She saw him at the station, when her brothers left for school. Lily saw a boy standing with his parents, away from the crowd. When his face peeked through the steam, he looked scared. His grey eyes darted about, watching the other students running between adults and to the train. She thought he looked fragile, and so very pale. Lily only really knew her brothers well; James and Albus were always slightly brown from running around and playing Quidditch outside, and even her cousin Hugo was somewhat tanned under his freckles. This boy, however, was very pale, and his white hair made him resemble a ghost. She looked away when she heard Hugo's voice, and climbed onto James' luggage to sit next to Hugo. They chatted about school houses, and how exciting Hogwarts sounded. She would have asked Hugo what he thought of the pale, scared boy; but it slipped her mind.
When she had finished waving at the back of the train, Lily remembered and looked back at the boy's parents. The boy's dark-haired mother was walking away, leaving the pale man staring blankly after the train. He blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and noticed Lily looking at him. The corners of his mouth curled upwards and his hand lifted, as if to wave, before turning and walking after his wife.