Jilytober Fest

Summary: "He breaks the kiss to look at her; his breathing heavy, his pupils blown, and his eyes filled with something more than lust." A jily Love-at-first-sight story using @jilytoberfest 2025's 31 Prompts list @jilymicro-oops

Lily wakes up to the warmth of the morning sunlight on her face. The balmy summer air drifts in through her open window, bringing with it the sweet smell of fresh flowers and the faint noise of vehicles moving down the road.

She reaches an arm out to check the time on her alarm clock and her hand brushes past a pair of glasses resting on her beside table.

His glasses.

Her overnight guest’s arm currently lays over her waist and she traces her hand along the length of it, over the sheets. He tightens his hold and pulls her closer into him, her back flush against his chest.

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 617 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 31, 1977

“Tragic, truly tragic,” came a familiar voice from behind them. “Not even through their first date and they’re already fighting. True love is indeed a lie.”

“Padfoot,” James groaned, as they both turned to see thier best friend leaning casually against a lamppost, arms crossed. “Are you stalking us?”

“Of course not,” Sirius said smoothly. “It’s a small village, Prongs. I just happened to be loitering like the young rascal that I am while you two walked by.”

“Shouldn’t you be inside charming Rosmerta for free drinks?” Lily asked.

Sirius clutched his heart dramatically. “Don’t say her name! My heart’s been shattered. I walked into the pub only to find her being kissed by some red-haired scoundrel!”

“Who was it?” James asked, intrigued.

Sirius sighed, instantly abandoning the act. “No idea. He was wearing Auror robes—think he’s a Prewett. Could’ve been a Weasley, but I don’t think any of them are Aurors. Anyway!” He straightened, eyes glinting. “I just realized neither of you have properly thanked me.”

“For what?” James said flatly.

“For this!” Sirius gestured between them. “Your epic romance. I played matchmaker, endured months of tension and pining, and all I get is slander!”

@jilytoberfest Well that's a wrap. Thanks for another fabulous year of fun!! Day 31, Prompt: Leaving a pumpkin on someone's doorstep after their party

@jilytoberfest Day 27, Prompt: Accidentally holding hands

Lily consulted the last of the items on her list. Mary had requested liquorice wands. She adjusted the heavy bag of confectionary taking care not to upend everything onto the stone floor of Honey Dukes, as she blindly reached for the sweets. Her hand brushed something warm and she jumped.

"Sorry, you first." James fiddled with his glasses, a bag as big as hers tucked under one arm.

"Your lot down with it too then?" she asked.

He nodded. "Probably running Pomfrey mad in the hospital wing. You're still feeling okay though?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Marlene and Dorcas are pretty much recovered just constantly bickering, but Mary still sounds like she's swallowed a jar of scorpion tails."

James grimaced. "Well, if you ever want some peace and quiet. My dorm is empty."

@jilytoberfest Can I knock out prompts 22-31 in a single day? Let's find out! Day 22, Prompt: 🎶I know we only met but let's pretend it's love" Live while we're young by One Direction

James was used to being approached by attractive women in bars. Not to sound too cocky about his own appearance but he was good looking, and his dress sense at the very least implied he was a man good with money. He looked well put together. What he was not used to was being proposed to at a bar by a very attractive woman.

"I heard you get free dessert at this place if you get engaged. And no offence to the chef but I am not paying thirty quid for a self saucing pud."

Now that was a proposition he could get behind. He did have a soft spot for the self-saucing chocolate cake.

"Little hard without a ring don't you think?" he asked, turning his body to face her better and drinking in the way her dress clung to the curve of her frame. Merlin she was drop dead gorgeous. "Place like this doesn't scream spontaneous proposal."

She slipped a ring from one finger and discreetly placed it on the bar under her fingers and slid it across to him. "Think they'll be able to tell the difference between a real diamond ring and something made of cheap zirconia?"

He placed his hand over hers, taking possession of the ring. "How bold! But no, I don't think they will. I mean it would be rude of the wait staff to point out to you I'm a cheapskate on the happiest day of your life wouldn't it?"

"I'm Lily by the way," she whispered, stepping into his personal space and wrapping an arm around his neck sending a thrill down his spine.

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 406 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 30, 1977

The crunch of autumn leaves mixed with Lily’s laughter as she darted around the great beech tree by the lake, boots skidding through gold and amber. She ducked behind the trunk, crouching low, waiting for her moment. When James came around the other side, she pounced—flinging an armful of leaves straight onto his head.

“Oi!” he shouted, sputtering as bits of red and gold clung to his hair. Before she could run, he lunged, tackling her into the leaf-strewn grass. They rolled together, breathless and laughing, the world spinning in a blur of color and warmth.

It was ridiculous and childish and perfect. Lily couldn’t stop smiling. For a heartbeat, it felt like they were caught in their own little world—a pocket of never-ending autumn where they were young and in love and nothing bad could ever touch them.

James rolled her onto her back and hovered above her, his grin wide and golden in the fading light. Then he kissed her slowly with the smell of leaves and the wood fire from Hagrid’s cabin in the air.

“James,” she murmured against his mouth. “I have an idea.”

“Yeah?”

“I think we should carve our names into the tree.”

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 497 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 29, 1977

“I had my first kiss that night,” Lily said, her eyes still on the stars.

James turned to her. “Did you? With whom? I promise not to get too jealous. Maybe just snog you senseless in front of him to make my point.”

Lily tilted her head, smiling. “You really don’t know?”

He frowned. “Should I? We weren’t exactly friends then.”

“Yeah, but you and Sirius were. I thought he would’ve told you.”

James froze. “Wait. You and Sirius? First kiss? You’re joking.”

“Nope. Right here, actually.”

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 595 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 28, 1977

The roar of the kitchen fire, the clatter of pots, and the quick patter of elf feet surrounded them as James and Lily perched on one of the long wooden counters, sharing a bottle of house-made mead.

“Well, Motty,” James said, raising the bottle in salute, “you were right. Your family’s mead really is the best around—miles better than that swill Gilper tried to get me to drink last week.”

“Tis true,” Motty said proudly, puffing out her small chest. “Motty’s family has been making mead for generations.”

“And you sell it?” Lily asked, taking a sip and smiling at the warm sweetness spreading through her.

“Oh, no, Miss,” Motty said quickly, shaking her head so hard her ears flopped. “Motty cannot sell what she makes. That is against the law.”

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 380 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 27, 1977

“You know,” Sirius said, leaning over Remus’s workstation to look Lily dead in the eye during Potions, “I realize you and Prongs are in the throes of young love and all, but you don’t have to hold hands during class. Walking through the corridors, fine—that’s practically a Hogwarts rite of passage. But it must make potion-brewing a bit complicated with only one hand.”

Lily felt her face heat up as she glanced down—her hand was still clasped in James’s. She immediately dropped it. “I hadn’t realized we were still holding hands.”

James looked at his now-empty hand and frowned. “Now it feels weirdly cold.”

Peter groaned. “You’re disgusting, you know that? You didn’t used to be this lame.”

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 501 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 26, 1977

It honestly surprised Lily how long it had taken him to finally talk to her.

Or perhaps it wasn’t surprising at all. Severus would have wanted to wait until she was alone—and ever since she’d kissed James, there was hardly a moment when she and James weren’t together.

But that afternoon, James and Sirius had gone off to do something Lily decided it was best not to ask too many questions about, which left her studying alone in the library. To her surprise, it turned out to be her most productive hour of the term. For one of the top students in their year, James Potter made an incredibly distracting study partner.

On her way back to the dormitory, she turned a corner and heard her name whispered softly.

“Lily.”

Contestant Number Four

“Guess that only leaves three left.”

Lily frowns. “You mean two.”

“No–three. I’m an option aren’t I?” His eyes widen in mock horror. “Or, wait, have you already eliminated me? Have I really already been cast aside for some pricks in an ascot?”

“You’re going to be more than eliminated if you don’t come back over here.”

A very steamy, silly, short piece for @jilytoberfest Day 8: Watching TV together.

NOTE: This is T+ to M rated!!!! Sexual tomfoolery abounds!

31 Days of @jilytoberfest @jilymicrofics: 434 words A series of microfics for Jilytober 2025, all taking place in October 1977, leading up to James and Lily’s first date.

October 25, 1977

Lily loved watching James practice Quidditch — which was further proof of how far gone she really was. Watching a match was one thing; watching practice was quite another. But there was something about the way James moved on a broom, the way he coached his teammates through new plays, always patient, always exuberant. His laughter carried across the pitch, warm and infectious, and his joy for the game was unmistakable. It was a rare kind of pleasure — watching someone you care about lose themselves entirely in what they love.

If there was one thing Lily had learned early on, back when she and James first became friends last year, it was that he was a complete broom snob.

He denied it, of course — “I’m a man of the people,” he’d said loftily, “I’d never judge someone’s personal possessions.” Sirius had laughed so hard he’d been kicked out of the Hogsmeade bookshop.