Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the characters

Lily woke up on her seventeenth birthday knowing exactly how the day would end. Today would be her last day with her mother and childhood instructor. Both of her brothers had made the decision and now it was her turn. Her mother begged her not to choose the life her father and brothers had. They argued over Lily's decision several times, never coming to an agreement or compromise.

"Please," Ginny Potter begged her daughter. "Don't leave us. You can live in the country like your cousin Rosie."

"Mom, I'm not Rosie," She put her hands on her hips and set her jaw, something she had picked up from her mother. "I was born for this."

"You feel like that now, but what about when they send you away from here?" She shuddered, "Or worse, they could send you on the front line."

"Don't be dramatic mother!" Lily snorted, "I've already made my decision. I'm going to the training station once I'm of age."

They had many more discussions on the topic, all of which Lily disregarded. She had made up her mind much to her mother's dismay. As she rolled out of bed she decided to shower before breakfast. She let the warm water run down her spine, enjoying the comfort of having her own bathroom for the last time. She towel dried her auburn locks and threw on a large shirt and comfortable shorts before heading downstairs to the dining room. Her father was away on another mission, so it would be her, her mother, and Gladys her primary teacher. Gladys, a plump woman with dark skin and eyes, knew her magic quite well. Although she learned a lot from Gladys it was her mother that taught her the famous bat bogey hex among other spells that were necessary to know for survival. Ginny swept into the room just after Lily with plates full of breakfast food. Lily looked at her mother for a moment longer than normal, studying her face trying to memorize every line. Truthfully Ginny Potter had aged quite well, not looking a day over thirty. As her mother set the food down Lily prepared herself for the conversation to come.

"Mum," Lily started slowly. Her mother was humming a tune and hadn't noticed her daughter's attempts to engage her. Lily cleared her throat loudly. "Mum," Ginny looked up seemingly coming out of a daze and turned towards her daughter.

"Yes darling?"

Lily breathed evenly. "I'm leaving this evening for the Wizard Training Academy." There was not a lick of hesitation in her voice as her mother's face dropped.

Ginny's eyes widened at Lily's words. "You can't leave today! You haven't even had a chance to see your father and talk to him about this decision."

"I know, but he's been gone for over three months." Her father was often gone for missions that sometimes lasted as long as nine months. That would be Lily's future. "I already sent an owl last week. They will be expecting me on the train." There was no room for argument in Lily's voice. She had one last chance to back out, but she wasn't taking it. Her mother huffed before walking out of the room.

Gladys reached across the table for Lily's hand. "Are you really sure about this?"

She smiled kindly at Gladys. She was such a gentle women, but she could be fierce when she needed to. "Yes, I made my decision a long time ago." Gladys released her hand without another word.

After breakfast Lily went to her room looking for the last time at the familiar walls and the comfortable bed she had grown accustomed to. She saw her luxury items that she would no longer be allowed. She hated that she was hurting her mother, but she had an obligation to herself. She could never be satisfied living the life that her cousins Rosie and Victoire had chosen. Victiore's husband, Teddy Lupin was often away working towards ending the war, while Rosie only had the company of her books. With a sad smile she began packing her bags only taking the necessities. She took mostly black clothes, worried that she would look childish in anything else. She had always been petite and she knew it could work against her at the Academy. Her brothers both had strong statures and had thrived at the Academy. Albus had been second in his group, only behind Scorpius Malfoy. Her other brother James had worked his way up in ranks and was fighting along side their father, the great Harry Potter. Lily was just about finished with her packing when she heard a light knock on the door.

Ginny stepped in the room smiling sadly at her daughter. Lily could see the dark circles under her eyes, which were now looking redder than they had at breakfast. "Lily, I don't want to argue," she held up her hands as if showing she had no weapon.

"Ok, mum," Lily got up walking over to her mother and hugging her fiercely. The two often fought, but it was always out of love. She could feel her mother begin to sob on her shoulder. "It's ok, mum," Lily cooed, "This is really what I want to do…what I have to do."

"I-I kn-know," Ginny choked out between sobs. She took three large breaths calming herself down, "I just never wanted this life for you."

"I know mum," Lily comforted her mother as best she could. She never had a nurturing personality, but she always tried for her mother. By lunch Ginny seemed much more cheery. She was humming again with a grin on her face. The three women ate their lunch in a comfortable silence. After she finished eating Lily began making her way up to her room, when her mother stopped her.

"I have a surprise for you," Ginny led her daughter into the living room where Lily sat on the cozy sofa. When she was a girl, Lily used to trace the flowers on the couch imagining what they might smell like. She wasn't able to leave the house often due to the war. In the past years it had calmed down, but Lily knew that it was only a matter of time before the death eaters rose up again.

Ginny placed a small package in front of Lily wrapped in a beautiful lilac wrapping paper. A small smile crept onto Lily's face at the gesture. She reached for the package when her mother stopped her.

"Wait, there's something else," she walked into the next room and when she returned she wasn't alone.

"Daddy!" Lily threw herself into her father's expecting arms. She took in his woodsy smell and wanted to cry. This would be the last time she would see her father and mother together for over six months. She held back the tears seeing more of her family over her father's shoulders. Behind her mother stood her cousins Rose and Victiore. Victiore was visibly pregnant and glowing beautifully. She was made for the life she chose, living in the country, keeping house, and settled down with a nice man, but that life was never meant for Lily.

Lily sat with her cousins discussing ideas for baby names and the latest book that Rose had read. Her father stood off to the corner for much of the evening, almost as if he were ready to leave at a moments notice.

Lily enjoyed her time with her family, but couldn't help the remorse she felt at the direction her life was taking. As the guests left Lily finally opened the present her mother had given her earlier. It was a beautiful Lily pendant that was encrusted with diamonds and white gold.

'Do you like it?" her father asked from behind her. She nodded holding out the necklace for him to put on her. She lifted her hair as her father clasped the chain around her neck.

"Thank you," she smiled at her parents. Her father scooped her into a tight hug, similar to the kind he would give her when she was just a little girl and he was leaving again. "I'm so proud of you flower."

"Thank you, dad." Lily's eyes watered, but she bit back the tears. She had always been tougher than her other female cousins, rarely crying or showing emotions. Lily looked at the clock that hung on the wall knowing she was running low on time. "I should get my bag." She took her time making sure she packed everything she needed before making her way back down the stairs. Both of her parents were waiting outside her room, her mother already crying. She was grateful her father controlled his emotions better. They used the Floo Network to get to the train station, something that was mostly done as a precaution, in case someone was watching them. Lily had never been to the station before and looked around with blatant awe on her face. She quickly composed herself still soaking in her surroundings. The station was large, but empty. It looked as if it hadn't been cared for in years with crumpled papers lying on the ground and a very dusty feel to the whole place. Lily jumped as she heard a loud whistle blown coming from the train tracks. She turned back to her parents, eyes wide.

"I just want you to know I love you both," she couldn't hide the small bit of fear from her voice. She turned toward her father to say the thing she had always struggled with most. "I don't blame you, dad. I know you did what you had to for us." She hugged him quickly turning to her mother as she heard the second whistle blow. "I hope I haven't disappointed you too much," she turned walking toward the large train that had appeared. If her mother responded Lily couldn't hear it as the third whistle blew indicating the last chance to get on. Lily swung her bag over her should climbing on the train and choosing a seat as far away from the window as possible. She couldn't bear to see her parents' faces as she left them for good. Her mind was racing with thoughts of her family and their potential disappointment. She pushed everything aside and decided to concentrate on the empty chair across from her.

"Mind if I sit here?" Lily was taken by surprise at the tall, gangly boy standing in front of her. A smaller girl, not much bigger than Lily, who smiled shyly without showing any teeth, accompanied him. Lily nodded as the boy sat across from her and the girl took the empty seat next to her. "I'm Eric Zabini," he held out his hand toward Lily, which she hesitated to shake. She wasn't used to people she didn't know being overly friendly. "And this is my sister Tash Zabini, she's a little shy." Lily looked at her with a small amount of pity on her face.

"Hi," Tash said barely audibly. Lily could tell from the girl's introverted personality she wouldn't last long at the Academy.

"Hello," Lily responded as the train began to move causing Tash to stir in her seat. Eric opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a booming voice.

"Welcome," said a strangely cruel voice. "To the rest of your life."

AN: Ok so this is a new fic that I have had bouncing around in my head for a while. It's pretty different from my other stories if you've read them, but I'm hoping you will give it a chance. I know this chapter is short, but future chapters will be longer. This was just to get the story going. Let me know what you think.