PROLOGUE
I was invited on Olivia Holt's Halloween party. Her always friendly mother opened the door and smiled at me.
"Glad you came", she said, "Get in."I entered the cozy house of the Holts and heard children laughing.
"Emily!" Olivia cheered when she saw me.
"Looks good", she giggled pointing to my costume. I was wearing my mother's purple cloak and hat. I had asked her if I could also use her wand, but she thought that was too dangerous.
I don't really think it was because she thought it was too dangerous for me, but mostly because she needed it herself. To protect herself against the Dark Lord, although trying to defend yourself against him is useless.
I looked around at the other children. That one supposed to be a vampire and that kid was a werewolf, though werewolves didn't exactly look that way. Kate was wearing a pumpkin on top of her head, which made me laugh.
"Okay kids", Mrs. Holt clapped her hands, "It's time for Trick or Treat!" We all cheered running towards the door.
It was a rainy, windy night. We collected a lot of candy while passing every house in Godric's Hollow. Eventually we had to return to Olivia's house. One by one everyone went home. I was the last one left on the party.
"Emily, I think it's time for you to return home too", Olivia's mother finally told me. Because the Holts' house was only two streets away from mine, I could go home by myself. I told Olivia and her mother goodbye, thanked them for the party and left. Two streets and I would be home. But I never came home. Home didn't exist anymore.
The whole house was ruined. Debris was scattered in the grass. I choked.
"What happened", I whispered. At that moment, I heard something behind me. A low rumbling sound broke the silence around me. I turned and a huge motorbike fell out of the air landing in front of me. The man sitting on it was Sirius Black, a friend of my parents and also Harry's godfather. Sirius looked to me, the ruined cottage and back to me.
"Sirius-" I whispered.
"It's alright", said Sirius and he took me in his arms while I started crying.
"Do you think it was You-Know-Who?" I asked him after a long moment.
"I'm sure it was You-Know-Who. It is what we have feared." For some reason, Sirius looked very angry.
"Emily", he finally spoke to me, "Why don't you-" He couldn't finish his sentence because someone appeared around the corner.
"Emily!" said Mrs. Holt happily, "I think you forgot something." In her left hand she held my bag with sweet things I must have forgotten. She walked towards me and then noticed Sirius.
"Good evening, Mr. Black. What brings you-" she stopped when she noticed the Potters' house, totally ruined. With wide eyes she looked at Sirius. In less than no time she had pulled her wand. Mrs. Holt grabbed me by my arm and pulled me close to hers.
"Don't you dare stick out one finger to her, betrayer! Why did you do this?"
"No, wait, I swear I didn't-"
"No! No excuse is good enough at what you have done!" Both of them were filled with sadness at what happened. But they were also very angry at each other. I didn't really realize what happened. Mrs. Holt led me away.
Since that day, 31 October, I lived with the family Holt.
My parents died. I was only five.
