DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING RECOGNISABLE!

I also want to thank my reviewers and anyone else who has read this so far.

ITALICS- Thoughts

Bold Italics- Darren signing

Bold- Lily signing

Bold Underlined – Lily's notes

Just so you know J

I would also like to thank everyone who has reviewed, favourite and followed this story, it means the world to me that you all care about something that I have written! So Thanks

Chapter 8: The end of the beginning

Soon enough it was the 4th of January and Mr and Mrs Lupin were leaving with Darren. Lily knew she would miss her brother more than anything, and it broke her heart to have to say goodbye to him again.

I love you! Lily signed with trembling hands, tears pooled in her eyes as Darren hugged her tightly before he turned and followed the Lupin's to one of the horseless carriages.

Lily and her friends waved until the carriage had ridden out of sight. One by one everyone went back up to the tower, but Lily and Remus just stood staring out at the empty road.

The rest of the year passed quickly. Pranks were played, arguments, fallouts, makeup's and much more, but soon enough it was time to get back on the train to platform 9 and ¾.

Lily sat with Alice and Marlene, but they were soon joined by the Marauders, as the boys had so been named. Arthur and Molly also visited the apartment at some point.

As the group sat and laughed Lily thought back over her year at Hogwarts. She remembered the pranks that had been played on other students and even on her. She had made so many good memories and friends, she didn't want to leave.

Platform 9 and ¾ was in chaos. People were running about trying to find friends and family, saying goodbye to each other for what could be the last time. Lily was stood, surrounded by friends, laughing and crying. She wished Molly and Arthur well as they would not be returning to Hogwarts, having completed their final year. And the others promised to meet up with her in the holidays, there were mentions of sleepovers and trips, and always, "If I don't see you in the holidays then their is always next year!"

And that was the last thing Lily heard before stepping through the barrier and appearing on the other side between platforms 9 and 10.

The first few weeks of the summer passed slowly, Lily spent most of her time with Darren, catching up after their year apart and playing pranks on Petunia.

They also wrote to their new friends, and eventually, in the fifth week of the holidays Lily went to spent two weeks with Alice and Marlene at the Prewitt's. Alice also invited Darren but he claimed he wanted to catch up with his school friends anyway. So, On the 25th of July Lily waved goodbye to her family before stepping into the fireplace once more.

Right Lily, remember this time, elbows in, clear instructions.

Lily spent the two weeks with Marlene and Alice eating fast food (Lily introduced them to it and began to regret it when she saw how hyped up they got) and shopping in Diagon Alley (under the watchful eye of Molly, and the not so watchful eye of Arthur Weasley). They also witnessed Arthur's proposal, and Molly's hysterical response.

But all too soon it was time for her to go home, not that she didn't want to go home, she was excited to see her parents and Darren again, so she said goodbye to her two best friends and the happy couple, and returned to her home in Ireland, greeted by her family with plenty of hugs.

The last weeks of summer passed quickly and soon Lily was in Diagon Alley shopping for school supplies, she was doing so alone because her parents were spending the day together and Darren had gone to meet friends in muggle London, and it's not like Petunia would go anywhere with her, she's too much of a 'freak'.

As Lily was about to walk into Borgins and Burkes to grab the books she's need for second year she heard footsteps behind her, turning she saw Mrs Lupin running up to her.

"Lily! You need to come with me, quickly!" She panted before dragging Lily into the Leaky Cauldron and towards the fireplaces.

After Lily had arrived home Mrs Lupin spoke quietly with Mrs Evans before disapparating. Lily sat in silence on the sofa, staring at nothing, her father holding her hand as their mother paced the room.

The phone began to wring...

Next chapter:

"She couldn't have missed the train! You do realise who you're talking about, right?"