PROLOGUE

John Davis and his eleven-month year old daughter were making their way down a deserted city street about 11:30 at night. Maia had a bit of trouble going to sleep lately, and his wife, Tami, suggested that maybe a walk to the local supermarket might tire her out. And besides, they were out of milk anyway. Clutching his purchases, Maia was kicking him with enthusiasm, facing backwards on the snuggly that was strapped to his back. Apparently, the walk wasn't working it's magic on her. Getting irritated, he made a promise to himself that he wasn't about to have any children for a while.

When he rounded a corner, he could make out a crowd of officials swarming around a house up the street. His house.

Oh no. No, no, no!

He ran up the remainder of the street, hanging on to a shred of hope, thinking that maybe she was all right. No way Voldemort could of found out their location. They were so careful!

As he neared the house, a Ministry wizard stopped him. "Sorry sir, but you can't come through here—"

"Tell me what happened!" said Davis, grabbing the man's shoulders and shaking him. "Please! This is my house! Is my wife okay?"

The Ministry official's eyes widen, realizing who he must be. "I'm sorry, sir, but—you wife…is…"

"No, no!" he said, brushing past him and sprinted up the front walk.

"Sir, wait!" But Davis was already at the door.

He wrenched it open and quickly stepped inside the dark house. He froze from shock, his head turned slowly to administer exactly what he was looking at. His whole house was covered in a layer of soot, like a mini-bomb was set off. There were a few muggles inside the house being questioned about what they saw.

"…heard a noise, you know? And I looked through my curtain and I saw a green light go off, sort of like a flash, you know?" A petite woman wearing a fuzzy purple bathrobe was talking to an exhausted looking wizard who was massaging his temples.

"Yes, yes. Now, if you won't mind, I just come over here for a second," he said, grabbing her arm and escorting her to another room. Davis heard him yell, "Obliviate!"

A moment later, the wizard was pushing the woman back out of the room and over to another official. "Her memory is modified. She can go home." They other guy nodded and took her elbow. The lady had a look of dreamy unconcern and seemed to be muttering something. "Come on Mrs. Stevenson, let's go." He then spotted Davis petrified in the doorway with a bouncing baby on his back. "Sir! This is a restricted area! Please wait—"

"My wife—is she…"

The man adjusted his hat. "Oh, you're Mr. Davis," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "Well, I'm afraid that—You-Know-Who—"

"Tami!" he said, pushing him aside. He ran to the living room where he last saw her. When he turned the corner, he halted as he watched a female official throw a while cloth over the lifeless body. He caught a glimpse of her beautiful blonde hair that fanned out over her face, and her mouth open, like she was silently screaming. He felt a tear fall down his cheek and he furiously wiped it away.

"Oh, God," he said, falling on his knees. "We were so careful. There is no way…" He remembered the last time he saw her. She was sitting in her usual rocking chair, kitting, and humming her favorite song. It didn't make sense. They had the Fidelius Charm performed—unless their Secret-Keeper…

"Sir," said a very young wizard, who stepped in front of him. "There is someone here to see you," he said, while Maia started to cry.