An tús
She paced through the narrow train corridor, looking through the different comportments to find one with space. Everything was nearly crowded, she had entered a bit late because her mother had decided not to let her go of their hug, Lily wipes away the tears on her cheeks at thinking about them. Her parents had been immensely proud when the letter appeared in their mailbox. Her sister, on the other side, had completely changed in the worst way possible. Every instant that they had together that used to feel like heaven, felt like a hell that never ends, and Petunia had made sure it was like this. After being released of her mother’s hug, Lily had expected and hoped for a similar gesture from her sister, but when the redhead had walked towards her, the girl had turned away saying she’ll wait in the car as it seemed like her sister will never leave at the end. Lily trying not to show her sadness finally waved goodbye to his parents and walked toward the new chapter of her life.
Finally, she found one compartment where there was still space, carefully she opened up the door getting inside it. There was only one blonde girl sitting in a light sleep inside, so without making a lot of noise, Lily sat quietly in front of her. Carefully she opened up her small backpack pulling out a small book.
Lily loved to read, she had always had, even when she was little and couldn’t really read she always begged her mother to read her something before sleep every night. She had always felt some sort of comfort in those stories, she could read any kind of novel: mystery, romance, murder, sci-fi, fantasy,... Every new story was a new life lived. New friends, new lovers, new enemies, new family members. Lily had always been pretty shy, so it was an escape from her reality, a different world where there were people that wanted to be her friends.
Even though, not a while ago, a bit after her Hogwarts letter had appeared she had met a boy in a playground near her house. It was the only person she knew in that new school and her only friend aside from a pair of friends from middle school. She was excited about this new magic stuff, but she couldn’t lie to saying she was not a bit afraid, but knowing she’s got Severus there, helped.
“Mhmm” The girl in front of her moved slightly, waking up. “Uh, hi,” Said looking at Lily after opening her eyes.
“Hi,” Lily replied, “I’m Lily, Lily Evans” she continued extending her hand toward the sleepy blonde.
“Marlene McKinnon” answered the girl reciprocating Lily’s formal gesture, but a bit surprised by it.
To be fair, Lily was also surprised by it, she just had panicked and that had come out and now she felt a bit embarrassed, but she was glad Marlene hadn’t said anything about it.
Marlene started to talk asking Lily a lot of questions and answering the same about her. She was half British and half Filipina and lived in London. And Lily said that she was also half British but the other half Irish and lived in a small town in Scotland. Marlene had two older brothers that had already finished school, as there was a big gap between them. And the redhead talked about her only sister Petunia, a thing Marlene was jealous of because she had always wanted a sister close to her age. All the McKinnon family were witches and wizards, so she grew up with magic. And Lily a bit worried for what the blonde will say, explained how she was the only one from her family apart from her grandma from her mother’s side, but she had already died when Lily was 6. Marlene was the one leading the conversation, but she didn’t seem to care and made Lily feel comfortable without pressing her to talk more that what she did.
While they were talking, the door opened fastly suddenly, making both girls jump from their seat. Standing at the door there was another girl also around their age “Oh, hello!” she said going to sit next to Lily.
“Sorry for the entrance,” She said looking at both girls who hadn’t said anything yet.
“No worries, not everybody knows how to do an entrance as good as yours.” Talked the blonde. “Marlene McKinnon,” she said offering a formal greeting toward Mary with her hand while she winked at Lily making her go red as her hair.
“Mary McDonald,” The black hair said corresponding to Marlene’s hand and turning to Lily waiting for her to say her name, and when Mary was about to give up and ask her, Lily spoke “Lily Evans”.
After that, the conversation flowed mostly with Marlene asking Mary questions, and all of them sharing a bit of themselves in that magic train ride.
And then and there, a beautiful friendship between three young 11-year-old girls started, but what they didn’t know is that it will last close to forever.
And what Lily didn’t know is that this time the novel will be written about her and that the love and the friends, and the family will feel as fictional but this time in her real life.