Disclaimer: I own nothing... I like the think that I do have imagination but alas, it is not always the case. Don't sue!
Author's Note: Okay so this is my first ever Harry Potter fic and I'm still waiting to read OOTP, I'm cheap and I'll wait for the paperback if I have to. You'll find probably a lot of familiarity in here but I like to keep it that way, I believe in the past repeating itself. Anyway here we go! Please R&R if you want.
Letting Go
Chapter One - Packing, Platforms and Punches
Lily stalked around her room throwing random clothes in and then taking them out again. This was as annoying as Melody had told her; she didn't know how she was going to get to Kings Cross with all this luggage. She surveyed her room; it looked as if a bomb had hit it. She gave a harsh sigh and began to pick up the clothes thrown across the room and folded it up tucking it neatly into her wardrobe. Finally deciding that there was only a few items that she really needed she packed them into her trunk and locked it shut.
"LILY?" There was an echoing shout from her father and Lily jumped.
"I'm ready dad." She pulled her poncho over her head and grabbed her trunk and Tawny's cage; opening the door she sent her trunk flying down the stairs and heard a mumbled curse as it caught her sister at the bottom of the stairs.
"Lily! You did that on purpose, you witch." Petunia snapped at her, Lily grimaced apologetically.
"Sorry Petunia it was an accident." Petunia snorted indignantly and pushed her way past Lily to go up to her room.
"Lily? Come on honey mum is waiting in the car." Her father's green eyes crinkled with amusement at her, "Did you get Petunia with your trunk?"
"It was an accident dad! I didn't know she was standing at the bottom of the stairs." He shook his head at her and sent his red hair flying. Sweeping his arm around her and picking up her trunk with ease he led her out to the car.
"Okay in you go, where is Petunia?" Her father looked around and saw a tall lanky figure slamming the door behind her and limping slightly as she walked to the car.
"What's the matter Pet?" Her mother turned around as Petunia slid into the car and slammed the door. Lily looked at Petunia with annoyance; she was never supportive to Lily even though everyone else was thrilled for her. Petunia was just always snappy and nasty when it came to the issue of Lily's schooling.
"Nothing mum." Lily watched as her mother turned back and her father jumped in and they started their short journey to Kings Cross. "Why are you wearing that Lily? You look like an idiot you know. No wonder everyone teases you." Lily gritted her teeth, it was always the same every year and this was no exception. "It's your fifth year and you still haven't got any friends have you?" There was the nastiest spite in Petunia's voice and Lily squeezed her hand so tight she nearly broke her bones.
"We're here. Okay everyone out we only have fifteen minutes to get onto the platform. Hurry everyone." Lily jumped out of the car and watched her father dash over and fetch a trolley practically wrestling a smart gentleman with jet-black hair and bright brown eyes for one of the last ones.
"Dad we have to hurry!" Lily watched as the clock ticked nearer and nearer to midday and Petunia was nowhere near out of the car. Her voice squeaked with panic as she looked from her father to Petunia and back again.
"Okay Petunia and mum stay here and Lily and I will nip off to the Platform. Lily say goodbye to your mum, quickly sweetheart." Lily was pulled into a hug by her mother and received several kisses and take care hugs. She turned to look at Petunia whose sour face was set with the most rigid line Lily had ever seen it. Nevertheless Lily gave her a brief hug and waved goodbye as she dashed off into the station with her dad.
"Okay left or right?" They stood in the middle of Platforms 9 and 10, and her father was being his usual joking self.
"Dad!" She watched students and their parents casually leaning on the barrier and falling through. She grabbed his hand and yanked him through the wall emerging the other side where a shining scarlet steam engine was waiting and students were crowding into the carriages. Her father handed her trunk to a waiting man and Lily passed Tawny's cage to the conductor who smiled at her.
"Hello Lily, how are you?" She smiled back.
"I'm fine thank you Mr. Filch." He smiled at her again and she waved quickly before turning back to her father.
"Okay sweetheart, we'll see you at Christmas and try not to get into any trouble." She hugged her father tightly, kissed him on his cheek and jumped onto the train.
Quickly finding an empty compartment she pulled open the window and waved at him frantically,
"DAD!! I forgot my permission slip!" Her father smiled and ran up placing it tightly in her hand before the conductor blew his whistle and the train began to pull away.
"Bye sweetheart. Remember to send us an Owl when you get there." His voice faded on the wind as the train departed Platform 9 and 3/4. Lily gave a heavy sigh and sat down heavily on the seat.
"Lily! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Melody bounced into the compartment and sat down opposite Lily with a big grin on her face. "I am so excited! We can finally go to Hogsmead! I wonder why they raised the-" Melody stopped mid-sentence as someone opened the door to their compartment and peered in.
"Oh sorry I was looking for my friends. Oh hello Lily." The boy smiled at Lily who gave a small smile in return.
"Hello Remus. How was your summer?" She patted the seat next to her and watched as Remus sat down. He was a quite a tall boy, with light brown hair and bright, shocking blue eyes, Lily had found herself completely alone with him one day in the library and they had begun talking then. She knew he was shy and quiet and she found it endearing.
"The usual kind of thing." His blue eyes looked at her and she nodded back knowingly. "How about you? Manage to get in any practice?"
"With Petunia around? Highly unlikely, as soon as she saw my wand she'd run off screaming in fear." Lily gave a small sigh, "besides we're not allowed to do magic outside H-" Lily was cut off,
"REMUS!" Two more tall boys were standing by the door peering in, one with mousy brown hair and hazel eyes and the other with jet-black hair and liquid chocolate eyes. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"And we find you here with girls!" They both gave Remus a filthy look; hazel eyes turned to Melody and smiled.
"Oh hi Melody!" Melody's cheeks tinted pink with the slightest flush of embarrassment. Lily smiled slightly, so this was the boy that Melody had owled her about. She had to admit he had a charm about him, although nowhere near as bad as his best friend. The famous James Potter was a heartthrob at Hogwarts and with his messy black hair and cool, deep chocolate eyes it wasn't hard to see why. Start Chaser of the Quidditch team it wasn't shocking if girls fell over themselves when he walked past them.
Lily on the other hand was glad not to be noticed, her long straight red hair was still a common teasing point with some students. Her milk-white skin was hardly attractive and although she had a slim figure she still failed to be noticed. The only thing she liked about herself was her green eyes; they reminded her of her father's that always twinkled with laughter no matter what.
"Hello Sirius." She whispered in the smallest voice. Lily observed her with curiosity as the two boys sat down and began talking at breakneck speed to each other and Melody. Lily's eyes flicked for person to person like she was watching a tennis match until another boy entered. The shortest of the other three, with thin blonde hair and empty looking blue eyes no one seemed to notice him till Remus nodded at him.
"Hello Peter, good summer?" Lily could no keep up with a five person conversation and turned her attention to the numerous emerald green fields and black and white cows passing by them as blurs.
"Hey Sirius, what about you and that blonde girl?" James gave him a sly nudge as they settled down in their compartment. Sirius gave a small scoff,
"Sure me and Melody! Like you lot don't keep me busy enough, besides she's always hanging around with that red-head."
"What red-head?" James frowned at Sirius who rolled his eyes.
"Listen to him, what red-head?" Sirius mocked James's voice with a high-pitched squeak. "Duh the one sitting next to Remus for the whole time we were there!" James turned to Remus who nodded, something clicked.
"Lily someone?" Remus and Sirius rolled their eyes at each other. Remus divulged the information.
"Evans."
"Lily Evans, I knew I knew her name." Sirius elbowed Remus, "possibly one of the prettiest girls at Hogwarts and you didn't notice her! Potter do you walk around with you're eyes shut?"
James waved the comment away with his hand and frowned as he looked out of the window.
"Lily?" Melody pulled Lily out of her thoughts and when she turned the carriage was empty of the four boys. "Oh did you see Sirius?" Melody gave a small squeal of excitement. "This is definitely the year. I noticed you and Remus had a moment." Lily scoffed.
"A moment? I asked him how his holiday was Mel. He answered, how is that a moment?" Melody scoffed.
"Excuse me that little look you exchanged? What was that all about?" Lily shrugged,
"We relate on stuff is all. It's not like we're dating!"
"Dating are you Evans?" A sneering voice echoed round the compartment, "you mean someone wants to date a Christmas tree like yourself?" Melody frowned at Lucius's snide comment.
"What are you on about Malfoy?"
"Red hair and green eyes, looks like a Christmas tree to me. I'm sure a mudblood like Evans would know that." Melody gasped and recovered.
"Watch your mouth Malfoy you never know whose behind you." Malfoy turned and looked out at the now darkening sky.
"Like who Melodina? There's no one here to defend you and you can hardly do that yourselves can you?" Lucius sneered at them again and walked away his nose held up in the air.
"Oh I can't stand him! How do you put up with it Lil?" Lily shrugged the question off as she quickly turned to look out of the window again just so Melody couldn't see the tears in her eyes.
James tripped down the steps of the train; Sirius hit him on the arm,
"Bit preoccupied were you James?"
"No but I think you are, isn't that your girlfriend over there?" James pointed at Melody whose blonde head could be seen further along the platform where she and Lily were speaking to Hagrid. Who after a few moments led the first years off towards the boats for their ride across the lake. Sirius stared for a few moments before blinking and turning back to James.
"Come off it James."
"Hurry or we'll miss the carriages." Peter began to run off towards the horseless carriages in order to find an empty one all four could share. As the three boys sauntered their way along the platform there was a sudden silence and one voice could be heard above the others.
"Oi! Christmas tree, where's your boyfriend? Back at home with all your other mudblood relations no doubt." Lucius's voice echoed across the platform only moments before half the platform gasped.
There was now a tide of whispering spreading across the student population. James, Remus and Sirius all pushed their way through to where Lucius was standing next to an angry Melody and a tearful looking Lily. "Aw did I make you cry Christmas tree?"
For a moment it looked as if Lily was about to burst into tears and Melody was about to burst into flames with annoyance.
"You filthy mouthed idiot Malfoy!" James spat as he reached into his robes and made a grab for his wand.
"Oh defending your mudblood girlfriend are you Potter?" At this Sirius pulled out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy who was now sneering at them.
"Oi!" There was a voice, a blur of a fist and one of the best punches any of the students had ever seen. James blinked as he watched Malfoy fall to the ground, Sirius dropped his wand and the rest of the platform broke into laughter.
Lily dropped her fist to her side and took several deep breaths to calm herself.
"LILY!" Melody gasped. The rest of the students were now pushing their way towards the carriages.
"Whoa Evans, didn't know you had it in you." Sirius who had picked up his wand and placed it back in his robes was now looking at Lily with newfound admiration. Lily turned the same colour as her dark auburn red hair, before sweeping away into the nearest carriage leaving Melody to scoot after her. "Chuffin' hell Potter I think she could've broken his nose with that punch!" James nodded at Sirius as he stared after her now retreated figure.
Author's Note: Okay so this is my first ever Harry Potter fic and I'm still waiting to read OOTP, I'm cheap and I'll wait for the paperback if I have to. You'll find probably a lot of familiarity in here but I like to keep it that way, I believe in the past repeating itself. Anyway here we go! Please R&R if you want.
Letting Go
Chapter One - Packing, Platforms and Punches
Lily stalked around her room throwing random clothes in and then taking them out again. This was as annoying as Melody had told her; she didn't know how she was going to get to Kings Cross with all this luggage. She surveyed her room; it looked as if a bomb had hit it. She gave a harsh sigh and began to pick up the clothes thrown across the room and folded it up tucking it neatly into her wardrobe. Finally deciding that there was only a few items that she really needed she packed them into her trunk and locked it shut.
"LILY?" There was an echoing shout from her father and Lily jumped.
"I'm ready dad." She pulled her poncho over her head and grabbed her trunk and Tawny's cage; opening the door she sent her trunk flying down the stairs and heard a mumbled curse as it caught her sister at the bottom of the stairs.
"Lily! You did that on purpose, you witch." Petunia snapped at her, Lily grimaced apologetically.
"Sorry Petunia it was an accident." Petunia snorted indignantly and pushed her way past Lily to go up to her room.
"Lily? Come on honey mum is waiting in the car." Her father's green eyes crinkled with amusement at her, "Did you get Petunia with your trunk?"
"It was an accident dad! I didn't know she was standing at the bottom of the stairs." He shook his head at her and sent his red hair flying. Sweeping his arm around her and picking up her trunk with ease he led her out to the car.
"Okay in you go, where is Petunia?" Her father looked around and saw a tall lanky figure slamming the door behind her and limping slightly as she walked to the car.
"What's the matter Pet?" Her mother turned around as Petunia slid into the car and slammed the door. Lily looked at Petunia with annoyance; she was never supportive to Lily even though everyone else was thrilled for her. Petunia was just always snappy and nasty when it came to the issue of Lily's schooling.
"Nothing mum." Lily watched as her mother turned back and her father jumped in and they started their short journey to Kings Cross. "Why are you wearing that Lily? You look like an idiot you know. No wonder everyone teases you." Lily gritted her teeth, it was always the same every year and this was no exception. "It's your fifth year and you still haven't got any friends have you?" There was the nastiest spite in Petunia's voice and Lily squeezed her hand so tight she nearly broke her bones.
"We're here. Okay everyone out we only have fifteen minutes to get onto the platform. Hurry everyone." Lily jumped out of the car and watched her father dash over and fetch a trolley practically wrestling a smart gentleman with jet-black hair and bright brown eyes for one of the last ones.
"Dad we have to hurry!" Lily watched as the clock ticked nearer and nearer to midday and Petunia was nowhere near out of the car. Her voice squeaked with panic as she looked from her father to Petunia and back again.
"Okay Petunia and mum stay here and Lily and I will nip off to the Platform. Lily say goodbye to your mum, quickly sweetheart." Lily was pulled into a hug by her mother and received several kisses and take care hugs. She turned to look at Petunia whose sour face was set with the most rigid line Lily had ever seen it. Nevertheless Lily gave her a brief hug and waved goodbye as she dashed off into the station with her dad.
"Okay left or right?" They stood in the middle of Platforms 9 and 10, and her father was being his usual joking self.
"Dad!" She watched students and their parents casually leaning on the barrier and falling through. She grabbed his hand and yanked him through the wall emerging the other side where a shining scarlet steam engine was waiting and students were crowding into the carriages. Her father handed her trunk to a waiting man and Lily passed Tawny's cage to the conductor who smiled at her.
"Hello Lily, how are you?" She smiled back.
"I'm fine thank you Mr. Filch." He smiled at her again and she waved quickly before turning back to her father.
"Okay sweetheart, we'll see you at Christmas and try not to get into any trouble." She hugged her father tightly, kissed him on his cheek and jumped onto the train.
Quickly finding an empty compartment she pulled open the window and waved at him frantically,
"DAD!! I forgot my permission slip!" Her father smiled and ran up placing it tightly in her hand before the conductor blew his whistle and the train began to pull away.
"Bye sweetheart. Remember to send us an Owl when you get there." His voice faded on the wind as the train departed Platform 9 and 3/4. Lily gave a heavy sigh and sat down heavily on the seat.
"Lily! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Melody bounced into the compartment and sat down opposite Lily with a big grin on her face. "I am so excited! We can finally go to Hogsmead! I wonder why they raised the-" Melody stopped mid-sentence as someone opened the door to their compartment and peered in.
"Oh sorry I was looking for my friends. Oh hello Lily." The boy smiled at Lily who gave a small smile in return.
"Hello Remus. How was your summer?" She patted the seat next to her and watched as Remus sat down. He was a quite a tall boy, with light brown hair and bright, shocking blue eyes, Lily had found herself completely alone with him one day in the library and they had begun talking then. She knew he was shy and quiet and she found it endearing.
"The usual kind of thing." His blue eyes looked at her and she nodded back knowingly. "How about you? Manage to get in any practice?"
"With Petunia around? Highly unlikely, as soon as she saw my wand she'd run off screaming in fear." Lily gave a small sigh, "besides we're not allowed to do magic outside H-" Lily was cut off,
"REMUS!" Two more tall boys were standing by the door peering in, one with mousy brown hair and hazel eyes and the other with jet-black hair and liquid chocolate eyes. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"And we find you here with girls!" They both gave Remus a filthy look; hazel eyes turned to Melody and smiled.
"Oh hi Melody!" Melody's cheeks tinted pink with the slightest flush of embarrassment. Lily smiled slightly, so this was the boy that Melody had owled her about. She had to admit he had a charm about him, although nowhere near as bad as his best friend. The famous James Potter was a heartthrob at Hogwarts and with his messy black hair and cool, deep chocolate eyes it wasn't hard to see why. Start Chaser of the Quidditch team it wasn't shocking if girls fell over themselves when he walked past them.
Lily on the other hand was glad not to be noticed, her long straight red hair was still a common teasing point with some students. Her milk-white skin was hardly attractive and although she had a slim figure she still failed to be noticed. The only thing she liked about herself was her green eyes; they reminded her of her father's that always twinkled with laughter no matter what.
"Hello Sirius." She whispered in the smallest voice. Lily observed her with curiosity as the two boys sat down and began talking at breakneck speed to each other and Melody. Lily's eyes flicked for person to person like she was watching a tennis match until another boy entered. The shortest of the other three, with thin blonde hair and empty looking blue eyes no one seemed to notice him till Remus nodded at him.
"Hello Peter, good summer?" Lily could no keep up with a five person conversation and turned her attention to the numerous emerald green fields and black and white cows passing by them as blurs.
"Hey Sirius, what about you and that blonde girl?" James gave him a sly nudge as they settled down in their compartment. Sirius gave a small scoff,
"Sure me and Melody! Like you lot don't keep me busy enough, besides she's always hanging around with that red-head."
"What red-head?" James frowned at Sirius who rolled his eyes.
"Listen to him, what red-head?" Sirius mocked James's voice with a high-pitched squeak. "Duh the one sitting next to Remus for the whole time we were there!" James turned to Remus who nodded, something clicked.
"Lily someone?" Remus and Sirius rolled their eyes at each other. Remus divulged the information.
"Evans."
"Lily Evans, I knew I knew her name." Sirius elbowed Remus, "possibly one of the prettiest girls at Hogwarts and you didn't notice her! Potter do you walk around with you're eyes shut?"
James waved the comment away with his hand and frowned as he looked out of the window.
"Lily?" Melody pulled Lily out of her thoughts and when she turned the carriage was empty of the four boys. "Oh did you see Sirius?" Melody gave a small squeal of excitement. "This is definitely the year. I noticed you and Remus had a moment." Lily scoffed.
"A moment? I asked him how his holiday was Mel. He answered, how is that a moment?" Melody scoffed.
"Excuse me that little look you exchanged? What was that all about?" Lily shrugged,
"We relate on stuff is all. It's not like we're dating!"
"Dating are you Evans?" A sneering voice echoed round the compartment, "you mean someone wants to date a Christmas tree like yourself?" Melody frowned at Lucius's snide comment.
"What are you on about Malfoy?"
"Red hair and green eyes, looks like a Christmas tree to me. I'm sure a mudblood like Evans would know that." Melody gasped and recovered.
"Watch your mouth Malfoy you never know whose behind you." Malfoy turned and looked out at the now darkening sky.
"Like who Melodina? There's no one here to defend you and you can hardly do that yourselves can you?" Lucius sneered at them again and walked away his nose held up in the air.
"Oh I can't stand him! How do you put up with it Lil?" Lily shrugged the question off as she quickly turned to look out of the window again just so Melody couldn't see the tears in her eyes.
James tripped down the steps of the train; Sirius hit him on the arm,
"Bit preoccupied were you James?"
"No but I think you are, isn't that your girlfriend over there?" James pointed at Melody whose blonde head could be seen further along the platform where she and Lily were speaking to Hagrid. Who after a few moments led the first years off towards the boats for their ride across the lake. Sirius stared for a few moments before blinking and turning back to James.
"Come off it James."
"Hurry or we'll miss the carriages." Peter began to run off towards the horseless carriages in order to find an empty one all four could share. As the three boys sauntered their way along the platform there was a sudden silence and one voice could be heard above the others.
"Oi! Christmas tree, where's your boyfriend? Back at home with all your other mudblood relations no doubt." Lucius's voice echoed across the platform only moments before half the platform gasped.
There was now a tide of whispering spreading across the student population. James, Remus and Sirius all pushed their way through to where Lucius was standing next to an angry Melody and a tearful looking Lily. "Aw did I make you cry Christmas tree?"
For a moment it looked as if Lily was about to burst into tears and Melody was about to burst into flames with annoyance.
"You filthy mouthed idiot Malfoy!" James spat as he reached into his robes and made a grab for his wand.
"Oh defending your mudblood girlfriend are you Potter?" At this Sirius pulled out his wand and pointed it at Malfoy who was now sneering at them.
"Oi!" There was a voice, a blur of a fist and one of the best punches any of the students had ever seen. James blinked as he watched Malfoy fall to the ground, Sirius dropped his wand and the rest of the platform broke into laughter.
Lily dropped her fist to her side and took several deep breaths to calm herself.
"LILY!" Melody gasped. The rest of the students were now pushing their way towards the carriages.
"Whoa Evans, didn't know you had it in you." Sirius who had picked up his wand and placed it back in his robes was now looking at Lily with newfound admiration. Lily turned the same colour as her dark auburn red hair, before sweeping away into the nearest carriage leaving Melody to scoot after her. "Chuffin' hell Potter I think she could've broken his nose with that punch!" James nodded at Sirius as he stared after her now retreated figure.