Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Prologue

It was a dark October night, of 1980. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, reading the Daily Prophet. All the students were asleep in bed. He got up from where he was sitting and walked to the window. The night was completely still and quiet. To most people it was your average, every day night. But to Professor Dumbledore, it was something more, something that put him on edge. A look of worry washed over his face, and he began to feel sad and in pain-but not for himself, for someone else. He was feeling concerned for someone. But who? He thought. He didn't understand what was happening, and frankly he didn't want to know. He didn't want to know that someone was in pain. How could he help them if he didn't know where to find them? He shook his head sadly and decided that a bit of sleep would do the trick.

Later that night

It was dark and silent in the house, all except for the coo of a small infant. All at once the door flew open, and in walked four death eaters, with wands at the ready. They turned on the lights only to discover a young couple running into the next room, shutting the door fiercely behind them. The death eaters broke down the door with a spell that could not easily be heard over the baby's cry. "Expeliarmus!" one of the death eaters called out and both the young man and woman's wands fell to the ground where they were out of reach. As the young man held the woman tight in his arms, the woman held her child closer to her breast.

As they stood there defeated, in walked the Dark Lord himself with a smirk on his face. "Very good, very good," he said looking toward his evil servants, "I have now proven once again, that the power of love is weak." He looked at the couple pathetically and added, "You couldn't even defend yourselves." He gave a dry chuckle. "So tell me," he said as he paced before them, "where is the Order hiding these days?"

"Do you really believe us foolish enough to tell you? Or do you believe us all to be as stupid as you are and not realize the danger we would put our friends in if we answered your question?"

"Crucio!" Vlodemort's voice rang out and bounced off the walls. The young man sank to the ground, shaking. His wife came down to comfort him, although she knew she could do nothing. As she silently cried he tightly squeezed her hand. It was then that Voldemort released the curse. He gave out a sinister laugh. "Fool, love cannot save you now, just as it never has. It is but an empty word that means nothing. It has no meaning, and no power. Only a fool would believe that it would. And now, you will die, powerless, and meaningless." He pointed his wand directly at the young man's heart, with hatred in his eyes. "Avada Kedavra!" he yelled. The young man lay motionless on the floor. The woman sobbed bitterly pulling her child in closer. She knew she would be next.

Dumbledore shot up from his bed in a cold sweat. As he breathed heavily with fright, he quickly got dressed. He then thought very deeply about where his dream had taken place. Once he pictured it in his mind, he apparated himself there. He found himself standing in the kitchen. It was dark. Every light was now off, except for one room. He quietly made his way near the room, and stopped when he was in ear shot. He hid behind the couch, and he listened attentively as he heard the bitter sob of a young woman. It was just like in his dream. Then he heard, "Avada Kedavra," a scream, and silence except for that of a baby's cry. He had killed her. Voldemort had killed her.

Dumbledore stood up from his hiding place as he watched the Dark Lord pick up the small child. He couldn't stand it anymore. He couldn't stay silent and watch him kill his friend's only child. "Tom!" he called out as he came into sight. Voldemort stood there as if in a trance. He was truly shocked to see him there, and a little concerned that he might have brought the Order with him. When he saw he was alone, he managed to force a smile as he said, "Albus Dumbledore, how nice. I wasn't expecting you."

"Give me the child! I will not see you destroy yet another innocent life!"

"I was not going to harm her; I was merely going to give her what she deserves. And I'm sorry Dumbledore, but I can't have you interfere. Thorfinn?" The death eater came towards Dumbledore with his wand pointed at him. He was about to cast a spell but Dumbledore beat him to it. Three more death eaters came at him. As he cast spells he strained to hear what the Dark Lord was doing to the child. He couldn't hear what he was saying but he knew what he was doing. He was putting a curse on her.

Dumbledore became too distracted with what was going on with the child when he heard, "Expeliarmus!" His wand flew out of his hand and rolled across the room. The three death eaters pointed their wands and were about to put an end to him, when Voldemort called out, "No! I will deal with him myself!"

Immediately after he had spoken these words, the Order of the Phoenix appeared in the room and went into action. Voldemort blew out a breath of fire (which Dumbledore had easily put out with a wave of his hand which made water come forth) before vanishing along with his four death eaters.

Dumbledore ran to the crying child that lay on the stone cold floor. He healed any wounds that she might've had, but he couldn't lift the curse. Now that she had it, it was only her that could break it.

"How did you find me?" he said, turning to face the members of the Order.

"McGonagall told us you were gone." Lupin began.

"And in danger." Tonks added.

"You had told us that they weren't safe anymore," Moody said, looking toward the other room, "and we figured that you might be here checking up on them."

"If only we had come sooner." Tonks said dismally as she peered into the other room to find her friends lying lifeless on the floor. She sniffled and looked back to see the others with their heads hung low.

As Dumbledore looked into the eyes of the small child, he realized that she was still in danger. He looked up and said, "We must leave her with a muggle family so the death eaters will not find her. She will be safe there. When it is time, I will send for her to come to Hogwarts, where she will be under my watch and protection. When she is old enough, she will be of great use to you," he said looking into the eyes of his peers, "more than you know."