A midnight walk
It was midnight, and the moon shone as brightly as ever. The dimly lit lamps glowed a soft golden and nothing could be heard except the hooting of owls. Anabiyah had sneaked out of her common room and past the security caretaker and into the grounds. She craved some silence and a few moments by herself. She sat down at a nearby bench and looked up at the night sky. The stars twinkled and blinked at her, and without knowing it, tears leaked from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Everything was not going right for her and after a few days of straining and bottling up her emotions inside her, she could not take it anymore. She sobbed into her hands. The truth was, she felt neglected and lonely. She thought that after coming into a new world, her life would get better and she would actually make some friends, but no luck whatsoever.Her life stayed as miserable and hopeless as before. As she wiped her tears with trembling fingers, a small rustle sounded from behind the bench. Anabiyah stiffened, half-expecting the caretaker or a prefect. But when she turned, there was no human—only a tiny, silver-furred creature with curious, glowing eyes. It looked like a cross between a fox and a cat, and it stared at her as though it understood every ache in her heart.
Instead of running, the creature padded closer and gently rested its head against her knee. Warmth spread through her, soft and calming, like a comforting memory wrapped in moonlight.
Something inside Anabiyah finally gave way—not from sadness, but from relief. This was the first living being in a long time that didn’t ignore her… didn’t dismiss her presence… didn’t talk over her or walk away.
“I just wanted someone to see me,” she whispered shakily. “Just once.”
The creature lifted its head and met her eyes. In that moment, it didn’t look like a random magical animal. It looked like a guardian — sent by the night itself.
And for the first time since she had arrived at Hogwarts, Anabiyah didn’t feel completely invisible. The night air shifted and she took in a deep breath.
Instead of running, the creature padded closer and gently rested its head against her knee. Warmth spread through her, soft and calming, like a comforting memory wrapped in moonlight.
Something inside Anabiyah finally gave way—not from sadness, but from relief. This was the first living being in a long time that didn’t ignore her… didn’t dismiss her presence… didn’t talk over her or walk away.
“I just wanted someone to see me,” she whispered shakily. “Just once.”
The creature lifted its head and met her eyes. In that moment, it didn’t look like a random magical animal. It looked like a guardian — sent by the night itself.
And for the first time since she had arrived at Hogwarts, Anabiyah didn’t feel completely invisible. The night air shifted and she took in a deep breath.
Your lips, my lips, apocalypse