Author's note: Happy Halloween everybody!

Personally I have never been someone who is big on Halloween, especially not this year, but Halloween is always a big thing in Harry Potter, so I decided to write a very brief story. I know I change the character's perspective I am taking near the end, but it fit the story best. Hopefully it still makes sense. Enjoy!

Lily flicked her wand once, and then curled it round in a pleasing fashion. Black, orange and purple streamers shot out the end of it, attaching themselves to the walls and ceiling of the Great Hall.

It was the afternoon of Halloween, and the Head Boy and Head Girl had been asked to decorate the hall for the evening celebrations.

Lily sighed. She normally looked forward to events and celebrations, but this year her heart just wasn't in it. She blamed it on the Head Boy. James Potter. He had been teasing her for years, practically begging her for a date. But of course as soon as she began to like him he stopped asking her out. By the time she realised she had feelings for him, he had outgrown his childhood crush. Typical.

"Why the long face, Evans?" A voice called from the entrance to the Great Hall. James Potter walked in. "Sorry I'm late. I was just at Quidditch practice…" he frowned.

Lily realised she had been staring at him for too long. "Hi, James!" She replied with false cheeriness. "It's fine about Quidditch…you have the game against Hufflepuff next weekend. You need your practice." James raised his eyebrows at her, seeing through her weak farce, but to Lily's gratitude he didn't say anything.

James whipped his wand out of his pocket and began casting charms. He pulled a pile of twigs from his pocket and began Transfiguring them into skeletons, fake bats that flew around, and pumpkins.

Lily stared at him. "Why the twigs?" She asked.

"Oh," James answered. "I, uh, thought we could Transfigure them. Easier than creating them out of thin air…"

"Good idea," Lily said gratefully. She and James worked on Transfiguring the twigs and hanging streamers and other various decorations up until they were both satisfied.

Half an hour later, the hall was nearly done. "Just one more thing," James said.

"Whats it?" Lily asked him curiously. In answer, James directed his wand skyward. A blast of light flew from his wand, crashing into the ceiling of the Great Hall.

Lily shrieked.

Lightning flashed around them, followed by an enormous clap of thunder. James winced. "I, er, may have overdone the spell a teensy bit." To emphasise his words, lighting flashed behind him.

"You think," Lily replied sarcastically; or at least, she tried to; but her voice was drowned out by another burst of thunder. Sighing, Lily directed her wand skyward and muttered a couple of charms. The thunder and lightning died off, only flashing and sounding occasionally in the background. It was noticeable, but not dominant. It completed the Hall perfectly.

Irrationally, Lily caught herself staring at James, and she quickly looked away. Why him? Why did she have to fall for James Potter now? She had her chance. She knew he would have moved on. But he had honestly never been as attractive as he was right now.

"Is something wrong, Evans?" James asked, concerned. Lily bit her lip. James's indifference to her stung like heck, but his use of her surname hurt even more. They weren't even on first-name basis.

He must have caught her expression, because he walked over to her in two prompt strides and gently clutched her arms, forcing her to look at him. "Lily? Are you okay?"

It was so unfair that his eyes could make her stomach flutter. That the way her name rolled off his tongue turned her legs to jelly. "I'm fine," she lied. He gave her a look as he released her arms, sure he'd engaged her in conversation now.

"You most certainly aren't fine. What's the matter?" He asked.

It's you. I like you. Too much.

Then something dark passed across James's face. "Is it Snivellus?" Lily shook her head, rolling her eyes at the nickname. James's expression cleared.

"Is it a guy?" James queried.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

No.

"Has someone done something to you? I swear, if anyone has even so much as looked at you in the wrong way, I'll-"

"No one's hurt me, James." Lily sighed. "It's my fault, honestly."

He looked curiously at her. "What is?"

Lily was about to tell him to mind his own business when she realised he was genuinely worried about her. So she gathered her Gryffindor courage. Taking a deep breath, she answered, "It is a guy. I like someone, but they don't like me back."

Lily had thought the worst part would be the confession. Not the aftermath.

James was stunned for a couple of seconds, and then, to Lily's shock, she thought she saw his eyes watering. But she couldn't be sure, because James looked away. After a couple of moments, he spoke, and his voice was husky.

"Lily, anyone with half a brain would like you. What makes you think this person doesn't?" Lily stared at him.

"James…that's a lovely thing to say…but…I know this person doesn't. Okay?" She brushed off the possibility James did like her. He wouldn't. He couldn't have waited for her for over six years. No one would do that.

"So what are you going to do?" James asked, his voice still husky. He hadn't looked at her yet.

"I don't know." Lily paused, and for the first time, she noticed how James's shoulders were shaking slightly. She cursed herself for being so self-involved that she hadn't even seen he was upset. She walked over to him. "James, are you crying?"

"No," he answered thickly, trying to subtly wipe his eyes on his robe sleeve, but she noticed. Lily knew that somehow, she has upset him. "James?" She tentatively rested her hand on his arm.

"I'm fine," he said, his voice indicating that he was anything but.

Lily decided to quote his words back at him. '"You most certainly aren't fine. What's the matter?"'

James looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "It's this girl I like. I like her and she likes someone else." Lily felt her heart wrench. He did like someone else.

Unless…

Unless James liked her. She'd just confessed to liking someone, and he had gotten upset. Now he said his mystery crush liked someone else…

On a whim, she decided to be bold.

"James? Do you like me?" She asked. James pressed his lips together and looked away. He didn't answer. Lily felt her heart pick up. She had made a mistake. He was going to laugh at her, tell her she was ridiculous and that she-

"Yes."

The word James breathed was so faint Lily could barely pick it up. But her chest and arms and legs started getting this happy warm glow. She started feeling tingly all over and she couldn't speak.

"It's pathetic, I know," James said, avoiding her gaze. "But I've always liked you, Lily. I thought you knew that."

Lily couldn't reply. She was dazed.

James took a deep breath, of which Lily was only barely aware of. James Potter liked her! She couldn't believe it.

"The Halloween decorations are finished. I'm gonna go do that Charms essay." James turned away, feeling the tears pooling in his eyes. He was so stupid. Why did he tell Lily he liked her. She liked someone else, for Merlin's sake. He was such an idiot. He glanced back at her, and she was still standing there with that dumbfounded expression on her face.

"'Bye," he said. He couldn't bring himself to say her name, not now. He was walking away when she called out to him.

"James, wait!" Against his better instincts, James turned. Lily was running towards him.

"What is it?" James asked tiredly. "You don't need to apologise. If anything, I'm sorry for springing that on you."

"No, I'm sorry." Lily said. "I was so happy I couldn't speak. I left you hanging. That was unforgivable."

She was happy? Had he really annoyed her that much over the past six and a bit years at Hogwarts that she took pleasure in his plight?

"James, I like you." She said it boldly, daringly. James couldn't comprehend what she said.

"But what-you-I-we never-I mean-you can't-"

In one movement, Lily had stepped forward and pressed her lips to his.

He felt like he was on fire. Hadn't he yearned for years to kiss Lily Evans? He felt exuberant joy bubbling up inside him. She wound her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer. He put his hands around her waist and held her tighter-

Boom!

Lily and James broke apart, terrified, only to realise they had been startled by their own magic. A particularly loud clap of thunder had frightened them both. They stared at each other for a full five seconds, and then they began to laugh. Lily doubled over, clutching her stomach. She couldn't believe this was happening. She was giddy with joy.

After a while, they stopped laughing, and turned to look at each other. "Hey, Lily?" James asked. "Do you want to go hang out?"

Lily smiled at him. "I'd love to."

"Okay. Off to the library we go!" James announced. Lily stared at him in horror. The library? She loved the library, but right now all she wanted to do was kiss James again.

He laughed at her expression. "I was only kidding! Let's go outside. You know, before the Feast."

Lily nodded, and she grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers. She smiled uncertainly at him, and he beamed back.

The Head Boy and Head Girl exited the Halloween Hall, and while it was decorated magnificently, they probably wouldn't have noticed it even if it came crashing down around their heads.

Please review, I would like to know if this is good!