Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this story is the plot, everything else belongs to JK Rowling. Except of course, for the song lyrics, which are from one of my favorite Howie Day songs, Collide.

Breaking Point

Chapter 1

Homecoming

The dawn is breaking

A light shining through

You're barely waking

And I'm tangled up in you

I'm open, you're closed

Where I follow, you'll go

I worry I won't see your face

Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

Out of the doubt that fills my mind

I somehow find

You and I collide

A young woman sat on a bench at a train station in the heart of London. A mane of long crimson hair encompassed her petite form. The glossy ends of her fiery train curled slightly, as if protecting her shoulders. Despite her small size she gave off an air of undauntable spunk. Her face, though flawless, seemed to be creased and wrinkled as if she had persevered through more than the average late teen.

Behind her dark amber eyes lay an indescribable sadness, as if fossilized from her past, like deep scars, visible only to those who knew her well. Her eyes did not mirror the perfect day. Above her the sky was a deep sapphire, broken only by the occasion wispy white cloud.

Despite the glorious sunshine filtering down through the clouds above, a harsh wind blew up occasionally, scattering the dead leaves and causing them to scuttle awkwardly across the pavement. The wind caught up the woman's hair too, twisting it back and forth, causing it to appear as if her whole head was alight.

She tugged self-consciously at her light blue jacket, pulling it further across her chest to protect herself from the chilly breeze, as a man and his wife walked by and smiled at her. The red haired woman smiled back but somehow it did not quite reach her eyes.

She continued sitting there, as if waiting for someone, staring listlessly off into the distance, down the tracks. Her hands were clasped but did not lie still; her fingers twisted and wound within each other nervously.

Suddenly a train whistle blew and in an instant she was on her feet. The look of apprehension was swept off her face as the train roared noisily into the station, wheels screeching and billows of thick black smoke trailing behind in its wake. As the train pulled into the station, her face shown brighter than before and she bit her lip to keep herself from laughing aloud with joy and relief.

Compartment doors swung open and a rapid torrent of people began spilling out, luggage in tow. Men with briefcases hurried on their way, not stopping to look twice, and large families gathered together, distributing luggage before moving on. The once quiet station was now echoing with the sounds of people laughing, talking, sharing quick kisses, and hugging. In the midst of all the turmoil a flash of red bobbed up and down, searching.

I'm quiet you know

You make a first impression

I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the stars refuse to shine

Out of the back you fall in time

I somehow find

You and I collide

Finally, her gaze locked onto a tall, thin young man, with a shock of messy black hair, carrying only a small satchel over his shoulder. He was lean and sinewy, his skin tanned and weather-beaten except for his face, which was currently a ghostly white and featured a hardened look as if he was about to do something he knew he would later deeply regret. His eyes, a sharp contrast against his dark hair and pale face were a radiant green, a pair of gleaming emeralds. Just like the woman's, they sheltered pain and anguish, which was not easily distinguished. He too scanned the crowd until his gaze latched onto that of the red haired woman's tear-filled eyes. Despite his sorrowful expression, he couldn't help the look of desire and tenderness that crossed his handsome face at the sight of her. She was standing on the platform, with the wind swirling her hair, wrapping it around, then pulling it back again in a rippling effect. The wind whipped it around her forehead, creating a shining red crown. Despite the hustle and bustle that surrounded her, she had eyes only for the dark haired man.

But as he moved closer and saw the buoyant look of happiness on her face, his expression suddenly turned darker, like ominous rain clouds moving in for a storm.

With a hardened resolve he took a cautious step towards the woman, but she was already a beat or two ahead of him, flinging her arms around his neck. At the moment of contact, his body immediately stiffened, as though turned to ice and he tried to carefully push her away.

She pulled back, startled, as though not expecting such a harsh, unfeeling welcome. The man placed a hand lightly on her elbow and guided her to the bench she had previously been sitting on. The man, his face blank and void of the range of emotions it had shown earlier, began speaking to her in hushed tones, while the woman looked on expectantly. Her face, previously glowing with delight, was now also blank, though it seemed for a second as if something resembling hurt and confusion flickered across it, but she quickly stifled it, and continued to stare on silently.

After a few minutes the dark haired man stood up, still expressionless, grabbed his bag and joined the throng of travelers. One minute his dark hair was visible in the crowd and the next it had vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

The red haired woman sat there as if in shock, completely numb. Her eyes, though teary at the start, were now dry. Her expression was flat, her eyes vacant. Whatever emotion she felt, if any, she kept to herself. The wind picked up again and she shivered slightly. Then, she too, stood up and melted into the crowd, disappearing from sight.

Even the best fall down sometimes

Even the wrong words seem to rhyme

Out of the doubt that fills your mind

You finally find

You and I collide

You finally find

You and I collide

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I know many people don't always review, but you never understand how badly authors want to hear what their readers think, until you write your own story. So believe me, I've been through that! I never used to review all the stories I read, but now that I started posting my own fics, I review everything! One of the main reasons I write and post stories is because I want to share my writing with other people and see what they think of it. Until you write your own stories you can never understand how one little review can brighten someone's day!

So enough of the sappy stuff, what I was trying to say was-

REVIEW PLEASE!!!

All of your wonderful reviews keep me going and make me want to write more.

Thanks:)