Lily Potter slipped onto the scarlet steam engine, hiding in herself, terrified of all the noisy magic people who all seemed to know each other. She had only found out about anything magic-related a month ago when she had received a very strange letter telling her she had been accepted at a school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Instructions for buying school things and getting onto an invisibly train platform had been in the letter, and on a whim, she decided to follow them. Much to her surprise, they had been authentic, and now she was here. In a train watching people greet each other with shouts and hugs, and wishing she knew at least one person. She had left her parents and older sister right before she had gotten on the platform, as non-magic people obviously couldn't get through. right now, she would even be glad for a glimpse of her older sister, who had never liked her since when Lily was born, the attention was taken away from 7 year old Petunia. As they grew up, Petunia was proven to be rather slow, and though 18, was only a sophomore in high school. Lily, however, progressed in leaps and bounds, and Petunia was extremely jealous, though she got more attention from their parents. Lily sighed.

Problem children always do get more attention. And now mum and da will probably forget I even exist. considering I'll never be home.

The door slammed open, interrupting her thoughts. A too-tall, scrawny boy ducked in, bringing the door closed with him. He wore a mischevious grin on his face, scruffy black hair falling into his twinkling brown eyes. Starting, he suddenly realized someone else was in the compartment.

"Hello!" he said enthusiastically. "I'm James Potter, I'm going to be a first year, my whole family's been in Gryffindor, I really want to be too, and I love Quidditch! What's your name?"

Lily shrunk into herself, taken aback. "I-I'm Lily Potter. I'm -erm. was. a muggle. I read lots about magic though." she said, feeling it was rather a lame attempt.

"Hey, cool! We have the same last name! And don't worry about having a muggle backround. lots of really great wizards and witches do! If we're in the same house, we'll always be placed together cause of our names, so I'll teach you everything you need to know, k? Here, let's start now!"

Lily looked at him in amazement. He was so. happy and.. Energetic. It was amazing. She started to relax minimally as he tried to explain everything he could to her about the magical world without sounding like gibberish- both because of the content and how fast he was speaking. Before she knew it a voice told them there were five minutes remaining in the trip. Lily had worn her robes onto the train, and so, it seemed, had james, so they spent the last five minutes having James try to calm Lily down. It hit her that she was going to some strange school and learning a whole different way of life. When the train stopped, she started shaking uncontrollably.

"Lily, listen, it's ok! I promise you'll be fine! I'll take care of you, I don't care if we're in the same house or not! Come on." he led her out the door and into one of the carriages.

After the carriage ride they got into a boat, but everything was a complete blur to Lily. The first thing she was really clear on was when she heard "Potter, James" being called to go to an old and ugly hat, and him starting to leave her. She clung to him but he gently shook her from him and softly told her she'd be next. The old hat had barely touched his head when it screamed out "GRYFFINDOR!" Then the pretty young Professor standing next to the hat called out, "Potter, Lily"