CHAPTER ONE: IT ALL STARTS WITH OWL POST
Lily Evans never really got along with her sister, except on various occasions. Once, she got furious at Lily because she played with her doll. Petunia, Lily's ugly blonde (which is in contrast with Lily's beautiful deep red shoulder length hair) horse-faced sister, usually caught Lily playing on the swings in the playground. Those happy memories were the only memories Lily liked with Petunia. Those happy moments would end when Lily would fly off the swing and land gracefully on the ground. The happiness is quite rare. This love-hate relationship Lily had with Petunia only intensified over the summer after Lily turned eleven.
It would be a nice day tomorrow, Lily thought, which would only be ruined by that accursed Vernon.
Vernon Dursley was Petunia's red-faced hippopotamus of a boyfriend. If he ever courted Lily, she would've chucked him over the most convenient cliff for even daring to look at her. Lily always resented his visits which always ended in disasters. See, Vernon was not just an over-fed elephant but he had an enormous arrogant head too. He would provoke Lily and insult her of being a criminal girl who needs to be sent to rehab then the asylum for special medication – he was under the impression (courtesy of Petunia) that Lily studies in St. Agnes' Home for Incurably Criminal Girls). Lily always kept silent over the visits but she could never really control her anger on this mutated pig. She would turn as scarlet as her hair and after the visit, as if right on cue, Vernon would stand to go and he would always end up either soaked from head to toe, covered in scarlet paint, bruised, wounded, injured or any other thing that Lily couldn't explain, even to herself. He would then accuse Lily of setting petty little traps around the house like some paranoid nutter. She would then snap back and the arguments would begin. She had to admire his guts for coming back often, even if he had to leave bruised, soaked or whatever. Lily never got to find out about anything she did but she was certain it was her doing but she would reassure herself that that nutter deserved it.
Remembering all those visits made Lily sleepy. She hurried to her dresser and put on the silk pajamas. She took a nose-dive to the pillow and finally at peace in her four-poster bed, fell asleep in a drowsy stupor.
Lily had an utter nightmare. Vernon pops in out of nowhere and goes toward her.
"Hello there, Lily." He twisted the last part. "I've always wanted to do this to you but I was afraid Petunia might dump me." Lily could feel his huge sausage hands on her neck and clutch it in a strangle-hold. Lily let out a blood-curdling scream that would have sent the birds flying. Vernon only chuckled.
"No one could here you, you stupid little conceited brat." He smirked. "Now I have made my revenge!" He started shaking Lily like mad and she started crying.
"STOP IT! Stop it, you over-sized beast!" She yelled, gasping for breath. "STOP IT!" Vernon opened his mouth as if to say something, but he caught Lily in surprise.
"Lily! LILY! Come on, mate, wake up!" She was shook madly. This went on for another minute – or so she guessed – until a hot pain slashed at Lily's cheek.
"OWWW!" Lily yelled in protest and her eyes fluttered open. She saw Petunia half-scared and half-furious. Beside her was Mrs. Evans and Mr. Evans clutching at Lily's hands. She was taking in sharp intakes of breath and her eyes were stinging with tears. "Petunia?" She stared at her bewildered sister blankly.
"Um. Yes. Sorry." She stood up and sat on the chair in front of my desk.
Lily stared at her, a slightly amused twinkle in her eye. "You didn't have to slap me, you know, mate." She said.
"What do you think I should do?" she asked incredulously. "Shove you out the window?" she looked as if she was contemplating on the idea a moment ago.
"Oh, you wouldn't do that, would you, Petunia?" Mrs. Evans eyed her eldest daughter with interest at what she would reply.
"Of course not, Mother!" Petunia said, simply horrified at the idea. "Why would I chuck my sister out a window?"
"Oh." Was all Mrs. Evans managed. She glanced back at Lily who looked as if she was running a marathon.
A bewildered Lily eyed everyone and suddenly realized what just happened. "Cripes!" she exclaimed. "Sorry, Mum! Just a bad dream."
"Do you want breakfast?" Petunia asked.
"No." Lily said lamely.
"Pancakes?"
"No."
"Waffles?"
"No." Lily said impatiently.
"Some milk, then?"
"Petunia!" Lily whimpered.
"Petunia dear, it's half-past noon." Mr. Evans said after checking his watch. "I suggest we get her some lunch. Would you like to eat on the bed or downstairs?"
"Just downstairs, Dad." Lily said.
"Well, then, Daisy dear. I think you should cook her something." Lily's father smiled at his loving wife.
"Well of course, Cormac. Bring the two girls downstairs in a mo'?" Mrs. Evans asked her husband. Cormac nodded as Mrs. Evans left the room. "Lily, get dressed. Petunia, would you be so kind to accompany me to the green house? I'd like to pick some flowers."
"Er- um- okay, then." She said awkwardly as Cormac turned to leave. Petunia waved at Lily before closing the door behind her with a snap. As Lily turned to her room, it was a mess. Her blankets were hanging on the post of her four-poster bed and the pillows were across the room from the bed. The bed covers were half-concealing the mattress. Lily sighed, she never expected this to happen. She was done fixing the covers and replacing the pillows on the bed. A subtle knocking on the bedside window made her drop the blankets. An owl was knocking her beak into the glass and she (Lily guessed it was a she) was looking at her intently as if begging to let her in. Lily looked at the bird curiously, she knew as a fact that owls are nocturnal animals. She checked outside for her own sanity and saw that it was noon as her father had said. The sun was high up in the sky shining down on the roofs of the neighboring houses. The owl became impatient and started pecking the glass more vigorously. Lily, realizing her sanity was being questioned, opened the window anyway despite the thought that she was becoming bonkers. The owl gave a hoot of relief and dropped a letter on her desk. Lily's eyes widened at this. Okay, Lily thought, I am mad! I should go to the asylum and turn myself in. That dream must have damaged my brain cells. There is no way an owl would send a damned letter, would it?
The owl pecked on her hand. The pain stung a bit, but she was accustomed to worse. Questioning her sanity even more, she picked up the letter. It had an old-fashioned seal on it with a huge letter 'H' with a lion, a snake, a raven and a badger surrounding it. She opened the letter and read the first piece of paper. It was written in emerald green ink and in the best hand-writing Lily had ever seen.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Lily stared at the letter for a few minutes, reading it over and over again. This school, Hogwarts, was a school for witches and wizards. Then this school was accepting her there. Lily was dumbstruck as she read it for the tenth time. She grabs the second piece of parchment from the envelope and read it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WHICHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Requirements:
UNIFORM
First-year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black)
One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
COURSE BOOKS
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)
by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection
by Quentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Lily was questioning her sanity yet again. Maybe this is just another damned dream! Lily thought, Petunia never would have acted nicely to me. Lily thought of the best and most ludicrous idea to make her awake: pinch herself. She gave a soft squeak at the pain that she didn't expect. So I'm not dreaming? This is real life? Lily glanced back at the owl who was staring at her like an interesting silent film. Lily cleared her throat and put shoved both letters back inside the envelope. She turned around to face the owl.
"Well, umm." She told the owl which seemed to understand her. "Could you wait outside the window? There's a very nice tree right outside the window." She can't believe she was doing this. Questioning her sanity even further, she continued, "Could you, now?"
The owl gave a hoot and flew out the window into the mahogany. Lily eyed the envelope again and decided to show it to her parents. She finished fixing her room and she got dressed. She clambered down the stairs, letter in her front pocket. She headed to the kitchen just across the staircase to be greeted by her mother.
"Hello, Lily." Mrs. Evans smiles at her, "You should sit down and eat dear. Your lunch is on the table. I'll go and join you when I'm done cleaning up here in the kitchen."
Lily made her way to the dining room to see a plate of muffins and sandwiches. A cup of warm tea sat beside the plate and a tea pot beside it. Lily sat down and started munching on the food. She was still questioning her sanity until Mrs. Evans came in. Lily hurriedly looked down at her plate to see she was done with the meal. She hurriedly grabbed the cup of tea and sipped on it and set it down again.
"Mum, I need to talk to you." Lily's face burned with determination. "Both of you, with Dad."
"Ok, then." Mrs. Evans, though bewildered, went back into the kitchen and stormed out the back door where at the other side the green house lies. "Cormac! CORMAC! Lily wants to talk to us!"
"Bloody hell, woman!" Cormac exclaimed emerging with a handful of daisy's in his hands. Petunia came in holding a silver vase. "Couldn't you keep it down?"
"Our youngest daughter would like to talk to us, Cormac dear." Daisy snapped at her husband. "You might as well set those down first and head in the dining room!"
Cormac Evans grumbled and set the daisy's on his working table and disappeared into the house. "Petunia," Daisy said, "You'd better go to the living room. I am under the impression your father is giving you a living hell for helping him with the flowers. So, would you like to watch the telly while you wait?" She smiled. Petunia's face lit up a bit and she grinned.
"Thanks, Mum!" She kissed her mother's cheek. She, too, disappeared into the house and Daisy couldn't help but smile. Petunia was so predictable. She heads back to the dining room to join Cormac and Lily.
"Mum," Lily started, "I received a letter from a school named Hogwarts and they have accepted me there." She said with confidence. "Here is the letter." She hands them the letter for both of them to read. After a full 15 minutes of reading, both parents had a mixture of expressions. Cormac's was first blank, then happy, then full of great pride. Daisy's was first blank, then shocked, then a lot more shocked as he read the word 'wand'. The silence was deafening. Cormac's hearty laugh broke the silence.
"This is such a surprise!" Cormac said, pure pride in his voice. Daisy was nodding along but she still had shocked look on her face.
"I don't know what to say." Daisy admitted.
"You should be proud, Daisy dear," Cormac said happily. "Our daughter would learn things that aren't normally taught. She could do extraordinary things!"
"Well, if you think of it like that," Daisy said, "It really is amazing. I'm so proud of you, Lily dear."
After that, a lot of witch and wizard talk began. After much bickering, they finally decided to send a letter.
"But wait, how do we send the letter? I doubt the post office knows where Hogwarts is." Cormac pondered.
"Oh, about that," Lily began, "They sent it via Owl Post, I guess that's what it is called. There is an owl outside my window if you want, I told her to wait there for the letter." Lily said.
"Oh ok then." Daisy smiled. "Bring the little critter down here to give him the letter. Could you please get me a pen and paper, Cormac dear?" She said to her obedient husband. Lily hurried out of the room and flew up the staircase and dove inside her room. She hurried over to the window and called out.
"Hey! Owl!" Lily called. She heard a fluttering noise in the branches of the tree and the owl swooped down to her out-stretched arm. "Thanks for waiting." Lily smiled. The owl gave a hoot and they started down the stairs. As Lily was on the bottom step, Petunia bustled out of the living room, clearly not noticing Lily. She turned to the staircase, her eyes half-closed and yelled, "Lily, Mums ca-" she stopped short. Her eyes grew as wide as tennis balls and let out a shrill blood-curdling scream.
"WHAT IS THAT – THAT- THAT THING DOING IN HERE?" she screamed. "GET OUT, LILY! BEFORE IT PECKS YOUR HEAD OFF!" Not waiting for Lily's reply she grabbed a broomstick that was sitting beside the staircase and started on the bird.
"No, Petunia!" Lily shouted. "It's fine! She won't hurt us! See?" she made a mistake of bringing the owl nearer to Petunia and she gave another shrill scream but shorter.
"GET THAT THING OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Petunia yelled at Lily, her eyes ablaze. "FREAK!" She shoved Lily aside and stormed up the steps. Lily could hear her murmuring, "Raving mad." Or "Could've pecked my head off" as she stormed to her room. She slammed it shut as Lily entered the dining room. Daisy looked up to see her daughter with an owl on her arm.
"What was all the yelling about?" Cormac asked as he sipped his tea.
"Petunia was just worried over the owl." Lily said blankly. Eager to change the subject, she said, "Well, Mum, is the letter ready?"
"Yes, dear. Here it is, if you'd like to read it." Daisy handed her a piece of paper. It read,
Dear Professor McGonagall,
We thank you for the letter. We are delighted to hear this particular piece of news that you have bestowed upon my daughter Lily. Lily accepts this acceptance letter and will be attending the said school on the said time. May we ask, where do we buy her school requirements? In my awareness, nowhere here in London sells wands or cauldrons. Please do tell us so we can purchase her school things.
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Daisy Evans
Lily smiled as she rolled up the letter. She gave the letter to the owl and it hooted with authority and flew out the open window.
"So, Lily, You are a witch, huh?" Petunia said behind her back. Lily hadn't noticed her reading behind her. "I guessed as much, since you have made Vernon's visits a living hell." Anger rose in Lily's head. It wasn't her fault that she could not control it. She clenched her fists tight and bit her lip. She stood up so suddenly it made Petunia stagger back a few steps before regaining her balance. Lily faced her deranged horse of a sister and opened her mouth to speak.
"It wasn't my fault Vernon always went home with a bruise or whatever!" Lily snapped at her sister. "He deserved it all! Have you been blinded by that mutated hippo? Or don't tell me you have fallen deeply in love with the git!" She said, glaring at her sister.
"I BEG YOUR PARDON!" Petunia shrieked. "Vernon is not a mutated hippo or a git! You're just jealous that I have a decent, level-headed boyfriend!" She had grinded her teeth together, glaring at her sister. Lily straightened her back and fought back a curse and hissed.
"You're as bad as he is!" Lily screamed. "Both of you are self-centered prats! You aren't even grateful to Mum and Dad to even just accept Vernon as your ruddy boyfriend! You should go to Vernon's zoo of a life and sign up! Oh, I know," Lily said imitating an expression that just had an idea. "You should sign up there in the zoo under the name 'Deranged horse'." Lily's eyes were ablaze with sheer hatred for her sister.
"SHUT UP!" Petunia shrieked. "Take that back you freak!" Petunia made to lunge at her sister but was blown back by a sudden blow. Lily watched with half-horror and half-interest. She was the one that did that? She watched Petunia hit the wall, hit her nose on a chair with a crack and slide down the wall. Daisy yelped and rushed over to Petunia.
"Petunia!" Daisy shrieked. "We should get you to the hospital! Quick, Cormac! Get the car out and drive us there!" Cormac hurried out the room without a word and Lily made her way to her mother.
"Mum," she said solemnly, "I didn't mean any of this to happen. I'm sorry." She almost looked guilty but she continued to glare at her sister's motionless body. She looked to her mother and said, "Could I go to the hospital with you?"
"No, Lily. It's fine." She sighed. "I guess Petunia wouldn't want to see you too soon, darling. Just wait for us to get home." Cormac honked the horn to signal them to get in. Daisy looked at Lily and kissed her cheek. She bent down to lift Petunia up with one of her arms on her waist and one on Petunia's hand which was over her shoulder. Lily followed them out and waved goodbye as the vehicle sped off to the hospital.
Lily's next months have been misery. They had called off Vernon's visit and improvised to let him go to the hospital instead. Petunia came back with a bandage over her half-broken nose and she continued to glare at her. All Lily could do to escape is to hide at her room and sulk. She had received the return owl of Professor McGonanagall which gave directions to a dodgy street in London and a hidden pub named the Leaky Cauldron which would lead to Diagon Alley, where she could buy her school things. Daisy and Cormac looked skeptical at this. They had never heard of a pub name the Leaky Cauldron but they decided to trust in these directions. They decided to visit this said alley on a few weeks before September 1. Lily waited miserably for this date, eager to see the magical shops and magical ornaments for sale. She had dreamt in her sleep of visiting a street filled beautiful red brick buildings and flowers over the window sills. She had kept to that impression until the actual visit. It was 9 o' clock in the morning and Lily was getting ready to leave for Diagon Alley. As Lily checked herself in the mirror, she saw she was wearing a sky blue blouse and white pants and a red scarf. She snorted as she looked down on the ridiculous red scarf. As she was taking it off, her mother's voice boomed out from downstairs.
"Lily!" Daisy cried, "Breakfast is ready, dear!" Lily shoved the red scarf in her closet and checked herself again in the mirror. I'm decent, she thought, at least I won't look like a fool with the red scarf.
"I'm coming, Mum!" She said as she raced down the stairs. She headed to the dining room and sat down in front of a few toast and bacon. Daisy strode in and laid a cup of hot milk in front Lily. She smiled at Lily and sat down to eat. "Thanks Mum." Lily said as she began munching down her toast. Breakfast was quite uneventful. Petunia had left early for one of her nosy friends' house. She was planning to stay there for the whole day. Lily was grateful for this as she cannot stand the death glares of her sister. The remnants of the family at home stood up to go outside for the car. They arrived in the street where the pub was supposed to be at. They had not seen any sign of a 'Leaky Cauldron' as they drove down the street then as one strange looking man strode out of a building, Lily saw it. The old sign was hanging right over the door to the pub. She gave out a gasp and said,
"There it is! The Leaky Cauldron!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. Her father looked at her from the back mirror and said, "Ok, then. Let me park just by the door." Eager to get out, Lily slumped back on the seat. As soon as the car came to a stop, Lily jumped out the door and waited for her parents to climb out.
"Come on!" Lily said as she raced through the door to the pub. Cormac chuckled seeing that his youngest daughter was so excited.
They had bought everything except Lily's robes and wand with the help of Tom the Landlord. He always smiled patiently as the Evans asked him questions. They had gotten Galleons, Knuts and Sickles in exchange for the thing the wizards called Muggle money. They had enough to buy all of Lily's stuff. As they were passing by a window of cute little birds as Lily insisted to buy one of them Tom smiled at her and said,
"You wouldn't want one of those, Lily." He had explained. "Those are Fiery Fire Canaries. They'd sing your eyebrows off before you could feed them." Lily looked back at the cute little birds in horror and hurried to another window which was filled with what Lily knew as owls. She spotted a cute little owl that was zooming around the small space of the window. She had caught Lily's eye and zoomed to her without hesitation. It hooted at her merrily and started doing somersaults in the air. Few of the owls rolled their eyes and hooted indignantly and some of the owls hooted at Lily pleadingly, as if they wanted Lily to buy the cute little thing to get rid of it. Lily giggled at the scene and had asked Tom for his opinion if she should buy the owl.
"That owl is cute, Lily, but an owl is a carrier of messages." Tom had said. "That thing couldn't hold up anything but a piece of parchment, I reckon." Having spotted the look on Lily's face as he said this struggled to reassure her. "But if you like the little thing, then go ahead!" Lily smiled at the landlord but said,
"I thought he was cute, I'll look for another." Lily had scanned the next row of owls and spotted the most beautiful owl she had ever seen. It was snow white and had an air of beauty and authority around it. Lily squealed as she pointed to the snowy white owl. "I'd like that one!"
"Then go in and buy it!" Tom led her in the shop called the 'Magical Menagerie' and they paid for Lily's new owl. They made their way to a shop named 'Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions'. They went inside this shop to be greeted by a kind faced woman wearing emerald green robes, Lily suspected this was Madam Malkin. "Hello there, Tom!" she greeted the landlord. "I see you've brought a little angel with you! What's your name sweetie?" She turned to face Lily.
"Lily Evans." Lily smiled at her. "Starting your first year at Hogwarts, then?" Madam Malkin asked Lily. "Yes." Lily replied.
"Come here, then!" Madam Malkin gestured toward an empty booth with a mirror. "There's another first year here." She pointed out a small booth with a mirror where a short girl with shoulder length deep black hair stood with a few women working on her. "I believe you'll stay, Tom?"
"Well, of course Madam. I need to wait for the Lily." Tom replied. He sat down at a chair near the door and got a pocketbook from his cloak and started reading where he left off. Malkin and Lily made their way to the booth and the dark haired girl looked at them. She smiled at Lily as she was being measured by Madam Malkin. The girl had tan skin and bright violet eyes. She was quite beautiful, in a way. She doesn't look like an English citizen. She looked more like Italian or something.
"Hello, there." She said in a bright voice. "You are starting in Hogwarts, too, aren't you?" she asked.
Lily smiled back at her and said, "Yes, I am. My name is Lily Evans."
"I am Rachel Hernandez." She said brightly, "I am from the Philippines."
"Oh!" Lily said. "Why are you here? I mean, don't you have any wizarding schools there in the Philippines?"
"Oh yes, we do." Rachel said. "They are quite horrible and that's an understatement."
"Oh." Was all Lily could manage. "You are quite good in speaking English. In fact, you almost have an English accent!" Lily pointed out.
"Yes, I spent my childhood here in London." Rachel said. "I only went to the Philippines to visit my grandparents and they offered to enroll me in the local wizarding school called Pinagpalang Bituin, which means Blessed Stars. I refused because I have always wanted to go to Hogwarts. I stayed here in time to receive my acceptance letter." Rachel paused to hesitate and looked at Lily who was looking at her curiously. "Who are your parents? My parents both come from pure-blood families in the Philippines." Rachel said.
"Oh, my parents are Muggles or I think that's what they call non-magical people around here, right?" Lily said as Madam Malkin excused herself to get Lily's robes.
"Yes." Rachel said as Madam Malkin called her name. "Miss Hernandez, here are your robes. Thank you for coming to Madam Malkin's." Rachel smiled at her as her violet eyes twinkled. This caught Lily's eye, she knew none of the Filipinos had twinkling and piercing violet eyes. She suspected them to be brown or black. "Here are yours, dear Lily. Thank you for coming."
"Come on, Lily!" Rachel said pointing to a man and woman who both had violet eyes and the exact same hair and skin tone as Rachel. Rachel had inherited her mother's beauty. "Those two are my parents." Rachel tugged Lily's arm to go to her parents. They stopped in front of Rachel's parents as both were standing up. Rachel's parents smiled at her warmly.
"Rachel. Who is this fine, young lady?" Rachel's mom looked at Lily. Lily blushed as red as her hair.
"Mama, this is Lily Evans." Rachel turned to Lily and gestured to her parents. "This is Helga and George Hernandez, my parents." Rachel gave a dazzling smile.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez." Lily smiled as she shook Rachel's parents' hands. "It is quite a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, please, Lily." Mr. Hernandez said, "Call us George and Helga."
"I've been wondering this since I learned your nationalities. I don't want to pry but," Lily blushed. "How do you have violet eyes when I've seen Filipinos with brown or black eyes?" She blushed more deeply.
"That, my dear Lily," Rachel said proudly, "Is a matter of who you're related to and where your family tree started." She smiled.
"Oh." Lily said, "I thought it was something like a spell of some sort that Filipinos know. But I have always found violet eyes to be fascinating." Lily mused.
"How so?" George asked.
"Well, it is quite a rare eye-color that I rarely find any people with violet eyes. I didn't even know those kind of eyes existed, to be honest. Quite a nice color it is. Violet has always been my favorite color since I was a child. And I usually pair it with yellow or gold. Which would be nice if I found out there were people with yellow eyes too!" Lily laughed. The Hernandez's joined her. They talked about other things from Hogwarts to preferences in Quidditch teams. Lily had difficulty at the last topic for she doesn't know anything about the game. Once Rachel explained that Lily was Muggle-born, they started bombarding Lily with Quidditch essentials and mechanics which gave Lily the impression that they are quite obsessed with Quidditch. Lily listened to them careful and nodded at the right moments and answered their occasional question about the Muggle world patiently. Lily saw that it was 3 o' clock on the wall clock and Lily had to go. Sensing Lily's glance to the clock Tom moved toward Lily with a smile on his face. Lily noticed this and this was her chance to escape.
"Well, as much as I have enjoyed meeting you, I have to go." Lily said. "Goodbye, Rachel. George and Helga." Lily nodded to Rachel's parents.
"Goodbye then, dear, Lily." Helga said as Lily was being herded to the door by Tom. "See you in the Hogwarts Express, Lily!" Rachel called as Lily waved back at her.
Tom and Lily entered a shop that had sign that said "Ollivanders Wands Shop since 345 B.C." They entered the shop with bell that rang. A young dark-haired boy was waiting at the front of the desk. Lily came forward and waited beside the bespectacled dark-haired boy. His hair was standing in every direction as he turned to grin lopsidedly at Lily. She returned him a smile. The boy had a dazed expression for a second but recovered with an even more lopsided grin.
"Hello," the boy said. "I'm James Potter. You're starting your first year at Hogwarts, then?" He asked as he held up his hand to shake Lily's.
Lily took it in her hand and shook it. "I'm Lily Evans. Yes, I am starting my first year."
"It's going to be a great year at Hogwarts." James said. He looked at Lily expectantly for her reply.
"W-well yes!" Lily stuttered. "I guess so." She smiled at James. He had the dazed expression again but recovered just as fast as the first time. He looked away and started humming a tune that sounded suspiciously as "When You Say Nothing At All" by Ronan Keating. Lily gasped.
"You know that song?" Lily asked. "That's my favorite."
"Of course I know." James studied her bright smile as he smiled. "I have never really been into Muggle songs before but I've grown connected to that song the first time I heard it on a Muggle radio special in the Wizarding Wireless Network." Lily gave a blank look as James said the phrase 'Wizarding Wireless Network'. He saw this and looked as if a mystery was solved.
"Ah, I guess you don't know about the WWN." James said paused and hesitated. "Muggle-born, are you Lily?" He asked.
"Yes," Lily gasped. "You?"
"Pure-blood." He said lamely as if he really didn't care. Lily smiled.
"That's nice." She said as an elderly man came out of a corridor of shelves at the back of the room. As he noticed Lily and James, he hurried forward. Lily's owl hooted as she saw the elderly man. The owl was perched on the nearest chair to Lily.
"Shh." She silenced the owl.
"Hello there, younglings." The elderly man said. "I am Mr. Ollivander. I believe you are starting your first year?"
"Yes, sir." James answered. Lily nodded in agreement. "Well, then." Mr. Ollivander began, "Let's start with the little lady." He hurried along a corridor to grab a long rectangular box from a shelf.
"Here," he said, "12 inches, birch, and dragon heartstring core" He handed Lily the long stick.
Lily took it and stared at it. She did the only thing that came to her mind, she gave it a wave. A loud crash was heard from the back of the room. A few shelves at the back toppled down bringing with it a lot of long boxes with wands inside. Lily gasped.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ollivander!" She said putting back the wand on the desk hurriedly. Ollivander gave a small smile and took back the wand and returned it to the box.
"It's fine, Miss Evans. Anything can happen when you're looking for a wand that will choose you." He grabbed another box and said,
"10 inches, yew, and phoenix feather core." He handed it to her and she gave it a feeble wave. The chandelier in the center of the ceiling crashed down. Lily screamed and James jumped backward. Ollivander just took the wand from Lily's hand and took out a wand from his robes. He gave it a wave and the chandelier repaired itself and flew up to the ceiling. Lily watched in awe while James was just mushing up his hair. They tried two more and as Lily gave it a wave, the windows broke or the plant behind her died. Ollivander reversed all this just by a wave of his wand. He turned back to the shelves and took another one.
"I think this one will suit you, Miss Evans." He said and opened the green velvet box with an orange ribbon. "I never found an exact match to this box in years." Ollivander eyed Lily. "Green eyes and fiery red hair are a sign of a witch." He smiled. "Here, try this one. 10 ¾ inches, willow, unicorn hair core, and swishy. Good for Charms." And he handed Lily the wand, it felt balanced in her hand. A small tingle tickled her hand. Lily's piercing green eyes sparkled. Lily gave it a strong wave and a short burst of light shone out from the tip of the wand. The light ended and Lily had even more color flood in her already colored face and she had a confident air around her. Ollivander smiled.
"You are a true witch, Miss Evans. Well, then Mister Potter." He turned to James, "Let's work on you."
They tried at least 5 times before James had found his wand. Everything that happened when James waved a wand was worse than Lily's. More shelves toppled down and the chandelier kept falling from place. The desk even cracked into half. Every time Ollivander reversed it, his face grew more and more annoyed. Then Ollivander finally emerged and brought out a dark red velvet box and showed James the contents. "11 inches, mahogany, dragon heartstring, and pliable. Good for Transfiguration." James took it cautiously. He gave it a nervous swish and a brief blue light flashed in everyone's eye and James yelped at the heat in his hand. But as soon as the heat was there, it vanished. "Wow." Lily gasped. James smiled at her and Mr. Ollivander. "Thank you for my wand, Mr. Ollivander!" He grinned. "Thanks, Mr. Ollivander!" Lily chimed. Ollivander chuckled.
"The pleasure is mine." He smiled. "Farewell, then Mr. Potter and Miss Evans." The two soon-to-be first years waved at Ollivander. Lily pocketed her wand and she held up her arm as her owl perched on her arm. "What should I name her, Tom?" She turned to Tom as he grabbed Lily's things. The three of them went out the door of Ollivander's and paused there.
"I don't know." Tom smiled. "I suggest you don't give her a muggle name."
"Look in A History of Magic. You might get an idea." James suggested. "I named my owl, Horace. I just picked it out in my mind."
"Thanks for the advice Tom, James." She smiled at both of them. "Well, James. Do you want to come to the Leaky Cauldron with us?"
"I'm sorry, Lily, Tom." He smiled sheepishly. "My mum and dad are waiting in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour."
"I guess, this is goodbye then, James?"
"For now." James said seriously. There was something in the way he said it that made Lily blush. Lily and Tom began to turn to the direction of the Leaky Cauldron and James was turning back to Diagon Alley.
"Goodbye, James!" Lily called behind her back as she waved. "It was nice meeting you!"
"See you on the Hogwarts Express, Lily." James waved back while having a lopsided grin splattered on his face. Lily strode back to the Leaky Cauldron. She caught sight of Rachel and her parents buying her an owl. James' back was still to her as he made his way to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour with the air of the past experience still in the atmosphere. If these were the kind of people she'll be meeting at Hogwarts, it will be an interesting year indeed.
Author's Notes:
WHEW! First ever story that I've written! Not to mention, chapter! Took me a week to write this thing and get an idea. All the horrible stuff I've concocted we're horrible! Well anyway, wish me luck on my next chapters to get this story running.
Disclaimer:
I do not own the all the characters (almost all anyway) and the places! They all belong to J.K. Rowling!