*

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRING!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! What was that?" asked Lily.

"Ha! You're even scared of your own alarm clock? Just proves that you're ugly, and stupid!" shouted her sister from across the bedroom.

"Petunia! I'll get you for that! Why the hell did you wake me up?" Lily asked again. Petunia just ran out of the room and down the stairs for breakfast.

Lily looked at the clock that was still ringing. She let out a long sigh as she shut off the alarm. Life had never been the way she had dreamed it would be, the way it was in the numerous stories she read. From as far back as she could remember, she had been taunted, teased, and bullied around by her older sister, Petunia.

Petunia was fairly smart, very cunning, and her looks didn't hurt either. With her long, blonde hair, long neck, and small features, she was the most popular girl in school, though that was probably because everyone was scared to dislike her. Lily on the other hand, though much smarter than Petunia, had few friends. She was, at least to everyone in school, the ugliest thing on earth. She had long red hair, and bright green eyes, which to her, was the most inartistic combination. She was also very tall, but she was good at sports and still very graceful, whereas her sister was rather clumsy. Yet still, she had always wanted to look perfect.

Sighing again, Lily got up from her pink, flower-covered bed, and slowly dragged herself towards the window. As she spread open the curtains, the sunshine filled every corner of her room. Even she couldn't help but smile at her multi-colored room. But she wasn't smiling for long, for soon after, she heard a shout from downstairs. Without thinking, she ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. There, her mother was sitting at the table, a faded envelope in her hand. Petunia was sitting there too, munching quietly on a piece of well-buttered toast.

"Oh, Darling, Darling! Just come and look at this! It's a letter for you, Dearie," said her mother as Lily walked in.

"For me? Are you sure? Who would be writing to me? The only people who know me live too close to want to write me a letter," asked Lily in amazement. She took the envelope from her mother and stared on it. There, written in bright green ink, were the words:

Miss L. Evans

The Multi-Colored Bedroom

34 Bush Lane

London, England

"Someone really is writing to me!" said Lily excitedly as she turned over the envelope to open it. On the back was a sticker, sealing the envelope. It was a large coat of arms, with a snake, a badger, a raven, and a lion all around a large H. Peeling the sticker off carefully, she opened the envelope and pulled out the letter. Slowly, she read the words in the bright green ink.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY


Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, Second Class, Chief Warlock,

International Confederation 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 September 1. You must depart from the King Cross Station in London by the 11 o'clock train at Platform 9 ¾. You will find attached your train ticket. We hope that you will join us at Hogwarts School.

Yours sincerely,

Nadia Orenstein

Deputy Headmistress

"M-Mum! I – I'm a witch!" said Lily shakily. She handed the note to her mother, who read it quickly. When she looked back at her daughter, there were tears in her eyes.

"My little tweety-bird's a witch! Oh, I'm so proud of you, honey! Just wait till your daddy comes home, he'll be so happy! Oh, Petunia, can you believe it, you're sister's a witch!" said Mrs. Evans, crying.

"Mum, calm down! There must be a logical explanation for all of this! I'm sure it's just one of the kids from school, trying to play a trick on you and 'precious' Lily!" said Petunia, who was rather overcome by all that had just happened.

"It can't be. There's no stamp on the envelope, and no one's ever been to our house or heard about it before, so they couldn't possibly know about my bedroom," said Lily, quietly.

Petunia was furious. She got up, handed the rest of her half-eaten toast to Muffin, her chocolate Labrador who had been lying under the table, and stomped upstairs to brush her blonde hair in front of her bedroom window. She often did this to catch the attention of her classmate, Vernon Dursley, who lived next door. (It was usually either this or spying on him instead.)

"Oh, dear. Your sister never does take too kindly to your good points. But she is ever so good at finding all your down sides," said Mrs. Evans, sighing.

"It's alright, Mums. I'm used to it. Um, when can we get my stuff?" said Lily, who was not able to keep the excitement out of her voice.

*