A young man sat on the grassy riverbank near the mountain. The small yet deep river was flowing and free of filth, the area thick with trees. He leaned his chin on one of his hands, appearing to be in deep thought.
"Promise to take care of yourself?"
"... Yeah."
"Then I must be off. Remember to change clothes, you might catch a cold. Goodbye, Tom."
He was recalling an incident fifteen or so years ago in that very same place. Well, it was not everyday a young native woman wearing weird, tribal clothes saves Tom from a near-death experience by drowning. It was the twenty-first century, for Merlin's sake! Nevertheless, he was grateful to the lady.
"Mother of Amaya, child! What were you thinking? Were you trying to drown yourself?", the lady asked hysterically as she pulled Tom to the bank.
"No, of course not!", Tom sneered. "I slipped! Why on earth would I end my life?"
She answered with little to no hesitation, "Your eyes. They are..."
Tom frowned. He breathed deeply, wondering how in Morgana's name the woman got the idea that he was depressed... He wasn't, of course not! He sighed and wondered.
But... How come she spoke English so fluently? How come she just happened to be there when he slipped? How come... she knew?
"... filled with grief and great sorrow."
He stood up, resigning himself from his thoughts. That was from a long time ago, after all.
Does she even remember me?
No.
His eyes closed, Tom breathed in the scent of the forest. He stood there for a few moments, just relaxing and being free from his social, political and 'family' life, and his work as Undersecretary to that complete dunderhead Fudge.
"Tom," a warm, alto voice uttered.
Startled, Tom turned around and what met him were smiling emerald eyes, moderate-length, messy hair and a kind face. Her appearance, or rather, his appearance hasn't changed at all since their last meeting.
"I finally remember you..." Tom muttered breathlessly. The girl— boy, chuckled happily. "Do you now, Prince Thomas?", she—he asked. He didn't speak English, as Tom initially thought he did.
It was Parseltongue.
"... Hari."
The prologue is just a peek in the ending, or the ending itself, maybe. ;3 stay tuned~