None of it made any sense. I looked back on my life, and all those memories came flying. James playing a prank on me. James asking me to dance. Me, running away from my life. Crying into James' shoulder when they were killed. James, making me laugh in the gravest of moments. Mia, Alex, Andi, and all the others, helping me through it. And yet I had no memories of those years. Those years when I was invisible. I didn't remember a thing from that time. It was as if I didn't really live those years, and, in a way, it was true. I hadn't really lived before that year. Yet, I wasn't vulnerable to him then. I didn't have anything to loose. Now, I did. And he was using it against me.
***
I slowly made my way onto the train and headed for the last compartment. I always sat there, whether others sat there with me or not. No one ever asked if they could stay, they just did. I didn't exist.
My name was Lily Aurora Evans. I was a sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I had just been made a prefect. I was most certainly not expecting that! I had long, ugly, bushy, bright red hair and dull, murky green eyes that often got on my nerves. I had large, ugly glasses that covered my eyes so that I would not have to see them all day long. I was a bookworm. I don't think there was ever a time when I did not have a book in my arms and much of my time was taken up in the library. I had no friends either. No one realized I was alive, and no one knew my name. The only time anyone talked to me was when they wanted their homework done, and I was not in the position to refuse. Due to my invisible status, I, fortunately, never fell victim to the Marauders' pranks. They had figured out long ago that it was a waste to do anything to me because no one would care, not even the teachers. I always saw them torturing others and wished I could help, but I was too cowardly and I felt like a disgrace to Gryffindor. I also had no friends to back me up. Little did I know that all that could change in just one year at Hogwarts.
I quickly stowed away my extremely heavy trunk. I enjoyed sports, no matter how seldom I got to play them, and often practiced them on my own. The sport I practiced depended on my mood, but the range was tremendous. Doing this many sports, of course, had certain effects, and I, bookworm or not, was much stronger than the average girl of my age.
The buzz of voices could be heard just outside the compartment and I went over to see what was up. I reached the door and, right on cue, the Marauders ran right into and past me while slamming the door shut and almost pinching my fingers. I, of course, didn't do anything about it. I returned to my seat and took out a book. I could just barely hear the Marauders' whispers.
"Who's she?"
"I dunno. Was she here last year?"
"She's a prefect, maybe we should have some fun?"
"We can't pick on her just 'cuz she's a prefect."
"Why not?"
"'Cuz you're one as well."
"Oh. I forgot about that."
"What are we supposed to do about her?"
"I dunno, but she's taken our compartment."
So far, I had been amazed at the conversation. The Marauders had called this compartment for themselves in first year… just after I did. They had gone on all these years while I was there and had never once noticed, but they did now. I had picked up so much material from listening to them in that compartment that I could blackmail them into something every day of the year, but I was too cowardly for that. One thing I had picked up on that I couldn't use was that they were trying to be animagus, but couldn't perform the charm to complete it. The reason I couldn't use that? I was an unregistered animagus myself, but I had long since gotten the spell down. When I transformed, I became a phoenix. Now, an animagus is supposed to reflect who you are, so why I turned into such a magnificent, brave, and helpful creature was far beyond me.
"Should we kick her out?"
"Don't want her hearing too much."
"She's not really doing us any harm though."
"Why don't you do something to get her to go away on her own?"
"Why don't you?… Wait, I don't need an answer for that."
"You do it Sirius."
"Why?"
"Your best at scaring off girls."
"Oh. Oka… HEY!!! I resent that!"
"I'll do it."
It was getting rather annoying by this time. They would usually leave me be and I would read on in peace, but this was too much. I knew that I would probably be a major victim after this, but who would really care, right? I was the nobody that was invisible most of the time. Who would notice if I walked into the Great Hall with pink skin and orange hair? No one, that's who.
"If you're done deciding what to do with me? I'd like to get back to my book. After all, I claimed this compartment before you in first year and I've sitten here every year since then. I'm surprised you noticed me this year. So… how's the animagus work going? Haven't gotten the charm down yet? Pity. I learned that one in our second year. By the way, my name is Lily. Lily Evans… Just in case you were wondering." I was amazed at myself, though I didn't show it. The boys just stared at me with their jaws hanging. "Oh," I added. "You might want to close your mouths, you'll attract flies." After that, I went back to my book. Oh My God, I thought, I can't believe I just did that.
We went a while in silence before the door opened again and in came the one person who did not ignore me, but the one I wished would more than anything. Severus Snape.
"Well, well, well," he began. "If it isn't…" He was about to say 'the Marauders', but his eyes happened to fall on me. He was the only reason I ever regretted being invisible. He had now lost all interest in the Marauders and was focused on me. "Hello, Flower," he said. "I've been looking for you. I think it's about time for our 'chat', don't you?" I tried to pretend I didn't hear him. He had tricked me the year before, but I wasn't stupid enough to fall for it again. "Evans," he snapped. "I think we need to talk." This was too much for me.
"No," I snapped back. "I am not leaving this compartment while you are near me. I won't go through it again." I was near tears at the memory. He, apparently, forgot there were other people there.
"You little bitch," he hissed. He grabbed onto me and began pulling me out of the compartment. "Mudbloods like you really should learn proper manners. I think it's time for a lesson." Both of us were oblivious to the others that were there to witness. He had a snarl on his face and was pulling me with all his might. I was in tears and was, for some reason, weakened and could not free myself.
"Hey, Snape!" someone called. Startled, Snape loosened his grip and paused. I quickly pulled away and felt my strength return. Snape had now recovered and was coming after me again, but I was ready. Just when he got within reach, I punched him in the nose with all my might. He stumbled back and was met with a variety of hexes. In a flash, he was unconscious. I fell to the floor, crying. He didn't get to do it this year, I thought, relieved.