With hands that were too tightly controlled to shake, though god knows I was shaking inside, I broke open the Howler my mother had sent…

Sirius. Black.

She actually bit my name into separate sentences.  Oh god, I’m in so much trouble…

I cannot believe that you, child of my flesh, would somehow get landed in Gryffindor!  Don’t bother making friends; you won’t be there long if I have anything to say about it.

Blacks belong in Slytherin!

Casually leaning back in my chair, I forced a careless smile for my friends, “I guess she’s a bit irritated with me.”