Prague, Czechoslovakia: December 31, 2011 AD, time unknown.

There was never a time where I thought that I would be alone. I mean look at me. I was the girl that all girls envied—even admired, during the high points of my life. I have graduated to the ranks of womanhood with much of the same, but I am different.

Changed somehow, because my heart had been broken; and there was no Harry to soothe my fears, no Ron to make me laugh, no Hagrid to make me feel worthwhile or beautiful…

Because they did not survive, the cause of my first heartbreak.

There was nothing that I could do about the events that led up to that, so I made peace with it long ago. The final battle seems like light years ago, instead of only six years ago. Light prevailed over dark, but if you ask me, there were no winners.

Voldemort was no more, but each side lost a vital piece of themselves.

Their husbands….

Their wives….

Children…..

Their lovers – and friends.

Ironically, a lot of these people had lost their loved ones long before the final war, since the war was naught but a formality. I still had a few people though. I had Professor Lupin. I had Ginny.

I thought I had someone else, but they somehow eluded me. Of course they would.

The heat became too much, the scrutiny a heavy cross to bear—but that was six years ago.

The scars lay skin deep, but time has healed all wounds. From the ashes I am reborn.

This is tricky, since to be reborn… one must assume a new identity….

Put the past away….with a few exceptions.

And so, I close the book on what once was, and embrace an alternate path. I can no longer be that girl—

The flower in the attic.

I will write in this book no more. Life is meant to be lived.

- "Bloom"

A/N: I suppose that everyone is wondering why in the world am I starting another story when I have a perfectly good one dying to be updated. Well, in the spirit of Celebrity Skin I decided to write another 'holiday' quick fic since I enjoyed it so much last year. There is no hard or fast rule, but one should expect this to be updated daily and be done by the New Year (or around that time). Anyway...

A) Chapters 1 and 2 are merely preludes to display the mindset of the characters.

B) Resurrection IS STILL IN THE MAKING and the plot thickens. It's just becoming more and more difficult to write in all its complexity. Ah well, I made my bed... so I'll lie in it.

Chapter 3 is next, so hopefully by then you will have enough thoughts for a review. It would be nice to hear from all of you.

Cheers and happy holidays,

NB