#prompt31

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you so much for participating all days!!

jilytober day 31!

With a dramatic gesture, she points at his ensemble. “Oh,” he says, a hint of sheepishness creeping into his tone. “I’m James Bond.” “You’re James Potter,” she corrects him instantly, and then laughter bursts forth, loud and uncontrollable. She wonders if the firewhiskey is coming out of her nose or her eyes—or maybe every pore in her body.

@jilytoberfest

[iracarterart]

#Prompt31 #collagetober23 #REST #marianneburgerstudio @marianneburgerstudio Rest of the Robots - another orange and black Hallowe'en collage

[writtenbykat]

Masked Ball (Jilytober Day 31!!!)

Prompt: Costume Party @jilytoberfest

The Hogwarts Halloween masked ball was the height of the social calendar for the sixth and seventh year students. Lily had thought she knew what a masquerade was, having seen them in muggle movies and parties, but Hogwarts took ‘masquerade’ to a whole other level.

The Hogwarts student had upped the ante of the masquerade ball. According to Hogwarts legend, ages ago a student had found a lesser known glamour charm, in one of the books of the restricted section. When the charm was cast upon the mask, the wearer of said mask would become unrecognizable to everyone else. If the wearer were to look in a mirror, they would recognize themselves– and see themselves as they are. But to everyone else, they’d become another person entirely. It was a charm, not a transfiguration spell, so the wearer’s appearance didn’t actually change, but while they wore the charmed mask; anyone who wasn’t privy before the charm was cast and the mask donned, would remain oblivious to the wearer’s identity. (Like having a secret keeper, for one’s identity)

Lily had been assured countless times that the charm was safe to use, and that students had been using it for decades– but had determined to conduct her own research.

In her studies, she’d found that the charm worked similarly to a ‘notice me not’ charm. Since the charm didn’t alter physical appearance or voice, it merely changed others’ perceptions of the wearer. Anyone who looked upon the wearer would simply be unable to place who they were– unable to put a name to the face, so to speak.

Being able to exist with anonymity was a freeing concept, and the Masquerade ball was legendary for the hijinks and shenanigans that students got upto under the cloak of anonymousness.

Lily regarded her costume as she dressed for the ball. Her costume of choice for the evening: a phoenix. Her dress robes had arrived a few days prior from Madam Malkin's. They shifted between the oranges, yellows, and burning reds of a fire, and had dramatic sleeves that looked like the wings of a phoenix when she raised her arms. Her accompanying mask was a brilliant gold that sat delicately against her cheekbones, and drew attention to her eyes.

Satisfied with her appearance, Lily swept down the staircase making her way to the great hall. She and her roommates had staggered their arrivals, so no one would be able to guess at their identities. As she entered the great hall several heads turned to look her way, which wasn’t unusual for the Hogwarts masquerade. Everyone was curious who would turn up in what, and always tried to puzzle out their identities– despite the foolproof charm placed upon the masks. Lily made eye contact with Marlene who practically beamed with pride (the robes had been her idea), and smiled brightly over at Alice and Mary, the latter of whom responded with a wink.

Slowly, but surely, the entirety of Hogwarts sixth and seventh year students gathered in the great hall. When the clock struck nine, the orchestra struck up their first tune: a walz.

“May I have this dance?” a deep voice asked over her shoulder. Lily turned around to politely decline, but was struck speechless by the stunningly golden eyes staring back at her. She nodded, still unable to form coherent speech. He gave the requisite, old fashioned, bow, and she responded with a curtsy. She took his proffered arm and was led onto the dance floor by her partner, who seemed to be dressed as a muggle pirate.

Together, they made idle chit-chat as they floated through the steps of the walz. He was obviously a skilled dancer, and Lily was grateful she wouldn’t spend the rest of the night nursing bruised toes. The song drew to an end, and they each dipped a respective bow or curtsy.

“Might I ask the pleasure of stealing your next dance as well?” her handsome partner asked with a winning smile.

“Yes, of course,” she said– or well she must’ve, because he took her by the waist again as the orchestra played the first few notes of the next song, but that breathy voice surely couldn’t be hers. She wasn’t some lovestruck fool in a gothic romance, sighing and fainting over every attractive man in a mile’s radius! She was a modern, twentieth century woman, who took great pleasure in her independence and steadfastly held to the belief that no one should ever swoon over a boy, unless they were a poorly written heroine in some tragic romance. And yet… And yet she thought she might feel just a bit weak in the knees as his hand settled more firmly around her waist for the second dance.

As they danced they talked about their lives away from Hogwarts. He was an only child, but had found a family in his time at Hogwarts. She had a sister, who was deeply resentful of her, and had similarly found family here. He firmly denounced the dark arts, which made her breathe a sigh of relief that at least her mystery partner wasn’t Sev or one of his junior Death Eater friends. She agreed wholeheartedly and they moved into discussion about the changing climate of the wizarding world, and their shared fear that it would escalate into all out war– all while maintaining time to the quick steps of a quadrille.

They danced to song after song, some sets were filled with conversation, the silent, content to be in the other’s company. They finally stepped off the dance floor when Lily mentioned the refreshments they both had yet to sample. Her partner offered his elbow again and escorted her off the floor. They sat together at a table, sipping champagne and continuing their cautious divulging of personal details– while retaining the element of anonymity.

Lily finished her flute of champagne, her partner following suit. Together they rose, but instead of offering his elbow as he had before, he turned to look at her– suddenly apologetic. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I’ve monopolized all your time this evening. I would happily spend the rest of the night partnered with you, but if you wished to find another partner–”

“No!” she cut him off.

“No? No, like you don’t want to dance with me anymore? Or no, like you–”

“I would love to dance with you,” she interrupted again, fighting the blush that spread across her face at how eager she sounded, “that is, if you still cared to partner with me,” she amended.

“There’s nothing I would like more,” her handsome partner said with a heart-stopping grin. Lily couldn’t fight off her own giddy grin, having fallen a little bit in love tonight.

Arm in arm, they made their way back onto the dance floor, just as the orchestra began the starting notes of another waltz. Lily raised her arms into position, as he secured one large hand around her waist, the other clutching her own with reassuring warmth.

They glided, stepped, and twirled their way around the dancefloor, too immersed in one another to notice the dwindling crowd as students made their way back to the dorms. Her partner ended the final set with a graceful dip, letting her back arch as he held her inches above the smooth stone of the dancefloor. They stood there, as if frozen in time, panting chests pressed against each other, both transfixed in the other’s gaze. Slowly, he raised her back up until both her feet were firmly planted on the ground.

Wordlessly, he offered his elbow again and led her from the now empty dance floor. He led her not to the dormitory stairs, as many boys had tried to coax their dates this night, but instead onto a small balcony overlooking the castle grounds, hidden behind a large tapestry.

“How did you know this was here?” she asked with breathless wonder, taking in the view.

“I have my ways,” he responded with a sly smirk that felt extremely familiar. She wracked her brain, trying to place where she’d seen the expression before, but the still active charm kept her in the weird limbo of knowing, but not knowing a person at all.

“I had a wonderful time tonight, firebird,” he said. Lily’s heart kicked into overdrive. Was this it? Was he going to remove his mask and let her know who she had danced with all evening, and fallen for while doing it?

“Me too,” she managed.

“I know it goes against the spirit of the Hogwarts masquerade tradition, anonymity and all, but I’d really like to get to know you. You, you. Not just the masked version of you.”

“I’d like that too,” Lily responded with breathless excitement, heart thundering in her chest.

Slowly, as if not to scare her off, her partner peeled off his mask.

Her heart stopped in her chest.

He looked completely the same, yet entirely different. Golden eyes that sparkled at her with delight, a secret smile– to which she was suddenly privy, slightly disheveled dark hair– suddenly endearing. “Po– Potter?” her voice broke and her heart kicked into overdrive again, this time fueled by a desperate panic. No. He couldn’t be Potter. Her mystery partner wasn’t Potter. It couldn’t be. This was just some cosmic joke. But even as her addled brain desperately tried to reason her way out of it, her traitor heart kept beating with the soul-deep longing she’d felt for him– before he’d removed his mask. It was as if even through six years of school together, she’d never really known him until tonight. And that thought was terrifying.

So without another word, Lily turned and ran.

Read on AO3 or FFN

A/N: Thank you so so so much to everyone who has read, commented, shared, etc. my little fic! This concludes my first ever Jilytober, and I had such a good time doing it!

Let me know which was your favorite chapter/prompt, and which ones you'd like to see turned into full length fics! xoxo.

This was very loosely inspired by my one of my fav movies, Another Cinderella Story (the one w/ Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley)  

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you for participating!!!!

@jilytoberfest 31 Prompts: Day 31 || 528 Words || Read on Ao3 a/n: That's a wrap! Thanks for following along this year :) I'd love to know if you had a favorite! —

31 October 1976

“Don’t you know you’re supposed to dress up for Halloween, Evans?”

Lily looks up from where she’s currently refilling her cup of probably-spiked butterbeer to find James Potter smirking at her as he leans against the other side of the table, his usual angular glasses swapped out for a decidedly thicker pair, a collared shirt peeking out from below a brown jacket.

Recognition dawns on her immediately, and she’s got a few choice words for Mary and Sam, who insisted that the four of them—including Lily and Dorcas—dress as characters from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Quickly, her eyes wander to Potter’s friends on the other side of the room and she takes in their costumes—also from the same film—and wonders if this was an orchestrated situation or merely a coincidence. 

She can mull that over on her way to interrogate her friends. Back to the matter at hand.

Bringing the cup of butterbeer to her lips, she takes a sip and gives Potter a tight smile. “Must’ve missed the owl, I guess.”

She turns on her heel and leaves the conversation as fast as she dares, not wanting to draw suspicion of her agitation. The hemline of her pink dress swooshes against her mid-thigh, its high collar and accompanying white cardigan suddenly making her feel hot, even with the windows of the common room open to the cool October night.

“Hey Lil,” Sam greets with a knowing smile, and it’s all the confirmation Lily needs to know that this was all an elaborate orchestration. “I see you ran into Potter.”

For her part, Lily is very calm—surprisingly calm—with the next words out of her mouth. “I’m going to kill you, Samantha Fawley.”

Sam—her hair dyed a bright shade of red (really now it’s all making sense why they insisted Lily couldn’t be the redhead)—tilts her head back and laughs joyously, raising an incriminating finger to where Mary is talking to some seventh year by the portrait hole.

“Listen, it was Mary’s idea, I just gleefully jumped on board. If you kill me, you have to kill her as well, alright?”

Lily lets out a frustrated sound of annoyance as she rubs her temples. “I cannot believe I let you two trick me into an accidental couples’ costume with Potter.”

“It’s a group costume, if you really think about it,” Sam assures her, pointing at where the sixth-year boys are standing. Lily hastily swats her hand down.

“Brad and Janet, Sam. Brad and bloody Janet!”

Sam bursts into another fit of laughter as Lily reaches up, trying to grab the glittering gold top hat from her head.

“You’re switching me right now, Fawley.”

“Like hell I am, woman! You need to learn to relax. You said so yourself—he’s been better this year.”

Lily sighs, taking another swig of the (suddenly not-spiked-enough) butterbeer. “That doesn’t mean I want to dress up as husband and wife.”

“Technically, they never make it down the aisle.”

“Technically you’re dead to me,” shoots back, walking away to find Dorcas, who—like her—had simply been roped into the idea.

“Toodles, Janet!” Sam calls after her. “Say hi to Brad for me!”

[myhusbandsasemni]

Whumptober Day 31: Left for Dead (Souka Ichimaru)

@linariouswrites​ @thethistlegirl​ @doubi-ixi​

Cute dragon under the cut

Today’s special: Torture

.........................

Souka fell to his knees in the grass, hands bound in front of him and a large hand in his hair, holding his head up. Souka closed his eyes. This had been a very bad two weeks. Not his worst. His worst had taken place as a child, but this was getting pretty close to that. 

Souka had been kidnapped by a cultish group of wizards to truly begin a war against the First Council. The council had kicked the wizard and elves from their numbers. More specifically, Lord Hendrake had. Really, he was the true villain in all of this. Souka even had reason to believe Lord Hendrake was the one who decided to start all of this in a desperate grab for power.

Needless to say, it was a lot.

Souka had heard all of this second hand from the man who was gripping his hair so tightly. The man who had protected him and made sure he survived these two weeks. A wizard being blackmailed by the others to kill the boy he had been protecting so carefully.

The wizard, Solomir, was shaking. Solomir had really grown to love and care for Souka. Souka knew the man was afraid. The blackmail was bad. It would get him, not only killed, but in dungeons where they would torture him for months. 

“Do it, Solomir,” the head wizard said, eyes pale and soulless. The head wizard contrasted horribly to the calm woods and warming sun. Solomir swallowed and released the boy’s hair to grab Souka’s bound wrists and pull them up over his head. Souka sat perfectly still as the knife was raised into the air. He closed his eyes and focused, keeping his breathing even. He wondered what it would be like to reach the gates of the next world. 

The knife plunged into his chest and he did not scream. He stiffened and then slowly fell limp with a low moan, head lolling onto his aloft arm. Solomir dropped the boy into the grass, a sob catching in his throat. 

The face began to pale. The skin grew paler and paler as the body cooled.

“Check it,” the head wizard said to the female wizard standing by him. She stepped forward, resting her long fingers on forehead, chest, and throat. She stood.

“He’s dead.”

“Good,” the head wizard said, turning. “To the towers. We haven’t much time left.”

The wizards all left, Solomir glancing back uneasily at the very small body laying crumpled in the dirt. The female wizard, unseen by the other wizards, took his hand and led him on, squeezing his cold, bloody fingers lovingly.

Minutes passed. Then a few more, drenched in sunlight and peace. There was a strange breeze through the trees that scared off some investigating crows and the insects in the grass skittered back from the boy’s body.

 Blood began to flow from the shallow wound in the boy’s thin chest. Souka’s dark eyes fluttered open. He took a deep breath and sat up slowly, bound hands supporting him. He steadied himself before snapping the ropes with his teeth as magic started to knit the wound a bit. He stood, pale and feeling quite sick from the forced hibernation he had inflicted on himself to stop his heart and breathing. He leaned on a tree for support, soaking in the sun. He began to make his way through the trees, following a path he had memorized back in Solomir’s room when he and the wizard had been planning this escape. Souka was going to find Anisha. Souka was going to be home. She was going to be so proud of him.

Souka smiled to himself with a sigh of relief as he took small but steady steps through the grass. He was so glad to be left for dead. 

I’ve done it!! Inktober and Whumptober on top of each other. Just to prove I am powerful. I power move on everyone, I suppose. And I can honestly say that I wasn’t worn out through the entire process. Thank you if you read any of my thingies. Have a wonderful day from the Moral Support Dragon.

[alejandrovon]

El año que viene hago un Inktober exclusivo de Maruja(?). Musicalizó: @alicecooper - Welcome To My Nightmare. #Inktober #Inktober2020 #InktoberCrawl #Inktober2020Crawl #Dia31 #Day31 #Prompt31 #Crawl #Gatear #Arrastrarse #Dibujo #Drawing #TeLoDibujoAsiNomas #Dog #Cartoon #Perro #Maruja #InktoberCompleto #EraHora #LoVoyAPonerEnMiCV #BlancoYNegro #BlackAndWhite #Nisman (en BRUJA Maruja Animaciones) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHAwCqcgkG1/?igshid=1oovt0jc7quvs

[sherlockkinkmeme]

Post #31

BBC, Sherlock/John

Post tfp , John still hasn’t acknowledged he has an anger problem. Sherlock hasn’t brought it up, he helps out with Rosie, keeps the flat clean , doesn’t do any drugs , doesn’t mention Mary and generally tries  to keep John from blowing up. No one really notices what’s going on except Eurus (Sherlock is still visiting her) who find it interesting Sherlock would change his behaviour this way. Can be s/j or gen            

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you for participating!!!!

@jilytoberfest Day 31

Prompt: Unintentional Couples Costumes

They hadn’t discussed it, but the masks they wore were the same.

Happy parents throwing a Halloween party for their son, smiling and laughing as though their lives weren’t confined to the walls of the house. They moved through the motions, pretending everything was fine, each wearing a costume they couldn’t take off—hopeful, content, untroubled. They had to believe it was true, to hope that one day they wouldn’t need the masks, that one day soon, they’d be safe again.

But Harry made it easy. James knew he’d do anything to keep their boy happy and carefree, even if it meant pretending that their small Halloween with just the three of them was a grand, magical celebration. And there was relief in knowing Lily felt the same. Their masks matched, each glance between them unspoken reassurance that they’d keep up the charade, that Harry would never feel their fear.

James played with Harry, making colorful bursts of light spin and dance with his wand, each one drawing more laughter from his son until the room was filled with his pure, unrestrained delight. For a moment, James felt the weight of their reality lift, the mask almost feeling real. He held onto that moment, willing it to last.

But then Lily picked Harry up, pressing a kiss to his forehead as she carried him off to bed.

Then he felt it—a coldness in the air, a darkness pressing down. It wasn’t just the night or the quiet. Voldemort was there.

Reality crashed through their home as James's heart pounded, his mask slipping and falling away as terror gripped him. He moved without thinking, charging toward the door, wand in hand. Because a mask was never protection, was never safety. It was only pretend.

And now, face to face with the danger they’d feared, there was no pretending left.

[lyrishadow]

Fictober: Take this gift

Prompt31 “I Trust You” Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy Title: Take this Gift Pair: Jo Shepard/Garrus Vakarian Rating: T This is my original Shepard, Jo Shepard and her Garrus. If you like to read more about them they appear on my Ao3 as “With you All the Way” (Ao3 is same name) Enjoy this extra story. And Thanks for reading my fictober this year :)

“And that is how I got them all killed,” Garrus was saying Jo looking at him strangely “Don’t look at me like that Shepard.” “Why not? What are you going to do Garrus?” “Find Sidonis…” “Ok.” She swallowed, she’s the one who had been dead for two years Garrus reminded himself, but she would sign on with him to help him. “Jo… I …I need to calibrate the gun.” he pushed past and hoped his emotional state didn’t confuse her as much as it did him. The gun was a safe normalized thing, even with the Cerberus upgrades, it still needed constant work. The trip to Virmire, the later events on the Citadel when they faced Sovereign together, he had seen it all, been there for all of it. Garrus was confused now as to why he felt like he had betrayed her? What kind of friend did he suppose he was anyhow?

She had been dead for two years. In that time he had sufficiently screwed up that he thought he was better off dead. That he had imagined her a ghost come to ake him...  of course why he would think she would come for him specifically when he had just been a meek follower. Well if he delved into that feeling it would be a far more complex thing than he was currently prepared for.

He found Sidonis. After a few days, they had faced down Harken of all people on the citadel to find someone who had vanished. Jo stood in his sights. Damn woman. Morals to the end. Sidonis was a broken Turian, a pale shadow of the friendly, happy person Garrus had known once. Had valued. “Let it go Garrus, he’s already paying for what he did.” And he had. The ride back was mostly quiet, Jo accepted that he didn’t want to talk about it, and Garrus had worked out his feelings a little bit at least. He realized that back in her influence, he was able to think clearer. Had her death really changed him that much? 

“Jo… how did you know I wasn’t going to shoot you?” He asked suddenly as their car came to a stop. “I trust you.” She replied locking the steering mechanism on the borrowed vehicle. “Well. Thank you.” Garrus twitched his mandibles a little, glad that Jo wasn’t able to read the meanings behind that. “For everything.” “Anytime Garrus, it’s what friends are for..” Jo had smiled at him, looking pretty with her red hair and… Garrus stopped that though, it wasn’t done in Turian custom to think your friends were attractive, most partnerships of that kind were for offspring anyhow.

“Jo?” “Hm?” “I am glad you came back from the dead.” His statement drew a short dry laugh “No really, you…. “ he exhaled as he blurted out “you saved me.” “Just returning the favor Garrus, let’s do this together then maybe we won’t be saving each other’s butts so much.” “Yeah. It’s good to have a friend.” Garrus wasn’t sure he had earned that trust yet but he was sure as hell going to give it all he had to give, live as though it mattered.

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you for participating all 31 days!!

Army Dreamers

Going out with a whimper for @jilytoberfest Day 31: Unintentional Couple costumes

When I started this month I had no intention of writing all 31 ( maybe like 4?) but thanks to everyone who read/commented/shared I was propelled by the support and love so THANK YOU for challenging me to keep going and being so lovely.

Happy Halloween and long live Jily wherever they are <3

AO3 Here

'(Should have been a father) But he never even made it to his twenties What a waste of all the army dreamers' --Kate Bush 'Army Dreamers'

“You sure Evans? It’s tradition.”

James stands in the doorway. His frown accentuates the wear that living in hiding has put on them, the lines in his face making him look much older.

“It’s just not the same when we can’t properly celebrate,” Lily sighs, closing her book. 

“We can’t even hand out candy—”

“You can give me candy. I’ll stand behind the bedroom door and knock.”

The thought of James’ standing in the hallway with an open sack singing Trick or Treat! Passes through her mind. It’s almost ridiculous enough to make her smile. 

“It’s alright—hopefully next year we can do a proper celebration with Harry—he’ll be old enough by then to be something other than one of those boring baby costumes.”

James gives a hesitant nod, leaving the door frame to come sit on the couch beside her. 

“If you really don’t want to, you can tell me to skive off, but It just feels wrong to not do anything—we’ve always said that they can’t take our lives away from us..”

She reaches over, putting a reassuring hand on his forearm. 

“I know. But there will be other Halloweens, other moments for us to wear silly couples costumes that nobody understands but us.”

“Yeah, I still don’t think Sirius completely understands our Rosemary’s Baby one.”

Lily snorts, remembering the weight of her newly showing belly, hair charmed so short that Sirius kept mistaking her for a Prewitt all evening. 

She doesn’t want to linger in the past memories, taint them with sadness that can never be removed. Nostalgia is a dangerous magic all its own, it makes reality that much harder to bear. 

James pulls his legs up onto the couch, pulling her into an encompassing embrace against him. His hand softly brushes at the fringe on her forehead and his even breath feels like a lullaby to her tired body. 

“I love you and everything will be alright,” he murmurs. She curls her hands around his arm, pressing it closer to her, wishing she could keep him there forever, the best of fathers, the best of husbands. 

“It must be alright, for all the Halloweens to come.”

[nailamoon]

I took a minimalist approach to the art prompts which was zodiac. I decided to just post what a zodiac exactly is. I use the main colors of red and yellow I added real chopsticks and a dragon from a Chinese box.#zodiac #daisyyellow #wonder31 #prompt31

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you for participating!!!

31 Prompts for 31 Days

@jilytoberfest is back! Happy October

A collection of drabbles

31. Unintentional couple costumes

-

Harry has always loved hearing tales of Marauder escapades.

Secrets of a castle he’ll soon attend, fascinated by parties held within Hogwarts walls.

“He’s old enough to come, he can help organise too—”

Lily pretends not to notice the wink sent over her shoulder and waits for her nine-year-old to react to his godfather.

“Can I mum, dad? —Please. It’s fancy dress, and Sirius is turning THIRTY! It’ll be so much fun—”

They agree, of course, and even allow him to plan their costumes.

How bad could it be...

A decade older, still totally besotted.

Head Girl and Boy arrive.

-

[bluecrownedbullets]

Prompt #31

Open prompt: a game of truth and dare.

Open interpretation, EEnE OC+

[jilytoberfest]

Thanks for participating!!

Jilytober Day 31

Managed to write one more @jilytoberfest microfic to end the month! Happy Halloween, everybody :) October 31st Prompt: Unintentional couples costumes

It wasn't until just before they'd planned to leave — when she was running the curling iron through her fringe —  that Lily noticed.

She had thrifted the dress a week ago, before she'd taken the plunge on the new haircut. With its itty-bitty skirt and bright purple fabric, the silhouette was a bit dated, but it had been among the cutest looks that she could wrangle for the price — and with the Order sending them out undercover every other day, price was no small concern for Lily when she shopped for Muggle clothes nowadays.

It had only been four months since she, her boyfriend, and half a dozen of their Hogwarts classmates had graduated from school and joined Albus Dumbledore's secret coalition opposing the Death Eaters. Although it had seemed a daredevil decision at first, the Order of the Phoenix had so far set its youngest recruits only to low-stakes missions and a rigorous run of trainings with some of its members from the Auror Department. None of them had yet found themselves in any real fights.

Instead, the intimidating Mad-Eye Moody — whom most of her peers found vaguely terrifying, but whose dry sarcasm had endeared him to Lily — had set his new recruits as spies and lookouts, spending afternoons blending into the crowds at Muggle locations suspected of being vulnerable targets for attack. As the summer blazed into autumn, Lily and her friends paired off in twos or threes to sit in cafés, stroll the zoo, or (in the case of the Muggle-born members) drive back and forth along major bridges, ready to send a message by Patronus in case something went wrong.

It a strangely peaceful way to enter a war. Lily wondered if it could last.

She turned from the mirror, grinning at the silliness of her realization. Sirius was lounging on the sofa in a biker jacket and Led Zepplin T-shirt, but James — who had never been quite as comfortable in Muggle clothes — had played it safe with his disguise, opting for a plain pair of blue jeans and a white, collared shirt. "James," she said, trying not to laugh. "I just realized — we're dressed like Fred and Daphne!"

"Hmm?" James asked, looking down at his own clothes.

"From Scooby-Doo!" James looked back blankly. "The cartoon? I don't suppose you would have seen it, but it was pretty popular show when we were kids."

Lily had loved watching Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! on the BBC when she was nine or ten. She remembered squeezing on the couch between Tuney, prim face scrunched up in grudging tolerance, and Sev, who would often stop over for breakfast on weekend mornings when his own parents' finances were stretched thin. In those days, piling onto the couch and watching cartoons together had been one of the only activities that could sustain a truce between Lily's prissy sister and her shabby best friend.

"A cartoon — that's from the telly-vision?"

Sirius looked up, curious as always. "I don't know if I've heard of it."

"I'll have to find us a re-run," Lily said. Nostalgia warmed her voice. With a swish of her wand, she set about enhancing their accidental costume — adding a touch of blue to James's collar; conjuring herself a pair of heels, a headband, and a green scarf. Sirius snorted when she transfigured a stubbed-out cigarette into a bright orange ascot and pursed her lips, trying to tie it properly around James's neck.

James raised his eyebrows. "Why do I feel ridiculous?"

"Because Mystery Inc. are ridiculous, James!" Lily said, teasing. "This really is too perfect. We won't be the only people dressed up this weekend — it's practically Halloween."

"Ah! Costumes, right?" asked Sirius, unable — as usual — to resist an opportunity to show off his Muggle Studies bona fides.

"I have always wanted to try that," James said.

Lily quirked her head and considered him, fingering her wand thoughtfully. "Do we have time to make you blond?"

Sirius burst into laughter. "Oh, definitely," he said, raising his own. "Let's make it really authentic."

James's shield charm was accompanied by a handful of enthusiastic epithets. Lily giggled and turned back to the mirror, fluffing up her fringe to cinch the look. "Don't worry, love," she said, "I think people will get the gist." Lily tossed on a coat of pink lip gloss. "What we really need," she said, turning back to James, "is a few more Order members. Do you think we could call another girl to join our route?"

James shook his head. "I think everyone is out on assignments today." This wasn't a surprise — Halloween was a major Wizarding holiday, and Moody thought it was a prime time when Voldemort might strike — but Lily still felt a little disappointed. "Why?" James asked. "Do we need more people for the costume?"

Lily shrugged. "We don't really need more people, but...Fred and Daphne are side characters. It would help if we could add Shaggy and Velma — they're the rest of the mystery gang — or if we could add a van, or a dog. Something like that."

James and Sirius exchanged a look.

"A dog?" asked James.

"Mm-hmm," Lily affirmed, pulling on her shoes. "That's what happens on the show — the gang solve mysteries with their dog. Animals are a big thing in Muggle cartoons." She glanced up. James and Sirius were still looking at one another. "What?" Lily asked.

Breaking his staring contest with James, Sirius turned to Lily and smirked.

"Hey, Evans," he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He raised an eyebrow. "Can you keep a secret?"

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you for participating in this event!!

@jilytoberfest | 31 prompts | Prompt 31

Prompt: Writing letters to the other

Dear Lily, 

Mary told me about your dad and why you left the castle. I’m sorry to hear he’s unwell and I hope he has a speedy recovery and you’ll be able to return to Hogwarts soon. In the meantime we’ve divided up note taking between us. Don’t worry you’ve got me for transfiguration so the notes will be legible… can’t promise about ancient runes. 

See you soon, 

James. 

Dear Lily, 

I’m so sorry for how awful my last letter must have come across. Mary explained that your father’s condition is terminal. Had I known I wouldn’t have made the comment about the speedy recovery. I can’t imagine what it’s like to know in advance you’re losing your parent. My best wishes are with you and the rest of your family in this trying time and I hope your dad is feeling more comfortable with you beside him. 

James 

Dear Lily, 

I know you haven’t responded to my previous letters, and I don’t expect you to find the time to. But I just wanted to let you know that we are all here for you if you ever need an ear. My understanding is you don’t get on with your sister. This must be so difficult for you to be navigating alone. 

Thinking of you, 

James 

Dear Lily, 

I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find some peace in knowing he’s in a better place free from suffering. Us Gryffindors have organises some flowers. Dumbledore said he would deliver them personally. 

Thinking of you, 

James

Dear James, 

Thank you for your letters. The ones I’ve received from you all have been a great comfort. My dad’s funeral is this coming friday. I’ve asked a few people if they would like to be there for support as my school friends. I understand if it’s too short notice for you to get permission from your parents, but I do hope you’ll be there. A funeral invitation is attached. 

Kind regards, 

Lily 

Dear Lily, 

We will all be there. See you Friday. Promise. 

Much love, 

James 

[jilytoberfest]

Thank you so much for writing every single day even though if you felt that you wouldn’t!! Means a lot

Jilytober - Day 31

Writing letters to the other - day thirty one

ok we finally reached the end there on the first day I really didn't expect to be able to write for every day, but I'm so glad I did!!! I hope you liked it as much as I did, and soon I'll update the list with every day and maybe put it on the AO3! thanks to @jilytoberfest for this, it was so much fun creating so much content about them! enjoy this jily friendship at Hogwarts

----

''Things are messed up around here. Mum and Tuney had a fight last night and I think Dad was annoyed that they ended up with dinner. Christmas will be tense and I'm seriously considering making an excuse and staying in my room reading and listening to music. Who knows, maybe fake an illness?

But tell me, how are you there?

Lily Evans''

''You're always invited to my house, I didn't lie when I said I wanted you here for Christmas. Dad bought Sirius a piano, so ever since we arrived, I've been forced to listen to him play—and he plays well! I'm getting a haircut tomorrow, wish me luck, I don't intend to look ugly, but if I do, will you still be my friend or will you be ashamed of me?

James Potter''

‘’I will be ashamed of you. I want to hear Sirius play, I can't imagine what he looks like playing the piano, I always thought he would prefer a guitar. Is the proposal still sup? I know it's been three days since your letter, but it's just that things are really tense around here... Petunia decided it was my fault for their fight, because mum is nervous about the whole war thing… Anyway… Maybe it's true? I don't know. But if you can't accept me, that's fine, I don't think anyone will mind too much if I'm locked in my room.

Lily Evans.''

''Sirius and I are coming to get you, pack your bags.

Ps: I didn't get ugly, I'm even more beautiful, which may seem difficult but it's true :) Ps²: How do you feel about receiving a gift? (I already bought it actually, so it's more to let you know because I know you're a little crazy about these things :))) you'll like it... I hope)

Pssssssss: He only talks about you, so please come spend Christmas with us so he looks less like a stray dog, because that's my job. We're really going to pick you up, and maybe this letter will come even after us, James would really move the world to see you happy.

James Potter & Sirius Black.''