HI!!!!!!!!

OK this is my new story. It's Lilly/James and its based on a fantastic book, I read called The Marrying Game by Kate Sanders. So here is my story the Marrying Game.

Chapter 1 Bad News.

An 18 year old Lily Evans had a last look at the Hogwarts Express, and suddenly a pang of hurt hit her as she realised she would never see it again, but at least she would be going home. Her wonderful, charming father and her beautiful, big house. Suddenly she couldn't wait to get home. Grabbing her trunk and faithful, and only friend, her owl, Molly, she hurried through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

She looked around, trying to find her tall dad, who usually greeted her, but for some reason, her older sister Petunia was waiting for her.

"Come on, hurry up, we've got to get home." Her bony, horse faced sister snapped.

"Where's dad? Has something happened?" She asked, her voice full of worry.

"Just hurry up," Petunia snapped again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She said, anxious to get home to find out why her beloved father hadn't come to pick her up. She got into her sisters blue ford and travelled home. When Petunia pulled up in the drive, Lily couldn't believe her eyes. It wasn't the same house she had left 12 months ago, it looked like a bomb had hit it. The beautiful gardens that once stood proud in front of Evans Mansion, were now weeds.

"What happened?" Lily asked looking bewildered as she stepped out of the car.

"Wait till you see inside." Petunia smirked.

Lily carried on inside and what she saw almost bought tears to her eyes. It was a complete mess. Walls were falling down, the roof was leaking, pictures had fallen of the walls, and there was a hole mess over the floor. Lily carried on and walked through the house, all the rooms were the same, all a complete mess. She walked into the living room and found her mom sitting on a once gorgeous, but now ragged sofa, with a drink in her hand.

"Mom, mom, w.what happened?" She asked running up to her beautiful mother.

"It's you....your dad, Lily." She said her voice filling with tears.

"W..what, what do you mean? Where's dad? Mom what's happened?" She said her throat burning.

"He's dead." She sobbed. "And this is what he left us. A whole load of debts, and a house that's falling down." Her mom cried.

Lily couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Her charming, beloved father was dead. She ran up to her room, and threw her self on her bed, cutting her self on a piece of glass. She sobbed until her eyes hurt and her face ached. It was the worst day of her life. Suddenly she wished she was back at Hogwarts, even though she had no proper friends, and she was quiet at least she had her work to keep her occupied.

*3 months later*

"Well that's it then. The house will be ready to sell in 3 or 4 months."

"Ok, bye. Thank you." Lily said as she closed the door behind the estate agent and leaned against it exasperated and exhausted,

"Lil's has he gone?" He mom shouted through the houses.

"Yeah!" She said making her way into the kitchen where her mom was.

"Well, now we're well and truly poor. Mom, it feels so wrong to be leaving this house, it's our home!" Lily whined to her mom.

"I know my love, but unless you can find thousands of pounds within the next three months we're going to be selling up and there's nothing we can do it about."

"Mom, there must be something." Lily moaned. Her green eyes shining beautifully and her long wavy, red hair all over her face.

"Lily, you have been working every night at the pub down the road, you've tried your best to save this house but I'm afraid, we're just going to have to go. You have done much more than that lazy sister of yours. Here have a drink." Her mom said pouring her a glass of brandy.

Lily sighed as she lifted the glass and knocked it back. Her throat burning because of the taste.

"If only we could marry money." Lily said dreamily.

"Marry money?" Asked her mom snorting.

"Yeah, imagine if you found a man, who was mega-rich and you could marry him. Once you married him all you'd have to do was put on the sob story about how poor you are, bla bla bla and before you know it your living the high life in your beautiful, repaired house." Lily said.

"Wake up Lils!" Her mom snapped Lily out of a daze.

"Mom! This is it! I can marry money!" She shouted, having an amazing idea.

"Lily, don't be silly, you'd have to move all the way to London, to find a mega-rich man, and also, you'd need new clothes, and thirdly, I wont allow it. You're only 18 years old. What kind of mother would I be?"" Her mom asked sternly.

"Mom, you'd be a wonderful mother who was trying to save her house. I could move to London! Bella lives down there and when she left, she said just call if I ever wanted to stay down there! Also I have my brooch Granddad gave me. It's worth a few bob. I could sell it and with the money go get some new clothes! Mom, this is our last chance!" Lily told her mom excitedly.

"Lily, I can't, what if something was to happen?"

"Mom, it wont, I'll have Arabella Do you want to save this house?" Lily asked her mom, her eyes full of concern.

"Of course I do, but what if it never worked. What if you don't find a man, and you come home with nothing?" Rosa asked her beautiful daughter.

"Well, it's our last chance, and also it'll be worth the chance to tell my kids I played the Marrying Game!" She laughed.

The next few days flew by Lily. She had sold her brooch, phoned Arabella Figg and asked if she could stay with her for a few days. Arabella was Lily's old nanny, she had worked at Evans Mansion for 15 years and was delighted to have Lily stay and laughed when Lily told her about her plans to save her home.

Lily found her self on the train on her way to London. It had been an emotional farewell to her mom. She would miss her deeply but knew if she wanted to save the house then she would have to play:

"The Marrying Game"

Ok my first chapter done, its quite short and boring but i promise it will get better! Next chap she meets James and Sirius. Ok u guys, please read and review! I luv you!

luv

annie

xxx