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CHAPTER FIFTEEN - 🍂 ୧ the moment . . .
on the train ও🦌

ON THE LAST DAY OF THEIR fifth year at Hogwarts, the two friend groups again found themselves divided during the journey home, with each group occupying a different portion of the train.

As usual, the Marauders gathered together in their own compartment, while the other four members of the other group settled into a separate section.

The passing hours on the train ride saw both friend groups silently dispatching a member from their midst to seek out the trolley witch for some tasty treats.

Selected for this task, Autumn and James from their respective groups set out in pursuit of the same person. However, fate had a comical surprise in store as the two of them, of all people, found themselves colliding into each other.

"Can't get enough of me, Rivers?" James leaned against the wall, a grin spreading across his lips as he watched Autumn approach.

With the sun's rays passing through the window, casting a warm glow on him, he stood as a captivating figure. Autumn halted for a moment, her gaze fixed on the enchanting sight before her.

But she soon snapped out of it and flashed a playful smirk, retorting, "I should be asking you the same thing. I was simply walking down an empty hallway when I unexpectedly found you just standing there."

James leaned back against the window, turning his attention to Autumn as he questioned, "So, what brings you out here?"

Autumn tiptoed, her eyes fixed on the trolley witch being hounded by a swarm of students. "Treat run," she replied.

James glanced in the same direction, spotting the trolley-lady, and responded, "Ah, I guess we might be stuck here for a while."

James gestured for Autumn to come over, as he had already settled himself, leaning against the window. When she attempted to move further up in the queue, he waved her off, indicating that they should stay together.

As the pair waited in line for the trolley, Autumn initiated a continuation of the game of twenty-one questions. "Third question: when is your birthday?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips as she waited for his response.

James, who had been resting his head and staring out the window, turned to her when she inquired about his birthday. He promptly replied, "27th of March. You?"

Autumn then shared her own birthday, "31st of October."

James' eyebrows shot up, and a look of surprise crossed his face as he realized Autumn's birthday.

"Wait a minute, you were born on Halloween?" he exclaimed.

Autumn, amused by his reaction, responded with a playful comment, "Yes, it's a fun little fact. My parents are huge fans of the fall season, you know, all the festive celebrations and whatnot. My being born on Halloween was quite a joy for them."

Their banter about the upcoming celebration caught the attention of the young Gryffindor, who moved away from the window to face Autumn fully and asked, "So, that must be where your name came from, huh?"

As the line for the trolley-lady shortened but still remained, James knew they would have to wait a bit longer. He decided to continue their conversation and asked, "Now, fourth question: what is your favorite thing about me?" He gave her a playful smirk.

Autumn was caught slightly off guard by the personal nature of the question, but she composed herself and answered with grace, "If I had to choose, it's that you make me feel relaxed just by being there. It's probably a strange thing for someone as anxious as me to say, but it's honestly true."

As the line for the trolley-lady shortened but still remained, James knew they would have to wait a bit longer. He decided to continue their conversation and asked, "Now, fourth question: what is your favorite thing about me?" He gave her a playful smirk.

Autumn was caught slightly off guard by the personal nature of the question, but she composed herself and answered with grace, "If I had to choose, it's that you make me feel relaxed just by being there. It's probably a strange thing for someone as anxious as me to say, but it's honestly true."

James continued to grin, a hint of embarrassment creased his features as he listened to Autumn's words. Feeling flustered at being complimented for a quality he hadn't realized was appreciated. Based on past experiences, he was more often considered an annoyance, causing him to be caught off guard by her praise.

Having recovered himself, the young Gryffindor resumed the game of twenty-one questions. He parted his lips to speak, the smile on his face shifting into a touch more affectionate, forming a soft, amused grin.

James fixed his gaze on her, "I'll choose the first thing that comes to mind as well. It's the way you make me want to learn everything there is to know about every detail of your life."

As their eyes met, a hushed stillness settled between them, as if time itself had paused. The world seemed to go quiet, and both of them were lost in each other's gaze, frozen in place like a still image. The world was at a standstill, and sound faded to a deafening silence, actions ceasing to exist.

James held his gaze firm, his look intensifying as he continued to stare.

Silence surrounded them, and their breaths were the only sound audible.

The duo, previously lost in each other's gazes, were jolted back to reality by the voice of the trolley-lady, who cleared her throat to get their attention.

Both James and Autumn abruptly turned their attention to the elder witch as she spoke, "Anything off the trolley, dears?"

Time resumed its natural flow, and the world around them came back to life.

Still feeling a mixture of embarrassment and residual intimacy from the moment they shared, the pair gathered the sweets they had purchased from the trolley lady.

James and Autumn bid each other farewell, each returning to their own group carrying the treats they had bought.

Back with their respective friends, it was evident that both James and Autumn had said something to leave their friends looking quite surprised.

"I think I..." the two of them began in unison before pausing and continuing together, "I think I might..."

There was a sense of shared sentiment between them, as though they were thinking along the same lines.

...

The Hogwarts Express arrived at King's Cross Station, and students began to disembark, bidding farewell to their friends.

This was particularly significant for the final-year students, but some friends exchanged their goodbyes even though the following year was near, knowing they would see each other again soon.

James, who had been looking for Autumn amid the crowd, finally spotted her. She was occupied saying her goodbyes to her friends, and as he watched her from a distance, he continued to observe quietly.

Autumn sensed the weight of his gaze, and when she located him amidst the crowd, their eyes met.

He mouthed, "I'll send mail," and she nodded her agreement, promising to keep correspondence through letters.

They both waved at each other, indicating their temporary farewell, before going their separate ways.

As the pair bid each other farewell once more, a smile adorned their lips, reflecting their hope for their future correspondence and the promise of future encounters when the school year recommenced.

Autumn had just turned to leave the station when her father's unexpected call halted her.

"Auttyyy~!" her father exclaimed.

Autumn turned her gaze upward and spotted both her parents, standing side by side. Her father was waving with excitement, while her mother stood with a small smile on her face, seemingly shaking her head at her husband's antics.

Autumn, having been called out by her father's voice, swiftly made her way over to him and was immediately enveloped in his warm embrace.

He picked her up and spun her around several times, reminding her of the numerous times he had done the same in her youth.

Her mother, standing by her husband's side, kept a supportive hand on his back while smiling gracefully as he engaged in this activity with ease.

Autumn Rivers, accustomed to her parents' open displays of affection, never felt a hint of embarrassment, having grown to adore and cherish both her mother and father deeply.

They had initially struggled to accept their daughter's magical powers, but eventually came to understand that it was an essential part of her life and the path she would follow. The young girl deeply appreciated their efforts to comprehend her and her newfound world, and she eagerly shared with them the events that had unfolded throughout the previous year.