Our story begins in a little town, Mileton.

Nothing special ever happened. Except for some adultery here and there and of course the drama that followed. But all in all, it was a peaceful town.

Until that faithful night.

It was a cold winter night in Mileton. The windows were beautifully frosted and the streets covered with a blanket of snow. Despite this December beauty, the people in the town had felt a sense of foreboding, and stayed at home.

Suddenly a piercing scream was heard throughout the town.

"Matthew?" a young boy of about 7 years with toffee hair whispered urgently. "Where are you?" The young boy was sitting at the end of his bed peering into the darkness of the shared room with his older brother.

He heard a muffled groan and yawn. "I was sleeping," an older boy with golden blonde hair said irritably while rubbing his eyes, trying to get rid of the sand that The Sandman had bestowed on his lovely hazel eyes. "Which we both should be doing."

"But Matt-" Nathan tried to explain but was interupted by the same shrill scream. Matthew stopped his actions and froze. "Doesn't that sound like mum?" Matthew asked Nathan with a tremble in his voice.

Nathan nodded frantically and was shaking out of fright.

"I´ll go check," Matthew said slowly trying to be brave while he was really scared. "You stay here. ´kay Nate?" Nathan stared at Matthew with large eyes. "You can´t go alone!"

"Don´t be silly" Matthew huffed. "I´m 9, I´m a big boy." Nathan giggled, momentarily forgetting about the strange, scary situation. "Pinky swear you´ll stay?" Nathan nodded.

Matthew went in the corridor. It was deadly silent and Matthew cautiously tip-to´ed along until he was directly in front of his parents bedroom. Why not check their room first? Just to be safe. Matthew felt his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He turned the doorknob a sliver and peeked inside. The room was vacant. Slowly closed the door and stared at it. Where did it come from? The same shrill scream echoed along the empty hall. Though the scream had terrified Matthew the previous time he heard it, this time he felt chills run down his spine. For now, he was certain it was his mother.

The scream seemed to be coming from the parlour. They hardly ever used the parlour, because it was only used for festive occasions.

Matthew approached the door to the parlour, wishing it was all just a dream.

"you taste lovely, m´aam" a ruffled, dark voice uttered. "you´ll be a nice addition to my p-"

A weak voice interupted."Never, you disgusting dog!" The unknown man growled and a slap was heard. "don´t interupt me, woman. crucio!" Once again the horrible screech was heard.

Where´s dad? Matthew was torn between running away to safety or stopping his mothers pain.

Suddenly the man started chanintg something and matthews mum´s screams volume increased.

Mum!

Matthew quickly opened the door to find his mother on the floor, lying in a puddle of her own blood.

"Matt!" a manly voice called. " Wake the fuck up!" Matthew groaned into his pillow. He really didn´t want to go to classes today. He hadn´t turned in his transfiguration essay when it was due and he really wanted to avoid McGonnagalls infamous dagger glare.

"Matt, for fuck´s sake!" Matthew felt a pillow hit his head and sat up and glared at the pillow culprit. Ritchie smiled innocently. "did you have to do that?" Mathew said irritably.

Richtie smirked and stuck his togue out. "It got the job done."

Matthew sighed. Richtie had been his best friend ever since first year, when everything was still big and scary. They had helped eachother in many sticky situations the past six years(lord knows, there have been many). Ritchie was usually happpy and fun to be around. But now he was just a prat.

"wouldn´t want you to miss Professor McGonnagulls reprimand?" the dark skinned wizaed winked.

Matthew rolled his eyes. "wouldn´t want to miss it for the world."

Richtie laughed his smooth laugh.("More like his heinous cackle.." matthew thought grumpily.)

that had gotten him many admirers.

"I´ll be waiting in the commonroom" Ritchie hollered over his shoulder. "Don´t take too long, blondie!"

Matthew sighed a second time that morning. He could be a handful at times. Especially in the morning. One of the defining diffrences between the pair was, Richite was a morning persona nd matthew a..well, not a morning person.

Matthew grabbed his ashwood wand performeda quick Scrougify. "That´ll do." Matthew thought absentmindly. "Don´t have time for anything else"

Matthew threw on his school robes and check his look in the mirror. What he saw was nothing special. A tall and slightly mucled(due to quidditch) blonde seventeen yearold boy with bags under his eyes. Matthew sighed. "as if anyone even notices me.." Matthew rolled his shoulders and walked out to the commonroom.