Unlike the boys Lily Evans did not grow up in the magical world. She was an ordinary girl who lived with her mother, father and sister Petunia in semi-detached house in the English muggle city of Bristol.
Lily went to a Primary school where she learnt about Science, Maths, History, Religion and English. Lily was a clever girl who was quite shy. She was well mannered and was never in trouble. She was the apple of her parents' eye, and was prefect in every way a young lady should be.
Lily was the youngest daughter of the Evans'. This meant that her parents spoilt her rotten and being bullied by her loving sister about incidents she had nothing to do with.
A good example was that their neighbour, Sally (who was a professional hairdresser) was dying Petunia's hair. She was arguing with Lily at the same time. Lily losing her temper yelled that she would make Petunia's hair pink.
When Sally washed the dye out of Petunia's hair there was a scream. Lily who had been watching T.V watched as her sister stormed into the room with pink hair. She had screamed at Lily and had blamed her for it although it was Sally's fault (not really)
There were also times when Lily's glass would smash for no reason. This left Lily with the name freak. These incidents were not just reserved to her home life. There had been times in school were stupid little things would happen that was had to explain.
Lily remembered being in class one day and her teacher Mrs Martin was writing on the board. She had put the chalk back on the table. Lily wasn't listen but watching the chalk, she thought it would be funny if she could move it, then to her amazement it moved three inches to the left, this scared Lily but nobody else noticed it.
Lily also had another problem. She was clumsy. She could fall over anything and was extremely good at falling over her own feet. She could be standing there minding her own business one minute and the next she would be sprawled out on the floor.
Lily had recently turned 11; she was now enjoying the summer before she would go to comprehensive school. It was a warm July afternoon when Lily's life changed.
Lily was sitting in her paddling pool splashing water at her sunbathing sister. Her mother was setting the table for their food whilst their father cooked on the BBQ.
As the family finished off the remains of their meal Lily noticed an owl flying towards them. Owls were unusual in Bristol and Lily had never seen one except on T.V. The young red head pointed the owl out to her family as they sat and watch it fly closer.
As is got closer they noticed it had something on its foot, the family were puzzled and even more so when it landed on the table in front of Lily. Lily looked at the owl and back at her family. She noticed an address on the letter, and it had HER name on it. She slowly picked up the letter and just stared at it.
Slowly plucking up all her courage she ripped the back of the envelope open. With shaking hands she pulled out the letter and read it out loud to her family.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Lily was amazed, she didn't believe it, there was no such thing as magic, and everybody knew that. The family ignored the letter as a sad prank. This was their first mistake.
The next morning the family sat down to breakfast. Mr Evans was reading the paper, Mrs Evans cooking the bacon while Petunia sat at the table grumbling about the stupid postman who had woken her up by banging the door.
Without warning there was an almighty knock on the front door, causing Mr Evans to drop his paper, Mrs Evans to drop the bacon, Lily to jump half a mile into the air and Petunia to scream.
Without thinking Lily ran to the door to stop the giant who must have been standing the other side from knocking again. She quickly pulled the door and instantly looked up. There was no one there.
Lily started to close the door when she heard someone clearing their throat. Lily looked again at the door, this time looking down. A tiny man stood in her door way. He was shorter than Lily and stood no more than 3ft. above the ground, his long curly black hair running half way down his back.
"Does a Miss Lily Evans live here?"
Lily just stood there staring at him, unable to speak. She couldn't believe he had made all that noise. He repeated his question and this time Lily managed to nod.
The man smiled at the young girl and entered her house pushing slightly past her. He made his way into the kitchen as if he were use to taking that route everyday. Lily just followed him, her mouth still wide.
"Hello I'm Professor Flitwick, I'm from Hogwarts. We thought you might have some questions about that letter."
For the next hour and a half the man spoke non-stop telling them everything he could about Hogwarts, and how they would train Lily up. After the shock that magic was real her parents were beaming with pride while Lily was just gob-smacked.
Just before he was about to leave Flitwick handed her a map.
"This will show you how to find Diagon Alley, where you can buy all your school things."
Then he disappeared out of the kitchen with a pop. Now if they hadn't believed before this proved magic to them.
The following day the Evans' decided that they would travel up to London to go to Diagon Alley. Petunia complained all the way there, as she didn't want anything to do with the 'freak world'. They headed to Chelsea, were they knocked on an old rusting door.
"Go away"
Lily smiled; this was always the response she got from Pa Evans'. He hated people coming around unexpected. Her father knocked the door again, and it swung open revealing an old man with balding white hair, crystal blue eyes standing in striped boxers and a vest that at one point was white but now had egg stains.
"Oh it's you, I thought it was that woman Kelli from meals on wheels"
He then stepped aside and allowed them in; they spent the day settling into the old Victorian house each sorting out their packing. They spent the day talking to Pa Evans' and telling him about Lily going to boarding school (although forgetting to mention the whole witch part)
Soon Lily found herself tucked up in bed enjoying a comfortable nights sleep, dreaming of the morning when she would have her first sight of the magical world.
The morning arrived bright as usual and the Evans' (minus Petunia who refused to come) travelled across London to a shabby looking pub called 'The Leaky Cauldron'. They thought that the pub would be empty it didn't look like it would hold more than 10 people.
They entered and were shocked by the number and types of people in there. There were people dressed in funny robes, something that looked like a hag and some sort of goblin.
Lily walked up to the bar and waited for the bartender to turn to her.
"Um… I was wondering if you could please tell me how to get into Diagon Alley?"
"Err… A muggle born, if you just wait here a minute I'll get somebody to show you."
Lily waited at the bar; she hadn't waited long when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Lily screamed as she spun around losing her balance. Lily found herself sitting on the floor.
A hand reached down to her and she found herself being pulled to her feet. Green eyes met brown and a smile spread across the others face.
Lily looked the stranger up and down, she was wearing a soft yellow dress that cut just above her knees, and she had her brown hair pulled back in a butterfly clip. Lily couldn't help but think that this girl was pretty.
"Hello my name is Branwen Ddraig."
"I'm Lily Evans. It's nice to meet you."
"Tom, the bartender mentioned that you're a muggle born and don't know Diagon Alley, I'll show you the way if you want!"
Lily couldn't help the smile that crossed her face.
"Yes please, that would be so kind, I'll just go get my parents, they're standing over there."
Lily waved her parents over and they followed the young girl over to a corner. Standing there was a man, he had shoulder length brown hair and golden eyes that sparkled with knowledge.
"This is my dad, Taliesin, we're going to show you around Diagon Alley."
"Hello, Mr Ddraig, its nice to meet you."
Lily said while smiling at the man.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Evans. Flitwick said that you were a well mannered young lady, but I didn't expect such beauty."
Lily blushed at the man standing in front of her, as they headed out of the bar and into Diagon Alley. They went to Gringotts the wizarding bank first. Lily's parents exchanged their muggle (Lily found out that meant non-magical) money, while Taliesin went through a door to get his money.
"So Lily you're a first year right?"
Lily nodded and Branwen smiled again.
"Me to, I can't wait to go to Hogwarts I've heard so much about it. My dad teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts there, which is suppose to be a great class."
Lily continued to smile as Taliesin joined them they headed straight to get their robes. As they were fitted Branwen carried on talking.
"I can't wait for the sorting, nhad (welsh word for dad) won't tell me how we're sorted though he says it's better if it's a surprise."
This caught Lily's attention. She hadn't known that she would have to be sorted.
"Branwen why do we have to get sorted?"
"Oh don't you know about the houses? Well there are four houses in Hogwarts. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each looks for different things in the pupils. Gryffindors are supposed to be brave, Ravenclaw smart, Hufflepuff loyal and Slytherin cunning."
Branwen stopped as she climbed down from the stool and went to pay for her robes. They followed behind the adults who took then to get their books next.
"Gryffindor is by far the best house. They have all the fun, and normally win the house cup. My dad was a Gryffindor so hopefully I'll be as well. Ravenclaw is ok my mother was a Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff wouldn't be too bad, although I hope I'm not in there, but Slytherin," Branwen shivered "Their evil, and normally in trouble and they normally have the wizards that go bad."
Branwen stopped there while they got their books. Then as they left the shop and headed to get their potion ingredients she pulled Lily behind the adults and whispered.
"There was a Dark Wizard in 1945 called himself Grindelwald, he was a Slytherin. He was a horrible wizard but Albus Dumbledore Hogwarts headmaster defeated him. Rumour has it that there's another Dark Lord rising, calling him self voldie-something I can't remember but they say that he was a Slytherin as well."
Lily had cold shivers running up her back and despite the heat she felt cold.
"So Lily where do you live then?"
She was happy for the change of topic and quickly picked up this conversation.
"I live in the muggle world, in Bristol. I live with my mum and dad, and I have an older sister Petunia, she refused to come here as she thinks I'm a freak. What about you?"
"Well I'm an only child. My mother died when I was younger. I live in the summer with nhad, but in the school term when he's at Hogwarts I live with tad (welsh for granddad). We're from Aberystwyth, it's a town in the west of Wales"
The conversation went on like this for a while until they came to the wand shop. They went inside where they were met by a strange man. He measured both the girls' wand arms and then set about finding them a wand.
Branwen went first it took them 13 attempts until they found her wand. The man told her it was good for healing.
Lily was nervous when she stepped forward. She was glad that Branwen went first as she started waving her 17th wand. Finally what seemed like hours later she was leaving the shop with her wand (unicorn hair, willow, 10¼ inches, good for charms)
It was getting late and too soon it was time to say goodbye. Branwen and Lily gave each other a hug promising to meet each other on Platform 9 at Kings Cross Station at 10.30 on the 1st September.
Lily waved goodbye as the Evans' left through the muggle world. They walked to the nearest underground and were soon at Pa Evans' house.
Lily ran up the steps to the house, hammering on the door to be let in. She ran past her grumpy sister and up to her room slamming the door shut behind her. She dropped most of her bags on the floor and crashed onto the bed.
Pulling the books out of her bag she started reading, the first book she read was 'Hogwarts a History', after talking to Branwen all day she wanted to learn more about the school, she couldn't wait for the 1st so that she could see Hogwarts first hand.
The next day they headed back to Bristol, where Lily started her count down until she could leave. She was happy that she already had a friend and started wondering about what Hogwarts would really be like.
Okay just a small little note that I forgot to add, Branwen's father is called Taliesin and I know that if you're not Welsh you most likely have never heard of the name before.
Taliesin was a welsh bard very famous, but the reason I bring this up is because I have been asked lots of times how to pronounce his name. So you said it basically as follows
Ta Lee s in
That is the way to pronounce it, can't make it any clearer, so I thought that I would just add that.
As for the second name well it means dragon in Welsh and is pronounced
Da r ith e ad
Hope this helps.
Kris