Chapter One

Lily shook her head and sighed. Why couldn't she have two, perfectly normal brothers? James, who was constantly in detention and spent the rest of his time being a jerk, and Albus, being a nerd as usual with his head always stuck in a book. It's not as if she didn't love her brothers. They could be really – well – brotherly sometimes, but most of the time she just wished that they would act normal. She wasn't asking for them to give her heaps of attention, or to ask her if she had slept well every morning, but a little normality would be nice.

This was Lily's fourth year at Hogwarts. With James starting the year with a detention already, and Albus, the prefect, who was practically lined up for Head Boy next year, she almost wished she had come first, then, at least, she would not have to live up to Albus's standards and also to try not to get in trouble, as her parents had it hard enough with James. Her best friend, Kate, had gone to Italy over the summer holidays and Lily's were spiked with jealousy as she read Kate's letters, which were always full of sunshine, happiness and bronzed boys, while stuck in Grimmauld Place with her brothers.

"Lily!"

"Kate!" Lily shrieked in reply as she was almost bowled over by her friend, as she was enveloped into a hug.

"It's so good to see you! I could barley wait any longer!" Kate's excitement was evident, as was her browner than usual skin, proof of a very sunny holiday. As the girls caught up on the fragments of gossip that had been forgotten in their letters they found an empty compartment and hauled their luggage in before sitting down and continuing to chat about their holidays.

"So, how was Italy?" Lily queried, relishing in Kate's talk about everything Italy, especially the boy factor.

"It was the best! Mum and Dad even started talking about going back there next year."

"Oh." Lily was not looking forward to another lonely summer at Grimmauld Place next year as well.

"You know, they did say I was welcome to invite you next time around, there's no way that I would leave you stuck with those brothers of yours again." Kate cheered Lily up significantly by this. "Although I probably wouldn't mind being around them all summer." Lily laughed. She had known for a while now that Kate liked the look of her brothers, especially James.

The ride to Hogwarts went by quickly. Soon, they were all tumbling out onto the platform at Hogsmeade and heading up to the castle in the seemingly horseless carriages for the sorting of the first years and the welcoming feast.

As per usual, the house elves had outdone themselves in the magnificent feast that appeared on golden dishes on the house tables. Lily and Kate both piled up their plates with food as they continued to talk about everything and anything. The cauldron cakes off the food trolley had seemed like a very long time ago.