Phan and the Downward Spiral

Dan

We're slowing down. Looking out the window, I see a row of lights coming closer against the dark sky and one that keeps bobbing up and down. It must be someone holding a lantern, though it's quite far off the ground for it to be a normal person holding it.

The train stops and everyone rushes out all at once. I gather up my trunk, preparing to take it out, but notice that the compartment opposite us still has luggage in it. I end up deciding to trust the people who were in there and leave my belongings on the train. Phil, meanwhile, is already halfway down the hall.

"Hurry up, slowpoke!"

"Alright, alright. I'm coming." I realise how old I sound. I hurry after him, eager to get to school (never thought I'd say that).

When we exit the train, all of the older students seem to have disappeared off somewhere, presumably already on their way to the castle. There's a group of kids about our age standing around a very large man holding a lantern.

"Firs' years! Over here!" he yells, clearly getting tired. He's so tall that I have to crane my neck to see his face. The lantern he holds, like him, is massive, almost the size of some of the shorter kids. We join the group and he starts moving with us following him. Everyone seems equally nervous, but there are a few who are more confident than others, the red-haired girl from before being one of these.

"I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, but mos' people call me Hagrid. Follow me! Mind yer step here!"

We follow him down a very steep gravel path, encompassed by thick forest on either side.

"Jus' round this bend an' yeh'll get sight o' Hogwarts."

We marvel at the sight of the magnificent castle appearing before us, it's towers and turrets shimmering in the moonlight.

"This is so cool, right?" Phil says gleefully.

"Totally wicked!" We both grin.

Our little party approaches the giant lake separating us from the structure, upon which are a cluster of boats with lanterns hung on hooks attached to the bows.

"This here is the Great Lake. Don' lean o'er the edge of yer boat too much or yeh'll end up dinner for the Giant Squid." He throws out the fact like it's no big deal. "Four to a boat an' no more!"

The group is a little tense from his offhand squid remark; nobody's quite sure if he's joking or not. Phil and I head to a boat together and are followed by the red-haired girl (she's everywhere isn't she) and another, more petite girl with brown hair. Hagrid checks that everyone is safely in their boats, before hopping into his own. He hangs up his lantern, then commands the boats to go forward, his voice echoing across the lake. Surprisingly, though it probably shouldn't be by now, they obey him, moving by themselves. We're off towards Hogwarts!

People are slowly overcoming their awe at the sudden movement, and are beginning to talk excitedly to their newly acquired companions. I look around a little awkwardly what with her around. I lean over the side of the boat to get a better look at the depths of the lake. It's almost completely black, but I swear I can see some shapes moving about below the surface. Maybe he wasn't kidding.

My face plunges into the icy lake water, my body screaming at the abrupt change of temperature. My eyes widen as the shapes below become clearly visible. Whitish creatures with tails and an upper half of a human swim beneath me, eyes trained on the sudden intruder. Mermaids. I track thick, black tentacles further into the depths of the lake, to where nothing but darkness is discernible. The tentacles move closer to me, reaching out. I pull myself out with the help of Phil, gasping for air.