Emma woke up early in the morning. Valkyrie was batting at her face as she opened her eyes. She said up, startled at the close-up view of the snow white kitten in her face.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, banging her head agaist the wall behind her four poster bed. She gathered her cat into her arms, stroking her white ears. The dark blue curtains of her bed were pulled all the way shut and she felt like she was beginning to have a headache. Valkyrie clambered out of her arms and jumped behind the curtains. Emma threw the covers aside and leaned through the drapes to her trunk and the base of her bed.
She pulled out a pair of black pants and a thick brown woolen sweater and changed quickly behind the curtains, shivering in the castles' cold. She pulled on her black shoes and tiptoed out of the bedroom. She went down and through the crystal-over-marble Ravenclaw common room. She slipped through the entrance way and climbed the staircase to the base of the statue that was their secret opening.
The castle was silent.
Feeling like breaking the silence would sound like a thousand glass chandeliers smashing, she tiptoed towards the marble staircase and followed it down to the main hall. Nymph-like she ran quietly to the huge oak doors and went outside.
The early morning sky was slate grey and studded with wispy purple and white clouds. A dull mist hung in the air, but it wasn't as cold as Emma would have thought. She walked out across the lawn, taking in the perfect view of the Hogwarts grounds during the early morning.
Through the slight fog she could see a dark figure standing by the lake, tossing rocks into the calm surface. Emma smiled, curious and walked over.
"The squid doesn't like that much." she said, stopping at the shore. The figure looked up, a curtain of dark brown-black hair falling behind her shoulders.
"That's the idea." She smiled. "I'm trying to wake him up." Emma almost laughed, but it seemed like the girl was perfectly serious.
"Why?" she asked.
"Well I thought I was the only one awake. Had to share my misery with someone." she shrugged, throwing her last rock. It skipped along the surface and was suddenly snatched by a long grey tentacle with immediately sunk back below the surface.
"I guess it worked." Emma said, leaning against a nearby tree.
"I guess so." The girl smiled, dusting her hairs. Her exotic brown eyes seemed to shine with the reflection of the grey sky. Her hair was long and free flowing behind her back. She was wearing a long sleeve black shirt and a pair of dirty jeans. Another Gryffindor. "I'm Aerienne." she said, extending a hand to Emma.
"Emma." she said in reply, shaking her hand.
"Yeah... I know." Aerienne said quickly. Emma smiled. She always had to smile, no matter how annoying it was that she could never meet someone at Hogwarts who didn't alredy know who she was. Aerienne took her hand away and pulled her hair into a low pony-tail.
"I thought I was the only early riser in the castle." Emma said. "It's strange."
"Oh... I didn't sleep well." Aerienne explained. "Nightmare or something." she shrugged. She bent to pick up another rock and a long silver chain fell into view around her neck. A bright green gem at the end seemed to glimmer in the morning light. Emma felt her heart skip a beat. Something about it made her suddenly want to leave. Aerienne pulled back her arm and skipped the rock along the water again. The tentacle reappeared and caught the rock, but it didn't disappear afterwards.
"Oh shit! Run!" Aerienne shouted suddenly, grabbing Emma's sleeve and pulling her away from the shore as the rock was thrown back at them with force. It landed in the grass some close to Emma and buried itself several inches in the ground. The tentacle drew back, throwing another rock.
The two girls ran back towards the castle as rock and rock was pelted after them.
"Shit that thing needs morphine!" Emma stuttered as they stopped in the doorway. Aerienne began to laugh hysterically. "I'm serious!" Emma began.
"No no, I know." Aerienne giggled. "I should go change. I told some friends I'd meet them for breakfast."
"Bye then." Emma said. "Nice meeting you."
"You too." Aerienne said, before disappearing through the door. Emma watched the mist settle for another moment and then went inside also. She went back up the staircase and changed for breakfast.