The Ceremony

When Imogen woke, she was in a small dark space. Her head was still foggy, but she felt around, her heart racing as she realized she was trapped. The door, though barely visible, was familiar. She'd only ever seen it from the outside, but she was sure it was the same as the door to the loft room of Sabina's wagon. There was a small window that let in a shaft of light and some air. Imogen pointed her hands towards the door and concentrated. Nothing happened. She placed her hands on the walls. There was a gentle vibration of magic and she knew there was some charm that blocked her own.

Imogen heard voices below.

"You said she vasn't ready," Tibor's voice boomed.

"Ve can't vait," Sabina said. "It vill have to do."

"But if she can use all her magic—"

"Do you understand ze danger in zat?" Juris interrupted Tibor. "Ve can have enough now."

"Ve don't have a choice," Sabina said. "Come. She is avake and listening." Imogen pushed herself back in the small, box-like room, sitting against the other wall. "Let us make preparations avay from here. Vatch her, Valda."

Imogen buried her face in her hands, taking deep breaths. Right now wasn't the time to break down. She had to think.

Imogen knew James had some method for breaking through locks the muggle way. She had never seen the point of learning, but now she wished she had. She scooted close to the door, pressing her palm up against the keyhole. If only she could use just a little magic, Imogen knew she could open it, but nothing came. After trying for over an hour, she gave up, leaning back against the wall, hoping a plan would come to mind.

Imogen fell asleep sitting up. She didn't know if she'd been asleep for five minutes or five hours, but a clank of the lock jolted her awake. She pushed back against the floor, scrambling away, expecting to see Tibor.

The door flew open and Imogen was ready to kick at the arms reaching through. "Imogen, it's us!" Harper's urgent, whispered voice calmed her. The dim light rimmed Harper's dark hair. "It's okay!"

Imogen was still unsure. Slowly she calmed, moving forward and Harper grabbed her arm, pulling her out. Hal was just behind Harper, giving Imogen a hand down the ladder as her legs shook dangerously. She stopped when she saw Valda at the bottom. "I von't hurt you," Valda said. She looked nervous, her eyebrows knit as she looked toward the window. She had Imogen's satchel in her hand. "Ve must leave now," Valda said.

"Just trust us," Hal growled.

Imogen took the last few steps, her legs threatening to collapse under her, and reached out for her bag. The four of them made their way out of the wagon, Hal taking the lead as they moved through the caravan strategically. They were nearly to the forest's edge when Imogen stoppd. "The pictures," she said. She turned around.

"There's no time!" Hal snapped, but Imogen had already summoned the box sitting under the bed in her wagon. Hal had just grabbed her arm when the box flew into Imogen's shaky hands.

She dropped to her knees quickly and opened the top, reaching indiscriminately for a handful of the photographs, putting the lid back on and stuffing it behind the back wheel of the wagon they were behind. Imogen stuffed what she had into her bag.

"Great, now that you have those maybe you could help us not get killed," Hal snapped at her. In the dim moonlight, Imogen saw the veins on his temple pulsing.

"What do they want?" Imogen finally asked.

"Not now," Valda said, pushing Imogen along.

They were past the garden and through the paddock. Harper clung to Hal's arm, both of them carrying a small bag of their own. Valda was the only one without anything. Imogen wondered if she was planning to come back.

"If we can get to the cemetery, I can make a call and—"

Hal didn't finish as various colored sparks were shot their direction. One hit Hal in the arm and Harper blocked him as he winced. Imogen threw her hands towards the others, creating a shield in front of them. Hal pushed himself to stand tall. Three more streams of light bounced from her shield as one figure appeared across the field from the trees.

More spells were shot from the left. Imogen moved one hand to create another shield, backing up to hold both as a second figure emerged. Hal and Harper had both brought out their wands, standing back to back, waiting. Valda had nothing in hand. Imogen suddenly felt worried for her. Imogen had never seen her use magic and it only just occurred to her it was because Valda couldn't

As she thought this, a shadow came around a wide trunk, jinxing Valda so her limbs were stiffened and she fell into their arms, helpless. Imogen abandoned the shields and shot a spell at the hooded figure holding onto Valda, throwing the person sideways. Imogen pulled on Valda to keep her upright, then freed her from the jinx. Hal and Harper both threw spells of their own as Imogen ran forward to stay next to Valda and protect her. Imogen didn't make it as someone grabbed her from behind, pressing her palms together, and gripping her arm tightly. "Zis is familiar," Tibor's delighted voice boomed in her ear and Imogen struggled against him, as impotent to his strength as she had been that first night.

"Let them go!" she shouted as she was turned around to see Juris holding Harper, who was in tears, and Mihails with a knife at Hal's throat. "Please, let them go!"

"Zey do not vish to miss ze ceremony," Sabina's voice came from behind Imogen. She turned enough to watch as Sabina flicked her wand and lifted a struggling Valda, binding her hands and directing her towards Hal and Harper. The sky slowly lightened to new shades of blue. "It is almost sunrise. Ve vondered vhat vas taking so long."

Sabina's attention was directly on Valda, who she dropped to the dew sprinkled ground. Valda landed on her hands and knees. Her beautiful face turned up to Sabina, her wide eyes pleading. "Sabina, spare ze girl!"

Sabina tsked at Valda, squatting down to her level. "You vere supposed to serve me, Valda," Sabina said. "Do you forget how I helped you? Do you forget ze years I gave back?"

"And you vould take those years from Imogen! Ze vay you took years from Harper!"

"No, no," Sabina said. "I took nothing but a tribute owed."

"I von't let you!" Valda said as Sabina turned toward her. "I von't!"

"Remember how you vanted your husband dead? You vanted your youth? You knew, Valda, vat came vith zat." Sabina and Valda stared at each other for several minutes. Sabina looked like she would turn and walk away again. At the last moment, she slashed her wand across Valda's body.

"No!" Imogen screamed. Nothing happened for a moment. Then Valda's eyes widened and her features seemed to melt. Her eyes sunk in, her soft, tight skin became loose and creased, and her body thinned and aged. Valda's thick auburn hair greyed and frizzed, thinning as Imogen struggled uselessly against Tibor. In a moment, Valda was old and decrepit. With a last, sad look at Imogen, she fell to the ground, lifeless. "No, Valda," Imogen cried. "Please!"

"Don't vorry, child," Sabina said. "She has lived two lifetimes. Now, ve must ready you."

Tibor lifted Imogen as she kicked. Mihails and Juris took Hal and Harper's wands. Hal grabbed onto his sister and complied as they were pushed forward at Mihail's knife point. Imogen looked over as they passed Valda's body, trying to find some sign of life in her vacant eyes.

They were ushered into a space Imogen hadn't seen in her time here. There was a small waterfall and a stream. A glow of light barely broke through the ring of trees around them. "Quickly!" Sabina demanded.

It was as though the moment were choreographed. Mihail kept his attention on Hal, who stepped in front of Harper, simultaneously becoming a line of defense and holding her back as well. Juris walked over and grabbed one of Imogen's arms from Tibor and together they stretched her arms out, forcing her palms up at the wrist. Even if she threw a spell, it wouldn't go anywhere that would free her or the others.

"Please, please," Imogen said over and over.

Sabina approached her, patting her cheek. "Vhen you receive a gift, you must give in return," she said quietly. "Your sacrifice vill strengthen us. It vill strengthen the clan."

She pulled out a knife of her own—short and silver—and moved it quickly, running its tip deeply into Imogen's left hand.

Imogen screamed. The pain in her hand was made worse as she felt that reserve inside her, the one that gave her power, begin to empty. She vaguely registered that Harper, too, was yelling, but she couldn't concentrate on anything but Sabina pulling a wooden bowl out, collecting the dripping blood.

Hurt and betrayal built in Imogen's chest and when she screamed again, the earth beneath them shook. A light far brighter than the one breaking through with the sunrise flashed and Imogen was free. She fell to the ground, pulling her cut hand into her, pressing it to her chest and neck, trying to find a pressure that would make the pain stop.

"Come on!" Hal was over her, tugging on her elbow.

She looked up. Tibor, Juris, Mihails, and Sabina were all unconscious, sprawled in various positions on the leaf covered ground. Imogen sobbed and closed in on herself.

"Now!" he shouted, tugging hard.

Imogen tried to follow, taking it one step at a time. Harper was on her other side, holding onto her. Hal reached across, giving Harper one of the wands he must have grabbed back from Juris. They staggered through the woods when from their right Masek whinnied, cantering through the trees towards them.

They stopped as Masek arrived, kneeling for them. Hal pushed Imogen on first, then Harper. He hesitated a moment, then climbed on the very back. They sat tightly, Imogen wrapping her hand in Masek's mane. Her blood didn't stain as she expected. Instead, it seemed to absorb it and the pain lessened to a dull throb. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, Imogen remembered that unicorn hair could be used for binding wounds, Masek's hair must do the same.

What relieved her more was the distance they gained between themselves and the others. Occasionally Hal cursed as he was forced to hold on when Masek turned or changed speed. They rode until the sun was over the horizon. Masek slowed to a trot, finding a large willow tree whose leaves swept the ground. Masek went through the branches, then laid down for them to get off.

Hal jumped off and Harper soon followed. Imogen rested her whole body against Masek's neck, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Masek," she said, her face pressed against his mane. He bobbed his head in response.

Imogen stood, pressing her still cut hand against her leg. The bleeding, at least, seemed to have stopped. Masek stood, running back the way he had brought them.

"He has to live within the magical bounds of the Gypsies," Hal said.

Imogen looked over. Harper was shaking, crying by the tree's trunk and he knelt beside her, tenderly rubbing her back.

"What do we do now?" Imogen asked. That last burst had drained her magic, or nearly so. She was having trouble feeling anything that might help.

"We take turns sleeping. Harper's first," Hal insisted. Harper shook her head in protest. "I have a potion, and we need you well rested in a bit, Harper."

"Go ahead," Imogen nodded her approval.

Harper looked over to Hal, still uncertain. "Where they took us is only open at sunrise and sunset. We'll be safe here until evening," he said. He reached for his bag, pulling out a flask. Harper looked at Imogen one last time, took a drink and tucked herself into the curve of a large tree root. Hal rubbed her back and sang. Imogen hadn't heard him sing before. Like Harper, his voice was clear and strong. He sang in a medium range and Imogen sat nearby, leaning against the trunk.

Her hands still shook as she pulled out a shirt from her satchel. She ripped off a segment, balling it up to hold onto. The cut still throbbed and clutching her hand in a fist helped a little.

Hal came to sit beside her once Harper was fast asleep. "I don't have anything for that," he said. "It took Harper's cuts months to close all the way."

"Why did they do this to her?" Imogen asked. "To us?"

Hal swallowed, looking over to where his sister slept. "Sabina has been in charge of the clan for a few hundred years now."

"A few hundred?"

Hal nodded. "Centuries ago, wizards would perform the ceremony to rob gypsies of their gifts because they feared them. Seers could go undetected, but the others were found easily. Gypsies went into hiding, but Sabina realized something. When others with gifts were cut in light of dawn with a silver blade, she was strengthened. She started doing it on her own. Others, like my father and Valda, helped her in exchange for power or favors."

"Valda was—"

"Older than she looked, yes. She did whatever Sabina wanted in exchange for her youth and beauty. And the death of her husband."

Imogen shook her head. This was so much more than she could take in. "So you found me knowing this is what they'd do?"

Hal cleared his throat, stalling. "You have to understand...we'd lived there for years. Sabina taught us everything. Everything our mother hadn't told us. She made us stronger and better at using our gift. Then… one morning in January, I woke up and Harper was gone. Tibor said he wanted to show her where our mother loved to spend time. She followed him and they ambushed her. She was helpless Imogen! Completely helpless!" He was getting worked up telling her. Fury mixed with guilt in his voice. "I… I lost it when I saw her hands. They locked me up. Not for hours, like you, but for weeks. I didn't know what was happening to Harper. Then they let me see her. Her hands were wrapped. Her magic was gone. Sabina made me a deal." Hal swallowed again. "Harper and I would live if I found you." He looked over to Imogen. "I didn't know who you were. I didn't know you were our cousin."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't tell you outright," Hal said. Defensiveness seeped into his tone. "Sabina would have sensed you knew and we all would have been dead. But I tried to give you hints… I tried to get you to think about why your father made you forget… you didn't want to hear it."

Imogen clenched her jaw. She thought Hal had been trying to make her feel worse. Why hadn't she realized? How did she miss it? She knew the reason as she thought on it… she'd been desperate to know who her father was. She'd been blind in hopes of seeing. "She killed our grandparents, didn't she?"

Hal nodded. "I think so. There was a... sort of prophesy. A prophesy that there were two girls to be born to the clan so gifted, they could provide eternal power—one caster, one caller. They thought it was our grandmother and my mum. But grandmama was too strong already. So they got rid of her and watched your father closely, believing he would have a daughter to fill the caster role."

"Then Dahl took him."

"I think Dahl was trying to save him," Hal said. "He knew Sabina's plans and tried to thwart her. Then my father married my mother under Sabina's orders. After Harper was born, my mum realized their interest in Harper and took us away to Scotland."

"Then why did you stay after you brought me back?"

"I thought if we could defeat Sabina, Harper might regain what she lost," he said. Birds chirped in the leaves around them, singing a happy song that didn't match this story. "Imogen, you can't imagine it. Harper was amazing at calling. I had to travel until I sensed you. I had to have a description from Sabina. Harper could have called for you without a thought, without leaving the clan. She could have told you how to follow it. She doesn't complain, but she misses it. And I hoped… but I was wrong."

They sat in silence for several minutes. Imogen adjusted the fabric in her hand. Whatever Masek's mane had done for her, the effects were fading. "So what now?" Imogen asked.

"Now… I take Harper somewhere safe," Hal made eye contact with Imogen. "This is where we say goodbye."

It was like a stab to the heart. Imogen swallowed and closed her eyes.

"If it were just you and me it wouldn't matter," Hal said quickly. "But you're marked and they're going to find you, and… I can't put Harper in that situation."

Imogen nodded, still not saying anything.

"Imogen, I'm sorry. If they'd finished I don't think it would matter, but they can't use anyone else without finishing the ceremony now that they started. Sabina isn't going to let you go so easily."

The consequences of this weighed heavier as she thought through it. She wasn't safe anywhere. No one with her was safe. Not as long as Sabina wanted her. Imogen stood. "I… I better leave before Harper wakes," she said.

Hal stood as well, catching her arm. "Take this," he said. He used his hands, creating a green orb of light. Unlike the other times, where it continued to float unconstrained, Hal did something else, condensing the light to a smaller space, grabbing it like a ball and placing it in Imogen's good hand. "When you decide where to go, concentrate on the place and it will take you. England or anywhere else."

Imogen nodded and placed the ball into her satchel. She didn't look back as she walked out, between the willow's leaves. Imogen didn't know where to go. She just knew she needed to get away from here.

James rubbed his eyes as he walked into the kitchen. It was nine o'clock, and everyone else was halfway through breakfast. He grabbed his plate and filled it with pancakes. They were all going to Bath today. There was an old muggle library there with a basement full of records. A woman in Godfrey's employ worked for an orphanage in a village outside of Bath at one point, and his mum was sure if they could find the orphanage records they could finally find Imogen's mother. Being a muggle place, they'd have to do everything by hand, so everyone was supposed to go. He looked across the table at Lily. She was staring down in her lap with a drained expression and tired eyes.

"Lily?" Ginny asked. Lily looked up, her eyes large and worried. "Are you alright, sweetheart? You look peaky."

Lily nodded. "I didn't sleep well," she said.

Ginny leaned over the table, placing the back of her hand on Lily's forehead. "You're not warm, but a bit clammy. Why don't you stay behind today?"

Lily waited a moment, then nodded, pushing her plate away.

James noticed the compact mirror in her hand as she stood from the table. His eyes narrowed, wondering when she'd made a habit of carrying that thing around with her. She certainly had been obsessed with it this summer.

"Lorcan?" Lily's voice came from his tin within his desk drawer. "Lorcan? Are you there?"

Locan pulled open the drawer. "Hold on," he said. He stepped over to his bedroom door, cracking it open. He heard his family down in the living room and shut the door again. "What is it?"

"Lorcan, she's hurt," Lily's voice was distressed. "Something happened and Imogen was… she was crying… screaming…"

"What?"

"I don't know!" Lily said. "Oh, Lorcan, I could only see her face, but someone was holding her, I think! Early this morning! I woke up and couldn't sleep, so I looked... it was... four... or five o'clock."

It was nearly nine now. He sat, eyes darting as he tried to make sense of this change in events. "And now?"

"She's by a tree," Lily said. He could picture Lily, pacing her room and looking at the mirror, watching Imogen. "There's dried blood all over her neck!"

"Wait, blood?"

"Lorcan, what do I tell my parents?" Lily asked.

He shook his head, unsure of what to make of what Lily was saying. Lorcan swallowed.

"Lorcan? What do I do?"

James kept eating, pieces of a puzzle that had been in front of him were finally coming together. Lily certain didn't look like herself, but it wasn't like she was sick. Her eyes were wide and alert, not like someone suffering from the flu.

"Actually, James," Ginny said, putting some papers into her purse. "I'd feel better if you could stay behind and make sure she takes something if she's sick."

"Sure, Mum," James said. "I'll keep an eye on her."

"Thanks, sweetheart. It will probably take longer, too. We may be home late," Ginny looked to Albus. "Ready?"

"Sure," he said.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Lily seemed to start on about something from her room. He waited at the kitchen window, watching Albus and his mum walk down the path. As soon as they apparated, he quietly went towards Lily's room. She was practically yelling at this point.

"… she was crying… screaming… I don't know!" Lily said. Her voice fluctuated so that James couldn't hear all of it, but there was enough that James felt all the blood drain from his face. There was some other noise James couldn't pin, but she seemed to be talking to someone. Her voice was panicked. "...holding her, I think! Last night!...There's dried blood all over her neck! Lorcan? What do I do?"

James's temples pounded as he slammed the door open. Lily, already pale and shaky, turned around, a tin in one hand, the open compact mirror in the other.

"Get out!" she yelled at James, but he strode forward. She dropped the tin as he lunged for the mirror. She closed it and held it away from him, dodging his first grab. He pulled out his wand, pointing it at her.

Levicorpus, he thought and Lily was jerked up and over her bed, her hands hanging down. She still fought as he grabbed her around the waist with one arm, reaching down and jerking the mirror out of her hands with his other. He let Lily go and she unceremoniously dropped to her bed, the springs bouncing as she fought against the awkward position she landed in.

"Give it back!"

James opened the mirror. There, with the blood on her neck that his sister had mentioned, was Imogen. She sat with her knees tucked up into her chest, teeth gritted with her hands balled up, the right one over the left. Lily tugged on his arm, trying to grab the mirror back. He turned on her, grabbing her upper arm forcefully. "What is this?"

"It's mine! Imogen gave it to me!"

"When?" he demanded. Lily's steady anger faltered at this question. "She gave this to you the night she left didn't she?" Lily didn't answer. "Didn't she?!"

"I promised I wouldn't tell," she spat at him.

"You promised?!" James shouted right in her face, shaking her with each statement. "I can't believe you! We could have figured out where she was! We could have known what she looked like before we saw her at Diagon Alley! But you promised? Do you get what you've done?"

Lily took in a deep breath like she was about to shout again. Instead she dissolved into tears, lunging forward and throwing herself around James's middle, burying her face into his shoulder. "She's h-hurt, James!" she sobbed.

James swallowed back his anger, letting go of Lily's arm as he wrapped her in his own. He didn't trust himself to say anything, but kept watching Imogen through the mirror behind Lily's back as he held tight to his sister. Imogen's face was smudged with dirt and the shirt she wore was torn at the shoulder seam. James couldn't take his eyes off the dried blood at her neck. Was it hers? If so, where was she bleeding from? He felt sick. "I'm s-sorry," Lily said. "I'm s-so s-sorry! W-we have to find h-her!" Lily hiccupped between each statement.

"Just calm down," James said, though he felt like storming from the house right now. Of course it wouldn't do any good. There was still no way to know where Imogen was based on what was in the mirror. "And tell me what you know."

James had to find a calming draught for Lily before she was comprehensible. She told him about when Imogen had left, what her and Lorcan had learned about Imogen's connection with Gypsies, and how she had been fine before last night. She broke down again as she explained what she'd witnessed in the mirror, throwing out half a dozen scenarios of what might be outside the frame that showed Imogen's face. "It was blank for several minutes," Lily said. "There was a bright light, then nothing… I thought…"

Lily didn't have to finish the sentence. She'd thought Imogen was dead. Who knew what this mirror would do if that did happen. A blank white light seemed as possible as anything else. "Get some sleep," James finally told her.

"I can't," Lily said. "Can I just watch the mirror with you?"

James sighed. He crawled onto Lily's bed, his sister following as they both sat against the wall, legs stretched out in front of them. Nothing happened. Imogen had wrapped her left hand in some fabric, which was only a slight comfort to James to think it was just a cut hand. They still hadn't seen what kind of cut or how deep. How much blood had she lost? She looked pale, but she was walking now, making her way through some kind of forest.

Despite Lily's insistence that she couldn't sleep, in about an hour she nodded off on James's shoulder. He left her there for a while longer until something changed in the mirror. Imogen had stopped. After about a minute her face was tinted green, though he couldn't tell why. A little longer and Imogen began to cry.

James looked at her sister, carefully moving her so she laid on her pillow instead of him. He walked into the living room, pacing and hoping for something to make sense. The green disappeared and Imogen looked uncertain as she moved forward, swallowing. She was talking to someone. It was a few minutes before another face came into the frame. When it did, James stopped. He recognized who she was talking to.

Imogen walked for hours trying to decide what to do, stopping only when her hand was in too much pain for her to do much else. She'd stop by a tree, clutch it tightly until the pain became tolerable and then continue.

Her first thought was to go back to the Potter's, of course, but as soon as she thought it she knew she couldn't. If anyone she was around was at risk, they were last people she wanted near her. The thought of Tibor grabbing Lily or Sabina killing Ginny as easily as she did Valda made Imogen feel short of breath. Even enlisting Harry's help as an auror was problematic. Getting any wizarding force involved would mean not only trouble for Sabina and those that worked with her, but the entire clan. There were so many kind, good people there that wouldn't understand. No, she couldn't go back anymore, which was the worst conclusion she could imagine.

A couple times when she stopped to rest, Imogen found she was nodding off, jolting herself awake again. Hal had said they were safe until sunset, but Imogen was still alone in an unfamiliar forest. She brought out the call Hal gave her, holding it in her good hand as she thought. Imogen needed to go to someone she trusted. Someone who might understand that she couldn't have her location divulged. She thought of Dakota, but was certain she'd end up with the Potters immediately. Imogen thought of Lorcan, but that was too close to the Weasley's. Best case scenario, he kept her safe for a bit and let her go, then got into trouble because of her.

She needed to stay near here if she could, until she had a plan for what she would do. Going to Australia or England also caused problems with this. Maybe she could go back to the clan and manage what Hal hadn't been able to: defeat Sabina and gain her and Harper's magic back. Maybe she wouldn't survive the attempt, but if she could restore Harper's gift Imogen could redeem herself for what she failed to see.

Of course all Imogen knew about her current location was that it was in Eastern Europe somewhere. She knew two people in Eastern Europe. The first would unequivocally contact Ginny. The other… could go either way.

Imogen released the call. It grew to its normal form and stayed there. Rather than try her magic on it right away she waited, her heart pounding. If she waited, it would change form and she could see her mother one more time. It seemed like something she needed right now. Imogen swallowed as the light began to transform. She froze as the face took shape. It wasn't her mother. It was Ginny. She smiled at Imogen and reached out a hand to play with the pieces of hair around Imogen's face. The same smile, the same strong look in her eyes… even in the green glow, Imogen could tell the hair framing her face was white compared to the rest.

Imogen missed her more than she had yet. As she began to cry, Imogen thought about changing course. But she couldn't. Imogen reached out her right hand, using the call the way Hal taught her. She finally felt the magic left inside as Ginny disappeared and the orb transported Imogen away from here.

She landed on a wide street in the hills of Romania. They were in a valley with a row of houses in front of her. Imogen hadn't been here before and lucked out that Taylor was on her porch in the arms of some man. Taylor had a new tattoo—a dragon wrapped up and around her neck, the head finishing at her right ear, looking like it could reach up and bite at her earlobe. Even in summer, she wore dark leather pants and boots with her halter top. Her dark hair was thrown up in a messy bun. The man who she talked with seemed a complete contrast to her. He was dressed in slacks and a casual button down shirt, sandals setting the whole thing off. Wearing nondescript glasses and with a clean, short haircut, he looked quite conservative in comparison. Imogen walked slowly.

"I hate when you work nights," the man said to Taylor.

"You should just start volunteering for night shifts at the clinic when I'm scheduled out," Taylor replied. "Then we'll have more than your lunch hour those days."

"Maybe we just should make the most of it," he said, leaning over to plant kisses up Taylor's neck. She smiled, stretching to give him more access.

Imogen started to turn away, but Taylor caught sight of her and pulled back from the man. "Imogen?" she asked, her eyes wide. "Oh my god." She walked away from the man, leaving him on the porch. Imogen walked towards her leaning into her arms and breaking down into tears. "Inside, get inside," she instructed. "Xander, can you help me get her into my room?"

Imogen tried to tell them she could walk fine, but Xander still lifted her. He was stronger than his thin frame suggested. "Where are you bleeding?" he asked.

"My hand… I… I ran into a creature in the forest," Imogen said.

Xander laid her out on the bed and Taylor came in not far behind, a bowl of warm water and a cloth. She dabbed at Imogen's skin, wiping away blood, while Xander looked at her hand. He opened a window and pointed his wand out. "Accio kit," he said. He came back and continued. A black bag landed next to him a couple minutes later.

"I'll let Ginny know you're—"

"No! No, you can't!" Imogen felt panic rise in her. She grasped Taylor with her good hand, eyes going wide. She pulled her other hand from Xander. He stood, putting one hand on her shoulder. "I… I can't…"

"Okay, okay," Taylor said, looking more concerned than before. "Calm down, Imogen. We'll talk about that later."

Imogen sat back again, though she didn't relax. Maybe she was wrong to come here. Maybe she'd miscalculated on whether she could enlist Taylor.

Xander touched his wand to the cut and Imogen closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. She could feel blood again. "Sorry," he said. "That should have worked."

Imogen watched when she could. He pulled out different vials. "I'm going to give you something for the pain," he said, uncorking a small vial, holding it out to Imogen.

She looked at it skeptically. "It won't make me sleep, will it?" Taylor shot him a concerned look.

"Not at all," he said. "It will just numb the pain while I work on this."

Imogen reached over and grabbed the vial. She looked down at the liquid. She hoped he wasn't lying. As soon as it coated her throat, her whole body relaxed. There had been pain she hadn't even noticed until it melted away. Xander only talked about what he was trying as he worked. Taylor busied herself, getting rid of the rest of the dried blood, then bringing food to Imogen, though she hardly touched it.

"I'm going to try something we use on the dragons," Xander said.

"Xander is technically a healer for the staff, but he sometimes helps with dragon remedies as well," Taylor explained.

"It couldn't hurt," Xander said, pulling out a jar. "But nothing is closing this cut. This is a compound that will bind the gap until it heals itself. You need to be careful, though, or it can open up again."

Imogen nodded. He put the paste over her hand and took gauze, covering it methodically. He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "What was this creature you came across?" he asked, pulling out another vial.

Imogen hesitated. "Um… it was little… I didn't see it well, but it… cut my hand and… disappeared. Claws, I think…"

He was looking at her intently, nodding. "Okay, I'll look into what it could be. I'll leave some extra pain reducer with Taylor for you to have in a few hours. And this is for the blood loss."

"Thank you," Imogen said, taking the potion.

Xander looked over at Taylor. "Want to walk me out?"

"Sure," she said, getting up off the bed. They headed out of the room. Imogen waited a minute, then quietly followed them, walking to the end of the hall where she could hear them whispering by the door.

"I don't know, but I've never seen a creature make a cut that clean before."

"I feel like I should get in touch with the Potters," Taylor said. Imogen looked back to the room. She wondered if she could grab her bag and climb out the window before Taylor noticed.

"Don't," Xander replied. "She needs food and rest. Keep her here as long as you can. And call for me if anything changes. I'll be back at four."

Taylor sighed. "Okay," she said. "Thank you."

Imogen could hear them kissing and she tiptoed back into the room, closing the door quietly. She tried to eat a little more while thinking through what she could tell Taylor. It had to be something that Taylor would believe.

Taylor walked back into the room a few minutes later. "You look tired, Imogen," she said. "How about you get some sleep and we'll talk after?"

"You can't tell Ginny I'm here," Imogen said.

"If you'll sleep, I won't tell her," Taylor promised.

Imogen eased back onto the pillows. There was a part of her that worried Taylor would contact the Potters as soon as she drifted off. Unfortunately Imogen didn't have anything left in her to fight sleep.

When James saw Taylor, he thought for sure Imogen would be back here, with him, within an hour. Taylor would tell his parents, they would go to fetch her, and this whole mess would be over. At least the part where they didn't know where Imogen was. James went into Imogen's room and made sure it was ready. Not that there was anything to do. It had been spotless and untouched for the whole month she'd been gone, but James wanted something he could do. Tea, he thought. His mum always made tea when something was wrong. He went and got the kettle going.

When he'd done everything he could imagine would help, James sat on the couch, leaning on his knees and watching the mirror. Imogen was sleeping now. He watched and waited. Surely any moment he'd see his mum or dad's face next to hers, waking her up.

"What's going on?" Lily asked, coming out of her room around one, rubbing her eyes.

James was confused why Imogen wasn't here. "She's staying at some hotel," James said. "She's just sleeping."

He handed the mirror over to Lily, who took it anxiously. "She's okay?"

"Yeah, I think she is."

"I have to tell Dad," Lily said.

"Well, he's supposed to be home at six today," James said. He still hoped Taylor would tell him, but he was starting to wonder if Taylor made a promise the way Lily had.

"I'm in so much trouble," Lily added.

James pulled out bread and sandwich makings, putting them on the table. The tea was still sitting on the stove, so he poured both of them a cup. He was about to turn back and join Lily when he got an idea. If Taylor wasn't going to let them know, one of them had to go get Imogen. James wasn't sure how long it would take to get to his dad or if he was even at the office. Besides, if he told him about Taylor, he would have to tell him about the mirror and Lily. James saw a way to keep Lily out of trouble and still bring Imogen home.

He reached up while Lily was distracted, pulling out a sleep potion from the cupboard. He poured a bit into Lily's tea and then joined her for lunch. Halfway through her sandwich, Lily was out again, sleeping on her folded arms on the table. James cleaned up after both of them, then picked up his sister and took her to her bed, tucking her in.

James pocketed the mirror and grabbed a stash of emergency money his parents kept in their sock drawer, along with everything he personally had. He left a quick note on the kitchen table, saying he was spending the evening with a friend in Diagon Alley.

James left the house, and apparated to the street where Charlie lived. He'd visited a couple times over the years, so it took him a few minutes to remember exactly which one it was. He walked up to the door and knocked. When nothing happened he knocked again.

"Charlie is gone for the week, dear," a middle aged woman next door said.

James let out a breath. "Oh, thanks," he said to her. It would have been easier if he could have taken Charlie with him, certainly. It changed the plan, but he could still pull this off. "Uh, actually… maybe you could help me. Do you know where Taylor Griffins lives?"

"Of course, dear," she said.

James smiled and walked over to get directions.

A/N: Just an FYI, what's about to happen is making me giddy! I'm thinking it should be up around Sunday. In the meantime I'd love to hear what you think this impending reunion might be like :) Thanks to those who take time to review!