Chapter 1
Segregated Train System
Coughing softly as steam from the train went through the open windows, I walked down the hallways of the Hogwarts Express, searching for one person in particular: Regulus Black. Regulus has been my best friend since we were four years old, when we met at one of our parents balls. These balls were only for rich purebloods of our society and to be invited, you had to be from a proper family with respectable values. Of course, we hit off straight away and when our parents saw the chance for two wealthy pureblood families, the Blacks and the Wanderwoods, to join together, they immediately arranged a marriage. So, now my best friend and I are to be married, which is a really weird thought...at least to me. We've always been more like brother and sister than any form of love interest. If anything, I probably would've preferred to marry Regulus' brother, Sirius. Sirius would hate that since he is now betraying his family by befriending muggle lovers, like the Potters, for example, as well as ditching our values and creating his own.. Well, I suppose Sirius and the Potters can betray those who once cared for them together.
I ducked when a large group of rowdy boys, at least sixth years, came running past me, almost knocking me over and hitting me in the head with their bulky arms. I am very short compared to them, as well as most other people, due inheriting my mother's delicate and feminine body shape. Although, this isn't the first someone's nearly accidentally whacked me in the face because I'm so much shorter than them. Glaring over my shoulder as I neatened by ruffled skirt and blouse, I sighed before continuing on walking straight ahead, peaking into the compartments to check if Regulus was in any of them. After five minutes and nearing the end of the train, a voice called out to me, but not the one I was hoping for.
"Oi, Wanderwood, what are you doing in the Gryffindor section of the train?" I moaned gently. Of course, the train is segregated, how did I not know? It's not like there's a sign saying 'Gryffindor Section, everyone else – get lost!'. Well, I suppose it's better than having to be around muggleborns all the time.
I turned around slowly, before facing the boy who had called out to me. I groaned, Regulus would not be pleased if he found out who I am about to talk to. "Black," I muttered, my eyes narrowing at him, as Sirius Black merely stared at me with his light grey eyes, which were a few tones lighter than his brother's. "Care to point the way to the Slytherin section of this train, then? Since you had the decency to tell me that the train is segregated."
"Well, well, a death eater junior is asking a Gryffindor for help?" Sirius gasped dramatically while I glowered at him. A boy beside him, with messy dark hair, tanned skin and glasses, grinned widely, showing pearly white teeth. Probably the Potter boy Regulus had told me about in deep depth over the holidays. Sirius never shut up about him in the letters he used to send to Regulus when he first left for Hogwarts and the brothers were on good terms with each other. Those good terms ended very quickly once Sirius turned against his family. "Have you ever heard of that before, James?"
"Don't think I have, Sirius." James responded, as my guess was correct. "Just wandering around, are you, Wanderwood?"
Some chubby boy with pale hair, watery blue eyes and a rat shaped nose came waddling over with a fair haired boy who had his nose in a book, clearly ignoring the scene in front of him. I merely rolled my eyes at them as the round boy laughed loudly. "Great joke, James!"
"Why thank you, Peter." James said, grinning from ear to ear. Proud of himself, I would guess. Pretty pathetic if you asked me. "It wasn't very hard."
"I suppose you better get wandering to the Slytherin section, then." Sirius did a loud bark laugh, but I stayed still, still glaring daggers at him. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how lost I actually am, that would embarrass Regulus so much, as well as myself. Plus, March, Regulus' friend, would never let me forget about it.
"Thank you for your help, Black." I said coldly. I could tell that my blue eyes would have that cold sheen to them that scares the hell out of Regulus when we get into fights, which is very rare. Regulus and I don't actually have much to fight about. We're very similar in our views and actions, which doesn't cause too much of a contrast. "You're a true hero."
"I try." Sirius joked, as someone with a very familiar voice called out my name.
Hiding the huge smile threatening to appear on my face, I smirked as the boy walked toward my, passing his brother as he took his place by my side. With his dark grey eyes, neat curly black hair and pale skin, he was naturally a heart breaker, just like many others in his family. Too bad that all the other girls are too late, he's taken now. "Amelia, what are you doing down here?"
"I lost my way and your dear brother was helping me." I informed Regulus, who caught the sarcasm in my tone.
"Well, now that my charming little brother has found you," Sirius said coolly, clearly unamused with being in Regulus' presence, "you can leave, can't you?"
"You must be ashamed of yourself, Black." I spat at Sirius, watching closely as his friends, James especially, turned frigid as they stared at me. "A Black in Gryffindor, hanging around with half-bloods."
Sirius snorted. "No more ashamed than your mother must be of you, pudgy." I blanched at the remark at my size, before masking my face into my usual smirk, as if he said nothing that hurt. Regulus was not stupid though, he knows about my thoughts on my weight and how my mother was soon going to make me go on a diet in a desperate attempt to make her only daughter an even more perfect pureblood. Despite what Regulus has said about my weight not mattering, I know the truth. For a pureblood girl to be perfect, they must be skinny and for me to be skinny, I must diet. Regulus was quick to put his arm around my waist and step in front of me, protectively.
Just as I was about to retort, a girl with dark red hair stormed past. "Potter! Black! What on earth are you doing?"
Sirius rolled his eyes, as James immediately smirked at the girl. "Just showing the first years the way to the Slytherin part of the train."
"Oh get lost, Potter." Regulus snarled, his grip on me tightening. "You and my brother were tormenting my future wife."
"Future wife?" The redhead asked, looking between Regulus and I, her eyebrow burrowing in confusion, as looks like someone isn't use to tradition, no wonder she's friends with my future brother-in-law.
"Yes, I am the future Mrs. Black." I curtsied towards the girl, observing Sirius and James share a look at my manners that I had been raised with. The girl didn't look like she knew what I was doing. She must not be a pureblood then. I hope not, she seems rather nice, but I'm not going to be friends with a Mudblood. I don't even know what house she is in. "Amelia Wanderwood." I introduced, standing up straight.
"Uh, Lily Evans." Lily said. Odd, never heard the name 'Evans' before, hopefully she is not what I think she is. Although, it would not shock me if Regulus' brother is friends with a Mudblood.
"Evans?" I questioned with a sharp tone, as Sirius and James seemed to pale when they were figuring out what was going through my head. Well, that's pretty much answering my unsaid fears.
"Yes, and Evans is leaving." James said quickly, putting his arm around Lily, who stomped on his sneaker-clad foot.
"Get off me, Potter!" She snapped, elbowing him in the ribs as he winced slightly. I grinned slightly at her actions. Potter totally deserves a good stomp on the foot, more if I had my choice. "Yes, I am Lily Evans, so?"
"I've never heard of the name Evans before." I informed her. "Where is your family from? America? I do not know many wizarding families from America, other than my father's."
"Uh, no, England." Lily told me, looking pleased when James finally let go of her. "I'm muggleborn, that might be why you've never heard of my name before."
"Muggleborn." I repeated tensely, my eyes going straight to Sirius, who looked like he could murder me right now. "A Black is friends with a muggleborn? What will Walburga and Orion think of this, Black? The shame you are placing on your family by befriending a pitiful muggleborn. She doesn't even deserve magic! Her blood is not pure!"
"Shut up, Wanderwood, and go to your stupid snake pit. Take your prejudice with you." Sirius yelled, angry, as I felt my temper flare.
"Your parents will be ashamed of you, Black!" I screamed back at him, as Regulus was quick to jump in front of my when Sirius pulled his wand out.
"Amelia, stop it!" Regulus commanded, as I gave him a peeved look but stopped talking.
"Yes Wanderwood, just obey your future husband. I mean, that's all you pureblood women do, isn't it? Gossip about those unworthy of magic and obey your husbands." Sirius shouted, his face going red with anger. Faces were peering out from behind the windows in each compartments as some people came out and watched or poked their heads out through the gap in the window. A group of my friends strutted over, before stopping behind Regulus and I, as some Gryffindors stood behind James and Sirius. I noticed Narcissa Black, who is in her seventh year, with some of her seventh year friends. Narcissa and are I rather close due to being around each other a lot as we grew up. We both attended ministry balls together and events held at each others houses. Sometimes she and her sister's would be a Regulus' home when I was visiting him. I never really got along well with her sister, Bellatrix, and Andromeda and I never see each other anymore. I always only talked to Narcissa out of all the three Black sisters. She's like the older sister I don't have and because of our bond, we are incredibly protective of each other.
With Narcissa were my closer friends: the Morrison twins, Caroline and Cressida, and Regulus' other best friend, March Chamberlin. Sirius and James' friends copied the stern and serious looks on the Slytherin's faces, as we faced each other. There was silence before Sirius started to continue speaking in an angry tone of voice. "You have no power over my family, Wanderwood. You might be the future Mrs. Regulus Black, but you have no power over me." Sirius said, before his voice turned more
"Well, at least I'm not fraternising with a mudblood!" I shrieked, as many of Sirius' friends gasped in horror and the Slytherins smirked and laughed at the Gryffindor's reactions. "She will destroy you, Sirius. Just like how that filthy mudblood destroyed Andromeda."
Sirius was quick to pull his wand out, as he cast some spell at me. The red light flew at me, before it was stopped and bounced away from me before hitting the wall of the train and sizzling a black hole into the plaster. I turned to see Narcissa standing behind me, wand drawn as she glared darkly at her, in my opinion, deranged cousin.
"Never. Ever. Try and hurt Amelia ever again, Sirius." She told him, her tone ice cold, as she quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me with her, Regulus and everyone else following as we passed the Gyrffindors, who were eyeing us off with distaste, especially me. I gave Lily, who was standing the side beside some round faced, dark-haired girl, the filthiest, darkest look I could. Lily caught my eye and shivered in response. I knew my eyes had gone that ice cold blue. I smirked and continued to walk on, Narcissa on one side, Regulus on the other and the other Slytherins followed behind us, whispering between themselves. As Regulus fussed over and freaked out about his brother aiming a spell at me, I just nodded as the picture of the frightened look on Lily's face stayed in my head. It was really nice to know I had a third year fear me and it was just a bonus that she was a mudblood.
