Chapter 1

"GEM! HOW COULD YOU!" Lily took a deep breath. "I mean REALLY how could you? It's against everything we've ever lived for!" Lily was sitting in the parlor room on the phone with her best friend. On the other line five miles away, Gemini was trying to explain herself.

"Lil I know! But…I couldn't help it! You know me…"

"Couldn't help it?" Lily was frantic.

"Lily I need the phone…" Petunia, Lilly's sister, walked through the parlor room doors.

"Petunia this is an important phone call!" Lilly groaned.

"So?"

"So… leave me alone I'm in the middle of a crisis!"

"Lily?" Gemini was waiting. "Are you still there?"

"Gem, can I call you back? Petunia is being a pain." Petunia rolled her eyes.

"Sure, I'll talk to you later." Lily hung up the phone and handed it to Petunia.

"So what did Gemini do now?" Petunia asked with a small sneer. Lily gave her a cheeky smile and went into the kitchen where her mom was making tuna salad. Lily's lip twitched.

"Tuna?"

Samantha Evans looked at her daughter.

"Yes, tuna."

"But I hate tuna."

"I know, that's why you get macaroni." Lily smiled and gave her mother a hug around the waist.

"My birthday is in two days." Lily reminded her mom as she sat down at the kitchen table." Her mother nodded and smiled.

"I know, I know." She added a glob of mayo to her mixture. "Did you call Gemini and make sure she could stay?"

"Yea, oh that reminds me!" Lily stood up and stood next to her mother. "Gemini is dating Sirius!"

"Hmmm…a familiar name, who is he again?"

"That annoying boy who hangs around James."

"Ah…there's a name I've heard to many times." Her mother smiled.

"That's not funny; you know I hate that childish prick!"

"Lily!"

"It's true!"

"I think you like him." Lily gasped.

"That was uncalled for!"

"Well, you seem to talk about him a lot… I think you have a little crush going on."

"Mother!" Lily sat back down in a huff. Petunia walked in and looked at Lily.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Lily's got a crush." Their mom told her.

"Oh really?" petunia walked over and sat next to her younger sister.

"I do not!" Lily put her face in her folded arms on the table.

"You're blushing."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Girls!"

"She started it!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"GIRLS!"

"When's Daddy getting home?" Lily asked.

Mrs. Evans sighed. "Late." Frederick Evans was never home. He worked double shifts at a lumber company. It was hard on the family, but it kept food on the table. Petunia sighed too. She was the oldest out of her and Lily. She had her father's dark hair and bony complexion. Petunia had just graduated from high school. She had had a 4.0 grade average, straight A's and had never missed one day of school. She was also the head cheerleader, class president and a million other things that made her perfect. Lily wasn't that different…except for the fact that she wasn't in high school. For the last six years, Lily had attended Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. She was on her summer break at the moment, about to go into her seventh and final year. Lily had long, deep red hair, and startling green eyes. It was a strange thing indeed when Lily had received her Hogwarts letter six years ago. She was born into a non-magical family, which had taken the news that Lily was a witch quite coolly. Lily lifted her head just enough to show her big green eyes.

"Honey I was only playing with you." Mrs. Evans told her, placing the bowl of tuna salad in the fridge.

"I know." She said putting her head back down. Petunia looked at her freshly polished nails.

"You know, you did a good job on my nails Lil."

"I know."

"Ok, don't get cocky on me now; I think I've been quite nice to you lately."

Lily rolled her eyes.

"Ok girls, that's enough… why don't you two go outside or something, the tuna salad will be done in about thirty minutes, and Lily, you can make your macaroni and cheese when you like." She smiled at her two daughters and then ushered them out to the back yard.

It was a nice little backyard. It was very green and welcoming. It had small blue and pink flowers lining the perimeter, and a fountain in the exact center surrounded by daisies. Lily looked to the house. It was a small red brick house in the middle of London. Lily's mother had done a wonderful job customizing the small house into the perfect house for her daughters. Even if Lily and Petunia's father was never there, their mother did the most astonishing job being there for the both of them. Lily smiled. She looked at Petunia. They had never really gotten along. The last year was going pretty well though, probably because Petunia was going off to college. Lily's smile drooped. She had always wanted to be close to her sister, but ever since Lily had gotten a letter from Hogwarts, Petunia's outlook on her sister was…different. Lily knew it wasn't jealousy; it was something different than that. But she didn't quite know what it was. Lily sat on her swing set that was posted behind the fountain. She slowly swung back and forth as Petunia picked off dead flowers.

"Why are you so happy?" Lily forgot she was smiling. She smiled wider.

"Why, is it a crime?"

"I just want to know, is that a crime?"

"No, but, we never talk about that kind of stuff."

"What kind of stuff?"

"Well, sisterly stuff, like what each other is up too, or what each other is thinking, you know, stuff like that." Petunia looked like she was trying to contemplate what that meant. Lily smiled and shook her head. "I always thought you hated me."

"I don't hate you, you know that." Petunia took a deep breath. "I guess I haven't been very pleasant have I? I just don't like you being different, I always thought you would be…normal." She looked at Lily. "Does that sound selfish or what?" Lily looked at her feet.

"No, it's not selfish. I never planned to become a witch, you know that, but I really like it, this is what my life is all about." Petunia nodded.

"Please marry a normal person." She blurted.

Lily was taken aback.

"Wh-what?"

"I'm sorry but I've seen some of your…friends…and please, for…for mum! Yea, marry a nice normal man from London not some…freak."

"Freak? Excuse me?"

"Yes, your kind."

"My kind? Petunia we're not aliens."

"Well, as far as I'm concerned…"

"I'd rather you not be concerned then." Lily stood up.

"Why do you have to be so difficult?"
"Why do you have to be such a prep?" Petunia reeked hatred. She hated being called a prep, even if she agreed. Lily walked toward the house.

"Your such a little witch I hope something awful happens to you!" Petunia shouted at Lily." Lily stopped and turned around.

"You just watch!" Petunia continued. "Your going to grow up and marry some freak and your life will be hell!" Lily burned red, but instead of throwing something back, she turned around and walked into the house.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Her mother asked. Lily ignored her and walked straight up to her room and slammed the door.

What if she's right? She shook her head. She can't be right, I'm a witch…but if I marry a muggle…then my life will be hell…I know, this will be the year I get him to notice me, he's perfect, I'll show Petunia that not all wizards are freaks, I mean, who's more perfect than Eddie McGrowder? Mrs. Evans walked in.

"Honey?" Lily was sitting on her bed. "Are you ok sweetie?"

"Mum, Petunia is being a jerk again."

"What'd she do?"

"She told me that if I marry a wizard my life will be hell, and she kept going on about witches and wizards being freaks…you don't think I'm a freak, do you mum?"

"Of course not sweetie! You know me and your father except you for who you are, you know I'm very proud of you."

"Thanks mum, I knew I could count on you cheering me up." Lily smiled and gave her mother a hug. "So, when is Petunia going to college again?" Mrs. Evans laughed and stood up. "Go make your macaroni." Lily got up and followed her mom to the kitchen. Petunia had settled herself back at the table. She was looking at the newspaper. They glared at each other for a moment. Lily grabbed a pot, filled it with water and put it on the stove. As she made her macaroni, Mrs. Evans served tuna salad to herself and Petunia. They were incredibly quite as they ate. Right after they were all done and cleaning up the kitchen, Mr. Evans walked through the front door, sweating and beaten. He walked into the kitchen and sat down.

"Honey, your home!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed.

"Hi daddy." Lily and Petunia said at the same time. They glared at each other.

"Hi." Mr. Evans sounded very tired.

"Are you hungry? I made tuna salad for lunch." Mrs. Evans was always trying to make the best of the time she and her husband spent together.

"No, I'm just really tired."

"When does your next shift start?"

"Three hours."

"Three hours!"

"Are you deaf?"

"Honey you need sleep, I only want…"

"Well I want to hear silence for a while, will you just shut up?" Mrs. Evans closed her mouth and put a small bowl of tuna salad in front of her husband.

"Come on girls, let's go into the living room and watch some TV." She sighed and walked into the living room.

"Daddy…"

"Go into the living room with your mum!"

Petunia and Lily sighed and followed their mum into the living room.

"What's with all the sighing?" Mr. Evans yelled through the door. Mrs. Evans sat down on the couch. Tears welled in her eyes. Lily and Petunia rushed to her side.

"Oh mum, don't cry!"

"Yea, he's just over worked, that's all!"

"Every thing will be ok!" Mrs. Evans tried to smile, but a small sob came out first.

"Oh girls, what would I do without you?" They all smiled.

"We love you mum." Petunia said. Lily nodded in agreement.

"I love you both too." Mrs. Evans wiped a tear from her eye.

"This tuna tastes like crap!" They heard Mr. Evans yell.

"Well then don't eat it!" Mrs. Evans shouted back. Lily and Petunia looked surprised. They had only heard their mother talk back to their father once and that was a long, long time ago.

"Hey, I have to fight back some time." She smiled and got up. "I'd better go get him something else." She walked through the doors and disappeared. Because their father was never around and always had to work, he was very grumpy…all the time. It was taking a serious toll on Mrs. Evans. Lily leaned back and closed her eyes. Petunia looked over to the fireplace; over it was a large clock. It was three.

"I need to get to piano lessons!" Petunia jumped up and headed for the front door.

"Tell mum I'll be back around five." She opened the door and walked out. "Us normal people have to drive, not…zap or whatever it is you do."

"Apparate!" Lily yelled as Petunia shut the door. Lily heard a crash in the kitchen and a lot of yelling.

"They must be at it again." Lily groaned to herself. There was a loud thump and then quite. Lily opened her eyes.

"Mum?" Lily sat up. "Mum are you alright?"

"Your mother is fine go to your room!" Her father yelled at her through the kitchen door. Lily stood up and walked to the kitchen door.

"I said go to your room you bloody prat!" Lily's father yelled at her as she opened the door. Lily gasped in horror as she saw her mom lying on the floor, blood was pooling under her head.

"What…did…you do?" Lily almost screamed at her father.

"I said GO TO YOUR BLOODY ROOM!!" Her father yelled, moving towards her. Lily noticed a frying pan in his right hand. Lily stepped back into the door.

"What did you do to mum?" She asked, starting to cry. "I'm going to call the police if you don't tell me now, what in bloody hell is going on!?" Lily had never been so scared in her life. Her father had never done this before, she felt as if he weren't her father at all. He moved quickly towards her, pan raised as if he were going to hit her. That's when she realized…Her father was drunk. As he got closer, Lily panicked and ducked. He swung at her and missed. Lily ran over to her mother, but had to move away as her father chased after her. Not knowing what to do, she disapparated, leaving her father completely bewildered and storming drunk.