Finally it was the 1st of September and Lily was going to Hogwarts! She couldn't wait to start learning magic. The only negative was the way Petunia had been moody and distant ever since Lily's birthday. Lily missed her older sister, she wished that they could go back to the way they used to be.

Lily sighed and then quickly ran the brush through her hair one last time to distract herself. She ran downstairs to where her parents were waiting for her along with Severus Snape who they were giving a lift.

It seemed so bizarre that the reason Severus had always seemed so weird was because he was a wizard. If anybody had told Lily a few weeks ago that Severus and she would be best friends, Lily would have laughed (or punched them which was admittedly more likely) but Severus had rapidly become a really good friend. Especially after the way Petunia had been so distant.

He had told Lily all about the wizarding world and made her feel like she really belonged there. He had somehow become Lily's best friend and she hoped they'd be in the same house. She didn't want to lose her new best friend.

Petunia glanced at Lily out of the corner of her eye as she slouched in the back of the car, sitting next to Lily. She was leaving today to go to that amazing school where she'd learn magic! Petunia had already seen what Lily could do without learning magic when Lily's used magic in that shop on the boy. If Lily could that now, Petunia couldn't even imagine what Lily would be able to do after one year...let alone seven!

Petunia had even written a letter to the headmaster to inform him that there had been a mistake and that Lily had an older sister who hadn't received a letter the previous year.

When the reply had came, Petunia had been so excited and ready to go to Hogwarts and learn magic. To buy her own pet owl, she'd even had thought of what she'd name her pet.

But the headmaster had just replied that there hadn't been a mistake, claiming that she wasn't magical like Lily. So Petunia wasn't special enough for them...she was too normal.

If it was because Lily had the best grades in everything and studied hard all the time then that wasn't fair. If Petunia had known that you got to learn magic by studying hard and getting the best levels and being a teacher's pet and a goody two shoes like Lily then Petunia would have worked harder. She was even willing to work hard now.

The journey had gone by too quickly. There was so much she wanted to tell Lily before she went but whenever she saw Lily all Petunia could see was that Lily was special while she wasn't. That Lily was something different. That Lily was unique while Petunia wasn't.

James Potter had been waiting for this day his whole life. He was finally here, on the way to the platform and ready to go to Hogwarts. He had heard so much from his parents about their years there, how'd they met, the lessons, how they'd made friends and had a great time. His parents had done that by being good and becoming prefects and head boy and girl...of course in different years but that was beside the point.

But James Potter wasn't going to follow his parents footsteps. He was going to be known as the best seeker (or chaser, he hadn't decided yet!) ad make everybody laugh. But above all...what he really wanted to do was to learn all of the castle's secrets and passages and make a map.

James was jostled out of his pleasant daydreams by his father's voice, Charlus Potter, who stared at him with an amused smirk.

"Yes...?" James asked.

"Are you going to admire the pillar all day James?" His father asked.

James smirked. "Of course, it isn't everyday you see such a spectacular piece of magic, is it?" He replied, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow like his mother did when James was in trouble and he knew it.

His mother laughed. "It's your own fault Charlus. Merlin knows you talk about the Potter who made the barrier often enough!"

His father frowned but the laughter in his eyes showed his amusement.

"It isn't my fault that this is the only sensible barrier created. That barrier to Diagon Alley is such a joke and shame. What impression does it give to the new students?" He scoffed.

Dorea Potter, nee Black, rolled her eyes. "Can we go to our platform now. Or do you intend on missing the train, James?" She asked.

James stood up absolutely straight and pulled his mother's hand as if to drag her onto the platform who smiled and moved forward with him nearly going through the platform when she heard a young voice from behind her which made her stop.

"But I don't understand, Professor McGongall said that there was a barrier and that a teacher would be beside it."

She sighed and tugged her hand out of her son's and nodded towards her husband who'd heard the voice too and he pulled James towards him and to the side as Dorea turned to find the owner of the voice, discreetly casting a Point Me spell.

Lily Evans was furious. She had been so excited to go to Hogwarts but she had no idea how to get to Platform 9 and 3/4 and catch her train. She turned to her parents who looked even more annoyed and worried and said.

"But I don't understand, Professor McGongall said that there was a barrier and that a teacher would be beside it."

"I know Lily but clearly if there is a teacher here then we don't recognise them." Her mother replied, trying to keep her own anger in check as she calmed her daughter down.

"Excuse me?" A gentle voice interrupted from behind. Lily and Iris turned and saw that a familiar lady was standing behind them.

"Sorry to interrupt but I heard you mention Professor McGongall...would I be wrong in assuming that you will be attending a certain school in Scotland for children with special talents?" The lady asked.

"Yes!" Her mother exclaimed as her whole body melted with relief. "Hogwarts right?" she asked.

"Yes." The lady said smiling then she frowned slightly. "I must say you look very familiar..." She murmured and then continued in a louder voice. "If you wouldn't mind coming with me, I'll show you the barrier. You are actually quite close to it which is fortunate."

The Evans family along with Severus Snape followed the lady to the barrier where a man with dark hair stood alongside a young boy around Lily's age.

As soon as they were close enough for Lily to recognise him, she exclaimed in an angry tone. "You!"

The boy looked at her in surprise and then smirked. "Ginger." He said, nodding his head as if he was pleased to see her.

"Lily." Her mother warned as she placed her hands on Lily's shoulders.

"So that's why you looked so familiar. You're the girl who made James fly across the room." Dorea Potter said softly before frowning and walking closer to her son. "James, apologise please." She said sternly.

"Sorry" James said with a cheeky smile. His mother frowned but let it go and turned to Mrs Evans. "I do apologise for my son. Now, to get onto the platform all you have to do is..."

But she was cut off by her son. "Mum, can I help them please." He asked widening his hazel eyes innocently, knowing his mother usually gave in when he did that.

He looked at his father pleadingly too. "Please...it is a part of the Potter history and I really want to tell them how."

His father nodded and took his wife's hand who gave James one last warning look before she walked through the barrier with her husband.

James gulped, knowing he'd be in huge trouble soon but then remembered that he would be going to Hogwarts anyway. It would be worth getting told off anyway.

So he grinned and said, smirking. "All you have to do is stand near that pillar that's in the middle of platforms 9 and 10, where we already are, and whisper the password. The password is Hogwarts express. Remember to clutch your trolley and I would suggest go as a group because it is your first time, ginger."

The girl scowled at him and replied. "My name isn't ginger. It's Lily. And my hair isn't ginger either, it's auburn you..." Her mother covered the girls' mouth and thanked him before walking closer to pillar, dragging the girl with her who was still glaring at him. James walked just behind them and then when the girl looked at the platform and whispered the password, James pushed his trolley into her back which sent her through the barrier and onto Platform 9 and 3/4.

As Lily whispered the password, her mother having assumed that somebody with magic must have needed to say it, she felt something crash into her back and closed her eyes, bracing for the impact of the pillar but it never came.

She slowly opened her eyes and found herself in a completely different platform! There was a sign above her head and there were people in robes walking with children and waving their wands to lift trunks into the air. There were owls hooting and fireplaces which turned green when people came out of them.

But Lily couldn't admire all of this for more than a second, she narrowed her eyes and slowly turned around where she saw that boy grinning like mad.

He tricked her! That toerag had tricked her so that he could crash into her on purpose! How dare he?

Before her mother could stop her, Lily punched him in his gut and as hard as she could and that wiped the smirk of hiss arrogant face.

"Never mess with me again." She yelled and for good measure, she found her water bottle and emptied it over his face.

"And that was for calling me ginger again." She added before spinning on her heel, returning back to her trolley which she was about to push when her mother stopped her.

"Lily Rose Evans." She said, crossing her arms.

"James Charlus Potter." The boy's mother said in the same tone as my mother as she pulled the boy next to me."

She exchanged a glance at my mother who looked surprised to see her.

"I am so sorry for my son's behaviour. I shouldn't have let him with you." She said, and then turned her head slightly to glare at her husband who looked a bit abashed.

My mother nodded. "It's alright." She replied.

"Oh no it isn't. James Charlus Potter, you will apologise to this family right now. Is this the impression you want them to have of the Potters?" She said in a very cold voice.

James Potter gulped. "I'm sorry Mrs...uh..." He looked at his mother.

"Evans" Iris Evans said somewhat stiffly, still trying to get her heartbeat back to normal.

"I'm sorry Mr and Mrs Evans and everybody. I didn't think of the consequences of my actions." James said. This wasn't true of course but maybe, James thought, he should have thought about his consequences a bit more.

"Now to the girl you pushed. Lily is it?" Dorea Potter said.

"I'm sorry Evans." James said, not meaning it at all.

"Lily...you will apologise too. You did not need to punch him or pour your water. That's why children have parents." Iris Evans said in a tired voice. It had been a long day already.

"I'm sorry Potter." Lily said in the same tone as Potter and as soon as their parents turned to talk to each other and no doubt apologise for their behaviour again, Lily glared at Potter.

"Last time I said that this wasn't over. Next time Potter, my parents won't be there to stop me. Don't mess with me again or you'll regret it." She hissed.

"I'm not sacred of you Evans. You shouldn't have done that. You'll be the one who regrets it." James hissed back.

Their parents turned to face them again and they both put on innocent smiles. Then they were getting onto the train, separately of course, and sitting in their compartments.

Severus Snape sat opposite to Lily still shell shocked at what had happened. He'd never seen Lily like that but if Lily didn't like that boy then Snape had no problem disliking him either.

A girl entered the compartment and smiled at Lily and Severus, who didn't notice.

"Can I sit here, please?" She asked.

Lily smiled and replied. "Of course. I'm Lily Evans."

"Marlene McKinnon. Nice to meet you Lily." She sat down beside Lily.

"So...what house do you want to be in?" She asked Lily.

Lily shrugged. "I don't really mind." She said.

Marlene stared at her for a second. "That's probably good I guess. Are you a muggleborn?" She asked.

Lily nodded. "How?" She asked Marlene.

Marlene smiled. "You would have had a preference otherwise...most people grow up wanting to go into the same house as their parents."

"Oh." Lily said. Which house do you want to be in?"

"Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, probably. My mum was in Ravenclaw and my dad was in Gryffindor."

Lily nodded in reply.

Meanwhile, James Potter wandered the train until he found the compartment where his cousin was sitting with his...other cousins.

"There you are Sirius." He exclaimed.

"James!" Sirius greeted excitedly as James sat down next to him.

"Hi Andi, Bella and Cissy." James said, grinning.

Andi or Andromeda Black smiled back at him, she was in her fifth year and was the Slytherin prefect.

"Hello James, how are you?"

Bella or Bellatrix Black who was in her sixth year, looked up from her book and nodded towards him.

Cissy or Narcissa Black, who was in her third year grinned back at him.

"So...are you going to be like Aunt Dorea and us Blacks and join us in Slytherin?" She asked.

James pretended to think about this.

"Nope." He said. "I'm going to Gryffindor like my dad." He grinned.

"Say Sirius, why don't you join me. It'd be fun."

Sirius just laughed.

Bellatrix looked up again. "Siri will be with us. The Blacks are always in Slytherin." She replied.

Andi frowned. "But we wouldn't mind if he went elsewhere...would we?" She asked.

Cissy shrugged. "Aunt Walburga would probaby disown him and probably convince Uncle Orion but Grandfather probably wouldn't mind. He did let his sister marry your father, James." She added.

James shrugged. "Whatever. Let's go somewhere else Sirius. I want to find Marlene. She said she'd find out how we're sorted."

With that, the two boys left the compartment and left the three sisters to continue their debate.

Marlene honestly thought the train journey would never end. It had been fun to start with until James entered their compartment with Black and a new boy called Remus Lupin.

Then Lily and James spent the rest of the ride arguing which eventually led to everybody else, apart from Lily's friend Snape, ignoring them and playing exploding snap which Alice had brought in when she walked in, looking for her missing cat.

But they were now finally waiting for the sorting to begin as Professor McGongall brought in an old hat which she put on a stool and as soon as she walked away, it burst into song.

"I may look old,

And useless.

But I have the brains

From the founders

To put you in your correct house.

It may be Hufflepuff where

The just and loyal reside.

Or Ravenclaw where

The Witty tend to scribe.

Perhaps Slytherin where

The cunning and ambitious lie.

Or with the pride of the brave

In Gryffinfor.

I place you in the right spot

But as time get tough

Stick together and see the power."

"This has to be a prank. A hat...the mysterious sorting is done by a hat!" James whispered to Sirius who laughed.

All the students started clapping and Professor McGongall cleared her throat as she started reading from a list.

When she reached. "Black, Sirius." Sirius walked towards the stool and at down, putting the hat on.

"Ah another Black. Now where to place you. Slytherin could be a great fit as could Gryffindor. I see plenty of courage too...I think the best fit for you is GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat shouted the last word to the hall and stunned faces looked at him as Sirius Black walked past the Slytherin table to the Gryffindor one and sat down, pretending not the notice the students edging away from him.

"I told you." Cissy whispered to her eldest sister and put out her hand. Bella sighed and rolled her eyes before putting galleon in her hand.

All too soon for Lily, Professor McGongall had reached "Evans, Lily" and Lily slowly walked to the stool and sat down. The hat slipped down over her eyes, and Lily straightened it.

"Hmm...a hard one. Plenty of courage and a very good mind. Ravenclaw could be a good fit but I think you'll do best in GRYFFINDOR". The red and gold table exploded with cheers and Lily sat down opposite Black who was the only student she recognised.

James smiled as he saw Marlene, Sirius and his new friend Remus were all looking at him as he walked to the sorting hat from the Gryffindor table. Soon, he would be sitting with them.

"A Potter. Oh that is interesting. A fine mind. Very fine but not for Ravenclaw. Loyalty typical for a Potter and ambition. Just like your mother had. Slytherin would be a great match indeed. Your mother would be pleased huh...well be sure to tell her that. What about Gryffindor you ask? Yes, plenty of bravery and courage. Gryffindor would also be a great match for you. You would be best to go into GRYFFINDOR."

James Potter grinned and walked towards the Gryffindor table, knowing that the best years of life had begun.

A/N: All rights belong to J.K Rowling.

I will be ignoring most of what J.K Rowling added to the world outside of the books and I will be adapting a lot of facts to suit my needs for this story. I hope you enjoyed it and I'd love to hear your thoughts. :)