This is a story I've had in mind for quite sometime. I'm not sure if it will continue or not, so I'm going to wait and see the response to it. In this story, Lily, Severus, and the Marauders are fourteen, because I've tried and cannot find a plausible way for eleven year olds to be accepted into an elite performing arts academy unless they were die hard protégées. So to keep some of the pressure off and make it more realistic, I gave them a few more years of experience. Sorry if people find it inauthentic to the actual story, but hey, it's fan fiction. Anything's possible.

The houses are sorted like this:

Gryffindor: Music & Performance Production

Ravenclaw: Dance

Hufflepuff: Material Arts (Painting, Photography, Fashion Design, etc.)

Slytherin: Dramatic Arts & Film Production

Please, read and tell me what you think of it! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter characters mentioned.

~Enjoy!~


Dear Miss Evans,

We have reviewed your audition and are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to

Hogwarts School of Creative Arts. Congratulations!

Enclosed is more information on what particular areas you will be studying and partaking in, along with your house and where you will be staying. A list of school supplies pertaining to the areas of study you have chosen to partake in -product of your list of class choices given to us with your third round callback paperwork- and the school honor code are also enclosed. Report to Kings Cross station in London, no later that Ten thirty. The train will leave the platform at Eleven O'clock sharp.

Please return the Honor Code with the signature of your full name to the address on this envelope as conformation to this acceptance. Please send it in no later than the August 1st, none will be accepted after this date. Please keep in mind that Hogwarts is the top rated Fine Arts Academy in the country, and was rated in the top five in the world.

We look forward to seeing you this fall.

Professor M. McGonagall,Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, Music & Performance Production


Supplies required for you:

1 Acoustic guitar with pick and spare strings

1 Tuner

1 Metronome

1 Capo

1 Personal (preferably mobile) Music Stand

2 (at least) packs, Clean sheet music

Display Folders for Music

Spiral Notebooks

2 Sets of school uniform

1 pair of dance shoes

You are allowed 1 trunk of items to bring with you.


Books required for you:

Strumming for Success, by Jeffery Hellion

A History of Music, by Corrine Adcock

Magic in the Keys; Advanced Piano, by Marissa Beckett

A Tune Inside My Head; Composing Music, by Adam Dabney

Vocal theory and exercises, by Robert Manson

Creating the mask; Acting Techniques by Daniel Hartford

Advanced Music Theory, by Eliza Dalton

*Keep in mind that there will be performance events throughout the year, and will require appropriate attire. Be prepared to bring formal clothing, though there are formal clothing shops in the neighboring village of Hogsmeade. Those who are taking classes for Dance will be required to bring clothes comfortable to move and dance in.


I couldn't believe it. I got in.

I got in.

I got in.

"I got in!" I shrieked, jumping up and down. "I'm a Gryffindor!" My parents jumped up and started cheering with me.

"Well done, Darling!" Mum said, wrapping me in a tight embrace. "I can't believe my baby is going to Hogwarts!"

"Fantastic Sweetheart!" Daddy grinned, kissing me on the forehead. "We knew you could do it."

"Tuney!" I looked around for my sister. "Tuney, what does yours say?" Petunia and I had both auditioned for Hogwarts. Both of us had dreams of making big it in Performing Arts. Me with my music, and her with her dancing.

Petunia was a ballet dancer. I knew she had dreams of dancing professionally, in big performances of theater. I also knew that it was her dream to be accepted to Hogwarts and study under the best dancers and professors. At first, she only wanted to audition by herself, but I convinced her that It would be great if we auditioned and lived the Hogwarts dream together. We had made a pact this year that we would audition together, and that we would get accepted and she would be a Ravenclaw and I would be a Gryffindor.

I had told Severus Snape, who was the one who really told me about Hogwarts, the school which lots of his family actually went to. He is also one of the most talented actors I've ever met. We've been best friends since we were nine, and despite his outstanding talent and the large array of actors in his family, he hadn't been completely sure about Hogwarts until I decided I wanted to go after he told me the stories. Much to Tuney's dismay, he auditioned this year too. For some reason, she never liked Severus. Which confused me because I thought she would have befriended anyone with a boat full of Hogwarts alumni for family. I was going to find out later whether he got in too or not.

The whole audition process took around three months total; one audition a month. For the first initial audition, you had to fill out a simple, one page application and turn up on one of the specified dates, which was usually a week to a week and a half out of March. You showed up, gave your application to one of the waiting staff, and you would be handed a pin with a number on it. Then you would wait until your number was called, and go into a room faced with four stony faced people at a table, and you had one minute and thirty seconds to perform something you've put together. Then you would leave, and be notified two weeks later whether you've made it passed the first round. The second audition went much of the same way, except instead of an application, you showed them your letter of approval. If you made it passed the second round, you would receive a confirmation letter along with paperwork of what classes you were interested in taking, along with the two "introduction" classes you were required to take. For the third round, you were not only required to have a full performance ready, but we were also tested in the areas of classes you had chosen, to see if you would be able to keep up with them.

When Tuney and I went to London for the first audition, there were literally over a thousand people there for the same thing. We both sat tense and stiff in a corner of the large waiting area that was packed with people, waiting for the stomach dropping moment when our numbers would be called. Because Severus had already auditioned earlier that week, I sat alone with my thoughts while Petunia sat by herself, going over the routine she had created and had been practicing for months in her head. I held my guitar case close so my body, my sweaty palms slipping up and down the body every now and then to reassure myself.

I had been called first, and felt like I was going to be sick all over the floor while I waited outside the door to go in.

I wasn't able to make out the faces of the judges very well, for there was a bright stage light pointed right in my face. Doing my best to calm myself, I took a deep breath and began to sing my heart out to an exert of a song of my own creation called Here I am. The silhouettes that I took as the judges said nothing after I finished, breathless and feeling refreshed. I just stood there, waiting, while I heard the sound of scratching of pens on paper. I was beginning to wonder if I should ask what to do next, when I heard a woman suddenly say, "You are dismissed." a bit sharply. I practically raced out of that room.

By the time Tuney had been called and then finished with her audition, it was nearly 8:30, which meant that it had been literally 6 hours since we had arrived that morning. I felt even worse for Mum and Dad, who had to spend the entire time sitting and waiting for us.

The morning two weeks later, the both of us had raced from our rooms still in our pajamas and nearly tackled Daddy in our mission to get to the post first. When we finally managed to get our hands on our respective letters, we found out that both of us had passed the first round of auditioning, and that we should be prepared for the next round exactly a month later.

After our excited freak outs, which had Dad covering his ears and Mum reminding us that we did have neighbors, the entire month was filled with nervousness. Both of us practiced from morning to late night, which eventually had Tuney icing her swollen feet and ankles, and me bandaging my bleeding fingers and sucking on cough drops and drinking tea with honey for my strained vocals. The same thing happened after we found out we both passed the second round. Wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, get dressed, run out of the house with out respective equipment -Tuney would go to the dance studio she's been taking lessons at since she was four, and I would go our church's performing hall, which had amazing acoustics- and proceed to practice until we were forced to leave hours later, only taking a few small breaks here and there.

It was two weeks after the Third Round, and Tuney and I have been frothing at the mouths to find out if we've been accepted. After snatching our letters from Dad's hands, we both walked into the living room. Promising each other to open them at the same time, we turned our backs on each other and counted to three, before ripping into the paper furiously. Mum and Dad stood in between us, holding their breaths while we read our letters.

And I got in.

"Tuney?" I asked. Looking around I saw her standing rim rod strait, letter clutched in her hands. She was gaping at it with wide eyes, her mouth opening and closing slightly.

"So?" I asked with excitement, running over until I was standing in front of her. Grinning with one of the biggest smiles I've ever had, I started to bounce in place "Did you get in? Oh, what am I saying? Of course you got in! Isn't this so exciting! We're going to Hogwarts. The best Fine Arts school in the country! Oh my God, we get to shop at Daigon Alley!" Daigon Alley was the shopping center in London for anything associated to the Creative Arts. It had whole stores dedicated to selling anything from sheet music and scripts, to art and photography supplies, to props and costumes, to any kind of instrument you could think of, to dance supplies, to electronic musical supplies, and of course, formal dress wear and accessories. It even had places to eat at. The Leaky Cauldron was a shabby looking pub, but it served great food. And there was Florean Fortescue's Musical Ice Cream Parlor; it had some of the most interesting ice cream flavors that I had ever tasted, and at every hour change, Florean Fortescue himself, who was a Hogwarts graduate, would break into song along with his staff. It was really a sight to see. Our parents had only taken us a handful of times, most of which had been on birthdays, but it was by far our favorite place in the world.

Petunia was still staring motionless at the letter in her hands, like she hadn't even heard me. "Petunia! C'mon, you don't have to be that surprised that you got in! You've been saying since we auditioned how you knew it was meant to be."

It was true. As soon as we returned from London after our final audition back In May, Petunia just knew that she was bound to get in. While I've been a nervous wreck, waiting for the letters to arrive, Petunia was cool and calm and sure. I should have known that inside she was as nervous as I was.

"Tuney!" I said, laying a hand on her shoulder, "C'mon, we have to-"

"Stop it!" She suddenly shrieked, slapping my hand away.

I took my hand back, appalled . "Petunia, what-"

"I didn't get in!" She yelled. Her face was flushed with anger, frustration, and embarrassment. She looked at the floor, and I noticed that there was moisture in her eyes.

I gasped. Petunia? Not get in? I had never even considered the possibility. In all the scenarios that I had imagined, it had been Petunia getting in, while I had got the rejection letter.

"Oh, Sweetheart, I'm so sorry." Mum said, going over to Petunia and wrapping an arm around her. "I know how much it meant to you."

"It's alright baby," said Daddy, kissing her on the forehead like he had done for me. He rubbed her shoulder. "It's okay. I'm sorry you didn't get in, but it's not the end of the world. There's always next year."

"Petunia, I'm so sorry-" I started,

"No!" she yelled, breaking away from our parents. She glared at me, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. "No, it's not fair! How could you get in and I couldn't?!"

I blinked, feeling like I'd been slapped. "Tuney-"

"Don't call me that!" she snapped.

"Hey!" Mother said, "Petunia, we know how hard you worked and we are sorry that you didn't get in. But Lily worked hard too! You should be happy for her!"

"Happy for her?!" Petunia yelled, tears streaming down her face. She glared at me with so much hate that I felt tears of my own start to pool in my eyes. She pointed a finger at me sharply. "I've wanted to go to Hogwarts since I was three! She didn't even know about it until five years ago! She stole my dream!"

"No!" I cried. "This is my dream too! It's not my fault you weren't good enough to get in!"

Petunia gasped, looking at me with so much betrayal before letting out a wail and throwing her letter at my face. She stormed upstairs. Mum followed, calling her name.

I broke into sobs, sinking into the love seat and wrapping my arms around myself. Daddy sat next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Honey." He murmured as I rested my head on his shoulder. "She's just upset. Once she calms down, she'll realize that this is no one's fault and she'll be happy for you."

I scoffed through my tears. "Dad, if you think that, you don't know Petunia very well."

"Hey," he said, tapping my shoulder lightly. "You know you both are very talented, and you both will be going places. We are proud of both of you. And we would still be proud of both of you if neither of you had gotten in."

"But Daddy, Tuney hates me now. Maybe I shouldn't-"

"Lily," Dad cut me off. "This is an amazing achievement for you and you shouldn't feel guilty that you got in when your sister didn't. You've worked hard for this."

"So did Tuney."

"You're right" Dad said, rubbing my arm. "And unfortunately, it didn't happen. But that doesn't mean you should throw away all of yours in result."

"But Dad,"

"No buts." He said. "Petunia, though maybe not at your expense, has the right to be disappointed and a little angry right now. But she will pick herself up, and she will either try again next year, or she will get over it and move on. You, are going to go upstairs, sign that honor code and get it ready to go back first thing tomorrow. Next week, we are going to take a trip to London and go to Daigon Alley and get your supplies. Then, on the first, you are going to that school and study your pretty head off."

"But-"

"No buts." He repeated. He stood, then reached down and took my hands, pulling me into a standing position as well. With his sleeve, he wiped my red, puffy face of the tears. "There. Now go." he said firmly.

I sighed, doing as I was instructed. I walked through the living room, past the front door, and up the

stairs.

As I was making my way to my room, I passed Petunia's. The door was slightly open, and I could hear her and Mum's muffled voices flitting through the small opening. I paused.

"…..gets everything. Voice, looks, grades. Now she gets my dream! It's not fair. What has she done do deserve all of it? What have I done not to?" Petunia sobbed. A lump filled my throat.

"Now that's not fair, and you know it Petunia." Mum said sternly. "Your sister has worked just as hard as you have to get to where she's at. And, while she does have a great musical talent, you possess an ability to dance that no one in this house can compare to. And that includes Lily. Now, you should be ashamed at the way you're acting. Wasn't it you that made her promise that she wouldn't get upset if she didn't get in? Look at you! Your acting like a child! If it was the other way around, she would, yes, be disappointed, but she would've smiled and congratulated you! And here you are, crying in your room and shouting at her for "stealing" your dream. You know as well as I do she had no control over who was chosen or not. Be happy for Lily. It took her everything she had to get into that school, and we are all going to support her."

"It should be me!" Petunia yelled. "I should have gotten in!"

"Petunia!" Mum yelled, no doubt about to give her another lecture, but I didn't stick around to listen anymore. Hearing that how angry Petunia was at me made me sick to my stomach and pained tears start to fill my eyes again. Why couldn't Petunia just be happy for me? I would have been for her. She even made me promise her that I wouldn't be upset if I didn't get in. Why was she being so petty as to act this way? Was she so sure that she wouldn't be rejected that she almost expected me to be rejected? So she made me "promise" not to get mad? Hell, Petunia was probably hoping that I would get mad. That I would throw a fit like she was so she would feel like she finally won something.

That was ridiculous! Petunia was better than me at a lot of things. Dancing, dramatics, drawing…

And she knew it. She wanted to rub it in my face. I couldn't believe that Tuney would be so self-centered. That she would want me to fail like that. It hurt.

As I walked into my room, I suddenly realized that not only was still I holding my letter, I was holding hers as well. I set my envelope on my desk, then unruffled Petunia's wrinkled letter. I felt a little bad about it, but I started to read.

Dear Miss Evans,

We have reviewed your audition, and it is our regret to tell you that we do not have a place for you at Hogwarts this year. We realize that this is disappointing news, and we want to assure you that we have reviewed your audition carefully. But over two hundred aspiring artists that had made the third round auditions this year, we could only choose a select few.

You are probably asking yourself what you were lacking in your audition; for most of our applicants the answer is nothing. We realize that you have put forth a tremendous effort into your craft and into your audition, and we invite you to please feel free to audition again next year. We do appreciate your interest in our school, and we know that any institute you choose to go to will benefit from your presence.

Please do not be discouraged. With the talent you possess, you will surly move to do great things. We wish you all the success we know you are capable of, and to continue to pursue your dreams.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of the Creative Arts

After I finished reading, I decided that this was quite a kind and gracious letter.

Unless you had a sister who was accepted at the same time.

Tossing the letter into the trash, I flopped down on my bed, pulling my pillow over my face and groaning. Why did I have to get in when Petunia didn't? If I knew anything about my sister, she was a grudge holder. She would hold on to this forever.

I groaned again.

What did she want me to do? Completely give up my dream because she didn't make hers? Did she even consider what I was feeling right now? How bad I felt about all of this?

No. She was oblivious, on that self centered throne of hers.

I paused.

That was a good line.

Sitting up, I reached to over to my desk and picked up my song book. Flipping to a knew page, I wrote it down. But, after I did I started to add, then add some more. Adding pre the line, adding post the line, until before I knew it, I had a full blown song. I started to read through it.

Can't you see that I'm sick of this?

Chances are you're oblivious to how I feel

Sitting on your throne, and I'm sure that I'm not alone,

Not alone, not alone.

Tell me please,

Who the hell did you want me to be?

Was it something that I couldn't see?

Never knew this would be so political.

And please, I'm still wearing this miserable skin

And it's starting to tear from within

But it's obvious that doesn't bother you, so please

I didn't think that you'd sell me out

Now I know what you're all about.

You might feel in control of things.

But you're not holding all the strings.

All the strings, all the strings.

Tell me please,

Who the hell did you want me to be?

Was it something that I couldn't see?

Never knew this would be so political.

And please, I'm still wearing this miserable skin

And it's starting to tear from within

But it's obvious that doesn't matter to you,

So please

I've swallowed all your answers

I've swallowed all my pride

You've used up all your chances

Can't keep this all inside

Tell me please,

Who the hell did you want me to be?

Was it something that I couldn't see?

Never knew this would be so political.

And please, I'm still wearing this miserable skin

And it's starting to tear from within

But it's obvious that doesn't bother you

So please don't keep telling me that it's ok

I don't buy all the crap that you say

And quite honestly I'm really sick of it

so please if I cut off this nose from my face

Then I wouldn't feel so out of place

But it still wouldn't be quite enough for you,

so please.

Hmm, it was tad more angst-y that usual. But I guess you can't really choose how you feel in certain situations, or when inspiration strikes you. You just let it out.

Closing my song book, I replaced it on my desk and sat up. I had to admit that I felt better, as I usually did after I write. There was a certain satisfaction you got when you've created something.

Looking over, I saw my acceptance letter with the envelope. Though I wanted so to sign the honor code very badly, there was something was holding me back.

Even if she had been secretly hoping that she could do it by herself, I had always imagined doing this with my sister. Stepping through those doors, and learning all I could from there with Petunia right there with me. Now that she wasn't coming, did I still want to do it?

I stared after it for a long minute, still indecisive about what to do, when I heard my father's voice boom from down stairs. "Lily! Severus is here!"

Abandoning my internal debate, I quickly turned around and opened by bedroom door. "Coming!" I called, almost sprinting to and then down the stairs. Dad was standing at the door, holding it open, while there stood Severus, dark and slightly menacing as usual, but with the one of the biggest grins I'd ever seen on his face. In his hand, he had a letter.

"I got in!" he said before I was even down the stairs. He held up his letter. "Just got it an hour ago."

"Sev, that's great!" I grinned. I bounced over to him and gave him a hug, which he returned happily. I heard Daddy mumble something I didn't hear, before he walked away.

"So?" he asked, after we separated. "Did you get in?"

"Oh," I said, my eyes shifting from his to the floor. "Uh, yeah. I-I got in."

"Lily, that's amazing!" Severus grinned, brushing his nearly always greased hair out of his eyes. When he saw my lack of enthusiasm, he frowned. "Lily, we've just been accepted to the best Creative Arts school in the country! Why aren't you excited?"

"Ah, it's not that I'm not…." I sighed. Severus rose an eyebrow at me. "Sev, Petunia didn't get in."

"Oh," he said, pausing. "Bummer."

"Yeah." I agreed.

"Aw, but why are you sad? So what if she wasn't good enough? We were! And we're going to Hogwarts!"

"Severus! She's my sister."

"And if she was a good sister, she'd want you to go!"

"Well, she doesn't!" I said, stomping passed Severus to go out and sit on the porch. I heard him close the door, before coming to sit down with me. He sighed.

"Lily, don't let your selfish sister hold you back. You're way better than her."

"But what can I do? I don't want her to hate me."

"She's just going to have to get over it."

"But it's her dream-"

"One she's just going to have to give up on. Look, you're amazing at everything you do. You deserve this. Besides dancing, Petunia is average. You're going to do amazing things. Don't let her hold you back from that just because she's jealous.."

"It's not that simple-"

"Yes it is," he said, cutting me off yet again. "Now, I've already signed my honor code. From what you've been saying, it sounds like you haven't yet. I have to go back home before father gets angry, but you are going to go up to your room and you are going to sign that code. We are both going to be on that train on September first."

I stared at the cement walk, lost in my thoughts for a moment, before I turned to Severus and smiled. "Okay." I whispered. "Thanks Sev."

Severus grinned. Bumping his shoulder with mine "Don't worry. Were doing this together."

With that, he stood, waving at me before walking down the walk, then down the sidewalk towards his house. I watched him go, before I stood and walked back in the house. Going up the stairs, I went back into my room and got the honor code out of the envelope.

My eyes scanned it for a minute, taking in the words, before I pulled a pen out of the top drawer and signed the dotted line on the bottom.

"Sorry, Tuney" was all I could think.


The song I used was an edited (clean) version of Please by Stand. Please, review and tell me what you thought! I'd love your insight! Luvs you! ~angel