Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, the story or the characters. These things belong to the Queen, Joanne Kathleen Rowling.
Summary: Lily Evans finds copies of the Harry Potter series over the summer before her fifth year. She goes over to James Potter's house and reads Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone with the Marauders, sans Peter Pettigrew. She discovers a bit about what might be her future.
Chapter One
Lily Marie Evans was not your average girl. She had almost waist-length wavy dark red hair, classically beautiful dark emerald green eyes that sparkled, especially when she laughed, smooth, porcelain white skin free of blemish or acne, and, of course, she was a witch. This fifteen year old was about to start her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in a few weeks. Unlike most students, she didn't love summer holidays. She deeply yearned to be with her friends again at Hogwarts, laughing, doing magic, and hanging out by the lake.
Now, though, she was bored. She didn't have any friends in her neighborhood, partly because she was at boarding school around the year, and partly because they all thought she was a freak, thanks to her older sister Petunia. Lily never really got along with her uptight, rule-abiding sister, at things got worse when Lily received her Hogwarts letter, five summers ago.
Lately, Lily had taken to scavenging around in her attic, looking for interesting things. She'd found pictures of her and Petunia when they were smaller, pictures from her parents wedding, and love letters from her father to her mother.
Today, she decided she would venture up there again. She headed out of her room, and up towards the attic.
"What are doing up there, freak?" asked Petunia briskly, coming out of the steamy bathroom with a towel wrapped around her blond hair, and a fluffy white bathrobe on.
Lily rolled her eyes and bit her tongue, inwardly reminding herself that in three weeks' time she'd be returning to Hogwarts. She opened the attic trapdoor and stepped inside the small, circular, dusty room filled with boxes. As she was walking towards the boxes near the window, she tripped.
"Ow!" she yelped, crawling up to look at her knee. There was blood on it.
"Great." she murmured sarcastically. Lily turned around to see what had caused her to trip. It was a small, plain brown box that she hadn't noticed before. There was some kind of foreign scribbling on the side of the box that she didn't understand. She got up and walked over to the box to examine it. She opened the folds and saw a pile of books. She picked up the one on the top. It was hardback and had an artistic cover. There was a skinny, black haired boy wearing a yellow shirt with a red strip on each sleeve. He had glasses and a lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead. He was riding a broomstick. On the top it said Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, and on the bottom it was written in gold J.K. Rowling. In the background there was a white unicorn and a castle and three ferocious looking dogs. Lily flipped the book over. On the back there was a brown owl and a man in a purple cloak with a long white beard and half-moon shaped glasses. It was Professor Dumbledore! And this must be Hogwarts. It just had to be. Maybe a wizard author had written a novel about Hogwarts. But what was it doing in Lily's attic?
Harry Potter…upon hearing that name, Lily automatically thought about one of her school friends, James Potter. She decided to write to James about it. She tucked the book under her arm, and sprinted out of the attic to her room. Lily grabbed a piece of parchment and a pen.
-James
James, I was looking at some boxes in my attic when I found a book called Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Is there anyone in your family called Harry? Or J.K. Rowling? That's the author's name. Please write back to me as soon as you can. I have a strange feeling about this.
-Lily Evans
"Here, Cookie." Lily called to her barn owl. She tied the letter up to Cookie and gave Cookie directions. Cookie blinked and set off out of Lily's window.
Lily decided to just read the inside covers of the book. She slowly opened it up.
HARRY POTTER has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points while riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility. All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley—a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry—and anyone who reads about him—will find unforgettable. For it's there that he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him…if Harry can survive the encounter.
Lily was definitely intrigued. She couldn't wait to find out more about this interesting Harry Potter, but she decided to wait until she received a reply from James.
A few hours later, at dusk, Lily finally received James's reply. She quickly opened the letter.
My Dearest Lily Flower,
Lily rolled her eyes at James's nickname for her.
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you. I feel that you have been ignoring me this whole summer! You haven't returned any of the letters I sent you. I am appalled at how rude you've become over the summer. What would Miss Manners say?
I asked Mum if we were related to those people you mentioned, and she said no. She also said that if you would like to come over for the rest of the summer, you are welcome. So send me an owl soon. If you can, then I will be here tomorrow afternoon to pick you up by Floo. Moony and Padfoot are coming as well. We tried to get Wormtail, but he's vacationing with his folks in Majorca.
Love from,
James the Handsome
Lily grinned as she put the letter down. She had been waiting all summer for James to ask her over, but she had been to shy herself to mention it. She ran to her kitchen and grabbed the telephone receiver, dialing her mother's office. It rung three times until her mother's secretary picked up.
"Mrs. Evans office, Claudia speaking. How may I assist you?" droned Claudia in a nasal voice.
"Claudia? This is Lily Evans, can I speak to my mum?" she asked timidly.
"Sure, let me dial the extension. Please hold." said Claudia, in an annoyed voice. Lily could tell Claudia was rolling her eyes. Lily rolled her eyes back at Claudia.
"Hello?" said a soft, warm female voice.
"Mum! It's Lily. I just got a letter from James, and I was wondering if I could go over his house for the rest of the summer. His mum invited me." she said quickly.
"And Mrs. Potter will be there the whole time, right?" asked Mrs. Evans.
"Mum, of course! I wouldn't stay in a house with a boy by myself for three weeks."
"Well, don't be so sure, darling. I was fifteen once too, you know."
"Mum, please! We've already had this conversation. And I don't fancy James!"
"Alright, then. You can go."
"Thanks. He'll be here to pick me up tomorrow morning."
"You have fun, dear."
"Bye, Mum."
"Bye, love."
Lily slammed the receiver down.
-James,
Mum said yes. Please be here at 9:00 tomorrow morning. Thank you!
-Lily Evans
Lily sealed the letter and tied it up to Cookie, who hooted loudly.
"I know, Cookie, but this letter has to get to James tonight. I promise I'll let you out tonight." Lily persuaded.
Cookie hooted again and flew out the open kitchen door.
The next morning, Lily woke up at 8:00. She wanted to be fully prepared when James arrived, not in pink pajamas with monkeys on them, like two summers ago when James came to pick her up. That was truly embarrassing.
She barged out of her room and into the kitchen, where her mother and father were, enjoying a quiet breakfast together. She wanted to eat a good breakfast so that Mrs. Potter didn't feel obliged to make her something, in case the Potters already ate.
"Hi, Mum and Daddy." she said, hugging her mother and biting a piece of her buttered toast, then leaning over to peck her father's cheek.
"Good morning, darling. How come you're up so soon?"
"I'm going over to the Potters this morning. I thought you'd taken notice that your daughter would be leaving for the rest of the summer." Lily squealed in a slightly offended tone.
"Of course we didn't forget! And we're going to miss you very much." said Mr.Evans, putting down the paper and smiling at his youngest daughter.
Lily grinned back and got out of her chair. She got milk out of the refrigerator and poured some into a glass. Then she grabbed two pieces of bread and put them into the toaster.
"Oh, darling, don't forget to thank Mrs. Potter on our behalf." reminded Mrs. Evans.
"Of course, Mum."
After her bread was toasted, Lily spread strawberry jam on it and ate it. She looked at the clock. It was 8:26.
"Bloody hell! I've only got half an hour to pack!" screamed Lily as she dropped her toast to the floor and rushed upstairs.
"Language, young lady!" shouted Mr. Evans, half-scolding, half-amused.
"I learned these words from you!" Lily shouted back.
"Shut up! I'm trying to sleep!" Petunia groaned loudly from her bed.
Lily quickly grabbed all of her clothes from her closet and chest drawer and stuffed them into her suitcase, along with her wooden hairbrush, glittering pink toothbrush, lotion, perfume, shampoo and conditioner, and her small amount of make-up.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was messy. She tied it up in a sloppy bun and rinsed her face. She wanted to look good for Ja—Mrs. Potter!
She looked at her alarm clock. It read 8:53. She swore inwardly.
"Lily, your friend is here!" called Mrs. Evans from downstairs.
Lily dragged her suitcase, grabbed Cookie's cage, and stuffed her wand in her pocket. She slowly walked downstairs, hoping not to trip and embarrass herself in front of James, who would never let her forget it.
"Aah" she sighed, relieved, when she finally reached the bottom of the staircase. She peered into the living room and saw her mother and father talking to a young man with messy, jet-black hair, bright hazel eyes behind thin, black-rimmed specs.
"Hi, Lily!" exclaimed James happily. She grinned at him and gave him a friendly hug. Behind her, Mrs. Evans gave her a knowing smile. Lily rolled her eyes at her mother.
"Let me help you get your stuff." offered James. It was so nice to have male best friends to do stuff for you.
Lily walked over to the bottom of the staircase with James and grabbed Cookie's cage. Cookie hooted. Then she grabbed the book and clutched it tightly to her chest.
"Is that it?" asked James in a low voice, gesturing to the book. Lily nodded affirmative. They walked over near the fireplace, which was covered in soot.
"Humpf!" said Petunia, upon seeing the dirty fireplace. She glanced at James with a look of disgust upon her face. Mr. Evans gave her a look that quite clearly said 'Be polite, or else.'
"Well, I suppose we should get going, then." said James, breaking the silence. Lily hugged her parents and Petunia, and James shook hands with Mr. Evans and allowed himself to be pulled into a hug by Mrs. Evans. James approached Petunia and offered her his hand, but she looked away, leaving James in an embarrassing and awkward situation.
"C'mon, James. Let's go." Lily said. James handed her a pinch of Floo powder. Lily stepped into her fireplace.
"The Toybox!" she cried, as she swirled round and round.
A/N Okay, I'd just want to let you know that tomorrow I am returning to the facility of unnatural torture, or you might call it 'school'. So please be aware that I might not have enough time to update every day. But I promise that I will try my hardest to update at least once a week. So don't think that I've abandoned this story.
On a lighter note, I'd just like to say that it would be greatly appreciated if you reviewed! I'd just love to hear what you think of this story, so if you wouldn't mind taking two minutes out of whatever you're doing and write a few words, then please do. Thank you!
-Jules 3