"One of the only".

[zanooda2]

I was wondering about the expression "one of the only", what exactly does it mean? When Rita Skeeter says: "I am probably one of the only people alive who can say that they know the real Harry Potter" - does she mean "I am the only one" or "I am one of the few"?

I've never met this expression before, but it seems to me that it should mean "one of the few", because it is followed by "they", and because I just have a feeling ... :-). But again, I want to be sure before I correct this in a translation, that's why I decided to ask you guys first :-). Please help.


zanooda