Lily Evans and the Untold Prophecy

Summary: Just beginning her seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lily Evans is in for a few surprises. Who is the mysterious stranger who pays a visit to the Hogwarts Express? Who is the new Potions teacher? What is the object rattling in her wardrobe? And she also notices a change in the notorious James Potter – now his head has deflated a bit and he has lost that arrogant air, could she possibly…well, like him?

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or names in this story created by J.K Rowling (who is a very talented lady.) I only own the plot, and new characters you won't recognise.

Chapter One: Platform 9 ¾

Lily dragged her suitcase over the crowded platform towards the Hogwarts Express, cursing herself for overly packing her spellbooks. Of course, aside from the required school books, she had taken a 'few' extra for light reading, but those 'few' extra books were certainly taking their toll on her back. Gritting her teeth, she resumed her hopeless tugging, the shiny new Head Girl badge on her shirt glinting in the light.

"Can I help you?" a voice said from behind her.

Lily whirled around in relief, only to roll her eyes when to realised it was him. The same look of contempt appeared in her face, the one she reserved for James Potter, especially when he had that familiar silly grin on his face. The same James Potter who had pestered her for years ever since that horrible meeting in Charms, about five years ago. Lily recalled how he had bewitched her guinea-pig to sprout wings. While he and Sirius had found it amusing, she wasn't very pleased when Flitwick landed her detention. She didn't feel like being the object of another of his pranks. Shocked, she realised he was wearing a Head Boy badge.

"Move it, Potter," she snarled. "I can manage this on my own."

She struggled with the handle on her suitcase, fighting it inch by inch forward towards the train –

Until she felt a pair of hands tug the handle gently away.

"Honestly, Evans, you are seriously thick sometimes," James said, as he effortlessly lifted the suitcase into a carriage. Lily was admiring his strong but lean arms when she suddenly realised he was James Potter. She shuddered inwardly, banished any good thought about him.

"See you 'round, Evans." James walked away, 'probably to hang out with his idiotic friends again,' Lily thought bitterly. She stepped onto the Hogwarts Express, inhaling its familiar smoky smell. She closed her eyes in bliss. She was returning home. After six torturous weeks with the dull goings-on in the Muggle world, she was now on her way to the place of magic and mystery.

As Lily was popular, she found many friends to chat about the holidays with. Along with Alice Greene and Wyona Levick, she settled themselves into an empty compartment, old and red and smelling of leather.

At the stroke of eleven, the train's wheels started moving, and the engine began its usual chuffing rhythm as the students and their families furiously waved goodbye to each other. Most of them would not be seeing their family for many months. Alice beamed at her mother and her older brother as they waved to her. Lily waved at her own parents and quickly looked away, feeling a pang in her heart. Petunia wasn't there to wish her well. During the previous night she had had a row with her sister Petunia. The screeches of "freak" and "batty old witch" still rang through her mind. She and Petunia had been so close before – but now with her notions of 'evil' – not to mention that weird Dursley boy always hanging around her, they were growing further and further apart.

Alice and Wyona chatted animatedly while Lily stared out the window at the greying sky. She had missed her best friends so much over the holidays, but now she was reflecting on her eleventh birthday – that was the day she had received the letter, the day she discovered that she was a witch. Her parents had been so proud, gushing praise – 'I knew there was something special about our Lily' but Petunia's face had only darkened more and more, until she finally stormed up to her room and slammed the door. Later on Lily heard her sobbing in frustration and anger, furious that Lily was forever the apple of the family. Petunia had endured eleven years of being shunted away, while relatives pored over her sister – "Isn't she pretty?" "Goodness, she's a very bright little one, isn't she?" whilst most of them regarded Petunia as the dull, sullen one. Petunia was glad when Lily was finally gone – she could pretend that she no longer existed.

"Lil?"

Lily jolted back into the present. Alice was giving her a questioning look.

"What do you think?"

Lily was befuddled. "Think about what?"

Alice giggled. "About Frank Longbottom."

Lily felt a slow grin spread over her face as she remembered the secret fancy Alice had been nursing since the fourth year. "Longbottom? Honestly, Alice, you can do better than him…how is he?"

"He said hello to me." Alice hugged herself with joy, as though the moment was to be forever cherished and reminisced.

Wyona nudged her. "I bet you two'll get together – and live in Scotland, and house a dear little bonnie lad, by the name of –"

She paused. The three girls considered this interesting notion.

"Teddy."

"Neddy."

"Neville."

Lily and Wyona stared at Alice. "Neville?"