Chapter 1

I jerked awake, sweat breaking out on my skin, straining to listen for what had startled me. The silence was oppressive, making my unease grow. I leaned over and snatched my wand from the nightstand, lighting it wordlessly. My bedroom greeted me as I eased from the covers. It was a typical teenage room, slightly messy with posters of movie stars plastered on the walls. On one side of the room gleams golden dueling trophies. Silently, I padded to the door and listened but again I could hear nothing that would have woken me.

Raising my wand I performed Homino Revelio. Startled, I stared at the number that hovered in front of me. I was an only child, there should only be three people in the house and yet the fading glow confirmed that there were three trespassers. Moving back to the door, I considered my options. I could go for help or I could try and catch them off guard. Thinking back, I remembered the sound that jerked me out of sleep was a cry of pain. I couldn't leave my parents; I had to try. Taking a deep breath I eased the door open and slipped into the hall.

Slowly, I crept down the hallway. The dark shadows made the passageway threatening and I evened my breathing to hear the direction of the noise. There were muffled voices coming from the family room and I moved to the doorway and looked in. Lips tightening, I saw my parents were bound and being tortured by three wizards. My mother's bloody face was twisted in pain as they laughed. I darted into the room and crouched behind the couch. Suddenly, as I was rising to cast a hex, the hated Avada Kedavra was whispered and I leapt up in time to see the greenish glow envelope them both.

Screaming, I began throwing hexes and they whirled on me. I hit the one on the right with stupefy and he crumpled, leaving me with just two. I ducked and weaved, my training at school clearly showing as I held my own. I was hit with a bone breaker curse and my left arm snapped. Choking, I held it close and managed to bind the middle one with my own special ropes. They tightened every time the person moved. My breathing was heavy as I circled the last one; he was clearly the leader of the group. His fighting was much more advanced and I found myself being hit with several slicing hexes. I caught sight of my parents laying on the floor and felt my rage flood my body. I ducked and shrieked, "Bombarda!" It hit him square in the chest and his body flew backwards and exploded. My eyes wide, I stared at what I had done when I remembered my family.

I ran to their sides and began casting spells, hoping that I could save them. Spell after spell failed me and I became more and more hysterical. I fell to my knees and began screaming, my grief causing my magic to destroy the room. Suddenly, I felt something snap in mind and fire raced through my blood. I fell to the floor and writhed on the floor, unable to breathe. Blackness closed in and the last thing I knew was unending pain.

I slowly came to, feeling as if my body was hit by a bus. I sat up and swallowed thickly as I looked at my parents. Tears blurred my vision but I stood up and at that moment a tapping noise sounded at the window. I stumbled to the window and allowed the owl to give the letter to me before it flew off. Tearing it open, I looked in shock at the name of the writer.

My darling,

If you have received this letter, we have left this world and we have left you alone. We hope that this is never sent but in the event that it is, know that we love you and we are so proud of you. There is something that we need to tell you and we hope you won't hate us for keeping it from you. When you were born, we could tell you were different. Even for a witch. You had a connection to nature and could make weather change. It wasn't long before we figured out you were an elemental. As you know, the last known elemental was Merlin himself and we knew if you were allowed to grow with the power, people would try and use you or harm you. So we had it bound inside you. However, with our deaths our magic will have died as well and won't protect you anymore. We want you to run, to go to Hogwarts in Europe. As you know, your mother went there and we know it's the only place safe enough for you to train. We can only hope that you will embrace your gift and try to use it well. We know you will become an amazing woman.

Love always,

Mother and Father

Swallowing in shock, I stared at the letter. I pulled my wand and cast a few detection spells and wasn't surprised to find it genuine. I put the letter away and looked around. This had been my home and now I had to leave. Pushing my all consuming grief away, I grabbed a few things to take with me but left most of it there. With one last look, I whispered, "I love you, Mom and Dad." Disapperating, the house was left with the macabre scene of my parents' murder.