Mr and Mrs. Evans lived a happy and peaceful life in a small town named Cokeworth, they had two daughters, Petunia and Lily who also lived a relatively peaceful life thanks to the peaceful neighbourhood. All this changed though, when at the age of 9 Lily met a boy named Severus who told her that she was a witch. Petunia did not like this, she saw Severus as a threat to her relationship with her sister and out of some misguided love for her sister she tried to keep Lily away from the boy. When Lily received her Hogwarts letter in 1971, Petunia started envying Lily and the attention she got from their parents, both of whom, were proud that their youngest was a witch. Petunia even wrote a letter to Dumbledore asking if she could attend the school with Lily but Dumbledore denied her request kindly because she was a muggle. Dumbledore’s kind words made no amends between the two sisters and through the years Petunia’s envy turned into hatred and she began hating Lily and all things magical.

August 1976

“You’re not going back!” Petunia shrieked, envious and enraged.

“Tuney, we’re not doing this again, please.” Lily said in a low voice, sadly.

“You’re a freak Lily! And if you leave this house tomorrow then I’ll never ever talk to you again. I’ll forget that I ever had a sister.” She said, seriously before storming out of the room.

Lily silently continued to pack her things into the trunk and decided to leave the house early in the morning.

At dawn, Lily bid farewell to her parents like she had been for five years but something felt missing, she tried knocking on Petunia’s door to bid her farewell, but it was in vain because she never answered. In tears Lily head to King’s Cross station alone, for the first time in half a decade. Severus, her oldest friend in town wasn’t travelling with her anymore.

As she got on a bus and looked back at Cokeworth, her hometown, she realized that she had grown out of it because it didn’t feel like home, not anymore.

One month later,

“Hello Remus.” Lily greeted her study buddy, as her eyes went wide on seeing the two most unlikely people sitting beside him on either sides.

“Hiya Lily.” Remus replied as James and Sirius stumbled off of their stools out of sheer nervousness.

“If you don’t mind me asking Remus, what are they doing here..?” Lily asked, brutally blunt.

“Oh they’re just here to study, like us. It is time for them to do well in their O. W. L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) test if they ever hope to take up N. E. W. T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test) level subjects after Christmas break.” Remus replied, smiling as beads of sweat rolled down his jaw.

“Listen, Lily… If we’re bothering you, just tell us and we’ll do this with Moony some other time, alright..?” Sirius said, calmly and with confidence.

“Alright. Thank you Sirius, for being considerate…” A grin took over Sirius’ face before,

“For once.” Lily continued, stripping Sirius’ face of the smile.

“You’ve got nothing to say Potter..? Rather peculiar, this behaviour of yours.” Lily asked James mockingly, as she glared at him with a sly smile.

“You know what..? I do have something to say, Moony this was a bad idea and I’m sorry it didn’t work out, let’s do this back at the dorm. Let’s go Padfoot.” James told Remus, before he got up from his stool, glared at Lily, grabbed Sirius’ cloak and dragged him away.

“See ya around Evans.” Sirius said as he teased Lily by sticking his tongue out while James continued to drag him away.

“Ignore them Lily. So… How was your Summer..?” Remus asked Lily as he saw her barely holding onto her composure.

“Oh… Yeah, it was okay. Yours..?” Lily counter-questioned to get away from her memory of leaving home and inadvertantly putting Remus on the spot.

“Well…”

“Forget about it. I know you don’t like lying to me. So don’t.” Lily smiled, as she cut off Remus and patted his shoulder from across the table.

“Let’s get to it then.” Remus said as Lily sat across him and both of them dived into An advanced guide to Transfiguration.

After an hour of studying, Lily broke her silence,

“A break..? Remus..? Please.” Lily pleaded exhaustively.

“Sure, why not..?” Remus agreed as he used his wand as a bookmark and closed the book.

“Why are you still friends with them..?” Lily blurted out the question she was holding in for over an hour.

“I know they can be rather…”

“Daft!”

“Haha yes daft. But they’re my friends and I would do anything for them just like they would do anything for me.” Remus said, chuckling as Lily’s face reddened with rage.

“They’re bullies Remus! They’ve been bullying Severus for…” Lily stopped as she remembered that she wasn’t friends with Severus anymore.

“You alright..?” Remus asked, concerned.

“Yeah, no I’m fine.” Lily replied as the realization that she did not have the one friend who always had her back set in, once more.

“I heard what happened between you two. And to be honest, I’ve never approved of James and Sirius’ treatment of Severus, but with that in mind, what I also know, is that you are not a Mudblood, I don’t know anyone else who’s as good as you at charms and I know that Severus calling you that, must’ve stung, but I’m glad you ended your friendship with him because what he called you, truly was, unforgivable. If on the other hand, you’re silent because you feel like this is truly the first time you don’t have an old friend at Hogwarts, then I’m bummed.” Remus spoke , with honesty and clarity.

“Why would you be bummed about this..?”

“Because we’re old friends aren’t we..? Or do you still think that I am friends with you because of some diabolical plan to set you up with James..?” Remus asked, with a sly grin that made Lily smile.

“You’re my friend Remus. You’ve always been my friend. And that’s why I don’t understand why you hangout with Mr. Toerag..?” Lily asked, inquisitively, her crimson hair slowly making their way out of her bun because of her expressive head movements.

“He’s good at heart Lily. I know you don’t see it because he has always been the person who bullies your friend. But if you try and remove the spectacles of scorn you will see exactly why he’s one of my best friends.” Remus replied as he reopened his textbook.

“Yeah, right.” Lily replied smiling, her tone a mix of stoic and sarcastic.

“You two! Over there!” They heard a voice that made them startle with fear.

“Get out of the library!” They heard Mrs. Prince, the Hogwarts librarian order them, her eyes filled with contempt.

Being obedient students, both Remus and Lily stood up and left the library silently, with their heads hanging with shame.

“I’m sorry Lily.” Remus broke the ice as they walked out into the hall.

“Sorry..? Why..? That was brilliant! Another thing cut off my bucket list!” Lily said, overjoyed.

“Your bucket list..?” Remus asked, intrigued.

“Yeah. I’ll tell you about it some other time. I’m going to Hagrid’s, you want to come along..?” Lily asked, smiling.

“No. You go on Lily.” Remus turned her down, as he didn’t trust his behaviour so close to a full moon.

“Alright. No matter. See ya around Moony.” Lily mocked him and smiled before walking away.

“Have a good evening Evans!” Remus retorted loudly before realizing that he was still at the Library’s door and caught a glimpse of The Librarian making her way to him through the bookshelves.

Back at the dorm,“

Padfoot, why do you think Evans hates me..?” James asked, as he looked out the window and saw the sun begin its descent beyond the lake.

“Well… You are a bullying toerag.” Sirius teased him by reminding him of what Lily called him.

“I’m serious Padfoot.”

“So am I…” Sirius continued to tease him as he looked at the Map and saw Lily make her way to Hagrid’s, right before Remus walked in.

“Hey Moony! How was it..? How did she react..? Did I make things worse..?” James’ usual rapid fire questioning after a meeting with Lily felt different that evening.

“Woah! Padfoot. Explain.”

“Why me..?” Sirius shrugged, exhaustively.

“Do you see anyone else here..?”

“No… But I’m sure Wormtail is scurrying around beneath his bed. Let’s just check first.” Sirius replied as he handed James the map.

“She’s heading towards H…”

“Hagrid’s. Yeah she told me.” Remus cut James off, slyly grinning.

“You know what enough of this! I’m heading out!” James said as he stormed out of the dorm.

“What happened to James..?” Peter asked as he reverted back to his human form behind Sirius and Remus, startling them.

“Told ya!” Sirius said, as he punched Remus.

“Are you two ever in your right minds..? You daft prats!” Remus said, as he realized that James might be getting serious about his feelings for Lily.

James swiftly made his way down the Grand staircases and turned into a stag as soon as he got out of the castle. He ran as his mind ran with him towards Hagrid’s hut, towards Lily. He finally saw Lily as she got out of the hut and headed towards the forbidden forest. Hiding behind trees, James watched as Lily set up targets not too far into the forest behind Hagrid’s hut.

She then began practicing,

“Stupefy!”

“Expelliarmus!”

She said with conviction as she tried to hit the targets hanging from the trees. Soon after, she started using spells without incantations, James was spellbound by the fact that Lily could perform nonverbal spells so early in the year. He slowly moved closer to her and watched as her red locks swayed in the wind, tameless and free, her emerald eyes shined at twilight as tears began to roll down her cheeks. After sunset, Hagrid came out into the woods and caught her crying.

“Are ya cryin Lily..!?” Hagrid asked as his looming shadow fell on Lily.

“Oh no. It’s nothing Hagrid. Should I head back..?” Lily asked, as tears continued to race down her cheeks.

“What is it..? Tell me.” Hagrid said as he got down on his knees to look Lily in her eyes.

“My sister hates me Hagrid! Here I am practicing spells at nightfall to protect her from the dark lord and she hates me!” Lily said crying as she hugged Hagrid, her hands only reaching a quarter way around him.

He then wiped her tears, hugged her and told her to get back to the castle before dinner and walked back to the hut.

As Lily walked back slowly, James followed her, not realizing how close he was, Prongs then stepped on something that made enough noise for Lily to notice.

Lily swiftly removed her wand and pointed it at the noise. Pleasantly surprised by her close proximity to a stag, Lily then did something that would seal James’ fate with hers, forever.

With grace she pointed her wand at Prongs and spoke calmly and clearly,

“Expecto Patronum.”

And out of the end of her wand burst out a shapeless, dazzling silver cloud that slowly and gracefully turned into a doe made completely of brilliant, silver light. Her patronus, then walked slowly towards Prongs and rubbed it’s head on his neck.

“Wow.” James heard Lily say as she saw her patronus interacting with Prongs like a stag and a doe naturally do.

James on the other hand, was frozen. This was the first time in years that he had seen Lily smile warmly whilst looking at him.

She began walking again as Prongs followed her, her patronus still walking with Prongs like he was its mate. As she almost reached the castle, Lily suddenly turned around and,

“Thank you Mr. Stag. I was sad because of a few things tonight, but then I met you. And look at me now!” Lily said, smiling as widely as she could, thinking that she is talking to a surprisingly tame stag.

Lily’s doe patronus then bowed in front of Prongs, and he soon followed suit making Lily clap in awe.

“Goodbye Mr. Stag.” Lily said, before her patronus disappeared into thin air and walking away as Prongs fell for the doe and James fell for Lily.

“Moony! Did you know Evans was training in secret..?” James asked as he barged into the dorm.

“Oh, do you mean Lily, Mr. Potter..?” Madam Pomfrey asked, smiling slyly.

“Oh! Good evening Madam Pomfrey.” James switched gears faster than a golden snitch.

“Padfoot! What happened..?” James whispered as he walked over to Sirius’ bed.

“Oh it’s nothing. There is no need to worry.” Remus replied, from his bed across the room.

“Shush Remus! You boys need to take care of him when it’s this close to the full moon, otherwise, I’ll have to keep him at the infirmary for a week before the full moon, every month.” Madam Pomfrey said with her signature concerned yet stern tone.

Soon, Madam Pomfrey left the dorm and it was time for dinner. After a hearty argument, Peter and Sirius reluctantly climbed out of their beds and head down to the great hall.

“James, where were you this evening..?” Remus asked, his voice clearly drained because of his fever.

“I was near Hagrid’s hut. I wanted to see her Moony.” James replied as he replaced the wet cloth on Remus’ forehead in an attempt to bring down the fever.

“Did you..?” Remus asked as he flinched because of the cold he felt on his forehead.

“I did. I don’t know what’s happening to me Moony, last year Evans was just a girl from my class that I liked annoying but this year it’s different. This year, I feel drawn to her in a way I have never been drawn to anyone before.” James said, seriously as he removed the cloth and checked Remus’ fever.

“Lily is special, she always has been. Tell me what changed..?” Remus asked, now as Lily’s friend.

“Ever since she broke off her friendship with Sniv… Severus last year, something inside me has been eating away at me. I always thought I’d be happy when Lily broke off her friendship with him, but it seems I was wrong. But how could I be wrong..?” James asked, confused and vulnerable.

“James, I can’t believe I’m saying this but you’re as daft as the three of us when it comes to matters of the heart.” Remus said, as he slowly sat up in his bed and placed his hand on James’ shoulder.

“What do you mean..?”

“You feel bad because you think Snape and Lily would still be friends if you weren’t trying to hex him that day, but that is nonsense. You feel bad because Lily has never been just a girl in your class, she has always been more than that James and that’s why you feel bad about what happened because what happened, made her sad. And I’m not saying you should be hexing Severus because you know that I’ve always found your rivalry with him rather redundant, I’m saying Lily broke off her friendship with Severus because of what he called her and not what you did to him.” Remus said smiling before lying back down.

“What do I do Remus..?” James asked, his face flushed.

“You should ask her out, once more, seriously this time. And see where things go from there.” Remus replied, smiling.

“No I can’t. I shouldn’t, not until I become worthy of her.”

“You’re being daft James, just do it because there’s no point in postponing the inevitable.”

“No Remus. I’m saying we should train and join the order of the phoenix after we graduate, be better.” James said seriously as he thought of what Lily told Hagrid.

“Okay Prongs! I’m in.” Sirius replied, grinning at the foot of the door.

“Count me in as well.” Peter said, as he swiftly walked over to Remus and checked his fever.

“You don’t even know what we’re talking about Padfoot.” James said, smiling.

“I do. We’re doing whatever we can to set you up with Evans right..?” Sirius replied, grinning nervously.

“We’re going to train and join the order of the phoenix. To protect all those who need protection and keep the ones we love safe.” James said with conviction.

“Okay then. Now one of you please carry me down to the infirmary because I think the fever is getting worse.” Remus said, smiling before James picked him up and said,

“Guess I’ll have my dinner in the infirmary as well.” smiling as he always did when one of his friends helped him clear his clouded mind.

As soon as James and Remus left,

“So… Is Evans in the order of the phoenix or did I just read this whole conundrum wrong..?” Sirius asked Peter, confused.

“I don’t know. Goodnight Padfoot.” Peter replied seriously, before he turned into his Animagus form.

“I’ll kill you if I find you scurrying around my bed at night!” Sirius replied grimacing before lying down on his bed.

“That’s not a good way to bid someone goodnight you know.” Peter said as he returned to his human form, startling Sirius.

“That’s it! I’m heading down to the infirmary as well.” Sirius said, exhaustively as he got out of bed.

“Have a goodnight Peter dear. You disgusting twit!” Sirius bid Peter as he closed the door on their dorm and head towards the infirmary, knowing for certain that it’d mean staying up all night besides Remus because Madam Pomfrey did not let anyone except for her patients occupy the beds.





Part 3/5