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The rooster crowed the waking hour, time to get up. The eleven year old, Lily Evans, pulled her long auburn hair into a tight ponytail. She slipped on an old pair of cover-alls and headed down the worn steps of the farm house she shared with her family. She ploughed through the warm kitchen and picked up a couple pieces of toast and downed a glass of milk. She opened the back door, and was greeted by the caress of the frigid morning air. She sat on the stoop and slipped on a pair of mud-crusted boots before headed to the barn for the morning feeding.
She slid open the big red barn door and headed to the feed room. She filled three buckets with oats and corn and headed to the horse stalls. She put one bucket in Charlie's stall, their huge plow horse. She proceeded to place the buckets in Miss Ann's stall, their retired riding pony, and Dustry, her personal favorite. She gave him a few carrots before grabbing a pitchfork and starting to shovel out his stall as he crunched on his feed. Maybe she would have a chance to ride him later.
When she finished the stall, she headed over to the small cow barn. The Evan's only owned a few cows, as they mainly grew crops on their many acres of land that had been passed through generation to generation. But Lily's mother insisted on having a few cows for meat and fresh milk. Ty, the hired farm hand, would already be over there, milking away. But Lily always liked helping him, as he was easy to talk to, and the fact that he was cute didn't bother her very much either.
She entered the barn, grabbing a stool and pail. She sat down next to a cow, across from the one Ty was currently milking. He said a quick hello before continuing the job he had started. Ty was 19, fresh out of high school. He had curly brown hair that looked blonde in the sunlight, or it did when he wasn't wearing his dusty cowboy hat. He was of medium height, and had a strong build. He was the youngest of five brothers and he said there was just nothing to do on the family farm. He lived in the old field hands shed the Evans had furnished into a small apartment with appliances and running water, but that did not stop him from eating dinner with the rest of the family.
Petunia, Lily's 16 year old sister, always flirted with Ty, and it made Lily mad. Not that Lily was jealous, it was just that Petunia and he had nothing in common. When Ty would like to take a walk in the forest, Petunia would rather go shopping in the city. Petunia hated being outdoors, so she never had to do farm chores. Her mother made her do the dishes and vacuuming instead, which she didn't mind as much. Lily hated doing housework, but she wasn't a pig. She kept her room orderly and kept the barn fairly clean. Sometimes Lily's father was not home, so Ty and her would take care of everything. It was hard doing the chores with just Ty to help, but they always managed.
Lily and Ty finished milking, and Lily poured her milk into an urn to be stored in the huge freezer behind the cow barn were they kept the meat and extra milk cool. Lily had one more chore before she could relax. She went a filled one more feed bucket and carried it to the small pen were she kept her pet sheep, Poll. Lily set down the bucket and felt her swollen belly. She was expecting her lamb any day now. Lily hoped it would come soon, before school started in three weeks. She patted Poll's light wool coat and set off toward the house.
Lily's mother, Rose, wouldn't let anyone eat until they had washed up. Lily washed her hands and face and put on a pair of jeans and a loose tee shirt, then headed to the kitchen for the feast her mother always prepared after the chores were done. Ty and Petunia were already seated, Lily took the chair next to Ty and started talking about Poll, saving him from Petunia's mindless chatter about what kind of shoes she was wearing that day. Two minutes later, Lily's father, Harold, stepped through the door and washed up in the sink. Her father was a huge man, reaching the height of 6'4''. With his broad shoulders, he filled the room. His booming voice carried across any room, his laugh shook any ones bones like thunder. He took a seat at the head of the table and waited for Rose. Lily's mother reached only 5' 3'', but her work hardened body and unwavering stubbornness put their father's own stubborn personality to shame. With her around, the barreling man had the heart of a puppy. But even still, he had a heart of gold that no one had to tame.
Once everyone was seated, Harold said grace, and every plate was filled with gusto. Lily's own plate was pilled high with biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs. she polished every thing off with yet another glass of cool milk. After breakfast, everyone went his or her separate way. Petunia retired to her room to call her friends. Ty went off into the yard. Harold went into the living room and flipped on the news channel. Lily went outside to talk to Poll.
It wasn't until lunch that everyone saw each other again. Every one was making small talk over the food. All of the sudden, an owl swooped through the open screen door and landed among the peas. There was a quiet silence were the only noise was coming from outside. All of the sudden Petunia screamed, and ducked into the next room, only to peer around the door. Rose grabbed a broom, and with the help of Harold, tried to push it out the door. Lily was running around the table telling her parents not to hurt the poor thing. The kitchen was abuzz with noise. Ty stood calmly in the corner before bellowing, " Everybody FREEZE!" The room was quiet once again, confused looks covered the family's faces.
Ty headed over to the table and scooped the owl up, he took the envelope out of it's beak, which everyone just know noticed, and sent the owl back out the door. Ty read the address, before handing the cream envelope to Lily. She gently opened the seal, wondering what it could be.
Dear Miss Lily Marie Evans,
We are pleased to inform that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry……
Lily looked up , then reread the letter out loud. Ty was smiling, Petunia screamed from her position behind the door, and her parents mouths opened and closed, not unlike that of a fish.
" Congratulations Lily!" he beamed, " that is one of the top schools in the world, it was were I went to school,"
Once again everyone stared, Ty explained about what having magical powers meant, and how she had the opportunity to go to boarding school. Lily was filled with longing, what an opportunity this was. She could learn how to cast spells!
" I don't think she should go," said her father. Lily almost burst into tears, but she hadn't cried since she was four, not even when she fell out of the barn loft and broke her arm in three places. She turned to her mother, who in turn was watching Lily.
" I think she should," she said firmly. Harold looked at her mother, about to speak, but Rose gave him 'the look' and he finally agreed.
" If you want to go, I guess it is all right." he said tiredly. Petunia gave a screeched " Freaks," before dashing up the stairs.
Lily was so happy. She was a witch and Ty could tell her anything she needed to know. A couple days later Ty took her to Diagon Alley, and showed her around. She bought all her school supplies and started reading her school books when she got home. She had even got her own wand, she almost had a heart attack in the store when sparks shot out of it. She saw lots of interesting people and wanted to meet them all.
A couple of days later, Pol had her lamb, a healthy strong boy. Lily named him Merlin, after a wizard in her school book. She did her chores with a new vigor and couldn't wait till school started. Ty had told her all about the train and the platform, and anything there was to know about the ancient school. One thing she didn't understand was the whole sport of quidditch. One day after chores, Ty brought Lily out to a big field carrying a long box. He set it down and opened it. Inside was an old broom.
" Are we going to sweep the grass?" she asked him, thinking he was insane.
" Nope, this is a Cleansweep 260. My broom from when I was on my house quidditch team." Lily looked at the old broom with new excitement.
"I wanna ride it," she exclaimed.
" I was hoping you would say that," said Ty. For the next hour he taught her the basics, and finally he let her mount it. She pushed off like she had learned and soared into the air, she was a natural. Ty occasionally called out instructions. It was almost dinner time, so he called her down. Her cheeks were flushed red and her ponytail was coming undone.
" I want to join the house team, she said breathless.
Ty laughed, " You will have to wait till next year, they won't let firsties on the teams, but by then you will be a pro." Lily smiled at the thought.
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So how do you like it. I would really appreciate your reviews. I don't think anyone has done a story were Lily actually lives on a farm, at least I hope not.
Disclaimer: the Plot is mine, and some of the Characters, but things you don't recognize are mine. Anyway, the first chapters are going to be when she is in first years and meets the mauraders, then after that the chapters will be based on their sixth or seventh year.
Because I am not to good with long drawn out stories,i dont think this one will be very long. I tend to run out of ideas pretty quickly. I think in the next chapter I will introduce James, should I have Lily and him be friends, or should I have Lily dislike him like J.K. Rowling so brilliantly wrote in her book?
This is a pretty long chapter ( for me anyway) and I don't know how long the others will be, so I guess the more reviews I get, the longer the chapters ( and maybe if my reviewers ask for long chapters I will comply)
Fairybells
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