#jilychallenge

Summary:

After breaking up with her partner after their second Olympics, Lily is in need of someone that can rival her skills and work with her. But having a bit of mean reputation on and off the ice, she has gone through her fair share of skaters.

Enter James Potter, her former crush and a world class hockey star.

Either they're headed for gold or last place.

Read on Ao3!

AUGUST 2026 JILYCHALLENGE is here!

A tribute to the many, many, wonderful jily challenge fics that have been created in the past years!! This month's prompts are 'standing on the shoulders of giants' for they will be a first line and a last line from a published jily challenge fic! NB: for those authors who do not want their fics to be used, please send us a DM before the 31st of July...

HOW TO SIGN UP:

reblog this post by the 31st of JULY 2026, tagging with what you'd like to make (for example #one-shot, #writing, #art, #drawing, #mood board, #playlist etc. You can be as vague as or specific as you like)

At the beginning of the month, we will assign you a partner and you will receive your prompt (here or on the JilyChallenge Discord - dm for an invite). Keep an eye on this blog or Discord and please check your messages on Tumblr.

Each creator makes their own creation, collabs are encouraged but not the aim of this challenge. 

(optional) please follow the Jilychallenge Tumblrblog for updates.

(optional) join the Jily Challenge on Discord (send an ask for an invite) for beta help, chatting and mental support.

when posting: 

creators should try to post their entries by the end of the month (What to do when you miss the deadline?)

please tag your partner and the jilychallenge in your post (including the theme and your prompt) and due to this months special prompts, please also tag and mention the fic and author of your first/Last line!

we will reblog all entries tagged #jilychallenge

if you post your art or story on ao3, please add it to the collection of Jily Challenges 2026

Written for @formerlympp for the @jilymicrofics Gift Exchange 2026, using the prompts from February 2026 @jilychallenge. Partner: @heldinconstellations

The last night of June stretches late and listless.

The seventh years will say goodbye to Hogwarts forever tomorrow, and there’s a whole lot of emotion to go with that; nerves, intensity, hugs and exchanged promises, ambitious plans taking shape. Some are crying; others let their excitement for the new world ahead of them carry them on its wings.

In contrast, the sixth years lie lazily in front of the hearth — the coals glowing with just enough heat to keep the piercing Scotland humidity at bay — on the carpet or across the sofas. The chatter has died as midnight approaches; Sirius fiddles with the portable record player, accommodating the girls’ requests for slow, romantic ballads, played on a low volume like background lullabies.

James is lounging on one of the sofas, next to Lily. Coincidence, he’ll insist if asked; just a thing that happens sometimes. They’re all classmates and friends, after all, boys and girls, and they often spend time together like this. He hasn’t planned it any more than he ever plans for his gaze to find her in a crowd, or to fall on her right now as she lies with her back on the sofa and her eyes closed — but it does all the same, and the sight fills his heart with something tender. If that’s all he ever gets of her, it will be enough.

“Potter.” Cool. Calm. Collected. Certain. Not a hint of hesitation - she’d known he was there, hand poised over the doorhandle.

February 2026 @jilychallenge

Theme: First Kiss

Prompt: that kiss that’s always about to happen but never does and something finally makes them go for it

Partner: @charmsandtealeaves

Complete (3k words). Oneshot. Rated T. Jily.

Loveliest Tumblr friends, I've got one big full @jilychallenge December bingocard for you, and it's not even extensive, so many other amazing holiday fics that I could swap these for. So feel free to add to this bingo card or share your own!

Some are old, some are new, most are jilychallenges, some are not, some fit the prompt better than others, but they are all lovely and full of winter holiday vibes.

Buying presents:

You Two Are Dancing in a Snow Globe Round and Round - tinyluminaryzombie - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @tinyluminaryzombie

light up the static sky - charmingwillow - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @charmingwillow

Fireworks

even brighter than the moon - ginemrys - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @ginemrys

Find me waiting for you under the mistletoe

Mistletoe Mishaps - Chapter 1 - AnnaBtG - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] - @annabtg

Snowball fight

Midnight Train To London - TedwardRemus - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @tedwardremus

Do You Want To Build A Snowman? - Practicecourts - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own]

Teaming Up - Joyseuphoria - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @joyseuphoria

There's only one tree left

You Need to Branch Out - charmsandtealeaves - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @charmsandtealeaves

Christmas cards

I deserve the truth - Nena96 - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @nena-96

KISS ME BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

new year's eve don't fuck around - theesteemedladydebourgh - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @theesteemedladydebourgh

Yule Ball

meet me in the afterglow - koalasmiles - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @savannah-5555

There's only one bed

It's Coming Down, It's Coming Down - ritaskeetered - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @wearingaberetinparis

baby, it's cold outside - ohmygodshesinsane - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @ohmygodshesinsane The longest night of the year

Midwinter Magic - Practicecourts - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own]

Ugly Sweater contest

Heart On Her Sleeve - catj101 - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @booksarelife-stuff

Working (late) on a holiday

Resolutely Lily - Sapphire16 - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @sapphire1616

Taking A Shot At You - AnnaBtG - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @annabtg

Jily in every universe

can this be a real thing, can it? - Zephyrcove - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] by @zephyrcove

In Need of a Christmas Miracle - charmsandtealeaves - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] by @charmsandtealeaves

Jily Challenges | Archive of Our Own

Snow Cherubs & Delayed Deer - YouBlitheringIdiot - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] by @blitheringmcgonagall

Happy Holidays, You Filthy Potters - itsjamespotter - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] by @jamesunderwater

added because HOW COULD I FORGET TO ADD THIS ONE? JILY IN EVERY UNIVERSE by @maluceh

nutmeg, Cinnamon and Orangepeel

Moodboard Family Traditions - orphan_account - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own]

Hot chocolate

Underneath the Tree - Chapter 1 - womeninthesequel - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @women-inthe-sequel

DInner with the INLaws/ meeting the parents

Home for the Holidays - lightningthief - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @notorious-lightning-thief

Ice Skating lessons

Skating on Thin Ice - Chie (Chierafied) - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @chierafied

Slugclub's Infamous Christmas Party

Hair - scriibblehere - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @scriibble-fics

Harry's first Christmas

The Candle Of Hope - AnnaBtG - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @annabtg

Choices and Consequences II - sweeetbabe - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @sweeethinny

Scarves and mittens

Snow Magic - Practicecourts - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own]

Lucky Charm - EastWindmlk - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @eastwindmlk

Lights

Starlight - Elastic_Heart31 - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @suzyq31

Aurora - Chie (Chierafied) - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @chierafied

Secret Santa gone wrong

A Greyhound Bus Christmas - PetalsTheFish, gryffindormischief - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @petalsthefish & @gryffindormischief

The Naughty List - abihastastybeans - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @abihastastybeans

spiked eggnog

Snow Globe - Chapter 1 - charmsandtealeaves - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @charmsandtealeaves

Hugging just for Warmth

I've Got My Hate to Keep Me Warm - Dizzy_Bird - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @dizzy--bird

Coming Home for the holidays

One Kiss at Midnight - EastWindmlk - Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling [Archive of Our Own] @eastwindmlk

whiskey & honey, a jily meet the parents one shot

for the january @jilychallenge, partner is @eastwindmlk, prompt, ten of cups: shattered dreams, broken family, domestic disharmony

Lily is having James over for the first week of the Christmas holidays to spend time with her family as her serious boyfriend. Her family has some difficulties with the concept of a Lily in a serious relationship. or, Lily has never cried in front of James and she's not looking to break that streak this holiday.

“You’ve formulated all of these plans without me. It seems I’ve rubbed off on you.” Lily pushed his glasses back in place as he spoke. “Thank you, darling.” 

There was such tenderness in his voice, yet none in Lily’s when she answered, “You’ve overblown your influence, Potter.” 

“I’m simply observing cause and effect, Evans.” 

“Of course, you haven’t taken a moment to consider that I’ve been like this since we met, and this is only the first time you’ve been privy to my plans.”

James had long since undone her plait, but continued to comb his fingers through her hair, giving Lily tiny shivers of pleasure with each gentle tug. 

“I knew there was a reason I adored you so.”