After the visit to the beach, they started making plans for the week. Dudley and his family wanted to go to Disney, and Lily wanted to go to Universal. They made plans to go that first week to Disney and then part of the following week to Universal.

The kids had fun. They ran into various groups at varying destinations. The magical part of the family who had never interacted with the nonmagical world were fascinated by it, especially Grandfather Weasley. Lily was glad that her family was getting along and having fun in Florida.

During the third week of July, they celebrated everyone's birthdays that were in July and August since a lot of the children that were from England had to go back home the following week or were going home with their parents at the end of that week. Lily was among those celebrating. Her 13th birthday was in August. It was so good to celebrate with all her extended family. They celebrated it at the Murphy place in Key West. It was a huge party.

On July 31st, they saw the rest of the group back to England. Harry, Ginny, and Albus stayed. They returned to Franklin ranch with Lily and James. They were going to stay in the USA until Lily and James went to school on the 21st of August. Then they would go back to England and get Albus set up for his OWL year.

During the next few weeks until the train left, Lily and her family went to the AstroMall several times. Lily got her books, and an expanded book bag. She also got several new notebooks and pencils. She doubled up her notebooks that she got even though she knew that if she ran low on things during the school year, she could stock up during one of the monthly visits to Ilvermorny Village which she was allowed to go to this year. Lily also upgraded her cauldron and resupplied her potion ingredients.

As she was browsing the latest fashion dresses, as she knew she would be able to go to the school dance in December without being asked. Renee and Julia were with her as they were thinking about the upcoming dances. Renee was eying a baby blue dress that was very form fitting. Julia was more of a ball gown kind of girl and was eying a lacey number. Lily found a lilac colored dress that was considered A-line and fell to the floor. It just had the right amount about of beading and lace to make it nice, but simple at the same time. As she grabbed a couple of sizes to try on around her normal size, Lily heard some other girls talking.

"Oliver Stanton is just as gorgeous as his father."

"I have to agree. Too bad the rumor has it he has his eye on a younger girl. I wouldn't mind having him on my arm for the dances this year."

"Totally. Wonder who it is?"

Lily blushed and hurried towards the fitting room. Julia and Renee exchanged looks. They too had heard of the rumors and heard the conversation. Inside one of rooms, Lily took a seat and took a few deep calming breaths. She then took out the dress that was closest to her size and put it on. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She loved the dress. It was a little big on her, but she knew that it would be best to go bigger in case she grew some more before the required dances.

"Lily, you in there?"

Lily replied, "Yeah. I'll be out in a sec. I think I found my dress."

"Okay."

Lily took a deep breath and stepped out into the waiting area of the dressing rooms. Her mother had joined Renee and Julia. Renee's eyes popped open and her jaw dropped. Julia's reaction was very similar.

Mother said, "Very nice, Lily. Good choice in color and design. You could always have one of the older years fit it to you or take the dress into the village with you when you go and have it fitted."

Lily said, "I'll have Andrea do it."

Renee and Julia too loved the dresses that they chose. As they were in the food court, Lily, Renee, and Julia were talking about their upcoming year, when Lily heard her name being called by two different people. Lily looked over and saw both Audrey and Oliver coming over from two different locations. Lily stood up and hugged Audrey as she was the first to reach her. Lily introduced Audrey to her mother, and they conversed for about 10 minutes before Audrey had to rejoin her parents to get ready to start their shopping trip.

Oliver smiled. He said, "I'm glad to see you here today, Ms. Potter. Have you enjoyed your summer?"

Lily said, "Yes I have, Mr. Stanton. We spent a month in Florida seeing the sites and just having fun."

Mother coughed to get their attention.

Lily blushed. She said, "Sorry. Where are my manners? Mother, this is Oliver Stanton, oldest child of George and Marie Stanton. He's going into his fourth year at Ilvermorny and is in the same house as me, Horned Serpent. Oliver, this is my mother, Ginevra Potter nee Weasley. You already know Renee and Julia."

Oliver took Mother's hand and kissed the back of it. He said, "A pleasure madam. I was wondering if I could borrow Lily for a few minutes."

Mother blushed at being addressed as such. She nodded her consent.

Lily stood up and walked away with Oliver, but still within eyesight of her family. She didn't want a repeat of the previous year. They took a table that was kind of secluded away from the rest.

Oliver said, "Like I said before Lily, I'm glad that we have run into each other before school started. Are you looking forward to the new school year?"

Lily said, "Yes. I'm eager to start my new classes."

Oliver said, "What are you taking?"

Lily said, "Alchemy, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Care, and Latin."

Oliver said, "Quite a selection. The reason why I wanted to talk to you, is because I would like to take you to the first village date in September when we have it."

Lily blushed. She knew that Oliver was interested in her that way. Lily said, "I would like that."

Oliver smiled. They talked for a few more minutes, but Oliver said he had to leave. His mother was getting his sister outfitted for new clothes as she was blossoming, and he had taken the opportunity to come and see her since he had seen her in the same clothing store that his mother was in.

Back at her table, Lily couldn't let go of the blush. Her mother smiled as she saw the blush on her face.

Renee said, "So, what did Oliver want?"

Lily said, "Not here."

She noticed a lot of people were paying attention to them three girls that looked to be about Oliver's age. Renee nodded as she too had noticed the three girls.

Mother said, "So, girls. Do you think you are all set now?"

Lily said, "I do believe so, mother."

Mother nodded. They threw away their trash and carried their purchases to the floo area. Back at Franklin ranch, the girls took their purchases to their respective rooms and then convened in Lily's room. Irene and Wanda were in the games room trying to spend time together before Irene joined the family on the train ride to Ilvermorny.

Renee said, "So? What did Oliver want?"

Lily blushed again. She said, "He asked me out to the village on the first date in September."

Julia said, "And? What did you say?"

Lily said, "I told him I would like that. I never thought it would begin this early, but Oliver has always been a gentleman."

Renee said, "His father would skin him alive if he was anything other than a gentleman. Oliver must keep up appearances in both worlds since his father is such a celebrity. Though I have heard that George Stanton is thinking about retiring after this year."

Julia said, "I don't blame him. He's got to be almost 40 and he's nonmagical at that."

Renee said, "Yeah."

Lily said, "Who were those girls that were watching us after I came back from the talk with Oliver."

Renee said, "I believe they are Heather Ibarra, Joyce Gates, and Monica Robledo. All fourth years. They're the type to swoon after men because they have the money. Though I don't see why in the case of Robledo. I hear her father is pretty rich, but his richness isn't the kind you get by honest means."

Lily said, "Huh?"

Renee said, "Monica is a first-gen. Her father is a drug lord, specializing in cocaine and marijuana."

Julia said, "Holy shit. I don't think Monica is someone I would want to piss off then."

Renee said, "Normally no, but in the magical world, his standing has nothing on him, and Monica can't use his power to intimidate us. Though I hear she has tried with others in her year group."

Lily said nothing.

On August 21st, they all took the floo the Magical Area of Boston and then caught several taxis to Central station. Lily, Renee, and Julia immediately went in search of their friends, Deidra, Brandy, and Anthony. Allen got Irene settled into the first car.

After everyone got their luggage stored, they went back out to visit with their families. You could tell that Irene was scared. Julia assured her sister that everything will be fine. That once she got on that train and got to talking to her fellow first years, she would forget her nervousness.

The train whistle blew letting them know they had five minutes before departure. They all boarded the train and settled into their compartments.

Three hours later, they arrived at the train station in Ilvermorny village. The Pukwudgies with the carts were there waiting. Lily and her friends got into two separate carts and rode up to the school. They gathered on the balcony overlooking the sorting area.

Renee said, "What house do you think Irene will go to?"

Julia said, "Irene is a classic Pukwudgie."

Lily nodded her agreement.

They watched as the first years came in and stood along the walls of the atrium, looking around in amazement.

Renee said, "Looks to be a decent crop this year. I'd say about 120."

Deidra said, "I agree on the numbers."

Mrs. Allen stepped out from the crowd and began her start of the year feast, "Welcome Old and New students to Ilvermorny! Today we start a new school where you will learn some amazing magical spells and potions. You will also learn how to deal with magical plants and creatures. First, I want to make some announcements. Normally we would have the dorm parents take care of all announcements, but these I would like to address. Starting this year, 6th year students will receive a first year to mentor for the year. Get them accustomed to the school and make sure they are adjusting to living away from everything that they had ever known. To adjust to this, we have adjusted the housing. There are now two-person dorm rooms instead of three as you all have known. Third years, if you had a first-year last year, you would continue rooming with them. Everyone else your rooms have been randomly assigned. We will monitor this policy throughout the year to make sure it is the best choice in going forward. Now let's get this sorting started. We also have some transfer students amongst the first years, so those will be taken care of first."

There were a few transfer students from other schools in the United States, some of them had left a newer school and came to Ilvermorny as the standards at their school had gone down severely.

"Okay. Now onto the first years. Jonathon Adams!"

A young African American boy stepped forward onto the gordian knot. The Wampus soon roared to life. The crowd cheered. A pair of twins, Annabelle, and Abigail Bair both went to Thunderbird, another African American, Warren Chambers, joined Horned Serpent, which soon after Lily started tuning everyone out until she heard: "Irene Donaldson-Murphy!"
Everyone gasped at the name. Irene mumbled something to Mrs. Allen that they couldn't hear, and Mrs. Allen said, "I'm sorry. Its Irene Murphy!"

Irene stepped up to the gordian knot and everyone waited for the statues to respond.