"I don't want to go. You can't make me go!"

"Autumn Moore you are going. Now go grab your trunk." Kali said firmly, loosening her grip on Autumn's wrist.
Autumn's face darkened more if that was possible.
Kali didn't notice - or maybe just refused to, at this point Autumn couldn't tell.

Making a point to stomp to her room, Autumn pretty much slammed her door.
The last thing she wanted at this point was to attend a new school.
The school which Abner had once attended.

Sniffling as a wave of memories crashed over her, Autumn made sure no tears fell from her eyes.
She had done enough crying over the past year - every time she closed her eyes, she could picture the moment in which Abner had been brutally murdered in front of her eyes.

Her lower lip trembled, and she forced herself to grab her trunk.
Maybe it was good for her to leave the house - Kali was probably right.
Wiping her hand across her nose, Autumn reluctantly exited her room, shutting her door quietly this time.

Trudging down the hallway again, Autumn began to feel slightly more relieved that she was departing the neighbourhood.
Perhaps she could attend Hogwarts and forget the traumatic event.

+++

The bustling city of London had never suited Autumn, nor Kali. However, it appeared that the pair were more than happy to escape the clutches of Newbridge.
Well, Autumn was still rather unhappy with going to Hogwarts.
But arguing with Kali was like arguing with a brick wall - there was no point.

If it were possible, Kings Cross Station  looked to be busier than the actual city - Autumn loathed it.
Unwillingly, she followed her mother into the heart of the train station, grappling with her trunk the entire time.
"Okay, sweetheart, I'm going to leave you here. I have to," Kali kissed both Autumn's cheeks, before continuing, "go. I'll be late for work. All you need to do is run through that barrier, darling. Have a great year!"

Before Autumn knew it, Kali had disappeared into the crowd, her hair trailing behind her.
Autumn bit her lip, squeezed her eyes shut, and began running towards the wall.
Although she knew she'd fall through to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, she was still surprised when she did.
Straightening herself and brushing down her clothes, Autumn gazed up at the Hogwarts Express.

Deciding that there was no point in dawdling (the need to be early was a trait she shared with her mother), she scanned the train for an entrance.
At long last she spotted one, and hurried over to it, nearly losing her grip on her trunk in the process.

As soon as she set foot in the train, Autumn wished she hadn't bothered to get out of bed.
There were students everywhere, scuttling around the Hogwarts Express like beetles. She loathed it.
The ceaseless chatter from the excitable teens gave her a headache almost instantaneously.

Autumn almost wanted to laugh at her misfortune.
As she searched up and down the carriages, there appeared to be no empty ones.
It was either stay in one with people she didn't know, or sitting outside the entire time.

At least the seats in the carriages look comfortable, Autumn thought, scrunching up her nose at the floor.
Signing heavily, she knocked tentatively on one of the doors.
Moments later, it squeaked as it opened, revealing a kind-looking redhead.

"Are you okay?"
Stuttering as she spoke, Autumn nodded yes.
"I need... I want... can I please just sit in here?"
The girl smiled gently and beckoned her inside the carriage.

"Brielle." The girl introduced herself, waiting for Autumn's response.
"Um... Autumn..." she murmured in reply, slouching into a seat and turning away.
"Nice name... for a... lovely girl." Brielle managed, but Autumn didn't attempt to continue talking, and instead was counting down the minutes until departure.

"I think I'm just going to read..." Brielle said, before the sound of rustling alerted Autumn that she was fishing a book out of a bag.
There wasn't much to see out of the window as of yet. It was still just the platform and parents waving goodbye to their children.

Of course Mum didn't have time for that, Autumn thought bitterly, she never does.
It wasn't much longer, before she could see the clock strike eleven.
At that exact moment, the Hogwarts Express began slowly chugging its way out of the station.

Autumn was grateful for a change in scenery, as the train sped off, eventually leaving London a mere speck in the horizon.
If only she could do that to her memories.

+++

Soon enough, the outside grew dull.
Autumn had begun to regret not making an effort to talk to Brielle, who was fast asleep.
Knitting her eyebrows together, she contemplated what to do.

Her mother had gifted her some money to buy sweets from what Kali had called the Trolley Lady.
Unfortunately, the Trolley Lady had yet to arrive.
Pushing herself up from the seat, Autumn stretched.

Sliding open the carriage door, she stepped out into the narrow passageway. Breathing in the slightly less stuffy air, Autumn stopped paying attention to her surroundings.
Which was, in retrospect, a terrible idea.

Then again, she didn't expect a boy to come hurtling towards her at full speed.
The wind was knocked out of her as he crashed into her.
Autumn went tumbling to the ground, too shocked to stop herself.
Landing hard on her butt, she too a good few seconds to recover from the surprise attack.

Closing her eyes, she steadied herself.
When she opened them again, she found a hand near her face.
"Oh m-my Merlin I am so sorry! I can help you up, if you want."
Taking the boy's hand reluctantly, Autumn was pulled to her feet.

"I'm sorry again. This person was chasing me because I accidentally walked in on him changing... it was an accident I swear!" The boy rambled, his eyes brimming with guilt.
Forcing herself not to blow her top at this genuine apology, Autumn strained a smile.
"It's okay, really. Accidents happen..." She managed, struggling to form the words without sounding bitter.

"Phew, I thought for a moment you'd hate me!" He breathed a sigh of relief, before awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. "Um... I'm Peter, by the way... not that you should care very much."
Autumn was prepared to fake it about the apology, but she didn't know how long she could keep up the façade of calm.

"Autumn. It's nice to meet you."