Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell is JK Rowling's

Chapter 12: Hounds on my way home

Harry's POV

I have no idea where Linus came from, but he managed to calm Ky down. She lay limp in his hands, her face streaked with scarlet, an image scarred onto my eyelids like some ugly tattoo that emerged every time I blinked.

Linus could barely stand on his own, but he refused to let anybody else touch her. Ky must have suffered another premonition. I didn't realise the boggart had turned to her; I was so busy trying to help Mrs Weasley.

I finally managed to get my legs moving again and ran after Linus, he lay her down on the sick room bed. Agnes was already there with a handful of potions, Madam Pomfrey following quickly behind her. The matron looked around the room, which was full.

"Would you all kindly leave. All of you. Please." She looked at Linus pointedly. He didn't budge though and collapsed in the bed next to Ky. Lenzo finally rushed in. I felt someone push me to the door, I looked up to see Ron. I looked back at Ky, she was pale, but that's usually what happens right? A reaction to her premonition, that's all.

I walked out of the room just realising that someone was tugging at my hand. I looked down and saw Hermione. Her mouth was moving. She was speaking. I couldn't hear a thing though. She was going to be OK. She had to be.

"….? What happened before Harry? I heard something about a boggart? Was it not a boggart? Did it attack her? Is she-"

"She's OK, Hermione. I think. Premonition. I think. It was a boggart." I didn't want to repeat what she had seen. Of course, seeing Cedric would be amongst her worse nightmares. He was her dead boyfriend…or ex-boyfriend…or whatever they were. Seeing him dead in my dreams every night was damaging to me, I can't imagine what it must be for her. I was so utterly useless. I couldn't even calm her down.

The passage suddenly felt really crowded. I walked aimlessly to the stairs; Hermione was too preoccupied with her conversation with Agnes to notice.

My scar seared with pain, and I hit it with force. I couldn't get the look on her face out of my head. I sat back on my bed, one corpse after another replaying in my head. That photo that Mad Eye showed me, full of dead people…Dumbledore ignoring me…not allowing me to join the Order…Mrs Weasley's sobs…Voldemort…Ky lying on the floor…bleeding. I couldn't even move when I saw her. I was paralysed. I usually reacted. There was a fire in my gut when I saw her like that, a burning desire to protect so overwhelming that it scared me…have I become so attached to her that the thought of her hurt, can cripple me like this…right now all I can think about is how the only thing that can make me breathe normally again are her lips.

"Mate?"

I turned to Ron, who was giving me a pitying look. He walked forward and pulled the pillow out of my hands. I looked down, the feathers floating to the floor. I had torn the pillow. He took a seat opposite me on his bed.

"She'll be fine mate. She just needs some rest. Probably stressed from confronting a boggart. You remember our first time?"

It wasn't the boggart. Something else happened, I'm sure of it. Seeing the boggart perhaps triggered it. I couldn't talk though. I didn't have the breath to talk.

"If you want, I can keep look out while you grab the cloak…you can see for yourself that she's OK."

He looked at me and I shook my head, "She is OK."

It wasn't a question. She had to be…what if this triggered some delayed reaction to what that bastard Blishwick had done to her last year. Blishwick. Every fibre of my being was seeing red. I wanted to do nothing more than have his neck between my hands and watch the life leave his eyes. Something pushed hard against my arm, and I looked up, the red receding. Ron was looking at me, his blue eyes brimming with concern.

"Harry just calm down. She's OK. You said it yourself. Wait here. I'll get bandages. Just…calm down."

He walked out of the room, and I looked at my palms. I had clenched my fist so tightly that I had dug into my flesh. I heard the door open again and Ron was back, he grabbed my hand, and I pulled back. I didn't feel like being tended to. He didn't fight it and sat back down.

"We kissed."

I looked up but his face held no hint of surprise. "When?"

"Few days ago. When Linus came back injured. Again today. Twice."

Still no shock. He didn't ask how it was. If it were any other girl, I knew he would. But this was Ky.

"Are you guys dating?"

"No, she doesn't want that."

"You asked her?"

"I overheard her discussing it with Hermione."

He didn't respond. I flopped back on the bed.

"She'll be OK mate."

She better be. Or what will happen to me?

-x-x-x-

I looked out the window, watching the landscape fade by. Neville chattered to Ginny about the new plant he got from some uncle of his. The weird blonde girl kept staring. I didn't even bother. I was too deep in thought about the fact that Ky wasn't on the train to Hogwarts with me and it bothered me more than it should…

Ky's POV

I sensed the light seep through my eyelids. I didn't feel like opening my eyes just yet though, I wasn't keen on the pain.

"…anyway of stopping it?"

"The Old Man said he did some research, and no he doesn't think so. He spoke to one of the Professors at school that has some experience in the area of premonitions; Minerva thought it would be useless and turns out she was right. Over the summer he did visit someone in France that may be of help, I think that's where he has gone to now."

"I don't get it. If they're just premonitions or whatever, why does it hurt her so much?"

That was Nessie. I could feel her speaking more than hear her, her fingers were brushing the hair off my forehead, a nervous habit she had.

"That's what we're trying to-"

I didn't listen to the rest of it and sprung up. That was Linus' voice!

Nessie, Len and Linus stood in shock around the bed. I didn't care though; I ignored the slender fingers trying to push me down and crawled to the end of the bed. I was already in long, lean arms before I reached the end, Linus pressing soft kisses in my hair. Another pair of hands joined the huddle, and I spotted Nessie in the background, sporting a tearful smile.

"This is becoming too much of a habit Principessa."

I looked up at Len's warm hazel eyes, such a contrast to the cold disappointing look I was growing used to for the past few days.

"I'm so sorry." And I was. It wasn't the boggart that made me see the error of my ways, or the premonition. The premonition!

"Linus! Please don't go. You can't go today. A man with straw hair will betray you! He's working with death eaters. They come. They attack you. The torture curse, they use the-"

Linus and Lenzo exchanged a look that surpassed even shock. Nessie rushed forward, paper rustling in her hand. She grabbed a piece from the stack and pushed it in my face,

"Was it this man?"

I looked down at the newspaper, at a man in the bright blue suit, he had a kind smile framed in a square jaw, and the caption called him Sturgis Podmore.

I nodded. She looked at Linus, but he turned to me,

"Is this…is this the first time you saw that…vision?"

"Yes."

"No dreams prior to that?"

I thought for a second, "No. No, I would have remembered-"

He took out his wand, "Expecto patronum."

A large misty version of Fawkes flittered out; it hovered in front of Linus patiently. "It wasn't a premonition. She had a vision of what happened the day I was attacked." The phoenix bowed its head slowly and disappeared.

"That's what happened the day you were attacked? You were tortured! Linus-"

"Ky I can't discuss this with you. Did you see anything else? Anything else that you can remember. Think!"

I bit my lip, urged on by the desperate tenor in his voice. This seemed to be important. "No…I can't tell you much about the death eaters, they're designed not to leave any physical clues aren't they…I can't even tell you about your surroundings, everything was dark."

Lenzo nodded and rubbed my arm sympathetically, "That's fine, Ky. It's actually a good thing, safer. Why don't you sit back down…rest a while."

I didn't hear the rest of his sentence. Thinking of what I had seen about Linus, made me think about what I had seen prior to that. Mrs Weasley…is that what it means to be a parent? A guardian? To love someone so much that you don't go a second without worrying about them. And to be powerful enough to harbour this concern for multiple people at a time. Is this what I had done to them? Was that what they saw when they slept? When they closed their eyes? Is that why they had sent me so far away…just for peace of mind because the other option would have them going crazy with worry, that I was here, in the midst of it all. Linus even left the love of his life to come and fight a fight that wasn't his. Not really. He didn't love this world; not like I did. He loved me though, they both did.

"I'm so sorry." I choked out, hugging them both. I couldn't say anything else. I was so ashamed of myself. After all the sacrifices that they made, I threw it back in their faces. I didn't deserve to be loved by them. I didn't deserve their worry.

"It's OK…it's not entirely your fault. We should have…"Linus for once looked to Lenzo for help, and he filled in quickly.

"Made a better attempt to see you. Both of you." Lenzo turned and looked at Nessie, "You're family. And you were right. Family sticks together. We should have at least come and visited…shown our faces so you could rest a little easier. Calm you down so you wouldn't have to do something as reckless as you did."

I raised my eyebrows at him, is he giving me a speech about recklessness. Him?

"Look, I don't like being angry at my girl." Linus' use of the singular didn't go unnoticed, and I quickly passed a glance at Nessie, "So I would really appreciate that you learn a lesson from this…I don't know what I would do…Ky I…"He couldn't finish the sentence, emotion dripping from his eyes. He grabbed me and pulled me to his chest, "I love you." He didn't have to say anything else.

"I love you." It came out quite muffled as I had spoken into his shirt. I turned and ran to Lenzo, he scooped me up and gave me a twirl and a peck on the forehead.

"I love you Principessa."

"I love you Lenzo."

He set me back down on my feet. I quickly launched myself on to her before I could think twice and change my mind. Who am I kidding? I'd probably do the same if I had thought twice. Nessie hugged me back, her tears wetting my hair,

"Please, no more visions, of the past or present. Look at my face! Bags, Ky! Bags! I need my beauty sleep."

I let go and laughed at her, appreciating her attempt to lighten the mood despite wiping tears from her face. I turned around the room, kind of disappointed that Mi, Harry, and Ron weren't there.

"Where's Mi?"

"Probably on the Hogwarts Express. I hope they get there fine."

I stopped listening and whipped around, "THE TRAIN…SCHOOL…IT'S TOMORROW TODAY!"

How could they not wake me up!

"Ky, calm down. You aren't rested enough. We don't know what effect these visions are having on your body. You're bleeding through your nose; we are not hundred percent sure where it's coming from. The Old Man is looking for experts as we speak-"

I was practically jumping from foot to foot. This isn't fair. I want to be on the train. I can't miss the train. I looked at Linus' watch as he babbled on. 10:55. Five minutes. Ugh I can't stay here alone! Ughhhhh I can't think. I want to be on the train. I need to be on that train. That's my fucking train. But I just told them I would be more responsible. And responsible people definitely do not run out of the house and catch the first cab they see. I started biting my nails. I should be on that train!

"OK, I can't watch this. Linus!" My favourite irresponsible person spoke up; I looked at his hazel eyes as they made contact with Linus'.

I looked at Linus. Not saying a thing, literally biting my tongue, my legs vibrating with anticipation. I was responsible. I won't act like a spoiled brat that just wants to get what she wants. I won't run. I won't run.

"Fine."

"You'll have to be quick. Don't worry about anything! I'll get your stuff to Hogwarts!" I barely comprehended what Nessie said, I quickly jumped off the bed and planted a huge kiss on her cheek. I dashed out the door and I could hear quick steps that followed.

I knew this was crazy, but one simply does not miss the Hogwarts Express! And the feast! And the magic!

I wanted to go home!

Desperately.

I plunged through the open door and a hand grabbed me. I barely looked back up at the warm hazel eyes as he turned. And with a twist of the stomach, we were gone.

My feet smacked hard on solid ground.

"Yes! Just in front of the barrier. I am gooood!"

Pop.

"We don't have time for your ego right now Len." Linus quickly grabbed my hand and pulled me through the barrier.

"Go. Just run. I can't deal with you if you miss that train."

I saw the beautiful scarlet train. I took a step involuntarily, as if my body knew this was the yellow brick road to home. I turned to the boys and gave them a huge hug. Only family would do something this impractical to make you happy.

"Thank you!"

"Yes, yes we know, the best and all that, hurry its moving."

"We love you, stay safe!"

I turned around and saw the train move. Salazar's sac! After all that, I was going to miss it. I ran towards it, "I love you two too!" I could hear their footsteps as they followed.

I saw bubble-gum pink and bright red and heard voices to match, but I was running flat out, this was a challenge that I had to beat! I ran as fast as I could, realisation dawning that I wouldn't make it there in time. It just wasn't possible. Physics wouldn't deem it right, not with my momentum.

Woof

I turned and looked at the big, hulking black dog that was running along next to me, his huge eyes smiling and tongue wagging. He kept touching his nose to his back, surely that's not possible! I smiled, four legs where better than one! I did what I usually did in these situations, and went with my gut! So, I hopped on the back of the huge black dog, scared he would buckle under my weight. But he didn't! This had to be magic at play – this was impossible!

Sirius relentlessly charged forward; and I was shocked at his speed. The door that had seemed so far away before loomed closer; I saw the large metal handle that bordered the open entrance to the closest carriage. I lunged for it and missed. This seemed to urge the dog on as the next time I clutched I felt cold metal, and I swung forward hard.

My feet clapped on the steps, one higher than the other but there, nevertheless. I had my body pressed hard against the door of the carriage. I can't believe it. That was bloody brilliant. I waved at the massive black dog whose tail was wagging so fast you could barely see it. Linus and Lenzo caught up with the dog. Lenzo had a huge smile on his face, he loved the adrenaline rush. Linus on the other hand looked like it only just hit him now the senseless craziness that he just aided in. I smiled and waved and blew kisses at the three.

Who needs physics when you have family?

Who needs physics when you have magic!

I pushed the door into the compartment, grinning madly.

I was going home.

A/N: A little bit crazy but Ky is right, one simply does not miss the Hogwarts Express. Thoughts?

Kalina