They repeated this many times, much to the amusement of Lily, who had woken up when Violet accidentally stepped in an old bucket and made a lot of noise.

About fifteen minutes later, when Violet’s dress was wrinkled, her scarf had long since flown off, and beads of perspiration were showing on her forehead, she made a loud impatient noise and whipped a long, shiny stick out of a pocket that, Lily noticed with astonishment, wasn’t there before.

Violet pointed the stick at the owl, who seemed to realize it was in danger, as it was flapping around the hayloft with haste, and she yelled, "Petrificus Totalus!" in a loud voice. The owl’s wings snapped to its side and it fell quickly to the ground. Violet caught it with ease and put the stick back in the pocket that wasn’t there.

"Oh my goodness!" she gasped when she read the address on the letter, "No wonder the owl wouldn’t let me near it!" She turned to Lily with the largest smile Lily had ever seen and said, "Lily, you’ve been accepted!" She hugged her tightly.

"Erm, Aunt Violet, what exactly is it that I have been accepted to? And what is that stick? I think I was hallucinating, but you did something with it and that owl froze!" she exclaimed quickly, looking at Violet with large, confused eyes.

Violet laughed. A musical laugh it was, too. "Oh, Lily! You’ve been accepted to Hogwarts! The finest wizarding school in the country! Probably in the world!"

"Wait-what? Wizarding school?"

"Yes, Lily, you are a witch, as am I. Oh this is wonderful!"

Lily sat in a daze. Then she stood up with determination. "Aunt Violet, you’re mad, begging your pardon. Magic doesn’t exist! I don’t know what you did to that owl, it must have had a heart attack or something, but magic doesn’t exist! It’s fictional! Not real!"

"Alright, then. I’ll prove it." And she waved that stick again, and right before Lily’s skeptical eyes, Violet turned her sack of horse-feed filled with hay into a large, luxurious-looking king-sized bed with scarlet hangings and fluffy white pillows. "Go ahead, try it out."

Lily cautiously placed a hand on the bed. It certainly felt real enough. She decided to be bold, and she climbed up onto it and gasped in surprise and delight. "Oh, its is real! This is amazing!" and cracked her first real, true smile. It transformed her face, like a candle being lit in a pitch-black cave.

Violet smiled again, grabbed the letter, and sat on the bed with Lily. "Here, Lily. It’s your letter from Hogwarts."

Lily turned over the thick, heavy parchment with trembling fingers and read the address, which was addressed to her in emerald-green ink:

Miss L. Evans

The Hayloft in the Barn

The Evans’ Property

"Go on, Lily. Open it!" urged Violet. She slowly turned the envelope over and saw the wax seal: a lion, eagle, badger, and snake around the capitol letter H. Here’s what the contents said:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

Dear Miss Evans,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

"Oh," said Lily. Words completely failed her, but Violet happily grinned, because she perfectly understood.

"That’s what I said when I got my letter too! Although, my mother and father thought it was all a hoax. I didn’t have an aunt come suddenly and explain everything to me!" She smiled again at Lily.

Lily grinned back and re-read her letter. Then a horrible thought occurred to her. It hit her like a ton of bricks, and she suddenly felt short of breath. "My-my father…he won’t let me go…I know it…" she said faintly.

"Well, we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it! And don’t worry, Lily. I won’t leave here unless you are safely in my arms. I want to take you home with me," Violet said firmly.

"You-you do?"

Violet took her hands and stared into her eyes. "I think it will be best for both of us if you came with me. Sound good?"

Lily couldn’t stop the immeasurable happiness that spread over her like a warm blanket. She hugged her aunt while tears poured down her cheeks. Violet got choked up as well.

They stayed in each other’s arms for quit some time, until Violet pulled away and said, "Well, we had better be going. I’m sure your father is wondering where I am. We can’t avoid him forever."

Lily stood up regretfully, and they walked to the ladder. As they were about to climb down, Violet suddenly gasped and whirled around.

"The owl!"

She pulled out the stick again – Lily now knew it must be a wand – and said, "Finite Incantatem!" The owl’s wings loosened from its body and it immediately took flight with an indignant hoot.

Violet and Lily deliberately dawdled on their way back to the house, but much to their dismay, they were finally there. Upon stepping in the door, they were accosted by Edward Evans.

"Oh my goodness! Violet, are you all right?! Lily, you little beast, get upstairs now! How dare you lead her somewhere else than the toilet! And judging by your appearance, you’ve been in that awful hayloft! Now go upstairs to your room, young lady!"

Lily bravely stepped forward and said, "What room, Father?"

Her father looked at her with hatred, and then plastered on a fake smile and said, "Why, Lily, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now go!"

"No! I don’t have a room! Where do you expect me to go?!"

And before he could contain himself, Edward Evans slapped his daughter hard on the cheek. Lily let out a cry and clutched her injury.

"Edward! How dare you?!" Violet was now shaking with rage. "You-you are a child abuser! You kept your own daughter prisoner in her own home, for the first eleven years of her life, treat her as a slave, and still have the nerve," here she stepped forward so they were merely inches apart, "to hit her! I for one will not take it! I will not leave this house until Lily is safely in my arms!"

"You can not take my daughter away from me! I would sue you for kidnapping!"

"Well, Edward, think about it." Violet said nastily, stepping towards him. Lily hid behind her. "Me taking away a girl – you don’t deserve to call her your daughter - away from you, whom you seem to absolutely abhor! Seems to me like it would be a bonus! And I most certainly will take her! If you sue me, I’ll counter-sue you right back for child abuse! Then where would your perfect reputation be? Hmm?"

Edward clenched and unclenched is teeth. Then he said, in a venomous tone, "Fine. Take the witch, and you’re right - she is not my daughter. I only have one daughter. That - that girl is nothing but a murderer."

Violet gasped loudly and slapped Edward squarely across the face with all the strength she could muster. "HOW DARE YOU! YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WELL IT WASN’T LILY’S FAULT! I HOPE NEVER TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!" Then she grabbed Lily’s hand, perhaps a little more forcefully then necessary, and said, "Come on Lily. We are going!" She pulled Lily into the entrance hall and out the large front door and out to her waiting limousine. The driver was leaning against it with his arms crossed, snoozing lightly. He was jerked out of his nap by Violet’s shriek.

"Charles! We’re leaving!"

"Oh, yes ma’am. Right away ma’am!" And he jumped up and opened the door for Violet and Lily.

~*~*~*~*~

A very emotional three hours later, when many tears were shed, yet love was felt by both, Violet and Lily arrived at Violet’s mansion.

"Oh, Lily! I’m so happy you are here! It gets dreadfully lonely in such a large house!" exclaimed Violet as they stepped out of the limo.

Lily gaped at the house. It was four stories high, with Spanish-style stucco for the walls, painted yellow. It had huge white pillars, and Lily could see a large veranda off the side of the house.

"Lily! I have the best room for you! It just occurred to me! You know, this was your grandfather’s, my father's, house? This is where Iris and I spent our childhood. Iris was obsessed with lilies, you know, and she swore to me that if she had a daughter, she would name her Lily." Upon seeing Lily’s confused face, she elaborated, "When Petunia was born, I asked her why she didn’t name her Lily, and she said that Petunia ‘just didn’t look like a Lily’ so that is how she had your name picked out already before you were born. She told me she had a feeling that her next baby would be a girl, and she knew it would look like a Lily."

Lily’s eyes misted over at the mention of her mother, the one she never knew. "Aunt Violet, even though I wish I could have met my mother, I sure am glad you are here!"

Violet couldn’t stop the tears that welled up in her blue eyes, "Oh darling!" And the two hugged yet again.

~*~*~*~*~

Lily gasped when she saw her new room. Violet had been right. It was perfect.

The room was painted a russet, deep red with white trim and doors that were all French-style. There was a hunter green border around the top of the walls with little white lilies painted about a foot apart. There were four large windows, though on each side, facing each other. They stretched from the ceiling to the floor with hunter green drapes, the same color as the border.

The bed was Lily’s favorite thing by far. It was a huge, king-sized with a hunter-green canopy and drapes. A red, fluffy comforter and white pillows decorated it. The bedspread had tiny lilies embroidered along all four edges.

Lily’s favorite part of the bed was the head and foot-board. They were a rich mahogany wood with lilies perfectly carved into them. They were so intricate they seemed to be living.

"Oh, Aunt Violet! It’s perfect! Absolutely perfect!" She embraced her aunt tightly.

"I knew you would like it!" Violet said happily. "Now, come on, I’ll get Cookie to whip you up something! You look like you haven’t had a decent meal in a long time!"

"I haven’t," Lily said truthfully.

"Come on, then!"

~*~*~*~*

Cookie turned out to be a very nice, plump lady, who was, of course, the cook. She had short gray hair, and when she saw Lily, she nearly fainted at how thin and small she was. She demanded to know who had, or in this case, hadn’t, fed her. Violet quickly told her in a low voice a brief version of her day. Cookie’s eyes filled with tears and the kind lady gave Lily a big hug and told her how much she looked like her mother.

Lily had the most wonderful meal. Cookie went over-board, fixing almost everything she had in the kitchen, and in a remarkably short time, but that of course could have been because she was a witch as well.

She made pasta with sauces, a large salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, and garlic bread. Lily ate everything that was on her plate and went back for seconds, even thirds. When Cookie learned that it was also Lily’s birthday and Lily had never even had a birthday cake, she fixed a large, three-layer cake with pink icing, a ‘Happy Birthday Lily’ that flashed different colors and flavors of icing, and eleven candles. The servants came in and sang happy birthday, while Lily, who defiantly was not used to being the center of attention, was blushing scarlet. She blew out her candles in one breath, and everyone applauded.

She ate one piece because that was all she could handle. Violet insisted she went up to bed, and then the next day, they would go Muggle shopping. Violet insisted that Muggles had better clothes than wizards, but since Lily had never seen wizard clothes, she took Violet’s word for it.

~*~*~*~*

The next day was very busy for Lily. She had to dress in the same clothes as the previous day because Violet didn’t have any clothes that would fit her. They went to London and shopped all day. Lily got everything from fancy dresses to expensive undergarments.

They went home and changed to go out to a fancy restaurant. Lily wore her favorite new dress, a dark green dress made of silk that brought out her hair and eyes. Violet was in a long black dress that was plain yet stunning.

They had a lovely time, and ended up staying out longer than they planned because Violet was telling Lily all the stories she knew about her mother. They went to bed immediately when they got home and slept soundly and very late the next morning.

~*~*~*~*

Finally, the day Lily had been waiting for came: Violet was taking her to Diagon Alley for her school supplies. Violet dressed in her wizard robes that were the same color as her name and they set off.

When they reached London, Violet instructed the driver to let them off in front of a grubby looking pub and told him to pick them up in the same place in about five hours. Violet led Lily into the pub, which was very crowded. She took her hand and led her out a door in the back, stopping only once to talk to a young wizard who she knew from school.

They went out into the courtyard. Violet turned to the wall and took out her wand. She counted bricks and then tapped her wand on one of them, and the most extraordinary thing happened: the wall melted away to reveal a crowded street with shops on either side. Lily gasped as she stepped in cautiously. It all was real!

"Lily," said Violet, smiling down at her, "this is Diagon Alley."

Lily grinned and they set off to a large, white marble building that Violet told her was called Gringotts, the wizard’s bank.

"Now, Lily," Violet said, stopping her before they entered the bank, "Gringotts is run by goblins." Lily gasped. "Yes. They are mean and nasty creatures, so don’t give them any reason to be suspicious of you. Don’t speak, I will do all of the talking. Alright?"

Lily nodded solemnly, feeling very scared. Violet smiled gently. "Don’t worry. Just squeeze my hand very hard if you get scared. That will make you feel better, I promise."

"Okay," said Lily, a little bit reassured, but still scared none-the-less.

They climbed the stairs and Lily encountered her first set of goblins in front of a pair of bronze doors. They bowed the two through those doors and they encountered two silver doors. Then they entered Gringotts, which consisted a lot of white marble. It was very busy.

"Hmm," said Violet, scanning the crowds, "I guess everyone else had the same idea as us! Wait until the last week before school!" She smiled. "Oh, well. Perhaps you’ll meet someone your age." They managed to find an empty goblin. "Hello. I need to visit vault three-hundred-thirty-one, please." The goblin leaned over the counter and sneered at Lily. She bit back a cry and squeezed Violet’s hand as hard as she could. "Oh!" exclaimed Violet, surprised.

"Key?" grunted the goblin.

"Oh-oh yes, it’s-" gasp, "-right - right here!" She held up a small golden key. The goblin inspected it, and after he approved it, he yelled for another goblin. "Achfult!"

Another goblin hurried over to the counter. "Yes?"

"Take these people to vault three-hundred-thirty-one."

The goblin bowed and led them through another door. Instead of seeing more marble, Lily saw dirt. They appeared to be in a sort of tunnel. Achfult whistled and a cart came rattling to them. He got in and motioned for Lily and Violet to follow. The cart set off at a very fast speed, gaining more and more as it plunged downward. Finally, it stopped and Achfult stepped out. Violet and Lily climbed out as well.

"Key!" Achfult demanded.

"Oh, yes, here you are," Violet said, handing him the tiny key from her purse.

The goblin turned the key and the door opened, revealing mounds of gold, silver, and bronze coins. Lily gasped in delight and stepped forward into the vault.

"Aunt Violet, is all this yours?"

"Yes," replied Violet as she gathered up some coins in a large purple bag.

"Wow," Lily breathed as she looked around.

"Come, love. We need to go!" Violet exclaimed, motioning for Lily to follow her.

"Okay, I’m coming." Lily took one last look around and stepped out.

~*~*~*~*

When they left Gringotts, they went into the clothing shop: Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions! Madame Malkin, a squat, kindly faced woman measured Lily for her robes. Violet bought Lily her regular school black robes, plus others: green, red, navy blue, and white dress robes. Violet also bought a very lovely pale blue set of dress robes.

"Aunt Violet," asked Lily curiously as they left the shop, "Why did we buy so many fancy robes?"

"Well," began Violet, "This Sunday is the Ministry Ball, and I am bringing you. All of the members of the Ministry attend, plus their families and others. I must admit I’m quite excited – this is the first time I’ll bring family," she smiled at her small niece.

"Oh. Do you work at the Ministry?"

"Yep," said Violet as they entered the bookshop, Flourish and Blotts.

"Oh. What do you do?"

"Well," she began as she pulled books off of the shelves, "I work in the department that deals with the law. Kind of like a Muggle lawyer."

"What do you mean, ‘kind of?’"

"Well, I’m not called a lawyer, for one, I’m called an Advisor. Lily, dear, have we forgotten anything?"

Lily looked down at the list. "No. So you Advise people?"

"Yes, that’s sort of right. I deal more with criminals, though. Are you sure we haven’t forgotten anything?"

"Yes I’m sure. Are you Advising anyone right now?"

"I Advise many people," Violet replied as she paid for Lily’s books.

"Oh. Who?"

"People who need me," she said as they left Flourish and Blotts and entered the Apothecary. "Now, you need beetles eyes, here they are."

"What do they need Advising on?"

"My, my, you are full of questions today!" she laughed as she shoveled the beetles’ eyes into a container.

"Well?" asked Lily impatiently.

"Different things, my dear, different things. Now, lets stop talking about work! I’m on vacation, after all!" she smiled as they paid and left.

"Now, for your pet," Violet said as they entered Eeylops Owl Emporium.

"But I want my wand now!" Lily begged.

Violet smiled teasingly. "We have to save the best for last!"

Finally, after leaving the shop with a lovely tawny owl with green eyes that matched Lily’s, they entered the store called Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.

The shop was dark and musty, but it radiated with magic. Suddenly, an old man stepped out of the shadows.

"Ah, who have we here? Violet Wellington? Thirteen inches, ash and unicorn tail, is it not? Great for Transfiguration, as I recall."

"Yes, you are quite right, Mr. Ollivander."

"Oh, and who is this? Your daughter, perhaps?"

Violet smiled. "No, this is my niece, Lily Evans."

"Evans…hmm…I don’t recall that name."

"You wouldn’t. They are all Muggles, as far as I know, besides this one."

"Ah, yes. Well, Miss Evans, lets get you started." He began measuring her with a silver measuring tape. When he was finished, he pulled out a long, thin box and handed her its contents. "Try this one: Eleven and a quarter inches, maple and dragon heartstring." Lily took the wand and waved it. Nothing happened.

About fifteen boxes later, Mr. Ollivander went into a back room to try and find a wand. Lily walked to the wall full of wands and pulled one out. She didn’t know why, but something just told her to do it. She removed the wand from the box and immediately felt a tingle in her hand. She waved the wand and whoosh! Blue sparks showered out of it.

"Oh bravo! Mr. Ollivander, she’s found a wand!" Violet called as she applauded for Lily.

Mr. Ollivander appeared immediately. "Oh, my! Quite strange, this wand is! It is quite old, I didn’t believe I would ever sell it! It’s ten and a quarter inches, unicorn tail core and made from a willow tree, very good for charm work and quite swishy."

"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander!" Lily said enthusiastically.

"Quite alright. That will be eight Galleons."

Violet paid and they walked out of the shop. "Lily, I think this calls for some ice cream!"

Lily agreed and they set off to the ice cream shop. She was busy petting her owl, which she named Iris after her mother, when-

WHAM!

Lily was knocked off her feet and strait onto the ground.

She groaned and opened her eyes. She saw two faces swimming into focus above her head. Her aunt’s worried face and a boy’s, as well.

"Oh goodness, I’m so sorry!" The boy exclaimed as he helped Lily up. He had messy black hair and warm brown eyes, framed by black-rimmed glasses. "Are you okay?"

Lily nodded and picked up Iris. The owl was looking extremely disgruntled and she gave an indignant hoot.

"I’m really sorry! My name’s James Potter, by the way," said the boy eagerly as he held out his hand. Lily smiled.

"Nice to meet you, James. I’m Lily Evans."

"You too. Are you a first year?" James asked.

Lily was about to answer when another boy came up to James. "James!" He looked at James’ apologetic face and said, "Oh no, what did you do? I’m sorry, ma’am, whatever he did to you-" the boy said to Violet.

"No, it’s alright, really, he just knocked me over, that’s all." Lily smiled. "I’m Lily Evans."

"Hi, I’m Sirius Black." Sirius had shaggy hair, not messy like James’, and eyes that were so dark, they were almost black.

"Sirius Black?" repeated Violet.

"Yes, ma’am."

"Oh, then Orion Black is your father! We have met before…I’m Violet Wellington," a look of recognition passed over Sirius’ face.

"Oh, yeah! He talks about you a lot!" Lily thought Violet blushed, but it could have just been the light.

"Sirius! James! Where have you been?" A young man with black hair came rushing over.

"Sorry, Mr. Black, we just, erm, had a little collision with Lily here." James gestured to Lily.

"Oh, did he knock into you?"

Lily smiled and nodded. "I’m fine, though."

"Well, that good." Mr. Black straitened up and spotted Violet.

"Violet! How are you? Enjoying your vacation?" They embraced like old friends.

"Oh, I’m just fine, Orion, how are you?"

"I’m great, great. And who is this? Lily?"

"Yes, I’m Lily Evans. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Black." Lily said sweetly, shaking his hand.

Mr. Black beamed. "Well, such a polite young lady! You two should follow her example!" he said to James and Sirius.

"Oh, nonsense, Orion, Sirius and James were perfect delights!" said Violet, smiling.

"Will you and Lily be attending the Ball?"

"Of course! Wouldn’t miss it for the world! Are you?"

"Yes, I’m bringing Sirius, and you know James’s father, surely? Harry Potter?"

"Oh, yes of course! He was - what? Three years our senior?"

"Yes, that’s right. Well, I must be off! Got to get James’ home! His mother would have my head if he were late again! Goodbye, Violet, Lily. See you both on Saturday!"

"Bye James! Bye Sirius! Bye Mr. Black!" Lily called after them.

James waved and Sirius threw her a very rogue wink.

"Aunt Violet! Mr. Black’s very handsome! Is he married?" Lily asked her aunt when they were out of earshot.

Violet blushed almost imperceptibly. "No, Sirius’s mother passed away a few years back from a Muggle disease, of all things."

"Oh. What does he do?"

"He works in the Department for the Control of Muggle and Magical Diseases. He’s very good. He is what Muggles would call a scientist."

"Oh. What does James’s father do?"

"He is an Auror. And a very good one at that."

"What’s an Auror?"

"An Auror is a wizard secret agent, sort of. He fights Dark wizards."

"Oh. They’re bad, right?"

"Yes, that’s right. They practice Dark Magic." Violet paid for their ice creams (vanilla and chocolate chip) and they made their way to the Leaky Cauldron. They didn’t talk after that, both enjoying their ice creams. The driver was waiting for them when they left the pub.

Did you like it? I need feedback!

Cheers!

Bella*