Lily Evans always knew she was different, but couldn't seem to put her finger on exactly what made her so. There was always her vivid red hair, which stood out starkly against the bland surroundings or Privet Drive. Or perhaps, it was the fact that she had a personality, unlike so many of her dull neighbors. Or maybe, it was something else…
One dreary evening, just as the sun sank behind the outline of dozens of identical houses, Lily heard an uproar coming from the kitchen downstairs.
Fearing the worst, she descended the stairs, only to find her sister crouched below a kitchen table screaming her lungs out and cowering away from a large barn owl now situated on a chair. Lily took note of the slightly amused expressions on her parents' faces, before they realized their error and knelt to comfort the distraught Petunia.
Lily, in a surge of courage, walked over to the bird, which stuck its legs out on which a letter had been attached bearing her name. She tentatively broke the seal and began reading the letter.
"Er… mom?" she said, handing over the letter.
"…"
After in interesting yet confusing afternoon, the Evans family finally concluded that no, this was not some kind of sick joke, and yes, Lily was indeed a witch. They decided to purchase Lily's supplies the next morning at this Diagon Alley.
The next day, an excited Lily, clutching her Hogwarts letter, set out with her mother in search of the Leaky Cauldron. Upon spotting the Grubby Pub, Lily walked over to the kindly looking bartender.
"Uh, sir?" she inquired, "Could you tell me-" but she was interrupted.
"Ah, Hogwarts I'm sure?" he said with a slight twinkle in his eye as he glanced at the letter in her hands.
Lily felt relieved. She wasn't crazy after all…
"Yes, if you could show me to Diagon Alley?" He nodded and let mother and daughter out a back door and to a brick wall, which he tapped with a long stick in a few places. The bricks began folding back, creating an arch for them to walk beneath. An entire busteling town lay beyond, just waiting to be explored.
After getting over their initial shock, the pair decided to split up. Lily decided to head over to Flourish and Blott's first, since she was an extremely passionate reader. As she attempted to enter the shop, she ran head-on into something very solid. She and said object fell to the floor in a tangled mass of limbs.
Finally looking up, Lily saw a boy her age with unruly black hair and round glasses that covered surprised hazel eyes.
"I'm so sorry, I-" The boy broke off as he glanced at her for the first time. A slight blush crept up his cheeks and she felt her own face warm up as well. The boy staggered to his feet and quickly extended his hand to help her up.
"Thanks. I'm Lily Evans" She told him politely, if not a little cautiously. He looked a bit daft to her, staring with his mouth slightly agape.
"Uhh- P-Potter," was about all he could manage.
"Just Potter?" Lily asked teasingly, "Well Potter it is then."
And thus began the story of Lily and James.