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A/N - Just to tell you 72nd Street is made up. :-D
I just thought of something. Avada Kedavra is just a curse.. that kills people right? Why doesn't anyone (random) just mutter Avada Kedavra any old time and kill people? What's holding them back?
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Lily tossed and turned in her bed that night, playing the words in the letter over and over again in her mind.
Someone must have had to be pretty clever to plot the entire thing, she thought.
What if it wasn't a joke? What if it was real?
Lily sighed in frustration and gave the sheets one last kick of her legs before clicking on her bedside table lamp and edging her way towards the dark kitchen. She stubbed her toe on an open door and clamped a hand over her mouth to muffle her vehement outburst. Her stepfather would be furious if he found her out of bed that late at night. She reached the kitchen without much more difficulty and flipped the switch that lit a small light over the microwave.
Now where is that letter? Lily thought. She considered digging through the trash on the curbside to find it but quickly shut that thought out of her mind.
She pulled the plastic lid off of the trash bin and noticed, much to her relief that the letter was on top of all the trash. She snatched it up with an odd sort of feeling burning inside her; one she hadn't felt since her father had died. Could it be . . . hope?
Lily unfolded the crumpled letter and smoothed it out so she could make out the words again. Something fell out of the letter she'd never seen before:
You are a Muggle and therefore will need directions to get to Diagon Alley. There is a pub called The Leaky Cauldron in London on 72nd Street. Ask for Tom, he'll guide you.
Lily looked perplexed. London? Why, she'd lived in London all her life and she'd never seen any store or pub called The Leaky Cauldron.
Well, it'll do me no good sitting here! Lily thought, and without thinking of consequences, she took her jacket off of its hook on the wall and crept out the back door.
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The streets of London were slick and dark as Lily walked stiffly and quickly to her destination – wherever it was. Her shoes made a loud clacking noise on the pavement that she was sure must be heard from miles off. She was strangely at peace, thinking to herself that everyone she would meet would know what to do. At last, she reached 72nd Street and breathed a long sigh of relief. The street was dark except for the street lamps and it was lacking the usual activity London had. Lily's emerald eyes scanned the darkness for the Leaky Cauldron.
"This is so stupid. Why did I even bother to come here? Stupid people who led me on!" Lily said loudly into the thick darkness.
The darkness was not expected to reply, so Lily threw up her hands. Suddenly she saw something out of the corner of her eye that drew her attention.
A small dingy pub was set off to the left and squished into a small corner. Curious, Lily slowly inched towards it until she could make out the words on the tiny sign. She smiled, satisfied, as she read the words "The Leaky Cauldron" etched on it in faded Old English letters.
She walked into the pub casually, her red hair standing out against all of the different assortments of cloaks that covered most of the people's faces. She leaned against the cool marble of the bar where a tall, handsome man was waiting on customers. He spotted her and walked briskly over.
"May I help you, Miss?" He asked.
Lily smiled shyly. "I'm looking for a man named Tom."
He pretended to look around, giving her a reassuring smile. "That would be me. What can I help you with?"
"This might sound crazy, but I got a letter-"
"Hogwarts attendant?" He asked happily.
"Um... sure?" Lily said confused.
He grinned broadly, showing off perfect sets of pearly whites. "Bit late for you to be out shopping, isn't it?"
Lily, caught off guard, blushed. "Well... I couldn't because you see, my parents really aren't interested in magic. But I so desperately want to become a young witch and would do almost anything, so I walked here. I don't wish to have any dampers on my plans and you certainly wouldn't do anything to stop me, would you?"
Lily grinned and cheered inwardly. That was the best performance of her life!
Tom grinned again. "You've got spirit, kid. You'll do well in this world."
Spirit? Me? Shy and sarcastic Lily? She thought, testing the word on her lips.
"And anyway, I can't let you wander around Diagon Alley alone at night, who knows? You could end up in Knockturn Alley..."
"Knockturn Al-" Lily was cut off. Tom clapped his hands crisply two times and a tiny man practically snapped out of thin air.
"This is Francis. Francis, please take Miss-" Tom said, pausing for the insert of her name.
"Lily. Lily Evans." She said.
"Lily...Evans?" He choked out, bewildered.
Lily looked confused, furrowing her brows. "Is there something wrong?"
Tom still stood shocked, leaning in on the marble to support himself. "Nothing's wrong, Miss Evans. Just a bit tired, is all."
"Oh. Well... whatever you say..." Lily said, shrugging it off like it never happened.
"Francis, please take Miss Evans to a spare room. She'll be spending the night here." Tom instructed.
"Oh no really, you- you don't have to do that!" Lily protested, but Francis took her by the hand and literally dragged her up the stairs. Lily called to Tom a short 'thank you.' Tom just waved her away, and buried his face in his hands.
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Lily awoke with a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She suddenly bolted upright in a flurry of panic realizing that she was not sleeping in her room. The images from the past night slowly drifted back into her head and she settled back against the pillows. Why had Tom been so shocked when he heard her name? They had never met as far as Lily knew. She sighed and decided to start the day out early. Lily climbed painstakingly out of bed and put on the clothes she had worn the night before.
She slid down the golden-polished banister into the semi-busy tavern as waiters and bartenders bustled about. Tom spotted her and waved awkwardly. Lily ran up to greet him.
"Hullo, Tom. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to offer directions to all of the places I need to be at today." Lily said importantly.
"Sorry Miss Evans, can't help now. Perhaps you'd like to find them yourself for the sake of adventure?" He asked nervously, but beside all that, smiled slightly.
Lily was taken aback and shocked. "Oh... I-I guess so."
Tom didn't answer and just turned away. Something was not right.
Without another word, Lily turned on her heel and stalked out into her first real encounter with the Magical World.
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