The soft lapping of water against the hull of the small wooden boat was the only sound that filled the silence. The boat glided across the glassy surface of the Black Lake, heading towards the imposing silhouette of Hogwarts Castle. Serena Snape sat quietly, her ebony hair cascading down her back and a faint frown creasing her brows. Beside her, Lily Evans was chattering excitedly about the castle, her green eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Across from them, James Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were all crammed into another boat, the disappointment on James' face clear as day. He had wanted to share a boat with Serena, but the rule of four people per boat had dashed his plans. His hazel eyes continually flickered to the boat carrying Serena and Lily, a hint of longing in his gaze.
Serena, noticing his gaze, sighed inwardly. She had spent the entire train ride trying to ignore James' attempts to capture her attention. He was relentless, always finding a way to approach her. Whether it was offering her candies from the trolley lady, convincing her in a game of Exploding Snap, or even engaging her in some nonsensical conversation, he never seemed to tire. Serena had hoped that once they reached Hogwarts, he would find a new interest, but it seemed that was wishful thinking.
"James, stop staring," Sirius teased, his gray eyes twinkling with mischief. "You're acting like a lost puppy."
"Shut it, Sirius," James replied, his face flushing. But he didn't look away from Serena.
Meanwhile, Remus sat quietly, a smile playing on his lips as he watched the scene unfold. He had a feeling his years at Hogwarts were going to be anything but boring.
Lily, noticing James' gaze on Serena, put a protective arm around her. "She's mine, Potter!" she declared, her voice echoing across the lake.
"Is that a challenge, Evans?" James retorted, a grin spreading across his face.
Lily grinned back and said, "You don't even have the right to challenge me in the first place, Potter."
"Go on, Evans!" Sirius cheered, pumping his fist in the air.
"Shut up, mate!" James groaned, shoving Sirius in retaliation. The sudden movement caused the boat to rock dangerously.
Remus, the voice of reason, tried to steady the boat. "Guys, stop messing around," he warned, but it was to no avail. The two boys kept pushing one another.
With one final shove from Sirius, the boat tipped over, throwing the boys into the cold waters of the Black Lake. A collective gasp echoed from the surrounding boats.
Just when it seemed like things couldn't get worse, a large tentacle emerged from the depths of the lake, wrapping around the overturned boat. The Giant Squid, usually a rare sight, had decided to intervene.
Before anyone could panic, the Squid carefully lifted the boat, flipping it back upright. One by one, it plucked the sputtering boys from the water and deposited them back into their boat. It then retreated back into the depths, leaving behind a stunned silence.
"What... was that?" Remus finally managed to ask, his eyes wide with shock.
"That," James replied, grinning from ear to ear despite his soaked state, "was awesome!"
Sirius, too, was grinning like a maniac. "Did you see that? The Giant Squid saved us!"
Their excitement was contagious, and laughter soon filled the air. Even Serena, watching the scene from her boat, couldn't help but roll her eyes with a hint of amusement. What idiots.
She raised her wand and pointed it at the boys' boat. "Tergeo," she said, casting the drying spell. The water instantly evaporated from their clothes and hair, leaving them dry.
YOU ARE READING
IN ANOTHER LIFE (James Potter x Severus Snape)
Fanfiction(OMEGAVERSE) Severus finds himself rising from his near deathbed into the past, as a female 10 year old version of himself in another parallel world, where secondary genders exist. (Also uploaded in Fanfiction & Ao3)
