"GET IN YOUR ROOM AND DON'T COME OUT!" yelled an angry voice and you
could hear light footsteps pounding up the stairs. A 15 year old girl with
curly red hair and emerald eyes that were currently clouded over with pain
and sadness ran into a small room and flung herself on her bed, crying. She
had so many of these nights since last year. Her father yelling at her and
throwing things that usually were aimed for her. Then sending her to her
room. Every one of those nights, she cried herself to sleep. Usually these
fights began with some silly argument like where to go and celebrate
something. A lot of the time it was also because her father drank. Lily
turned off her light and got into bed.
Instead of going to sleep, Lily stared at her ceiling and reflected on her life. Before she turned eleven, her life at home was perfect. She never fought with her older sister, Petunia; her parents loved her and spoiled her; she had a wonderful house and many friends in the neighborhood. Even though her life was great, Lily felt like she had another goal in her life, something different. Then, at the age of eleven, her life changed. In great ways and horrible ways.
On her 11th birthday, Lily had just gotten out of bed when an owl soared through her open window. Lily noticed that the owl had a letter tied to its let. With ease, Lily had removed the owl of its burden. As soon as it was off, the owl ruffled its wings importantly and flew out the window. The letter, Lily noticed, was written on yellowish parchment. As she opened the letter, green ink appeared on the once-blank sheet of paper. It read: Miss Evans,
We are please to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Lily only read that line when she yelled for her parents.
"Mom! Dad! Come here! I have to show you something." Lily felt a whole rush of emotions. She was very sure that this was just a joke that her best friend, Katie had played on her for a birthday trick. Another part of her, a very small part, thought that this might be too outrageous for even Katie to make up. She was a little angry with Katie for playing this joke on her, but another part of her was hoping that it was true and a place like Hogwarts exists.
Her parents came running in. "What's the matter sweetie? They asked her, worried. " Are you hurt? What's wrong?"
"Mom. I'm not hurt. It's just that. well. I got this letter by owl." Her parents gasped and her mom almost fainted. "It says that I'm a witch and I have been accepted into something called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Lily explained, handing over her letter. Her dad took the letter. He was a big man, at six foot 3. He looked over it.
"I never heard of it. You know how many schools we searched on the Web when we were looking for a school for Petunia. We would have looked into it if we saw it." Her father said frankly.
"Well, I would like to see it. Should I write back to this." she paused, looking for the writer of the letter. "Mrs. McGonagall? To tell her that I never heard of this school?" she said and her parents told her she could if she really wanted to but to be very careful.
She took a piece of paper and a pen and in her best handwriting, she wrote, Dear Ms. McGonagall,
I'm sorry but I have never heard of a place called Hogwarts. If you could please tell me where it is, I will try going there. Please give me directions.
Thank you,
Lily Evans
Now she didn't know what to do as the owl had flown away and the letter didn't have a return address. Then, as if by magic, which it was, a response was appearing in emerald writing.
Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Do you by chance know a young girl named Katie Reid? If you do, please show the original letter to one of her parents. They will know what to do. And thank you for believing in us.
Professor McGonagall
Lily broke out into a smile. That meant that her best friend Katie Reid was also a witch. Now she had to go!
And so, her life at Hogwarts began. She loved it there, making friends and doing great at all of her subjects. Soon, however, her life at home slowly became unhappier. When Petunia had found out that Lily was a witch, she immediately became extremely cold with her. She had no longer shared all her news with her. In fact, Petunia completely ignored her.
Later, her father's attitude changed as well. He no longer adored Lily as he once did. Mr. Evans also started drinking. A lot. He soon started becoming abusive towards Lily. Lily's mom, Elizabeth Evans still loved Lily. She couldn't protect her from her husband's moods. She tried to persuade him to stop drinking, but it didn't help. When Lily was in her third year, her mother had died in a car accident. A drunk driver had hit her, immediately killing Elizabeth Evans. Lily no longer had any reason to come back home.
Lily sat in bed, wondering about her fifth year at Hogwarts. She loved it there. At Hogwarts, no one knew about her family at home. There, she was popular, smart, cute, and everything a girl wanted to be. She couldn't wait for the new year to begin. Her dorm seemed more like home than her house did.
Lily decided to write a in her magical journal that she shared with her best friend. It was magical because Katie had an exact copy and whatever Lily wrote in there, it appeared in Katie's journal.
She took out the journal covered with magazine clippings and a pot of her favorite ink that changed colors. She wrote:
Hey Katie,
Sup? NMH. I can't wait to go shopping. I'm so excited about the upcoming year! If it says "dress robes" on our supply list, I guess it means that there's going to be a ball! You know how much I love balls. Well, when are you going shopping for school supplies? Can your mom bring me? My dad can't bring me. Well, write back soon. I'm so bored here! See ya!
Lily
What a bunch of lies. My dad wouldn't even let me go to Diagon Alley. I'll have to sneak out again and spend the night at Katie's. Lily thought. She hated her life here and couldn't wait to graduate from Hogwarts so she could leave that house forever. She would have moved, but since that Dark Wizard, Voldemort has been killing people, the Ministry of Magic had made a new law that stated " All underage students, that is all students who have not yet graduated from school, will have to remain with their appointed guardians until the time they have graduated from school. This is to ensure the safety of the next generation"
The next day, Lily checked her journal. Katie had written back. Lils
Great to talk to you again. Maybe we'll have more than one ball. Who are you going with? Remus? Sirius? Tyler? Or with James, as friends? I'm really hoping that Sirius will ask me. You said that he defiantly likes me. If he does, why doesn't he talk to me? Boys. They never make sense. Sure we can take you. If you want, you can even sleep over. Well, I got to go. See you tomorrow!
KT
Lily smiled; Katie had always signed her name like. She looked over at her bulletin board. It was covered with pictures from Hogwarts and her friends. She looked over at Katie's picture. She had sleek brown hair and she was shorter than Lily, which was saying something since Lily as five foot three. Katie was also a gymnastics expert. She just loved the floor routines.
Lily looked at her calendar and crossed off another day. In two weeks, she would be at Hogwarts, with her friends. Hogwarts was her home. She pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and went downstairs to make breakfast for herself. Little did she know that this fateful day was the day she would escape her father for the rest of the break.
"Lilian!" a loud voice boomed from the living room.
"Yes, Dad? I'm going to make breakfast." Lily said, trying to keep her tone neutral. If she didn't do anything stupid, she might be able to go shopping with her dad's permission.
"Lily," he began again, finally using her shortened name. Lily took it as a good sign; it meant he was in a good mood. "On Friday Petunia is leaving on vacation with her friends." Lily nodded; she already knew this. "And Debbie and I are going to the Bahamas for a month of vacation." Lily struggled to look happy for the father that she now hated. Debbie was her father's girlfriend. Lily hated her. Actually, Petunia did too. It was the only thing they agreed on. Debbie was a fat old woman, who walked around in skimpy outfits, like she was a supermodel.
"Alright. Am I staying here by myself?" Lily asked. She was hoping that he wasn't going to send her to Mrs. Barac across the street. Mrs. Barac was an old widow, always telling Lily to go to bed at eight. Lily hated going there and being treated like a child that lived in the 1840s.
Her father snorted. "Of course not. You'll probably blow something up. I'm not going to come back to a smoking house. You're going to your Aunt Abby's. She'll bring you London and she'll see you off to that school." Her father said. He was referring to Lily's mother's twin sister. They had been identical twins with curly red hair and blue eyes.
"Okay. Where's Petunia going?" she asked, hoping to keep the conversation neural. Then she went into the kitchen and took out some eggs, bread, jam, and milk for breakfast.
"Err, I think she's going to the United States. I don't know where, but she's really excited. Now finish breakfast." He said and fell into a deep sleep.
He probably drank a lot. Or was Debbie here? Lily thought as she got him a blanket and took away his bottle or beer. Lily went upstairs to Petunia's room. She could hear her humming, a very good sign.
Lily entered her sister's room to find all of her summer clothes all over the room. "Hey, Petunia. Are you excited?" Lily asked, sitting down on the floor. Petunia just smiled at her and continued with her packing.
"So, do you need any help?" Lily asked, getting up.
This time Petunia answered. "Sure. Can you look through my shoes and find the ones that match these outfits?" Petunia said, pointing to a pile of clothes.
"Sure. So, what do you think of Dad going on vacation with Debbie?" Lily asked as she began searching for the shoes.
Petunia's face darkened. "I hate her. And he started dating her 3 months after Mom died." Petunia said. For the past two years, the only thing that had kept Lily and Petunia from killing each other was their union against Debbie. They always had so much fun calling her names and messing everything up so her slow mind couldn't figure it out.
"Should we give her a good-bye 'present'?" Lily asked mischievously. Petunia laughed.
Instead of going to sleep, Lily stared at her ceiling and reflected on her life. Before she turned eleven, her life at home was perfect. She never fought with her older sister, Petunia; her parents loved her and spoiled her; she had a wonderful house and many friends in the neighborhood. Even though her life was great, Lily felt like she had another goal in her life, something different. Then, at the age of eleven, her life changed. In great ways and horrible ways.
On her 11th birthday, Lily had just gotten out of bed when an owl soared through her open window. Lily noticed that the owl had a letter tied to its let. With ease, Lily had removed the owl of its burden. As soon as it was off, the owl ruffled its wings importantly and flew out the window. The letter, Lily noticed, was written on yellowish parchment. As she opened the letter, green ink appeared on the once-blank sheet of paper. It read: Miss Evans,
We are please to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Lily only read that line when she yelled for her parents.
"Mom! Dad! Come here! I have to show you something." Lily felt a whole rush of emotions. She was very sure that this was just a joke that her best friend, Katie had played on her for a birthday trick. Another part of her, a very small part, thought that this might be too outrageous for even Katie to make up. She was a little angry with Katie for playing this joke on her, but another part of her was hoping that it was true and a place like Hogwarts exists.
Her parents came running in. "What's the matter sweetie? They asked her, worried. " Are you hurt? What's wrong?"
"Mom. I'm not hurt. It's just that. well. I got this letter by owl." Her parents gasped and her mom almost fainted. "It says that I'm a witch and I have been accepted into something called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Lily explained, handing over her letter. Her dad took the letter. He was a big man, at six foot 3. He looked over it.
"I never heard of it. You know how many schools we searched on the Web when we were looking for a school for Petunia. We would have looked into it if we saw it." Her father said frankly.
"Well, I would like to see it. Should I write back to this." she paused, looking for the writer of the letter. "Mrs. McGonagall? To tell her that I never heard of this school?" she said and her parents told her she could if she really wanted to but to be very careful.
She took a piece of paper and a pen and in her best handwriting, she wrote, Dear Ms. McGonagall,
I'm sorry but I have never heard of a place called Hogwarts. If you could please tell me where it is, I will try going there. Please give me directions.
Thank you,
Lily Evans
Now she didn't know what to do as the owl had flown away and the letter didn't have a return address. Then, as if by magic, which it was, a response was appearing in emerald writing.
Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Do you by chance know a young girl named Katie Reid? If you do, please show the original letter to one of her parents. They will know what to do. And thank you for believing in us.
Professor McGonagall
Lily broke out into a smile. That meant that her best friend Katie Reid was also a witch. Now she had to go!
And so, her life at Hogwarts began. She loved it there, making friends and doing great at all of her subjects. Soon, however, her life at home slowly became unhappier. When Petunia had found out that Lily was a witch, she immediately became extremely cold with her. She had no longer shared all her news with her. In fact, Petunia completely ignored her.
Later, her father's attitude changed as well. He no longer adored Lily as he once did. Mr. Evans also started drinking. A lot. He soon started becoming abusive towards Lily. Lily's mom, Elizabeth Evans still loved Lily. She couldn't protect her from her husband's moods. She tried to persuade him to stop drinking, but it didn't help. When Lily was in her third year, her mother had died in a car accident. A drunk driver had hit her, immediately killing Elizabeth Evans. Lily no longer had any reason to come back home.
Lily sat in bed, wondering about her fifth year at Hogwarts. She loved it there. At Hogwarts, no one knew about her family at home. There, she was popular, smart, cute, and everything a girl wanted to be. She couldn't wait for the new year to begin. Her dorm seemed more like home than her house did.
Lily decided to write a in her magical journal that she shared with her best friend. It was magical because Katie had an exact copy and whatever Lily wrote in there, it appeared in Katie's journal.
She took out the journal covered with magazine clippings and a pot of her favorite ink that changed colors. She wrote:
Hey Katie,
Sup? NMH. I can't wait to go shopping. I'm so excited about the upcoming year! If it says "dress robes" on our supply list, I guess it means that there's going to be a ball! You know how much I love balls. Well, when are you going shopping for school supplies? Can your mom bring me? My dad can't bring me. Well, write back soon. I'm so bored here! See ya!
Lily
What a bunch of lies. My dad wouldn't even let me go to Diagon Alley. I'll have to sneak out again and spend the night at Katie's. Lily thought. She hated her life here and couldn't wait to graduate from Hogwarts so she could leave that house forever. She would have moved, but since that Dark Wizard, Voldemort has been killing people, the Ministry of Magic had made a new law that stated " All underage students, that is all students who have not yet graduated from school, will have to remain with their appointed guardians until the time they have graduated from school. This is to ensure the safety of the next generation"
The next day, Lily checked her journal. Katie had written back. Lils
Great to talk to you again. Maybe we'll have more than one ball. Who are you going with? Remus? Sirius? Tyler? Or with James, as friends? I'm really hoping that Sirius will ask me. You said that he defiantly likes me. If he does, why doesn't he talk to me? Boys. They never make sense. Sure we can take you. If you want, you can even sleep over. Well, I got to go. See you tomorrow!
KT
Lily smiled; Katie had always signed her name like. She looked over at her bulletin board. It was covered with pictures from Hogwarts and her friends. She looked over at Katie's picture. She had sleek brown hair and she was shorter than Lily, which was saying something since Lily as five foot three. Katie was also a gymnastics expert. She just loved the floor routines.
Lily looked at her calendar and crossed off another day. In two weeks, she would be at Hogwarts, with her friends. Hogwarts was her home. She pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and went downstairs to make breakfast for herself. Little did she know that this fateful day was the day she would escape her father for the rest of the break.
"Lilian!" a loud voice boomed from the living room.
"Yes, Dad? I'm going to make breakfast." Lily said, trying to keep her tone neutral. If she didn't do anything stupid, she might be able to go shopping with her dad's permission.
"Lily," he began again, finally using her shortened name. Lily took it as a good sign; it meant he was in a good mood. "On Friday Petunia is leaving on vacation with her friends." Lily nodded; she already knew this. "And Debbie and I are going to the Bahamas for a month of vacation." Lily struggled to look happy for the father that she now hated. Debbie was her father's girlfriend. Lily hated her. Actually, Petunia did too. It was the only thing they agreed on. Debbie was a fat old woman, who walked around in skimpy outfits, like she was a supermodel.
"Alright. Am I staying here by myself?" Lily asked. She was hoping that he wasn't going to send her to Mrs. Barac across the street. Mrs. Barac was an old widow, always telling Lily to go to bed at eight. Lily hated going there and being treated like a child that lived in the 1840s.
Her father snorted. "Of course not. You'll probably blow something up. I'm not going to come back to a smoking house. You're going to your Aunt Abby's. She'll bring you London and she'll see you off to that school." Her father said. He was referring to Lily's mother's twin sister. They had been identical twins with curly red hair and blue eyes.
"Okay. Where's Petunia going?" she asked, hoping to keep the conversation neural. Then she went into the kitchen and took out some eggs, bread, jam, and milk for breakfast.
"Err, I think she's going to the United States. I don't know where, but she's really excited. Now finish breakfast." He said and fell into a deep sleep.
He probably drank a lot. Or was Debbie here? Lily thought as she got him a blanket and took away his bottle or beer. Lily went upstairs to Petunia's room. She could hear her humming, a very good sign.
Lily entered her sister's room to find all of her summer clothes all over the room. "Hey, Petunia. Are you excited?" Lily asked, sitting down on the floor. Petunia just smiled at her and continued with her packing.
"So, do you need any help?" Lily asked, getting up.
This time Petunia answered. "Sure. Can you look through my shoes and find the ones that match these outfits?" Petunia said, pointing to a pile of clothes.
"Sure. So, what do you think of Dad going on vacation with Debbie?" Lily asked as she began searching for the shoes.
Petunia's face darkened. "I hate her. And he started dating her 3 months after Mom died." Petunia said. For the past two years, the only thing that had kept Lily and Petunia from killing each other was their union against Debbie. They always had so much fun calling her names and messing everything up so her slow mind couldn't figure it out.
"Should we give her a good-bye 'present'?" Lily asked mischievously. Petunia laughed.