Lily walked up to her dorm to get her satchel so she could go to the library and start her homework. When she reached her dorm, it was empty, so Lily decided she would do her assignments there instead.

She had just started the Transfiguration essay that Professor McGonagall had set them when she heard something tapping the window. She trudged over to the window and unlatched it. A very important-looking owl flew in. It looked rather like the owls Hogwarts sent out school reports with. The owl dropped a letter into Lily's hands and flew away. Lily found this a bit strange because owls usually stayed, either for food and water or to wait for a reply to the letter they had delivered.

Lily opened the letter and read through it quickly. She re-read it a few times, tears filling her eyes.

Clutching the letter, she ran through down the stairs, through the common room and out through the portrait. She didn't know where else to go, so she made her way down two floors and ran to the Prefects bathroom. Nobody would find her there and she could be alone with her thoughts.

Once Lily was inside, she collapsed onto the floor, sobbing. She didn't know how long she had been there when the tears stopped. She had a terrible headache from the crying and her eyes were sore. She still felt like crying, but no tears would flow. It seemed as if she had run out of tears.

The letter she had received lay on the floor beside her, crumpled and slightly torn where she had grabbed it. Gingerly, she picked it up and read it again.

Dear Ms. Evans

We have received intelligence that there was a break-in at your parents' residence at twenty-three minutes past eleven last night.

We regret to inform you that your father, William Evans, was killed whilst attempting to protect Petunia and Martha Evans. Aurors arrived on the scene in time to save Petunia and Martha Evans, who were transported to St. Mungos immediately. Petunia Evans was released early this morning. Unfortunately, Martha Evans did not make it through the night. She was hit with an undetectable curse that caused her to bleed internally. She died at forty-seven minutes past three this morning.

Damage to your parents' residence was repaired and the Muggles of Spinners End had their memories modified.

Hoping you are well,

Yours sincerely,

John Dawlish

Auror Office

Ministry of Magic.

Lily still couldn't believe it. Both of her parents, gone. The only two people that truly loved her, gone forever. And it was all her fault.

Although the letter didn't specifically say it, obviously it was Dark wizards who had broken into her parents' home because the letter mentioned that her mother was hit by a curse. Also, her family wouldn't have been sent to St. Mungos if their injuries weren't magic-related. And Dark wizards wouldn't have broken into her home and killed her parents if she wasn't a witch. It was all her fault And she knew Petunia would hate her even more now, if that was even possbile.

She hated herself for even thinking it, but she almost wished it had been Petunia instead of her parents. Now she had nobody left that really and truly cared about her.

Lily wondered if she should tell her friends about her parents' deaths. She decided against it because they would probably try to make her feel better by saying things like "I know how you feel" which, of course, they couldn't. Nobody knew how she felt. She was totally alone.

Okay, Lily told herself, pull yourself together. You can get through this.

She sniffed a little before carefully folding up the letter and putting it into her pocket.

As Lily was passing the mirror above the sink on her way out, she glimpsed her reflection. She looked a state. Her eyes were red, her skin looked pale and blotchy, her hair was messed up and there were dried tears down her cheeks. She decided to clean up first in case somebody saw her in the hallways. It was almost curfew, but Lily found that she didn't care.

Walking around the swimming pool-like tub, she filled the pool with water and various bubble baths. When the pool was full, Lily left her clothes folded neatly by the edge of the pool and slid in gently. She dived under the water and resurfaced, pushing her hair back. She swam a few lengths of the pool, trying to clear her head. It wasn't working and Lily could feel herself tiring, so she decided to just relax. She swam to the edge and sat on the ledge that ran around the pool below water level.

After a while, Lily started to feel sleepy, so she got out and wrapped herself in a fluffy white towel. She grabbed another towel and started drying her hair with it.

After she was dry and dressed, she sat down and took out her letter again. She re-read it for what felt like the millionth time. She thought she probably knew it off by heart at this stage.

Sighing, she folded up the letter and headed out of the bathroom. Nobody was in the hallway outside, so Lily assumed it must be past curfew.

Lily tapped her wand on her head, performing the disillusionment charm. She shuddered as she experienced the sensation of having a raw egg broken on her head.

She hurried along the corridor. As she neared the top of the staircase leading to the sixth floor, she heard a noise ahead of her.

Moving as silently as she could, she crept up the last few stairs. She could hear muttering that seemed to be coming from an alcove a few feet away. She tip-toed closer, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"...would never work." Lily heard a deep voice mutter. "We'd be found out straight aw- What was that?"

Lily ran as fast as she could, not looking back to see who the voice had belonged to, running until she had reached the end of the corridor. She rounded the corner and leaned against the wall, staying as quiet as possible.

After a minute or two, she heard footsteps. She peeked around the corner and saw two people going in separate directions. She didn't recognise the first person, someone with dark hair and a hefty build. The second person, however, she did recognise. She couldn't miss the blonde hair, so fair it was almost white. Lucius Malfoy, a seventh year Slytherin.

Lily wondered if she should tell Professor Dumbledore. She knew Malfoy was involved in the Dark Arts, but it was entirely possible that the meeting she had overheard had nothing to do with that.

She decided to sleep on it and hurried off to bed before she was caught wandering the corridors after hours.

As she drifted to sleep, all Lily could think about was how much she was dreading the next day. She would have to put on an extremely convincing act if she didn't want anyone to ask questions. But how was she supposed to act like everything was okay when her whole world had just been torn apart?

Author's Note: Because of the snow, my Christmas holidays were extended! So hopefully I will have another chapter up tomorrow or the next day.