Really, truly, the best Jily fanfiction out there.
Well, according to me. Many of the below contain adult scenes, so proceed with caution. I give the rating listed by each separate site’s rating scheme, so as usual, AO3′s “M” may not be equivalent to fanfiction.net’s “M,” and anything posted to Tumblr is listed as unrated unless given an official rating by the author. I will say that I’m pretty about particular about characterization, I cannot stand bad spelling/grammar, and romantically-involved Lily/Snape is a huge NOTP for me, so this list is pretty limited. For all of the above reasons, I haven’t included some fandom classics that I have read because they didn’t meet my (admittedly extremely high) standards.
One-Shots
Long One-Shots
And The Saints by Glisseo [K+]
A look at James and Lily’s complicated relationship over the years.
And the Wolves All Cry by monroeslittle [M]
As beautiful and epic as Just Stay Here Tonight, but much darker (one of the “Voldemort wins” AUs). Really, anything by monroeslittle is phenomenal.
Dead Men Rise Up Sometimes by cgner [M]
A Pushing Daisies AU. Seriously, read all of cgner’s stuff. It’s all amazing.
Firelight Waltz by cgner [T]
Lily and James, forced into a fake marriage for the purposes of a mission: one of my favorite tropes, and the first I’ve found with this pairing.
Just Stay Here Tonight by monroeslittle [M]
This killed me. It’s beautiful and epic, and quite possibly my favorite Jily fic of all time. As a bonus, this portrayal of Petunia is the most refreshing and original I’ve seen.
Key Limes by cgner [T]
Prince James and Oscar-winning actress Lily Evans: in one word, adorable.
occupational hazards by bigquidditchhero [unrated]
Lily and James have a one-night stand before her big job interview. A Muggle AU that’s bit like the first episode of Grey’s Anatomy, in the best way possible.
Question Time by fetchalgernon [M]
James Potter is Prime Minister, and Lily Evans is a particularly exasperating MP. A Muggle AU.
Tracing Scars by realslytherinchick [M]
James and Lily didn’t get together at Hogwarts, and Voldemort targeted the Longbottoms instead. An “if they lived” AU with amazing smut.
Untitled by fetchalgernon [unrated]
Mary MacDonald and Sirius set James and Lily up on a blind date. James and Lily vow to get revenge by pretending to date… and, of course, it gets all too real. Have I mentioned how much I adore the fake!relationship trope?
Shorter One-Shots
1978 by K.East [T]
There’s so much angst for this pairing, unsurprisingly, but this is some of the best. A failed relationship AU.
Anamnesis by realslytherinchick [unrated]
Peter sacrifices himself to save the Potters, and they remember him.
AU: College (L/J) by messrprongs [unrated]
Student!Lily and teacher!James: as adorable as it gets.
Auror Training by B.C Daily [M]
The best one-shot Jily smut I’ve read.
call you tpmorrow by kiismehardy [G]
Lily sees James’ car, thinks it’s a taxi, and gets a ride home. Fluff.
corporeal by Jess the Enthusiast [K+]
On Lily’s patronus. Really sweet.
Darkest Night by thelittlegreennotebook [K]
Lily and James get caught in a tornado warning at Uni, and are forced to hide in a janitor’s closet together. Several different college!AUs.
Fading Labels by Glisseo [K+]
A heartbreaking look at blood prejudice, and how it affected their relationship.
Fireside by xaandria [M]
James accidentally proposes in the Gryffindor common room, and smut ensues.
Green by writingrosesandcoffee [unrated]
One really, really sad drabble, from James’ POV.
Heroin by hpobsessedrissa [M]
Also some of the best one-shot Jily smut I’ve read.
Hollow by Apalapucian [T]
James survives October 31, 1981.
i have loved you for a thousand years (i’ll love you for a thousand more) by harrytomlinsonwhoops [T]
A soulmate AU. I adore this.
indecent by bigquidditchhero [unrated]
Lily thinks indecent thoughts about James in class and thinks he might be a mind-reader. Really cute.
Jägerbomb by Little Miss Escapist [T]
Lily and Severus are drunk, and James helps them get home. James in this is perfect.
Just Fine by jamespotterthefirst [T]
Lily confronts her cheating boyfriend. Not what you think.
Kiss, Just as Before by liebedance [M]
James, Lily, a one-night stand, and a strange connection. A Muggle AU.
mosaic broken hearts by symphonies of you [T]
A really angsty Muggle AU. I cried, shamelessly.
Officer Naughty by kiismehardy [unrated]
James is a kissogram and goes to the wrong house. Positively adorable.
One Last Time by a_lrightevans [G]
This will make you cry, I swear, but it’s some of the best angst I’ve read.
Postal (AU: L/J) by takeharryandgo [unrated]
Lily keeps accidentally getting James’ mail. A fluffy one-shot.
she learns to bake by lizardcookie [T]
Lily survives October 31, 1981. Angsty and beautiful.
Stay the Night by scaredofclouds [M]
James and Lily meet in the Order and have a one-night stand.
That Potter Boy by BadgerInMySoup [T]
Adorable, and hilarious, fluff. How James met Lily’s parents.
The Progression by Jess the Enthusiast [M]
James and Lily are each others’ firsts.
the stones that slow your feet by argyledpenguin [unrated]
A Dark!AU. James is a Death Eater, and Lily is in the Order.
To Live Nobly by cgner [T]
Really angsty, but absolutely amazing.
Untitled by argyledpenguin [unrated]
James and Lily survive October 31, 1981.
Untitled by jiilys [unrated]
Lots of metaphors. Adorable.
Untitled by lizardcookie [unrated]
Not exactly Jily, but with mentions of their relationship. The First Wizarding War, from McGonagall’s point of view.
What A Beautiful Wedding by a_lrightevans [G]
The “fake relationship” trope is always a winner, and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Multi-Chapters
Finished
Bye, Bye, Goodbye by Wilhemina Willoughby [K+]
Lily gives James up, and it hurts.
Crossroads by Emmyjean [T]
A look at James and Lily’s year as Heads together, and their time fighting in the War. An AU.
Fool Me Twice by DonnieS [T]
Lily is accused of murder (again) and James is her barrister. Suspenseful and a bit darker than some of the others I’ve seen, but I couldn’t put it down.
October Thirty-First by jamespotterthefirst [M]
Cute, sweet, and then horribly sad. A series of one-shots.
The Bakes of Wrath by paddypads [T]
One of those things you didn’t know you needed until you find it. Sweet (haha) and adorable.
Unfinished
If We Only Die Once by Apalapucian [M]
Lily breaks up with James at the end of their seventh year because she wants to keep him out of danger. Really sad, but the characterizations of everyone (especially Remus) are perfection.
Say When by jamespotterthefirst [T]
James, Lily, and a car crash at a Muggle Uni. Pure fluff.
So Close by CokeBottleK [M]
James is a professor at Hogwarts. Smut.
Turn It On For Me by CokeBottleK [M]
Modern Muggle AU. James and Lily are friends, which turns into something more.
The Age of Inertia by sevenperseids [M]
Lily and James in the Order of the Phoenix. Sadly unfinished, but most definitely worth a read nonetheless.
Under the Radar by Glisseo [T]
One of the first Jily fics I read, and definitely one of the best. James and Lily in another “Voldemort wins” AU. Sad, sweet, a tad dark, and absolutely lovely.
(Source: bellonablake)
