November 1st, 2023 // Diagon Alley
When Ava stopped outside the store to pick up the Daily Prophet that morning, the news it contained was enough to make her blood run cold. Harry Potter; the saviour, the one they all thought was indestructible — dead. Kingsley Shacklebolt, their leader — dead. Minerva McGongall, Ava’s favourite teacher and a role model to so many — dead. Ava couldn’t read past the headline; all she saw was DEATH EATERS in screaming capitals. As a halfblood, she wasn’t as much of a target as Muggleborns, but that didn’t make her any less afraid.
"Please tell me this is a joke."
The entirety of Diagon Alley had been in a panic as of late. Many witches and wizards were scurrying about, trying to purchase everything they would need in case the world were to end in a matter of minutes. The news had been devastating -- Spencer herself had to lock herself away for a long while when she had heard, unsure of how to cope -- but there was more that needed to be done. The strength of the Death Eater's was growing, and it was growing far too fast for her liking. Pushing through the maddening crowd, Spencer clung to her parcels as she attempted to head back to the apparition point she had seen only a couple of hours ago. However, a swift bump from her left and a stranger's foot tripping her from her right sent her falling down: right at the feet of another woman. Spencer attempted to mutter out an apology, but words were at a loss for her.
Unsurprising, really. Until she saw the Daily Prophet in the woman's hands. "Gone," she said quietly, sadly, as she slowly stood up with her items. "All three."
