Lily gave a nervous chuckle; this had to be a joke. Wizards??? Witches??? A school teaching magic??? She shook her head and her curly hair swished about. Maybe this was Kate's idea of a joke. That definitely had to be it she just wanted to freak Lily out and then laugh at her later. She would never live it down. Lily sighed and placed down the letter at her small wooden desk. She now had to think of a way to get back at Kate. A small tapping on her window broke Lily's train of thoughts. Outside a small tawny owl sat patiently on her windowsill. For the second time that morning Lily gasped. Slowly and tentatively she walked to her window and released the catch, the window was pushed open and the owl soared in. It landed on her desk and ruffled it's feathers importantly. Lily went back to her letter 'We await your owl by no later than 31 July'. Could it be possible? Her hands held to her head she rubbed her temple vigorously. Should she reply? Hastily Lily snatched up a pen and piece of paper and wrote 'Lily Evans will be attending Hogwarts'. She then looked at the owl as if willing it to start laughing it did none of this but stuck its scaly leg out. A small leather thong and pouch was attached to this Lily guessed she must have to put her reply in this. She folded the letter up and placed it in the leather thong. The owl then gave a dignified hoot before ruffling its feathers and soaring back out of her window.
She had to tell her mum now. What would cool and calm Hope Evans make of this? She would most likely laugh and Lily knew she would feel much better if she did. Lily hopped down the stairs and went to look for her mother in the kitchen. She was at the sink washing the dishes left over from this mornings breakfast. She turned around when Lily entered the room and smiled her smile quickly turned to a frown when she saw the look on Lily's face.
"What's wrong dear you look like you've seen a ghost. Anything I can help you with?"
Lily sat at the table and began to tell her mother about the letter she was sent and the note she sent back with the owl. This was the moment she was waiting for her mother would burst into laughter and exclaim how much of a silly story that was. Lily was obviously being ridiculous thinking something like this could have a glimmer of truth in it.
What she did not expect however was her mother to beam at her again and say
"Oh my goodness Lily I'm so proud of you this has to be the best news I have heard in a long time. When Petunia didn't get the letter I was dreadfully disappointed seen as though you're Aunty Jo got the very same letter. Going to Hogwarts was the best thing she ever did. She enjoyed every minute of it and is now a very successful witch".
Lily stared open mouthed at her mother. Was she still dreaming? She must be, she had never heard of her Aunty Jo being a witch. Sure she was eccentric and came out with weird words at times that were not even in the English dictionary. Lily remembered one of these words as it still made her laugh now. 'Quidditch'. When she had fallen around laughing her Aunt had looked at her as if she was quite mad herself.
"Why…Why haven't you told us abou.. about this before?" she asked her mum cautiously.
"Me and your father decided it would be best not to tell you unless you received the letter. How disappointed would you be knowing about this whole other world and not be able to join it? I knew the disappointment I felt when I didn't get to go to Hogwarts and your father had never heard of it before he met me. Oh my goodness he is going to be so happy for you. I must contact Sandington High and inform them that you will not be attending."
Lily allowed her mother to carry on in this vein for several more minutes before she lowered her voice conspiratorially and added
"whatever happens you cannot tell Kate about this"
Lily's glazed face was replaced with an anxious look and she practically shouted
"are you serious I can't tell my best friend where I'm going to be, why I'm not going to Sandington? Mum I can't lie to her".
For the first time her mum actually looked upset and replied
"I know it's going to be so hard for you but muggles like me and your dad and sister aren't supposed to know about the magical world. The only reason we do is because our daughter is going to be joining this world. Telling another muggle about this world isn't allowed. Kate wouldn't understand, you have to tell her that you've been offered a place at an extremely good boarding school in Scotland".
Her mother was practically raving she had to be.
"But I'm not that brilliant at school to be offered something like that, me and Kate are practically the same".
Again Hope sighed "this is just the way it has to be Lily I'm sorry".
She went to the cupboard and pulled out a packet of chocolate digestives and sat at the table with Lily. She offered her a biscuit and Lily took two.
"Lets see your letter then" she requested.
Lily handed over the thick yellow envelope and she once again saw her name in the emerald green writing before her mother turned it over and shook out the letter. She read it and to Lily's amazement she pulled it away and began reading the another sheet. Lily must have missed it in her shock. Her mum finished reading it and handed it back to Lily with a small smile on her lips. Lily again looked at the sheet and read the paper:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
First – year students will require:
Three sets of plain work robes (black) One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllidia Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST – YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
Lily chewed on her chocolate digestive thoughtfully. Where on earth was she going to get all of this equipment? Topshop and Miss Selfridges certainly didn't sell it and Tescos didn't either. She voiced her opinion to her mum.
"We'll have to go to Diagon Alley. It's so wonderful Lily you'll have the time of your life. Imagine it a magical community right in the heart of London without anyone non -magical knowing about it. I shall have to call your aunty as well I'm sure she will be so proud".
She jumped up and left Lily to her thoughts. Lily heard the trill of the buttons on the telephone as she heard her mum key in her aunt's telephone number. Hope practically shouted hi down the phone with glee. Why wasn't she, Lily as happy? She would be entering another world making new and wonderful friends staying in some enchanted school full of adventures and yet a heaviness lay on her heart and she finally understood fully why this was. She would be leaving behind her family and friends, as much as she didn't want to admit it, if she was a witch wouldn't she grow apart from them all? After all she saw her Aunty Jo on average once a year and she only lived half an hours car journey away.
Another thought crept into her head; what if they were mistaken? She had never shown any magical ability what made them think she was a witch they didn't even know her? A whooshing sound coming from the living room followed by a bang made Lily jump. What on earth was that? She ran lightly into the living room and was greeted by the sight of her aunt covered in soot brushing herself down while her mum was bouncing around letting out small screams of excitement. Her aunt noticed the appearance of her niece in the living room and her naturally pretty face beamed at Lily. Her short red hair was tied back with a turquoise bow and she was wearing the strangest items of clothing Lily had ever seen. She wore a beautiful turquoise robe, which had elaborate silver attachments. Underneath this she had on black trousers and a small black vest t-shirt showing pictures of what can only be described as hags with the words the Weird Sisters above their heads.
"Well, well, well Lily your mum has just informed me of the letter you received this morning and I thought it would be best to come around straight away by flooing to offer my congratulations". I'm so excited about this though I don't show it as much as your mum",
who in her excitement had just fallen over the rug on the floor. Lily gave a small laugh as she eyed her aunt nervously.
"Well Hope I think it is about time we pay a visit to Diagon Alley. We must travel the muggle way of course but it should be an interesting journey for us all".
As the small Black Fiat Punto crawled to a stop in the heart of London, Lily looked around. She saw nothing remarkable about this area it was just like any other. She had just endured a forty-minute drive with her aunt and mum where she found out a lot of details about the magical world she would be joining. Her aunt had gotten the very same letter and had gone to Hogwarts. The headmaster there was Albus Dumbledore, possibly one of the most eccentric wizards that existed but also one of the knowledgeable and wisest. There were separate houses in the school which students were sorted into depending on certain characteristics of that person. These were Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Her aunt had shuddered when she told her Slytherin but she did not elaborate apart from telling Lily that they had turned out more dark witches and wizards than any other house. Her aunt had been in Gryffindor, which she claimed was the best house. She then proceeded to tell Lily about her current life. After completing her NEWTs (exams which would determine what job you did for the rest of your life), she went to train to become an auror. She told Lily how auror's were dark wizard catchers and with the current state of the wizarding world, which she claimed were heading for dark times, you needed as many as you could get.
Lily had shuddered when told about the dark times the wizarding world was in, although she did not know why. A dark wizard in the past year had risen and claimed himself as Lord Voldemort. He hated muggles and muggle born witches and wizards and was setting his sights on expelling them all from the world. He prided himself on being what he called pure blood wizards. He had many followers who went by the disguise as Deatheaters they would carry out his commands and attack any that stood in his way. This apparently was only the beginning.
"You joined the wizarding world at the wrong time I'm afraid Lily, dark times are ahead" Jo said as she climbed out of the car ungracefully.
"Ahhh there it is the Leaky Cauldron" she exclaimed.
Lily looked to where she was pointing and saw a small tatty pub, which she would not have seen if her aunt had not pointed it out. It was so insignificant that the inhabitants of London did not seem to notice it being there either. As Lily looked back before entering the pub she realised she would never see the non-magical world in this light again. Everything was going to change and she would have to change as well. After going into the magical world would she ever want to go back to reality?
The small, knotted wooden door swung open and Lily stepped inside.