Of Quidditch, Lakes and Rocks

[Avie Mitchell]

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Avie ran through the school, waving a sheet of paper in the air as he did so, calling out for Lucien as he stormed his way through the halls of the school he called home, "LUCIEN! LUCIEN!" the boy had been in the Owlery and had been storming around the school since he couldn't find him, not in the dorm, not the common room, not the prefects room, and he'd come across several people who had also been little help to him, who had provided him no answers as to where his best friend was, though Avie had put on his best Esme impression and threatened them trying to get an answer but that had produced nothing. The teen had gone no further in his search, and was now running up and dos the great hall, trying to spot him, or spot Esme who would probably know, or his twin, or those other girls who he'd founds it recently were related to Lucien. But he had no such luck. None of them were anywhere close to him, he knew that worse came to worse, he was meeting Esme later so then he could be pointed towards where Lucien would be.

It took far too long in Avie's young mind to realise that he might find Lucie at the pitch, given that the boy was the quidditch captain and they were close to another quidditch cup victory, it would make sense that he would be there, so excitedly, with an expression of pure elation and carefree-ness the Slytherin rushed outside. It was as he did this that he noticed a lone figure sitting by the lake, and even from such a distance, Avie knew exactly who it was, he'd been living with the boy since day one of first year, and Lucien was the person Avie loved most in the world. So upon seeing him, Avie broke into a run, "Lucien!" he called out happily, coming to a crashing stop just in front of him, waving the paper in his best friend's face excitedly, "Lucien look at what I got," Avie told him with breathless excitement, the usual warm expression on his face as he spoke, but there was a happiness, a child like expression of pure joy, which hadn't graced Avie's expression fully u since his mothers death, he held the letter out in front of him, "Dear...Mister...Avery...Mitchell," Avie had a finger pointed at each word, and he read very slowly, pausing over each word, just like the muggle studies professor has shown him to do, "We are inviting you to try out for the Moutohora Macaws quidditch team," he struggled over the team, but when he'd finished the sentence, Avie glanced back at Lucien with the most joyous expression, it he managed to get on to the team, he had a chance at a future, despite his short comings and lack of OWLs, he was so happy and he wanted to share that with Lucien more than anyone.
​

 

[Lucien Snow]

Lucien was practicing for the upcoming game within a few weeks. Hufflepuff would be playing soon, and he knew that Mason would likely be gloating if they beat Gryffindor, and vice versa from his twin. There was no escape for him. Sighing, Lucien hurled the quaffle through the hoop, knowing that his try outs for the Quibberon Quafflepunchers were soon. He would be returning to France after he graduated. He landed as he saw Avie coming across the lawns. It was easy to spot him. He landed and before he knew it, he had something being waved in his silver eyes. Blinking with an annoyed look on his face, he turned to look at Avie once more. He read the paper, albeit slowly, it made the annoyed frown turn into a small smile. Lucien looked over the team, knowing he had heard about it. He finally said, "Congratulations buddy. I got something similar but from my homeland." Lucien would have held out the paper but it was back in his dorm, and he knew that Avie would have issues with saying the team. "What do you want to do to celebrate?"
​

 

[Avie Mitchell]

The smile which sat on Avie's child like expression could neither have been brighter nor reached his eyes so easily, he couldn't help but feel the warm pride of accomplishing something, that his future which had always seemed so uncertain finally had a rock, finally had something that could work out for the better. Avie knew of his own talents in quidditch, the snitches in his dorm spoke for themselves, he felt like he might actually achieve it, might actually have a chance at being a professional something. The prefect barely heard what lucien said before wrapping his arms around his best friend, and though the taller boy didn't like the open displays of affection from him, Avie honestly couldn't help himself, he wrapped his arms around Lucien and gave the boy a warm hug, such pride at what his friend was likely to also achieve, such happiness at their possible futures and just such love towards him and their friendship. In Avie's mind they'd been best friends from the very first meeting in the dorm, when Lucien had clearly shown an interest in the first rocks he'd collected from the lake. Finally, Avie pulled out of the hug, "We're going to be professional players!" he couldn't help but exclaim puffing out his chest in pride, "I don't want to play against you though," the boy realised and admitted, he had been on the same team as Lucien for so long, he couldn't imagine not being, playing against him, winning against him would feel unnatural, but laying those thoughts aside Avie thought about the question, he did love to celebrate but he glanced out at the lake and with the sun beaming down warmly, he knew there was only one thing he wanted to do.

"I'm meeting Esme later, you should come too, we can all celebrate together, let the snitches loose," he told him, "But right now, I'm going to go rock collecting!" he announced as if this was some novel thing for him to do, "I wanna go to see the mermaid and the really nice rocks," Avie told Lucien already getting to his feet. He slipped off his shoes and socks, placing the special and important piece of paper within a shoe, and then pulled off the jumper he'd needlessly worn considering the sunshine, quick to remove the wand from his pocket, "Watch my stuff!" he advised Lucien before he made his way out to the water, stepping carefully on the rocks, arms out to keep himself from falling or slipping, couldn't have himself cracking his head open on the rocks, he had a future now, he had to be careful. Avie got to about waist deep before he knew he was good to start swimming he turned back round to Lucien, "LUCIEN" he called loudly over the water before waving happily at him, grinning and laughing as he did so, his joy, and excitement just so high he could barely contain any of the laughter that slipped from his lips. But with that, he turned back to open expanse of the lake and dove in. After a few minutes of swimming at the surface Avie went to cast the bubble head charm, it took him three tries before the spell worked properly but when it finally did, Avie swum deeper into the water. Following his usual path, but knowing that the mermaids and the good mermaid rocks were deeper, he stopped occasionally as he swum deeper and further, so he pick up varying sizes of rocks that he liked, marvelling at the creatures that surrounded him, he didn't know what any of them were but they were magical things and he just wanted to hug each one, maybe the mermaids would show him how to. Avie continue to go deeper until he finally in the distance in front of him noticed the rocks that he wanted, and this got his mind completed centred on them. Avie swum quickly forward, as he did so however, a creature suddenly swum past him seemingly coming from nowhere, brushing against at a speed and suddenness that caused Avie to become very startled, and in this startled-ness he dropped his wand and lost his concentration, thus the bubble head charm broke.

A sharp intake of breath from Avie brought nothing but water, he tried to dispel it away but he just couldn't. The prefect was quickly beginning to get panicked, he tried to search around for his wand at the water's bed below him, fingers grabbing at the rocks his interest in them gone, but he couldn't see it, nor could he reach it, and as the panic in his mind grew he began to try to kick up to the surface, forgetting all about the wand but the combination of rocks in his pockets (which he didn't want to lose) and clothes were making it increasingly hard, suddenly heavier than they'd ever been. The edges of vision began to grow dark, spotted darkness was slowly growing, Avie had never felt so terrified in his life, he wanted Lucien, Esme, he needed them now they always made him less afraid. He desperately tried to call out to them, only succeeding in bringing yet more water into his mouth and deepening his fear, he could see them with his mind's eye, near the surface ready to grab him, but he couldn't reach them, his arm was outstretched as he tried to call them again desperate, almost begging, but no sound came out of his mouth, only bubbles. Avie's panic which had been so high as he'd tried to kick his way to the surface began to diminish, he felt himself sinking down rather than up, exhaustion seemed to overtake, he thought he could hear a familiar voice calling out to him and with a sense of calm finally taking over, he allowed the exhaustion to cause his eyes flutter closed. ​

 

[Lucien Snow]

The hug never seemed to end until finally Avie had enough. Lucien stopped struggling years ago. The thought about playing against Avie had never occurred to him. Lucien never wanted that. He never wanted to go against Avie. Maybe he should have tried out for that team, or even have Avie join him for his. Either or, and Lucien would have a happier life. If Esme would join them as well, the three of them could obliterate anyone that came close to them. If the three of them stayed together after this, well, that would be what Lucien would see in the mirror of erised. As Avie looked to the lake, Lucien did as well. He knew what his best friend was thinking. He wanted to go rock hunting. And the lake had some good ones. Celebrating with Esme did sound amazing. But for now, he would humor Avie and go down to the lake with him. Lucien hated the lake, and swimming, but he would go with him. It was no time to be a grumpy seventh year. Sighing, the Slytherin prefect made his way to the lake, before watching as Avie took off his socks. He nodded as Avie said for him to watch his stuff. It was better than nothing, but he was worried about Avie swimming. Then again, he was always worried for the other prefect. 'Just let him find the stupid rocks and be done with it,' thought Lucien as he pulled his knees up to his chest and placed his head onto them. He watched Avie enter the water before shuddering. Anything about the lake just repulsed him. It had millions of germs and creatures that needed to be left alone and out of his hair. He did not need to see them and have them end up ruining his day by swimming or standing in front of his pure-blood form. The only one of less than pure-blood was Avie, and that was because he was special. He was still working on finding out who his dad was. He was getting close. He managed to find the Quidditch team that the man was on, but needed a name. He narrowed it down that much. Lucien did not want to tell Avie until he was sure. Avie shouting his name made him snap out of his thoughts. Then, Avie started to swim and cast the charm. Lucien was experienced with that charm, and found it to be simple. If he had a good hang of it, Avie should too. Lucien watched as Avie dove under, and expected Avie to come up soon with a handful of rocks. However, as the minutes ticked by, he saw no ripples in the water. His silver eyes narrowed. Avie should be up by now. Surely, he knew better than to go too deep.

"Avie?" called the prefect, with no answer. Lucien grumbled, before removing his robes. He loosened the tie and tossed it to the side. "I swear, leaving me to come and check on you like a big brother. Better not be messing around." Lucien waded into the water, without his wand out. He did not need it right now. He got to where it was on his chest, and he still could not see him. Lucien ducked his head into the water, and saw nothing. Lucien pulled his head up, his mind no longer annoyed but concerned. As much as he hated the lake, it was lucky that he was a good swimmer. Lucien dove under the surface, swimming with his eyes opened. He held his breath for as long as he could before returning back up. He cast the bubble-head charm on himself, and dove down deeper, and deeper. Then, that was when he saw his best friend. Lucien felt feelings that he could not explain. He swam in a hurry down and grabbed Avie's form. He held the boy and tried to kick to the surface, but the rocks within Avie's pockets made it harder. Lucien's body filled with adrenaline as he kicked up, more and more. The surface finally arrived. Lucien made it to the shore, and fell down with Avie at his side. Lucien coughed before he uttered, "Avie?" Lucien shook Avie, and there was no response. Lucien started to panic, and started to pump Avie's chest, with one hand and prying the mouth open with the other. Lucien attempted to perform CPR, but it was not working. "Avie, you son of a b**ch, you better not die on me!" Lucien continued to shake him, and nothing. "Come on, wake up! Please!" Lucien finally stopped, before picking up Avie and holding him. Lucien couldn't fight it. His emotions locked up, and Lucien closed his eyes. His best friend was dead. What felt like forever which was really thirty minutes, Lucien finally wrapped Avie into his robes, which basically covered him like a blanket. He picked him up and carried him toward the hospital wing. As soon as Lucius asked him what happened, Lucien uttered out softly, "He was looking for rocks in the lake. I was watching his stuff. He drowned." He rested him onto the hospital bed, and held Avie's cold hand. Lucien eventually sighed, let go of his hand as Lucius covered his body with the white sheet. Lucien left the hospital wing, avoiding everyone as he walked. He had a mission. In his robes, he had Avie's rocks that killed him. Lucien just needed to get away.​