Harry Potter (19 Years Later)

Chapter Four: The Black Lake

Hey guys, sorry about the slow update! The next chapter will come out faster! Enjoy and tell us what you think or what should happen!:

(Rose's POV)

It was overly cloudy, the usually bright blue sky replaced by a depressing black and gray color. A crisp wind bit at my bare face, my breath appearing in smoky white puffs. Clutching my astronomy assignment, I waddled out into the courtyard, sitting down on a snow covered bench. "Hey Rose!" Albus yelled, pulling his red and gold scarf tighter around his neck as he slid next to me.

"Isn't it just mad that Professor Pica is making us do this outside?" He shivered, dipping the tip of his quill into an ink bottle. I nodded, connecting a lone star to the next one, creating a triangle of stars. "It's not that bad." I argued watching as Diana and Scorpious sat down beside us, their teeth chattering. "Care to explain to us why astronomy is helpful in our adult lives Rose?" Diana asked, her ability to annoy the only thing that the cold weather was unable to take away.

I shrugged, sending them all into fits of laughter. "Remember tonight, we're going to Hagrid's." I said, my voice low. Scorpious frowned, still unsure of whether or not Hagrid would welcome him, since he was a miniature version of his father. Minus the attitude of course.

I patted him on the back, a reassuring smile spread out on my face. "It'll be fine Scorpious." I said calmly. Both Diana and Albus agreed, chiming in. "Hagrid's not one to judge based on family." Al added. "I mean look at Gwamp." He whispered. Diana giggled, but turned back to her assignment after the professor growled at us.

Nobody had seen or heard from Gwamp in ages. I thought back to the book Diana had given me back on the train about the dark war. Gwamp had been fighting for my family. Anti-Voldemort. Sometimes I wondered why adults had a hard time saying his name. But then I thought back to all of those that he had killed. And then I understood.

Lost in thought I stared out into space ,My eyes settling on the black lake. The water rippled, a side affect of housing the giant squid. A lone boat floated across the water, bobbing in the waves. "Al." I whispered, nudging my cousin and pointing out towards the lake. "Why is there a boat on the lake?" I wondered aloud. Albus shook his head, his face adopting a puzzled expression. "Beats me. Blimey, and in this cold weather too.." He muttered.

I stood up, thrusting my astronomy parchment into my messenger bag. As if on cue, Albus, Diana, and Scorpious rose, fighting their way through the courtyard which has now filled with students, rushing to their next class.

"Oi Rose!" Shouted Diana, "where are you going?"

Ignoring their booming questions, I ran along the narrow stone pathway that would take me down to the boat shed, cold nipping at my face. I forced open the ancient door, rust creeping up along the edges of the window frames. Very un-magically, the old wooden boats that took us across the lake on our first day at Hogwarts sat stacked in the back, all in even rows of four.

Except for one row. In the very back row, one boat was missing, and by the looks of it had been dragged across the floor. Dark brown scratches on the wooden planks that provided the floor.

"What are you doing Rose?" Albus called from behind me.

"A boat is missing." I muttered.

Diana snorted, flipping her short snady blonde hair across her shoulder. "So? Its just a boat."

"Yeah,but aren't you curious?" I asked, my mind still wandering, dreaming up possible explanations.

"Not really." Albus replied with a shurg.

Diana laughed and the two of them walked out of the boat house, into the bitter cold. Just me and Scorpius left.

"Please Scorpius." I begged, "Just help me look for the boat." I cried. With a sigh and a nod Scorpius followed me out of the shack, and we made our way down to the riverbank. It was muddy and wet, water creeping up into our shoes.

"See anything?" Scorpius asked, looking out at the horizen. The orange rays of the sun beat down on the lake, casting a warm yellow glow onto the black water.

"No, You?"

"Nothing." He replied, dropping his hands to his sides. "You know Rose, i think Diana and Al were right, nothing weird is going on here."

I sighed, grinding my teeth. "I know what I saw." I muttered determindedly.

Scorpius shrugged and started to climb back up the river bank. That's when I heard it. The voice was as faint as the wind, undetectable while talking or making noise.

"Hello?" I shrieked.

"Go away Rose. Stay out of private affairs." The voice whispered.

What was that? I thought that mysteries were finished for Hogwarts.

"Rose?" Scorpius asked from above the riverbank. "It's almost time for class to start. You coming?"

I nodded, and started to make my way up the muddy hill. I tried to shake the odd voice from my mind, but I couldn't. It haunted me, perplexing me. I was positive that Voldemort was gone, my uncle proof. So who was whispering in the wind, boating on the black lake in the middle of winter?

Scorpius and I met up with Diana and Albus in the corridors, the four of us rushing off to transfigurstion.

"Find anything?" Albus asked, sliding into the seat next to me.

I didn't know why but I felt like I needed to tell Albus. If I couldn't tell my own cousin, then I couldn't tell anyone. I nodded, lowering my voice as I spoke. "We need to talk Al. There's something I found."