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CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN - 🍂 ୧ in the . . .
middle of the night ও🦌

RUBBING HER EYES AND SITTING UP, Autumn found herself suddenly awake in the middle of the night. A wave of urgency came over her, and her thoughts centred on one specific need. She was plagued by an overwhelming desire to draw.

The urgent desire to draw consumed her and she knew she wouldn't be able to ignore it. Autumn quietly slipped out from under her covers and padded across the room towards her desk. She lit her wand using the tip, casting a dim glow over her materials.

With a sense of determination and urgency, what felt like seconds to Autumn had passed by as she quickly drew, her focus unwavering and intense. Suddenly, Raven stirred, awakened by the sound of the intense scribbling filling the room. The sound of a quill, furiously etching onto the parchment, echoed with an almost haunting quality.

Raven shifted in her bed, her head lifting from her pillow as she tried to figure out what the strange sound was that had woken her. As she listened intently, she realized that it was the sound of Autumn's quill writing on parchment with a sense of fervour.

As Raven padded across the room and stood behind Autumn, peering over her shoulder to see what her friend had been sketching, her brow furrowed with wonder. In a hushed tone, she asked, "Is that... a diadem?"

Autumn froze in mid-stroke of the quill once she heard Raven's voice. Normally, it would require more than just a voice to pull her out of her intense focus, but right now, the moment Raven pointed out her drawing, Autumn snapped out of her trance-like state.

Autumn took a deep breath and turned around, looking up at Raven with a mixture of surprise and curiosity in her eyes. "Y-yeah, it is," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

She stared down at her drawing, the intensity of her gaze betraying her usual calm demeanour. "I... I don't know why, but... I just suddenly had this overwhelming compulsion to draw this" she trailed off, her voice tinged with confusion.

Raven leaned forward and gently touched the drawing, her lips pressed together in thought. "You know," she murmured, her voice laced with contemplation. "I feel like I've seen this diadem somewhere before, but I just can't quite figure out where."

As she traced the lines of the drawing with her fingers, she scowled slightly in concentration, trying to jog her memory and recall where she had seen it before.

Autumn leaned back in her chair and let out a sigh. "It's strange," she began, her voice tinged with a sense of unease. "I keep seeing it in my dreams. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it gives off an aura of... almost curse-like energy"

Raven nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on the drawing. "That's exactly how it feels by just staring at it," she murmured. "Like something about it is inherently...wrong." She shifted uncomfortably and rubbed her arms as if trying to shake off a chill. "It's like it's tormented, or something."

Autumn set down her quill and ran a hand through her hair in frustration. Despite the late hour and her exhaustion, her mind was restless and filled with a nagging feeling that this was barely scratching the surface of something bigger.

Autumn let out a weary sigh and looked at the drawing once more before grabbing her wand. She muttered a spell that caused the ink to slowly vanish from the parchment.

"I can't bring myself to burn it," she explained quietly, her voice tinged with resignation. "For now, we'll just keep it hidden and hope something gives us an answer."

Raven nibbled on her lip, her expression conflicted. "To be honest, I'd rather not know," she admitted. "But I can't just sit back and not think about it. Something's not right about this."

The two girls sat in silence for a few moments, each lost in her thoughts. The atmosphere in the room was heavy with unease and uncertainty.

Finally, a knock came at the door, causing both girls to jump. Their heads whipped around towards the sound, their hearts racing with anticipation.

The sudden knock at the door caused both Raven and Autumn to jolt in surprise, their hearts pounding in their chests. They exchanged a glance before their gazes darted towards the door, uncertainty and a hint of fear creeping into their expressions.

Autumn slowly stood up and walked over to the door, her steps cautious and measured. She reached the door, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the doorknob. As her fingers wrapped around the cool metal, she took a deep breath and slowly pulled it open.

Raven quickly joined Autumn by the door, her eyes widening in surprise at the unexpected sight of Professor McGonagall.

"Professor?" Autumn whispered, mindful of not awakening the other sleeping girls in the room.

McGonagall stood before them, looking a bit harried and urgent. "Ms. Rivers and Ms. Summers," she said, her voice low. "Professor Dumbledore has specifically asked for your presence. Please follow me."

The girls exchanged a puzzled glance, unsure of what could be so urgent.

The girls quickly collected themselves, with Autumn donning her robe and Raven attempting to smooth down her unruly hair. A sense of trepidation filled the air as they followed Professor McGonagall, their minds racing with questions and curiosity about what could be so important that Dumbledore had requested their presence at such an unusual hour.

McGonagall led them through the empty corridors, the silence of the night only punctuated by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional creaking of the castle's ancient framework.

The girls trailed closely behind Professor McGonagall, their footsteps echoing softly through the deserted corridors as they navigated the vast castle. The silence of the night enveloped their journey, interrupted only by the occasional noise of the castle's ancient foundations shifting or the distant hooting of owls.

Finally, they arrived outside Dumbledore's office, where Professor McGonagall stopped and turned to face the girls.

As they reached their destination, Professor McGonagall came to a halt and turned to face the girls, a serious expression on her face. "Before we enter the headmaster's office..." she began, her voice firm. "Let me remind you that whatever is discussed within those walls must remain confidential. Is that clear?"

Raven and Autumn nodded in understanding, acknowledging the importance of discretion and the sensitive nature of the discussion that lay ahead. "We understand, Professor," Autumn replied quietly, while Raven silently agreed with a firm nod.

Satisfied with their agreement, Professor McGonagall nodded and stepped forward, speaking the password to the gargoyle standing guard outside Dumbledore's office. The stone figure sprang to life, revealing the spiralling staircase that led up to the headmaster's office.

With a quick gesture, McGonagall signalled for the girls to follow her, and together the three of them ascended the twisting staircase.

The girls followed closely behind Professor McGonagall as they climbed the twisting staircase, their footsteps barely audible against the worn stone steps. With each step up, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursed through their veins, curious about the reason for their summoning and what lay ahead in Dumbledore's office.

Finally, they reached the top of the stairs and found themselves standing before the polished oak door that marked the entrance to the headmaster's office. McGonagall pushed the door open, gesturing for the girls to enter.

As the girls walked into the headmaster's office, they were greeted by the sight of several familiar faces—James, Peter, Remus, Lily, and Sirius.

James immediately crossed the room upon laying eyes on Autumn, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank Merlin," he mumbled, his voice filled with relief as he looked between Autumn and Raven, assuring himself that they were unharmed.

"What happened?" Autumn asked, her expression puzzled.

"Dumbledore will explain everything," James reassured them quietly, his hand still holding onto Autumn's.

James guided Autumn over to the rest of their friends, his grip on her hand firm yet comforting. The group exchanged worried glances as they waited for Dumbledore to speak, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Remus and Lily flanked Raven, their faces etched with concern. All eyes turned to Professor Dumbledore as he cleared his throat, preparing to address them.

Professor Dumbledore stood before the group, his gaze sweeping over each of them with a mixture of concern and determination. The room was filled with a heavy silence, the only sound the soft ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner.

"Thank you all for coming here on such short notice," Dumbledore began, his voice even and measured. "I have... received some troubling news that I felt it important to share with all of you."

The group exchanged glances, the tension in the room mounting with each passing second. Whatever Dumbledore had to say, it was clear that it was significant.

Autumn glanced at James, her grip on his hand tightening as she braced herself for whatever Dumbledore was about to reveal.

"I received a letter," Dumbledore continued, his fingers idly fidgeting with the end of his beard. "from a reliable source, regarding a... disturbance." His voice was carefully measured, his words carefully chosen.

James and Sirius exchanged worried glances, sensing that whatever Dumbledore was about to disclose was serious. The others held their breaths, awaiting his next words.

"It appears that Mr. Winters has vacated Hogwarts." The Headmaster revealed, with a suspicious glance directed at both Raven and Autumn.

The girls exchanged a look of puzzlement upon hearing this news, tinged with a hint of exasperation at the sceptical gaze they received from the headmaster.

"Excuse me, Professor, but might I respectfully ask why you are currently giving us such a scrutinizing glance like you suspect us of knowing something about his abrupt departure?" Autumn questioned, causing the entire group to express both amusement and concern at her candid response.

Dumbledore allowed a faint smile to touch his lips at Autumn's direct questioning before answering. "My apologies," he replied courteously. "It's just that Mr. Winters was last seen near the Ravenclaw Tower, and it seemed unusual..."

His gaze lingered on both Raven and Autumn for another moment, his suspicion evident. Meanwhile, the other students exchanged amused and worried looks at Autumn's blunt response, knowing her well enough to expect such behaviour.

Raven shifted uncomfortably under Dumbledore's gaze, her eyes darting away from his intense stare. "We had no idea he left or where he is now, professor," she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Autumn, on the other hand, met Dumbledore's gaze unflinchingly, her expression a mixture of determination and irritation. "We're as clueless as you are," she added firmly, clearly not appreciating the implication that they were somehow involved," Besides Professor, Raven and I aren't exactly friends with him anymore."

Dumbledore's lips twitched slightly at Autumn's frank statement as if silently agreeing with her. He nodded slowly before addressing the girls once more, his tone serious yet not as accusatory as before.

"That is indeed true," he acknowledged. "And I did not mean to imply that you had any involvement in Mr. Winters' departure."  He paused for a moment before continuing, "However, it does raise a few questions that I believe you may be able to answer."

The girls exchanged a silent glance, silently bracing themselves for what was to come. They knew Dumbledore well enough to know that his questions would likely be more than simple queries.

Autumn nodded, her expression becoming resolute. "Ask away, Professor," she said, her voice firm but respectful.

Dumbledore nodded, appreciating her readiness to cooperate. He folded his hands together and regarded the girls with a thoughtful expression before speaking.

"Have you noticed anything unusual in your dormitories or the castle lately?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "Any strange noises, movements, or anything out of the ordinary?"

Autumn bit her lip to hold back a smile, her eyes glinting with amusement at Raven's almost-comment. They both knew that Hogwarts had a reputation for its unusual noises and behaviours, but it seemed like Dumbledore was looking for something specific.

She cleared her throat and answered, "Well, Professor, Hogwarts has its fair share of odd sounds and events," she said carefully, "But nothing that has stood out to us in the last few days."

Dumbledore nodded, his eyes flickering between both girls as if assessing their honesty. He walked over to his desk and sat as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the armrest, his gaze never leaving them.

"Very well," he said slowly, "Have you had any recent interactions or encounters with Mr. Winters before he left?"

Despite Autumn having had a conversation with Elliot previously, she had no intention of sharing any information with Dumbledore.

Even though he was one of the most powerful wizards alive, she didn't fully trust him.

After the incidents involving students being attacked, she couldn't help but feel that, despite Dumbledore's rationale for not involving families in standing up for them, there must have been alternative actions he could have taken to prevent these attacks.

Dumbledore observed the girls' denial with a sharp eye, his expression betraying no hint of belief or disbelief. He knew how resourceful Raven and Autumn were at keeping secrets and keeping their noses clean.

"I see," he murmured, his fingers still drumming against the armrest. "And I suppose you do not know where he might have gone? If he left willingly or against his will?"

"As we mentioned before, Professor," Autumn interjected, her voice firm yet respectful, "We have no idea why Elliot left or where he is now. We haven't seen or spoken to him for a while."

The other students listened intently, watching the exchange between Dumbledore and the girls with a mixture of curiosity and concern, particularly James, who was discreetly gripping Autumn's hand tighter.

Dumbledore hummed quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly as if considering them carefully. He shifted in his seat, his hands gripping the armrests as he continued his examination of the girls.

"Very well," he said after a slight pause, his voice measured. "I believe you."

His gaze shifted to include the other students in the room, his expression growing more serious. "However, I must stress the importance of alerting me immediately if you happen to hear anything or notice anything suspicious. Understood?"

The students nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting a mixture of understanding and concern. James still held Autumn's hand tightly, his gaze flickering between her and Dumbledore, silently conveying his worry.

"Of course, Professor," Remus spoke up, his voice firm but respectful. The rest of the students echoed his response, assuring Dumbledore that they would inform him of anything out of the ordinary.

Dumbledore nodded, satisfied with their response. "Good," he said firmly. "Be vigilant and report anything unusual to either myself or your professors right away."

He rose from his chair and stepped away from his desk, pacing slowly in front of the group. "Until we know the circumstances surrounding Mr. Winters' disappearance, we must remain cautious."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. The tension was palpable, the sense of unease growing with every passing second.

Then, Dumbledore stopped pacing and turned to face the group once more. "Now," he said, his voice suddenly holding a hint of a warning. "There is one more thing I wish to discuss with you all."

The room remained silent, each student watching Dumbledore intently as he observed them. His gaze lingered on each face, taking in the determination and loyalty that shone within them. Despite his suspicions towards the Ravenclaw girls, he couldn't deny the trust and potential he saw in all of the present students.

Dumbledore was sure he wanted to recruit them, but then he glanced at McGonagall, however, he knew she would be against the idea of recruiting them when they were still students.

He took a moment before shaking his head," We shall discuss this answer time, it is rather late."

McGonagall nodded her agreement, her gaze shifting towards the students who were already beginning to show signs of exhaustion. Peter stifled a yawn while Lily rubbed her eyes, their faces showing the weariness that came from being woken up in the middle of the night.

"Precisely," McGonagall said quietly. "It's nearly midnight and the students need their rest. The conversation can wait until another time."

Dumbledore nodded as well, acknowledging the wisdom in McGonagall's words. He glanced at the group of students, noticing the yawns and weary expressions that had begun to show.

"Very well," he said with a nod. "Until then, I suggest you all get some rest. We will reconvene when the time is right."

With that, Dumbledore dismissed the group, signalling the end of their impromptu midnight meeting. One by one, the students began to say their goodbyes and make their way back to their dormitories.

...

As the Gryffindors escorted the girls back to their dormitories, Raven was engaged in tired conversation with the others, her voice trailing off with fatigue. James and Autumn lingered behind the group, their pace slower than the rest.

"So," Autumn pondered, "did you worry that Raven and I might have left with Elliot?"

James glanced at Autumn, a hint of concern and curiosity in his eyes. "Of course I was worried," he admitted, lowering his voice so the others wouldn't overhear. "When McGonagall came and asked if you two were okay, I just... I just thought the worst."

Autumn nodded in understanding, her expression serious as she laced her fingers with James's. "I get it," she said quietly. "I probably would have reacted the same way if it had been the other way around."

They walked in silence for a few moments, the sound of their footsteps the only disruption.

Suddenly, Autumn chuckled and glanced at James, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "But honestly," she teased, "you should know better than to think we'd willingly go anywhere with Elliot...even if I know he is doing something to protect us, I still wouldn't have left. I have too many people I care about to leave behind"

James chuckled at her response, a mix of relief and amusement in his expression. "I know, I know," he said, pulling her closer to him. "I just couldn't help but worry. But you're right, you wouldn't leave without a good reason."

He paused for a moment before adding, "I guess I just panic when it comes to you," he admitted with a sheepish smile.

Autumn smiled softly, touched by his confession. She leaned into him, relishing the comfort of his embrace. "I can handle myself," she assured him, "but I appreciate the concern."

They walked for a few more steps in silence before she glanced at him slyly. "And you know, it's kind of cute when you worry about me," she teased.

James rolled his eyes playfully at her tease, his arm tightening around her waist. "Cute, huh? That's what I was going for," he retorted with a mock seriousness.

He paused for a moment, his expression growing more serious as they drew closer to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Promise me you'll be careful," he said quietly, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "With everything going on, I just... I worry about you."

Autumn's teasing expression softened as she felt the genuine concern in his words. She stopped walking, tugging on his hand to make him stop as well.

Turning to face him, she looked into his eyes, her expression serious yet affectionate. "I promise," she said quietly, placing her free hand on his chest. "I'll be careful, I won't do anything reckless."

She gave him a reassuring smile. "But you also have to promise me something." 

James raised an eyebrow, curiosity and scepticism in his gaze. "What's that?" he asked, the corners of his mouth twitching into a half-smile.

Autumn took a step closer to him, her hand still resting against his chest. "Promise me that you'll be careful too," she said firmly but gently. "I don't want you to do anything stupid either, trying to protect me or something."

She paused for a moment, her gaze searching his face. "I worry about you too, you know."

James's expression softened as he listened to her words. He reached up and covered her hand with his own, his thumb rubbing gently against her skin.

"I promise," he said earnestly. "I won't do anything stupid, no matter how tempting it may be." He smiled faintly, the remnants of a smirk on his lips. "Can't make any guarantees that I won't try to protect you though. Old habits die hard."

Autumn chuckled softly, her annoyance at his stubbornness tempered by a hint of amusement. "I suppose I can't fault you for being protective," she teased. "It is one of the things I like about you, even if it does get overwhelming at times."

She paused before adding in a quieter voice, "But I just want to remind you that I can handle myself. I'm not a damsel in distress."

James chuckled, unable to resist a playful retort. "Oh, I know you're not a damsel in distress," he said with a smirk. "You're far too stubborn and independent for that."

He lifted her hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "But that doesn't mean I can't worry about you or want to protect you."

Autumn sighed, her annoyance quickly replaced by a fond smile. "You're insufferable, you know that?" she said, her voice light but affectionate.

She rested her forehead against his chest, relishing the solid warmth of his body against hers. "Just... promise me you'll be careful," she mumbled into his sweater. "And trust me to take care of myself."

James wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. He nodded, his chin resting on top of her head.

"I promise," he whispered, "I'll be careful and I trust you. Just... please don't do anything too reckless, all right? You know how much I worry."

Sirius exhaled loudly and halted his pace, turning to face them, "Save the lovey-dovey talk for the wedding; you're insufferable right now."

The others nodded in agreement, having overheard their entire conversation. While they had grown accustomed to hearing such exchanges between them, they secretly didn't mind it. However, they couldn't help but acknowledge the grim reality they were living in, where any word could be their last.

James rolled his eyes playfully at Sirius's remark, a smirk on his face. "Oh, shut it, Padfoot. Jealousy doesn't suit you," he retorted.

Autumn chuckled, shaking her head in playful exasperation. "You're just mad because you're single," she teased, glancing over her shoulder with a smirk of her own.

Sirius feigned offence, placing a hand over his heart. "Jealous? Me?" He feigned a scoff. "You wish. I have suitors lining up."

The others chuckled at his theatrical display, sharing amused glances as the banter continued.

"Oh yes, right," James said with a sarcastic tone. "And they all mysteriously vanish once they realize you're more interested in your hair than in them."

Autumn covered her mouth to suppress a laugh, her eyes glinting with mirth.

Sirius gasped dramatically, pretending to be wounded by James's comment. "Hey, my hair is glorious and you know it," he said, running his fingers through his messy locks. "I've got ladies swooning left and right."

James rolled his eyes again, unable to hold back a smile. "Keep telling yourself that, mate."

He glanced at Autumn, who was enjoying the banter, before turning back to Sirius. "But we all know your true love is that mirror you carry around everywhere."

Sirius raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms in mock offence. "Hey now, that mirror is a treasured friend, not a romantic fling," he protested. "You just don't understand the beauty of self-love."

Meanwhile, Remus, who had been quietly observing, added with a smirk, "I'm pretty sure that mirror is the only one putting up with your inflated ego, Sirius."

Sirius placed a hand over his heart again, feigning hurt. "Remus, betrayed by my friend! You wound me, Moony," he exclaimed dramatically.

James chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Face it, Pads," he said, "that mirror is the only one who understands your obsession with hair gel."

Sirius huffed in mock indignation, though he couldn't hide the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It's not an obsession, it's a way of life," he retorted, running his fingers through his hair again.

Meanwhile, Lily, who had been silently listening, chimed in quietly, "You two are ridiculous." She rolled her eyes but there was a hint of amusement in her expression as well.

James grinned at Lily, "We prefer the term 'brilliantly entertaining'," he said with a wink.

Autumn snickered, shaking her head at their banter. "More like 'completely annoying,'" she teased, earning a playful nudge from James.

"Oh, come on, you love us," Sirius said, flashing a charming smile at Autumn. "We bring the joy and spice to your life."

Remus chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And headaches and eye rolls," he added dryly. "Plenty of both."

Sirius pretended to be offended. "Hey, speak for yourself, Moony. I'm a delight to be around."

Raven rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, you're a true joy... when you're not being an insufferable prat," she teased.

Sirius gasped in mock shock, placing a hand on his chest. "Insufferable prat? I prefer the term 'charming rogue.' And I'll have you know, my witty banter and irresistible charm are highly sought after."

The others chuckled at his antics, used to his playful arrogance. Meanwhile, Lily rolled her eyes again, though a small smile played on her lips.

"Oh, we know your so-called 'charming rogue' act, Sirius," James said with a smirk, folding his arms across his chest. "It only fools the naive ones. The rest of us know you're just a big softie at heart."

Autumn laughed softly, unable to hold back a smile. "A big softie who spends more time on his hair than most girls do," she added.

Sirius feigned indignation again, running a hand through his hair as if to emphasize his point. "Hey now, my hair routine is a sacred art. You have no idea the effort it takes to maintain such perfection."

The others chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth teasing. Remus, who had been silently amused throughout, finally spoke up. "Yeah, if only you spent as much time studying, your grades would look as good as your hair."

Sirius scoffed, pretending to be insulted. "Oh, low blow, Moony. My grades are perfectly adequate, I'll let you know. Besides, who needs grades when you've got this much charisma and charm?"

He struck a dramatic pose, flicking his hair dramatically for effect. The others chuckled, unable to keep straight faces at his antics.

Autumn and Raven bade farewell to the Gryffindors, with James giving Autumn a quick kiss on the cheek before departing. They made their way into the common room, the door closing behind them with a thud.