Returning Home

Prologue

They sat together on the small, soft rug in her bed room just like they had every night for as long as she could remember. His crimson eyes were lit up in amusement while she twirled his wand around, conjuring bubbles that went along with the story he was telling her. He was her Tom and while he was much older (at least he said so but he still looked younger than mum and dad so how old could he really be?) he was still hers. She knew that without a doubt in her mind.

She felt like this story was made up because it spoke of a Lord Death and a Lady Life and he sometimes stalled before speaking again which wasn't like her Tom at all. However, she never missed a chance to just hear her Tom speak in a tone that was reserved just for her. Their amusement was cut short however, at the presence of a doe that seemed to be made out of a bright, white light. When the creature opened its mouth the voice was the familiar tone of her Aunt Lily, what was going on?

"He's here! My Lord he's here, come quickly!" The strange doe spoke in a frantic tone.

She tilted her head to the side as she looked up at her Tom, confusion with a sense of a dread filling her as she felt the pout form on her tiny ltoddler face. "Tom? 'Ry okays?"

His face immediately softened and any worry she had seen just a second prior was immediately masked away as she heard him call for Maeve, the elf that had been with her since her birth. "My little darling, your Harry will be okay." He gave her a gentle smile as he slid his wand out of her tiny hand. "I'm going to make sure of it. I'll be right back and then we'll finish that story, yeah?"

Maeve popped in at that moment and took her hand, gently holding her in place. She didn't like this, it all felt wrong but she just nodded her head. He gave her one long look and swept down, placing a small kiss on the very top of her head as he left. He would come right back. He had to, he always came right back. And it was Samhain, he wouldn't miss Samhain. So why was she so scared?

Gwyn sat down in the same spot and pulled over the emerald blanket he had gifted her on their birthday and surrounded herself with it. The softness of it, combined with the fact it smelled like her Tom seemed to soothe some of her fears. Maeve moved to a spot behind her and started to brush out her hair and began humming the same song her mum always did. She knew the little elf was silently acknowledging her fears and trying to help her and she was grateful for her friend.

As the sky outside her window grew darker and stars started to illuminate the sky her fears came back tenfold. Something was wrong, she didn't know how she knew, she just knew. She pulled the blanket around her tighter and drew her knees up as she rocked herself back and forth. She could vaguely hear Maeve calling for her but her wide, purple eyes just stared out ahead of her as her breath came quicker.

'No no no no no no no no no!' Her heart seemed to start beating impossibly fast as her wide eyes stared straight ahead without seeing. Something had gone horribly wrong but she wasn't able to put voice to that thought before pain overtook her. She cried out as she curled in on herself. She could hear her parents footsteps as they came running into the room. The soft sounds of Nagini's hissing, telling her all was going to be well as she nudged her with her nose and Maeve holding onto her tight while the tears came. The last thing she remembered hearing was her mother's voice saying something must have happened to Tom and to go and check, then it was all darkness.

When Gwyn awoke the next morning she couldn't remember dreaming anything. How odd. Her entire short life she had always shared a dream with Tom- her thoughts immediately cut off. They were sitting on her rug, he was telling her a story, the doe came in, it spoke in Aunt Lily's voice, Tom left, Tom didn't come back. Tom didn't come back.

That last thought brought it all back, the sense of dread, the pain that had settled to a dull ache in her chest. She threw back the covers on her bed and took off out of her room and down the hallway. Mum had sent dad to go and get Tom. Tom was powerful and her dad was Lord Alfred Peverell. No one could beat either one of them. And if something did happen then everyone knew there was no better healer than Lady Antoinette Peverell.