(A/N) OK so this is my first ever fanfic, and I'm hoping it goes well! I'll try and update often, but it will probably be irregular because i cannot stick to a schedule to save myself. I don't have a clue how long this story will be since I don't fully know what is going to happen, so it will be a surprise for all of us! And also, because this is my first one I don't know how long my chapters should be, so this will kind of judge how long they should be. But anyway, I hope you enjoy it! xxxx

Prologue

War and loss can affect people in different ways, but it never ends when one side is named victorious. Lives are lost and cannot be reclaimed, and homes are torn apart and can't always be mended. It is how we deal with these losses that shape us and make us who we are. Only time can tell how everything will turn out. But time cannot always mend what is broken.

This is true even in the Wizarding World.

People remained in fear for a long time after the war, reluctant to let down their guard. Although it was known that the darkest wizard that ever lived was truly dead, people were still scared to leave their homes alone, jumping at noises down dark alleys and streets.

Many of them had trouble rebuilding their lives. The return to normalcy was difficult for many people, especially those that had lost someone during the war. And the truth was, everyone had lost someone during the war. Voldemort's reign of terror may have been over, but his effect was long-lasting and was felt around ruined buildings, broken families and missing parts of people's lives.

Eventually, people began to relax a bit more. Nothing had gone wrong since the war, and people were managing to piece together their old lives. But the thought that they still weren't safe lingered in the back of people's minds, threatening their recovered peace.

Chapter One

Voldemort Lives On

Hermione Granger slowly closed the Daily Prophet and placed it on the table. She stared out of the window looking over the nearby park, lost in her thoughts. The weather seemed to reflect her mood; it was grey and the sky was covered in a blanket of clouds, seeming to promise rain. The situation had been bad for a few months now, but this was much worse. Had she really been foolish enough to believe that everything would be okay after the war? Maybe not simply foolish, but foolishly optimistic. Yes, she had hoped everything would go back to normal. But thinking back, had her life ever been normal? Well, until she went to Hogwarts it was. But after that...

She looked back at the paper lying on her kitchen table. This recent event was the sign she had been waiting for. With a sad sigh, she rose from her chair and picked up her wand. Turning on the spot, she disapparated, only to arrive at the Ministry of Magic seconds later.

"Here we go again," she thought to herself, and she set her face into a determined expression as she set off down the large entrance area.

Harry Potter slowly woke up as someone was gently shaking his shoulder.

"Harry...Harry, wake up."

Harry groggily opened his eyes and took in the red-haired woman kneeling on the bed next to him in her housecoat, and he forced himself into a sitting position.

"Good morning to you too" he said as he rubbed his eyes.

Ginny didn't smile; she looked solemn and worried. "I think you should see this" she whispered.

She handed him a copy of the Daily Prophet, still cold from its flight there by Owl Post. Harry slowly took it, confusion and concern taking over his tiredness. He looked at the front cover of the paper, and he tensed with apprehension.

"We both know what this means" Ginny said, looking at Harry with a sad look. Harry looked up into her face, and nodded.

"Yeah, we do. I better go"

Harry tossed away the covers and rose from the bed and started looking for some fresh clothes.

"I'll make you some breakfast" Ginny said, climbing off the bed and heading for the door.

"Just some toast...thanks Ginny."

"No problem" she replied. She lingered in the doorway for a moment, watching Harry pick a shirt out of the cupboard. She wanted to say something, anything, to provide some sort of comfort and support. She wanted to tell him everything would be okay, but she couldn't bring herself to say something they both knew might not be true. Instead, she silently turned and left the room to head downstairs to the kitchen.

A few minutes later Harry entered and took the two slices of toast Ginny handed him and muttered a thank you as he stored his wand in his back pocket and took a bite. Ginny stood near him, hesitantly trying to figure out what to say.

"Harry..."

Harry glanced up at her and saw the worry etched across her face and her struggle to find something to say. He moved over to her and held her close, giving her a small smile. "I know" he said. He gently kissed her then moved away and lifted his wand out of his pocket.

She had to say something; she couldn't let him leave without saying something."Harry!"

He looked at her, and all she could think of saying were three words: "I love you."

"I love you too."

Turning on the spot, he disappeared from the room, leaving Ginny alone with her worried thoughts.

Ronald Weasley was standing in the front yard of The Burrow, letting the fresh air wash over his face. He had a thick cloak wrapped around him to keep off the cold, but he enjoyed the wind sweeping across his hair. He enjoyed staying over at his old family home, even though he now had his own. But of course, it wasn't so much the home he enjoyed seeing as it was the people in it. He liked spending time with them, but they were never the same after the war. The loss of Fred wasn't easy to get over. And it was still a bit weird to have Percy with them again.

Ron shuddered, and decided that it was time get inside, away from the cold. Just as he was about to turn back into the house, a black dot in the sky caught his attention, and he watched as it became bigger and the shape more pronounced as it got closer. The owl flew over to him and dropped the Daily Prophet on the ground before resting on Ron's shoulder, expecting payment for the delivery.

"Oh, right, hold on..."

He crammed his hand into his pocket and pulled out some change, which he dropped into the leather pouch tied to the bird's leg. It promptly took off, and Ron bent down to pick up the paper. Unfolding it, he looked at the front cover, and coldness swept over him which had nothing to do with the weather. He dropped the paper and marched forwards, turning as he did so.

The cracking sound of him disapparating drew Mrs Weasley's attention up from the sink where she was washing dishes to the window, and she looked out, alarmed that Ron had left so suddenly without a word of warning. Drying her hands on her apron, she opened the door to the yard and looked around, hoping to see Ron hidden somewhere. About to go back in, she suddenly noticed the Daily Prophet lying on the ground. She bent down to pick it up, wondering if something in it had caused Ron to leave so hastily. Looking at the front page, she suddenly felt sick and worried, and her hands began to tremble.

"A-Arthur?" she called into the house. "Arthur? Arthur!"

Mr Weasley came running out the door, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "What is it?"

Mrs Weasley held up the Daily Prophet with shaking hands so her husband could see.

"Dear Merlin" he whispered.

They stood in the yard, ignoring the cold as they stared at the picture on the cover. A motionless, lifeless body was shown, covered in cuts and bruises. Behind him was a brick wall, and painted on it in what looked like blood were high, ominous words: VOLDEMORT LIVES ON.

(A/N) So how was that? Not awful, I hope. Feel free to review, I welcome constructive critism, anything to make sure my stories are good :)