The rhythm of Echo's life settled into a nice, easy pattern. After classes, when the sun was low in the sky, he'd often go to the Black Lake. He made sure to pick times when no one else was around – no teachers, no students, and especially no Snape.
He'd sit by the water, sometimes dipping his hand in, and just wait. And almost always, Skate would appear, a beautiful flash of scales and pale hair. He didn't need his merman form to talk to her; they just understood each other.
He told her everything. About his classes, how annoying his classmates were, and the endless hours in Potions, he told her about what he did well – the perfect potions, the spells he mastered, how he got better at Beast Magic. He even shared his worries, how frustrating illogical talks were, how confusing human feelings could be, and how much James Potter and his friends bothered him. Skate would listen, her deep eyes full of understanding, sometimes making a soft, musical sound that seemed to say both "I get it" and "that's funny."
One windy autumn afternoon, after a really messy Care of Magical Creatures class with fire-spitting creatures and a very grumpy Hippogriff, Hagrid came up to Echo as everyone else left.
"Evenin', Echo, me boy!" Hagrid boomed, his voice loud across the empty field. "Got a minute? Got a small favor to ask you."
Echo, who was carefully scraping creature goo off his robes with a stick, stopped. The emerald in his hair flickered with simple curiosity, a little bit of worry. Favors from Hagrid usually meant something big, hairy, and likely to blow up.
"A favor, Hagrid?" Echo said, his voice flat. "What kind of favor? Is it… about animals? Does it need… tying up?"
Hagrid chuckled, running a hand through his messy beard. "Nothing like that, me boy, not this time! Nah, it's about the fifth year. We're doing our lesson on underwater creatures soon, see? And since… well, since you and Snape accidentally made that mermaid potion, and you know… you know. Skate." Hagrid lowered his voice, but it was still loud. "I was hoping… hoping you might be able to get her to show up, just for a bit. Show herself to the class. That would be a proper lesson! Show 'em the real thing!"
Echo blinked. The emerald in his hair flashed, then turned to a thoughtful blue, with a bit of agitated purple. He looked at Hagrid, then at the shiny lake.
"Hagrid," Echo said, his voice flat, but with a tired feeling. "I appreciate the idea, and I would actually enjoy seeing how crazy a bunch of fifth-year Gryffindors would get seeing a real merperson… but you should know that merfolk are, to put it simply, difficult, even on good days. And Princess Skate, while pretty and smart, isn't always keen on showing herself off for school lessons. Her mother, the Queen, is also… quite picky about these things."
Hagrid waved his hand. "Yeah, I know they like their privacy, Echo, but it's just a quick look! Just ask her, me boy. Please? It'd mean a lot to the students. And to me."
Echo sighed, a long, tired sound. The purple in his hair got darker. "I will try to tell her what you want, Hagrid," he said, sounding a bit resigned. "But I can't promise anything. Dealing with mer-royalty is… complicated. And honestly, if I mess it up, the problems are… big. No promises. I will just ask."
He returned to his dorm, the idea of a fully controlled, temporary transformation simmering in his mind. The accidental ingestion of Severus's potion had shown him the way. Now, he would refine it, make it predictable, controllable. It would be entirely logical, a temporary alteration of his physiology for optimal interspecies communication. And for a very specific, delightful purpose.
He spent the next few days in the Room of Requirement, meticulously re-creating and refining the Gillyweed potion. He consulted obscure texts, analyzed every component of the original concoction, and, to Severus's enduring irritation, subtly acquired more of the rare ingredients needed for the experimental extract. He focused on ensuring the transformation was purely aquatic, temporary, and, crucially, reversible without external intervention. The resulting potion, a shimmering, dark blue, sat in a crystal vial, pulsating with a faint, inviting glow.
That evening, after classes, with the sky darkening to a deep indigo, Echo made his way to a secluded, rocky cove on the Black Lake's shore. He scanned the area for any lingering students or professors, his emerald hair flickering with caution. Finding it empty, he produced the vial. He uncorked it, inhaling the faint, briny scent, a hint of something wild and free. He looked at the dark, inviting surface of the lake, a sense of anticipation building within him, a feeling that surprisingly wasn't entirely logical.
He brought the vial to his lips and, with a single, deliberate gulp, swallowed the potion.
The effect was instantaneous. A familiar, intense warmth spread through him, followed by a swift, exhilarating shift in his physiology. His skin tingled, stretching, as his legs began to fuse, reshaping into a powerful, elegant tail. His human features subtly softened, his eyes widening, adapting to the diminished light. Three delicate, feathery gills blossomed along his neck, flexing, instinctively seeking moisture. His black hair, as before, found itself interwoven with strands of soft, luminous moonlight. Within moments, he was a merman, perfectly formed and powerful.
He felt the familiar rush of liberation, the inherent rightness of his new form. With a powerful flick of his iridescent sapphire and emerald tail, he plunged into the cold, dark water. It enveloped him like a second skin, cool and refreshing, and he breathed deeply, fully, through his new gills. The world beneath the surface was as vibrant and astonishing as he remembered, filled with soft, shimmering bioluminescence and the distant, melodic hum of merfolk voices.
He swam with powerful, fluid strokes, drawn by an innate sense of direction, a subtle pull towards a familiar presence. He found her in their secluded grotto, nestled amongst the glowing algae, her moonlight hair drifting around her. She looked up as he approached, her ocean-deep eyes widening with surprise, then softening into a radiant smile.
Skate pushed off the grotto floor, swimming gracefully towards him. She reached out, her delicate webbed hand gently touching his transformed face, then trailing over the iridescent scales of his tail. Her eyes sparkled with delight. A soft, questioning trill escaped her lips, a clear indication of her pleasant surprise.
Echo returned her smile, a genuine, unbloodied curve of his lips, the pink and gold in his hair pulsating with pure, unadulterated joy. "Hello, Skate," he whispered, his new, resonant voice carrying effortlessly through the water. "I… I brewed a potion. To come and speak with you. I hope you do not find it… inconvenient."
Skate giggled, a bright, melodic sound, and shook her head, her smile widening. She let out a series of joyful trills, clearly indicating her pleasure.
Echo nodded, his gaze sweeping over the shimmering grotto. "Good. I… I have a query for you, Skate. A request, if you would consider it." His multi-hued hair, particularly the sapphire and yellow, pulsed with a blend of nervous anticipation and pragmatic determination. "My professor, Hagrid. He will soon be teaching the fifth-year students about aquatic creatures. He… he has expressed a desire for you to… make an appearance for his class. Simply to be present. Nothing more. So they may… observe a true merperson."
Skate's smile faltered slightly, a hint of hesitation entering her ocean-deep eyes. She tilted her head, then, with a softer, more questioning trill, gestured towards the surface.
Echo understood. "I would be there, Skate," he stated, his voice flat but earnest. I would be with you if it would make you feel… more at ease. And," he added, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching his lips, "it would provide me with a logical excuse to avoid my other class at that time. Hagrid would ensure my absence was accounted for."
Skate considered this, her eyes thoughtful. Then, a faint, almost imperceptible frown touched her brow. She let out a series of rapid trills, her gaze flicking upwards, a clear question in her eyes: Will the Marauders be there?
Echo's pink and gold hair flickered, a faint, agitated violet seeping into the vibrant hues. He sighed internally. This was the inconvenient part. "I… I confess, Skate, I did not specifically inquire as to their presence. However," he quickly continued, his voice gaining a precise, almost reassuring tone, "it is a class with a teacher present. It is highly improbable that they would attempt any… disruptive or offensive behavior in such a structured environment. And I would personally ensure that they did not.
Furthermore," he added, his voice dropping slightly, a hint of genuine plea in his tone, "I would respectfully request that, regardless of their annoyance, you refrain from… lethal action. They are, despite their numerous character flaws, technically still students. And they are… very bad for the lake's ecosystem."
Skate listened, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a soft, amused smile spread across her face. She let out a single, clear, affirmative trill, a sound of gentle agreement.
Echo felt a wave of relief. "Excellent," he stated, his gold hair flaring with triumph. "Then I will ascertain the precise location and time from Hagrid. And I will ensure you are… present at the designated area."
Skate nodded, then, with a playful flick of her tail, swam closer and pressed a soft, delicate kiss to his lips. "I look forward to it, Echo," she whispered, her voice a melodic murmur that filled him with a potent, unfamiliar warmth. "And I look forward to seeing your… annoying friends attempt to be quiet."
Echo surfaced near the shore, his gills working easily. He saw Hagrid by the lake, tossing pebbles into the water. With a powerful push from his new tail, Echo shot forward, wanting to make a big splash.
He leaped out of the water much too fast and hard, a shimmering blur of merman and moonlight hair. He flew through the air, misjudging everything, and crashed right into Hagrid.
"OOF!" Hagrid grunted, caught completely off guard. The hit sent them both tumbling backward onto the wet grass. Echo landed with a wet thud against the giant's huge body.
Echo, a bit dazed, found himself sprawled across Hagrid's chest, his shiny tail flopping on the grass. The pink and gold in his hair glowed with excitement and deep embarrassment.
"Sorry, Hagrid," Echo said, his voice flat but a little ashamed. He pushed himself up, still half on top of the giant. "My plan for jumping out of the water needs work. I landed myself. And, well, you."
Hagrid let out a booming laugh that shook his whole body. He sat up, gently pushing Echo off him. "Don't worry, boy! Been hit by worse than a merman before! You alright, though? That was quite a jump!" He looked at Echo's changing body with clear delight. "Blimey, you look good, you do!"
Echo, now sitting on the grass next to Hagrid, nodded, his gills still moving. "I'm fine. But I'm not good at controlling this form yet. I need to learn how to get out of the water better. Otherwise, I'll keep landing on land. And maybe hurt people like you."
Hagrid chuckled. "Yeah, well, you'll get better with practice, right? So, did she say yes, then? Skate? Will she come show herself to the class?"
Echo's colorful hair glowed with a bright gold. "She did, Hagrid. She agreed. But she needs to know exactly when and where to go. And I need to be there."
Hagrid beamed, slapping his knee. "That's great, Echo, just great! Tell her to come to the west side of the lake, by the big willow tree, tomorrow morning, around ten o'clock. That's when the fifth years have their lesson. And you'll be there, of course!"
"Got it," Echo confirmed, already thinking about the details. "West side. Willow tree. Ten in the morning. I'll be there. Now, Hagrid, please throw me back into the lake. I'm not good at moving on land."
Hagrid grinned. "Alright then, boy!" He stood up, grabbed Echo around the waist easily, and with a strong swing, threw him back towards the water.
Echo flew through the air, even higher and more wildly than before. He spun once or twice before hitting the water with a loud SPLASH, sending a huge spray high into the air. He went completely under, then, a moment later, came back up, shaking his head.
"Hagrid!" Echo called, his voice flat, but with clear frustration. His hair, now a wild mix of pink and gold, pulsed with slight annoyance. You're throwing, while strong, and it also needs work. I went everywhere. I might need a special spell for when I get thrown back in."
Hagrid just roared with laughter, a sound that echoed across the quiet lake. "Alright then, Echo! See you tomorrow!"
The following morning, a buzz of excited chatter filled the air as Hagrid led the fifth-year students down to the Black Lake. The sun, though weak, cast a watery sheen over the still surface. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, the self-proclaimed Marauders, jostled at the front of the group, their usual boisterous energy amplified by the prospect of a lesson outside the castle walls.
"Alright, listen up, yeh lot!" Hagrid boomed, his voice echoing across the water. "Today, we're learnin' about some of the most fascinatin' creatures in the wizardin' world – the ones that live in the depths! Underwater beasts! And we've got a special treat for yeh. A real, live example!"
A murmur of excitement rippled through the students. James, ever the cynic, scoffed. "A grindylow, Hagrid? We've seen those. Or maybe a Giant Squid? Bet it's just gonna wave a tentacle."
Hagrid just winked, a wide grin splitting his face. "You just wait, Potter, me boy! This one's a proper surprise!"
He led them to the west side of the lake, near the sprawling willow tree he'd mentioned to Echo. The students clustered eagerly at the water's edge, peering into the murky depths. James stood at the very front, hands on his hips, a smirk playing on his lips, clearly expecting disappointment.
Suddenly, a ripple disturbed the surface of the lake, far out from the shore. It grew rapidly, heading directly towards them. The students gasped, their chatter dying down. Hagrid beamed, clearly enjoying the suspense.
Then, with a furious, unbridled burst of speed, Echo launched himself out of the water. He soared through the air, a shimmering blur of sapphire and emerald scales, moonlight hair streaming behind him. He was a magnificent sight, powerful and undeniably merfolk, but his trajectory was, as usual, wildly off. Instead of landing gracefully near Hagrid, or even in the open water, he crashed directly into the unsuspecting James Potter.
"OOF!" James yelped, a strangled sound of surprise, as the full weight of a merman in mid-air collided with him. They both tumbled backward, a tangle of limbs, scales, and robes, landing in an undignified heap on the damp grass.
Students shrieked, some in shock, others in horrified amusement. Sirius burst into peals of laughter, clutching his stomach. Remus sighed, shaking his head.
Echo, a bit dazed, found himself sprawled across James Potter's chest, his iridescent tail flopping against the boy's legs. His multi-hued hair, a riot of pink and gold, pulsed with a mixture of triumphant exhilaration and profound embarrassment. He looked at James, who was blinking up at him, utterly stunned, his glasses askew.
A slow, undeniable smirk, completely devoid of its usual bloodlessness, spread across Echo's transformed lips. The pink and gold in his hair pulsed with a mischievous yellow.
"Well," Echo stated, his voice flat but carrying a distinct note of satisfaction, "this is… unexpected. But since I'm already here, and evidently on top of you, Potter, I may as well take advantage of the situation."
He took a deep breath, and then, to the utter astonishment of every single student, and the bewildered delight of Hagrid, Echo began to sing. His voice, still flat but resonant, filled the air with a truly terrible, yet strangely compelling, rendition of a familiar Muggle song.
"Look at this stuff, isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the girl,
The girl who has everything?"
James Potter, still pinned beneath a singing merman, stared. Then, slowly, a look of utter, dumbfounded horror spread across his face, quickly followed by a furious blush. Sirius, meanwhile, was now collapsed on the ground, literally weeping with laughter. Even Professor McGonagall, who had just arrived, looked momentarily speechless, her mouth agape. Echo continued, his tail giving an almost imperceptible wiggle.
"Out of the sea.
Wish I could be.
Part of that woooooooorld!"
The students erupted into outright laughter, a cacophony of giggles and guffaws. Hagrid, booming with delight, slapped his knee. Echo, utterly oblivious to the chaos he was causing, merely blinked at James, a hint of genuine amusement in his new, large eyes.
James, finally recovering from the shock, let out a furious grunt and shoved Echo off him with surprising force. "Get off me, you… you fishy freak!" he spat, scrambling to his feet, adjusting his crooked glasses.
Echo landed with a splash on the damp grass, his iridescent tail flopping. The mischievous yellow in his hair flickered, replaced by a defensive pink. "Oh, come now, Potter," he stated, his voice flat, but with a hint of challenge. "Can't you take a bit of good-spirited fun? Even if it was by accident."
James scoffed, brushing damp grass from his robes. "Fun? Being ambushed by a singing merman? That's not fun, that's just weird!" He turned to Hagrid, his brow furrowed with suspicion. "Hagrid, is this the 'special treat' you were talking about? Because all I see is Echo, under the effects of some dodgy potion again."
Hagrid chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, nah, James, me boy! Echo here was just… an aid, like. The real showin' is yet to come!"
James snickered, crossing his arms. "Oh, really? So you mean Echo brought his 'girlfriend,' the one who lives in the lake? What is she, a ghost?"
Echo, still on the grass, his transformed eyes narrowing, sneered. The pink in his hair deepened, tinged with a confident gold. "You'll soon be eating those words, Potter." With a powerful, if still somewhat clumsy, heave, he began to drag himself back towards the water's edge, his tail lashing.
Just as Echo reached the lapping water, a figure emerged from the depths, closer to the shore this time, with graceful, effortless motion. It was Skate, her moonlight-colored hair drifting around her, her iridescent sapphire and emerald tail shimmering in the dim morning light. She was breathtaking, and a collective gasp rippled through the gathered students. All chatter ceased. Even James Potter's mouth fell open, his smirk replaced by utter awe.
Echo, now mostly submerged, pushed himself up, water dripping from his face and hair. His multi-hued hair, particularly the pink and gold, pulsed with triumphant satisfaction. He gestured grandly towards Skate, his voice flat but resonating with undeniable pride. "Class," he announced, his gaze sweeping over the gawking students, then settling pointedly on James, "allow me to introduce Princess Skate, my girlfriend." He then tilted his head, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching his transformed lips. "Perhaps, Potter, you and I should consider a double date sometime. Though I suppose you'd need actually to acquire a date first, wouldn't you? Given your current… singular status."
James stared, then sputtered, his face flushing crimson. "W-what?!" he stammered, utterly flustered. "There's no way! A beauty like her wouldn't… she wouldn't go for you, Echo!"
Skate, her ocean-deep eyes sparkling with amusement, glided closer to Echo, her gaze fixed on James. Then, deliberately, and with a soft, undeniable tenderness, she leaned in and pressed her lips to Echo's. It was a brief, gentle kiss, yet it sent another ripple of profound shock and awe through the students. Jaws dropped, eyes widened, and a few students, including Sirius Black, let out soft, disbelieving whistles.
Hagrid, meanwhile, beamed, clapped his massive hands together, and cleared his throat. "Alright, alright, yeh lot! Settle down! Now that our very special guest has arrived, we can begin our lesson on merfolk! As you can see, these are proud, intelligent creatures…"
As Hagrid launched into his explanation, Skate subtly turned her head to Echo, her melodic voice a soft trill that only he could understand. "Which ones are the Marauders, Echo?" she asked, a dangerous glint in her ocean-deep eyes.
Echo, still basking in the glow of her kiss and James's mortification, subtly shifted his gaze, indicating the group of boys at the front. "The tall, messy-haired one is Potter, the one next to him, laughing like a hyena, is Black, the quiet one with the scars is Lupin, and the short, anxious one is Pettigrew," he relayed, his voice flat but with a hint of mischief. "But do not worry, Skate. I have them under control."
Skate merely hummed, her eyes, however, remaining fixed on the four boys, a faint, predatory amusement playing on her beautiful features. Echo saw the look on Skate's face, a dangerous glint in her eyes. The pink and gold in his hair pulsed with a sudden, nervous violet. "Skate, no!" he mentally urged, his voice flat with urgency. "They haven't done anything. Just talk. You can't… You can't do anything."
Skate turned her head slightly, her gaze still on the Marauders, a faint, mischievous smirk touching her lips. "I won't do anything violent, Echo," she trilled, her voice soft but laced with undeniable amusement.
Before Echo could even process her words, Skate dashed forward with a powerful flick of her tail. She didn't go for the boys directly, but instead, with a burst of speed and a graceful, almost playful motion, she thrashed her iridescent tail just in front of them, kicking up an enormous wave of cold, murky Black Lake water and thick, black mud. The wave surged forward, catching James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter completely off guard. They shrieked, stumbled, and were instantly engulfed in the foul-smelling spray. The entire class behind them, caught in the wider splash, gasped and cried out as they too were covered in the cold, muddy water.
James, dripping wet and spluttering, wiped mud from his glasses, his face a mask of shocked indignation. Sirius, though soaked, managed a choked laugh, quickly turning into a disgusted grimace as the mud ran into his eyes. Skate, meanwhile, had already swum back to Echo's side, her ocean-deep eyes sparkling with unbridled delight. She let out a soft, melodic giggle, her beautiful face lit up with pure, unadulterated triumph as she watched the drenched, horrified students. Echo, his own hair now a vibrant mix of amused pink and gold, shook his head, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. He was going to have to explain this. Again.
Hagrid, initially stunned by the sudden, unexpected geyser of lake water and mud, finally found his voice. "Skate! Now, now, lass, that wasn't very hospitable!" he rumbled, though a faint, undeniable twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his amusement. "And you lot! Stop yer complainin'! It's just a bit o' mud! Builds character!"
James, wiping another streak of mud from his face, glared at Echo. "Control your woman, Echo! What was that for?" he demanded, his voice thick with outrage. "You can't just let her do whatever she wants!"
Echo, still floating serenely beside Skate, raised a disdainful eyebrow. His pink and gold hair pulsed with a hint of challenge. "Skate is not 'my woman' to 'control,' Potter. She is an intelligent, autonomous being, not a trained animal like a dolphin. One cannot simply wave a dead fish in front of her and expect her to perform backflips on command."
As Echo spoke, Skate, her eyes sparkling with malicious amusement, wrapped her arms gracefully around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder. She beamed at the drenched Marauders, her beautiful, unreadable smile widened, a silent challenge in her ocean-deep eyes."And you, Potter," Hagrid continued, his voice rumbling like distant thunder, though his eyes still held a spark of amusement, "that's why you always speak respectfully to other sentient creatures, even when you're surprised. And you keep yer comments to yerself unless it's a proper question, understood?"
James, still dripping and muttering, merely grunted in response, avoiding Hagrid's gaze.
Echo leaned his head closer to Skate, whispering, his voice flat but with a hint of genuine amusement, "That was very naughty, Skate."
Skate turned her head, her lips curving into a playful smirk. "Was it entertaining, Echo?" she trilled softly.
Echo paused, then, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips, he admitted, "Highly. A most… efficient method of establishing dominance."
After a few more minutes of Hagrid's booming lecture on merfolk habitats and behaviors, delivered over the occasional sniffle and grumble from the still-damp students, the lesson began to wind down.
"Alright, yeh lot, that's enough for today!" Hagrid announced, clapping his hands together. "Don't forget yer essays on merfolk communication by next week!"
Echo, feeling a subtle shift in his form, a faint tingling sensation along his tail, knew the potion was beginning to wear off. He pushed himself slightly out of the water, catching Hagrid's eye.
"Hagrid," Echo said, his voice flat. I must depart. The effects of the potion are already… diminishing."
Hagrid waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, me boy! You can stay till it's completely worn off. No rush, eh?"
Echo sighed internally. "Hagrid," he said, his voice dropping to a low, very distinct whisper, "I am currently… entirely unclad beneath this water. Unless everyone here wishes to observe my posterior as I revert to my human form, I suggest a swift departure."
A collective gasp rippled through the now-attentive students, followed by a flurry of panicked headshakes and exclamations of "No!" and "Merlin, no!" James Potter, who had been trying to wring out his robes discreetly, suddenly looked up, his face a picture of horrified realization.
Sirius, however, immediately perked up, a glint of pure mischief in his mud-streaked eyes. "Oh, do tell, Echo! Is it a full reveal? Because if so, I might just need a better view!"
Remus groaned, burying his face in his hands. Peter turned a sickly shade of green. Echo glared hard at him.
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK!" Professor McGonagall roared, her voice echoing across the lake. She had just arrived, her face a mask of exasperation, her wand still aimed at Echo. "One more word, Mr. Black, and it's a month of detentions with Mr. Filch!"
Sirius, momentarily chastened, gulped, but his eyes still sparkled with unrepentant glee. A low hiss ripped through the air, and Skate, who had been lingering just beneath the surface, lunged out, her hand wrapping around Echo's arm in a possessive grip. Her eyes, usually so serene, were narrowed to furious slits, fixed on Sirius.
Hagrid, meanwhile, looked torn. "Well, now, Echo, lad, I suppose we can't have that happenin', can we?" He chuckled, then with surprising speed, produced a large, heavy, burlap sack from seemingly nowhere. "Here, then! Just pop this over yeh, just in case! Don't want any… accidental exhibition!" He tossed the sack towards Echo.
Echo caught it with a practiced, almost bored ease, his multi-hued hair pulsing with a familiar mix of annoyance and resignation. "Thanks, Hagrid. Good thinking, even if it's a bit late." He pulled the sack over his head, disappearing into the rough fabric. Moments later, a muffled thump and a soft groan were heard.
"Echo?" Hagrid called, a hint of concern in his voice.
"I'm… fine, Hagrid," Echo's voice emerged, flat and muffled, from within the sack. "Just… stuck. This thing isn't easy to get out of."
Skate, meanwhile, let out a soft, melodic giggle. With a final, graceful flick of her tail, she dipped beneath the surface, leaving behind only widening ripples and a faint, shimmering hint of scales. She had seen enough.
Professor McGonagall let out a long, suffering sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Right then, you lot. Back to the castle. And Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, I expect an essay on being respectful to magical creatures – especially ones that can soak you with lake water – by tomorrow morning. Two feet on parchment. And for the love of Merlin, try to dry yourselves off before you track mud all through the Great Hall!"
As the students grumbled and began to disperse, Echo, still struggling within the burlap sack, managed to extract one arm. He waved vaguely at the departing group. "Bye, students! Hope your clothes dry fast! And Potter, you should get some good hair conditioner! Your hair looks bad!"
James, still dripping, whirled around, a furious retort on his lips, but McGonagall's stern gaze cut him off. He merely muttered darkly and stomped off.
Hagrid, beaming despite the chaos, helped Echo out of the sack. "Well, now, Echo, me boy, that was a proper lesson, eh? Never seen a class so surprised!"
Echo, now fully human and still dripping wet but no longer encased in the sack, merely shrugged, pulling the rough fabric more securely around his middle. His emerald hair, tinged with a faint, amused gold, pulsed gently. "Yes, Hagrid. A very good way to teach, even if it did mess up the students' clothes. And their pride, I guess."
Hagrid roared with laughter again, then clapped Echo heartily on the shoulder, almost sending him sprawling. "Right then, off to get warmed up, lad!"
Echo merely sighed. He had a feeling his adventures with the Black Lake, and its beautiful, mischievous Princess, were far from over. And his life, it seemed, was destined to be anything but normal.