Ok so I want to speed up the story but I didn't want to cheat you guy's either. So my answer to this dilemma is to give you a really long chapter. That seems fair right?
My Wednesday morning started out with a jolt. I suppose I should have taken it as a sign or something and skived of class again but no, that's not the kind of girl I am, so I didn't even consider it. That said I began my day by bolting out of my bed and racing for the bathroom, jumping straight into an ice, cold shower, while still in my nightgown.
Now for the question any sane person would ask. Why would you do that? I'm afraid my answer to that is, I feel quite a stupid one, so to put it simply, it was nightmares. I had thought that I had gotten over it. They had gotten better since my return to school and I hadn't even had one in almost a month. Well I suppose this is the day my mind decided to make up for it.
Most people probably would have settled for splashing cold water on their face but not me, no, I'm an all or nothing, jump in the cold, shower kind of girl. Nothing says your not 'being tortured in an ally by some nameless death eater and probably going to die, screaming,' like a mild case of hypothermia.
Once I felt I had reached an acceptable shade of blue, I decided it was time to get out and get ready for class, early or not there was no way I was going to sleep again anytime soon. So I crawled out of the shower and dried myself off wandlessly. I was quite pleased with how good I was getting with it. When I noticed the bathroom door was open. Did I leave it open? I pondered this for a few minutes, I really had no idea. I was in a bit of a hurry when I came in but I can't recall if I had shut the door or not. I couldn't hear anyone. So I shook it off and got my teeth brushed so I could start my day.
XXXX
It was early when I had finished dressing, barely light outside and oddly enough, there was still no sign of Draco. So I took advantage of the situation and snuck out of the Dorm and headed for the Library.
I passed a couple of early rising Ravenclaws and dodged Peeves, as he booby trapped the main corridor the first years favored. The older students knew to take the smaller corridors and avoid the pesky poltergeist and his self-refilling buckets of water but the first years fell victim several times every year, before they eventually caught on to his tricks.
I made it to the library just as Madam Pince arrived. I greeted her politely, since it never hurts to stay on her good side and I headed straight for the animal section. Once there I realized most of the books were about magical creatures, which I suppose makes sense but it wasn't helping me. After several minutes of looking I found a sort of dictionary, of animals. Thinking this would be my best bet I sat down and went to work looking for anything that looked like Millie's Animagus. I started with raccoons and from there I went to foxes, it took some digging but I finally found her animal and took down some note's. That done, I set to work on the homework Millie had brought me from the classes I had missed yesterday.
At eight O'clock I decided it was probably time to head to breakfast. So I packed it in and made it there in time to take my place next to Millie and share what I had discovered. I didn't want to take any chances of being overheard so I handed her my notes to read as I prepared my plate. Draco and Blaise were waiting their turn to read it as well.
Raccoon Dogs or Tanuki
They are a type of canine about the size of a fox. They're named for their resemblance to raccoons.
Their weight fluctuates depending on the season, in March they can weigh as little as six pounds.
But in September they can weigh as much as fifteen pounds. They hibernate during most of the winter.
They eat almost anything. They can be found in Japan, China, Russia, Latvia, France, Sweden, Italy, and many other places.
When Millie was done reading, she handed the note around and the boys took their turn reading the information that I had collected this morning.
Millie informed us that it would make sense because her Father's Mother was originally from Russia and had moved to England during the height of Grinwalds power, and her maternal Great Grandmother was from France.
It was really quite interesting to say the least. Your Animagus is a creature that reflects you. Your appearance, magic, personality, heritage all come together to determine what animal best represents you, and it would seem Millie was best represented by a fox/raccoon/bear. I don't believe I could ever tire of the wonders of the magical world.
My first class was Ancient Runes then after lunch it was Defense Against the Dark Arts. So I grabbed my bag, said good morning to my brother as he made a very late appearance to breakfast. I couldn't help but wonder what trouble he had gotten up to. He looked like he hadn't slept but I decided there are some things I didn't need to know.
Ginny met me at the entrance to the Great Hall and asked to speak to me in private. I agreed but I told her that I only had a few minutes.
Once we were alone, she asked me. "The Potion you had me slip Lav. What did it do?"
"Well it shouldn't have done much of anything yet." I told her. "It's supposed to take up to two weeks to take effect. We probably won't know anything 'till after winter halls." I explained. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, well, Lavender swelled up like a water balloon last night and had to go to the hospital wing. Now she's telling everyone who will listen that you did something to her."
"No I didn't! That's ridiculous! I had nothing to do with it. I haven't even been near her since she confronted me in the Great Hall yesterday at lunch and everyone saw it." I told Ginny.
"Well, anyway that's what she's saying and Ron believes her because of what you said at lunch, about having a plan to get her back and now he's mad and siding with her. So, I just wanted you to have a heads up. Ron's in one of his moods." She said making a face.
"Great!" I said.
"I know right? And I have the joy of being related to the git." She said. We said our goodbye's and went our own ways.
What would he do if he knew what I really did to her? I thought. Well I will just have to make sure he doesn't find out. I was feeling all the more vindicated for my evil prank now. If she was making up lies about me, it seems only fair to make her dreams come true right?
I made it to class. Blaise and Draco were loitering near the entrance, probably waiting for me I thought. I walked in and found my seat and the two of them took theirs. I found it odd they didn't sit with me today. They seemed to be talking about something and I guess whatever it was they didn't want me to overhear it. Fine, I thought, have your little Slytherin secrets, see if I care but the problem was, that I did care. I didn't like being left out. They were my friends now, and with Ron mad at me again, being left out by my Slytherin friends was getting to me. I decided to ignore them. I could play this game to.
So I took out my quill and parchment and focused all my attention on Professor Babbling.
Class seemed to stretch on forever but when it was finally over and we had been issued an unbelievable amount of homework to complete by the end of winter halls we were allowed to go to lunch. The boy's left without me, so I took my time packing up my things. I was one of the last out of the class, a fact I was about to regret.
XXXX
No sooner had I started down the corridor, when I found my path blocked by a wall that was better known as, Cormac Mclaggen.
"Hello Abby, might I have a word with you?"
He was trying to be charming but all I was seeing was pompous prat.
"Sorry Cormac but I really need to be going my friends are waiting for me." I lied.
"I'm sure they will forgive you when they find out why you were late." He informed me as he blocked my attempt to pass him.
"What do you want Cormac?" I asked with mock confidence. As if I didn't already know.
I was trying not to show how uncomfortable I was. I hate this sort of thing. I didn't have a lot of experience turning people down but the few times I had. Well, it made me feel bad.
He just gave me one of those indulgent smiles you give someone's bratty child while you imagine harming it in some way.
"I would like you to accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend."
The way he said it, you would think he wanted a medal for chivalry.
"Sorry Cormac, as lovely as that sounds I can't." I told him and again I tried to pass, and again he blocked my way.
"Now, hold on." He said. I could see he was getting angry and trying to hide it. He was failing! He had a look of mock concentration on his face before he started speaking again.
"I know, you're not going with Weasely, because I happen to be aware that he is a bit put out with you at the moment. I also know you're not studying because no female would turn down my invitation in favor of a text book."
He had me trapped against the wall now. I couldn't get past him without touching him in the process. His voice was even and polite but his eyes were cold and angry and I was getting scared. I was painfully aware of how big he was.
"So the way I see it, all you have to do, is tell whichever one of your little girlfriends you said you would go with, that you got a better offer."
My throat was closing up. He was really scaring me and I felt trapped. So I did the only thing I could think of. I lied.
"I'm sorry Cormac but I can't make it I have a date with my boyfriend." I managed to say with a bit of effort.
That's when things got out of control. He grabbed me by my throat and slammed me against the wall as I tried to leave, knocking the wind out of me and said.
"Don't lie to me Abigail, you're not very good at it and I'm not an idiot, you don't have a boyfriend." He said through clenched teeth.
I couldn't breathe, I was clawing at my neck trying to get his hand off but he wouldn't budge.
"Who is it?" He asked me finally and he let me breath to answer.
I was scared and I said the first name that popped into my head. I just wanted him to let me go.
"Draco! Draco is my boyfriend; he's taking me to Hogsmeade this weekend!" I blurted out.
My eyes were tearing up and I was still trying to get his hand off my throat.
Then I heard another voice."You heard her, now get your hands off my girlfriend Mclaggen."
It was Draco and he had his wand to Cormac's neck.
Cormac let me go and I started coughing and gasping for air, my neck was bleeding where I had scratched myself.
That's when Professor Snape stepped out and took control of the situation before it could go any further.
"Assaulting the Head Girl Mr. Mclaggen? 150 points from Gyffindor and a month's worth of detention with me. His tone broke no argument.
"I suggest you move along to the Great Hall unless you would like to make it 200 points." Snape said in his most poisonous voice.
Cormac didn't need to be told twice. He all but ran to the Great Hall.
Professor Snape lifted my chin to get a better look at my self-inflicted injuries that were bleeding freely and I was shaking.
Draco didn't say anything; he just stood by quietly watching. Though if you looked closer you would have seen the muscles in his jaw clenching and his fists balled up behind his back.
"Mr. Malfoy, take the Head Girl to the hospital wing." Professor Snape said in a surprisingly kind voice.
" If you have any further difficulties with Mr. Mclaggen I expect you to report it to me immediately. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir Professor." I answered respectfully and allowed myself to be lead away.
I couldn't stop shaking and it was just getting worse. I wasn't really crying but the tears wouldn't stop falling and I was bleeding all over the collar of my white blouse. I must look a sight, I thought. The whole way to the hospital wing Draco never touched me and never said a single word.
What must he be thinking? He had obviously heard me tell Mclaggen he was my boyfriend, how embarrassing. I should have just stayed in bed this morning this day has just gone from bad, to worse, I thought.
The trip to the hospital wing was quick. Madam Pomfrey had me patched up in only a few minutes and for once she didn't lecture. In fact she didn't say much of anything. She just applied the Cuts, Burns and Bruises cream to my neck and the large hand print and all the claw marks were gone. Like it never happened she let me use her wash room to clean up. I was able to remove most of the blood from my blouse collar and I was free to go. Draco just stood next to me the whole time never saying a word. Then he walked me downstairs, to the Great Hall even though I wasn't hungry anymore.
XXXX
No sooner had we walked into the Great Hall than I was met with Ron's beat red face.
"You just couldn't leave Lav alone could you?" He was ranting. "You just had to do something mean to her, just because she tried to talk to you.
Well I don't care if you are Head Girl I'm not going to let you get away with abusing your position by picking on people your jealous of!"
Ron was yelling at me and the whole Hall was listening to him making a scene. Normally I would have been angry but today, right now,he seemed faraway. I suppose I was just staring at him. I didn't care what he was mad about I wasn't really hearing him anyway. The next thing I was aware of, Draco was pushing me toward Millie. Blaise was backing Draco up. Harry was there with his wand discretely drawn but he was standing back clearly not defending Ron but not abandoning him either.
Draco was speaking to Ron through clenched teeth. "If you want to play your little, white knight routine Weasel, you might want try it on someone who actually deserves it! I just stopped your pal Mclaggen from choking Abigale to death outside the Ancient Runes classroom, for turning him down for Hogsmeade. So why don't you pull your head out of wherever you stuck it and try acting like the friend you claim to be, for once in your pathetic life?" Draco said with all the cold, venom he could muster.
Ron and Harry both snapped their heads around to look at me. Harry asked me if I was alright. I just nodded my head and told him.
"Draco got him off me and took me to the hospital wing. Cormac lost a ton of points and has detention with Professor Snape."
My words were coming out in little more than a whisper and that's when I realized I was still shaking and the tears were trying to fall again, which was weird because I was sure I wasn't crying.
"Don't worry about him Abby, that's not all he'll be getting." Harry said in a cold voice I couldn't help but find a little scary, coming out of the normally kind Harry Potter, before he turned his attention back to Ron and said.
"Leave it Ron! We have bigger problems to deal with right now."
Ron didn't argue and the two of them returned to the Gryffindor table. I happened to notice the very disappointed looking Lavender, getting ready to pitch one of her unforgettable fits, as I turned to head to the Slytherin table.
Defense Against the Dark Arts class was next. What do you suppose the odds are we are just going to hear a lecture today?
I can only hope.
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I should have known better than to hope for an easy day today. When we got to Defense class all of the desks were pushed against the walls. My senses were instantly on high alert,
Defense Professors had a nasty habit of testing the students in odd and unexpected ways.
I couldn't relax until I found him. My senses told me he was there, even if my eyes couldn't see him. I drew my wand and scanned the room. The others must have thought it was a good idea, because it wasn't long and they were mimicking me. I finally caught a glimpse of something off out of the corner of my eye.
I spun on my heel and threw a stunner in the direction of the shimmer.
It was eminently deflected and returned. I pulled up a defensive shield in time and Dove for cover, and returned fire. Again it was deflected. The class was in chaos. Students were running for cover. Harry was by my side in an instant.
When a chair toppled over for no reason we were both casting at the same time. Nothing! It was a trick.
He could be anywhere.
The room would have been fairly quiet if Lavender would just SHUT UP. Honestly, does she have to scream over every stupid thing? I couldn't take it anymore I whipped around and threw a silencing spell at her. I have to admit I was very pleased with myself when I hit her square in the back of the head. She turned around and glared at me but I could tell I wasn't the only person who was glad she was silenced.
We were all scanning again, looking for any signs of where Professor Pierce was hiding. He had to be standing still. I had to do something.
That's when I got an idea. The trays at the base of the chalk boards were full of chalk dust. I could use a replenishing charm to make more and I could use a simple levitation charm, to lift it up to the ceiling and then let it go. It would fall on the room like snow. He wouldn't be able to hide and even if we missed him, we would still see him if he stepped in it.
It only took a moment to put my plan into action. I was moving as fast as I could. I didn't want him to catch on and stop me. It only took the smallest amount of chalk dust and his hiding spot was located, next to the door of the class room. Blaise was the quickest, taking him out before he had a chance to realize what I had done.
With the Professor captured we were finally allowed to take our seats. The Professor was smiling and laughing. Something I found odd for someone who had just been captured by a room full of seventh year students.
XXXX
When we were all settled back in our proper seats he addressed the class. "Good job class. That was most impressive. I would like to spend the rest of this class discussing what just happened here."
"First I would like to award 20 points to the Head Girl for being the first one with the presence of mind to pull her wand out, as well as for being the first person to spot me, and another 20 points for the clever idea to use the chalk dust that allowed you to find me. I would also like to award 20 points to Mr. Zabini for his lightning speed in landing the final stunner. Good job class!"
"Now I would like to discuss those of you who need to improve. Miss. Brown, you must learn to control yourself. If you can't stop yourself from screaming, then might I suggest casting a Silencing Charm on yourself, instead of waiting for your classmates to do it for you." He said in a disapproving tone. Which caused Lavender to turn as red as Ron's hair but he missed the unladylike gesture she made when he looked away.
It was all I could do not to burst out laughing. Ok maybe this little exercise was worth it after all. The rest of the class continued in much the same way. We covered both the good points and the bad points and then got into things we could do to improve for next time. All to soon class was over and I was feeling alot better about myself
.
Yes I got in over my head earlier with Cormac. I let fear takeover and I messed up, but defense class showed me that I'm not stupid and I'm not incompetent. I just failed to see him as an enemy and so before I knew it everything was out of control. I would just have to work harder and make sure it never happened again. CONSTANT VIGILANCE! I told myself as I walked back to the Heads Dorm to drop off my bag before heading down for dinner.
XXXX
My days started to fall back into their normal routine after that, with a few notable exceptions. Draco was being eerily quiet. He wasn't making fun of me, or being a prat, he was just watching me. Which was starting to give me the creeps, he never said another word about what happened with Mclaggan. Or my lie about him being my boyfriend, which I found odd, I would have thought he would being making fun of me every chance he got about how much I must want him and so on, but he wasn't, he wasn't saying anything.
The other difference was that my nightmares were back full force every night, only now instead of a nameless, faceless Death Eater it was Cormac Mclaggan, torturing me in the ally every night. This left me dragging from exhaustion every morning.
Ron was still trying to think of a reason to be mad at me but he couldn't find one so he was just huffing up and trying to turn everything I said into a fight, until finally I just decided to avoid him altogether, until he got over whatever his problem was.
Word of what Cormac did spread through the school like all good gossip does and Cormac was finding out just how stupid it was to attack a Hogwarts girl. Nearly every boy in school and a good portion of the girls were taking it as a personal insult and going out of their way to make sure he suffered. From dung booms being thrown in the bathroom stall he occupied to a rumor about a horrible rash in an unfortunate location that Madam Pomfrey was unable to treat. As well as turning his hair a violent shade of pink, that even Professor Flitwick was having a hard time undoing. Though, to be honest, I couldn't help but get the feeling that they didn't quite try their best.
The Hogsmead weekend came and went but I didn't go. The whole thing had just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I used the time to start in on all the homework we had been assigned. Monday would be here soon enough and it would be time to go home, where I was in trouble again with my parents for not reporting the incident with Mclaggen.
I tried to tell them I was sorry and that I didn't tell them because I was embarrassed about getting myself into such a stupid position. But they were still angry and they said we had to have a 'talk' when I got home. So I wasn't looking forward to it nearly as much as I had been before. So in a nutshell I could sum my life up at this point quite simply. My, Life, Stunk. Much like Mclaggen after a dug bomb attack!
XXXX
Monday morning dawned too early in my opinion. I had packed the night before and so there wasn't much left to do but get dressed and put Crooks in his basket. So with all the excitement of a constipated sloth I got ready to go home. With any luck I could spend at least part of my time off with Ginny and Harry at the Burrow. I was still avoiding Ron who still had a Billywig up his bum about something. That something I strongly believed to be Lavender Brown. He wouldn't say and I really didn't care enough to ask anyone else. Though the way those two were glued at the hip was all the confirmation I needed. It made me wonder if he would feel the same way once the potion took full affect, or if he would dump her on her spoiled, catty backside as soon as he caught a whiff? This might actually turn out to be interesting to watch.
I shrunk my trunk, grabbed my carry on and Crookshank's basket and headed downstairs Draco was waiting for me and we walked down together where we met up with Blaise who smiled at me warmly and made my heart flutter uncontrollably and my face get hot.
I don't know how he did that, but it made me feel stupid and happy at the same time, every time.
Millie joined us as well, rude and sarcastic as always. I wouldn't want her any other way now. We loaded up into the carriages and headed to the train that would take us to our doom, excuse me, I mean home. The train that would take us home.
The train ride was pretty uneventful save for your standard trouble, fights between Gryffindors and Slytherins, third years picking on the first years. I did manage to get some great blackmail material on Max though. Something I am told is very valuable when dealing with siblings. I caught him with a very naughty picture of Professor Sinestra. How he got it was beyond me, but I confiscated it and I told him if gave me one ounce of trouble I was showing mom and dad. I could feel myself becoming a bossy, older sister and I liked it. Of course I was already bossy so I suppose it wasn't that big of a leap.
We made it to platform, 9 and ¾ before I was ready. I was nervous. The last time I was here things got pretty bad, I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the platform and I was instantly surrounded by all of my friends, even Ron which was I think the most surprising.
We all walked in a tight group up to were my parents were waiting and I introduced my family to Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Neville.
My parents greeted them politely. Before they left to find the Weasleys and Neville's Gran. It was a short meeting but it meant the world to me that my friends went out of their way to be polite and meet my parents. I waved a final goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasely, they waved back happily. Mr. Molfoy arrived next, pleasantries were exchanged as were promises of visits to each other's home's before we all walked out to our waiting car's together. Blaise went with the Malfoys, while Millie would be traveling home with us.
XXXX
The ride home was filled mostly with Max's happy chatter about school and friends. I heard my mother ask Millie how she was doing in school and if she was enjoying her last year. I just spent the ride looking out the window. I didn't want to be there. I wasn't looking forward to the 'talk' I knew was coming and I was getting tired of always being in trouble for no reason. My mother asked me if anything interesting had happened to me at school, to this I answer no. Nothing special, never taking my eyes of the window.
"Well there must be something you haven't told us about." She pressed.
I was tired and I felt like the outsider that could never do anything right and I didn't want to talk to them.
I wanted to go home to my muggle house where everything is boring and I know the rules. So I decided to change the subject.
"Did they ever find out who was responsible for attacking me at the train station?"
My parent's both got noticeably uncomfortable. My father answered.
"Well that is one of the things we wanted to speak to you about when you came home." He said.
"Ok so tell me." I said.
They were looking uncomfortable again. When my father said, "It's not a simple matter of who did it. We need to explain and I don't think the car is the best place."
That had me confused. Suddenly I wasn't dreading this talk like I had been.
The ride didn't take long after that. We dropped Millie off at her house, I got out to say our goodbyes and she informed me that I would be telling her every detail as soon as I found out. I quickly agreed and I got back in the car to finish the short trip to Loyce Manor.
XXXX
Once inside I was ready to get my answers, but I could sense my parents stalling. So I decided to prod them along a little.
"You said you would tell me when we got home. Can you tell me now?" I asked trying not to be rude, that wouldn't help anything. If there was one thing my parents hated it was rudeness.
My father agreed, thankfully and led the way to his private study. I took what I had deemed to be my seat and looked at him expectantly, as my mother took her place, at his shoulder.
"So who was it?" I asked both of my parents.
My father cleared his throat and began.
"Well as you know Auror Shaklebolt was assigned to our case after you were found and as you know he took the letter and other documents into evidence the day they came to our home to explain things, back in August."
"Well, we knew that Auror NewWell had used his real name and his female partner, who had signed her name Audra Weed had used an alias but that wasn't the only evidence they had. The entire matter had to be kept a strict secret because they feared that if word got out that they were close to solving the case evidence could be destroyed and the guilty party could flee like Auror NewWell.
So they tried to keep the whole thing as quiet as possible. Though somehow word got out and the female partner discovered that you had been found. It was the female partner that hired the muggle men to try to kill you.
Auror Shaklebolt found where she had used ministry money to pay them. The plan was to kill you before you boarded the train for school and then to kill the Grangers, burn their house down and with that, she hoped all of the evidence too. Luckily the men were caught at the train station and their plan ended there. The Grangers were placed in protective custody and the rumor that the three of you were dead and the house was destroyed was spread through the department of family services at the ministry, by then they believed they knew who the women was so it wasn't difficult to make certain that she over heard the lie.
Once things had died down a bit the Grangers were quietly taken to a ministry office and their memories of the day they took you home were extracted."
"The Grangers were not familiar with the process so Auror Shaklebolt explained everything to them in detail before removing and examining the memories in a pensive. They found what they were looking for. The woman Audra Weed was really Audrey Dandy and she still works for the department of family services just as they had suspected. The Auror department has had her under surveillance for the last couple of months they wanted to find out everything they could before the arrested her. We asked them to wait until you came home from school to make the arrest because we wanted to be able to explain everything that was happening and also because once an arrest is made it will be all over the papers and everyone will know who you are and who you used to be."
I thought about what they had to say. I had been in the papers before so it couldn't be any worse than that, but I noticed they still seemed nervous like there was something more they weren't telling me. So, I asked them.
"What aren't you telling me?"
My father answered but he looked very uncomfortable.
"Do you remember I told you Auror Shaklebolt explained the memory removal to the Grangers?"
"Yes." I answered.
"Well sweetie,the Grangers were very upset about having to be in protective custody and about all the other changes as well." He paused.
"So what did he tell them? Are they still mad? Should I write to them?"
"Sweetheart they asked Auror Shaklebolt to alter their memory."
I was shocked. I was getting a bad feeling in my stomach and my mouth was getting dry.
"Change their memory to what?" I asked.
My mother was getting upset and my father didn't want to answer. This wasn't good.
"Change their memory to what?" I asked again.
My father finally answered. "They wanted him to make them forget everything about the wizarding world. About you being a witch. They wanted him to change their memory to reflect that Hermione Granger their muggle daughter died in a car accident while staying with friends over the summer. Apparently that's what they had already told their family and friends and they already had a headstone purchased."
I was frozen for a moment as it sunk in. My mum and dad would rather I was dead and buried, than alive and well, with a different face.
"AAAHHHH!" I heard myself cry in agony and I got up. I wanted out of there.
I felt my dad's arms around me before I could make it to the door he was pulling me back and I just let him hold me, while I cried what had to have been a whole ocean worth of tears.
I felt like I was going to be sick. I felt like I had a huge hole where my chest should be.
How could they do this to me? Why didn't they love me? I had never hurt so much in my entire life.
"Why?" Was all I could say over and over.
"I don't know baby. I don't know but you have us. We are your family. We love you and that will never change. You will always have us."
My dad's kept telling me over and over in his kind calm voice.
I did the only thing I could do. I kept crying. This was the worst day of my entire life and nothing could ever make it better.
XXXX