Work Text:
boy next door
The summer was winding down, the golden light of late afternoon soft and inviting as Lily kicked her legs back and forth from the swing in her backyard. Her hands gripped the rough, weathered chains, her feet barely skimming the grass as she swayed in the breeze. She was perfectly content, humming quietly to herself, when the sound of a truck engine interrupted her thoughts.
Lily turned her head just in time to see a large, dusty truck rattle down the street, its tires kicking up a cloud of dust as it pulled into the driveway of the house next door. The house had been empty for months now, and Lily, curious by nature, had wondered who might move in.
A few minutes later, the truck doors slammed shut, and she spotted the new neighbor—a boy, probably around her age, with messy dark hair and glasses, carrying a box labeled “breakables” in oversized handwriting.
She hopped off the swing, brushing dirt from her shorts as she made her way to the fence between their yards.
“Hi!” she called, leaning her arms casually on the wooden slats. “I’m Lily. Lily Evans. I live around here.” She offered a friendly smile, hoping he didn’t mind her curiosity.
The boy turned, blinking as if he hadn’t expected anyone to be around. He tilted his head a little, as though considering whether or not to engage, before breaking into a grin.
“Hey,” he replied, setting down the box and wiping his hands on his jeans. “I’m James. James Potter. Just moved here.” He waved his hand toward the house behind him as if presenting it, and then added, “We’ve got a bit of unpacking to do.”
Lily nodded. “Yeah, I saw your truck drive up. Just wondering, what's Godric's Hollow? Is that where you're from?” She’d heard the name before—her parents had spoken of it occasionally—but never really knew what it was.
James raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. “It’s, uh… well, it’s a bit of a place for people like me.”
Lily frowned, unsure of what he meant, but before she could ask more, he suddenly grinned even wider.
“Actually, it’s a long story. I could tell you later, if you want. I’m sure I’ll see you around, right?”
Lily hesitated. There was something about James that was… different, in a way that didn’t quite make sense. But her curiosity was piqued, and she found herself nodding.
“Sure. Later,” she agreed, giving him a small smile. “I’ll be around.”
With that, she turned to head back toward her house, but glanced over her shoulder to catch one last look at the new boy, James, as he bent down to pick up another box. His gaze met hers for a brief moment, and there was something in his eyes—a spark, something that made Lily feel like maybe, just maybe, this boy might change everything.
====================================
magic
It was the summer before their first year at Hogwarts when it happened—Lily didn’t mean to do it. She never meant for anything to happen at all, really.
She and James were sitting in the garden, the two of them trying their best to take advantage of the warm weather before school started. Lily had her knees drawn up to her chest, her head resting against the back of the bench. James was sprawled on the grass, legs splayed out in every direction, his eyes squinted against the sun.
“I’m telling you, Lily,” he said, grinning lazily as he twirled a stick in his fingers. “You’ve got to at least try flying on a broom. You’d be amazing. Like, it’s in your blood or something.” He said it so nonchalantly, but it was clear he meant it. He was forever convinced she had some hidden talent.
Lily rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. “You’ve been saying that for ages. I’m not exactly the sporty type, James.”
“Oh, please, I’ve seen how fast you can run. You’re just stubborn.”
Lily opened her mouth to retort, but the sudden movement of the swing she was sitting on caught her attention. It creaked, rocking back and forth as if someone had just pushed it, though she was the only one there.
“What’s with that?” she murmured, narrowing her eyes at the swing.
James glanced over. “What?”
Before Lily could explain, the swing lurched harder, swaying violently with no one near it. Her heart skipped, and she instinctively stood, stepping away from it. Something was… wrong. The motion wasn’t right.
And then, without thinking, she reached out. Her hands instinctively raised, and the swing jerked to a halt mid-air, its chains still swaying slightly.
James stared, his jaw dropping in disbelief. The silence stretched for a moment before he stood, walking cautiously toward her.
“What the… what did you just do?” His voice was soft, like he wasn’t sure if he had imagined it. His eyes flicked to the swing and back to her, a question building on his face.
Lily’s heart was racing now. “I… I don’t know. That wasn’t me.”
“No, no, I’m pretty sure it was,” James said, his voice almost teasing but there was something else in his eyes now—a flicker of realization. “What was that, Evans?”
She swallowed, not sure what to say. It had been an accident—she’d just reached for the swing and it had obeyed.
“I don’t know how I did that,” Lily admitted quietly, shaking her head. “I don’t… I’m not even sure what happened.”
James crouched down in front of her, his face earnest. “Lily,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “That was magic.” He said it like it wasn’t a question, like it was just a simple truth. “You’re a witch.”
Lily froze, her heart pounding harder than before. A witch? She couldn’t be.
“I… no. I… that’s ridiculous,” she stammered, but her voice lacked conviction. The air felt charged, something she couldn’t deny.
James smiled, a mischievous grin that made her feel like she was missing something huge. “Told you you’d be great at it. We’ll sort all of this out later. I promise.”
Lily swallowed, uncertain but intrigued by the strange, sudden sense of rightness in his words.
“I’m a witch?” she repeated, almost as if testing the words. She met his eyes, and there was something in them—something so sincere that she couldn’t help but believe him.
“Yeah, Lily,” James said with a grin, standing up and offering her a hand. “And you’re not the only one. Welcome to the club.”
====================================
first year
Lily stood at the edge of the platform, staring at the huge, black train before her. The steam billowed out in clouds, and the chatter of other students blended with the sound of hammers against the wheels as they prepared to leave for Hogwarts.
“Excited?” James asked, appearing beside her with an easy grin on his face.
Lily rolled her eyes. “I think you’re the only one who’s more excited than I am.”
James chuckled. “That’s ‘cause I’m finally going to be where I belong. Can’t wait to try flying lessons.”
“I’m sure you’ll be top of the class,” Lily teased, though she felt the same excitement bubbling up inside her.
Her parents had finally accepted that their daughter was not just “normal.” She had magical abilities, and now, she was about to leave her Muggle world behind and step into a world that felt like it had been made just for her.
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Lily spoke again, her voice quieter this time. “Are you nervous?”
“Me? Nah. What about you?”
Lily’s hand unconsciously fiddled with her robes. “I guess… a little. What if I’m not good enough? What if I don’t fit in?”
“You will,” James said, and his voice was so full of confidence that it made her feel better, even if she didn’t entirely believe him.
“We’ll stick together, right?” Lily asked, her voice soft but firm. “We’ll help each other.”
James smiled brightly. “Of course.”
====================================
second year
Lily was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the common room, flipping through a Charms textbook when James and Sirius barged in, laughing and talking over each other.
“I swear, James, if you ever try to drag me into another prank that involves feathers, I’m going to hex you,” Sirius grumbled.
James just laughed louder, ignoring him. He spotted Lily and beamed. “Lily! You coming with us to the Quidditch pitch later? We need your expert opinion on our new strategy.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking me for advice?”
James leaned against the arm of the chair next to her, lowering his voice just enough so only she could hear. “Well, we could use a little bit of your genius, you know, to balance out all the idiocy.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, James,” Lily replied with a smirk.
“Wanna bet?” James said, his face inches from hers. “Because I’m sure if you come with us, we could make your day a lot more fun.”
Lily laughed, pushing him away playfully. “You're a menace.”
Sirius grinned from the door. “You can’t resist him, can you, Evans?”
“Don’t flatter him, Sirius,” she shot back, but the smile on her face betrayed her.
====================================
third year
Lily was walking to the library when she saw James and Sirius laughing loudly in the corridor. Something about their behavior—something in the way they carried themselves—made her stomach turn.
“Lily!” James called, waving. “You coming to watch the practice later? We’re going to try something new with the Bludgers. It’s gonna be wild.”
Lily stopped in her tracks. “No, actually,” she replied coolly, “I think I’ll hang out with Marlene.”
James blinked, not expecting the response. “Right... okay. You’re busy again ?” he said, a bit of an edge creeping into his voice.
“Yeah, James. I have a life, you know,” Lily snapped, though the words stung her as much as they did him.
“Well, I guess I can’t fit into that now, can I?” he shot back, his tone sharper now.
Lily saw the hurt in his eyes before it was masked with a smirk. “See you around, Evans.”
As he turned away, a bitter realization settled in her chest: this wasn’t just a simple argument. They were moving apart.
====================================
fourth year
The Gryffindor common room was bustling with chatter as the Marauders boasted about their latest stunt. Lily sat with Marlene at the table, pretending not to notice the chaos around her.
“I don’t get it,” Marlene whispered, leaning in. “Why are you still hanging around with them? You don’t need them, you know?”
Lily didn’t answer at first. But then, she saw James. He was sitting with Sirius, joking around, and for the first time, he didn’t look like the James she knew. He looked... different.
“I don’t know,” Lily muttered. “It’s just—everything’s different now.”
At that exact moment, James caught her eye and grinned, but Lily couldn’t return the smile. Instead, she dropped her gaze and focused on her homework.
When the laughter around them grew louder, she couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up abruptly and walked out of the common room.
James followed her a few steps later, his face furrowed. “Lily! What’s going on with you?”
Lily spun around to face him, eyes flashing. “What’s going on with you , James? You and Sirius have turned into—into—” She couldn’t find the right words. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
James’s face hardened, his anger bubbling to the surface. “And I don’t know who you are either. You’ve changed too, you know. Too good for us now?”
Lily’s heart pounded. “I’m not too good , I’m just... I don’t know how to deal with all this anymore.”
“I don’t need you telling me how to live my life,” James spat, his voice raw with frustration. “Maybe I’ve changed because I’m sick of trying to keep everyone happy!”
The words hit harder than she expected. “Maybe you don’t care about anyone except yourself.”
James’s eyes burned with anger, and for a split second, she thought he might say something that would tear them apart completely.
“Fine,” he said, his voice quiet, but it sliced through her like a knife. “Maybe we should just stop pretending.”
Lily stood there, her heart pounding in her chest as he turned and walked away, leaving her with the bitter taste of regret.
====================================
fifth year
It was after dinner, the common room empty. Lily was sitting by the fireplace when James stormed in, his face tight with frustration.
“Lily,” he snapped, his voice tense, “we need to talk.”
Lily barely looked up. “About what? Another prank? Another way to ruin someone’s life for a laugh?”
“Don’t start with me,” James said, his hands clenched into fists. “You’re the one who’s been avoiding me for weeks, and you can’t even give me the decency of a bloody conversation!”
Lily stood up, her eyes blazing. “Decency? What decency, James? You and Sirius act like you’re the center of the sodding universe. You don’t care about anyone else—least of all me.”
James’s face darkened, his patience slipping away. “That’s rich coming from you, Lily. You’ve been hanging around with everyone but me all year, like I don’t exist. You’ve got your friends, and I’ve got mine. Maybe it’s better that way.”
Lily’s breath caught in her throat. “Is that what you think? That I’m too good for you now? That I’ve outgrown you?”
James took a step forward, fury in his eyes. “Maybe you have!”
The words stung, worse than any of their previous fights.
“I haven’t outgrown you, James!” she cried, her voice breaking. “But maybe I’ve had enough of you and your bloody games ! All you care about is yourself. You think you’re the only one who matters, but you’re not.”
James stepped forward, his voice low. “Don’t tell me what I care about, Lily. You don’t know anything about me.”
Lily’s pulse quickened, the adrenaline of the fight settling into her bones. “Exactly James. That’s the problem. You’ve changed, and you’re not the person I thought you were anymore.”
They stood there, inches apart, each breathing heavily. It was a moment of complete silence before Lily spun on her heel and stormed out, leaving James standing there, stunned.
====================================
sixth year
The corridors were quieter tonight, with the end of another long week dragging on. Lily had been trying to find some peace after another difficult week. She’d managed to avoid James for the most part, but the energy between them had been different since their argument in the fifth year—strained, but something else simmered.
As Lily walked past the staircase, she froze.
James was standing in front of her, leaning against the stone wall, his hands shoved into his pockets. His head tilted slightly as their eyes met. For a second, neither of them moved.
Lily was the first to break the silence. “What do you want, Potter?” Her tone was steady, but she could feel her pulse quicken, something she was trying to ignore.
James didn't immediately reply, his gaze never leaving hers. It was as if he was measuring her, like he always had, trying to figure out if she was the same Lily Evans he knew—or if she'd become something else entirely.
“I don’t want anything,” he said quietly, but there was a tension in his words.
Lily gave a small, tight smile, stepping around him as if she were going to walk away. But before she could take another step, James moved, blocking her path. The sudden movement startled her, but she held her ground, glaring up at him.
“Potter, move.” Her voice was a little sharper than she intended, but the space between them felt heavy now.
James didn’t move. His face was a little too close, his eyes dark and serious. “Why are you running from me, Lily?” The question wasn’t playful, wasn’t teasing. It was genuine—laced with something unspoken.
Lily’s chest tightened, but she fought to keep her composure. “I’m not running,” she said, voice clipped. She forced herself to look at anything but him. “We’re just—" She stopped, not sure what to say.
James’ eyes softened slightly, the anger and frustration from their last argument flickering in his expression. “You don’t get to pretend nothing’s changed. You don’t get to act like last year never happened.” His voice was quieter now, but no less intense. “You’ve been different. I’ve been different. This... thing between us, it’s not just about the war, it’s not just about school anymore.”
Lily felt her heart skip. She’d tried to keep her distance, tried to convince herself that this tension between them was just a product of their last argument, but now she wasn’t so sure. The space between them felt charged in a way she couldn’t deny.
“Maybe it’s not,” she murmured, her eyes flickering up to meet his. She didn’t want to admit it, but it was undeniable, thick and suffocating.
James’ breath caught, and for a moment, it was like everything else in the world stopped. “Then what is it, Lily?” His voice dropped even lower, barely a whisper, but still strong with an emotion she couldn’t quite name.
Lily opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. She took a step back instead, only to feel the invisible pull of him right in front of her again.
“James, I—” she started, but she couldn’t finish. It was too much, this feeling between them. Too complicated. Too messy. She didn’t know how to make sense of it anymore.
Her breath caught as James took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. He was so close now that she could feel the heat of his body, the rawness in his eyes. His gaze never wavered from hers, but there was something different in the way he looked at her now. Something far more intimate than anything they had shared before.
Lily swallowed hard. “I don’t... I don’t want this,” she said, though the words didn’t sound convincing. She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince—him, or herself.
James just stared at her, a quiet challenge in his eyes. “Lily, we’re already in it. Whether we want to be or not.”
And just like that, the space between them crackled. They stood there, the weight of it all pressing down on them—words unspoken, emotions too tangled to unravel.
Lily couldn’t take it anymore. She took another step back, turning her head away. “I have to go,” she said, more to herself than to him. But when she moved to walk away, she felt a lingering glance from James burn into her skin.
As she disappeared into the next corridor, the last words he said echoed in her mind.
We’re already in it.
====================================
seventh year
It had been weeks since the last time Lily had spoken to James properly—really spoken to him. Ever since they’d started revising for their final exams, their interactions had been brief, distant, casual. She’d almost convinced herself it was easier that way. Safer.
But it wasn’t. Not really.
The thing between them had only grown heavier, every glance, every accidental brush of their hands feeling like a spark just waiting for the right moment to catch fire. Tonight, the space between them was thick with it.
Lily had left the library late, her eyes tired from hours of studying. She’d been hoping for an empty corridor to get some peace, but instead, she turned the corner to find James standing there. Again.
This time, he wasn’t leaning casually against the wall, no, he was standing straight, facing her with a look in his eyes that was both familiar and unsettlingly new. There was something about the way he looked at her—something raw and unguarded.
Lily didn’t stop walking, but she didn’t try to avoid him either. She felt herself drawn to him, despite the distance she’d tried to keep.
"Evans," he said softly, his voice a little hoarse, like he’d been holding something back for a long time.
She didn’t know what to say to that. She hadn’t known how to talk to him in months. “Potter,” she said, her voice a little more clipped than usual, but it wasn’t from anger. It was from everything in between.
He studied her for a moment, his gaze flicking over her face, as if he was memorizing every detail. “I can’t keep pretending like nothing’s happening between us,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.
Lily’s breath caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words got stuck. What was there to say? They both knew what was happening, they both knew what had been building between them, even if they hadn’t acknowledged it fully.
“You don’t have to say anything,” James continued, stepping closer to her, his eyes intense. “I just—"
Before he could finish, Lily moved without thinking. She closed the distance between them in two quick steps, her hands coming up to grab the collar of his robes, pulling him down to her level.
The kiss wasn’t soft or sweet. It was raw—filled with all the things they’d been holding back, all the tension and frustration and unsaid feelings. When their lips finally met, it was like a dam breaking. All the things they’d buried under layers of words, all the things they hadn’t been able to admit, poured out.
Lily's pulse raced as she felt him respond in kind. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, and she didn’t pull away. This was everything they’d ever avoided. It was electric, heated, desperate.
But after a few moments, the urgency began to ease. The kiss softened, not in intensity, but in understanding. It was still full of emotion, but now there was space for something else—something gentler, something like the possibility of what could come next.
When they finally pulled away, neither of them said anything at first. The silence felt heavy, but it wasn’t awkward. It was the kind of silence that came after something that had been a long time coming.
Lily ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady her breathing, but the smile tugging at her lips was impossible to hide. “Well,” she said, her voice still a little breathless, “that was… dramatic.”
James chuckled, the sound rough but warm. “You’ve got a knack for making things dramatic, Lily.”
Lily raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You’re one to talk, James. You’re the one who pulled me into this mess.”
James smirked, but it was softer now, the teasing edge gone. “Guilty as charged.”
For a moment, they just stood there, their faces inches apart.
“So... this is how it’s going to be now?” Lily asked, a playful glint in her eye.
James raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that. “You mean, kissing me in hallways?”
She smirked, stepping back, her hand brushing against his. “Yeah. That’s it.”
James grinned. “Well, I could get used to that.”
Lily just shook her head, her grin softening into something warm. “Good. You’d better.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, Lily felt like things were finally, finally, starting to fall into place, as James pulled her in again, sparks flying.