Disclaimer: Anything that you recognize I do not own.

Chapter 1

Lily Evans threw the last books in her trunk and slammed it shut. The seventeen-year-old witch was about to enter her seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lily's parents weren't magical, however. They were muggles, and it had been a big surprise when Lily had received her Hogwarts letter.

Her sister, Petunia, had been very jealous of all the attention Lily had been getting and had insisted that Lily was a freak and abnormal. They were close before Lily found she was a witch, but not as much after.

"Hurry, Lily, we'll miss the train!" Suzanne Evans hollered up the stairs, bringing Lily back from old thoughts and memories. Lily sighed and pinned her new Head Girl badge onto her muggle tee and heaved the trunk down the stairs.

Lily was a very pretty girl of average height and long fiery auburn hair reaching mid-back. Emerald eyes that sparkled when she smiled and full lips attracted attention of many of the guys at her school.

"Love you, Mum," Lily said as she seized her mother in a hug.

"You too, Lily. Be sure to write!" her mother said, saddened.

Her mother helped Lily into their car where Lily's father, Matthew Evans, was waiting. Lily waved to her mother as she departed.

They reached King's Cross in record time and Lily said goodbye to her father in a similar fashion as before and turned towards the barrier. She took a deep breath and ran with her trunk straight through the barrier to platform 9 ¾.

The Hogwarts Express shined and Lily couldn't wait to reach her second home once more. She got onto the train and searched for an empty compartment. Just as she was about to give up hope, the last compartment door opened and her best friend, Bridget Monbourne, stuck her head out in the aisle. "Lily!" she exclaimed.

Bridget was within an inch of Lily's height with chocolate brown hair cut a few inches below her shoulders and sapphire blue eyes. She had a darker complexion than Lily's with a light dusting of freckles across a dainty nose. She was, like Lily, gorgeous.

"Oh! Is Lily finally here!" Lily stepped inside the compartment to see her other best friend, Meghen Aubrey. Meghen was the shortest of the three, but not by much. Short dark blonde hair reaching her shoulders in layers framed mischievous dark hazel eyes and a dainty nose. She was also very attractive. All three girls were popular but smart.

"We thought you were going to miss the train!" Meghen smiled.

"How could I miss my second to last train ride on the Hogwarts Express?" Lily asked, returning the smile.

The train started rolling and before they knew it, an hour of their journey had passed.

"So, Lil, were you late because of James Potter pledging his undying love to you forever? Or were you actually doing something with him?" Bridget laughed but then sighed and rolled her eyes at a glare from Lily. "I don't get why you don't give him a chance, Lil. He's romantic, funny, cute, charming…"

"And a conceited, annoying, pompous, prat!" Lily fumed. "And he is not cute!"

"First stage of love: denial," Meghen said seriously before she and Bridget burst out laughing.

James Potter sat alone in his compartment waiting for his friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. He had arrived at the King's Cross early in the morning because his parents had Auror work to do. Sometimes, he felt that he and his older brother, Jon, weren't as important as many other things they did and had.

Remus walked into the compartment and grinned. "Hey Prongs, long time no see, eh?"

"Yeah, Moony, what's it been-two days?" James asked sarcastically.

"That's about right…" Remus's brow furrowed. "Doesn't Sirius always arrive at the station with you?"

"Well, he went off to annoy Monbourne, as usual." James grinned.

"And why aren't you asking Lily to go out with you? It's practically annual that you're begging right about now." Remus grinned.

"She wants me to be more mature," James shrugged. "She'll go out with me this year." Only he knew the finality of that statement.

"You look even more beautiful this year, angel, if that's possible," A voice came from the door. Bridget spun around and rolled her eyes.

"What do you want now, Black?" she spat.

Sirius Black was also in their year and was James Potter's best friend. They, with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, made up a group known as the Marauders throughout Hogwarts. There were very few members of the female population who hadn't fallen for James, Sirius, or Remus. Those very few included Lily and Bridget, for Meghen had fancied Remus since fifth year.

Sirius looked a bit hurt but covered it up with one of his heart-melting smiles. "I just wanted to tell Lily here that she might want to avoid the feast tonight, with what James has been planning…" Sirius grinned as Lily groaned. He turned to Bridget. "And you, my angel—"

"Since when am I yours?" she interrupted, rather annoyed.

Sirius feigned mock surprise. "Since the day I first laid eyes on you, of course." Sirius winked, brushing dark hair out of his starry blue eyes, as he strode out of the compartment.

Bridget was fuming. "Who does he think he is? The hottest guy—"

"Of course I am," Sirius's voice drifted through their open compartment. "And I'm glad you think so too, Angel."

"He is not—"

"First stage of love: denial" Lily laughed and was soon joined by Meghen.

Bridget just glared.

"Oh shit I forgot the Head meeting in the first compartment!" Lily's eyes widened. "I'll meet you two at the Great Hall later," and with that Lily tore out of the compartment.

Bridget turned to Meghen. "Oh crap! I have to go to that meeting too because I'm a prefect this year!" and Meghen followed Lily out of the compartment.

Bridget scowled and lay back on the compartment seat. She never remembered falling asleep.

It was dark and slightly cold with a cool breeze brushing past her arms. Bridget shivered in her jacket. She didn't know where she was or how she had gotten there. There was a small house a little ahead on a hill. She made her way towards the house wondering if they may know anything about where she was.

Then out of the shadows a cloaked figure appeared with a wand in hand. 'If he is a wizard then maybe he'll know about Hogwarts,' Bridget thought, about to step forward and ask. He didn't seem to see her though and moved right on to the house. He moved his arm in a fluid like motion and hissed words Bridget couldn't hear. The door flung open and Bridget heard a man's voice, one that sounded oddly familiar.

"He's here! Take Harry and run; I'll hold him off!" She heard a woman's screams as deadweight hit the floor. Bridget desperately wanted to help whomever it was, but she felt a piercing cold fluid moving to every vein in her body. Bridget shuddered and collapsed, just as she heard more screaming.

Bridget's eyes flew open and she sat up quickly, banging her head against Lily. "Bee!" Lily shrieked. Bridget paid no attention, trying to remember as much of the dream as she could, which wasn't much. All she heard were the screams, playing over and over in her head. She shivered and then remembered Lily, along with Meghen, was there, trying to get her attention.

"What happened to the Head meeting?" Bridget asked drowsily.

"Haven't you noticed that the train has stopped and the lights are all out?" Meghen asked rolling her eyes but with a slight panic tone in her voice.

"Hmmm…" Bridget mumbled, unconcerned, trying to fall back asleep.

At that moment Sirius, James, and Remus burst into their compartment. "Death Eater attack!" Remus explained before Lily could yell at James to get lost. "We can't find Pete either! He said he'd be back in a flash but while he was gone the train stopped."

Peter Pettigrew was the fourth marauder but he was more of a tagalong then a marauder. He was short with watery blue eyes and was rapidly balding at a young age.

Bridget sat up at hearing there was a Death Eater attack. Her hand flew into her pocket grabbing for her wand. Her eyes widened when she realized that it was empty. "My wand's gone!" she exclaimed.

Everyone else already had his or her wand in hand. "Alright," Sirius started. "We'll all stay here with you, Angel. Lock the compartment. We'll hear them unlock it and have a second to be prepared." He turned to Bridget. "Take my wand," he murmured.

"I'll be fine," she said stubbornly.

Remus pushed James to the back of the train, for James would have a hard time concentrating if he was staring at Lily the whole time. That seemed to snap James mind back to reality for he pulled Lily back and stood in her place. Lily just rolled her eyes and muttered something about bigheaded prats.

They heard someone whispering Alohomora and quickly braced themselves for attack. The door shattered but standing behind its remains was not someone they expected.

AN: R&R!