It's worth pointing out that all of these one-shots are not in chronological order and do not follow any particular pattern; some are AU and some will have contradictory plot points or details as they were written over a period of about a year and my head canons change! Still, I hope they are enjoyed. :)

Tumblr prompt: Jily, a fall afternoon of their 7th year. Just started dating or about to start dating. (I saw a pic on your dash of fall leaves & trees and it made me imagine them taking a quiet walk together. Taking a break from all their duties & time for each other)

There were mutterings about snow already down in the village, though they were barely in October; autumn had brought harsh, biting gales, the sort that stung at exposed skin and left you gasping, and the mornings were cold enough that breath hung in the air in the coldest parts of the castle, which led to half the students point blank refusing to remove their gloves and scarves in lessons.

But it was beautiful: autumn's paintbrush had swept rich, warm colours over the grounds, the trees whose leaves the wind carried into the castle, and the grey sky could not compete, not when everything below was brilliantly orange and vividly crimson.

Lily's hat was orange, too. It was woolly, the sort with the bobble on the top, and it kept her ears warm. She had made it herself and would hear absolutely nothing against it.

"That hat is ridiculous," said James, and received a half-hearted smack for his trouble.

"Ow," he complained, though it had really not hurt at all, and if it had he wouldn't have said anything. "I'm just saying what everyone is thinking. It's truly ridiculous."

Lily took a seat at her desk in the tiny study they shared and shot him a mutinous glower.

"It's better than being cold. And I like it."

"Looking ridiculous?" more

"I think you're just jealous."

"I'm really, really not," said James. "Embarrassed, more than anything. For you. And for me. Can you take it off now, please? I don't want to be seen with you when you're wearing that."

"No one's here!"

"Someone could walk in. Please take it off, I might have to burn it if it's on your head for much longer."

Pretending to be cross, so that she wouldn't laugh, Lily removed the hat and smoothed down her hair.

"Do you not like hats because they make your hair look even more stupid?" she asked James, whose jet black mop was losing daily battles with the wind and sticking up in every direction, rather than just at the back, like it usually did. With his lopsided glasses, mismatched socks (he had kicked his feet up on the desk) and very worn shoes, too, he made for a very untidy picture. His Head Boy badge, which was upside down, did not look like it belonged on his robes.

"I remember a time," he said, "when I thought you were nice. It seems very long ago now."

"When did you ever think I was nice?"

"Before you opened your mouth."

Lily, laughing, decided not to point out that he could hardly talk about being nice. There was no need, she thought, in dragging up the past. It was the past, after all. He was nice now.

Mostly.

"I can't do this," he announced suddenly, throwing his quill down.

"It was only a joke," said Lily. He gave her one of her favourite looks, with his long nose scrunched up and his eyes smiling.

"Ha. No, this." He gestured at the cramped little room, overflowing with their mountainous workload. "D'you want to get out for a bit? I feel like stretching my legs."

"Well don't do it in here for goodness' sake, they'll go through the walls," Lily joked. Then, seriously, "yes please, that would be lovely."

"Lovely!" James echoed, bouncing up. He reached for his Gryffindor scarf, the only item of outerwear he would concede to. Lily donned her cloak and gloves, and put her hat back on.

"No,' said James, when he saw it. "No. Definitely not."

"Yes," said Lily happily. "Deal with it."

"But -"

"No."

"But it looks -"

"Do you want me to convince you?" Lily asked, drawing her wand.

"God no," he said quickly, backing away. "All right. But if people laugh -"

"I'll tell them that you can't help having a face like that."

He looked at her with something bordering on awe.

They walked down through the castle, taking James' shortcuts, and out of the front doors. It was a blustery day, late afternoon, the sun low and pale, the forest golden in its weak light. It had rained the day before, and leaves were soggy underfoot, but the ones still on the trees were crisp and bright.

Lily, who had grown up in a very grey town, skipped along for a few paces, admiring the leaves that fluttered to the ground around her, breathing deeply in the cool, fresh air. It was her seventh autumn at Hogwarts, and yet she still looked on the scene as if for the first time. The only difference was that now she knew, in the back of her mind, that it was to be the last time.

"I'll miss this," she said, falling back into step with James. "I can't imagine being anywhere so beautiful."

For once, James didn't crack a joke.

"No," he agreed. "It's pretty spectacular."

There was no one else around, not on such a cold day, with the school session not yet over. They strolled along the lake edge, and James pointed out the absence of the giant squid.

"Your friend's not come to say hello, then."

"My friend?"

"Well, I know you'd rather it was more than that … You said," he explained, at Lily's questioning look. "If it was a choice between me and the giant squid …"

It took Lily a moment to understand, and she blushed when it came back to her, even though she had meant it almost completely at the time.

"I was upset!"

"So was I, when you said that," said James. He changed the subject, slightly. "I heard that Roddy Goldstein asked you to go to Hogsmeade with him."

"Oh yes?" Lily glanced sideways at him. He looked ahead, the frame of his glasses glinting in the sunlight, casting shadows along the line of his jaw.

"What did you say?"

"I said I was already going with someone."

Now he glanced at her. "Are you, now?"

They matched each other stride for stride, James slowing himself, Lily taking larger steps.

"I thought I might be," she said.

Beneath the shade of the large beech tree, they stopped.

"Only - if you wanted to - I didn't know. We never really said what we were - if we were -"

James was a million miles from arrogance as he faced her, hand running through his hair in a nervous gesture, shifting uncertainly. Lily smiled, rolled her eyes, laid a hand on his arm.

"I didn't think we needed to." After that kiss? And the one after - and the one after that …

"Well, me neither," he said, looking his usual animated self again, "but I thought I should check. Didn't want to force you into anything."

"You couldn't if you tried," she told him, and he grinned and admitted that was true.

They started walking again, hands meeting the middle almost unconsciously.

"I do actually like the hat, by the way," said James.

"I know you do," said Lily.