Being a novice nun, I did not curse under my breath as I walked up the stairs as quickly as I could without actually running. Instead I hummed one of the more rousing hymns to myself to avoid the temptation of swearing and tugged my veil straight with slightly more force than necessary as I swung around the corner and up yet another flight of steps.

Why the ceremony was being held in Hogwarts was beyond me, but it wouldn’t do to be late. I managed to squeeze myself onto the crowded balcony just before the gong was sounded. With generous application of my elbows I managed to force my way to the front where I could just about see. Below us on the ground floor the priests were beginning their chant, and since it was frightfully boring I let my eyes wonder about the crowd of people on the balcony opposite.

Most of the crowd was a solid black mass of nuns, save for one peculiar individual right at the front. Their gender was impossble to determine under the black, shapeless robe, and all that was visible of their skin was one hand resting lightly on the stone in front of them. Tresses of hair curled at their shoulders where it escaped from a loose tail at the back of the neck, but their colour in the flickering candlelight was a confusing mix of gold and silver threads that made my eyes water to look at for too long. Their face was covered with a close-fitting mask… entirely plain except for two sharply curved nostrils, in a deep coppery colour. The effect of the expressionless face was quite disconcerting.

I was just admiring the colour of the mask when the person looked up, directly at me. My body was shot through with a stab of ice from shock and sudden fear. They held my gaze for a few moments, before turning and disappearing into the crowd.

Seemingly seconds later they reappeared on the ground floor and looked up, the mask glinting sinisterly in the light of the hundreds of floating candles. When the edge of their robe had swished through the door I knew I had to follow them. Ignoring the murmurs from my companions, I climbed on to the stone parapet in front of me and bent my knees to prepare for my dive.

I landed in the water not quite as gracefully as I would have liked, but there was no one to witness my embarrassment as I hastily paddled over to a nearby rock. The fact that I was suddenly out at sea did not bother me in the slightest- as a trainee missionary to far off, alien worlds, I was trained to expect the unexpected. I tore off my sodden robes and pulled the flippers and snorkel from my utility pouch.

Having readied myself for swimming I set off once more, heading toward the shore to find my mysterious, masked friend. Soon after striking out I found that the water was not water at all, but a very old forest, with moss underfoot and sunlight barely making it through the trees. I looked like a bit of an idiot wearing flippers and a snorkel in the middle of a forest, but I continued anyway, flapping my way through the undergrowth.

Then I saw it- a flash of copper, in the corner of my eye. I whirled around (as much as one can whirl in flippers) but there was no one there. I continued onward, glancing around cautiously this time.

THERE!

No, nothing…

The entire journey to the city was dotted with sightings of my quarry, but each time I stopped to investigate I was completely alone. I made it to my bedroom in my tiny, bare flat just before dark- and not a moment too soon, because I was so tired I collapsed without bothering to peel off my wetsuit or flippers.

I lay there bonelessly for some time, perhaps dozing. When I next opened my eyes, I screamed.

The mask was inches from my nose, so close that I could see each individual eyelash of the face behind it and see the slight misting of their breath on the metal. They didn’t move, and I didn’t dare to. As I watched the eyes hovering above mine the sun rose and their pupils contracted to compensate for the light seeping through the blinds.

They leaned closer. I could feel the chill emanating from the mask, they were so close. I squeezed my eyes shut, and a moment later something very cold pressed against my lips. My eyes shot open- but I was alone.