A/N: I have decided that this story is in desperate need of an update. Therefore, I have begun the update and the product below is the first edited chapter. I took down the other chapters so that people don't become confused. This story will update a lot faster than my other stories since it is already written. As you will notice, the chapters will now have titles, quotes, and a suggested song to listen to to understand the mood. PLEASE COMMENT/PM ME TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

-FP

Chapter 1: War

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
-Bertrand Russell

"Tears of an Angel" as performed by Amy Guess

It was finally here, the second- and hopefully last- war against Voldemort. Little did I know that I would lose both of my best friends that day. I, Emma Rose Dawson, was to be married to Fred Weasley, but fate held a different path for me when he was taken from this earth.

I was sitting on the floor in the twins' loft playing a game of cards with George, who was sat opposite me on the couch, when Fred came in from the kitchen with a somber look on his face. He sat on the couch next to his brother who gave him a questioning look.

"What's wrong Fred?" George asked as I stood up and moved to sit on Fred's lap. I sat sideways on him so I could still face George. Fred wrapped his arms around my waist and placed his head on my shoulder, taking in a deep breath before he responded.

"It's time. We just got the call on the wireless. Tonight is the night…" he said, his voice shaking with what I can only assume was fear. We all took a deep breath, fearful of what the night would bring. I sat mindlessly spinning the ring on my finger, I couldn't help but to think that this could be the last time I saw these two, but I couldn't vocalize my fears, I didn't want to add to the fears they were sure to be hiding themselves. Instead, I took the time to look at each twin memorizing every freckle, and admiring the twinkle in their eyes.

"Shall we?" I asked breaking from my trance and cutting through the gloomy silence that had settled amongst us like dust on an untouched bookshelf. Both twins gave their million dollar smiles that they usually reserved for when they were stewing up some sort of prank and I stood up, offering a hand to each of the twins to pull them up.

We busied ourselves making sure we had what we would need, packing only the essentials. I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My blue eyes looked tired and aged for a girl of only nineteen years; it was probably the lack of sleep caused by the constant paranoia of the impending war. I sighed as I pulled my long wavy black hair into a messy bun, making sure there was nothing hanging in my face to obstruct my view later on. When I stepped out, Fred and George were both standing by the flat door waiting for me. I had to hold back tears as I stepped up to them; would this be the last time the three of us were in here together? I stepped into Fred's arms and buried my face into his chest. My control broke and I let the tears stream from my eyes, soaking Fred's shirt as he held me to his chest and kissed the top of my head. I cried for what seemed like ages, but was probably only a few minutes, before I finally pulled my face away and wiped away my tears.

"We should probably go" came George's voice from behind me as I nodded and took a deep breath. Fred took my hand in his and all too soon I felt that familiar tug at my navel.

When we had finally set foot into the great hall, I was overcome with a feeling of dread. All around me were people I had gone to school with many of them were much younger than me; surely some of them would not live past the night to see another day, but who? Fred felt my grip on his hand tighten and he turned me to face him and George, who still had not left his side.

"Emma, if I don't make it, I…" he began but I clamped my free hand over his mouth.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Fred Weasley" I cut him off with a threatening glare. When Fred nodded that he understood, I removed my hand from his mouth before adding, "We are going to make it…" I used my now free hand to grab one of George's, "All three of us." I gave both of their hands a reassuring squeeze before I released them and we walked over to the rest of the Weasley clan, and readied ourselves for the fight.

It wasn't long before someone burst into the hall shouting that the Death Eater's had broken through the shield and were coming. Suddenly, as if on cue, the windows in the hall burst and black figures came pouring in. After that, I don't remember much of the battle; it all passed like a blur. At some point I managed to find myself in an upstairs corridor.

I was firing spells one after another at the Death Eater's, each one of them falling as I did so. I felt my wand fly out of my hand and slide across the floor of the empty classroom I had managed to corner myself into. The masked figure who had disarmed me backed me into a corner and pinned me to the wall.

"Such a beautiful creature…" he stated as stroked my face. I tried to turn my face away but he smacked me and then roughly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "DO NOT TURN YOUR FACE!" he shouted at me, spit flying in my face while his rotten breath violated me nose. My face was stinging from where he had hit me. I felt my body lock up as he cast a freezing spell so he could have use of both hands while I was still pinned to the wall.

His hands were on my blouse, undoing all of the buttons at once with one strong yank, exposing my chest to him. Next came the button on my jeans as he continued to expose me. At this point I couldn't stop the tears that were rolling down my face; his hands had begun to explore my body in places where I hadn't even let Fred touch me. He made to undo his pants when, all of a sudden, he was ripped away from me. I felt the spell on me break, signifying his death, and I fell to the floor. I felt broken, violated, and I couldn't control the sobs that took over me.

There were strong arms around me, pulling me into the body that possessed them. I flinched away, only to look into the face of one of the twins who had kneeled down next to me. I couldn't tell which one it was through my tear filled eyes, but I was happy to see a familiar face. He cast a silent spell to repair my blouse and straighten up my appearance; if I had a voice at that moment I would have thanked him but the words wouldn't come.

When I had finally calmed down a bit, the twin stood up from his knees and then help out a hand to help me up. Once I had stood up, the hand moved to grip my own. We made our way out of the classroom but as we got to the door, an explosion went off somewhere and the castle rumbled. The twin braced us against a door jam, using his body to shield me from falling rubble.

"AHHHH!" he let out an agonizing yell and I looked into his face. I could finally see that this twin was missing an ear; it was George who had saved me. "Something is wrong." His words were full of pain as he spoke. As if summoned, Voldemort's voice echoed off of the walls of the castle, he was calling his followers back, and calling Harry out to him; at least on the walk back to the Great Hall we wouldn't have to fight anyone. Minutes later, George guided me into the Great Hall.

"Are you alright?" he asked me, although I could tell he was focused on searching for his family in the Great Hall. He must have found them because before I could respond, he took off towards them. I ran behind him, something was definitely wrong and my heart ached in my chest. When we got to the family, George dropped to his knees and let out one of the most heart wrenching cries I had ever heard in my life. I slowly walked up behind him to look upon the fallen and my heart stopped in my chest. Fred was lying there, the light gone from his eyes.

I couldn't breathe, it felt as if the walls were closing in around me. Slowly, I backed away from the Weasleys. I could hear Molly and Arthur calling me back to them but I couldn't focus on anything other than the image of my lifeless Fred. I had promised him everything was going to be alright. My promise had not held true and the guilt ran through my body like the blood that pounded through my veins.

Not paying attention to where I was backing up, I tripped over something on the floor. When I turned to see what it was I tripped on, I saw Professor Lupin with Tonks lying next to him. They, too, were dead. I scrambled up and away from them and finally ran into Hermione who took me into her arms. That is the last thing I remember before I blacked out.

When I awoke, I found myself looking at the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall and I instantly sat up. I was on a makeshift cot near the rest of the injured fighters. On my left was Bill who looked as if he had been mauled by an animal, Fleur was at his side stroking his hand. I felt someone touch my right shoulder and looked into the face of Molly Weasley.

"It's over dear. Voldemort is gone. Harry has succeeded." She told me, her voice shaking both with happiness and sadness.

"Fred…" I managed to get out with a crackling voice as I looked into Molly's eyes looking for any sign that what had happened was only in my head. When tears came to her eyes, I knew the worst was true. It was then that I could no longer remain in the castle. I had to get out. I had to leave and get as far away as possible and as fast as possible. I stood up and did the first thing that came to my mind; I ran. I ran out of the Great Hall, passing all of the grieving people, and out into the openness of the school grounds. I didn't stop running and passed Hermione, Ron, and Harry on the stone bridge. I did not notice their questioning glances as I ran past the trio. I was in Hogsmeade before I even stopped and that was only to catch my breath before apparating away. I didn't turn back once.