Lily Evans opened her eyes at six o' clock the morning of September first, and smiled up at the ceiling. She still had a lot to do, so she wasted no time in getting up quickly. The first thing Lily did was walk into the bathroom to take a shower. One look in the mirror and she could cry. Her red hair was matted and stringy, hanging around her face in a lump. There were dark circles under her eyes(probably since she couldn't really sleep well), making her pale face look sickly.

After a nice hot shower, she could finally pull a brush through her tangled waves. Once her hair looked neat enough, she walked sluggishly back to her room. Sadly within the next ten minutes her sister Petunia would be getting up to ridicule her like she always did. And talk about the guys at her "normal" school and her "normal" friends. It always bugged Lily mostly because what Petunia thought was normal, was actually very boring.

The tattered looking trunk that Lily had used since she was eleven was lying open on her neatly made bed. Luckily she was seventeen because then she was able to use magic… As long as Petunia didn't see; she'd complain about it forever. The bed looked much nicer than it would have if she did it properly, which was one thing she loved about being a witch.

That was when she had a bit of a flashback. Lily remembered the first day she met another magical person: Severus Snape. Her and Petunia had been at the playground when he appeared, and called her a witch. This didn't go too well at first. Lily thought he was being rude.

"You little troll! How dare you call me a witch!" Lily shouted at the boy. He had long, greasy black hair and baggy clothes.

"No! That's not what I meant!" He suddenly moved closer, causing Petunia to back away. But Lily stood her ground and glared at the strange boy. "I'm one too… Well actually I'm a wizard. You see, we're both able to do magical things."

This made Lily's eyes widen and she stared, shocked at the boy. Petunia was trying to get her to leave, but she shrugged her away. "Are you going to Hogwarts too?" she asked him.

He nodded and smiled. "I can tell you almost everything about it. I'm Severus Snape." With that he stuck out his hand for her to shake.

This sparked Lily's interest, and her eyes flashed with excitement. "Lily Evans," she answered, shaking his hand.

After telling Petunia to go home, Lily spent the rest of the day with Severus; and many more. For the rest of summer she would sneak out during the early morning and meet him in a small wooded area, and return home just before dinner. She asked him every question imaginable and learned of many things. The four houses; Muggles, Muggleborns, Half-Bloods and Purebloods; and even the word mudblood. Lily loathed this word, and hated the very thought that people actually used it. How could people be so inconsiderate and rude?

By the end of that summer, she knew quite a bit about the magical world and Hogwarts. She was very thankful the Severus lived nearby. They had become great friends, but the more Lily left for him, the colder Petunia would act towards her sister. And things didn't change throughout the years. Petunia and Lily were both distant, and Lily feared that they would never be like true sisters ever again. They had become more like acquaintances than anything.

But the worst memory that Lily could remember was the day that she was talking to someone in the gardens, and she saw a boy named James Potter picking on Severus.

"Bugger off you bastards!" Severus was yelling at the Marauders. Lily hated them all. They were rude, arrogant, and most of all: bullies. The worst of them was James Potter, which just so happened to be the one that was taunting Severus now, using a levitation spell on his books.

"That wouldn't be very fun, would it, Severus?" James joked, causing one book to fall on the Slytherin boy's head.

Lily couldn't watch anymore, and walked over to where they were circled around Severus. She broke the circle and glowered at James. "Leave him alone, Potter! What's he done to you?"

"Back off, Lily. I can deal with it on my own!" Severus spat, making her turn around.

"I'm just trying to help-" he cut her off.

"I'm perfectly fine! I don't need your help, you disgusting mudblood!" he yelled, black eyes glaring into emerald ones.

Tears burned her eyes at that moment. She turned to look at James once more -with a single tear falling down her cheek- before running off. From the distance she could hear Severus' voice shouting, "No, Lily… I'm sorry!" But she didn't turn back.

That was the last time she ever even tried to help Severus. That day in her fifth year had always hurt her and made her throat go dry. He was her only true friend, at least she thought. All he really ever thought of her was that she was a mudblood, and Lily felt stupid for not realizing it before.

"Hey freak, you left your towel on the floor. What are you too good for a hamper now?" Petunia's shrill voice carried from out in the hallway. This made Lily groan in aggravation. Couldn't she have just a few more minutes of peace and quiet?

"Sorry," she said dryly. Soon enough her bedroom door was being slammed against the wall and her snobby sister came walking in bitterly. "What, Petunia?" she asked as she placed her Potions ingredients into the trunk.

"Just came to have one last heart to heart with my beloved sister before she leaves in a few hours to her school for weirdoes."

"I'd prefer we not have this talk," Lily replied, turning to her sister with her hands firmly on her hips.

"But why not?" Petunia asked, her nose high in the air.

"Must you ask? It turns out the same way every time; the silent treatment. Petunia, we're not eleven anymore. Won't you grow up a bit? You can't change who I am."

This earned a distasteful scoff from Petunia. "I should grow up? Says the seventeen year old girl who calls herself a witch. I think you need to grow up and stop pretending that every day is Halloween!"

"You bloody well know that I didn't ask to be this way!" Lily shouted, flailing her arms angrily. "At least I'm not the one that sent letters to Dumbledore asking, no begging, to be accepted at Hogwarts. You didn't think it was so stupid then! The only reason you hate it is because you couldn't be the same. So now you try to be as boring as possible so that I-"

"Shut your fucking mouth you freak!" Petunia spat. "How dare you accuse me of begging that Head weirdo of yours to attend that disgusting school!" She looked pleased with herself, and folded her arms across her chest with a smug smile on her face.

Lily sighed and turned to her bedside table, opening the only drawer. After pulling out several opened letters from Dumbledore stating that Petunia was not permitted to attend, she turned to her sister. "I found all of these in the trash." Lily took the top two off of the pile. They both had her letters attached on the back. Both of them said basically the same thing. "These were from after he came to bring me my letter," she handed them to Petunia who glowered down at the paper. "This one was from after my first year." Lily handed her sister another letter from Dumbledore. This one had been more stern. "And these were all-"

"Enough!" Petunia shrieked, throwing the letters down. Lily was startled but a smirk appeared on her face. "So what if you know? Is it really a crime to want love from my own parents?"

"Mum and dad love you, Petunia! How could you even-"

"They've always been more proud of you than me. Every time we go to get you at the end of the year they get so excited… I have to do everything right or else I get scolded for not being like you!" Petunia's eyes were sparkling with tears as she argued, making Lily feel terrible.

"I didn't-"

"It doesn't matter anymore. You'll always be better to them."

"But-"

"And you never actually had to leave you know. You could have stayed here to be a normal person-"

"For Merlin's sake, Petunia! Listen to me! No, I could have never been a normal person. If I didn't learn how to use my magic then I would eventually lose my mind because I couldn't control the outbursts! Think about it. Would you rather me raise my hand in class and suddenly all of the lights explode? Or red sparks shoot out of my fingers?"

"I get your point! I just wish you weren't so weird!" Petunia said disapprovingly, and turned to leave. She slammed the door behind her and Lily could hear her footsteps go down the stairs quickly and loudly. It's now been an hour since Lily woke up at six, and she was already completely bummed out. Petunia really knew how to ruin someone's mood.

As Lily stood next to her bed, she was wondering if Petunia was just jealous and trying to make her feel bad. It was almost working…

But there were so many other things that Lily had to worry about. Like the N.E.W.T.s. Those weren't going to study for themselves.

I might as well read a bit, she thought to herself.

Walking around the bed, she pulled open her curtains to see a large window that covered a lot of her pale blue wall. On the sill, there was a window seat with plush, red cushions. Lily had shrunk them and taken them to school with her to ask Professor McGonagall how to change the color. Once she learned, Lily changed the color immediately to a deep scarlet. It was thrilling to have a bit of her Gryffindor pride showing in her small bedroom.

Grabbing a book that was lying open on the window seat, Lily sat down and began to read in the dim light of dawn. She read about different things from turning food into water, to making a door into a tent. With a yawn, Lily looked out of her window and smiled at the forest in her back yard. She always loved going into that forest, but it was nothing like the one at Hogwarts. Not even close.

Then suddenly Lily saw an owl flying in the distance. She figured it was for Severus since he probably had more magical friends than she, but when it flew straight at her window she got excited.

Who would be owling me? she wondered to herself. The brown owl was getting closer, and Lily stumbled to the desk across from her room and got a few knuts out of her small change purse. By the time she got back to the window, the brown owl was tapping at the window loudly. Lily opened it and let the bird in, taking the letter from it's leg quickly. If only she had faster reflexes. The bird opened its beak and bit her index finger harshly, making blood flow quickly.

"Ow!" she said softly, putting the knuts in the bag on the owl's leg. Lily put her finger in her mouth and sucked the warm blood away, making it burn a bit. There were soft footsteps outside her bedroom door and she assumed that her parents were awake. A soft grunt from a man confirmed that thought. He never liked to talk until he had had some food, and drank his morning tea. Of course he never really liked to be awoken early anyway, but they always get up extra early to spend time together before Lily leaves. Of course Petunia barely speaks, but Lily enjoys the time with her parents.

It was hard to believe that in a few hours she would be leaving one last time for her second home… For the last time. The thought rang in her ears, and Lily sighed. She'd be moving out and getting a job in the magical world in about a year… But Lily knew almost nothing about how it was going to be out in the magical world. She knew that things weren't going to well with the ministry, but didn't think anything bad of it.

Then she remembered the letter in her hands. Lily sat down on the window seat and crossed her legs as she opened the parchment. In a very familiar handwriting(because he used to write her notes during class all the time) Lily read:

Dear Lily,

Yes I know this is strange, but I honestly wanted to apologize for the past years. I woke up this morning and wished that there was some way to tell you. I just couldn't wait until later at he Platform. I hope that you will forgive me and trust that I(and the other Marauders) have matured greatly. Maybe someday we can all be friends… Maybe.

Sincerely,

The best looking Marauder,

James Potter

P.S. I truly hope that you will be our friend. Oh, and it would be best to not mention this letter around the guys… Thanks.

As much as she hated to believe it, Lily actually couldn't wait to see the Marauders. But she didn't tell herself that of course. She hid it in the back of her conscience to deal with some other time. Lily didn't need to like them just because of this letter… No. So when she sees them, she'll have to act normal. That was the best thing to do really. But she couldn't just sit there with the letter in her hands.

Feeling the need to send something back, Lily walked to her desk and pulled out parchment and her quill. She started writing with a smile on her face, and didn't even notice her mum walk in and look over her shoulder.

James,

I can see that you're still as arrogant as ever. But your offer seems sincere. I'll consider it, but it all depends on how you all act. Just because you apologize doesn't mean everything is perfectly normal. You've been a bully for as long as I can remember, even if what you did was never directed at me. I know that you're Head Boy and I'm Head Girl, so we're going to half to at least get along no matter what. I'll try being nice to all of you, but if you do something stupid then I'll have to leave you alone.

Please owl back. I have nothing else to do.

Sincerely,

You're so full of yourself,

Lily

"Who's James?" Lily's mother said suddenly, making her jump and turn around quickly.

"Erm, just a guy I go to school with." Her cheeks turned bright pink, and she could sense that her mother didn't believe her. "Really, mum."

"Whatever you say," she said simply. "But your father used to be an arrogant bully when we were young… Just don't be sitting up here all morning with these owl things."

"Alright," Lily nodded. "I'll be down for breakfast."

"It'll be in about ten minutes."

"Okay, mum." Lily ushered her mum out the door and closed her eyes. How could she not have heard her coming in the door?

After sending the letter off with her own owl, Lily wandered to her trunk once more, placing the book for Transfiguration that she had been reading on top of everything. It took only a few more minutes before the brown owl returned with James' reply.

I'm not that full of myself, Lily. Honestly I've changed. And you know it's true. None of the other Marauders even come close to my good looks. Admit it!

I'm only joking.

You probably have plenty to do. You just want to talk to me, right?

Lily smiled and started scribbling down on her own parchment:

Whatever James. But I'm not saying anything about your looks because no matter what it is you'll hold it against me. Even if it's bad… You'll use it to get girls to hate me.

I doubt it.

I have nothing to do but sit with my annoying sister and awkward parents. Yeah, loads of fun.

The next reply was Lily's favorite:

I know I'm an arse, but I can't help it. I guess I just try to show off for you… Can you blame me though? Just…

Lily couldn't read the next part because it was all scratched out. She stared intensely at the last sentence:

Well that's a shame… I really wanted to talk to you.

She couldn't believe that James was being so nice. What would possess him?

After they talked for a little while longer, Lily went downstairs and sat at the breakfast table. She had said goodbye to James but couldn't keep herself from smiling. Petunia kept jabbering the whole morning, and Lily wished she could just apparate to King's Cross.

Thankfully the next time she looked at the clock it said 9:30. She had to be at the station soon. Lily ran up to her room and grabbed everything she needed before rushing back down to say goodbye. After saying goodbye to her mother, Lily ran to her father's car. Of course Petunia came out so see her off, although it was nothing more than a "Freak."

The ride to King's Cross seemed to take forever, and it started to rain softly. But even that couldn't ruin Lily's mood that morning.

Once they got there, Lily rushed to where platform nine and ten are, then hugged her dad goodbye. "I love you, dad."

"I love you too," he said cheerfully.

A/N: Please please please leave reviews! I'd like to know what you think of it so far. I have other chapters but I don't want to add them until I know if everyone likes this one. Thanks to anyone that leaves a review!