Swimmers
Ron was laying face first on the beach blanket when the sun had fried all the freckles on his back. He winced, making his way to the water to take a wee and cool off.
The day was sweltering hot and the kids were splashing nearby with their mother in the black water. Life was good, but not so good. Ron was feeling rather unsatisfied with the state of his future.
No, he did not make it onto the Quidditch team like he wanted to and no, he did not finish his Auror training program because he was too busy helping raise two toddlers. He had taken up an ordinary job along with his father in the Department for Muggle Artifacts.
Career ambitions crushed and manhood undefined, the most he could get out of life was a good twenty minutes alone on the shore before he and his wife had to switch babysitting duties.
Suddenly, something hard bumped him against the knees.
"Watch it-"
Behind him was none other than a blue and white blown up paddle board. He tried to ignore it, even stepped aside to let it pass him by, but the board continued bumping up against his leg, as thought it were asking him for something.
Ron smirked. A Magic Paddle Board. His dad would love to know about that! Muggle paddle boards usually weren't enchanted. Ron looked around. There were only a few other families on the beach, and most of the parents were occupied with their kids or sipping Butterbeers on floaties in the middle of the lake. Who did the paddle board belong to?
Ron hadn't ever been on a paddle board before. Hesitantly, he grabbed the edge of the board and slid onto it knees first. The board bobbled around but held firm under his weight. Finally, Ron regained his balance and was sitting on the board knees first.
"Huh, this is not so hard," he said, feeling rather satisfied with himself.
The board began to move forwards, down against the waves and further into the lake. Ron grinned. He was better at this than he thought. Before he realized it, like a frog in boiling water, the board began to pick up speed and moved faster and faster through the water.
Ron clung on tight, the board riding through the water at an alarming rate. He hardly had the chance to scream or shout. He didn't even have his magic wand about him, so thought it best to stick to grunting and making a noise that resembled a chair dragged across the floor.
The board took him away from the beach, around a corner and towards the opposite shore. There, it went inside of a deep dark cave.
Ron glared at the dark walls, feeling suddenly like this entire adventure was a very bad idea and he should not have touched the board in the first place.
Finally, the board stopped exactly at the edge of a pool of water. There was a skylight up above him and the walls were lined in a thin layer of slime. And of Gods, Ron was starving.
Slowly he slid off the paddle board into the water and pulled himself up on the ledge.
"Hello?"
"Hello." The voice echoed in the distance.
From the shadows of the cave came out none other than.
"Lucius Malfoy."
Ron swallowed. Boy oh boy, he was in for a rough time.
You see, Lucius Malfoy was one of the Death Eater he and his father worked hard to get behind bars in Azkaban some years ago. Now, it seemed those attempts had been futile, since the man was set free.
"Ronald Weasley," he purred, his voice so velvety and inviting. "What a pleasure!"
"M-M-Mr." Ron stuttered. "You're supposed to be in Azkaban?!"
"Why yes, my dear, dear boy. But it seems there had been a chance of plans and I was let out early," Mr Malfoy said, gliding over. "And the first thing I plan to do is make sure that you and your little happy friends curse the day you separated me from my family and sent me into the lips of those Dementors."
He grabbed Ron by the hand and forced him on the floor. Wand in hand, he aimed it straight at him.
"Any last words boy?"
Ron whimpered. "I love my wife and I love my kids!" he wept and closed his eyes. This was the end.
A bright flash of light sent him into space. "Avada Kedavra!"
"RON! RON!"
Ron was tossed awake by two hands. It was hid wife. "Ronald Weasley...it's your turn to watch the kids. And don't think about falling asleep on the beach!"
Ron burst into a happy laugh and hugged her. He was the luckiest man alive. How could he ever have considered anouther option?! Thank Merlin it was all just a dream!