Chapter one- Introductions

Do you know what it's like to grow up knowing your father is a murderous death eater who delivered his best friends right into Voldemort's outstretched hands? My name is Arianna Lillian Black, and I know that scenario all to well.

You think that's traumatizing? Try knowing just how similar you are to said father. That's right, I have his temper, his arrogance, his love for trouble and his eyes. No-ones actually told me these things outright, of course. Oh no, they're all to 'nice' for that, but between my heartbroken mother practically bursting into tears every time she looks me in the eye, sad glances from 'old friends' of mums every time I start shouting and my incredibly useful talent for listening at doorways, how could I not know?

The one good thing about my dad, as far as I'm concerned, is that he doesn't know I exist. Mum didn't find out she was pregnant until about a month after 'the event'. When she did find out, she turned and ran away to Australia where her parents lived, and that's where I was born. Mum still gets visits from her 'old friends' and her, without exception, bawls her eyes out every time. Bloody hosepipe of a woman my mother is. Don't get me wrong, I love mum and our life here in Australia, but sometimes I wish she'd just stop living in the past and get on with the present.

Mum's a healer's assistant at Wesley Hospital for Magical maladies and injuries and I'm a day student at Holcraft Academy for witchcraft and wizardry. I don't have many friends. It's not that people don't like me; it's just that I don't trust people easily. Not surprising with my background. I just have two close friends. Kayla Robson and Paige Williams. Kayla is a lot like me in personality, but in looks, she couldn't be more different. I am tall, Kayla is short, I am lightly tanned, she has a dark tan, I have dirty-blonde hair, her's is chocolate brown, I have blue-grey eyes, Kayla's are hazel. Kayla is my partner in crime. Pulling pranks, sneaking out and topping our classes without even touching a book? Yep, that's Kayla and me. Paige is the more sensible, studious one in our group. 'The voice of reason amongst the insanity,' as she often likes to call herself. Paige has gotten us out of trouble more time than I can count. She's a prefect and a damn good liar. Kay and I would have been expelled a hundred times over if it wasn't for Paige.

Mum get's home late most nights. The only times she's ever home for dinner is if one of her 'old friends' is coming over, so most of the time I eat alone. I don't mind much. I like the privacy.

Arianna looked up from her writing as the doorbell rang. 'Strange,' she thought, grabbing her wand, 'We're not expecting anyone. Mum apparates home and Kay and Paige never bother knocking.' Her hand clenched tightly around her wand as she opened the door. Standing there was a tired looking man with sandy-blonde hair and grey eyes. He looked around mid-thirties but the lines on his face indicated that he had seen things beyond his years. "Hello," he said in a thick British accent, "You must be Arianna. My name is Remus Lupin. I'm an old friend of your mothers. I wonder if I could come in." Arianna just stared.