A/N: *cracks fingers* Righto, then, a bit of explanation, wot? Let's see….I've had writer's block for the past 3 months or something. Everything I tried to write turned out horrible. *looks sad* 'Twas a sad time for me. But lately, after beta reading IceAmethyst's story, I've…regained inspiration. I wrote a lot of this last night before I fell asleep :) Don't be surprised if you find some similarities to Emerald Eyes, because I write from what I'm…influenced by. But it's original enough, I assure you. I'll try extra hard to actually work hard on this one, the way I did with Vengeance With a Kiss. (VWAK! w00t!) So this is just your average l/j, except…longer. Lol. I'm not sure yet whether I'll end it when Lily and James die (*tear*) or after they fall in love…I'll figure it out later. Lol I have time! I think…

Anyway, I should conclude this because…it's a long Author's Note. :) Reviews are MUCH appreciated, they're why I keep writing stories. They give me motivation and inspiration, and all that crap. *smiles* So please take a couple seconds out of your busy, busy day and review! Flame my ass off, if it pleases you. Whatever works…

And now…*breathes heavily* Without further ado:

***

It was a dark and stormy night. Rain beat down hard upon the homes of England, an somewhere, in a very nondescript place, a very quiet and a very boring place, Lily Evans tossed. A particularly loud clap of thunder had roused her from sleep.

And from a good dream, she thought grumpily.

Lily twisted and pulled her blanket above her head, waited a moment, then flopped over and to the other side and did the same. She continued this for several minutes until it seemed obvious that trying to fall back asleep now was hopeless.

She sighed and sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes to rid them of their graininess and turning on the lamp. After a minute of contemplation, she decided the best thing to do was go downstairs and have something to drink. Although already wide awake, Lily still harbored the hope that some properly heated milk would get her right back to sleep.

She slipped out of bed and put on slippers and a robe before shuffling out of her room. The house was dark and quiet, but neither particularly bothered Lily. In fact, she rather enjoyed the blackness that others would find oppressive.

Upon reaching the kitchen, she turned the light on and glanced at the clock. It read 2:30. Sighing, Lily set a pan on the stove and sat down to wait for it to heat.

There was not much to do downstairs at 2:30 in the morning, Lily realized. The rain had subsided slightly, and nothing was happening. Lily twiddled her thumbs in her lap a bit. She listened idly to the steady ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. BANG.

Wait…Bang? No, that wasn't right. Lily stood up from the table to investigate the mysterious sound.

The front door stood open, with rain already beginning to make a puddle near it. Standing in the doorway was a rather tall man, with a brown beard trimmed so it reached it chest.

Which, Lily thought, is a little weird.

He wore a long, dark purple robe with a black cape that glistened wetly. Round glasses perched on his nose - his rather large nose, thought Lily with a smirk - and he wore a tall, pointed hat. In his hand was a black umbrella, which he was currently shaking out onto the carpet.

"Blasted thing," the man muttered. "'Oo needs a bloody door, enyway, whin you ken apparate? Bah!"

Lily looked at him with wide, curious eyes, then firmed her jaw. There was a stranger in the house, and she wasn't going to stand here and watch him! She ran up to the man and kicked him as hard as she could in the shin.

"AUGH!" he yelped, and hopped around on his good leg. Lily giggled and chased after him, eager to do more.

"Stop right there!" the man said loudly, brandishing his umbrella. Lily skidded to a halt, the black point only an inch from her face. She grinned uncertainly at the man.

"That's better," he muttered. "Must be the right bleedin' house, stewpid girl's got spirit 'nuff for it."

"It's not nice to swear," Lily intoned in a lecturing manner. The man gave her a nasty look, but she pretended not to notice. "And anyway, I'll point out you're in MY house, so you'd better explain yourself right now. Before I call the cops," she added as an afterthought.

The man gave a dry chuckle and pulled out a smaller cape. He put it around Lily's shoulders. She didn't take it off - it was pretty, and if the man wanted to give her presents, who was she to argue? - but she did begin tapping her foot. The man laughed again.

"Ye're coming with me, love. I'm not here to hurt ye, but I must warn ye're in great dainger. Greet dainger." He shook his head disapprovingly, then took her hand and began to lead her to the door. "I'm takin' ye te Hogwarts! Ye'll be safe there, orders of Dumbledore, ye know. Ye'll be allowed back, dun't wurry. Soon as the Ministry takes care o' this, ye can get ye're own money, tew. Ah'm not payin' fer everything!"

Lily was by now thoroughly confused, and not only from the man's appalling accent. But curiosity overcame her, and she figured he looked friendly enough, no matter what his manners.

"Ok," she said loudly. "But where are my clothes?"

"Greet! They'll be sent tew ye, don' ye wurry!" the man exclaimed happily.

He pulled her hand and she stepped out into the rain. The door closed behind her, and Lily could not repress a little shiver of excitement. She didn't know what was happening, but whatever it was, it promised to be exciting.

***

A/N: Ooooooh, foreshadowing! Fun. This is more of a prologue…type…thingie than a chapter. The other ones should be a good bit longer :) Please R/R!!!