Chapter One:
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own any of the characters, story or the Harry Potter world in general. All of that belongs to J.K. Rowling and I'm extremely glad she created it. A few of these come directly from the books, although partially paraphrased. A few are of my own thoughts.
The swings creaked as a young red head threw herself off, landing on her feet. At the same moment a pale boy with long black hair quickly moved from behind the bushes, while saying "You're…you're a witch."
. . .
As the train sped along, six eleven-year-olds sat in a compartment. Four were huddled together, seemingly ignoring the other two, the red head and the pale boy, until a cheerful looking boy announced "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd rather leave, wouldn't you?"
The boy across the way responded "My whole family have been in Slytherin."
"Blimey and I thought you seemed all right," the first boy answered, his smiling never leaving his face.
Smirking, the second boy answered, "Maybe I'll break the tradition." The first boy began to speak about the house he wanted to be placed in, Gryffindor, but was interrupted by a snigger from one of the two in the opposite corner.
After a brief argument, the red head stood up and glaring at the four boys, turned to her companion and said "Come on Severus, let's find another compartment."
. . .
A girl with short blonde hair bounced over to the corner chair that contained the red head. Bouncing behind her was a tall brunette, with another dark haired girl following and staring at the ceiling as she walked.
"Hi! I'm Alice!" The blonde stuck her hand out in front of the red head. Nodding her head towards the brunette she said "And this is Marly and behind her is Dorcas."
The red head stood up from her chair and grasped Alice's hand, "I'm Lily."
. . .
Lily, now fourteen stood in the shower rinsing the conditioner out of her hair. As usual she had gotten up early in order to beat her four roommates to the bathroom. Still partially asleep she stumbled out of the shower and over to the mirror. Eyes closed she began to brush out the tangles in her hair. Sleepily she yawned and opened her eyes. Upon looking in the mirror she screamed.
"James Potter I'm going to kill you!"
Her glorious red hair was now a shade of green to match her eyes.
. . .
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" She had just turned fifteen and she bore an expression of passionate hate.
The first boy from the train stood by her, wand raised. He had grown an impressive amount, although his hair was as unruly as it had been the first day she met him on the train. "Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you."
"Take the curse off him, then." Lily answered sharply.
Sighing, the boy turned and lifted the curse off her friend, Severus. "There you go, you're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus—"
"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
. . .
"Go out with me Evans."
"Go away Potter."
"Not until you go out with me."
Whirling around the Lily looked James Potter, the same boy from the train, in the eyes and spoke her words with a deadly calm. "Potter, if you don't get out of my sight right now, you'll rue the day you were ever born into the world."
Forever smiling, James responded, "As you wish Evans. I have to meet Sirius anyway. We'll talk about our date later." Winking he turned and began to walk away.
"I wish you'd get it through your head I will never go out with anyone like you. I'd rather date a death eater." James paused, but never turned to look behind him, as he resumed his walk.
. . .
Standing in front of the Gryffindor entrance, Lily leaned with her back against the wall, looking distastefully at her friend, Severus.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm not interested."
"I'm sorry."
"Save your breathe."
. . .
"Listen Lily, I'm sorry." Shocked, the red head looked up. She was yet again older, on the train just finishing her sixth year of school. She brushed her long bangs out of her face and stared at the boy standing in front of her.
"Potter, you're what?"
"I'm sorry. For everything. The pranks, pestering you all the time…" He seemed to stop and think for a second. "And for making you lose someone close to you." Lily was unable to form a sentence. "I hope that when we come back next year, we can start over, maybe be friends. Have a good summer, Lily." With that he turned and left her speechless in the train compartment.
. . .
Lily slowly opened her envelope, careful not the rip it in any way. Pulling everything inside out and placing it on her bed, she stared in awe at the shiny new badge with the letters HG on it.
. . .
All of these moments, these small increments of time, had led her to this. Lily took a breath as she hugged her parents good-bye and walked through the brick barrier, to the Hogwarts Express.
. . .
Author's Note: I've written one or two chapters in advance of this, but I probably won't be posting them up right away. I'd really like to write a little more, just in case I go back and correct something. This story is a work in progress so bear with me and feel free to review.
