Disclaimer: It all belongs to JK.

AN: Adrift was written in June of 07 in response to the Compulsion challenge on the grangersnape100 Livejournal community. Thanks to AriadneAWS, the best beta a gal could wish for.

Adrift

Standing with eyes closed, he listened to their low voices. Tinged with danger, their conversation had escalated as time passed, rising on up to almost a feverish pitch, then calming to a near deadly silence.

His breath came in even waves, slow and deliberate even as the tide turned once more.

Her eyes were on him; he knew it.

Another breath.

Weighing odds, his mind worked the options: survival, compulsion…

Decision made, warm wood slid under his hand as he reached for the door.

His other, however, was caught and her voice, filled with fear, reached for him.

“Don’t go.”