hiraeth - d.m

two

She'd forgotten mornings at Hogwarts. Faith shook her shoulders viciously, and when Gwen opened her eyes in disdain, her heart grew cold in hatred as she noticed no one else was awake, and it was still dark outside. Gwen attempted to kick Faith off the end of the bed, but she yanked down her blankets in response, trying her best to force her awake.

"Faith, what the bloody hell?" Gwen groaned in protest, rolling over in her uncovered bed. Faith poked Gwen until she sat up, and when she did her right hand found it's way to her shoulder, slapping her in disapproval. Faith gasped and nursed her arm dramatically.

"C'mon, we gotta go watch the sunset." Gwen had forgotten about this annual tradition. Ever since second year, after Donnie, Faith, and Gwen had formed their unbreakable bond, they had snuck their way into the astronomy tower at the break of dawn to watch the sun come up over the horizon. She couldn't remember distinctly, but the vague watercolor painting of the sky in her mind settled her frustration.

Gwen sighed heavily, then pushed herself out of bed and slid her feet into her plush slippers.

"Coffee." Gwen huffed, pulling her coat over her shoulders quietly, doing her best not to wake up the other girls.

"Breakfast is in an hour, you'll be fine." Faith responded, grabbing into Gwens hand and pulling her out of the bedroom excitedly. The rounded the staircase, and once they entered the common room, Donnie was already awake and waiting for them.

"Ready?" He whispered, pushing himself out of the couch. Faith extended her arm, and he hooked his elbow around hers. They smiled and talked about how memorable this year would be. Their final year at Hogwarts. All Gwen could think about was how much she wished Faith would've forgotten. She wanted to sleep. And stay asleep. Her head throbbed out of exhaustion.

They peered around each corner as they walked through the barren halls. It was so early that the paintings were still in a deep slumber. Once the got to the final hallway, Faith and Donnie broke away from eachother and bolted to the end of the hall, childishly racing. Gwen couldn't help but break her coldness and laugh at the sight. Donnie nearly fell, and when Faith reached the spiral staircase first, she cheered silently for herself.

"Some things never change, Donnie." Faith said in a sing song voice as the other two caught up to her. Donnie shoved her jokingly and laughed quietly, looking down to his feet. His curls bounced around the frame of his face, and when he turned to look at Gwen he noticed how her once cinnamon-freckled cheeks had turned fair, and untouched by the sun. Like a doll. He pressed his lips together firmly, and looked ahead of them.

"I wonder who'll be in our classes this year, now that the - eighth years? - will be with us." Faith interrupted her own sentence with a question. For someone so intelligent, you'd never gather that by the way she speaks every thought that comes to her head. One would think she had an impulsivity problem, but it was really just that she thought her mind was such a treasure, and that all of her thoughts should be heard.

Donnie shrugged, and sat down in the middle of the room on the floor, right under the large solar model. Faith followed Gwen to the railing, and took a deep inhale from the incoming breeze.

"I can practically smell autumn coming." Faith mumbled, closing her eyes in serenity. Donnie groaned dramatically.

"You say that every year, Faith. I think we get the idea." Donnie spat jokingly. Faith whipped her head around.

"It's tradition, Donovan!" Faith hissed, issuing a laugh to come from Donnies belly. He always thought it was funny when Faith played her mum bit. Gwen allowed a laugh, but it faded quickly, and her eyes returned to the horizon. The sun peeked over the mountains, and the light kissed the tops of the black lake.