Ginny was going to die. She felt it with absolute certainty as she stared into the face of the growling boar, already snarling in anticipation of a good meal.

It crept closer and closer, Ginny attempting to pull Harry back and shield him from what would surely be his death as well as her own.

He refused to move. In a whisper, he told her to get in the water. He was reasonably certain wild boars couldn't swim.

Ginny took a tentative step back to comply, then several more. Fast as lighting, the boar growled even louder and, moving in a half circle, positioned itself in between them and the sea.

"Ginny," Harry started, his voice breaking with emotion. "I'm so sorr-"

She cut him off abruptly. "I love you Harry. It's okay."

The animal went back on its hind legs, preparing to strike.

Closing her eyes in anticipation of the attack, Ginny didn't see the magnificent beast bearing down on them from the forest.

At the sound of a powerful neigh from behind, Ginny's eyes flew open just in time to see a majestic white horse, now kicking its powerful legs at the boar's head and torso. The boar hissed in response, trying several times to bite the horse before succeeding. The horse reared up, its front leg now bleeding a bright red against a pure white coat, and delivered a kick that sent the boar back several feet. It remained still for a moment, then vanished in a swirl of black mist.

Ginny and Harry first stared at each other, then at the horse, which hobbled over to them.

Ginny reached out a tentative hand, then couldn't help but grin as the horse nuzzled her palm with its nose.

"Thank you," she murmured softly, rubbing first his nose, then the top of his head right between the ears. "You saved us."

"Gin, he's hurt," Harry interjected. He pointed out the injury to her.

"Oh, you poor thing!" Ginny exclaimed. She began to tear a part of her t-shirt off when the horse bumped her shoulder softly, then cocked his head back and forth to the side, as if to say, I'll be fine.

The horse then turned towards Harry and neighed loudly. Approaching the horse cautiously, Harry was surprised to see the horse lower his rear.

Casting a quick glance back at Ginny, Harry said, "I think he wants me to climb on."

The horse neighed again as if to affirm. Ginny watched Harry mount the horse, and had barely the chance to exclaim loudly when the horse sped away, Harry perched precariously on its back.

Harry, for that matter, almost fell off, so quick was the horse's burst of speed. He managed to grab its mane and hold on for dear life. After yelling at Ginny to get in the water for safety, he tried to glance back to make sure she'd complied and nearly unseated himself in the process.

The horse surged down the beach, kicking up sand everywhere. For once, Harry was glad he wore glasses; they protected him from most of it.

Harry had to wrap him arms fully around the horse's neck as it made a sudden, sharp turn.

He could now make out Hermione's head in the distance. As he got closer, he could see Ron lying prone on the sand.

Harry's heartbeat sped up again. The horse came to a stop next to Hermione, who was crying hysterically and attempting to resuscitate Ron by CPR. She didn't stop when Harry dismounted and fell to the sand next to her, but continued beating on Ron's chest and breathing for him.

The horse whinnied again, and dropped his rear as he had done before. Harry grabbed hold of Hermione's shoulders.

"Hermione, I think the horse knows how to help Ron."

Hermione shrugged Harry's hands off of her, and continued on as if she hadn't heard him. Harry grabbed her again, and added a shake to capture her attention.

"Hermione! You have to let me take Ron. I promise, we'll help him."

"He just collapsed, Harry," was her despondent reply. "He's not breathing. He's dead."

"He's not dead." Harry's voice was firm with conviction. "He's not."

Harry slung Ron's limp arm around his neck, then heaved his body towards the horse.

Harry swung up behind Ron, bracing him against his chest with one arm before grabbing hold of the horse's mane with the other.

"Find Ginny," he ordered, and was gone.

*************************************************************

Harry cursed as yet another tree branch whipped into his face. The horse had carried them deep into the forest. Harry no longer recognized anything around him.

Ron was pale and still beneath him. Harry didn't dare attempt to check for a pulse or breath; he didn't want to know. All his prayers were with the horse, hoping with all his heart that the beast knew what it was doing.

Just as he'd finished that thought, Harry heard a thundering sound. The air was suddenly cooler as well. Harry felt a slight mist on his skin just as the trees cleared, giving way to the incredible sight before him.

It was a lake. A beautiful, crystal clear blue lake, complete with bright, exotic flowers and a large waterfall that spilled a lightly breezing mist into the atmosphere.

The horse slowed, but Harry barely noticed. The sight was simply too beautiful to be real.

The horse approached the edge of the water, and Harry was preparing to dismount when suddenly, it leaped straight forward straight into the lake, taking Ron and Harry along.

Harry sputtered up above the surface a moment later. Not immediately seeing Ron floating in the water, Harry panicked and dived again, after first slinging his glasses toward the mossy bank of the lake.

 Harry searched underwater for several moments, his desperation growing, when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. Ron's body was bobbing slowly away, drifting along with the ripples caused by the water fall.

Harry swam feverishly, trying to reach Ron before he ran out of breath. Harry managed to grab hold of Ron's shirt and pull him back towards him. Harry was startled half to death when Ron's eyes abruptly opened underwater.

Harry yelped and released Ron, who flailed his way to the surface in search of oxygen. Harry followed soon thereafter, watching as Ron managed to hoist himself onto the bank, falling onto his back and breathing in loud, harsh gasps.

Harry collapsed next to him, stunned and grateful beyond relief. He sat up abruptly, searching for the white horse that had saved Ron. Harry found it across the lake, staring back at them. It stood motionless for a moment, then lowered its head in what seemed to Harry like a bow, before cantering away into the trees.

Harry would later remember that its leg no longer had a wound.

********************************************************

Harry had no idea how he and Ron managed their way out of the forest and back to their camp. He had picked a direction and they had set off, leaving a trail by marking trees with rocks. Along the way, Harry attempted to question Ron on what had happened, but Ron had remained uncharacteristically tight-lipped about the whole matter. Harry left it alone, knowing quite well how it felt to be forced to talk things he had no desire to.

It seemed like ages before he and Ron came upon the muddy water where they had been introduced to slugs. They walked faster, and eventually exited the trees to find Hermione and Ginny huddled together by the fire.

The girls both jumped up and ran toward them, embracing them both in turn.

"You're all right!" Hermione murmured wonderingly. She looked absolutely horrible, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"Yeah," was Ron's short reply before he buried his face in her hair and held on.

 Ginny motioned silently to Harry, who nodded in understanding. They walked off a bit in order to give the other couple some privacy.

"What in the world happened?" Ginny demanded. "Hermione made it sound as if Ron was-was-"

Harry shrugged, absolutely bewildered as to the events that had transpired. "Gin, to be honest, I think he was. Then the horse took us to this lake, and as soon as we fell in, he woke up."

"He just woke up?"

"Yeah." As was his nervous habit, Harry moved to push his glasses up his nose with a finger, then suddenly realized they weren't on his face.

"Gin?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"I'm not wearing my glasses, am I?"

"No, why?"

Harry blinked a couple times to make sure, then said, "Because I can see you perfectly."

Ginny's own eyes widened considerably. "When was the last time you wore them?"

"Right before the- the lake! That's it, Ginny! I bet it has healing properties of some sort. That's why Ron woke up, why I can see without my glasses, and why the horse's wound healed itself."

"It sounds incredible Harry. Are you sure there isn't some other explanation?"

"What else could it be?"

"I have no idea. Do you think you could find it again?"

"Definitely. We marked our path back."

"So we'll take a trip, first thing tomorrow. I want to see this lake for myself."

'You don't believe me."

"No, I do." Ginny bit her lip. "That's what worries me."

*********************************************************

She watched him approach with guarded eyes. She made no sound as he transformed from beast back to man.

He stood next to her, and there was a tense silence for a time before her quiet words of censure came.

"Liam, you should not have interfered."

His response was sharp, roughened by anger and frustration.

"He broke the covenant first."

"That excuses nothing."

"What would you have me do? Leave them to be murdered one by one, and our hope for an end to this exile gone with them?"

"There were other ways."

"None so effective and pleasing."

"You have only angered him. He will return, stronger and more cunning."

"We will be ready for him."

"But will they?"

His silence was answer enough.

"Perhaps," she ventured softly, "it is time to begin. We have watched them enough. We no longer have the luxury of patience."

"They aren't ready. The bond has not yet been formed. How do we know they're worthy?"

"Do you think he'll wait for it before he comes for them? He takes no chances in his quest for power."

With a growl, Liam moved away from her, turning his back and crossing his arms.

"If we fail, if they aren't who we believe they are, they will die and we will never return home."

She reached out to clasp his hand in hers. "So we will not fail."

He nodded slightly. "Start the visions. Begin with the youngest girl, her heart is the most open."

Lana smiled in agreement. Clearing her mind, she focused on connecting to the small, fiery redhead with the large heart and ferocious temper. And began.

*****************************************************************

Yes- plot plot and more plot. Are you excited yet?

I dropped a LOT of hints this chapter. See if you can piece something together.

Next up-

* Ginny dreams of another time and place.

* Ron's reaction to his behavior.

* Harry tries to find his glasses.

* Hermione has….issues.

All that and…..Harry's epiphany revealed! I wanted to put it in this chapter, but the flow wouldn't allow for it.