"Obliviate."
A piece of wood slipped out of your hand, clattering onto the floor, and you frown at it, wondering why you were holding such a knobby little stick – why a like that looked so polished and well-kept. It rolls over the side of the crumbling stone bridge, and you finally look at your surroundings.
It's a beautiful place: partially destroyed buildings with a vast forest behind it. The forest itself doesn't look particularly inviting, but the sight of two figures heading your way offers a feeling that was worse than fear.
You hurry into the forest, taking refuge behind the large trunks and numerous leaves. It's far cooler under the shade of the trees than it is in the sun. The ancient-looking building in the distance looked like it would serve as a decent protection against the night, but only if no one was there.
The duo stops near the entrance of the forest, and you pray they walk no closer. The female paces forward and back for several moments, before the male convinces her to head back to the building with him. The woman still glances backwards every few minutes, so you don't dare leave your hiding spot until they're a pair of dark specks on the path.
You choose, instead, to hurry along the edge of the forest – within its shadows, but not too deep in its depths to be swallowed whole. You are certain you've walked all the way around the grey castle by the time you see the carriage way that wades into the forest and the swinging gates that lie beyond.
A swarm of people welcomes you as their member. Their silent tears urge your own, and you see the still body of a boy – a child – raised above them. It was magic, and you would squeak your awe, if it wouldn't draw attention to yourself. With their heads bowed, you realise that this is normal to them, and you vow to leave this bunch as soon as you possibly could.
Hands grip your arms, and you are squeezed into a tube and deposited somewhere far from the forest and ruined castle you were only seconds ago. Instead, there are shouting people and screaming sounds that attack you from every direction. You're surrounded by so many people – busy, bustling people who walk with purpose, and others whose strides are long and leisurely – and you're alone.
The faces that pass you look mildly annoyed as they shove and rush and push past you. You're lost, and you know it, but you've been lost ever since you woke – so, you choose a random direction and start walking.
Your legs ache, and your belly grumbles, but you continue walking. You're hoping to find something you recognise – someone, something, anything. The semantics don't matter anymore.
A hand grabs your shoulder and you close your eyes, expecting to be screamed at again – for your lost expression, ratty clothes, messy appearance – but the hands just hold you at arm's length.
"Harry! You look lost. Do you want to come stay with us for a little while? Mum and Dad are off on a holiday in Australia, so you don't have to worry about them."
"Not that I'm not appreciative, but who are you?"
The man shoots you a strange expression. "What did they do to you, Harry? I'm your cousin, Dudley."
The Golden Snitch [Uagadou, Biloko]: Building the Burrow – [Hammer] Write about someone hit with a memory charm