1 Drifting in the Wind
Prologue - A Girl Alone
Stepping into the darkness, I pulled my cloak around me, despite the mild evening. It was more for comfort and familiarity than to protect me from the elements, although why I would choose to cling to something that represented everything I despised I wasn't sure.
No - not everything I despised. A witch's cloak held some distant connection with warmth and joy, but it was something I thought I had turned my back on long ago.
I had been here for a week now. It was new and strange, but somehow I almost felt like I had been here all my life. The stories I had heard about this place! Hogwarts! Voices around evening fires had told of adventures, mysteries and days of happiness, but somehow the thrill had never managed to touch me. Through evenings of laughter and fond memories I had sat alone - like a shadow without substance, desperately reaching out, but finding nothing to grasp.
Crossing the grounds, I pushed such thoughts aside. The lake glinted in the soft moonlight, and I felt drawn to it - such peace. A rock made a convenient seat as I gazed at the surface, and allowed my mind to reach out across it. Ripples stretched out from where my thoughts touched, widening to nothingness and disappearing into the dark. My mind floated over the surface for a moment, then slipped into the lake's murky depths.
It was tranquil, here. Calm. Soothing. No sounds penetrated to the deep, and I felt a protecting closeness around me. The darkness enveloped me and I surrendered to its gentle sanctuary.
At the edge of my consciousness I became aware of another presence. Another mind was close - not reaching out, but just - - - there. My refuge was no longer mine, as I became once more aware of my surroundings. The dark lake, the castle looming above me, and there - a long way around the lake - the still figure of a man. He was too distant to make out, but the posture showed him to be staring at the waters as I had been.
If he was aware of me, he gave no indication, but aware or not, he had invaded my solitude. A gentle breeze touched my face, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, allowing my hair to flow lightly behind me. Then drawing my cloak more tightly about my shoulders, I headed back towards the castle's cold walls.
Prologue - A Girl Alone
Stepping into the darkness, I pulled my cloak around me, despite the mild evening. It was more for comfort and familiarity than to protect me from the elements, although why I would choose to cling to something that represented everything I despised I wasn't sure.
No - not everything I despised. A witch's cloak held some distant connection with warmth and joy, but it was something I thought I had turned my back on long ago.
I had been here for a week now. It was new and strange, but somehow I almost felt like I had been here all my life. The stories I had heard about this place! Hogwarts! Voices around evening fires had told of adventures, mysteries and days of happiness, but somehow the thrill had never managed to touch me. Through evenings of laughter and fond memories I had sat alone - like a shadow without substance, desperately reaching out, but finding nothing to grasp.
Crossing the grounds, I pushed such thoughts aside. The lake glinted in the soft moonlight, and I felt drawn to it - such peace. A rock made a convenient seat as I gazed at the surface, and allowed my mind to reach out across it. Ripples stretched out from where my thoughts touched, widening to nothingness and disappearing into the dark. My mind floated over the surface for a moment, then slipped into the lake's murky depths.
It was tranquil, here. Calm. Soothing. No sounds penetrated to the deep, and I felt a protecting closeness around me. The darkness enveloped me and I surrendered to its gentle sanctuary.
At the edge of my consciousness I became aware of another presence. Another mind was close - not reaching out, but just - - - there. My refuge was no longer mine, as I became once more aware of my surroundings. The dark lake, the castle looming above me, and there - a long way around the lake - the still figure of a man. He was too distant to make out, but the posture showed him to be staring at the waters as I had been.
If he was aware of me, he gave no indication, but aware or not, he had invaded my solitude. A gentle breeze touched my face, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, allowing my hair to flow lightly behind me. Then drawing my cloak more tightly about my shoulders, I headed back towards the castle's cold walls.