A:N/ HELLO BEAUTIFUL READER! I HATH MISSED YOU! (Insert cries of "where have you been?!" here) I know, I know. I am fully aware that this story is long overdue and I entirely understand if you hate me enough to not read this story. But may I just suggest that you do? I'm super excited for this new story…however, I am much busier now than I was when I was writing As the Stag finds the Doe. Same as that story, I will attempt to have reasonably sized chapters updated every Sunday. I may miss some deadlines but I shall do my best. The next chapter will probably be James' point of view on coming to the train if I don't change my mind. I love you guys so much- especially you returning folks (I hope there are some of those!) The Read and Love please. Oh and REVIEW. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. I love it. Please. It'll spur me to right more! I love you and I hope you love my story (Tell me if you don't that helps too!)


Disclaimer: I wasn't J.K Rowling when I was born was I? No. Therefore Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. Really I'm sure you're socks have just been knocked off.


Lily Evans stared at the Hogwarts Express. A wide smile lit up her face and she took a deep breath.

Seventh year. This is it.

Straightening the badge on her dark blue sweater, Lily swept her long, wavy, red hair to the left side and began digging into her bag for the letter she'd received in late July.

Upon finding it, she opened it careful to smooth over the creases formed from her reading it so many times.

Dear Miss Evans,

It is my extreme pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to be this years Head Girl. As Head Girl you will perform rounds, plan activities, lead students, and be an example to all. Along with this title you earn the privilege of your own dormitory to be shared with your Head Boy and the use of the Prefect's Bathroom. I am positive that you will do wonderfully with your new position.

Sincerely yours,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, Grand Sorcerer, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot

Lily's smile grew steadily bigger as she read- she'd been waiting for this moment her whole life.

Or rather seven years of her life. Ever since she'd found out why weird things happened around her, why she felt so…different.

You see, Lily Evans was a witch. She had a wand, an owl, and spell books.

And yes, she could perform magic.

Lily didn't know she was a witch until the weird and creepy boy from her neighborhood at bluntly told her so after seeing her fly off a swing with magical ease.

Lily naturally tried to be the best at everything so when she got her letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, she knew she would have to do her very best.

Especially because she was Muggle-Born.

Lily's parents could most certainly not perform magic- they were muggles, and that made her muggle-born. There were people in the magical world who believed that those of muggle birth were ignorant, dirty, and unfit to be called magical.

As soon as she heard the first person called her "Mudblood" Lily had decided to be the very best witch she could possible could, not only for herself but also to prove that despite her birth she deserved to carry her wand.

Now, with the Head Girl badge on her chest and the letter in her hand Lily felt like she had down exactly that.

She knew, of course that the mindless attempts at hexing, name calling, and disgusted looks wouldn't stop- but at least she could feel happy with her accomplishments.

With one last glance at the letter, Lily shoved the letter back into her bag and continued pushing her cart towards the train.

There were few people milling about on the platform, Lily was especially early. Partly because she liked to be early. Partly so she could claim her parents had been there early but had a conflicting engagement and had therefore said there goodbyes hours ago.

In truth, Lily knew her parents had no engagement and no way to be with her as she prepared to embark on her last year of magical schooling because they were dead and they wouldn't be seeing any of her momentous occasions.

Lily's parents had died that summer at the hands of Death Eaters, followers of the demented wizard Voldemort who made it there mission to wipe out all muggle borns they could.

She hadn't been home but it didn't matter.

Lily shook her head of her depressing thoughts and instead glanced around at the people who were also there incredibly early- maybe there would be someone she knew.

There were two girls who Lily recognized as Rachel and Abby Carol. Lily shuddered. As sweet as the two girls tended to be, they were also notorious for their nosy natures and Lily was not in the mood for pointed questions.

By the trashcans was a small group of boys and by the looks on their faces they were doing something they shouldn't be- Lily quickly turned her head and caught sight of a young girl sitting on a far bench who, by the size of her, was a first year. She was alone and looked absolutely terrified.

Lily pushed her cart slowly smiling and waving at the small girl so her approach wouldn't seem like a threat.

"Hi" Lily said when she reached the girl.

"Hello" the girl said in a timid voice, nervously playing with her hair.

"My name is Lily, I don't think I know you, are you a first year?" Lily asked politely. The girl nodded.

"I-I'm Annie" the girl stuttered. Lily smiled and eased herself down to sit on the other side of the bench.

"Do you have any family with you Annie?" she asked. Annie shook her head.

"Um… I'm a muggle born and my parents were- er- too scared to go through the wall" she muttered embarrassedly. Bowing her head down and peeking through her long brown hair, Annie shifted to look at Lily as if waiting for her to say something.

"Yeah, I'm a muggle born too and my parents were absolutely terrified. They aren't here today either" Lily shrugged, not an all out lie but close enough.

Annie lifted her head a little bit higher.

"I'm really impressed with you" Lily continued. Annie's eyes snapped to hers which Lily saw now were a bright blue.

"Why?" Annie's voice seemed much stronger. Lily shrugged.

"My first day I was so nervous and excited I ran through the platform, tripped over my uniform cloak, which being me, I wore to the train, and knocked down a group of about seven people in the process. I've yet to live that one down"

Annie was all out laughing by the end of the story.

Lily nodded, much more confident with the telling the story six years later.

"Yep, my finest hour if I do say so myself" Lily giggled. Annie giggled with her.

Lily, feeling she had successfully broken the ice asking the girl what she was most excited about, her Diagon Alley experience, and her family.

Lily didn't even notice the platform had been steadily getting busier and busier until she heard her name screamed above all of the noise.

"LILY MARIE EVANS WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Lily and Annie jumped and their conversation about Charms quickly stopped. Lily laughed and stood up to stand elevated on the bench.

"I would cover your ears" she advised Annie before turning to face the crowd

"HESTIA ELIZABETH JONES I'M RIGHT HERE!" she shouted.

Most of the platform was now staring at her but Lily was only laughing.

Annie hesitantly giggled which turned into all out laughing when she saw a dark haired girl push her way through the crowd to reach Lily.

"Honestly Lily, I don't know why you couldn't just meet me where I told you to" Hestia huffed playfully. Lily rolled her eyes.

"Honestly Hestia, I don't know why you couldn't have just looked for me instead of attracting the attention of everybody on the dang platform" Lily said sarcastically.

The two girls grinned before giving each other a massive hug.

Annie, feeling incredibly uncomfortable began slipping away but was stopped by Lily.

"Hey Annie" Lily said " This is my best friend Hestia, may I suggest staying away from her, she'd literally insane" Lily said smiling. Hestia rolled her eyes and held out her hand for Annie to shake.

"Lily I thought we discussed this, I only killed three first years. That doesn't make me insane that makes me normal" she said winking to the girl who for a moment actually looked petrified.

Lily rolled her eyes again.

"Hestia stop scaring the poor girl, I actually like this one!" she whined. Hestia made a big production of sighing.

"Fine, I'll leave this one alive. For now." With that, Hestia air kissed the sides of Lily's face dramatically and flounced away.

Lily watched her walk away shaking her head before turning back to Annie.

"I swear that girl gets more dramatic every time I see her" Annie giggled nervously.

Lily checked her watch and started at the time.

"Merlin! We need to get on the train!" Annie looked around frantically, fearing she would be left behind.

"No worries, we've got a little time, I just mean we should put our stuff in a compartment or we'll be stuck on the roof!" Lily bumped the girls shoulder lightly to show her she was joking.

"Okay…" Annie said quietly.

"Lily!" The two girls looked up to see a short, mousy haired girl run up and through her arms around her friend.

"Alice!" Lily cried hugging her tightly.

After Alice let her go, Lily looked at her watch again.

"Hey Alice, this is Annie" Alice shook Annie's hand and gave her a big smile.

"I should really go to the Head's Compartment and I'd like to find Remus beforehand so would you mind finding us a compartment and getting Annie settled?" She asked knowing Alice would be nice to her new friend.

Alice smiled and nodded, gesturing for Annie to head towards the train. Lily thanked her than set off to look for Remus.

Remus Lupin was a prefect and one of Lily's best friends. He was also a werewolf.

Lily discovered this in fifth year and was shocked when Remus thought it would become between them. He in turn was shocked when he gathered the courage to tell her and she replied"

"Yeah, I know."

Since then, the two were good friends and often studied, performed rounds, and confided in each other.

Remus had a quiet way about him that always made Lily want to vent all of her problems and he never judged or reprimanded her.

When she finally found him she wasn't surprised to see three boys with him.

The Marauders, they called themselves. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.

Gits, Lily called them.

Well except for Remus, and occasionally Peter.

The worst of them all, James Potter, had asked her out every single day for years. He just never gave up. Lily knew of course that it was really just a chasing game, he had no true feelings for her.

But it bothered her nonetheless.

"Remus" Lily shouted when she was within five feet of him.

Hearing his name, all four boys turned around and two of them broke into wide smiles.

Lily abandoned her cart and ran to give Remus a hug.

Being much taller than her, Remus lifted her off her feet and swung her around.

Swinging her around was their private joke.

In fifth year during rounds Lily had informed him that no one had ever swung her around and it bothered her as it was a common occurrence in movies.

Since then, every hug she gave him he took the opportunity to swing her around.

If she thought he meant anything romantic by it she would have slapped him. She loved Remus…but the idea of them being together was- well gross.

"Remmy" she shrieked as he spun, using the nickname she knew he hated.

Remus set her down and mock glared at her.

"If you call me Remmy I'll be forced to call you Petal" he threatened. Lily gasped.

"You wouldn't" she said in horror.

Remus nodded solemnly.

"Indeed I would, Petal" Lily giggled and punched him lightly in the arm.

To her right someone cleared their throat.

Lily swiveled and her eyes landed on James Potter.

James' face was beet red, his lips were held together tightly, and his hands were clenched in fists.

Lily raised an eyebrow and decided from the look on Remus' face it was time to take her leave.

"I'll see you later…Remmy" she said bumping his hip with hers.

As Lily walked away she heard low voices arguing. Turning back, she saw the boys having a heated conversation. Shaking her head Lily boarded the train quickly.

"Boys"