The Waters Edge PV Closed

Howie made his way down from the Hufflepuff common room, heading towards the main entrance of the school. It was a habit of his as of late to spend part of his night down by the lake, or wandering the edges of the Forbidden Forest. Just after dinner was the perfect time to sneak out unseen, as he could blend in amongst the crowd of students leaving the Great Hall and make his escape. 

Yes, escape. Howie was plagued by the nightmares. They robbed him of sleep and were taking a mental toll on the boy. The once friendly and open kid from Manchester now turned recluse. The castle walls felt like a cage, packed in with all of the other students and their prying eyes. He needed to be alone, and nights out on the grounds were the only time he could find solitude.

Howie broke off from the throng of bodies and made his way toward the tall oak doors. Making sure the coast was clear, he gently pushed one open, just enough to slip through, and made his way outside. The noise of the castle dulled as the entranceway closed behind him, and he made his way into the courtyard. He took a moment to take a long breath and attempted to relax. The cold air bit at his face, a welcomed relief from the stuffy warmth of the common room. Out of the corner of his eye he spied another student, a young witch with long brunette hair. They would not recognize each other, as Howie had just recently returned to Hogwarts. She seemed lost in whatever she was doing, so he quickly pulled his cloak tight around him and made his way towards the lake hopefully unnoticed.

Astoria's eyes flew across the pages as she read one of her favorite fairytales: Sweetheart Roland. This story was a top favorite of hers. A young girl living with a wicked stepsister and stepmother. The story was not a happy one, involving sadness, despair and death but in the end it was a happily ever after. The moon provided the perfect lighting for Astoria so she didn't have to worry about reading the words on the page.

All of a sudden, she heard commotion happening from the grand doors of the castle. A ray of light came and then disappeared. At first, Astoria didn't pay much attention to it but all of a sudden, she noticed a figure past her like a spirit. She tore her eyes from the page and noticed that it was a boy. He looked to be slightly older than Astoria. He looked perhaps disturbed. She couldn't tell the colors of his robe due to the light, but at the same time she had the sudden urge to follow him.

Standing up from the stone bench, she wrapped her arms around her and with her book close, she followed quietly from afar. There was a moment that the doors to the castle opened again and a caretaker stepped out with a lamp. She hid behind the trees of the courtyard until she saw the light disappear. Once the coast was clear, she followed the boy down to the lake. I wonder where he's going? Astoria asked herself.

Howie had not worn his Hufflepuff robes, yellow was no good for sneaking. Instead he donned his black work robes and heavy winter cloak. His strides took him toward the lake, but they had no real aim or purpose. This was his usual routine, escape, and then wander. The quiet of the grounds at night helped him clear his mind. His nightmares lead to sleep deprivation, and this lead to paranoia. The crowded halls and common room always put him on edge, scrambling his thoughts as the anxiety grew. 

Howie’s feet would stop without thought as he came to the water’s edge. The lake was black at night, reflecting the moon and star light when the clouds parted. The sight was therapeutic. He could stand there for hours sometimes, getting lost in the black abyss, an occasional splash providing the only stimulus. This was the only time the boy could shut off his mind. School was overwhelming, his sleep interrupted nightly, but at least for now, it was just him and the lake.

Something would catch his ear, breaking him from his meditation. His head would snap sideways as he peered over his shoulder. There was a rustling in the grass. Could it be the grounds keeper? Possible something venturing out from the forest in the cover of night, just as he had done. Howie’s fingers would instinctively slide into his pocket, gripping the handle of his wand. With a quick spin, he would turn on his heel, drawing his wand as he did, the boy was paranoid after all. He would peer into the darkness, the moon and soft glow from the castle his only source of light. All he could make out was shadows. 

“Who’s there?” Howie called out in a harsh whisper. 

Astoria followed the boy from the distance, she didn't want to stray too far from him because she too could be lost in the darkness but at the same time, she couldn't get too close because it would definitely scare both him and her.

The grass blades at her feet brushed as she walked and she noticed that the boy came to the waters edge. What was he about to do? Go swimming? There's absolutely no way that he could do that! It was still chilly out and he could still get hypothermia. He just stood there though, what was he thinking?

Astoria's breathing was shallow but she was now nervous. Should she have followed him? He couldn't be evil though, he walked out of Hogwarts with no problems. Astoria continued to walk closer, but not realizing that she had stepped on a branch. She then rolled her ankle. "Ouch!" she said aloud. Her cover was now blown.

The boy turned around and with wand in hand. Astoria stood there, how was she going to properly defend herself? But she knew that the best defense would be to come clean. She stepped from out of the shadows to reveal herself in the moonlight's beam. "I'm sorry, I'm not here to cause any trouble..." Astoria answered. To show she brought no mercy, she held up both her hands, one holding her book. She was wandless. "I...I saw you leaving the castle and I thought I should follow you..." Astoria said, approaching him slowly.

“Ouch!”

Someone was injured. Howie scanned the shadows  looking for any signs of danger. He knew he had heard something! It was becoming harder for the boy to differentiate between his nightmares and reality. The boy felt as if he was always being followed. No, not followed...hunted, just as the dementor had all those months ago. It was the only time he had ever felt true terror.

Howie’s heart raced as the brunette stepped into the moonlight, his grip on his wand tightened. A rational mind would have been able to recognize that she was the girl he had passed on his way out of the castle. A rational mind would have noticed she carried no wand, and had followed him merely out of curiosity. However, Howie’s mind was anything but rational these days. His paranoia would spike as she announced her presence. What was her game? She claimed to bring no trouble, that she only felt as she should simply just follow. But, who just followed strangers? 

If she could see him clearly, she may notice that his eyes were darting around their sockets. His face would appear calm, but his eyes would give him away as they searched frantically for signs of danger. Howie’s voice would sound fatigued and shaky as he spoke.

“Follow me...why? Who else is there? Someone was hurt.”

The boy looked absolutely paranoid. He seemed to have his guard up a little too strong but then again, he just got followed by her so who wouldn't lower their guard when being stalked? Her ankle felt bruised, she was surely going to feel it in the morning. Turns out she may have to go to the Hospital Wing if it's not better soon but she can manage for the moment.

Astoria was confused though, should she still approach? Just run? Just stay where she was at? But at the same time, she couldn't possibly leave him. No, she couldn't do that. Her parents always taught her that if she ever ventured out of the courtyard walls, she should be with someone else. During the day, Hogwarts was free of any sort of creature sightings but at night, it's been rumored that Gytrash creatures would appear to seek for food. What if she left him and a group of them appeared and devoured the boy. How could she live with herself if that was to happen?

Shaking the thought from her mind, she took one step at a time. The boy's voice was shaky. What was he so terrified of? "I promise, there is no one here but me. It was me that said 'ouch'. I stepped on a branch and rolled my ankle." Thinking it was best, Astoria placed her book on a boulder that was near them. To help calm the boy even more, she removed her Hufflepuff cloak so that he didn't think there was something hidden in a pocket of hers that would frighten her. She still kept her arms slightly up so it was clear she was not going to cause any harm.

"It's just me." Astoria said once again. She then took a step closer to him. Her ankle making her slightly wince with pain, but it was tolerable. "I'm Astoria Middleton, I'm a student of Hufflepuff. I've been here for a few months now. And you are?" Her voice was light and inviting. She didn't want the boy to jump to anything rash. She decided to introduce herself, maybe that would help him to relax perhaps.

Howie tensed as the brunette laid down her book. He watched with intent as she removed her cloak, she made the usual signs of someone who came in peace. The boy exhaled deeply, his pounding heart slowed as he calmed down. Realizing that he was still holding his wand in a defensive way, he quickly lowered it. A pang of guilt flashed through his guts. No wonder the poor girl seemed slightly frightened, he had been aiming a weapon in her direction.

Howie closed his eyes for a long moment, his head would slump slightly forward. The sleepless nights and constant anxiety were taking its toll on him. Had she known him in the past, he would have jumped with excitement upon her approach. Another adventurer willing to bend the rules for some excitement and exploration. His eyes would have flashed a bright blue, a happy go lucky smile would have split his face. Howie was but a shell of that boy now as he stood here on the edge of defeat. 

“Howard. Howard White. Most just call me Howie.” He would reply to her inquiry. “I’m sorry a jumped at you. I’ve...been going through some things.” His face would be apprehensive. Sharing his troubles only seemed to scare others, or they would think him mad. “Anyways. I’m in Hufflepuff too. I was away at home until recently. Is that ankle alright? I noticed you limped.”

Astoria took one more step towards the boy. She moved slowly and made sure not to make any sudden movements. It was like hunting, in order to catch your prey, you sneak up on them. But in this case, she isn't hunting and her prey is not going to be murdered. The boy lowered his wand, has Astoria won him over? Since he lowered his wand, Astoria lowered her hands but still kept her guard up just in case if anything was to happen.

Even though it wasn't Astoria's business, he seemed as though he was someone who was in need of something. What was going on in that head of his? No, it wasn't Astoria's business. But at the same time, she could be someone who would listen if he needed something. He continued to stand on the edge of the water as if he was waiting for something to come across from the other side of the lake.

He introduced himself as Howard White but people called him 'Howie'. "Howie..." Astoria said kindly A very nice name." she complimented. He had apologized for being abrupt towards her and had mentioned he was going through something. "Well, I'm sorry that I stalked you down here." Astoria said, a smile beaming from her like the moon, "I normally wouldn't be out here especially this late but when I saw you walked by, I was concerned. The creatures of the forest can be quite menacing..." She finished with "And some reason, something told me to follow so... here I am!"

Astoria was now standing at the edge of the water with the boy next to her. The water was so calm, so refreshing! The moon rippled beautifully across it. The stars twinkled above, she was able to point out the constellations clearly. The boy had said he was part of Hufflepuff House as well and he had just recently returned to Hogwarts. "Just now? After so long since the term had started? How odd..." Astoria said thinking to herself aloud. He commented on her ankle and the limp she was having. "Oh don't worry, I deserved it after following you without permission. Plus, it's not really that bad. It'll probably be bruised tomorrow..." She sat on a boulder that was near by to take the pressure of it. "So, not to be any more snoopy than I have already, but you seem quite distracted...is everything alright?" she asked.

Howie pocketed his wand as Astoria approached him. He followed her gaze out across the water for a moment as they stood together at the waters edge. Not so long ago he would have reveled at the chance to make a new friend, to discuss his favorite constellations and daydream about seeing the giant squid that lived within the depths of the lake. That boy was not entirely gone. He lurked in the shadows of his new self, searching for the light that might bring him back to the forefront. The old Howie was being suffocated by this new identity, but in this moment, he was at least able to take a breath.

Howie broke his gaze from the lake, turning it towards Astoria as she began to speak. She was a nice girl, fitting of the House that she was sorted into as she complimented his name and explain that she just felt it was right to follow him. He remained standing as the girl sat on a nearby boulder and questioned him, his eyes moving back to the water as he spoke. 

“Alright is a complicated question. Physically I am quite alright. Top shape actually.” Howie would pause for a moment. It was hard to share, as he suspected this conversation would go as so many had before. She would most likely not believe him, think he was making it up for attention, or that he was weak. However for some reason, this night he just didn’t care. It was building up inside of him and he must find some release. “Mentally, I’m not too sure. The castle gives me anxiety and I have trouble sleeping at night. I have...” He would take a moment to look back at her, trying to judge her reactions. “...nightmares. Well, actually just a nightmare. The same one...every night. So, I just come out here to think and get away from it all.” Howie would again look back to the water. This was the part where she would make some excuse to go back to the castle. Out too late, need to study, maybe she would throw something in he hadn’t heard yet.