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hi hello i'm here to spread some holiday cheer! ?
and also lol finally here to start reading the novel i've been :EYES: for since you started talking about it hahah
first of all that picspam (and tbh all the ones i've seen posted on discord/forums) is a+++ very on point, love the red burning red thing going on there. and lily just looks hot which yes i'm here for that
but damn i love lily just loving quidditch in a way that she just yk, appreciates the beauty of it? like in her players, even when it's not a match or whatever, just the way they fly and the precision of hitting bludgers or how good puddlemere's seeker is or how she sees the keeper's attention to the quaffle even from a distance - i feel like that immediately shows us how much she *loves* it and i think it's a brilliant way to introduce her character. i know there's more to the story than just quidditch, but i really liked how we're introduced to her!
and i can totally see lily being so engrossed in the game, researching it so much that she'll becoe the best at her job even if she isn't/wasn't a pro player, she obviously has a good eye&mind for the game and the mechanics and strategy which i feel like checks out for what little we know about her personality from canon so even this being au i think her character is true to..yk...*her* while still being distinct and vivid in her own way with your twist on the characterisation and especially her job haha
again i love when she thinks about how much she enjoys it when she runs the practice herself (and gets to be involved in it!), idk maybe i just really like seeing/reading about people enjoying what they do :joy: but i know lily hasn't had it easy and it's just nice knowing quidditch gives her joy.
for some reason i'm very :eyes: at what exactly got altered about that gryffindor quidditch banner. i have no ideas if it's important but i'm still :eyes: for it
ahh lily coaching james is going to be spicyyyy i know it
also obviously i am :eyes: at their past
and james is a fucking ruiner of potentially perfect moments of course he is, the idiot lololo
love love the two burning red's in the past and the present and how they're complete opposites, absolutely excellent writing!!
kris
Hello! It's arctic gift time and also I haven't yet stopped by your AP (I don't think) <3
I think this story must be unique; I don't think I've ever read a Lily Evans Quidditch-themed story before, so I'm all eagerness to see what develops from here. I like the way you've introduced the story by getting stuck into a training session. Immediately, I'm curious as to who the missing Chaser could be and the reason why Lily Evans got into Quidditch in the first place - not a certain James Potter by chance?
Oh, so the person who quit the team is not James Potter, but there's some backstory between James and Lily and I'm all here for an enemies-to-lovers story, let me tell you!! I'm very intrigued to know what happened between them - "flying through the freefall alone" - a metaphor or was it literal and some kind of quidditch catastrophe? I'm hoping to find out soon!!
Awww, that flashback :((( What a missed opportunity; just how might it have panned out if Lily and James had kissed - could Lily have been headed to Portree instead of Puddlemere? I'm sincerely hoping that James makes it to Puddlemere at some point - they need a new Chaser, after all!
What an intriguing and well-written start to this story - I'm excited to see what's going to happen next! Happy holidays :)
Pins <3
Hi Taylor! I’m now behind but here to try and catch up!
I love how Harrison needs to remind everybody not to do stupid things with their days off, because I feel like it’s probably needed. I have a feeling that the reindeer on Lily’s pajamas aren’t just because of her Patronus, and the fact that she’s instantly reminded of James reinforces that suspicion for me. This party seems like something that isn’t going to be just fine and I have a feeling that Lily isn’t just going to be able to ignore James like she think she will be able to do (also since I’ve seen people yelling at you about cliffhangers soooo).
I’m so excited for Lily getting the opportunity to (informally of course) take on the head coaching role while Harrison looks after the national team. I’m looking forward to seeing how this affects her interactions with James (and I feel like this is somehow going to leak out, even though Lily said she would keep it a secret).
TAYLOR THAT FLASHBACK HURTS. I just. Lily so happy with James, but the irony of her saying that a new chapter of her life was going to start? And having no idea how that would twist? HOW DARE YOU
~Liv
Taylorrrrrr!!! Here for review swap!!! <3
Also judging by this picspam i might be getting hurt so thats fun…
Oh baby James no… WELL THAT HURT HIT FAST WHAT THE HELL??? OH UGH WHY DOES THIS HURT SO MUCH?!?!?!?!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
AHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOO (i have no other words apparently this hurts too much)
Uh oh what is up with Benjy. Either he’s ending this thing with her or… he wants something serious maybe? I can’t tell rn… There it is. Okay that makes sense, I can respect him for backing away because he’s serious with someone else. You go Benjy!
L O L although I really hope the whole i slept with my bffs bf albeit not when they were dating doesnt cause any issues. I don’t think it will but i just hope it doesnt, lilys dealing with enough
BABY YOU DO DESERVE SOMEONE WHO IS ALL IN FOR YOU AND THAT PERSON IS JAMES sorry ill stop yelling now
THE OTHER HALF IS HIM!??!?!??!?!?? What the fuck now im yelling again
HES SUCH A SWEETHEART I WANT TO CRY POOR BABY JAMES GIVING HER HIS BROOM omg please tell me he gets on the broom with her????? Aw man he didnt but still a cute little moment from their past THAT MAKES ME SAD BECAUSE THEY ARENT THIS HAPPY ANYMORE
AHHHHHHHHH HOW IS THIS THE END OF THE CHAPTER ALREADY I CANNOT
Anyways, amazing job as always Taylor, thank you for writing this story even if it hurts me more with every chapter
Lo <3
Hi Taylor you said you were trying to finish chapter 9 so this is clearly my cue to review chapter 8 so I can motivationally yell at you for more
Okay it seems to me like Lily is starting to soften her opinion on James? Like she seems to have gone from “screw this [bad word here]” to “I like arguing with him.” I love that we’re starting to get some backstory about what happened between Lily and James when they graduated Hogwarts (but now I’m super curious about the specifics of this ghosting, chapter 9 pls love you)
I love the dinner with Remus and Sirius. They seem so comfortable together and the way they’re acting seems so natural for them? Also I love the discussion about Sirius getting his job just so he would stop talking.
I have suspicions that Lily did not actually forget a shirt but maybe that’s me wanting the lovers part to come quickly *eye emoji here* Also omg is she going to end up wearing one of James’s jerseys I hope she does that would be hilarious, especially if he catches her in it
BAHAHAHA YES I KNEW THAT SHE GRABBED HIS JERSEY
I love how gentlemanly he’s being about it though and how he knows that she would just *hate* walking around wearing “Potter” on her back.
Omg that flashback scene. I love Lily realizing that she actually likes James and their banter afterwards is just wonderful.
I love the “first out of the box” comment and how it circles back. I’m guessing that James remembered it but clearly Lily didn’t (and once she has stopped hating his guts he should totally bring that up and joke about it).
I loved this chapter and I will be back for chapter 9 soon ;)
~Liv
Hi Taylor!
Okay that first section. My heart. Poor James, and you’ve written that section so well? Taylor what have you done to me you’re horrible and cruel.
I loved Lily’s internal monologue while she was processing James’s story though – her fears about James actually moving on? Uggghhh how dare you.
I also find the parallel between James using partying and drinking as a way of coping with the pain of losing her parents and Lily using a bottle of wine as a way of coping with her feelings very… ironic. They are meant for each other, aren’t they?
That last section was so cute and they seem so happy just spending time with each other and I love Lily’s gradual acquisition of feelings (lol what a dumb way to phrase that but whatever).
I will be back once I have taped my heart up for you to break it again (love you)!
~Liv
Hi Taylor I am finally back
I really liked their argument at the start of the chapter. I think you’re doing a great job gradually showing that Lily’s disgust at James’s actions (allegedly, if he is to be believed) probably isn’t as morally upright and all that jazz. Also the “(She's not.)” was so good in so few words, and I’m really looking forward to finding out what happened between them because the hurt is so palpable in just those two words.
I really liked Lily’s conversation with Sirius. You did a great job slipping in backstory and I love the fact that Wolfstar is a thing and also the casual mention of “yeah James won’t be there”? I love that Sirius Knows Things about what’s going on. Also “she really can't imagine a scenario in which a group dinner doesn't end with her pouring a drink over his head” was a hilarious mental image and also sounds about right.
Okay that flashback was cute and I love how subtly (or not lol) Lily is attracted to James because of his decision to learn how to become an Animagi to help Remus. Also the deer puns are A+.
Will be back soon for more!
~Liv
Hey Taylor! Here for our swap :D
Honestly, I'm glad Lily has someone like Benjy in her life. The girl deserves good, uncomplicated sex, and that seems to be what he's there for. And I love how simple it is -- they have it down to a routine so well that you just know they're not going to develop feelings for each other, which is good, because feelings always make things way too messy. I did like that he told her that she could talk about it, and like, obviously he can tell when she's upset. I'm glad they didn't have a whole heart-to-heart about it, though; it made this feel even more matter-of-fact and emotionless, which is, as Lily herself points out, probably not the healthiest thing but it seems to go both ways, and there's far worse things she could be doing
Also, your ability to weave Taylor Swift lyrics into your prose is absolutely incredible and I love it, 10/10
JAAAMEESSSS. I knew there's more to his story, and I like that we're seeing that already here. I have no clue what the backstory is - you're doing a really fantastic job of feeding us clues without spoiling the whole thing, but I knew (or at least, hoped, tbh) that there was more to him than meant the eye. And of course Lily's going to be pissed about it. She has a right to be, but James does too, and its just - UGH. AND BEING LOCKED IN A STORAGE CLOSET! Major heart eyes to ramp up sexual tension and I fucking love it
Okay but :EYES: at the whole Slughorn party thing and :EYES: at Dumbledore being shady. I don't know what I expected for this flashback (def more Jily angst though probably, tbh) but Lily going under cover and being a badass? Not 10000% sure what Dumbledore wants but Dumbledore can be shady as fuck so I'm not really sure I trust him and I feel like Lily's getting in over her head but also I can definitely see her doing it
Another excellent chapter and I feel like we took a slightly darker undertone here and I'm here for ittt ♥
Thanks for the swap!
Hi againn!!! As always, love the picspam!! <3
Okay but like if you chase him down and get him to try on the uniform, he’ll get half naked in front of you Lily. And despite what you keep telling yourself, you actually do want that
Oh well he didn’t do that, but honestly his loss, he could’ve caught her staring again
Ah there it is. She thinks he saw her as disposable and dropped her and that’s why she’s upset and it’s all coming full circle i think, i honestly dont know if this makes sense just know im nodding wisely at that line…
YASSSS SIRIUS BLACK HAS ENTERED THE CHAT
UGH WHAT BABES LOVE ME SOME CUTE ASS WOLFSTAR
Lol we fell apart in the usual way
We love a self-aware king who makes Lily rethink the whole James situation
UGH THEYRE HAVING A NOT-DATE IN A CuTE SPACE AND I LOVE THEM. CAN THEY LOVE THEM TOO?????
Awwww Lily being a good remus friend, i love her
Awwww and the boys being good remus friends, i love them! Also this scene is lowkey making me cry with how cute it is with friendship and all that but also because its just a tender moment between james and lily and they are not tender right now and i hate you for that
STAGGERINGLY!! DEER PUNS!!
OH DEER! I LOVE IT IM CRYING THEYRE SO CUTE AND IT NEVER WENT ANYWHERE AND I HATE YOU
Again, thanks for writing this and breaking my heart every chapter, love that for us
Lo <3
Hi Taylor!! Back again and as always, loving the picspam!
Lol flames on [my] skin, crimson red paint on [my] lips
Tbh ol’ Dumby probably knows exactly what she’s doing. And he doesn’t care because he doesn’t care about anyone but himself and doesn’t care about anything but his cause ahhhhh
Honestly I’m here for Azibar. Plz write a one-shot of him lounging on the beach drinking strawberry daiquiris, he deserves it <3
THE NARCISSIST LINE (not writing it out, its long)
Dang I need a Lily in my life to train me, she sounds intense but encouraging
OMG YOU WANNA FUCK HIM LILY, THIS ISNT ROCKET SCIENCE!!! I mean she definitely is gonna fall at his feet, but whatever makes you feel better Lilz. ALSO HELL YEAH GIVE HIM A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE
“This shouldn’t be a competition, but it is. And she needs to win” is like ur life motto. You should get a laptop sticker with that on it
CAN’T TRUST A PLAYBOY
UGH KISS IN THE ALCOVE DAMNIT or under the invisibility cloak, im really not that pressed about the *where*
OMG HER FAVOURITE COLOURS ARE HIS EYES I WANT TO ABSOLUTELY DIE, JUST FREAKING MURDER ME TAYLOR WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS I HATE IT
UGH UGH UGH UGH AHHHHHHHHHHHH WHHHYYYYY NOOOOOO AHHHHHHH JWJJJDJSJFOSJOFSJFSOA
Okay cool thanks for writing this and breaking my heart i hate you
Lo <3
Hello hello taylor i am back!! As always, love the picspam <3
Ooooh Benjy! He was mentioned last chapter and I kinda ignored it but ooooooohhhh!!! Although, why do i feel like Benjy will either catch feelings, or Benjy and James will somehow get into a fight over Lily?
Look idk why i just get the feeling that theyre gonna cuddle once and Benjy is gonna fall for her and conflict will happen!
DRESSING GOWN HELL YEAH
Lol never love me, (or her,) or anyone, or anything (YEAAAHHHH)
BENJY IS MY FAVOURITE, he’s just spitting cold hard facts
IM SORRY BUT HE REALLY IS BEING DENSE AND ALSO DRAGGING HER INTO A BROOM CLOSET AND CASTING MUFFLIATO???? IF THEY DONT KISS IM GONNA BE MAD AT YOU EVEN THOUGH I DONT EXPECT THEM TO KISS DAMNIT
I CANT TELL WHO TO BE MAD AT AJHHHHHHHHHH
I mean he’s not wrong that he doesn’t owe her an explanation but she’s not wrong that he does… does that make sense?
Ugh Dumbledore when are you going to stop meddling in people’s lives………………
UNDESERVED?!?! This old man could quite literally catch these hands, idk I just have grown a deep dislike for Dumbledore over the years
UGHHHHH ANOTHER AMAZING CHAPTER THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS TAYLOR I WILL BE BACK SOON FOR THE NEXT ONEEEEEEE
Lo <3
I’m back again, and as always your picspams are absolutely stunning!!!!
I mean tbh it’s a testament to the chasers that they still one with only two of them. Im interested to see how the twins dynamic will change once james is introduced, but im hoping it will only get better (how is that possible idk) instead of causing tension (am i hoping for this so that james and lily get into a fighting match and fuck in the locker room showers, of course not who do you take me for, someone who would willing let the darkling wife me up and take over the world…?)
Look, if its optional i am entirely on her side! Optional = not required = go get day drunk instead my dude
Sex dream, sex dream, SEX DREAAAAAMMMMM!!!
Okay so like you say its a calculated decision - a poor one at that - but i think we all know that she really just wanted to see him and couldnt resist, even if she wasnt going to actually attend the training session. I see you lily
Lol, thief running off with girls’ hearts and never saying sorry
Tbh ive had that exact same karma thought all the damn time. Why is it that some people get to be really hot and be massive dicks??? The universe needs to balance that out
Yeah, tbh thats on him. Especially if hes been traded to Puddlemere, he shouldve done some research on the team if he hadnt at least followed up with her after school. Although the theatrics of making a scene at your job may not be the best decision, this boy def deserves the call out
DAMNIT THEY WORK WELL?!?!!? There goes my fighting over chaser stuff and inevitably fucking in the showers. I mean there are tons of other scenarios that could lead to that, but that ones just fun lol
How did she get her start… i mean i kinda know i think we’ve discussed it before but also TELL ME MORE!!!
UGH SO! MUCH! SEXUAL! TENSION! Question: do they fuck on her desk at some point? I hope they do…
L O L “you aren’t the *last*” just dying at that even though she has good reasoning, but also hes so happy that she believes in him, poor bb
WAIT HE TAUGHT HER TO PLAY QUIDDITCH AND SHE TAUGHT HIM TO BE HEAD BOY KILL ME NOW THATS SO SWEET AND CUTE AND THEY NEVER GOT TOGETHER I WANT TO DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Ugh i guess thank you for writing this EVEN THOUGH I HATE IT but i dont actually hate it i love it BUT DAMN IT TAYLOR you get what i mean
Lo <3
Hi taylor im baaaaack <3 as always, beautiful picspam, i love the animation and also THE FIRE!!!! :elmofire:!!!!!
Honestly fair. Having your ex(?) come back in your life in this way and having to work with him? I personally think she should be drinking a whole bottle of firewhiskey, but who am i to say?
YES QUEEN ACCEPT UR HOTNESS WOOOOO!!! WEOPONIZE THAT BITCH
UGHHHHHH NOW I HATE JAMES AGAIN BUT ALSO NOT BECAUSE I KNOW HES BEEN GOING THROUGH IT BUT ALSO DONT MAKE SOMEONE ELSE GO THROUGH IT AGHHH WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO BE UPSET WITH?!?!
HE COACHED HER ONTO THE TEAM?!!?!??! Be still my BREAKING heart…
SHE MISSES HIM?!?!!? FUCKING HELL TAYLOR GIVE ME SOMETHING HAPPY YOU HEARTLESS MONSTER (did i do that right?)
Lol forevermore
IM SORRY SHE BURNS THEM??? Looking back at that picspam i definitely shouldnt be surprised about that but i am and i blame you
SHES TOO PRETTY?!?!?!? UGHHH THAT ENTIRE SCENE IS HEARTBREAKING KNOWING HOW THEY END UP!!! AND WARNING?!?!?! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Tbh i honestly didnt think there would be that many caps… oops. Anyways, thank for writing this taylor it is absolutely amazing, as always!
Lo <3
Taylorrrr!!! I’m here to bestow reviews for winning my swoon challenge, and also because i need to actually review this story damn it!!! Also always, ur picspams are absolutely breathtaking <3
UGH I LOVE QUIDDITCH AND I LOVE LILY TELLING AT PEOPLE DOING QUIDDITCH!! (is doing quidditch the correct term? No, but i dont care)
“The reasoning doesnt matter much anymore” lies and slander
FABIAN AND GIDEON ARE HERE? Amazing, top tier throwback
Having no dress code at work is absolutely a huge perk and i am so here for wearing sweatpants at “work”. Where can i find me a job in the quidditch world?
WHY IS THAT SO TRUE?!?!! Why do men just let their offices be bland and boring and dull?? I can never understand that, like you dont want to be comfortable where you’re working all the time? Couldnt be me…
Like I know where this is going but I’m still heavily invested in wtf is going on rn… Obvi it has to do with getting the third chaser and OBVI its gonna be james, but like… IM STILL HEAVILY INVESTED AND INTRIGUED?!?!
Is he going to kiss her??? Oh… well that sucks and this moment couldve been cooler taylor…
UGHHHHHHH WHY IS THIS HURTING SO MUCH?!?!?!??!?! HEY TAYLOR I HATE YOU (but also thank you for writing this because im already in love okayyyyy see you in the next one <3)
Lo <3
Hiii Taylor, I'm here with your review :)
Honestly, I love your version of Lily in all of your fics, but I think this one is my favorite so far. There's just something about her confidence and the way that she carries herself, and I love that she has a somewhat surprising job post Hogwarts as a Quidditch coach. And when you see her taking notes on the practice and the way she still lets herself enjoy the magic of the game - that's when it all makes sense.
Hoo boy, Lily, you should've known all of that calculation was just going to come around and bite you - only to run right into him on that first morning. And James, of course, has to be a dick to her, but I'm glad that she's not running from him once she sees him. There's that Gryffindor pride, and she dishes right back to him, making it clear that she's not going to let him get away with his shit, which I very much appreciate it. The whole encounter is like, lowkey hostile in a quiet, simmering way, which is my favorite kind of hosility. It really makes you wonder what, exactly, happened between them while they were at school, though Lily's dropped hints of it already. His personality has clearly changed, but there seems to be more personal anger to it, too. Honestly, love to see it.
And then, of course, they're perfectly 'civil' in front of the coach. Although I snorted at Lily slacking off once the doors were closed, like - good for her, I'm glad she's letting herself take it easy when no one's watching. She obviously works her ass off so it's nice to see her be normal, tossing around the Quaffle and reading the Prophet. And I'm super excited to see James' reaction if/when he finds out she can fly because for some reason, I kind of feel like he doesn't know about that. And I'm so curious about how Lily got her start at the coaching office because if it's something she can't talk to James about (I mean, seems understandable) and seems to have really shaped her work personality -- well, I just gotta know the details :P
Oooh, and Benjy? :eyes: Lily's clearly not going there with the best intentions but also like - good for you, girl, I'm glad she hasn't just been pining after James all these years. Kinda curious about how that relationship/fling/whatever started too because he doesn't feel like a random choice.
Annndddd of course we get a heartbreaking flashback scene here, which I really love that you're including. But god, Taylor. This past James is such a far cry from the fuckboy we see in present day chapters. I feel like something happened to James, but I don't know what; or maybe I'm just naive and can't let myself believe that he'd just turn into a dick overnight because fame and fortune got in the way. Because oh my god, I love this side of James, the one that seeks help from Lily about being the best Head Boy because he genuinely wants to be good at it, and I just. Ugh. I love it so much but also like WHAT DID YOU DO TO JAMES TO MAKE HIM THIS WAY?! UGH, TAYLOR!
Another excellent chapter ♥
hi, my blood is boiling for entirely ridiculous reasons so to calm down before redoing the stuff my computer just lost for me like a motherfucking asshole, i'm here to say that at some point i'll leave you a proper review on the chapter (lolololol those are now proper reviews, this speaks volumes about how i'm doing rn) but for the moment i just want to say 1) elmofire 2) omgggg james + omggggg lily (ily lily) 3) excellent job, here are two external validation tokens (drama queens get extra) 4) plz don't abandon this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey, Taylor! Here for your review - sorry it took so long! ♥
So I think this is the longest Jily of yours that I've read so far, not including chatfics, so I'm very eager to see where this story is going to take us and how, exactly, you're gonna break my heart because I can feel the pieces starting to align in that way. And like, I'm ready, but I'm also not ready.
But anyway :P
I'm so glad Lily has such a good friend in Marlene. And that Lily's grown to have some self-confidence in the way that she looks, and that we can see it's a journey she's had to get there; that it didn't happen overnight. It's kind of refreshing to have a main character that knows her worth and I'm so glad Lily does. And I'm excited that she's not gonna let James take her job away from her because she really has worked so hard to be good at it. Right now I'm really rooting for her to just take shit over and impress the hell out of him and then just like, shoot him down later :P But ugh, my heart aches for her too, because sometimes the 'almost' relationships are harder to get over than the ones that actually happened. Like, there was clearly all this possibility between them and James never notices and it's just. Ugh. But it makes for such an intriguing premise and I'm so excited that you went there because I've been living for stories like these lately. And, I have to admit, I did laugh out loud when Lily was "too single-minded to process the fact that her friends were betting on her relationship status". Like, girl. COME ON :P
But I love women supporting their women friends, and I'm so glad that Marlene was able to distract her and that she was in a better mood when she got home, girl deserves it.
Oooh, shoebox under the bed, I fucking love it so much. I love that she has all of these memories tucked away, and the pictures are amazing. It really makes me wonder what happened with some of her other friends - did they just have falling outs? Did something more drastic happen? I feel like it's the later because Marlene even said "what real friends are for" so I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, TAYLOR, so I'm hoping to get some answers later on!
LILY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHY ARE YOU BURNING EVERYTHING! UGH! I mean, I sorta get it bc ~memories~ and she doesn't strike me as the type that saves things just because they're sentimental, but like !!! Come on, it can't be that bad, can it? Yes, James seems like a bad boy and an asshole and everything wrong with the Quidditch world but maybe, like, chill with burning the good memories until you, I don't know, talk to him. UGH. I feel like she's gonna regret it later, tbh. But the imagery in that scene??? :chefskiss:
And I'm asbolutely digging the small flashbacks here - where everything is happy and bright and she hasn't been tainted and hurt, but there's still the eagerness to know why she turned out this way. I'm wondering if you're gonna share the details with us? Pls?
So glad Lily caught the cup! I can only imagine the reaction would be if she didn't catch it after all :P And I'm glad she went dancing with James but also it feels ominous, like everything is going to end, I just. Don't want that. But then we also wouldn't get this story so like, catch-22.
OH MY GOD TAYLOR THAT LAST LINE!!!! Brilliant, but shot in the fucking heart. Damn. Let me give Lily a big hug, okay? I think she needs one.
Another excellent chapter!! Come back any time :D ♥
Hey taylor,
here for our swap
i love lily's thought process is so like so much of her feelings about james are just carried forward on her feeling bitter but i basically love that about her. I admire someone who can hold a grudge like lily can. just your writing is so amazing, just kinda feels like this character is so much part of you or something because you write with such clarity about her. i love lily is also lusting after james too but she's mad about it. her conflicting feelings towards him are really just joyful highlight of this fic so far.
he's so surprised about her being there. lily feels like things really deeply but james doesn't even seem to acknowledge that they once knew each other properly? idk, just like 'woah blast from the past'. obviously doesn't have the same perspective on things as lily does. i feel a bit sorry for her if she was just trying to get this guy to notice her. you're really painting him being so doesn't seeing/notice things around him properly. I guess lily is a bit of unreliable narrator because everything she feels is through a lens of anger in this chapter anyway. I'm really looking forward to digging further into that during this story. i love their dynamic already, this kinda 'bring it on' enemies to lovers is something that I'm totally here for.
I love flashbacks, I love James in this flashback particularly because his characterization is just lovely. he's really charming but like not even in cheeky way but generally eager to be head boy and just really sweet to make lily aware of it beforehand. so she isn't overwhelmed like the two versions of James seems miles apart, I love the way you're uncurling the story to the audience. I'm always with questions after a chapter of this. the development of your central characters is so strong. I always fall in love with your worldbuilding too for this story too, creating a whole AU is a big undertaking but wow. all the planning and stuff really pays off. great job with this chapter!
Abbi xx
swap etc
so i considered skipping this for the moment and reviewing the most recent one instead but if i do i will literally never remember to come back so instead just take this token of "loved it" for c7 :joy:
also obv i will be back for it eventually
eventually is probably not that far away
this review is already a shit show, on a scale 1 to 9.9 how not-shocked are you
oh goddd "alright evans" it hurts, i feel so bad for her because yeahhh her reaction is totally understandable, like x1000
also this is possibly terrible of me but the "he's toying with me because he knows i'm attracted to him" is something where like i feel lily's frustration but uhh also i can 10/10 see myself doing that
and by see myself i'm 97.2% sure i've done it
also the "i'm not disposable fuck you" is so understandable as a feeling, ughhh, i also on nobody's side here because also i do kind of not totally disagree with james in that in like... outside of the context with lily specifically, yeah, going out and being kind of pda-y with somebody who's into it is not some terrible crime??
siriussss (+ i love the animagi reference haha)
also yeahhh i can understand why it would be hard to maintain a friendship with sirius/remus/peter (who james apparently didn't ghost, soooo there's that) when she'd had a falling out with james
although also sirius being like "yeah no let me spill on james's emotional state" made me laugh
i mean i believe him that he's done playing matchmaker but also i don't think tht he's totally done with it, he's totally not done just prodding the bear a little
pressing the red button to see what will happen if you will :joy:
(if you won't, i will)
(why am i)
oh james
this cliffhanger killed me fyi
but also "technically i was still fifteen" that is the kind of energy i am Here for
"staggeringly late" james ily
"oh deer" lily ily
hahahahaha ily right after lily looks funny
+1000
hello hello hello! back for jily (taylor’s version) and i swear i was not waiting fo this for our swap but this has been my first day of internet and not moving house stuff and you’ve so conveniently supplied a new quidditch!fic chapter and omg i’m in love.
first of all…. JAMES omg the poor boy and here we’ve all been thinking that he’s just a total fuckboy but like… idk he’s really been hurting. losing your parents would be devastating, and the way he’s had to pretend that he doesn’t feel greif about it to maintain some sort of image, and the going quite understandably off the rails and having to hide behind this persona is all so so shit. also like imao his manager should’ve handled that better.
but he’s still in there and fuck the whole “the old james cant come to the phone right now” shit because he’s definitley not dead and he’s in there and he’s gonna get out and be happy againa nd fall back in live with lily and be an older, hotter, more mature version of the seventeen year old in like twenty chapters time I KNOW HE IS DAMMIT!!! lily my heart also breaks for, but also it’s good that she can finally admit to herself that she was maybe wrong about him, even if that means admiting that he didn’t fuck her over because he’s a giant fuckboy…
also omg lily’s hookup getting with mary just kind of hints at future mess. does mary know they were a notathing? how will she react when she finds out? *whispers: is this how bad blood comes into this?* but like lily in her flat at the end is so sad because i think everyones just had those nights where without even realising everything just goes a bit quiet and a bit dark and yeah… wine helps.
also we’re gonna have to have a word about the emotional rollercoaster you insist of chucking us on because the flying was adorable and eugh the throwing head back laughing line just…. this was so cute. i want them to be this happy again. but i also want angst and mess so…… continue with what you’re doing. this is all excellent. very well done. love all of it. amazing. you’re amazing.
d x
i can feel the flames on my skin, too, they're telling me i needed to read the next chapter
that's my story and i'm sticking with it
oh heyyy actually i *can* feel the flames on my skin because i am also here for team elmofire! go me
*anyway* pureblood society fucking suuuucks, i want it to go die in a ditch, the "nobody's asked me anything in three years as long as they can touch me" is so believable and it fucking suuuucks, i hate purebloods
oh my fucking god lucius you are just the worst
why are they all the worst
oh my godddd "she plays them all like violins" is *destroying* me i love it so much
gideon and fabian looking "vaguely horrified" is also destroying me, for some reason things being "vaguely" something is just one of my favorite descriptions?? why am i
oh lily, i mean i get the frustration with getting turned on by james but also i cannot blame her
oh ffs of *course* his form being near perfect should make him more attractive, competence is sexy
"throw her around like a fucking ragdoll" yeahhhh lily you do need to burn that from your mind rn but also i am so sympathetic
also, james was 10/10 showing off on purpose and got the reaction he was looking for, he's such a dick and i love it
i love lily's pettiness, i am so here for it and james choking on his water when she pulls her shirt off, especially if he was out at a nightclub with somebody right after getting pissy with her, i mean *seriously*
if he wants to fuck around, fine, but dude
(alternatively he did it because he was feeling petty about her, which would uhhh also be valid tbh)
"a fun little piece of magic the boys and i put together a few years back" is an interesting way of describing the marauders map and i love it, understatements like that are incredible
"there's not as much of a thrill in that" :joy: + :valiiiid:
oooof her favorite color as far as realizations go that definitely is one
goddamnit it's over this is unfair why do you hate me
heyyy i'm here for our swap and am already excited, "wow you're a dick" is so promising
(what does it say about me that that is fucking promising i just)
also, this is why wizards are not nearly as cool as they think they are, they rely on owls for shit like this when a "hey come fuck me" text would work much better
(please do not point out that if we're talking the 80s texting didn't exist anywhere)
(i Believe in texting, it is one of my favorite human inventions)
(i also typoed "infections" which i think says a lot about where i am rn)
(acknowledgment that this review is such a shitshow already)
"she contents herself with the knowledge that she could be doing far worse" godddd that is such a mood though
oh god benjy :joy: that is also such a mood though, drop comments that are super emotional and then flee while the other person is still processing them
oh james, i appreciate his confusion with her at practice, but also "how about now" oh my god i would kill him, not just because i wouldn't want to but also because for fuck's sake "now" is never a good time for this shit, give a person time to stress out and repress their feelings first, ffs
oh god, a storage closet, seriously?? she has a fucking office, james is so extra
"maybe i owed you an explanation before but i don't now" is so harsh in a way that i appreciate possibly more than i should
there is so much i want to know about what's actually true about james now though, like i can *totally* see him lying or skirting around the truth but also he's not necessarily wrong about fitness? like one of the best athletes in the world has literally said in an interview about what he indulges in during the off season "well sometimes i eat a cheeseburger" :joy: and one of the other best athletes is a fucking vegan
but on the other hand some of the best athletes in the past absolutely were not taking care of themselves and it really impacted their ability to keep playing at a high level into their 30s the way messi and ronaldo do but they were still among the best
so in conclusion i don't know and also i am thinking *way* too hard about this :joy:
also dumbledore is a fucking creep, like valid + solid observation + i don't mean it in the normal old man way (what a sentence), but also dude you are so fucking manipulative even if you're not wrong
goddamnit, this is actively unfair, i may have to keep reading, if you want to swap cool but if you don't also cool :joy:
Taylor, here for our swap, and oh my god, I was a wee bit shocked to discover there's no more chapters? :D Please write more. This story is incredible. I am really losing myself in it, I don't even know where to begin.
The flashback this time gave me so many more feelings than I would've anticipated. The way Lily just inherently trusts James, and how she finally discovers their secret because James, in turn, trusts her. They way it brings them closer. There is subtle intimacy between them, friendship, and the forever question of how does James feel about Lily? Why does he flee? But still, it was such a sweet scene, I loved it for both of them. Lily's little pun she left with the scarf was so cute.
I like the present Lily, because I think that while she has a lot of things to work on and figure out for herself, she has this level of self-awareness when it comes to her faults. She's still very much going to fight with James over issues that may be a little hypocritical, but I think that comes from her own personal hurt, or the hurt on other people's behalf (the girls) that she parallels with her own, and it's all so human and makes sense and I love seeing her shift just an inch with each fight and conversation that they have. And James, while he may have a lot of issues of his own, I do like that he kind of stands up to Lily without being disrespectful toward her. He doesn't let her just be nasty to him, he defends himself, but in a way that's more dismissive than confrontational. They sure have a very interesting dynamic going on and are such well-rounded, flawed but lovable characters that I am drinking up every single interaction.
Lily-Sirius meeting was so lovely and sweet. Ah, yes, it's sad when friends drift away, but it can be quite awesome when they reconnect. I loved how Sirius was, 'don't worry, we're not going to blindside you with James', it shows a nice level of maturity he's reached since school. I'm so looking forward to Lily hanging out with Sirius and Remus!
Ahh, Lily pulling up a chair next to the table, accusing James of stealing her table, him saying that tables don't belong to anyone :D it was both funny and also omg the tension, and now she's ready to listen and that makes me so bloody excited! I really need to hear his version of the story, I think it's very important. Also there was this line;
But that was back when he fit in her poems like a perfect rhyme; now, it seems like they're perpetually cacophonous and off-rhythm
It's so gorgeous.
I am really enjoying this story and hope that writing goes well for you and that more will be up soon!! :)
Eli
Hi Taylor, here for your request!
It was exciting to see Lily in her undercover role, even though it's probably not a pleasant job at all, letting yourself be stared and groped by these pureblooded assholes, but your descriptions and the aspect of danger and tension you've kept up in that section were marvellous. I also think that as much as this is a dark part of Lily's life, she kind of revels in the, as you called it, science of it. She strikes me as the kind of person who just likes being really good at something, and while I don't think she's doing this to make ehrself feel cool about herself but she's doing it out of a sense of duty to fight the war, I believe she finds some sort of satisfaction in being able to play her role so well. The backstory of how she slipped into the society, through the Selwyn bloke who wanted an out, was very clever.
Haha, that whole circuit training scene made me almost out of breath as well, I both love and hate those so much, you've described it so well, it felt very authentic, and then Lily just falling into involuntarily fantasizing about James' bod seemed like the thing that was bound to happen, but I liked how instead of just succumbing to it or feeling super awkward about it, she kind of upstaged him and turned it into a little petty battle that I loved and thought was very amusing. And then, the comments the other teammates were making about James...you see, there's just something that doesn't add up in that story for me. I don't want to be a fuckboy apologists, because god how much I hate them and know they're out there, ugh, but it just seems like an act to me, which could be happening for a multitude of reasons, and I don't know. Like, they've seen him, and still, something's up with that whole thing, and I'm curious to find out if that's really who James is or if there's a deeper layer to what he's doing.
Ah, these flashbacks, these tender sweet but-painful-in-contrast flashbacks. You captured James' inner prankster and Gryffindor so well, and I'm dizzy from how much Lily fancies him, to have her favourite colour be the exact shade of his eyes, now that's lovely gah. I loved the little moment of closeness between them, I wonder how James is feeling in all of these. He seems...nice, but kind of detachment, maybe he's afraid that even though they're friends now, romantically, Lily feels about him similarly to how she did in fifth year?
Your narrative is so excellent because the chapters themselves are so rich in plot and characterization, but you leave so many things open, mysterious, hidden unerneath this veil of 'well the character KNOWS but they're not gonna tell or think it just now' :D
Awesome chapter, as always! Looking forward to more flashbacks as well as present James/Lily interaction!
Eli
Hi Taylor! Here for your review request! I've been hearing about this Quidditch fic for a while and was intrigued to know exactly what it all was, and this definitely seems like a departure from most of your other Jily stuff, being set in the magical world (but still an AU version) and then what seems like a more dramatic and angsty storyline. Somewhat pining Lily and sort of maybe oblivious James (as far as I can tell from this flashback scene) isn't something we see so much!
It's also occurred to me that I should totally read your prequels to get a little more sense of what led up to this (even though as far as I can tell this stands on its own perfectly well!)
Quidditch maven Lily is a welcome spin on her character, particularly one who is so respected as a coach at such a young age and after getting a late start in the Quidditch scene. I get a sense in this chapter of how seriously she takes this, and how much pride she takes in it, and of her work ethic -- the way she relishes being the only coaching staff there because she's so comfortable and confident taking charge, and doesn't even mind the laborious task of putting away all the gear alone. And how she's made her office nice and homey, a place where she maybe doesn't mind spending hours if she has to, and if she plans to put in that kind of time, may as well make the office comfy and familiar.
Definitely looking forward to when James enters the picture, and I'm honestly so curious about what happened between them considering that as of the end of 7th year they weren't an item, and she hasn't seen him since school ended, and yet a few years later here when she learns he's joining the team she's angry, and he's clearly hurt her in some way so... what happened?? I'm definitely going to have to read these prequels.
Pro Quidditch fics are super fun, with team dynamics and professional drama and then obviously whatever romance is happening in there, further complicated by team dynamics and professional drama... so this is a great first chapter introducing us to Lily in this universe and I'm excited to see what James is all about.
<3 Melanie
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