girl almighty *

heart of gold with a hellish side. lily evans. 20. former gryffindor.

[scxrletlily]

noir-chien·:

Sirius’ smile didn’t falter a second after Lily opened the door. On the contrary, it grew even wider and the crinkles around his eyes were more obvious. Firstly, his body crashed into hers in a tight hug and picked her up. “My Lily” he explained. After some spinning around, he left her back on the ground and took her face in his hands. “I missed you Lils, happy new year” and then he bend down to take the present he left next to him before he hugged her. 

He gave it to her with a childish grin. “I made this for you, it isn’t anything special but I think you’ll like it.” He had the door shut with a non-verbal spell and made his way to the kitchen to help himself with coffee and a few snacks. He had that level of comfortableness with Lily, so he was sure she wouldn’t mind. But that wasn’t the only reason he decided to head to the kitchen. He wanted to give her space to take in the picture he had gifted her. “Lily, open up your present and come join me in your kitchen”

...

It was instinct. As soon as she felt his arms wrap around her, hers went around his neck and she held on tight. Suddenly, she felt warm and happy and everything felt a little better than it did before. She really had missed him. Once her feet touched the ground again, Lily looked up at her friend, a bright smile playing on her lips and her eyes a little teary. “Happy new year, S.” Her hands went to reach for his and she placed them on top of his own. “I missed you too.” 

Lily watched curiously as he stepped away and reached for a present. She was already giddy because of the unexpected visit, the present just made it a tiny bit worse. She stepped further inside, the neatly present already in hand and watched fondly as he made himself at home. The warm greeting, having him be so comfortable- it was reassuring. It felt like nothing had changed. Regardless of the current situation with James, she still had a friend in him. “Yes, sir.” She spoke playfully as she made her way to the kitchen, instantly taking a seat on one of the high chairs before turning her attention back to the gift. “Very neatly wrapped, I’m a little proud.” She tried joking as she opened the present in order to keep the air light, a tactic which was basically thrown at the window as soon as Lily saw a hint of what it was. She worked on unwrapping it faster, remaining silent until all the wrapping paper was removed and she held the frame in her hands. 

They all looked so happy in that picture, it was almost impossible for Lily not to tear up again at the sight of it. It was a little silly, truly. How fast she’d grown attached to every single person in that photo and how that very love for them, was the reason she’d been so fast to push them away. She took in a shaky breath, working hard to not let her emotions get the best of her and ruin what was to be a very nice visit. “Thank you.” Lily finally spoke up, removing her gaze from the gift, her focus on Sirius once again as she gave him a small smile. “I love it.”

[rishafawley]

Where: Anywhere When: January 12th, 1979 Who: @scxrletlily​ | Risha Fawley & Lily Evans Meme starter: ‘The world is empty.’

Risha had gotten to know Lily through Sirius and they were two very different persons, that was one thing she was sure about. She took a sip of the drink in her hand before looking at the redhaired young woman standing in front of her. “Empty? I wouldn’t exactly say empty.” The world was filled with misery at the moment. It wasn’t empty, that was one thing she was sure about. “Why would you say it’s empty?”

[scxrletlily]

“Think about it.” Lily started, setting her glass down in the table next to her as she got herself ready to dive deeper into the conversation. She wasn’t much of a social drinker -at least not as of late- but somehow, she’d relaxed and allowed herself to have a few drinks in the presence of Risha, which meant of course, she was free to finally rant. “Everything is being consumed by this one situation. Even if you’re out trying to have a drink, the ghost of it still looms around, never allowing you to forget it.” She took in a breath before reaching for her glass, now almost through with expressing the thought she’d been holding in for so long. “How full can life be one there’s one thing over powering everything else? At some point, you start lacking and the emptiness settles in.”

[scxrletlily]

markinnons·:

Their growing laughter only made times at Hogwarts seem like lifetimes ago. While the two witches were several years apart at school, Marlene could imagine Lily felt similarly. Several obstacles existed at the Scottish castle, but most seemed trivial in comparison to the issues  they faced now. Back then, there had been time for merriment between coursework and Quidditch matches. Now that they had graduated, it seemed additional complications filled the void left by the completed coursework. Consequently, it was no wonder that both of them forgot how to be idle for short periods of time.

“Hmm, I’d say he should be happy we chose to spend our money at his establishment.” She mused, smiling into her cup as she took another sip of her drink. “Step up our game how?” Marlene pondered aloud, unsure how to go about it these days. Their minds both seemed preoccupied with so many other notions that relaxation slipped through the cracks. As a result, neither of them knew how to handle this newfound time wisely. Marlene shook her head and felt amused by the thought, finishing off her cup and raising a brow at Lily’s question. “Old? If you’re feeling old, what would that make me?” Marlene almost shuddered at the notion, as she would prefer not to spend her entire youth fighting in a war. The older Gryffindor often remembered the toll that took on her parents.

“I don’t think we’re old yet. We’ve just aged a little faster than anticipated. Sometimes I feel middle aged with everything we’ve dealt with.” Marlene replied. Time certainly passed while they worked hard, but there still seemed to be an opportunity to make up for it. “Considering this is the most fun I’ve had in months, I’d say we are prudes. I haven’t done anything remotely dangerous or exhilarating that hasn’t been for the Order lately, have you?“

...

“No idea.” She shrugged, the bright smile still playing her lips. Lily had never been the adventurous one. She enjoyed excitement and just plain old fun as much as the next person, she just never found it in herself to be the one to start it up. There was always some consequence that popped to mind, a reason not to do it- the only reason she ever truly got herself into trouble came as a package and it went by the name of the marauders. As much as she worried for them, Lily loved every single silly trick they pulled. I guess in some way, she envied their carelessness and their freedom, it was something she had never been able to truly experience for herself. “We’ll figure it out though.” She grabbed her glass once again, drinking the last sip that was left inside. “Something fun.” 

Lily proceeded to push herself off the ground and onto her knees. Too lazy to stand up, she crawled the tiny distance over to the coffee table and grabbed the bottle, pouring herself another drink. She couldn’t help but laugh at Marlene’s comment, almost causing her to make a mess by losing concentration as she poured. “A very wise lady.” She teased as she finally set the bottle down, laughter still laced into her voice. However, it soon finished dying out when reality slowly started seeping in through Marlene’s words. They really did age a lot faster than they should have. No one should have to deal with situations like the one they’d found themselves in, much less at such a young age. As much as she tried not to think about it, the memories of the last few years truly did spark a change in the young girl. She knew it, heck everyone did. Lily took in a breath and once again sat down on the floor, this time closer to her friend. She slowly brought her now full cup to her lips and took another drink, giving the other girl a small smile as she continued to speak. 

“Nope. My life currently consists of work, order, sleep and repeat.” As she eased back into the easy conversation and pushed back the deeper thoughts -although the wine might’ve been responsible for the easiness of doing all of that-, Lily felt herself relax once again. “I didn’t even go out for New Year’s. I stayed home and had some cocoa.” She sighed, honestly a little ashamed of her confession. What kind of twenty year old trades a party for a night in with hot cocoa? “It’s a problem.”

[scxrletlily]

theherofrank·:

He seemed pleased by her answer as he looked at his muggle clothes. “I prefer the looseness of robes but I see the appeal,” he agreed. 

He chuckled, “Yes please save some, Miss Williams won’t forgive me if I don’t bring something for her after I introduced her to my bread.” 

He watched Lily react to the cold but said nothing as they continued walking, knowing soon they would be inside the church which was well heated. When she said to relax Frank’s body tensed and he remembered to take a deep breath and trust her. Wasn’t this suppose to be for Lily to feel calm? And yet Frank is getting worked up for no reason of course. He chuckled at how ridiculous that was but nodded. “You’re right, I do have to relax.” He started to breath normally and feel more at peace, but soon his heart was thumping loudly, his mind probing him about the reality that he had sworn an oath to a group of people he had no idea what they actually wanted from him. Thinking about the fact both his wrists are cut underneath the magical charms he has put on them made his stomach drop but he pushed through the thoughts, breathing deeply and smiling. At least he was going to where he wanted to go. He looked at Lily and nodded sincerely and quietly said, “Thank you.” 

He heard Lily repeat the statement and he nodded, grinning again. “Yes perfect. So we go down this winding road, and there-” he pointed to the village coming up, “Is North Anneslyne.” 

He looked at her while they walked, “Do you have stories for the muggles you use to know about what you’re up to now? I got my excuse from Professor Flitwick.” 

...

Lily replied with a bright smile and a small nodded, nothing else. She wasn’t going to tell him he was welcomed when in all reality, there wasn’t anything he should be thanking her for. If anything, Lily was the one that should be thanking him every free second she got. The two of them weren’t close and they honestly hadn’t been friends for long and still, Frank had been kind enough to go out of his way to help her and make sure she was okay. It wasn’t anything big, Frank worked through small acts of kindness that somehow managed to make a significant difference in her life and Lily was more than thankful, she truly wished he knew that. 

Every step they took, Lily felt her chest tighten. She knew she had no good reason to be this scared about attending service at a church but that didn’t stop her from worrying and simultaneously coming up with ways she could still get out of actually stepping inside. “Uh, no.” She shrugged it off easily, trying her hardest to seem nonchalant about the entire topic. “I haven’t had much contact with muggles in a while.. Haven’t needed one.” The red head let out a breath, watching the misty cloud form and disappear as quickly as it came. She knew that due to her heritage, many would simply assume she’d learn to juggle both worlds at once- and while that was the plan, her family had chosen a different one for her, one she had stuck to ever since. Lily quickly pushed the thoughts regarding them out of her mind and instead, turned to look at Frank. “I waitress at the Leaky Cauldron? I can just say I’m a waitress in a small bar? It’s not very interesting, I doubt anyone will ask questions.”

[scxrletlily]

rcklcss​:

     Very few times outside of her time at Hogwarts had Alecto actually crossed paths with those she claimed were ruining her beloved wizarding community; she made a point to visit magical shops exclusively and rarely travelled – Mother had, at some point, luckily decided she was a lost cause and was, in fact, allowed to stay back when the Carrows spent their holidays flaunting their money and name around the globe. To her, the most rewarding things were right there, in London.

     Of course, sometimes, these things were ruined. Much like the war she was fighting and, decidedly, winning, some bussinesses ( particularly pubs, she’d come to realize ) had little to no respect for those who truthfully paid their bills. Still, a limited number of things made her blood boil faster than merchants looking for bigger profits, and the strawberry cascade of hair nearly hitting her in the face illustrated the biggest one. Alecto Carrow was a lonely witch, but only when she decided so; she wouldn’t be ignored by someone as sickening as Lily Evans, whose mere name left a bitter taste in her mouth.

     “Certainly,” her voice resembled a hiss more than a murmur as she brought her nearly empty glass up t her lips to take another sip. She was silent for a moment, as if she were playing this game of cat and mouse without the other being aware and the chase was the most rewarding bit, before she added, “Dangerous place for someone so… Weak.” She wasn’t as well-versed with her wand as her brother, surely, but her tongue had a slow and sharp quality she thought would be enough to hurt more than a curse ever could.

...

Dangerous place for someone so… weak. Lily immediately tensed up, her fists balling up in response to the comment. She’d learn enough from her experiences to instinctively be on alert whenever she was forced to be around people like her but when it came to the female Carrow- it all became a little more personal. It wasn’t that she was scared - because she really was, Lily had been terrified of the brunette since fifth year -, now it was more so a mixture of her fear with the anger of being pushed around and reduced to nothing more than a mere sandbag. 

She turned around slowly, a cold smile working wonderful attempts to content her true emotions, even if her eyes were doing everything to let them be known. Lily had always been so good at keeping her composure. She was a smart girl, she knew better than to allow her opposite to reach the victory of earning a reaction from her but somehow, Alecto seemed to permanently hit her core- making it increasingly harder for the red-head to control her newly found temper around her. Before, Lily would’ve probably just hurried outside the bar and gone elsewhere if it meant avoiding the girl. She would’ve been scared enough to not even be able to meet her eyes, let alone hold a conversation. Resentment was a strong thing though, one would be surprised at how fast it can help someone grow a spine. “Bite me.” Lily stared at Alecto for a few seconds before quickly turning away once again, this time immediately heading for the bar. She’d been ballsy enough to stand up to her, just not enough to actually keep it up and not freak out at the thought of her reaction. Lily had been quick to find herself a seat and immediately ordered a drink, whatever she had gotten herself into, some Vodka was sure to help.

[scxrletlily]

ofpettigrews·:

He watched her mosey about, as he did so often when they were working the same shift, and though she did not answer his very direct question, her silence was all he needed to roll his eyes. Peter would never understand it, the idea of willingly offering himself up to be clocked in at that rubbish bin, but as his attention landed on the flames, he realized he had no room to talk when he was there eight hours before his own shift. His fingers flexed at the thought, at how his subconscious was quick to note it wasn’t so bad with Lily there. The thought happened more and more as of late, as if every minute they shared reinforced the facts he so desperately wanted to hide from himself. When she spoke again, turning his way, he did the same, his face thoughtful as he listened. Growing warmer by the second, he shrugged out of the cloak on his shoulders. A slow smile crept onto his lips at her words. 

“Cocoa and marshmallows? Come on, Evans. What are you? Forty? Did you tuck the kids in right after, or were they allowed a second cuppa?” He rolled the thick material up around his arms and moved closer to her to settle it on the island. A laugh escaped of its own will, and as he stopped, he crossed his arms over his shoulder then leaned his hip into the lip of the counter top. He did manage to nod at her offer, though, a slow, almost too thoughtful signal. Any time spent away with Lily away from work was inexcusable in his eyes. With the way things were between she and James, he didn’t want to make them worse. A part of him knew that being James’ mate should have been enough to make sure he wouldn’t do something so blatantly stupid, but it wasn’t a strong enough emotion to make him comfortable with the idea. “Why not make me one now, then?” His brow arched, head canted with his challenge. “You’re on such a roll with saving me that it would be a shame not to send me to bed with a clean sweep of love and adoration for your favorite coworker.” His arms uncrossed so he could hold up his hands, thumbs extended directly to his chest. 

...

The redhead rolled her eyes and turned her head to the side in an attempt to hide the smile that had made its way to her lips as a result of his teasing. Of course, her attempts to conceal the amusement were nullified as soon as the soft laughter broke through the air. Lily couldn’t help herself- she’d grown so accustomed to the teasing and the playful conversations in her life that now that they were lacking, it was really hard for her not to react. She would never allow herself to see the reality, much less admit it to anyone else, but deep down she knew; there was a James sized empty space in her life and Peter was serving as a temporary fix. Regardless, work and just plainly spending time with Peter had become the highlight of most of her days. It’s like around him she was inside this little bubble and everything was okay, there was no reasons to be scared, no war, no impending doom- they were just two kids hanging out and having fun and she loved that. He was always so warm and carefree, he’s charisma was infectious enough to melt her troubles away even if it was just for a little while and Lily loved it. 

She turned her attention to Peter again, this time smiling fondly. She brought her hands up to his shoulders, placing one each side.  “You’re lucky I like you.” With that said, Lily patted his shoulders and pushed him away slightly before distancing herself by walking away from him and towards the kitchen in order to start working on the cocoa. Lily took her time to gather the ingredients by hand, as much as she enjoyed using magic, she rather enjoyed cooking on her own and taking her time with it. It’d become a little of therapy for her as of late, honestly. Lily had already started heating up the milk when she finally looked up at Peter again. “Are you going to stand there and watch me all morning Pettigrew?” She questioned in a teasing manner, a playful smile playing on her lips. “Come help me out, can’t have you falling asleep on me before this is done.” 

[scxrletlily]

theherofrank·:

“Well you look great,” he said earnestly. “What about me?” he asked, twirling. He showed off his plain long sleeves shirt and dark jeans. “It’s not much but I think it’s perfectly muggle? They know me as the little boy who would wear robes so it’s a big improvement and don’t worry I have a warm jacket.” 

He smiled as she tried the bread, seeing her light up at the smell and then the taste, Frank grinned earnestly. “That’s why I make it for that sort of reaction,” he said grabbing his big wool sweater and pulling it over him and then taking the basket. “We’re bringing it for my old teacher,” he said, lifting the basket. “You can eat while we go if you’d like, homemade bread is easier then you think and always delicious and - I thought you did, grow up with muggles I mean but.. never want to assume someone’s life.”

Opening the door for Lily so they could leave the Manor together, “So what I’ve told them is that I have a job in the government and I’m not allowed to speak about it much more then that, so if you don’t mind saying you do the same thing, I’d appreciate it. I don’t enjoy lying but can’t exactly tell the truth,” he said shrugging slightly. 

“They shouldn’t talk to much if they know I have company but..” he said but then he looked over at her, “Of course you’ll probably be very good at talking to them! So I’m not worried. Besides the healing comes after the mass, where we can be alone in the church by ourselves,” he said confidently. 

...

Lily mumbled a quick thanks and sent a smile his way, her mind already feeling much more ease now not just by Frank but also the piece of bread she’d been nibbling on. Who knew food could calm her down that fast? Lily wasn’t really going to question it’s effect though, she was just grateful that the hundred bad scenarios she’d been picturing in her head for hours were slowly starting to fade away. “Pretty sharp, if I say so myself. Muggle clothing suits you.” 

“Oh, better not. If I keep eating I reckon there’ll only be crumbs left by the time the basket reaches your teacher.” Her statement was accompanied by a soft laugh- it really was amazing to see how fast her mood could change when surrounded by the right people. She hadn’t laughed much as of late, or even smiled really, at least not genuinely. Honestly, life just felt less like living or more like simply going through the motions. The only time she felt herself actually enjoy some time of her day was one she’d be in the company of Frank and people like him, that somehow managed to pass on their infectious energy to her and bring back the old Lily even if it was just for a few minutes. “That’s sweet of you.” She hummed, already moving to follow him out the door. 

As soon as she stepped outside, her arms instinctively wrapped themselves around her body as a reaction to the cold weather. One would think that by now Lily would be used to it, but that had never been the case. Nonetheless, she’d learn to take the cold like a champ. She continued to walk beside Frank, following his lead. “Frank? Relax. It’ll be okay.” Lily turned to look at Frank, giving him a reassuring smile. She understood his worry- he was bringing someone new into what he considered to be his safe space, it was only natural. “So, we both work for the government and can’t say much about it. Got it.” Lily repeated the cover up Frank had bought up earlier in an attempt to ease his mind, letting him know she’d do as he asked and make sure to be on her best behavior.

[scxrletlily]

theherofrank​:

Frank heard the sound of the floo and got himself excited, happy to bring someone else to St. Anthony. He checked the clock in his kitchen and wiped off his hands on his apron seeing the time was 10 oclock, which means they had 15 minutes to get there, which was perfect. His excitement was building in himself as he walked to the parlor room where the fireplace was connected to the floor and saw Lily standing there, albeit a little nervous. Frank smiled warmly, his hands up in a positive gesture towards her, “You made it!” he said excitedly. He knew she was going through a tough time and who wasn’t so if she didn’t get to his level of excitement it would make complete sense but Frank’s goal was to make her smile a little, maybe take her mind off of everything and if she wanted, maybe she can talk about her problems but Frank knew better then to pressure someone to talk about something they didn’t want to. He wasn’t like that. 

“Thank you so much for wearing muggle clothes, I appreciate it and you’re right on time! Hope it’s not too early for you. We will have to leave now though but I did just finish some bread if you’d like a taste?” he asked, gesturing him to follow her to the kitchen. He gesture to the bread on the wooden cutting board that was cut up for tasting and two loaves on in a basket. “Mum and Alice won’t be joining us but do you feel comfortable around muggles?” He knew she was a muggleborn but you should never assume anything, he said as he took off the apron.

...

She gave him a nervous smile, not exactly sure on how she was feeling about the fact that ‘she made it’. Church wasn’t really something she was looking for but I mean look at him- how could she not trust him? How could she not believe him when he said it’d be good for her? Lily felt herself slowly start to relax a little, she was still scared shitless but somehow having Frank around had made the experience sound a lot less daunting. He made it feel fine. “It’s no problem. I genuinely prefer this than robes.” Lily admitted with a bit of a laugh. It wasn’t often that she got to wear muggle clothing, seeing as she’d found herself living in the wizarding world almost exclusively for years now, but whenever she had the chance, she adored it. 

She followed him around his house and into the kitchen, the smell of freshly baked breath instantly catching her attention. “It smells so good in here.” Lily couldn’t help herself, she reached out to the wooden board and took a piece of the bread, ready to nibble on it. Comfort food was always great in situations like this. Lily took in a bite, her eyes focused on Frank as he spoke. She nodded her head in response, quickly swallowing so that she could finish her reply. “Yeah. I grew up around them, I’ll be okay… Also, this bread is amazing.” She took another bite, clearly enjoying it. “So good.” 

[scxrletlily]

where: frank and alice’s place

when: jan 4th, 1979

who: lily evans + frank longbottom 

@theherofrank​

To say the young girl was nervous would be an understatement. Actually, no- nevermind. She wasn’t nervous, Lily Evans was scared. Church had never been something she considered or even thought about much, honestly. Her parents weren’t really religious while she was growing up and the only real interactions she ever had with it were a few carolers one night during the holidays and briefly her sister, who claimed to have found solace she needed to be better after the so called incident. Only having those experiences to consider- it’s safe to say Lily’s experience wasn’t exactly stellar. Nevertheless, Frank had been so caring and genuine when he suggested she’d accompany him to mass that honestly, Lily couldn’t find it inside herself to refuse. Who knows? Maybe this will actually be okay. Maybe she’ll like it. Maybe it’ll help. She took in a deep breath before stepping into the green flames and made her way to the Longbottom’s house. 

In a matter of seconds, Lily found herself in the Longbottom’s entryway. She wasn’t unfamiliar with her surroundings, just not exactly comfortable at the time, specially considering the reason she was there in the first place. She took a moment to dust herself off and straighten her blouse before speaking up and announcing her arrival. “Frank? I’m here.” She called out, her voice loud enough so that he could hear her but still soft, reflecting her reluctance. 

[scxrletlily]

paracosmistspitfire·:

where: james and lily’s place when: 4 january who: james and @scxrletlily·

Perhaps not everyone would pick up on the sudden shift in body language the moment Lily realized it was him at the door, but when you’ve been enamored with the same girl since you were fifteen you start to pick things up about them other’s might not. He noticed the way she straightened, obviously having not excepted him to be on their her door. He hadn’t excpected to wind up here tonight either. This was the part where words were supposed to just come to him, for everything he lacked James had always been good with words and moreso had never once been unsure with Lily. But the second she pulled open that door it stung all over again as if they were back at that night they ended it all. Why did he have to be such a stubborn prat, having her in his life in any capacity was better than this awkward avoidance at Order meetings they’ve had since then. 

Biting his lip, James gave her a half-smile and reached up to wave slightly. “Hi.” Pull yourself together Potter. Hi? His eye briefly flickered past her to the inside, one of the last remaining things from their being together, before looking back at her and running a hand through his hair. A million excuses for exactly why he was there with absolutely no prior warning ran through his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her. Not ever really, but absolutely over something important because while they may have ended things, he still fell more in love with her every time he saw her. With Lily he needed the truth. “I just- I really need to talk to someone right now.”

...

Lily never thought she’d find herself in this position, dying to just hug him and tell him everything she’d been holding on to yet completely unable to do so. She couldn’t put him in danger any longer- and even if you took that out of the picture, she wasn’t sure if he’d want to hear anyways. Things had been weird between them for a few weeks now, she was sure he put as much effort into avoiding her as she did, meaning that whenever they had accidentally been in each other’s vincity polite greetings were followed by an awkward silence. Today wasn’t in any way an exception to that rule. However, this time Lily used the time wisely and looked at him- and i mean really look at him- for the first time in a while. Somehow, he seemed thinner than when she last saw him, his hair messier than usual and the bags under his eyes seemed to indicate that he probably had gotten a decent shut eye in days. Her heart ached at the sight. She wanted to do something, help in some way but before she could even think about it properly, he had already spoken up. 

Lily opened her mouth and nothing came out for a second as she struggled to find her words. Luckily, she fixed it quickly (although maybe not very smoothly). “Yeah- sure, come in.” With that said, she moved to the side and allowed him to step in, hesitantly closing the door once inside. Once again, the awkward silence started to creep- this one holding a lot more meaning than the last as the questioned lingered. What was going on? Lily cleared her throat, giving him a shy smile as she walked over to the living room. She had never been talented when it came to communication, that had always been James’ turf. However, she knew better than to stay silent and allow the awkward air around them to remain for a second longer. “What’s up?” Nope. Lily almost visibly flinched as soon as the words left her mouth -she really wasn’t good at this- but hey, at least she tried.

[scxrletlily]

noir-chien·:

Where: Lily’s flat   When: January 1st, 1979 Who: Sirius Black & @scxrletlily·

December had been determined as one of the worst months Sirius has ever experienced. The life he had managed to build, even amongst the chaos of the wartime, had been taken down little by little since the day he gave a blood oath to the Mundus Novus. The worst thing of all was that James’ life seemed to follow Sirius’ steps. He had broken up with Lily, the love of his life. He couldn’t fix his own world but he would make sure to do everything in his power to fix Prongs’ and Lily’s. He knew that both of them loved each other unconditionally and, sooner or later, they would figure things out. But he preferred it happened sooner rather than later. Lily’s absence from their late night celebrations didn’t go unnoticed. Not only from James, but the whole marauder gang. 

He wanted to see Lily and celebrate the new year with her, as well. He wanted to wish her a new beginning, where she could mend everything last year broke. He had also made something for her. A few days before they graduated and before the attack that had Remus in the hospital, they had a picture taken wit a muggle Polaroid camera Sirius owned. The picture was given to Remus at first, to keep him company during his healing process. This picture reflected all the best years they had, before the war, before their entry in it. So without second thought, Remus had given it to Sirius and he put it in a beautiful modern cherry red frame. The picture itself was rather cute, Sirius thought. It was in the common room. Lily and James were cuddled in the armchair near the fireplace, while Sirius was hugging them both interrupting their PDA and Moony with his arm around Wormtail, standing beside him.  They all had brilliant smiles plastered across their faces. With the use of a magic spell, he managed to engrave a cheesy quote on it that said ‘Memories are timeless treasures of the heart’. 

With a warm feeling, Sirius aparrated in the back alley of her flat and made his way quickly to her door. With a smile on his face he knocked at her door, taking a last look at the wrapped gift and getting ready to attack her with a tight hug. 

...

Whoever had the brilliant idea to romanticize the New Year had a lot of apologizing to do. New year, new beginnings, new hope, new me- it had only been a couple of hours into 1979 and the red head was already regretting it. It was a nice enough thought for anyone genuinely hoping to make a change, to think that from one day to the next their odds can magically change and suddenly they’ll be ready to achieve whatever they seek. It was comforting in a way, knowing you had an entire new year to back you up, a blank slate- Lily had even fallen for it earlier in life, writing off every new year as a new chapter in her life, setting new goals for herself and expecting new growth. However this time, no amount of hopeful fantasies were enough to pull her away from the sad reality she was living in. There was no blank slate, no new chapter. Her problems weren’t just going to go away and she wasn’t suddenly going to possess the strength to just make it all go away. Lily knew better than that, explaining why she’d refrained from celebrating the night before. Instead of her usual outing with her friends, she’d replaced a fun night out dancing and joking around with a quiet night all by her lonesome in her flat. 

Her day had gone relatively well, pretty normal. She’d woken up, walked to work, then walked back home and was now sitting on her couch, book in hand. Her concentration was broken by the sound of a knock on her door. Lily stayed still for a few seconds, debating whether or not she wanted to see anyone today before ultimately choosing to just stand up and open the door. A small smile immediately made its way to her lips after she checked the door viewer, had it been anyone else and she probably would’ve played sick to avoid conversation. Lily moved fast, immediately going to open the door and swinging it open. It’d been a long time since she had a chance to hang out with the guy and in all honesty, she had missed him a lot more than she’d care to admit. Lily leaned against the door frame, smile still very present as she looked at her friend. “Hey stranger.”

[scxrletlily]

ofpettigrews·:

He would not admit it, but, aside from the moments he’d spent with the remaining trio that constituted as his family, there wasn’t anyone else he would have rather started the new year with. Unlikely as the thought seemed from the outside, a seed of dependency had been planted in his heart for the redhead before him. The surface layer of Peter’s conscious thought was readily willing to admit their shared place of employment strengthened an otherwise surface level connection. On a deeper, more enigmatic level of his mind, he knew the magnetism that he felt towards Lily began years before. A foolish boy in his youth, Peter had decided to bury the memory instead of resorting to anything remotely healthy as an alternative. 

Back in the present, Peter was pulled from his thoughts by the warm touch of her fingers as they removed the keys from his hand. The proximity seemed to do nothing to her, not that he imagined it would. Hope was another emotion altogether. He laughed to fill the silence where his words were expected, took one more drag from the cigarette between his fingers, and finally he gestured her inside before him. Only then did he enter behind, closing the door and flipping the lock in their wake. “My saving grace,” he said, bowing his head towards her and rubbing his hands together. Turning to the fireplace in the heart of the kitchen, Peter snapped his fingers. Orange flames sprang to life, and he moved towards them with his palms stretched out for maximum effect. 

“Are you on the opening shift?” He looked towards her over his shoulder. Having worked his way up from cleaning the floors to pouring drinks, he well remembered the hellish hours Tom expected his employees to agree to. Even tending bar, he couldn’t dream of having a normal schedule. Nights didn’t end until after midnight, but it wasn’t like Peter had much room to complain. His sleeping patterns weren’t exactly routine. In fact, there wasn’t much in his life he could consider routine. Lily was, though. Always there when he needed to vent, whether about customers or a general estimation of the shit state of the world, she seemed to always know what so say, what to do. Peter always came away feeling lighter than before, and though it may not have been much to anyone else, he had enough sense at least to value the good in a sea of bad. “Don’t tell me you requested it?” His expression dead panned. “Did you even have one drink last night? You’re awfully bright eyed this morning.”

...

Lately, there were only a few constants in Lily’s life that she genuinely enjoyed- some she probably couldn’t do without. When she started working for Tom, she hadn’t expected her job to end up meaning as much to her as it did. Lily had always pictured herself working in the ministry, climbing up the ladder and ultimately earning herself a respectful position, one where she could truly make a change and somehow, she’d ended up waitressing at a quaint little bar that had started to feel like home more than her apartment. She wasn’t exactly sure what had led her to grow so attached to the place specifically but one thing that certainly helped was the good company. Peter had served as a breath of fresh air. The two had been friends for years but never like this- in a short amount of time Peter had become an essential part of Lily’s life. She could breathe freely around him. There was no need to tippy toe around subjects or even over explain things, Peter just understood. The two had so much in common, Lily often wondered why they’d never been close before. 

Once inside, Lily immediately set her bag down and moved to get ready. The smile was still present in her features as she removed her coat, placing it right next to her bag before reaching for her apron. She nodded in response to his question, her eyes focused on the strings of the garment as she worked them into a tight bow and proceeded to put it on. She ignored his next question, not willing to admit she had indeed called in advance and requested the morning shift for today. Lily had known the holiday was certainly not going to end up with her in a good mood and she had prepared in advance, making sure every hour of her day was filled with something to do so she could keep her mind off things. She hummed, shaking her head  in response to his last question before turning around to face him. “I thought I’d change it up this year. I had a few mugs of hot cocoa. It was pretty good actually, the marshmallows gave it a nice touch.” Lily spoke simply, attempting to make it sound as normal as possible so she wouldn’t be questioned on her decision. As much as she loved talking to Peter about everything and anything, she just wanted an easy morning and that meant no unnecessarily deep conversations until after 12pm. “I’ll have to make you some soon”

[scxrletlily]

markinnons·:

        If ever asked, Marlene might disclose how she lived two lives. The first was quite physical, where the young woman occupied a bodily space, worked at the Ministry, and participated in Order meetings. The second life prevailed entirely in her mind and differed from her physical existence rather significantly. Smiles habitually fastened to her exterior features, but these easily dissipated in her mind. The smiles were replaced by assorted agitation and mental weariness instead, as Marlene attempted to navigate both of her existences successfully. Frankly, the strenuous effort of sorting through her own emotions seemed both fruitless and time consuming. Perhaps that fueled her enthusiasm to agree to a night of relaxation with Lily. Marlene yearned for a break from battling herself, and she suspected Lily deserved to unwind after her fierce involvement with their cause.

       Marlene had felt the alleviation upon arriving at Lily’s apartment. She missed spending quality time with her friend beyond the Order business that dictated their lives. While many thoughts still occupied the dark-haired woman’s mind, she strived to set them aside for the sake of camaraderie and enjoying a stiff drink. Unfortunately, neither seemed to work, as the silence stretched onward. Marlene sipped from her cup methodically and glanced at Lily, smiling softly when their eyes met silently. She expected that quietness to continue until the redhead’s laughter ripped through the air. Marlene joined her moments later, almost spilling her drink while holding the cup close to her face.

       “We completely suck. You’d think we could do this like normal witches.” She responded with amusement. “But we look mental. It’s good we didn’t try for a pub. The owner would have kicked us out for being boring.”

...

Their laughter filled the room, completely changing the atmosphere that surrounded them. It’s not that it felt uncomfortable, it’s that neither of them had ‘chilled’ in what felt like forever. None of them had taken any advances in conversation other than a quick small talk before they both jumped straight for their respective drinks. Thankfully, both fully aware of how ridiculous their situation had been, it gave them something to joke about and ease them into an easy going conversation. 

“He’d probably go on about how we’d slow down business.” Lily nodded in agreement, a relaxed smile playing on her lips. “We really do need to step up our game, Marls. This is a little sad.” She joked, once again picking up her drink and bringing it up to her lips, finishing whatever was left in the cup in a single sip. With that out of the way, Lily placed her hands on the floor behind her, allowing herself to lean back and sit more comfortably. The smile was still present on her lips, though her eyes had shifted from Marlene to stare at the ceiling curiously. It was a few seconds before Lily’s attention returned to her friend, looking slightly amused. “Spending our free days lounging around drinking all afternoon… does this mean we’re officially old?” Her smile grew a little, wider and brighter. Lily had found the thought hilariously fitting to their situation. They were both young girls who’d been working really hard for ages and yet as soon as they got some down time and a chance to have genuine fun and let go, they’d chosen such a safe and controlled choice. “Are we prudes?”

[scxrletlily]

rcklcss​:

     Location: The White Wyvern, Knockturn Alley      Date: January 5th, 1979      Interaction: Alecto Carrow & Lily Evans

     Absinthe was the nectar of the gods themselves – those who preached that wine was the most divine beverage to exist had obviously never met deity herself, Alecto Carrow ( in her not so humble opinion ). While the usual bartender might frown at the thought of a young lady sitting by herself in a corner stool and coating her lips with the purest version of the drink, it would amaze some wizards how eaily that perception changed with the right amount of coins. Certainly, her weekly expenditure in alcohol was enough to make her a desirable client – who was this ragged hut to shoo her away, anyway? Her, the almightly, the godly, the resourceful. 

     Even on her best days ( which, admittedly, weren’t frequent ), she wouldn’t dream about sharing her oasis with anyone else. She’d only bought Amycus once and the mere thought of that evening brought a bitter taste to her mouth – no, never again would she taint such a sweet secure spot with the unoriginality in somoeone else. The worn-out stone walls and tilted tables, they were ( she’d found on numerous escapades ) the precise location to find the next bed she’d keep warm. The closer to the pub, the better – she enjoyed a cigarette as much as anyone else, but she’d found a shot of pure vodka was truly underappreciated after scarring someone for life. 

     Her target for the night was spotted rather easily, they were just her type and she couldn’t wait to hear how their voice might evangelize her name with their sweet lips. Still, before she made a move something caught her attention from the corner of her eye, and Alecto Carrow might be a lot of things, but foolish she was not. Cautious might as well be her middle name – instead of making a move that was sure to grant her a pleasing few hours with a stranger, she tilted her head towards the familiar face emerging from the shadow. Slowly but surely, her hand raised her glass as if she were about to make a toast, but she held it mid-air with her piercing eyes set on the other before cracking her shell and forcing a smile to curve her lips. If Alecto was already suspicious, her lips stretching into a grin was something out of a horror folklore story. 

     “Have a drink,” she morphed her voice into something resembling a plea, as if the other would be doing her a favour by gracing her with their presence instead of ruining her plans altogether.

...

Pressure can cause huge changes in a person. Lily had never been much of a drinker. She understood it’s appeal and would allow herself to indulge every now and then but never like this, never alone. Lately, everything seemed to be getting bigger, stuffier, suffocating. Things she once enjoyed and look forward to had slowly turned into more things to worry about and protect- it didn’t take long for the young girl to break and seek a quick escape through a few drinks. She hadn’t told anyone about her little escapades, preferring to keep her newly found bad habits to herself. After all, it’s not like she was doing anything bad- she had everything under control, always. 

Determination was clear in her features as she entered the unfamiliar establishment, green eyes quickly scanning the room for the closest approach to the bar. Once her eyes landed on the fully stocked shelves and handsome bartender, the red head felt herself instantly relax, ready to make a beeline towards her entertainment of the night. Her plans were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice, one that instinctively caused her body to tense. Inhale and exhale. She took in a deep breath. Don’t let her ruin your night. Lily turned around to face the other girl, a forced smile playing on her lips. It’s not that she wasn’t fond of Alecto, Lily detested her. 

“I’m trying to.” Her tone was polite, although by simply taking notice of the way she stood and looked at her, one could easily tell there wasn’t a lot of love going around. “Now if you'll excuse me, I’d like to get to it.” She turned around as soon as she spoke, her smile dropping as soon as her back was turned allowing the annoyance to show clearly on her features. Lily was a sweet girl, casually bumping into an acquaintance usually led to a fun night of catching up but with Alecto? She couldn’t even try to hide her distaste for longer than a few minutes, much less allow the girl to keep her company in a moment like this. Not when she was one of the reasons she was drinking in the first place. She once again returned her attention to the bar and started moving towards it, silently praying her company would know to make themselves scarce.

[scxrletlily]

paracosmistspitfire​:

where: james and lily’s place when: 4 january who: james and @scxrletlily​

Hey Lil, do you still have my copy of Quidditch Through the Ages? Lily, hi. I was in the neighborhood and figured I’d stop and see if- I’m sorry I’m such an idiot, Lils please.

James had never been one to struggle with words before. Even with Lily who seemed to not be able to stand him for quite a bit of time in their younger years, he was always able to meet her back with some form of comeback. He had apparated down the street from what used to be their flat over an hour ago and had been stood here since, trying to think of what to say when he eventually got the nerve to knock on the door. They were JamesandLily, he was never supposed to have to sit and think of words to say to the woman who he thought he was going to marry. He felt sick at the idea that he had ever even let this happen.

Every part of him wanted to be stubborn. She broke his heart, shattered it into a million pieces when Lily told him she couldn’t go through with the wedding and the stubborn little boy in him wanted her to hurt every bit as badly as he did. He wanted to never see her until she came to her senses and realized they were forever and no war was going to change that. But when his mother’s condition went south just as quickly as his father’s the only person he wanted to talk to was Lily. As things got too much around him and he couldn’t keep up with the real world and the realities of the same war that had come between him she was the first person he wanted by his side

He still had no words as he made his way to the front door, desperately holding back the frustration that not that long ago he would just be walking straight in and held a hand out to knock, waiting for an answer.

…

Free days were unusual for the red head. While some time ago, she’d enjoyed getting some down time to simply hang out with a few friends or just spend some time with James- lately, she’d traded it all in for work or missions, very much preferring to keep herself busy doing something productive than allowing herself to delve in her thoughts. Today, she wasn’t scheduled to work and there were absolutely no missions for her to partake in, no place where she was needed or anywhere to help and so; Lily had found herself sitting on her living room floor, a glass of red wine in her hand as she worked on a puzzle (she wasn’t exactly a fan but the wine sure made it a lot more enjoyable). She’d spent hours moving pieces around and drinking, her mind completely engrossed in the challenge that was to organize the tiny pieces in a way that made sense. If left to her own devices, she’d probably remain on the floor for the rest of the day, only getting up for the occasional snack or a refill. Luckily for her, a knock on her door did the trick and pulled her from her misery.

She set her glass on the table in front of her before pushing herself off the ground and heading towards the front door. The red head didn’t even bother to check who it was, simply assuming one of her friends had taken some time to share in her laziness. She opened the door with a small smile playing on her lips, only to have it falter as soon as her eyes landed on the person that stood on the other side. James. She straightened her posture, suddenly feeling a lot more aware of her surroundings and the fact that her heart felt like it stopped for a second before it continued to pump a little faster than usual. Lily stood there for a few seconds, completely silent before realization hit. “Hi.” I missed you. How are you? Her voice came out soft, a little shy even. It had been a few days since she’d saw him, even more since he’d last been here and the mere sight of him standing there, knocking on the door of the flat that they once shared was enough to pull her right back into the emotional pool she’d avoided getting into for so long. Lily gave him a soft smile before opening the door further, wordlessly inviting him in.

[scxrletlily]

ofpettigrews·:

where: the leaky cauldron when: january 1st, 1979; 5:43 am who: peter pettigrew + lily evans

The keys in his hand jingled as they fell to the ground for the third time, just as he’d located the damned one that opened the backdoor, which elicited a string of colorful slurs rolling off his thick tongue. The hiccups didn’t help, either, rocking his body as he bent to retrieve them again, and when his fingertips finally grazed the cool metal, he righted himself. His head was slow to steady, leaving him closing one eye as he aimed the key at the hole once more. A laugh escaped when he missed, head hanging in near defeat. He’d been lucky to make it to the pub in one piece. Peter hadn’t been foolish enough to try apparition, not fancying a splinched arm or cranium or whatever, but as it were, simply walking the few blocks was treacherous enough of its own accord. 

“That’s what I get for playing that ruddy game with those-” but his words died on his lips because the smile they inspired spread his lips too wide to manage much else. Despite the dreary outlook of the world, in spite of the days he felt the numbing loneliness creeping up his extremities again, he would always be able to count on a bottle or two and his raggedy group of friends to remind him to ground himself in reality rather than the alternative manifestations of his anxious games of ‘what if’. So, there he was, pissed off his rocker at dawn as a result. The pinking sky around him told him the time, just as his lacking equilibrium and hand-eye coordination confirmed the other. All he’d wanted to do was sleep off the drunken stupor in the quiet of the bar until his shift that night, but it seemed he was fated to bundling up at the door instead. Turning, he patted his front down in search for a cigarette, the all-cure for any frazzled nerves, but his hands paused briefly as his eyes landed on company he didn’t know he was entertaining. 

He wobbled slightly as he retrieved the pack from his cloak, a slow smile spreading on his features. “I’m sure there’s a joke out there for people up this early on the first day of the year,” Peter shrugged as he plucked a cigarette between his lips. “Too bad I’m too pissed to figure it out.” He paused to light it, then held the pack out to them. “Want one?”

...

December 31st had always been a day to look forward to. Some people saw it as a bittersweet moment, acknowledging the duality of it being the end and start of an entire chapter simultaneously. That had never been Lily’s case though, to her it had always just been about starting new- fresh. It was the moment the doors opened wide and she finally got to step into a new time, new goals- new ways even. She’d always found herself celebrating the new beginning, drink in hand and laughing cheerfully as if she didn’t have a single care in the world. To her, it was the one day of the year where everything just felt so small and insignificant, the one day she could look at life for what it is and simply smile straight at it, happy to be able to continue playing it’s game. This year however, there was nothing of that sort. Instead of being a happy moment, one full of hope; the day had turned into a somber reminded of where she stood and where she had to go. There was no talk of future plans, no dancing, no drinking, no smiling. She’d just sat down in her empty living room, wrapped a blanket around herself and fallen asleep as soon as the clock struck midnight and the day turned to a new year. 

January 1st, nothing had changed. She woke up at the same time she always did, showered and got ready like every other morning before heading out and officially putting a start to her day. New year, new chapter? Except that instead of starting anew, Lily’s story was stuck. Every time she turned the page, it landed turned to the same line, same time and same place- nothing seemed to be moving forward. She let out a breath, wrapping her arms around herself as she continued to make her way down the cold streets. Lily had walked to work everyday since she’d first gotten the job. She knew it wasn’t the most convenient or most comfortable way to get there but with time, she’d grown quite fond of her morning walks. They weren’t anything special, but the time alone and nice scenery certainly provided a perfect window of time for her to just breathe. 20 minutes turned into 5 and before she knew it Lily found herself standing before the back entrance, watching as a clearly inebriated peter attempted to unlock the door. 

Despite her low mood, an amused smile had managed to find its way to her lips. “Fun night then?” She proceeded to step forward, shaking her head at the offer of cigarettes while her attention went directly towards the door he’d failed so miserably in opening. “Let me help you with that.” Instead of looking through her bag for her, the red head resorted to taking the key from Peter’s hand, easily turning the lock and pushing the door wide open. Lily turned to look at him, amusement still very present in her features. “Go on, Boozer. It’s chilly out here.”

[scxrletlily]

where: lily’s apartment

when: january 2nd

who: lily evans + marlene mckinnon

@markinnons​

Tuesdays had never been so boring. Lily lived a pretty busy life (by choice), she felt good running around from one place to the other and helping wherever she could. It helped her feel needed, like she was truly doing her part to making sure everyday was better than the next. So it’s not really a surprise to see the young girl sitting on the floor, lips pouted and arms crossed. Upon figuring out both girls had some free time, it was almost necessary for them to go and spend some down time together and just… relax. Of course, Lily hadn’t been very thrilled about the idea of simply sitting down and doing nothing all day but as long as she got to spend some time with Marlene, she’d live.

As much as Lily wanted to go out there and do something, she wanted to spend time with her friend just as much. With everything going on, it was rare for both of them to get a free moment to actually enjoy themselves and Lily knew better than to just let it pass by. She could find a way to help out later, right now all she wanted was to have a few drinks, eat some shitty food and just breathe for a second. However, it seems she’d gotten a lot more than what she’d bargained for. Lily wanted to chill but this- sitting around and staring at each other’s face- really wasn’t cutting it. The red head sighed, stretching her arm out so that it’d reach the table and getting a hold of her drink. She brought the cup to her lips, taking a sip while her eyes turned to look at Marlene. They were ridiculous, really. So much talk about hanging out and having fun and here they were, both lounging around her apartment drinking in silence. Lily let out a laugh once she’d set her cup down, realizing just how pathetic they probably looked. “We really suck at this, don’t we?”