[[ - breathless

[Arabelle Marie Willingham]

Her toes dug into the wet sand, her sigh one of relaxation and contentment. The waves of the lake lapped against her ankles as she watched the sun set. Rays of red and orange colored the sky. But her gaze didn't rest on the sky long. Before long, it had drifted to the lake, calm in the evening breezes. Fish swam at the surface, a few brave minnows nibbled on her toes. Here, looking at the calm serenity of the castle grounds, she could let all her fears and worries drift away with the gentle waves. Here, it was like her childhood had never existed.

Her shoes dangled from her hand by the laces which she had tied together. They smacked against her leg as she padded over the grass. The stubby blades tickled her feet, bringing a small grin to her face. The light calls of the wild serenaded her. It was as though they were singing to her and only her.

Her eyes slid closed as she slid down a tree, the quiet breeze of the night carressing her skin, bringing goose bumps to the surface. She didn't mind. It wasn't cold out, and the wind made her feel alive. This place was nothing like home. Here, she could fall asleep feeling safe, even if she did worry about her mother. This place, Hogwarts, offered a kind of security she had never experienced before. Even though she was in her second year at the school, it was like she was experiencing it for the first time. The summer break had erased any sense of comfort she had gained throughout the school year, and she had reverted back to the beginning. Fearing for her life, for her mother's life, nightly. Listening to the deep talking men and the gunshots late into the night. But here. Here, she was safe.

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