Of Deer and Flowers

Prologue

June 2,

Dear Kate,

I've just been given you as a diary for my birthday, but as I can't always be saying dear diary I think I'll call you Kate.

My name is Lily Evans. I'm eleven years old with red hair and lots of freckles. My sister Petunia says one day I'll be as pretty as mum, but I'm not sure I believe her. Petunia's only one year older than I am and we get along really well . . .

It was a small quiet town with lots of ordinary people but in one house was one very special little girl, who had no idea what she soon would become.

July 20,

Dear Kate,

You'll never believe what happened today. I received a letter from a school called Hogwarts. Father is always talking about Magic. Calling himself a Squib and suchlike, but I never believed him until now . . .

And so thousands of owls went out. Bringing letters of acceptance to those fortunate few chosen to attend, and supply lists to those that already went.

July 25,

Dear Kate,

I got my wand today! Father took my to Ollivanders, said it was the best place. I always thought Papa's stories were just that, stories. Guess I was wrong.

Petunia got into a fight with a boy called Snape. I don't think I like him much. Don't think he likes me either. He called me a Mudblood, whatever that means . . .

Students got their supplies. The house elves aired out the classrooms, while the staff prepared the lessons. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's first term of the season was about to begin.

Chapter one

Aboard and on the way

September 1, morning

Dear Kate,

Today Father's taking me to the station. Can't write more, don't want to be late!

The girl named Lily Evans stepped on to platform 9 ¾ closely followed by her father. Turning she said to him, "Papa I don't think I can do this!"

"Nonsense darling," her father knelt down to give her a hug, "just remember what I taught you and you'll do fine. Now you'll send Grimms home with a full account of your first day?"

"Yes Papa."

"Good. Now let's get you a compartment and you'll be fine."

The train started moving and another girl soon joined Lily. Medium height with a rather broad build, the girl had brown eyes and curly brown hair cropped short around the ears. She smiled and Lily realized that the girl was actually rather friendly. Holding out her hand she smiled back, "hi, I'm Lily Evans."

"Christy Long. You mind if I sit here?"

"Not at all." The other girl shook her hand and sat down. Lily sighed, "I don't think I've ever been so nervous!" Christy looked at her.

"You Muggle born?"

" Yes. My father's a Squib. He's always talking about the wizarding world, but I always thought they were just stories until I got the letter." Christy nodded understandably and started to say something. Before she could the door opened and three heads popped in.

"Mind if we sit here?" Lily nodded and they came in. The boy who asked had rather long light brown hair and kind gray eyes. He also looked very tired. In fact as soon as he sat down he fell asleep.

The other two were another matter entirely. While both had brown eyes and black hair, ones was short and neat, the others was all over the place. "Piece of toffee?" neat hair held out a piece of candy wrapped in a brilliant purple foil. As soon as she popped it in her mouth Christy's face turned the color of the wrapper. Neat hair burst out laughing and Christy pulled out a mirror to find out what was wrong. Before neat hair new what was going on Lily had grabbed the front of his robes, "what did you do!"

"Lily your hair!" Christy cried, "the other just turned it pink!" Lily turned around to face the other boy.

"What it's not like there's that much difference between red and pink." She lunged at him elbow colliding with the sleeping boy's head. Waking up he waved his wand immediately setting every thing right.

"James, Sirius, what in the world do you think you're doing? We've already been kicked out of nine compartments because of your antics. Do you want to bump that number up to ten!" He turned to the girls, "My names Remus, please don't kick us out." Neat hair laughed, "Seriously Sirius, this is no joke! That other nitwits James."

Lily glared at the boys and then looked at Christy, "You can stay, just keep those two away from us." Remus nodded and sat down feet on the opposite seat, so Sirius and James couldn't pass, and promptly fell asleep again.

James shrugged and looked at his friend, "We just met him in Diagon Alley, he was pretty cool then, but all he wants to do today is sleep!" He gave his friend a kick but Remus only grunted. Lily looked at Christy and sighed. These were two boys she definitely did not want to share a house with.