheered, nuzzling into his wild dark brown hair as she opened the microwave door and pulled out a small blue plate of cut-up leftover pancakes. She was far too exhausted to make something special for Harry like she did most mornings, so she settled for the good old-fashioned microwave. It required much less thinking than magic did, that was for sure. After single-handedly spreading butter and pouring syrup, the sound of the doorbell melody made her tensed shoulders slacken just a little. Finally. Though they were right on time, it still felt like they had taken ages to arrive. She did feel a bit guilty, calling them so early in the morning. But with this being her first day at St Mungos, and her sitter being sick, she didn’t have much of a choice. Setting down the syrup bottle, Lily shifted Harry onto her other hip while he tangled his chubby little fists into her hurriedly combed red hair. After taking long, rushed strides down from the kitchen and down the hall, Lily sighed in relief at seeing a familiar face. She didn’t waste any time pulling Remus into a one-armed hug, breathing in the familiar scent of coffee and pine. “Merlin, I’ve missed you.” She breathed, knowing they had seen each other far too recently for such a greeting to be warranted. But she hardly cared now. Pulling back after one final squeeze, Lily looked over his shoulder and frowned. “Where’s Sirius?”

@swearwolfremuslupin

It wasn’t unusual for Remus to babysit, to take care of Harry while James was indisposed, and Lily was due to work a shift at St Mungo’s. But he had never done so alone before, he had never been without Sirius. It was no secret he worried he was the boring uncle, the dull one who provided chocolate when parents weren’t looking but not much else in the way of fun. Sirius was loud, and boisterous. He always knew what to do to make Harry laugh. And Padfoot was equally as big of a hit. Bedtime stories, and occasional cuddles were his own particular speciality, but Harry’s bedtime may as well be a lifetime away, so what was he going to do? He couldn’t shake his concern over James’ safety, despite knowing full well there was nothing he could do to help his friend. Well, nothing aside from make sure his wife, and baby were taken care of. Lily was as much a Marauder as any of them. Even if he was nervous about watching Harry on his own, he had to believe he was capable. Pressing the doorbell, it was a matter of seconds before Lily opened the door, looking dishevelled, and tired, but otherwise whole. He allowed her to pull him into a hug, needing the comfort almost as much as she did. Smiling as he withdrew, he tugged his hair back out of Harry’s grasp where the infant had playfully decided to grab for it. He could smell syrup on his sticky fingers. “I’ve missed you too.” He admitted. “I always miss you.” Reaching out to ruffle Harry’s hair, he let out a gentle sigh, his smile fading at the mention of Sirius. His friends knew how tumultuous the relationship with his ex boyfriend was. He doubted any of them had the energy to be surprised when they broke up, or got back together again, but Lily deserved to know where they stood. “Sirius and I... aren’t exactly on speaking terms.” He muttered, letting himself into the cottage. “We broke up about a month ago now, or took a break, or... whatever. I actually didn’t tell him I was coming, I hope that’s okay.”