Who: Expedition team; Members of
Second Watch (Harry, James, Susan, Rylan) to start, then others later if/when needed - no order, free for all
When: Friday Night/Saturday morning 1-3am
Where: Campsite
It felt strangely good to be on the move again. Far apart from the fact that it was nice to be actually doing something, instead of sitting around waiting for the next disaster, the trip had quite a different atmosphere to the one Harry had done eight years before, and even to those subsequent to that during his time as an Auror. There was a definite sense of communal excitement, not just anxiety, about reaching their destination. At least that was how it felt to Harry.
On the other hand, second watch was the
worst. The four hours of interrupted sleep were much worse than staying up later or getting up early. Everyone at the DMLE knew this, and there were always intricate bets and games and even punishments surrounding the duty whenever they went on an overnight mission. Harry didn't mind too much on this occasion though, because he got to share it with James, and any extra time he got to spent with his father was worth it.
He'd been sitting in the same, comfortable position for a while when a distant sound made him sit up quickly, heart pounding. It was a high, cold, shrill laugh,
horribly familiar. But it was impossible - he laughed at himself, then. He must have dozed off. Some Auror! He shifted his position to wake himself up a little and sat back. He hadn't heard that laugh in his nightmares for a long while... he wondered why it was back, now. Whopping great slavering werewolf tearing people apart, maybe, but -
He heard it again. This time he definitely
wasn't dreaming. He scrambled to his feet, reaching for his wand for a moment before he remembered. It was there, in his belt as always, but it wouldn't do him any good. "Er..." he said, not wanting to cause a panic. "Don't want to alarm anyone, but does anyone else... hear that?"