She spends hours by the Black lake. It is the only part of the castle relatively unharmed by the war. It is the only part of the castle that is exactly as she remembers it. She craves the familiarity, the serenity of the dark pool of water.
The rest of the students and teachers are too busy. It is surprisingly easy to be overlooked, she finds, even is she is a member of the Golden Trio. The fact that everyone else is too occupied in healing themselves and each other form the war, both physically and mentally, helps her cause.
She finds the only thing that keeps the terrible thoughts away is the water, the ripples it makes, and the sound of the myriad of creatures that she knows live under the lake. They come close to the surface sometimes, when they have become used to her presence, though they never break into the air. All she can see is some dark shapes float just below. Once upon a time, she would have been scared to even stay near the lake if she saw such a creature, but now, she decides to speak to them. They are great listeners, after all. They let her ramble, never responding, but she feels like just letting her thoughts form into words is enough. At least, for a while.
It is many months before Hogwarts and most of the other ruins caused by the war are nearly fixed. Therefore, it is many months before anyone notices her absences. They tell her that she is becoming obsessed. She denies it, of course. She tells them they weren't there for her when she needed them, but they Lake was. They stare at her in shock and disbelief, tinged with guilt. She realises she doesn't even like going home anymore. It feels more like a prison. She would rather sit by the edge of the lake, dipping her toes into the water, speaking to the open air and any creature that would listen.
They do not let her have her peace. They come for her one night, and drag her away kicking and screaming, murmuring about how she needs to eat and rest, while she kicks and screams in protest.
They end up essentially holding her prisoner at Grimmauld Place, and she finds herself growing weaker, more lost. But she is not the brightest witch of her age for nothing. She finds a way to break through their wards, and make her way out of the house and back to the lake that has become her lifeline.
They come running again, soon after, but this time she is prepared. She stands defiantly when she hears them approach, daring them to try and take her away again. They tell her she is mad. She shakes her head. They don't understand. They then try to coax and coerce her into listening.
She refuses. They don't know what they're saying, what the water means to her. It is her home. So she does the only thing she can.
She dives.
Notes: For the Around the World Challenge on the Golden Snitch. Prompt: water
Also for the Through the Universe Challenge. Prompt: running again.
