This chapter is dedicated to the slain hero, Andrew Stewart.
Chapter 1 “ The Horizon Storm
“All aboard, the S. Elle! We will depart shortly.” announced the announcer.
Harry Potter was seen talking to Luna Lovegood, both standing near the dock.
“Oh, Harry! Are you really sure about this? I’ll come with you!” pleaded Luna.
“No, this is my only chance to start a new life “ a life away from all this pain… Besides, you don’t even have a ticket!” admitted Harry. “After learning that Ron and Hermione both died, I’m not going to harm anyone else by staying here. Especially you and the baby that you are pregnant with.”
Luna started to whimper.
“B-but this just isn’t fair!” cried Luna.
“Last warning to board the S. Elle! I repeat this is the last warning to board the S. Elle!” shouted the announcer.
“Goodbye… I will try to write each day.” Harry kissed Luna on the cheek, grabbed his luggage, and boarded the ship.
“I will miss you!” shouted Luna.
The ship started to set sail, and rain slowly poured down on them. Harry and the ship disappeared through the fog that had begun to close in around the port.
***
“Welcome to a bright, sunny day in the town of Horizon…” the radio was turned off by a tall, skinny woman.
“Asako, wake up!” shouted the woman.
The girl in the bed squirmed around, trying not to wake up.
“Asako, did you hear me?!” shouted the woman, even louder. “You are going to be late for the “”
The woman was interrupted from a man’s voice downstairs.
“Kira, can you come down here and help me with this please?” asked the man.
“Yes, Winston dear, I’ll be right down.” replied Kira. “Hurry up and get up!”
Kira walked out and slammed the door, making Asako suddenly wide awake.
Oh no, I’m going to be late! Stupid alarm clock, why didn’t it ring! Ugh… thought Asako as she scrambled to get out of bed.
Downstairs, Kira was seeing Winston off as he went to work.
“Dad, hang on a sec! I just need to put on this last sock and then I’m done…” Asako quickly fastened on a sock and ran down the stairs, and stepped into her shoes. “Okay, we can go now.”
“I’ll miss you sweetie, don’t drink too much red rum now!” Kira kissed Winston, and then Asako on the cheeks.
As she slowly closed the door behind her, she carefully stepped backwards from the door and a hand suddenly grabbed her and covered her mouth.
Asako and Winston are sitting in the car, beside each other.
“So tell me again… Why are you going to the port today?” asked Winston.
“I told you this like a dozen times already! I am going to the port because the S. Elle is coming back in and Neil is on it!” explained Asako.
“Oh really… How interesting… Who is this Neil kid again?” chuckled out Winston.
“Must I tell you everything again, father?” complained Asako.
“Alright, alright… I was just having a little fun.” exclaimed Winston.
They started coming into view of the port and Asako noticed the ambulance.
“Whoa, dad, uh… Why is there an ambulance?” asked Asako, looking out the front window.
“You better go check because it’s almost rush hour on the highway and I don’t want to get stuck in it and waste almost half of Friday afternoon just driving through it!” prompted Winston.
“Okay, have fun with the guys this weekend dad.” Asako kissed Winston on the cheek and opened the door. She ran off towards the ambulance and Winston drove off.
“Everyone, please stand back! We have an emergency situation here!” announced the doctor.
“Excuse me, what is going on here? There was supposed to be a ship docked here by now and all I see is -” Asako was looking at the face lying on the stretcher, and gasped. “Oh my goodness…”
“Nurse, his heart stopped pumping and we need a life saver here, stat!” explained the doctor, and the stretcher was pulled up into the ambulance.
“Doctor, I know that person and I think it would be best, if he had woken up in that hospital and the first face he sees was mine.” ordered Asako.
“Oh, just get in.” demanded the doctor.
The doctor climbed in behind her, closed the door, and the ambulance drove away.
***
At the hospital, a young lady saw Asako walking in through the emergency doors behind a group of nurses and a doctor.
“Asako, I heard what happened and I’m so sorry about Neil!” exclaimed the lady.
“Thanks for being here and just waiting for us, Miranda.” mentioned Asako.
“Miranda, where is your father? We have an emergency situation here.” interrupted a nurse.
“Yes, I know. He’s right over there.” Miranda pointed towards the counter where he was filing away his paperwork.
“Thanks.” said the nurse and she walked over to him. “Dr. Daniel Cordon, we need you right away.”
He looked up and saw the nurses pulling the stretcher into the emergency room.
“This was what I was afraid of…” mumbled Dan.
“Are you going to help or not?” asked the nurse.
“Oh, yes that’s right I am sorry.”
Dan walked out from behind the counter, hurried to the emergency room, and told Asako that everything will be okay.
***
Luna Lovegood is now seen sitting down on the floor, her eyes closed, and trying to use her temporarily telepathic powers that she had received from drinking the Telepathy Potion.
Come on Ron… Please pick up. I know you can do it…
Luna was then interrupted with a knock on the door. She stood up, and opened it to her amazement.
“Professor Dumbledore… It is always a surprise to see you at the most unexpected moment.” responded Luna.
“Yes, indeed it is. How goes the telepathic connection?” asked Dumbledore.
“Nothing yet.” replied Luna.
“You do know that we are wasting our time trying here, and each ended with a result of failure.” explained Dumbledore.
“I know… But was it wise for not telling Harry of what may lie beyond him when he reaches Horizon? A new threat lingers among us, so tell the prophecy. Who knows if it has associates running around in Horizon, unnoticeable to the human eye?” asked Luna.
“Starting to speak like a true Seer now… Tell me, what predictions can you make as of now, seeing that you cannot reach Ron or Hermione through telepathic connection and from the rumors that you have heard?” wondered Dumbledore.
“Well… Seeing as they are only rumors to us for now, I would assume that Harry will meet a lot of friends, and everyone’s lives will be at ease, knowing that he has destroyed the Dark Lord.” Luna jokingly said.
“You are forgetting that even with, Voldemort vanquished, wizards and witches alike must still keep everything hidden from the Muggle world.” corrected Dumbledore. “We have never tried going as far as exhibiting a part of the magical world.”
“Indeed that is true, but as a Seer, I just have this feeling that that statement will change very soon.” Luna explained.
***
“Doctor, is everything alright?” asked Asako, as Dan came out of the emergency room.
“Please, just call me Daniel, or Dan whatever you prefer. And yes, Neil Bank’s heart is back to pumping, which means you two can both go see him if you like… However, hospital rules are not to make loud noises in the emergency room unless you are calling for help.” responded Dan.
“Good to hear, thanks Dan!” Asako and Miranda ran towards the emergency room, and walked inside. Neil was sleeping silently on the bed, eyes closed.
As they walked beside him, Neil’s eyes started to open.
“Hey.” Neil said silently.
“Hey… How are you feeling?” asked Asako.
“A bit better.” responded Neil. “I think I’ll be making a full recovery though.”
“Of course you will be! What would I do if you had moved on?” wondered Asako.
“Don’t worry, honey.” replied Neil.
“I think I’ll just go outside and wait…” piped up Miranda.
“Okay.” Asako said.
“Hey sis, have you heard that dad’s friend’s entire family is flying in from America today?” asked a man coming up to Miranda as she walked out.
“Hey David, no I didn’t. Which friend is coming and for how long are they staying?” asked Miranda continuing to her seat.
“Jeremy Edwards, that tall guy with short hair and black eyes…” mentioned David. “I think I heard dad say that they were staying here so that they can live in a better environment.”
Miranda looked shockingly at David.
“Are you serious? Have they found a place to stay yet?” continued Miranda.
“Oh yes, remember that house that the neighbor was selling? It was them that bought the house, the Edwards family.” explained David.
***
An owl arrived at Luna’s window. She opened it, grabbed the envelope from the owl, and flew off. Luna gave the envelope to Dumbledore.
“What does it say?” asked Luna.
“Kira Kwon, a suspected witch within the league of the new threat has disappeared from her home this morning at approximately nine hundred hours.” read Dumbledore, he rolled up the letter and threw it into the fire.
“Wrong. Kira is not a suspected witch, but is on our side of goodness.” announced Dumbledore.
Luna sat back down on the carpet, and meditated so that she could try reaching telepathically to Kira. After a few seconds waiting, she opened her eyes.
“No answer.” Luna sighed.
“Go ahead and keep trying, Luna. I have to head back to school. The new Minister wants to have a word with me about the current stage of things.” Dumbledore winked at her and walked out the door.
***
The nurse came back into the emergency room holding a clipboard full with papers.
“Neil Banks, I have your test results and everything shows up perfectly, as if the incident never happened at all.” explained the nurse. “The doctor says that it is your choice if you wanted to stay and rest here for the night, or leave now.”
“I think I’d like to leave now, after all, I didn’t come back here for nothing.” reminded Neil.
The nurse helped Neil out of bed, and he hugged Asako as the nurse left.
“Miranda is outside waiting for us, let’s go.” instructed Asako.
“Asako, I think, that we should celebrate this day with a walk out on the beach by the port. What do you say?” ask Neil.
“That’s perfect. Seven o’clock?” responded Asako.
“Sure, now let’s go outside and meet Miranda.” insisted Neil.
They both walked outside and saw Miranda talking to David.
“David! What a pleasure to see you again, buddy!” exclaimed Neil, walking towards him to hug him.
“Neil! Is everything alright?” asked David.
“Yes, you don’t have to worry.” replied Neil.
“Hey Miranda, there’s this new club named The Fairside and they’re having a grand opening celebration tonight, you want to come with me and David?” asked Miranda.
“Oh, I’d loved to but Neil and I already made a plan for tonight. Perhaps some other time?” responded Asako.
“Yeah, okay then sure.” Miranda looked sober.
“Neil, I just get the feeling that I want to go to the beach now. Maybe we can eat lunch there, and then we can go around town sight-seeing for awhile?” asked Asako.
“You sure you want to go now?” asked Neil.
“Yes.” replied Asako.
“Okay, we’ll see you around then David, Miranda!” Neil and Asako waved them goodbye.
***
Daniel Cordon walked down the hallway and bumped into a nurse.
“Oh, Dr. Cordon, someone is here to see you. I think his name was Jeremy Edwards?” explained the nurse.
“Thanks I was expecting his arrival.” responded Dan.
He filed away his folder and walked outside the front entrance.
“Jeremy! How have you been?” asked Dan, patting his friend on the back.
“You know us, we’re doing just great. Why don’t we go to the coffee shop and have a little something to drink?” responded Jeremy.
“Sounds like a business proposal. Where are the kids and wife?” continued Dan.
“They’re at the new home unpacking the boxes and cleaning up.” replied Jeremy.
“Good to hear, good to hear!” Dan continued to smile happily at Jeremy.
***
Asako and Neil walked along the beachside holding hands.
“Everything is just perfect, don’t you think Neil?” Asako hugged him.
“Yeah… I liked the way how things turned out for us.” Neil discussed.
Asako had let go of Neil and looked towards the waves that were splashing against the sand. As the wave went back down again, Asako shrieked as loud like a tiger and fainted into Neil’s arms.
Neil looked over and saw a young boy lying unconsciously on the sand. From what Neil could make of him, the boy had black hair, round glasses, his clothes wear all torn up, and had a very thin scar on his forehead that was shaped liked a bolt of lightning.