Chapter one

Rule number one: Run and don't stop

Rule number two: Fight until you can't fight anymore

Rule number three: Don't say anything to the enemy even if it ends in death.

Those were the rules, and if you didn't follow them you were considered weak and useless or worse a trader also known as The enemy. You hide and nobody will find you, well if you're lucky just hope The Order will get to you before the death eaters.

We all had our own way of finding those who left, Unfortunately I didn't make it to my parents on time. I walked into my house with my team Sonya,Jenna,Wystan,Sior,Cole, and me leading the group.

I opened the front door to see the living room in ruins, shards of glass from picture frames, paintings destroyed and furniture thrown around scattered throughout the whole house. "What the hell" Sonya said as we all stepped inside looking around. I didn't wait, I ran up the stairs to my parents room. Empty, guest room empty...bathrooms empty.

All that's left is my room, I see a light flickering underneath the door. "Alia wait!" Wystan shouted. I don't listen.

I enter the room to see my parents lying on the floor pale not moving. Not breathing, "no" I whispered as my voice cracks suddenly getting a flashback from third year in defense against the dark arts.

When I stepped up and saw my worst fear...my parents lifeless bodies, and now I'm seeing it again except this time it's real. "no no please god no" I step over the broken glass falling to my knees resting my mothers head on my lap. pain shoots through my knees as I feel glass rip threw my trousers reaching and tearing my skin.

I stare into my mothers lifeless eyes, tears escaping and slowly falling on my mothers head. "please don't leave me" I shut my eyes and swallow the tightness in my throat, as it feels as if it's closing. Trying to keep my tears from falling as I go to hold my fathers hand, a voice spoke. "Alia we have to go." I look up to see Sonya coming towards me, approaching me with caution.

"No I can't not now" I look down not wanting them all to see me cry. "I can't just leave them here!" I spoke softly while tucking a piece of my mothers hair behind her ear.

Sonya looks back at the rest of the team waiting for someone to help. Cole steps forward slowly making it to Sonya's side "come on Alia we don't have much time" I hear the worry In his voice.

The death eaters were gonna enter Hogwarts, Today's the day where we find out who wins and who loses. They needed us back there, but I wanted to say goodbye to my parents just in case I didn't make it back, I never got to say goodbye. Sonya slowly reaches to grab one of my arms while Cole slowly moves my other hand away from my mother, placing her head back down to the floor. Then proceeding to grab my free hand to help me get up.

Jenna points her wand towards my knees as I slowly made it back on my feet, preforming a healing charm to making the blood go away, Trying to make the pain go away except it doesn't. Maybe not the same pain but worse definitely worse.

I noticed a paper on my bed "w-wait" they stop. They turn to look at me noticing my eyes in the opposite direction, they follow my gaze to the bed noticing the paper as well. They let go of my arms watching as I approach the paper picking it up slowly, I turn it around to see who the letter was from.

To: Alia Wilson

From: Mom

The writing was sloppy, it looked rushed. I quickly put the paper in my pocket turning back to my best friends and walking out the door, not sparing a look at them.

They all looked at one another then walked out following along. We stop at the side walk facing the front of the house, taking it all in one last time before we were back at Hogsmeade going through the painting, an entrance to Hogwarts. By the time we got back to Hogwarts the battle had started. Spells were being shot from every corner.

"we have to stick together! Look out for one another okay!" Jenna spat at us over all the commotion that was going on. We all looked into each other's eyes and nodded our heads, pulling out our wands and joining the fight.

Not even one hour in and we all lost each other. I blocked a spell as I tried to look for a familiar face anyone from my team, except I haven't seen a single one. I turned a corner to be face to face with a death eater "Stupefy" I shout pointing my wand at the unknown person"sectumsempra!" They shouted back.

Both our spells had fired at the same time both hitting one another. I fall to the ground as pain shoots through my entire body. I dropped my wand not being able to fight, I lift up my hand to see blood...My Blood and it was spreading everywhere.

I try to breathe but it hurts to much. I felt the cold air hit every single one of my wounds sending shivers down my spine. I tried to scream but It hurts to even talk, yet breathe.

I see a figure running towards me, My vision was all blurred out I couldn't tell if they were fighting with Hogwarts or against it, I tried to reach for my wand but before I could I heard my name being called. The voice was familiar..."ALIA!" It was Sior. His hands picked up my head placing it onto his lap

"hey hey look at me you're gonna be okay." I examined his face, every inch of it as he preformed a spell healing my wounds but leaving scars. I could breathe again, and it didn't hurt this time. He stroked my hair still having me rest on his lap. "you're alright okay, I'm gonna get you out of here"

~

I woke up starting up at the ceiling, having the same nightmares back from the war for what felt like the 100th time.

We all helped fix the school and after a break for one month, we were back. It was weird, I thought everyone would be all quiet and what not but no, everyone acted as if nothing happened.

Yes it's been months and yes we all now take therapy or whatever but everyone was all chatty and all smiley. I felt...left out. One by one everyone was leaving group therapy, even my friends made it out.

They were apart of it, same as everyone. All happy and what not, I don't understand what went wrong with me? Am I doing something wrong? Or am I just normal...did everyone just seem to forget...or chose to? I have so many questions that have no answers and it's driving me insane.

I slowly get out of bed pushing the covers out of the way letting my feet touch the cold wood floor and head towards my bathroom. I look at myself and notice my eye bags from my lack of sleep. Compared to how everyone else has turned out, I looked terrible. I haven't gotten much sleep because of my nightmares, constantly waking up in the middle of the night all sweaty and just reliving everything is exhausting.

I just couldn't keep it in anymore. I burst out into tears, I felt so alone I just wanted to fit in and be like everyone else, and before I couldn't care less but now... now I wanna smile and generally laugh but it's like I forgot how to. When the war ended it took apart of me with it, war was not for me and it wasn't for anyone, but I felt so lost the whole time I just hoped for the best. Sometimes I think it never ended, I felt the same during it...why am I feeling the same after it? Quickly getting out of my thoughts I turned on the water and splashed some of it on my face, cold. I liked the feeling of the cold, it calmed me down for some reason, feeling myself slowly drifting back into my thoughts I turned off the water and headed for the shower, turning the nobs so the water could come out slightly warm.

I lifted my shirt throwing it to the ground along with my bra, I then began to lower my sweats along with my garments until they hit the floor. I stepped into the shower feeling the slightly warm and cold water hit my skin. This was the only time I could smile and actually mean it, I couldn't really take showers during the war so I took advantage of that once it was over, oh how I missed it.

Walking over to the Gryffindor table I couldn't help but feel as if I were being watched, constantly looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was going to attack me from behind any second...except no one did.

"Alia you HAVE to try this! Here." Sonya began to pass me a blueberry muffin "oh uh thank you." I smiled back at her but it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Well, go on!" She said as I took a bite "mhm its...oh wow that's actually really good." I took another bite while placing another one on my plate, this was another thing I missed during the war, food. "What's good?" Cole questioned us as he and Sior joined along with Wystan.

"The blueberry muffins of course! Here try some." she shoved the muffin in his mouth. They had been non stop flirting with each other since they got together after the war. "Mhm oh wow this is really good." we all ended up having a muffin on our plate by the end of it, "soooo what's the plan for today?!" Jenna was looking at us all raising her eyebrows, I cleared my throat. "I uh have the group therapy thing with McGonagall after all my classes." I looked back down at my plate no longer feeling hungry.

"o-oh well what about you guys?" She eyed Sior, "nothing just hopefully finally getting the homework done." he said taking a bite out of his muffin

"I can help with that!" She gave him a smile, he smiled back. " great see you later in the common room?" He said getting up from the table, she nodded as he walked off. She kept her eyes on his back the whole time right up until he left the great hall. She turned her attention back to the rest of us with the biggest smile on her face "did you guys hear that! I'm having a little study date with Sior!" They all laughed at her reaction, I stood silent...

"I'm gonna head to class now, don't wanna be late see yuh." they all waved me off as I stood up and walked out the great hall.

I was walking to class when suddenly I bumped into someone, "oh sorry" I looked up to see the one person I wanted dead, he looked paler than usual. He looked down at me with no emotion, it startled me but I didn't show it. I continued walking to my class not looking back once, but only feeling his gaze on me until I rounded the corner.

I leaned back against the wall for support trying to breathe, he helped kill my parents, him and his little cult. I wanted them all dead, I wanted all of them to feel the pain of losing someone! but I also didn't, I'm supposed to be the better one in this whole situation. I closed my eyes while leaning my head back breathing slowly. I reopened my eyes and started to continue my walk to class.

I slowly opened the door hoping I wouldn't get caught for being late, "Miss Wilson may I ask why you're late." I stopped slowly fixing my posture back to its proper way "I uh..." I couldn't think on any excuse and I suppose McGonagall caught onto that, uncrossing her arms and relaxing her eyebrows "ten points from Gryffindor. now take a seat miss Wilson." slowly walking over to the empty seat next to a ravenclaw while cursing under my breath, I sat down silently cursing myself for being late...again.

The bell ranged meaning it was time for our next class "tonight's homework will be to study the hand movement now I expect you all to do well next time I see you!" Students were already out the door while I was barely getting my books in my bag "Miss Wilson a word please." I stopped packing slightly getting all nervous knowing why she wanted to talk.

I slowly place my book in my bag swinging it over my shoulder while walking towards her "yes professor." I looked up at her intimidating eyes watching as they began to become relaxed and soft. "what has gotten into you dear, you were never late to my class, better yet you never failed my class and now. I can't say the same, what has gotten into you dear." she placed her hand on my shoulder looking at me with worried eyes. "I'm sorry professor, I truly am it's just. I haven't been able to move on from everything like the others have, I've been trying I have been I promi-" she helped me sit down as tears begin to flow down my face "I know dear, I can see you're trying very hard. Not just in therapy, but outside of it too"

I couldn't help but just break down in front of her she could see me, see my pain and suffering, my frustration. She acknowledged me, she understood me in some way and it felt comforting, it felt so good to be seen. "I'm sorry professor." as much as I hate crying in front of people I only cried in front of my mother, but with her gone I cried alone and kept everything to myself. After the war McGonagall became like my mother figure, she's tried to help me and I appreciate her so much. "No need to apologize." she helped me stand back up making me look her in the eye "listen dear, you're gonna get hurt in life and you're just gonna wanna let go, but never let go do you understand! You fight back with all you have." she had tears in her eyes but she didn't let them fall. I nodded slowly "I will." she smiled one that reached her eyes "good." she placed her hands back to her side getting all serious again, "now go to class, we don't want you being late now do we." I slowly started walking backwards towards the door "no we don't, see you later professor!" I yelled running out the door "no running miss Wilson! Oh dear" she smiled while shaking her head.

I walked to McGonagall's office once I was done with dinner ready for my so called group therapy, even though it's just me now. I politely knocked on the door waiting for her response "come in!" I opened the door and was met with her sitting at her desk smiling brightly at me.

"uh professor may I ask why you're all er, smiley?" She gave a little laugh while talking a sip of her tea "on never mind dear, sit come sit." I looked at her strangely "okay" I said slowly dragging my words while taking a seat. "So what's the plan for today?" She pulled out a black journal "I want you to start this journal entry" I looked at the journal she handed me examining it carefully "like a diary?" Now looking up at her "yes,exactly!, I'm having my other fellow student do this as well now so don't worry you're not alone." Another student? Since when!

"What do you mean by other student? I thought I was the only one left professor." she put her tea down looking right back at me a bit seriously now "oh why yes I have a fellow slytherin I meet after our session, like I said you're not alone." But our sessions end pretty late... "Wait what?when, for how long" she leaned back in her seat "well since the start dear, I don't wanna give too much away for privacy reasons but I'll say this, you two are feeling the same way about all this." well that's comforting, I suppose.

"oh well that's um sad but comforting I guess." Sighing quietly "indeed" she then looked up at me with joy, "I have an idea! Why don't we have a group session with the two of you, wouldn't you like that!"

no definitely not...well maybe before but now!... "uh no thank you, I mean are you sure they would be okay with...all this?" she sat back straight now "no, but ill have to ask tonight. Well you know what to do now. Is there anything else you'd like to talk about? If not this will be all for today." I looked back down at my journal "so do I make an entry everyday and turn it in or?" She nodded while picking up her tea "exactly, now you don't necessarily have to make an entry everyday but I'd prefer it." I put the journal into my bag standing up from my seat and nodding "thank you professor, see you tomorrow." she nodded with a smile "see you dear"

I turned around and headed straight for the door while wondering who this other student could possibly be, and better yet which slytherin could they possibly be. I was interrupted by my train of thoughts when suddenly

"ow!" I fell to the ground after bumping into someone hard "do you never watch where you're going." that voice sounds familiar? and now I wish I could never hear it again. I looked up to be met eye to eye with Draco Malfoy. I rubbed my head thinking that would stop the headache "well if you were paying attention you could have easily avoided me yourself." I got up from the floor along with my bag "well I can't really see you can I?"

oh come on I'm 5'5...I rolled my eyes and mumbled "whatever" while bumping into his shoulder purposely.

I stalked off to the Gryffindor common room now annoyed, oh if I could just slap him in the face and say what I wanna say! But I can't disappoint McGonagall...damn you Malfoy and you're stupid hair.

I stormed into the Gryffindor common room silently taking to myself "oh how I would just love to drag him by the hair across the great hall!" I whispered for only Myself to hear. "Alia how was the group therapy?" Wystan asked "great actually, in fact I now have a journal to write all my amazing feelings in!" I replied sarcastically as I took the seat next to him folding my arms across my chest letting out a big sigh. "O-oh uh that's" he observed me seeing as I was acting differently from earlier and then quickly understanding I was angry.

"what happened?" Now turning his body so it was facing towards me. "Nothing just bumped into Malfoy." I answered staring into the fire, his body stiffened at the name for a quick second before relaxing. It was silent before I spoke again "he didn't do anything really, which was surprising considering it was the second time I bumped into him today." I turned my head to look at him and noticed that he was staring into the fire, I turned my head back towards the fire before continuing "I expected him to call me a mudblood or something" he quickly turned his gaze towards me. Hearing that word made his blood boil, he didn't like that word and neither did I nor anyone of my friends really, I was the only muggle born in my friend group while they were all halfbloods. "Sorry I didn't mean to make you upset"he gave me a reassuring smile "that's alright...we should start on the homework though, I over heard McGonagall mention that you were behind on work and I was wondering if you'd like to work on it together?" I gave him a little smirk before replying "yeah sure why not." I realized he could have listened in on the rest of my conversation with McGonagall so I quickly added "was that all you heard though?" I questioned praying he didn't hear the rest of our conversation. "Yeah, I didn't want to be late for class and I didn't want to, you know invade your privacy or whatever" I relaxed knowing he was being honest, I pulled out my books and quill along with the black ink getting ready to start the potions homework. "Let's get started." he smiled at me while turning to get out his homework.

We worked on our potions homework along with our transfiguration homework the rest of that night. "It's getting late we should probably head off to bed now." I whispered while letting out a yawn, slowly packing up my things while stumbling on my two feet trying to get up from the couch exhausted "thank you" he helped me up letting out a yawn himself "no problem, goodnight Leah" I smiled at the old nickname having not heard it since 5th year "goodnight Rey" I said softly as I trailed up the stairs to the girls dormitory waving him off.

I opened the door to my dorm only to see Sonya and Jenna already fast asleep, I quietly tiptoed to my bed avoiding the bags thrown on the floor with school books slightly poking outside of the bag. I began to undress myself placing my robes on the chair next to my bed.

I zipped off the zipper from my skirt letting it fall to the ground, making a soft noise from hitting the floor. I began to loosen my tie placing it on the chair with my robes neatly while I unbuttoned my shirt, letting it fall to the ground while feeling the cold air touch my bare skin. I threw on my shirt and pulled up my shorts picking up my uniform off the floor and gently folding it while placing it on the chair. I lift up my covers placing myself on the bed snuggling inside it while I slowly drifted off.

~

Hitting the ground hard as I fell from running only to have Wystan grab my arm bringing me back up to my feet, and running off along with the others not letting go of my arm. We ran faster than we ever had before, sending spells to the death eaters running after us through the woods.

spells hit the ground making all the dirt explode up into the air hitting my face, "Bombarda!" I shout back hoping to have done something to stop them. "Confringo!" Cole shouts back hoping to have done something as well. They only block the spell sending a nonverbal one back, I quickly yell "Protego!" adding "petrificus Totalus!" seeing as the one who sent the spell come to a sudden stop and falling face first onto the ground.

I quickly turn back around facing forward seeing only the rest of my teams backs while they ran for their life's. "Mobiliarbus!" Sior shouts while pointing his wand to a tree only to have it get thrown back to the death eaters. Surprised by the sudden action, they were hit by the tree slowing them down. We all kept running looking for a place to hide so we could portkey out safely, we come to a sudden holt having spotted a huge rock to cover us. We ran straight towards it, Not taking a short break.

Jenna pulls out the portkey and we all place out our hands at the same time towards the item, suddenly being lifted off our feet, We are thrown back to the ground. We finally just lay still and breathe trying to catch our breath, We stay out for awhile staying silent but only hearing each other's heavy breath.

I look up at the sky only to say "thank you" in my head repeatedly a thousand times for coming back safely with the rest of my crew, for still being alive.

The front door swings open to one of the safe houses from The Order only to reveal a Remus lupin running towards us along with his wife Tonks. They start to examine us seeing if we were hurt in anyway but finding nothing, suddenly I'm being lifted onto my feet and being pulled into a tight hug "thank god" Tonks said with relief, surprised by the body holding me, I return the hug. "you guys took longer then we planned and we were all worried sick wondering if you had been caught or worse killed!" She spoke quickly while pulling out of our hug and going to hug the others, Remus pulled me into a tight hug holding onto the back of my head, "I'm glad you made it back safely." he spoke softly to me.

"We thought we wouldn't make it back but thanks to Sior we did" Cole said while putting his arm around him. "We all made it out because we all worked together, I only did what we all were doing" Sior replied, we all began to form a group hug, scared we might have lost one another back there, but thankful we all made it back safely.

After the battle of Hogwarts

We had won the war. Voldemort had lost, he was gone now, forever. I walked into the great hall spotting familiar faces, I turned my head towards the line of injured bodies and then slowly moving my gaze towards the dead bodies.

People had lost a friend or family member throughout this whole war and my heart ached at the reminder of what I saw before I had came back to Hogwarts to fight. My parents dead bodies, my home in ruins, the one place I felt truly safe at other than Hogwarts was now destroyed. I was pulled out of my thoughts feeling a warm body wrap their arms around me "oh thank god!" Sonya sighed with relief, I looked up to see the rest of my friends running towards us.

They had all reunited during the battle, but I didn't until just now. They had all engulfed me in a group hug, I felt all their warmth surround me and I couldn't help but just sigh with relief to see them all safely, hearing their heartbeats. They were here, they were alive and that's all that mattered.

We then heard a cry, a hurtful cry. we had all stopped hugging, turning to see where the sound had come from, only to see a group of familiar gingers huddled around a body. The cry had come from Ron Weasley, I had averted my eyes towards the body he was leaning on and I couldn't help but feel my heart stop. There lied the lifeless body of Fred Weasley.

I began to feel my eyes water as I stepped towards Ron slowly falling to my knees besides him. I brought my arm around him holding him tightly as I looked at Fred's lifeless eyes, I couldn't help but noticed how there was no more joy, no more laughs, just no more Fred. He was gone and there was no way of bringing him back.

Ron had let go of Fred and embrace me in a hug, his tears hitting my trousers, Hermione then slowly approached Ron bending down and proceeded to slowly rub his back.

He lifted his head only to meet her soft eyes. He couldn't help but just breakdown once again, She had grabbed his arm Lifting him up off the ground and bringing him to the other side of the room. I had moved my eyes down the row to see the rest of the bodies and I couldn't help but spot a couple holding hands.

I brought my fingers up to my mouth letting out a muffled cry as I recognized the married couple, "oh god no" they had told me after they had found out about my parents they would welcome me into there home, and gladly adopting me as one of their own. I crawled over to their bodies placing my hands onto their chest, I couldn't help but let out a sob.

I lowered my head to hide my face from everyone else who was watching me, I felt a warm hand rest on my shoulder, "why them" I said chocking out my words. Before the war everything seemed so perfect, but it ended so soon. They say everything happens for a reason, but what was the reason for them. They were good people, all they wanted to do was help, and they died doing so, they all did.

~

A/N: This is the first chapter for The Aftermath! I'm actually really excited to start this book, I apologize if it's not good but please message me some ideas you have! Some sad quotes etc. if you're interested in making drawings through out this book please message me and I'll tell you the idea! If you're wondering what I mean by this if you've read manacled in some chapters in certain scenes they would show a drawing of the scenario and I really want that so if you're interested in that and also doing the cover message me if you can! Have a great day and I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Let me know what you're thoughts about this first chapter.