Disclaimer: Just to clear things up, I do not own any characters, places,
or things you may recognize. All belong to the genius behind Harry Potter,
J.K. Rowling.
A/N: I thought I wouldn't continue this story, not because I was tired of writing (already), but because I don't have time!! But I really like doing this, so I wrote this in a couple of sittings. Anyway, I'd really really like to thank my reviewers: Lady Lightning, Bekken, spacecow, ClairPotter, and koneko. Also, my actual story will start from their sixth year; this is just a (really long) prologue. Okay, I think I'll shut up now
Prologue: Part 2
Six weeks had passed since that fateful letter arrived and changed Lily Evans' life. At first, Lily thought it was another one of Petunia's nasty jokes. After all, Petunia had never hesitated to show that she could go through any measures just to torture Lily. But Mrs. Evans did examine it, and said it was authentic, as disbelieving as it may sound. So Lily would be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she would actually learn magic. Lily only read about witches and wizards in her fiction books; she never believed that something so amazing could happen to her.
It had been quite a job to go to Diagon Alley to get her school things, but fun all the same. Strange people lurked everywhere, and there were so many fascinating shops that sold items that you could only dream about. Lily's parents were exceptionally proud of her, but Petunia used this discovery to give her more reasons to call Lily a freak. Lily found she didn't care very much; it was a very comforting thought that she would have plenty of miles distance from Petunia in a matter of few weeks.
Now Lily was on her way to King's Cross Station, where she would take the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts. A mixture of excitement and nerves settled in her stomach. She couldn't help but worry about her Muggle (as wizards called it) parentage. Most of the school would probably be filled with young witches and wizards who knew about this secret wizarding world all their lives. And they'd probably already know tons of magic, too. Lily tried to think about something else.
Finally, they reached the station. As Mr. Evans took Lily's trunk and her new pet owl, Skittle, out of the car trunk, Lily and her mother went to look for the Hogwarts Express.
"Now, what was the name of the platform, dear?" Mrs. Evans asked.
Lily looked down at her ticket. "Platform nine and three-quarters."
Lily frowned. She had been to King's Cross quite a few times before, but she had never heard of a platform nine and three-quarters. Maybe it was hidden, like the pub that led to Diagon Alley. But when they reached platform ten, they still hadn't found platform nine and three-quarters.
Lily saw her father approaching, and ran up to him. "Daddy, we can't find platform nine and three-quarters," she informed him.
"Platform nine and what? Let me see your ticket."
For the next ten minutes, the Evans' searched and searched. They even asked a few people, but all they got were funny looks. Lily was starting to give up hope. How could she have been so thick, not to ask about platform nine and three-quarters when they purchased the ticket at Diagon Alley? After her experience with the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, she knew she should have asked. But the platform had to be around here somewhere. They'd just have to search harder..
Just then, Lily noticed a blond woman in robes talking to her son. Her son, who seemed to be a few years older than Lily, had a large trunk just like hers, and an... OWL! Lily quickly ran to her mom.
"Mom, I think I found a Hogwarts student! Come, quick!" Lily yelled.
Her mother quickly followed, and walked up to the woman. Lily noticed her son wasn't with her anymore.
"Hello," Mrs. Evans said, holding out her hand. "I'm Rachel Evans, and this is my daughter Lily. She's a new Hogwarts student. We're having some trouble finding platform nine and three-quarters. Do you have any idea where it might be?"
The blond woman looked at Mrs. Evans as if she had a disease. Lily distinctly heard her say "Muggles". She did not take Mrs. Evans' hand. Instead, she said curtly "All you do is walk towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop until you reach the train," and left.
Mrs. Evans looked hurt by this less than friendly advice, but hid it in an instant and turned to her daughter. "Now Lily, you heard what you have to do. We'll wait until we see you've gone. Have a good term, dear." She bent down to kiss her daughter. "Remember to write regularly."
Lily turned to her father, and bid her goodbyes. She then turned her attention to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. While she was walking, Lily remembered the blond woman's expression when she saw her mother. Were all wizards and witches like that? If they were, Lily wasn't sure she would like the wizarding world very much.
The barrier was coming closer. Lily hesitated for a bit. Should she stop? Maybe this was false advice, maybe this was the blond woman's idea of a joke. But before she could continue on with her musings, a scarlet steam engine stood before her. Lily felt relieved and looked at a nearby clock. She gasped. There were only two minutes until the train left!
Hurriedly, she ran with her trolley and tried to find an empty compartment. She finally reached a near empty one at the very end of the train. Lily stepped in and found a girl about her age with brown hair pulled back and hazel eyes.
"Is anyone sitting here?" Lily asked meekly.
"No."
"Um, you couldn't help me with my trunk, could you?"
The girl got up instantly and together, they managed to heave the trunk in the compartment. Lily reentered the compartment with Skittle, and sat down. After a minute, the train started to move. Catching her breath, Lily was very well aware that the other girl was staring at her. Lily turned her head and looked at her. The girl grinned.
"I'm Arabella Figg, but you could call me Bella" she said.
Lily smiled back. "I'm Lily Evans."
"Evans. is your family Muggle?" Bella asked.
Lily reluctantly answered yes. She knew what was coming. Bella would make a face, like how that woman at the station had.
But Bella seemed to be reading Lily's mind. "Don't worry," she said soothingly, "there's lots of kids from Muggle families. You're not the only one."
Lily smiled again, relieved. "Is your family pure wizard?"
"No." Bella answered. "My mom is a Muggle, but my two older brothers both attended Hogwarts. Any idea what house you'll be sorted into?"
"Erm, excuse me?"
And with that, Bella explained the four different houses at Hogwarts. After she was done, an old plump witch with a lunch car pulled in their compartment. "Would you girls like anything?" she asked.
They both bought a large stack of cakes and chocolates.
As Lily started on her third chocolate frog, a loud bang interrupted their conversation. Lily and Arabella both got up and slid the door open to the next compartment, peering through. Two black haired boys were in the corner of the compartment, talking in hushed whispers. Lily wanted to go sit back down, but Bella slid the door open all the way and stepped inside.
"Hello James. Hello Sirius." Bella said loudly, catching both boys by surprise.
James Potter and Sirius Black jumped and turned to Bella, both with guilty looks on their faces.
"Why hello, Bella," said James, the one with the glasses.
Sirius took a step forward. "Who's she?" he asked Bella, referring to Lily.
"This is Lily Evans," said Bella happily. "Lily, these two clowns are James and Sirius."
James rolled his eyes, but still said a polite hello, and Sirius held out a hand and said in a fake accent, "Charmed."
Lily giggled and shook his hand.
Bella and Lily stayed in James and Sirius' compartment for the rest of the journey. All four of them were discussing the Hogwarts' houses and they all decided they wanted to be in Gryffindor. Both James and Sirius were telling them horrible things about the Slytherin house. Their conversation was only interrupted by the voice from the speakers telling them that they were about to arrive at Hogwarts in a short while.
Bella and Lily went into their own compartment and changed into their school robes. Lily again felt nervous, but this time more confident, as she had made some new friends. When they were finally there, the two girls stepped out of the train and looked around. An outline of a large man was making their way toward them, carrying a lantern. "Firs' years this way!" he yelled.
All the scared looking first years followed the man; soon they were on their way across the lake and toward the castle.
*****
Lily stood in the Great Hall with all the other first years, waiting to be sorted. At first, when the stern looking witch Professor McGonagall had told them that they were to be sorted in front of the whole school, Lily felt like she was going to collapse. And she wasn't the only one. All around, people looked pale and wan, and not just the Muggle-borns. But it turned out all they had to do was put on an old, patched hat, and that decided which house they would be in. Lily looked as Professor McGonagall called out the first name.
"ANDREWS, MICHELLE!"
The hat took a few moments, and then shouted "RAVENCLAW!"
There was a burst of applause from the Ravenclaw table. Lily looked at the floor, and didn't look up until-
"BLACK, SIRIUS!"
As Sirius put the hat on his head, which was much too large for him, Lily amused herself for a moment, thinking it would be hilarious if Sirius really did end up in Slytherin.
But just then, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
After a few more names, Lily's name was called. She walked up to the stool, fully aware that every head was turned her way. Lily tried on the hat and waited.
"Ah yes," a voice said, "Yes yes, a rather difficult one, I see. Very quick mind, and lots of ambition. Ooh, but bravery and boldness shine the most. So it should be-
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily felt the feeling back in her legs, and walked up to the Gryffindor table, thoroughly relieved. Much to Lily's delight, Arabella Figg was also sorted in Gryffindor, as well as Cynthia Flores, a dark haired girl with a sort of superior look on her face, Remus Lupin, a tired, pale looking boy, Peter Pettigrew, a stout boy with watery eyes, James Potter (Lily thought it would be funny if James Potter was sorted into Slytherin, too) and Amanda Schmidt, a short, blond girl.
After the sorting, the Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up, said a few words, and told them all to start eating. Lily looked at the table and saw that the food magically appeared on the empty dishes around them. She helped herself to a bit of everything, talking to Bella as she did.
After dinner, Lily looked around the Gryffindor table, feeling something she had never did before- peace. For the first time in her life, Lily felt a feeling of happiness and belonging.
A/N again: Please Review! Flames are accepted! (Though not too harsh!)
A/N: I thought I wouldn't continue this story, not because I was tired of writing (already), but because I don't have time!! But I really like doing this, so I wrote this in a couple of sittings. Anyway, I'd really really like to thank my reviewers: Lady Lightning, Bekken, spacecow, ClairPotter, and koneko. Also, my actual story will start from their sixth year; this is just a (really long) prologue. Okay, I think I'll shut up now
Prologue: Part 2
Six weeks had passed since that fateful letter arrived and changed Lily Evans' life. At first, Lily thought it was another one of Petunia's nasty jokes. After all, Petunia had never hesitated to show that she could go through any measures just to torture Lily. But Mrs. Evans did examine it, and said it was authentic, as disbelieving as it may sound. So Lily would be going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where she would actually learn magic. Lily only read about witches and wizards in her fiction books; she never believed that something so amazing could happen to her.
It had been quite a job to go to Diagon Alley to get her school things, but fun all the same. Strange people lurked everywhere, and there were so many fascinating shops that sold items that you could only dream about. Lily's parents were exceptionally proud of her, but Petunia used this discovery to give her more reasons to call Lily a freak. Lily found she didn't care very much; it was a very comforting thought that she would have plenty of miles distance from Petunia in a matter of few weeks.
Now Lily was on her way to King's Cross Station, where she would take the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts. A mixture of excitement and nerves settled in her stomach. She couldn't help but worry about her Muggle (as wizards called it) parentage. Most of the school would probably be filled with young witches and wizards who knew about this secret wizarding world all their lives. And they'd probably already know tons of magic, too. Lily tried to think about something else.
Finally, they reached the station. As Mr. Evans took Lily's trunk and her new pet owl, Skittle, out of the car trunk, Lily and her mother went to look for the Hogwarts Express.
"Now, what was the name of the platform, dear?" Mrs. Evans asked.
Lily looked down at her ticket. "Platform nine and three-quarters."
Lily frowned. She had been to King's Cross quite a few times before, but she had never heard of a platform nine and three-quarters. Maybe it was hidden, like the pub that led to Diagon Alley. But when they reached platform ten, they still hadn't found platform nine and three-quarters.
Lily saw her father approaching, and ran up to him. "Daddy, we can't find platform nine and three-quarters," she informed him.
"Platform nine and what? Let me see your ticket."
For the next ten minutes, the Evans' searched and searched. They even asked a few people, but all they got were funny looks. Lily was starting to give up hope. How could she have been so thick, not to ask about platform nine and three-quarters when they purchased the ticket at Diagon Alley? After her experience with the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, she knew she should have asked. But the platform had to be around here somewhere. They'd just have to search harder..
Just then, Lily noticed a blond woman in robes talking to her son. Her son, who seemed to be a few years older than Lily, had a large trunk just like hers, and an... OWL! Lily quickly ran to her mom.
"Mom, I think I found a Hogwarts student! Come, quick!" Lily yelled.
Her mother quickly followed, and walked up to the woman. Lily noticed her son wasn't with her anymore.
"Hello," Mrs. Evans said, holding out her hand. "I'm Rachel Evans, and this is my daughter Lily. She's a new Hogwarts student. We're having some trouble finding platform nine and three-quarters. Do you have any idea where it might be?"
The blond woman looked at Mrs. Evans as if she had a disease. Lily distinctly heard her say "Muggles". She did not take Mrs. Evans' hand. Instead, she said curtly "All you do is walk towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop until you reach the train," and left.
Mrs. Evans looked hurt by this less than friendly advice, but hid it in an instant and turned to her daughter. "Now Lily, you heard what you have to do. We'll wait until we see you've gone. Have a good term, dear." She bent down to kiss her daughter. "Remember to write regularly."
Lily turned to her father, and bid her goodbyes. She then turned her attention to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. While she was walking, Lily remembered the blond woman's expression when she saw her mother. Were all wizards and witches like that? If they were, Lily wasn't sure she would like the wizarding world very much.
The barrier was coming closer. Lily hesitated for a bit. Should she stop? Maybe this was false advice, maybe this was the blond woman's idea of a joke. But before she could continue on with her musings, a scarlet steam engine stood before her. Lily felt relieved and looked at a nearby clock. She gasped. There were only two minutes until the train left!
Hurriedly, she ran with her trolley and tried to find an empty compartment. She finally reached a near empty one at the very end of the train. Lily stepped in and found a girl about her age with brown hair pulled back and hazel eyes.
"Is anyone sitting here?" Lily asked meekly.
"No."
"Um, you couldn't help me with my trunk, could you?"
The girl got up instantly and together, they managed to heave the trunk in the compartment. Lily reentered the compartment with Skittle, and sat down. After a minute, the train started to move. Catching her breath, Lily was very well aware that the other girl was staring at her. Lily turned her head and looked at her. The girl grinned.
"I'm Arabella Figg, but you could call me Bella" she said.
Lily smiled back. "I'm Lily Evans."
"Evans. is your family Muggle?" Bella asked.
Lily reluctantly answered yes. She knew what was coming. Bella would make a face, like how that woman at the station had.
But Bella seemed to be reading Lily's mind. "Don't worry," she said soothingly, "there's lots of kids from Muggle families. You're not the only one."
Lily smiled again, relieved. "Is your family pure wizard?"
"No." Bella answered. "My mom is a Muggle, but my two older brothers both attended Hogwarts. Any idea what house you'll be sorted into?"
"Erm, excuse me?"
And with that, Bella explained the four different houses at Hogwarts. After she was done, an old plump witch with a lunch car pulled in their compartment. "Would you girls like anything?" she asked.
They both bought a large stack of cakes and chocolates.
As Lily started on her third chocolate frog, a loud bang interrupted their conversation. Lily and Arabella both got up and slid the door open to the next compartment, peering through. Two black haired boys were in the corner of the compartment, talking in hushed whispers. Lily wanted to go sit back down, but Bella slid the door open all the way and stepped inside.
"Hello James. Hello Sirius." Bella said loudly, catching both boys by surprise.
James Potter and Sirius Black jumped and turned to Bella, both with guilty looks on their faces.
"Why hello, Bella," said James, the one with the glasses.
Sirius took a step forward. "Who's she?" he asked Bella, referring to Lily.
"This is Lily Evans," said Bella happily. "Lily, these two clowns are James and Sirius."
James rolled his eyes, but still said a polite hello, and Sirius held out a hand and said in a fake accent, "Charmed."
Lily giggled and shook his hand.
Bella and Lily stayed in James and Sirius' compartment for the rest of the journey. All four of them were discussing the Hogwarts' houses and they all decided they wanted to be in Gryffindor. Both James and Sirius were telling them horrible things about the Slytherin house. Their conversation was only interrupted by the voice from the speakers telling them that they were about to arrive at Hogwarts in a short while.
Bella and Lily went into their own compartment and changed into their school robes. Lily again felt nervous, but this time more confident, as she had made some new friends. When they were finally there, the two girls stepped out of the train and looked around. An outline of a large man was making their way toward them, carrying a lantern. "Firs' years this way!" he yelled.
All the scared looking first years followed the man; soon they were on their way across the lake and toward the castle.
*****
Lily stood in the Great Hall with all the other first years, waiting to be sorted. At first, when the stern looking witch Professor McGonagall had told them that they were to be sorted in front of the whole school, Lily felt like she was going to collapse. And she wasn't the only one. All around, people looked pale and wan, and not just the Muggle-borns. But it turned out all they had to do was put on an old, patched hat, and that decided which house they would be in. Lily looked as Professor McGonagall called out the first name.
"ANDREWS, MICHELLE!"
The hat took a few moments, and then shouted "RAVENCLAW!"
There was a burst of applause from the Ravenclaw table. Lily looked at the floor, and didn't look up until-
"BLACK, SIRIUS!"
As Sirius put the hat on his head, which was much too large for him, Lily amused herself for a moment, thinking it would be hilarious if Sirius really did end up in Slytherin.
But just then, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
After a few more names, Lily's name was called. She walked up to the stool, fully aware that every head was turned her way. Lily tried on the hat and waited.
"Ah yes," a voice said, "Yes yes, a rather difficult one, I see. Very quick mind, and lots of ambition. Ooh, but bravery and boldness shine the most. So it should be-
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Lily felt the feeling back in her legs, and walked up to the Gryffindor table, thoroughly relieved. Much to Lily's delight, Arabella Figg was also sorted in Gryffindor, as well as Cynthia Flores, a dark haired girl with a sort of superior look on her face, Remus Lupin, a tired, pale looking boy, Peter Pettigrew, a stout boy with watery eyes, James Potter (Lily thought it would be funny if James Potter was sorted into Slytherin, too) and Amanda Schmidt, a short, blond girl.
After the sorting, the Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up, said a few words, and told them all to start eating. Lily looked at the table and saw that the food magically appeared on the empty dishes around them. She helped herself to a bit of everything, talking to Bella as she did.
After dinner, Lily looked around the Gryffindor table, feeling something she had never did before- peace. For the first time in her life, Lily felt a feeling of happiness and belonging.
A/N again: Please Review! Flames are accepted! (Though not too harsh!)