#annikawrites

[lilyprongspotter]

Chapter 23 of Rose of Ravenclaw Tower has been posted!

You can find the chapter here

[lilyprongspotter]

“Has Fred talked to you?” James said, his voice a bit more focused. Rose turned to find him looking at her more seriously than before. “No.” she brushed back a strand of hair that had come loose. “He’s not talked to me all night.” “Oh.” James tapped his index finger on the table. “‘M sorry.” Rose shrugged and chewed her lip as she turned back to watch the dancers. “S’not your fault.” “He just loves you--” “He was still a prat.” “You’re like his little sister.” “Well he’s not my big brother!” Rose said, jerking around to face James, her face heating up quickly. “And even if he was he doesn’t get to decide who I go to the ball with!”

An excerpt from Rose of Ravenclaw Tower chapter 19

You can read the entire chapter here

[lilyprongspotter]

“And so what if I want to go into a broom cupboard late at night with him?” Rose asked hotly, her ears and neck beginning to heat up as she glared. Fred visibly blanched. “You’re fourteen, Rose,” he said severely. “And I’m old enough to decide who I want to follow into broom cupboards,” Rose muttered. “You shouldn’t be following anyone—” “It’s none of your business!” Rose cried, her entire face burning as several heads around her turned to stare. She lowered her voice and whispered furiously, “You’re not my dad, Fred!”

An excerpt of Rose of Ravenclaw Tower chapter 19 

You can read the entire chapter here

[lilyprongspotter]

Jily: Begin Again

I posted this at one point last year and now can’t find it and want to bring it back for Jilytober. So...here it is. Jily drabble inspired by Taylor Swift’s Begin Again.

Took a deep breath in the mirror / He didn't like it when I wore high heels / But I do

 Lily took a deep breath and glanced at her reflection one last time in the full length mirror Marlene had propped against the dormitory wall. Her red hair was pulled back in a long plait, with a few escaped wisps curling around her face. Her green eyes stood out against her white jumper and black skirt. Lily took a step back, reveling in the sharp click her heeled boots made against the floor. She had just begun wearing the boots again. Severus had never liked it when she wore heels; it irritated him that sometimes she would appear taller than him. Lily shook her head to dispel any thoughts of her ex-best friend. She stood straight and squared her shoulders, looking her reflection dead in the eye and smiling.

 Turn the lock and put my headphones on / He always said he didn't get this song / But I do, I do

 Lily snatched her cloak out of the heavy trunk next to her bed and walked towards the dormitory door. Before she left, she hesitated for a moment, eyeing the enchanted record player in the corner from which Paul McCartney’s voice trickled. She really ought to shut the thing off, the others were already in Hogsmeade with their dates. And anyways, Lily thought bitterly, this song depressed her. She had loved it when she had first heard it, but even now Severus’ sneering face came back to her, accompanied by his familiar hiss “I don’t know why you listen to such silly trash.”

Lily stiffened at the memory and set her jaw before turning abruptly and flinging the door open. She marched down the spiral staircase to the tune of Hello, Goodbye.

 Walked in expecting you'd be late / But you got here early and you stand and wave / I walk to you

Lily’s stomach turned as she walked towards the Three Broomsticks. This was a mistake, a terrible, terrible mistake. What was she doing meeting James Potter in Hogsmeade? True, it wasn’t a date, but still, just because all their friends were on dates did not mean she was obligated in any way to spend the afternoon with him.

But she had promised Marlene she would try and get to know Potter this year, and she had gone through all the trouble of looking presentable. It seemed a pity to waste a rare weekday Hogsmeade trip.

Lily pushed open the heavy front door to the bar and scanned around for an empty table. She didn’t expect James to be there already. He was almost never on time to class, she didn’t expect him to be on time for something as silly as meeting her for a butterbeer because neither of them had managed to find a date.

The bar was crowded and Lily had just begun to worry she wouldn’t be able to find a table when a shock of dark hair caught her eye. She raised her eyebrows as she turned and saw James standing awkwardly next to a table in the corner, waving to get her attention. Without thinking about it, Lily raised her hand and returned the wave, her cheeks flushing as she did so. She took a deep breath to calm her racing nerves. Why was she nervous? It was only Potter. No one important. When her heart rate slowed she tentatively put a foot forward and walked over to him.

 You pull my chair out and help me in / And you don't know how nice that is / But I do

 “Hi,” he said when she reached the table. He grinned nervously at her and ran a hand through his hair.

“Hi,” she answered, smiling involuntarily at his nerves. It was oddly endearing to see James Potter flustered.

“Er, you want to sit?” he asked, stepping around the table and pulling out a chair, gesturing for her to take a seat.

“Oh, er, yes. Thank you,” Lily mumbled, sinking into the seat. James’ hands, which gripped the back of the chair, brushed her shoulder.

“Let me take your cloak,” James said, putting a hand to her shoulder and helping her out of the thick cloak.

“Thanks,” Lily whispered, turning around and giving him a small smile.

James shrugged. “Just what’s expected,” he said with a nervous, tight-lipped smile.

Lily nodded and said nothing. He didn’t know, he really didn’t know how nice it was to have someone pull a chair out and take her cloak. Nobody had ever done that for her before. And here was James Potter, not only doing it but shrugging it off as though it meant nothing. Heat crept back into Lily’s face and she shook her head as James sat across from her and grinned.

 And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid / I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did / I've been spending the last eight months / Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end / But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

 Lily pushed her third empty butterbeer glass away from her and wiped a tear from her eye. James sat back, his face red from laughter. He had just finished telling her about the time in third year when he and Sirius had enchanted all Mrs. Potter’s good china to follow her around singing pub songs. Lily’s sides ached from laughing so hard and her raucous giggles set James off chuckling again as he watched her amusedly.

“You’re funny, Evans,” he said, as though it were a surprising thing.

“You’re not too dull either, Potter,” she said, flashing him a smile and motioning to Madame Rosmerta to bring them two more butterbeers. It felt odd to be with someone, a boy no less, who thought she was funny and told her so. Severus never understood the funny stories Lily recounted to him; he had always deigned to listen to her tales of her Gryffindor friends and their mischief.

But here was James, baldly describing all the pranks he and Sirius had plotted, and all the mishaps that went with them.

It seemed odd to Lily that it could be this easy, that she could just sit here for an hour with another person, drinking butterbeer and tell funny stories, and enjoy herself so fully. Ever since that terrible June day last year when Severus had called her that word—she shuddered at the memory—ever since then she had felt that everything only led to sadness, to emptiness, to pain. But somehow, happiness could be found in something so simple as sitting in the Three Broomsticks with James Potter on a Wednesday in the middle of February, listening to him talk about singing teapots.

 You said you never met one girl / Who had as many James Taylor records as you / But I do / We tell stories and you don't know why / I'm coming off a little shy / But I do

 Madame Rosmerta brought them their butterbeers and Lily took a long pull, letting the liquid warm her from the inside out. She set down the mug and found James looking at her strangely, his hazel eyes lit up in fascination as he contemplated her.

“Have I got something on my face?” Lily asked nervously, reaching for a napkin and dabbing around her mouth, hoping she didn’t have a foam mustache.

“No,” James said, his eyebrows knitting together. “It’s just—well, you seem a bit, I dunno, quieter today than you usually are.”

“Oh,” Lily paused, caught off guard by his answer. Of course, to him it would seem strange she was content to sit and listen to him talk for over an hour, considering up until now she usually didn’t let him get five words in. “Well,” she shifted uncomfortably in her seat before raising her eyes to meet his. Heat stained her face as she floundered for words. “It’s just—I just enjoy listening to your stories.”

“Really?” James asked, perking up. His eyebrows raised in surprise and his mouth curled into a boyish grin that made Lily want to stand up and hug him. “I thought I was boring you,” he said, giving her a sheepish smile.

Lily flushed darker and shook her head, keeping her eyes on her butterbeer. “Never,” she murmured.

 But you throw your head back laughing like a little kid / I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did

 James resumed his stories, his boyish smile returning full force every time Lily threw her head back in laughter. He asked her questions about herself too, and she found herself telling her own stories, though hers involved much less magic. She told him about the game she and Petunia used to play down at the pond, and how one time she had tried to imitate a swan and gotten chased about by a goose. James roared with laughter, his hazel eyes shining and his cheeks flushing.

Lily couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed another person’s company so much. Not since she had been friends with Severus. But something about James’ loud, rumbling laugh eclipsed even her happiest memories with Sev.

 I've been spending the last eight months / Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end / But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

 The afternoon light faded and Lily pushed her fifth butterbeer glass away, declaring she couldn’t possibly drink anymore.

James smirked at her and nodded, saying something about how she had already distinguished herself and maybe they’d best not come back for a bit.

Lily leaned across the table and smacked him on the chest, grinning stupidly as she did so. She had barely been listening to James, really. She had been too busy sorting through her thoughts and reconciling the dark emptiness which had plagued her since her fallout with her best friend and this new feeling, this light, buoyant happiness which coursed through her every time James flashed her that stupid smile. Maybe, she thought, just maybe, not everything had to end badly.

 And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up / But you start to talk about the movies that your family / Watches / Every single Christmas and I want to talk about that / And for the first time what's past is past

 James paid the tab, swatting away Lily’s hand as she tried to shove money at him.

“Gentlemen pay,” he said firmly, catching her wrist lightly and smirking as she glared at him.

“I get to pay next time then,” Lily huffed.

James stared at her for a moment and smiled, releasing her hand. “Alright,” he agreed, shoving his hand in his pocket. His face stayed in a grin and Lily stared for several seconds before it dawned on her why.

They hadn’t yet agreed that there would be a next time.

James opened the door for her and they exited the pub together, walking up the street towards Hogwarts. They talked about their families and James’ upcoming birthday. Lily poked him in the ribs, calling him “Baby James” while he scowled and pretended to swat her in the head.

It came on suddenly, an overwhelming urge to ask him about that horrible day by the lake last June, when James had taunted Severus and Severus had called her that word. Lily turned to James and opened her mouth, meaning to tell him that it was alright, she wasn’t angry with him anymore, it wasn’t his fault.

She caught sight of his face, open and boyish and free of cares and she closed her mouth. James reached out and absently caught her hand in his, leading her up the street towards the castle. And Lily knew she would never say those words; she didn’t have to. James squeezed her hand and she knew he understood without her having to explain. The past was the past.

 'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid / I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did / I've been spending the last eight months / Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end / But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

 They spent the remainder of the walk to the castle chattering. Lily could hardly believe that just a few hours ago she had stood in the dormitory, wondering whether or not to even go through with the plan to meet James at the pub. Neither of them remembered that their friends had nearly forced them to meet up, to get to know each other; neither of them really cared. Lily had quite forgotten why exactly she had disliked James so much for the past five years. Oh yes, because of Severus.

But really, Lily reflected as her fingers tangled with James’, Severus was in her past. She had made that very clear to him, and now she was beginning to make it clear to herself; he was no longer her best friend, he no longer held any weight with who she chose to spend time with. And James…she wouldn’t mind James being in the future.

 But on a Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again

 Lily and James strolled through the castle doors and made their way up to Gryffindor Tower, the conversation never ebbing. They were laughing loudly as they climbed through the portrait hole and saw their friends sitting on a sofa.

Neither realized they were still holding hands, but Marlene McKinnon’s eyes widened slightly and she held out a hand which Sirius Black surreptitiously shook. They both smirked and turned away quickly to hide their knowing smiles.

Lily sat down on an armchair and made room for James, who sat beside her. Yes, Lily thought, glancing at the black-haired boy beside her, she wouldn’t mind James being in her future at all.

[lilyprongspotter]

I’m officially published!! My short story Andrew Penske’s Heart is in the winter issue of Blinder’s Journal which is at http://blindersjournal.org/ 

I’m so excited!!

[lilyprongspotter]

Scorose 35

“What did you just say?” Rose Weasley demanded, her blue eyes narrowing dangerously. Her red hair seemed to cackle like flames around her as she advanced. 

“You heard me,” Scorpius Malfoy said, smirking at her. “Take. It. Off.”

“Scorpius Malfoy!” she shrieked, smacking him on the arm. He caught her wrist and held it gently in front of his face, kissing the inside before letting it drop back to her side. He continued to smirk at her as the warm June air whipped through her hair, tousling it over her bare shoulders and making it look like the wild red curls had come alive. 

“Come on, Rosie,” he murmured, putting an arm around her waist and smiling at the feel of her warm skin again his fingers. “You know what the terms of the bet were. In fact, I think you were the one who suggested this.” 

“That doesn’t mean I can’t wearing my swimsuit!” Rose insisted, glancing down at the red suit she had on. 

Scorpius snorted. “Last time I checked, skinny dipping meant no swimsuit.” 

Rose glared at him. “I’m never making a bet with you again,” she pouted.

“Come on Rosie,” Scorpius grinned down at her, waggling his eyebrows. “Are you telling me that if you had won you wouldn’t have insisted I honor the terms of the bet.”

“Well it’s different if it’s you!” Rose said, turning a bit pink. 

“Well I had the better transfiguration exam score,” Scorpius said in a sing-song voice. “Next year we can compare N.E.W.T.s and I’m sure you’ll beat me in something and then I give you my full permission to make me jump naked in the lake. Unless, of course, we get caught out here, which we very well might if you don’t stop complaining and just jump in.”

“Fine,” Rose grumbled, sending him one last nasty look before stripping off the red swimsuit. 

Scorpius grinned broadly and watched as his girlfriend took a deep breath before diving into the lake. 

Sputtering, Rose resurfaced. Her hair was plastered to her face and her blue eyes seemed to glow in the dark. 

“I’ll beat you next year, Scorpius Malfoy!” she cried, paddling back towards him. 

“And I’ll let you do whatever you want to me then,” he answered.

[lilyprongspotter]

This was requested by @emako-the-wolf

“Are you sure about this?” Mrs. Weasley muttered to Ginny, straightening her daughter’s collar and brushing a spot of dirt off her robes. “You know you can stay here, darling. You and Jamesy don’t have to go to school. I can help you and—“

               “Mum,” Ginny said firmly, batting her mother’s hand away and bending over to pick up the three-month-old baby sitting happily at her feet. “I want to go back. And you know I can’t just leave James here with you!”

               “It wouldn’t—“ Mrs. Weasley began, but stopped talking as another person joined them in the kitchen of the Burrow. “Harry!” Mrs. Weasley cried, rushing towards the tall, skinny, black-haired boy who had appeared. “Are you all packed, then?”

               “Yes,” Harry said, bending over to kiss Ginny on the cheek. “I’m ready to go whenever Ginny is.”

               “Do you have everything for Jamesy?” Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly, glancing at the small, black-haired baby on Ginny’s hip.

               “Yes, Mrs. Weasley,” Harry assured her with a wry smile. “Don’t worry.”

               “Well, alright then,” she said, taking a small pot from beside the fireplace and holding it out to Harry and Ginny in turn. “Send Hedwig after you arrive and if you need anything, be sure to floo straight away.”

               “We will,” Ginny sighed, leaning forwards to kiss her mother on the cheek.

               “Good luck,” Mrs. Weasley said as Harry and Ginny each took a fistful of the green floo powder.

               “You first,” Harry said, nodding at Ginny. She grimaced and shifted baby James on her hip before stepping into the fireplace and throwing the powder into the flames.

               “Hogwarts!” she cried clearly, her free hand moving to cover the baby’s face as she spun around in the fire and disappeared.

               Harry stepped into the fireplace and threw his handful of powder down, imitating Ginny’s call. He felt the familiar tug as his body was pulled around like a top and the Burrow disappeared from view.

               He landed abruptly in a small room he recognized immediately as Professor McGonagall’s office. Coughing quietly, Harry shook his head and clambered out of the fireplace, shaking soot from his robes.

               “Potter,” the stern-faced witch said tartly, turning away from the door, where Harry could see Ginny and James waiting for him.

               “Hello, Professor,” Harry said, ruffling his hair nervously. “Er, how was your summer?”

               “Delightful,” McGonagall said dryly, going to her desk and rustling through a stack of parchment. She selected a piece and thrust it towards him. “Here, this details all the guidelines for having a child at the school.”

               “Er, right,” Harry faltered, taking the paper nervously. “Thanks.”

               “If you or Miss Weasley need anything, I am always available,” McGonagall said in a softer tone, her eyes wandering back to James, who was drooling on his mother’s shoulder.

               “We’ll remember that, Professor,” Harry said. “Thank you.”

               “I suggest you go along to Gryffindor Tower,” McGonagall said. “I would imagine there are several people who want to meet the newest house member.”

               Harry and Ginny left the office and traipsed through the stone corridors together.

               “Here,” Harry said gently, taking the baby from Ginny and bouncing his son gently as they walked. “You must be tired from holding him so long.”

               “Not really,” Ginny shrugged, giving him a small smile and reaching out to take his free hand in hers. “But I appreciate it.”

               They walked silently to Gryffindor Tower, James cooing the entire way. When they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry stopped and looked at Ginny.

               “Er, do you know—“

               “Oh, yes!” Ginny said quickly. “Gurdyroot,” she said to the portrait.

               “What an adorable child,” the Fat Lady cried, eyeing James with a small smile. “I take it he’s yours?”

               “Yeah,” Harry mumbled. How could the baby be anyone else’s? Already at three months old, James looked almost exactly like Harry, just with Ginny’s warm brown eyes.

               “Best of luck to the both of you,” the Fat Lady said as she swung open to admit them.

               Inside the common room, Harry glanced around for a glimpse of Ron or Hermione. They didn’t appear to be anywhere. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lavender and Parvati approaching.

               “It’s true,” Lavender gasped, eyes wide as she stared at the baby in Harry’s arms. “I saw something in the Prophet but never—Merlin—you two,” she glanced from Harry to Ginny and back again, “it’s really yours?”

               “Well I would hope so,” Harry said, becoming irritated by the constant questions. Lavender flushed and turned her gaze back to the baby.

               “He’s precious,” she said quietly, holding out a finger which James grabbed happily.

               “I can’t believe there’s going to be a baby living here,” Parvati said in amazement, as though a baby were some wild creature. “It’ll be so strange.”

               “Will you bring him to lessons?” Lavender asked, giggling as James tried to put her finger in his mouth.

               “I suppose we’ll have to,” Harry said. “We can’t exactly leave him in here.”

               “Oh, and he’ll be at meals then too?” Parvati said.

               “Yes,” Ginny broke in. “Yes, he’ll be just about everywhere.”

               “Oh how wonderful!” Parvati exclaimed. “Just imagine it—a baby at Hogwarts!”

               “Yeah,” Harry said quietly, marveling at the absurdity of it and wondering how they were possibly going to get through. “A baby at Hogwarts.”

[lilyprongspotter]

The Walrus

This is an excerpt from my fic Tell Me More

“So who are you asking?” Lily queried, dumping the quills and fish eyes in the cauldron and picking up a gurdyroot, which she began to slice.  

“Er,” James paused. He could tell her what he’d been about to ask earlier. No, he wouldn’t do that. Not when she was so excited at the prospect of taking her friend. He could make up a name and gauge her reaction. No, that wouldn’t work either, then he would have to actually ask whichever girl he said. Finally, he just shook his head. “Dunno yet,” he said with forced nonchalance, mussing up his hair and seizing a jar of scarab beetles. He smirked at her. “Maybe I’ll go stag and steal someone else’s date.”               Lily slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “You would never,” she said in a feigned scandalized tone, trying to look sternly at him but unable to hide her laughter.

James’ smirk dimmed and he began to take out scarab beetles; they needed thirty eight. “No, I wouldn’t,” he said quietly. Lily’s laughter subsided and James looked away, settling his attention on counting out the dried insects. “I might just skip the party and stay back to keep Remus company,” he said airily, looking up to gauge her reaction.  

Lily nodded, her long hair falling over her face as she continued to slice the gurdyroot. “He would like that,” she said. “But,” she cocked her head to the side and peered at him, “you should still try to go to the party.” The corners of her mouth quirked up. “It’ll be much more fun if you’re there.”

James grinned, his chest much lighter than it had been a minute ago. “Well, I am the life of the party,” he said dramatically, his smile growing wider when she laughed.

“Oh no,” Lily said seriously, setting the root aside and adding two handfuls of lavender to the cauldron. “I’ve forgotten the number one rule of being friends with you, never offer compliments. Or else your ego gets unbearably large.”

James put a hand to his chest in mock distress. “That hurts, Lily,” he said gravely, though his wide grin rather ruined the effect. “I’ll have you know my ego is a healthy sized one.”

Lily snorted, taking out a vial of salamander blood. “Your ego is as healthy sized as my sister’s husband.”

James wrinkled his nose. “Based on your tone I take it he’s a—“

“A walrus,” Lily supplied, her eyes twinkling. “Perhaps a bit larger.”

“Are you calling my ego a walrus, Evans?” James asked, throwing a scarab beetle at her.

“No,” Lily laughed, abandoning the knotgrass and shielding herself with a textbook. “I’m just saying it’s the size of one—“

James chuckled and pelted her with scarab beetles until Slughorn came over, puffed out with indignation.

“Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, I expected better from you!” he said disapprovingly.

“S-sorry, Professor,” Lily choked out, trying to suppress her giggles as she hurriedly began measuring out knotgrass again. “It won’t happen again.”

“I should hope not,” Slughorn admonished, though he had already lost most of his severity.

Lily gave the potions master an apologetic smile and bent to check on their potion, which bubbled happily.