The young man sitting on a fallen trunk had the most amazingly green eyes you could imagine. The snake resting next to him was a deeper, darker shade of green, but it sparkled brilliantly in the sun.
The young man was exhausted and all he wanted was some quiet time, away from people, with his companion whose soft hissing sounded like a song to him. And so, the snake sang, and he enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
The escape was a very temporary one, of course. Soon, he would have to rejoin the world and live up to expectations that shouldn't have been placed on his shoulders, by his teachers, his guardians, his peers.
Soon, but not yet.
ENDING I
A gong was heard in the distance, and a young man's eyes opened. He stood up and stretched, petting the snake gently.
I'll be back soon, lovely.
He hissed, and then quickened his pace when a shrilly voice shouted
- Hurry the hell up, Riddle!
ENDING II
The young man opened his eyes as a girl with bushy brown hair put a hand on his shoulder, oh so very tentatively. Probably fearing being cursed if she startled him, he thought wryly, even though he had known perfectly well she was there.
- Don't worry, Hermione. – he smiled gently at her. – I just needed a bit of time. I'll be back in a moment, all right?
- I know, it's just… - her voice halted, she looked deeply concerned for her friend.
This time, his voice was more firm.
- I'm okay, really. – he picked up the snake, which immediately coiled loosely around his waist. – I take it that Ron's getting antsy? Come on, let's not keep him waiting.
- He smiled again, a bit sadly, but then, all his smiles were like that after Dumbledore's death.
The empty clearing looked somehow abandoned without the young man and his reptile companion's songs.
Not for long.
Not until they moved their camp, anyway.
But the trees… they still remember both boys.