Flick and Swish || A Harry Potter Anthology

Autumn's Arrival by The Dark Lord

Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, the flowerbeds turned into muddy streams and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. As the rain cleared, the full, majestic power of Autumn came blowing past- even into the Muggle world.

Vivid, golden leaves drifted towards the ground gently, falling with a flourish onto forest floors. The trees seemed to sing out merrily- even the burbling ponds looked a bit more energetic and lively. Squirrels frantically spoke to each other, looking for nuts to hoard in preparation for winter. They rustled the trees' leaves as they leapt from branch to branch.

Similarly, fish also leapt, but it was playful. Their shining scales reflected the water droplets, and a burst of rainbow washed over them every few seconds. 

Apples turned scarlet red, looking as if they were blushing. The fruits were immediately picked off by eager animals and the rest, farmers. Muggle children were as energetic as ever- they raked brilliant red and yellow leaves into a large pile and jumped enthusiastically into it, laughing. The forest animals reprimanded them, but of course, the Muggles couldn't understand.

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Back in the wizarding world, huge, towering pumpkins were harvested and made into mouth-watering delicacies for all to eat. The Whomping Willow finally released its grumpy attitude. Even the normally violent tree couldn't stay too annoyed very long. 

The smells of baked goods wafted through the air, mingling with the fresh scents of Autumn. Wizards and witches of all ages were busy preparing for the upcoming festivities. They shot orange confetti into the air and happily conversed with each other. 

Diagon Alley looked brighter than ever once they were done decorating. Shops changed their themes to match the mood of the eager wizarding children and made items related to Autumn. There were wands that shot out leaves, and Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor even made ice cream suited for the season; Florean himself managed to capture the exact taste- crisp, fresh, and slightly tart. 

In Hogwarts' ground, the Giant Squid was also in the mood for excitement. It waved its tentacles around, splashing joyfully in the Black Lake. First and second-years gasped at the sight in awe, but the older students merely shared amused glances. They relaxed and sighed in contentment in their comfortable seats, enjoying their break time from studying.

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Sienna walked briskly along the bank of the Black Lake. Her silver-green robes fluttered in the wind. The young witch ignored the sceptic and questioning looks her peers sent at her. The Giant Squid had performed something that drew all the curious eyes from Sienna. She silently signalled to the Squid a 'thank you.' It responded by agilely twirling its body, quickly signalling back a 'go.' Sienna smiled. She'd befriended the Squid and it had its perks. She looked at it one last time and disappeared into the secret trail she'd been using for months.

Sienna followed the path as it led her to a clearing. Butterflies flapped their silky wings, and shy rabbits nibbled on bushes nearby. Sienna made her way to a small lake in the clearing and stooped in the grass. Hidden in it was an ornate boat. The witch climbed in and charmed it with her wand to take her to her desired destination. Within moments, she arrived at her final location. Her relaxation spot. 

The scene was even more majestic; pebbles glistened with moisture, golden dew sparkled the grass and scattered amethyst berries littered the floor. In the tree branches were impatient squirrels who scolded Sienna for arriving late. A gentle tug on her robe had the witch peering down at a face full of white fur and doe eyes. It snuggled into Sienna's clothes. Nearby, a wildcat's yellow eyes stared, unblinkingly at the 5th year. Sienna stroked the creature on her robes, transfiguring a stone she held in her hand into a mini-banquet of food. Thank Merlin for McGonagall's lessons, Sienna thought. 

The angry squirrels quickly forgave the witch as she levitated the banquet to the floor, watching with eager eyes at the huge pile of acorns and other nuts for them. The cuddly rabbit all but leapt at the food.

The wildcat revealed to be a panther, stalked to the meat section. And before she knew it, Sienna had a dozen birds perched on her arms and in her hair. The 5th year conjured a sofa and sat down. A few golden leaves drifted into her lap, which she abruptly turned into a basin, filling it up with a quick "Aguamenti!" A huge amount of creatures had now joined the feast. Some were simply relaxing in the sun's rays. Sienna cast a non-verbal "Tempus!" to check the time. She still had a hefty 2 hours before her next class, the boring History of Magic. Her peers wouldn't miss her, and she could always lie and make up an excuse about not "relaxing" with them.