Albus Severus Potter (A Harry Potter fanfic)

The Lake

Albus watching the feminine figure walk quietly towards him, ignoring the instinct to run away from the person. As she got closer, he could see her blond curls flying back as she came down the hill. It was Sienna. Albus relaxed, knowing that he was not actually in danger; he had feared that it would be someone from the dark force coming to get him.

Sienna was hiding something, but Albus couldn't tell what it was though. She sat down next to him and looked out towards the lake. "Didn't think you would be out here," she stated; her voice was so quiet Albus almost didn't hear what she said.

"Yeah, well ... I didn't think you'd be out here either," replied Albus, not unkindly. His voice was louder than he had expected it to be, and his words hung in the still air.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" she said, her voice still quiet. Albus was confused, what's pretty? he thought. "The lake," said Sienna, after noticing Albus' confusion. Albus looked out at the lake, he'd never actually thought about it, he'd always thought that the lake was quite dull and ugly, but in the light of the half-moon, the ripples looked calm and beautiful.

"Yeah," he breathed out.

They sat there together for a while, neither of them saying anything, scared to break the silence. They did just what they would have done if the other one wasn't there, but they were both more than aware of the person sitting next to them. They watched the lake for no reason, and felt the night getting colder.

Sienna brought her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. A breeze blew over the lake towards them. Sienna shivered involuntarily. "Cold?" asked Albus, careful to keep his voice lower than before.

"A bit," said Sienna honestly.

"Come here," said Albus, opening up his arms so that Sienna could sit next to him. She shuffled across the frozen grass and curled up next to him.

"Albus," she said, looking up at him. "I should probably tell you something."

"Are you going to break up with me?" asked Albus, sounding confused.

"No! No, something else," she said, realising that it did sound like a typical break-up line. "I should probably have told you this right after the Second Task, I mean, he let go of you then, right in the middle!"

"Wait, slow down," he said slowly.

"Someone had you under control, but it wasn't the Imperius Curse. It was something else that took complete control of you, only the greatest wizard could fight it," she paused and looked up at Albus, who nodded slowly. "And then, whoever was controlling you, let go of you in the middle of the Task, and now ... well, you're brother knows a bit more too and it's harder to keep the secret from him."

"Well ... it's not really that hard, I mean, he doesn't actually know much," said Albus. He knew that he'd just admitted that everything Sienna had just said was true, but it would have been harder if he had had to keep her from the truth. She even knew so much already so it was hardly hurting her.

"Oh, right of course. Sorry I'm mixing things up," she said looking down in confusion. Albus wanted to know what she was mixing up his story with. Was it another person? Herself? But he didn't have the nerve to ask her.

"So how come you're out here?" asked Albus, changing the subject.

"It's nice to think out here where there's no one to disturb you," she answered. "How about you?"

"The same," said Albus, "pretty much."

"Have you ever swum in the lake?" asked Sienna, louder and more excited.

"No..." replied Albus, wondering where the conversation was heading

"Ever?!"

"Nope."

She thought about it for a moment, and then decided: "We should go now then."

"As in now?" asked Albus, thinking only of the freezing water.

"Yes now."

"But it's freezing and it's the middle of the night," pointed out Albus.

"When else do you expect me to jump into a lake? I can't in the day time because people would stare."

"So you've been in the lake before?"

"Yes."

"Right," said Albus, wondering how he'd ever get out of it, "and you want me to jump in now."

"Yes," said Sienna. Albus thought it over, a doubtful look on his face. "Come on! It'll be fun, I promise," her tone was reassuring.

"Does this mean I have to take my clothes off?" asked Albus.

"No, you go in with your clothes on, otherwise we'll freeze," said Sienna, no sarcasm in her voice.

"And when we get out and we're dripping wet..."

"We use a spell to dry our clothes," finished Sienna.

Albus thought it over. "Okay fine."

"Yes!" said Sienna in excitement.

They got up and held hands as they walked towards the lake. "Wait!" said Sienna. "Shoes."

"We take them off?"

"Yes."

"Okay," said Albus, they kicked off their shoes and went to the edge of the lake again.

They stepped cautiously into the water; Albus felt his toes freeze as the water lapped over them. Sienna was a step ahead of him and the water came up to her ankles.

"Come on," said Sienna tugging gently on his hand. Together, they ran out into the water, which came up to their knees. Both of them were freezing cold, but the difference was that Sienna loved it whereas Albus was only doing it for her. They were soon so far out enough that even Albus couldn't stand up.

The seaweed and possibly creatures brushed passed their feet. They swam around and splashed each other with the black water. They laughed and played for a while and they soon grew tired, Sienna thought that the sky was getting lighter.