Disclaimer: I don't own any of Harry Potter, they're J.K. Rowling's. The new characters are mine.

Prologue

For all of you that don't like in medias res without any introduction of characters:

Sadly enough, this kind of is in medias res… o well.

She sat thinking about what she would do that summer… so many opportunities to be with David, her boyfriend, and so many chances to go shopping with Selena, and so many weeks to be able to travel. The thought of the upcoming summer was amazing. She was one of those people who tended to daydream quite frequently. Her long black hair kept falling in her face, making her blow her hair upwards hopelessly while she attempted to read.

"Here." A brunette walked in and tossed her a hair tie. She seemed extremely energetic and excited.

"Thanks." She looked over the girl that had just walked in, taking in her jumpiness and restlessness. "Why so cheery, Selena?"

"Concert tonight- with Marissa and Jen. You wanna come? It's supposed to be amazing." she took a huge sip of orange juice.

"No thanks. Date tonight."

"Ooh la la. Where to?"

"We're having dinner by the restaurant by the lake and taking a walk around after that."

"Aww. So cute that it's repulsive."

"Again, thanks."

"No problem Alina." Selena left, Alina smiling at her retreating back. Her sister was crazy, to say in the least. Well, more annoying one could say. But all the same they had always been close- and still were. Alina was Selena's senior by a year, but both were equally intelligent. Alina had to work hard to get the grades that she got, for Selena it was more natural. And while Alina was more artistic and creative than Selena, Selena was more social and amiable than Alina. Some how, as sisters tend to do, they balanced each other out. Alina envied Selena's chocolate brown hair with natural auburn tones and highlights, and Selena envied Alina's bright color changing eyes. They were blue with tints of green, and sometimes hazel and light gray even- all mixed together. Alina herself disliked them- yes they were unique but she could never tell someone what her eye color really was. She always went with blue, but once she said it she would say green, then hazel, and then gray. People thought she was a delusional lunatic. Selena had bold emerald eyes, and for that, Alina envied her also. She got up to get ready for her date, leaving her daydreams for the summer behind.

"Wow. It's so gorgeous." she inhaled the crisp, cool night air.

"Like you." he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck.

"Ugh. Cliché much? Overused line much?" she laughed.

"Can't help it- it's true."

"Sure."

"Alina-" he turned her head so that she was looking at him. "You are beautiful."

"Thanks David," she smiled. "But I still don't believe it."

"Are you serious? What do I have to do to make you believe me?" he was smiling right back at her.

"Hmm… what to have you do.." she tapped her finger on her chin in a playful manner. "Catch me." And she broke into a sprint.

"Woa- hold on Alina- that's not fair-" he was laughing, chasing after her. She turned around to stick her tongue out at him. "Oh so that's how it's gonna be, is it?". She nodded. "Well then you better start running faster." And so they ran around the lake and eventually they stopped after he caught up to her. As they started to sit down on a bench, a ringing noise came out of nowhere.

"Sorry, hold on, It'll take a second."

"It's fine." he said, and put his arm around her as she sat.

"Hello?"

"Honey, you need to come home right now. Can you ask David to take you to home?"

"What? Mom, what are you talking about? Why do I have to come home? Is someone hurt? Is it Dad? Is it Selena-"

"It's Uncle Chris, Alina," she could hear her mother's voice cracking. "He- he- someone performed the Cruciatus curse on him. We have to take him to St. Mungo's in England, dear. You have to watch the kids and Selena."

"Are you kidding? Mom, I have to go there with you-"

"Please-" she paused. Alina knew her mom was having trouble talking. "Please, Alina, I need you to do this for me and for your father while we're gone. It may be a while."

"And what about the store?"

"You're going to have to run it, Alina. We've called in favors from everyone we work with. Mrs. Barker will take over for now- but it would help to have you there too." Alina couldn't speak. This was unbelievable. She couldn't take care of all five of them, including herself, and work. This was crazy. She wanted to be with Uncle Chris.

"Mom-"

"Alina?"

"Dad?"

"Alina dear, can you do everything your mother's asked you to do?" She paused. Something in her father's voice told her that it would be a huge mistake to say no.

"I can."

"Thank you Alina. We've already told Selena. Take care of her and Lilith and Andrew and Michael, okay?"

"Yes Dad."

"Uncle Chris is in extremely bad condition- honestly dear, your mother and I don't expect him to live out the week. But we're staying here with him and going to see whether anything can be done, alright Alina?" She said nothing. "Bye Alina, I love you dear."

She hung up the phone. And as soon as she did she dropped it and broke down. David, knowing already something bad had happened, guided her off the bench and took her to his car, and silently they drove to her home, and he held her hand the whole time.

'This can't be happening. This can NOT be happening. No way in hell is this actually happening.' She rubbed her forehead in frustration. It had been the perfect night. She could only imagine how Selena had felt coming out of a good concert and finding out that their Uncle was close to insanity and their parents were leaving. Alina was glad she had left her daydreams at home- because they would never come true anyways.