I know, I know, I disappeared off the face of the earth. School is giving me a lot of stress, I have to have surgery on Thursday, and life is just plain sucking right now.

I don't deserve it, but please review!!

Chapter 21

We stayed at my godmother's for a week before something terrible just had to happen.

That one week was actually halfway decent, however. I had a lot of time to spend with Draco (even though old-fashioned Betty pursed her lips in disapproval if I even kissed him on the cheek), and it was a lot of fun trying to teach him how to use Muggle appliances. He always glowered at me if I laughed a little bit, and he had said using magic was simply easier and the way Muggles lived was practically impossible.

Saturday night, we were all gathered around Betty's ancient television set. Draco was fascinated with it, but I found the flashing lights and shapes moving around the screen somewhat indistinct. Maybe it was because I had that odd foreboding feeling that preceded an especially bad premonition. Maybe it was because I was feeling guilty about not telling Betty about my "special abilities" – or, as I like it to think of it, my pain in the ass.

As the crowd on the talk show that Betty was watching laughed, the headache came on so fast I gasped in pain and surprise.

"What's the matter?" Betty asked, looking startled.

Draco touched my hand, and I buried my face into his shoulder. I could feel the blood running down my cheeks and knew it was staining his shirt. He patted my head and whispered, "It'll be over soon, babe."

I moaned in response. I could practically feel the burning glare Betty was handing Draco. "What's wrong with her? Has it happened before?"

And he explained it all in summary. The premonitions, what happened before I got one, and what exactly I predicted. Just as he finished, my eyes rolled back and I knew immediately that I was seeing out of my own eyes, which had never happened before.

As I looked around, Betty's house was on fire, the flames lighting up the night spectacularly. Distant screams confirmed my worst fears.

"Regina, run!" Draco shouted, running out of the burning building with spells flying over his head like mini-firecrackers. "Betty's dead! I'll take care of the Death Eaters."

"I'm not leaving you!" I yelled desperately, feeling a pang of grief at my godmother's death. I couldn't lose him. He was my like a life-source to me – if I lost him, I would lose myself.

"I don't matter! You do."

"They'll forgive you. It's me they want. If it'll make life easier, I'll just let them catch me." And I completely meant what I said. No way would I have him sacrifice his life for my own.

He came over to me and wrapped his arms around me. "Never say that," he whispered.

Then I came back to the present with a jolt.

I stood up, so quickly it was a blur. Betty and Draco looked alarmed.

"What did you see?" Draco asked.

"Well… I'm not sure," I answered.

He looked confused. "But you should know what you see, right? Wait… do you even remember what you saw?"

"Of course," I snapped. "I'm just not sure what it means."

"Well, what exactly did you see?" Betty cut in impatiently.

I sat down and rubbed my temples. "The house was on fire," I began. "Draco, you ran out of the building and told me to run, and that Betty was dead." The older woman in question gasped and gave a little squeak of fear. "I told you that I wasn't leaving without you, and you told me you didn't matter and that I did, and I said that Voldemort would forgive you and kill me, and that it would make life easier for me to just give myself up. You hugged me and told me to never say that, and then it ended." I shrugged. "I just don't know what to make of it."

"What time of day was it?" Draco asked at random, not seeming too bothered by my vision, though I could see the worry in his gray eyes.

"At night," I replied. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Can you remember what the moon looked like?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because I want to know when this will happen so we can stop it."

"What if there's no way to prevent it?" Betty whispered.

"Well, then, we'll just to have to die, won't we?" I muttered, my pessimistic side taking over.

"We are not going to die," Draco said firmly. "I won't let it happen."

The phone rang. We all jumped at the sudden noise. I went over to answer it. "Hello?"

"Yes, is this the residence of Elizabeth Charles?" That was Betty's full name. The person on the other line was male – I could tell by the pitch of the voice. It sounded silky, like the narrator of a luxury car commercial.

"May I ask who's calling?" I wasn't about to the answer the question until this person revealed their identity. You just can't trust anyone anymore, and besides… it doesn't take that much effort to learn how to use a phone.

"That is not important," the man replied smoothly. "I repeat – is this the residence of–?"

"Yeah, it is," I snapped. "What do you want?"

"I need to speak to a Regina Gorge, if it's not too much trouble."

"You're talking to her."

"I'm sure you know who I am."

"Actually, I don't." I was getting more and more nervous by the minute. I had other things to worry about, and what if this guy was a serial killer or something?

"Well… think of whom you're closest to, and you'll find the answer eventually." The line went dead, and I hung up the phone.

A cold sense of dread set in as I thought about the mysterious caller's words. Think of whom you're closest to…

Draco…

Draco… Wait…

Oh, hell no.