Disclaimer: As I am obviously not J.K. Rowling, can we please get on with the story? Oh right, I forgot. *Takes deep breath* IdonotinanywayshapeorformownHarryPotterorhisparents. Moving on.

Lily sighed. It seemed only a day since summer vacation started. She looked around at Kings Cross Station. Her aunt and uncle had already left. Now all she had to do was run through the barrier. She hesitated, tears stinging her eyes. For the first time in weeks, she let herself cry. Until now she'd always had her parents to give her a quick hug and a kiss before sending her on her way. Now they were gone. She remembered coming home from work. seeing the crowd outside her parents house, the Dark Mark high in the sky. Petunia and Vernon, her sister and brother-in-law, had not hesitated to turn her away. Freak, misfit. These were some of the kinder names they had called her. In desperation she turned to her mother's sister. Aunt Lucy had been quick to take her in, but she and Uncle Chris had little money to spare and what little money Lily had left was to go towards her Hogwarts tuition.

Lily took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and pushed her cart through the barrier. She shuddered. The magic barrier always made her feel like a bucket of icy water had been dumped on her. In a way it's cleansing. she thought to herself. She opened her eyes and saw the Hogwarts Express in front of her. The sight comforted her. Here I'm not considered a freak. She thought to herself, a small smile playing on her lips. The smile vanished, however, as soon as she saw James Potter and Sirius Black running towards her. She stiffened and pretended not to notice them, looking down and busying herself with dragging her luggage towards the large scarlet engine.

"Oi, Evans!" James shouted, waving his arms wildly, trying to get her attention. Lily looked up, brushing her bright red hair out of her face.

"What do you want, Potter?" Lily asked tersely, her green eyes watching him with the same distaste that she would have for a large gorilla.

"Hey! I just wanted to ask you if you wanted help." he paused, waiting for her answer.

Lily wasn't in a mood to argue. "If you want." she relented after eyeing suspiciously for several seconds.

The look of surprise on his face was to comical for words. "Um... ok." he stammered. He and Sirius lifted her rather large trunk up the train steps and into the baggage with surprising ease. "There!" he said as he straightened up and faced her. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, noticing her tear-stained face for the first time.

"I'm fine." Lily said, still blinking back the tears. "Thank you by the way." she walked away, leaving a shocked James and a grinning Sirius.

"Looks like she's falling for you, mate!" Sirius laughed, punching James' arm.

"Yeah," was all James managed to say, his eyes still on the form of the retreating redhead.

Sorry it's so short. I've been kinda busy with all that's been going on this summer. I promise the next chapter will be longer!!!