* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Eleven year-old Lily bounded down the stairs with only one thought in mind: Get to breakfast before Petunia.
"Hold it right there, young lady!" Her stepfather said, standing right in front of the bottom of the staircase.
Lily screeched to a halt in mid-bounce and struggled to keep her balance on her toes, but failed miserably and fell flat on her face beside his feet.
Her stepfather made a loud sighing noise as she jumped up quickly and dusted herself off.
"What are you wearing?" He asked her, looking disapprovingly at her choice of outfit.
"Clothes?" Lily replied innocently.
"Haven't we already had this conversation a few times this week?" He asked calmly.
"Yes, Sir." Lily said, her voice hinting a tiny bit of sarcasm as she emphasized Sir.
"Go, and be brief, you've got ballet at 9:00!" He said crisply and gave her a little shove upstairs.
Lily twirled around and marched up the stairs, cursing ballet and her stupid stepfather every step she took. She was so absorbed with cursing everything she reached her enormous room without even trying.
She sighed and walked over to her walk-in closet where everything was neatly arranged and color-coded. She picked her breakfasting gown, (why she had this she didn't know)
which was a frosty pink, complete with ruffles on the bottom. Lily thought it was hideously over-elaborate but never said anything.
She slipped it on over her jeans and forest-green velvet shirt and brushed out her ponytail.
"Lily! BALLET! NOW!" Her father called.
Lily shrieked angrily, threw off her stupid pink frilly dress and grabbed her Armani bag, which held her point shoes, and tore down the stairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Someone or something was sitting very near him as James Potter warily opened one eye. His annoying older sister, Vanessa, was staring at him.
"GET OFF ME, YOU RETARD!" James hollered, shoving her off the bed.
Vanessa didn't respond, but instead grinned in her annoying cheesy manner and thrust a letter in his hands.
He read it over quickly and scrambled out of bed.
"MOM! DAD! I GOT IT! I'M ACCEPTED!" James hollered.
No one answered to his gleeful outburst so he opened the door to the patio and found his dad outside training with his uncle, Lawrence Potter, for Quidditch.
"James! Glad to see you're up!" His dad said cheerfully, dodging a Bludger.
James grinned. "You'll never guess what came by owl today!"
"A letter confirming your stay in the Looney Bin?" Uncle Lawrence said jokingly.
James squashed the urge to throw a particularly large rock at Uncle Lawrence.
"What'd you get in the mail, son?" Mr. Potter asked, ignoring Uncle Lawrence's less-than-funny joke.
"Acceptance to Hogwarts!" James crowed happily.
"That's terrific! Which means we'll probably be spending more money on books again, correct?" Mr. Potter said thoughtfully.
James nodded. "I don't care if I have to spend my entire fortune, I am going to Hogwarts!"
"Hogwarts, what a waste!" Uncle Lawrence scoffed darkly.
"Come now, Lawrence!" James' dad said reasonably.
"Do you realize that I'm the only one that has gone to Durmstrang, Nat?" He asked flatly.
"I'm sure it's just the administration feels James would benefit the most from going to Hogwarts." Mr. Potter said. (A/N: Just for your information, his name is Nathan Potter)
Uncle Lawrence pulled a face and lobbed a Bludger at Mr. Potter again.
James decided not to stick around for fear of what Uncle Lawrence could be capable of.
Vanessa sat on one of the stools near the counter, listening to her Walkman and bobbing her head. James grinned and snatched the headphones off her ears, revealing loud N*Chanted tunes. Vanessa screeched and chased James up the stairs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lily shifted her weight and raised her right leg into an arabesque. Her arms went up into Fifth Position (A/N: for all you ballet people out there) and she stayed perfectly still.
"Miss Evans! Do not bend your knee, it ruins the effect!" Called the strict instructor, Miss Isabella.
Lily straightened up her left knee, biting her lip from the effort. She swayed and dropped her position.
"Alright class, you may come down." Isabella said swiftly, eyeing Lily with her blazing blue eyes.
"Lily, you are such a dweeb." Sneered a wispy-looking girl named Diandra. (A/N: Thats Dee-On-Dra)
"Yeah, you can't even stay in an arabesque longer than five seconds!" Chorused another pale girl named Angelina.
"Class, today we're going to start on our dance workshop. I've selected two of my star students to be the soloists." Isabella said, walking up and down the studio floor, looking at each girl carefully.
The girls looked at each other excitedly. Lily yawned and leaned her elbows on the bars even if it was impolite.
"This year's soloists are... Diandra Wellington and Angelina Bassat!"
All the other girls supplied the stale air with light clapping while Diandra and Angelina squealed with delight as they accepted their responsibility.
Lily rolled her eyes, wishing the clock would go faster.
Sadly, time moved slower as they set to work on leaps and tor jettes and pirouettes. Finally, Miss Isabella clapped her hands and announced it was time to go. Lily tossed her point shoes into the bag and slipped into her flip-flops so fast she was like a red blur.
Her mother was outside lounging on a chair getting a massage when Lily returned home in her limo.
"Any mail for me?" Lily asked, her shoulder cramping up from holding her bag.
Her mother lifted up her sunglasses and Lily could see where the tanning was around her eyes. Mrs. Evans looked funny.
" I don't know, sweetie, I've been out here all morning. Ask Petty. " She said drowsily. Lily sighed and went inside.
Petunia was sitting at the kitchen table tapping a glittery pencil on the counter top.
"Hey twerp, any mail for me?" Lily asked, tossing her bag onto a chair.
Petunia said in a whiny voice, "It's over on the table."
Lily picked it up. It was curious looking, most unusual from any letter she'd ever recieved. It was a slightly yellowed piece of leathery parchment with emerald green ink calligraphy writing. Curious as ever, Lily flipped it open.
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed 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 let the letter fall onto the table, her hands shaking slightly.
"A witch? Her?" Lily thought. What a sick joke!
"What's it say?" Petunia said, her pointy face looming over Lily.
"Nothing." Lily said shortly, balling the parchment up and tossing it in the trash.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dodododo… oh yes, she did get a school supply list but you don't need to know that till chapter four. TOODLES!