Memento Mori; Memento Vivere pv Matthew

Second year had started itself off in a maelstrom, undulating waves of work and study proving to him that his summer of preparation had truly paid off. Unlike his previous year Matthew finished his first week back glowing with positivity over his new found understanding of the wizarding world and his classes. Every time the professors would ask him a question he knew the answer to felt like Christmas day and he was lapping up every second of it. Unsurprisingly due to the euphoria of the return and his new found extracurricular being the freshest Viper in the den, Matthew found himself desperate for the sweet comfort of a good nights rest when the weekend finally broke.

Yet it seemed life had other plans for the young snake who rolled over to the eye piercing sting of a hand covered lumos. There was only one twelve year old in the entire world formal enough to break ones delicate peaceful rest with the etiquette of 'Mister Campbell' and had Matthew not devoted himself quite adamantly to repairing their stained relationship he would have throttled the pureblood heir where he stood. What he had done to piss fate off so greatly was beyond his comprehension and yet as his eyes adjusted to the blindingly aggressive spell ripping through the perfect stillness of the silent blackness, he was treated to an unfamiliar flicker in his fellow snakes face.

Where usually an expression that dared not fluctuate beyond politeness or scorn was illuminated with a mischievous, scampish quality that awoke the boy even harsher than the evil light. The following comments were even more intriguing than the face and Matthew could hardly believe that thee Archer Duncan was prepared to break school rules so early into the year. It was true that Matthew was great at being a terrible influence but given they had only passed each other briefly in the halls since their train ride together he hardly felt responsible for this new found devilry that possessed his... his... well he didn't know what Archer was to him so he would settle for his Archer for now.

Despite the deep-seated disgust for being awake at such an ungodly hour Matthew couldn't help the butterflies forming in his stomach at the idea of a midnight swim. As Archer had instructed he donned the wetsuit he used for wild swimming in the Scottish Lochs and raced off to the shoreline well equipped with all the relevant supplies he could gather for he was undoubtedly sure, given the sudden nature of Duncan's personality shift, that he had not thought this through. When Matthew finally appeared through the line of trees he was greeted to nothing more than a beckoning command to follow but given the freshness of their new, whatever it was, he decided to simply let fate do what it wanted given it showed no signs of accepting resistance.

As they walked the stars shone so gracefully playing with the branches of the trees delivering glimmer silvery strips of starlight to the ground as they continued closer and closer to the cliff edge Archer had pointed out. Suddenly in the silence of the night the heir's voice broke out in what was barely more than a whisper but much like a drop in a pool caused ripples of concern within him. What was the raving lunatic talking about death for? Yet before any questioning could be done, mostly as the boy found yawning a far more pressing concern, Archer had draped his robe along the floor and walked off the edge of the cliff like a ghost in the night making not a sound until a splash echoed through the cool thin September air.

The boy had completely lost the plot. They often say in moments of life or death that the body has two options, fight or flight. Before that chilly late autumn night Matthew couldn't say with any certainty which the situation would have evoked in him and yet perhaps he valued amends more than he thought as there wasn't a single moment of hesitation before he found himself swan diving right after the boy once considered his arch-nemesis. Shouting into the dark abyss with genuine concern "Archer!" Matthew felt as the world gave way to air and he perfectly executed a dive into the depths below.

Whatever challenge to tiredness he had made on the walk here it was nothing akin to how awake the icy chill of the black lake had evoked. Eyes now dartingly alert he took in the darkness around him as the comforting sound of water filled his ears with its gentle murmur. Moving his hands from side to side he felt the slimy soft strands of algae brush against him and as his whole body was refreshed by the sensory experience he began swimming to the surface. Breaking the water's edge he found himself laughing into the open sky that still dazzled with stars.

Seeking out the irresponsible daredevil that led him here he swam over and said, "I don't know what's gotten into you Archer but you've gone absolutely crazy!" Yet the boys tone was laced with positivity and complete encouragement for his behaviour. Still fighting off the hysterical laughter the mad situation called for the boy shouted into the night, "You hear that universe, Archer Duncan has gone entirely crazy!" As he did so he pushed his legs up, raising his stomach as he went and began to float on the darkened surface.

Gratitude surged wtihin Archer as he heard Matthew's splash on his side. Considering their unpleasant history, the boy having woken up was a miracle in itself, let alone meeting him on the shores of the Great Lake in actuality, and now he was willing to dive off a cliff after him. If Archer was deranged tonight, Matthew was no less delusional himself.

'Lower your voice,' he hissed into the darkness at Matthew's shout, though no words could mask his delight as his lips split into a smile, broadened by the encouragement in his fellow rulebreaker's tone. For what was he fearful of? Most certainly not the stray prefect. The urge to scream in a similar fashion towards the infinite universe pressed at Archer's throat, but he managed to keep it in long enough to say, 'We might as well enjoy that, because I might have gone crazy, but-' He cut himself off, voice distorted in his childish glee. Then in imitation of Matthew, he cried into the night, 'But Matthew Campbell is right here with me!' Archer had never imagined he would be grateful for the company of his former rival, but tonight he felt blessed and Campbell's presence had only added to that. Bliss was an emotion that demanded to be expressed and he would do so with all the shouting it took, no matter if it was heard or not. Similarly, his own self-proclaimed madness commanded to be heard and as if to further prove his insanity, Archer kicked himself into a vertical position, hands splashing lake water towards his newfound accomplice's direction in play.

'It's cold,' Archer said suddenly after a pause, teeth clenched at a tremour raced through them. He had been operating on pure exhilaration for the last blur of minutes and now that his initial adrenaline was beginning to drain away, the chill of the autumn loch settled within him. Glancing at Matthew's wetsuit, he undoubtably felt far too undressed for the Scottish Highlands' weather. As flashes of panic dimmed his eyes, regret almost seized his heart. If you act like your death is "programmed" soon, you'll probably die or get hurt by doing something stupid, the enigma of a girl had said. But this was not "stupid". Despite the plethora of threatening creatures, natural treachery to be found in lakes, and not to mention qualms with hygiene, he felt oddly at home in Hogwarts' unforgiving waters. Somehow, he found it beautiful, and did beauty not make life worth living? Finally taking a deep breath that threw away his worries, he eventually decided with a content grin, 'It's cold but that is perfectly fine.' Hypothermia would be where he drew the line. Now that he had left his safety net of rules and comfort, there was only open sky beneath him. In an oddly satisfying way, this felt like the first true adventure of the lifetime.

@Matthew Campbell

Archer's hissing tone towards his volume only managed to rip an even more raucous laughter from his throat because only Archer Duncan would be bold enough to jump off a cliff but draw the line at using some decibels. Yet it seemed even that urge couldn't be suppressed for long as the newly fledged rulebreaker cried out with him and in his words the beauty of the moment was not lost on Matthew. The pair was entirely new to friendship and yet the memories they were forming already outranked some of his favourite of all time.

Staring up at the glinting freckles of starlight that dotted the navy-black sky Matthews breath was utterly taken away. It was like the sky had created a show meant specifically for them and as the ripples finally settled from their impact the mesmerising soundscape of calming waves and gentle winds blessed their eardrums. Out here there wasn't silence but natures dulcet perfection created the most surreal atmosphere it was like nothing he had ever experienced. Just a year ago he would have struggled not to be at the other boys throat, in fact if he was honest less than an hour ago when he woke him their entire history may have been revoked but instead now they got to share in this defining moment of serenity.

Yet while Matthew was content having dressed appropriately for the weather it seemed that impulsiveness had not only inspired his ex rival to become adventurous but had made him entirely lose his logic. Staring at the boy with an eyebrow raised and snarky smile he said, "Cold?! Is it really? That does tend to happen when you jump into a lake in the middle of the night in September!" While his tone was mockingly chastising there wasn't an ounce of seriousness to it for truly he couldn't mask the pride he felt for the changes he had bore witness to from Duncan. In moments like this when they were alone he really felt like friendship between them was not simply possible but likely inevitable.

Then summoning far more sympathy than before he added, "I left towels and blankets on the shore. If you get too cold let me know I don't need your death on my hands, after all, too many people still think we hate each other, I'd be suspect numero uno." Content only lasted in the moment for a second, however, as he recalled the last time he had aimed his sarcasm at the boy and how that had ended. Reminding himself that, that was a long time ago he decided to shake it off and settled on a different way to get some heat up. "If we swim a little we can build up some heat, plus I'd love to get a glimpse of the moon the trees are blocking it."

Pushing off Matthew swam towards the glimmer of subtle moonlight in the water to the north of them hoping the fellow snake would follow suit. Ever since he was a kid the moon had always fascinated and drawn his eye so to experience it from the depths of the lake with the silhouette of Hogwarts darkened behind them felt as special as a moment could get. Reaching a spot he found the glowing silvery trail of its light and waited patiently for Archer to join him.

Still not quite sure why he invited Campbell of all people, delighted nevertheless that he had came - and he had the quality of talking with such a charming drollery. Blinking back at his fellow snake’s sarcasm, a smile tugged at his lips when before he might have only offered a frown at his wit. “I’m thankful,” Archer said through still-chattering teeth that had been unresponsive to his attempts at clenching them down, “That you have more rationality than I, Matthew Campbell.” Continuing as his features took on a devilish shine, he said, “But I would have you know I am not returning before we have some good fun out here.”

With adrenaline pricking at his senses - late for the hour but welcome nevertheless - he felt an odd fulfilment from this (quite literally so) leap of faith. Wide-eyed and still too naïve, the water washed away his worries shared above in the astronomy tower, if only for tonight. Now all-smiles and feeling the utter, incomparable exhilaration running through his veins, a disruption as minute as the ripples in the Great Lake’s waters made him feel empowered to take on the whole damn world.

Following the boy as he was enveloped by the lake, Archer found the steady rhythm of swimming his solace. Something of a hobby though a rarely visited one (the Scottish weather was the primary of what he ought to thank), there was a welcome familiarness in the revisiting of the activity, and that perpetual thrill feeling more alive than ever. With each stroke of his smacking, haphazard freestyle, he did not bother for breath as he opened his eyes to the darkness. Despite the subtle sting of water against his eyes or the fact that there was nothing under the surface - there he was wrong when lived a whole world he could not see - he kept them open, if only for the hell of it.

When he had finally reached the patch of glimmering silver, his lips opened to form a grin of wild elation as emerged from the water and he gasped for air. Kicking hard as he tried to keep afloat, he titled his head upwards - half in an attempt to keep his breath steady, half to admire the deity above. Tapping the Viper on the back as the natural spotlight shone on him, devoid of any of the tentativeness he used to display, Archer pointed to the waters ahead and said, laughing, forgotten about the nor with any care for his volume, “Race you!” Without specifying where to, he found a tranquility among all the chaos as he set off and disappeared into the murky night warninglessly.

@Matthew Campbell

Much to the surprise of Matthew, Archer Theodore Duncan was a competitive little cheat. Could he have possibly known just how tantalising and all encompassing the draw of the moon was to his fellow Slytherin no but to interrupt such precious time was highly rude. In fact he may have scolded the boy on the spot quite literally with an Incendio in the water, at the very least it would solve the issue of heat. Yet the trouble was that Matthew too was equally as competitive and while he may have been cheated out of a fair race he was determined to win even if that meant paralysing the competition. In reality the whole thing had him laughing so vehemently that he was quite sure half the great lake now resided within his stomach as he plunged in after the whippersnapper.

Life at Hogwarts had not been without its many difficulties but with the cold waves thrashing around him illuminated by the twilight's shimmer he felt at peace with everything. If this was only the first week then the potential of the year felt unimaginable especially if the pair were to continue their budding friendship. A new year meant new opportunities and if luck prevailed more fun. With that in mind the young boy dove deep into the murky depths putting to use his free diving skills to make his way under his fierce competitor pulling at his leg to catch him off guard.

Resurfacing ahead of the boy he practically had to clutch at his stomach to contain the heaving laughter that was breaking from every fraction of him. It pierced the quiet solitude filling the air with a mischief and he swore for the first time in a while a heaviness that often clamped his heart lifted ever so slightly. Barely able to formulate coherent speech in his fit of laughter he managed to just about splutter, "Cheat!" while throwing water at the boy across from him. Matthew had learned from his mistake however, and instantly threw himself backwards back into the black waters continuing on an uncertain path but living for the journey not for the destination.

Below the surface with water flooding his eardrums there was a stillness that quieted the chaotic storm of his brain and allowed him to zone into nothing but the present. One second, one millisecond of time can change a persons life forever. Whether that be for the positive or negative meant nothing to the sentiment. As his mind cleared he thought of just how vast the number of variations of this night existed where the two boys weren't together. For had they not shared a carriage ride, or put down their swords, or grown as individuals or any other innumerable intricate, tiny little details then they may have never reconnected. Yet here they were, laughing like lifelong friends and making cherished memories that last a lifetime. Raised in opposition didn't mean they had to remain as such and with every moment he knew it to be more true.

Pushing back up the water plastering his dark curls down in front of his eyes he found himself unable to see anything in the haze. With a wet hand no longer trembling from cold he brushed them back slicking them into a messy mullet like style. As his vision began to readjust he found himself worriedly searching the lake view to no avail, his partner in crime was nowhere to be seen. Panic beginning to set in frantic darting eyes scanned for any sign of movement as his arms kept him afloat. "Arch? Archer, where are you?" Hopefully this was just some kind of revenge plan for yanking his leg earlier but with the boys familiarity to death he couldn't stop the battle between his heart desperate to beat out of his chest while the cold waters forcibly held its slowed tempo.

banner by Alyssea Brown | interacting as Archer Duncan

Drawing breath as he resurfaced behind Matthew Archer was at first oblivious to his partner in crime’s frantic attempts to find him. Almost making the mistake of audibly gasping for the sweet relief of air he instead slowed his breaths into a rhythmic beat as his pulse fell back to its usual steady pounding instead of the previous 200 he felt like he had been pushing. A small, knowing smile creeping up his lips he edged his way towards where Matt was treading water, movements restrictive by the lack of sound and splashing he allowed himself.

“Ha!” Archer exclaimed in victory as he placed a hand cold with lake water onto Matthew’s tense shoulder, legs kicking underwater as his body bobbed in the undercurrents of the ominous lake. Pushing the hair out of his eyes he shook his head as he tried to gain direction as he blinked the water out of his eyes, “Someone doesn't want a drowning on his hands.” Then, proving his efforts previous efforts meaningless he dipped his head back into the murky depths. Matt would turn to find him submerged once more, nowhere to be seen in the dark waters as with two swift kicks his body broke into a swim again, emerging into his partner in crime’s eyeline as he paddled upwards, a dark figure against the starry sky, clear for once in a navy blue, barely visible as he glided along the horizon, but a smudge where the moonlight failed to hit him.

Turning to face Matthew he anchored himself by a large, protruding rock out of the water, pushing himself upon the ledge with arms well-attuned to climbing. Stepping above where the water ended, ebbing and making way around the protuberance as ripples were left in Archer’s wake, sending minuscule waves in every direction, as if he stood at the very centre of the world. Stepping u to the flat peak o the water-lapped boulder, he turned his gaze to the now distant castle, circled above by one lonely, shadowed crow. In its slumber, the usually bustling halls brimming with teenagers of all ages, backgrounds, and designs, looked oddly at peace in its uncanny quietude. Sentimental under the shroud of darkness, its many spirals and towers faded in and out of sight enveloped in the passing fog, and, eyes slipping up to the astronomy classroom despite himself, wondered if the enigmatic girl of little words was still there, atop the world. All his other friends would have been fast asleep by now, and along with them, every concern too disappeared into the moonlit night, dripping into serenity until there was not much more left.

Flopping onto his back Archer felt drowned in tranquility as the waves rose, washing over his back with every stroke of Matthew’s approach. He did not yet quite know what to make of Mister Campbell. Separated by gaping chasms born out of blood prejudice deeply ingrained into the subconscious, somehow the two thought destined to be arch nemeses had found an equal footing at the new beginning of the year. From their initial wariness around each other to the trust they now shared, engulfed in the ecstasy of the night and allowing past to slip by forgotten, he felt endeared and hopeful that even the darkest seed could bloom into the most colourful of flowers. For now, Archer will consider him a friend. And he hoped that for now was an ingredient for all of eternity.

Not even knowing aware if Matt was beside him or not, Archer spoke into the pitch black nothingness, “Does this kind of feeling ask forever? Or would it slip away like a dream when the sun inevitably rises tomorrow morning?