Skeleton in the Forest
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that you may recognize.
Author's note: It's been a long time, but now I'm back. Happy Halloween, guys! Enjoy...
Prompts: forest, leaves, skeleton
Lee rarely went into the Forbidden Forest. It creeped him out, and it was the one rule that Fred, George and he were not willing to break. They were mischievous, sure, but suicidal? Nope.
But, now he was in detention. He sighed, his breath foggy in the chilly autumn morning. The black lake was greyish in color, the Whomping Willow covered with a clear layer of frost. Dew wetted the grass and it crunched beneath his dark boots as he walked, basket on his arm to look for herbs for the infirmary.
Dry leaves scattered the forest floor, the thick canopy blocking almost all light. The tree roots were gnarled, toadstools and mushrooms growing between the cracks. Lee stumbled and slipped, whispering vulgar curses that would have his mother washing his mouth with soap if she heard them. He chuckled as he imagined the look on his grandmother's face. That would be fun to watch...
He shook his head, burrowing his gloved hands deeper into his pockets. The thought was burrowed into the back of his mind, something that he would probably discuss with Fred and George in the common room or dormitory later. He turned around another bend, crouching to pluck a rare four-leafed clover. But as he looked up, he jumped back, falling on his bottom as he stumbled on a tree root.
It was a skull. More clearly: a human skull. Lee looked at the trees, and fear rose in him as he saw a thousand skeletons arranged beautifully on the branches. Kids, adults, everything.
He dropped his basket, the leaves stopping the fall. The herbs tumbled out, but he did not care. He ran and he ran, adrenaline rushing through him. He did not stop until he reached the infirmary. He blabbed about everything to Madam Pomfrey.
The four-leafed clover was still clutched in his hands.
When Hagrid later went to investigate, he only found a pile of leaves and a spread of four-leafed clover.
Shorter than the Silmarillion one, but okay. I like it, and I hope you do too. Happy Halloween again, guys! See you around.
Bye!
