Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor will I ever.

I can't think straight and I push all rational thoughts out of my mind because I can't breakdown here with everyone around me - most of whom will pity me. Only a jumble of illogical and disconnected thoughts and actions swirl around inside my head, none of which will do any good. The one gift I truly possess, magic, is not going to do any good. I know this because I have stubbornly tried to fix this ever since it happened last night. Seven years of learning magic are wasted because there can be no solution to this disaster. I turn and run. I need to get out of this place, it's suffocating me. At first I'm dodging people, a blur of nameless faces none of whom matter right now. Some may even be in a similar position as me, but how can they help, they don't know me and I don't know them.

How is an eighteen year old Hogwarts graduate suppose to handle this. It's just too hard. How can anyone handle this. All I see is worried expressions all around me but I can't handle their sympathy and condolences. I have to escape because I don't want to think about them, it will just remind me of my own broken heart.

I can't care about what they think, it doesn't matter, they don't matter. Nothing matters, not now anyway.

Finally I reach the busy reception and push through the glass onto the pavement of the busy muggle London. No-one here knows my problems; hell, no-one even cares. I am stunned by the beauty of the sky as it sets but the pain is too overwhelming and I feel as if it is drowning me.

I'm running again.

I need a distraction; I have to escape my mind, I search around for something, anything to focus on but everything is a reminder of what I have just lost. I try to focus on my breathing, my fast pumping heart, my aching muscles. I need this to consume my mind completely.

I need to forget. I need to not think.

The darkening sky around me does not discourage me but merely a sign of the passing of time. Every time a flashback from the previous night starts up again in my head, I run faster and concentrate harder on forgetting.

Finally I can run no further, my body can't take one more stride further, so I stop.

I gaze around trying again to concentrate on my surroundings. I'm standing in a narrow road with what appears to be apartment buildings on three of the sides with the forth being the way I have just come from. The paint on the walls is peeling and some windows have been broken. There are dustbins on the left side of the alley. I try not to panic now that I am alone.

But the rational thoughts that I had pushed away before kick back into gear. They are screaming warnings at me. I reach down for my wand but it's not there, this scares me more than anything ever has before in my life. I curse myself for being so foolish; here I am in the middle of muggle London, wand-less. I feel as if some-one had cut off my left arm, my wand arm.

I hear footsteps behind me but I cannot move. My quickened breathe and those loud, heavy footsteps are all I hear. And as I hear the footsteps coming closer and closer I take a deep breath to summon up my last bit of energy and courage, because I know what will happen. I must face this head on and brave, true to the Gryffindor inside of me, slowly I turn around ready to face what is to come.

I release a breath, I didn't realise I had been holding, in relief when I see that it is James, my boyfriend. I dissolve into tears and collapse into his waiting arms. My resolve that was so strong before, crumbles before him and I know he will not pity me because he has had to go through this before. I hold him tightly and finally let my guard down letting all those painful thoughts wash over me because I have James, who will always protect and watch over me.

He is my strength now.

"James" I sigh with tears staining my cheeks, "how am I to move forward; live without my mom and dad?"

"You are so very brave and strong and you and I will go forth from today with the knowledge that we have both loved and been loved in return. This is how we survive."

AN – Please review. Your thoughts (both positive and negative) will be much appreciated.