The Day You Slipped Away

July 18, summer before first year.

It was a beautiful day. Taking in deep breaths of the forest air, Savannah grinned up at her father as they walked through the Forest of Dean. She loved these camping trips they took together. It was always the highlight of her summer, and with her finally getting to attend Hogwarts in the fall, this would be one of the last times they'd be able to go camping before she got Sorted. Though she wished her mother was here, she knew she was busy.

Noticing the lake coming into view, she grinned, running down the rest of the hill towards it, her father on her heels. Catching up to her, he swung her around, making her squeal in surprise. "Daddy," She pouted, looking up into his blue eyes, "Please put me down,"

Grinning, he let her down softly, watching her with an amused expression as she ran towards the grass, splaying herself out on the grass to stare up at the clouds. Sitting down by her, he watched her for a moment, glancing over at the lake.

"Dad," Savannah asked abruptly, flickering her gaze up to him, "Can you teach me the backstroke?"

"Of course," He grinned down at her, and they both quickly changed into bathing suits. Diving into the water first, Scott grinned at his daughter, waiting for her to join him.

Shivering at the cold water, Savannah began threading water, looking up at her father for further instruction. "OK," He began, demonstrating the backstroke to her while she watched, "It's simple really, you just lie on your back, and extend your arms backwards." Pausing, he asked, "Got it?"

"I think so," Savannah replied, watching him carefully. Before she got a chance to try however, her father disappeared under the water with a splash. Giggling, Savannah hummed, waiting for him to resurface. He'd done this before, so she simply attempted the backstroke while she waited. But as the seconds turned to minutes, she couldn't help but feel rather uneasy. "Dad?" She called out, and when no sound reached her ears, the eleven year old dove in after him.

And what she saw here would haunt her for years to come. There, her father was, held down by a wizard with a bubble around his head. Before she had a chance to react and swim towards her father, he stopped struggling, and a gleam of triumph flashed in the eyes of the strange man before he apparated away, leaving Savannah to stare at her father for a moment before swimming towards him, struggling but somehow managing to drag him out of the water.

"You're going to be OK," Savannah said, more to herself then to her unresponsive father. "You have to be."

When she got no answer, she leaned closer, an ear on his chest, listening patiently for a heartbeat. Nothing. "No," She uttered, rubbing her wrists as she stood up, "You have to be alright."

Glaring down at him, she ran over to his wand, which he'd left in a bag with an Undetectable Extension Charm. Pulling it out, she shook it, muttering something about thanking Merlin for her father teaching her Periculum in case she ever got injured or lost. Holding it up above her head, she said "Periculum,"

Wincing slightly as the sparks showered her, she headed back to her father, muttering to him that he'd be alright.

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But it wasn't alright. At St. Mungo's later that day, Scott Alexander Lerran was confirmed dead.

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