The Marauders

Chapter One: Lily and Petunia

          Lily Evans gazed out her dew-covered window at the quiet street in Cokeworth, England. The girl appeared as though she were waiting for something or someone. An on-looker might suppose she was merely waiting for the mail-carrier, but upon closer observation might conclude she was more likely just watching the sky. What was she watching the sky for? One may only guess.

            The girl was standing on her tiptoes with her arms leaned against the window sill. She sighed in frustration at the water-coated window. She was trying to see out of it, but with all the moisture the world was simply a blur of colors. She was craning her neck to see around the raindrops when the water suddenly fell from the window in a sheet. She looked up surprised and curious at how it had happened when she heard a scoff from behind her.

          Lily turned to see her sister, Petunia, standing in the doorway. Petunia was tall and thin with a long neck and long caramel hair to match. She had her nose pointed upwards and her mouth contorted in a most Petunia-like smirk. Her arms were crossed and she looked Lily up and down. At only thirteen years of age, Petunia had shown Lily that she was the older sister and she would always win.

          "What is it that you have been watching all afternoon?" said Petunia as she wandered over to Lily's closet.

         "Nothing," Lily replied quickly as she scurried to her feet to attempt to stop Petunia from stealing her clothes. Lily decided to not tell her sister what she was watching because Petunia would probably disregard it. She had been watching for owls. She had a very worn and tattered book about birds that her grandfather had given her and she knew owls did not normally hunt during the day. She wondered why she had seen so many flying out of her neighbors yard and back in at all hours of the day.

           Recently, she had seen an owl who appeared to be carrying a wrapped parcel. Lily had never in her ten years seen an owl carrying a parcel. What was even more strange was the owl had swooped down and through an open window in her neighbors yard. Lily waited for the panic that would surely ensue from an owl flying into one's kitchen, but it never came. Instead, moments later, the owl flew back out, perfectly calm, this time without the parcel.

          "You're probably looking out your window more than that black-haired boy," Petunia said, interrupting Lily's thoughts.

          "What black-haired boy?" Lily asked as she snatched a cream-colored jumper out of her sister's hands.

          Petunia looked at Lily the way only an older sister can look and Lily reluctantly handed the jumper back. Petunia smiled and said, "The one who lives across the street. He's always looking out the window and I've caught his eye a couple of times, but he always quickly looks away. He looks about your age."

         "Hmm, I hadn't noticed him before. Maybe I'll go say hello some time."

         "I wouldn't do that if I were you. His family is of the odd type."

           "Odd type?" Lily asked.

          "Well, his family is definitely not as fortunate as us and they seem distant and not like normal families," Petunia replied.

          Lily sighed. Petunia left her room with her new jumper in tote and left Lily alone with her thoughts. Petunia had always had a harsh opinion of those who were not upstanding members of society. Petunia went to a proper girls school and Lily was set to go there after the holiday. The girls school was swarming with girls like Petunia. Prim, proper, young ladies who everyone respected and everyone recognized as future socialites. The black-haired boy was the exact type of people Petunia's crowd would make a point of distancing themselves from. With that in her mind, Lily decided to seek him out.