Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. If I did, I wouldn't have killed my favorite characters, now, would I?

Chapter 1- I meet James

When the brown owl flew in my room, messing up all the papers I had carefully organized that morning I was relieved. I had dared to think maybe it would never arrive, and I would be stuck with my parents until I was 17. The owl landed obediently on my nightstand and waited for me to untie the letter from its pawl. I picked a little treat for it and made my way across the room. I couldn't believe it was finally happening! I would be parent-free!

After untying the letter I carefully read it. Everything seemed right, no notes saying I wouldn't attend or anything. I was slightly paranoid, but it was too good to be true, I guess. Then I read the books and personal stuff (such as wand, cauldron and so on) list. FIRST YEARS CAN'T BRING A BROOM? WTF? Frustrated (Quidditch was my favorite pastime), I went down the stairs to show my parents the letter, after all, what could possibly go wrong?

A few minutes from then I remembered the why I had been so reluctant in showing it to them:

- You will not disappoint us, right? We are a respected pure-blood family; we have a status to maintain, unlike some other families, like the Potters, that are filthy blood traitors, those families have already screwed up.

- No Dad, I will not disappoint you- I was lying. I knew I had nothing to become like them. Even though I was raised amongst pure-blood, Muggle hating people, I was the almost exact opposite of what they were. I was never going to be like them.

- Good girl. Now go to your room and read more of those books about Hogwarts I gave you. We'll leave you your schedule for tomorrow, after all, you do have to go buy you school gear.

- Yes, Dad. - And with those words, I went away. I hated when they reminded me I was not like other witches, that my family had a status yada, yada, yada. I couldn't care less about my family. In fact, they were the people I most hated in the world, always so worried about keeping status, despising people who weren't in the same 'social level' as them just because they didn't breed within their own blood lines. Disasters like that psychopath that my parents talked about as if she was the Queen, Bellatrix Black, I think, happened when inter-breeding within blood lines. I just couldn't understand why they cared so much; it's such a stupid thing, wizards lifting their noses to the Muggle world.

The next day I woke up really excited. Dad had scheduled my visit to the Diagon Alley to be the second thing in the morning, right after breakfast. This was going to be my first time out alone; a perfect opportunity to talk to people my parents wouldn't let me otherwise. People like Muggleborns or Half-bloods. Dad had also scheduled a visit to Hogsmeade, whenever I finished the Diagon Alley. He was probably just being this nice because he wanted me to be nice during the dinner I knew he was planning for this afternoon. I couldn't believe he thought that'd work.

I was so anxious that I didn't really pay attention to what was for breakfast, I just swallowed it and got my list. My parents Apparated me to Diagon Alley, disapparating before I could say good-bye, which was no big deal, they left without saying good-bye all the time.

I made my purchases, allowing myself something extra here and there, and, of course, the big fat extra that was the pet- a beautiful, white owl with slight red strikes on her back, got my wand (10'', Hazel, Dragon Heartstring)- thinking all the time about going to Hogsmeade. I really wanted to go to Zonko's! So, five hours later- that is, around 3 o'clock, I was ready to go.

So, a few minutes later, I was, for the first time of my life, in Hogsmeade! Of course, the first place I went: Zonko's! It was there that, probably, the best thing on my life happened. I went in, and was browsing the shelves when I glanced and saw a boy around my age. He had a messy black hair and brown eyes. He felt I was looking and glanced at me, and I rapidly went back to looking at the amazing things Zonko's sold. Surprisingly, the boy walked over to me and asked:

- Hi! What's your name? Mine's James, James Potter.

- Hey! I'm Julia, Julia Lauren.

- So, is it your first time around here? - He seemed slightly confused.

As my family was a know pure-blood family, I was supposed to know Hogsmeade upside-down, but they had never approved of places where there could be "mudbloods". They were afraid that having contact with them might "corrupt" me, so every time I asked them to come here they claimed that it was too dangerous and that I'd have the opportunity when I reached my third year in Hogwarts.

- Yeah. - I answered, embarrassed. - You've probably already been here, right?

He nodded.

- What's your favorite section? - I was unsecure about what I should ask, but since he seemed comfortable, I decided it was safe to go personal.

- The pranks one, come and see it!-I was so happy he had invited me I almost screamed! This was the first real person I had ever met and we already seemed to like each other.

I've got to admit, that boy really had good taste. As we entered the pranks section, my mouth fell open. How come I had never been there? That place was amazing! There was tons of prank stuff just waiting to be used!

- Incredible, isn't it? How come you've never been here? You seem to like this kind of stuff.

- I was just asking myself the same question…- The truth was I had a pretty good idea as to why I've never visited Zonko's before, I just didn't want to ruin my first real possible friendship.

- Since you don't know Hogsmeade, how about getting something to eat and I'll give you the tour?

- Sounds great!

We went out, bought some ice cream and, before we knew it, it seemed like we'd known each other for years. James was the first person with whom I had ever discussed my family. I hadn't gone into any details, but it was the most anyone knew about the life as the heir of a prominent pure-blood family.

I was comfortable with the conversation until we reached a point that I knew was going to lead to a place that was better left untraveled, which was the reason why I avoided travelling there.

- So, you're going to Hogwarts this year?

- Yeah, you?

- Yep. In which House do you think you're going?

- I don't know. My whole family's been Slytherin, but I don't want to. I really want to be Gryffindor. – I caught myself before I could say anything else; afraid of revealing too much to someone who I barely knew, even though it was the first person with whom I felt truly safe to say whatever I wanted.

- And I really hope you are. I want to be Gryffindor too.

It was late when we finally realized how time had passed. James needed to get home and so did I.