Disclaimer: I'm JKR and I own Harry Potter. If you believed that I suggest you get your head examined mate. I'm JRK and I own… um… nothing. Wow, I'm pathetic. Soon. Very soon. I WILL OWN SOMETHING!!

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Chapter 2: Letters and Beatings

Lily woke up early the next morning; she stretched and smiled happily to herself. Eleven, she was finally eleven. She sat up and hugged herself, Happy Birthday to me! She thought a smile tugging at her lips. A cold breeze swept around the room she stood up suddenly realising that she had left the window open last night, she ran over to the window getting ready to slam it shut in case her father came in, looking out to the horizon she saw two owls flying towards her.

Lily opened the window to its fullest extent, managing to duck just in time for both of the birds to fly through. One dropped a letter on her head but the other flew through the open door. The owl that left its letter on her head collapsed unto the ground. Forgetting her letter Lily ran over to the owl and placed it gently onto her bedside table.

Lily left the room and went down the stairs, she returned 3 minutes later with a dead mouse caught in one of the traps. She put it in front of the owl that tore at it hungrily. Lily wrinkled up her nose, there was a reason she was vegetarian.

Turning her attention to the letter, she noticed that it was different from the first letter, it seemed more informal, and it was written in a messy scrawl not like the neat and tidy scrip from the first letter. She tore the letter open and began to read;

Dear Lily

Me name is Hagrid, and I'll be the one to show you to Diagon Alley and what not. I'll be picking you up on in eight days at bout 6 in the afternoon, bring a little money for your school supplies, oh and before I forget happy birthday!

See you soon

Hagrid, Hogwarts Groundskeeper

Lily smiled, Hagrid seemed like a nice person, the smile faded eight days, that wasn't very long what was she going to say to her father? She sighed; she would sort that out when she came to it. Better yet, keep quiet until Hagrid comes, her father wouldn't dare beat her in front of a guest would he? Besides if he didn't beat her she would go to Diagon Alley and when she came back hopefully he would be so drunk he would have forgotten about it. By the time she had figured all this out Lily had completely forgotten about the second owl.



Petunia was sleeping peacefully when the second owl flew into her room and pecked her on the nose, she got up swearing. For a twelve year old she had a wider range of more colourful vocabulary than most of the people in her class.

Petunia got up and checked the hallway before shutting the door. The woman, McGonagall, had replied to her letter, she grabbed the letter and read it through. The smile that had graced her face vanished replaced with an expression of such sorrow it would have broken anyone. She threw the letter at the ground and began to sob into her pillow.

Lily had fed the owl and cared for it until she was certain it would be able to survive the trip back, she picked it up and placed it onto the window ledge. The owl nipped her finger affectionately before taking off.

Lily gazed after it for a while before going down to the kitchen to start making breakfast. Lily took two eggs and began to fry them, she took a few slices of bacon and fried them as well. She put a slice of bread into the toaster and began putting it all together unto a plate which she put on the table with a glass of fresh orange and a mug of strong coffee.

Pleased with her work, Lily grabbed a croissant for herself and went out into the garden. A few minutes later she heard someone come down the stairs, feet heavily treading on the ground. Lily licked her crumb covered fingers and went back inside the house. Her father, Paul Evans, was sitting at the table eating the breakfast his daughter had prepared, but looking slightly guilty, once he caught sight of Lily he stood up abruptly. "Lily, darling I am so sorry! I shouldn't have done that, it was the alcohol Lily, I promise I'll stop drinking! I won't ever be able to hurt you again." He said it all with such sincerity in his eyes that anyone would have believed him and Lily had, once. But then it happened again and again, always followed by an apology and a promise the next morning. "That's great dad." Lily said forcing a smile, trying to put as much enthusiasm in it as possible. It was the same promises every morning, he never stuck to them. Hiding the alcohol didn't help, all it did was make him angry or make him try to drink detergent or other poisonous chemicals.

Flashback

Lily finished hiding the bottles of whisky. She sighed in relief as the last bottle vanished from sight, she ran up the stairs to her room. Maybe today she wouldn't get beaten, maybe everything would now change. Or maybe not thought Lily as a shout and scream were heard from Petunia's room. Lily ran out into the corridor and opened the door to Petunia's room; her sister was cowering on the ground whilst Lily's father was brandishing an empty bottle of wine.

Lily gasped; she had forgotten to hide the wine, as he heard this noise Paul Evans turned to face his youngest daughter. His eyes were bloodshot and wild, cruelty was reflected in them. He staggered towards her, still holding the bottle. Lily turned on her heels and ran towards her room, closely followed by a drunk and angry father.

Lily reached her door and went inside slamming the door shut pressing herself against it. But he was stronger than her and once he overcame the obstacle. He advanced on her and began to hit her mercilessly with the bottle. Lily screamed and blacked out; the last thing she saw was her sister struggling to stop her father.

End Flashback



Lily breathed in deeply the memories hurt, they always did. They never hurt more than the actual beating but made her want to end her own life. She only restrained herself knowing if she left, Petunia would be the punching bag, Lily loved her sister and would never want her to go through that, and so she stayed. Looking up Lily could see the morning's concern in her father's eyes which she knew would change once he got hold of some alcohol.