Chapter 1

March 27, 1968

Today's my birthday! Yay! Daddy gave me this so that I can write down my thoughts and feelings. That's good cause I can tell all about how my birthday party and how my sister is so great.

First my party. Mummy let me have 6 friends over. We had cake and chocolate ice cream. And I got presents. I love getting presents. My best friend Julie gave me a pretty purple t-shirt and purple hair ribbons that match it. I love purple.

Petunia says that redheads don't look good in purple, something about it being the wrong color for our skin tones or something like that. I ignored her. I think that to be nice, I'm going to share my shirt with her. She can borrow it. We're both almost the same size. She's just 10. I love my older sister. Outside of Julie, she's my best friend. When I grow up, I want to be as pretty as she is. She's so pretty. I'd trade my red hair and green eyes for her dark hair and dark eyes any day. I think I was adopted. Casey was adopted. Her mum and dad are always telling her that because they couldn't have kids, that they got to pick the very best. Petunia looks like Mum. But I don't look like either Mum or Dad. Daddy says that children always look like their parents, but that I look like some exotic queen. Then he showed me a picture of his great-grandma. She's beautiful too. As I looked closely at the brown and white photograph, Daddy's great-grandma winked at me! I tried to tell Daddy, but he just laughed and said I'm imagining things. No I'm not! I know what I saw.

Hmmmm, I'm not talking about my party anymore am I? Well that's ok. Back to my party. Julie was there, obviously. So was Casey. And Sarah. And Jane. And Emily. And Hannah. We played this game called "Pin-the-tail-on the Donkey." Hannah won it. She got her donkey's tail pinned in the exact spot. Mine landed on the opposite wall. It was very funny. After the game, it was time for me to open my presents. Julie gave me the purple shirt and hair ribbons. Casey gave me a stuffed frog. He's so cute. I think I'll name him Ribbitt. Sarah gave me a new book. It the latest Nancy Drew book and I think that Petunia's more excited about that than I am. Jane gave me crayons and a coloring book. Emily gave me a game called Monopoly. This looks fun. Maybe Petunia and I can play it tomorrow. Hannah gave me a green blanket. Her mum made it for me, but Hannah pointed out that she helped. She got to make a few of the stitches. It's so soft. And in a shade of green that match my eyes. Mummy gave me my own case of makeup! Now I won't have to borrow hers anymore. Of course there's only eyeshadow and lipstick and nail polish, but that's all I ever use anyway when I am allowed to play in Mum's makeup drawer. Petunia gave me a picture of me and her playing in the park. I love it! It will go on the table beside my bed. And of course Daddy gave me this diary. After presents, it was time for cake and ice cream. Yummy! All chocolate of course. Then my friends had to go home. I wanted a sleep over, but Mummy said no not this time.

Well, now I have to go to bed before Daddy comes up and gets mad that I'm still up. Tomorrow is a school day and I can't wait to tell my teacher, Mrs. Creagle all about my birthday party!

Always,

Lily

Hermione had to smile as she read the words that 8 year old Lily had written. Such life, such innocence. Too bad that that was lost and her life was cut so tragically short. Hermione had a hard time picturing the girl Petunia that Lily had so lovingly painted with her childish words. According to Harry, his aunt hated his mother. Hermione had to wonder what had caused the rift between the two sisters. At the ages of 8 and 10, Lily and Petunia seemed to be very close.

Reading Lily's diaries were supposed to help her understand the woman who was Harry's mother, yet after just the first entry Hermione had more questions than answers. How would Harry relate to the child that his mother used to be? What about her adoration of her sister, a woman who had mistreated Harry his entire life? How would he be able to reconcile those differences? What happened between the sisters to cause the deep abiding hatred that Petunia felt? Hermione had to believe that it was more than just jealousy. Jealousy over looks, Lily's abilities, and yes, jealousy even over James. Gazing at the book she held in her lap, Hermione realized that it might, just might, contain answers to those questions as well as so much more. Focusing her thoughts back to the task at hand, Hermione turned to the next entry, dated about a month after the first and continued reading Lily's story.

April 30, 1968

Yesterday was so much fun. Me and Petunia went to the park and played for the afternoon. Just the two of us. We sat on the swings and talked. About what we want to do when we grow up. Petunia said that she wanted to go to America. See New York and all the shopping there. She said that America isn't at all like England. For one thing, our entire country could fit in just one small part of America. I can't imagine living in a place that doesn't have moors and cliffs where the waves crash up against the shore. Maybe she'll take me with her. I would like to go anywhere in the world as long as my sister came with me.

Then it was my turn. I said that I wanted to grow up to be a teacher like Mrs. Creagle. As much as traveling sounds like fun, I want to stay close to home. Close to Mum and Dad. Close to Petunia. Teaching seems like such fun. Mrs. Creagle told me that I'm good at helping kids understand the math problem or how to read the chapter we're reading.

We also talked about our weddings. I want Petunia to be my maid of honor. And she can wear purple. And have her hair all done up in curls. And I'd be all dressed in white. It would be a long flowing white gown, kinda like Grandma's wedding dress that I used to play dress up in when I was a little girl. There will be flowers everywhere. Roses and gardenias and tulips and daisies. In all colors. Pinks, purples, yellows, whites, and reds. And I'd be so happy and Petunia would hand me my bouquet and we'd walk together to the front of the church where Daddy would be waiting to hand me over to my husband. He'd be tall. And handsome. With kind eyes. And he'd adore me. But he wouldn't tease me like the way that Justin teases me at school. Julie says that Justin likes me and wants to kiss me. That's why he's always chasing me and pulling my hair and trying to get me to notice him. But I think that he's just trying to get attention. When I told Petunia about him, she agreed. He just wants attention. She suggested that I ignore him and see if that will stop his teasing.

Petunia told me what she wants at her wedding. She said that she really doesn't want to get married. She wants to travel the world before getting married. I'm a little shocked because I thought that every girl dreamed of getting married. But she played along with me anyway. I knew she was doing it for me, because she loves me and didn't want to make me cry. Anyway. Her wedding will be in some far away place like Egypt or something. I'd be her one bridesmaid. She said that she'd put me in green to show off my eyes. Why is everyone so into my eyes? They're just eyes. Everyone has them. So what if mine are green. We'd be standing on the shore of a lake and the sun would be setting as she and her husband said their vows. After we're both married, we'd live side by side and see each other every day!

Always,

Lily

May 16,1968

I got in trouble at school today. Only it wasn't my fault! I didn't know that that Justin would get hurt when I didn't touch him. All I did was tell him to leave me alone. And when he wouldn't, I wished that something would happen to him and he'd go away and leave me alone. The next thing I knew, Justin was lying on the ground holding tight to his tummy. Saying over and over that I needed to stop it. I was hurting him. How could I have hurt him when I didn't touch him. Mrs. Creagle wanted to know what had happened, so Julie was more than happy to share her version of the events. Mrs. Creagle made me sit in the time out corner for the rest of the day. It's not fair! I didn't do anything! I wish that Petunia were here. She'd save me.

When Mum picked me up after school, Mrs. Creagle told her what had happened. Mum got a really scared look on her face as if she were afraid I'd harm her. When Mrs. Creagle asked Mum what was the matter, Mum said that it wasn't the first time that something had happened because I was annoyed or upset. I know that I had accidentally caused a fire in the kitchen when I was baking a cake and Petunia said something that mad me mad. But I didn't hurt Justin! What's wrong with me? Why am I so different? I still think that I'm adopted. It's the only reason I can think of for me not fitting in with my perfect family.

Always,

Lily

Hermione's heart went out to the little girl who was doing accidental magic. She knew that that was the cause of Lily's differences. The poor child had no idea that her life would change drastically because of her ability to do magic. She looked around the attic and the shadows that were lengthening. She realized that she needed to get back to Headquarters, give an update about what she found, and try to talk to Harry. With a weary sigh, Hermione stood, shook out the kinks from her cramped position and prepared to leave the attic. She knew she'd be back again tomorrow and the next day until she had completed Lily's story. Harry needed to know it. And she would be the one to tell him.