The following weeks passed by quietly. They rarely saw Mr. McKinely as he was busy with the ministry and other extra curricular activities, as Mrs. McKinely had began to call it. Half way through the summer she and Anna had received an invite from Lily to come visit for a week. The girl's took her up on her offer and were whisked away for an actual vacation. All too soon though, they found themselves back at the McKinely manor unprepared for what was to come.

It was late July when their father began to act even more peculiar than before. Coming home at all hours of the night, mumbling to himself as he went about the house and locking himself in his study whenever he was home for extended periods of time. Restricted to the second floor they were never aware of the visitors he would receive late at night, until that night.

It was late and Anna had come to find solace in sharing a bed with her big sister. The next day was her 11th birthday and the day she was to receive her Hogwarts letter. While the younger girl slept Tabbitha made quick work of the present she'd been working on for quite some time, but stopped when she heard a pop. Someone downstairs had apparated away, but that wasn't unusual. What was unusual were the loud screams of her father. Glancing up from her position on the floor she saw Anna stir in her sleep before she quickly hid the gift under her bed. Crawling back in she pulled the girl close to her shushing her soft whimpers as she smoothed out her frazzled hair.

Just then the sound of something breaking downstairs startled the young girl awake. "Sissy, what was that," she grumbled, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands.

"I don't know, but it doesn't sound good," she said, looking towards the door listening for anything else. When silence followed she looked to Anna grasping her shoulders trying to get her attention, "look at me Anna, I want you to stay up here, ok? Stay up here and do not come out. Do you understand? If I'm not back in ten minutes I want you to floo to the Potter's and have them get help, ok?"

"But sissy, I want to go with you," she pleaded, so close to crying.

"It's going to be ok, but I need you stay safe, ok?" The girl nodded her head as Tabbitha smiled at her before kissing her head. Slowly and silently she slipped out of bed grabbing her wand off of the night stand. Though she wouldn't be of age for another few hours, and yes, she had the same birthday as her little sister, she'd rather face punishment for using magic outside of school underage than go down there unprotected.

Creeping to the door she pressed her ear to it as Anna pressed her back against the headboard of the bed. When she heard nothing she slowly turned the door handle until she heard a soft click. Opening it just as slowly she closed it behind her once in the hallway before making her way down the hall and the stairs. Once downstairs she could hear the faint sounds of angry whispers from her father's study. All of the lights were off, but she would use that to her advantage.

"Tilly," she whispered, before a soft pop sounded next her.

"Yes, miss," inquired the little house elf.

"I want you to help Anna pack a small bag of essentials then floo with her to the Potter's, can you do that for me, Tilly?"

"Yes, miss, Tilly will take care of Ms. Anna." With her mind slightly more at ease she began to walk away only to stop when Tilly added, "please be careful Ms. Tabbitha. Master is not himself anymore." And with that the house elf popped upstairs.

"Oh, I know," she whispered to herself, making her way down the hall. The only light came from under the door of her father's study where the whispers grew louder. Not wanting to alert them to her presence she stood against the wall so as to not cause a shadow on the light with wand at the ready.

"I'm doing this for your protection, Michelle. Do you know what he'd do to us if he even so much as thought we weren't on his side? Do you know what he'd to our girls," her father all but yelled.

"He's not going to win, Michael. There are too many people who will oppose him when the time comes," her mother countered.

"And he has more than enough followers to beat the opposition. He will win and I want to be on that side. What about you, Michelle? What side do you want to be on when the smoke clears?"

Though she could not hear her mother's reply she did hear the distinct sound of a hand colliding with her face. Emboldened by her father's act of abuse she burst into the room wand pointed at the mad man she once looked up to. Neither of which had expected her as they both looked at her in shock that quickly faded when from her father's face only to be replaced with a sneer like she'd never seen before.

"You were told to not come down here unless told to," he snarled, stomping up to her grab her arm. Just as he made to take her back upstairs her mother got off of the floor grabbing her wand and pointing it at her husband.

"Get your hand off of my daughter." Taken aback for a moment she watched as the two glared at each other for a moment before he began to laugh not letting go of her.

"Or, what?"

"Expelliarmus," shouted her mother, causing his wand to fly of out of his and across the room. Growling he let go of Tabbitha's arm as he lunged at his wife who side stepped him causing him to crash into his desk. Now she wore the smirk, "you were always bad at dueling. Maybe that's why you're being a coward by joining him."

Huffing and puffing from the adrenaline he pushed himself up and away from the desk as he replied with, "at least I'll be alive and safe when the war begins and when it ends." Just then Tabbitha watched as he opened up a secret compartment in his desk where he hid his actual wand. As he turned to point it at her mother she shouted at her mother to watch out, but he did not turn to his wife instead he turned to his daughter, "AVADA KEDAVRA."

Frozen in place she watched as the seen played out before her not even hearing the sounds of several pops from nearby. Instead all she could focus on was her mother diving in front of the curse that had been sent her. The green flash of magic struck the older woman as she fell to the ground in a lifeless heap at her daughter's feet. It all happened so fast and yet, so slow.

Tears began to fall as she collapsed to her knees right when several aurors, including famed Mad-Eye Mood stormed into the room. There was a lot of shouting from both sides as they detained the murderer, but all she saw was her mother's lifeless body. Crawling forward she grabbed onto the woman who had raised her since birth cradling her head in her lap. In the distance of her mind she felt a hand on her shoulder, but paid it no mind. As she continued to look into her mother's lifeless eyes it became harder and harder to breathe as the edges of her vision began to blur.

"She's going into shock," shouted one of the aurors. That was when a chocolate bar was thrust into her line of site.

"Eat this," spoke the gruff voice of the auror holding the candy out to her.

Not having the energy to take it from him she reached out with her mouth and took a bite of it. As she chewed it slowly her surroundings became much more clear. There were five aurors currently in the room. One on either side of her, one in front of her and two checking the room for anything suspicious. When she swallowed the first bite she felt that it had become easier to breathe.

"What happened," it was the one who'd said she was going into shock that asked.

"I-I don't know. One minute, Anna and I…," pausing she realized that she did not know where her sister was. Wide eyed she became frantic, "oh no, where's Anna? Where's my sister?"

"Shhhh, it's ok. Anna's safe with the Potter's like you told her, but what I need you to do is tell me anything you may leading up to tonight?" And with that she began to tell them of what had happened two years prior and everything in between that revolved around her father. Once it she was finished the auror that she had come to know as Tanya helped her pack the essentials before apparating with her the Potter's.

"If you need anything, anything at all do not hesitate to contact me," she said, handing the girl a card with her name and address on it. Mutely she nodded her head as she walked up to the door bag in hand. Before she could knock on the door it flew open revealing a wild mane of red hair that lunged itself at her holding onto her as if she wasn't real. Looking past the red hair she spotted the familiar brown eyes of James Potter as he looked on with a sad smile. Standing next to him was Sirius Black looking just as concerned.

She broke. Tears fell from her eyes as violent sobs racked her body causing her to crumble to her knees. It took both James and Lily to pull her inside followed by the pop of Tanya leaving. Inside they pulled her to the small library where Lily held her friend close as they wept for the loss of an amazing woman and mother.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thank you to, juneb, for the review. I'm glad the first chapter at least got one. Any chances of more after posting this one so soon? xD