Author's Note: Well, this is my first "real" attempt at a good story that we all know ends in death. I'm hoping to follow Lily and James through most of their life, though I can't promise anything. This, of course, will be a hate/love fic -- I love 'em! We'll hope this works out :)

Disclaimer: What? Me? Own Harry Potter? I WISH! Most of the characters in this story are owned by the one, the only, and the brilliant J.K. Rowling!

Chapter One: The Letters

"It wasn't me!" a small voice shrilled. Lily Evans looked up from the book she was reading to see James McGregor holding little Audrey Peterson up in the air, with Lily's sister Petunia looking on in fear.

"Well someone took my snake," James said, "and I'm trying to find out who it was. You know something, don't you?" Audrey shook her head. Lily sighed, closed her book, and stood up. Once again, it seemed as though it were up to her to break up a fight. Lily was only ten years old, and small for her age, but no one dared to fight her. Why? No one knew, really, but when she got mad strange things happened. Lily walked up behind James, and tapped him on the shoulder.

"WHAT?" he snarled, turning around.

"Put her down," Lily said, clenching her fist. "She's not worth it."

"No," he told her, defiantly. "She knows something about my snake, and I'm not giving up until she confesses." Lily glared at him, and suddenly his feet jerked out from under him. He let go of Audrey as he fell, and she landed on her feet. James glared at her, and stood up.

James was five inches taller than Lily, and a good fifty pounds heavier, but Lily stared him down anyway. He looked as though he were about to throw a punch at her, when a book flew past, and attacked him. Then another, and another.

"I give!" he yelled, fighting off the books. Lily's anger melted away, and the books fell to the ground. Lily was a good soul, and never stayed mad at a person after they apologized -- no matter how many times they did something wrong. James left the room, and Lily picked up her book and sat down again.

"Thank you," Audrey said, coming over. Petunia came over too. Petunia was two years younger than Lily, and was Audrey's best friend.

"It's okay," Lily told her. "James is nothing but a bully, that's all." 'And he shouldn't be here either,' she thought to herself. 'Why oh why do Mum and Dad have to both work this summer? And why can't they just hire someone to watch us at home, instead of this awful daycare?' Unfortunately, it was only the middle of July. Lily would have to wait until September to get out of the daycare and go back to school.

A crash and a scream were heard from upstairs, and then a pause, followed by the sound of someone running down the stairs.

"Lily!" Harriet Wicket called. "Lily, there's an owl upstairs!" Lily put down her book for the second time, and started to follow Harriet upstairs.

"I don't know where it came from!" Harriet told Lily, excitedly. "It's big and brown, and it's holding a letter addressed to you!" Lily grabbed Harriet's arm, and pulled her to a stop.

"Harriet," she told her. "This is a great joke, really. But you can't possibly expect me to believe that there's actually an owl waiting upstairs with a letter for ME. That's bloody insane." Harriet just stared. "Now, this has been fun, really it has, but I'm really enjoying the book I'm reading, so if you'll excuse me..." Lily swept off, leaving a stunned Harriet behind.

~ * ~

James Potter bounded down the stairs, his friends Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew running after him. The two boys were now running for their life, which they knew to be short if Gemma the house-elf were to clean James's room while they were around. Both of the boys were big on practical jokes, and they had just spent the entire morning booby-trapping James's room, waiting for that moment when they would run outside as fast as they possibly could. It was all in the fun of the game, of course, but if by chance they did get caught, they knew they would be in deep trouble.

"Slow down, James!" Sirius called. "We can't keep up!"

"You need to get faster!" James called back. They burst out the front door, and ran into the gardens. One by one they ducked under the bush that was their 'secret clubhouse' to escape the possible wrath of the maid. James sat up, panting very hard.

"That was great, guys," he said, holding up his magical watch. He had just gotten it for his eleventh birthday. "It only took us thirteen seconds to get out of the house!" Sirius and Peter slapped high-fives.

A shadow was cast over the bush. "James," a man's voice was heard. "Come out now." All three boys lost their grins at once, and crawled out expecting Mr. Potter to yell at them. Of course, their expectations were not met; they never were. Harold Potter was never one to raise his voice, especially where his son was concerned.

"James," he started. "While I am proud that my son has become as much of a practical joker as I was in my day, I must tell you that-"

"Mr. Potter?" a small voice said. Both Harold and James looked down, a house-elf stood there. "Mr. Potter, I am sorry to interrupt, but there is an owl in the den." Harold nodded, and started walking towards the house, while motioning for the three boys to follow. They did, their heads hanging in defeat.

Harold marched the boys into the house, through the main hall, and into the den. He had them take seats while he walked over and retrieved the letter from the owl. Suddenly he shouted.

"JAMES!" he yelled. James looked up guiltily. Harold ran over, and shoved the letter in to James's hand. "Open it, boy!" he said, excitedly. James looked down at the cream-colored envelope, with emerald green writing.

"James Potter, Potter Mansion," James read out loud. He turned it over, and almost jumped with joy. "It's got a Hogwarts crest!" he yelled. Sirius started jumping up and down yelling, and Peter grinned. James opened it.

"Dear Mr. Potter," he read, "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 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31. Yours sincerely, Theodora Quincy, Deputy Headmistress."

A small 'Poof' was heard behind them, and Amelia Potter apparated into the room. "What's going on?" she asked, a big smile on her face. James held up his letter, and her smile got bigger. "That's great son!" she said, running over to hug him. "We'll have to go to Diagon Alley this afternoon to get your supplies!" James made a face.

"But Mum," he said, "I was supposed to go to Sirius's today." Sirius nodded. Amelia looked crestfallen.

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to go tomorrow then," she said. "You boys run off and have fun!" All three boys ran out of the den, and back out to the garden, where they each claimed a bench around the water fountain.

"Hey Jimmy," Sirius started. "If you got your Hogwarts letter today, do you suppose...?" Peter's eyes widened.

"Yeah!" he yelled. "We'll probably get ours today, too!" James leapt to his feet.

"Well then, what are we doing?!" he yelled. "Let's go find out!" Sirius and Peter got up too, and the three friends ran -- yet again -- back to the house.

~ * ~

Lily served herself some more salad, and relaxed. She was now home for the weekend, and wouldn't have to bother with James McGregor for a while. Finally, Gardenia and John Evans had some time to spend at home with their two daughters. Lily flipped on the telly, and sat down to watch some American shows with Petunia.

Gardenia came in to check on the two girls. "Hello girls," she said. "How was daycare today?"

"James McGregor was bullying Audrey again!" Petunia burst out. "Lily stopped him, though. And then an owl flew right through the window upstairs!" Gardenia's eyes went wide. She was a big supporter of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and hated to hear about animals getting hurt.

"How did it fare after that?" she wanted to know.

"It was fine. They called the police to check it out, but it left before that. I don't think it was hurt at all!"

"Okay, that's good," Gardenia said. "Well, after all that excitement, I propose we take a much-needed vacation to Paris this weekend then." Petunia's eyes widened, and a grin spread over her face.

"Paris?!" she shrieked. "Oh boy!" She could think of nothing but the time her parents had taken Lily to Paris without her. Of course, she had only been five years old at the time, but she had been made to stay with the Fletchers who lived down the street. Their son, Mundungus, was not known for being the best child around to hang out with, so Petunia had had to stay away from him all weekend.

While Petunia ran upstairs to pack, a shadow fell across the window. Lily turned to look, just as a very audible 'click' was heard at the mail-slot in the front door. Gardenia looked out of the room.

"What on earth could that be?" she asked, going out to the hall. A few seconds later, she called out. "John! Lily!"

Lily walked out into the hall, salad bowl still in her hand, as her father came down the stairs. "What is it, Mum?" Lily asked. Gardenia handed her a cream-colored envelope, addressed with emerald green writing.

"Lily Evans, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey," Lily read out loud. She turned the envelope over, to find a wax seal on the back. "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Very funny, it's probably just a prank note, Mum." Gardenia had a strange look on her face.

"Just open it, dear." Gardenia had an odd look on her face. So did John.

Lily broke off the wax seal, lifted the flap open, and pulled out two sheets of what looked like parchment.

"Dear Miss Evans," she read, "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the most prestigious magical school in the world. Since you are Muggle-born, and have no knowledge of the magical world, we will be sending an Instructor to your house tomorrow to explain everything, and take you to buy your school supplies. We congratulate you. Yours sincerely, Theodora Quincy, Deputy Headmistress."

Lily looked at her parents, who were glowing with pride. She felt confused. This couldn't possibly be true -- magic was just pretend.

At this point, Gardenia broke down. "Oh Lily," she told her, through her sobs. "We're so proud of you, honey." Lily looked at her.

"But Mum, it's just a prank or something. It couldn't possibly be real!" John, looked at the floor, then back at Lily, with a grin on his face.

"No it's not," he told her. "I have a cousin who went there."

"And my aunt did," Gardenia added. "We just never thought that... you could have it!"

Just then, Petunia came downstairs, dragging a suitcase, grinning broadly. "I'm ready for Paris!"