A Perfect Moment


A blonde haired, misty eyed woman smiled to her husband as she let go of his hand, skipping off into a bunch of trees that were just waiting to be explored. She hated leaving her husband, Luna enjoyed every moment of his company, wherever she went was empty if he was not there with her. But her sense of adventure got the best of her, they were on a hunt for Astkips. Odd little creatures they were, they were almost like hedgehogs without spines but they were a pale blue colour and travelled by rolling around forest floors. They were peculiar because despite their blue hue, they had never been seen by muggles or wizarding folk alike. It was a mystery, one that Luna was determined to solve with the aid of her husband who was equally curious about these Astkips. Leaving her husband on the main path, Luna traversed this section of the woods on her own; her eyes scanning the forest floor for anything that could be considered blue or rolling, preferably both. She was too busy letting her eyes flicker around for the sign of yet another mystical creature that would be making front page of The Quibbler if she could just get a picture of one, to notice what was right there in front of her.

Luna looked up, slowly, her eyes shining with burning emotion as her eyes landed on one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen. Just ahead of her was a clearing with a large, glistening pool of cool crystal blue water. The plants and foliage around it, even the lily pads that lazily drifted over the water seemed to exude beauty. For a second she thought that it was just a trick of the light from the corner of her eye. But then she noticed it again. A small, blue creature, hopping onto a lily pad then slipping back into the water with such a tiny ripple it could have not been there at all.

“It’s... an Astkip.” Luna whispered softly as she approached the pond, her eyes wide with excitement and awe. It was a beautiful image: seeing the small creatures leaping from lily pad to the water and back again. Sometimes they would jump from lily pad to lily pad before diving back into the depths again. She stood there for a few moments but what could have been forever through Luna’s eyes, before realising that something was missing. She was terrified that if she left, the Astkips would disappear by the time she came back, but this moment was one she wanted to share with her husband. So she turned to go back for him when she saw that he was stood just a few metres behind her with the same, awe struck face. She couldn’t help but smile as she walked over to him and took his hand. “I told you they were real.” She smiled to him.

“I know you did, I believed you but I never expected it to be so...”

“... Beautiful.” Luna finished for him. Well, it was. There wasn’t really any other way she could describe it as they walked towards the pond, watching the Astkips playing in the water. It was actually clear to see that the ones jumping in and out of the pond were only children, occasionally larger ones peeked their heads out of the water before slipping back down. Luna and her husband sat on a fallen log just a little away from the pond. Luna wanted nothing more to run over to them and see them up close. But she knew that wouldn’t work, they looked like the sort of creatures that ran away if they were startled. And when she had been researching them before they had came out on their journey to the woods, she had suspected that they hadn’t been seen just because most human presence would startle the Astkips. But Luna wasn’t any ordinary human, she had to admit that herself. Luna took out her camera from her shoulder bag and began to snap pictures, trying to keep the small clicking of the camera as quiet as she could. Once she was sure she had some good pictures, she put the camera away and let herself simply enjoy the company of the mystical creatures. She found it funny how people seemed to think that they already knew every animal that existed on the planet, muggles especially, did they have no sense of curiosity and adventure?

Beside her, her husband was scribbling away with a quill onto a pad of paper, noting down things they could put in their article. They worked together really well, Luna would get the pictures and he would write the articles. They were a perfect team really, one her father was proud of. He had been so happy when Luna had finally taken over The Quibbler full time, of course that didn’t stop him coming on expeditions once in a while with them and writing the odd article here and there.

Now their work was done, Luna could fully appreciate the beauty of where they were. Just the two of them alone, surrounded by creatures only their eyes had ever landed on, in the most breathtaking little nook of the world where the water ran crystal clear and the petals on the flowers seemed to glow with energy and life. Giggling softly as an Astkip rolled right by her feet, Luna smiled and wondered if there had ever been a more perfect moment.