Platform 9 ¾. This was the last time I would be here as a student on my way to Hogwarts. I couldn't believe this was going to be my last year at Hogwarts, it truly was amazing.

"Now you are sure you have everything, right Walburga?" My father asked.

I nodded. "I'm positive."

"If you forgot something, just send an owl." He said.

I nodded again. "Of course."

"Or if there's just something you want such as some chocolate frogs. You can also send an owl." My father said smiling.

"Now, Pollux." My mother said. "She does not need any of that stuff. There is a reason that Walburga is the most beautiful girl in this school."

"Of course, Irma, dear." My father said turning to my mother and then turned back to me and gave me a wink.

"Where have Cyg and Alphie ran off to?" My mother asked wondering where my younger brothers, Cynus and Alphard, were. Cygnus was about to begin his third year and Alphard his fifth.

"I'll go find them." I said and set off trying to find my brothers. I didn't see them anywhere on the Platform so I decided to see if they had already found compartments on the train. I found Cygnus sitting in a compartment with my second cousin and supposedly future husband, Orion Black.

"Hey Burga!" Orion said. "Come to see me?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, Orion. I did not. I came to get my brother. Or are you too good to say good-bye to your parents, Cyg?"

"I was just making sure I got a good seat." He said. "I'm coming out now."

"Have you seen Alphie?" I asked him.

"He said he was just putting his stuff on the train and that he'd be back out." Cygnus answered.

Cygnus and I got off the train and saw Alphard standing with our parents.

"Have a good term." My father said hugging each of us in turn, saving me for last and giving me the biggest hug of the three of us. It was always rather obvious that I was my father's favorite where my mother preferred Cygnus, her baby, though she made it less obvious.

"I love you all" My mother said as she hugged and kissed each of us. "Don't get into too much trouble."

"But do get into some." My father adding laughing. "You won't have any fun if you don't"

My mother hit my father playfully unable to contain her smile. "Pollux! Don't encourage them."

"See you all at Christmas!" My father shouted as the three of us hopped on the train.

As we boarded the train, the three of us went our separate ways and I attempted to find my friends.

"There you are Burga." I heard the familiar voice of Abraxus behind me.

"Brax!" I said and turned to hug him.

He hugged me back awkwardly. Abraxus was never much for hugs. "Have you seen Revelin and Malcolm?" He asked.

"No. I haven't actually." I said. "Hopefully they got a compartment for us."

Abraxus and I walked down the corridor of the train looking for Revelin and Malcolm. Finally we found them in a full compartment sitting with a bunch of sixth years including Tom Riddle.

"What's that about?" Abraxus asked.

I shrugged and decided to enter the compartment. Mostly because I was hoping if I did, he might speak to me.

As I opened the door, all of the boys turned and stared at me, all except him.

"Hey Walburga, Abraxus." Revelin said.

"We can make room." Malcolm said pushing Leon Mulciber over so I could sit next to him and the other boys, Hektor Nott and Blasius Avery nodded in agreement.

"That's alright." Abraxus said. "We can find a less crowded compartment. Come on Burga." He turned and I waved good-bye to the boys in the compartment and followed Abraxus until we found an empty compartment.

"What do you think that was about?" I asked Abraxus as we sat down.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Looked like some kind of meeting or something. Very odd." He said then laughing, added, " I did find it funny how they all ogled you as you stood in the door."

I rolled my eyes and shrugged. He hadn't so I didn't really care.

"He looked at you, too." Abraxus said smiling. "He was just less obnoxious about it."

"I didn't notice." I said hiding my delight.

"Right." Abraxus said sarcastically. "But really, Walburga, what male could not ogle at least a little when you walk in a room?"

"You don't." I said.

He shrugged. "You know I can't see anyone but her."

He was referring to Lucretia, my second cousin and Orion's sister. She was also a seventh year Slytherin and Abraxus had been in love with her since he had seen her. Lucretia looked different than all the other Blacks. All of us looked like our last name. We all had sleek, black hair and either stone grey or dark blue eyes. However, Lucretia had wavy, golden honey colored hair, that was like her mother's, and beautiful light, almost sea-green colored eyes.

I laughed. "I know that feeling."

After about a half-hour, the door to our compartment opened and Revelin and Malcolm came in. "Sorry about earlier." Malcolm said sitting next to me.

"What was all that about, anyway?" I asked.

"Riddle's forming some sort of club or something." Revelin said. "I didn't really understand it. But he's recruiting people that he thinks have similar beliefs to his."

"Glad we were invited." I said, sarcastically.

"Well, Brax was supposed to be but Riddle couldn't find him." Revelin said.

"Too bad." Abraxus said, glad he had missed this invitation. But I was angry.

"Is it boys only or something?" I asked.

"I think so." Malcolm said. "Though, he might make an exception for you if you were interested." He added bitterly.

I couldn't help but smile.

I was the only person sitting in the Slytherin Common room that night. I hadn't finished my summer Transfiguration assignment that was due first thing in the morning.

"Walburga Black, didn't finish our summer assignments?" A cold voice asked me, the voice of Tom Riddle. He had never addressed me personally before. Apparently I wasn't alone.

"No, I did not." I responded, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

"Your voice is shaking." He said sitting on the couch facing me.

"Is it?" I asked, my voice shaking even more as I looked him over. His dark hair, his dark, eyes, his pale skin, and his beautiful face, a face as perfect as one sculpted out of stone.

He raised his eyebrows. "Yes." he said simply.

I returned to my homework and he watched me in silence, making me incredibly nervous.

"You spelled parrot wrong. There's two Rs and one T." He said quietly. And I felt incredibly stupid.

"Oh. Right." Is all I could say and I finished up the last few lines of my essay and put it into my bag. "Is there something I can do for you?" I asked my voice still shaking slightly.

"Do I make you nervous?" He asked as he stood up and came and stood by me.

"N-No." I said, obviously lying.

He offered me his hand to help me up. "Which is why you're voice is shaking." He said as I put my hand in his, it was cold, not warm as I had imagined, and he pulled me up. My face was inches from his and I could hear my heart beating rapidly. "Or why I can hear your heart racing?"

I looked into his dark eyes and opened my mouth, but no words came out.

He smirked. "I thought so." He said and let go of my hand and took a few steps back.

I tried to regain my composure. I wanted to say something interesting or just say anything at all but the only thing I could think of was. "I need to go to bed." I said and turned to go to my dormitory.

"Walburga." He grabbed my hand as I began to walk away. I turned around and he moved closer and closer to me and bent down a bit and I could feel his breath on my ear and he whispered, "You have good reason to fear me."