if today was your last day;;open

[bethany]

It was after classes on a Friday afternoon at Hogwarts, meaning that the library was empty of studying kids and the grounds were filled with little groups hanging out and relaxing from the stress of the week. Bethany was lounging against a tree trunk, her legs crossed in front of her and a content smile on her face. It was very nice to have the whole weekend ahead of her, and no plans for anything. Being the Ravenclaw she is, Beth had already finished the majority of her work and was now happy that she could laze about without worrying about tests, deadlines or essays. Her cat Murphy had wandered over and was now stalking an unsuspecting cricket in the grass. Bethany, eyeing his prey decided to have a little fun with her cat. Pulling out her wand, she levitated the cricket, causing Murphy to cock his head to one side and stare at the cricket suspiciously. Swatting at the insect, he tried to pull it out of the air. Chuckling to herself Bethany moved the cricket out of his range, forcing the cat to go pouncing after the strange little creature. Smiling fully now, Beth let the poor cricket down and silently said goodbye. What could she say? Her cat had a thing about killing crickets.

Closing her eyes and leaning back against the tree Bethany was in a very happy place. This gorgeous weather, the sun shining and cool breeze, was exactly what she loved. It reminded her of back home during the summer. Often times she would disappear for the whole day with just a book and Murphy for company. Her family never did stop her, they knew that she would just be over the hill, sitting against her favorite boulder, cat in her lap, purring. Opening one eye, she looked down at the animal sitting in her lap, swatting and yanking at her long near black hair. Swatting her own hands back at Murphy, Beth laughed out loud. “Don’t pull my hair, Murphy. You know better.” Sometimes she marveled at how much alike she and her cat were. Both curious and observant, it seemed that both could have sat with nothing to do for hours and still feel as if they had had the best day. Murphy seemed to take time for himself as well, wandering off on his own at random times and always returning to her side.

Feeling the breeze on her face from the Black Lake, Beth smiled and sat there, enjoying the radiant weather. I wonder how long this will last, though. She thought, her eyebrows puckering in on themselves. To her, it always seemed like the best things come along with the bad, like a cosmic balance. Wonder what it will be this time. Shaking her head mentally, Bethany forced herself not to think of such things. It would only depress her and make her day worse. Putting a small smile back on her face, Beth stared out over the lake, her hand resting lightly on the cat in her lap who was contently purring.