The soft glow of dawn stretched over the horizon as the first rays of sunlight kissed the cobblestone streets. The date was June 30, and the crisp morning air held the promise of new beginnings. Emma and Andrew stood at the castle, their hands raised in farewell, watching as Harry and Uma departed in an elegant horse-drawn buggy. The buggy itself seemed a relic from a different era, its 1820s design complete with polished wooden wheels and a canopy that shaded them from the rising sun.

Harry nodded to Emma and Andrew, offering them a grin as the buggy lurched forward with a soft clatter of hooves. The horse, a majestic black steed, trotted steadily down the road, its rhythmic clopping blending with the chirping of birds waking from their slumber. Uma sat beside Harry, her posture relaxed, but her eyes, ever curious, darted to her surroundings. Her excitement was palpable, even without words.

Uma leaned over the edge of the buggy, her eyes fixed on the ground beneath them, following the horse’s feet with a childlike fascination. Harry watched her from the corner of his eye, a smile tugging at his lips as he tried to decipher what had caught her attention. She pointed toward something ahead with eager fingers, her expression alight with curiosity. Harry followed her gaze but found nothing out of the ordinary—just the open road and the town looming in the distance.

The buggy soon approached a narrow bridge that spanned over a gently flowing canal. As they crossed, the calm water shimmered beneath them, reflecting the early morning sky. Out of the blue, Flounder, the cheerful fish who had been trailing them, leapt through the surface of the water, his splash catching both Uma’s and Harry’s attention. His bright blue and yellow scales glittered like jewels in the sunlight.

From his perch near the edge of the buggy, Sebastian, the ever-observant crab, peeked out cautiously, his small eyes scanning the couple.

“Has he kissed her yet?” Flounder asked, his voice bubbling with excitement as he swam alongside the buggy.

Sebastian shook his head, his claws waving in mild exasperation. “Not yet,” he replied, his voice tinged with impatience.

Flounder let out a disappointed groan before disappearing beneath the water once more, the ripples fading in their wake.

---

The town came into view, bustling with life as merchants set up their stalls and townspeople wandered through the square. The sound of chickens clucking mingled with the bleating of sheep, and a cart loaded with cages rattled past them. Uma's attention shifted from the ground to the lively scene around her, her eyes wide with interest. She tugged lightly on Harry’s sleeve, pointing at a small puppet show set up on a corner of the square.

Two wooden puppets danced on a small stage, their jerky movements making children laugh as they watched from the front row. Without warning, Uma hopped off the buggy, her feet landing softly on the cobblestones. Harry blinked in surprise as she approached the stage, her fingers deftly pulling one of the puppets off its string. The puppeteer gasped, his hands revealed as Uma held the puppet in her hands, inspecting it closely. She glanced back at Harry, her lips curling into a silent smile before she set the puppet down carefully and returned to his side.

With a playful tug on his hand, Uma pulled Harry toward a small dance area where couples twirled and spun to the tune of a lively street musician. Harry’s protest was half-hearted as she spun him in circles, her laughter silent but visible in the brightness of her eyes. In one graceful movement, Harry lifted her into the air, her feet dangling for a brief moment before she landed back in his arms. She was light as a feather, moving as if dancing were second nature to her.

---

They soon found themselves back in the buggy, leaving the town behind. Uma now wore a wide-brimmed hat, her lap filled with freshly baked bread, a bouquet of wildflowers, and a new pair of boots she had bartered for. She looked content, though the gleam in her eye hinted at her adventurous spirit still buzzing beneath the surface. Harry, sitting beside her, felt a sense of ease wash over him. He had seen her in action before—how quick her wit was, how capable her hands could be without the need for words—but it was these quieter moments that reminded him of her depth.

With a sudden gesture, Uma pointed at the reins, her eyebrows raised in silent question. Harry’s gaze flickered from her to the road ahead, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face before he shrugged and handed them to her. The moment the leather reins were in her hands, Uma’s grin widened. She snapped them with confidence, and the horse immediately picked up its pace. The buggy shot forward, the wind whipping through Uma’s hair as she guided the vehicle with practiced ease.

Harry’s eyes widened as he spotted a wide gulley up ahead, the earth splitting the path in two. Panic flashed across his face. “Uma… are you sure?” he asked, gripping the side of the buggy as they sped toward the gap.

But Uma was sure. She urged the horse faster, her determination clear. The buggy’s wheels thundered against the ground as they approached the gulley, and for a brief second, Harry held his breath. With a powerful leap, the horse cleared the gap, soaring through the air before landing smoothly on the other side. The buggy wobbled for a moment, but Uma held the reins steady, guiding them safely back to the open road.

Harry, who had fallen to the floor of the buggy in his panic, peeked up from his hiding spot. He blinked in disbelief, his heart still racing. Slowly, he sat back in his seat, shaking his head in amazement. Uma, on the other hand, was calm, her hands relaxed on the reins as if they hadn’t just flown across a wide chasm.

As the buggy rolled peacefully into the countryside, Harry let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Leaning back, he folded his hands behind his head, casting Uma an admiring glance. She flashed him a knowing smile, her silent confidence speaking louder than words ever could.