Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I am writing this fanfiction for my own amusement and make no profit, all recognizable characters in this story are the property of J.K Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers, etc.


AN: This chapter should change the tone of the story moving forward.


Hogwarts Express, 12/18/1995, 16:39

Today was the start of the winter holiday and Harry was thrilled to be getting away from the castle for a bit. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had taken over a compartment towards the middle of the train and whiled away the time by reading or playing exploding snap.

Tonks had apparated home just after breakfast but she had told him she would pick him up from the station this evening. Harry had been slightly disappointed he wouldn't see her on the train but she never interacted with him much with Ron and Hermione anyway.

Hannah, Susan, and Lavender had joined them a few hours ago and the compartment was now filled with the sound of giggling girls. Harry was starting to realize they needed a few more blokes in their group as he and Ron were grossly outnumbered.

They were getting closer to London, the scenery was gradually changing from open country to small towns and suburban areas. The landscape was covered in snow with a cloudy sky overhead, every once in a while the sun would break through the clouds making the snow sparkle like diamonds in the wide open pastures.

Harry could feel his excitement mounting at the prospect of seeing Andi and Ted again after three months away.

Currently, Harry was sitting sideways on the bench with Hannah laying back against him, her back leaning against his chest and her head resting on his right shoulder while he wrapped his arms around her.

"I got a letter from mum, she said I could come over to your place over break," Hannah whispered in his ear.

"Andi already said it was fine, I think she just wants to meet you," Harry said before placing a kiss on the side of her neck, causing her to shiver pleasurably.

"Don't get me worked up, Harry," Hannah whispered before pulling his head to where she could place a softy his on his lips made a bit awkward by their current position.

"You two do realize that you're not alone," Hermione cut in before the kiss could become heated.

"We do now, don't you have prefect patrols or something?" Harry asked, shooting her a look of annoyance.

"Damn," Hannah exclaimed as she jumped up.

"What?" Harry asked in confusion.

"I have to do a patrol with Ernie for the last hour of the trip," Hannah said as she straightened her robes.

"I guess you'll have to settle for cuddling with me, Potter," Susan said innocently.

"Absolutely not, Bones. Get your own boyfriend to cuddle," Hannah said, shooting her smirking friend a look of annoyance before she stepped out of the compartment.

"I love messing with her," Susan giggled as soon as the compartment door slammed shut.

"She knows your messing with-

Harry stopped mid-sentence as the compartment door was flung open and Draco Malfoy stepped inside. Harry thought it odd thing was that he wasn't accompanied by his usual henchmen but pushed that from his mind when Malfoy began speaking

"Potter," Draco sneered.

"Draco, to what do we owe the displeasure of your company?" Harry asked evenly.

"I simply wish to give you some advice," Draco said as Harry stood to face him.

"Really?" Harry asked as he stepped closer.

"Yes, you shouldn't get too attached to that little blood-traitor whore of yours. I don't think she'll be around much longer," Draco smirked.

This comment Caused the female occupants to gasp or in Susan's case, crack her knuckles. Harry noticed Ron stand up and draw his wand and Harry gave him a subtle shake of the head.

"Thank you for your concern, would you like some advice in turn?" Harry asked calmly as he stepped away from Malfoy so they were about three feet apart.

"Let's have it," Draco sneered.

"Don't threaten my friends and don't ever insult my girlfriend," Harry said as he made to turn around.

Suddenly Harry spun his body to the left and kicked out hard so that the toe of his right boot struck Malfoy in the back of his left leg, dropping the ferret to the floor with a crash.

"AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" Malfoy shrieked as he landed on his back holding his leg in his hands breathing rapidly as the pain slowly subsided.

"If anything happens to her, you'll be the first person I will come looking for, Draco," Harry warned as he came to stand over the downed boy.

"You broke my fucking leg!" Malfoy shrieked as the other occupants of the compartment looked on in shock.

"No I didn't, but I will if you don't get out of my compartment," Harry said in a soft cold voice as he drew his wand.

Malfoy scrambled to his feet and staggered out of the compartment.

"What was that?" Ron asked looking impressed.

"A Peroneal strike, it temporarily disables a person's leg and hurts like you wouldn't believe," Harry said as he plopped back into his seat.

"I can't believe the little bastard said that about Hannah!" Susan exclaimed furiously.

"He was just trying to get under your skin You really shouldn't have reacted," Hermione admonished.

"That was just a warning. If he says something like that again, I won't be so gentle," Harry said, a hard edge in his voice.

Before Hermione could reply, the compartment door slid open again and Luna Lovegood wandered in with the usual dreamy look on her face.

Ever since he had gotten her clothes back, Luna had sought him out whenever she could. He had found this annoying at first, but lately, she had started to grow on him.

"Luna," Harry said as she took a seat beside him, sitting sideways on the bench so she was facing him.

"Hello Harry, having a good train ride?" Luna asked as Hermione gave her a strained smile.

"Oh yes, I just saw an albino hopping ferret," Luna said dreamily.

"You mean Malfoy?" Ron chuckled.

"Is that his name?" Luna asked curiously.

"Yes, that was Draco Malfoy," Hermione said sounding amused.

"He's not really a boy. Professor Moody revealed Malfoy's true form last year. Professor McGonagall forced him to change the ferret back into his Malfoy disguise," Luna said as she stretched her legs out on the bench.

"That was just a transfiguration Luna," Lavender giggled.

"That's what Professor McGonagall wants us to think but she is one of them," Luna explained.

"One of what?" Ron asked.

"Animals disguising themselves as people so they can learn our ways and take over the wizarding world," Luna said in a serious tone.

"So where have you been all morning?" Harry asked before Hermione could try and correct her.

"Wandering the train, the other Ravenclaws are mad at me and wouldn't let me sit with them," Luna sighed as she pulled out a copy of The Quibbler.

"Because of your clothes?" Harry asked in amusement.

Apparently, it took the Ravenclaw girls being exposed in the middle of the great hall multiple times before they got the hint. For the house of intelligence, they were very slow learners. Harry had thought about just warding Luna's trunk but Ron had begged him to just keep letting the room get Luna her clothes back. Unfortunately, Luna insisted he help her open the room to retrieve her things, so he never got to see the fruits of his labour. Ron was more than happy to fill him in on what he saw.

"Yes, they say it's my fault they were stripped starkers in the middle of the great hall," Luna pouted.

"Nonsense, it's Ron's fault," Harry assured her.

"How is it my fault?" Ron protested as Lavender eyes narrowed in his direction.

"I was just going to ward her trunk but you said letting the room do it was better for everyone," Harry beamed.

"I thought a bit of public humiliation would get the message across," Ron sniggered.

"Yes and maybe now Mandy Brocklehurst will shave that ghastly bush, it looked like Hagrid's beard," Susan giggled.

"I believe she's growing it to attract a muffkiffle, they prefer to dwell in a hairy puss-

"Alright, I think we all get it," Hermione huffed, cutting Luna off.

"I hope we don't get them, muffkiffles are nasty creatures," Luna shuddered.

"Well I don't have anything to worry about in that department," Lavender said absentmindedly.

"Me either," Susan agreed.

"Nor do I, if you think the hair on my head is bad you should see-

"Hermione, you do realize this isn't an all-girls compartment," Harry scowled.

"Oh grow up Harry," Hermione snorted, looking amused at his discomfort.

"Hannah doesn't have anything to worry about from those muff-thingies either," Susan said a smirk playing on her lips.

"Really?" Harry said with a faraway look.

"Miss Kitty's hair removal potion can work wonders," Susan smirked.

The rest of the train ride passed by smoothly, Luna was soon distracted by her magazine while Susan and Lavender sat gossiping about the latest issue of witch weekly. Ron seemed content to let Lavender snuggle into him while she talked. Meanwhile, Hermione read a book on Advanced Arithmancy, tuning out the compartment around her as she became engrossed in the dusty tome.

Harry sat watching the houses and trees go by out the window, wondering what Malfoy had meant earlier.

Did Malfoy know something or was he just trying to get in his head? Harry highly doubted that Malfoy was in Voldemort's confidence but still, the thought of Hannah being hurt sent a shiver up his spine. When school started back Harry decided he would train her one on one and make sure she could protect herself. Hannah had done well in the D.A so he knew she wouldn't have much trouble picking up more advanced spells.

Harry was pulled from his thoughts as the train began to slow down as it approached the platform. The train's whistle soon echoed over their heads as the train came to a halt.

Harry got swept away in the flow of the other students as they exited the train as he made his way onto the platform, the others going their separate ways after a quick farewell

Harry stood by the train after Ron and Hermione had left trying to spot Tonks through the crowd when he felt someone loop their arm through his and start dragging him across the crowded platform.

Looking to his left, he was amused to see his girlfriend.

"I want you to meet my parents," Hannah said at his questioning look.

"Alright, but you could have just asked," Harry chuckled.

"And give you a chance to flee?" Hannah said, with a teasing smile.

"Gryffindors flee from nothing," Harry assured her.

"Good because there they are," Hannah smirked.

Harry looked ahead and saw that Hannah was leading him towards a couple standing near the exit into the muggle part of King's Cross.

"Mum, dad," Hannah squealed excitedly as she released his arm and ran forward, wrapping her arms around her parents in a three-way hug.

"There's my baby!" Harry heard her mother happily exclaim before kissing Hannah's cheeks.

"And who's this then?" Her father asked eyeing Harry critically over the top of Hannah's head as she continued to hug them.

"Daddy, you said you'd be nice," Hannah said as she released her hold and moved to stand beside Harry.

"Well, where are your manners, girl? Introduce us," Hannah's mother said, looking at her daughter expectantly.

"Mim, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Harry Potter. Harry this is my father Lord Samuel Abbott and my mother Lady Catherine Abbott," Hannah said in a formal tone.

"Pleased to meet you, dear," Catherine said giving him a warm smile.

"P-pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Abbott," Harry said, stumbling over his words a bit from nerves.

Catherine Abbott looked almost exactly like her daughter, they were of similar height with the same flowing blond hair and her blue eyes were almost the same shade as her daughter's.

"Just Cat will do, dear," Catherine said as she pulled him into a gentle hug.

"Hannah was right, you are very handsome," Catherine said shooting her daughter a teasing smile over Harry's shoulder.

"Well I can certainly see who she favours, you two could pass for sisters," Harry said genuinely.

"Oh, I like you already," Catherine beamed.

"Stop flirting with my mother and introduce yourself to my father," Hannah said as she steered him over to the amused-looking Lord Abbott.

"Lord Abbot, it is a pleasure to meet you," Harry said as he came to stand in front of the tall brown-haired man.

Lord Abbot was tall maybe six-two and slender with grey eyes and a thin face.

"Samuel is fine and it is good to finally meet you, Hannah mentions you all the time in her letters," Lord Abbott said cheerfully as he offered Harry his hand.

"Hopefully none of it was bad?" Harry asked as he shook Samuel's hand.

"Not to me but she may have sent the dirt in her letters to Cat," Samuel chuckled.

"Well that's a relief," Harry sighed.

"You know, I think you could pass for James' twin. I reckon people have told you that before but the resemblance is uncanny," Samuel said as he looked Harry over.

"Sirius said the same thing though he says I act more like my mother," Harry admitted.

"Thank heavens for that, James and his motley crew were a few years behind me. Always in trouble that lot," Samuel said with a fond smile.

"Don't let him fool you, Samuel was no saint himself," Catherine cut in.

"I may have gotten caught up in their shenanigans once or twice but I tried to be the voice of reason," Samuel defended.

"You helped them orchestrate the great Puff Panty raid of seventy-four," Catherine chortled.

"I think daddy might be a bad influence on you," Hannah said as she took his hand in hers and shot her father a look of faux disapproval.

"Alright, Blondie we have to get home so go ahead and get your farewells out of the way," Catherine said, shooting her husband s pointed look.

"I hoped to be seeing you again," Samuel said as he shook Harry's hand one more time.

"I should say you can count on it," Harry already liked Samuel's easygoing attitude.

"It was nice to meet you, dear. Be good to my baby or I will hurt you," Cat warned before she led her husband further down the platform to give them some privacy.

"Sorry about them," Hannah said shyly.

"Don't be, they seemed nice enough," Harry smiled and was rewarded when Hannah wrapped him in a tight hug.

"I would snog you rotten right now but I think dad is watching us?" Hannah whispered in his ear.

"One kiss shouldn't hurt," Harry suggested.

"Your right, there is nothing wrong with a single kiss," Hannah agreed as she pulled his head down and captured his lips in hers.

Harry got lost in the kiss as the platform around them faded away and all that mattered were her lips on hers. Harry felt Hannah card her fingers through his hair as as she pulled him tighter against her. Years later he would still remember this last kiss as one of the most bittersweet moments of his life,

Their moment was broken by a throat clearing and they pulled apart to see an amused-looking Cat and a very uncomfortable-looking Samuel standing beside them.

"Sorry to break up the snog fest but we need to be at your aunt's place for dinner," Cat said, a wide smile on her lips.

I'll see you next week," Hannah promised in a breathy voice.

"I can't wait," Harry smiled making her cheeks flush.

"Goodbye, Harry," Hannah whispered before she released him and allowed her parents to lead her away.

"Goodbye, Hannah," Harry muttered still feeling a bit dazed.

Harry watched them as they approached the portal, Hannah looked over her shoulder to give him one last smile before the family of three stepped through the brick wall and onto the muggle platform.

"Alright Romeo, are you about ready to go?"Tonks asked as she came up beside him, pulling his attention away from the brick wall Hannah had just stepped through.

"I planned to say goodbye to the Weasleys," Harry admitted as he turned to meet Tonks' eye.

"Then you shouldn't have been trying to swallow Abbott's tonsils, they already left," Tonks said as she hooked her arm through his and led him through the brick wall and onto the crowded muggle side of the station.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked, wondering why they didn't just apparate.

"We need to catch the five-fifteen train to Reading," Tonks said as she checked her watch.

"Why not apparate?" Harry asked.

"We will after I pick up the take-out but I want to relax and see the Christmas lights," Tonks shrugged as she took his hand and led him onto the platform.

"Great, another train ride," Harry sighed as he followed Tonks onto the train.

"Quit whining the lights will be worth it as she pushed him into a seat by the window.

The ride was actually kind of fun even though Tonks kept leaning over him to see the Christmas light displays which made him wonder why she put him in the window seat.

'Well at least she's smiling for a change,' Harry thought when the train passed a house with the entire garden strung with bright colourful lights and Tonks practically crawled into his lap to get a good look.

Tonks Residence, Reading, 12/18/1995, 19:39

Harry appeared in the back garden gripping Tonks' hand while she cradled a cardboard box full of Chinese food in her other arm. The garden was covered in ankle-deep snow and he could see his breath in the light shining out through the kitchen window.

"Come on, I'm freezing my tits off out here," Tonks exclaimed as she dragged him towards the door.

As they followed the snow-covered path, Harry noticed the gazebo with the hot tub on the edge of the garden but before he could get a good look, Tonks dragged him into the house.

The first thing Harry noticed when he stepped inside was the matching stainless steel appliances they seemed to shine silver in the brightly lit kitchen. There was also new green swirling tile on the floors and walls of the kitchen area.

The island in the centre of the kitchen was new and was made of dark ebony wood with rows of drawers on both sides for cutlery. The rack over the island was also brand new and was constructed of the same shiny stainless steel as the appliances, though the same pots and pans were hanging from it. Harry was pretty sure that Andi was in charge of designing the kitchen, it looked very... Slytherin.

Not much had changed In the dining room with the exception of a brand-new six-seater mahogany table and matching high-backed chairs.

"Harry, you're finally here. I thought Nymphadora had gotten lost," Andromeda squealed happily before pulling him into a warm hug.

"It's great to see you, Andi," Harry said softly as he hugged her back, not realizing how much he had missed her until just then.

"You're a bit taller than I remember," Andi said as she squeezed him tighter.

"Must be all of the exercises," Harry said with a grin.

"Ted should be home in the next hour, are you hungry?" Andi asked as she released him before holding him at arm's reach and looking them over critically.

"A bit," Harry admitted as the smell of Chinese takeout filled the room.

"Did you get everything on the list, Nymphadora?" Andi asked as she looked over at her daughter.

"Of course, I did. How come he gets hugs and all I get is, where's the damn food?" Tonks demanded.

"Because you've been here since nine this morning, you already got your hugs and I'm hungry," Andi shrugged as she started pulling take-out containers out of the box Tonks had just set on the table.

"Unbelievable," Tonks sighed as she brought a stack of plates to the table while Harry retrieved the utensils.

"Nymphadora, there are some canned drinks in the refrigerator," Andromeda said as she open the boxes and cast warming charms over them.

"I got 'em," Tonks said as she was already bringing four cans of Coke to the table.

"Well let's tuck in then," Andromeda said as she began filling her plate with a scoop from each container.

"It smells great," Harry said as he took a seat across from Andi and scooped some chicken fried rice and chicken stir fry onto his plate.

"Are those egg rolls?" Tonks asked hopefully as she took the seat to Harry's right.

"They are but stay out of them. They're for your father," Andi said as she took a bite out of one of the eggrolls.

"They are, but seems that my wife doesn't follow the rules," Ted said as he stepped in through the backdoor.

"I had to make sure they were of proper quality before I could let you eat them," Andromeda said, a slight flush colouring her cheeks.

"Or more likely, you were planning on blaming the missing eggroll on poor Dora," Ted said as he set his bag on the sideboard.

"She's been doing it for years," Tonks exclaimed between bites of shrimp fried rice.

"I know all about your mother's duplicitous ways, that's why I married her," Ted chuckled as he took off his lime-green outer robes.

"And yet you always go all to pieces claiming I'm depriving a hard-working man of much-needed sustenance," Tonks said as she narrowed her eyes at her father.

"I like to be dramatic," Ted shrugged as he sat down across from Tonks and pulled the container of eggrolls away from his wife.

"Harry good to see you, you're looking a bit bigger than I remember," Ted said as he glanced over at Harry.

"You too, it looks like your diet is really working," Harry grinned.

"Yes, I'm wasting away," Ted agreed before taking a bite of his eggroll.

Ted did look much slimmer than when Harry had seen him over the summer. He was still healthy looking but he had lost his spare tire and his face looked a bit thinner.

"He's being dramatic, he hasn't been on the diet since October," Andi sighed.

"Yes, Sirius found a way to get me away from eating steamed vegetables and grapefruit six days a week," Ted agreed.

"How'd he manage that?" Tonks asked through a mouthful of food.

"Sirius bought a muggle home gym," Andi beamed.

"Well enough about me, how has school been?" Ted asked.

"Good, I am in the top ten in my year according to the midterm reports," Harry answered unable to keep the grin off of his face.

"That's wonderful! I am so glad you are taking your schoolwork seriously," Andi beamed.

"He also quit the quidditch team," Tonks added.

"Blimey, what made you do that?" Ted exclaimed.

"It's my O.W.L year, I need the time for studying," Harry shrugged.

"That's very responsible but you should still find ways to have fun," Andromeda said, giving him a serious look.

"He has plenty of fun with Abbott," Tonks snorted.

"Yes, I am looking forward to meeting her," Andromeda said shooting her daughter a knowing smile.

"Meeting her?" Tonks asked in confusion.

"She's coming over for boxing day, didn't Harry tell you?" Andromeda said giving her daughter a curious look.

"No, I just got your response yesterday," Harry admitted, shooting Tonks an apologetic look.

"Figures," Tonks grumbled as she took a moody bite from her plate.

"Now don't be rude, I'm sure she is a lovely girl," Andromeda said giving her daughter a disapproving look.

"You don't have to share a dorm with her," Tonks muttered.

"I know her mother pretty well, Cat does a lot of potion work for us," Ted said, giving Tonks a curious look.

"I met her parents today," Harry admitted.

"And snogged her in front of them," Tonks added.

"It was just a kiss," Harry protested, his face feeling a bit warm

"She was seconds away from slipping you the tongue, that's a snog," Tonks argued.

"I bought a movie that you two have got to see," Ted said before Harry could argue.

"What is it?" Harry asked curiously ignoring Tonks' victorious grin.

"Jurassic Park," Ted beamed.

"You mean the dinosaur movie?" Harry asked.

"That's the one, just wait until you see it," Ted exclaimed.

"It's quite good, those muggle dragon things look very real," Andromeda agreed as she stole another one of Ted's eggrolls.

Harry sat back and listened to the conversation happy to finally be back here with Ted and Andromeda, he had missed this at Grimmauld place and had been looking forward to coming back here since school started. It was a strange feeling that he usually only felt when he arrived at school.

After dinner, they all went into the sitting room and got comfortable on the new leather wrap-around couch and Ted hit play on the remote. Harry watched as Ted's new thirty-six-inch screen came to life and the surround sound emitted jungle sounds. Harry felt his excitement build when the globe appeared on the screen and Tonks cuddled into his side.

"It's good to be home," Harry thought as he absentmindedly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, oblivious to Andromeda's knowing grin.


Harry crawled into his new bed a few hours later completely amazed by the movie. It had looked so real Harry was completely baffled as to how they had done it without magic.

As Harry closed his eyes he couldn't help but think that this was shaping up to be a pretty good winter holiday.

Harry began going through his occlumency exercises to clear his mind which helped ease him into a peaceful sleep with dreams filled with him running on the beach.

Abbott Residence, Godric's Hollow, 12/23/1995, 04:29

'BOOOOOM!'

Hannah jerked awake as a massive explosion rocked her home. She sat bolt upright in her bed listening for any sound out of the ordinary as she fumbled for her wand. She had just grasped her wand when she heard a deafening sound, the reverberations cracking her bedroom windows.

'BOOOOOOOOOOM!'

Hannah lunged out of bed, she quickly stepped into her trainers before crossing the room. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she threw open her bedroom door and bolted down the hall toward her parent's room.

Hannah's father met her in the hallway looking paler than she had ever seen him.

"Hannah the wards are under attack," Samuel Abbott said as calmly as he could, though Hannah could hear the terror in the timbre of his voice.

"What do we do?" Hannah asked worriedly, feeling fear course through her when she processed what her father had said.

"The floo is out so we'll have to t-try and apparate out," Samuel said as another explosion rocked the house accompanied by the sound of shattering glass as the wards collapsed.

'BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!'

"Hannah, take my hand," Samuel said.

Hannah grabbed his sweaty hand and she felt him try and turn on the spot, only for nothing to happen.

"Dammit, they've already put up apparition wards," Samuel muttered.

"What about portke-

'BOOOOOOOOOOOM!'

Hannah was cut off as the whole house was rocked by an explosion, this one felt much closer and she could hear the sounds of crashing stone and shattering glass from the ground floor.

"Kill the mud-bloods but leave the blood traitor alive!" Hannah heard a female voice screech from the stairwell a second before Hannah saw three men in black robes coming up the stairs.

Remembering Harry's advice about death eaters, Hannah thought of the most vicious spell she knew of and cast it at the black-robed intruders.

Harry always said to strike first and strike as hard as possible, that was exactly what she was going to do

"Reducto!" Hannah bellowed directing her wand at the three men.

A red beam of light left her wand and struck the death eater closest to them in the chest, hurling him into the man behind. Hannah's spell hit them with so much force that it sent both death eaters crashing through the handrail before they slammed into the ground floor.

Hannah was too distracted to notice the pink mist in the air as her spell tore threw the first man's back and slammed into the man behind him, crushing his sternum. It would be small comfort for her to know that they were both dead before they ever hit the ground floor.

At the same time that Hannah had fired her first spell, Samuel fired an orange spell that struck the third death eater in the face, dropping him to the ground before he could take another step.

"I think that's all of them," Hannah said breathing out a sigh.

"No there is still one more," Samuel said as they both heard the sound of high-heeled boots on the steps.

Hannah gasped and felt herself tremble when she recognized the woman coming up the stairs. The woman was tall almost six feet, she had long curly ebony hair and heavily lidded violet eyes. She walked with the posture of a highborn pureblood and smiled at them with blacked crooked teeth as she saw them standing there. This was Bellatrix LeStrange, the most feated death eater in Magical Britain.

Hannah shook herself out of her shock and cast another reducto, aimed at LeStrange's chest. Beside her, Hannah's father cast a spell of his own.

"Well well well, looks like Bella gets to play after all," LeStrange giggled, parrying the spells coming at her with ease.

"LeStrange, get the hell out of my house!" Samuel roared as he cast a chain of piercing hexes at the cackling woman.

Hannah followed her father's example, casting one reducto spell after another, she could feel her throat getting scratchy from constantly yelling the spells as she tried desperately to hit the cackling woman.

"Lord Abbott, have you no manners at all?" Bella cackled insanely as she closed the distance between them.

Hannah watched in horror as Bellatrix effortlessly avoided her father's piercing hexes while simultaneously parrying Hannah's constant reducto spells, all the while getting closer to them.

"Avada kedavra!" Samuel roared sending the green curse at his attacker.

Bellatrix sidestepped the spell before returning fire with a bellowed, " CRUCIO!"

Hannah and Samuel both dove out of the path of the torture curse.

Hannah messed up on her landing due to the narrow hallway. She bounced off of the wall before crashing painfully on her left side and smacking her head on the hardwood floor. Hannah started to get up but barely had time to move before thick ropes bound her wrists and ankles as her wand was ripped from her hand.

"Oh my, is this the little half-blood whore of Potter's?" Bellatrix cackled as she parried a spell from Samuel and returned fire, hitting him with a body-bind spell.

"My master said to leave you alive but kill the two abominations," Bellatrix said in a little girl's voice as Samuel collapsed to the floor with a crash.

Hannah panicked when she saw her father fall, she began fighting the ropes furiously only for them to tighten the more she squirmed.

"You two killed my minions, you must suffer for this," Bellatrix said before casting the cruciatus on Samuel's paralyzed form.

Samuel couldn't move a muscle due to the body bind but a blood-curdling scream still left his frozen lips as every pain receptor in his body fired at once and his eyes bulged in agony.

"Stop it you evil bitch! Leave him alone!" Hannah shrieked as she fought her bindings with more desperation, the sound of her father's pained screams filling her ears.

"Tell me where your mummy is and Bella will stop," Bellatrix said looking at the girl while her father continued to scream in the background.

"Sai- Saint Mungo's now please stop hurting him," Hannah begged.

"Dirty blood-traitors who lay with mudblood whores deserve punishment," Bellatrix snarled but lifted the spell nonetheless.

"What do you want with us!?" Hannah demanded as she stopped struggling and stared up at her captor in fury.

"The dark lord wants your mother dead for tainting the blood of a sacred twenty-eight family," Bellatrix answered, all hints of childishness gone from her voice.

"Well, she isn't here," Hannah exclaimed feeling very grateful her mum was having to stay late to brew an antidote for Venomous Tentacula venom tonight.

"Yes, Bella saw that in your father's mind, but it doesn't matter. My nephew informed the dark lord that you're Potter's little girlfriend. Potter has to pay for his crimes against the dark lord as well. So you can deliver a message to him," Bella said as she stalked towards the bound teen.

"Wh-what message?" Hannah asked fearfully.

"You were supposed to be passed around between my men and left a broken woman. Since you saw fit to kill them, you will deliver the message another way," Bellatrix said as she came to stand over Hannah.

"Pl-please don't," Hannah whimpered, tears running down her cheeks.

"Avada Kedavra," Bellatrix incanted, speaking barely above a whisper as she cast the spell.

The jet of green light left her wand and reached the bound girl in a millisecond. The flash of green light filling her vision was the last thing Hannah saw before everything went black and she knew no more.

Tonks Residence, Reading, 12/23/1995, 11:39

Harry stepped into the kitchen after his morning run to find all three members of the Tonks family sitting at the table, talking quietly amongst themselves.

Tonks looked up when she saw him enter with an unreadable expression on her face.

"Tonks, why are you here?" Harry asked knowing she was supposed to be at work today.

"Harry, sit down. I have- I have something to tell you," Tonks said in a strained voice as she gestured to the chair beside her.

"Alright, is something wrong?" Harry asked, noticing the sombre look on all three of the Tonks' faces.

"Yes, something happened last night," Tonks said as Harry took a seat, her voice sounding hollow to his ears.

"Tell me," Harry said as he felt his stomach clench and his palms start to sweat.

"There was an attack last night on... on the Abbotts' home," Tonks said softly.

"Hannah is she... is she okay?" Harry stammered out.

"No, she didn't-

"Harry, she didn't make it," Ted said as Tonks trailed off looking lost for words

"What?! No, she can't be," Harry whispered.

"She is, I was- I was called to the scene this morning," Tonks admitted not meeting his eyes.

"Who did it?" Harry gasped out, his chest feeling so tight it was hard for him to draw breath.

"My sister," Andromeda answered sadly looking as devastated as he felt.

The room seem to be falling away from him, he could hear them talking to him as if from the other end of a long tunnel as he felt a pain he couldn't describe in his chest. Harry vaguely heard Tonks saying his name over and over again as he felt hot tears begin to flow down his cheeks.

Hannah was dead, how could she be dead? He was supposed to see her in a few days, he was supposed to give her the present he had bought for her. Harry felt the pain in his chest get worse the more he thought about it.

Why would they attack her? Was it because of him? It had to be because of him! The Abbotts weren't fighters for either side in the last war, they must have done this to hurt him!

Harry felt arms wrap around him and whatever he had been trying to hold back broke free and he let out an anguished sob as he wrapped his arms around Andromeda, holding onto her for dear life.

"Shhhhhhhhh, just let it out, baby," Harry heard Andi's soothing voice in his ear as she held him so his head rested against her chest.

"I-it was because of me! They killed her because of me!" Harry gasped out, finding it difficult to breathe.

"Here drink this lad," Harry heard Ted say.

Harry couldn't process what Ted was saying and just kept whispering, "It was because of me," over and over.

Harry felt Andi lift his head and Ted poured something into his mouth that tasted like peppermint. Harry felt the pain in his chest start to diminish somewhat, all of the rapid thoughts seemed to disappear from his mind, he found he could breathe properly again.

Harry felt his awareness come back, the room which had faded to a blur of colours came back into focus though his vision was still blurry from tears. He was still sitting at the table but now Andi sitting sideways in his lap holding him tightly to her chest as she rubbed his back trying her best to comfort him.

"Calm down, Harry," Andi said in a soothing voice.

"Wh-why did they kill her?" Harry asked, his voice coming out dull, sounding almost robotic.

"They were there for Catherine Abbott but she was working at the hospital last night," Tonks spoke up from his right.

Harry noticed that Tonks was staring out the window and didn't seem to be paying the others much attention, looking like she was lost in her own thoughts.

"Then why did they-

"According to Lord Abbott, Bellatrix said that her nephew passed on information about your relationship to Hannah," Tonks said in a hollow tone.

"Malfoy!" Harry demanded angrily, the teacup in front of him shattering before his eyes.

"Y-yes, though the Abbots put up a hell of a fight. They killed three of their attackers," Tonks answered in the same hollow tone, never looking away from the window.

"Is her father okay?" Harry asked.

"For the most part, Lord Abbott is being treated at St Mungo's for cruciatus exposure," Tonks said, finally turning to look at him though she never made eye contact.

"There will be a funeral on Boxing Day," Andromeda said softly.

"I want to go," Harry said his voice sounding flat.

"I thought you would, I've already made arrangements with the order to set up a guard around the cemetery," Tonks said.

"Thanks," Harry said feeling numbness in his chest.

Harry stared ahead as a thousand thoughts ran through his head at once, he was forced to bring up his occlumency and clear his mind so that he could think clearly.

"Harry, are you okay?" Andromeda as giving him s concerned look.

"Not really, I-I can't believe she's dead," Harry whispered as tears began to run down his cheeks again.

"I had planned to run you through your occlumency exercises today but I think I will just give you the book to go over on your own time," Andromeda said softly.

"Did you know Malfoy told me something like this would happen on the train ride here," Harry said in an emotionless voice.

"What?" Tonks asked sharply

"He barged into my compartment and told me not to get attached to Hannah because she wouldn't be around much longer," Harry said as the memory flashed through his mind.

"That little bastard!" Tonks hissed.

"I should have said something to Lord Abbott but I thought he was just-

Harry trailed off as he felt the sadness overtake him again.

"Harry this was not your fault, this was LeStrange's fault," Andi said as she held tighter.

Harry soaked in her warmth as he let Andi hold him until he calmed down, trying desperately to get himself under control again.

"I think I'm going to go lay back down," Harry said when he felt he could talk again.

"You should eat something first," Andi said as she got up and made her way into the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry," Harry muttered.

"Doesn't matter, you need to eat," Andi called from where she was digging through the refrigerator.

"Okay," Harry sighed, not feeling hungry but not wanting to argue either.

Harry watched as she put various ingredients into a sauce pot and waved her wand over it bringing it to a low simmer before he turned to see Ted watching him.

"I can give you a dose of dreamless sleep if you like," Ted offered having been quiet up until now.

"Thanks, I would appreciate that," Harry said gratefully as Andi set a bowl of French onion soup in front of him, and another in front of Tonks.

"Eat up, the both of you. I need to get in touch with Sirius," Andi instructed as she wandered into the sitting room.

"I have to get to work but I'll leave the potion on your nightstand," Ted said in a kind voice before he too left the kitchen.

"Thank you," Harry nodded as he watched Ted grab his healers bag and leave the kitchen

Tonks was sitting there stirring her soup with her spoon but not bothering to eat any of it.

"I'm sorry Harry," Tonks said in a voice barely above a whisper, catching him by surprise.

"For what?" Harry asked as he sipped the soup not because he was hungry but more as something to do.

"I've been a complete bitch to Hannah all year," Tonks admitted in an anguished tone.

"She never held that against you, she was just glad you were there to protect Susan," Harry assured her..

"Still when I heard the news, all I could think of is how rotten I've been to her all year," Tonks mumbled as she stared at her bowl.

"She thought a lot of you. She said you were a legend in Hufflepuff," Harry said, remembering that conversation in the library.

"I'll escort you to Godrics Hollow for the funeral," Tonks said, changing the subject.

"Thanks, Hary said as he pushed the barely-eaten bowl of soup away and got up from the table.

Harry made his way down the hall, giving Andi a nod as he passed the sitting room. Harry practically ran up the stairs before throwing open his bedroom door.

When he stepped into the room he was relieved to find a goblet of smoking purple liquid on his bedside table.

Anxious to slip into nothingness and not feel anything else Harry kicked off his shoes and sat on the edge of the bed.

Picking up the goblet, Harry downed it in one big gulp and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep before his head hit the pillow.

St Jerome's Church, Godric's Hollow, 12/26/1995, 14:39

Harry watched as the cherry wood casket was lowered into the grave. The gravesite was towards the end of the Abbot family plot in the ancient graveyard at Godric's Hollow, the same graveyard his parents were buried in. Snow was falling heavily and the ground was covered in six inches of snow. It was cold here, so cold that Harry could feel the tears freezing on his cheeks not that he paid it any mind.

Harry had sat through the ceremony in a daze, still not fully believing what had happened. Hannah had looked so at peace, almost as if she were sleeping. Harry hadn't paid the officiator any mind as he read out the eulogy so lost as he was in his own thoughts

Harry had stared at Hannah's lifeless form through the service and tried to accept what he was seeing, praying she wasn't really gone and that this was all just a bad dream.

Harry was pulled back to the present as Lord Abbott approached the grave and raised his wand.

"We now commit her to the earth, may we meet again on the other side," Lord Abbot croaked out before he flicked his wand at the mound of earth piled next to the grave.

Harry watched as Lord Abbott levitated the mound of earth into the grave, letting it fall with a muffled 'thump.'

Harry stood there while the other mourners left, and Lord Abbott guided a sobbing Catherine towards the gate.

Harry locked eyes with the Abbott Lord for the briefest of moments, Samuel gave him a look that was filled with the deepest sadness Harry had ever seen. Harry bowed his head unable to meet Samuel's eye any longer as a fresh wave of guilt crashed over him.

Harry waited until Samuel had guided his grieving wife past him before he approached the grave. Idly he noticed Susan being led out of the cemetery by a tall, strong-jawed woman wearing a monocle over her left eye.

By the time he reached the edge of the grave, he was the only one left in the graveyard. Slowly Harry approached the white marble headstone, reading the words engraved on it for what felt like the thousandth time that day.


Here lies

Hannah Catherine Abbott

28 June 1980 - 23 December 1995

Her life a beautiful memory, her absence

a silent grief


Harry felt tears running down his cheeks again as he knelt down in the snow and placed the lily he had been holding at the base of the headstone.

"I am so sorry this happened to you," Harry whispered as he took the wrapped present containing the sapphire pendant necklace from his pocket and set it next to the lily knowing that he would never get to see her wear it.

Harry sat there lost in the memories he had shared with her, all the hidden moments around the castle, their trips to Hogsmeade and London.

He knew he was starting to fall in love with her, if this hadn't happened he could see himself marrying her one day. Now they could never have that, Hannah's life had ended decades before it should have and that was all because of him.

If he hadn't been dating her, this never would have happened. He had been stupid to think he could live a normal life with Voldemort and his death eaters lurking in the shadows.

They would suffer for this, all of them would suffer Harry would make certain of that, starting with Draco Malfoy.

Harry had no idea how long he sat there before a hand came to rest on his shoulder. Looking up he saw Tonks standing over him.

"We need to get you home," Tonks said in the same hollow voice she had used for the past few days.

"Alright," Harry said in a croaky voice as he staggered to his feet.

Harry had seen his parents' graves as he had followed the funeral procession. They had a large shared headstone a few rows away from the Abbott plot.

Harry ran his hand over the stone as Tonks led him passed their grave but he couldn't bring himself to stop there, he didn't think he was up to any more grieving right now.

"How are you doing with this?" Tonks asked as they walked over the trail through the snow left by the other mourners.

"How do you think I'm doing?" Harry asked coldly.

"I was just asking, this isn't something I know how to deal with either," Tonks sighed.

"I don't know how I feel. One minute I just want to bawl like a toddler and the next, I want to find Draco Malfoy and kill him with my bare hands," Harry admitted as they reached the kissing gate.

"You can't start a fight with him, no matter how much the little bastard deserves it," Tonks warned.

"Want to bet?" Harry asked coldly as they came to a stop in front of the Potter monument.

"Harry you have to keep a low profile, Umbridge will have the governors throw the book at you if you attack a pureblood," Tonks explained.

"I don't care, Tonks, that little shit is going to pay for costing Hannah her life!" Harry said defiantly.

"Let's just get you home," Tonks sighed as she offered him her hand.

Harry took her hand without a word and prepared himself for the unpleasant sensation of apparition.

'Just wait until I see Malfoy,' Harry thought to himself as he felt the suffocating feeling of apparition engulf him as the disappeared from the snow-covered street with a soft 'pop.'


AN: This chapter was not easy for me to write, but after writing Hannah in this story, I think I may do a story in the future with Hannah Abbott as the main pairing.