Victoir
On March twenty third, Teddy surprised me with a picnic lunch date at the black lake. (Actually, if I’m honest, it wasn’t a surprise. It was my birthday, so I was expecting something like this.)
So we were sitting on the shore, just talking, when Teddy stood up, “How about a walk along the shore?” He offered, holding out his hand.
“Gladly.” I took his hand and we walked for a bit.
As we walked, Teddy told me about his latest prank.
“I put laxatives in all of the owls’ food in the owlery. You’re lucky you slept in. The Great Hall still smells like shit. One of the owls shitted directly onto Goyle’s head. Merlin’s beard, it was priceless.”
I laughed, “Is that why we’re having lunch here?”
“It’s one of the reasons.” Teddy chuckled. He reached into his pocket, “Oh, shit.” He muttered.
“What?”
“I left your present by the picnic blanket.”
I chuckled, “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
“Okay, stay here.” He told me before jogging back to the blanket. We’d gone about halfway around the lake at that point.
I stood there waiting, watching him as he ran. I sighed and looked down at the lake. It really takes after its name. The water was so dark that you couldn’t see two inches in front of you. You'd think that would make it reflective. But no, I couldn't see the person who pushed me into the lake.
When I stepped back onto the shore, I was freezing cold and soaking wet. Teddy jogged back over and grinned, “Went for a swim, did you?”
“Shut up.” I muttered, shivering, “Someone pushed me in.”
Teddy’s smile faded, “Who?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know.” I looked down at the box in his hand, “Is that my gift?” I asked, changing the subject.
Teddy still looked uncomfortable, but he forced a smile on his face, “Uh, yeah. It is. I saw it over the summer, and thought of you, so…here.” He handed me the box.
I opened it. Inside were a pair of earrings. Dangling from each silver hook, was a small ram made of aquamarine.
“The ram is because you’re an Aries, and aquamarine is your birthstone.” He explained, “And, don’t worry, they’re Muggle-made, so they won’t jump off the hooks and run around like the ones I gave you last year.”
“That’s always a plus.” I said, holding the earrings up to the fading light of the sunset, “They’re really cute, thank you.”
“Of course.” He smiled sweetly. A breeze blew past, rustling his light blue hair. I started shivering again.
“Honestly, what were you thinking?” Teddy asked, making me look up.
“What?”
“Swimming in the middle of March? I thought you were smarter than that.” He said with a smirk.
“Shut up!” I pushed him, and he fell face first into the water.
“Hey, now I’m all wet,” he complained, splashing me.
“Come on, Teddy. Seriously? Swimming in the middle of March? I thought you were smarter than that.” I said with a smirk.
Teddy grabbed my arm and pulled me in next to him. We swam around for a bit, before it finally got too cold to bear. Teddy waded over to the shore. I was about to follow him, but something wrapped around my ankle.
“Ew.” I said, looking down, even though I couldn’t see through the water.
“What is it?” Teddy asked, glancing back at me.
“I think there’s some seaweed or something here.” I told him, trying to pull my foot away.
“Really? I didn’t feel any over there.”
I reached down to try to pull it off, “Yeah, I don’t know, it’s…” My hand reached something soft, smooth, slightly slimy, and somewhat rubbery to the touch. Definitely not seaweed. “Oh, shit.” I said, realising what it actually was.
Two seconds later, I was under water, being pulled down to the bottom of the lake by the giant squid that resided there. I could hear a muffled, “Sanuspirantes!” coming from above the water.
I held my breath for as long as I could. It was so incomprehensibly dark, that I couldn’t tell if my eyes were open or not. That is, until I saw its eye. The eye of the giant squid glowed bright in the depths of the darkness, allowing me some vision. It wrapped its tentacles around me, nearly crushing me. It pulled me closer and closer to its beak.
I’ve taken Care of Magical Creatures every year at Hogwarts. I remembered one specific lesson as I was pulled underwater, running out of oxygen. “The giant squid’s harmless.” Professor Hagrid had said, “Its mouth is too small ter eat a human. It could take chunks outta ya, sure. But this squid’s a sweetheart, he’d never ye. I remember one year, a first-year fell outta the boat. The squid picked ‘im up and plopped ‘im onto the shore.”
I didn’t have to be a squid biologist to tell that this was wrong. Something, or rather someone, was controlling the squid, giving it violent commands. The Imperius curse, probably. That was my last thought before I completely ran out of air. I was vaguely aware of a pair of hands grabbing me. Pulling me away from the possessed squid. I closed my eyes and welcomed the darkness.
...
When I opened my eyes again, Teddy was standing over me, looking terrified, “Oh, thank Dumbledore!” he exclaimed, “What happened?”
“Il y avait un calmar…un putain de calmar…et il…m’a attrapé et—” I muttered, not really realising I was speaking French.
Looking back, I doubt he understood anything I said, but he nodded and pulled me into a tight hug.
I panicked and pushed him away. Teddy looked hurt, but his expression faded to one of sympathy and understanding. He grabbed my hand and held it tight. The small gesture was enough to almost make me forget the traumatic experience I’d just had. Almost.