James leaned against the wall outside the N.E.W.T. potions class. He was hungry, and couldn't wait for the feast to begin. Sirius and the others were saving him a seat while he met up with Lily.

He frowned. He had thought they had been getting on so well, but lately she seemed to be distancing herself from him. He figured it was his own fault for taking advantage of her when she was asking him for help. Of course she'd want to put a wall back up between them.

Sixth and seventh years started to filter out of the classroom. James pushed off from the wall, searching the group for the familiar sheen of red hair and bright green eyes. Then he looked again. Where was she?

The students were down the hall, and Lily still hadn't emerged. Suspicious, he ducked into the classroom. The air was filled with a blue smoke from today's lesson. All of the seats were empty except for one.

Snape was scribbling frantically in his potions book, occasionally stirring the contents of his cauldron.

"Go away, Potter," he snapped. "I'm busy."

James bit back an angry retort. "Where's –"

"She didn't show up today," he interrupted. "Now go away."

He tightened his hold on his wand, but refused to say anything. He stormed out, nearly bowling over Professor Slughorn. "Oh, hello Jared," Slughorn called after him.

It wasn't like Lily to skip class, he thought as he raced up the steps to Gryffindor tower. Something was wrong.

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading to the girl dormitories. He knew from experience that one step would trigger the stone slide to prevent him from getting up there. He backed up as far as he could, took a deep breath, and ran as fast as he could.

The shifting stone threw him off balance, but he charged on. He leaped onto the seventh-years doorstep, which at least remained level, and pounded on the door.

"Lily!" he shouted. "Open up!" He slipped, but caught himself. "Lily!"

The door opened, but it was one of Lily's old friends. "She's not here," she said. James pushed past her, only to confirm her statement with his own eyes.

"Where is she?" he demanded.

"She doesn't want to talk to you," she said, crossing her arms. "Now get out, I'm late for the feast."

"Where is she?"

But she just pointed out the door. He glared, but left.

By the time he rejoined Sirius and the others in the Great Hall, nearly all of the students were eating. "I can't find her," he told them, and filled them in on what had happened. The enchanted ceiling showed the darkening clouds that were gathering overhead.

"Well, if she's avoiding you, mate, there's not much you can do," said Sirius.

"Looks like the charade's over," Remus added.

"Here, have a pasty." Peter shoved a handful onto his plate, but James had lost his appetite.

A green light reflected off the clouds, and several students screamed. Suddenly everyone was in motion, running for the windows or the Entrance Hall. James and Sirius pushed their way to the front of the crowd on the steps and looked for the source of the light.

"The Dark Mark," said Sirius grimly. It was clearly visible now, hovering over the treeline, somewhere above Hogsmeade. It glittered against the grey-green clouds, and the serpent-tongue slowly circled the skull.

"Everyone back to their dormitories," Dumbledore ordered from behind them. As they went by him to go inside, he said, "James, come here a minute."

James waved his friends through the doors. "Now," said Dumbledore, "I want you and –" he stopped, puzzled. "Where's Lily?"

"I'll find her, sir," James assured him. "What do you want us to do?"

"Patrol the halls with the other teachers, make sure all of the students are safe in their dormitories." He turned and headed down the steps, where McGonagall and Flitwick were waiting for him.

"What are you going to do, sir?" he asked before he could stop himself.

Dumbledore smiled. "Make sure you give the message to Lily." And then they were setting off for Hogsmeade.

James checked to make sure that the other students had gone inside before reentering the castle and allowing Slughorn to bar the doors. As he expected, his friends were waiting just inside. He explained what had happened. "So I need to find Lily," he finished.

Sirius took the Marauders' Map out of a pocket. "Here," he said, but James shook his head.

"I know where to find her. I'll catch up with you later." He slipped out the front doors, noticing that it had started to rain, and headed for the lake. Specifically for their usual tree.

And there she was, gazing out across the lake, which was reflecting the green light from the clouds. She must have heard him approach, but she didn't move or acknowledge him in any way. Sighing inwardly, he draped his cloak over her shoulders and sat down against the tree.

"I'm already wet," she finally said quietly, but wrapped the cloak tighter around her.

"It's better than nothing," he said at the same volume.

They were silent for a few more minutes as they watched the green light on the clouds and water. James suppressed a shudder. It was eerie.

"They want me back," she said without turning around. He didn't ask who they were.

"That's what you wanted isn't it?" he asked, trying to ignore his writhing insides.

"Yes. No. I don't know," she admitted. She hesitated. "I can't do this."

"Do what?"

"This." She sniffed as she looked over her shoulder. "You…I can't…"

He nodded. He understood. She didn't need his help anymore. She didn't want to see him anymore. She was breaking up with him.

James couldn't bear sitting here anymore. He started to get up, but she cried, "No!" and shifted closer.

"What?" he asked, failing to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"I can't…not see you again." He settled back against the tree, amazed at what he was hearing. "I can't…not be with you." She moved closer, until she was sitting across from him.

"Lily," he protested.

"Please don't leave," she pleaded, her voice almost inaudible beneath the rain.

"I'm not going to," he said, and waved for her to sit next to him. She scrambled over and leaned against him.

They watched in silence as the reflected green light wavered all around them.

"I love you," she whispered.

He looked down in surprise, but she was watching the light. "I love you, too," he said, not embarrassed in the slightest. He let the silence stretch on for another minute before telling her that they were needed back at the castle. She nodded reluctantly, and they walked back hand in hand, finding comfort in the nearness of the other.

Before they went inside, they stole one last glance at the Dark Mark, which was beginning to dissipate over Hogsmeade.

"Some Halloween, eh?" he asked with a smile.

A/N: Huh. That didn't turn out the way I'd thought it would. I'm not exactly a fan of mushy stuff. Ah well. Hope you enjoyed it! Have a novel day!