Chapter 1- Welcome to the Evans'

Ally stood in her living room. Her suitcase was leaning up against the wall along with a few other belongings. The room was quiet as the clock on the wall slowly counted down to the moment that she waited for. Ally liked her new house, although it did remind her of her old house. It had been furnished with new belongings, but her mother had the same style, wherever they went. When Ally got out of school she would be sure to buy a place that would be shocking.

Ha! A hot pink house! Now, that's what every girl needs in her life!

She glanced down at the only watch she trusted. It had been a gift from her friend, Sirius. It had a sad frown on it, 'Not quite time yet,' it said to her. She sighed and began tapping her feet.

Per Lily's request, she had purchased a bucket load of muggle clothing to replace her witch robes. She had had some difficulty getting her mother not to come with her. Her mum meant well, but Ally didn't think that it would be best to bring her along. Luckily, her mother was kind enough to let her go alone.

The woman at the register was nice enough. She remembered seeing her struggle with the muggle machine that gave and ate money. Ally smirked as she saw the woman pull out a wand and give it a tap. The machine zapped to life. Ally had then introduced herself to the woman with her real name and confessed that she went to Hogwarts and didn't know much about muggle money. She had been on good terms with the woman after that and she had helped her to dress appropriately for her meeting with her friend's family.

She looked down at her watch again. 'Don't get your hopes up, you still got time.' She sighed and waited impatiently. Her uncle came into the room a few minutes later to shrink her suitcase and say goodbye. She placed the small suitcase in her back pocket. Soon, I'll be able to use magic.

Ally watched the back of her uncle in despair. She hadn't been graciously welcomed into the house. Her uncle had given a tour, and had stayed for dinner, but then he had to leave for his own life and career. It took Ally's father two days to realize she was there, he was so busy with work, and while her mother had immediately noticed, but she was too busy organizing things for them to do any activities together. The big house made Ally bored. There were some nice kids down the street that she would normally be around. They had gotten older though. One was away, one had moved, one didn't like her anymore, and one got a boyfriend.

Since she didn't have any siblings, there really was nothing for her to do. She spent her time writing long and random letters, bouncing up and down on her bed, meditating, meditating, and meditating. Ally couldn't wait for this whole Animagi thing to be over. Meditating was relaxing, and it did help her learn about her animal more, but she wanted to try it out. Really try it out.

She looked down at her watch again. 'Don't look at me. What am I... a watch?' She groaned in frustration and spun her wand in between her fingers. A bad habit she had picked up, she had no idea if it would send sparks out or blow up the wall at any second. She didn't really care though; the house could use some redecorating.

She was excited about visiting the Evans' household. Wanting to spend time with her best friend and wanting to find out just how horrible Vernon Dursley was. If he was really horrible, then Ally wouldn't mind hexing him a few times to get his ego to deflate. That reminded her of the Marauders, her school "friends". She wondered if she should call them friends, if she did, then it was a weird friendship.

She had written to them a few times. She didn't know Peter very well, but had sent a letter to see how he was doing. He was stuck at his grandmother's for the entire summer. He told her that the place smelled and he had never appreciated Hogwarts more. Ally smiled when she read that. Hogwarts was the perfect place to live. Peter had also told her that he was under house arrest after his grandmother had seen a tree trunk that looked like a bear. She was terrified and now he was stuck indoors.

Ally had written to her other friends asking them what they were up to. Sirius was moving into the Potter residence, officially now. Something went wrong with his family and now the Potters had to deal with two Marauders. She had sent Mr. and Mrs. Potter some sympathy flowers and a card asking if they wanted specific flowers at their funeral. They had sent a letter back asking for tulips.

Sam, as she had told them earlier, was in London. She was totally preoccupied with her family's dealings that she couldn't say much in her letter; only that she was doing well and wished them good health. Ally had understood and sent her candy. If Sam was busy, that wasn't her fault, everyone has some crazy relatives.

Remus had been a constant correspondent. Ally knew at one point the letters would take a break, making room for his lunar affliction, but she knew that Remus would write back as soon as he was well enough. She had learned from him that he was going to be on vacation in the tropics. He sent them a picture of the beach where he was staying and Ally sent him a picture of her bathtub. Her note had read 'my beach'. Ally giggled to herself as she remembered Remus sending her a picture of a banshee, he wrote 'top that'. She sent him a picture of the Marauders. She was anxiously waiting what could possibly be in his next letter, enjoying their little picture war.

Lily was the person that she had received the most letters from. She was also the person with the most interesting letters. She described movies and parks and other things that they could do. Ally was mainly interested in the muggle way of life. She thought that it would be an experience to live in an all muggle household for a while. Lily had seemed excited, but frowned when Ally had called it camping. It was not camping. It was learning.

Ally glanced at her watch again. 'Soon'. She eagerly stowed her wand in her pocket and grabbed a handful of floo powder. The fire had been ignited and Ally stepped into the flames. Ally could here the clock strike the hour.

"Evans' Household, Privet Drive." she said clearly and threw down the powder in her hand. She was enveloped in green flames and the world spun as she left the house. She stumbled out of the Evans fireplace and regained her footing with difficulty.

Looking around, Ally could see a clean, medium-sized living room. She didn't have time to look more, for, after a second; her suitcase popped behind her into normal size and hit her head. Ally jumped and rubbed the bump that was now forming.

"Thanks uncle, you could have told me that,' she said, sourly. "Everyone loves it when their luggage blows up and hits them on the head."

She stood back up and righted her suitcase so it leaned against a cushy armchair. Ally got a good chance to look around now. She could see the brick fireplace that she had just come from. To her annoyance, there was also a scattering of ash from where she had just arrived. She sighed and planned to apologize for ruining such a clean room. That's exactly what it was, a clean room. It almost sparkled. She could even see her reflection in the coffee table.

The couch and two armchairs circled around the fireplace. Beneath her feet was s soft, ornate rug that she adored. On the side of the walls were pictures of family and friends. Lily was in only a few of those pictures, which were always being taken up by Petunia. One picture, Ally saw, was of Petunia and an overly large grapefruit. Looking closer, Ally saw that it had a face, and immediately deduced that this was Vernon Dursley. He had on a permanently plain look. Ally tapped the glass to make him move, wanting to know more, and then remembered that pictures couldn't move in the muggle world.

Strolling along the wall she could see another picture. This one was not moving. It was the last quidditch match for Gryffindor. Ally, Lily, Sam and the Marauders were in it, along with a few other Hufflepuffs and Professor McGonagall. The picture was still, though Ally could see the occupants in the picture dying to move around.

"You can go ahead," she whispered to them. "I'm a witch."

The picture jumped to life in celebration that they had just won the match. Ally giggled as the photo waved happily and she could see James and Sirius take a sip of Firewhisky. She was also glad that there was a picture of her in the mantle piece.

"I had to fight Petunia for that picture," Ally heard Lily say behind her.

Ally spun around and started to laugh at what Lily was wearing. She had on an apron with the pockets full of cleaners. A wash towel was hung around her neck lazily and in her hand was a feather duster. Her hair was concealed in a net. She grinned goofily and laughed at her appearance in the mirror hanging on the wall.

"I know I look weird," she said, taking off the things and throwing them onto the couch. "It's all apart of the cleaning job."

Ally stopped laughing and grimaced. She hated when she had to clean at her house. Even though all she had to clean was her room, why should it matter? It was her room, it's not like anyone ever goes in it except Ally. And if she didn't mind, who did?

"You said you had to fight Petunia for this?" she pointed to the picture that was still in celebration.

"Yep!" she flopped down on the armchair and sighed. "She didn't want any abnormal pictures next to the pictures other and her little 'boyfriend'. I'm really dreading what will happen when she figures out that the people in the picture move."

"What about him," she pointed to the grapefruit aka Vernon. "Is that Vernon?"

"The one and only," said Lily, sitting up and pointing out the pictures. "That's him with Petunia. Next to that is my aunt and uncle, they recently passed away. There are a few pictures of my cousin, she's magical too, but he doesn't have enough magic to be a witch, she's a squib. Those are my parents with my grandparents. Next to them is my great aunt, she's really old now, but she's nice."

Ally surveyed the pictures as Lily pointed out each family, neighbor, friend and distant relation along the wall. Finally Lily stood up and flipped out her wand.

"Don't tell Petunia, she hates it when I use magic," she said while magically cleaning the ashes off the floor. "But I'm really not looking forward to cleaning any more."

"I don't mind, I just can't wait for my birthday."

"Two weeks, right?" Lily asked

"Two weeks."

"Come on," Lily gestured to the door. "Let's get your things to where you'll be sleeping, and then I'll give you a tour of the house. It's not much, pretty average, really."

"I don't mind, I prefer smaller houses anyway," Ally said while she picked up her suitcase and followed Lily to the other hallway. The hallway had a staircase that led to the upstairs of the house.

"Sorry about this," she pushed open one door. "But we only have three rooms and Petunia is demanding her own. You're stuck with me."

Ally gazed at the room and smiled, she was reminded of their Gryffindor dormitories. She dropped her suitcase to the side of one of the two beds.

"It's fine!" She jumped on the bed. "We share all year anyway."

"Good," said Lily, "because I think that Petunia only wanted to get you mad at her. I'll give you a tour of the rest of the house.

Ally followed Lily through the miraculously clean house. The upstairs was a short tour, all bedrooms that Ally couldn't go in. One was Lily's parents, and the other was Petunia's, which was closed and locked. The downstairs held the kitchen and a patio out the back; they revisited the living room so Lily could show Ally where the books and TV were. Ally found that the kitchen was the most fascinating, and soon demanded another visit. Lily laughed when Ally jumped as the microwave beeped. She fiddled around with the toaster and got a burnt finger tip when she touched the inside. Ally didn't mind.

"All for the sake of knowledge," she said wisely, while she was tapping the dishwasher with her wand.

"I'm glad someone appreciates the kitchen," said a female voice behind her.

Ally stood up straight and saw that Lily and her mother were laughing at Ally's antics. Ally smiled and reached out her hand.

"Ally Pierce." she said.

"Barbara Evans, you can call me Barb." She returned the handshake and smiled.

(A/N I don't know what the Evans' real names are. I picked standard, not really unique or different names. I looked it up in the books and hp-lexicon, but there is no mention of what they were called.)

"Thanks so much for having me," Ally said, looking at her.

Barbara was an older version of Lily. She had pretty red hair and green eyes that stood out. She was tall and thin. She stood a few inches taller than Lily and Ally, wearing a simple cut blue dress. Ally liked her instantly because of her warm smile and hospitable attitude. She had, after all, allowed Ally to stay the entire summer, which included dinners and outings.

"It's no problem, you're welcome anytime. Why don't you girls go out? Lily can give you a tour of what the town is like."

Lily and Ally consented to spend the evening out of the house so Barbara could cook and clean like crazy. She was still frenzied all about Petunia's 'boy'.

Lily showed Ally the outside. She saw the houses that were lined up in perfect rows. The buildings all looked the same and Ally guessed that they were all the same on the inside, with the exception of furniture. Privet drive was a long way from the main town. Ally listened as Lily pointed out various neighbors.

"That one, right there," she pointed to a house. "She's an old bag lady. That's my mother's friend Yvonne; she named her daughter her own name. That's our friend Carl and his wife Jan, they have two sons. One is our age, and the other is about six, he's cute."

Ally saw three people on the back porch. Two of them waved to Lily to come in so Lily waved back and consented to walking toward them.

"Don't worry," she said as they crossed their front lawn. "I'll introduce you."

She ran to the porch that the family was resting on. Ally could see the six year old boy, Kent, playing on a tire swing in the backyard. She was introduced as going to the same school for the 'gifted' as Lily went to. Ally liked Carl and Jan a lot since they seemed to want to meet her. Carl was as relaxed and laid back as Jan was, both sipping lemonade and resting in their lawn chairs. The teen that was Lily's and Ally's age was named John. Ally had a funny feeling about him, but she didn't bother expanding on it. He said four words to her ("Nice to meet you.") and Ally let it go.

"Do you think that there's something odd about him?" Ally pointed to John as they left.

"You get that feeling too?" Lily asked, looking at Ally. "Yeah, it's weird; I don't think it would be wise to think on it though. He's a lot like Petunia. Doesn't like anything out of the average, it would be best no to show any sort of ability to him, he's a jock anyway, too absorbed in playing football."

"Oh," Ally said, still not able to shake the feeling. "It's kind of creepy."

"I know, I stay away from him. If he gives you any trouble just let me know, I can't stand him."

"It's his eyes... there so..."

"Beady...? Dark...? Small...?" Lily filled in as they turned a corner out of Privet drive, onto the main street. "He can't be trusted."

"Guess so."

Lily showed Ally the public high school that Petunia had gone to a couple of years ago. Lily explained to Ally how Petunia had never gone to college because it was her dream to become a house wife. Ally pointed out a rock next to the entrance sign.

"Why does that say 'flagpole'?"

"Well..." Lily giggled. "We don't have a flagpole here in Little Whinging. In muggle movies people in the schools always say 'Three o'clock, flagpole, be there.' So the seniors found a large rock and put the word flagpole on it so they had someplace to meet. Now when someone says 'Meet me at the flagpole," they really mean 'Meet at the big rock that says 'flagpole.'"

"I wish Hogwarts had that," Ally said.

"We'll get one the first minute we get back."

(A/N The flagpole thing is what my High School has, since we don't have a flagpole a rock is the best substitute.)

Lily showed Ally the inside of the school, which was large and Ally had fun running through the halls, she also showed Ally what a vending machine was. Ally had hours of fun kicking it and watching a drink fall out. Lily suggested using money, but Ally thought that kicking it would be less expensive and more effective.

Lily then took her on a tour of the main street. She showed her a library, where Lily spent most of her time as a child. At the movie theater, there was already a huge line waiting for the 'Order of the Phoenix', a movie Lily hadn't seen yet. She showed her the art museum which Ally liked seeing, especially the large hunk of metal in the front of it. "They call this art? It looks more like a slide." Ally was then kicked out of the museum for sliding on a piece of artwork.

Lily introduced Ally to the shops along the side of the road. They went into a music store after Ally had heard a song, and Lily had to drag her out of it. Ally had tried on fifteen different sets of headphones and complained to the manager that he needed to work on his 'silencing charm' because his 'ear mufflers' still let in a little noise. Ally, on the way out, bought a guitar pick and some gum. "Can you chew the pick too?"

Lily then made sure to keep a close watch on anything that Ally did. The next shop that Ally got into a little trouble was the home improvement store. Ally found it fascinating to go through all the display doors, walk on the rugs, splash paint, ring the doorbells, turn on all the lights, ride a lawnmower and roll up all the curtains on display. She was chased out of the store by an angry manager. Lily spent some time trying to convince to him that her friend was from a third world country that was suppressed and in much need of technology. The manager seemed to understand, but did demand that her friend not come back until she learned how to control herself.

Ally followed Lily home happily after touring the rest of the town. She had gotten into trouble a few times, but not many. The only real problem they encountered was when Ally found the TV store and had attempted to dismantle one so she could get into the TV and steal the non-green leprechauns that where acting. Ally then yelled at the manager about the Ministry law for Magical slavery. That didn't go over too well; the insane asylum excuse was used that time.

Ally had collected various odd ends from the stores she had been to. An owner's manual she had gotten for free from the scared TV store manager, a guitar pick, a stapler, some tape, bobby pins, a large box of elastic hair ties that Ally had found ingenious, a dog collar she planned to put on Sirius, a tennis ball, sunglasses, and a few other small things like paper clips and an empty soda bottle that she had guzzled down.

"Satisfied?" Lily helped Ally carry her mountain of things up the stairs and drop them off in their room. "You bought a lot of things."

"Yeah, but I want more than this," she said. "I saw some other stuff that I didn't have the money to buy. I want to get some things for my mother and my uncle. I'll have to ask my uncle to change some more wizard money to muggle money. I'm sure he won't mind when I sent him the tennis ball, I bet he'd find that fascinating."

Ally dropped her things off on her bed and changed into some clothes that didn't have paint splattered all over it.

"Those places were fun! Can I go back to that one store with the doors and lights?"

"Maybe later," Lily said, avoiding looking at Ally and silently thinking that she would never bring Ally into another muggle store again.

Ally and Lily were interrupted by a loud rapping of the knuckles on their doors. Ally soon heard the scorn of Petunia Evans when she was impatient.

"Time for dinner," Ally heard her say. "Get down there now or mum will start worrying where you are. She didn't see you come in."

Ally and Lily shrugged and left there room. Petunia was already down in the dining room when they entered. Lily and Ally sat across from the indifferent Petunia and Barbara. Mr. Evans sat at the head of the table respectfully.

"Hello! Ally, isn't it?" he smiled at her and shook her hand. "I'm Mr. Evans, call me Matt."

"Thanks! My friends, and most of my family, call me Al."

"Nice to meet you Al," he said jovially. Ally saw that Mr. Evans had dark hair. He was tall and thin with dark eyes. His smile did light his face up considerably. He looked like he had just come home from work by the way that her was still wearing his suit, thought the jacket was hanging on the doorknob and his tie was undone. Ally saw, more than once, that he took out a golden pocket watch in his pocket and twirled it in his fingers; then he would snap it open and check the time. Ally liked this habit; he always smiled as he did it. Another interesting characteristic was that Matt Evans wore a thin pair of wire framed glassed that were a bit too large for him.

It was then that Ally noticed who she was sitting across from. Petunia Evans was wearing a blue tight dress that Ally wouldn't be caught dead wearing. She sipped her soup quietly while giving the air that she was superior to every one at the table. She also looked like she would never be caught dead at this table in her life again. That, of course, would not be the case, for Petunia would be dining with them every afternoon for the rest for the summer.

Lily's parents left the room. Lily's mother wanted to get some cookies from the oven that she had just put in and Lily's father went along to pull them out, not wanting Barbara to burn her fingers. They excused themselves politely.

"Listen girl," Petunia sneered once her parents were out of ear shot. "If you're going to stay here you're going to have to know the rules. You don't come within five feet of my room, ever."

Ally waited and sat silently for Petunia to finish, knowing that it would be better not to say anything.

"Don't even think about touching my stuff, especially my make up and my hand mirror. I don't want the essence of abnormality to rub off onto my perfume. Vernon would be disgusted. About Vernon, don't even think about touching him, he's all mine. I don't want you messing with his mind, he's perfect already."

"I wouldn't dream of it," was all that she replied. Lily's face was hot with anger as she glared at her sister.

"That was unnecessary, I already explained to her about you and him. She wasn't going to even talk to that greedy lump of fat anyway."

Petunia raised the eyebrows on her horse face and slammed her fork down on her plate.

"You're just jealous because I have a man chasing after me and you don't."

Ally stifled a giggled and hid her face under her napkin. Painful memories of James chasing after Lily (literally sometimes) came into view and she began to laugh at the look that Petunia and Lily were giving her.

"Sorry, it's just—you have no idea—Petunia, if only you knew." She stifled another burst of laughter as Lily glared at her.

"Don't you dare," she warned. "Potter once called this house; my parents wouldn't shut up about it for two years."

Petunia went from angry to confused to disgusted again.

"Oh," she said pointedly. "One of those freaks is chasing after Lily."

She smirked triumphantly at this little tidbit of news that she could hang over Lily's head as Lily's parents walked back into the room, carrying a cake and cookies. Petunia took one of the cookies and munched happily before excusing herself from the dinner table.

"Leaving so soon? You've barely finished your dessert." Lily's mother said.

"No thank you, mum," Petunia said, smirking and sending a glance at Lily. "I want to get to bed, early day tomorrow so I can clean for Vernon. Besides, I want to lose some weight to fit into a dress I have in mind."

"Oh," said her mother. "In that case, get some rest."

"Thank you, mother." she sent another evil glare at Lily and Ally. Smiling sweetly she kissed her mother and father on the cheek and left the room. Ally winced when Petunia had come around to their side of the room to kiss Lily and her on the cheek.

"By the way Ally—"

"Al."

"Al, sorry," said Lily's mother. "We have a guest coming the day after tomorrow. Vernon—"

"I already know," Ally said, forcing a smile.

"Really!" said Lily's mother, excitedly. "Of course, Lily must've filled you in. Well, I really must tell you that it will be formal. So dress nicely, I'm afraid tomorrow that we'll mainly be cleaning for his arrival."

"But the place is spotless!" Ally said, "I don't honestly think that it can get any cleaner."

"Oh, we still got the lawn and the garage and attic, those sorts of things." Lily's mother sighed dreamily. "Petunia has grown so much. I can't believe that she's already brought home a boy! Who do you like in your year, Lily?"

Her mother looked hopefully at Lily and Ally had to suppress a cringe. This woman was nice, but very interested in grandchildren. No wonder Lily wanted Ally over for the summer. Lily smiled weakly and Ally thought that that was the best opportunity to yawn exaggeratedly.

"Well, I'm beat," she stood and pulled Lily up with her. "Do you mind if I bring Lily with me? We have so many things to talk about."

Lily gladly stood up and kissed her mother and father goodnight. Ally complimented Barbara on her excellent cooking skills. Together, they ran up the stairs to meditate on their animals, and then go to bed. With any luck, and the help of each other, they would have the ability to last the summer.