You've Always Been Mine

Not Just Another Boat Ride

Black Lake, Hogsmeade
1 Sep 1991

In the flotilla of boats the ride had been uneventful so far. The weather remained fine, not usual for the first night of school, and there were millions of stars above. The torchlight reflecting off the smooth surface of the lake was enchanting, and the hundreds of points of light glowing softly from the castle windows was truly awe-inspiring. It was obvious why this particular approach had, for many long years, been the traditional route to welcome new students to Hogwarts.

Draco and Ron had managed to be in the same boat, along with Justin Finch-Fletchley, another first year. Justin took the front, single seat, and Ron and Draco sat behind him on the double seat. All of the first years had wondered how they were to row or steer the boats, because there were no oars. But Hagrid informed them that the boats were charmed to head directly from Hogsmeade to the shore beside the castle entrance.

Justin leaned forward excitedly and braced himself with both hands against the sides of the prow.

Ron and Draco, unobserved—their boat brought up the rear of the little armada—held hands. After a few moments Ron found himself wincing as Draco clutched his hand harder and harder, seeming not to notice. He gingerly shook their clasped hands and Draco, startled, grabbed the side of the boat with his free hand and looked over, startled.

“What is it?” he said breathlessly. “Are we sinking?”

Ron laughed. “No, idiot. You’re cutting off the circulation in my hand.”

Draco looked down and belatedly loosened his grip. “Oh. Sorry.”

“’S okay. Not worried, are you?”

Draco peered over the side into the inky water. “How deep d’you think it is here?” he quavered.

Ron shrugged. “Who knows? Plenty, I suppose. Why? Look,” he said firmly, realizing where Draco’s fear lay, “you’re not going to fall out. Just sit still and look at the stars. It’s gorgeous!”

Draco looked over at Ron, who sat with his head tipped back and his mouth slightly open, gazing at the brilliantly accented night sky. Then he stole another look at the water. For the briefest of moments the torchlight shone on—something—moving just beneath the surface of the water; then it was gone. He blinked frantically, trying to make out what it was, and instinctively scooted a bit closer to Ron on the seat.

“Oi!” Justin turned his head. “You don’t want to be moving around back there,” he warned. “Sit still, yeah? I don’t fancy a swim tonight.” He faced forward again.

Ron looked at Draco. “What’s the matter?”

Draco whispered, “I saw something. In the water. It was moving.” Ron looked where he pointed, but he could see nothing except the dancing reflections from the torches.

“You sure?” he murmured. “What’d it look like?”

“I don’t know—shiny, kind of. It was just there for a minute and then it went under the water.”

After a few moments of squinting, Ron shook his head. “Well, whatever it was, it’s not there now. Buck up—we’re halfway across.” He squeezed Draco’s hand and looked off to see if he could tell which boat Harry was in.

Just then there was a booming noise and the boat rocked wildly from side to side before settling down again. Draco hissed, “What was that?”

Now even Ron was looking wildly around, peering into the impenetrable blackness of the lake. Each time he shifted on the seat, the boat rocked.

Hagrid’s voice floated back to them. “You there, in the last boat—wot’s the matter? Keep your seats, now, or you’ll be fallin’ into the lake.”

Justin had not turned around, but it was clear that his grip on the sides of the little boat had increased to the point where, if only it had been light enough to see, his knuckles would have been dead white. His head turned to and fro, looking for the source of the disturbance.

Suddenly Ron clapped his hand to his head. Draco said nervously, “What’s the matter?”

Ron had an odd look on his face. “My hair. It’s wet. Something just dripped on it.” He looked at Draco, and then, their eyes wide with the awful possibilities they were imagining, they both looked skyward.

As one, they shrieked and clutched at each other. A giant tentacle hung suspended several feet above their heads, dripping icy lake water on them. Justin cried out, and students in nearby boats turned to see what was happening. The shrieks were soon being echoed by the occupants of one boat after another.

At the front of the fleet, Hagrid rolled his eyes. He didn’t even bother to look. This happened every year when the giant squid appeared out of the depths to greet the newcomers. Hagrid shook his head. First years. Merlin! As if the squid had ever hurt anyone!

Draco buried his face in Ron’s shoulder and trembled, sure he was going to be plucked out of the boat and flung overboard at any moment. Ron, not completely sure it couldn’t happen, kept a wary eye on the tentacle. It wasn’t doing anything, just hanging there, and he was starting to regret his girlish reaction of a moment ago.

Finally the tentacle sank gracefully below the water with hardly a ripple. Ron heaved a sigh. He saw with relief that they were almost at the beach. He shook Draco.

“Come on, we’re nearly there,” he said reassuringly.

Draco looked up and peered through the darkness. “Is it gone?” he asked.

Ron patted his shoulder. “Yeah. Went back under a second ago. I think it’s getting too shallow here for it anyway.”

Draco sat up straighter but didn’t let go of Ron’s hand. He looked up at the front of the boat and met Justin’s eyes. Justin, who had been watching them since the screaming began, had an odd expression on his face.

“What?” Draco asked him finally. Justin said nothing, but his gaze drifted down to Draco and Ron’s joined hands. Draco started to let go of Ron’s hand, but Ron held on more tightly and stared at Justin, a trace of defiance in his face.

“Problem?” he asked softly.

Justin shrugged. “No problem,” he said.

“Mind your heads,” Hagrid shouted, and everyone ducked. Harry almost laughed out loud. Hagrid was the only one in danger of being hit. The stone arch was a good eight feet above everyone else’s head.

The boats grounded on the shingle beach and then Hagrid was there, pulling the boats further up on the beach and helping them out, and there was no more time to think about anything.

“All righ’, now,” Hagrid called. “This way, everyone.” He led them toward the stairs to the entrance hall, where the Deputy Headmistress would collect them and take them in to be Sorted. The first years trudged up the slope wearily. The boat ride had been brilliant, but suddenly they were tired and hungry, and nervous about the ordeal ahead of them.

“We still have to be Sorted,” Draco whispered as they walked. “In front of the whole school!” He looked apprehensive.

Ron looked over at Draco and grinned encouragingly. “Cheer up, mate,” he said. “We’ve already met a giant squid tonight. How bad could the Sorting be?”