Will Water Help? #8

The sun shone warm and bright, giving the lake a glittering appearance. It was beautiful and peaceful, if not also a bit distracting from his task at hand.

There wasn't much to see. Jamie would have to pick an ingredient and look around more closely, if he wanted to increase his chances of finding anything.

Most of the boathouse was well-covered, so the sunlight was pretty yet not particularly useful as the shadowy corners remained that. It took a lo of careful inspecting to determine if he was on the right track or if luck wasn't on his side today - then Jamie noticed a pink sac just within reach near the back, among some dust webs that had seen better days.

The sac would be quite tough to tear apart, especially for a small first year, but inside would reward him with some viable red spider eggs for use as ingredients. It was just enough for one.

There was something pale on the side of the dock edge, but it was underwater and not a comfortable distance for Jamie to reach without a risk of falling in. With how bright the sun shone on the lake, it made it harder to even confirm if what he saw was indeed Mercy's Lace. It looked like two clumped within reach of each other.

Did he risk it?

Fortunately, the first pale thing was indeed Mercy's Lace. Jamie was able to reach and confirm it was a viable ingredient.

Not so fortunately, the second one wasn't a plant or fungus at all. He couldn't quite tell what it was - whiskers, perhaps, of a particularly round yet big fish that was as pale as the ingredient he'd collected. It woke suddenly to his grabbing of its head "whisker" things, and made a gulp to eat his entire hand.

A lot of things happened in that space of mere seconds. Jamie's skin felt like it was rubbed with sandpaper from the inside of the fish's mouth, which mercifully only had a few stubby teeth that hurt but didn't puncture. The fish splashed water everywhere in its startled yet instinctual grab of its "prey", soaking Jamie from head to toe. The frantic movement, his own surprise, and the tug of the fish itself, guaranteed he went flying from the dock and into the cold water.

The fish released him, having realised he wasn't food or was too big to be eaten. It caused quite a disruption in its fleeing, getting water in his eyes. It was only hopeful that Jamie could swim, as if not he was in considerable danger as the docks were too slippery to climb back onto. Yet there was nowhere to really swim around too, unless he made it to the stone boat ramps and even that was difficult - yet doable, with enough determination or even desperation. 

Amara had ventured to the boathouse to have a look around for any ingredients, not because she particularly needed those ones but she wanted to keep track of replenish rates and the current state of things. She'd just arrived when she noticed a lot of splashing, and spotted someone's robes and bag nearby. Amara didn't care for the company, but noticed the shoes and overall robe size seemed kind of small. A first or second year?

She sighed, deciding to at least have a look around. Daring to go swimming in such cold weather was more befitted to some of the idiots in her class, not a first or second year. She wandered by the boat ramp and spotted a boy struggling to get to it. His afternoon swim didn't seem intentional.

Memories of Kaia's swimming lessons made it hard for her to just leave, so she sighed and crouched down near the edge. She extended her arm for the boy to grab.

'Need some help?' Amara asked. She wasn't worried about being pulled in, as he was much smaller than her and she was good at digging her heels in from the times she's was dragged around as a child. 'Grab hold,' she said. 

As soon as he grabbed her, Amara would yank him closer then seize the boy by the back of his shirt - dragging him onto the dock. It wasn't the most graceful or painless rescue, but he should be grateful regardless. She then stepped back, not wanting him to drip lake water all over her shoes. His teeth were already chattering, so she retrieved his robe and tossed it to him.

'I'm Amara. What's your name?' She didn't give her surname for once, as boasting her reputation would likely just scare him off if he'd heard of her. 'I can cast a warming charm, if you like? Might dry you off a bit too.' Amara slowly got out her wand, but awaited his response first.

She eyed him, not one for making a habit of noticing first years - especially those who weren't in her house. He didn't seem familiar at all. He was out here alone, though, which was curious. Most first years (which she was confident he was, rather than a second year), were prone to travelling in groups or at least pairs by now. Especially all the way down by the boathouse during free time.

'What were you trying to do, anyway?' Amara glanced around for clues. She spotted a torn webby sac nearby. 'Ah. Looking for ingredients? Did you have any luck?'

His pleading look prevented her from calling him pathetic. Jamie was just a little brat, she supposed. Not unlike Kaia in that sense, though she adored her little cousin to no end. She'd have appreciated someone drying  Kaia off if hey found her in the same situation.

Amara nodded, casting a warming charm over the boy. She was quite practiced with it, having used it many times on herself or fellow Slytherins. A little Raven saved from drowning was certainly new. Nevertheless, she did her best - warming him and his clothes. He'd be almost dry and hopefully able to form proper sentences now.

'Jamie what?' She asked, as surnames were just as important to her. Though doubtful she'd ever interact with him again, a useful opportunity might present itself so it was always best to be informed.

She nodded again at the mentioned in ingredients.

'Explains it,' she said, glancing to his bag near the area she knew Mercy's Lace grew. He was probably too small and resourceful to reach it or had disturbed something. Amara considered lecturing him on coming out here alone if he wasn't very good at this yet, but didn't care enough to bother with it.

She wasn't going to search for ingredients with company, especially not some little Ravenclaw not even worth getting to know, but didn't leave right away. It felt awkward to, though Amara had no intention to start a conversation either. So what to do? Make sure he was okay, she supposed. Ugh.

'You all right now?' she asked, frowning. 'I can stick around a few minutes, if you wanted to search for one more thing. Make sure you don't nearly drown again.' Amara rolled her eyes. How had he survived this long? She crossed her arms, annoyed at having her time robbed from her but stood her ground anyway. She couldn't care less if he did drown, but it wasn't as if she was in a rush to be anywhere.

The boy's answer wasn't especially clear, so she had to bite back a remark. His surname didn't mean much either, so she was probably still completely wasting her time by talking to him.

'Suit yourself.' She shrugged, preparing to leave. Except he intended to just sit there and she highly doubted that claim. Was he just stupid or that tired? Hurt, even? He sat where he probably was before, and didn't seem in a particular rush to leave.

So what if the brat go himself killed? That wasn't her concern or responsibility.

'Do you want to go for another ingredient or not?' Amara asked bluntly. She crossed her arms, implying she would stay put if he did. 'Do you even have the strength to go up all those steps? I imagine you're pretty exhausted right now.' She was careful not to offer helping him though, as last thing she needed was that sort of effort and trouble to go through.

She could probably alert someone on her way back though, and have them deal with it. Surely there were some Prefects loitering around?