9 Chapter 9

When they emerged from the graveyard minutes later, Harry asked his mother anxiously, "Mum, what's wrong?"

Lily's eyes had a vacant look and she trembled slightly, despite the normal temperature. Turning her devastated face from Harry's view, she wiped away the tears falling from her eyes and said, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Harry replied awkwardly.

Lily considered telling Harry again about the deja vu she'd been experiencing since that morning, but decided against it. "If for some reason you thought you didn't have a lot of time left..." she began.

"You mean today?" Harry interjected.

"No, I...I mean in life," said Lily, wiping away the last of her tears and facing Harry again. "If you had one day left, what would you do?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "That's an unusual question," he remarked.

"I'd just like to know," Lily said simply.

"Well," said Harry, pausing in thought. He hadn't really considered it before. Of course he'd like to do all sorts of things, but one thing came to his mind. "I'd spend it with you, Mum."

"Really?" she said, sounding surprised.

"Just being together..." Harry said softly, "doing nothing... sharing things with each other... silly things... difficult things..." He trailed off and looked at his mother, a mix of emotions in his eyes. "That's what I've always wanted for us."

Lily, who had been trying hard not to cry in front of Harry, burst into sobs again and hugged her son tightly. She never wanted this day to end. She wanted to be with him for as long as time would allow.

"Thank you, mum," Harry said, embracing her.

"What for?" Lily asked, her voice muffled in his shoulder.

"For the perfect day."

Though Harry didn't understand why his mother was so emotional, he held her as she sobbed, rubbing her back in comfort.

"I'm so glad we're here," said Harry.

"Me too," she replied thickly.

"I kind of wish we didn't have to go back," Harry said heavily. "To London, and the Assembly at Hogwarts."

Lily suddenly looked up at Harry and said, "Let's not go back. Let's just get on the Knight Bus and ride off somewhere."

"We can always come back here, or anywhere else, anytime..." Harry replied gently. "But I want to make you proud tonight at the Assembly."

Lily stood silently, scared of returning to the places they had visited that night. If she could, she'd rather hide in a corner somewhere until the night passed.

"Mum," Harry said, concern in his eyes. "Are you coming?"

Lily looked back at her son. Seeing his worry, she took his hand, squeezed it, and said, "Yes."

With Harry's arm in his, Lily Apparated them back outside their London apartment.

An hour later, Lily asked Harry, "What do you think of this dress?", holding up a simple navy blue lace dress in his room. "I think I should wear something more casual..." She trailed off, walking back to her room.

"You look beautiful in every dress, Mum..." Harry called out loudly. "Even Mr. Filch would say so." As he spoke, he prepared his school uniform and gave Hedwig some treats.

"Oh, goodness me..." Lily replied from her room. "That is not funny..." she added, hearing him laugh.

Lily came back to Harry's room, now wearing the lacy dress. Looking serious, she said, "Would you be okay going on ahead to Hogwarts without me? I just need to do something."

"Now?" asked Harry in disbelief, checking the time—it was five o'clock.

"Yes, you can stay with Ron," Lily said simply. "I'll send a letter to Arthur asking him to pick you up so you don't have to travel alone." Noticing Harry's somber expression, she added with a smile, "It won't take long, I promise..." She playfully ruffled his already messy hair.

"Mum, stop!" Harry protested, ducking away from her hand.

"Okay, okay," Lily laughed. She pulled him in for a quick hug. "I'll see you at Hogwarts soon."

Already dressed in his Gryffindor robes, Harry headed downstairs to the living room a half hour later when Arthur Weasley arrived by Floo.

"Harry, my boy!" Arthur greeted him warmly, adjusting his glasses.

"Hello, Mr. Weasley!" Harry returned his smile.

"Ready to head to the Burrow?"

Mr. Weasley took a pinch of Floo powder from the mantel pot and tossed it into the flames, turning them emerald green.

"Go ahead, Harry," said Mr. Weasley. "To the Burrow."

Stepping forward, Harry entered the fireplace saying, "The Burrow!" With a whoosh, he vanished.

Emerging in the Weasleys' kitchen, Harry was shortly joined by Mr. Weasley, who appeared at his shoulder.

"Harry!" exclaimed Ron, seated at the scrubbed wooden table with Ginny. "Dad said you'd be coming with us."

Harry went over and told them, "Yeah... Mum had something to do before going to Hogwarts."

"She must be preparing a surprise for you, Harry," Mr. Weasley said brightly.

"Must be nice getting a surprise," Ron muttered under his breath.

SMACK!

Mrs. Weasley had just walked into the kitchen, hand raised, glaring down at Ron who was rubbing the back of his sore head. "If you studied harder, we might have considered giving you a surprise too. Oh, hello Harry, dear!" she said, noticing him and smiling warmly.

"Hi, Mrs. Weasley!" Harry replied.

"We'll be leaving at six thirty, Harry," Mr. Weasley informed him. "Make yourself at home until then." He smiled kindly.

"C'mon," Ron said to Harry, motioning upstairs. "Let's go to my room."

"How are we getting to Hogwarts?" Harry asked as he followed Ron up the steps.

"Portkey," Ron replied simply, then added, "Dumbledore gave us permission to use one since you're coming with us."

Seated uncomfortably in front of Albus Dumbledore in his Hogwarts office, Lily arrived earlier than expected after her London excursion, hoping the headmaster could provide answers.

"Good evening, Lily," Dumbledore said pleasantly. "You've come to Hogwarts before the Assembly. I wonder if you had another motive?" Peering over his half-moon spectacles, he noted her worried expression.

Lily shifted in her seat, unsure how to begin. "Yes, Headmaster. I... I..."

"What troubles you, my dear?" Dumbledore asked softly.

"Have you ever had a deja vu experience, but knew it was actually a premonition?"

"You mean a vision of the future?"

"Yes... but not from a Seer," Lily clarified.

Dumbledore looked at Lily thoughtfully, his thick silver eyebrows furrowed. "Hmm... that's quite unusual," he said. "Tell me more about this."

Lily felt trapped, like the walls were closing in. Her breathing grew labored. "I'm not sure what it is, but it's like I'm living this day over again. Certain things have already happened once before." She paused, eyes squeezed shut and face buried in her hands. "It's leading to something awful tonight... my son dies."

Jerking his head up in surprise, Dumbledore urged, "Go on, tell me everything."

Lily took a deep breath and began to tell him about the strange events of that night. As she recounted what had happened, it was as if she was reliving the scenes: the paper strewn across the floor when Harry knocked over the stack; the knife slicing Harry's finger as he cut vegetables; the drink spilling on his shirt; Arthur accidentally knocking over the ink bottle, splattering the table; her glasses cracking when they visited Godric's Hollow.

Lily also told Dumbledore about the night she witnessed Death Eaters in Hogsmeade and had a vision of Harry being stabbed and dying, only to find him alive the next day. Dumbledore stood up, his eyes meeting Lily's, and said quietly, "That is certainly very troubling. It's highly unusual for someone without Seer abilities to have such vivid premonitions."

He walked over to his bookshelf, seemingly lost in thought. "And you said despite your attempts to change the outcomes, the events still occurred as you had envisioned?"

"Yes," Lily muttered, her eyes drifting to the window.

Dumbledore paced back and forth, pausing thoughtfully. "I've heard similar rumors," he said. "They're called Death Omens."

Lily looked at him in confusion. "A Death Omen?"

"Have you heard the Tale of the Three Brothers?" he asked.

"Yes, but what's the connection?" Lily frowned.

"You see," said Dumbledore, sitting down, "the brothers evaded Death at first, but Death is cunning. Ultimately, It claimed them."

"So..." Lily struggled to grasp his meaning. "We're dealing with Death itself?"

"I suspect so," said Dumbledore, "though I could be wrong. First, we must prevent this from happening again. Didn't you say Harry was stabbed?"

Nodding, Lily replied, "I tried to heal him, but nothing worked. I believe the dagger is preventing the wounds from healing."

"A dagger that inhibits healing?" mused Dumbledore thoughtfully, his gaze on Lily. "While I haven't encountered such an artifact, I am aware of a certain heirloom passed down through a wizarding family."

"Could it be the Lestrange family?" Lily asked at once.

"Possibly," said Dumbledore. "But what makes you suspect the Lestranges?"

"Just a hunch from the vision," Lily explained, brow furrowed in concentration. "I think I saw Bellatrix."

"If the events you have seen come to pass," said Dumbledore calmly, "we must ensure your son is safe. He needs protection. Please continue your efforts. I will have members of the Order watch over you both discreetly to avoid panic. I'd also like to teach you a protective charm, just in case."

Dumbledore stood, walked to the center of his office, and faced Lily. He held out his wand, demonstrating the complex protection spell.

Lily nodded, comprehending the charm, and thanked him. She left the Headmaster's office slowly, feeling slightly relieved. Now she just had to find her son.

To be continued…