A/N: I'M BACK! Welcome to my new version of what used to be The Fellowship of the Phoenix, and is now The Phoenix Chronicles: Reborn Ashes. I hope you like it.
Poll question, if you did read my last story, what was your favorite part or character?
THANX!
-Hermione-lilypotter1234
Reborn Ashes: Chapter 1- The Element of Surprise(?)
An owl soared gracefully in tight spirals, flying higher and higher threatening to obscure the code of gravity. The horizon creeping upon the nights turned back, to steal into dawn, and rid the sky of stars.
Reaching it's climax, the owl stopped, and clamped in it's beak, was a destiny. A destiny filled with learning, adventures, dangers and a peephole into another world for one lucky acceptant. Except luck had nothing to do with it.
Lily's eyes fluttered as the summer dawn shone upon her as she awakened from a splendid dream where she was gliding with an owl past the silk of the starry wonders. A lovely day was arising although not including the extra twinge of August it was as nice as any other day in the little town of Surrey. Nothing suggesting any change of winds.
Dressing quickly, Lily pulled on a knot in her hair with a beautiful hand carved, wooden brush her father had given her for her eighth birthday.
Lain in the head of the brush were the words:
To the sweetest girl,
May your blossom always grow
Happy Birthday –Dad
Though a brush with such sentimental words would be meaningless to most others, it was, none the less, one of her most prized possessions.
Miles away, a certain boy was also greeting the new day. Crawling out of his crimson sheets, he rounded his massive, four poster bed to a giant dresser> Ruffling his very dark, messy, black hair, and, finding his full moon glasses, he blinked his hazel eyes adjusting to his newfound sight.
James picked a slightly wrinkled, red T-shirt, and some short slacks. Pulling on some running shoes, he headed down the stairs to breakfast where he could hear his mother's anxious rambling that he'd heard for weeks.
"That letter should arrive any day now! And I'm getting nervous Harold. What if he doesn't get accepted? What shall we do then?"
"Ruby calm yourself," James' father spoke calmly. "The boy is going to be accepted, it's one of those matters you should be sure of. Knowing that you went, and I went there should be no doubt he's going too."
In her blue blouse and tan skirt, Lily walked down the stairs listening to the crumple of newspapers, and simmering bacon, which meant her parents were downstairs.
Opening the kitchen door Lily saw her father reading The Surrey Report, Petunia eating quietly watching the news (something about a rage of owls...), and her mother hurrying about the kitchen flipping pancakes, and boiling eggs.
"Morning." Lily said as everyone turned to look at her for the first time.
"Morning." They chanted back, and turned back to their previous engagements, as if they'd never been disturbed.
Lily was used to this sort of cold shoulder, because she'd gotten it practically every morning for the past ten and a half years, not including her birthday, and Christmas.
She mentally sighed and pulled out her chair, and spooned a few strawberries and grapes onto her plate.
James entered the dinning hall, where his family ate every morning, unless his father was called to work early.
"James m' boy!" His father greeted, "How'd you sleep last night?"
"Great Dad. Mm, smells good!" James replied, sitting down, grinning.
"Here's some toast dear. Harold pass the butter please, what time is it?" She asked anxiously.
James' father just rolled his eyes, "Five minutes later than the last time you asked me. Ruby please, for all our sakes just wait ten more minutes until the post arrives, I have a feeling it'll come today."
"TEN MINUTES!" Ruby shouted, impatiently.
Lily finished breakfast quickly, and decided to go outside. So, pulling on some sandals, and grabbing a small ice pop, she retreated to the shade of the only large tree in the neighborhood located in the park.
The grass was a mixture of greens and yellows, and the trees reflected upon these colors. It all toned against a baby blue sky with a few hints of rose pink.
She had just finished her ice pop, when she saw the mailman walking towards the houses nearby. Lily was always one for mail, even if she never got anything. She just liked to spyonwhat the others were sent.
Running as fast as her thin legs could carry her she opened the front door before dropping the ice pop stick in the trash bin, and sitting on the stairs waiting for the mail to drop through.
"It's been ten minutes! Where's the post? You said it'd be here in ten minutes!" James' mother had gotten so jittery she'd gone to the window, and hadn't said a word for the whole meal till it had been ten minutes, and it hadn't come.
With a hint of humor, Harold replied, "Dearest, I think you'll find that the post comes from the north, and the window you're looking through is facing south, so... you wouldn't be able to see it coming from there anyway." James' father held in a laugh without looking up from The Daily Prophet.
James couldn't help but smirk at his parents, even if he too was getting anxious.
His mother gasped and rushed to find a window on the other side of the house, when an owl flew into the Hall, carrying about five letters.
As soon as the letters slid to the floor, Lily pounced, and thumbed through them, looking hurriedly over each shoulder, to make sure no one was watching her.
Something from Aunt Natalie in Ireland, a note from Petunia's pen-pal in Italy, a bill for father, her mum's book club notice- nothing for Lily.
It was only then that one more letter should drop through the door slot, and land in Lily's lap.
Miss Lily Evans
Furthermost Bedroom Upstairs
7th Privet Drive
Surrey
It was written in beautiful emerald, as ifreal emeraldshad been melted to write it. Lily had to think twice- it was a letter for her! Who was it from? She never got mail; she didn't have any friends at school, her parents were to busy praising Petunia (even though she usually got better grades) to send her anything. And Petunia- no... it was not Petunia, that was certain!
There was no return address, so Lily couldn't be more confused. Did anyone know about this? Was this some big joke?
In the end she decided to go bring the letters in casually, as if she'd never found the letter.
"Mail!" She half shouted, as everyone followed her. (For once.)
Her mother picked up the letters, "For you John. Something for Petunia, and…Lily!" Her mother was completely astounded.
Lily's father crept back over and took the letter to the table; everyone, was now crowding around to see what she had recieved.
Opening the letter, Lily's father unfolded a piece of yellow colored parchment. Minutes of awkward silence passed as everyone read Lily's letter.
Lily's mother gasped; her fathers' eyes bulged; Petunia glared, and left at that instant, making sure to elbow her sister as she passed.
Lily trotted over suddenly, and bent the parchment, gently, at an angle so she could read it.
It said,
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed, a list of all necessary books and equipment…
Term begins on September 1st. We expect your owl no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall (Deputy Headmistress)
P.S. I will be holding a meeting with you and your family the 15th of August, for some information, if you accept. Please do not take any unneeded measures to contact us before then. –M.M.
As before, Lily had trouble putting together the whole of all the events that had just taken into effect.
When she looked up, she saw only smiles from her parents, something that meant even more than her wooden brush- Approval, pleasure, and love.
All was silence as the owl landed beside James' father. His mother suddenly crossed to behind James' chair, gripping tight as she watched her husband thank the owl, and take the letters. He began to look through them.
His pay, Ruby's latest issue of Witch Weekly, the house bills, a catalogue for the latest broom models, and…the letter. He smiled proudly as he read the front,
Mr. J. potter
Sixth Bedroom, Second FloorLayswing Street
Gryffin Heights
James and Mrs. Potter saw the reassuring smile, and Mrs. Potter squealed, jumping up and down like a little girl, her dark, black hair bouncing jubilantly.
Mr. Potter handed his son the letter of a lifetime, instinctively running his hand through his graying black hair, which matched James perfectly.And James read his letter, smiling the entire time.
Dear Mr. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed, a list of all necessary books and equipment…
Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31st.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall (Deputy Headmistress)
"I guess the old bat's still teaching at Hogwarts, 'eh Ruby?" Mr. Potter joked.
"HAROLD! Minerva is quite a respected teacher, and besides, let's not ruin the moment, my Jamesie has just been accepted to Hogwarts, so it's time to celebrate!"
James cringed at the sound of his least favorite nickname.
"Or do you have to go to work?" Mrs. Potter asked threateningly.
Mr. Potter gave a fake shiver, " Oooh touchy Ruby! Nah' of course not, it's James' big day. I'll call Alastor, tell him I can't come today, he'll understand. And that'd be your list son." Mr. Potter pointed to the back of the letter James was now looking over.
Mrs. Potter perked up, "Why don't we get your supplies too?"
"Another day Ruby, come on James! Ruby we're definetly throwing our End of Summer Party this year, except let's call it...The Beginning of Term Party!"
James grinned and rushed out of the hall.
A knock was heard a few weeks later on August 15th, two months before Lily's birthday, and Mrs. Evans, rushed to answer it immediately, knowing exactly who it should be- The Professor.
She wore dark, emerald, velvet robes, with a matching witch hat, holding a blue-green peacock feather. Altogether, very elegant, but very intimidating.
Minutes afterwards they were all sitting in the parlor, and the Professor was giving some information to Lily and her parents, since Lily had, of course, accepted the invitation to Hogwarts.
The Professor was giving them the talk about their secrecy code, what Lily would be learning, and the responsibilities for them, as a family.
The Professor held up a gold key,
"This is to get into your account at Gringotts, as we discussed earlier, and you will have a guardian family that may change occasionally. Your family this year, at least, is the Paul and Margaret Potter family.
"They have three children, two will be attending Hogwarts this year. Joseph, and Margaret. Margaret is your age, and actually quite a likeness to yourself, appearance wise. Joseph is Head Boy, a seventh year, while their youngest, Jill, is only ten, and will most likely be accepted next year. They will be taking you to get your supplies on August 26th. You are to meet them here at twelve o'clock."
She shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Evans, nodded to Lily and the wide-eyed Petunia (who left immediately), and departed in a flash, literally.
Lily turned to her parents. Her mother wrapped an arm around her, something she rarely ever did, "We're so proud of you Lily." she whispered, Mr. Evans nodded.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it, and I also hope the back and forth between Lily and James wasn't too confusing. I wanted to do it that way, so you could see what different lives they lead.
-Hermione-lilypotter1234
And thanks to everyone who reviewed my former version of this story, and to everyone who reviews this story. I only expect about two-three reviews within the next few weeks or so, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't review!
