The Beginning of the Rest of My Life

Prologue

For the seventh and last time, I find myself walking through the barrier from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters to be greeted by my parents in a tearful reunion. But this time just seems different. I'm different, I have changed so much since I first got my Hogwarts Letter, found out I was a witch, first stepped on to the miraculous Hogwarts Express unaware of all of what was laid out in front of me from then until the rest of my life.

My name is Lily Evans, eighteen and a Muggle-born witch, ready to embark on a whole new life, away from my family, my comfort zone, my one and only lifeline. Life will never be the same again. Well my life was never actually normal. When I was little, my parents told me that wherever I went, unusual happenings were usually in my wake. I was such an odd child compared to my sister Petunia, who lived for normalcy. As a child, I loved reading books about the supernatural, witches and wizards, and magical intrigue. I never expected magic to be real. But it is, as real as I am, standing here today.

I still remember that day long ago, clearly the day I started my transformation. I had woken up on a sunny summer day to an impatient tapping to on my window. I then proceeded to fling open my curtains to find a beautiful owl sitting on the window sill. To find an owl at my window was odd enough, but I was intrigued. I opened the window and the creature flew in and dropped a letter into my hands. My Hogwarts letter. For the rest of the day, all I could remember was a flurry of questions and panic. A wizard from the school came and explained it to all of us and by the end of the day, it was decided. I was going to Hogwarts. From that moment on, my life was filled with all the hustle and bustle of getting school supplies and reading books about the wizarding world so that I wouldn't be too clueless. My parents were proud as can be. I couldn't wait for school to start. From the moment I stepped on to the train, to the moment I stepped off today has been such a blur. These seven years have probably been the most memorable blur I have ever experienced.

Everyone have always told me to start stories from the beginning, but I have never been a big fan of that rule. Yes, I could tell you all about my seven years at Hogwarts, but frankly I would find that unbearably tedious. I looked down at the sparkling diamond engagement ring on my finger, and then to the love of my life standing at my side, and I decided where to start my story. I have always said that when one chapter of my life ends, another begins, so this story begins at an ending point and a starting point, at the end of my childhood and the beginning of the rest of my life. Seventh year, still so much of a blur but yet so clear, the turning part of my life. So this is where I shall start, at the beginning of a new year, the most memorable year, seventh year.

I looked up at the huge clock at the train station, ten-fifty eight. Shoot, I only have two minutes until the train leaves the station. I quickened my pace, thinking about the morning. As usual, I was greeted by my mother and father all teary-eyed at the thought of me leaving. My sister, never missing a chance to ridicule me, was waiting in the car for the trip to King's Cross. Ever since my birthday, she had been dating this complete jerk named Vernon and apparently she loved him and they were already talking about marriage. God, they had only been together for two months! So in the car, she was talking about her boyfriend the whole time. When we got to the station at quarter till eleven, she was still babbling. I waited for ten minutes until I got the chance to say good bye and escape. Now, I am running at full speed towards Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Right after I made it through to the platform and was heading toward the train, I was plowed down by none other than James Potter, the complete jerk, himself. While he apologized profusely, got up, held his hand out, and pulled me from the ground, and offered the help me stow my trunk on the train, I tucked my long, straight, red hair behind my ear and looked at him through narrowed emerald green eyes, studying him. He was still the same as ever, annoyingly messed up black hair and sparkling hazel eyes. But then something was different. I mean, I expected him to knock me down, but not act like he was truly sorry. I decided not to dwell on it and when I got the chance, I left him to go find my best, and only friend Caitlyn in one of the many compartments. Little did I know that this year would turn out to be the best year I have ever had.

Chapter 1

I quickly found the compartment that Caitlyn was in. Caitlyn is a pureblood, and her mom always obsesses about how she can't be late for the train, so she is always there about an hour early and she always gets a compartment near the front of the train. I walked in to find her reading a book. Her long, wavy brown hair covered her face from view.

"Hey, what are you reading?"

She talked without looking up at me, her eyes scanning the page in front of her, "Hogwarts, a History."

"Oh of course," I said dryly. "Is there anything new about Hogwarts we should know?"

This comment made her look up. Her dark brown eyes looked into mine, "Hey, why didn't you tell me you were Head Girl?"

"What?" I asked startled.

She gestured to the book, "It updates all the time."

"Oh that. Well I just found out the other day. I thought I'd tell you now." I was uncomfortable with the subject. I knew she wanted so bad to be Head Girl and it is my fault she isn't.

"Oh okay. Lils, don't you have go to the Head's compartment talk to the prefects?"

"Shoot, okay I'll be back after."

"But Lily..." I didn't hear what she said because I was already out the door running towards the Head's compartment. I flung the door open to a compartment full of prefects and-oh no-Potter! He looked at my shocked face and chuckled slightly.

"Hey Evans, you are late."

"I-I well." I managed to stutter. Then I realized how ridiculous I looked and walked towards Potter. "Don't let me interrupt you, continue on." I gestured to the prefects.

He talked for a long time to the prefects telling them the passwords, what their job was to do. I contributed my fair share of comments and then we sent the prefects on their way. I turned to look at him, "You're Head Boy?" I asked incredulously. "Of course, I always knew Dumbledore was insane." I made a face and turned away.

"Okay I am going now. We can talk about this whole Head Boy and Girl thing later." Then, I left slamming the door behind me. I ran to the compartment where Caitlyn was again hunched over "Hogwarts. a History". I ran to her, snatched the book away and flipped to the page with the Head's listed on it. Sure enough Potter's name was there in black and white.

"Why didn't you tell me he was Head Boy?" I cried and collapsed on the seat next to her.

She turned to me her eyes full of sympathy, "Oh Lils, I tried to tell you but you left before..."

"Oh it's okay Cait. I understand." We spent the rest of the train ride talking about the new year. Remus Lupin, Caitlyn's boyfriend walked in at some point to say hi to me and Caitlyn. Soon enough, we were at Hogwarts. The feast went by rather normally, with the sorting and the food and then, Caitlyn and I walked up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Potter and I talked about how we would split up the duties equally and the fact that we didn't have to see each other at all outside our duties and weekly meetings. For a couple months, everything went quite well, but every full moon, I had to take over his duties because he had to do something. It wasn't a problem until the third time it happened. He once again excused himself from duties and I finally confronted him about what he was doing those nights. He looked at me warily.

"I really can't tell you Lily..."

"Don't call me Lily, and yes you can tell me!" I snapped.

"Okay Evans. I can't tell you because it is a private matter, and telling you would hurt one of my friends."

"Potter! I am glad that you care about your friends, but these are your duties!"

"Fine I'll make them up for you if you want me too but I won't tell you."

He shouted at me. I had never seen him this angry but before I could say anything he thundered off. It was then I decided I would find out what he was up to even if it killed me. And it almost did... literally.

I got a prefect to take over my duties. I sat in the shadows of the common room away from the waning fire. I heard more than saw Potter creep from his dormitory with his best friends Remus, Sirius and Peter. They crept out of the portrait hole and when the door shut, I couldn't believe it. They were sneaking out! As Head Girl I was determined to find out what they were up to and catch them in the act. I knew that Potter and his group were notorious for playing pranks, but this didn't seem like a prank. I stumbled out of the portrait hole and followed them out of the castle. I walked through the heavy door just as the full moon came out of the clouds, I looked out in time to see Remus transform into a-a werewolf. I screamed, shocked and tried to run away but not before the werewolf turned to me, cold eyes wide, howled and started to run towards me. I looked at him fearfully glued to the spot. All I remember was someone screaming "Lily", heavy footsteps, and the same person catching me as I fainted in fright.