A/N: The Death Eater in the first part will remain anonymous. The focus is more on Hannah and the death of her momthan who did it. I hope no one is upset by this decision!

Part II: The Horrible Incident

Hannah sat on the park bench. Her face blank; eyes focused on nothing in particular. It was only a few days ago her mother had sent her a tin of her favourite cookies and a letter saying how proud she was of their witch daughter. I didn't even get to say how much everyone loved her cookies…how much I loved her cookies…how much I loved HER….A fresh batch of tears clouded her vision as she began to think back to Friday and the horrible incident…

"Hey Hannah! Are you doing anything later?" Justin ran to catch up with her as she was walking into Herbology class. He put his arm around her shoulders and walked along side her. "Because, I was thinking we could hang out."

"Well, I had planned on doing a bit of homework, but I could do with a break."

"Cool. I will think of something fun that we could do." Justin and Hannah entered the greenhouse and took their places at the long wooden table where the rest of their Hufflepuff friends were gathered. Just as Hannah reached for a pair of goggles, Professor Sprout rapped her wand on the nearest planter to signal the beginning of another N.E.W.T. level Herbology class.

Halfway through the instructions, a 4th year Ravenclaw ran into the greenhouse, breathlessly handed Professor Sprout a roll of parchment, and ran back out again. She read the parchment and stiffened.

"Miss Abbott, if you would please come forward." Hannah looked at Megan and Susan, shrugged her shoulders, and made her way forward.

"Yes Professor?" she asked, puzzlement written across her face.

Professor Sprout cleared her throat and tried to look at ease. It wasn't working. This made Hannah nervous. "Miss Abbott, will you follow me to my office please."

"Why? What for, ma'am?" Sprout looked even more uncomfortable.

"I'm afraid this is not the place to…breaks the news to you." She rapped her wand again. "I'm afraid I have to leave to speak with Miss Abbott privately. Do as much as you can, and Mr. Longbottom, can you guide them through the lesson as I explained it up to the interruption?"

"S-S-Sure Professor."

Hannah had to struggle to keep up with Professor Sprout. All the while she kept wondering why Professor Sprout wanted to see her privately. Based on the Herbology professor's reaction to the letter and to her, this conversation could not be anything good. A voice kept nagging her in the back of her mind that the worse has happened; what she had been dreading since the summer began and news broke of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had risen again, but she quickly decided to ignore that voice.

They reached the Head of Hufflepuff House office and Hannah's heart increased the number of beats per minute as she motioned for Hannah to take a seat. The first thing she noticed was the grave look on the professor's face.

"There is no way to put this delicately Hannah," prefaced the Herbology professor. "I regret to inform you that your mother, Katherina Abbott, was found dead outside her job yesterday evening. She was raped and killed. Victim of a Death Eater attack. The Dark Mark was seen over the area where her body was found."

Hannah just sat there. No, not my mother…Not MY mother…there has to be some mistake... "This has to be some kind of mistake, professor. Why would a Death Eater attack my mum?" Her voice grew louder. "What has she ever done to them!"

"I'm afraid Hannah that it was no mistake. Your father and her co-worker Robert Gilliam identified her body. And Death Eaters need no reason to attack innocent people, especially Muggles." Professor Sprout's voice became soft. "I'm so, so sorry Hannah." Tears welled up in Hannah's eyes. "No…no…" she whispered. Then louder "No…NO! My mother…my mum can't be…you're lying!"

Professor Sprout briskly wipes away her tears and cleared her throat. "I wish I was, Miss Abbott. Unfortunately, loosing loved ones is very common now that You-Know-Who is once again among us. Here, let me escort you to see Madam Pomfrey and I will help you gather your things. Your father will be waiting for you at Kings Cross Station."

Hannah was administered a Calming Draught, but it did little to quell the strong emotional pain that gripped her chest. The place in her heart where her mother lived collapsed and left a gapping void that would be impossible to heal. Professor Sprout helped her to pack her trunk and led her to the Entrance Hall. Hannah was grateful (if there was something to grateful for at that moment) for the professor's arm because Hannah's eyes were too blurry to see anything. Students were returning from class for lunch and Megan, Justin, and Susan spotted her.

"Hannah! What's going on?" Susan asked, looking from Hannah to the trunk and back at Hannah.

"My mother…my mother is…" Hannah felt her emotions rising to a fever pitch. "My mother is…DEAD!" she yelled out. The commotion in the Hall stopped.

"There, there, Hannah." Professor Sprout tried to comfort her.

"My mother is dead and I wasn't there! I wasn't there to protect her!"

"There was nothing you could have done."

"This is all my fault, my fault!" Hannah screamed as the huge oak doors shut behind her….

"All my fault….I should have been there…." She whispered. Hannah dried her eyes and made her way home.

A/N: Review please :-)!