Enter Sandman

something's wrong, shut the light

heavy thoughts tonight

and they aren't of snow white

dreams of war, dreams of liars

dreams of dragon's fire

and of things that will bite

sleep with one eye open

gripping your pillow tight

"A fine young one… I'll handle the girl," the man smirked. His companion threw her arm across his chest, "Let her be… this one has been affected."

Vala ran through the dark forest, passing the unseen faces; barely escaping with her life. She had to hurry home. She wasn't sure what she might meet, but she knew she had to get home. The agony one must go through, relying on their mortal strengths. She couldn't Disapperate or perform any spells; it was summer and such things were forbidden outside of Hogwarts. She ran and ran, thinking she wasn't making any progress. Never had she realized home was so far from The Field. She gritted her teeth impatiently, "If only… there was another way…" But she knew there wasn't.

Half an hour passed before she made it back to her neighborhood. A fire, her head screamed, there's a fire near home! She picked up her pace, but a voice in her head told her to stop. The human body is frail and it can only take so much before it breaks. There's no time, she reminded herself. She had only slowed down for a few moments before she sped up again.

A few minutes had past and she finally reached her home, or what had once been her home. The mailbox lay on its side, and what remained of the house was smoking. The second floor had collapsed into the ground floor, and the windows had all shattered. A great fire had been lit, and had destroyed the house. The faintest shimmer of green still hovered above her home, all that was left of the Dark Mark.

Vala's chest heaved in protest; she was exhausted, but she slowly stepped closer. She had to know if anyone had survived. "Mother… Father?" she whimpered. She stepped over what was left of the wall, and her eyes shot back and forth, hoping to see someone. "Hello?" she whispered, beginning to panic. The room reeked of burning flesh, but she continued. They must be alive, she encouraged, they must.

Her timid eyes spotted something white and burnt. Her stomach lurched. She had to see what it was, but in her heart she already knew. She drew closer, and upon reaching it she let out a piercing scream. She screamed in agony and pain until her lungs lacked, and she collapsed on the floor in a huddled mass. She scrambled away on her back, and burnt her hand on a piece of wood that was still warm. Tears spilling from her eyes, she pulled her legs up to her chest and sobbed. She shook mercilessly and tried to recollect what she had seen.

Vala wept into her knees like a tiny child would. Maybe she hadn't seen what she thought, but she doubted it. She knew what she saw. Those glassy eyes, she cried, so large and glazed over. It seemed she sat there for hours, mourning over her parents' death.

A child often takes their parents' existence for granted. A child believes their parents will be there when they bought their first car, got married, had children… but the truth is no one is guaranteed a safe future. You can exercise and diet every day of your life and one morning while you're jogging a car hits you. Then what? An entire life of fitness wasted. It all comes down to fate.

Vala had expected her parents to be there for her through everything. They were supposed to be there when she succeed, when she failed, through all the laughter and tears. They were supposed to be there, she cried. "Why have you left me?" she screamed in rage, "Why did you go?" She cried harder and wept bitterly into her lap.

~+~+~+~

Occasionally, the wood crackled, but all else was deadly silent. "Where is everyone?" she whispered. A breeze shook her. "Why is it so cold?" She hugged her knees tighter, and sighed. The worst of the crying seemed to have past, and only depression and questions remained.

"A real pity it is," a man sighed.

Vala stirred slightly. Was she imagining it, or did a man just speak to her? Someone was moving towards her, she could hear him. Slowly, her eyes shifted upwards to see a tall, strong man standing close by her. He didn't appear to have seen her, and she took advantage of the moment. Her anger grew step by step. Stealthily as a snake, she slipped her wand from her sleeve and pointed it at him. "What business do you have here?" she hissed.

The man jumped on his heels, and stared at her with wide eyes. "Didn't fancy you'd see a living soul?" she whispered. His eyes were a darker shade than hers, almost black. His thick, black hair was tied back, and his robes shivered in the wind. He was younger than she had thought; even handsome. Looks can't save you now, she thought bitterly.

Vala only held up the wall for a short while, for soon she lost her drive and depression swept over her again. She sighed and lowered her wand. "Leave while you can… I have no business with you." What a spectacle she must have been; what a child she must have seemed to him. She felt incredibly tired. Tired of fighting, tired of breathing. Take it away, she thought, take it all away. She blinked slowly and a tear rolled down her already tear-stained cheeks.

The man drew closer, but Vala was too exhausted to protest. He waved his wand above her head, and mumbled some nonsense words. She couldn't hear him, but she felt the effects as she drifted off into a deep sleep. The last thing she would remember was a softer voice than the one before, whispering, "My God, Sirius… will she be alright?"

~+~+~+~

Vala woke up alone. But more curiously than this was the couch she lay on; it was an old, beat up one, which had apparently seen better days. The living room was unfamiliar, and she wondered where she might be. Then it all came back: Her parents were dead and her home destroyed, she had seen them both. She sighed softly and nearly sat up before she heard two men speaking in hushed voices.

"I'm unsure how long we can keep her here," the first one said.

"Where else can we take her? Voldemort thinks she's dead. She's not safe anywhere else." The second one replied. His voice was rougher; not unpleasant, but much harder than his friend's.

"What makes you think she's safe here? If she's discovered…"

"But she won't be… Just trust me on this, Remus."

The man sighed, "Sirius… how many times have I heard that before? We should at least tell Dumbledore. He'll know what to make of this. The Amoureuxs were, after all, involved with the Order."

So the men have names, she noted, I wonder if they have hearts.

"Do you have any idea what we might throw her into? Dumbledore may be a fine wizard, but not even he can ward off the press. Besides, he's got enough to deal with."

"Dumbledore is a great wizard," Remus corrected. "I just don't think it's wise to keep this to ourselves."

"There's always Lily and James, my dear friend." Sirius reminded with a grin.

Vala rolled over on her side and yawned. With luck they'd believe she'd only just woken. She poked her head above the arm of the couch, and glared at them.

"Why good morning," Sirius smiled.

~+~+~+~

"Feed me," Vala said sharply. Remus pushed a plate towards her. She rose an eyebrow and stared at him skeptically. "How do I know you won't try poisoning me?"

Sirius quirked an eyebrow at her. "If we wanted to kill you we'd have done it already. Besides, I thought you weren't afraid of death." Preoccupied, he sipped his tea.

She glared at him, then replied, "I never said that."

"No, but that was the impression I got last night."

She reached inside her robes, and nervously fingered her wand. So the fools have forgotten to remove it, she thought craftily. Slowly, not to call attention to herself, she moved her wand from her pocket to the inside of her sleeve. "I'm thirsty," she said rudely.

Remus rose to his feet and left the room, but Sirius sat reading his newspaper as if he hadn't heard her.

Vala stood up and moved cautiously around the table. Sirius acted as if he hadn't noticed, reading his paper attentively. He occasionally mumbled to himself, and stroked his chin every now and again. She sat down next to him, then turned to stare at him.

"Are you feeling alright?" Remus had returned with the tea.

She ignored him and continued to stare at Sirius, studying him. He was capable of so much more than she was, but she planned to overcome that and overpower him. Maybe if she could him off guard… He acted as if he hadn't noticed her new position, and turned another page.

Carefully, she reached out her hand and touched his cheek; it was rough and warm. This shocked her. She wasn't sure why, but she had expected him to be as cold as death. She carefully moved her hand from his cheek and down his neck. With caution, she slid her arm around his neck, and with a quickened pace she leapt to her feet and held him in a headlock. That was easy… She pulled him from his chair, and backed herself against the wall. She had slipped her wand from her sleeve and held it against his temple.

"I could kill you," she whispered, "just as you killed my parents."

Sirius tensed, and confusion spilt across his face. Remus tilted his head, and the vision of a wolf shot through Vevila's mind. Something about him was peculiar. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was definitely something wrong with him. He seemed muscular, but he did not possess bulky Quidditch muscles, but slim ballet ones. He was like a great, grey wolf; slim, yet strong. He moved with great grace, and this confused her more. Why should a man his age master such graceful movement? Why was he not more like Sirius; a wizard of great visible strength? You almost pitied Remus, but for lost reasons, for he was a great wizard of secret abilities and hidden knowledge.

Remus was shocked, yet not alarmed. Had there been others before her? Did they always kidnap underage witches for their powerful leader Voldemort? She tightened her grip around Sirius' neck, "Why did you do it? What were they involved in?"

Remus' shoulders sank. The almighty wolf had disappeared and only a weak man remained. He turned his back on her and gazed out the window. She hadn't noticed it before, but they were in a wooded area near a pond.

"We didn't kill your parents, Vala. We were too late… the crime had already been done. I knew both your father and mother… they were in alliance with Dumbledore, and that cost them their life. I knew of you, and I expected you to have been slaughtered as well." He turned to face her, "How did you escape?" A piece to the puzzle he could never find.

She unconsciously loosened her grip on Sirius. "I wasn't home."

Sirius removed her arm from his neck with ease, and turned to face her. He looked her straight in the eye, and said, "We will find them, Vala… I swear that to you."

~+~+~+~

"He's lost all his senses," Remus scorned with a smile.

Vala glanced up from the crossword puzzle she had been working on, "Is he swimming again?"

"Yep," Remus answered as he watched Sirius climb out of the pond, and swan dive back in.

"He looks like a retarded duck," Vala mused, turning her attention back to her crossword puzzle.

Remus snickered and sipped his cup of tea. He watched Sirius climb out of the pond again, only this time he noticed his audience and waved. Remus smiled as Sirius did a flip into the pond. "I hope he cracks his head, the show off."

"What's a male deer called?" Vala asked seemingly at random, dipping her quill in a small container filled with amethyst ink.

Remus blinked and paused before answering, "A stag."

He heard the scratching of her quill and a hum of triumph. "If only everyone could be as intelligent as I."

"As intelligent as me," Remus corrected.

"Oh, shut up." Sirius ran to the side of the house and out of sight. "Where's he going?" she asked curiously.

"I'm not sure… to dry off possibly?" he answered innocently.

"He's a wizard. Surely he knows a spell or charm," she pointed out.

Remus smiled and replied softly, "What's the fun in that?"

Vala shrugged and soon after, Sirius walked through the front door. She turned in her seat to greet him, but crinkled her nose and complained, "You smell like a wet dog."

Sirius exchanged a glance with Remus as he took a seat.

"Sirius!" he exclaimed. "You're dripping water everywhere!"

Vala had to grin at that one. At times, Remus acted like a little housewife, but Sirius always waved him off. They were an interesting pair, and Vala always enjoyed observing them. She had only been with them for a little over a month now, but it felt like an eternity. She had met their closest friends, Peter, James and Lily. And she had become their secret little pet. They hid her from guests, and rarely spoke of her. She didn't mind much as guests were few, and secrets were rarely shared. They were like paranoid little children; afraid their parents would discover their pet and give her away. And the Death Eaters often took on the role of their parents; keeping a close eye on everyone, and hoping to spot something out of place. In that respect, they were all like brothers; closer in age, and always around. Lily was married into this little family, and they all loved and accepted her.

They all owned Vala, but even they knew she could run away. They'd cry and mourn, but accept their fate and move on. And like a loved pet, she could never be replaced.

Sirius was built like a Quidditch player with thick, black hair. And like all the unfair laws of nature, he had the volume most women would kill for. In many ways he reminded her of Saxon, the old Saxon; The Saxon who'd sneak out late at night and meet her outside the castle's main door; The Saxon who'd walk with her across the main grounds, and bring her presents. The Saxon who ceased to surprise her… he still surprised her, but those surprises had been darkened immensely.

Sirius breathed deeply. "Ah, there's nothing more refreshing than freshly brewed tea. Mind getting me a cup, Moony?" Remus impatiently preformed a quick spell to dry up the puddles of water, and crossed his arms.

"Don't count on it, Sirius."

Sirius widened his eyes and sniffled, "Please?" Yes, Sirius had Saxon's old charm and appeal. The kind of man you could never say no to.

Remus sighed and answered, "Fine."

Sirius grinned triumphantly and cheered, "Thanks, Moon-Dog."

Vala drew her eyebrows together; she had never understood the pet names. They were full-grown men, yet they never ceased to call each other by their childhood nicknames. In serious conversations they called each other by their real names, if they were in fact their real names. And they all had a creative name, save Lily and she. It was almost as if they weren't privileged enough to receive such a title. Lily accepted the fact, but Vala was irritated by it. She slept in their homes, ate their food, and joked with them. Lily was married into this family, but Vala was their pet. She was around Remus more than any of the others, and yet she didn't deserve a name? Yes, only the Brothers did. It was a stupid thing for her to complain about, but she couldn't help it; it was little things like this that bothered her. She felt as if she wasn't fully accepted by them. She felt as if timid, soft-spoken Peter was higher than she was. And this bothered her because she felt herself superior to the short, balding man.

Remus had returned with two cups of tea. "Thirsty, Vala?"

She smiled at him and happily took a cup from his hands. She had never liked tea very much, but she thought it was rude to ignore the extra trouble he had gone through. It was hard to ignore a man who was constantly thinking about you. Remus wasn't in love with her; she knew that. He was like her older brother, or master rather, as she often thought herself as his little pet. He was only concerned about her welfare and he had made that clear long ago.

Vala understood them so well, but there were so many questions she yearned to ask them. She never would. She kept so many thoughts to herself and only released enough for them to understand what she needed. Right now all she needed was acceptance and a place to belong.

An unspoken promise had been made, and they vowed to be with her always. She knew this, and that's possibly why she never asked any questions. They would deny her of nothing, so she never pushed for answers.

"Sirius, would you mind taking Vala tonight?"

Sirius shrugged. "Sure, why not." He glanced at his friend and asked curiously, "What's tonight?"

Vala watched Remus over the tip of her cup. "Just a night out to the country. It's supposed to be a full moon, and that means the fields should be bright." He smiled, but it failed to reach his eyes. She read weariness in those eyes; he was thinking of other things than the enjoyable silence of the country. She didn't think much of it, and took another sip of the dreadful tea. Sirius saw her grimace and smiled inwardly. He politely chose not to mention it, and picked up the newspaper.

However, his light mood quickly changed. "I don't believe it."

"What is it?" Remus asked.

Sirius shook his head, and passed the paper over to Remus. "What happened?" Vala asked patiently.

"Another family has been attacked," Remus sighed.

"Who was it?" Vala whispered.

"The Longbottoms."

Vala had heard the name before, but she couldn't place it. She racked her mind, but came up with a blank. Then Sirius offered a thought, "They were friends of your parents, perhaps you knew them?"

That was it, they had been friends of her parents. She shook her head. "I've heard of them, but no… I didn't know them personally." She fell silent and held her cup close to her lips. The warmth of the tea calmed her; it helped her to relax. She closed her eyes thoughtfully, and tried hard to remember a time before the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Her mind immediately went to her father. She remembered all the late night conversations about Fairies and Elves; she remembered their talks about the mysteries of the moon and stars; all the tales about Gods and Goddesses. Slowly, she realized they were only memories, things of the past, they could never be relived. She remembered all the unfinished business she had with her parents. She had cursed them and hated them, but she never told them how much she loved them… and now she never could.

Vala's hands shook uncontrollably and the tea she held splashed in its glass; slapping the sides relentlessly. The cup fell from her grasp and shattered on the wooden floor. She continued to shake, and pulled her knees up to her chin. So cold, she was so cold. Why was it so freezing? Why was she so alone? She squeezed her eyes shut, and tears seeped out. Things had changed; no one was safe anymore. "Not again, not again," she whimpered.

Suddenly, she felt a steady hand on each shoulder, and she knew whom they belonged to, but she batted them away. "No, go away… leave me alone."

"Vala! It's all right, stop this…" She felt someone holding her shoulders tightly, and shaking her.

"No, no…" Her eyes flashed open, and she found Sirius' face inches from her own. Her eyes watered and she pulled Sirius into a hug. "It's not all right," she cried into his shoulder. "You'll leave me… both of you." Her eyes flickered to Remus. "You'll leave me just like everything else I've ever loved."

"No, that will never happen, Vala. Never," Sirius reassured.

Vala bit her lip and loosened her grip on Sirius. Remus was kneeling at her side, and she slowly reached out to him. He smiled warmly, and she pulled him closer. She held them by their necks; crying hard into Remus' shoulder. "Don't you ever leave me… Don't you ever."

(A/N: I apologize for how fast moving this is… but I didn't want to go too much into her summer. I also apologize for how angst-ridden it is. Just stick around, stories always get better the further you get into them.)