A/N: I don't own Harry Potter, nor the characters that you recognize. If I did, that would be awesome, but JK Rowling does, and that's probably for the better :) Enjoy!
Lily ran a brush through her red hair (thanks to Weasley blood), and straightened her belongings in her trunk for the thousandth time. Today's the day. As in first day of Hogwarts day. As in, she'd finally become a real witch day. As in the first day of her life thus far.
"Lily, sweetheart, we'll be late!" Her mother called, already having accomplished the task of getting her two older boys, James, age fourteen, and Albus, thirteen, into the car. Now it was just a matter of eleven-year-old Lily.
"Coming, mum!" Lily shouted down the stairs. She closed the lid on her trunk, grabbed the handle of her small, grey, unnamed owl's cage, and jammed her wand into her pocket. She was about to drag the trunk down the stairs, when her father appeared behind her.
"Here, Lils, I got that. Why don't you run down and find Mum? I think she has something for you," Harry grinned, his green eyes sparkling with pride and unshed tears of joy.
"Okay," she nodded, and took the stairs two at a time, as usual. She found her mother in the kitchen, putting Lily's favorite strawberry jam on toast, and holding it out to her. Lily accepted the offering, her face pale and her heart ramming her ribs.
"Lily, you look as terrified as I did on my first day," Ginny chuckled, and hugged her daughter. "What's bothering you so much?"
"Well…I…I want into Gryffindor so badly, Mum," Lily furrowed her brow. "And everyone's expecting me to get it, because Al and James did. So if I don't get it, I'll be upset, and everyone else will too."
"Lily, darling, your father and your brothers and I, not to mention all your uncles and aunts and cousins, will love you no matter what. No one will be upset if you don't get into Gryffindor. Even if you get into Slytherin, we'll still stand by you. But do you want Gryffindor because everyone else wants it, or because you want it?"
Lily's eyes widened because her mother thought she didn't actually want the house she'd always dreamed of being in. "No, mum, I want it because Gryffindor is the best house. All the best Quidditch players were Gryffindors, and you were a Gryffindor, and I wouldn't want anything else!"
Ginny laughed, and planted a kiss upon her daughter's head. "Don't think for one second that you have to want Gryffindor. The other houses are just as honorable. And if you fit in better in another house, then that's perfectly okay. One of my best friends was a Ravenclaw. Come to the think of it, I dated one, too…" Lily grimaced and Ginny smirked at her daughter, ruffling her hair. "Seriously, Lily, there are other houses besides Gryffindor. Some of the bravest people around were Hufflepuffs, you know about Cedric Diggory! And Tonks- she was one of my closest friends. And Horace Slughorn, he was a Slytherin, and he saved the school! Greatness is achieved in all houses, Lily. Don't feel like you need to be in any one of them."
And though Ginny said this, she knew her daughter was the spitting image of herself, with her fiery personality and Harry's passion, making her the prime Gryffindor. But then again, the Sorting Hat often surprised everyone. After all, Scorpius Malfoy was made a Gryffindor, and the moment that happened, everyone expected the apocalypse to begin. And that was before Scorpius and Albus became joined at the hip.
So, Ginny knew the Sorting Hat could throw a curveball at the family. And Ginny also knew that the Sorting Hat was never wrong, and no matter where Lily was placed, it'd be perfect.
"But you know what, Lil? I know that wherever you go, you'll always be my Lily. I'll always love you, and you'll always be brave and courageous and passionate. Your house will never change who you are." Ginny continued. "And if it means that much to you, you will be able to choose Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat only suggests the best house for you. In the end, the decision is yours."
"Really?" Lily's brown eyes sparkled.
"Really." Ginny smiled. "And, Lily, I have a little gift for you."
"Really? Why?" Lily grinned excitedly.
"No reason, you're just starting the rest of your life is all," Ginny winked at her daughter. "Well, I know you've practiced hard with your brothers all summer, and greatly improved as a Quidditch player. Hogwarts doesn't allow first years to have brooms, but they never said a thing about this," Ginny held up a battered, grass stained Quaffle. "I want you to take this with you, okay?"
"Mum," Lily's eyes shone. "This is your championship Quaffle. Are you sure you want me to take it?"
"Positive, darling."
"Wow, thanks, mum!" Lily said, awestruck. "But…" Her voice faltered. "First years aren't allowed on the team."
"Lily, whether or not you're on the team, you're still my favorite Quidditch player I know, don't tell your brothers. You can still practice with friends, I know Hugo's as Quidditch obsessed as you are." Ginny smoothed her daughter's hair, and kissed her forehead.
"Thanks, mummy. I love you," Lily hugged her mother, who squeezed back.
"I love you so much, Lily Luna," Ginny said. "Now, let's go get in the car. We'll be late."
As they got in the car, James grinned, and said, "You all ready to go, baby sister?"
"I'm not a baby," Lily growled, frustrated. Ginny laughed because Lily sounded exactly like Ginny as a child, being the youngest of seven growing up.
"Don't listen to him, Lil," Albus grinned. "And don't be too afraid, either. You'll have so much fun once we get there."
"Thanks, Al," Lily leaned toward her older brother slightly. He'd always been just a little nicer to her than James, not to say that James was mean, but he liked to tease.
"No problem. So, what are you going to call your owl?" Albus ruffled Lily's hair, much to her annoyance. She grimaced, and he laughed. Albus liked to tease, too.
"I don't know," Lily shrugged.
"Well, we're all named after dead people," James smirked. "So just think of someone that we're not named after."
"James!" Ginny scolded.
"Sorry," James mumbled wearily, as though this was a usual routine, which it was.
"Mum," Lily said slowly, a thought coming to her head. "What if I named her after someone alive, not dead?"
"Sounds great, Lily. Who do you have in mind?" Ginny squeezed Lily's knee reassuringly.
"Well," Lily's face bloomed a brilliant red. "What about Granger? Aunt Hermione's maiden name? All the stories say she was the brightest witch of her age, and you guys say it regularly."
"I think that's a brilliant idea!" Harry grinned at his young daughter.
"So do I. Hermione will be honored." Ginny replied.
The car pulled up to King's Cross, and shuddered to a stop. The five Potters clambered out of the car, Albus and James chattering excitedly, Lily looking like she was about to throw up, and Ginny and Harry wearing a mix of pride and sadness on their faces, knowing that in a few minutes, they'd be without children until Christmas.
The children claimed three trolleys, and discreetly crossed the barrier onto platform nine and three quarters. A brilliant red train whistled in the station, steam pouring from it, making everyone appear in silhouette. Laughing, excited children ran around in between weeping, proud parents. The Potters soon spotted the Weasleys, Hermione, Ron, Hugo, and Rose, as well as Fleur and Bill with Dominique, Louis, and Victoire, although she was not going for she had already graduated, and Percy, Audrey, Lucy, and Molly, and George, Angelina, Fred, and Roxanne.
After hugs hello, the hugs goodbye began. Fred, James, Albus, Dominique, and Lucy were the first of the clan to board the train. Fred was a fifth year, James and Dominique fourth years, and Rose, Lucy, and Albus third years. Soon, only Lily, Hugo, and Louis were left.
Hermione knelt down and looked in her son's eyes. "Hugo, sweetheart, you're going to be brilliant. Don't worry about a thing, all right? Your father and I love you very much." She kissed him on the cheek. "We'll miss you!"
"Goodbye, Hugh, I love you!" Ron hugged his son, using Hugo's nickname, which he only allowed his father to use. After giving both aunts and uncles hugs, Hugo gave one last glance, and boarded the train.
"Louis, my son, you are very smart, and very brave. You will excel," Fleur squeezed her son, who looked like a miniature, male version of herself. "Je t'aime!"
"I love you, too, mum," the tow headed boy hugged his mother, then his father, who ruffled his hair and told him that he loved him. After hugging the rest of the remaining relatives, Louis, too, boarded the scarlet engine.
Lily was the last first year of the family left standing on the platform. Harry knelt down and looked in her deep, brown eyes that reminded him so much of Ginny.
"Lily Luna Potter, you have bravery like Aunt Hermione, a sense of humor like Uncle Ron, passion and Quidditch skill like your mother, and a knack for trouble like myself." Harry winked at her, and she giggled. "You would fit in perfectly in any house the Sorting Hat may choose. If you really want Gryffindor, the Hat will know, and place you there. You are the best young witch I know, and I love you so much."
Lily gripped her dad's shoulders as he hugged her. "Thanks, dad," she whispered. "I love you, too."
Ginny hugged Lily next. "Lily, I love you. Remember what I told you earlier. And whatever will happen, it'll happen, and it'll all work out in the end. I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you, mummy," Lily's voice quivered, to her surprise. She rarely ever cried.
"You'll be brilliant," Hermione pulled Lily into a welcome hug. "I love you."
"See you, Lil," Ron ruffled his niece's hair. Lily hugged the remaining Weasleys, said her "I love you"s and goodbyes and "I promise I'll write"s, and slowly climbed aboard the train.