A/N: Yes, I realize this is morbid. Frankly, I don't care – look at the song it's based on. This is an idea that I've been playing around with for a while and the plot bunny finally bit me hard enough to get me writing. Let me make a few things clear: one, Annaliese is my character and is not to be used without my permission; two, she and Harry are not a couple; and three, I am not a diver myself, I just watch them so I had to do quite a bit of guesswork for this chapter and I hope it worked. I gleaned my little knowledge of the sport from the swim meets I've been at and watching the Olympics. If someone would like to help me out with this part if it's wrong, PM me. Much thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter – if I did, I'd be filthy rich and wouldn't have to rely on student loans.
Summary: AU. Dumbledore sends Harry to America in an effort to protect him from Voldemort, but this action will have more serious repercussions than he could have foreseen.
She walked to the edge of the board, feeling the sandpaper-like roughness beneath her feet. The crowd around her held its collective breath as she raised her arms to the ready position, bounced once, and erupted from the board. She launched herself into the first of two somersaults and then the twist, watching the water drawing closer, closer, closer…
She wasn't going to make it.
A pang of disappointment shot through her. She'd worked so hard on this dive, come too far to fail now. In desperation, she swung her hips up over her head, tried to make it to vertical.
And then the spell lifted and she realized that there was no water, no crowd. The pool was empty but for the remnants of last night's rain and the dead leaves that had been blown in from the forlorn trees in the courtyard. She closed her eyes as a wave of bitterness consumed her. Bastard – he'd managed to work his way through her protections; she'd been careless. Now her charge was left defenseless and it was her fault. Regret was the last thing she felt before her body hit the concrete and her neck snapped.
Yes, it's short. It's just the prologue. I'll have the first chapter up probably by next Tuesday. Reviews are lovely.
MyDearestObsession