Jily Oneshots (pt2)

All Hallow's Eve

by theturtlemoves

Halloween:1981

'Lily? You're still awake?'

'I can't sleep.'

'Me neither.'

'I almost woke up Harry, just to have someone to comfort.'

'Yeah, I know how you feel.'

…

'James?'

'Yes, love?'

'It's going to be all right, isn't it?'

'I'm sure it will be, Lily.'

'I'm afraid.'

'I know. I am too.'

…

'Let's talk about something else, okay?'

'Sure. What do you want to talk about?'

'Well, today was Halloween.'

'I always liked Halloween. A whole holiday devoted to gorging yourself on sweets and scaring the wits out of people.'

'Yes, I can see how it would appeal to someone like you.'

'Ha ha. Don't you like Halloween, Lily-flower?'

'Oh, I like it now well enough. I never used to.'

'Why not?'

'I don't know. I just didn't like it. It didn't help that every year I would end up eating something nasty courtesy of yourself or your mate Black.'

'Heh. We did get you every year.'

'I remember, trust me. Vividly.'

'Well then, what happened to make you change your mind?'

'Don't you remember seventh year?'

'Parts of it are somewhat blurred …'

'You're joking, right? You remember what happened on Halloween that year?'

'Remind me.'

'How could you forget?'

'Just tell the story, Lily.'

'I don't understand you sometimes. It was Slughorn's party, remember? Only, you and Sirius had detention …'

It was Halloween, and James Potter had a plan.

'Don't you always?' Remus Lupin sighed when James announced the fact to his friends at breakfast. James shot him his infamous lopsided grin.

'Well, yes,' he admitted. 'I'm glad you've noticed, Moony.'

'As long as it's got nothing to do with Lily Evans, I'm in,' Sirius Black announced. 'I just can't deal with seeing you get rejected again, Jimmy-boy. I'm sorry.'

James narrowed his eyes at his best friend. 'Who says I'm going to get rejected again?' he demanded.

Sirius just sent him a look that spoke volumes. Remus picked up a textbook and proceeded to immerse himself in its pages. Peter Pettigrew made an odd noise, somewhere between a snort of laughter and a choking sound. James glared across the table at him.

'Wormtail? Something to add?'

Peter shook his head and busied himself with his bacon and eggs.

'Oh, come on Prongsie.' Sirius sighed. 'You're going to have to admit it sooner or later – you have completely buggered all your chances where Evans is concerned. Better to quit now and save whatever shred of dignity you still have.'