Sound of the Water

I was just taking one of my usual daily strolls around the grounds when something caught my eye. I am walking on the lawn past some trees and through the brush I can see something moving. I walk a little further to see around the trees when I see a girl. A girl is actually in the lake. She must be super brave. I would be scared to death, not just because I could get in trouble, but I have also read things about the Great Lake. Some of them are good things, but most aren’t that great.

I’m not sure if I should go tell her that she might get hurt or not. I don’t want her to have a reason to humiliate me in front of the whole school if she is older than me. I can just see it now:

“Hey! It’s the girl who told me that I should get out of the lake for fear that I could get hurt!” In a very mocking voice, “Doesn’t she know I’ve done it a hundred times and I seem fine right? What a scaredy cat!” Then everyone would laugh and I would get red and my life would practically be ruined.

But then again she could be my age and not know anything about the Great Lake. She could be my age and not have picked up a single book about the creatures that call the deep of the Great Lake home. I am just going to have to be brave:

I start to walk across the lawn towards the girl in the lake. I am trembling in my boots, but I can’t live with a guilty conscience if she gets hurt. I mean the most I can do is go up to her and tell her. She doesn’t have to listen to me. Ultimately, it is her choice. I just hope she is nice.

I stop about a yard away from her and the lake. “Hey!” I have to semi-shout because of the distance. “I just wanted to let you know that you might not want to be in there! You could get into trouble and I’ve read some things about the lake! I just wanted to let you know so you are aware!” I finish with what I think is a concerning look. The sun is right in my face and even with my hand above my eyes I still have to squint, which means I have a mock smile on my face and I really hope she doesn’t take it the wrong way.

I am about to walk away because of the fear but I am dumb and just love awkward situations, so I just stand there and stare at her, awaiting her answer.

Hex's head whips round at the sound of someone calling out. A girl is standing about a yard away shouting in her direction...not in her direction - but at her. Looking down at the inky black water circling her now hidden feet, Hex silently reprimands herself for not being more careful and hops out of the lake back onto the stony shore.
"Gosh thank you so much! I have never heard about the-ow!" Hex cries as she steps on a particularly sharp stone jutting out of the shore. "I haven't heard about the lake before, I just thought it was free to swim in. I didn't even know there were books on it!" she laughs, "you might have just saved my life!".

Hex takes her time putting her shoes back on and shuffling her jacket on, she didn't realise how cold she had got standing in the lake. The autumn leaves were beginning to fall around her and she was excited to see what the ground would look like throughout the year.

"I'm Hex by the way, Hex Ambrose" she extends her hand. "Proud Gryffindor as of recently." she puffs out her chest in an attempt to look proud, remembering to harness the confidence that her friends had taught her.

As the girl in front of me turns around, I instantly feel bad. I never meant to scare her. She whipped around so fast with wide, startled eyes that she probably gave herself whiplash. By golly, I feel super bad now.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" I say, taking a step closer as she pulls herself up and out of the black lake water. Up close, she looks to be about my age, and I just hope she is nice. "Really, I am very sorry. I just didn't want anything bad to happen, you know?"

As I walk closer, the girl starts putting her socks and shoes back on. I can't believe she braved swimming out there in the Black Lake. The autumn air is crisp and biting, and I could only imagine that the freezing water would make the afternoon chill feel ten times worse.

Once she is done putting her socks, shoes, and coat back on, she starts to introduce herself as "Hex Ambrose." It's really nice to finally put a name to her face. She extends a freezing, damp hand, and I eagerly take it in mine. As we shake hands, she mentions offhandedly that she is in Gryffindor, and I am about to lose it with pure relief and excitement. All I've wanted since I got here was a friend, and I might have just found one right by the water's edge.

"Hi! My name is Haeli. Haeli Randall," I say, beaming at her with the biggest, most genuine smile I've smiled in a long time. "I'm a Gryffindor too! A first year. Just like you, I presume?"

“Nice to meet you Haeli!”Hex beamed. She couldn’t quite believe how close she had come to potential disaster. The water had looked so enticing when she arrived. Even now, with the autumn leaves falling nearby and resting in the shallows, but what was it this girl - Haeli - had said?

“You read some things on the lake, you said? What were they?” Hex was torn between wanting to know and also perhaps thinking it was best that she didn’t. But being Gryffindor was being brave, she reminded herself.

The crisp autumn air threw breezes their way and Hex pulled her jacket around a bit tighter. She’d expected the water to be cold but it was the wind that was doing the most damage. She had visited the Scottish highlands before with her family. Her and her brother both playing in the lochs. This area seemed different somehow. Perhaps it was down the magic, Hex was still getting used to that.

“I’m a first year too” she quickly added, realising she was lost in thought and hadn’t answered Haeli’s question. “I thought I would use my first weekend to go exploring…I probably should’ve done a bit more research on what’s around!”

Hex seemed like such a nice person. I could not be happier that I stepped in. But, Hex was asking about the dangers of the lake, and I am kind of embarrassed at the fact that I even know that the lake is dangerous. Truth is, I've always been a bookie. I always have my nose planted in a book, so when I got to Hogwarts, the first place I went was the library. I was bored, so I picked up a book on fantastic beasts and read the entire book in a couple of hours.

"Yeah, I tend to read a lot. In the library I found a book that talked all about certain creatures and where you could find them. I was intrigued by a lot of them, but mostly the ones in the lake and the forbidden forest." I paused to catch my breath. I was so embarrassed that I knew these things that I was actually forgetting to breathe. "The main ones that I remember are the mermaids. They aren't nice like I was taught from a young age. They have gills and super sharp teeth. They claw and bite at people to drown them. However, I could have exaggerated a little bit about you being in the lake. The merpeople don’t just randomly drown people, they have to be provoked. I’m not sure what kind of things provoke them so, in my mind, better safe than sorry."

After all of that was said, I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was something in between embarrassment, relief, and pride. I was proud that I knew what I knew, but also embarrassed because I got it from a book.

My grandmother used to say, “It is not embarrassing to read. It just means you are smart and need something to do with all of your energy to keep your brain sharp.” She always knew what to say to get me thinking. I know that I shouldn’t be embarrassed, but I have always been made fun of for reading.

New school, new people, new person. I need to be proud to be me. I need to be brave, I am in Gryffindor after all.

I took a deep breath in and said, “I am pretty positive that it is almost dinner time. I don’t know about you, but I am starving. I have to go up to the tower before I go to the hall, so would you like to join me? I don’t sit with anyone during meals either, so if you wanted to, we could sit together.” I finished speaking with a very confident smile on my face, awaiting her answer.

Merpeople? Hex had grown up on tales of mermaids. Hiding amongst the water, their tails glistening in the sunlight. She had never once expected them to be a threat to “It’s a good thing you caught me when you did then! I definitely need to do some more reading, I have all the books in my dorm but I just keep reading fiction instead…I have to start studying sometime soon I guess!” She chuckled. She was always more tempted to reread one of her favourite novels than start anything that required work and concentration. She loved reading but definitely more as a hobby rather than work.

Her brother was a lot more studious than her and she wondered how much reading he would have to do, now he was in third year. Perhaps she would have a lot to do by the time she was his age.

“Oh dinner - yes!” She had completely forgotten about any meals, getting too distracted exploring the grounds. Her mum used to tell her off for spending hours outside, nobody could find her for ages. They knew she would come back eventually, when she’d explored all she could. “Yeah I would love to sit together! In fact, I usually sit with some of my roommates - if you want to join?” She was excited at the idea of introducing Haeli to Damaris and Wisteria. She knew that they would get on well - it seemed she found all the people who enjoy reading as much as she did.

I was just itching to get out of the cold and eat. But Hex said something about fiction. I wasn't sure if I was even allowed to talk about fiction here at Hogwarts. I mean, do the pure bloods even know what fiction is?

"Oh my. I love fiction. I used to read fiction non stop before I got here. I wasn't sure if I'd be allowed to read it here because of the other wizards and witches. You know, like the pure bloods. I'm not sure what they read growing up. I know that is kind of stupid, but, I don't know." I took a short pause to catch my breath a little. The crisp air felt like it was fighting my warm air inside my lungs, making it hard to catch a breath. "What kind of fictional books are your favorite?" I asked, at last.

I started moving towards the castle, afraid of being late to dinner. When Hex said that she would love to sit with me I felt more relieved than ever before. But when she said she sits with her roommates, that's when the anxiety started back up again. But I pushed it back down. Be Brave. Be Brave. I did want to meet new people right? And if I liked Hex then I should like her friends too, right?

"I am starving... I'm not sure if I said that already, but I am." I said with a short laugh. "I would love to sit with you and your roommates. I've actually really been wanting to meet people here at Hogwarts! Are they in Gryffindor too?"

After asking that question, I realized that I already knew the answer. They are in Gryffindor, they are her roommates, you dummy. I laughed a little at my own mistake and saw that we were getting close to the castles entrance. I was getting more giddy and more nervous with ever step. I really hope this turns out great.

Hey, sorry for moving you towards the castle with me. I didn't know how else to get us moving closer, lol. Should we move this chain to the great hall?? We don't have to I just think it might be helpful, you know??

Hex strolled next to Haeli, making their way back to the castle. She noticed there was some reservation from the other girl when she had mentioned her roommates and was keen to put any anxiety to rest.

“Oh you’ll love them! They are all first year Gryffindors too - the best house, obviously” Hex laughed a little and leant closer to Haeli. “I’m so glad to hear that you read fiction, too! I really like the book series His Dark Materials, but no one here seems to know it. In fact…” Hex reached into her bag and pulled out the book Damaris had given her earlier in the week. “I think we have accidentally started a book club, this one here is one my roommate gave me - a Hunger Games book” she continued her rummaging, her satchel on her side rocking as she dug deeper, “and this can be for you!” She pulled out another novel, a short one illustrated beautifully on the cover. “It’s called The Book of Dust. It’s part of a series but if you like reading then you should check it out.”

Hex was pleased with how confidence she was coming across but she was also anxious she would scare her new friend away. As her brother always told her though - she had to just be herself.

As we started walking through the entrance and through the entrance hall, I couldn't help but feel like I actually belonged here, with my new friend. I felt like I really was like everyone else now. And maybe I would get more friends, I couldn't wait to meet Hex's friends.

"I totally agree with you, Gryffindor is definitely the best house ever." I said with a small laugh and a great big smile. "I can't say that I have read His Dark Materials before, but I will defiantly look into it." I kind of felt sad for saying that aloud, but I am defiantly going to look for it somewhere.

"I have read all of The Hunger Games books. They are so good! I have been in love with Peeta since the beginning. But I think Rue was my favorite character. Who's yours?" I could literally talk about books, especially The Hunger Games, all day.

I had looked away momentarily, because a bird flew over us. But then Hex said that something could be for me, and I snapped my head back to look at her. No one has ever shared their books with me, except the library, I guess. I really felt ecstatic, right then.

She handed me a book called, The Book of Dust. "Hmmm, I have never heard of this book before, but I am open to reading literally anything. And I am always looking for a series to dive into, too. So this book is literally perfect for me." I smiled and looked at the book. This couldn't be a better day. "Oh, I forgot," I laughed, "Thank you. This means a lot to me." I said with a great smile. "You ready to eat?" I asked as we walked into the Great Hall. I was so happy I met Hex and I couldn't wait to meet her friends! Best day by far!

I think I am going to move it to the Great Hall, and you might be able to get your friends to join too? I think I am going to call it, The First Meet. Just give me a little bit to get it started. And I agree this is a lot of fun!