It was Thursday morning, Jessica Thompson was waiting by the window, her big blue eyes wide open searching the sky, a little boy was sitting right next to her doing the same thing, that was William Thompson eight years old little brother. They lived in a medium class neighborhood, the houses around theirs were not big, but they were well cared for, perfect lawn lines, very green and few flower beds, every once and a while a car would drive by.

"Lunch time," someone called from downstairs.

"Just a second mom, it's coming any minute now," replied Jessica.

A few minutes went by, then Lydia Thompson came into the bedroom, she had long beautiful straight brown hair, light blue eyes, very young looking, she had a small smile on her face.

"You know your letter would get here faster if you stop staring out the window" said Lydia, while gently stroking her daughters hair, that was long and brown, just like her moms, when you saw the two of them together it didn't take much to figure out they were mother and daughter, they looked a lot like each other. She then turned to the little boy and said "You too, time to stop searching the sky, and it's your sister letter anyway, let's all go down and have some lunch".

"Mom I want to read it with Jess", that's how he called his bigger sister, "I want to know if she is getting any new professors, or if anything will be different, besides, you know I love reading the potion list, remember… last year she had to buy spiders leg, that was so cool" said the little boy with lots of excitement in his voice.

He didn't look like his sister, he had short black hair, with dark eyes, and his skin was lighter then his sister, he looked a lot like his dad.

At the same time he finished speaking his sister was already up and starting to go down to the kitchen. She stopped at her bedroom door and said "Let's go down Willy, mom is right, it never comes when we wait by the window". He jumped up and ran down the stairs, followed by Jessica and Lydia.

Jessica was a witch, the first and only one in her family. Jessica was going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was eleven years old when she got her first letter telling what she was and explaining about the school she could attend if desired. She's been going to Hogwarts ever since, she was seventeen now, and going on her last year, she still did not know what career to proceed once she got done with school. She got O and EE on her OWLs tests, so she could pretty much choose any career she wanted, but she just couldn't decide.

Once they were done eating Mrs. Thompson started clearing the table and Jessica quickly stood up to help. Jessica gathered all the plates and set them by the sink. At the same moment a loud squeak came from the table, William was jumping up and down.

"Oooohhhhh, it's here, it's here…. I see an owl, look, here it comes!!!" He ran to the kitchen window and opened it wide.

Few seconds later the owl swooped in through the window, it was a beautiful black owl, with great yellow eyes. She got the letter and the owl set off, she opened it and laid it on the table so her mother and brother could read it too, now they were one over each other shoulders trying to see if anything changed. For her surprise nothing had changed, she would be having all the same professors, she was sure Professor Slughorn would be retiring, he'd been complaining for the past two years, saying he was tired and needed some rest. Her thoughts were broken with her little brother loud excitement.

"Look, that's why I like your letters" he started reading following with his finger "Your Potions material list is really gross. Werewolf hair, bat eye, cow blood, oohh… look, it says you need human finger nails…. Do you want to take mine?

"No, we will be buying all this. We don't want your sister to have any accidents," said Mrs. Thompson, she had her eyes still on the list "It says here you need to stop by Madam Malkin's and get some new special robes for your graduation."

"Do you think we can go to Diagon Alley this Saturday?" asked Jessica and started reading the list all over again.

"Sure, your Dad and I were already planning on it. Why don't you go call the Evans, we can meet over there," said Mrs. Thompson, who had moved away from the table and was washing dishes now.

Jessica stood up and went to the living room to call Lily Evans; they were best friends, since their first year. They sat together on Hogwarts Express, they had a lot in common, they were both muggle born, and first in their families, they had passion for magic and learning and shared the same dislike for Potter and his "gang", they were in the same year and house, Gryffindor. Before making the call she stopped and read the list once more, and she could hear Willy on the background cheering loudly "chocolate frogs, chocolate frogs" she could tell he was jumping up and down again, it was his favorite treat, although she had brought a considerable amount of chocolate frogs for the summer holidays, her brother had managed to finish them all.

She got hold of the phone and was ready to dial, when the phone gave a loud ring. She jumped, and thought "how come the phone always rings when I am ready to use it?"

"Hello," said Jessica, feeling annoyed.

"Hi, Jess?," Jessica recognized the voice at once, it was Lily Evans, she wasn't surprised, they often shared the same thought at the same time, plus Lily was the only person, besides her mother, father and brother, that called her Jess. "Did you get your letter?"

"Yes I did… Nothing changed, I was sure we were getting another Potion Professor, but by the looks of it, seems like Professor Dumbledore managed to make Slughorn stay one more year."

"I was very surprised too, I wonder how the headmaster does that," said Lily. "But I do have exciting news…."

And she paused.

"WHAT?" asked Jessica who waited a second to see if Lily was going to continue.

"I am Head Girl," said Lily. Jessica could tell she had used her shy voice.

"That's great news, now I can break the rules and get away with it," laughed Jessica.

"Yeah, like you would break the rules," said Lily ironically. "But I will tail Potter and his "gang", and I will get them in trouble all the time, they won't be able to pick on Severus Snape."

"I would not have it any other way, I will help you," Jessica continued. "Do you think we can meet at Diagon Alley this Saturday?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot, that's why I called, mom and dad are taking me this weekend, I guess we will meet then?"

"Yes," Jessica confirmed. "Same time, same place?"

"That works for me," said Lily. They met in front of The Leak Cauldron at 10:00 in the morning for the past five years to get their shopping done together. Their parents were also good friends.

Saturday morning the Thompsons were ready to go early. Jessica noticed that Willy was wearing Gryffindor robes she gave him last Christmas. She thought her brothers fascination with everything related to magic, Hogwarts and moving treats was adorable. Her parents however were wearing normal muggle clothes, but she thought they would be fine, considering that Diagon Alley was always full of muggle born children, with their parents.

They were all inside the car at 9:30. The drive to Leak Cauldron was faster than they thought, they arrived ten minutes early, but decided to wait for the Evans outside the INN. Jessica got very excited when she saw Mr. Evans car turning the corner, and for her surprise they were five minutes early.

Once again Mr. and Mrs. Evans and her friend Lily were not joined by Petunia. Petunia was Lily's older sister, and she did not like the fact that Lily was a witch, as a matter of fact, she hated everything to do with the magical world. At first it was really hard on Lily, but she stopped carrying couple of years ago. Jessica always appreciated her brother because of his love for magic, she didn't know how strong she could be if her brother started ignoring her.

"Hi Jess, excited?" asked Lily, jumping out of the car. Her hair was as long as Jessica's, but dark red, with almond shaped brilliant green eyes.

"Yes, very," said Jessica greeting Lily with a friendly hug.

They were interrupted by Willy, who was jumping up and down again. "Can I see your badge? Oh boy, oh boy."

"Oh,no…"replied Lily. "Sorry I didn't know you wanted to see it, I didn't bring it with me." Willy looked sad. "But I promise I will show it to you before we get into Hogwarts Express, okay?" She added, bringing the smile back to his face. "I love your outfit."

"Thank you, Jess gave it to me." But Lily already knew that, they were together when Jessica got it for him last year. Jessica noticed that Willy was still very disappointed but got quickly distracted when he saw his parents entering the front door, he ran saying "I remember the bricks you have to touch, I will show you…"

The Leak Cauldron looked like it always did, heavy smoke, very dark and full of wizards and witches, they made their way to the back, saying "Hi" to Tom, the innkeeper, who just waived. Lily got her wand out so she could tap the bricks, but she made sure to let Willy point the bricks before giving it a tap. I like a magical door the bricks opened and they could see Diagon Alley, packed with students.

Jessica was glad to be there, see some familiar faces and smells, she looked at Willy who had his mouth half open, his eye moving really fast, trying to take in everything around him, she was glad to see all the colorful displays, spell books and broomsticks.

It didn't take long for them to get their shopping done, they got all their books at Flourish and Blotts and got their new dress hopes for Graduation with Madam Malkin's, who was really busy with all the seventh years. They met lots of classmates on the way but all of them were really busy with their shopping so they didn't talk much.

In two hours they were done with all their shopping and very tried and hungry.

"Let's stop by Florean Fortescue place and get a bite to eat and we can have ice-cream later" said Mr. Evans, struggling to carry all of Lily's new books.

They made way through the busy streets and got to the Parlor, but they were surprised that it wasn't as full as all the other stores.

"I guess everybody is too busy to stop for ice-cream, good for us" said Mrs. Thompson, and all of the grown ups laughed, but Lily and Jessica didn't think it was funny at all.

They sat on a table and ordered. While they were waiting a young men and woman stopped in front of their table.

"Excuse me…" said the young men, "I could not help to notice, but are you guy's muggles?"

"Ugh, Yes," replied Mrs. Evans with skepticism on her voice.

"Hi then, my name is Arthur Weasley, this is my fiancée Molly," pointing to the young lady by him, Jessica noticed that she started blushing. "Do you mind if I ask some questions"

"Not at all," said Mr. Thompson gracefully. "Go ahead."

"Why do you guys need to drive those big metal things? What are they called?... Oh yeah, cars," asked Arthur, Jessica saw Lily try to hide a small laugh under her hand, that she quickly covered her mouth with.

For a few seconds no one said anything, it seemed like all of them were trying to find an answer but they could put it into words. Then Arthur spoke again.

"I'm sorry I don't mean to seem to forward, do you think I can have lunch with you? I have lots of questions," he said apologetically.

"Oh, sure, of course," quickly replied Mrs. Evans. "Lily, dear, would mind moving to the table next to us, with Jessica, so this couple can have a sit on our table."

"Sure". Both of them moved quickly, they were glad to sit alone, they had a lot to talk but didn't want to in front of their parents. They sat next to each other.

"Did you see Potter?" Lily started saying, they saw Potter and Black when they were getting their new robes "He looks more arrogant then ever".

"Now, now you can't say that, it's been a whole summer, I can change," said a boy right behind them, they didn't need to look, they recognized the voice at once, it was James Potter. "Look Sirius, this table has two chairs open, I am sure Mss. Thompson and Mss. Evans won't mind if we share"

"Oh, yes we will," started Jessica but they had already sat down. "If you haven't noticed this place is empty you can have a sit some place else."

"Why would I want to do that?" said James staring at Lily. "This is the perfect excuse to annoy my favorite book worm."

"How dare you?" Lily was very angry. "Just because I like to study and you don't, doesn't give you the right to call me a book worm."

"I am sorry, I didn't mean it like that" said James, " I decided to make peace with you this year, since we will be seeing a lot of each other during school."

"What is that suppose to mean?" asked Lily surprised.

"Oh, nothing…" answered James vaguely.

"You know I won't go out with you," said Lily, rolling her eyes. James was asking Lily out for years now, but she never gave in.

"Yes I know," James was still staring at her with a pleased smile.

"Jessica did you hear?" asked Sirius loudly, trying to diverge the conversation. "James is the new Quidditch Captain."

"Are you really?" she asked looking at him. Jessica played Chaser on Gryffindor Quidditch Team since her third year, and even though she disliked James personality she was quick to admit he was the best Seeker she'd ever seen. "I will be trying out again."

"No," he said firmly. "You don't need to, I want you in my team, for sure."

"Okay," she said feeling flattered. "Thank you."

"We really need to get going James," said Sirius while standing up.

"What? Aren't you eating?" asked Jessica.

"No, we just wanted to say hi, and we did, so we are on our way now," answered James, once again staring at Lily.

"Besides, we are not even hungry," Sirius had a weird smile on his face. "You changed a lot during the summer Jessica."

And they left, leaving Jessica and Lily wondering what was that all about. After lunch they went back to the car, said good-byes and drove away. As the Evans car turned to the opposite direction, Jessica thought how bad she wanted to go back to Hogwarts.