Authors Note

Hey All! This is my first fanfic. I had this idea in my head for a long time. I am planning on making it a very long story, with lots of detail. (I hope)The first few chapters are going to be a little slack, I'm not good with introducing places and people. But it will get better, I promise! Once we pass Chapter Five, this story will take a turn for the better. I want to make this story special, and leave a memory in every readers mind. Now down to business (cracks knuckles and ankles) I own nothing you recognise. If you don't recognise then its MINE! Out of Lily's friends however, Hannah is a real person. So I don't exactly own her. Anyway, in this story, I have changed several things. Voldemort never existed, and never will. Peter Pettigrew will always remain loyal to his friends, though I have modified his character a little. I think that's all. So without further dawdling, let the adventure begin!

Chapter One: The Beginning of the Beginning

Lily opened her eyes, squinting at the ray of golden sunlight that fell across her face, illuminating her pale features and red hair. "Bothersome sun," she grumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "I thought I set my bed at an angle so that the light would only wake me when it was time to go to Hog-" Lily broke off, her eyes widening as they landed on a calendar that was stuck onto the wall above her full-length mirror. It was September 1st! Today was the day she was finally going to Hogwarts! She dashed around the room, dragging her previously packed trunk out into the open as she started dressing. Once she was ready she glanced at the list pinned to her headboard.

"Books- Check. Robes-Check. Toiletries-Check. Wand-Check. . . "

It went on and on until, "Ebony in cage- che- Oh no! Where's Ebony?"

Lily ran to her window and flung it open, searching wildly for her black owl.

"Ebony? Ebony! EBONY!"

Ignoring the startled pedestrians below, the redhead jumped when she felt something land on her head. Looking up warily, her green eyes met the reproachful yellow orbs of her intelligent pet. Lily laughed weakly.

"Sorry Ebony. I'm just so excited to finally be going to Hogwarts. . ."

The owl clicked its beak and if possible, would have rolled her eyes. To say Lily Evans was excited to go to Hogwarts was the understatement of the year. She had been almost literally dancing around the house for the past two weeks since she had received her letter, causing the ministry official who had come to take her to Diagon Alley to be very surprised and slightly scared. Lily hadn't been bothered by the news that she was a witch, she had known there was something different about her since the time she had caused a dog to eat Petunia's pet lizard. (Though how Petunia was able to keep a reptile as a pet was beyond her.) Sighing, Lily finished tying her hair into a ponytail and began to drag her trunk and Owl-cage downstairs; Ebony perched on her shoulder while eying the metal container with disgust.

"Morning Mom."

Lily's mother, Miranda Evans, looked up from her cookbook to find her youngest daughter standing in the kitchen, ready for her "big day".

"Morning Lily. Wait, Lily? It's five-thirty in the morning, what are you doing up? You never wake up before nine without Petunia or I screaming at you."

"I'm ready for school. I want to get there as soon as possible." Lily stood with her arms folded, meeting her mother's amused expression defiantly.

"Lily, Kings Cross is a one hour drive from here, and we have to drop Petunia off at Norlocks before we take you. Your train leaves at eleven young lady, and you're not getting anywhere near that half platform before ten thirty at the earliest."

Lily sighed. It was going to be a long morning.

"Bye Mom! Bye Dad! I'll see you at Christmas!"

Lily waved to her parents on the platform before turning around and heaving her trunk on the train. As she looked around at the carriages filled with laughing and hugging students, she gulped. Where could she sit? She knew no-one, and the nerves were finally kicking in.

"I'm not screwed, I'm not screwed, I'm not screwed, I'm not screwed, I'm not screwed, I'm not screwed, I'm not. . ."

Lily ceased muttering when she felt someone watching her. Slowly, scared of what she might see, she turned around. Lily was face to face with another girl, who had long black hair pulled back into two plaits down her back and odd purple-grey eyes. She was watching Lily curiously, as one might watch a stray dog.

"H-Hi!" Lily squeaked, half terrified, half relieved. She had no idea who this girl was, if she was nice or mean or whatever, but she seemed almost as scared as Lily was. Almost.

"Hey! My name is Alyana Hagen. What's yours?"

"Lily Evans." Lily seemed calmer now that the strange purple-eyed girl wasn't scrutinising her.

"Nice to meet you. So Lily, are you a first-year?"

"Yes. What about you? Are your parents wizards?"

Alyana laughed and the tension seemed to evaporate. "Yes, I am a first year and yes, my parents are wizards. Are yours? Or are you muggle-born?"

Lily was lost. "Muggle-born?"

Alyana laughed again, her eyes sparkling. "I can see you are. Muggle-born is the term for someone with non-magical parents. Don't worry; it's not a bad thing. My parents are both half-half and they were in love with televisions and radios since they were young. Do you want to be friends? I don't usually talk this much but you seemed almost as lost as me so. . . friends?"

Alyana tilted her head to the right and shot Lily another dazzling smile. The muggle-born grinned right back at her, and Ebony hooted from her cage.

"Friends." Lily agreed." Now come on, let's find a place to sit."

Okay, that's the end of chapter one. But never fear, I am planning to post up the next chapter soon, so expect it around Wednesday. I have a concert today, lessons tomorrow and I'll need to catch up on homework on Tuesday so give me some time. Hopefully, it will be longer than this one.