THC/The Houses Competition

House:Gryffindor

Category: Drabble

Class: DADA

Prompt(s): [Action] Drowning

Word Count: 515

Summary: Harry thinks about Ginny and the time they shared together, believing he only has moments left to live.

Title: Are- You- Mental?

The cold was agonizing; Harry felt the water attack him like fire. He was surrounded by numbing-cold water from all sides and it pierced his body like thousands of knives. All thoughts of getting the sword vanished as his brain urged him to swim back to the surface. Pushing past the pain and his instincts to escape, he completely submerged himself beneath the surface, diving into the pool. Knowing the sword was their only chance at defeating Voldemort, he pushed through the dark waters to the lake bed and reached out, groping for the blade. His fingers closed around the hilt, and he pulled it upwards when suddenly, something tightened around his neck.

Panic. All Harry could feel was panic as the chain of the Horcrux tightened itself around his neck. In an effort to get away from the sword, the chain pulled away as if it knew its existence depended on getting as far away as possible from the sword.

Harry kicked wildly, trying to push himself back to the surface, but merely propelled himself into the rocky side of the pool. He brought his hand up; his frozen fingers clawed at the chain in an effort to loosen it, but it was no use. Harry kicked the surface of the pool in hopes of breaking the ice crust that kept him from floating up for air, but that too was no use; he was too weak.

Harry came to the terrifying conclusion that he was going to drown. The only thing that came to mind was Ginny. He would never be able to lay eyes on her again, and he would never be able to run his fingers through her glowing, crimson hair, or smell her lavender perfume. He would never be able to feel the warmth of her body as they embraced; he would never be able to taste her raspberry lip gloss as they kissed.

Harry played back the memories he had of Ginny: the first time they met at the train station, the first time he went to the Burrow and Ginny accidentally knocked her porridge bowl over. The Valentine's Day card that sent an embarrassed Harry running from The Great Hall and left Ginny with a face as red as her hair. He remembered the get well soon card she gave him when he fell off his broom due to the Dementors. There was the first kiss they shared when Gryffindor House won the Quidditch Cup.

Harry smiled as his world turned to darkness.

…

Harry came back to the light choking and retching; there was a deep burning in his chest as the water expelled from his lungs. Soaked and colder than he had ever been in his life, he realized that he was no longer in the pool but face down in the snow. Somewhere close by, another person was panting and coughing. Harry looked up to see a blurry figure with red hair; for a moment he thought it was Ginny, and he smiled. Then a panting voice spoke from over his head.

"Are- you- mental?"