Okay, so the first chapter was more like a prologue, so this could be considered the real first chapter… Anyway, it is set up in different parts so that you can get a feel for where all of the characters are at this point. Hope you enjoy. R&R.

Mr. and Mrs. Potter sat at the table in grim silence.

"It's started then," Mrs. Potter whispered.

The door slammed, footsteps thundered down the hallway. James burst into the room, a carefree smile plastered across his face. Mr. Potter had to look away. How could a child grow up in a world like this?

Mrs. Potter reached for the boy's hand. "James, sit down," she let go a shuddering breath. "There's been an attack." The smile was gone, replaced by an expression that weighed more than his years.

"It was Lily."

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He didn't hear her screamimg at him, didn't see her blast his name off the wall. He was consumed by his anger.

He threw clothes haphazardly into his trunk. His head hadn't caught completely caught up to what he was doing just yet but when it did he was already at the door.

She was still shouting. "Where do you think you're going to go? What could you possibly do? You have nothing!"

He was outside now. He turned to face her. He was not running, he was free of his cage, of the chains that held him there.

"I'm done."

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He looked at her for a long, hard moment. "How could you not tell me?"

She curled into herself. "I couldn't, I swore an oath," her voice was barely a whisper.

He slammed his fist against the table. "Do you have any idea what it was like? Seeing you on that table, not knowing whether or not you would ever wake up again?"

"I'm so sorry, Frank," her voice shook.

"How long?" she looked away from him. "Goddamnit, Alice how long has this been going on?"

Her voice was low and quiet, "A year."

He stood up, "Alice, I love you, you have to know that. But I can't watch you throw your life away. I can't sit back and watch as you get yourself killed." He went to the door, she followed him.

"Frank, what are you doing?" he opened the door, "Wait, Frank, please—"

"Goodbye, Alice." The door shut behind him.

She fell on her knees, "I love you, too."

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She woke up to white. White walls, white sheets, white everything.

"Miss Evans, it's good to see you're awake. Do you remember what happened?" She shook her head and looked up at him with those wide green orbs, frightened. "Don't worry, you're in Mungo's. You are perfectly safe."

Safe. The word echoed in her head like it would down a long tunnel.

"Miss Evans, you were attacked last night."

Flashes. Flashes of blood and cruel smiles and pain, so much pain. Her whole body was trembling.

"Miss Evans please calm down."

She was screaming. So much pain.

"Get the sedatives."

And the white was black.