A Change of Heart

Chapter 1

Lily looked outside the window of the car. She was in the car on her way to King's Cross to catch the Hogwarts express in platform 9 ¾. It seemed like only yesterday that she had gotten her letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. Now, in her seventh and final year, she felt the melancholic feeling of the last times of everything in school. This would be the last time she would be heading towards Hogwarts, the last year she would spend in the big, musty, old castle. The last times she would sit in her favorite chair in the Gryffindor common room in front of the fire, just doing homework. She thought about the last few years. They had been so common, so simple, and so full of joy. She had spent the best time thus far in her life in that school with her friends and classmates. She did great in school, she had been named prefect during her fifth year and just a month ago had received a letter from the deputy headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, informing her she had been named Head Girl. Her parents had been thrilled. They were happy about the fact that their daughter was a witch and even more so over the fat that she was one of the best students. She had been showered by attention as she had arrived home during the holidays.

Petunia, her older sister had been raging. She hated that her parents were so proud about Lily being a witch. She refused to even utter the words 'magic' and 'witch' in the privacy of their own home, even when it was just Lily and her. Lily felt disappointed at times. Her sister meant a lot to her, even with her attitude towards everything having to do with Lily and the world she lived in. They were still sisters and it pained her that Petunia disregarded her so. Petunia no longer lived with her parents; she lived with her husband, Vernon Dursley. She had been married for two years, and since then had cut off communications with her sister. Every now and then she visited her parents, but never when Lily was there for the summers. As a matter of fact, ever since Hogwarts, Petunia would always find a good excuse to stay with relatives as opposed to staying at home during the summers.

Lily snapped back to the present as she noticed the car had stopped. They had arrived at the station five minutes before the train left. In a hurried goodbye, she hugged her mother and father.

"I'll be okay. You do this every summer mom. I'll be fine. I'll write as much as I can," she said looking at her mother fondly.

"Really darling, do write. I know I do this every time, but you're still my baby girl. I already lost your sister. It's going to be so lonely in the house without you. What am I going to do with myself?" She pulled Lily into another hug.

"If there is anything you need sweetheart, don't hesitate to tell us. You know, I really do love receiving mail through owls, it makes us feel like we share some of this magic with you," her father said smiling. He kissed her on her forehead and pushed her trolley towards the area where the trunks where being loaded.

She looked at her parents and with a final hug entered the train, looking back several times to see them smiling, waiting for her to truly enter the train.

"Lily!" someone called from behind her. She turned to see a raven-haired girl with bright blue eyes calling her excitedly, "Lily, come on!"

Lily smiled as she greeted the girl.

"Sara! It's so good to see you," she said pulling her friend into a hug, "I've missed you."

Sarah Bones was Lily's best friend. They had first met during the train trip to Hogwarts on their first year. Sarah had bumped into a couple of bad-mannered second years who had been bullying her. Lily had caught the scene and had quickly risen to defend the unknown girl. She had been saved from the situation (the bullies had drawn their wands and were ready to cast a few spells), when a group of four boys had suddenly released fireworks in the hall where they were standing. Lily had made quickly for the next train car, pulling Sarah along with her. The bullies had been too distracted searching for the source of the firecrackers to notice the two girls gone.

That had not been the last encounter Sarah and Lily had ever had with Lucius Malfoy and Walden Macnair, but it had been the one to start their friendship. Sarah had been forever grateful towards Lily for standing up to the bullies.

"So are you going to tell me where you have been up to all summer?" Sarah inquired smiling mischievously at her old-time friend. "Anything-- rather, anyone interesting talk to you during the summer?"

She continued prodding Lily for answers. She wanted to know who Lily had kept in contact. There were several boys in their year who continuously asked her out. She kept her distance, but in the off chance she liked them, Sarah had to drag the name out of her, in an attempt to hang something over Lily's head. She demanded finally and directly.

"Just stop being such a kid already Lily. Tell me who you like!" she whined ending her request in a very childish tone.

"I don't know what you are talking about," she said with a knowing grin. Sarah started to object when Lily said, "But I might have slight affection for a certain person we know..."

"Uhuh." Sarah listened attentively.

"Who belongs to a certain group..." Lily continued going slowly as to irritate her friend.

"Go on," Sarah said impatiently.

"Who call themselves the ---" she refused to look at Sarah now, without a doubt hoping she wouldn't have to finish her sentence. As if by a miracle, there was a knock on the compartment door and a dark haired boy appeared opening the door.

"Geesh! Pick the worst time to come in won't you?! Blimey, I was about to get my ration of ammo to torture Lily with for the rest of the year!" Sarah said exasperated at the boy.

He smiled at Sarah, who looked positively annoyed at the presence of the young man. "Bothering you Sarah, is one of the things that brightens up my day."

Lily looked relieved and happy as she spoke, "Sirius, if there was ever a time when I have ever appreciated your existence, it is now."

He turned to look at Lily and smiled.

"Well, it's nice to know when you are wanted." He sat down next to Lily who flashed smiles in his direction and he began to speak, "So I've been looking up and down for you girls. I know someone who's interested in talking to you Lily."

Lily looked at him quizzically and looked at Sarah who had the same puzzled face.

"Well, are you going to tell us who?" Sarah asked intrigued.

"James Potter," he said simply.

"Oh," Sarah said rolling her eyes, "That's it? I thought you meant someone--"

"Someone who doesn't annoy me to no end. Someone whose company is bearable. Someone who I don't think should be strangled!" her voice got stronger as she listed her thoughts. Lily, without a doubt, could not stand James Potter.