chapter 1

Lily's Life

Chapter 1 - Untitled

Petunia ran into my room.

Did you hear that? she asked. I had heard it, it sounded like a crash. Was it you?

I told her. We looked at each other as if we could read each other's thoughts: *Mum and Dad! It must have come from their room, let's go.*

I picked up my wand and we walked down the hallway to our parents' door. There was a flash of green light that came from the crack under the door. I gulped. I pushed their door open, ever so slightly, I had my wand held up to my face, like a gun.
Then I saw my father lying motionless on the bed.

my mother mouthed. In front of their bed stood three figures. Two extremely tall men in hooded cloaks and someone else. I didn't know what he was, but I had heard of him. An evil wizard who had just started wreaking havoc in the wizarding world. Voldemort. He had his wand to my mother, with a very stern, very malicious look on his face. My mother mouthed again.

Avada Kedavra Voldemort yelled. A green ray of light shot out of his wand. My mother fell on the bed, a look of disappointment on her face.

Advance on her Voldemort said to his minions, pointing at me. The two tall men in hooded cloaks started gliding toward me. I realised at that moment they were Dementors...

I backed away, out of the room. I thought of the time Tracy, Remus, Sirius, James, Peter and I were wading in the lake, talking about the O.W.L.S, and laughing at teachers. Expecto Patronum I cried, and a single bright bolt of lightning shot out of my wand, at the Dementors.

I rushed down the stairs and grabbed Petunia, who was sitting on the bottom step. I ran out of the house, dragging Petunia behind me. I ran and ran, and ran. Still pulling Petunia. I couldn't accept what had happened. I didn't want to accept it. The whole memory was a blur, as were the houses and trees falling behind me. I kept running and didn't ever stop. Petunia's hand slipped from mine, she stopped, hunched over, clutching her waist. I grabbed her arm again, and ran through someone's garden, over their fence and into a park. Petunia stopped and sat on the ground leaning against a fencepost. I sat down next to her.

I looked at her. She looked so sad. So sad, there was no other word to describe it. Her eyes were bloodshot, tears were streaming down her face. She looked horrible. I pulled her toward me. I felt her tears seep through my blouse and onto my shoulder, I felt her chest rise heavily and fall against mine. I heard her uneven breath in my ear. Then I felt that sickening feeling in my throat.

Hold it back', I thought, you have to hold it back'. My eyes were brimming with tears, but... No hold it back, hold it back.'

I did.

Petunia pulled away from me. So, they're gone, like a flash of light, just gone? She asked between great gulps and breaths. I told her, bowing my head. Why us? Why mum and dad? Why us? Who was he? Why me? she cried in anguish.

He calls himself Voldemort. He is an evil wizard, and he hates Muggles, and Muggle-born wizards. I guess he just ... chose us, I told her, my head bowed, not making eye contact.

I could feel it again, like I could read her thoughts.

'Why isn't she crying? Why isn't she at all upset? Her goddamn parents have just been murdered, and she isn't even upset. What's her problem? ...I know what it is, it's all her fault. She wanted them dead, because she's a witch! It's all Lily's fault! If she hadn't gone to that stupid school, they'd still be alive! They were murdered because of Lily!'

No. I felt like shouting. NO! ...But I couldn't, because... Maybe it was my fault. Maybe Voldemort was after me, because I am a Mudblood. I am. ...I am a Muggle-born witch... It's my fault! It is!

I bowed my head, silent tears running down my face ... It's my fault, it's my fault, it's all my fault ...