A lone woman walked alone on a deserted roadway, lined with the cottages of a lost era. The bulge of produce protruding through her grocery bag. The buzz of October filled the air in Derry. The woman was on a Muggle cellphone, a device linked to her troubled past, a vow she made years before to Lily Potter long forgotten- or was it? She did not know anymore time seemed to be nonlinear hours drifting into the days that were monotonous and long. She wished to feel something, even pain.

Her heels clicked along the road, her ankles slightly reddened by the surprising humidity of that afternoon. The keys jingled in her slender hand, with a week old manicure, chipped dark green- a subtle reminder of her past. A past she was closer to forgetting every day.

The breeze blew through her tangled black mane. The wind stung her pale cheeks and the scar on her back throbbed with impatience. Something flew into her eye. She stopped and blinked repeatedly hoping to get it out. The pale blue iris was irritated by this stray particle, but then it disappeared.

She continued to walk. Then the breeze shifted the other direction. Her head began to spin and throb. Her eyes watered and her hair flew into her face. She hung up on the caller. Her pace quickened- more determined to reach the small grey house at the end of the road, secluded from everyone else.

At last the destination was reached. Her keys jingled once more, a harsh tune against the blowing breeze. Heels came off and flew through the doorway. Her toes sank into the welcome mat indoors. They flexed for a moment, paused, and then they continued their journey to the small kitchen, next to the bathroom.

The bag of groceries fell onto the counter with a satisfying sound. Delicate feet raced peacefully to the bathroom. The sound of urine hitting the porcelain was a calming reassurance. Her past was behind her. The seat clinked as it closed. Water flushed down in a satisfying swirl. The sound of the sink turning on penetrated the small home. A splash to the face and a hard look in the mirror sobered her up a little too much. She needed a drink.

Her jeans felt constricting but she felt together inside them. Whole. She poured herself a drink. The stench of alcohol filled the kitchen and her nose. The bitterness of it caressed her throat before settling in her stomach. She almost moaned in contentment. The glass was then thrown back.

Her back started to throb again. Slowly the pain worsened. Her glass smashed along the floor. The ring on her finger burned her. She screamed in agony. Her door blew down with the wind. And only one thought came through her mind: He's back.

Many miles away Harry Potter had crashed onto the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts clutching the corpse of a friend and an enemy. Dry sobs exited his mouth. His scar still burned. His mother's green eyes met the twinkling ones of the headmaster. Igor Karkaroff had disappeared and Severus Snape stayed watching the chaos unfold. Moody moved forward and grunted. One mouth moved slowly screaming: "He's back. Voldemort's back".

In a graveyard Voldemort had Wormtail bring him his ring. He put it on and pressed it. A smile grew on his face. He dismissed his followers. She would be here soon. He didn't need Bellatrix attacking her.

Far away the woman apparatted. She crouched down in the graveyard feeling the cushion of moss between her fingers. It was almost comforting to her. She sensed him behind her. She morphed her face into one of a calm person. Her steel wall came crashing down. She found her footing and stood. Her ankles turned and she faced Tom Riddle head on.

She greeted him: "Hello Tom"

He replied: "Why hello, took you long enough."

She apologized.

His face shifted, just slightly, but she caught a glimpse of it. Hope filled her chest. Hope that she would survive the night. Just maybe she could put up with the monster for one more night. She could end it all right now. Curse herself into oblivion. But she was no cowards. And she had a promise to fulfill. A very old one, but it was intact.

He reached out almost appearing like a lover's embrace. She fell into his arms. His lipless mouth neared her ear. He whispered: "I'm sorry"

Crucio