FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT ► harry potter ¹

017. Black Lake

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

     THIS WAS ONE FOR THE BOOKS because Harry Potter has ended in the hospital wing and it was from a whooping willow, gryffindor must really be dumb not to think that the damn tree won't attack them, hell they probably thought they would find something so they could gloat about brave and mighty they were, she hoped the whooping willow gave him and his slimy friend a good smack in head for reality check that.

  Lyra perspective, she couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and amusement at the Gryffindor students involved in the incident, She hoped that Harry Potter's hospitalization would serve as a valuable lesson, teaching him and others the importance of respecting dangerous creatures and practice caution in their actions. As Lyra sat in the Slytherin common room that evening, the oppressive silence around her felt heavier than usual. The fire crackled quietly in the hearth, but its warmth did little to soothe the chill creeping through her veins. She had been dreading this moment ever since Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban. Now, the moment had finally arrived, though not in the way she had expected.

The relief was palpable as Lyra and her friends stepped out of the castle, the cool evening air brushing against their faces. OWLs were finally over, the last exam in the rearview, and there was a collective sigh of liberation in the air among students. Lyra, normally composed and aloof, felt a rare rush of exhilaration coursing through her. For the first time in weeks, she felt lighter, like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

The sun had begun its slow descent, casting a golden glow over the Hogwarts grounds. The Black Lake shimmered in the distance, its usually dark and foreboding waters reflecting hues of orange and pink. It had been Tracey Davis's idea, a spur-of-the-moment decision that had quickly spiraled into something the whole group wanted in on—an impromptu swim in the lake. Nothing reckless, of course. They'd stick to the safe, shallow part, the area where students were known to wade during the warmer months.

"This is going to be freezing," Millicent Bulstrode muttered, tugging at the hem of her jumper as they made their way down the sloping grounds toward the lake.

"Oh, don't be such a baby, Millie," Tracey shot back with a teasing grin. "It's summer! It can't be that bad."

"Summer at Hogwarts," Blaise Zabini added dryly, "which is a whole different thing."

Theodore snickered. "She's right though. It can't be colder than Snape's classroom during the winter."

"Don't remind me," Lyra muttered, smirking a little as they walked. She shot a sidelong glance at Blaise, who looked as calm and composed as ever. "I've spent enough time in the dungeons to know that even the Black Lake can't match it."

"Are we really going to do this?" Theo asked, his voice tinged with both amusement and slight trepidation. "I mean, swimming in the lake? What if the squid decides to show up?"

Tracey scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "The squid's harmless. He's probably already asleep at this hour anyway."

"Right," Theo said sarcastically. "Because magical creatures have bedtime schedules."

Blaise chuckled, running a hand through his dark curls as he eyed the lake. "It's fine. We'll stay in the shallows, and besides, we could all use some relaxation after that Potions exam. I'm still seeing cauldron recipes when I close my eyes."

Lyra didn't say much as they reached the edge of the lake. She was too busy feeling the cool breeze against her skin, the gentle lapping of the water against the shore already calling to her. The thought of diving into the lake after days of grueling exams, after weeks of endless studying, was more appealing than she'd like to admit.