Lilly Evans

Chapter One

          Lilly looked at herself in the full-length mirror one last time before heading out the door: her fiery red hair down in curls just brushing her shoulders (courtesy of a new haircut- her friends were going to flip!), her bright emerald eyes outlined sharply with black liner, and her Head Girl badge glowing against her Hogwarts robes. She nodded in satisfaction at her reflection, and then decided on an impulse to change from her robes into a pair of jeans and a Beatles t-shirt. Not that anyone at her school actually knew who the Beatles were, but it was her favorite shirt. Tuney, her sister had given it to her for her birthday years ago as a baggy t-shirt, but it now fit her perfectly.

            Grabbing her trunk, Lilly lugged it downstairs to breakfast. Her mum was at the stove making pancakes, and her dad and sister were sitting at the table. Dad was reading the newspaper, drinking the maple syrup, and Tuney was picking at her pancake, glaring at it sullenly.

 “Good morning, Mum, Dad. Tuney.”

Petunia looked up to give her sister a curt nod. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized Lilly was wearing the shirt she gave her years ago. She gave Lilly a small smile, then realizing whom she was smiling at, quickly sneered and looked back at her pancake.

“Don’t suppose anyone at your freak school knows who the Beatles are.”

Lilly was used to these sorts of remarks, and ignored her and got a plate from the cabinet.  “Dad, you’re drinking the maple syrup. Mum, I was wondering if we could head out a little earlier today? I’m supposed to meet Maya and Ethan and Harry so we can get seats on the train together.”

            Mr. Evans put down the syrup, startled, and picked up his orange juice. Mrs. Evans smiled at her daughter and said, “Of course, darling. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Brilliant.” Lilly, sitting down. Her Mum sat at the table too, and they all sat for a few minutes, eating, the only sound from the clinking of the silverware, until her Mum broke the silence.

“So, Lilly. What are you planning on doing about that Potter boy this year? Isn’t seven years a long time to fancy someone without it going anywhere?” Lilly grimaced and looked up. This was her mum’s favorite subject.

“Mum, I don’t fancy him back! You know that. Besides, it’s our last year together. I just have to keep him off me for one more year, then I’ll be free.”

Her mum sighed. “But he seems so sweet! Writing to you all summer… just give him a chance! It’s you’re last year together, like you said. Go out with him once, then either you’ll realize he really is nice, or he’ll back off.” Lilly grunted. Mrs. Evans realized she was getting somewhere with this argument, and continued, “Promise me that you’ll go out with him the next time he asks, and I’ll lay off you.”

As Mrs. Evans has been going at Lilly about James since she first told her about him, when she was 11 years old in her first letter home, Lilly perked up immediately at this bargain. “Really?” she asked hopefully. Her mum winked. “Promise me?” she teased. “Okay. Fine. I’ll go out with him once. But that’s it.”

“Brilliant. You’ve gotten very mature lately, you know that?”

“Yeah, yeah…”

Petunia and Mr. Evans had been watching this exchange with growing amusement. Tuney smirked. “Why would he want to go out with you anyways? You’re a freak. Oh wait- he is too! Aww, then you can have a kid, and he’ll be a freak also. That is too cute.” She got up from the table. “Well, I must be going. I need to get to my normal school, to catch up with some of my normal friends. Toodle-oo!” Petunia dropped her empty dishes in the sink and pranced out of the kitchen.

            Lilly stared stonily after her sister, her mood swinging madly. She never asked to be a witch, and told this to Tuney regularly at first, but after a couple of years of her sister hating her she got used to it. Mostly Tuney would just ignore Lilly, but it was the outburst like this that hit Lilly where it hurt.

            Her mum patted her arm. “It’s not-“

“I know.” said Lilly, standing up. “Can we go now? I’m ready.”

Mrs. Evans smiled sadly at her daughter. “Sure. Just load your trunk into the car, and then we can leave.”

            Lilly dragged her trunk into the car, then got into the backseat with her owl, Valerie, and waited for her parents to come. “This year won’t be to bad, right Val?” she whispered, stroking her owl lightly. Valerie pecked her finger and cocked her head. “I’ll go out with James once, then he’ll stop bothering me. For a change.” She sighed. “And as long as I’m dreaming, I might as well say that Tuney will stop hating me. And a pet unicorn would be nice."