Privet drive was as dark as ever. With a flash of lightning the skyline was illuminated and the perfect houses with their perfect lawns and perfect occupants became visible. It was August and the humid air formed droplets of water that trickled down the resident's brows as they tossed and turned during the early morning hours under the extreme heat.
I did not toss and turn though. I was wide-awake sitting by the open window hoping for a breath of cool air that wouldn't come. Lightning flashed again followed by a low rumble of thunder but it was now moving off into the distance. Leaving me to do my homework in the dim light provided by my wand. I had procrastinated all summer hoping to be swept away to Ron or Hermione's house where I could do my homework in the daylight but as days turned into weeks I slowly lost hope and now only had there short uninteresting letters to read and reread to pass the time.
Dear Harry
I'm traveling through France with my mother and father and then we will take a boat to Ireland. I'm noticing things I haven't seen before. My eyes are now sharper then a common muggles and I have spotted many witches and wizards using there magic in public! If this keeps up the wizarding world will surely not stay a secret for long.
This is not the only thing that bothers me. As you've probably heard there have been many unexplainable deaths. The muggles are antsy and worried and I can only imagine the chaos if they knew who really was the cause of all of these attacks. More then anything I want to go home where I feel most safe (besides Hogwarts of course). I've tried to explain about You-Know-Who to parents but well… you know what it's like.
I hope you are well and out of trouble. Your last letter was quite depressing but of course you have reason to be depressed. School starts in a few weeks and Ron or I will try to get you away from there as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
As I refolded the letter I felt a familiar knot in my stomach. I'd left Hogwarts confused and afraid and this summer filled with endless weeks of replaying the events over and over again left me feeling like I was eating an endless bag of Bertie Botts. It doesn't take long to start feeling sick and then feeling only worsens. The prophecy… I knew it would come true but I'd refused to believe it. And the veil… Sirius couldn't be dead… he couldn't. If only I had remembered to open the present he had given me just one year ago. If I had used the mirror to make sure he was all right he would still be alive.
A final flash of lightning flickered far off in the distance. The man on the sidewalk of Privet Drive, unnoticeable in the dark night, quickly vanished into the shadows.
It was my fault… it was all my fault
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