Sherry, no! screamed a panicked voice. It's Mummy, Sherry thought with relief, she'll help. But, wait, she's leaving and closing the door. She's locking it. Why isn't she helping me? What's going on? Sherry would have wondered about it more, but the pain had spread to her legs and she collapsed to the ground. She was dimly aware of a great crash and then someone was kneeling beside her.
Open your hand! they shouted, Drop the amulet! What a good idea, Sherry thought, why didn't I think of that? She dropped the trinket and the man grabbed it and left. I thought he was helping. Where's he going? But the heat surrounded her, and Sherry wondered no more.
***
Uncle Vernon riffled through his newspaper, scanning the headlines.
Look at this, Petunia, he called to his wife across the table, Eight people killed in a car accident near Devonshire.
said Aunt Petunia, looking up from her toast, Anything else interesting happen over the weekend? Vernon continued to scan the newspaper, without result, until he hit the local news.
Here we go. A mansion burned down in West Sussex, yesterday. Only one person was killed, though. An eight year old girl.
What do you think she was doing home alone?
Who cares? Dudley interjected, Can you pass me the funny pages, Dad? Vernon nodded and passed a section of the paper over to Dudley.
Harry prodded his small grapefruit, feeling slightly saddened by his aunt and uncle's conversation. The last thing I need to think about right now is dying, he thought, trying to think hard of Quidditch instead. Unfortunately, it didn't work. He'd think of Quidditch and then think of playing as Seeker for the Gryffindor team at school, which would lead him right to thinking about Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Seeker who had been killed last year. He shook himself. I need a new distraction. He turned to Uncle Vernon.
Can I take a look at the paper? Vernon grunted and passed it to him. Harry opened it randomly and started reading. He realized, with a jolt, that it was the story about the fire. He skimmed it and noticed the picture at the bottom.
Sherry Addington, the only victim.' read the caption underneath. The picture showed a young girl, in a frilly party dress, smiling into the camera. She was surrounded by balloons, and a large pile of wrapped gifts sat next to her. It must have been her birthday, Harry thought absently. Something about the picture seemed strange, though. He couldn't figure it out. The girl seemed familiar. Then he had a thought. He pictured the girl, seven years older and in a bikini.
He gasped in shock, oblivious to his relatives staring at him. Miranda?
***
Fifty miles away, Remus Lupin stared at the same picture. He turned to Sirius Black, standing next to him.
It has begun, he said, solemnly.
said Sirius, grinning, Let's go get Harry, then
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and words associated (Quidditch, Portkey, etc.) are the property of JK Rowling. I own all original characters, but nothing else.