Moonstruck | A Remus Lupin Love Story

Chapter 14 - The Black Lake

It had been a few weeks since the first trial of the Tri Wizard tournament. Each challenger had completed thier task and retrieved thier golden egg. Word spread around the school however, about Esmeray, and how she had enchanted her dragon. The students and teachers were either in awe of her, afraid of her, or angry with her, as no one understood her actions that day. It didn't really matter what they thought of her, she was still an outcast. Though she had friends here and there, everybody was hesitant with her, unsure of her. Harry, Ron and Hermoine tried to console her when they could, but they were still childeren, and had other things to worry about. Albus was always locked in his office, or away on mystery mission, or maybe he was just avoiding Esmeray's questions. And then there was Remus. Thier relationship was strange to say the least. Most of the time he treated her like any student, which at least provided a small amount of comfort, at least it didn't isolate her from the others, she thought. But, every so often, he would offer a slice of the purest kindness, the most intimate tenderness, a sort of divine protection, like he had at the first trial. But then, like a simple breeze, it would pass. However, Esmeray clung to those small moments, for it was all she had in terms of comfort. On the other hand, Remus was constantly thinking of Esmeray, cycling between being worry stricken for her safety, and then being astonished by her being. He would constantly check on her , glancing into classroom windows, strolling amongst hallways, watching her in the great halls, but always at a distance, unseen. He didn't want his feelings to grow, bloom, attach and ruin her future, or maybe he just didn't want to explore them . Nevertheless, he vowed to himself, that he would do whatever he could to protect Esmeray, no matter what happend to him in the process.

It was the morning of the second trial, and Esmeray, once again, was feverish with nerves. Yes, she had completed her first trial, but it had been challenging and terrifying and invigorating. But that was only the first, the trials were surely to get more complicated. She trudged towards the Black Lake, alone. She had searched for the trio, sure that they would offer her some luck, or words of kindness. She couldn't even find Remus amongst the crowd, and he was always there ready to offer her some wisdom. No, she was totally, incredibly, alone. A heavy fog crept its way across the inky waters of the lake. Shadows danced amongst the kisses between wind and water, like a tango between night and day. It was early in the morning, and the frost from the night before had yet to rise. The trees that hugged the lake had shed thier leaves from winter's touch, and now stood at coffin-like angles, caving towards the centre of the lake. An eery silence shed from the shivering crowd, swimming amongst a few crow calls and windy whistles. Esmeray, along with the other champions, stood at the edge of a rickety, wooden platform, suspended on the lake, in nothing but thier swimsuits. Esmeray kept glancing behind to the shore, still searching for friendly faces within the sea of onlookers. She could not find one.

'Welcome, to the second trial of this year's Tri - Wizard Tournament,' Dumbeldore announced, suddenly appearing behind the champions. The crowd's claps echoed across the water, like a heavy downpour of rain. Esmeray tried to wrap her arms even tighter around herself, trying to keep her body heat in, and trying to comfort her nerves that were climbing up her throat. She remembered back to Remus' DADA class, where they had discussed the history the Black Lake and all the creature's that resided there. She remembered how he had taught them about merpeople, and thier inability to sing above water, and how they sent messages to the surface in golden like orbs, that must be opened below water to be heard. She remembered how she had smiled, knowing he had taken that class as an oppurtunity to subtly guide her about the purpose of her golden egg, and warn her of the lake's dangers. But where was he now, she thought. Ok, focus, what did the egg say again, she though to herself. She had one hour to swim around the lake and look for something that was stolen from her. She just didn't know what they would have taken. All her most precious posessions were where they always were this morning. And how was she going to breathe underwater for an hour. She couldn't remember any spells or charms that would help her. She repeated Remus' words, the ones he had whispered to her at her first trial -'Trust your instincts,'. They circled her brain, becoming her mantra, echoing in her vessel.