Meep, chapter two! I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. I really like Maria, though. She'll be fun to write!

If I'm being too rambly, or if I'm doing anything wrong, just tell me, okay? I'll try to improve on it. I feel like I ramble a bit too much, but that might just be me... Enjoy!

-Cassi, who is never completely confident about her work, and who loves every one of her reviewers3

(Also, anything you recognize is J.K.'s, not mine, yada yada)

Chapter 2

The steamy train station was crowded with people, Muggles and wizards alike. Lily stood near Andromeda, with her new pet owl gifted to her by Voldemort resting on her trunk. She didn't quite know where to go once she got on the train, as she didn't have many friends, and once she was on the train, the other Death Eaters could do to her what they wished, without repercussion from Voldemort as he would probably never find out. So the small girl stood outside of the Hogwarts Express as long as possible, rubbing the part of her arm where the lines were. Narcissa called for Andromeda, and the darker-haired girl smiled regretfully at Lily as she got on the train.

Not for the first time in her life, Lily was alone. There was still a good half-hour until the train would disembark, so she sat off to the side and fed Maxxie, her owl, treats. She admired the owl: Maxxie was average sized, with dark black feathers. His yellow eyes seemed to know more than the average owl, and there was a nice snake charm on his left talon. She stroked Maxxie's head, the corners of her dark lips turned up slightly.

Suddenly, a loud screech was heard from the other side of the platform. Lily closed her eyes and bit her lip, hoping above all hopes that it wasn't who she thought it was – Maria Palmer. "Lily, Lily, Lily, Liiiiiiiiiiiiily!" More high-pitched squeals rang out, and Lily opened her emerald eyes timidly. To her dismay, it was just who she had expected.

"Hello, Maria." Lily said, inwardly groaning. She picked up her trunk and closed Maxxie's cage, then started heading towards the train. Maria followed closely, her tight blonde curls bouncing as she nearly jogged to keep up.

"Hi! How was your summer? Mine was sooooo busy! Ohmigosh, you're so skinny! I mean, you were skinny before, but it seems like you lose more and more weight each year! How do you do it? I've been trying to diet, but with how busy I've been I've only had time to get some small snacks, you know? And ice cream- goodness, ice cream is my weakness. But seriously, how was your summer? I was so worried about you, after I heard about the Muggle attacks. I mean, we all know you're not exactly of the purest blood, so I wasn't sure if you'd be okay or not. Did you hear about the Order..." Maria rambled on, but Lily had zoned out. They arrived at one of the red train doors, and she nodded for Maria to go inside. The girl didn't take the hint.

Lily rolled her eyes and headed inside. Right away she was taken aback by how different the magic in the train felt. The magic at home was quite obviously darker, and you could feel it in the air. It always felt like it was pulling her back, tugging her down. That magic made her irritable, and after spending so many years exposed to it, it felt like it was infused within her veins. She was made of dark magic.

But this magic, the magic on the Hogwarts Express, it felt free. This was light magic, and Lily felt like she could do anything around it. It lifted her up, but it could never quite empower her like the dark magic had.

No matter how much good magic she was exposed to, she'd always have the dark magic inside of her.

The train corridors were completely filled with people. A few of them waved or smiled at Lily, but she kept a poker face and weaved through the crowds, trying to get away from Maria. The blonde kept asking questions, and Lily just either nodded or shook her head, not wanting to get into it. She had no idea why the taller girl had taken such a liking to her: she was a moody Gryffindor with a calling towards the Dark Arts, and Maria was a bubbly Hufflepuff who was good at Herbology.

"Lily, how about this one?" Maria gestured to an empty compartment.

"Listen, I really-" Before she could finish her sentence, Lily was grabbed from behind and pulled into another compartment, her red hair flying. She landed painfully on the floor of the train, and let out an annoyed groan. "What the hell?"

"Figured you would thank me for saving you from Miss Bubbles." Severus Snape helped Lily up, and she sat on the bench next to him. There was nobody else in the compartment, luckily, so they had plenty of room to put their stuff.

"Thanks, then." She smiled and glanced at Sev's arm, which was covered up just like hers, even though they were both wearing Muggle clothes. "Where are you?" She asked quietly.

Severus rolled up his sleeve to reveal a long row of lines, about thirty or so, all exactly the same length. They stood out against his paler-than-pale skin, like stars would in the night sky. Lily grimaced and rolled up her own sleeve, which contained only a few more lines than his. Her lines, on the other hand, were all different lengths, and on her arm in an uneven pattern. Severus quickly took in the amount of lines on her arm and gave a low whistle.

"Nine more than me. You only have eleven more to go until you get the Mark." He looked up into Lily's eyes, and she stared right back at him. She knew they were both thinking the same thing: Voldemort was giving her more missions just so she could get the Mark sooner. Because once she had the Mark, she truly belonged to him. At the moment she was only a toy, another pawn he could push around in the imminent war. But the second the Mark was branded into her skin, she'd be much more than that. Once she had the Mark, he'd be able to completely control her every move, her every action. Her every kill.

Not that he didn't already do that, she thought sullenly.

"He won't give us any more missions until break, I'm sure of it." Lily rolled her sleeve back down and looked out the window. The train had started moving.

"Maybe... but if he gives you another, I'll take it."

"Don't do that."

"I want to."

"Well don't."

The rest of the train ride was spent in awkward silence, with the occasional offering of chocolate frog to Lily, which she always turned down. Eventually Lily ended up slumped against the window, sleeping, with her cheek pressed against the warm glass.

Finally, the Hogwarts Express arrived at its destination: Hogwarts. Severus nudged Lily awake, and they gathered up their items, stepping off the train and into the carriages awaiting them.

They were joined in their carriage by a small blonde, who could almost be described as wispy. She stared off into the trees on the way to the castle, and occasionally made odd comments such as, "The trees are loud today," or, once to Lily, "your head is on fire." Lily just raised her eyebrows and nodded, not wanting to get into it.

"That's Wren Summers. Pureblood. Bit off her head." Severus whispered in Lily's ear, and they both watched the girl as she swayed back and forth in her seat, smiling slightly.

"Lucky her. Any other blood status and she'd be dead, no doubt." Lily sighed.

Hogwarts came into view, and the two almost-Death Eaters sat up straighter in their seats, while Wren continued to hum slightly.

"Home." Severus grinned up at the looming castle, but Lily bit her lip and replied,

"Not home. Prison."

Lily knew that Hogwarts was no more a prison than the mansion with Voldemort, but she couldn't help but feel that way anyway.

She had said goodbye to Severus and was sitting at the Gryffindor table near a few girls who wouldn't shut up about how hot some of the boys were, and what girl in the class had the largest chest but the ugliest face. Once they had decided on Clarisse Piank, the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, stood at the podium and clapped his hands.

"Good morn-eve, one and all! A few notices before the years begins: Do not eat the bogey flavored beans, my password is never, ever Muggle nor food related, and I mustn't forget to shampoo twice. Now, let the Sorting begin!"

Lily clapped whenever a first year was sorted, but wasn't really paying attention. She was focused on the floating candles, lighting the dim hall. It should have seemed dark, a bit overcrowded, as the girl normally felt in dark places. Instead, it just felt comfortable. Cozy, even.

She overheard a few snippets of conversation, then listened closer when she heard the words "Order of the Phoenix." Four boys, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and James Potter were telling half of the Gryffindor House how they had just gotten officially inducted into the Order. She leaned closer to their end of the table, trying to hear as much as possible, but the boys' speech was cut short by the arrival of the feast. Lily picked at her food, having lost her appetite. The Order were her enemy, as Voldemort would constantly remind her. They would kill Death Eaters, and the Death Eaters would kill them. The circle of life. And now, four of Lily's classmates – Housemates, even – were the enemy.

The Sorting over, feast devoured, and conversations finished, the students were sent to their common rooms. Lily stayed back for a bit, sitting at the large table by herself, wringing her hands. After only a few minutes, Professor McGonnagal ushered her from the Great Hall, telling her to catch up with the rest of her House.

"Miss Evans! How splendid to see you back!" The Fat Lady smiled down at the ginger, "Would you like to hear my newest piece? I've been working on it all summer!" With great enthusiasm, she began to sing, but Lily interrupted her with the password, Runespor.

"Fine, fine, no need to get your knickers in a twist!" The portrait swung open, and Lily stepped inside, right into James Potter.