Chapter One

It was going to be weird going back to Hogwarts after the events of this summer. Of course everyone would have heard about my families mass killings from the Daily Prophet. I wouldn't be surprised if no one talked to me but then again would you talk to the only survivor of Voldemort's personal killing spree.

I came home from a long camping trip with my friend Lily and her family and the dark mark was over my house. I didn't even think before I entered and I guess I was lucky because the only bodies in the house were the dead ones of my parents and eight year old brother. I had tried to contact the relatives but all of them from both of my parent's side were dead.

I don't know who did what in my family to piss Voldemort off but about ten minutes after I got word that I was the only one left Professor Dumbledore came and took me away and put me in a secret home to protect me.

And now here I stand on platform nine and three quarters without my family kissing me goodbye. I had about ten Aurors follow me here and I know that Dumbledore has put more security measures at Hogwarts and the express but I think that's just because of all the attacks over the summer.

"Riley, Riley over here," someone called from a train compartment and I walked over and saw my best friend Lily Evans waving to me. Lily had gorgeous, thick red hair and green eyes. She was smart and beautiful and one of the nicest and most decent person I know.

"Hey Lily I'll be right there," I said and boarded the compartment, dragging my trunk behind me. I finally found where Lily and our other friend Stacy Henderson were sitting and joined them.

"Oh Merlin, Riley, you are so thin," Stacy said quietly hugging me. Stacy had thick black locks and was a bit short and a bit chubby. Her family was very rich and a prominent wizard family which is why she could sometimes be a snob.

Stacy was right though, I had gotten thinner over the summer. But that's just because I hardly ate, or slept, or did anything but walk around in a fog. I had tried to cheer up a little bit and change a little before I came back to school though. I had cut my once back length brown hair so it was now about an inch above my shoulders and black. But otherwise my red-brown eyes were still very intense and I was still a little bit short for my age, sixteen.

"How are you hanging in?" Lily asked pulling Stacy away so that she could hug me.

"I'll be ok once I'm at Hogwarts and settled in." I said taking a seat once Lily let me go. Suddenly the trains whistle blew. I looked out the window and watched the rest of the students starting to board.

Right outside my window was a first year who looked a lot like my brother Anthony. He was hugging and kissing his crying mother goodbye just as the train jolted forward and then he ran out of sight. I removed my gaze from the window and wiped away a small tear. Lily and Stacy looked at me like a bomb ready to explode but they didn't say anything to me. They didn't know what to say to me.

Lily began talking about her sister Petunia's new and very large boyfriend Vernon who should be proposing anytime now. Lily is the only witch in her family and her sister is a great prat. Even though Lily's muggle born she is the smartest in our class and the Slytherin pure bloods don't let her forget where she comes from.

Suddenly the door swung open and four boys crowded our compartment and took seat next to me and my friends. One boy was thin with jet black hair and glasses. Another was scruffy and rat-like with a hunch back and warts. The third boy was thin and worn looking with dirty-blonde hair and a kind nature. The last boy had black hair that covered his dark brown eyes, he was handsome.

"What do you want Potter," Lily said in a nasty tone. Potter, the one with the black hair and glasses, dropped down next to her.

"We all just wanted to say hi Evans," Potter said resting his arm on the back of Lily's seat just as the handsome boy with black hair sat down next to me.

"Hey Riley, how are you doing?" he asked as Lily and James Potter began to fight like an old married couple.

"I'm alright Sirius. It's just been a long weekend and I'll be ok once I'm at Hogwarts."

"I hope so. I hope you put some meat on those chicken legs too," he joked tickling my knee. Sirius Black and I have always gotten along great. We don't really hang out with the guys but every time James comes over to harass Lily Sirius and I always bond.

"Stop making fun of my chicken legs," I said trying to keep the subject off my family. "So what did you do over your holiday?"

"Endless meetings with the purebloods," Sirius said in disgust. Sirius' family was entirely full blood witches and wizards. His mother was a major bitch and from what I knew they never got along since he was put in Gryffindor instead of Slytherin

We knew it was time for the boys to leave when James whispered something into Lily's ear and she slapped him. Once the boys left the snack cart came by. Stacy and Lily each got treats and I got a cauldron cake to keep them from yelling at me about my weight.

The rest of the ride was spent talking about all the fun we would have this year. Sixth years were given free periods and it was going to be great. Finally Stacy said, with a devious smile, that she could see Hogwarts and we changed into our school robes.