Author's note: a teensy bit of implied slash. Teensy tiny, itty bitty, should only cause the most homophobic to twitch.
Disclaimer: I know the rules. I do not own the Harry Potter books, movie or characters. All I can lay claim to is the Idea.

Watermark

Harry walked to the edge of the river flowing into the Lake, looking up at the waxing moon. After a quick search he picked up a long stick and stood for a few moments, staring towards the Lake.

He walked close to the edge of the river, feeling the sand shift underneath his feet, and drew a circle around himself. He then drew another circle overlapping the first one, keeping it parallel to the water line. He closed his eyes; visualizing the book he had found the ritual in, trying to remember the next step. Nodding, he opened his eyes again and returned to the first circle, facing inshore.

Slowly, methodically, he wrote 'HRLDJMSPTTR' in the sand, each letter on top of the other, then turned to the right a bit and drew an inverted triangle.

'To symbolize water', the book had said.

He stepped into the other circle; the right hand one, and thought for a brief instant before sketching a heron in the sand, his gift to the water.

He moved to the left slightly, so that he stood in the space created by the overlapping circles and closed his eyes, calling up the words for the chant.

"Mother of the Water, carry my spell.

"I ask for love to come into my life. Take my wish, incoming tide, and carry it out when you turn again. May this wish be granted on the next incoming tide of my life. So mote it be."

Harry waited a few more moments before stepping out of the circles and away.

He hoped it would work; he wasn't sure if the river had a tide, but magic was magic.

Harry walked from the Quidditch pitch to the broom shed quietly, contemplating on the ritual he had performed nearly three Fridays prior and its apparent ineffectiveness. Frowning slightly he shook his head and carried on, shifting his broom from one hand to the other.

As he neared the broom shed, he spotted a blonde black-robed figure standing with his arms crossed, looking impatient.

"Har...Potter, can I speak with you for a moment? It's rather important."

~Fini~

Author's note: this is a somewhat modified Wiccan ritual, I do believe. "So mote it be" is apparently a Wiccan term.

And I'll leave you to speculate on what that important thing is. ^-^

Thanks to Morbane for basically beta-reading for me.

And lastly, just to clarify: this is a oneshot. In other words, it won't be continued.

© Maitiù

October 25, 2002