James and Lily
Chapter 1: Unwanted Change
James Potter was sat at the kitchen table eating breakfast with his parents. So far, it had been a perfectly normal day. All that was about to change. He stared moodily out of the open window when he saw a large owl flying straight towards him. He gave a cry and leapt backwards out his chair. The bird had flown straight into the kitchen and was perched on the rafters. James and his parents gazed up, astounded as the bird let go of the letter that it had been holding and flew back out of the window into the sky. The letter floated slowly down and landed on James's head. He reached up slowly and taking it off, held it before his eyes to read the address. It read,
Mr J Potter
Boddington Hall,
London,
L012 8JP.
As James turned it over he saw a crest on the back. It was four animals. A lion, snake, badger and raven with a large H in the middle. As he opened it, his parents moved behind him to read over his shoulder. He pulled two pieces of faded yellow parchment out and started to read.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards)
Dear Mr Potter
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
James gawked at his parents.
"Mum, Dad. What is this?"
His parents looked back at him with pride in their eyes. They led him into the living room, sat him down on the sofa, and proceeded to explain things to him.
A while later James sat there trying to figure things out. Then a thought came into his head.
"Hey! What am I going to tell Lily?" He jumped off the settee and ran out of the door to next doors drive. He dashed up to the Evans's front door and hammered on it. Mr Evans, Lily's father opened it
"James!" he exclaimed,
"Whatever's the matter?"
"I have to talk to Lily! It's urgent!"
Mr Evans moved aside.
"Go on up, she's in her room."
James pelted down the corridor and when up the stairs three at a time. He skidded to a halt in front of Lily's bedroom door.
"Lily!" he yelled.
"What is it James?"
"Can I come in?"
"Of course! You don't have to ask." James pushed open the door to Lily's room and spotted her surrounded by soft toys on her bed. She was hugging a very old and threadbare teddy bear to her, which was a sure sign that she was upset. Lily only ever hugged Mr Ted when she was upset. He was too old to be hugged every day.
James walked over to Lily and sat down beside her.
"I'm moving schools." They said simultaneously. James stared at her in amazement then burst out laughing. Lily joined him and then laughed even harder as James proceeded to fall of the bed. When they had both calmed down enough to talk and James had reinstated himself on the bed Lily asked him,
"Which school are you going to?"
"Some boarding school in Scotland. I mean don't get me wrong, I'll probably love it there but now I won't see you any more." He looked glumly at the bedspread. "Mum and Dad both went there so it's kind of a family tradition. What about you? Which school are you going to?"
Lily was looking at James in surprise.
"Strangely enough it's the same story with me. Boarding school in Scotland, but not the family tradition, my parents still want me to go though."
"Maybe it's the same school." James said hopefully.
Lily looked at her best friend of 11 years with pity in her eyes.
"James, there are probably over 100 boarding schools in Scotland. What do you think the odds are that we're going to the same one."
James resumed looking glumly at the bedspread.
"It was only a thought." he muttered.
Lily sighed. She lay down and rested her head in his lap as he stroked her hair.
"What are we going to do James. We've always been in the same school. Hell, we've always been in the same class! I'm going to miss you so much. We're not gonna see each other for a whole year! How am I gonna cope?"
James looked down at his best friend and sighed.
"I don't know, I just don't know."
AN: Please review this. It's my first attempt at a Harry Potter fic. Constructive critisism always wanted, it helps improve my writing. Flames are also very good, they keep my room warm in Winter. So Please Review!!!!