Bittersweet

Chapter 1: I Open At The Close

***Disclaimer: We don't own Harry Potter, if we did the epilogue would've turned out a lot differently***

Gen's PoV

I opened my eyes, quickly, disturbing the chilled air around my face. It, like most New York mornings, was chilly in my room, and I shuddered as I pulled my blanket around my shoulders, looking out my balcony window.

The sun hadn't risen over the skyscrapers, but that didn't mean it was dark, or quiet. I wondered how my sister could sleep through the noise, but I guess all the sports practices drained her energy, and she slept heavily. I knew I could have woken her up, but I didn't.

I glanced at my clock. 5:26, An unearthly time to wake up, but I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. I noticed, also, that my cat, Mystique, wasn't in her familiar spot on her pillow. I sighed. She was probably in my parents' room, curled up on the foot of their bed.

Cautiously, I padded light-footedly to their bedroom. Knowing our new infant sister, Mariah, was asleep, I opened the door quietly. And, of course, I almost tripped over one of Mariah's toys.

"Shit!", I cried steadying myself. I slapped my hand across my mouth, wide-eyed. I waited for one of Mariah's high pitched caterwauls. It never came.

"Mariah?", I asked, not caring if I was waking my parents up.

"Mom! Dad! Where's Mariah?!", I was becoming panicky, and I thanked the man upstairs for not giving me panic attacks, the things that plagued Rae.

They didn't respond. I snapped a light on, and there laid their deformed and mangled bodies. Also on the bed was my beloved Mystique, with her insides now out. I felt a guttural scream rising up from inside me, and then I quickly backed away. Mariah's body looked the same. Ghast, open cuts scarred their bodies. The things that had hugged me, comforted me, looked alien and inhuman. Suddenly, I heard feet charging towards their room. It was Rae.

"Oh, my God," Rae said, a hand finding its way to her mouth. "Look..."

Somehow, Rae wasn't a complete mess, unlike me. A note stained with blood, like a scroll, was crunched up underneath the sticks. Rae picked it up, and paled. I read it, aloud, even though no one was listening. Rae was crying, so she wouldn't overhear.

"'That thing that killed your parents is a powerful thing, more powerful than you or I. He is a death eater, able to kill any witch or wizard he wants. I'm sure, knowing good old Michael and Marie Grindelwald, they've never told you your heritage; I laugh at that. Very stupid thing to do, since they knew the end was coming for them - yet a new beginning for their daughters. I believe you are very powerful, so does your brother. Being powerful, like all Grindelwalds, they've been smart and became death eaters...join me, Genevieve, Dezirae, feel what it's like to have anything you want by just a wave of your wand. You will get wands, from the wand dealer located in the secret entrance on Time Square, and apparate to your brother's, Jacques Grindelwald's, in France. He, being the smart child, turned himself into a death eater. You should follow his example if, of course, you want to survive - and if anything, you value a peaceful death. Your brother is located in Nice, France, alongside the coastline. You will attend the Beauxbatons and then join my forces. -Lord Voldemort" - who the hell is that? And who the hell is Jaques?" I nibbled my usually lip-glossed lips, tasting the salty tang of blood. Rae, her eyes bloodshot (somehow not having had a panic attack), went up to me.

Rae grabbed our bags, and finally spoke, "Well... let's go get our wands I guess..."

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After getting a cab, we finally arrived at our destination: Times Square. The only problem was, well... we didn't have the slightest clue to look. So, we searched just about every corner of the whole place.