Alright, this is my first fanfic in a long time, but I would appreciate any constructive comments. I know that James/Lily love/hate fics have been done over and over and I have enjoyed reading most of them. In fact, that is the way I like to think that's how they got together. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it! Merlyn

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except anything you do not recognize.

Chapter 1:

Prologue:

Living in the non-magical world at the age of ten was alright for Lily Evans, she got up, went to a perfectly normal school, did her homework like a normal boy or girl, well maybe because she did her homework the moment she got home made her different. She loved her parents as any child would, and had her normal squabbles with her sister, Petunia. You could say that Lily Evans was a perfectly normal ten year old girl, until that one day she would never forget.

It was a wet and windy spring day in East London, but it was April 4 and that was all that mattered to one Lily Evans. She woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs, her favourite breakfast which meant today was...

"MY BIRTHDAY!" Lily shouted, "I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!"

John and Anne Evans (Lily's parents) rolled their eyes and made some mention to each other of wishing that they had Lily's energy. John was in the kitchen cooking up Lily's breakfast, and Anne was sorting out the presents that Lily received from her family, none from her friends. Lily wasn't a loner in any person's view, she was liked by everyone as a kind person, but she preferred the solitude of her own company. Around 10 in the morning, Petunia stumbled down the stairs. She ate her breakfast in silence, and sang "Happy Birthday" to Lily softly and watched her sister open her presents one by one, who was sitting cross-legged in front of her family's fireplace. Petunia was two years older than Lily and was unhappy at that she would have to leave her old school for a new one. John and Anne understood this and let her be; nearing the end of gift-presentation there was a sharp knock on the door. Petunia jumped up and ran to the door, anything to get out of there, but when she opened the door no one was there. She looked left, right and across the street but no one was there. A soft hoot got her attention and when she looked down...

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! MUM, DAD, COME QUICK! THERE'S AN OWL AT THE DOOR!" Petunia cried.

"Really Petunia I thought you were more mature than that" Anne said at Petunia's rapidly retreating form. "To make up stories an owl was here...ow" meanwhile the owl, getting impatient had pecked her softly on the leg and stuck out its own. Anne was getting confused why an owl was in her foyer with its leg stuck out. The owl, having enough of this nonsense, ripped off the letter from its foot, dropped it in front of Lily who was still sitting cross-legged in the living room, and flew out the door.

Finally, recovering from the shock, Lily picked up the letter and to her surprise it was addressed to her.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Warlock

Mugwump Member, International Confed. of Wizards)

Lily Elizabeth Evans

1402 Rosemary Drive

East London, England

As she opened it, it read

Dear Ms. Evans,

No doubt you are feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment, but rest assured it is for a good reason. You have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as you come from a muggle, or a non-magical, family enclosed is the address of a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Once inside, please ask the Bartender Tom how to get inside Diagon Alley and get a free tour, also enclosed is a list of necessary equipment. Once again, congratulations are in order due to your acceptance and we will see you September 1 at King Cross Station Platform 9 and ¾, your ticket is enclosed.

Sincerely,

Prof. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts

Lily fainted........

When Lily came to, her parents were bent over her with concern written all over their faces. When they realized she had woken up, John picked her up and placed her on the couch where she could catch her breath. "Owww" Lily moaned, "My head"

"I am not surprised," said her mother, "you took a nasty tumble down. You ok Hon?"

"Yeah," replied Lily, "I had the weirdest dream; I dreamt that I got a letter from some magic school claiming that I was a witch... luckily for me that was all a dream"

Her dad exchanged glances with her mom, then turned to Lily and said "It wasn't"

Lily fainted again (Don't worry, she doesn't faint again)

Once Lily got over her dizziness, she had a long talk with her parents. Discussing the pros and cons with her parents, for an eleven year old Lily was a very mature person, or so she liked to think. After two days of discussion her parents finally relented to her going. That same day her mother took her to the pub located on her map, although there was no pub. There was a record shop on one side and a bookstore on the other.

"I thought the pub was supposed to be here..." Lily's mom mumbled to herself, then started to ask around, "Excuse me, do you know where I can find a pub called the Leaky Cauldron?"

Everyone stared at her; someone even said "Do I look that stupid miss?"

Although Lily saw the entrance and was trying to get her attention, tugging on her sleeve. "Stop it Lily," her mother said annoyingly as she was asking any passersby. Not noticing her daughter, it seemed hopeless until a woman came by with her young son.

"Come on mom, why do we have do go this way? Why couldn't we floo?" The son asked.

"Because you and Sirius blew up the fireplace remember?" His mom replied curtly, "I wish you would stay away from him, his family is quite....." his mother seemed to be looking for the right word, "harsh on muggles."

"Oh yeah..." the son began laughing again, "but mum, he's not like his family, he's different, you'll see."

Mischievous looking, with untamed black hair and dark brown eyes, and although it didn't dawn on her then but this was her first encounter with James Potter. When Lily's mom asked the mom if she knew about the Leaky Cauldron, she looked at her with disbelief. "You are right outside it," then realization dawned on her, "oh, you must be muggles." When Lily's mom looked even more confused, the woman explained, "non-magical folk, you cannot see some of the magical world. Although your daughter must have seen it?"

"Did you see it Lily?" her mother asked

"Yes mother, that's what I..." Lily replied

"Then you should have told me and stopped me looking like an idiot in front of all those people" her mother interrupted.

The son was trying hard not to giggle at the girl's misfortune. His mother suddenly realized that she hadn't introduced herself and suddenly decided that this was the perfect time for introductions. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself, I am Beverly Potter but you can call me Bev. And this is my son James, he is starting his first year at Hogwarts."

"My name is Anne Evans, and this is Lily. She is also starting her first year at H... whatever that school is" she replied

"Hogwarts mum" Lily added.

The Potters led the Evans' into the pub with the usual hello from Tom, the new manager of the Leaky Cauldron. They sat down at an empty table to bring the two up to speed on the magical world.

"Being muggles, you probably haven't heard of our system of money where we use knuts, sickles, and galleons instead of pennies and pounds. There are 29 knuts to a sickle, 17 sickles to a galleon, I think the current exchange rate at Gringotts is....."

"Gringotts?" Mrs. Evans asked

"Our wizard bank, they are very safe. Run by Goblins and they always find sneaky ways to earn money, very secretive. The exchange rate is around 2 pounds to a Galleon, they always higher the exchange rate when Hogwarts is about to start. When you enter the bank, just mention my name and they should give you a better rate. I will go there directly and inform them, you tour Diagon Alley for Lily's materials. I need to get some galleons for James' materials anyways."

"Thank you very much," Mrs. Evans replied amazed at this act of kindness from a stranger, "you really don't have to."

"My pleasure," Mrs. Potter replied with a smirk which looked the same as her son's, "anything to get the Goblins annoyed. Well, shall we enter Diagon Alley?"

They all stood up from the table, Mrs. Potter led all of them through the back door, where they stood in front of a wall. Mrs. Potter took out her wand and tapped the wall in random places, to the Evans's amazement, the wall formed an archway into a street. Not any normal street but one filled with people dressed in robes, with signs that read 'Powdered Dragon's claw, 12 sickles an ounce,' 'Comet 140, fastest broom to date!' and 'Clearance Sale on all charm books!' The sight drew a silent awe from the Evans's, and everything was going along perfectly. However.....

James decided his prolonged silence wasn't good for him and decided to speak up, he began to talk to Lily, "I like your eyes"

"Thanks"

"The green is like.... as green as a fresh pickled toad" James said sincerely (well, as sincerely as an 11 year old could), but he hadn't taken in account that Lily was a muggle-born and didn't realize that his comment could be taken as an insult. As fresh pickled toads were highly regarded as loyal pets (I know it's not true now, but they could have been back in the day ;) ). Lily immediately buried her face in her hands and ran away, followed closely by her mother who was shouting apologies at Mrs. Potter.

"What did you say to that girl James?" James's mother asked him

"All I said was her eyes look as green as a flesh pickled toad... I don't know what she thinks I meant... ow mum!" James said as he was smacked on the back of the head. "What did you do that for?"

"Do you get it James? She is a muggle-born, she thinks that you think that her eyes look like frogs! Sometimes you can be so stupid, must take after your father! Now come on we have to get your stuff." And with that she hurried off to Gringotts dragging James behind her.

Lily eventually stopped crying and explained to her mother why she ran away, "that cruel boy, his mother should be ashamed of him. Come on Lily, we might as well finish up our shopping, let's go to Gringotts."

Luckily, Lily's shopping experience was very pleasant and her mother treated her to a set of Charm books. As Mr. Ollivander said that her 10 and a quarter long wand was a "nice wand for charm work." Lily picked up her new robes and materials for her classes, she couldn't wait until September 1st.

James on the other hand had an unpleasant trip into Diagon Alley, his mother was angry at him for driving away what could have been her new friend. James's mum was always fascinated with muggles and thought of them with loads of respect, her husband also thought of muggles as amazing people. However, as purebloods, this attitude was secretly gossiped about but the Potters were always the odd family out.

As nothing could be his fault, James blamed the bad experience on Lily and was plotting revenge on her once his mum could do nothing to him at Hogwarts. His mother did however treat him to a book about animagi, as he found interest in turning into an animal. As his mother thought he wasn't bright enough to become one at the time, she decided to buy it for him.

Exhausted from shopping, both James and Lily went to sleep quickly. Preparing for the week's trip to Hogwarts, while their parents began coping that they wouldn't see their son or daughter for almost a year.

Well, that's it for now. Would like some reviews on the chapter, hopefully 10 before I post the next chapter. I have an idea of where this fanfic should go but I wouldn't mind other ideas. I will try to post a chapter a week, but attending university may halt the story once in a while but I promise not to neglect it too often. I will post on average a chapter of at least 2000 words, I consider it an unworthy chapter if it goes under. Thanks for reading the story, now all you have to do is come back whenever I post and review my chapters 