A/N: Sorry I've taken so long to update you guys. I've been really busy with school and I had wanted to write more of the story before I posted anymore, but I realized that's not going to happen, so I'm just going to post what I have so far. That means two chapters in a day. I'm partly done with Chapter four, but I'm gonna finish that before I post it. Have a good day and thanks to all my reviewers!

Hpjsr: thanks! I hadn't either, but I thought it was a good idea. My friend gave me the Peaches idea, but that's for part 2…

nerdysunny: thanks for the feedback. I realize it didn't, but the next few chapters are just going to be her going through each year. I'm not sure exactly when I'm gonna start a more in-detail story.

wiccan-jessica: thanks! My friends read it at school and were all "Wow Chelle, that's so good!" I was like, "Well I think I'm gonna post it on the web." It was pretty cool. I know. It bugs me when I find stories where half the stuff is spelled wrong. If you find a name spelled wrong, it's probably just cuz I was too lazy at the time to go into my room and look it up in one of the books. I know my chapters aren't very long…I just don't know how to make them longer. I'm really not the best at detailing and stuff.

If I missed you, it's only because I haven't gotten your review yet!

Chapter 2

Darkness' Beginning

Most of first year is now a blur for me. Only certain events stand out, not many of which were good for me. I did well in classes, me only struggling one was Transfiguration, and nothing eventful happened until the Christmas Holidays. Before that it was just homework, finding my way around the castle, and hanging out with James on the weekends. We found the kitchens right away and would skip lunch in the Great Hall on Saturdays to go and keep the house elves company. They loved us.

Flashback

"Lily! Wake up!" A voice shouted near my ear.

"Okay, okay. Geez James. Stop shaking me." I grumbled as I hauled myself up into a sitting position. "Don't wake up anyone else- nevermind." I shook my head as I realized that all the other girls were already out of the dorm.

I swung my feet over the side of my comfy four-poster to drop onto the cold stone floors. That's it. I'm sleeping in socks. I told myself for the upteenth time. I grabbed a clean skirt and shirt and shooed James out of the room. (A/N: Does anyone know if they had to wear uniforms on weekends?)

Fifteen minutes later I stumbled down the stairs into the Common Room with freshly brushed hair and teeth. Since I'd slept through breakfast, again, it was almost time for James and I to explore.

Later, I shrieked as we ran down the hall. I turned into what I thought was a familiar passageway to avoid James tickling, only to discover that it contained a dead end. I ran to the end, still laughing, and turned around, preparing to ambush James whenever he finally got there.

He turned around the corner and grinned, thinking he had me trapped. Luckily, I managed to squeeze out of his way and start tickling him instead. At one point I had him pinned up against a painting of a bowl of fruit and my hand must have slipped and gotten the painting, because suddenly where the pear had been before, there was now a door handle. We looked at each other and I grabbed the handle and turned it. The painting swung open, revealing what could only be the kitchen. James and I were both hungry, so we stepped inside, only to be bombarded by house elves. They circled us asking us if we wanted anything.

"Actually," I asked, "Could we eat lunch down here instead of in the Great Hall?"

The elves nodded enthusiastically, and sat us down at a side table. Only then did I get a good look around. I noticed that there were four tables laid out exactly where the house tables would be in the Great Hall, plus a fifth which I assumed would be the staff table at the front. Once I glanced back at the table where James and I were seated, I gasped. The house elves must have come and gone while I'd been looking around because we had a ton of food on the table. James was already digging in. I made myself a turkey sandwich and settled down for a good lunch.

Returning to the Common Room after our outing, James and I decided to make a kitchen visit every week. Since we'd found it on a Saturday at lunch time, that's when we settled to go back.

End Flashback

By the time Christmas Holidays had rolled around, James and I had settled into our routine very nicely. Ma had owled me and asked me to come home. I agreed, even forgetting how horrible Petunia would be for a while. The last day of classes, I packed my trunk, hugged James good bye for two weeks, and boarded the Hogwarts Express a second time.

When I arrived home I was greeted by a screaming Petunia at the door. I promptly decided to let her know that magic was allowed during school holidays. I was surprised at Jon's greeting, no more than a "hello" and a nod, which was much less welcoming than I'd expected.

We had a lovely time, until the day after Christmas. Ma had gone out shopping for the after-Christmas sales, and Petunia was up in her room avoiding me. I was dancing around the living room and listening to my new Led Zeppelin record. (A/N: Remember, it was 1972 (or so I say)…and plus, Led Zeppelin is my favorite band.)

I accidentally ran into the tree, knocking off a couple of glass ornaments. Hearing the small tinkle of breaking glass, Jon rushed into the room.

Before I knew what was happening, Jon yelled "Bloody Hell! Do you know how valuble that ornament was?" Suddenly his open hand came in contact with my cheek. I hadn't even noticed him raise his arm to strike me. My sheek stung as my eyes started to water. Jon just sneered.

"Serves you right you witch," he spat before leaving the room. He'd said it in such a hateful way that it drove me over the edge. I ran to my room as hot, wet tears started running down my cheeks. When Ma came home, I didn't tell her about it, but made up an excuse for my purple bruise. I don't even remember the excuse I used now. There were too many over those first few years.

That was the only mark I received from Jon that year. We had an unspoken agreement. I told no one and we never mentioned it.

The rest of first year was quite fun. James and I spent all of our free time together, mostly exploring the castle, and did all our homework together. Helped me with Transfiguration and I helped him with Charms. Oddly, my best subject was his worst, and his best subject was my worst. We finished the year ranked 1 and 2 in our class. Third was a boy named Remus Lupin, closely followed by a certain Sirius Black.

The last train ride for first year came and went, and I soon found myself back home. That summer was pretty bad. Jon had convinced Ma to take longer hours at work, which meant more time for us alone together. Pet usually retreated to her room or avoided the house unless I was out, so there was little chance she would accidentally see something. The beatings became worse, and during that summer and the next I got to a point where I would shut down and just submit to the beatings. Due to certain events during 2nd year, I even started to believe that there was something wrong with me that led, in consequence, to these beatings.

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A/N: Well, there's first year. I promise the next chapter will be longer, and I even expanded this one while I was writing it. I've given up on trying to keep up the Irish-sounding writing, so if there are a few 'me's instead of 'my's at the beginning of the chapter, it's because I was going exactly by what I wrote before, while I made up the flashback on the spot, and thus wasn't trying to catch my mistakes in the 'accent'. Please R&R, because I want your feedback. Please don't just say that my story sucks or that you like it. Please help me to improve my writing.

Ciao for now!

Rowan