It was a sunny day, half past noon when the Evans family received quite a shock. There was nothing extraordinary about them, really. Mister Evans worked as a landscaper for the types of people who wanted their buildings or houses to look posh. He often remarked that he liked the work because it was simple, creative labor that people can enjoy as art. Mrs. Evans was a school teacher, and rather a good one at that. She was always patient, but very firm. Their eldest daughter, Petunia, was the type of girl who could be extremely loyal or extremely petty. She had thin, reedy features and long, dark hair that nearly reached her waist. Lately they had seen a change in her attitude toward their youngest daughter, Lily.

She was different from Petunia, for many reasons. She had a warm personality, and hair the color of autumn leaves. Her face was angled, though hidden by childish features, as she was only eleven years old. Lily was the reason the Evans family would never be the same.

On Saturday, January the twenty-third of 1971, an owl unceremoniously swooped down from the heavens to land on the windowsill. It rapped its beak hard against the glass pane, gaining attention from the family within. Lily's heart beat wildly in her chest. She knew that the letter in the owl's beak was for her.

"Heavens!" Mr. Evans exclaimed, standing up from the dinner table to open the window. He reached his hand out and took the letter from the owl with some trepidation. "Lily, dear, it's for you."

Lily fought to keep her excitement under control. Petunia had caught her and her friend Severus discussing the letter a few weeks ago, but her parents knew nothing. That would change today. Lily held her hand out and took the letter from her father. It was specifically addressed to her. It read:

Miss Lily Evans

The Green Bedroom

Watford Avenue, Spinner's End

England

"Well, aren't you going to open it?" asked Mrs. Evans. Lily supposed she should. She flipped the letter over and saw it was sealed with red wax, with a crest split into four sections: lion, badger, eagle, and snake. She broke the seal and pulled out the letter.

"What's this all about, then?" asked Petunia bluntly.

"I've been accepted to a school for magic," replied Lily, skimming her eyes across the page. She looked up to see confusion plain on her parents' faces.

"Come again?"

Lily didn't want to explain so instead she handed the letter to her father to read for himself.

"Dear Miss Evans, you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Look, dear," he said, showing his wife the letter.

Lily's mother put her hand to her chest and beamed proudly.

"Can you imagine? Lily, learning magic! I can't quite believe it," she exclaimed.

"Well, if you ask me, she's a freak," said Petunia with a sneer. Lily pursed her lips and tried to rein in her temper. Magical things happened when she got emotional.

"Now, Petunia, that wasn't very nice. Apologize to your sister," said Mrs. Evans firmly. Petunia crossed her arms defiantly.

"I won't! Lily's the freak, not me," she said. Lily pursed her lips. She had already been through this argument with Petunia once.

"Then you will go to your room without dessert," replied their mother. Petunia's mouth hung open in surprise before she snapped it closed and stomped off down the hall to her room, huffing all the way.

"Now about this school, Lily," said Mr. Evans. Lily tore her eyes from the empty hallway and back to her father. "This says term begins September first, and that we have to reply by July thirty-first so I suppose it's good that it came so early."

"What else does it say, Dad?" Lily asked.

"Let's see," he said, pushing his reading glasses higher up his nose. "You'll need a uniform. Black wizard's robes. I don't know where we'll get them, but let's read on. There's a book list, as well. A wand-"

"A wand?" Lily asked excitedly.

"Don't interrupt your father, dear," said her mum fondly. Lily waited for her father to continue.

"A wand," he said, smiling at her, "a cauldron, crystal phials, a telescope, and brass scales. It also says you can bring an owl, a cat, or a toad. You don't have a pet, so we'll not worry with that for now."

Lily smiled at her parents, thankful that they were such understanding people. Her friend Severus had told her that some people don't take the news of having a magical child well. In all honesty, Lily had already known she was a witch.

One day, she had been playing with Petunia by the bank of the River Banwell. A boy had stepped out from behind a tree and introduced himself to her as Severus Snape.

"Alright? I'm Lily, and this is Petunia," she said, gesturing to her sister. Severus had ignored Petunia entirely.

"Are you one, too?" he asked. It had confused Lily and prompted her to ask what he was talking about.

"A witch. I'm a wizard."

At first Lily thought he was joking.. When she had confirmed that he was, in fact, not joking at all and was entirely serious, she began to ask questions. She hardly even noticed that his clothes were too big and so mismatched it looked deliberate. Petunia had stomped off toward the house for some reason, but Lily hadn't been worried about it. She and Severus became fast friends. They spent every day together, doing small bits of magic. He eventually began to talk more to her, and had told her about Hogwarts.

"We'll be getting our letters soon, I think," he'd told her. And she had!

Her father was staring at the letter, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He looked up at Lily and smiled.

"Well, I suppose we have a witch in the family. Isn't it wonderful?"