A/N: Hey guys! I hope you all decided to tune in for Holding onto Tomorrow improved! I have to send a special thanks to my beta Emily, and one of my best friends (Alex L) who have halped me so much with this story! I love you guys! I also want to let you guys know that I still reply to all reviews! Hope you enjoy! R&R!

I, eleven year old Lily Evans, have an absolutely perfect life. I have the best family, which consists of my parents and my sister Petunia. I have some pretty awesome friends named Taylor Lutgen, Evelyn Peace, Caitlin Moore, and Severus Snape, who are all the same age as me. I would say that I'm closest to Taylor and Severus, though.

I've been friends with Taylor ever since I started Pre-K when I was five! We were always seen together. When you saw one, you generally saw the other. Taylor has been with me through things that play a big part in my life… things that nobody knows about but us and another young boy.

I met Severus Snape when I was in Pre-K, also. He, on the other hand, didn't go to my school, nor did he go to school at all. Taylor and I were down at the small neighborhood park down near Spinner's End. It was there that I made a new friend while I also learned the truth about myself.

-flashback-

"Come on, Lily," five year old Taylor giggled before grabbing my arm and dragging me all the way to the swing set.

"I'm coming. Calm down, Tay," I huffed while hustling behind her.

Today was Thursday, February 21, and because most parents are at work, nobody was at the park.

It wasn't but a couple of minutes later that Taylor spotted a lone figure at the other side of the park. Slowing her swing down just a tad bit, she looked to me, and said, "Do you see that?"

"That what," I answered, confused by what she was saying.

"That person," Taylor nodded to an unfamiliar shape in the distance, "He looks lonely."

"Well, let's go talk to him, then," I replied, bravely jumping up from my swing. Taylor followed suit, abandoning her swing, also.

"Hello," I said as we approached a boy who looked no older than us. The boy, who had deep black eyes and long black hair, glanced up suddenly, but nonetheless replied.

"H-Hi," he mumbled uncertainly.

"I'm Lily, and this is Taylor," I continued, "What's your name?"

Then boy then glanced up at me and smiled. "Severus," he answered. His eyes were locked with mine, and for a split second, I felt something warm erupt in my stomach.

"Come here," Severus beckoned both Taylor and me to a nearby bush. The plant hadn't bloomed, and yet buds covered every visible inch of the surface.

Looking at me, Severus instructed, "Wave your hand over one of the buds."

I looked behind me to see Taylor's reaction, but did as the strange boy instructed me. Slowly, I waved my hand over a bud that seemed to be poking its way into the sunlight.

Right before my eyes, the bud opened itself up. Beautiful powder blue petals stretched out, spilling over the perfectly green sepals. Even though it was still winter, I could smell the strong pollen lingering in the air.

My mouth hung open in shock while Severus plainly smiled. "Now you," he said to Taylor, who was very eager to do what I had accomplished. Quicker than I did, she waved her hand over another bud that sat on the bush.

The bud did the same thing for her, except the flower was purple. When our amazement vanished, Taylor looked at Severus.

"Is this some sort of joke?" she spat in his face.

Severus shook his head left to right, "It's just as I presumed," he whispered hoarsely even though there was no one in sight, "You're both witches!"

-end flashback-

Yeah, those were the good ol' days. Of course, we weren't allowed to tell anyone of our newfound discovery, not even our families. To this day, neither of my parents, nor Petunia knows what Taylor and I are.

Beep, beep, beep, beep, my alarm sounded loudly. 'It CANNOT be eleven o'clock already,' I thought to myself annoyed before nuzzling my head farther into the soft comfort of my pillow. Even though I did this while plugging my ears with my fingers, the beeping could still be heard.

"That does it," I mumbled as I began to swing my arm around searching frantically for the snooze button.

When I finally found it, I realized I probably wouldn't be able to go back to sleep anyways. In result, I swung my legs off the bed, and pushed myself up off the nice, squishy, comfortable mattress…

The first thing I did was walk to my closet, and grab a pair of navy blue shorts and a roomy white t-shirt. I wasn't about to stay in my pajamas like I had been doing the past week and a half.

Suddenly, the smell of pancakes, bacon, and toast wafted through the vents. 'Time for breakfast,' I thought happily as I skidded my way down the staircase and into the kitchen.

"Good morning, my family!" I sang loudly as I entered the kitchen. My mother smiled down at the stove, and my dad chuckled at my entrance. "Good morning, darling," my mum greeted me cheerfully. "Hello," I replied with a smile, "Is Petunia up yet?"

"No…" my mother's voice dissolved into the air, "but I remember that she was up extremely late working on an essay and a book report that are due at the start of term."

I nodded at the explanation. This was to be expected from Petunia. She always liked to get things done early… As did I, actually. Petunia is actually who I acquired that habit from.

When I was younger, Petunia was my idol. I used to follow her around, and try to learn as much as I could from her actions. That was a long time ago, though. Things are different now. Petunia hangs out with girls that I really despise, and, even though I hate to admit it, she's not the sister I once knew…

It was but a couple of seconds after my mother sat plates overflowed with fresh food on the table that Petunia came bounding down the stairs.

"I haven't missed breakfast have I?" she panicked, not even bothering to say hello. Her dyed blonde hair was wrapped into a messy bun at the crown of her head. Dark marks encircled her sleepy eyes.

"No dear, you haven't missed anything," my mother replied, soothing Petunia's nerves.

Petunia then strode across the room, and plopped down silently in her usual seat, right across from me.

"Lily dear, why don't you try out for a sport this year," my dad broke the silence, "or maybe you could join a club."

"Like what?" I asked flatly, picking at the sausage on my plate. Before I even make a sound, my dad was off ranting about all of the sports I would be good at. My mind was on something totally different, though.

I was eleven. The same age Sev said I would be when I got invited to the magic school, Hogwarts. The way he talked about it made it sound like heaven.

"I think I'm going to go to Taylor's house," I declared as soon as my dad ended his never-ending rant. Pushing my plate backwards, and standing up I walked upstairs to my bedroom.

Five minutes later, I was up in my bedroom slipping on a pair of flip-flops when I heard a quiet tapping noise coming from my closed window which was completely covered by both blinds and curtains.

Hesitantly, I stepped to where the noise was coming from, before opening the blinds and drawing back the curtains revealing a small tawny brown owl.

'Why in the world is an owl out during the day,' I thought to myself, 'More importantly, why is it tapping on my window?' Then, I saw it.

Held by a small piece of thin string was an envelope with green writing printed on the front. Without even thinking, I slid open the window, letting the owl inside my bedroom.

As the owl swooped into my room and settled itself on my bed, it squawked dropping the letter onto my silky comforter.

"F-For me," I asked it. The look it gave me in return was quite simple to read. It was almost as though I could read its mind. The owl tilted its head to the left slightly and shot up an eyebrow as if to say, 'I came to your window didn't I?'

"I guess so," I replied shakily to the owl's strange look; no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the owl.

The owl nudged the letter towards me with its beak rather forcefully.

"A little impatient, are we?" I asked picking up the letter. For a moment, I thought I saw the owl nod, but maybe it was just my eyes playing tricks like usual.

The front of the letter probably stunned me the most. It read:

Miss Lily Marie Evans

5 Twilight Street Surrey, England

Top Floor, 1st room on the left

This letter had to have come from the magic school. How else would they know which bedroom is mine?

Without thinking another thought, I broke the wax seal on the back, revealing two different pieces of parchment. I slipped the first one out carefully, and began to read:

Dear Miss Evans,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With this letter, you will also find an enclosed list of books, equipment, and other items needed before the start of term. We hope you consider joining us! We await your owl no later than July 31. Term starts September 1st.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

A silly-looking grin spread across my face. This is it; this is what I've been waiting for!

Slipping the parchment back into the envelope, I skipped out of my room and down the entire staircase.

"Mum! Dad!" I called to my parents who were side by side in the kitchen, doing the dishes.

"What is it, darling," my mum asked looking at me with curiosity and worry.

"Read this," I shoved the letter into her hands and she began to read. Thank goodness she was a fast reader, because if she wasn't I might have exploded with anticipation.

"Oh, honey," my mother cried while tossing the letter into my dad's open hands, "This is wonderful, absolutely wonderful! We have a witch in the family."

"The only question is," my dad mumbled still eyeing the letter, "do you want to go to this school?"

"Yes! Yes! Absolutely yes!" I exclaimed jumping up and down.

"Alright then," my mother smiled, "We've just got to find out where to buy all of this stuff," she indicated to the supplies list.

"We have to go to Diagon Alley," I told her causing her and my dad both to look up at me like I had just spoken a foreign language. It was then that I began to explain.

"Diagon Alley is a place in London where witches and wizards shop," I said, "Severus told me; He's going to Hogwarts, too."

My dad rose his eyebrows. "How do you know all of this?" he asked suspiciously.

The, the truth spilled out from me. "I've known I was a witch since I was five," I came clean, "Taylor is one, too. Severus told us."

My mother sighed and began to mumble to herself. "As long as you don't keep secrets this big from us again," she finally spoke, "I'm fine with it."

"Thank you so much," I squealed loudly while hugging both of my parents repeatedly. "Can I go to Taylor's house, now?" I asked hopefully.

"Go have fun, sweetie," my mother giggled, "Just be home before dinner!"

"I will," I promised already halfway out the door, "Bye,"