Title: Red and Black
Author: DreamWeaver
Rating: PG13
Summary: Small, quiet Lily one day discovers that she is more than just a mouse. After receiving a letter that promises her a whole new life, she soon finds herself in an amazing new world that is more difficult than she could have ever imagined. But she is determined to prove herself, to everyone.
Disclaimer: Lily, James, Sirius, Petunia and related characters and the property of J.K.Rowling. I don't own them in anyway, she does. I am just borrowing them.
A/N: I know that there are a lot of Lily and James fics out in Fanfiction.net, in fact I never realised that there were so many. But I thought that seeing as there isn't a lot written about them in the books, I would have a go at my interpretation.
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
Lily was anxious, worried, terrified and excited all at the same time. She was pushing her trolley that carried her trunk slowly towards the scarlet train, wondering how on earth she would be able to lift it up the steps. She had told her parents that she wanted to do this on her own, there was no need for them to come onto the platform, she was eleven after all. But now she wished more than ever that they were here to help her and wave her off.
The platform was swarming with students, everyone seemed to be in a rush to say goodbye and get abroad the train as quickly as possible. There were tears of joy and sadness as children said goodbye to their parents, and Lily looked timidly around for someone she could ask to help her heave her very heavy trunk onto the train.
"Excuse me," Lily called loudly to a small boy that was standing on his own. "Could you help me with this?" Lily pointed to her trunk as the boy walked over.
"Sure," he replied. Together they barely managed to lift the trunk up the steps, and Lily sighed with relief when she had managed to tuck it into the corner of an empty compartment. She turned around looking for the boy that had helped her, but he had disappeared.
Feeling very lonely, Lily sat down in the empty compartment all by herself. As she gazed out the window, she saw a few students hurrying around and saying their last goodbyes to their parents. Before she knew it, the clock had struck 11 and the train's engines had started and the pulled out of the station, heading north to the outskirts of the city.
The rest of the morning was a blur; Lily sat silently in her seat gazing out at the countryside as it rolled on by. Through the early afternoon the sky grew darker and duller and threatened with rain. Lily wouldn't let the fact that she was sat on her own bother her; she definitely wasn't going to cry. 'Just stay positive' she coached herself, 'you aren't the only student who won't know anymore, there's bound to be loads of kids on your situation'.
Small drops of rain fell from the grey sky and pattered softly on the window, and to Lily's delight she was able to draw pictures on the window with her finger. She was heavily involved in a picture of her family when the compartment door slid open unexpectedly causing Lily to jump in fright.
"Would you like anything to eat, dear?" an old skinny woman asked politely. She smiled at Lily sympathetically; this only made Lily even angrier. The woman's eyes betrayed her; Lily was used to telling liars from those telling the truth. The woman felt sorry for Lily because she was sitting on her own.
"Yes please," Lily replied without much enthusiasm and a slight smile. She was anxious however to try the wizard food. She reached inside her jacket pocket for a few coins and pulled out a couple of bronze knuts and a silver sickle. "I think I'll have a pumpkin pasty and a few chocolate frogs please."
"Of course dear," the woman replied cheerfully. "That'll be 12 knuts please." Lily handed a handful of coins to the trolley lady and took her food.
"Thank you."
Just as the trolley lady was about to leave Lily's compartment, a girl who looked to be the same age as Lily ran up to her.
"Excuse me," she panted as she tried to gather her breath, "Can I buy a bag of bertie botts every flavour beans please?"
"Of course dear, but you'll have to give me a moment to go and get some; it seems that I have run out. If you wait for me here, I'll be as quick as possible." The trolley lady smiled at the girl and then wheeled off. Lily watched the girl who was standing nervously in the corridor, throwing several glances at Lily.
"You can come in and sit down you know," Lily told her. "I don't have a disease or anything just because I'm sat on my own." And I don't want you too feel sorry for me.
"Sorry," the girl replied with a smile as she sat down opposite Lily. "I'm Abbey Mae by the way, although my friends just call me Abbey."
"I'm Lily."
The girls sat in an awkward silence, neither one speaking though the silence wasn't uncomfortable. Abbey looked friendly enough; she had shoulder length dark blonde hair, and must have been about half a head taller than Lily. She had eyes that were almost black, they were fascinating to Lily.
"So are you a pure blood?" Lily asked, interested.
"I'm half and half. My dad's a wizard, my mum a muggle. I already knew about the whole thing before I received my letter, so it wasn't a really big shock. What about you?"
"My parents are both muggles. At first when I received my letter, it was a big shock. I didn't know whether to believe it. But then I met the barman at the Leaky Cauldron and he spent the whole afternoon explaining to me about the wizarding world. It was like a dream come true, I was so happy. Unfortunately, my sister doesn't like me anymore because I'm a witch."
"That's a shame. I guess it must be hard not knowing anyone. Why don't you come and join me and my friends?"
"Really?" Lily asked. "If you don't mind. . ."
"Of course not! Let's just wait for my food, then I'll take you to them. Your trunk will be safe here." Lily was beaming, and very excited. Things were definitely looking up.
End of Chapter 1