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Harry awoke with a gasp as something cold landed on his forehead. He opened his eyes and another rain drop landed on his nose. It wasn't long before gentle drops of water were falling over him and soaking him bit by bit. Oh, how he loved and adored the rain, the feel of it in his hair and on his skin. The scent of it in the air before and after it falls from the clouds.
This rain brought a freshness, each drop a heaven-given gift for each part of creation. He lay still but raised his hand up and tilted his face toward the sky, allowing the rain better access to his face. It was utter joy, a happiness that felt too pure.
Then the lingering burning pain reminded him of what had made him pass out and he lifted his shirt and caught a glimpse of his bruised skin. He could never leave this castle. Today had proven it. He thought he had accepted that but maybe some part of him had still hoped that he would be able to leave and explore the world someday, but that hope had been crushed to smithereens today and it hurt more than he had expected it to hurt. He closed his eyes as the tears threatened to flow. He had the right to mourn the loss of his hope, didn't he? So, he cried just like the sky was crying. Tha rational part of him told him to return to the castle, but he didn't want to return. He wanted to feel the rain. He wanted to experience each drop together and apart, same and different. He wanted to see the droplets soaking his eyelashes before they joined their brethren on the ground like saltless tears. He needed to be in this, chaotic and wild, just like his mind and soul…It was like nature had looked right into him and pulled the weather out.
The rain began pouring down and rumbling of the thunder clouds reached all the way down to his core. He smiled to himself. The pouring rain stopped his thoughts from buzzing, calmed him, but at the same time excited him. The waves of rain pattering over the leaves and the forest floor created a melancholic song. He waited for the rain to wash all of the misery away. He rose to his feet and stood there, his gaze burning into the horizon, staring at the beauty of the upcoming storm and the crying clouds.
He held out his hands to the steady drops and smiled in a way he knew came from deep within. Though the ground became wet and his skin cold, he was invigorated, alive and content.
The rain stopped. Kissed by the rain and glistening, the wet ground was cold under foot but that didn't bother him one bit. He started making his way towards the lake instead of returning to the castle and felt the squelch of the mud beneath. The water rose up and ran between his toes. The birds busied themselves around him, not caring about his presence, all they wanted were the worms that had come up for air. So, Harry finally got a good look at them and realized how different they were from normal birds, their colours absolutely magically vivid, their song was the most beautiful melody, but one large bird stood apart from the others, perched on a branch, it had an air of superiority to it…a sense of pre-eminence. It was a large swan-sized scarlet bird with red and gold plumage, along with a golden beak and talons, black eyes, and a tail as long as a peacock's. Its scarlet feathers glowed faintly in darkness and Harry found himself yearning to touch it but before Harry could take a step closer to it, it vanished in a flash of fire and Harry found himself utterly mystified.
It took him a moment to shake off the daze and resume making his way to the lake. The ran started pouring again and Harry laughed. He loved it. Absolutely loved it. The view that greeted him stole his breath away. He settled on a stone at the edge of the lake and stared ahead. He didn't know what time it was. The sky was dark. It was probably sundown, but he couldn't be sure. He could probably check. He need only take out his pocket watch, but he didn't want to know the time. He didn't want to miss a moment of the sight playing in front of him. The drops were only rain until they reached the surface of the lake, then they become a part of the azure water. He guessed starlight was the same, shining as scattered seeds of perfect light until the return of the sun. Perhaps he should seek the shelter of the castle, seek out Bella's warmth and share these moments with her or perhaps he could drag Voldemort out. Would he appreciate the beauty just like he did? Would he feel the joy that rain always seemed to bring him? Perhaps not. Maybe some other time he would test his theories. Today, he just sat there, mesmerized by the patterns the rain made on the lake's surface, countless ripples overlapping in choreographed chaos. He heard each watery gift, softer than the patter on a rooftop, the rain moving in subtle waves of its own according to the wind. He wondered if this is how music began, how mankind thought to conjure song and dance, by hearing the natural rhythms of nature.
Closing his eyes, he focused on the sounds and the beautiful scent. It was absolutely magical and with every breath he took, his body relaxed further, and the pain dulled until it was almost non- existent. He stood from the stone, pulled off his heavily soaked shirt and slipped into the utter. The gentle waves lapping against his skin felt amazing and he was content to just drift in the water since he didn't have the strength to swim.
After sneezing thrice, he realized that he had probably caught a cold and lingering in the water was no longer an option. He dragged himself out of the water and without bothering with his shirt began making his way back to the castle. On the way to his room, he sneezed several more times. He expected to see Bella when he stepped through the threshold of his bedroom but instead he found Voldemort seated on the bed with his head bowed and his hands clasped together and he cursed internally. Why did he always have to be the one to see him wet and semi naked? He considered walking away from here since Voldemort looked like he hadn't seen him but that plan went out the window when Voldemort raised his hand and the sight that met him was enough to crush him.