Chapter 1
To be honest, Lily doesn’t really remember how it all started. Maybe she was coming home from school, or maybe it was from an afternoon with Severus. None of that really mattered once she got the news.
No. The memorable part of that moment was the explosion of emotions she felt. The shock, confusion, excitement, fright and most importantly the joy.
All those feelings in an eleven-year-old girl's body was a lot to take in. And in addition to that, seeing her parents smiling widely at her, telling her that she was special, made her cheeks hurt from all the smiling and the giggling.
Hogwarts.
Hogwarts sounds magical. When she said the name out loud she felt tingles at the end of her fingers and then she remembered. She remembered the things she did that other kids couldn’t.
She made flowers grow from the palm of her hand. She could refill her glass with water by simply staring at it long enough. And if she was really focused she could even make her toys move by themselves.
She also remembered what Severus had told her when they first met.
“You’re special Lily, you’re just like me.”
She didn’t understand what he said until that day.
Lily was special. She was a witch and she was going to attend Hogwarts, a wizarding school, at the end of summer..
Her family, as supportive as they were, didn’t know much about wizards. But thanks to the kindness of a certain professor Mcgonagall, everything she needed, from cauldrons to robes, were sent directly to her house. Lily couldn’t believe her eyes.
All of this was for her. Not for Petunia and her. Not for the family. But for her.
To be honest, Lily would’ve loved to go to Hogwarts with Petunia, to share her magic, but considering how Petunia reacted to the news - glaring at Lily and saying it was all crap before running to her room - she must have not felt the same way.
Lily loved her sister endlessly. Petunia was her best friend, more than anyone - even Severus - could ever be. Her sister would never completely cut ends with Lily even if she left for the year. They’d still stay in touch.
Lily was sure of it.
They were sisters until the end.
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“Mom, why didn’t Petty come ?” Lily looked sheepishly around the train station, searching for a platform “9¾”. There were the ninth and tenth but no 9 3⁄4.
“She wasn’t feeling well, flower,” her mom brought Lily closer to her, pressing a kiss on her forehead while her husband pushed the carriage. “gosh sakes, where is this magic train ?!”
“Magic train ?” a little voice came from behind the family, making them flinch, “are you looking for the hogwarts express ?”
Lily turned to meet a blond girl looking at her with bright eyes.
She was taller than Lily, her tangled blond hair was tied in a ponytail but some hair remained in front of her face. Talking about her face, she had a beautiful one, in Lily’s humble opinion. Her nose was a bit crooked as well as her teeth, but Lily found it absolutely mesmerising. She had a few freckles, or maybe it was just a lot of moles. Her hazel eyes seemed to shine at the mention of “magic train” and her smile burnt like the sun.
Lily couldn’t get her brain to function properly but she didn’t have the time to embarrass herself since her mom was the first to talk.
"Indeed we are sweetie," mrs.Evans smiled politely, "but we haven’t got a clue of where to go. Could you or one of your parents guide us perhaps ?"
"I can show you the way if you want !” Her voice was quite raspy for a girl of Lily's age.
“Thank you sweetie !” mrs.Evans patted the girl’s head.
“No problem ma’am, I love helping muggles out !” Without waiting for an answer, she dragged the family to the brick wall between the ninth and tenth platform and pointed at it. “You just have to go through this wall and then boom ! Magic.”
“We have to do what now ?” Mr.Evans finally spoke, sceptical at the idea of dashing right into a wall in front of a crowd of people. “Are you alright girl ?”
“I’m peachy sir,” she beamed at him, “I'll go first if you don’t trust me.” And once again, not waiting a second, the girl pushed her carriage straight into the wall.
Before the Evans could call for her in fright, she vanished right through it, not leaving any trace of her being here in the first place. While Lily stepped forward in excitement, she didn’t notice the way her parents stepped back in fright. Oh how cool that girl was ! Lily wanted to follow her right away. However, when she was about to do it, expecting her parents to follow after her, her dad quickly grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Perhaps it’s best if we say goodbye here Flower,” he stared at the wall like he was starting to fully understand what “wizarding school” meant, “Be careful there alright ?”
“Oh…” It wasn’t the goodbye Lily expected but she was glad they were letting her go at least, “Yes, I’ll stay safe don’t worry dad.”
She hugged him tightly as he kissed her temple with love. She then jumped in her mother’s arms, trying to memorise the feeling of her hugs in case she needed it. Mrs.Evans chuckled lightly and didn’t let her go until the very last second.
They might have been scared to fully commit to magic life, yet they were still Lily’s parents.
They were her parents until the end.
“We love you, my flower. Have fun !” She waved at them one last time before turning to the wall and taking a deep breath.
Was she supposed to run or walk ? Did she have to think about going through it ? Or was she supposed to know a magic word to make it work ?!
Oh well… there was only one way to find out. Lily started walking quickly towards it and at the very last second she closed her eyes - so did her parents when they watched her go.
One second she was there and the next she was gone. And when she opened her eyes, she was met with pure magic.
Oh and the blond girl again too.
“Finally ! I thought you were never going to come,” she grinned at Lily, leaving her at a loss of words once again, “I’m Marlene by the way. Marlene Mckinnon.”
At some point between ‘embarrassing’ and ‘girl get yourself together’, Lily finally decided to talk.
“Hum.. I’m Lily Evans.”
“Nice to meet you Lily ! Let’s be friends.”