My head rested on Sirius' shoulder. He ran his knuckles up and down my upper arm. Across from us, Lily, James and Peter wore the same expression as we did. Beside us, Remus and Jinxy were silent. We all were silent.

It was our last first day. We weren't coming back again next year, and the pain was evident on our expressions.

Marlene and Alice passed by with Mary McDonald a few times to talk, but upon seeing that we wouldn't talk, they left. Jackie walked past as well, just slow enough to make eye contact with me and to give a short nod. Frank didn't walk past. When he found our compartment, he stood and stared at us, his eyes bearing down on me like a ton pound weight. He left after what seemed like ages, and the weight was gone as well.

I remembered my first day on this train. Lily and I promised each other we would start anew. We'd pretend we didn't know each other, just to start over.

So, she left me alone in my conpartment. That's where I met Remus Lupin. He too was alone, and wanted to sit with me. So I let him. We were quiet for a few minutes before a conversation sparked, a topic on which turned to werewolves. It was a mostly one sided conversation, but he listened to me ramble. I know now that he didn't have to speak because he already knew everything I was talking about. Another boy, Peter, joined us. He didn't speak at all.

I looked over at Peter and Remus, and knew they were thinking the same thing. Sirius and James had their eyes contact locked, speaking through their eyes. It seemed as though they were trying not to laugh. I scoffed and put my head back on Sirius' shoulder.

Upon arriving at Hogwarts, the thrill of seeing the castle felt just as exciting as it always did. There wasn't room in the carriage for Lily, so she caught one with Marlene, Alice, and Mary. The carriage ride was just as quiet as the train ride.

Until we slowed to a stop.

"I love you guys," Jinxy said, "Remember that." As we got off the carriage I enveloped her in a bear hug.

"I love you too," I whispered. Once I let go, Remus wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. James hugged Peter dramatically.

"I love you, man," he said, rocking the beat red Peter back and forth. This sent us into hysterics, which lightened our mood drastically. The five of us met Lily, Marlene, Alice, and the dreaded Mary McDonald at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. I, of course, had to sit across from her.

"McDonald," I said, trying to keep my emotions in check. I hadn't forgiven her for taken my spot in my friendship circle. She seemed to be pissed at me for taking my spot back.

"I would address you by your last name, but I hear you don't have one anymore," she sneered. My friends fell silent and looked up at us. I was in the process of cutting a piece of meat (this obviously happened after the sorting), so I paused mid-slice. I looked up, sending a death gaze towards Marlene who I knew had told Mary. Marlene was fiddling with her hands beneath the table, her eyes fixated on them. I turned my eyes towards Mary, set in a glare.

"Excuse me?" It wasn't me who spoke.

I looked over to my brother who was angrily glowering at Mary from a few people down. Mary lifted her head towards my brother.

"Last thing I heard, you disowned her," Mary said, her voice sickly sweet. Beside me, Sirius ground his teeth together. I rubbed his lower arm with my hand to settle him down. Frank, however, stood up half way, but Alice but we hand on his elbow.

"Don't, Frank, she isn't worth getting suspended before the year starts," she said, her voice mocking Mary's. Mary huffed. She got up and walked to the other end of the table.

I looked over at my brother and sent him a small smile. Were we good? He smiled back and nodded. Yeah, we were good.

I lay in my bed that night, unable to sleep. I tossed and turned, my eyes plastered open. I couldn't even seem to blink, let alone shut them long enough to fall asleep. The other four girls in my room (Jinxy, Marlene, and two other girls I didn't know) were sound asleep. I sighed angrily, wishing I could sleep. I threw off my covers and pressed my feet against the cool ground softly. I opened the door that lead out of my dorm. It creaked, which caused one of the girls to roll over.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse.

"Can't sleep," I whispered.

"Oh," she replied, "I'm sorry. Are you Ellie or Serana?"

"I'm Serana."

"Oh," she said again, which made me stifle one of my laughs, "Well, I'm Dorcas Meadowes. This lump over there is Emmaline Vance." I smiled.

"Nice to meet you Dorcas," I said, but she had already fallen back to sleep. A small smile was on my lips as I walked down the stairs.

Upon entering the Common Room, a sudden pain washed over me. In a few months time, I won't live here anymore. I'll never see this room again. My smile fell.

The brown wallpaper that felt warm and welcoming had a few edges peeling around the corners. The soft red carpet was muffling my footsteps as I made my way over to the redish couch which stood in front of the fireplace. I ran my fingers tips over the top. This couch which held so many memories of mine; the many nights I spent with my friends, the drama of dealing with the old marauders, the few times I'd kissed Sirius before be started dating, the snog sessions Jinxy and Remus had, the fights between Lily and James. I had always slept on this couch when I couldn't sleep. It seemed like it was my own couch. I didn't want anyone else sleeping in it. I wanted to take it home.

I let out a sigh as I fell into the couch, the cushions sinking beneath my weight. The springs seemed to sigh with me. I laid my head on one of the purple pillows.

"We need to get new pillows," I whispered to myself, "These one's don't match."

I stared into the crackling fire. I had never wondered why it was always on before tonight, but as I watched the ashes and wood crackle and pop, it seemed uncanny that the professors would always keep the fire going. My eyelids slowly grew heavy and were finally shut and I was able to fall into a deep sleep at last.