When ten meters remained to animal, it lazily turned head in my direction, looking with empty sockets with green lights instead of eyes. Roaring sadly, animal turned to water surface again, and I approached almost closely. This miracle really consisted of lianas, which was, frankly speaking, surprising, and sensation of energy in it is wonderful miracle. Here life, and neutral energy, and death, and some resemblance to Dementors. And also it feels very bad. Not health, but generally... on global scale, so to speak.
Stretching hand almost maximally up, I could reach lowered head of animal and stroked. Daphne clung to robe like tick, but seems believed my words at least a little.
Sensation of snapped string in space; that is exactly how I interpreted sudden change of something around. Something unknown and incomprehensible.
"Hector..."
"Yes?"
"Look..."
"Where?"
"There..."
Daphne pulled me by sleeve and pointed hand toward lake. There, in thick fog suddenly covering everything, large white boat as if made of crystal was clearly visible. It exuded pleasant white light, and something seemed elusively familiar in it to me.
"This..." Daphne looked at boat surprisedly. "This is suspicious."
"By no means, young witch," soft female voice rang out from side, sounding like harp overflows.
Unknown animal, next to which we stood, turned head toward voice and sadly gurgled something, completely spoiling all charm of moment with this inappropriate sound. We turned around too.
Surprise is word that would describe my state completely insufficiently. In white shining clothes, most real female elf walked around us in arc to approach animal. Her steps were smooth, golden hair flowed in waves down back, in general... Female elf. Immediately found small tiara symbolizing status in House and type of activity with gaze, and necklace on neck betrayed belonging to House. Combination of such number of familiar factors along with surprise from their appearance in principle, literally forced me to give out respectful bow repeated hundreds of thousands of times.
"One who stepped on path of wizardry greets Seer of House of Blackthorn."
"Past long forgotten," she answered, nodding benevolently. "Don't you see?"
Sensation of life energy changed to death energy, and female elf became ghostly transparent. Ghostly, yes, but touched head of animal, making this creation of lianas ghostly too. At same moment multitude of fireflies separated from animal, flying up and disappearing.
"You worked well," she smiled weakly to animal, and it simply melted, turning into white plume of fog heading to boat in lake.
Ghostly female elf shifted gaze to me, and fierce cold blew around; only sensation of her energy, but it took material form.
"Death erases boundaries, like evening of this day, blurring reality. Need to be more careful, young wizard, stepping in such places on this day."
Image of female elf turned into plume of white smoke and rushed to boat, and moment later crystal vessel sailed away into fog.
"What was that just now anyway?"
"Seems we were visited from beyond edge."
Fog slowly disappeared, returning visibility around. But it didn't become easier from this; cold of Dementors felt somewhere nearby.
"Need to leave," I pulled Daphne by hand away from here, to castle.
"Samhain is relic of past, relic of past," Daphne clearly mimicked someone while we almost ran along path illuminated by full moon minus couple of days. "Dead traditions must be discarded... Discard here, yeah right!"
I was somewhat confused that starry sky changed too much over past half hour. As if much more time passed.
Reaching castle, I fell into stupor; main gates were closed. Securely closed.
"They never close..."
Seems not only I had stupor. There, in distance, if look closely, can see Dementors hovering around castle at different heights and respectable distance. There were no less than four dozen of them here, and this picture... Impressed.
"Know secret passages out of castle and into castle?" I glanced at girl who looked warily at figures of Dementors in sky above Hogwarts. Good thing they froze, waiting for something.
"I studied these years, not looked for adventures," she cut off dryly.
"Seems I influence you badly."
"Incredible insight," Snape's voice rang out behind our backs. "Still blood is not water, Mr. Granger. Even if you and your sister are in different Houses, and you successfully fought craving for adventure seeking for two months. Successfully, but not enough."
"Professor," we turned to voice simultaneously to meet Snape's dissatisfied gaze.
"What were you thinking, going on your reckless adventure when dangerous criminal sneaked into castle."
Cannot help but be surprised by professor's talent to speak quietly and calmly, but with such notes that better he screamed.
"Miss Greengrass..."
"This is entirely my fault, Professor," I interrupted him.
"Very noble of you, Mr. Granger, but I know my students inside out. Miss Greengrass's stubbornness can be compared only with impossibility to restrain herself of your sister, Mr. Granger. I am more than sure that no one called young miss anywhere, and she didn't ask either. Minus ten points to both and two detentions with me. Instead of brewing potions in cauldrons, you will know reverse side of coin of potion-makers' life, cleaning these cauldrons. Follow me."
Snape turned sharply to gates, touched them, took out wand and pronounced row of spells, directing to strictly defined places. Result of his actions was appearance of small door immediately opening. We followed Snape who walked like black shadow, fluttering robe hems. Door slammed shut behind us with crash, and sensitive hearing caught rustle of moving mechanisms.
We almost reached Great Hall along dark corridors of night Hogwarts, when met agitated Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Severus, did you find them?"
"Yes, Headmaster. Stood before closed doors, enjoying night landscape in form of Dementors flying in sky. Even hundred Dementors not capable of stopping this herd of sheep, by some misunderstanding considered students, from ill-considered and stupid acts."
"Now-now, no need to be so categorical," Headmaster shifted gaze to us. "Is everything alright with you, young people?"
"Absolutely," I nodded.
"Similarly," nodded Daphne.
"Striking unanimity," Snape smirked. "Hope you will meet cauldron cleaning without magic with same enthusiasm."
"What about search for Black?" Headmaster turned to Snape again.
"I inspected dungeons and lower levels. He is not there, nor traces of stay."
"Well then... I didn't think he would decide to stay in castle. Be so kind, escort kiddies to common rooms, and I will order other children to be led out of Great Hall back to their beds. Wait for you and other professors at my place as soon as you finish restoring order."
Snape nodded and silently went toward main tower, not even turning around to make sure if we follow him. However, we walked anyway. Strange day. Strange ghosts. And pity the bush. ]