CHAPTER ONE

My name is Ruby Black, and this is my story.

My Dad is "mass murderer" Sirius Black. Of course, he isn't really a mass murderer, or at least, I don't think so. I know the ministry has plentiful evidence to suggest that he blasted a street, killing thirteen muggles, not to mention brutally murdering that idiot Peter Pettigrew. He went to school with my Dad, they were friends, but I know my Dad always thought he was a bit of an idiot. But still, he would never murder anyone just for being an idiot.

So, I know, in my heart, that my Dad is innocent, whatever the ministry says. But that didn't stop them locking him up in Azkaban prison twelve years ago, when I was just three years old. Me and my Dad were very close during my early childhood. I've never known my mother. Not that I really care, just having Dad would have been fine. Except, I didn't even get that. Once my Dad was taken away, I was given to my godfather, Remus Lupin. My Dad gave me two godfathers; the other was James Potter. Although, as everyone knows, he died the night my Dad supposedly blew up a street of muggles. Of course, everyone blames him for the Potters' death as well. I know that Lily and James Potter had a son, I mean, who hasn't heard of the famous Harry Potter? He's a little bit younger than me, I think. But, anyway, I couldn't live with James as a godfather, so I was sent to Remus.

I'm not sure he would have been too thrilled to raise a child that wasn't his own, but he must have done an alright job, as I am still alive now, twelve years later. I really, really like Remus Lupin, he has been my father-figure for practically my whole life, and I guess you could say I love him like a Dad. But, no one can replace my real Dad. However, living with Remus Lupin definitely has its advantages. He has taught me a number of spells that I'm not meant to know yet, including several variations on the ministry approved enchantments. He didn't feel any need to send me to school, although I knew of the wizarding school, Hogwarts. Remus just taught me everything I needed to know. And, according to the education levels, I'm well above where I should be anyway.

Although, there was one difficulty with living with Remus; he is a werewolf. But, that is not actually as big a problem as it might first appear. When I was younger, I used to go and stay with our neighbour; and elderly witch named Mrs Port, at every full moon, while Remus would head down to the basement to transform. However, since I got older, a remarkable potion had been created, called the Wolfsbane potion, and at every full moon, Remus would take the potion and it would make him safe once he had transformed. He would curl up in an armchair in his room, and sleep until he was human again.

I know the Wolfsbane potion is a most complicated potion to make. I would never attempt it, for fear of getting it wrong and end up poisoning Remus. No, it was brought round to our house every month, ready-made, by a man named Severus Snape. I know that he went to school with Remus and my Dad as well. Remus told me that they didn't get on very well. That would certainly explain the sour expressions he gives us when he comes round.

My Dad would write often, and first Remus would send replies about my well being, however, as I have gotten older, I have written to him on a regular basis. Of course, all our letters are checked before they are passed over, to make sure they are suitable. I don't think one in which I called Cornelius Fudge a "pig faced idiot" ever got to him.

I even got to visit my Dad once or twice a year, although everyone was always wary for my safety. I have no idea why. My Dad wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone his own daughter. That said, I wouldn't say my visits to my Dad were that enjoyable. Azkaban prison is one of the most horrible places I have ever set foot in. The Dementors that guard it, they just suck all the happiness out of you. I can't imagine how horrible it was for my Dad to stay there all the time. No wonder he broke out.

That's right. My Dad managed to escape from a high-security prison, and no one has found him yet. Although I'm proud of my Dad for getting out of there, which is something no wizard has ever managed to do, I'm very worried about what will happen when he is found. There is talk of the Dementor's Kiss, in which the Dementors will suck out my Dad's soul. That sounds so horrible. I just hope my Dad can remain in hiding, and then maybe I'll find some evidence to show he is innocent. Yes, that would be good.

So, now that my Dad has escaped, the ministry now fear even more for my safety. They seem to be under the impression that Dad has broken out to come and find me. They are probably right, however, they are not right in thinking Dad would want to find me to "kill me" or whatever they think he is going to do with me. So now I am to be carted off to Hogwarts, where I will be watched over by Albus Dumbledore, and where my Dad will not be able to find me. Remus is coming too, Dumbledore has asked him to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. I think he will be good at this; he has been a good teacher to me these past few years.

A letter had arrived over breakfast, delivered by a large tawny owl, informing me that I was to be placed in the third year.

"There's a mistake in this letter," I'd said casually, tossing the letter across the breakfast table to Remus.

He'd picked it up and scanned quickly through it.

"They've said I'm going to be in the third year," I'd continued, when Remus didn't seem able to see this obvious mistake in the letter. "They must mean fifth, right? I'm way too old to be in the third year. Some typo I guess..."

I'd trailed off. Remus had looked nervous.

"What?" I said. "What?" I had repeated when Remus didn't answer me.

"Well..." he began, slowly. "Professor Dumbledore seemed to be of the opinion that, uh, well...that you may have missed out slightly on a proper, uh, education."

I was outraged.

"I've had a better education from you than anything I could have got at some stupid school!" I'd cried.

Remus had smiled wanly. "Well, as complimentary as I think that comment was intended to be, I must assure you that Professor Dumbledore knows best. If he thinks you would be better off in a..."

"Class for children!"

"...less advanced class, then so be it."

And so, not only was my time at Hogwarts going to be embarrassing enough because I was the daughter of a so-called 'mass murderer', but now I also had to deal with the humiliation of being several years older than my classmates. People would think I was stupid or something! All I really want to do is blend in. But that is unlikely to happen. I asked Remus if he had informed this Dumbledore man that I wanted to be known, not as Ruby Black, but as something ordinary like Ruby Smith.

But Remus had point blank refused to even consider this request.

"You shouldn't be ashamed of who you are!" he had said.

"I am not ashamed," I had insisted. "But I just want to fit in! You have no idea what it's going to be like to be different to everybody!"

Remus had looked at me severely and I immediately regretted shouting those words at him.

"I think," he had said, slowly. "That I of all people would understand what it's like to be different. Especially when at school."

I had felt about the size of my pet rat, Ralph. Of course Remus knew what it was like to be different; he had had to cope with being a werewolf at school, something that was far worse than just being Sirius Black's daughter.

So, I'm sticking true to who I am, and will go to Hogwarts as Ruby Black; daughter of a mass murderer. I am certainly not looking forward to it, and will most definitely hate every minute of my time there.