Chapter 2

Yes, my life was over. That exact sentence has been hanging in my head since that day. Though I continued living. I found out that I was in America. How I came to be there? I don't know. I did know however that my house was found, completely burned down and with the Dark Mark hovering above the ruins. No one has ever seen Harry, Hermione or any Weasley ever again.

And only I knew that there was one Weasley alive. I didn't return to England. I had nothing there. My family was everything and now...it is gone.

So why go back?

I got a job. I'm the secretary of the owner of the Daily Prophet. Quite boring actually. I'd answer the phone, make sure 'the boss-guy' didn't forget his appointments and some other paperwork. It paid pretty good, but I didn't use much of my salary. The only thing that keeps me living is just that...living. Because I know my family would have wanted me to live. So I try to be strong.

I feel...empty, like a shell. Like a black hole in the universe, surrounded by beautiful, sparkling stars and I am just a black void. That pretty much sums it all up. My co-workers at work sometimes wonder why I act as if nothing matters. They've tried to befriend me, but see that it won't work so they huddle back, whispering and shooting glances at me.

Right now, I am home, thinking back to that specific day. Could I have done anything to prevent it? How is it that they breached the wards surrounding the house?

I sigh, get up and walk to the kitchen where I got a big bucket of Ice-cream. Some things just doesn't add up. And even though I know that it won't bring my family back, I STILL have these nagging questions on my mind. The one question.

Was there ANY way that ANYONE could have prevented the attack?

But not just that remained. A strong emotion remained. Anger.

How could I not have anger towards the 'thing' that murdered my family? Yes, somehow, someday I will have my revenge on Tom. Be sure of that.

As I sit on my couch (this time with yummy ice-cream) I think of my family and wonder what they would think of me if they saw me. Mother would go nuts to see how less I ate, about my house that did not look as if somebody lived in it.

I made my decision. I would not go on living like I am now. I would TRY to make something of my life. The least I can do.

I got up, put away the yummy comfort food and grabbed my coat. I went outside. It was FREEZING! But I was going to the city and buy some stuff for my apartment. Walking through the streets, I glanced at my watch. 5:13 it read. I shopped for many things, I had the money. Paintings, plants, mirror and other stuff. Walking with my bags I noticed it was beginning to get pretty dark. Taking a short-cut through an alley...I got the creeps. You know...a weird feeling that you can't explain and you just know that something is going to happen.

Hearing a noise, I jumped around, wand drawn. I only saw some bins and bags of thrash. I sighed. Nothing.

Don't act so scared! I thought and turned around.

THIS time I was SURE I'd heard it. A sneeze. Turning around again with my wand I looked more carefully. Walking towards the thrash that was on the side of the street, I looked.

"Is somebody there?" I said, hoping my voice sounded firm and not shaky. After a few seconds the bags, moved and a person fell out.

I stepped back to put a safe distance between me and the stranger.

"Who are you!" I said harshly. The street was now very dark.

"Lumos!" I said and the tip of my wand lit up. I gasped.

It...was a girl. Not older then ten I would think. She was covered in bruises. Dressed in a green dress when it was freezing. She whimpered and looked at me in fear with big blue eyes.

"Oh...uh...hello?" I said stupidly. The girl said nothing. Just stared at me as if I was the Dark Lord himself.

"What's your name?" I tried. No reaction. The girl was obviously scared. Looking at her, I could only imagine why. The bruises weren't a pretty sight and her lips were blue from the cold.

"Do you know where your mummy or daddy is?" I asked. Now I got a reaction. She scrambled backwards, into the trash and as far as she could away from me.

I kneeled down. "You don't want to go to your mum and dad?" The girl shook her head vigorously.

"Okay, I promise I won't take you to your mum and dad and I won't hurt you...will you tell me you're name?"

She seemed hesitant, but answered. "My name is Lizz"

I smiled at her, letting her know that I was glad to know her name. I stretched out my hand.

"Would you like some hot coco? And maybe a nice warm bath?"

Lizz looked at me with a calculating look. But then stuck out her tiny little hand and laid it in mine, giving me the tiniest of smiles. I stood up and started walking, with my bag in the other hand. (bag was light and could hold everything...wish I (author) had a bag like that :D)

While walking, I was still amazed. What could have happened to this girl? I studied her. She looked like a sweet girl. Long strawberry blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes.

We reached my apartment.

"Here it is! It's not really a homey house, but I just bought some stuff that will make it a bit better! And of course we have hot coco!" I said cheerfully. The girl's eyes grew wide at the thought of hot coco. We entered and I set my bag on the ground.

I turned to Lizz. "I'll go to the bathroom and draw you a nice warm bath. Is that okay?" I asked with a soothing voice.

She nodded. "Thank you" she said and I knew she meant it. I drew a bath and put in nice smelling soap which would also heal her bruises. Walking back to the living room, I saw Lizz standing in the exact same spot as where I'd left her.

"Come on" I urged sweetly. "You'll be nice and clean in no time"

While Lizz was taking a bath, I worked on giving my new stuff a place in my home. After ten minutes, the whole place looked different. I smiled at the results.

Walking to my bathroom door I knocked softly.

"Are you almost done? I have a hot, steaming cup of coco with your name on it!" She came out of the room and I was amazed. It was a whole change. The ugly bruises were gone and the dirt of her body too. Except for her dress, which was still dirty as hell.

"Let me change those clothes for you" I transfigured her dress in some jeans with a nice warm jumper. She smiled...I grinned and handed her the coco. I realized, that that was the first time I've grinned in months. The change was so different. I felt more...alive and like myself. I felt happiness that I could do something to help Lizz.

We sat on my couch and drank our coco in silence.

I was the first to speak.

"Well...I haven't told you my name yet...it's Jamie" (I went by my middle name, since I was in America) "How old are you?" I asked.

"Ten years" She said silently. I knew she was a witch. The city I went to was a Wizarding one, where muggles weren't allowed.

"Can I ask...if it was you mum or dad that hurted you so much?" I almost whispered.

She shook her head, indicating that she didn't want to talk about it and tears spilled over her cheek. It broke my heart. Putting my arm around her, she visibly stiffened. After a while she relaxed.

"I'm sorry Lizz, but I have to ask. If you tell me who it was then I can make sure you will never be hurt again...just...nod your head if...if it was your mum or dad"

Slowly, she nodded with more tears over her rosy cheeks. Kissing the top of her head, I whispered soothing words.

"Nothing's going to happen to you, you won't have to go back, You're alright now Lizzie" After a while her breath evened and she fell asleep. As did I.