***REVISED AS OF 17.06.2015 9:05pm***

Hogwarts, Sixth Year, February 1978

When I was two years old I showed my first signs of magic. My biological sister stole my doll and I turned her hair green. Or so I am told. When I was two years old, Professor Dumbledore showed up at the doorstep of my biological family's home and told them that I was, in fact, a witch. When I was two years old, my biological parents took me to an orphanage and left me there. Afraid of what the neighbours would say if they ever found and fearful for there safety they left me behind and never looked back. For thirteen years, my biological parents hadn't given me another thought. I guess that's why they weren't exactly thrilled to see me when I showed up at their doorstep a year ago.

I spent four years in that orphanage. I would like to say it was horrible. I would like to say that the other kids found me weird and stayed well away. I would be lying though. I was quite popular with the other kids. By the time I reached my fourth year in the orphanage, I was sort of a mother to the much younger girls who didn't understand what was going on, and why they were there. I was a six year old, caring for those only a couple of years younger then me. I can clearly remember that last year in the orphanage, the thought of being there forever had sunk in and I was determined to succeed. My fondest memories of that orphanage began and ended within the confines of the small but fully stocked library.

Just like everyone else though, I waited eagerly for a family.

I dreamed of a mother and a father, and maybe even a sibling if I was lucky.

London Orphanage for Girls, 1967

I'd seen them arrive. Watching from the window seat that I was lucky enough to have in my room, I peered down on the strange family. A man, tall with black hair and wearing an odd looking coat, had his hand on a boys shoulder. The boy also had black hair. He looked up towards my window, squinting into the sun. I jerked backed away from the window, afraid that the boy could see me. The man pushed him further up the steps and out of my view. A woman came after them, pausing slightly to smooth down her hair. She withdrew something from her sleeve and stuffed it deep into her hand bag. She also looked up but her glance roamed over the building. She's nervous, I thought to myself.

Turning back to my book, I found the line I had been reading. Reading was an easy way to pass the time. Not five minutes after witnessing the strange family had arriving, Sally Fletcher knocked on my door.

"Lily?" I waved her inside but she only opened the door slightly wider, "Mrs Mayer said that you're to put interview outfit on and come downstairs. Says that there's a family waiting to meet you."

"Don't be silly, Sally. Are you sure Mayer didn't say Lily Carter?" I folded my book into my lap, turning to face Sally in the doorway. She shook her head and pointed at me before leaving.

I thought about the strange family and the boy who'd been with them. Was it possible they could really be here for me?, I tried not to think to much on it. I dressed quickly into my interview clothes. A rather simple dress but it'd do.

Mrs Mayer was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

"Room Two Sweetheart. Good Luck," Mrs Mayer told me walking to the end of the hall with me.

With a shaking hand, I opened the door to find the same family I'd watched arrive sitting at the table. The woman sat on the chair next to the boy, the man still standing behind him with a hand on what must have been his son's shoulder.

"You must be Lily," She said getting up, moving around the table to hug me. My arms were pinned to my side. When she released me from the hug, her hands clutched my shoulders and her eyes surveyed me just as they had over the building. Breathe, Lily. Breathe, I thought. "You look a bit thin but no worries."

My eyes met the boys. We stared at one another before I looked away.

"Hello Lily, my name is Orion Black." The man had removed his hand form the boys shoulders now to move around the table, "This is my wife, Agatha, and my son, Sirius." He motioned towards the boy and our eyes locked again. This time his lips turned up and he smiled at me. "We have been told so much about you. If it's okay with you, we'd like you to join our family."

My mouth opened and closed a dozen times, my eyes flickered between each of the Blacks. I shook my head trying to figure out if this was real. I don't know when I'd started crying but Orion had lowed himself to my level and wiped the tears away. I felt myself being pulled into his arms and lifted from the ground.

"It's okay, Lily. Everything's going to be okay." It was the first time that I'd ever had someone to wipe away the tears.

"Don't cry Lily." I lifted my head from Orion's shoulder to look at Sirius, "We're going to be in the same year at Hogwarts and it's going to be epic! Think of all the pranks we'll be able to pull."

Agatha placed a hand on my shoulder as Sirius joined the small huddle we had going, "Welcome to our family, Lily."

Hogwarts, Sixth Year, February 1978

Sirius and I grew up as best friends and, of course, as siblings. We went off to Hogwarts and he became the protective older, but only by a few months, brother. We each had our separate group of friends. As we got older though, our separate group of friends became one group of friends, that's how I realised I fancied James Potter. I'd always known Potter of course. His family was close friends of our family, and we'd spent almost every summer together since we were eleven. Even though Sirius' 'Marauders' had explicit instructions to stay completely away from any romantic attachment to me, didn't mean Potter ever listened. Being Sirius' sister, I never took lightly to that suggestion, as Sirius had so kindly put it, either. So do you see my problem now?