Book of Shadows

4

That ing,ing, he lies on one of the large, flat stones and stares up at the sky. He is naked from his swim in the pool; his hair is still wet and clinging to his scalp. Next to him is his book and he stares at it longingly. It is his greatest companion, his most loyal friend and it is bulging with new drawings. He is proud of his creations and he wonders if this is what it\'s like to have a child. Except he is both mother and father and this is his baby, his lifelong work and he is bursting with pride.

He dresses slowly once he is dry. His limbs are heavy and he can feel fatigue creeping up on him at an alarming pace. He picks up his things and leans against a giant tree. He covers himself with his cloak and slips away into dreams with his lover. He sleeps peaceful
S
Sometime during the night he is awakened by a rustling near by. Cautiously he makes sure he is still covered by the cloak and opens his eyes. He stops breathing. Only a few feet away are a Unicorn and her foal drinking from the pool. Soundlessly, Harry grabs his book and a piece of coal and draws them. His eyes fill with tears as their beauty is matched by nothing else and he feels so lucky to be so close and given the opportunity to draw them in their element. The moon glistens off their silvery backs and Harry wants so badly to touch them but knows he can\'t. Instead he watches intently as the female cleans her young and the foal nuzzles her under the chin. His heart aches to know what it\'s like to feel affection from ones mother. Pushing all feelings aside, Harry draws after his hand begins to cramp. He doesn\'t stop until the Unicorns leave to find some place else to roam. His hand is throbbing angrily but he is overcome by what he has just witnessed. He has been shown something special and he\'ll never tell anyone where he found it.

He yawns, his jaw cracks and Harry goes back to sleep as the sun begins to rise. When he wakes up again it is well into the morning and he can feel something against his s Hi His fingers flex and meet fur. Cracking one eye open he looks into deep yellow eyes and almost laughs. \"I should\'ve known you would follow me. Sometimes I think you\'re more like a dog than a cat.\"

Crookshanks mewls lowly, how dare the human boy call him a dog! He gives Harry his most insulting look and begins to bathe himself.

Harry sits up and throws off the cloak. He is famished as he rifles through his bag and pulls out the things Dobby has packed for him. There is a little packet of fish that he gives to Crookshanks who accepts it as an apology for being called a dog. For the first time in weeks, Harry is really truly hungry and he eats with relish until he feels like his gut will burst open. He sighs contentedly and leans back against the tree. He licks his fingers and wipes them on his pants. Once more he is over come by the beauty set before him and he makes a grab for his book. Crookshanks trots over to one of the stones to lie out in the sun and Harry gleefully amerces himself in his work. His eye catches Crookshanks as he shifts and stretches on his rock. Harry smiles and on one of the rocks he has already drawn, he draws Crookshanks sprawled across it as if it were his throne. He finds it strangely fitting that a place of such surreal beauty should have a flat-nosed, bow-legged cat claiming one of its pristine rocks. \"But you\'re the best cat I\'ve ever know.\"

Crookshanks lifts his head and licks his chops before rolling back over to sun on his other side. Silly human boy.