Chapter 15: Alone

Naomi looked around completely shocked. She was in the middle of what was undoubtedly a settlement of centaurs. There was lots of buildings around-but they weren't really buildings, more like shelters with three walls and a roof. Most of them had several three-walled rooms built into them.

Bentain spoke gently to her. "Come, you need food and rest."

Naomi did not protest. She followed Bentain through the dwellings, Kenthar behind her, until they reached one on the edge of the village. It was slightly bigger than the rest, and looked a bit more fancy, too. Bentain walked up to the front room, which was open to the front. He called into the house, "Ferena! Come here, please!"

A woman centaur stepped out of the house. She was wearing a white shirt-type garment that set off her tan. She had long brown hair and a light-brown body like Kenthar's.

"What is it, Bentain?" she asked mildly. Then she spotted Naomi.

"Ferena, this girl will be staying with us for a while. Please make sure she gets rest and food."

"Of course." she turned to Kenthar. "How are you, son?"

So this was obviously Kenthar's mother and Bentain's wife.

"I'm fine, mother," said Kenthar quickly. "But father and I need to get to the meeting-"

"Oh, yes, of course."

Kenthar and Bentain hurriedly said goodbye and trotted off to the center of the village. Naomi watched them until they were out of sight. She felt a bit awkward as she was the only human there. Ferena spoke gently.

"Come, child. You need to lay down for a bit. What is your name?"

"Naomi, ma'am."

"Just Ferena, dear. Come on, now." Ferena led Naomi into one of the back rooms in the house, where there was a small water basin, a table, and a bed. It looked quite comfortable. Naomi was a bit surprised that a human's bed would be in a centaur's village, but decided she would just ask later.

Naomi sat down on the mattress of the bed, which was very soft. Ferena left for a moment and came back with some food. Naomi ate slowly, then curled up under the covers and fell asleep.

×××××××

She woke before dawn the next morning. No one else seemed to be stirring in the village. Naomi lay there for a while, unsure of what to do, when an owl landed in the windowsill. She jumped up and took the letter from the large gray and white owl, which immediately took flight again.

She opened the letter with trembling hands, afraid of what might be inside. It was written in her people's language, and said:

Naomi-

I'm afraid your grandfather has gotten worse. He doesn't have much longer now. He keeps begging for someone to bring you to him, he really wants to see you one last time. If you can, come home. We all miss you.

-Jessie

Naomi swallowed. She had been terrified that the letter would say he had died. She would have never forgiven herself if she hadn't seen him one last time...hadn't said goodbye...

Tears were running down her face now. Why did I have to come to Hogwarts? No one wants me here, I don't belong here... Hardly anything else had been on her mind lately. As she tried to stop crying, a thought struck her. Leave.

She could hardly bear to stay away from home much longer. She wanted to see her friends again. Jessica was her best friend from the castle, and Melody was her best friend from her village. Hermione was the only real friend Naomi had at Hogwarts, but Hermione still had Ron and Harry like she always did.

The thought of Harry caused Naomi to stand up and start towards the door. She would just keep running until she came out on the other side of the forest. Maybe then she could find her way home.

She slipped out of the house and started in the direction she knew she hadn't come into the village from. She slipped through the buildings, trying hard not to wake anyone. When she finally came into the forest again, she felt loneliness take over her in an instant. With this loneliness came fear, fear that she was leaving behind safety and running into the unknown.

But all she could do was run. She turned and sprinted away from the centaur village, away from the school. She ran and ran, the trees nothing but dark blurs. The forest was not getting any lighter as the rising of the sun approached. Finally, unable to carry on, Naomi slumped onto a large rock. It was very cool and felt wonderful. Soon she had drifted off to sleep again.

××××××××

Then next day Dumbledore told Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Luna to come with him. Harry didn't think Dumbledore's plan was very full proof, but he couldn't do anything about it.

They were to go into the forest and find the centaurs. Dumbledore would try to persuade them to help look for Naomi, and hope they would agree. First, however, Dumbledore had scribbled a note and sent Luna to the owlry to send it. No one knew what it was about.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry set off after Dumbledore. As soon as they reached the entrance hall, Luna appeared, panting. Together they hurried off to the forest.

Harry had been in the forest on many occasions before, but he hadn't ever been so deep into it. He didn't know how big the forest was, but he thought they must be near the heart of it. They had been walking for hours when Dumbledore finally told them to stop.

"The centaur's village is just ahead," he quietly told them. "We do not want to alarm them. I sent an owl ahead, so I hope they will not attack."

Harry gulped. Attack?

They proceeded forward and just as they passed a clump of bushes they saw many three-sided houses that seemed to be home to centaurs. There was many centaurs milling about the village, but they seemed to be headed in one general direction-the center of the village.

Dumbledore led them through the stone houses until they came to what seemed to be the village square-or something similar. There was a few centaurs standing on a raised platform while the others gathered around them. The ones on the platform were looking very grave. Three of them Harry had never seen. One had a light-brown body and matching hair that was long and tied back. Another had darker brown hair that way graying and a cream-colored body. Another Harry recognized as Bane, with wild black hair and a black body. The fourth one was definitely Ronan, who had orange hair with a matching tail and beard, and a chestnut body. The fifth one Harry had never seen before. He had a dark brown body, shoulder-length black hair, and sharp blue eyes.

Just then another centaur walked to the platform. This one was the chief, Magorian, Harry remembered him from last year.

Dumbledore walked up to Magorian and said carefully, "I am sorry to bother you. I trust you got the letter I sent earlier?"

"Yes," said Magorian, nodding. "And I think you should know that we have found the girl."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione let out relieved sighs.

"But we do not have her any longer."

Harry froze. She was gone. How could this have happened?

"You do not have her? I'm afraid I don't fully understand," said Dumbledore.

"I think it would be best for Bentain to tell of this."

The centaur with brown-and-gray hair and a cream-colored body spoke now.

"We read in the stars long ago that a raven girl would come to us. She would bring good fortune to the tribe. While the five of us-" here he indicated Bane, Ronan, and the two other centaurs. "-Were out, we found a girl laying on the ground. It seemed that she had collapsed there. Bane picked her up and she woke. We all saw that she was surely the raven girl we read of in the stars. My son and I took her back to our house where Ferena took care of her. This happened yesterday."

The only centaur that Harry didn't know the name of yet, Bentain's son, now spoke. "This morning I woke and found that she was no longer in her bed. Mother looked around and saw footprints leading out of the village. Bane was furious. He thought we should go find her. But Father said we should not oppose the raven girl. If we did, surely the good luck she brought would be reversed."

Magorian nodded. "Thank you, Kenthar. So you see, Dumbledore, we do not know where she could have gone."

Naomi started as she heard footsteps approaching. She sat up and looked frantically around. She thought she saw the hem of someone's robes flick around a tree, but she wasn't sure. Just then she heard voices.

"...I'll never forgive myself for this. How could I have been so stupid?"

That was definitely Harry's voice. Naomi didn't want to be found. She panicked and ran away from the voices, hurtling through the forest, ignoring the excited shouts from the people behind her. There was a low V-shape in a tree ahead, and she desperately jumped through it...

×××××××××

Ron and Hermione looked just as confused as Harry was as they hurried through the forest, following the footprints left by Naomi. Luna, however, looked just as dreamy as she always was, looking around the forest with mild interest.

"Professor, what was that letter you found in the room she stayed in?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"It was from one of her closest friends from her home. It said that her grandfather was getting worse. I fear she will try to get home now."

"...I'll never forgive myself for this. How could I have been so stupid?"

Hermione had just opened her mouth to tell Harry that he shouldn't be so hard on himself when they saw movement up ahead. Harry thought he saw long, black hair whip out of sight.

"I think it's her!"

They all ran forward, but she was gone. There was a large rock under a tree, and the footprints led right up to it. Then the freshest ones they had seen yet ran away from it and into a clump of trees. Harry wasted no time in following them.

×××××××××

Naomi came through the other side of the tree and felt her feet hit soft sand. This caught her by surprise and she overbalanced, falling down into the sand.

There's no sand in the forest...I know there can't be...She slowly picked herself up and looked around. She was on a beach with white sand and crystal-clear water. She turned around and saw trees that were definitely not the menacing trees from the Forbidden Forest. These trees were not as dense, and sunlight filtered through to the forest floor. She looked back up and down the beach and realized that she had known this the second she got up from the ground. She knew this beach. She had played here so many times as a little girl...she was home.

She turned to her right and made her way down the stretch of sand, towards the cliffs surrounding the bay. She loved that bay. It always seemed to be separated from the rest of the island, and it was where she went to be alone and think.

She picked up her pace until she was sprinting down the beach, towards the cliff. She turned right again when she reached the end of the beach and made her way through the trees. It was so beautiful with the sunlight filtering through in large patches...

She wound through the forest until she reached a field of crops. She was almost there.

She ran past the field, along the river, until she reached the village. She found her house and ducked inside. She stopped a few paces in and looked around at what she saw.

Many people that she knew where standing around the bed, where her grandfather lay. She stood there for a few moments, taking it in, when a small voice said, "You made it."

××××××××

Harry came to an abrupt halt. The footprints led right up to a tree with a V-shaped space in it. They stopped about a foot from it, so he thought Naomi must have leapt through the tree. He walked around it and didn't find any footprints on the other side. He came back around, bewildered, and found Dumbledore examining the tree, muttering under his breath. Harry moved over to Ron, Hermione, and Luna.

"The footprints just...stop. It doesn't make any sense!" Harry said angrily.

Ron, looking baffled, said, "Maybe she's up in the tree?"

Luna snorted with laughter. "Yeah, right, Ron, like she's going to hide in a tree if she thinks someone's chasing her."

Hermione was staring, wide-eyed, at Dumbledore. She seemed to understand what he was doing more than the rest of them did. "Professor," she whispered. "Do you think it's-"

"I believe it is the most logical explanation, Miss Granger."

"What? What is it?" said Ron.

"A magical portal."

"...A what?"

"A magical portal, Ron. They rarely work more than a few times...they will take whoever goes through them to wherever it is they want to go to. No one really knows how they form." Hermione explained.

Ron and Harry gaped at her. "So..." Harry began. "You think she went through here and appeared...back in her homeland?"

"It appears so. Come, we must not waste any more time." said Dumbledore.

Dumbledore climbed through the portal and disappeared. Harry followed, and Ron, Hermione, and Luna came behind him.

They came out on a beach with white sand and clear blue water. It was beautiful. But Harry didn't have much time to appreciate nature at the moment. He sprinted after Dumbledore, who was already halfway down the beach.

They ran through the forest until they finally came to a village that was made up of the teepees Harry had seen in his Geography books while he went to Muggle school. Dumbledore stopped outside of one of the largest ones and motioned for Harry to enter. He did, but stood just inside the entrance so that no one would notice him. Dumbledore followed, but the others stayed outside.

×××××××××

Naomi turned and saw Jessica looking at her. Naomi nodded, tears in her eyes, and walked over to her grandfather. Everyone stepped out of the way for Naomi. She knelt by the bed and took her grandfather's hand. His eyes opened and he beamed at the sight of her.

"You came," he whispered.

"I had to," said Naomi softly, taking his hand in both of hers.

He smiled and said, "You look...exactly like your mother."

A tear ran down Naomi's cheek as she looked at him. He spoke again in the soft whisper he could manage.

"I want you to always remember me when you feel the wind blow. Remember your mother and father, and brother and sister. We are always with you..."

Naomi nodded and was unable to sustain a sob. She looked into his eyes.

"I...love...you...my granddaughter..." and his eyes closed.

"No," gasped Naomi. She laid her head on his chest, crying uncontrollably, until one of the men lifted her gently off. A few more men carried off the body of her grandfather, and she sat there on the edge of the bed, watching them out of hopeless, dead eyes.

Once they were gone she stood up and ran from the house, and she didn't seem to have even noticed Harry or Dumbledore. Harry and Dumbledore looked at each other, then followed her out of the tent. Ron, Hermione, and Luna were outside. It seemed that they had seen everyone that left the house, so they knew about what had happened. Harry sighed.

"I'll try to find her."

Dumbledore nodded and told Ron, Hermione, and Luna to come with him to talk to one of the village elders.

Harry went out in the general direction that Naomi had gone. He wandered through the trees, eventually beginning to think he'd never find her, when he came out of the trees. and right in the middle was a rock jutting out over the edge, like a peninsula. Naomi was standing on the edge of it, looking out into the ocean. Harry stayed back in the shadows, not wanting to be seen just yet, as he didn't know what he should say to her. Harry heard Naomi whisper to the wind, "...I've never felt so alone..."

A voice called up from the bottom of the cliff.

"Naomi? Come down here, I want to talk to you!" It was the voice of the girl who had spoken to Naomi in her house.

Naomi looked down over the edge of the cliff, tears still running down her face, and shook her head. She backed up. Harry shrunk back into the shadows, but Naomi wasn't coming his way. She got a running start, then threw herself over the edge of the cliff.

Harry cried out and ran to the edge of the cliff, he looked desperately over and saw that she had gone into a graceful dive. Harry sighed with relief. He hadn't realized that the cliffs made a bay, so she was just diving into the water. Her friend was on the shore, waiting for her to get to the bottom.

Naomi broke the surface, hardly making a splash at all. Harry watched as she came back up and swam to the shore. He turned and hurried off back into the trees, and began to wind his way downward. He finally came out in the beach, but saw that Naomi and her friend were almost halfway down already. He set off after them, but he didn't want to be seen yet, so he kept a good distance between them.

They rounded a bend and disappeared from sight. Harry sped up to catch them, but as soon as he rounded the bend he found that they had stopped, only a few feet away from him.

He slipped quickly into the trees and listened quietly.

"Well, I can't force you to come, of course. I just thought you'd like to see everyone up there again..."

"I do want to see them, Jess...I just don't want to leave right now. Thanks, though."

Jess nodded. "I understand. When are you going back to Hogwarts?"

Naomi grabbed one of her arms in an embarrassed sort of way and looked down at her feet. "Never."

Jess blinked. "Why? Did something happen?"

"Lots of things happened. I'll tell you later, Jessica. You have to get back to the castle now. Tell Dawn I said hello."

Jessica nodded again and turned to leave. Naomi watched her until she was out of sight, then turned and looked out to the ocean. She sighed.

"I should never have left here. No good came out of it..."

She turned and headed to the trees. Luckily, she walked just beside Harry and didn't see him.

He looked after her and sighed. Harry realized that, as Hermione had said, Naomi had it worse than Harry ever had. She understood him, and he didn't have the brains to realize that she'd never be a Death Eater. He got up and followed her.

He didn't actually see Naomi until he came to a small hill that rose up out of the ground. He saw a person standing on top of it, and knew at once that it was Naomi. He took a deep breath and began climbing towards her. He was hardly even to the hill when Naomi spotted him. She ran down the slope, her hair flowing out behind her. She stopped just in front of him, looked him in the face, then threw her arms around his neck. Harry was quite taken aback. Before he could react, however, Naomi had pulled away and she was now gazing into his eyes, tears shining on her face.

"Naomi, I-" Harry began.

"Shhh..." she whispered, pressing a finger to his lips. "You don't have to say anything."

"Yes, I do. I was being really stupid and I should have-"

"It doesn't matter. I understand."

At these last words Harry felt a wave of emotion wash over him. She understands. She's the only person I know who fully understands me. He felt a jolt in his stomach as he realized that the emotion coming over him was...love. Harry was reminded of something Hermione had said to him. 'It wasn't just a stupid crush. She literally loved you.'

Harry took Naomi in his arms and held her close. She had forgiven him. He hadn't expected her to forgive him that quickly. Harry took her by the shoulders and held her in front of him, gazing into her dark eyes. Naomi slowly put her hands around his neck, and they drew close. She closed her eyes, and Harry felt like he was going to burst. They were seconds from the kiss when Ron's voice suddenly floated over to them. "Harry? You there?"

Harry and Naomi broke apart, Harry feeling quite annoyed. Naomi, however, looked like she was trying her hardest not to laugh.

Ron came into view with Hermione and Luna, and Naomi bit her lip hard to keep from laughing.

"There you are, Harry!" cried Hermione. Then, "Naomi! He found you, then?"

"Um..." said Naomi with a sideways glance at Harry. "No, Hermione, he didn't. I'm just standing here and I don't know where on earth he is."

Hermione laughed, and this finally set off Naomi. She let out the fits of giggles that had been fighting to get out of her, and she could hardly stand. Harry couldn't help laughing now, and soon Ron had joined in. It felt so good, laughing at practically nothing. These are real friends. Harry thought, looking around at his dearest friends in the world. Finally they stopped and decided to find Dumbledore.

They made their way back to the village, Naomi now looking very subdued. A tall, strong-looking young man who looked about 20 years old approached them.

"Princess Naomi, I think we may have found them!"

Harry froze. Princess? He thought, gaping at Naomi. But then, Well what did you think, you moron? She said she'd have to take over after her grandfather died, so that was self-explanatory...

Naomi turned urgently to the man. "You did? Where?"

"Far from here, I'm afraid. Princess Dawn said a few soldiers are going to try and get them."

"That's great! Can I go with them?"

"No. Princess Dawn said you are to stay here or at the castle."

Naomi sighed. "Okay. Well, thank you very much for the news."

The young man bowed and walked away. Ron turned to her, looking dumbstruck.

"Princess? You're a princess?"

"Just of the tribe here," she said, waving her hand around the village. "And the smaller islands around the mainland. Princess Dawn is the princess of the whole kingdom. Not me."

Ron closed his mouth, but continued staring at her. Hermione looked like she had known all along.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" demanded Harry.

"Well, like I said before, I just wasn't ready to tell everything. And besides, I was hoping to have nobody at the school know because I was afraid they would treat me differently."

Harry found that he could completely understand this. After all, he was famous, and people usually treated him differently for it. He caught Naomi's eye and realized that Hermione had been right. 'Out of all of us, Naomi understands you best.' Harry knew that he understood Naomi and Naomi understood him. It was a great feeling, to have a friend who knew what your life was like.

"We should find Dumbledore. I want to go up to the castle," said Naomi, not taking her eyes off of Harry.

"I see you are safe, Naomi. I am very thankful for your well-being."

Dumbledore had come up behind them without them noticing. He was smiling warmly at Naomi.

"Thank you, Professor." She hung her head. "And...I'm sorry."

"Aw, you shouldn't be apologizing, Naomi. It was my fault." Harry said quickly.

"I believe that there is not any one person we can lay the blame on. It was an accident, and nothing more. Now, you said you want to go to the castle, Naomi?"

"Yes, sir. Can I?"

"Of course. However, I do not want you to go alone."

"I'll go with her, Professor," Harry said quickly.

"Ron and I, as well," Hermione said.

Luna spoke now. "I'll go."

"No, I am sorry, but not all of you can go. You need to get back to the school, remember. I believe, Harry, that you should go with her. I will take the rest of you back."

Ron, Hermione, and Luna groaned and protested. Dumbledore smiled at them all, and said, "If you would really like to go, you may do so. Just be careful and come back as soon as you can."

Everyone brightened up at this, and Naomi looked a bit more cheerful.

"I must return to the school. I would prefer it if at least one of you came back with me, but I will let you decide," Dumbledore continued. Luna sighed.

"I'll go back with you, Professor."

"Oh, Luna, you don't have t-" Naomi began. But Luna held up a hand to stop her.

"It's okay. You guys go ahead."

××××××××

Naomi led them down the river until they reached the sea. It was absolutely beautiful.

She turned and led them along the beach to where a small sailboat was bobbing in the waves. It was just big enough to fit all of them.

They all climbed into the boat, Naomi in the back. The wind wasn't blowing with them, however, so Harry didn't see how they were supposed to go anywhere. Naomi stood up in the back of the boat and spread her arms wide, palms pointing out and her eyes closed. She looked like she was concentrating very hard, and suddenly brought one hand up to point to the sky.

A wind began to blow behind them that filled the sail and caused the boat to move. Harry and Ron gaped at her, and Hermione even looked surprised.

Naomi glanced around casually and asked, "What are you staring at?"

"How did you do that?" cried Harry.

Naomi smiled. "Didn't you hear what grandfather said to me?"

Harry thought back. 'I want you to remember me when you feel the wind blow. Remember your mother and father, and brother and sister. We are always with you.'

He suddenly started. "How did you know I was there? I didn't think you saw us when you left..."

Naomi smiled again and said, "When you said you were looking for me, I figured you had listened into that...especially because Professor Dumbledore was there."

Even though she was smiling, her eyes were filling with tears. Harry quickly changed the subject.

"So...where are we gong, exactly?"

Naomi looked glad Harry had brought up something else, and pointed ahead of them. Harry turned and saw a large island ahead. There was a tall mountain just to the right of the area they were headed to. Naomi explained that this island was the biggest of the group of islands that made up the country. The castle was in the middle of the crescent-shaped mountain range than ran along the North side of the island.

They bumped against the shore and climbed out of the boat. There was a steep path ahead of them, with trees on either side. Naomi led the way up the winding path until they came out in a very large open field, with lots of small, rolling hills. Ahead and to their right Harry could see what looked like the top of a castle. He pointed to it and asked, "Is that where we're going?"

"Yes, but I wish we had horses. It would have been a lot faster..."

They started off in the direction of the castle. After about ten minutes they were in the dip between two hills. Naomi held out a hand to stop them, and hissed, "Shh!"

Harry could hear what sounded like hoof beats. Naomi looked frantically around, then stared at the top of the hill they were about to climb.

A figure riding a horse came galloping into view. The horse came down to the dip where they were, and halted right next to Naomi.

Before Harry could figure out what was going on, the rider had slipped off of the horse and Naomi was squealing, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! How did you know where to find us?" she sounded delighted.

The rider pulled her into a tight hug and swung her around in a circle before putting her down and saying, "Dumbledore said you might be needing some assistance."

Harry was finally able to get a good look at this person. He looked only about four years older than Harry, and was very muscular and tan. He had yellow hair that swept into his face and blue eyes. He was wearing riding pants, a green tunic, and a traveling cloak.

Naomi spoke to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "This is Shadow," she said, still beaming up at the newcomer.

"Hey," Harry said stiffly, feeling a bit angry. Naomi looked sharply at him, apparently because of his lack of enthusiasm, but Harry pretended not to notice.

Shadow held out his hand to shake Harry's. Harry took it, thinking he might as well be polite, and said, "I'm Harry, and this is Ron and Hermione."

Shadow's eyes widened. "Harry Potter?"

Harry nodded.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Potter!"

Harry felt the color rise in his face, and heard Naomi stifling giggles. "It's just Harry," he muttered.

Shadow shook everyone's hands, then turned to his horse. "I brought a few brooms...Here you go."

He handed everyone a broomstick, and Harry noticed that they were all fairly good models, Nimbus 2000's.

"I'm riding back, but you all can fly." Shadow said, starting to mount the horse.

"I've got an idea," said Naomi quickly. "How about I ride and you fly?"

"No way, Naomi. You're a better flyer than me, anyway."

Naomi sighed in defeat and picked up her broom. She looked at Harry, who was still glaring at Shadow, then said, "Ron and Hermione, you go ahead. Just follow Shadow. Harry and I will catch up."

They looked curious about this, but agreed anyway. They mounted their brooms and flew off, following Shadow on his galloping horse. As soon as they were out of earshot, Naomi turned to Harry.

"What's the matter with you?"

Harry looked at her for a long time, and realized that she looked curious and a bit angry, but not furious. He hesitated before saying, "You know you could have just told me."

"Harry, what-"

"So you like him! I wouldn't have cared if you'd just told me!"

"Harry you're being stupid-"

"You do like him, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, but-"

"Then why do you still care about me?"

"HARRY! You're not listening to me again!"

Harry froze. These words really hit him hard

"Harry, I do like Shadow. I like him as a friend. You need to stop assuming so much. I know it's not your fault, because you didn't know, but maybe next time you should just think about it. I don't like him in that way, because I'm in love with...someone else," She said these last words very softly and looked deep into his eyes for a long time. Harry swallowed.

"Okay...well, I guess we should catch up to them now...and I'm sorry."

Naomi smiled and kissed him gently on the cheek. Harry felt his face get really hot, and felt like kicking himself. Why did he have to go red? It made him look so stupid...But he was very thankful when Naomi paid no attention to it. She mounted her broom and said, "Come on, we can catch up to them!"

Harry laughed and hopped onto his broomstick. They both rose into the air and sped off towards the far-off castle. After a while Harry saw two black specs in the air, and one on the ground. They got closer and saw that it was Ron, Hermione, and Shadow. Soon they were right next to Ron and Hermione.

They both looked shocked that Harry and Naomi had managed to catch up to them. Naomi laughed, the wind whipping her hair back, and Harry felt his spirit soaring. He was feeling better than he had since...he couldn't remember when.

They finally reached the village Harry had seen around the castle, and landed just outside of it. Shadow took all of their brooms and walked off, leading his horse. Naomi led the way into the town.

They walked down a few streets and alleyways, until they came out in what seemed to be the marketplace. Naomi walked through the crowd, not stopping in any of the shops. A whole lot of people greeted her warmly, and it seemed that she was well known there.

They reached the other side of the marketplace, walked through a few more streets with houses on either side, then came out on a dirt road that ran through a gorge in the foothills of the mountain. It curved around a sharp turn ahead of them, but Harry looked up and saw over the top of the ride a beautiful castle made of white stone. Naomi led them around the bend in the road, and there was a large iron gate in an archway made of the same white stone. A guard stood by the gate, watching them carefully. The guard recognized Naomi, it seemed, and called an order to the other side of the gate. It creaked open, and suddenly someone ran through it, crying out happily.