-June 31, 1989; Night-

-#4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surry, England -

He did not know how it started.

All he knew was that he was doing his normal rounds, bringing happy dreams to everyone when all of the strands of dream sand meant for number four privet drive stopped short. It seemed all of the residents there were still awake. Creating an airplane out of his sand, he went to investigate.

There upon the lawn was four black robed men, with white skull masks covering their faces. Standing before them was a little girl with defiance blazing brightly in her eyes even if her face was cold. All of them had wands pointed at the girl and menacing laughter came from behind the masks. Sandy could see three forms huddling in the living room.

"Well, girl, don't you have a little backbone? Stand aside and let us get your family, and we'll make sure your death is faster than the others." The lead man said, finishing with a menacing chuckle.

The girl stared up at the man, and spoke quietly. "I will not."

Snarling the man strode forward, a cruel and malicious aura emanating from him. "You little bitch..!" Finally reaching her he backhanded her across the face.

Even though the hit was hard enough that a dark bruise was already forming, the girl's face barely turned and she slowly turned it to face him once again. Once again, her quiet voice rang out.

"My family has done much worse than that." Disgust colored her tone as she spoke of her family. The man froze in response, before slowly pulling out a intricately made black stick. Sandy's eyes widened.

A wand.

"Well then girl, I'll just have to make sure you feel worse, won't I?!" The man screamed. He whipped the wand in the girls direction and screamed one word that nearly made Sandy completely lose control of his sand.

"Crucio!"

Immediately the effect showed.

She writhed upon the ground, loud drawn out screams ripping from her throat. Her body bent in unnatural ways, her eyes wide and staring. Sandy dove forward, violence his only thought, but bounced back from and invisible barrier. Anger ripped through him. Why could he not get through?!

Slowly, the man lowered his wand. She lay panting on the ground, eyes wide. At a snails pace, she got to her feet once again. Her hair was in even more wild disarray then before and covered her face.

"Oh? The little girl can still stand up? Maybe I should try a bit harder, huh boys?" The man sneered. The men behind him cheered heartily, egging him on with loud voices. Red tinted his vision. However, before anyone could do anymore, the girl moved.

Slipped from beneath her large shirt, the silver glinted beautifully in the moonlight before it was covered in deep red. The lead man fell, and the knife pulled out of his heart. The other men stood shocked, not moving until it was too late. Another fell from the blade. Two more remained. The remaining men flung spells with wild abandon, not caring one wit for the destruction they caused.

Dashing from shadow to shadow the girl came up behind the third man and plunged the knife deep into his back and ripped it out as quickly as it had entered. The man died with an echoing scream tearing through his throat. She disappeared.

Tha last man looked wildy about, his robes a tangled mess. He stood in the the middle of the ruined lawn. Turning quickly at an imagined noise, he stumbled.

Straight into the waiting blade.

He choked, gurgling blood as the knife easily went through his neck. Gradually, the life faded from his eyes. With the body went the knife. The girl stood silently. Motionless. Sandy watched with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Haltingly, she walked towards the house. With a shaking hand she opened the door, leaving the bodies out to rot. The girl crept past the shaking forms that flinched at her presence and into her cupboard. The door shut behind her. The night went on. Disturbed only by the haunted moans and wimpers coming from behind the door of the cupboard under the stairs. All Sandy could do was send his dream sand to her, and hope he could put some good in the dreams that she would from now on forever have.

No, he did not know how it started. But he knew how it ended. With the shattering of the only innocence the little girl on the cupboard had left.