Lily

Lily heaved her trunk to her bed and began folding her robes and things neatly into it. She smiled suddenly as she thought of going back to Hogwarts this year and perhaps seeing James Potter there too. Things had changed over the summer. They had met in Diagon Alley a few times by accident and then sometimes they arranged to meet on friendly terms of course. James had really seemed to shine in her eyes this summer. She laughed it off ... of course. It had to be the sun rays affecting her head. At the time she would have believed that. Now she wasn't so sure.

She walked down the stairs into the living room where she had planed to ring her Muggle friend and say goodbye for the year. She had to agree with Petunia for one thing. It was diffificult trying to cover up where she went every school year. She opened the door and peeped in. Her Mother was on the phone so she walked outside and strolled down the lane while waiting for her Mother to finish.

" ...a total freak Susan. I'm going crazy in there. I hate the way my parents dote on her."

Lily hid behind a bush and peered towards where the voices were coming from. Surely enough it was Petunia and her two friends. Susan Gatehead and Lorena Whitehall.

" Well it cant be your fault Petunia. I mean you didn't choose your sister did you?"

" Of course not... but still you'd swear she was queen or something."

Lorena laughed. " Well whats with this private school she's always going off to. It seems unfair that she should go and not you."

Petunia laughed uncomfortably and blushed. " Trust me girls it's nothing much... just another school to hold freaks like her I expect."

Lily clenched her fists with anger. She stood up and walked past them making sure they knew she had heard it all. Petunia looked pale with embarrasment and shock as she saw her sister. The two girls giggled as they realised Lily was there.

" Look now Petunia " they whispered. " I think she heard you."

Petunia bit her lip and looked at Lily who had kept on walking by.

" Hello Lily " called Lorena in a false sweet tone. " Lovely day isn't it?"

Lily bit back her anger and kept on walking ignoring the calls.

" How rude!" exclaimed Susan. " She refuses to answer you Lorena."

Petunia grabbed her bag and stood up wiping bits of grass of her white summer dress.

" I've got to go " she cried suddenly as she raced down the lane after Lily.

Susan smiled and waved her off.

" Always told you that family were weird Lorena " she said quietly.

" I know " replied Lorena. " Even Petunia is a bit odd isn't she?"

Susan nodded.

Petunia flung open the door and raced into the living room where Lily was on the phone to her friend.

" Yes... thanks Marta... I'm fine and you? Thats good to hear... Oh really I'm sorry to hear about her Grandfather... was he ill? ... Ah I see...well at least he's at rest... No ... nothing special... I'm going back to school tomorrow so I thought I'd give you a call before I go. Yes Mum and Dad are fine thanks and Petunia... yes she's fine too."

Petunia hung her head in shame. Lily hadn't said one bad word about her.

" I will...and thanks for the lovely christmas gift ... you too Marta and say hello to your little sister for me... okay... bye...see you..." Lily placed down the phone on the receiver and looked up at her sister.

" Lily I..."

" Dont you think you've said enough? " said Lily.

" Fine " snapped Petunia. " If thats how you are going to be. You can forget it... I'm not saying another thing."

" Good " replied Lily.

" It's not fair " yelled Petunia at her. " Why you have to mess up our family. One mistake if you ask me."

" No one did " replied Lily. " No one did."