Bab 396: A Song of the Lake, Moon and Stars
By the time Oleandra and Harry were done with Rita's interview and had stepped out of the Three Broomsticks into the soggy snow, the stars were already out to greet them, twinkling gently against the vast canvas of the night sky.
And so, having nothing more to say to each other, Oleandra and Tracey bade goodbye to Harry, Hermione, Cho and, albeit begrudgingly, Rita Skeeter.
"I'm just worried about how Umbridge'll react, when she sees your name in the article," Tracey told her, on their way back up from the village to the castle. "I— I don't like seeing you hurt, Oleandra."
"I don't like seeing myself get hurt, either," Oleandra joked, though Tracey didn't seem to find her flippant attitude very funny.
The girls continued slogging their way uphill through the slurry of half-melted snow, which was beginning to resolidify into a frigid mess— the sun had already fallen, so the temperature was rapidly dropping again. Glancing sideways, Oleandra could see Tracey's breath condensing into cones of white vapour escaping from her pink lips.
Butterflies fluttering in her stomach, Oleandra was suddenly overtaken by the urge to kiss those lips— Oleandra and Tracey hadn't done anything that lovers would do together yet, except holding hands. The night was still young, though, and curfew wouldn't be for another few hours…
"What is it?" Tracey asked Oleandra, feeling her tugging gently on her hand.
"You didn't think our date was over just yet, did you?" said Oleandra playfully. "Come on, there's something I want to show you…"
Over the past week, Oleandra had spent all of her time outside of classes organizing the perfect conclusion to their Valentine's Day date, the beginning of their love story…
"Where are we going?" Tracey asked curiously, but the only answer she would get in return was an enigmatic smile…
Oleandra was rather glad that the cold wind was reddening her cheeks; otherwise, Tracey might have attributed her blushing skin to something else…
The girls resumed their steady march, but upon arriving in front of the castle gates, Oleandra pulled Tracey closer to her, and instead of crossing into the castle grounds, she led her along the ramparts that surrounded the grounds, and to the Black Lake's gravel beach.
"Do you remember?" Oleandra asked Tracey gently.
She nodded. It was Oleandra's favourite place, but it was more than that.
"This is where…" Tracey responded, her voice wavering slightly. "Oleandra, I thought I'd never see you again. I thought that this was where we had spent our last moments together. And then, when Harry brought back your lifeless body after the Third Task, I couldn't help but think… that— that I should have…"
Hot tears were now streaming down Tracey's face.
"Why hadn't I tried harder? When you died, I thought I'd be regretting not having tried harder for the rest of my life," she whispered. "Before everything, I thought that I'd still have time to make you fall in love with me, so I let the days fly by. And then, when you came back, I just went back to the old me…"
Oleandra suddenly hugged her tightly, causing her words to turn into a hiccup of surprise.
"I knew you liked me. I knew, and I didn't say anything, either— I guess I was scared that things would change between us," Oleandra whispered back. "I should have faced my feelings earlier, and then you wouldn't have had to suffer so much. I'm so sorry, Trace."
"Oh, Hel," Tracey swore, dabbing her eyes with a corner of her sleeve. "My make-up's going to run…"
"Laukaz," Oleandra simply said, snapping her fingers. "There, tears gone."
Oleandra then let go of Tracey's hand, before reaching into her pouch and withdrawing a glass jar full of tiny luminous creatures.
"Are those Fairies?" Tracey asked, as she watched Oleandra struggling to unscrew the lid.
"Hang on, I've nearly got it," Oleandra grunted, as she drew her wand. "Alohomora!"
The jar's lid popped open, and the tiny Fairies stretched their butterfly-like wings. Once freed, they began fluttering around Oleandra's head, bathing her in an otherworldly light.
Oleandra extended her arm towards Tracey, her palm facing up. Smiling, Tracey placed her own palm in Oleandra's, thereby accepting the offer to dance— and also acknowledging that she too was interested in more than just a simple dance.
But to her surprise, Oleandra then began leading her towards the lake.
Together, they stepped into the icy winter water— but Oleandra seemed to have done something to it; Tracey could barely feel the lake water's cool touch against her skin. In fact, she wasn't even cold any more! And so, deeper and deeper they went, bathed in the Fairy-light's gentle rays, which had turned slightly greenish due to the lake's colour.
"The last time I went this deep," Oleandra commented, "It was to save Daphne during the Second Task. But I think that if I had to do it all over again, I'd be saving you, don't you think?"
"Oh, you charmer," Tracey giggled. "I'm not that easy, you know?"
At last, the couple reached their destination at the bottom of the lake. Oleandra snapped her fingers again, and the murky lake water immediately began to clear as if it had been filtered, rendering it crystal clear.
"Amazing," Tracey whispered. "I can see the stars above…"
Oleandra bowed, and Tracey placed her hand over her heart, before curtsying.
Slowly, they approached each other, the light of the stars reflecting in their eyes. Oleandra took Tracey's right hand in her left, and put her right hand around Tracey's waist; while Tracey put her left hand on Oleandra's shoulder.
"This time," Oleandra said, looking her straight in the eyes, "I'll be the one taking the lead."
Melodious voices began singing in haunting tones; Tracey realized that Oleandra had hired Mermaids to sing for them, in lieu of a band…
Beneath the stars, the lake shimmers,
Reflecting moonlight, a myriad glimmers,
Its silvery surface, a mirror so true,
In which shines the beauty I see in you.
Hand in hand, Oleandra and Tracey twirled and twirled at the bottom of the lake, where nobody but the fish and the stars could see them.
Beneath the stars, where the waters gleam,
Waves crash, no more than a fleeting dream,
The gentle ripples, like a soft caress,
Echo the love in my heart I can no longer suppress.
The steps to the dance they had learned were utterly incompatible with the rhythms of the music of the Mermaids, but Oleandra and Tracey still spun along to the music.
Beneath the stars, the water sighs,
Whispers of love, 'neath the moonless skies,
The night's stillness, a sweet lullaby,
The rustling water, true love's song we cry.
"Tracey…"
"Yes?"
Beneath the stars, in the water's cool embrace,
Stirs the magic of the immortal Fairy's birthplace,
The gentle waves, cradling our dreams so close,
Whispering secrets the night only knows.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Oleandra and Tracey slowly closed their eyes, leaning forward until their lips were just barely touching. And right there, beneath the stars, under the lake's surface, rocked by the water currents, Oleandra and Tracey shared their first kiss. The moment seemed to stretch forever— and in that moment, Oleandra knew that she would never forget this night, for as long as she lived.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone