Hi, everyone, this is just the little first part of 'Larner, Tom' , please R&R! Just a little disclaimer; I don't own any of the canon characters, they all belong to JK Rowling/Warner Bros- just the OCs belong to me. Just one little thing- any flames will be fed to my hellhound- you have been warned!
Tom Larner stepped out onto the banks of the Black Lake, into complete darkness. This didn't bother him, as the clouds shifted and exposed a clear, full moon. He continued along the dry grass, loping with an easy grace, and his hands penetrating deep into the warmth of his dressing gown. Though the night was mild, the occasional burst of a freezing breeze swept the grounds. Where was he going? Even he didn't know. Something brushed against him in the encompassing darkness that returned as clouds passed over the moon. Stronger than wind, but light and quick. Tom whirled around, looking for anyone near him, whipping his wand out instinctively from the depths of his pocket. Silence. Silence wasn't right. In Hogwarts grounds, even if all else is quiet in the middle of the night, there was the continual rustling noise of the Whomping Willow's restless and violent branches. Tom glanced in the direction of this dangerous tree and almost fell into the lake with surprise. The Whomping Willow was motionless. More surprising still, there was a huge, gaping hole in the base of the trunk. He stared at this aperture in the wood; he hadn't noticed it before. He mentally slapped himself. Of course he hadn't seen it before! Most of the student population avoided this tree as much as possible, preoccupied by the heavy waving branches. Without warning, the tree re-started it's usual job of scaring off animals and humans alike, in reaction to this sudden crashing movement, Tom gave a start and this time he really did topple into the cold lake.
