Early Evening
Sunday, 25 October 1942
OPEN STARTER
He had been on his way to dinner when he glanced out the window, all thoughts of food dissipated at the breath taking sight of the sun setting over the Lake. Double checking he had sufficient film in the camera slung around his neck (and a quick pat to his coat pocket to ensure the extra reel was still there) Lyall hurried past the Great Hall to the front doors instead.
The air was crisp, the ground hard and cold under Lyall’s bare feet. He didn’t even contemplate running back to the Hufflepuff dorms to hunt for a pair of shoes, there was no time. The sun was sinking quickly over the horizon as Lyall scanned the grounds for a perfect vantage point. The camera was already at his eye, pressing his glasses against the bridge of his nose.
That tree, the ancient oak, it’s Autumnal leaves aflame in the glow. Lyall snapped quickly. It was good, but it could be better, he knew it could. All too aware of the time ticking by far faster than it ought to be Lyall hastily scrambled up the tree, barely giving his feet a chance to find purchase before hoisting himself up ever higher.
It was perfect. The sun casting it’s magnificent glow across the forest trees. The brilliant reds and oranges of the leaves in turn lighting up the lake. Lyall edged across his branch, framing his shots quickly as he filled the reel. The incandescent surface of the lake broke, a long tentacle lazily weaving through the air. Almost as if the squid were waving to Lyall, posing for a photograph. A gasp slipped from his grinning lips and Lyall leaned forward to take another picture his hands sweating with excitement.
Too excited. The camera slipped from his grasp and tumbled through the branches to the ground below. Racing heart, a muttered curse, Lyall fumbled for his wand, trying in vain to remember the charm that would slow the cameras fall. A dull thud reached his ears and Lyall bit back tears as he hurried back down to solid ground, a flurry of blond curls, falling flowers and orange leaves.
