The next week, Lily awoke to her mother calling up the stairs. "Come on, Lily. I've got a twelve o'clock appointment with the president of Chuck and Micro's firm, so I'm going to have to drop you off while you go shopping."

She rushed out of bed and threw on a sweatshirt over her tank top. It was rainy and cold outside, so she also put on some thin jeans so they'd dry faster. After pulling up her hair, she ran downstairs.

"Good, you ready?" Mrs. Evans asked, while handing her daughter a piece of toast. They ran out to the car, trying to avoid getting wet. "All right… I'm going to give you three hundred pounds. I know that's a lot of money, but I talked to that McGonagall lady and she insisted that there is a bank in the shopping center. I want you to go straight there- no stopping- and deposit the money."

She pulled the car to a halt outside a dusty-looking bar.

"Where is it?" her mom asked, looking around.

Lily pointed. "Right there."

"I don't see it."

"Maybe only witches can."

"Maybe," she smiled. "Go on. I'm going to be late. See you around two. Love you."

"And you." Lily said, kissing her mum on the cheek. She walked over to the black door, the change jingling against the pounds in her pocket. When she walked inside, she felt like she was going to choke on the smoke filling the room. She walked up to the front of the bar and leaned against the counter.

A man with rusty hair spun in front of her. "How can I help you, little lady?"

"I was told I could reach Diagon Alley through this store…" replied Lily, looking around awkwardly.

He laughed. "Don't worry, it's not in here. Come on, I'll lead you out back. By the way, I'm Tom."

"Lily Evans," she shook his hand.

"Three up, two across," Tom said, hitting a brick wall with a stick.

To her surprise, the brick began to fold back, farther and farther, revealing a cobblestone path with people bustling about busily. She expected it to be raining and dreary like it was just a few minutes before, but, instead, the sun was shining brightly and it was warm.

"Thanks very much," she said, pulling off her sweatshirt.

"Anytime."

She walked through the barrier, then turned to watch as it formed back into place. She walked for about ten minutes, occasionally stopping to peer through windows. Her head was spinning; everything was so… out there.

Suddenly, she knocked into something heavy, and went flying across the ground. Some of her money fell out of her pockets.

A blurry object rushed to pick it up, the walked over to her. As her vision came back, she saw that it was actually a boy that looked about her age. He had messy black hair and brilliant blue eyes that ceased to shine behind his glasses. He was wearing a robe that was very nicely trimmed… besides his hair, it looked as if he was very well groomed and that he had a bit of money.

"I'm so sorry!" he cried. "It's my fault… I wasn't looking where I was going. You dropped these pieces of paper. I hope dearly that they're not important. I know I got them all though… but I'm so sorry, here, let me help you up."

He handed over the money then held out his hand. She accepted it, then was pulled to her feet.

"Thanks… and it wasn't your fault, it was mine." She put the bills in her pocket.

"What are those?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Money…"

"Money?" he inquired. He looked extremely puzzled, then his face opened to a look of realization. "Oh! Are you a Muggle?"

"A what?"

"Oh… I mean… are your parents non-magical folk?"

"Oh, yes!" she smiled. "I didn't know there was a word for that. Hey, I'm sorry. I can't stay to chat. I'm supposed to be going right to the bank… I just don't know where it is. See you around."

As she walked off, the boy called out. "Wait! I can take you there!"

"All right," she said, after thinking about it for a second. "I'm Lily, but the way. Lily Evans."

"James Potter," he held out his hand, which Lily shook. In just a few minutes, they were standing outside a grand white building."

"This it?"

"Yeah," he replied. "Come on."

When they were almost to the top of the stairs, Lily stopped. A Dark looking alley had caught her eye. "What's that?"

"Knockturn Alley," he grunted. "You don't want to go down there. Only the darkest wizards do."

"You have bad wizards?" Lily asked, walking through the open doors.

"Yes, but it's no different than evil Muggles."

Lily shrugged, and her eyes wandered over to a rhyme set on the next set of doors.

Enter stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek, beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there

"That's… threatening." Lily finished lamely.

"It's true." James replied. "You'd have to be crazy to even think of robbing this place. It's run by Goblins-real cunning creatures, they are- and it's rumored that they're dragons kept in certain places of Gringotts. Plus, it's so huge that you'd never be able to find your way out."

"Dragons? Goblins?" she asked, bewildered.

Ignoring her question, James had Lily follow to the front desk. "Miss Lily Evans would like to open an account.

"Grimdike!" the ugly goblin shouted. Grimdike came over obediently. He had beady eyes that looked tiny next to his bumpy nose.

"How will you be making your deposit?" he questioned in a raspy voice.

Lily blinked. "Muggle money- three hundred pounds."

He handed her a key, then instructed them to climb into a cart. They did has he ordered, and it took off at piercing speed. Lily felt like her eyelids were going to fall off.

Suddenly, it pulled to a screeching stop.

"Vault three-seven-four. Key," Grimdike requested. Lily handed it to him then quickly pulled back her hand because his fingers felt dry but slimy at the same time. "Stand back."

He opened the door and a glistening pile of gold laid before the three. Lily quickly filled up her pockets.

"I can't believe all of this is mine!" she breathed.

James smiled. "Got enough? All right, good. Do you mind if I go shopping with you? I haven't quite gotten everything yet."

Before she could answer, they were back in the cart and it'd taken off again. When they'd reached the entrance, she responded. "Sure, but only if you explain this money to me."

"Easy," he grinned. "The gold ones are Galleons, the silver are Sickles, and the bronze ones are Knuts. It's seventeen Sickles to a Galleon and twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle, which means that it's four hundred and ninety-three Knuts to a Galleon."

"Okay, well, that was way over my head."

"You'll get it soon enough," he beamed. "Let's get your things now. Madam Malikin's Robes for All Occasions is to our left, right after this shop. Come on, we'll go there first."

"Yeah, clothes are always good!" Lily giggled. "Okay, let's go."