Lily Potter was laying under the hot, summer sun, trying not to be noticed. She had been having a bad day already, and now that her aunt and uncle were looking for her, she couldn't see it getting any better. They were getting into the hot part of summer, and her long, red hair was clinging to her forehead. She scratched at her scar, a memento from a long-forgotten past. It was, curiously, shaped like a lightning bolt. She couldn't stand people staring at it, trying to ask questions, and so she normally kept it hidden behind her hair.

She was rudely awoken from her cupboard under the stairs early in the morning and forced to cook breakfast while her cousin screamed about not receiving enough birthday presents. Business as usual, as it happened, although with significantly fewer new bruises. Now, they were all getting ready to head to the zoo, along with Dudley's moronic best friend. Lily was supposed to spend the day with old Mrs. Figg, but she had broken her leg, and now she was expected to accompany them to the zoo.

She didn't want to go. At first, she had been excited to go. She never got to go anywhere. But once she saw Dudley and Piers looking at her with hatred in their eyes, she remembered her place, and she gave up the dream, rubbing at her cheek where the phantom stinging still rang. Instead, she'd decided to hide, although it would likely earn her a worse punishment later on. It was something she was very good at, although she almost always gave it up too early.

Lily had always been small, as a side effect from being underfed. While the rest of the girls in her class were beginning to grow exponentially, she had been stuck at her minuscule height, which earned her plenty of teasing. She'd grown accustomed to hiding in places others couldn't fit in. Currently, she was stuck between Aunt Petunia's bushes and the wall of the stark-white house. The sun was at exactly the right position to bear down on her, and she was sweating profusely. They hadn't found Lily in this hiding spot before, but she knew it was only a matter of time. It always was. She just wanted to fend off the pain for a few moments longer.

"For the last time, Lily, get out here this instant!" Her Aunt screeched from the driveway. Lily continued laying on the ground, earning her a honk from Uncle Vernon's car. She couldn't see him, but she could envision his bright, beet-red face as he beat his steering wheel in frustration. She could hear Dudley whining, but she couldn't make out what he was saying.

"That's it!" Uncle Vernon shouted through the car window. "Petunia, get in the car! If she wants to stay so badly, then she can go right ahead! Door's locked, we'll deal with her when we get home." Lily didn't like the sound of that, but she knew from experience that it was too late to give in now. If she did, she'd still get was coming to her.

She heard Aunt Petunia huff, followed by a car door slamming shut. The engine started, and the wheels crunched on a twig as it pulled out of the driveway, which was surprising, considering Aunt Petunia normally went over the thing with a fine comb to make sure it was immaculate. Soon, she couldn't hear the vehicle anymore, and she decided to risk peeking out from her hiding place.

"Gotcha!" A thick hand grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her out of the bush.

"Get off! Stop, that hurts!" She squealed in protest, but Uncle Vernon wasn't hearing it. As he forced her around the building, she could see Aunt Petunia driving the car back around the street corner. Lily fought harder, feeling desperate. "Please, please let go, I- I'll- I'll do-"

"Oh, no, no, no, missy, not anymore. Now you'll be going into your cupboard, and you'll be staying there until I say you can come out. You'll be lucky if you're fed tonight, I think." Uncle Vernon jammed his keys into the locked door and pushed it open with his foot. Lily scratched at this hand and attempted to stomp on his feet, anything to avoid the dark, but Uncle Vernon wasn't affected. He just kept on pulling her towards the door under the staircase.

Uncle Vernon wrenched the cupboard open and shoved Lily into it. She tried to force her way back out, but Uncle Vernon shut her fingers in the door. Lily screamed, and pulled them back, and Vernon got the door shut. She heard him locking it, as she leaned down on her bed, tears coming to her eyes.

"Now see here, this is for your own good! You'll be staying in there, and if you're going to stop this foolishness! For now-" Vernon was cut off by a loud scraping noise, as he was moving a cabinet in front of her door, "I'm going to make sure you stay. Put." Vernon laughed, and she could hear him close the door behind him as he left the house.

Lily laid on her bed, pulling her legs up to her chest and burying her face between them, and let the tears come to her, taking deep, chest rattling breaths as she tried to calm herself down. She rubbed her head, as if that would help the soreness go away. She was lucky Vernon hadn't pulled out any hair. The last time that happened, it grew back to it's old length in just a day, and Petunia had a complete meltdown about it.

"Freak," she'd said before slamming the cupboard door in her face.

She never heard the family return hours later, and she never received a single crumb of food, let alone a glass of water. She spent the night in the dark, wondering when she would be let out this time. She knew she deserved it. All she had to do was go to the stupid zoo, but no, she couldn't even bring herself to do that much for Dudley's special day.

She always ruined everything.

It was two days before she heard Uncle Vernon moving the cabinet away from the door, grumbling to himself. This was the first time in a while that she had to go a few days without at least a little bit of food. She had been laying perfectly still in bed, trying not to move at all, as every time she did, she had hunger pangs wracking her tiny body. She felt greasy and gross from the lack of a shower, and her long, red hair had been tangled beyond care for ages. She had thankfully used the bathroom before she had gone into hiding, otherwise she'd have that to deal with as well. She never got enough meals or drinks to make frequent trips an issue, but that was for the better. If she made a mess in here, like she had a few unfortunate times in the past, the consequences were unimaginable.

"Get up," Uncle Vernon said through the grate in the door. "There's cleaning to be done. Petunia has kindly made you some breakfast, so go eat, and then get to it." He unlocked the door, and then walked away. Lily got up slowly, wiping away the tears from her eyes, and then got on with the day, after eating her measly breakfast of a single, thin slice of grapefruit and a whole boiled egg.

A couple of weeks later, Lily was sweeping the hallway, occasionally stopping to brush her red hair from her eyes, when the post arrived. It was late, today, as Uncle Vernon had already left to work. She knew she'd get in trouble if she left it there, so she set aside the broom, and scooped up the letters. She made her way to the kitchen to drop them on the table, and shifted through them as she did so.

Lily stopped in the hallway, just in front of the kitchen door, and stared at the letter she was holding on top. She read it three times, just to make sure she wasn't mistaken. Eventually, she simply had to believe her eyes. It read:

Ms. H. Potter

The Cupboard Under the Stairs

4 Privet Drive

Little Whinging

Surrey

This letter has my name, she thought. I never get mail. Who would want to write to me?

She quickly opened her cupboard door, and tossed the letter onto her bed. Her heart was thumping as she closed the door and then entered the kitchen to deposit the rest of the mail. Aunt Petunia took no notice of her, as she was busy cleaning she dishes from breakfast. Lily went back into the hallway and was going to head into her room when Aunt Petunia called to her.
"I don't hear the broom, Lily. Less leaning, more cleaning." Lily hesitated, her hand on the handle, but got back to sweeping. It's probably just spam, anyway, Lily thought. She settled in to spend the rest of the day in monotony. If she was dutiful, and if she kept her mouth to herself, she'd at least make it through without any pain.

Hours later, after finishing dozens of chores for Aunt Petunia and then a dozen more once Uncle Vernon returned home, Lily returned to her room, with the intention of collapsing onto her bed, until she saw the letter still sitting there. She gasped in excitement, then quickly looked both ways to make sure nobody was watching before shutting herself into the cupboard. She knew nobody would be coming for her this late, but it was better to be safe than sorry. I'm just lucky Aunt Petunia didn't inspect my room today.

She read the front of it one more time, just to be sure it was really addressed to her, then flipped it to the backside. The letter was sealed with wax, and she couldn't quite make out the symbols in the dim light of her cupboard. She could definitely see a lion and a serpent, but the others were a mystery at the moment. She cracked open the seal, withdrew the heavy parchment, and read the contents, leaning towards the small beams of light coming through the metal slits in the door.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Lily's heart sank. Of course it was a prank. Thanks, Dudley. Still, even if it was a prank, it was a rather good one. Lily set the letter aside, and lay back onto her pillow. She closed her eyes, getting ready for much needed sleep, but her mind couldn't help but racing.

What if it wasn't? she thought. Lily let herself consider the possibility. Dudley surely wasn't smart enough to come up with something like this. One of his friends could have, for sure. They could have even put all their brain cells together to think of it. But if Dudley was behind it, then he definitely wouldn't have been smart enough to wait this long. He would have jumped up the instant Lily had seen the letter.

But what about magic? Lily thought. That was the part that made it unbelievable. Magic couldn't possibly exist, Uncle Vernon had made that very clear. Lily couldn't even say the word without her Aunt and Uncle freaking out and shutting her away for a few days at best. But what if that, in itself, was proof? What if they only react that way because they know, for a fact, that magic is real?

But what have I done that's magic? She had once turned the teacher's hair blue. That had earned her a week in the cupboard. But was that really magic? There was one time she had hidden herself in a broom closet to escape from the other girls. When she came out, she had been in a completely different building. That had earned a suspension, which she had spent locked in the cupboard, nursing a split lip and sore ribs. Surely that was magic. Lily had even thrown the word out herself in an attempt to justify it, which had taken away her meals for the first two days.

There was also that time a strange, cloaked man had accosted her in the supermarket. He stared at her scar the entire time he was vigorously shaking her hand. He had definitely been thanking her for something, but Lily had been too confused to process it. Maybe she had accidentally done some magic on him? It had definitely earned her a week in the cupboard, at the very least, and she'd picked that moment to start hiding the thing, lest Aunt Petunia remember she had it.

Lily decided to take the chance. Even if it wasn't real, maybe at least writing to the pretenders would get her out of this house. Complaining to her actual teachers certainly hadn't worked. That had just gotten Lily much deserved punishments. She was supposed to keep her mouth shut; she knew that much. Still, though, if she was smart about it this time, what was wrong with hoping? What was the worst that could happen?

She knew the answer to that, but she was still willing to take the risk. She had to.

Lily hopped up from her bed, bending to search underneath it. Lily kept the full collection of stories she had written down there, as well as a few filled sketchbooks she whiled away her solitude working on. Aunt Petunia had never found them; she wouldn't bend down in here in fear of spiders crawling down her dress. It was the one place of privacy she had.

Lily found a spare piece of paper, and then grabbed a pen from her collection as well. She tested it on her arm, found it was dead, and then tried another. That one seemed to work, so she hopped back up, placing the parchment on the small surface where she did all her writing. It was the only flat surface in the entirety of her room, and it's also where she stored any collectibles she had been given. Or, at least, that's where she would keep them if she had any.

Lily raised the pen to her lips, considering her options. If she was caught, she'd be in for far worse than she'd ever gotten before, and she'd deserve every bit of it. This was stupid, she knew that. Magic wasn't real. It just couldn't be.

It was stupid to dream. She'd stopped doing that ages ago.

She mustered up her courage, and then decided to go for it. Putting pen to paper, she wrote a response.

Dear Minerva McGonagall,

I'd love to attend your school, although I've never heard of it. I'll need help if I'm going. I don't know if you noticed, but you must have from the listed address, but my Aunt and Uncle keep me in the closet under the stairs. Without their permission, I won't have the money to purchase anything or even leave my cupboard. I'm not supposed to tell anybody about it, but you already know, so it's fine, isn't it?

They told me magic isn't real, but I want to believe. If it is, please, get me out of here. I need your help. Please.

Lily could feel tears in her eyes again. She hoped this would be enough. She didn't know why they hadn't already come for her, after they learned where she lived. But she had to try. Perhaps they thought it was a joke. If that was the case, surely confirming it would bring them running.

She folded the letter, determined to steal an envelope from Uncle Vernon's office tomorrow, then checked the old envelope for a return address. She frowned once she saw the blank area of parchment, then scanned the letter again. She stopped at the final sentence, reading it over once again.
"We await your owl?" she whispered to herself. "What does that mean?" The only owls Lily could think of were nowhere near here, as she had already passed up her one opportunity to go to the zoo. Her heart sunk once more, and she almost decided to give up entirely as a bad job.

She then decided there was no time to wait. She needed to go up to the office now while her confidence was still there. She opened her cupboard door and checked the sitting room to make sure the family was still there. Dudley was laying on the couch, pushing Aunt Petunia into the very corner, while Uncle Vernon was laid back on the recliner. The telly was playing a news broadcast. That was all Lily needed to know, so she shut the door once more. Nobody seemed to notice her peeking inside, and that was well to her advantage. Lily decided to go for it, walking as quietly as she could towards the staircase.

Lily skipped the second stair, knowing it squeaks, as she made her way upwards. The door to Vernon's office was unlocked, as Dudley had been in there earlier today to play on his computer, having once more broken his own. He'd likely get a new one in a few days, as a late birthday present. He always got what he wanted. Lily ignored her rumbling stomach, hoping it wasn't making too much noise, and hurried to the desk. She grabbed the box of envelopes and then shoved her own letter inside the first available one. She licked the glue and then sealed it shut. She quickly scrawled Minerva McGonagall on the front, hoping that'd be enough for the post. She stuck a couple of stamps on there just to be sure. She'd send it out the next morning. She'd have to be careful, but she could sneak out before Vernon and Dudley were awake, while she was supposed to be cooking breakfast for the two of them, and then she could slip it in the neighbour's outgoing.

Lily turned to leave the room, then nearly jumped out of her skin. There was a sharp tap behind her, and she suddenly had a vivid image of Uncle Vernon sneering at her from outside. She quickly turned back around, looking at the window. Oh God, what's out there? She stared at the glass a little longer, and when the sound repeated, she jumped again.

There was an owl tapping on the glass. Lily could feel the excitement coming back on, as well as the nervousness. She had never seen an owl before, except for in pictures. The fact that there was one now tapping at the window had to be a good sign. She tried to open the window, but it was sealed shut. Vernon replaced it a year ago due to a mishap and had improperly done so. Lily bit her bottom lip, staring at the owl. The owl stared back, then tapped at the window again. Lily thought for sure Vernon would hear it and come running upstairs, and then it would all be over. She thought about shooing it away, just to be safe. She couldn't get caught.

Lily knew this was her once chance. She pointed downwards, hoping the owl would get the point, but it tilted its head at her. Lily didn't know why she bothered, of course an owl wouldn't understand pantomiming.

"Downstairs," she said. "Go downstairs, I'll meet you at the front door. Got it?" The owl stared at her, and Lily briefly considered if she was going mad. Vernon would definitely think so. He'd even tell her that before shoving her into the cupboard for the rest of her life, if he found out what she was up to.

The owl hooted, and then flew off. Lily felt giddy. She hadn't really expected it to work, but the fact that it had gave her a small flicker of hope. She had to stop herself from running down the stairs, and even forgot to skip the second step, cursing herself for not being more careful. She froze, listening for the sound of Vernon rising. Moments passed, with nothing happening, and she breathed out in relief. She wasn't supposed to go upstairs without permission ever. It was forbidden territory.

Lily opened the door as quietly as she could, her excitement quelled by her nervousness. She stepped outside, leaving the door open in case she needed to make a quick retreat. She didn't know how vicious owls were supposed to be.

She made her way down the driveway, looking for the bird. She heard a hooting from behind her, and she yelped, nearly jumping out of her skin. She turned quickly, seeing the owl sitting on the gutters.

"Come down, hurry," she said, sure that she was running out of time. The owl swooped down, landing on top of Uncle Vernon's car. She could hear him yelling for her in the hallway, and she ran up to the bird, her heart thumping in fear, holding the letter in front of her.

"Please," she said desperately. "Take it to McGonagall."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Vernon roared as he reached the doorway and saw Lily talking to an owl. She had a brief memory flicker into her brain of a small garden snake, and she briefly wondered if she was about to witness a repeat as she stood completely frozen on the spot. The owl hooted once more and grabbed the letter out of her hands. Vernon screamed, running forward, trying to nab the bird, but it flew out of his grasp and into the night sky.

Lily tried to hurry inside, but Vernon grabbed her by her hair, pulling her back.

"Get off," Lily screamed. Lights were now turning on in the nearby houses, as they reacted to the noise.

"Get. In." Vernon's voice was full of fury as he shoved Lily full force into the door. She fell to the floor, gasping, trying to crawl away. He grabbed her by the hair again, tearing her cupboard open with a single hand. Then, he threw her inside, and slammed the door shut.

"If you come out of there again, girl, you'll wish you hadn't. I promise you that." Vernon walked away, shutting off the light in the hallway to leave Lily in the darkness.

Lily tucked into herself, leaning against her mattress in the crippling pitch darkness, hoping that the owl had understood and was now doing the right thing. This wasn't the last time she had been scared for her life, but if help didn't come soon, it could very well be the last.

"Please," she whispered, not believing she'd be lucky. "Please, just one time, God, that's all I'm asking for. Please."