CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Patience had never been Lysander Scamander's strong suit. Despite his usual calm demeanour and the level-headed nature, he was known for, waiting always caused an internal struggle he couldn't easily shake. There was a constant undercurrent of impatience, something that gnawed at him when forced to remain idle.

For Lysander, challenges were not burdens to bear—they were opportunities to prove his worth. Whenever something tested him, he met it head-on, ready to face it with an unshakable resolve and a spark of determination. It was only when he had to wait that his composure faltered.

The two years leading up to the end of his time at Hogwarts were a blur of competing priorities and responsibilities, leaving little space for the moments of connection he once took for granted. During his fifth and sixth years, the gap between Lysander and Kit grew wider, something that gnawed at him in ways he wasn't fully prepared for. His fifth year was consumed with the looming pressure of OWLs, the exams that were the gateway to his future. Kit, in contrast, was immersed in preparing for her NEWTs during his sixth year, leaving them both too busy to truly catch up or spend much time together. Their contact, once a constant in his life, had become minimal, and it left Lysander feeling a hollow emptiness, as though a piece of him was missing.

Summer, the time when students were supposed to unwind, should have been a chance to reconnect, but it wasn't to be. Lysander's path had veered in a direction he hadn't fully anticipated, but one he had come to accept. His desire to become a Wandmaker—a craft that required patience and skill—had led him to an apprenticeship under one of Kit's grandfather's colleagues.

It was an opportunity that demanded his full attention, and as the summer wore on, Lysander found himself engrossed in the intricate art of wand-making. It wasn't that he didn't want to reach out to Kit, but the apprenticeship had consumed him completely. Every spare moment was spent crafting and learning, pushing aside his personal desires in favour of his long-term goals.

Despite the strain of balancing his growing career with the deep longing for a connection that seemed to slip further from his grasp, Lysander found a strange sense of peace in the routine. The demands of his work, though challenging, gave him purpose. The distance between him and Kit, while painful, allowed him the space to grow. As he immersed himself in the world of wand-making, his longing for the companionship he couldn't have softened. He became more focused on the progress he was making, and the skills he was developing until time seemed to slip away unnoticed.

Graduation arrived faster than he had expected, and as the last days of his Hogwarts life stretched out before him, he realized that the waiting—the waiting that had once been so agonizing—had, in a way, shaped him.

The gentle sound of water lapping against the boats marked the end of his journey at Hogwarts. Lysander felt a sense of finality as he leapt from the boat, his feet hitting the familiar stone of the dock. It was a moment that felt surreal, the culmination of years of hard work and growth. He turned to see Lorcan, his twin, helping Ophelia out of the boat. The two of them were radiant, a mix of nostalgia and excitement evident in their expressions.

"That's it," Lysander said, his voice carrying a weight of disbelief and relief. "We're officially done. Can you believe it?"

Ophelia, gazing back at Hogwarts, seemed to be taking it all in, the enormity of the moment settling over her. "I keep thinking it's a dream," she admitted, her voice soft with wonder. "But it feels so real when you think of everything that's happened."

Lorcan, ever the grounding force, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before turning to his brother with a curious smile. "How about you? How are you feeling?" he asked, genuinely interested in Lysander's thoughts.

Lysander chuckled, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he stepped between the two of them, slinging an arm around each of their shoulders. "Oh, you know me. I'm fine," he said, teasing them both. "I'm sure you two are more excited about your future plans than I am. You've got it all figured out already, haven't you?" He winked, causing both Lorcan and Ophelia to roll their eyes at his antics.

Lorcan raised an eyebrow at his brother's teasing but shook his head with a smirk. "Wait, where are you going?" he called after Lysander, seeing him start to walk away.

Lysander turned, throwing them a carefree glance over his shoulder. "Wherever my feet take me," he said with a shrug, his tone light and unconcerned.

"But the train..." Lorcan's voice trailed off in confusion as he watched his brother walk in the opposite direction, heading toward Hogsmeade rather than the waiting Hogwarts Express.

Lysander waved him off without a second thought. "Don't worry about me. I'll figure it out," he said with a casual flick of his hand, his voice carrying over the noise of the crowd.

Lorcan and Ophelia exchanged a brief look as Lysander disappeared into the bustling mass of students and families. For a moment, they stood there, uncertain. Finally, Lorcan sighed, his lips curling into a fond, knowing smile. "I guess he'll find his way home eventually."

Ophelia, ever the calm one, squeezed his hand. "He always does," she said with a soft chuckle, her eyes following Lysander's retreating form for a moment longer before she turned to board the train with Lorcan, their final journey back home already beginning.

As Lysander walked toward Hogsmeade, his thoughts were a jumble of emotion. The end of his Hogwarts journey felt both like an achievement and like an uncharted road that lay ahead. He felt a small smile tug at the corners of his lips. The future was unknown, and though that used to terrify him, now, for the first time in years, he embraced the uncertainty. The challenges ahead no longer felt like burdens—they were the sparks that would drive him forward, the fuel that would keep him going. Wherever his feet would carry him, Lysander Scamander was ready for the journey.