[b]The night before...[/b]

[i]Death surrounds
My heartbeat’s slowing down
I won’t take this world’s abuse
I won’t give up, I refuse!

This is how it feels when you’re bent and broken
This is how it feels when your dignity’s stolen
When everything you love is leaving
You hold on to what you believe in

The last thing I heard was you whispering goodbye
And then I heard you flat line

No, not gonna die tonight
We're gonna stand and fight forever[/i]

The music blared through the set of headphones that Zef had bought from the muggle store in london, he stood completely still his feet were extended slightly on each side, in front of him was a training dummy he had constructed himself. In reality it was just a souped up scare crow but it served training purposes quite well, he did not have many friends with him during summer break, his closest friends only visiting every now and again during his break, and himself he was unable to make himself leave his grandmother alone seeming she was alone long enough when he went to school. His grandmother was a strong person, but as she would always tell him, not even the strongest person in the world can beat time. Even though he had moved past the events of his life when he was five, he still feared that there was a reason he was not killed that night. he did not know what it is was, and he always feared his grandmother might be attacked she too had be an Auror in her younger days. No... he wouldn't let it happen, he would be ready when the day came he would not lose his grandmother too, not like that.

Zef flicked his wrist as his wand came free from the leather restraint he kept above his wrist, he swished his wand very quickly as the word Expelliarmus flashed through his head, in and instant the stick depicting a wand in the dummys hand flew away and disappeared into the dark. Waving his wand again in quick succession, confringo flashed through his mind, a ball of fire erupted from his wand and smashed into the dummy there was a small explosion as the entire dummy set on fire in brilliant flames. In another quick swish of his wand the word Defodio raced through his mind, in quick slices with his wand chunks of the dummy fell from the whole and hit the ground. In one more swish of his wand the word reducto flashed through his mind as a ball of brilliant light flashed and hit the dummy, it almost instantly disintegrated and the entire dummy fell to the ground in small pieces making a pile of ash and dust.

Zef lowered his want as the last of the flames slowly went out in a gust of wind, as the wind hit him Zefs hair flew back a little bit as the cool air felt good on his face. Turning he looked at the lake he was near, the moon was glinting off of it and creating a silver lining to it. Walking to the edge he slowly took a set setting his down next to his hand, he watched the calmness of the lake, there were small ripples here and there as the wind blew but other then that it was perfectly still. Zef took out the headphones and the device from his pocket, he set it beside him, he sat there for a time just looking at the surface of the water. No one really knew but this was Zef's private place to come and be alone, a place he could think, no one ever came here for one reason or another so it worked for him perfectly. Zef thought about going back to Hogwarts in only mere hours, and about his friends whom he found himself missing more and more as time went on. Truth was he needed his friends, they made it so much more bearable and less painful to live with the memories of that night. 

They probably wouldn't know that though, he had never been one to show his emotions in front of anyone, maybe besides his grandmother, and only Calvin knew about his parents dieing and the way they died. Thats how they truly clicked with each other, neither one of them had a perfect childhood, they both had suffered great pain at a young age, and because of that strived to become stronger in its wake. He had wanted to tell the others about his parents and what really happened, but he felt that perhaps it was not time to tell Rin,Adelie and Stella. They cared for him like he did for them, and perhaps it was better to just not make them worry, worry that he would do something stupid because of the way he felt all the time. His grandmother did that enough, she often told him so that she was always there for him, and that anytime he needed to cry she would be his shoulder. He just wished he could bring himself to do it, to let it out, to let it go, but in life he had made himself strong and he refused to cry or to pity himself.

Perhaps that day would come when everything would finally shatter, and the person who murdered his parents would come for him, and they would duel to the death and he would finally face the demon that had long hid in the deep recesses of his mind. Zef was suddenly snapped from his thought when he heard the approaching foot steps behind him, gripping his wand quickly he got up from the ground and looked behind him. Swishing his wand the words lumos maxima went through his head, waving his wand a ball of light shot into the air and illuminated the area below. Zef relaxed when he realized it was merely his grandmother in the distance, only she would be able to see pas the charms he had put up to conceal the fact he was here, he should have guess from the start but his paranoia of attack was always there. His grandmother slowly came over, she was tow feet shorter then he was, but she always had such a cheerful face which was a god send to Zef, she was silent as she slowly sat down near the edge of the lake and patted the ground next to her. That was always her way of telling him she wanted him to sit down so she could talk to him.

[hider=Zef's Grandmother Rea][img]http://www.mia-modelagency.com/tl_files/models/Olga%20Tschepp/164_1.jpg[/img][/hider]

Zef sat down beside her as they both seemed to just stare at the lake for a bit, the silence lasted for awhile before Zefs grandmother finally spoke,

"I figured I would find you here Zamir, you always did like this lake, although I have to say gifted as you are in DADA you sure do need work on your charms skills, any witch with a brain could see through yours."

Zef smiled a bit as he knew she was right in that, he was not the best at charms but at least they were good enough that no muggle could accidentally stumble upon him training so he was content with his skills for now.

"You know me and your grandfather used to come here long ago, so its no surprise you found this place to me, me and you we often do think alike in a lot of ways. If your mother was still here she would laugh at how similar we are, she always found something funny in everything that was one of her gifts, being able to always laugh in the grimmest of situations. I know your thinking about them, you cant pull one over on Granny Rea, it seems the more you grow the more you think about your parents which is more then understandable. Sometimes it is hard for me too knowing my little girl is gone now, I can imagine it is harder for you."

"I guess... I just don't understand why what happened had to happen. The more I think about the more it just seemed to make less sense then it did before."

"You know for all your intelligence sometimes it just doesn't work in the places you want it to the most. I am almost seventy years old and even I can't figure out why some things happen, just as I don't know why some things don't. Your problem is you think too much on things that you won't find the answer to, sometimes the answer is not presented to us because were not ready to understand why yet. You are young Zamir, and yet you have had to deal with things that grown men have trouble with, I should know I have watched you grow up in pain, was there when you woke up from your nightmares... I guess what I am trying to say is that you have your whole life ahead of you now, and as hard as it is you have to learn how to let go of that pain you feel. Its not easy but you will find a way one day, you will grow more and you will find a girl and start a family of your own, the secret is to just keep walking my grandson, do you understand?"

"I think I do grandma, truly."

"Good then come on home and get packed, its your last year and I am not bringing you anything you forget, I may look younger then my age but I am too old to be bringing you your underwear anymore."

Zef laughed as he slowly got up with his grandmother, looking out at the lake one last time he smiled and turned, there was a harsh noise and they were both gone from the side of the lake.

[b]Current Morning...[/b]

"Pack"

Zef swished his wand as his trunk quickly finished packing itself, as it closed he turned and picked up the hoody off his bed and put it over his body, putting the hood over his head he went over to the cage nearby and opened it. Outstretching his arm Talan jumped onto it as the talons poked at his arm a bit, going to the window he opened it and gave Talan a quick nuzzle with his fingers across her cheek and then put his arm out the window for her to make her journey to Hogwarts. Going back to his bed he slowly put on his old worn black boots and laced them up tight, he was finally ready to get going, making his way downstairs he came into the livingroom where his grandmother was silently snoozing in her favorite chair. Walking up to her he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and walked over to the fire place, he would not wake her, reaching over he took some floo power from the mantle and walked into the fire place looking back one last time.

"Bye grandma see you soon"

With that he clearly spoke Kings cross station clearly and threw down the black powder almost instantly he popped out onto the crossing. Pulling along his trunk he descended down among the many people hustling and bustling to catch their trains. Zef slowly made his way through the crowds and came to platform 9 3/4, almost casually he walked through the wall and quickly appeared on the other side where the Hogwarts express hissed loudly, he was meant with another hustle and bustle of people, students and parents alike going in every direction. He smiled at some of the younger kids who were no doubt new years, they were so full of wonder and adventure very much he had been that first year, it did always bring him certain joy to see their excitement. Quickly storing his trunk away he slowly boarded the train and started walking down the aisle of different cars and room looking out for any of his friends. As he walked he felt a rather harsh knock into his shoulder looking over Edward lugnist had purposely bumped into him passing by, his fellow Slytherin house student gave him that knowing glare and then quickly disappeared in the crowd down the car. Shaking his head Zef looked in one of the rooms and saw Calvin inside, turning he went to walk in and quickly bumped his head on the door like he always did.

"ugh damn it, I wish they would make these higher."

Zef grabbed his head as he quickly took a seat across from Calvin who was no doubt probably laughing on the inside and would be laughing on the outside, smiling Zef gave a hand to his friend.

"Good to see you Calvin, an equally good to know I wasn't the last one in this time, the girls just love to laugh at me when I smack my head on that door. How was your summer?"