September 1
If Lily Evans ever had the misfortune of falling asleep in Platform 9 and 3/4 on August 31, it would not be a very good sleep. To say that the platform was busy on September 1 would be like saying Twilight is not the best book in the world: a massive understatement.
Lily had had a very busy two months. After she received the letter, she had had to tell her parents she was a witch. That had not been fun. Telling Luke and Tuney had been better though, they cracked jokes and imagined what it would be like for Lily at this magical new school.
Then Lily had had to borrow the Snape's owl to send her reply. Later they received a new letter, listing all the books and materials she would need.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Uniform
First-yearstudentswillrequire:
1. Threesetsofplainworkrobes (black)
Oneplainpointedhat (black) fordaywear
Onepairofprotectivegloves (dragonhideorsimilar)
Onewintercloak (black, silverfastenings)
Pleasenotethatallpupils' clothesshouldcarrynametags
COURSEBOOKS
Allstudentsshouldhaveacopyofeachofthefollowing:
TheStandardBookofSpells (Grade 1) byMirandaGoshawk
AHistoryofMagicbyBathildaBagshot
MagicalTheorybyAdalbertWaffling
ABeginners' GuidetoTransfigurationbyEmeticSwitch
OneThousandMagicalHerbsandFungibyPhyllidaSpore
MagicalDraftsandPotionsbyArseniusJigger
FantasticBeastsandWheretoFindThembyNewtScamander
TheDarkForces: AGuidetoSelf-ProtectionbyQuentinTrimble
OTHEREQUIPMENT
Wand
Cauldron (pewter, standardsize 2) set
Glassorcrystalphials
Telescopeset
Brassscales
StudentsmayalsobringanowlORacatORatoad
PARENTSAREREMINDEDTHATFIRSTYEARSARENOTALLOWEDTHEIROWNBROOMSTICKS.
Lily had absolutely no idea where she was going to find a wand, a cauldron, or all these strange textbooks. So that had required another long conversation with Severus, who told her that there was a place called Diagon Alley, basically a wizard marketplace, where she would be able to find all these things. Lily wanted to go early, to assure that she would have all her supplies, but as it turns out, Severus wasn't available when she had wanted to go (around August 5), so they had had to write to Hogwarts to ask for someone to accompany Lily and her mother to Diagon Alley.
At precisely 6:00 AM on August 5, there was a very loud popping sound coming from the Evans's living room. Mr. And Mrs. Evans raced downstairs, to find a regal elderly lady standing there, as if the fact that she had just popped into their living room was completely normal.
She introduced herself with a firm handshake. "Minerva McGonagall. I'm the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts."
"Charles Evans," Lily's father said, returning the handshake.
"Alice Evans," Lily's mother said quietly, not shaking hands. She was a bit intimidated by this woman in her pointed hat and gold-rimmed glasses. She wore emerald and black robes, where as both the Evans parents were wearing pajamas.
"Pleasure to meet both of you," McGonagall said. "Now, where is Lily? We're scheduled to be at Diagon Alley for 6:30."
"She's still sleeping," Lily's mum said. "It's 6:00 in the morning!"
"This is when I get up on weekends," McGonagall said, as if everyone should be awake at 6:00. She could not understand why people would choose to stay in bed, losing hours of work time.
"Well," Mrs. Evans replied. "Lily won't be up until 8:30, at the earliest."
"That will not do," McGonagall replied, and with a snap of her fingers, she was gone, presumably right into Lily's bedroom.
Lily was, in fact, still sleeping, and she definitely needed her sleep. She hadn't been able to fall asleep last night, completely excited for the next day.
Little did she know she was about to wake up to a peculiar woman in her bedroom.
"Lily!" McGonagall called. "It's time for us to go!"
Lily's parents had raced upstairs in the meantime, and now they were banging on the door, which McGonagall had locked. "Lily! Lily!" They called.
Lily awoke with a groan. "Ugh," she said, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Time for us to go," said McGonagall.
And at the sound of the woman's voice, Lily opened her eyes and screamed.
"MUM! DAD! WHO IS THIS LADY?"
"I'm the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts," McGonagall said impatiently. "And it's time for us to go."
"All right," Lily said groggily. "Just… let me get dressed, and we can go."
"All right," the woman replied. "But hurry."
And then McGonagall opened the door with a flick of her hand, and Lily's parents came tumbling into the room. They looked at McGonagall with expressions of wonder and incredulousness. McGonagall cocked her head. "Problem?" She asked, already exiting the room.
But it wasn't really a question.