A young girl, outstretched on the grass, looked up into the foggy sky. She'd pulled her crimson hair up into a messy ponytail to get it out of the way. Judging by her watch, it was six o'clock sharp. She'd been eleven for six hours… she didn't feel any older, but at least she was.

Something had woken her up, though she was unaware of just exactly what it was. She'd thought she had had a nightmare, but she couldn't remember. Every time she tried to focus on it, something told her not to.

After hearing the front door close, she sat up to see her sister, Petunia, leaving the house.

"Where are you going?"

"None of your business, Lily."

"Tell me or I'll wake dad," Lily warned.

Petunia rolled her eyes. "You're annoying even on your birthday. All right… but if I tell you, then you have to be my cover story in case mum and dad wake up. Understand?"

"All right."

"I'm going to meet Vernon," her face flushed. "We… we're dating now, and I don't want Daddy to know yet… and you'd better not tell him!"

"Eww… But he's… like… ugly; and, he has two chins."

"Are you implying he's fat?" she asked sharply. "Because if you are… let me just tell you something… He's… he's big boned. It runs in his family."

Lily raised her eyebrows. "If you say so. Yeah, I'll cover for you. Have fun."

"And you," she smiled. "You know, Lil, you really are all right sometimes."

As she skipped across the front yard, Lily lay back down, closing her eyes momentarily, when suddenly she heard something land next to her.

Heart racing, she opened her right eye, then her left. "Aww… what a beautiful owl. Why are you out here so early, my beautiful bird?"

That's when she noticed a letter tied to its foot. As she undid the wrapping, her eyes scanned her watch. It was already nearing seven o'clock.

Lily, after fumbling with the letter, read whom it was addressed to.

Miss Lily Evans

Laying in the Grass

912 Master Pub Street

Lily was shocked. Who would know exactly where she was? She spun around quickly to look for a spy, and felt foolish when no one came within view. Slipping her thumb under the seal, she pulled out the parchment and hurriedly began to read.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

Of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Miss Evans,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find and enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Lily was astonished. How could she be a witch? She sat on the lawn, pondering, until she was snapped out of her thoughts as Petunia trudged back towards the house. "What's that you've got there?"

"A letter."

"Never would've guessed that. Whose owl?"

"I dunno. Some lady named McGonagall."

"Well, let me see it then."

"All right," Lily replied hesitantly, then turned it over. "Well, what do you think?"

Her eyes had grown large. "A witch! A witch? Preposterous! You…! You're a freak!"

It was not the reaction Lily had expected. She took a step back, astounded. "A freak? Is that all you've got to say?"

"No, but I wonder what mum and dad will think!" she shouted as she raced into the house and into their parent's room. They were just getting up.

"What's going on here?" Mr. Evans asked, yawning.

Petunia shoved the letter under his nose. "It's about Lily. Go on, read it."

"No, not yet!" Lily exclaimed. "Where's mum…? I want her to be here for this."

Mrs. Evans stepped out of the bathroom. "Be here for what?"

"Well," Lily began, sitting tenderly on the edge of her parent's bed. "I… This school… Well, you see… I'm a witch. The letter says so, and even has a lady you can contact if you don't believe me. They've got this whole school to train kids like me, and I'm guessing that they want me there by the looks of it… If what they're saying is really possible, then can I go? Please… as a birthday present?"

"Well, if it's what you want," said Mr. Evans, whilst taking off his glasses and polishing them on his pajama shirt.

Lily threw her arms around his neck. "It is… more than anything! Thank you so much!"

"Though, mind you, we will be in contact with this… school… to make sure everything is how it seems. Now, come on, I'm starving for some blueberry pancakes." Mrs. Evans laughed as Lily's grin ceased to fall.