– Chapter Three –

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Romi woke Thursday with great anticipation. She tried to wait very patiently for her father to finish his breakfast before grabbing his arm, ready to rush away to Neville's house.

She said goodbye to Draco, her mother, aunt and uncle before heading outside with her father. This trip would be two nights, rather than one, as the other trips last summer had been.

Hector whisked her away to Frogmore and they went up to Neville's house. His house was a large building with three floors and covered in vines. It could hold up to forty people, and Romi had seen it that full at Christmas time when all of Neville's numerous relations came to stay.

During the rest of the year, there were only three permanent occupants, Neville and his grandparents. Hector walked up with her to the house where Gran opened it.

"Hello, Romi!" she said smiling. "Mr. Black," she added looking to Hector.

"Mrs. Longbottom," Hector said, smiling, and taking Gran's outstretched hand. "You're sure about taking her for two days this time?"

"Oh, absolutely," Gran replied. "I've had her for two weeks before, and she's great, and with it being summer they can spend time outside, like every young person should."

"Thanks, dad," said Romi, waving at him and disappearing into the house before he had actually left. The living was a large room with the kitchen on the far end, a large fireplace that was currently empty and plenty of chairs and couches. Over Christmas it would be filled, and the great table across from the fireplace could hold all forty people when it was extended.

Neville's grandfather was sitting in his usual chair, reading the Daily Prophet. He looked up and smiled and nodded at Romi before returning to his paper. Gran returned from the door, asking Romi about her summer so far.

Neville came bounding down the stairs a moment later. He gave Romi a hug and then with a quick word to Gran, Neville grabbed her hand and they disappeared up into his room.

"How have you been?" Neville asked, as he shut the door into his bedroom, making sure that it was secure.

"Alright," Romi replied, taking a seat on his couch, "Astaroth still secure in his cage, if that's what you're asking."

'That's always good to hear," Neville said. He went and sat on his bed. "I'm sorry about your grandmother."

"Thanks," answered Romi, she got up again, and looked out the window into Neville's backyard.

"Are you staying permanently in England now?" Neville asked, quietly from his bed.

"I think that's the plan," Romi replied. "My father's got quite a schedule for travel this year, and I think my mum's just going to go with him. I'm at school, so I guess we don't have to think about it yet. Well… it's not like my parents ever actually had a house of their own. We've always stayed at my grandparents or the Malfoys'."

Neville was quiet for a moment.

"At least for now you get to stay with family," Neville said quietly. Romi turned to look at him and smiled.

"Yup," she said, "and I get to come visit here with you more often."

"Yeah," Neville said watching her as she sat down in front of him on his bed.

"What's up?" Romi asked.

Neville was quiet for a moment, looking at his hands twisting in his lap. "Do you ever think about last year?" he said softly.

"I think about the past three years," Romi said. "Not something I could forget easily."

"I meant about Elena, really," said Neville.

"I think about her more than I would like," answered Romi. "But what does she have to do with last year? She wasn't around."

"Exactly," Neville replied. "Don't you find that strange?"

"I was thinking it was a bit of a relief, actually," Romi said, looking at her best friend.

"I don't know," Neville replied swiftly, "I mean, isn't it suspicious? She was here first year, killing the lake, and then with Captain during second year… she was trying to get powerful magical objects, and Captain seemed to think you were the one who could stop her…"

"What are you getting at Neville?" Romi asked.

"Why did she just skip off for a year?" questioned Neville. "She strikes me as the kind of person who would hold a grudge… so you know… she'd be fulfilling on her grudge."

"I didn't really think about that," Romi said, looking out of the window again. "But really, isn't it better not to think about what she could or could not do?"

"Hmm, I guess so," Neville replied. "But, you know, be prepared."

"Good advice for anything," Romi said.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Neville said quickly, smiling. "Ginny's coming over tonight!"

"Fantastic!" Romi said excited. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"She only got back to me this morning," answered Neville. "Her owl didn't look too good."

Romi nodded remembering Errol, the Weasley's very old, decrepit delivery owl.

Ginny Weasley was the youngest and only daughter in the Weasley family with six older brothers. She was a year younger than Neville and Romi, with fiery red hair and a sharp mind. Ginny had a rough start to her schooling at Hogwarts, where she had fallen victim to the spirit of a sixteen-year-old Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard in fifty years. In the end it was Harry Potter and Ginny's older brother, Ron Weasley that had saved her life.

Since then Romi and Neville had started to be good friends with Ginny, culminating in trusting her with their lives while Romi and Neville went unconscious to fight the Astaroth in dreams.

"What about Luna?" asked Romi.

Luna Lovegood was their other friend, in Ginny's year, but in Ravenclaw house. Luna was an unusual girl to say the least, with long straggly blonde hair and often a vacant expression. Romi had become quite fond of her the past year and Luna helped Neville, Romi and Ginny defeat the Astaroth.

"She's away with her father for the next couple of weeks," Neville replied. "I'm not entirely sure what they were doing, but I'm sure we'll hear all about it when school starts."

Romi and Neville discussed their homework and other nonsense for the rest of the afternoon, going outside to enjoy the pleasant weather after lunchtime. Mid-afternoon, they were returning inside for some snacks, when the fire roared green and Mrs Weasley stepped out of it with Ginny, having used Floo Powder to arrive at Neville's house.

"Ginny!" Romi said excitedly. Gran and Neville's grandfather were already greeting Mrs Weasley.

"Hey!" Ginny said. She'd grown over the summer, and like Romi, had added to her collection of freckles and sunburnt skin.

"Hello, dears," Mrs Weasley said, looking to Neville and Romi, brushing the soot off her and her daughter. "How are you?"

"Very good, Mrs Weasley," Romi and Neville replied.

"Excellent, excellent. Are you sure you're alright taking Ginny for two nights, Mrs Longbottom?" Mrs Weasley asked, looking to Neville's formidable grandmother.

"Oh, absolutely," Mrs Longbottom replied, "Don't worry about a thing, Mrs Weasley."

"Well then, Ginny, you be good," Mrs Weasley said, turning to her daughter. "Have a good time and I'll be back to pick you up in two days."

"Thanks, mum," Ginny replied, gave her mother a quick hug and kiss and Mrs Weasley departed.

"We were just grabbing a snack before going back outside," Neville said, walking towards the kitchen. Romi and Ginny followed him there. They grabbed a handful of fruit and crackers and headed outside towards the sunshine again.

"How is your summer so far?" Romi asked Ginny, as they walked to where Romi and Neville had set up camp in the long grasses.

"Good," Ginny replied. "Though all I keep hearing about is the Quidditch World Cup. Ron won't shut up about it."

"Do you have your tickets?" Romi asked, as they settled themselves down on the blanket in the long grasses.

"Yeah," answered Ginny. "Dad got some good tickets through someone at work."

"Fantastic," Romi replied, "My dad's had them… I think since they decided to host it."

"Well, he would," added Neville, taking a bite out of a peach, "didn't he organize half of it?"

"Probably… seems kind of in his job description," Romi said. "Honestly, I think that's why he was in England all last year…"

"Are you coming, Neville?" Ginny asked.

"No," Neville said with a sigh, "Gran doesn't want to go, so she didn't get tickets, and they are all sold out now."

"Aw, man, that sucks," said Romi, feeling very sympathetic towards Neville. "I wish we had extra tickets…"

"Well, you'll just have to tell me everything about it," Neville said, forcing a smile, and he changed the topic.

Ginny and Romi had a room right beside Neville's that night, but continuing her tradition, Romi snuck over to Neville's room, followed by Ginny, after Gran had told them to go to sleep. Neville's grandparents had a room on the opposite side of the house and on a different floor, so it was extremely unlikely that they would hear the three of them awake.

"Okay," Neville said, flopping down on his bed as Romi and Ginny took to the couch. "Tell me honestly, and I know that I ask you this every time we've been away from each other for a long time, but – have you had any dreams lately?"

"You ask me that sometimes after we've been separated over lunch time," Romi replied grinning, sinking into the couch.

"Just answer," Neville said seriously. Ginny looked to her, concern on her face. Romi looked between her friends, and wondered if she should spare them her fiery dream. She decided it would be better if she told them.

"I have," Romi said softly. "And I checked on Astaroth – he's safely in his rowan disk."

"It was a nightmare?" Ginny asked, looking apprehensively at Neville.

"It was… fire mostly," Romi said, thinking. "Lots of fire, and I couldn't really open my eyes, it was too hot and too bright. But, there was something approaching… I think there were four of them, large and also on fire…"

"What did these things look like?" Neville asked, after Romi paused.

"Four men… on horses, I think," answered Romi. "It was hard to tell, it was so hot."

They were silent for a moment.

"Perhaps it has something to do with this Elena," Ginny suggested. "Didn't you say she hadn't been around in a year? It's unlikely that she was just sitting on her hands doing nothing."

"That's a pleasant thought," Neville said sarcastically.

"Four horsemen on fire," mused Ginny. "That sounds like it could be familiar…"

They were quiet for a long while, but they could not come up with anything. Romi broke the silence.

"It could be just a dream," she suggested. "I mean, sometimes I just have to have regular dreams, right? They can't all mean something?"

"Well, I think we've established that you're a Seer," Neville said. Romi opened her mouth to protest, but he interrupted her. "Just own it," he said, "there's enough evidence that you're one. You've Seen things, proper things, in Divination. I think if you try hard enough you can See on demand."

"Right, well, I'm sure to make that a priority this year," Romi said sarcastically, "Before my useful classes and my upcoming Healership."

"At least own up to the fact that you're a Seer," Neville replied.

"Fine," answered Romi. "I can See things."

"Which means it's less likely that your dreams are just dreams," said Ginny. Romi sighed and rolled her eyes, thinking that perhaps it was better to have not told them anything.

"Okay, well," Ginny said slowly, seeing that Romi wasn't pleased with what she had just said, "Just keep an eye out in case something vividly real appears in your dreams. Or, you know, something you think might be becoming the future any time soon."

"I'll make sure you're thoroughly updated on all my dreams," Romi said, looking at them both.

"Thanks," Neville said lying back on his bed. "Also, if you sign us up for more adventures."

"I thought you were starting to enjoy our adventures," Romi answered. "I know there isn't a lot of glory at the end of it… Harry seems to be stealing all of that…"

"I just want to be prepared, I have a bad feeling," Neville said.

"You always have a bad feeling," countered Romi. "Nothing is going to happen this year. It'll be a normal year, with slightly harder courses and possibly a high flu season."

"You sure?" Neville asked, still staring at his ceiling.

"Absolutely," replied Romi.

Neville, Romi and Ginny were silent for a long moment, and then Neville said;

"The flu? Really?"

Ginny laughed, and Romi sighed.

"Just take your Vitamin C and you'll be fine," she replied.

Romi took a deep breath, filling her lungs with fresh sweet air around her. It was peaceful where she was, and she took another breath.

"Romi?" said a quiet voice. Romi opened her eyes. There was an older man sitting next to her. He was in his late fifties, his hair greying and crows feet forming around his eyes.

"Do I know you?" Romi asked, quietly.

Birds chirped around them, and there was the sound of a brook nearby. The wind blew softly through the long grasses, creating a symphony of rustling sounds. It was incredibly peaceful.

"Yes," the man replied softly. "But I haven't spoken to you in a long time."

Romi frowned looking at him, then suddenly recognized him.

"Captain!" she exclaimed.

"Hush!" he interrupted hurriedly, his eyes glancing around the peaceful meadow, worry etched in them. "I don't have much time. They might be watching."

Romi looked around the empty field the two of them were sitting in.

"Who might be watching?" she asked.

"That's not important," Captain answered swiftly. "What is important are your dreams."

"Okay," Romi said, still feeling highly confused.

"Something's coming," he said hurriedly, "it came nearly seven thousand years ago, and it's coming again. It's very dangerous, and you have to be prepared for it."

"Prepared for what?" Romi asked.

Suddenly the wind in the field started to become fierce, whipping Romi's red hair into her face, and pulled violently at her clothes. The grasses were flatted where they sat and all peacefulness disappeared. A screaming reaching their ears, causing Romi to clamp her hands over her ears, though it did little good.

"They've caught on," Captain said, jumping to his feet. Romi removed her hands from her ears. Captain squinted around the field and then looked down at Romi. "Just remember the fire is –"

There was an awful screeching noise and Captain was ripped out of Romi's dream.

Romi woke with a start, staring at the ceiling of Neville's room. Neville was on his back beside her, one arm under his pillow, snoring loudly. Ginny's calm breathing was coming from the couch.

Romi propped herself up on one arm and looked around the room; feeling the silence of the night in this room was louder than anything she'd heard before. She looked at Neville and Ginny's sleeping figures wondering if she should wake them up.

After a moment, she decided that she'd tell them in the morning, there was no need to disturb them right now.

Neville was giving Romi the most horrified face she'd ever seen.

"Neville," she hissed, slapping his arm across the table. "Stop looking at me like that!"

Gran appeared a moment later with plates heaping of pancakes, sausages, bacon and toast.

"Thank you," Ginny said, helping herself to some of the toast. Gran paused for a moment, looking at the table and then went back into the kitchen to get them orange juice.

"Neville, stop it," Romi hissed again, as she took some bacon for herself. "You look like someone's told you your childhood dog died."

"This is the expression that most people would be wearing when hearing that kind of news," Neville snapped back.

"That kind of news?" Romi repeated.

They hitched up a smile immediately as Gran returned.

"You have everything you need?" she said, looking around. She was almost sat down when Neville sputtered;

"Butter," he said quickly. "For the pancakes."

Gran looked at him for a moment and then strode off to the kitchen.

"Yes," Neville said, looking at Romi. "You know, that expression when you hear that the god that haunts your dreams tells you something's coming and then is mysteriously ripped away."

"He's not a god," Romi replied.

"Really?" said Neville, "because I fail to see another explanation of what he is."

"Neville, chill," said Romi. "I'm started to feel like it was better not to tell you."

"I still think it's still better that you told us," Ginny said calmly. Gran returned with the butter, sat down with them and they were forced to put their conversation on hold. She chatted with Romi and Ginny asking them about their summers.

Breakfast lasted for nearly half an hour, then Romi, Neville and Ginny managed to escape outside and away from Gran.

"Okay," Neville said, stopping as soon as they were far enough away from the house. "What happened exactly?"

Romi sat down. Neville and Ginny sat down beside her and Romi relayed everything from her dream that she could remember. Ginny and Neville sat in silence, hanging onto every word that she said. Finally there was a just the cicadas in the grasses as they sat thinking.

It was Ginny that finally said something.

"He started to say something about 'the fire'?" she asked.

Romi nodded, "he didn't manage to finish it."

"Okay, so he was obviously taken away against his own will," Neville said, quickly. "That's not good," he added, looking nervous.

"He wanted to tell you something about that fire," Ginny mused. "I wonder what he wanted to say about it."

"I have no idea," Romi replied, leaning back on her hands. "I don't even know what he meant by 'the fire'."

"Well, Romi…" Ginny said exchanging a glance with Neville. "You did just have a dream all about fire…"

Romi was quiet for a moment, "so… you think that it was connected?"

"Possibly," answered Ginny, "can't really count anything out."

They were quiet for another long moment.

"What I wouldn't give for one of Luna's preposterous theories right about now," Romi said with a sigh.

Ginny and Neville laughed slightly, and the tension lessened.

"Well," Romi said, smiling. "Even if we've decided that my dreams are things of the Sight, there isn't a whole lot we can do about a couple of undelivered messages. I think the best we can do is just be prepared. And you know, in the meantime, I have tons of ideas which we can amuse ourselves."

"Well, we can put those aside for the moment, because, I'm almost certain that you haven't been practising at all with your sword fighting technique," Ginny said, standing up. "Up you get."

"Really?" Romi said, but she pulled herself to her feet anyways. "Who am I going to practise with? Luna's not here."

"You can practise with Neville," Ginny said, going over to the little wooded area and looking for some long branches they could use.

"I don't think that's a good idea," said Neville, looking apprehensive as Ginny returned with two sticks.

"I'm sure you'll be able to handle it," replied Ginny tossing Neville a stick.

He missed it, and had to pick it up off the ground. Ginny tossed Romi hers, and she caught it with her right hand, feeling the weight. She was getting better, fighting with her right hand, being naturally left handed; it had proved an issue. However, she needed to learn how to use her sword with her right hand so she could use her wand with her left hand.

Of course right now she couldn't actually use her sword right now, because no one else had a real sword to counter it with. Also, she didn't want to risk slicing anyone's fingers off.

They spent the most of the day practising sword fighting. Romi had to admit that it was probably a good idea seeing as she hadn't done any practising with it, and now it felt like a large awkward stick was in her hands, when it should have been fluid and easy.

Neville was doing little better; he consistently dropped his stick and always lost his balance with his footing. It probably hadn't helped that he'd grown at least four inches since the beginning of the summer, and was in that gangly awkward stage, like he didn't know what to do with his limbs.

Ginny was patient with them, but gave them no leeway; she worked them hard into in the afternoon, and only released them from practise when Gran called them in for dinner.

Ginny let them off for the evening and they discussed their Transfiguration homework.

All too soon they were heading to bed again, and even with staying up late a talking, it was morning again quickly and they were eating their last meal at the Longbottoms' house. Mrs Weasley arrived at ten o'clock and after a ten-minute conversation with Mrs Longbottom while Ginny said goodbye to Neville and Romi, Romi had promised to see her at the Quidditch World Cup in a couple weeks, Ginny disappeared into the fireplace.

Charis didn't come by to pick up Romi until almost noon. She stayed to chat with Mrs Longbottom longer than Mrs Weasley had and Romi and Neville got a couple of last minutes of conversation in.

"Remember," Neville said in an urgent whisper. "If you hear anything, anything at all, in the next couple of weeks, you'll tell me?"

"I'll send you a letter immediately," Romi replied. "I promise. In the meantime, try to enjoy your summer without worrying too much."

"Yeah," Neville said with a huff, "sure."

Charis called her daughters attention, and they left the Longbottoms', whisking away to the Malfoy's for the rest of the summer.