Chapter 9: Ways To Fall Asleep

Harry and Demeter are one step closer.

That night I waited until the common room was empty. I watched around as the

students went off to bed slowly, a few at a time. I was waiting for the right time. I sat on

the couch thinking to myself, watching Harry and Ron play Exploding-Snap.

Finally, Ron went up to bed wishing us goodnight. It was only Harry and I left in the common

room now. He got up from the floor, where he was playing the card game with Ron, and sat

down next to me on the couch facing the warm fire. His green eyes gleamed in the reflection

of the burning fire, making his eyes look mystic.

"You always go to bed late?" Harry asked making conversation.

"What do you mean?"

"I've noticed that you always wait for everybody else to leave the common room before going

up to the Dormitory," he said casually, half curiously hoping that I would solve his little

mystery.

I wondered if that's what he thought of me, his little mystery. The heat of the fire

overwhelmed my chest at the thought.

"I'm a bit of a night person," I said, "I always have to stay up late before going to

sleep,"

"I usually just roll around in my bed until I fall asleep," Harry said almost amused.

I gave him a small smile and turned back to the fire. Each flame a flickering dancer,

dancing gracefully in their warmth of soundless harmony. I had always wanted to dance, but

never got the chance. Gathor had always taught me ways of bloodshed, and defense. Dancing

would be nothing but a waste of time under Gathor's rules. I hated being under his power

like that. I had always thought of running away from him, but where would I go to if I did?

I also hated the thought of being so dependent on the jerk.

"What are you thinking of?" Harry's warm voice entered my cold thoughts.

"What?"

"You always seem deep in thought," Harry said simply, "I always wonder what you're thinking

of."

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, looking at him in slight wonder. I didn't know why,

but he seemed different then all the other people I've ever met. When I met someone, of it

was only business. Other wise it would be killing, senseless killing. But something was

different with Harry. I just couldn't place my finger on it.

"Well?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Why should I tell you?" I questioned playfully.

"What? You don't trust me or something?" he asked mockingly half offended.

"Trust?" The word resounded inside her head. She had never trusted anyone before in her life

(unless you counted Gathor). Gathor was, however, a completely different story. But with

Harry, she just didn't know.

"I'll have to get back to you on that," I said finally after thinking it over.

He simply shrugged, and looked into the fire, his green eyes blazing in the firelight like

two bright rising suns.

After a moment of silence, he yawned and stretched and rubbed his eyes sleepily.

"Well, I think I'll go to bed," he said yawning again.

"Good night,"

"Good night"

I waited until he completely disappeared up the stairs and heard the dormitory door close

with a soft click.

I got up from the couch and went for the common room door and left without making a sound.

I had managed to sneak out of the castle without being detected. Though having a little bit

of trouble with a mangy cat, with yellow lamp like eyes, who nearly led her owner, Filch

(whom I've come to learn to be the caretaker), right where I was.

I didn't really care for animals, but that one was next after Harry before I go.

I was now walking on the Hogwarts grounds heading towards the lake. It would be a perfect

place to practice peacefully without interruption.

The chilly night swept past my body, causing my hair to fly back in tangled waving locks of

mossy blonde and black.

I felt fortunate that it was a full moon that night; I was able to see all the grounds

around clear as a bell.

I arrived just at the edge of the lake. The bright white moon reflected of the deep blue

lake, making the scene look both ominous and beautiful at the same time. It was breath

taking, the beauty of this place. I breathed in the clear, cold, refreshing night air. It

filled my lungs with cool freshness and back out again. I had never felt so alive.

Time to focus, I warmed up and stretched for a few minutes before getting started. I took my

stance and took in a deep breath to calm my nerves so that it would be easier to

concentrate.

I did some waving motions with my arms for starters. Then I focused my energy onto the water

of the lake while my arms were in motion. My eyes were closed, so that I wouldn't get

distracted, but I heard the water rippling with the motion of my arms.

I raised my arms with my fingers pointed to the lake to keep my energy on it. I heard the

form of water I was focusing on rise up as my arms did. I then opened my eyes and twirled my

arms around making the form of water I had created to swirl around in circles. I made the

water form swift and twirl in many motions, around a tree, that happened to be right next to

me, around my body and above my head towards the star light sky. After doing that for

several minutes, I placed the water form back into the lake and I went back to my resting

stance.

I readied myself for another stance, when I heard something; I felt a presence, a pair of

eyes watching me. I froze in place for a moment, and then I turned around to where I felt

the eyes were coming from. I didn't see anything, but I heard heavy breathing. Who ever was

watching me, was scared, they knew that I knew that they were there, watching me.

I walked to the nearby tree where I believed was where they were hiding. I looked around the

tree expecting someone there trying to climb it to escape from being exposed, or at lest a

shadow. But I didn't see anyone, or any sign that any body had even been there at all. I

found this very suspicious, and very frustrating at the same time. I knew there was somebody

there; I could feel it. I cold hear their fearful panting.

Then a thought came to me; maybe this person was invisible. I mentally slapped myself. Of

course this person was invisible! That would explain just about everything! I can be so

stupid sometimes. I hated myself for that.

I reached out my hand to see if I can at least grab them. My hand reached out as for as it

could go, then I heard a shuffle of feet and my hand caught nothing but air. I half groaned,

half growled in frustration as I nearly stumbled to the ground.

I went the other way around the tree to see if I could catch them there. I missed again, but

that time I heard a grunt as the invisible person try and dodge my grasp. I chased them

around the tree a couple of times until I was so frustrated I nearly screamed. But instead I

shouted,

"Come out and face me," I wasn't too sure where to face so I kept my eyes on the tree as if

frustrated with it, "Unless you're too cowardly to show your self."

After a moment of silence and awkwardness, I heard slump footsteps approach me slowly, as if

they were on their way to their death sentence. Finally, they stopped in front of me. I

hesitated at first, but then I reached up to see if they were really there. But instead, I

felt I strange smooth cloth. I could feel a warm face underneath. I grabbed the cloth and

force it off, and let in a surprised gasp.

It was Harry!

I was shocked. Harry had followed me all the down here to sneak up on me? Then it

hit me. He must have me practicing; he must know my secret! I would be in it deep with

Gathor. My head swam with confusing thoughts and questions. I gained control of myself and

stared at Harry in disbelief.

"What are you doing here?" The question rolled out of my mouth like a bag of

marbles.

Harry just stared at me guiltily and ashamed. He didn't answer me right away, so I

continued.

"Thought you could take a stroll and spy on me?" I asked him annoyed, not expecting

an answer. "Is this what you always do when you can't get to sleep? Follow them where ever

they go and nose into their business?" I was getting angry now. It made me angrier that

Harry was still not saying anything, just looking at his feet as if they had just become

very interesting. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" I crossed my arms waiting

patiently for Harry to defend himself.

Again, he didn't speak at first, but he had the guts to finally look up at me. Ours

eyes locked for a moment. A silent moment, I searched his eyes for an answer. But all I saw

was bright green. His eyes glowed brighter then the full moon shinning above us.

"I saw you leaving the castle," Harry said in a voice that was just above a whisper,

"I heard some weird noises and I came out to see if you were okay."

"What did you see?" I asked quickly.

He paused before answering, "Nothing, I just saw you by the lake. And I was just

curious about you were doing out here. What are you doing out here anyways?"

I thought for a minute, chewing on my lip. Then I remembered our conversation

earlier that night.

"Alright you caught me," I said letting out a defeated sigh, "This is what I do when

I can't get any sleep. I come out here and sit by the lake, and just think to my self."

Now it was my turn to look down at my feet while I played with my fingers behind my

back. For some reason, I felt kind of sorry that I lied to Harry. I had just lied straight

to his face with a straight face. I didn't know why I felt sorry for it. I had lied to

Gathor many times, but it was different with Harry for some reason. I just didn't know why.

"Why didn't you just tell me?" Harry asked.

I looked up at him. I saw he had a small smile on his face. I shrugged not knowing

what to say.

"Do you still not trust me?" Harry asked with a hint of amusement and hurt. I

shrugged again, still lost for words. I uncomfortably tucked a lock of hair behind my ear as

the wind blew it in my face.

"You know you can tell me anything, Demeter," Harry said gently. "You know you can

trust me right?" He took a step toward me. I felt a chill run down my spine as the wind

picked up.

I thought for a moment. Could I really trust Harry? What is he playing at by earning

my trust? I'm the one who is supposed to earn I his i/ trust. He did seem so sure though.

On one hand, he is a good listener and he I did i/ seem very trusting.

On the other hand, he was the one was supposed to assign by Christmas. And I couldn't let

down Gathor. Then I remembered my mission, my duty. My ticket to freedom was standing right

in front of me. But seeing him standing there, so innocently waiting for me to answer him. I

decided it would be better to wait. I had just earned his trust, and it was too early to

kill him now.

If people thought I actually cared about him and was friends with him, then I would be the

last person they would suspect to have killed him. Then when I leave, I'll just say I don't

want to stay in a place that was filled with too many sad memories.

I guess that's the reason I didn't kill him right then and there that night. Or maybe it was

something more. I guess I'll never know.

"Yeah, sure, I guess," I said quietly.

"Great," Harry said smiling.

I couldn't help myself; I smiled too.