Chapter 1;
On platform nine and three-quarters on September 1st Lily Evans strolled onto the platform lugging her Hogwarts trunk behind her. She looked back at her parents and smiled, they may have been muggles but they loved the wizard world too, the glee was written all over their faces.
This was Lily's first day of her seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and she was ecstatic. That feeling that only her return to Hogwarts could summon. She looked around and felt that familiar feeling of happiness as she took in the scene around her.
She always loved the atmosphere at platform nine and three quarters. Friends raced around calling for each other after a long summer apart. You could see the frightened first years, their faces a mixture of nervous energy and excitement. Lily remembered that feeling of nervous anticipation, because she was a muggle-born she had no idea any of this had existed before she had her letter. She watched the children milling around whilst keeping an eye out for any of her friends – Marlene Mckinnon and Mary MacDonald.
The familiar sight of the scarlet steam train loomed up before her and she was struck with the emotion she'd been trying to bury - this would be her last first day of Hogwarts. Thinking about it she would experience many more 'last firsts' this year. The thought made her uncomfortable; she pushed it out of her mind hastily and turned to her parents.
"I'll be fine here; you don't have to wait around if you don't want to." She said to her mum and dad. She knew it was a lie as soon as the words left her mouth, she would miss her parents terribly whilst at school. Any time she had left with them before the school year resumed felt precious when she let her mind wonder back to the muggle world in Hogwarts. Apparently they could tell she was lying too.
"No its fine dear, you know we love to see you off and help you board your things onto the train." said mum.
"Okay thank you, just as long it doesn't inconvenience you." said Lily.
Her father smiled at her and took her trunk from her, heaving it onto the platform. "There you go Lils."
"I hope you have a brilliant year, write to me whenever you can! I'm so proud of you for making the Head Girl spot." said mum, her face glowing with pride at her daughters achievements. She reached forward and gently traced her fingers along the Head Girl badge that adjourned the front of Lily's robes. The badge shimmered in the bright light of the platform. It looked a little like a flare when the gleam of the badge set against the radiant colour of her auburn hair.
A lump formed in Lily's throat, she swallowed it down and smiled at her mother. "Thanks mum, I will. I'll miss you this year!"
"We'll miss you too," said dad. He absentmindedly grabbed her mother's hand with one hand and reached out for Lily's. She took his outstretched hand just like she had whenever she needed reassurance or kindness from her father. Lily let go of her father's hand and reached out to embrace her parents. She buried her head in the small gap found in between the two pairs of the shoulders blades and almost forgot all her worries about the Wizard World and that new evil villain guy – Moldy something? Or Voldy? She wasn't sure. She let go and stared into the eyes of the people that she cared about most in the world.
"I had better get on the train, you know, Head Girl duties and all. I have to set an example," when Lily said the last bit she puffed out her chest and did her best imitation of her grandmother's stern voice.
Her parents shared a look as if to say Yeah, our daughter has officially lost all sense of her remaining sanity and quickly embraced her again before shooing her off to board the train. "Okay bye Lils, be good! Write to us sometime this week and we'll see you again at Christmas! I love you," mum said.
"I love you too mum, you too dad."
"Love you too, I'm so proud of you bud," said dad, Lily did a double take at the use of the childhood nickname her father had given her. A small smile spread across her features.
Then she started to walk away, she paused a small distance away and waved at her parents through the haze of steam circulating around the platform. She caught a look full of anxiousness cross the faces of her parents then it vanished as soon as it appeared so quick she may have imagined it. Her parents had been a little anxious about the idea of sending her away to school when there was so much conflict between the wizard world at the moment. She'd never took into consideration how it might affect her parents, and even if she did the thought terrified her so much she repressed it as soon as it surfaced. Sending your daughter away to an unknown place in the midst of a feud must fill you with all sorts of horrifying scenarios. She couldn't live with the idea of something happening to her whilst her parents remained wistfully ignorant, unaware of the danger Lily might be in. The idea of not knowing something that could happen to your own flesh and blood was too horrible to bear and what –
"Lily!" shouted a voice from behind Lily, snapping her out of her reverie. She turned and saw Marlene Mckinnon and Mary MacDonald strolling towards her through the crowd. When they reached her they shared a hug and smiled at her.
"Hey," said Lily. She had missed her friends an awful lot over the summer. They had exchanged a few letters and met up on several occasions but it just wasn't the same as sharing a dorm room with them for months.
Marlene immediately launched into a story about the holiday she had over the summer and a boy that she had met. Classic Marly. Marlene had a rather babyish face that was incongruously set against the curvy figure that you could make out from her clothes. She had hazel eyes, the kind of eyes that told you if you messed with this girl she'd hit you in the face with a frying a pan. She was tall with lush blond curls that cascaded down her back. Her skin was tanned from the holiday she just been on and made her look older. She was bubbly, confident and didn't let much get her down. She was one of the funniest people Lily had ever encountered. She caught the attention of everyone and they all seemed to think she was great, a fact she was very aware of.
Mary gave Lily a look and rolled her eyes at Marlene. Mary was a little different from Marlene. She was small and soft rather than tall and curvy. She had piercing blue eyes like whirlpools and a soft, round face that still held small remnants from the baby fat she didn't seem able to be rid of. She had mid-length black hair that could usually be found in a pony tail at he back of her head. She appeared shy and innocent to outsiders and preferred it that. You couldn't have been more wrong. She was loud and talkative when she was comfortable with her surroundings and held the hearts of many lads in her year, even though she was oblivious to it all. She didn't really like attention so avoided it whenever she could. In other words, she was an almost perfect contrast to Marlene.
"Yes Mar, 'cos we've never heard that one before," snickered Mary. The sarcasm seemed like second nature to Mary, she used it that often. She was smirking though, so it was plainly harmless banter.
"Shut up Mary. How were both your summers?" said Marlene.
"Great thanks, how was yours? Can we board the train please? I think the train is about to leave," said Lily. As if on cue the train let out a burst of steam and the engines purred to life.
"Sure, I'll tell you about it on the train," Marlene exclaimed over the sudden noise increase. Lily made her way to the train with her friends, dragging her trunk along in her wake. It made a faint thump-thump noise as it was pulled along the slightly uneven ground.
She made it onto the train but was pulled away from her friends in the force of the crowd surging through the doors of the train. She staggered, willing herself to regain her balance. She couldn't appear weak in front of these people, not now she was Head Girl. Almost against her will she glanced down at the badge that was pinned to the front of her Hogwarts uniform. She smiled in spite of herself, she couldn't get over the fact that she had been handed such a responsibility, not that she hadn't dreamed it would be hers someday. Since first year and she had gazed up at the current Head Girl she had fantasized about how that job was made for her. Enforcing rules, taking responsibility, it's what she was best at.
Not for the first time since she received her letter she wondered who the Head Boy was, she didn't recall it saying that piece of information in the letter. It's got to be Remus she thought, there's no other boy in our year that deserves it more. She only knew that she was really anxious to find out who her co-head's identity was. It sounds a little cheesy if you think about it like that, like one of those murder mysteries where you're given the names of both likely and unlikely candidates and you have to trust your judgement and the facts before you to come to a decision. I have really a bizarre train of thought she thought.
"OW!" a voice behind her exclaimed. Lily turned and saw the messy hair and the lop-sided glasses before realising who it was. He had grown a few inches over the summer so he was nearly a head taller than her now. His messy, black hair was the same as always, sticking up anyway it saw fit. Completely uncontrollable, just like the person underneath it. The hazel eyes were the same too, they were lit up with a mischievous glint in them at the moment, that look was never good. The signature lop-sided grin was plastered across his face as if to say Yeah I know you want me, but there's a queue so you'll have to wait in the line babes. Lily was instantly filled with a blinding anger that only one person in the world seemed capable of getting out of her.
James Potter.
"What do you want, Potter?" she snapped. She never had any patience when it came to this particular wizard.
"Hey, Evans. nice to see you too. Yes, I had a great summer, thanks for asking," he just grinned at her, that grin that made her want to slap him the face and inflict severe pain.
"Go away, Potter. I think my clear hostility towards you just now made it abundantly clear that I have no interest in idle chit-chat."
"Oh, Evans, I had no idea your vocabulary stretched that far." He said with a smirk.
"Funny one, that was. Who was it again that got 7 Outstanding OWLS? You? Oh I must be mistaken." She grinned devilishly at his haughty expression. That showed him.
"Oh now, no need to get arrogant, that's my job. If you're going for low blows I'd like to ask, who is quidditch captain again?" He had her there, she tried to think of something to say that would anger him.
"I strongly dislike quidditch, therefore if by some odd chance that Dumbledore lost his mind and I was made quiddicth captain you wouldn't be seeing any wins this season. Just bare that in mind."
"Dually noted, Red."
"Don't call me Red."
"Alright, Ginger."
"Shut up, you hippogriff's backside."
"Kneazle."
"Niffler."
"Flobberworm."
"Oh, this is pathetic. What am I still doing here? I'm sure there's a lot more productive things I could do to consume my time."
"I highly doubt that. Who wouldn't want to spend time with all this?" He said seductively whilst dramatically flicking his hands along the length of his body. Lily just rolled her eyes at him as he added, "And, I seem to recall that you stepped on my foot."
"Oh did I? Oh well, you'll live. As long as your internal organs are still in tact there's nothing major to worry about. Now I'm leaving, excuse me," she attempted to barge past him but he didn't seem to want the conversation to end. He stepped into the path and she had no choice but to come to a stop. The height difference was almost laughable when they were standing this close. She tried to make herself look a little taller without anyone noticing but stumbled and fell on non-other than Potter. She instinctively reached out and clutched her arms before she could hit the ground. She squirmed herself out of his grip and took a step back, she was furious.
"Potter, I'm not joking. Get out of my way," she snarled at him.
"As you wish, your highness," he said with mock respect. He even did a stupid little bow, just to embarrass her further. She purposely knocked into him on the way past but he didn't seem perturbed by it.
"Bye, Evans. I'll catch you later!" she could hear the depth of the humour and sarcasm underlining that sentence. He will certainly not catch me later she inwardly seethed.
Lily made her way down the corridor of the train in search of her friends, relieved to find it mostly clear of students now. As she passed cabins she recognised a few people among the new students. She passed a compartment filled with Slytherin seventh years, she involuntarily shuddered. They seemed to have a personal vendetta against Lily and she could probably guess why. MudBlood. That's all they thought she was. She was laughably outnumbered against a compartment full of Slytherins if they did try anything. She caught a glimpse of her old best friend – Severus Snape. A sudden wave of battling emotions hit her. She missed him terribly, but what he had called her was unforgiveable, especially since he had insisted that what his fellow Slytherins had called her was a nasty lie. As if sensing her presence he looked up and locked eyes with her. She couldn't move, she was paralysed on the spot. His eyes seemed to reflect all the regret that had built up since the incident at the end of fifth year. His expression morphed into one that resembled the old Sev, not the death eater wannabee that had stolen her best friend. Then just as quickly as he had looked at her, he averted his eyes and gave his attention back to his fellow Slytherins.
Lily looked down, feeling a little put out. He's bad news she scolded herself. He doesn't matter anymore, he's not your Severus anymore. But as soon as she thought it she knew that he would always matter, he was her roots. Her first link to the world she never knew had existed, a connection she could never bear to permanently sever.
She blinked tears out of her eyes hastily. She couldn't break down every time she saw Severus Snape, she had to come to terms with the cold harsh truth or it would tear her apart. Some wounds never do heal, but she would find a way. She had to.
She passed compartments with friends lounging around comfortably on the quilted seats around the perimeter of the space. People playing exploding snap, eating Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and trading chocolate frog cards. The gossip cycle would soon be back in business; Lily just hoped none of the vulgar rumours that usually circulated the gossip cycle involved her.
She eventually found her friends in an apartment near the back of the train and hopped inside, closing the door swiftly behind her.
"Hello," she greeted her friends. She looked around and saw Marlene and Mary staring back at her, clearly happy to see her.
"Hey Lils, what took you so long? You've been gone quite a while," enquired Marlene.
"Got a bit lost in the crowd then bumped into James Potter. Ugh, the great prat. He really knows how to piss me off," Lily let out a clear sigh of exasperation.
"Oh come on Lils, he's not that bad. He's been chasing you for, what? 5 years now? When are you going to give in?" she smirked at Lily's outraged expression. "Just kidding."
"Yeah, I'm going to find him this very second and snog him 'cos I just find him that irresistible," Lily said sarcastically. Just for extra effect she gestured dramatically with her hands.
Mary laughed and looked back down at the book nestled on her lap. Mary was never without a book in her possession.
"So, Marlene, spill." Lily said, remembering she hadn't told them about her latest interest.
Her face lit up at being asked to recount it. "Oh, he was gorgeous! He was funny, sensitive but not too much, interesting and he was so into me. Oh, and did I mention he was gorgeous?" She said, a dreamy look was plastered across her face, her eyes glassed over. "You'd have loved him, Lily," she added as an afterthought.
"Oh? Why's that?"
"He runs away when he sees a bowtruckle, too."
"That was one time!"
"Still ran away though."
"It was staring and snarling at me like it was sizing me up for a dinner plate!"
"So easily spooked, Lils."
"Says the girl who won't leave her room on Friday the 13th because of the 'bad luck infiltrating the air'."
"Oh, that was a low blow, Lillian Jane Evans."
"You know I'm joking, Marly." Lily grinned at her friends indignant face, that was already morphing into a softer expression.
"If you two are quite finished I'd like to read this chapter for Charms without having my head feel like it's caving in," exclaimed Mary somewhere from Lily's right.
"Sorry, Mar. Don't be so over-dramatic, it doesn't suit you," said Marlene.
"Very funny, McKinnon."
"What time is it? Lily enquired.
Marlene glanced down at the watch around her wrist, "About quarter to 12, why?"
"I'd better go to the Prefect meeting, can't have a prefect meeting without the Head Girl, after all," Lily grinned at her friends as realisation dawned on their faces. They let out a squeal so loud Lily had to cover her ears.
"Oh Merlin, Lils! Well done, we knew you'd get the job! You should have mentioned it before!"
"Yeah, you'll be brilliant! Think of the opportunities!"
"Thank you, don't get over-excited now Marlene McKinnon." Shooting her friend a look. "Well I'd better get going," Lily made her way to the door but hesitated. She turned back to her friends. "Do any of you know who the Head Boy is?"
"Yes, it's Peter."
"You're joking." Lily mouth hung open so wide you could fly a hippogriff inside.
"Of course I am! So gullible, Lily. You should get that sorted out if you're going to be any use to Dumbledore this year."
"Shut it, MacDonald."
"You'll have to tell us everything when you get back from the meeting!" exclaimed Marlene.
"Promise, I'll catch you later!" said Lily as she turned back towards the door and headed to the front of the train.
On her way to the Prefect meeting she suddenly became very nervous. Trickles of sweat beaded in her palms as they started to tremble slightly. She could feel her legs going to jelly. What is your problem? Get a grip Lily she scolded. She couldn't let the nerves get the better of her when she entered that meeting, especially in front of the mystery Head Boy. Her stomach was in knots, a sure sign of her nerves. She passed the lunch cart on her way and was half tempted to get purchase something to calm her nerves but she thought it might make it worse. She kept walking.
After a journey that seemed to go on forever she reached the compartment where the prefects' meeting was being held. She reached for the door handle and wavered slightly. She tried to get hold of her bearings. Deep breaths Lily, you can do this, stop being a pansy. Lily took a deep breath and opened the door.
Standing there amongst all the prefects was the last person she'd want as her fellow head.
James Potter.