There was a man.
He saw him as a space of darkness. The forbidden forest at night, in contrast, was a landscape of light around him. But that light would not allow his sight to uncover anything. Not the name of the man. Not his appearance. Not his intentions. Not even which way he looked. He saw only an unnatural stripe of darkness.
The man stood as though he was one with the shadows, heavily blurring the outlines of his silhouette. And then the man moved, slowly to the left, the darkness willingly playing along. The streaks of shadow twirled around him, effectively uncovering his camouflage. Fully aware of the intruder, Glenn ran.
His feet betrayed him. The grounds were filled mud and dirt, but also with twigs, which were never a kind companion to stealth. They broke, snapped, and emitted a sound so loud to the man, that he followed.
Glenn himself, was aware of the sound he was making. He ran, nonetheless. He weaved through the maze of trees expertly, hands lightly stroking the bark from time to time in order to aid his balance, but his feet never ceasing the rapid rhythm he'd set out with.
The density of trees quickly receded around him, allowing small dots of light to reach his eyes. The clear night sky allowed the stars above him to twinkle calmly while his panicked run continued. He noted them, but focused on the lights of the castle up ahead. His end destination.
The air around him grew less stifling as less and less trees surrounded him. When he reached the edge of the forest, he slowed down and gladly breathed in the fresh air, calming down. He stayed close to the border between forest and field, simply looking at the castle. And he smiled.
He turned around for one more glance at the scattered collection of trees behind him, but instead got a glance of the, now more defined, streak of shadow.
"What are you doing here?" the man asked.
Glenn ran again. And fell.
"I'm braking as many rules as you are. Stop running away."
Glenn rolled over, and looked up at the man, his sight at last revealing that the man was barely more of a man than any other student.
The teen held out his hand. Glenn let him help him up.
"Why are you up and out?" asked the teen.
Glenn shrugged.
"You shouldn't be in the forbidden forest. You know that right?"
Glenn nodded.
"So why were you?"
"You shouldn't have been in there either."
A pause. "No, I shouldn't have."
"So why were you?"
The teen laughed. "What's your name?"
"Glenn."
"I'm Harry."
Silence.
"What house are you in, Glenn?"
"Ravenclaw."
"Which year?"
"First."
"Pity. You'd have been a great Gryffindor." Harry started walking towards the castle.
Only when he'd walked halfway up to the castle did he realize Glenn wasn't following. "You coming?"
Glenn started following.
He caught up to Harry at the entrance, and they walked a part of their journey to their separate common rooms together, but didn't talk.
"See you around, Glenn." Harry said when they their path split up.