So, I'm posting this update on March 17th, 2021. What's significant about that is that this date marks the five year anniversary of this thread being published on FFN. It fills my insides with warmth to know that this thread has lasted this long and come this far. This chapter is a flashback to the night before Lily started at Hogwarts. Next chapter will bring the story back to its present time.

It was 10 P.M. on the night of Saturday, August 31st, 2019 and Harry Potter was in his daughter Lily's room.

Harry and Lily were sitting side by side on Lily's bed.

"Lily?" asked Harry kindly, "Looking forward to going to Hogwarts tomorrow?"

"VERY!" exclaimed Lily excitedly, "I can't wait to find a compartment on the Hogwarts Express with James and Hugo tomorrow morning!"

"May I offer you some advice. Lily?" asked Harry matter of factly.

"Of course, dad, " answered Lily warmly, "I know you have my best interests at heart. "

"Are you at all worried about becoming homesick?" Harry asked Lily seriously.

"No, " said Lily confidently, "But there is something I would like to ask you, dad."

"Ask away, Lily, " replied Harry patiently.

"The thing is, " said Lily in a crisp clear voice, "I want to truly have the experience of going away to school. I don't want mom and dad constantly pestering me by writing to me every day while I'm away at Hogwarts. By the same token, I don't want to totally abandon and ignore mom and dad while I'm away at Hogwarts either."

"Here's my suggestion for how to strike that balance, " said Harry in a businesslike voice, "Why don't you write home on Saturday nights? Ginny and I would then receive and respond to your letters on Sunday mornings, and you would be able to get to receive and read our replies on Sunday nights."

"Dad, that's perfect, " said Lily happily, "Exchanging letters with mom and dad once a week strikes the perfect balance between keeping in contact with mom and dad without overdoing it."

"Also, " said Harry seriously, "I want you to have fun while you're at Hogwarts, but also remember that you're there to be a student."

"Look, " said Lily crisply, "I know I'm not as academically minded as Albus or Rose. But neither is James, and you know he's been a great student. "

"An excellent point, " acknowledged Harry, "In fact, I think James can serve as a great role model for you."

"He can, " said Lily glowingly, "I'm incredibly lucky to have James for an older brother. His favorite and best subject is Transfiguration of course. As for me, the class I'm most looking forward to is Charms."

"I would be delighted if Charms were your best subject, " said Harry hopefully, "After all, I named you after my mom and Charms was one of her best subjects."

"I know how emotional you got at Ollivander's when I was chosen by the exact same kind of wand as your mom, the mom who you named me after, " said Lily sincerely, "I know how much any aspect of me that is like her means to you."

"The most important aspect of that is in the kind of person you are, " said Harry meaningfully, "It has often been said that Lily Potter nee Evans was an uncommonly kind woman. I know that you are also an uncommonly kind woman and that'll always be what I'm most proud of about you."

"Girl, " Lily corrected him, "Don't make me grow up TOO much TOO fast now!"

"True, " said Harry simply, "You are only eleven after all."

"I'm going to be a good student, but I also going to play Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. I'm going to make our family proud with my Seeking, " said Lily confidently.

"You've always been a great Seeker when we've played Quidditch at home, " said Harry matter of factly, "The Gryffindor Quidditch Team will definitely win Quidditch Cups with you as their Seeker!"

Harry and Lily exchanged grins.

"Lily, " said Harry, looking his daughter straight in the eyes, "Savor and embrace every day you have at Hogwarts. Don't be in a hurry. Stop to enjoy and take in each day you have at Hogwarts as it comes. Too many holiday fans are ready for Christmas before Halloween Too many sports fans are ready for the playoffs in the middle of the regular season. Don't be that person. Slow life down. Take in and savor anything you can enjoy about any day as it comes. Don't be too eager to look forward and don't live in the future. "

For a minute and a nanosecond, Lily sat quietly, taking in what her father had just told her.

Then, still looking her father eye to eye, Lily piped up, "Wise words from a wise man."

"I'm glad you're heeding my advice there, " said Harry approvingly, "I've heard too many people talk about how fast things have gone by and how they wish they would have taken things in more along the way."

"I won't be that person, " promised Lily. "I suppose it's going to hard on mom and dad to have all three kids away at the same time?"

"Lily, don't worry about that. That's for Ginny and I to deal with, " said Harry firmly, "It'll be an adjustment for sure. But Ginny and I always knew that you couldn't stay a little kid forever. We always knew this day was coming. We are both immensely proud of you."

"I suppose sending me away to Hogwarts is bittersweet for mom and dad then?" said Lily uncertainly.

"Ten percent bitter and ninety percent sweet, " said Harry bluntly, "I won't deny there will be a tent of sadness the first few days you are gone. But our, overwhelmingly majority feeling about you going to Hogwarts is one of pride and joy. Pride in knowing you have grown up enough to be able to go and joy in knowing that you get to take advantage of an opportunity we know you are delighted and ecstatic to have."

"Dad, " said Lily genuinely, "Know that, whatever happens, I will always love you."

"Lily, " said Harry genuinely, "Know that, whatever happens, I will always love you."

And with that, father and daughter pulled each other into a very tight hug.