Ravenclaw

Chapter 36- Moonlight

Song for the chapter: Middle of the Night by the Vamps

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     "Why don't you come out?"
     Rowena Ravenclaw's strawberry-blonde hair waved in the sea's soft breeze as she sat at the very edge of the boat, her feet dangling and skimming the top of the water. She giggled to herself as Cepheus watched her intently.
     "Why don't you come out?" She repeated, turning around to face him. Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight and Cepheus laughed softly to himself.
     "I don't think I want to."
      Rowena gave him a puzzled look, but said no more-- that was what she was smart at, learning when the questions should stop.
     She gazed up at the moon. "It's beautiful tonight."
     Cepheus looked up in pain; he laughed again. Rowena looked at him, eyebrows raised.
     "Sorry."
     "Don't apologise."
     She took her feet out of the water and stood up, walking towards him with her wet soles leaving imprints on the polished wooden deck. She stopped just before the shelter.
     "Come out, Cepheus. It's warm tonight."
     He shook his head violently. His eye twitched, and a shiver ran down his spine. His grey eyes seemed greyer.
     "It's too warm," he lied." It's too warm for me." Rowena studied him closely; his eyes started to shine, but his body seemed to slowly curl up into a ball. Pale was his skin, yet it was even paler that night.
     "You should go for a swim." His voice was darker," The waters are pleasant, but bring your wand. These waters can be dangerous too."
     Rowena lit up. "Come with me then, Cepheus! Oh, do come with! We can anchor the boat, and--"
     "I said go for a swim Rowena."
     His body twitched. He was lying to himself. He knew he wanted to come with, but his body said differently.
     "Rowena--"
     "Alright Cepheus," she sighs, walking to the edge of the boat. She took off the worn top she had been wearing for days now and dived into the waters with her wand with the pants Uni gave her still plastered to her legs.
     Cepheus sighed; he wishes he could tell, he prayed he could tell-- because he felt different with Rowena.
     The only other person he told was Devriul, and he died with his secret. He no longer had his brother to confide in, he no longer had a beam of support. That happiness Devriul once brought him told him to keep going, but the light had been snuffed out, as did his will to live.
     But Rowena was something else. It was like she everything in life, then she didn't. Like him. He had everything in life, then he didn't. Because of that stupid--
     "Cepheus?"
     He looked at his hands. They were pale, paler than usual. He looked up at Rowena, who was gazing at him with concern.
     Rowena was soaked. She was panting from exhaustion as water dripped down her sides and pooled around her on the wooden deck that mas enchanted to not get stained. Her eyes bore straight into Cepheus' grey ones, and he knew if he wanted that happiness, that light, he had to do it soon.
     "Rowena--"
     Her blue eyes widened and she took a step back. "I can't believe I missed all the signs..."
Cepheus looked at her and his eyes managed to widen. She knew, of course she knew. Rowena had already proved to be one of the smartest individuals he had met, of course she would know.
"Rowena--"
She tore her eyes away from his and walked to the edge of the boat to sit down again. Her feet dangled in the water as she tried to calm herself down, while Cepheus did the opposite.
"Rowena? Are you... are you okay?" He asked timidly. He was never timid, but when it cane to her, he felt... different.
She shook and sighed. She had her face looking sideways as Rowena addressed him.
"What do you want me to say, Cepheus? That I'm alright with you being... being what you are, and hope that you won't turn and hurt me?"
Rowena's voice broke. A tear slipped out of her eye as she blinked.
She looked up at the sky. She hated being weak. She hated being so eager to trust people who can easily break and destroy her, who can finish what her sister started. Rowena wanted to be strong. She wanted to be back home, to be back where Godric was, where her friends were, where her perfect life was.
"I would never hurt you, Rowena."
She looked at Cepheus. He was standing now, and he seemed stronger, more humane. He didn't step out of the shelter though, but it was for the best.
"I would never hurt you," he repeated, and this time, Rowena believed that this werewolf was alright.

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