Chapter 1: Prologue

August 1996, Diagon Alley

The maddening pain grew in his chest and spread throughout his body. The world around him was but shapes and stains of colors. All he could do was curl up on his side in a fetal position and groan loudly. His chest burned viciously.

"Harry!" someone cried out hysterically, then that person screamed. Panic took over as Harry Potter suddenly recognized the voice as Hermione Granger's, the excruciating pain suddenly forgotten for a second. He tried to go to her, but his entire body felt like lead. He tried to at least see her, but everything around him went black.

Please make this stop! I have to help them! I have to...

More screams and yelled incantations came from all around him. The ruckus from all manner of objects crashing all over the small store, now but a pile of rubble, overwhelmed his only remaining sense. With growing panic, Harry heard the unmistakable sound of bodies falling on the ground and on the walls of the nearby buildings. His desperation worsened every second.

"Take him! Take the boy now, you fool!" roared a Death Eater, voice harsh.

"You won't!" someone else bellowed fiercely. The unmistakable sound of clashing curses ensued. The explosions from them were coming from all directions. The horrible burning crept up Harry's neck, face, and stomach. His head felt like it was submerged in a sea of fire and he couldn't hold it back any longer. From his scorching lungs came a blood curdling scream.

"Harry!" Ron Weasley yelled desperately.

"Go Ron, take Hermione with you!" someone else bellowed.

"I can't leave him!" cried Ron.

"Go, now!" commanded the other person, who Harry finally recognized as Arthur Weasley. It seemed they were all getting farther and farther away, or maybe he was. Time didn't seem to exist anymore. All he could do was repeat the same sentences over and over in his mind.

I can't die. Please don't let me die. I have to help them. I have to live. Please! Anything to let me live!

Then he felt it. Someone or something was holding him, taking him away from there with unbelievable speed. All he could feel was the pain and a strong wind against his body. Was this dying?

A strong hand stroked his hair. He heard a whisper close to his ear - the voice of an angel.

"All will be fine, child. No more pain."

Such a lovely voice...

The gusts of wind suddenly stopped. He barely felt the ground underneath his body as it touched him. Where was he?

"Do you still wish to live, young one?" asked the angel's voice very sadly. Harry didn't understand what was going on, but he didn't have time to understand. He felt like he was starting to fade away from the world, floating above his own body.

Please let me live.

Harry's lips became wet.

"Drink this. It will give you life."

Harry opened his mouth and savored some exquisite, warm liquid. He was in too much pain to think. He just drank and drank, relishing in how divine it tasted. Then out of nowhere, a thought came to him.

Elixir of Life. I am drinking the Elixir of Life from this angel.

He couldn't stand it when it was taken away. He wanted more. He needed more. But the pain was already going away. Slowly, he could feel his body again.

"More..." he managed to whisper, barely audible. The torment faded away amazingly fast and his vision started to return. Who was this angel that saved him?

"Not today," answered the angel. "For now, you will not remember."

Blackness overwhelmed Harry Potter and he fell into the deepest sleep he's ever had.