September 1, 1971 AD
Sirius found a compartment before I even got to the platform. There were two boys there already; one has sandy hair and scars, while the other has watery blue eyes and is on the shorter side. They introduced themselves as Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. I like them. They're shy, but Remus is super smart, and Peter has a wicked sense of humor. We're going to be best friends. I can see it already.
Sirius and I went to visit Narcissa and Andromeda, and they chatted with us for a while. Cissa and Andy are really the only Blacks other than Reggie, Uncle Orion, and Uncle Alphie that I really like. The others - besides Lord Black and his Lady - are very uptight and just generally lack a sense of humor.
On our way back to our compartment, we ran into a scrawny boy with black hair and a girl with red hair - not Weasley or Prewett red, either. Her hair is the color of the wine that Mum and Dad drink with dinner, the really rich stuff. She has gorgeous hair. And her eyes are really, really green, like emeralds or peridot.
Unfortunately, she's friends with the boy, who is an absolute git. His name is Snape, and he was really rude about Sirius' family, and wouldn't let the girl - Lily - talk to us. She probably wouldn't have said anything even if he did let us talk to her, she did her best to ignore us after Snape mentioned Sirius' family.
He's not even like them. His branch of the Black family is less blood conscious than the others, except his mother. Besides, my Mum was a Black and she doesn't care about blood. She and Dad are friends with the Weasleys, and they're considered blood traitors by some of the other Houses.
Snape doesn't know what he's talking about.
September 2, 1971 AD
I got into Gryffindor, as did Remus and Peter and Sirius. Sirius was a surprise, and it took a minute for people to start clapping. Blacks are never in Gryffindor. No one remembers the last time a Black made it into any House other than Slytherin or Ravenclaw. Lily Evans also got into Gryffindor, but her friend Snape is in Slytherin.
Siri is worried what his Mum will say when she finds out he's not in Slytherin. I don't blame him; Walburga Black is a terrifying woman, and very set in her prejudices.
September 5, 1971 AD
Classes have been interesting so far. Sirius and I both have talent in Transfigurations and Potions. Remus is good at Defense, and Peter. I suppose Peter has some talent in Herbology.
Father told me that I would have a Muggle Studies class, since I grew up in the wizarding world. He says that he did, and that Muggle-borns were expected to take a Wizarding Culture class, so that our worlds would not be so massively separated. I do not have a Muggle Studies class, and I asked Evans, who said that she didn't have a Wizarding Culture course.
I asked Father about it, and he plans to bring it up at the next Wizengamot meeting.
Father and Mother asked if they would be hearing about any pranks; I haven't thought of doing one yet, as I am still settling in, but I brought it up to Sirius, and he seems enthusiastic. It will boost his mood, I think. His Mother still hasn't written him, and I know he is dreading what she will say about his Sorting.
Uncle Orion and cousin Reggie wrote Siri a letter saying that they were proud of him for being his own man. I don't know how Uncle Orion ended up with Walburga, but he deserves better than Sirius' shrew of a Mother.
I have only mentioned my opinion to Mother and Father because I don't want Siri thinking that I wish he hadn't been born. Walburga has done terrible things to his self-esteem. He's good at hiding it, but I know him; he craves her approval, even though he never gets it.
September 7, 1971 AD
Walburga sent mail today.
It was a howler, and as soon as Sirius saw it, he grabbed the thing and bolted from the Great Hall. Everyone in the Hall could hear it go off. Walburga has an impressive set of lungs, and she does not shy away from sharing her opinions with everyone in earshot - or out of it.
Now everyone knows that Sirius' Mother doesn't approve of his placement in Gryffindor. Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa seemed shocked, while the other Slytherins seemed to take some enjoyment from the scene. Snape looked happy that Walburga was mad at Siri.
Mum may have been a Slytherin, but these ones suck. I won't let them make fun of Sirius. Father says that Potters are irrationally overprotective at times, especially when family is threatened. Sirius is family, and if he ever feels threatened, I'll help him.
Remus was sick the other night. He still doesn't look fully recovered, but he's back in classes today.
September 8, 1971 AD
Snape has been running his scuzzy little mouth all day. He is having way too much fun gloating over Sirius' misery. I don't know what Evans sees in the slimy git, but she told McGonagall when I hexed Snape for mocking Sirius. He's going to regret his words someday.
On another note, Bella and Andy and Cissa cornered Sirius and me in the corridor on the way to Potions today. They told him that Walburga was a prejudiced bitch, and that Siri shouldn't pay her any mind. They were furious when they heard about what Snape was saying, and promised to deal with him.
Besides Siri and Reggie and Uncle Orion, Bella and Andy and Cissy are my favorite Blacks. Mum doesn't count because she's a Potter now.
September 20, 1971 AD
Snape still brings up Walburga's disappointment whenever he can fit it into a conversation. He won't shut himself up, so I jinxed him. He didn't appreciate having his tongue locked to the roof of his mouth, so hopefully he'll shut up about Walburga.
Evans wasn't happy about my retaliation, but I don't care. If she wants to side with Snape then I don't want to talk to her.
October 5, 1971 AD
Remus was sick again yesterday. He's still in the Hospital Wing today, and looks terrible. I brought him some chocolate and a book on magical creatures so that he's not entirely bored all day.
October 12, 1971 AD
Father has written me to tell me to keep an eye out. Voldemort - a wizard who was introduced to the world nearly a decade ago - has been holding secret meetings. No one really knows what's going on in them, but Father says that some of the Lords in the Wizengamot have begun spouting Pure-blood propaganda like never before.
I wonder what Lord Voldemort's goals are. I wonder if that's even a real name - it sounds fake. Walburga insisted that Sirius learn another language when he was younger, and he tells me that Voldemort means flight from death in French. Whether his translation is accurate or not, I don't know, but if it is, then Lord Voldemort is definitely not his real name.
December 3, 1971 AD
Remy was sick again last night. Come to think of it, he was sick last month, too. I wonder if he gets sick every month. I wonder why.
Snape has finally dropped the topic of Walburga. Instead, he has moved on to making fun of how I'm not even a "real" Pure-blood. I'm not sure why he cares, since he's a Half-blood himself. Besides, who cares how many magical grandparents I've got? At least I have friends. Snape only has Evans, and even she gets irritated with him at times.
He never mentions blood purity around her.
December 7, 1971 AD
Mother and Father have invited my friends and their friends to stay with us for Yule. I look forward to seeing everyone. Remus has accepted - I didn't think he would, but I'm glad he did.
December 12, 1971 AD
We are all heading to the Manor for the holidays. Bella and Andy and Cissa joined us in our compartment, and the Prewett twins did, as well. Frank Longbottom also stopped by to inform me that he and his Mum would be attending.
I can't wait to see my family.
Father tells me that when he was my age, our family was the biggest in the country. Apparently, they were all killed by Grindelwald, and so Mum and Dad have made up for the loss by recreating the family. There are only two people with Potter blood remaining, but Mum and Dad always invite their friends to celebrate the holidays, as a way of keeping up the tradition started by one of our ancestors.
I wonder what it would be like to have such a big family, but I am happy having family that we have chosen. Blood is not the only thing that matters in this world, though many would disagree.
January 1, 1972 AD
Remus was sick again last night. My parents know something I don't. Yesterday was a full moon. Somehow, these things are connected.
February 1, 1972 AD
Werewolves.
That must be it. Remus is a werewolf. It makes sense. He's sick every month, and it's always on the full moon. He gets really touchy as it gets closer, and Remus is normally very even-tempered. And he won' t tell us about it; he always just sort of skirts around the topic, like he's embarrassed.
I'll talk to Mum and Dad about it. They'll help me figure out what to do, and since they already know, I won't be betraying Remus.
February 11, 1972 AD
Father has written back. He suggests being supportive, and being interested. He's told me to be gentle and respectful of Remus' predicament. He said the best thing I can do is to be there for Remus.
Mother sent me a journal she found in the vault about werewolves. She also sent me a book about animagi. I've already read both, and they were really informative.
I have a plan for the next full moon. Remus isn't alone anymore.
February 28, 1972 AD
Tonight is the full moon. I am not an animagus, though I hope to become one, so I can't be there with Remus during his shifts. I will, however, sneak into the hospital wing and spend the night with him, once he's brought there. I want to tell him that I know, and I want him to know that I don't care if he's a werewolf because he's my friend.
March 1, 1972 AD
Remus was surprised to see me this morning, and he was even more surprised to see the journal and book that I brought.
He looked scared, and so I blurted it out. So now Remy knows that I know he's a were, and he knows that I still want to be friends despite his furry little problem. I told him that he should tell Siri and Pete, and he looked surprised that I hadn't told them already.
When they came to visit Remus, he told them why he was sick every month, and they basically said the same thing I did. Remus looked really happy that we would still be his friends, like we should care. Honestly, that boy must have been told that werewolves were horrible for the way he acts about the topic.
October 22, 1972 AD
We've decided to work on becoming animagi this year. I've been looking through the process, and it seems like a pain in the arse. But no matter. We're doing this for Remy. He deserves to know that people care about him.
The first step involves holding a mandrake leaf in your mouth for a month. Luckily, we are working with mandrakes in Herbology, so Pete and Siri and I just nicked a few leaves. We all put them in before heading to bed, and used a Sticking Charm to keep it there. Now we just have to ignore the bitter taste and faint obstruction to speech for an entire month. Joy.
October 25, 1972 AD
Pete's leaf fell out today, so he has to start over again.
I say fell out, but what really happened is that his Sticking Charm wore off, and he swallowed the leaf during breakfast. He was not happy. It's a good thing we got extra leaves, otherwise Pete would have to sneak into the greenhouses to get a new one.
Sirius laughed his head off when Pete swallowed the leaf, and the entire Hall went silent. I don't think Siri has ever laughed so raucously during breakfast before.
October 30, 1972 AD
I nearly swallowed the leaf today. My Sticking Charm wore off, and I didn't notice until I was nearly choking on the damn thing. Sirius had to recast the charm, but at least I don't have to start over again.
Peter has been having us reapply the charm every day - he's paranoid that he'll swallow it again and have to start over.
Professor McGonagall has been looking at us suspiciously for the past week. I think she suspects that we are preparing some sort of great prank. I hate to disappoint her, but we've been focused on other things.
November 20, 1972 AD
It has been a month since I first put in the mandrake leaf. Today, Sirius and I plan to make the potion for our transformation. When Peter is done, we will make his as well.
Tonight, we have to sneak out of the dormitory to spit out the leaves into a vial and add the rest of the ingredients. Thank Merlin that Father gave me his invisibility cloak to use.
Tomorrow we will have to wake up at sunrise to say the incantation, and then again at sunset. The waiting is going to be the worst part.
December 1, 1972 AD
There was a lightning storm tonight. It started near the end of Astronomy, and Siri, Pete and I all shared a look before running out of the tower. We made it to the Great Hall with our potions, recited the incantation for the last time, and then drank the potion.
It tasted disgusting.
We probably should have thought the process through more than we did, because we ended up transforming in the middle of the Great Hall. Fortunately, no one was there to see.
Siri is a big black dog that resembles a Grim. He has blue eyes.
Pete is a rat with fur the color of his hair, with buck teeth and a hairless tail.
I am a white stag with brown eyes and faint gray markings in the shape of my glasses around my eyes.
We have finally accomplished our goal. As far as I know, as second years, we are the youngest animagi in history, though we don't plan to register until we are out of Hogwarts.
I can't wait to join Remy for full moons.
October 3, 1973
Snape is being an insufferable git.
Andy is supposed to be in her sixth year right now, but she's run off with Ted Tonks. Before she left, she told Sirius that she refused to marry Lucius Malfoy. The next day she was gone. Bella and Cissa are distraught, and Sirius is furious.
Reggie seems bewildered by this turn of events, and I don't know what to tell him.
But Snape somehow heard about it, and he's started telling Siri that Andy ran away and got herself disowned because she couldn't bear to be related to Sirius any longer. Of course, Sirius knows that's not true, because he knows Andy far better than Snape does, but Sirius is used to not being good enough. Walburga is to blame for that.
Evans doesn't even try to shut Snape up, and then she acts like we're the ones in the wrong. Well, I'm sorry to say that Snape is the one who antagonizes us. It's not the other way around. He starts our fights, and we finish them.
I wish Evans wasn't so blind to her friend's faults. It's only Snape who she lets get away with that kind of stuff. She's friends with Remus, too, and if he so much as scowls in Snape's direction she tells him off. The same goes for her friend Alice Brown. She is overly protective of Snape, and it's getting ridiculous.
January 6, 1975 AD
I have a crush on Evans. It's irrational; she's irritating and nosy, but she's really smart and she's gorgeous, and she's nice to everyone.
Well. She's nice to everyone except me.
It doesn't matter.
Remy, Siri, Pete and I have been working on creating a map of the school. It'll show all the exits and secret passageways, and it'll show people in their animagus form, and it'll show where
I do not know if she was willing or not, but I hope she was. I may not like Malfoy, but I would rather Cissa bond with him because she loves him than have her subjected to the same fate as Bella.
April 7, 1978 AD
Pete has been acting twitchy lately, though I don't know why. It might be that our NEWTs are approaching; he always gets nervous about them months in advance.
Lily and I had another screaming match last night where she accused me of being an insensitive toe-rag because I refused to let her continue throwing her pity party. I shouted at her, too, saying that she was a self-centered bitch who never pays attention to other people's problems. Then she told me that I didn't know what it was like to lose a parent, and I stopped shouting, and I whispered that I don't know what it's like to lose a parent, let alone two, but that I do know what it's like to lose someone you consider family.
And then I kissed her.
Yes, I know. I'm an insensitive toe-rag. That was the worst possible time to kiss someone, especially because I didn't ask first. But she kissed me back, and Merlin.
Merlin.
I apologized for being insensitive, and she apologized for acting so self-centered, and we forgave each other, and then we headed to bed.
This morning, I asked her if she would go to Hogsmeade with me, and Lily accepted. I feel like I'm on top of the world.
April 8, 1978 AD
The first half of my date with Lily was fantastic. We spent the entire time talking, something we've never really done before. I talked to her about my parents, about Siri and Remy and Pete, about Reggie and Bella and Cissa and Andy. She told me about her family, about her accidental magic, about being a Muggle-born, about her goals.
It was really nice, and we were walking back to the castle - I was asking her if she'd like to go on another date at some point - when something behind us exploded.
Death Eaters were Apparating into the village, and one of them had blown out a window in the Three Broomsticks. From there, everything devolved into a flurry of spells and curses being cast. I remember there was a lot of screaming, and then there was a flash of red to my left - where Lily was standing - and then I was standing a little to the left, and my entire world became red-tinged pain.
Madam Pomfrey did not approve of my heroics, though she did say she was glad that Lily hadn't been hit by the Cruciatus.
Lily spent the night next to me in the Hospital Wing, and Siri and Remy visited me in the morning, with Pete tailing behind them looking mournful.
Sirius' eyes were dark and sad; he said there were no casualties, and very few injuries, but that a lot of the shops in Hogsmeade had taken a great deal of damage. This news didn't explain his expression, so I pushed him.
Sirius told me that Bella was the one who had cast the Cruciatus that hit me. Something in me shattered, then.
Like the Potters, the Blacks are very family oriented. Their motto might be Toujours Pur , but family matters more than blood. They may cast out squibs and so called blood-traitors, but they remain in contact with the disowned members of their family, and Blacks would never dream of harming a family member.
Before, Bella considered me family; Black blood runs through my veins, and even if it hadn't, Bella was a believer of choosing your own family. She chose me. The fact that she was able to cast the Cruciatus on me means that there is no part of her that considers me family anymore.
There is no part of who she used to be; there is nothing left in her to save, if such a thing were possible.
July 6, 1978 AD
I was more impulsive than usual today.
I proposed to Lily with my Grandmother's ring. Luckily, she accepted, but I didn't think it through. This is not to say that I regret my actions. Simply put, I wish we weren't on the brink of war. Tensions are high, and relationships are brittle between even the best of friends.
No one knows who to trust anymore. We are all living in fear; some days I don't even remember what peace is like.
I don't want Lily to think that I'm marrying her because of the war. I'm marrying her because I love her and want to spend my life with her. The war is just a minor inconvenience.
October 2, 1978 AD
Reggie sent Sirius a letter saying that Walburga had forced him to get the Dark Mark.
Sirius is mourning the loss of his brother; we have all seen Bella - what if the same happens to Regulus?
November 12, 1978 AD
Lily and I got married today. Sirius was my best man, and Alice was Lily's maid of honor. Lily's sister - Petunia - and her husband attended. Lily wanted a Muggle wedding, while I wanted a traditional bonding. We have compromised; she gets her wedding, and we will bond tomorrow.
Lily was radiant, and everyone was on their best behavior - though that doesn't say much for myself and my friends - and we made it through the wedding without any major catastrophes.
Vernon may have ended up with a curly pink tail, but he was being a pig - a rude one at that - and he was quickly Obliviated, so all is well.
November 13, 1978 AD
Lily and I bonded today. My father was the one to bond us, and Sirius and Alice acted as witnesses.
October 20, 1978 AD
Lils and I have been inducted into the Order of the Phoenix. According to my Father, it was originally made up of three wizards from the Potter family. Given that there are no longer three male Potters, he extended its use to outside of the family.
Now, its purpose is to protect the wizarding world from Voldemort.
January 7, 1979 AD
The Order had a confrontation with the Death Eaters today. We got a tip from an anonymous source that there would be an attack at Saint Mungo's.
The tip was accurate, and the resulting battle was vicious. Voldemort himself showed up, and Lily, Frank, Alice and I were dueling him. We managed to injure him before he Disapparated.
April 11, 1979 AD
The Death Eaters attacked Diagon. A significant amount of damage was done to several of the shops.
Voldemort was present once again. He cornered Sirius, who managed to hold his own for an impressive amount of time before the other wizard disarmed him. Voldemort attempted to get Sirius to join his ranks, and Sirius refused.
Voldemort sent a Killing Curse towards Sirius, and Lily deflected the spell with the edge of her wand. While the Dark Lord was distracted by my wife's prowess, I aimed a Cutting Curse at his neck. It hit, but he was immediately Portkeyed away.
June 21, 1979 AD
Regulus has been declared dead.
They say that he betrayed Voldemort, who killed him for his treachery.
I know that this is true in some form; Reggie never wanted to serve the Dark Lord. But the Death Eaters seem just as surprised as everyone else. Whatever Reggie did or didn't do is unknown to both sides.
His secrets go with him to the grave; if Voldemort knows, he isn't sharing.
Sirius is devastated; he has lost another family member to this war.
Regulus is dead, and we no longer receive information from our informant. One of these is a result of the other.
August 3, 1979 AD
Frank and Alice told me that they had another encounter with Voldemort during patrols. The wizard caught them off guard, but they escaped, thank Merlin.
December 31, 1979 AD
Voldemort attacked Diagon again. He killed several Pure-bloods, and more Muggle-borns, before the Order showed up. Somehow, Lily and I ended up dueling the wizard with Frank and Alice backing us up. We nearly injured him again, but then he conjured a slab of marble that our spells hit. By the time the dust cleared, he was gone.
February 17, 1980 AD
Dumbledore informed us that there was a Prophecy spoken the other night about a child that would be born to defeat Voldemort.
He says that the prophecy was overheard. He says that Voldemort likely knows part of it now.
Lily and Alice are both pregnant, and both are due to give birth in late July - the date specified by the prophecy.
It is terrible of me to think this, but I hope that Alice's baby is the child of the prophecy.
July 31, 1980 AD
Alice gave birth to a son yesterday. Lily has been named Godmother.
Lily gave birth to a daughter today. Alice is Godmother and Sirius Godfather. These bonds ensure that Haven will be protected as well as possible.
My daughter is the child of the prophecy.
August 18, 1980 AD
Dumbledore told me today that my parents had died. It was a noble death, he said. They died fighting Voldemort.
I know that he is trying to console me, but it doesn't change the fact that my parents are still dead. We are now the future of this family, and we are trapped by a prophecy.
September 3, 1980 AD
Lily and I have become hypervigilant. Lily has been going through any books she can find, looking for ways to protect Haven.
Sirius has offered some tomes from his family library. They deal with darker magic, but I am willing to do anything to protect my daughter.
November 30, 1980 AD
I stand corrected. I will not meddle with soul magic. I have shown Dumbledore the few passages I found on the topic, and he returned to Hogwarts with a pensive expression marring his face.
Blood Magic is fair game.
January 5, 1981 AD
Lily and I have moved to the Lionsmouth cottage in Godric's Hollow. We have decided to make use of the Fidelius Charm that is already in place. We assigned Sirius to be Secret Keeper as a ruse. Everyone will know soon enough that we are using the charm, and they will assume that Siri is the Secret Keeper.
Due to Sirius' encouragement on the matter, we plan to switch to Peter in a few months, once rumors have spread sufficiently.
July 31, 1981 AD
Haven is one year old today. Sirius bought her a toy broom that she flew around the house on. She succeeded in tripping me a fair few times. Lily laughed every time, asking how I could be so graceful in the air when I can't avoid flying projectiles when I am on solid ground.
August 12, 1981 AD
We switched Secret Keepers today; Peter is now the Keeper, while Sirius is a decoy.
Haven is as well protected as she's going to get. At this point there is nothing more we can do to ensure her survival.
I haven't seen Remus in months. I hope he is well and that his dealings with the werewolves are going well.
October 30, 1981 AD
Voldemort has been unusually silent for the past few months. It is like the calm before the storm. I wonder what he is planning.
I am tired of being cooped up in this house. I love Lily and Haven, I do. But sometimes I wish I could go out and be free.
I hope that this war will be over soon.
Tomorrow is Samhain. I hope to see my parents' ghosts. Perhaps Lily will see hers - she hasn't so far, but it is harder to summon Muggle spirits than magical ones.