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CHAPTER THIRTEEN - 🍂 ୧ final week of . . .
   fifth year ও🦌

JAMES ADRUPTLY CALLED OUT to the Slytherin boy, exclaiming loudly, "All right, Snivellus?" The unexpected verbal assault surprised the boy, causing him to look up at the approaching duo, his focus now on James and Sirius.

Snape reacted with remarkable speed, promptly dropping his bag and drawing his wand halfway into the air, all before James could finish his spell's exclamation. However, James quickly cried out "Expelliarmus!", successfully wrenching Snape's wand out of his grasp before the Slytherin boy could fire.

James' outburst attracted the attention of nearby onlookers, and Autumn, who had intended to join her friends, became aware of the potentially dangerous situation. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she saw the rest of the group approaching to investigate James and Sirius' actions.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar sensation overwhelmed Autumn. Her vision began to blur, and her body felt invaded by an intense force, as though it was being taken over. Slowly losing control, she struggled to keep her senses in check as her awareness started to slip away.

Sounds of laughter and shouting filled her ears, barely reaching her as a voice, which she recognized as Lily's, called out for James to stop his antics with Snape.

The two Slytherin students, Muciblier and Avery, stayed out of sight, watching from a distance as one, Muciblier, chuckled while the other, Avery, held his wand and used the Imperius Curse to control Autumn's actions.

Muciblier and Avery's lack of concern for Snape's well-being continued as they advanced, observing their friend bothered without intervening. Seizing the opportunity from the chaos, they focused on their true target, Autumn.

Avery, using his wand to maintain control over Autumn through the Imperius Curse, agreed with Muciblier's proposal. He nodded, and with a nudge to his friend, stated, "Let's make her take a dip in the lake," as he gestured towards the girl under their manipulative control.

Muciblier and Avery exchanged a satisfied glance upon realizing their cruel plan was coming to fruition. Avery's grin widened as he used his wand to direct Autumn towards the lake just behind her. He felt a sense of satisfaction knowing their malevolent intentions were moving forward as intended.

James and Sirius were halted in their mischief by the intervention of Remus and Raven, who stopped them from going further. Snape, while being held in the air by the pair, had called Lily a "Filthy Mudblood," which caused a hush among the onlookers. Seeing her exit, Lily left the males to handle the situation.

Elliot, attuned to his surroundings, was the first among the group to notice Autumn's absence. Distracted by their efforts to contain Snape, he suddenly felt a sense of dread in his stomach as he glimpsed the female being led to the nearby lake by the sinister pair of boys.

In a panic, Elliot shouted, "GUYS," his voice filled with frantic and stressed tones. The call drew the immediate attention of the entire group, who were stopped in their tracks as the individuals blocking their view moved aside, revealing the unfolding scene. It wasn't long before the rest of the crowd also caught sight of the incident.

Elliot was the first to arrive, but he was unfortunately too late to reach Autumn in time. He retrieved his wand and cast the spell "Everte Statum," aiming to subdue the culprits responsible for the girl's distress.

Muciblier quickly stepped in, blocking his spell. Seizing the chance, Autumn had reached a critical point in her predicament, standing halfway into the water as Muciblier prepared another spell.

The concerned Elliot, attempting to focus on the male perpetrators, called out in distress, "They are controlling her!" The friends who had gathered cried out for Autumn, adding to the commotion. Confusion swirled as they struggled to understand her silence, realizing she was under control.

The situation grew more intense, and James's frustration mounted, witnessing Autumn's suffering at the hands of the males in control. James, known for his speed, surged past his friends, his determination to aid the female driving him forward.

Sirius moved towards the duo, joined by Elliot, who pressed the attack, supported by Peter and Remus, who had gathered to aid their friend.

Alongside James, Raven ran together in their shared focus to reach the lakeside as quickly as possible. Raven instructed them, "Aim for Avery! He's the one controlling her!" Raven knew that their friends already engaged with the other member were capable of handling the fight, allowing her and James to advance as fast as possible.

Autumn, half-immersed in the water under the curse's control, was powerless to save herself from the dire situation. James, having reached the lake, shed his robe as he waded through the water, its hindrance to his movement impeding his effort to save the girl.

James' shouts grew more desperate, imploring the girl to resist the curse with her mental strength. As he moved quickly through the water, losing touch with the solid ground, James began to swim. He didn't cease his calls, even as her head entered the water. James promptly followed, diving after her, in a last-ditch effort to his urgent calls continued even as her head entered the water, the male plunging in after her with a valiant effort to rescue her from the curse's grip. The water became eerily calm as he sought out the body of the girl, yet was quickly replaced by a moment of panic, as he failed to spot any trace of her.

The group's dual fight against the male duo proved challenging, as Mucibler, a skilled duelist, used dangerous spells to defend himself and Avery.

Despite his skills, the group managed to subdue them, with the reversal of the curse proceeding slowly. Time was running out as James urgently attempted to rescue a rapidly sinking Autumn. Her body had almost completely submerged into the water, as the curse's hold on her slowly weakened.

With the weakening of the Imperius Curse, Autumn's body gradually regained control. Desperately gasping for air, she inadvertently sucked in a mouthful of water, causing her to choke. Her vision, already hazy, obscured by the lake's liquid, barely allowed her to see James before losing consciousness.

Raven stood by the water's edge, her eyes filled with frantic worry. Time seemed to slow, every passing moment feeling like centuries. Finally, as James emerged from the water, carrying the unconscious Autumn, Raven dashed into the water, meeting them midway to assist in safely extracting the female from the lake.

The final week before summer break was a time to relax for the students, and Autumn had no idea she'd be spending it in the hospital wing. With classes over, she was ready to unwind before the summer break started.

Autumn slowly woke up in her hospital bed, unsure what had awakened her, but she didn't expect to see Elliot, Raven, and James engaged in a heated argument with the headmaster. Curious about the scene unfolding in front of her, she listened to their tense exchange, intrigued by the ongoing issue.

The confrontation between the students and the headmaster was at a tipping point, their argument reaching a tense climax as Elliot cried out urgently, "Sir! What do you mean we can't expel them? They almost got Autumn killed!"

As Autumn became more aware of her surroundings, she suddenly jerked upright in bed, prompting both James and Raven to quickly approach her and assess her condition.

The headmaster, though sympathetic, seemed resolute in his decision, as he explained his rationale. "Because there was no evidence of their deeds," he stated, indicating that the absence of proof prevented him from acting. With a solemn expression, he further emphasized that despite his inclination to believe the teenagers, the ministry would be unwilling to take any punitive measures without concrete evidence to support the accusations.

Autumn throat dry and voice hoarse, the still-recovering female spoke up with a resigned tone, expressing disappointment in the situation. "No, it's because their families are so influential," she sighed, her words tinged with resignation. "I'm muggle-born, with no power in my background. That's why they can't be expelled." Autumn had realized the futility of the situation despite her friends' efforts.

Elliot's frustration bubbled over as he firmly declared, "My family can help!" referencing the boys' connections that prevented their expulsion.

Autumn quickly shut down Elliot's proposal, firmly stating, "Not an option, Eli. I won't involve your family, or yours either, James." Preventing James from suggesting using his influential family, the males grumbled in defeat, unable to argue with her stance.

The headmaster didn't interfere with Autumn's comment, acknowledging she was correct. The boys from powerful families were considered untouchable by the school administration, even if they troubled other students.

Dumbledore, realizing no resolution was possible, decided to leave the hospital wing. Close friends of Autumn had gathered there, venting their frustration at the boys' lack of consequences for their behavior.

As the school's classes were over, Madam Pomfrey didn't object to the group keeping Autumn company for the night. With classes finished, professors also had free time, casually pacing the halls where the students were well-behaved.

...

Lily unexpectedly appeared, seeking a private conversation with Autumn and Raven. The boys were asked to leave so the girls could talk alone. Left outside, the friends could only wonder what discussions were taking place within the hospital wing.

Raven settled into a seat beside Autumn's bed, with Lily standing at the foot of the bed. The girls exchanged puzzled glances, wondering about the reason for the apology since there was nothing to forgive. Lily started her apology by bowing her head in sincerity and remorse.

Autumn voiced her confusion regarding the apology. "What are you apologizing for, Lils?" she questioned, bewildered. "You never did anything to us, as far as I know."

Raven nodded in agreement, sharing Autumn's confusion. They both remained perplexed by the unexpected apology, seeking to comprehend its motivation.

Lily provided clarification, beginning her apology. "That's precisely why I'm apologizing," she said. "I heard about what Sev - Snape said. I've always known about his derogatory term for people like us, but I remained his friend. However, you guys immediately stopped being friends with him when you learned the rumors were true."

Raven, showing no disdain towards her friend, expressed her stance on the situation. "Seriously, Lils, we don't care that you stayed friends with him. He was someone you knew before Hogwarts and provided a safe space for you," she stated supportively.

Autumn chimed in, her laughter filling the air as she adjusted her weight on the hospital bed next to Raven. She shared her perspective, explaining, "Just like how Raven was my safe haven back home when my parents had a tough time accepting that I was a witch. I wouldn't simply turn away from her if she did something wrong, because the memories we share are still there. She was my safe haven, and discarding such significant memories isn't a simple choice."

Raven injected humor into the conversation, her teasing tone apparent. "Honestly, same," she affirmed. "If Autumn turned to the dark side, I'd be right there with her. We even made a pact that, if we ended up alone, we'd just get married instead of becoming spinsters in the future." The girls' friendship was evident in their lighthearted tone and playful exchange.

Lily continued laughing widely, finally overcoming her lingering regret about her relationship with Severus. Her regret had made it difficult for her to forgive him, and the choice to end their friendship had weighed heavily on her conscience. As they talked, she began to set aside those past grievances, realizing she was ready to move on from the memories. With a sense of acceptance, she declared, "Perhaps someday I'll forgive him, and if not, he'll just remain a memory. I'm okay with that."

The girls' outstretched arms invited Lily into a heartfelt hug, their affection and support evident as they sought to comfort her. In the midst of the embrace, Lily jokingly reminded Autumn, "You still owe me my five sickles, you know"

Autumn, quick to defend herself, denied the accusation, explaining, "Hey, that's not fair! You played dirty, calling him over and even impersonating my voice! It's no wonder he thought it was me."

Lily couldn't help but chuckle, insisting, "Seriously, I'm hardly an actress, Autumn. He clearly sees only you."

Raven, who was listening in, piped up with a puzzled expression, "Hey, what's all this about?"

In response, the girls shared a quick glance. Lily began recounting the encounter from the celebration when the Gryffindors had won the game. "During the party after we won, Autumn refused to admit that she had a connection with Potter," she explained.

Raven sported an amused look, having correctly inferred Autumn's denial. She responded to Lily's statement with a knowing remark: "I bet she denied it, saying that he was actually smitten with you."

The Gryffindor female chuckled and confirmed, "Yes, but he no longer fancies me. He's clearly smitten with Autumn."

Raven nodded in agreement, adding, "Indeed, it's quite obvious that he's head over heels for her!"

Lily, adept at observing others, offered her own observation: "He's always staring at her and trailing her like a lost puppy."

Ignoring Autumn's attempts to halt the conversation, the girls kept bantering, too engrossed in the topic to listen to their friend's pleas. The Gryffindor chuckled and apologized playfully, "Oops, sorry we got carried away."

Raven grasped Autumn's hand, giving her advice in a private chat. "Listen, Autumn, it's no secret how he feels about you," she said.

Autumn let out a deep sigh, conceding, "Even if it is true, I'm not sure I feel the same way for him."

Lily seemed unfazed by the situation, casually shrugging before asking, "What do you think about him, though?"

Autumn's response unveiled her view of Potter's positive qualities. She recognized his good traits and the positive impact on their friendship. "He's an amazing friend to me," she shared. "He lifts my spirits and makes me smile when I'm down. Plus, I just find him enjoyable to be around."

Lily leaned forward, offering advice, "Just take your time and think about it. If he does express his feelings, just ask him to give you some space to process your thoughts and figure out how you feel."

Raven, in a playful mood, couldn't resist prodding for an answer. In a cheeky tone, she asked, "But come on, Autumn, just between us, which way do you think you'd lean if he does confess his feelings?"

Autumn was resolute in her answer, declaring, "I'd definitely tell him to wait until I figure out my feelings." She appeared determined not to give a hasty response and instead wanted to contemplate her feelings before responding to the hypothetical confession.

The girls, sharing a collective thought, had clearly noticed the subtle signs of Autumn's affection for James. Their shared smile revealed awareness of her feelings, even though she herself wasn't entirely aware of them yet.