Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Harry Potter because if I did I'd be writing the real thing and not my own version! Please don't sue me J.K. Rowling-you already have tons of money and I'm practically broke (like most teenagers)!!!!

Hi everyone! This is my first fanfic that I will actually probably finish because this time I will force myself to since people will hopefully be reading it! Here's a brief summary of what's in this story:

Lily Evans has just found out she's a witch and she'll be starting her first year at Hogwarts. Since she's Muggle-born she gets help from the Johnston's who happen to live near-by. Mr. Johnston owns the local Muggle newspaper (and the Daily Prophet, but Lily doesn't know about that until later) so the Evans family never knew that they, the Johnston's were actually a family of witches and wizards. Lily becomes fast friends with Megan Johnston who is also starting her first year at Hogwarts. When the Johnston's take Lily and her family to Diagon Alley they meet up with some of Megan's other friends. They happen to include James Potter and Sirius Black. Lily immediately dislikes James (perhaps it has to do with a certain 'accident' that occurred when she met him). After that it's of to Hogwarts!

So there's a brief summary. Hopefully I'll write all their other school years (I already know I'd kill one of the characters right after their graduation-but I'm not saying who because you don't even know their name yet!) So read and review please and thank you!!! If you like it I'll definitely keep writing and if you hate it I'll keep writing anyway! So hopefully you will enjoy my first ever fanfic that I'm letting people read! (I've written others but people never read them and they are currently shoved in my desk drawer.) And without further adieu here's the first chapter!

How It Started

Chapter 1:The Letter

Ten and half year old Lily Evans always felt as though she would explode with the excitement she constantly felt when she woke up every morning. There were always so many new things to learn and do that she hardly ever felt bored. Today, July 17th, was no different. She couldn't explain it but somehow she knew that something special was going to happen. She rolled out of bed, her long red hair waving about her wildly as she skipped out her door and down the hallway. Just as she reached the stairs her older sister, Petunia, yelled from her own room, "Would you be quiet! You sound like a herd of elephants!"

"And what's wrong with that?" Lily retorted before she slide down the stairs on her bottom.

She landed at the bottom and stood up brushing herself off. Grinning widely, she skipped into the kitchen.

"Morning dear," said her mother, who was busy making pancakes.

"Morning mum!" Lily said happily, "Mmmm, pancakes!" she said happily as she caught sight of them.

"I heard you and Petunia yelling at each other again," her mother said, "What are you fighting about now?"

"Petunia said I sounded like a herd of elephants but I really hadn't been that loud, yet," said Lily with a mischievous smile, "I just slide down the stairs because she said that so I figured she should at least have some real noise to yell about."

Her mother sighed, "Please don't fight with your sister Lily," she said, "You two used to get along so well."

"Yeah, well, she started it," Lily said, "Ever since she got those new 'friends' she's acted like such a snob. I'll try not to fight as much with her though, OK mum?"

Her mother smiled, "Good," she said, "Now that that's settled, would you set the table for me?"

"OK!" Lily said and she started pulling out cutlery and plates. She took them over to the table and had just started when her father walked in carrying the morning paper.

"How's my little girl?" he asked as he gave her a big hug and ruffled her hair.

"Morning daddy!" Lily said as they pulled apart. She got back to work setting the table as her father sat down with his morning coffee and the paper.

"Anything interesting in the news today?" asked her mother as she set a plate of pancakes on the table.

Lily's father nodded, "Looks like another mysterious accident," he said as he showed her the front page headline, but blocking Lily's view.

"What's it say?" Lily inquired as she tried to read it.

Her parents looked at each other.

"Well dear," her mother said slowly, "It seems that there was some kind of explosion and all the people in the house were . . . killed."

Lily gasped, "That's horrible!" she said, "Do they know how it happened?"

Her father shook his head, "Not yet," he said grimly, "Apparently all the firefighters who were called to the scene saw a strange apparition so it's a big mystery."

"They were probably just imagining it with all the smoke," said Lily as she returned to setting the table.

"Probably," said her mother, clearly glad that Lily was oblivious to the seriousness of the story, "Being a firefighter is a pretty stressful job, maybe they just need a vacation."

Her husband nodded, "Yes, that's probably true," he agreed, also glad Lily wasn't dwelling on the scariness of the accident.

Just then, Petunia entered the kitchen.

"Good morning mother, father," she said as she sat down. She threw a dirty look at Lily who, smiling cheerfully, set a plate in front of her sister before taking her seat.

"Morning dear," her mother said as she poured herself some coffee.

"Morning Petunia," said her father as he piled pancakes onto his plate.

Lily reached for the pancakes then dumped a large amount of maple syrup on them. Her mother took her seat and also reached for the pancakes but Petunia sat not eating anything.

"Mother," Petunia said, "Is there perhaps a grapefruit in the refrigerator that I could eat instead?"

Her mother was taken aback. "Yes," she said, "But I thought you loved pancakes."

Petunia stood up and opened the fridge. She turned around holding a grapefruit, "I did, but not anymore," she said as she walked over to the counter were she cut the grapefruit into quarters. She placed three of the quarters into a bag, put them in the fridge then sat down with the other.

"Why not?" asked her father as he looked up from his paper.

"It's cause she's on a diet like all her new friends," said Lily in between mouthfuls, "I heard her talking about it a few days ago when Anna was over."

"Eavesdropper!" Petunia said in a deadly voice, "I told you not to bother us."

"Technically I wasn't bothering you 'cause I was in my own room," said Lily.

"Petunia why do you want to go on a diet?" asked her mother, "You barely weigh a thing as it is. If anything you should start eating more."

"Mother," Petunia said, "It's not about losing weight, it's about eating healthier. So that means no more fatty foods for me. I think I might even become a vegetarian because of all the health benefits I've heard about."

Lily made a face, "You can't be serious," she said, "Why would anyone want to be a vegetarian?"

"Lots of people are vegetarians Lily," said her mother, "Your Aunt Joyce is one and Petunia's right, it is a very healthy."

"It still sounds gross," said Lily.

They ate in relative silence until Mr. Evans looked at Lily over the top of his paper.

"So Lily," he said, "What are you going to do today?"

"Well," Lily said with a grin, "I thought I would go see if Michelle could play today because I really want to go down to the creek."

"Why on earth would you want to go there?" Petunia said with a look of disgust.

"To catch frogs," said Lily, "And if we're lucky maybe we'll even catch some tadpoles!"

Petunia looked thoroughly disgusted at the idea and returned to picking at her grapefruit with her spoon.

"Where will you keep them if you catch any?" asked Mrs. Evans.

"Michelle has an old fish tank we can use," said Lily, "We can put them in there."

"As long as you keep them out of this house it's OK," said Mrs. Evans, "The last time you kept them in the basement they all jumped out of the bucket."

Lily giggled, "That was funny," she said.

Mr. Evans nodded with a smile, "It was," he agreed, "Except it was hard to catch them."

Lily giggled even harder, "You ran into the wall trying to catch one!" she said.

"And you had the largest lump on your forehead!" Mrs. Evans said to her husband, "I guess it was funny when it's all said and done."

"I still think it was disgusting," Petunia said, "Frogs are so . . ."

She was interrupted by the arrival of an owl, which zoomed into the kitchen. Petunia screamed and ran out of the room. Mr. Evans stood up so quickly his chair toppled over backwards as he tried to shoo the owl away. Mrs. Evans and Lily also stood up but while her parents swatted at the owl Lily stared at in amazement.

"Wow!" she gasped, "A real owl! This is so cool!"

The owl suddenly landed right in front of her and she noticed it was carrying a letter in its beak.

"Look mum!" she said as she took the letter, "It's a letter addressed to me!"

"It must be some kind of joke from one of your friends then," said Mr. Evans as he stared at the owl which stood in the middle of the table.

"Open it then dear," he mother said.

Lily carefully broke the seal on the envelope and read aloud.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she read, "Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards). Dear Miss Evans, 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 along with the address of a witch/wizard who has agreed to show you around. Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July. Feel free to voice any questions or concerns. Yours sincerely, Henrietta Griffin, Deputy Headmistress. P.S. We assure you this is no joke. Having grown up in the Muggle world we highly doubt that you have heard of the Magical one but it does exist. All is explained in the instructions." Lily looked at her parents, "Maybe it's not a joke after all," she said. She looked over the other pieces of paper. "Do we know a Miriam or James Johnston?" she asked.

"I know a James Johnston," said Mr. Evans as he took the letter, "He owns the Morning Post. He doesn't live to far from here. I suppose we could give him a call. If it is a joke we can warn him that people are using his name in a scam."

"Well, it'll have to wait awhile," said Mrs. Evans, "It's not even 9 o'clock yet and I doubt he would appreciate if you interrupted his Saturday morning. Wait until at least 11, then you can phone him, OK Lily?"

Lily nodded, "OK mum," she said. She looked back at the letter and pulled out the list of supplies, "Ooo!" she said in surprise, "Listen to what I need! Three sets of plain, black work robes, one plain black pointed hat, one pair of protective gloves-wow! They have to be made from dragon hide or similar. And one winter cloak, black with silver fastenings."

Her parents looked at each other. What would they do with Lily if it turned out to be a hoax? She'd be devastated.

"Listen to these books!" Lily said excitedly, "The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1), A History of Magic, Modern Magical Theory For Students, Transfiguration Made Easy, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, Magical Drafts and Potions, The Field Guide on Magical Creatures, and How To Protect Yourself Against the Dark Arts. Wow! These sound so cool! I also need a wand, a cauldron, a set of glass phials, a telescope, and a set of brass scales. And listen to this! Students may also bring an owl or a cat or a toad. This sounds so cool!"

The owl was still sitting calmly on the table, watching Lily carefully. She turned and looked at it. She timidly put out her hand towards it and when it didn't attack her she started to stroke it gently.

"Oh dear, you might not want to do that," warned her mother, "You don't know where its been."

Lily rolled her eyes, "It's obviously not wild mum. Besides, I'll wash my hands after," she said, "And it's so cute!"

Her mother still looked concerned but didn't say anymore as she cleared the table.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Can I phone now?" Lily asked her mother for what had to be the zillionth time.

Her mother looked at the clock. It showed 10:55am. She turned back to Lily, "Oh, all right, I guess so," she said.

"Yay!" Lily said excitedly. She grabbed the piece of paper and dialed the number. The phone rang once, twice, three times and had just started to ring a fourth time when someone answered.

"Hello?" said a women's voice.

"Hi, um, this is Lily Evans," said Lily, "Is this Mrs. Miriam Johnston?"

"Yes it is," said the woman.

"Um, well you see, I got this letter from a school called Hogwarts and they said to phone you to get more information," said Lily, she felt very nervous now.

There was a pause. "What's the full name of this school?" asked Miriam.

"Um, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," said Lily, "My parents think it might be a joke though."

There was another pause, "Does it by chance say who the Headmaster is?" asked Miriam.

"Uh, hold on, let me look," said Lily, "It says the Headmaster is Albus Dumbledore."

"It's no joke then dear," said Miriam, "Hogwarts is a real school. In fact, I attended it for seven years myself."

"It is? You did?" Lily stammered.

"Yes dear," said Miriam, "Now, I'd rather talk to you and your parents in person about this. Would it be possible for me to drop by this afternoon for a chat? Or you could come over to my house, whichever is easier for you three."

"Uh, hold on, I'll ask," Lily said. She covered the mouthpiece of the phone and turned to her mother, "She wants to talk us in person," she said, "Can she come over this afternoon? Or we can go to her house- whichever is easier."

Mrs. Evans was quite taken aback, "Invite her over for 1:30 then," she said.

"OK mum," Lily said. She then went back to the phone. "Is 1:30 OK?" she asked.

"Certainly," said Miriam, "I will see you then Lily."

"Bye then," Lily said happily.

"Bye-bye dear," said Miriam and they hung up.

Lily turned back to her mother beaming. "She said she'll be here," she said, "And I can't wait!"

* * * * * * * * * * *

I hope you enjoyed my first chapter! I'll try and finish up Chapter Two soon for you guys to read but it probably won't be up until next week cause I'm away this weekend. So read and review please (even if you though it was horrible and should burn in the fiery depths of hell)!

FYI: I copied out almost the entire letter from the first book of Harry Potter but I deliberately changed some things just because this is before Harry's time so some things would obviously be different.

~*~MeGaN~*~