Chapter 22

Premonition

James' mind wandered all throughout everything that had happened since the night he was sent to the future. Harry Potter is his son. Lily Evans is his wife. He and Lily are dead. Sirius is dead. Peter betrays the Potters. His son is Voldemort's main target. His son has faced death more times than he could ever imagine. His son is on a quest to destroy Voldemort. He had to live through Voldemort's return—wait! Return? When did he leave? When did he take a break? What happened? And the Horcrux they have, weren't they supposed to destroy it? Where is it? Did they already destroy it?

"Where's the locket?" James asked, startling the entire car.

"Right here," Ron said, pulling a gold chain from his shirt.

"Why haven't we destroyed it yet?"

"We need it to get to Voldemort's lair. We don't know where it is," Harry said.

"How is that necklace going to help us?" James asked.

"When Potter touches it, he and anyone else touching it is transported to the Dark Lord's lair, remember?" Draco said.

"Oh, right." The van became silent once again. James looked at Lily and brushed her beautiful red hair away from her face. She stirred, but did not wake.

The car remained silent until it was almost dark. "I don't think we'll be able to find a place to—"

"Hermione, look out!" Ron yelled, pointing at the road. There was a man standing in the road, blocking their way. Hermione slammed on the breaks, causing the passengers to suddenly lurch forward. She stopped inches away from the man. He walked right up to Hermione's door and asked her to unroll her window. She cautiously obeyed.

"Is Harry Potter in here?" The occupants of the car became eerily quiet when the man said this. He had blue eyes and red hair with a receding hair line. He had many wrinkles from too much sun and spoke with an accent. Finally, Harry spoke. "Why do you want to know?"

"I am Christopher Brunson, Top for short. I heard Mr. Potter was here in Romania and had a little trouble when he arrived. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help."

"That's very nice, but I think we'll be alright."

"No, you will not, Mr. Potter. You don't know what has been going on all day today. Trouble is astir like none ever seen here by wizards or muggles alike.

"You're a wizard?" Ron asked.

"Of course, boy! What muggle would have heard of the Boy-Who-Lived? 'Cept the ones who were asked about you by the men in black cloaks."

"Death Eaters? Asking for me in Romania? Why?"

"All day, they've been asking us. I must have been asked fifty times. They're mighty desperate to get you."

"I'll bet," Harry said.

"So is it true? Are you really the only one who can stop He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"You said you could help us?" Hermione changed the subject.

"Ah, right. I have a house about a hundred yards away from this spot. Me and my wife live there. It's not much, but it should do. How many of you are there?"

"There's eight of us."

The man's face fell. "I'm afraid we only have three extra beds set for one each. Of course, my wife and me could give up our bed and you could also use the sofa…"

"Oh, no. Three beds and a sofa will do fine. The floor would be perfect as well," Harry said. "Anything's better than sleeping in a van!"

The man laughed. "Alright, then. You can leave the car here. It won't fit through those trees. Lara'll be so excited and relieved to see you. She's been worried sick about you, Mr. Potter, ever since those men asked about you!"

It took a few minutes to get out of the mini van. When thy finally got out, James carrying Lily, Sirius carrying Ginny, and Ron helping Harry stand, they walked through the woods behind Top.

Soon enough, they reached a small cottage like one in a fairy tale right down to the perfect flowerbed growing in front of the porch, though at the moment it was covered in snow.

"How charming!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Please!" Draco said, rolling his eyes. Hermione just scowled at him.

"Well, here it is. Follow me and I'll introduce you to Lara." He walked up the porch and opened the door. "Lara! I found Mr. Potter! He's got some friends with him too!"

The next thing they heard was a woman in her mid thirties running down the wooden stairs. She looked a lot like Mrs. Weasley, save the green eyes and blond hair pulled back into a tight ponytail.

"Oh! Top! You found him! I'm so glad." She rushed up to her husband and hugged him. Then she turned to Harry.

"Harry Potter! It's a pleasure to meet you," she said, shaking his hand.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Brunson."

"Oh, please, call me Lara. Ever since those nasty men came to our house asking for you, oh! It was so terrifying! How can you stand knowing they're all after you? That You-Know-Who's after you?"

"I'm sort of used to it by now."

James felt a twinge of guilt when Harry said that. It reminded him he wouldn't be around to help his son for long.

"Oh!" she cried, noticing Lily and Ginny being carried and Ron supporting Harry. "Here, bring the girls and Harry. We'll lay them down on a bed upstairs."

"Mrs. Brunson, I'm fine."

"Well, I just want to make sure and I told you to call me Lara." She led the group upstairs into a bedroom with two beds on the wall. James laid Lily on the first bed and Sirius laid Ginny on the second one.

"What happened to them?" Lara asked.

"Lily was hit with an impedimenta jinx and landed on a candy cart," James said, guiltily. "But, she'll be fine. She's just sleeping now."

"And her?" Lara said.

"Cruciatus Curse," Harry said.

"No! You're not serious?"

"I'm afraid we are."

"Oh, and there isn't a magical hospital for miles! We'll have to do the best we can here. Harry, we have another bed right here." She walked over to the wall and pulled on a string. A portion of the wall fell and revealed a foldaway bed. She pulled it down and motioned for Harry to sit on it.

"No, I'm fine, really."

"I'd rather be safe than sorry. We'll bring up some food for you and I'll allow your friends to eat here as well. I expect you're all very hungry and tired. We'll ready the couch downstairs and put a few blankets on the two chairs. We're still two short. If you don't mind, we can pull out more blankets and lay out a few on the floor or you could try to share a bed. Anything you want."

"I'll sleep on the floor," Sirius said.

"So will I," James said.

"Alright. You just relax up here and I'll bring some blankets and food."

They were alone again. Harry immediately got off his bed and walked over to Ginny's. He sat by her pillow and stroked her hair again.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," James said.

"Yeah, Harry. She'll get better," Hermione added.

Harry didn't say anything. He just looked into her unopened eyes and held her hand.

Ron walked over to Ginny's bed and stood by Harry. He placed his hand on his shoulder for comfort. "Don't worry. She's a Weasley and Weasley's fight." He smiled, but Harry didn't return it.

"She didn't wake up the entire ride here. I'm afraid she'll stop breathing."

"Harry, I don't know Ginny very well," James said. "But I do know that she loves you as much as you love her. She'll pull through."

"Th—" Harry coughed. "Thanks," he finished.

The door opened and Lara came in carrying two trays of four plates each. Top came in behind her carrying stacks of blankets.

"You sure have a lot of blankets," Sirius said.

"Well, we have very harsh winters here. It's always good to have extras around," Top said.

"I brought up two extra plates just in case the girls wake up," Lara said, setting the trays on the table in between the girls' beds. "Help yourselves to some food, when you're ready."

Sirius walked up to the tray and grabbed a plate. Everyone followed but Harry.

"Harry, you need to eat," Hermione said.

"I'll eat later."

The room fell silent. The Brunson's noticed the uncomfortable silence and decided to break it.

"You are welcome to stay here as long as you want."

"We probably won't stay too long. We need to get to the Black Sea as soon as possible and we have to stay on the move so Voldemort doesn't catch up to us."

The couple shivered at the sound of the name. "Well, I guess we'll leave you to sleep. The couch and chairs are ready for you when you want. We're going to head on to bed now. Goodnight," Top said.

"Goodnight," the group called. "Thank you."

The couple smiled, left the room, and closed the door behind them. No one spoke as they ate their dinner. James kept glancing at Harry from his spot next to Lily's bed to see if he had started eating, but he never picked up his plate.

Just then, Ginny sat up suddenly. Her eyes were open, but they were foggy. She turned to Harry and grabbed his shoulders and started shaking him.

"Harry! Go back home! He's coming! He knows where you are and where you're going! He knows… He's going to kill you! The full moon! Harry! He's waiting for you! Leave this place!" Ginny was now standing up and pushing Harry toward the door. James had run over to Ginny and tried to release Harry from her grasp, but could not. Even with the help of Sirius, Ron, and Draco, they couldn't.

"He'll kill your father again! If you go any farther! He'll kill your mother! He'll kill you, Harry! Don't go! Don't go!" Ginny's eyes suddenly closed and she let go of Harry and fell to the floor.