Chapter 3

I yawned and stretched. I was dressed and ready to leave on the Hogwarts Express. Our bags were already on the train. I met up with my friends and we sat down in an empty compartment and shut the door.

"Lily, what's up? You ok about yesterday?" asked Carrie.

"I'm fine, why should anyone be worried, I just got a little unexpected bath." I need to stop complaining. After all, who would be upset about near death?

While the rest of my friends laughed, the compartment door slid open, and Erica was sitting thoughtfully.

"I wonder…" said Erica.

"What?" I asked.

"I was thinking about yesterday, when it happened. Why did Sirius get so upset? It wasn't like he was insulted."

At this second I felt a weight on my shoulders, I groped around as I felt fabric in midair. I grasped the fabric, revealing a very smug James underneath. I gave an exasperated sigh. There really was no getting rid of the kid. He was like a persistant puppy.

"I'll tell you why Sirius was so upset. Shut the compartment door, he won't want me telling you this."

"Why not?"

"Sirius is ashamed. His family is well, uptight about blood. To them, blood really counts, and Sirius was raised to think that. His mother wouldn't let anyone who wasn't a "pure blood" cross her doorstep. Sirius cannot stand that. That's why he got ticked. He may torture Snape out of boredom, but it's also because he reminds him of his mother's views."

I was in shock. I never knew anything about Sirius at all, just that he was like James. Although, he did have a point there.

"Right, now, I've got to go. See you later," James said, he opened the compartment door, smiled at me, and walked away. My friends' conversations continued without me, I was very deep in thought. I began to wonder why people care so much about blood, it certainly doesn't make you any less of a person if your parents are muggles or witches, its just people's biased opinions. Who comes up with this stuff anyways?

oOoOoOoOoO

The summer was quite tedious, owing essentially to the fact that my beloved sister, Petunia has made it quite clear that she thinks of me as a freak. Tears glaze my eyes as I look at pictures of us when we were younger, and I ask myself again and again, How did we get so far apart?

It hurts our parents the most. My mother misses me so much, being away at school all year. My father works very hard, and seldom is able to relax. When I arrive home, our parents seem to favor me, and Petunia takes it personally. I told her that she could leave for a year and then see how many people miss her. It might make her feel better.

I had also received my scores from my O.W.L. exams, and I am quite pleased with my grades.

Charms: Outstanding

Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations

History of Magic: Exceeds Expectations

Potions: Outstanding

Astronomy: Outstanding

Defense against the Dark Arts: Outstanding

Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding

I've been accepted into all N.E.W.T classes. My friends have similar grades and we will be in the same classes again.

Mother was extremely pleased with my gift, she insisted on placing it on top of the mantle for all to see. Father has set up a vacation in France for the next two weeks, and one week after vacation I will return to Hogwarts. I'm extremely grateful, although I don't think relocation will help my relationship with my sister. She hates me just as much in France as she does at home.

Since I have arrived in France, the days seem to pass so much more quickly. I have found out there is another school here in France called Beauxbatons. I've met a student from there, names Belle Delacour. She has told me some things I never knew. She is a Veela, and she told me that her last name, Delacour, will be passed down to her daughter. Apparently, all veelas keep their maiden name. She's very nice, and she's talked to me a lot since I have arrived. We spend hours talking about our schools. Too bad I can't get certain people to transfer. It would make life a bit easier at Hogwarts.

I would love to say that my dear sister Petunia has seen the errors of her ways and has been much kinder, but why should I lie? She's been perfectly dreadful, and mother is pained by her hatred. As soon as possible I will perform as many hexes as I can think up on her.

Vacation went by much too quickly again. I now had to travel to Diagon Alley to get my supplies before the start of term. My father told me I could stay in Diagon Alley until the train left for my school. I bought my robes, dress robes for the Christmas Ball, books and potion supplies on the first day. I walked over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor for some strawberry ice cream, my favorite kind. I sat down at a table, and look up before reaching into my purse for 3 sickles. James, also shopping for supplies, caught my eye and walked over and sat down.

"Hello Evans. It's been awhile. How are you?" he asked me.

"Fine." I wasn't trying to be rude, I just really wanted him to leave. Unfortunately,boys don't get subtlety.

"Can I buy you an ice cream?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

"Sure, I believe you. That's why you go to a restaurant. Not to eat."

He finally got up, and I breathed a sigh of relief, but my relief was short lived. He returned with two ice creams.

"Here. I hope that you like strawberry."

"Are you deaf? I said that I wasn't hungry. And I hate strawberry." Darn it, why did he pick my favorite flavor? Now I have to not eat it...oh...poor ice cream...going to waste...

"Well, ok, I guess I'm going to have to buy every flavor till I get the one that you like."

Once I glanced at his face I saw that it was pointless to argue. I knew that he just wouldn't leave me along. I grabbed my bags and quickly got up and left. A voice behind me cried, "Diffindo!" and my bag burst open. James caught up to me.

"Evans. Evans!"

"Reparo!" I pointed at the bag, then I pointed at my clothes and said "Accio!" and my stuff returned to me. As I was in Diagon Alley, I could perform some spells without getting caught by the Ministry. They can only know where magic is enacted, but they can't necessary know who. In a street full of qualified witches and wizards, I was safe. As I stalked off to the Leaky Cauldron where I was staying, I heard him say,

"Well, I guess I'll see you in all my N.E.W.T. classes, you can't run away from me there!"

How could he know that I was in all N.E.W.T. classes? Only Erica and Carrie and Jessica knew. I put the puzzle pieces together while I packed my clothes into my trunk. I walked to the Magical Menagerie to buy myself an owl, I had some questions and writing to my friends will get me the answers.

Or I could just move to another country. That could solve most problems.