PotterInk (Writing Contest) REVAMPED

Round 5: Entries

Eve Walker

My feet sank into the fresh layer of snow that had just fallen not half an hour ago. The white powder gave a soft crunch under my feet as I trudged forwards, making my way back to the house.

Christmas break had come and gone and tomorrow I would be on my way back to Kings Cross Station. I was looking forward to returning to school. I obviously wasn't very happy about the lad of work that it would entitle but I could manage as long as I got to see Avery.

We had kept in touch over the holiday but considering she lived on the other side of London to me, meeting up was something that we hadn't bothered to organise.

Christmas had been a little bit lonely. My mother had been around more than I had expected but there were still those days when I'd had the house to myself. There were only so many things I could find to do before the boredom had crept up on me.

Now I was on my way home. I had a packet of hot chips wrapped in newspaper under my arm, the heat seeping through and warming me up.

It was nearly dark and the street lights around me were already on. I wasn't all that far from my house, only a few short minutes if walking stood between me and our warm fire.

I cut away from the pathway and into a small park, pushing through the stiff gate with some difficulty. My street sat on the other side of the park which provided the perfect shortcut for me to take advantage of.

There was hardly any light left in the sky now and I picked up my pace, hurrying over the snow and leaving a winding track behind me. As I looked down at my feet creating imprints, I noticed another the trail of another pair of feet leading in the same direction I was heading.

They weren't mine, they were far too fresh to be from yesterday when I had last taken this route. It was probably just some kids mucking around in here, it's not like I was the only one who knew of this places existence.

But that theory was proved completely wrong when I saw where the tracks ended. There was a person standing underneath one of the big willow trees that grew on the park grounds. I wouldn't have been able to see the person had it not been for the small glow of light emitting from the wand that they held.

I stopped walking and peered over there, trying to make out what was going on. I crept closer, wondering what in the world someone was doing with their wand out in clear sight. Any Muggle could have walked in and seen exactly what the wizarding world tried to hide.

I crept closer, trying to keep my footsteps as quite as possible, which wasn't easy in the snow.

The figure turned and saw me and I managed to catch sight of a boy's face -his dark eyes wide and his hair ruffed- before he muttered, "Nox."

The light went out and under the shade of the tree we were plunged into darkness but I already know who it was.

"Hey!" I called, running forward and no longer trying to be discrete. I tugged out my wand but didn't dare do any magic. All I did was sit back and watch as he took off running. Following him wasn't an option as he had already slipped away into the night, using the now dark surroundings as a cover.

I tried to place a name to the face that I had recognized. He was a sixth year, Ravenclaw boy who played for their quidditch team. Avery knew him and had introduced me a few times but his name evaded me.

I walked over to where the boy had been standing and crouched down, adjusting my hold on the newspaper package under my arm.

In front of me were two dark splotches that stood out against the white snow, even with no lighting. I stood up quickly and stumbled backwards, my mind racing. I could have been jumping to conclusions but the splotches on the snow looked an awful lot like blood.