Chapter 1

The Surprise Arrival

Lily Evans woke up on the summer morning in July very excited. She was eleven years old on this beautiful day. She lay in bed thinking about the pool party her parents were giving her that afternoon and wishing that it wouldn't rain. All of her friends from her old neighborhood will be coming over.

She got out of bed and padded into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror over the sink. Her emerald green eyes shone with excitement as her gorgeous auburn hair was in disarray around her shoulders. She washed up and went downstairs where her mother, Daisy Evans, was fixing breakfast for her family.

"Morning, Lily. Happy Birthday, hon," Mrs. Evans greeted her youngest child with a kiss and a hug.

"Hi, Mom, thanks."

She sat down and started to drink her orange juice while she read the comics, taking the paper apart before her father could. As she was reading, her father and older sister walked into the kitchen. Petunia glanced at her sister and sneered at her behind their parents' back.

"Happy Birthday, princess," Jacob Evans said with a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you, Daddy. Are you going to be here for my party?" she asked, buttering some toast.

"I wouldn't miss it," he said.

Mrs. Evans served breakfast and they all sat, talking, except for Petunia. She sat quietly, her limp blonde hair in a ponytail, scowling at her little sister. She didn't like her for the fact that she seemed to be always getting her way with their parents.

Just then, there was a knock on the front door. They all looked at each other and wondered who could it be so early in the morning. Mr. Evans left the table and answered the door. The rest of the family followed him into the foyer and stood in awe as the door opened to an elderly gentleman with a long silver beard and half-moon glasses. He was wearing what looked like a fancy nightgown.

"Good morning, I'm Albus Dumbledore and I'm here concerning your daughter, Miss Lily Anna Evans," said the gentleman as he put his left hand out.

"What do you want with my daughter?" Mr. Evans demanded as he motioned for his family to move back.

"Well, I have some astonishing news that will probably change her life. Can I come in and explain it to you?"

"Don't try anything, I can have the law here immediately," Mr. Evans declared.

The old man came in and they all went into the den to talk. Lily and Petunia sat on the floor while their parents sat on the sofa as Mr. Dumbledore took one of the chairs. He took an envelope out of the folds of his outfit and handed it to Lily.

"Here, Miss Evans, this will explain my visit."

Lily took the envelope and opened it carefully. She pulled out a piece of parchment written in green ink. She gasped as she read aloud:

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 Miss Evans;

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 Sept. 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"What does this mean, Mr. Dumbledore?" Lily asked in a small voice. "Do I have to leave my family?"

"No, Lily. You'll go away to school, but you can come home for Christmas and return home for the summer holidays," Dumbledore answered. "You will have something like two families. You will have your school family and your family here."

"Well, we have a few questions, to start of with, where would we get the books and equipment? What will it cost? How did you know that she was magic?" Mr. Evans inquired.

"Well, if you do decide to send Lily, I will send someone to take her to get her school things. I will let you think about it and leave this owl for you to send your answer," Dumbledore said. "You can ask any questions of her escort."

He got up and left the house. The Evans family sat there looking stunned by this news. Lily was still staring at the letter while her parents were talking quietly to each other about the announcement.

"Well, I think that Lily is a freak. There are no such things as witches and wizards. She is a weirdo and should be put in an insane asylum!" Petunia screeched, her thirteen-year-old body flying at her sister in a fit of rage.

Lily moved out of the way as her sister tried to tackle her. She was used to having her sister try to beat her up. Lily just moved over to her parents and looked at them with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Mom, Dad, can I go? Please? I really want to do it! If I don't like it, I could always come home and go to regular school," Lily proposed with pleading in her voice.

"I don't see why not? What do you think, Daisy? Should she be able to go?"

"It's okay with me, Jacob."

"YIPPEE!!!" Lily screamed as Petunia ran out of the room in an angry rage.