Somewhere

Chapter 1

"Sing with all your heart, when you do, you'll understand that it's one of the best feelings in the world." I first came across this phrase in a letter my mother sent me from France. I've always kept this letter somewhere safe, somewhere close to me. It was one of my most prized possessions in my entire life.

I never knew that my mother's letter would be the last memory I would have of her. I never knew that one day I'd be in the situation I'm in now. I never knew anything until a few days ago, when a letter from my grandmother was delivered to my house.

Lily,

I know I should not be telling you this, but dark times are approaching. Have you wondered why your mother would move on to a different subject every time your father was mentioned? Everyone knows that you admire and love your father so much that you cried for weeks when he passed away. Listen to me Lily, your father is not the person you thought he was. He never loved your mother. He didn't care for her. On the other hand, your mother loved him with all her heart. She said to me before her wedding that she would die for him. I supported their marriage—although I did have my suspicions on the groom. He'd disappear for long stretches of time after the wedding was over.

I don't expect you to remember this since you were young back then so this is what happened. He spent less time with your mother until eventually he left her with just a note saying goodbye and more than half the money and treasures we owned. He left her heartbroken. She refused to eat. I hated that man for hurting my daughter. I blamed him for your mother's death.

I thought he deserved his death. It was because of him your mother went to France to look for him.

Now, read carefully Lillia, your father is not dead. He's still roaming around. Lily, please, I know what you're going to do. I ask you not go looking for him. But why, do you ask, would I bother to tell you the truth about your father if you can't even go looking for him? I needed to tell someone the truth about what happened for I fear that I won't be around for long. Petunia would never understand. So I thought of you. Lily, promise me you'll do what I ask.

Sincerely,

Grandmother

P.S- I'm sorry I missed your seventeenth birthday. I hope you like the gift enclosed with this letter.

I really did love the gift my Grandmother enclosed. Even though my birthday was in January, I still forgave her. It was a picture of my parents on their wedding day. I couldn't help but admire the way the couple looked. They just seemed so right for each other. I couldn't imagine that my father would hurt my mother, it just didn't seem right.

That was the day that I decided I would move out of Petunia's house. She was shocked when I told her I was moving out. I knew she had always been jealous of me. It started when I first got my acceptance letter into Hogwarts. She wrote a letter to Dumbledore asking if she can come too and was rejected.

She'd shun me every time I'd come home from Hogwarts for Christmas and summer and was quick to blame me if something went wrong in the house. She'd poke fun at my red hair and green eyes and say it was ugly. But, she was my sister. She must still love and care for me deep down inside. Why would she accept me into her home in the first place?

She quickly hid her shock with a sneer and said disdainfully, "It's about time you leave. You've nearly driven Vernon and I broke. How are we supposed to care for the baby when he's born when we have to provide your food?" I stayed silent as I always did when Petunia did her daily "make Lily feel bad" thing. It was pathetic really.

"So when are you leaving?" she asked airily. "Now," I said rather bluntly. "O-oh really? Well, farewell then!" she said uncertainly. She walked with me to the door. I knew she was surprised when I said I was leaving now. I already packed everything so I thought I should depart for Hogwarts early.

She hovered on the doorstep outside and turned to go back in. I ran back to her and embraced her. "No matter what happens between us Tuney, you'll always be my sister," I murmured. I let a tear escape my eye and I let go of her. "Lily…" she started, but I had already walked toward the gate of her house.

With a last wave of farewell, I concentrated hard and turned on the spot. My last thoughts were, "It's done. I've done it. My life as Lily Evans, the girl with everything you can ever want, is gone. Here I go into a new beginning."