I'm finally back at Hogwarts. It's surreal now that I'm Head Girl, and knowing I'll never attend another welcome feast at Hogwarts. It's also not the same at the Slytherin table without Sirius and Flora. And Violetta. Thank goodness for Polly. There's a lot of new Slytherins, including Sirius' brother, Arcturus, but they're all so young, they're actual children. I swear I wasn't like that.

I suppose I'll get used to all of these changes in time, but I still don't think this year will be as enjoyable as all the others, especially with the threat of indefinite life with Great Aunt Jessamine looming ever closer.

So I'm going to have to make finding a husband by the end of next summer my number one priority. I know it's should be my N.E.W.T.s and Head Girl duties, but those won't matter when I'm trapped with Great Aunt Jessamine with no marriage prospects. I have my modest inheritance from my father, and I believe I'm the sole inheritor when Great Aunt Jessamine goes and that must be a fortune. I know it is in poor taste to think of such things but I have to be practical. I may have to covertly spread rumors that I have a great fortune so that it's common knowledge by June.

I don't want to marry a fortune hunter or for mere convenience, but I shall end up a miserable spinster like her if I don't and that's far worse. As long as the gentleman I marry likes me, then he has to be a better than her. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to fall in love with someone I can actually marry and it'll all work out nicely.

Now I must find a place to hide this journal and Sirius' letters.