Waking up bright and early Lily gets up and gets dressed in some stretchy pants and a light shirt. She begins to stretch, she stretches her legs, her arms, her wrists and ankles, and her neck. She stretches for an hour, working her splits and extending her body.

Feeling like she has stretched the best she can Lily goes downstairs where her family is eating breakfast. While eating her aunt turns towards her, reaching out for her hand.

"Lily dear, I called Mrs. Matelyn and she says that there is room in her stretch class, ballet class, and tap class. I've signed you up for all three and we will be leaving in an hour. Classes start at nine. Finish your food and get ready."

Lily nods along, happy to be going to class. "Yes ma'am." She finishes her eggs and stands and helps with the dishes. Rushing upstairs she showers and begins to get ready. She pulls on a black leotard and some black leggings. She grabs a bag she shoving in a pair of shorts and a different shirt along with her different pairs of dance shoes. Her aunt calls her to come to the car and she rushes down.

The ride to the studio is quiet, and Lily is nervous about meeting new people and having to dance in front of them. Once they arrive the two walk into the studio, Lily holding Petunia's hand nervously. A bright and chirpy woman sits at the front desk, typing on the computer. Noticing then she stops typing, greeting them with a cheerful hello.

"My name is Maudie, but you can call me Mrs. Marven. You must be Lily, it is so nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you from both your aunt and Mrs. Matelyn. Speaking of which, here she is now.

A very, very tall woman walks into the office-like area from a back hall. She also, excluding the fact that she is indeed very tall, carries herself with lots of grace and poise. Her brown hair, pulled back into a bun so tight it could rival Professor McGonagall's, striking blue eyes burning into Lily's soul, seeming to read every dreaded thought or slight worry she may feel. She is mighty intimidating though it loses its effectiveness as her face breaks into a smile.

"Petunia, it is so good to see you!" Mrs. Matelyn exclaims, hugging Petunia, turning their gazes to the girl standing nearby.

Petunia wraps an arm around Lily's shoulders, stepping beside her, and guiding her forward. "Marie, this is Lily. She's going to be in some of your classes."

Reaching out, Marie and Lily shake hands. "It is so nice to meet you, dear, your aunt has told me so much about you. We are going to have a lot of fun together, let us introduce you to the others."

Lily turns to Petunia hugging her while Petunia hands, her lunch in a little brown bag. They hug, and Lily follows Mrs. Matelyn down the hall to a classroom full of students. Mrs. Matelyn claps her hands, gaining everyone's attention.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce you to our newest student, Miss. Lily Dursley," Before Lily can correct her Mrs. Matelyn continues. "I hope you are all very welcoming and hospitable."

A few girls and boys walk over and introduce themselves, inviting her to stand at their barre. They begin to stretch nearby until they are called to do barre stretches with instruction. They do their stretches and some jumps, everyone either barefoot or in ballet flats. Looking around she notices that a lot of the people in her class can stretch farther and go lower than she is. Auntie was right, I'm not as good as everyone else. I need to work twice as hard if I want to be as good as I used to be.

From that moment forward Lily pushes herself even harder, trying to go deeper into her stretches and higher into her jumps. A bell rings, indicating that their hour of ballet barre is over and she follows two of her classmates Steven and Dani to their next class, Jazz.

Entering the room they are met with another instructor, a man. He begins to teach them a jazz sequence. She picks up the moves pretty fast although, she struggles to get up to the speed it's supposed to be.

"That's alright Lily, you're aunt told us how you've been out of the studio the entire school year. It's going to take a little while to get back up to speed. Don't give up." Her instructor Mr. Mathews, tells her.

Now reassured she continues to try her hardest and is one of the first people to memorize the steps.

Close to the end of class, Mr. Mathews splits up the class into four groups to perform the sequence with the music. Once that's over they change into tap shoes and Lily goes to the Tap class she shares with Steven.

Ms. Miller is their tap teacher, she isn't as patient as Mr. Mathews or Mrs. Matelyn. She barks out different moves for them to do. It is a little stressful but not horrible. That class goes by in a glass, the bell dismissing them to lunch.

Sitting in the courtyard everyone talks while they eat their packed lunches. Lily sits with Dani, Steven, and their friends. She pulls out her sandwich and a glass container of melon. She enjoys her meal and talking to her new friends. Washing down the last of her sandwich with the store-bought smoothie her aunt packed. Before going back to classes she reads the note her aunt left her.

Lily darling, I hope you enjoy the lunch I packed for you. Nutritious yet filling. I went ahead and opened your smoothie so you wouldn't have to struggle with it. Enjoy your classes.

Love, Auntie <3

Lily smiles as she throws away her trash. Her aunt is so thoughtful.

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Contemporary kicked her butt. It wasn't the teacher or that the work was too difficult, it was just the never-ending movement and the isolations that make her arms weak and her legs sore.

Once that class ends Lily walks to the back rooms where the girls change and stretch. Seeing a telephone on the wall she walks over and dials her home. Standing there as it rings she glances around, making sure she's alone.

One ring, two, she's almost given up when someone finally answers. "Hello, Dursley residence Petunia speaking. How may I help you?" The sound of her aunt's voice almost brings her to tears.

"Auntie," Lily says, eyes filling with tears as hopelessness washes over her body. "Auntie, I don't know if I can do this. Everyone is so good and I'm having trouble doing a few menial things that anyone should be able to do." She says, crying softly.

Petunia sighs, "Darling, this is exactly why I wanted you to keep up your practices while you were at school. You're just going to have to practice harder now. L know this is stressful but, had you just listened to me then none of this would be happening. You've been dancing for years, now's not the time to quit. I'll see you this afternoon, I love you, goodbye."

Before Lily can utter a word, her aunt hangs up. She's right, we can't be a baby. Suck it up buttercup. Lily washes her face, clearing it of any traces of tears. Rushing to get ready for her last class of the day, she secures her pointe shoes.

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Ballet class doesn't go as badly as she feared, It went quite well. Leaving the room, ankles aching, she practically runs to her aunt who is standing with the other parents near the front door. She throws herself into her hug, holding her close.

"Hello, Lily Darling, how was your last class, any better?" Petunia inquires, leading her out of the building and into the car.

"Things went a lot better, we worked on and relevé along with pique turns and arabesques. Mrs. Matelyn asked me how long I've been on pointe, considering I'm only twelve and I told her that I graduated up last summer but have lost my touch over the school year. Although while that may be I am very willing to work very hard to get back up to par." Lily explains, drinking the coconut water her aunt brought her along with a bag of almonds. "You were right I was overreacting, class wasn't that bad."

Petunia nods along, listening intently. "I am so glad you feel that way sweetheart. I told you everything would work itself out." They continue their drive until Petunia suddenly remembers. "Oh, sweetheart you'll never guess what happened at Vernon's work today?"

"What happened?" Lily questions, mind racing to the worst possible outcome.

"Vernon won a drawing of names from the best sales representatives at Grunnings," Petunia says excitedly, "He won five tickets to a play being held in a few weeks, it's called Jekel and Hyde, Dudley is ecstatic. Doesn't that sound like fun?"

"That sounds so fun auntie," Lily answers excitedly. The rest of their car ride is quiet, just the sounds of classical music playing faintly in the background.

Arriving at the house Lily rushes inside, darting upstairs to her room. Showering and changing into some leggings and a t-shirt. Lily pulls on her trainers and walks to Harry's room, knocking on the doorframe.

"Hey Kathy, you ready to go to the park?" Harry asks, standing from his desk, wiping imaginary dust from his trousers. Turning to his desk, he closes the book he was reading and grabs an envelope before following her down the hall. "A letter came in for you, it's from Arty, I hid it so Aunt Petunia wouldn't get mad again."

"Oh, thank you!" Lily-Kathryn exclaims, taking the letter. She sets it under her pillow before making their way out of the house.

The walk to the park is short but refreshing, the fresh air is soothing. Arriving at the park Lily-Kathryn immediately rushes over to the swings. She swings as Harry slowly walks over.

"Harry, will you push me?" Kathryn asks. Harry walks behind her and begins to push her swing.

He lets out a sigh, "You know what I hope happens this year?"

"What's that Harry?" The wind whips through her hair, feeling great against her hot face.

"Absolutely nothing, I hope absolutely nothing happens this year," Harry says. They share a laugh. "I want this year to be completely boring and not have to worry about anything but getting good grades. I want to be normal."

Kathryn looks at the slowly darkening sky, debating her answer. "Well, I think you are almost as close to normal as a wizard going to magical wizarding school can be, excluding the murderers. You know? There's always going to be drama but, maybe things can be calmer this year." She flips over, hanging upside down from the swing without hitting the ground, to look at Harry.

He lets out a laugh and gets on his swing. They continue to chat about different things for another hour or two before it is time to go home. Leaving the swings they begin their slow walk home.

They are walking through the neighborhoods making jokes and talking about their friends' summers. "So yeah, Draco is having a blast, we wish we could have met up at some point and hung out but we both are very busy and with my practice and his family visits there just isn't any ti-"

The sound of a shuffling up ahead makes them pause, it seems to come from an alley nearby. "Harry, what was that?" Lily whispers.

"I'm not sure, stick close," Harry whispered back. Holding hands they both creep forward and Harry peers around the corner of the alley. Not seeing anything they both step out. "Hm, must've been the wind or something." As they walk away they hear a crash in the alley. They turn back just in time to see a shadowy black shape rush around the corner at the end of the alley and out of sight. "Let's get out of here."

They both run the rest of the way to the Dursleys, happy for all the practice they had when Harry would run away from Dudley's gang and Lily would run after them, trying to get them to leave her brother alone.

Arriving safe and sound at the Dursleys they both make their way inside, trying not to disturb the family sitting around the telly.

They freeze on their way up the stairs at the sound of Petunia's voice. "Lily, dinner will be in twenty minutes, go ahead and change for bed and wash up."

"Yes, aunt Petunia," Lily calls back, rushing up the stairs with Harry. They part ways to get ready for dinner.

Once she's dressed Lily pulls the letter from Art out from under her pillow. She opens it and reads his lovely crawled greeting when there is a knock on her door. Throwing the letter underneath her bed Lily opens it to see Dudley.

"Hey Lils, mom told me to come to get you for dinner." He says holding out his arm. Linking arms they walk down to the dining area. Dinner is lovely as always but Lily just cannot wait for it to end, wanting nothing more than to read Art's letter.

Finally, it is over and she is dismissed for bed. After getting ready, she pulls the letter out from under the bed and gets under the covers to read it.

Tears fill Lily's eyes as she reads the letter from her very upset friend. She is going to miss him so much. Rising from her bed, she goes over to her desk to write a response Harry can send for her.