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Dark creatures lived in the murky depths of the Black Lake. Students were warned against entering its shallows. It was said that haunting singing could be heard, luring unfortunate victims. Every few years, a skeleton would float back onto the surface, increasing the rumors of man-eating lake monsters.
Hermione had read about the Black Lake before arriving at Hogwarts. What little she did know about the creatures that lived there fascinated her. She spent her free time at the edges of the lake, dipping her toes into the water. Having no friends, the lake was the one place she never felt alone.
On a chilly autumn morning, Hermione visited the lake, taking off her shoes and socks and dipping her toes into the water. Hiking up her robes, she walked further into the water. It was cool—not too cold or warm. She was knee-deep into the lake; this was the furthest she had been before.
She stood there, closed her eyes, and basked in the sun. Humming to herself, she enjoyed the water on her legs. Her shoulders relaxed, and she smiled. There was nothing to be concerned about when she was surrounded by the lake that so many people feared.
“Lalalala.”
Hermione looked around. Had she just heard singing? Where was it coming from? Hermione couldn’t see anyone near her. Instead of walking to land, she went further into the lake. It was instinct.
“Hello? Is someone there?” She waded in the water in circles.
“Lalalala.”
She whipped her head in the direction of the singing and saw something unimaginable. It was a girl naked from the torso up, with golden silk strands for hair and skin that glowed in the sun—almost iridescent.
“What are you doing out in the lake while undressed?” Hermione swam closer.
The girl didn’t answer, instead singing some more. Hermione felt a sense of urgency rising, like she needed to reach her or else something horrible would occur. Heart raising, breaths becoming shallow, she reached the naked girl.
Up close, the girl’s beauty was like nothing Hermione had ever seen before.
“Do you need help coming back on land?”
No response.
“I’m Hermione. What’s your name?”
No response.
A hand reached for Hermione and she did not move away, letting the girl touch her face. An unsettling smile grew on the girl's face. She leaned in and captured her lips with her own. Hermione was too surprised to respond.
She caught on and a tongue was in her mouth. It was her first kiss. She never thought she would be kissing a girl, especially a strange one that was naked in the lake. Hands brushed her shoulders, and it felt like she was sinking.
Hermione tried to break free from the kiss and pull away, but the girl’s strength was unbelievably strong. Holding her breath, she blinked in the water, trying to adjust her eye sight. The first thing she saw was a hideous face; it was a mix of a human face with scales and gills. Was this the girl who had stolen her first kiss?
She looked down and saw a tail that was three times the size of the mermaid’s torso. Hermione never thought she would meet one of the lake monsters, and now she was about to die at the hands of one of them.
The mermaid flashed hideously large and sharp teeth, and the sound she let out was like chalk on a board. Hermione winced and failed to escape her grasp. The creature lunged at her throat and Hermione screamed, the little air in her lungs escaping.
The bite wasn’t excruciating. It was almost arousing, but Hermione couldn’t enjoy it while her lungs were burning, begging for oxygen. Hermione tried hitting the mermaid on her chest, trying to tell her that she needed air.
The mermaid frowned, twisting her grotesque features. She pressed her mouth to Hermione’s and passed on a breath. It wasn’t enough. Hermione needed to be on land. She wasn’t a lake creature.
Hermione rolled her eyes back, and the last thing she saw was a worried expression on the mermaid's face.
–
She woke up, coughing up water. Her chest hurt, and her neck hurt.
“You gave me a fright, dear. What were you doing out in the lake? It’s forbidden to go in it for a reason.” Madam Pomfrey scolded her. “You’re lucky that Miss Parkinson came across you and immediately called for my help. You could have died, reckless child.”
Hermione laughed. She had survived an encounter with a creature of the lake. Why had she survived? She touched the bite mark on her neck.
She would have to find a way to breathe underwater and visit soon.
“Don’t you laugh. You’re in big trouble.”