Disclaimer: I'm not J.K. Rowling, this isn't mine, ect., ect.

It was a warm sunny day, the day the letters arrived. It was the day almost everyone who had received the letter would remember for the rest of their lives. Not because something bad had happened, but because it signaled a change. For some, this change was part of their everyday lives, for others it was a different matter entirely. For people such as Lily Evans, it was the latter.

She and Severus Snape were sitting on the curb, watching as the occasional car came by, completely bored out of their mind.

Lily tilted her head back as a light breeze blew. "When you think our letters will arrive?" She asked the black haired boy beside her.

"Today, I think," although he sounded unsure.

"Do you really think I'll get in? What if Dumbledore doesn't want me?" She turned to Severus, a frown crossing over her face.

"Of course he'll want you. He'd be crazy to not let you into Hogwarts. It's obvious you're a witch. I spotted it, didn't I?"

She laughed, "Well, yes, and I guess you can be rather dense at times," she nudged him with her shoulder.

"Can I?" he gave her a smirk and tickled her.

"Sev, Sev! Stop!" She shouted, giggling, as she rolled around on the grass helplessly.

He laughed to, and proceeded to stop, letting Lily catch her breath.

She gasped as she stood up. "Ooh, now you're going to get it!" She started to run after him through the streets.

They played only for a little while longer, anxious to go home to see if they got their letters.

"Let's go to my house," Lily said, scanning the skies for owls.

"Okay. There will be someone who takes you to Diagon Alley, do you mind if I come to when you get your supplies?" He glanced sideways at her.

"Oh will you?" Lily felt relief washing over her. "Thank you so much. I didn't want to go there alone."

"You wouldn't be alone," Sev reminded her.

"Yes, but that's different. I don't know them."

The two continued walking to her house, talking about all the magic they would learn over their years. When they got to Lily's house, both were out of breath having run to get there sooner.

"Mummy? Daddy? Tuney? I'm home, Sev is with me."

"I'm out back, dear," Mrs. Evans called from the backdoor which was open.

"Hello, Mum." Lily called out, going to where her mother was tending to her garden.

"Hello, Lily." She sat back, wiping her forehead. "Hello, Severus. It's nice to see you again." She smiled pleasantly.

"It's nice to see you too, Mrs. Evans." He gave a shy smile at the woman.

"Would you like to help?" She nodded towards her garden.

Lily glanced at Sev. "Sure, Mum," she said as Severus didn't object.

"Well then, let's get to work. You two want to water?" She asked, still smiling.

"Yes!" Lily shouted and the two rushed over to where to hose was.

"You can water the bushes along the fence. Be sure not to over water them."

"Yes, Mum," The two ended up watering more themselves than the plants however.

Soon, both the plants and the two friends were drenched and Lily and Sev lay in the grass, not speaking.

Lily smiled. She remembered how Sev wouldn't come over to the Evans' for quite a time, at least six or seven months after they had met. She had only managed to get him over to her house that spring after school when she had told him that her parents weren't home. Of course, like anyone else who had met the Evans', he was instantly charmed and loved being over at Lily's ever minute he was there.

"Severus, would you mind asking your parents if they would like to come over for dinner tomorrow night?" Lily's mum called. "We are having our annual summer get together and it would be very nice if you and your parents attended."

"My parents won't come." Sev sat up, frowning, "But would it be okay, if it would be just me who came?"

"Of course, dear. You are welcome any time. I have some lemonade in the fridge if the two of you would like some," Lily's mum said pleasantly.

"Thank you, Mum," Lily smiled as she went after Severus. There was of course a double meaning behind those words, a double meaning only Mrs. Evans caught.

Severus didn't have many friends Lily knew. At school he was always being picked on. Lily was his only friend as far as she knew. Of course Sev did bring it on himself. He used words like muggle which did him no good. Lily had mentioned this to him once, but of course he did ignore her as he usually did when it came to making friends.

"Hey, Sev," Lily asked as she got the pitcher from the fridge, "Where do kids who have magic from families who are magic go? Before they go to Hogwarts I mean?"

"It depends," he shrugged. "Most purebloods don't go to school at all. They are privately tutored at home, or there are a few who study in groups with other purebloods. They tend to think rather highly of themselves. Those who have a muggle born parent depend also. I think those with muggle influence are more likely to go to muggle school than those who don't have a much. It depends on what the parent decided to let them learn of course. But I think now days most everyone goes to muggle school unless of course they are made of money, they just get a tutor. I think there is a wizarding school somewhere in England. It's not a private school, any witch or wizard can go, but they don't teach spells. They teach reading and writing, mathematics, and stuff they'll need at schools like Hogwarts."

"There are other schools like Hogwarts?" Lily looked at him.

"I've told you there were," He reminded her.

"Oh have you really? I can't remember. What are they?"

"Well there is Beauxbatons which is in France and Durmstrang which is in Norway. And of course there is Hogwarts. Those three are the major ones, at least in Europe. There is an American one called Chesterler Academy, it's fairly large. I know there are ones in Australia, Japan, Russia, and Canada. I can't remember their names though and I'm sure there are others. Don't know where though. Most of them are rather small. The wizarding world isn't a large one, even though it may seem so. It can't be, otherwise the muggles would have noticed.

"Oh," they fell silent for a few moments before Lily shrieked and grabbed Sev's arm, pointing with her other hand to something in the sky. "It's coming!!!" She shrieked again as a dot in the sky flew closer.

"Lily!" Cried her mother rushing outside. "Are you okay?! What happened?!"

The two kids however, were frozen staring at the owl that was coming at an alarming speed.

"What in the name of God's green earth?" muttered Lily's mum.

The huge bird landed on the hedge, a letter tied to its leg. "Come on, Sev," they inched forward until they could read the name on it. Severus Snape. Lily Evan's house. Outside.

"How does it know that?" breathed Lily.

"No idea," replied Sev shakily as he reached for the letter.

"Lily, Sev, don't mess with the bird," Lily's mum went inside shaking her head. "You have no idea what it could have as far as diseases go."

"No worries, mum, we won't," called Lily, she started scanning the skies for her letter. "When do you believe it will come?"

Sev frowned. "It should be here by now. It came late this year, at least according to my mum."

Lily fought the urge not to cry. "It will come won't it?" She asked.

"Lil, don't worry. Dumbledore better have sent you a letter. If not, I'll march right up to him the first day and ask him why the bloody hell not."

"Won't he be mad if you were to use the word bloody hell?"

"That's two words."

"Which makes it a bajillion times worse, Sev. Beside I don't want to seem desperate. Maybe those who are muggle born go to school a year later. Or those who haven't grown up with magic. It makes sense."

"Yeah, maybe that's it." Sev said.

"Well let's go inside. There's no use in waiting around all day is there? It might not even come."

"Of course it will. The mailing just must have gotten mixed up."

"If you say…." Lily trailed off as they walked towards the house.

"Sev, would you like to stay for dinner?" Lily's mum called.

"Yes ma'am," he said. "And I'm sure it will be alright with my parents."

"Do you need to give them a ring?"

"No but thanks though. They won't mind."

Lily sat next to Sev at the dinner table. She didn't say much and kept picking at her food.

"Lily, please stop playing with you food, dear," her mum said crossly."I'm not playing. I'm picking," Lily grumbled.

"Is everything alright?" her father looked up at her from the dinner plate piled with an enormous amount of food that had, at least until this moment, been occupying his attention.

"Yeah, I guess so," Lily said when all she felt like doing was breaking down and crying. "I was just expecting this letter to come and obviously it didn't."

"I'm sorry Lily dear, but that reminds me there was a letter for you this morning I just forgot to give it to you. Was it that perhaps?" her mum asked concerned

"Probably not no," Lily sighed, "It doesn't really matter anyways does it?"

"Course it does," Mrs. Evans got up from the table and went over to the counter. "It has this odd seal on the back of it. Says, 'Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry'. Um was this one it perhaps? You didn't give out any information to a stranger to you? It even knows your bedroom number."

Lily brightened up immediately, tearing open the envelope. "Yes!" She screamed and threw her arms around her mum. "I got in! I got in. Ooh Sev this is so exciting!"

"What is it?" Petunia asked. "What did you get into? Is it some sort of magicians club?"

"Of course not!" Lily replied affronted.

"That's good," Petunia looked relieved, "It would have been really dorky to go to."

"It's an actual school, Tuney. I'm a witch! A real live, wand using, spell casting, and…. And ….. whatever else they do, witch!"

"Lily," Her mum was looking a little amused, "May I see the letter?"

"Here!" Lily thrust the envelope into her mum's hands.

"Is this some kind of joke?" her mum asked staring at the pieces of paper.

"No Mrs. Evans, it's not. I got one too," Sev spoke up, handing her his letter also.

"Oh…. Dear…. I think I need to sit," Mrs. Evans looked faint as she slipped into her chair.

"Mum, did I get one?" Petunia asked.

"What? Oh no, Pet, you didn't," Lily's mum mumbled staring at her food.

"Mum?" asked Lily quietly.

"Hmmmm?"

"Um it says someone from the staff at Hogwarts, that's the school, is coming here, tonight. To explain what exactly is going on and going to take Sev and I to London later to Diagon Alley to shop for some supplies."

"Oh, yes, very well then," Her mum said just right before the doorbell rang. "This must be a joke."

"I'll get it," offered Petunia as she dashed from the room.

Lily fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably. It was going to be a long night.