Things Change

Chapter One: Eggs, Azaleas, and Other Surprises

(Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I'm just inspired by the characters, so I write about them. Isn't that what fanfiction is? Some characters, like Zora Alti and Danyel Hawthorne and Kassie Lionel are my own creativity, but Greta Catchlove is actually JKR's character. This story, which spreads from Lily's seventh year until her death, is my explanation of what happened during the rise of Voldemort. I try to be as canon as possible, so I've done my research:D Please read and review, and above all: Enjoy!)

The sun was rising over a neat row of houses lined along a straight street in a quaint English town. One of the houses was filled with the scents of bacon and eggs, freshly brewed coffee, and sweet sticky buns. The delicious aromas, mixed with the warm rays, enveloped Lily Evans, who was sitting in her window seat watching her small town wake up. The neighbors across the way were hugging their father good bye as he left for his desk job in the city. The little old lady next door was over-watering her azaleas, just as she did every morning. The kids down the street were taking their dog for a walk; or rather it was walking them, before they went off to school.

Lily, herself, was preparing to leave for her return trip to school. The rising autumn sun had meant her last year was upon her. Soon, she would be driving off into London to board the train at King's Cross Station. Then Lily would spend the next nine months at a boarding school, graduating at the top of her class.

At least that's what the neighbors believed.

They did not know that the beautiful young woman would be departing from Platform 9 ¾, on an old fashioned scarlet train. The father at his desk job didn't know that her school was in fact an old castle, surrounded by a dangerous forest. The elderly woman didn't know that the school taught their students with wands and cauldrons and broomsticks. The children being walked by their dog didn't know that Lily Evans was, in fact, a witch.

Lily breathed in the welcoming scents of breakfast. She had been packing her things late into the night, and then rechecking everything this morning, making sure nothing was forgotten. All her books, quills, potions, and parchment were in her trunk, along with her school uniforms and robes. She had one set aside for the train. She would have to change once they got to the station, since she was required to speak to some of the students.

"Lily!" her mother's voice called from the stairs. "Breakfast is ready! Come on down, dear."

Lily stood up, ready to walk out of the room and down the stairs, but she stopped, rethinking what she was doing. She had, after all, turned seventeen last month. She had, after all, passed her Apparation test. And since she was seventeen, she was, after all, allowed to do magic outside of school.

She closed her eyes, picturing her kitchen, with its worn floral wallpaper and wooden cabinets. Lily could see her father and sister sitting at the breakfast table, their mother entering the room, wearing her red apron. She could see her chair, sitting right across from her sister, who was just about to take a bite of her eggs…

Turning on the balls of her feet with all the grace of a ballerina, Lily was sitting in her chair, looking right into Petunia's beady blue eyes, her fork frozen in midair.

"Morning, Petunia," Lily said, smiling.

Petunia let out a scream that would've caused the man across the street to swerve his car and run over the azalea bush that the dog was using to relieve himself. Her fork went flying, and Lily ducked to avoid wearing any eggs. Their mother came running in to see what the commotion was all about.

Their father was laughing heartily. "Nothing's wrong, Camille," he said to their mother. "Lily just came down for breakfast, is all." He wiped the gooey mess off of his face.

Petunia, on the other hand, was not fine at all. "She didn't come down at all! The freak just appeared out of thin air!" She scooted her chair away from the table, putting as much space between herself and her sister.

Lily slightly cringed at her sister's words. Even though she had been calling her crude names for the past six years, they still stung her. Lily wondered if Petunia would ever accept her. "You can't eat your breakfast over there, Petunia. Come back to the table."

Petunia shook her head, her eyes piercing Lily like she was trying to stab her with them. "Not if you are going to keep popping up everywhere." She stood up, leaving her chair where it was, and walked towards the living room. "Vernon will be here any minute to take me shopping, so I'll just wait in the other room."

Lily saw her mother watch Petunia leave, and she shook her head. "Oh, Thomas. What are we going to do with that girl?" She went over to pick up her daughter's forgotten plate, picking up the egg debris on the table. "She's been so edgy lately."

He reached out and touched his wife's hand. "Don't worry, Camille. Hopefully this man of hers will calm her down and she'll be her sweet self again."

Lily couldn't help but laugh. "I never remember Petunia being sweet. At least to me, anyways." Lily took a bite of her sticky bun, wiping her fingers on a napkin. "Besides, Vernon Dursley is the worst Muggle I've ever heard of."

"I can still hear you!" Petunia yelled from the living room.

Lily rolled her eyes. She lowered her voice, looking into her father's friendly blue eyes. "From what I hear her talking about, he's a well-to-do business man, who's old fashioned and set in his ways. I don't think he would like me very much, which is probably the only reason Petunia's attracted to him."

"Lily," her mother scolded, yet she was trying hard not to smile. She knew very well what type of man Petunia was marrying, and that's why she made sure Lily wasn't around when he was this summer. Now Lily wouldn't have to worry at all about facing Petunia and her future husband.

Her father looked at his watch. "Dear Lord, it's almost nine o'clock. It'll take us over an hour to get to London with the traffic." He stood up, helping his wife clear the table.

Lily finished her plate and helped as well. "I could just Apparate to the station with my luggage. That way you don't have to worry about driving in the traffic."

"Nonsense," her father remarked, hugging her sideways. "You're worth it. Besides, this is your last year, and most important." He kissed the side of her head, squeezing her tightly. "Is it Head Girl, they call it?"

Lily nodded. "Yes. There's also a Head Boy, but I don't know who that is yet. Most likely Remus Lupin, with his marks. Or Nicholas Eins from Ravenclaw. I guess I'll find out on the train. Whoever it is, we're supposed to address the prefects about the rules."

Petunia stormed into the kitchen, her lips in such a tight line, they appeared to be as thin as paper. "Vernon is coming up the path, and I don't want you talking about your freakish world while he's here. Can you at least do that?" She had muttered the words through gritted teeth, barely moving her lips.

Their mother sighed at her eldest daughter's behavior. "Petunia, relax. You don't want Vernon to see your pretty face all in a knot, now do you?" She took off her apron, draping it over a chair. "Come, dear. Let's go open the door for your fiancé."

Petunia glared at Lily before she turned away, walking off with her mother. Lily sighed, hanging her head. "I don't understand why she hates me."

Her father patted her shoulder comfortingly. "You two are different, that's all. She doesn't understand that. Give her more time, and she'll eventually come around."

Lily looked up at him, and she could see him smiling, almost laughing. "What?"

"Well, as I recall, there's a certain young man who you don't seem to like, all though I can't figure out for the life of me why. It seems that with a little time, you might come around as well."

Lily started disbelievingly. "I can't believe you would think I would like James Potter! He's immature, and conceited, and his greatest ambition is to break as many rules as possible."

He chuckled, letting go of her. "You never know. Things can change."

"If it's Potter, I doubt it."

The ride to the station was a pleasant one. Petunia wasn't there, since she was shopping for a banquet hall to hold her wedding reception. Of course, she was getting married while Lily was at school, which meant Lily would not be attending. Lily was fine with that, but deeper down, she was hurt by her sister's actions.

"So, what kind of privileges does Head Girl get?" her father asked.

"I get my own room this year," Lily replied, "and I get to use the prefect's bathroom."

"What's in there?" her father asked.

"I'm not really sure; I've never been in there. But Greta, she's in my class and a prefect, said that it's a giant bathtub with different types of soaps and perfumes. Very fancy." Lily looked back out the window, watching the trees and fields give way to shops and streetlights. She never seemed to grow tired of the scenery, even though it was the same every year. Maybe it was the fact that it never changed that made Lily feel comfortable as she headed off for a new year at school. Her last year.

"Are you cold, dear?" she heard her father ask. She looked back up front to see her mother rubbing at her arm. "I'll turn the heat up, but it shouldn't be too cold in here." Her father reached for the knob, but Camille laid her hand on top of his to stop him.

"I'm fine, Thomas," Lily's mother replied. "I'm just nervous about Lily's last year."

"Nervous?" Lily smiled. "Why should you be nervous? I'm the one who's attending school, what with the N.E.W.T.S in the spring."

"I won't ask," her father chuckled, his smiling face looking forward as he turned a corner.

"I'm just worried about my baby," Camille said in that all-too-motherly tone of hers. "You're going to be graduating and then off into the real world, getting a job and getting married…"

"Hold on!" Lily said, sitting forward so that her arms were crossed on the back of the front seat. She looked at her mom, looking slightly shocked. "What makes you think I would be getting married after school? I have no intention of that, thank you very much."

"But you don't know: you might meet Mister Right this year," her father added, his smirk never fading.

Lily knew what he was thinking. "I doubt it. But," she continued, stopping her father from commenting any further, "even if I did—hypothetically speaking—I wouldn't be rushing into marriage after school. I don't want to end up like Petunia."

"Lily Evans!" her mother scolded, although she could sense that she was trying not to smile. "Don't be rude."

They reached the station with time to spare, and they found a cart to carry Lily's things on. They made their way through the bustling crowd, swerving left and right. Lily was glad she didn't have any pets, like some of her friends did. Some of the Muggles that passed by thought it odd for an owl to be in a cage on a student's luggage cart.

"Five, six, seven…" Her mother was reading off the numbers of the platforms, hurrying along ahead of them.

"Camille, slow down, honey," her father said, walking alongside Lily. "The train's not leaving for another half hour. We've got plenty of time."

"Nine and ten! Here we are!" She obviously ignored her husband's statement. She came over and stood beside Lily. "Should we go along with you, dear?"

Lily looked at her oddly. "Mom, you can't. It's only magic folk."

"Oh, I forgot." She laughed. "Well, you take care of yourself, Lily." She hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek. "Don't forget to write. And come home for Christmas."

Her father hugged her next. "Take care, honey," he whispered, kissing her other cheek as he hugged her. "And don't forget, things change." He winked at her.

Lily rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "I'll keep that in mind." She hugged her mother one last time, and then turned to face the barrier between platforms nine and ten. The guard at the ticket booth looked over at her and nodded, letting her know that the coast was clear. She looked straight at the wall, and began to push her cart towards it, picking up her pace. Just as it looked like she was about to hit the bricks, she passed through it, reappearing on a solitary platform.

There were many students moving around, and witches and wizards kissing their little ones goodbye. Cats were meowing, owls were hooting, and children were calling out, waving from their compartments on the train. A luggage man came by and took her trunks, loading them onto the train with all the others. Lily took her bag with her change of clothes and set off to find a restroom to change in.

In the girls bathroom, Lily was welcomed by the over joyous squeal of her former roommate. "Lily Evans, look at you!"

Lily smiled at the brunette who came over and hugged her. "Hello, Danyel. How was your summer?"

"Wonderful! My family and I went to America over the break to visit my cousins. They were very amused to see all the magic I learned. Now they are all wishing they can go to Hogwarts."

"Aren't your cousins Muggles?" Lily asked, stepping into a stall to change.

"Some of them are," Danyel continued, standing near Lily's occupied stall. "We visited my Uncle Benjamin. He's a wizard himself, but his wife is a Muggle. But my cousins have been showing signs of being witches."

Lily finished changing while Danyel continued on about her vacation. Lily stepped out, shaking her head to free her hair from her robes. Danyel suddenly stopped talking and gasped.

"Is that a Head Girl badge?" she asked, her eyes wide. "You're Head Girl?" Lily nodded. "But that means you won't be sharing the dorm with us this year, then."

The train's whistle suddenly sounded, and the girls grabbed their bags and rushed to board. Danyel waved as she went to the right, towards the student compartments. Lily went left, towards the engine, where the prefect's compartment was located. Soon the line of students died out as she went along the hallway.

"Lily, wait up!"

Lily turned to see another classmate of hers, Greta Catchlove, a prefect. Her blonde hair was bouncing about on her shoulders, and she stopped to catch her breath. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm Head Girl," Lily said, pointing at her badge.

"Congratulations! Do you know who Head Boy is?"

"I have no idea. But I guess we are about to find out." They started walking the rest of the way to the compartment.

"Honoria Windsor, that sweet little red head, is a prefect this year. So is Alexander Fender, the beater on the team." Greta pulled on her sweater, making sure it wasn't wrinkled. "I wonder if Lupin is Head Boy."

Lily reached to open the door, but it suddenly opened by itself. She let her eyes wonder up a tall figure, straight into a very familiar pair of hazel eyes.

"Good afternoon, Evans," James Potter said, smiling at her. "We were just about to get started."

"We?" Greta asked, voicing what Lily could not. She was in shock of how much Potter had grown over the summer. He was taller, and manlier looking, but still had that boyish expression on his face.

"Yes, we," Potter replied. "I'm Head Boy. And might I say, congratulations on making Head Girl, Evans." He was giving her such a cheesy smile, as if he knew that his news had startled her. "Well, come on in, Evans, Catchlove. You are the last ones to arrive."

Greta looped her arm through Lily's, leading her into the room. She leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I must say, Potter improved over the summer." She turned her head, smiling at everyone they passed. "Don't you think so, Lily?"

Lily, surprising herself, nodded. "But his attitude is still the same. Egotistical and arrogant."

"Well, maybe he's grown up now."

Lily sighed. "You sound like my father," she muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Apparently, Greta didn't care to further pursue, because she had sat down, right next to a very ill looking young man. His eyes were dark with circles, his face pale. His sandy hair covered his eyes as he leaned against the wall, apparently trying to sleep.

Greta wouldn't let him have that satisfaction, however. "Good afternoon, Lupin. Are you feeling well?"

Remus Lupin sat up, looking at Greta. His facial expression was enough of an answer for her.

"Didn't you get any sleep last night, Lupin?" Lily asked, sitting on Greta's other side. Of course, Lily knew that wasn't the problem. Lupin had always been a sickly fellow, and Lily couldn't help but wonder why, since there were thousands of potions that could help him.

Lupin suddenly sat up straight, trying his best to smile through his exhaustion. "No, I didn't. But that's probably because I was anticipating coming back to school. Summer was horrible."

Lily looked at him sympathetically. "Well, I'm sorry you had a bad summer."

She could see his eyes brighten up, and noticed some color returning to his pale face. Somebody coughed, clearly trying to gain attention, and the three looked up at Potter.

"If we could begin," he said, his tone slightly irritable. He was glaring at his friend, who had shrunk back in his seat to sleep. Lily stood up to join him, even though she'd rather be back in the kitchen, listening to Petunia screaming from the living room.

The unloading of the train was rather hectic. Several of the cages had been opened, and students were running all over, trying to corral their pets. A first year girl was crying as she jumped around, trying to catch her cat that was chasing after a mouse. A brown speckled owl swooped down to catch the mouse, but missed and grabbed a small boy's hair. He screamed, swatting at the bird, and then a boy from Hufflepuff grabbed the owl and put it in his cage.

All the prefects were trying to help, while shouting out to the other students to remain calm. Greta and Lupin were attempting to lure a cat into another cage that belonged to a young Ravenclaw girl. Potter was wrestling with a hissing cat, which belonged to another first year boy. And Lily was trying her best to pick up a frightened white mouse, while four owls were swooping above her head. As she followed it towards the ticket booth of the Hogsmeade Station, she heard someone chuckling in the shadows. Lily, successfully picking up the mouse, held it close and tiptoed over to the dark corner. That laugh sounded very familiar.

"Sirius Black, I'd hate to think you had anything to do with this." Lily gave him a stern look, blocking him in the corner.

A tall boy stepped out of the shadows, his face lit by his humor. "Why do you always assume it is my fault?"

"Because it always is." Lily pulled out a pad of paper, which she had just received on the train. She scribbled on it, and then tore the paper off, handing it to Black. "You have detention all this week, and you will be cleaning out the Owlry."

Sirius scrunched up his nose, as if he could already smell his dirty task. "Thanks, Evans." He brushed passed her, pushing past the mess of students and found a seat on a black carriage.

Lily found the owner of the mouse, and then she looked around for her friends, with whom she could ride in the carriage. The first years were already on their way down to the lake, to ride the boats across to the castle. The older students were to make the journey up the path by carriage, which were enchanted to roll around, horseless.

"Lily! Lily Evans, I would know that hair anywhere!"

Lily turned to see Hallayna Brick, a pretty raven-haired girl who played on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Hallayna was waving her towards a carriage, and Lily ran over to join her, careful not to trip on her robes.

"Kaitlynn told me you were Head Girl," Hallayna said, settling into the plush seat. "Good work! I'm surprised you weren't sorted into Ravenclaw with your brains."

Lily nodded. "The Sorting Hat had trouble placing me."

The carriage jolted forward, and the long line began to move up the hill. The castle was illuminated in the light of the moon, which reflected off the lake. Several small boats were crossing, and Lily couldn't help but think back when she had made that trip. She had actually shared a boat with Hallayna that time, and two other girls from Hufflepuff.

"So, how was your holiday?" Hallayna asked.

"Uneventful," Lily replied. "Unless you count Petunia's engagement. She's getting married in November."

"Oh, that's nice," Hallayna replied, although she knew full well it wasn't. She started to laugh. "Who on earth would marry a prude like her?"

"And even bigger prude."

Hallayna looked like she had just eaten a bogey-flavored Bott's Bean.

"Well, Petunia plans on moving to a small town with him, away from us. With 'normal' people, she says." Lily rested her head against the back of the seat. There was a faint dusty smell, and she lightly coughed, clearing her throat of her emotions.

Everyone entered the Great Hall, admiring the decorations that were there every year. Thousands of candles hovered above, illuminating the tables below. The glimmering stars that were bewitched, reflecting the night sky outdoors, lighted the ceiling.

Lily and her friends walked the length of the Gryffindor table. Hallayna waved and went her separate way, joining the group of Ravenclaw students. Someone touched Lily's shoulder, and she smiled to see Greta behind her, with the other girls from her class. They sat down at the table, and Lily groaned when she saw who was sitting across from them.

In a neat little row were James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and a small, mousy boy that always hung around them named Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew was drawn to Potter and his group like a rat to garbage. Lily couldn't understand why he was always around him, but she was surprised that Potter had taken him under his wing. Perhaps there were some civil acts in his crude behavior.

Once everyone was seated, the doors opened and a tall, serious-looking woman led in the group of first years. The woman was Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House. Her black hair was pulled back tightly in its usual bun, and her square framed glasses rested on her face, her eyes looking straight ahead. Nothing ever seemed out of place on her.

She stepped up and stood in front of the staff table, placing a small, four-legged stool on the ground in front of the line of nervous first years. The room grew silent as McGonagall placed an old, tattered hat on the stool. Lily could tell the new students were looking at it as if expecting it to attack them.

Suddenly, the brim started moving, talking through it like a mouth.

"Though I may seem very odd,

Patched and tattered, you can see,

There is no other hat around

That's as clever as old me!

I was created long ago

By a man named Gryffindor.

His three friends all agreed

That I wouldn't be a bore.

Fair Rowena Ravenclaw

Taught me to be smart.

And pleasant Helga Hufflepuff

Made sure I searched the heart.

Sly Salazar Slytherin

His charming wit he gave.

And noble Godric Gryffindor

Made me to be brave.

Now the centuries have passed

And the founders are long gone.

But here I still remain at school

To make sure you're not sorted wrong.

I'll sit upon your little heads

And pick your brains apart.

Don't worry; it won't hurt a bit,

My technique is very smart.

If you're put in Gryffindor

It's your bravery that I traced.

Nobility and strength prevail,

With courage their trials are faced.

If Ravenclaw is your new home

Then I sensed your intelligence.

They're bright and smart in that old house

And will be here on hence.

Perhaps you have a cunning charm

And your new home is Slytherin.

They take pride in their old ways.

They're picky on who's let in.

Then there's dear old Hufflepuff.

They're patient and most kind.

If you share their virtues

There's no better place you'll find.

Four houses I will choose from,

Their names I've all just said.

Each one is very different,

So set me upon your head!"

The hall broke into applause, and the hat bowed to each of the tables, then sat still again. Professor McGonagall unrolled a parchment, and began to call out names.

"ARLIC, MATHEW!"

Lily watched as a small, round-faced boy waddled up to the platform. She saw that he was nervous about being the first one called. With shaking hands, he picked up the hat, placing it over his mousse colored hair, his face disappearing beneath the brim. After a few seconds, the hat triumphantly called out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The table next to Lily erupted with applause, and his new housemates welcomed Arlic warmly.

"ARRONS, PRUDENCE!"

This time, a frail girl with stringy black hair walked up to the stool, her chin held high. Her eyes were gleaming with pride, and Lily was sure she knew where little Miss Arrons would be placed.

"SLYTHERIN!" the sorting hat yelled, only resting on her head for a second. The far table burst into cheers, and Lily could see Black rolling his eyes, making vomiting sounds. Greta was giggling next to her, and Lily lightly elbowed her.

"COLLINS, SARAH!"

Another small girl stepped up to the stool, her baby doll face wearing a smile. She didn't appear nervous at all.

"She's cute," Black whispered. "Too bad she's so young."

The hat covered her charming face, and it lingered there for a few minutes. The hall was silent, anticipating the cry of the Sorting Hat.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Once again, the room filled with noise, this time from the tables on the other side of Hufflepuff.

"DROOMLORV, MATILDE!"

A raven-haired girl sat down on the stool, the Sorting Hat covering her midnight eyes. It stayed there for about a minute, and finally it cried out, "SLYTHERIN!" Once again, the far table screamed in triumph.

A few more children were sorted, and the Gryffindor table still maintained its current population.

"Are we going to have any first years?" Black whispered. "I need some new faces to pick on."

Lily scowled at him. "I'll be right behind you to give you another detention."

Black stuck his tongue out at her.

"FOLEY, MICHAEL!"

A tiny boy took his turn under the hat, and after much silence, the much-awaited word rang out. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Everyone around her stood up, applauding at the first new housemate. The boy smiled nervously at his loud welcome, taking a seat towards the front.

As McGonagall continued to call out names, and the Sorting Hat would reply by placing them, Lily's mind began to wander to when she had been sorted. She could remember the feel of the fabric, the smell of its age, but its words were what still haunted her.

"Very tough… you are a challenge…you thirst for knowledge of the world around you. Your potential for learning would do well in Ravenclaw…but you have a humble heart, which belongs in Hufflepuff… What's this? I see a great strength coursing through your blood. I haven't seen this in many years…you would do well in Slytherin. They could make you great…No? You are very brave to fight what you've been destined for…in that case…"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The Sorting Hat had brought Lily back into the present. The entire table stood up for the final time, shouting out. Black was whooping and hollering, and Lupin was trying to silence him, without much effort. Lily looked to see who the new student was: a young boy with flaming red hair to put Lily's to shame.

Professor Dumbledore, an old wizard with long frizzy hair, stood up, bringing the hall to silence. "I would like to say a few words before we eat: Gumdrops! Cockroaches! Whiskies! Dinglehopper!"

The feast had begun, and the sounds of chatter and gossip and sloppy eaters were all around. Lily was glad to be back.