Moonlit Bonds: The Tale of Moony and Snowy

Chapter 158 - Return to King's Cross

Peter, trailing slightly behind, looked on with concern etched across his face. He approached Eliza, offering a small bag of sweets he'd picked up at the station. "Here, Eliza, maybe this will help a bit," he said softly, hoping to bring a bit of normalcy back to their group.

Eliza accepted the sweets with a faint smile, touched by Peter's thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Peter. That's very sweet of you," she replied, her voice still tinged with fatigue but appreciative of his gesture.

They boarded the train, finding their way to their reserved compartment. As they settled in, James pulled out a pack of Exploding Snap cards, attempting to inject some levity into the atmosphere. "How about a game to kick off our final year?" he suggested with a grin, hoping to distract Eliza from her exhaustion.

The game began, with the cards snapping and popping energetically, but Eliza found it hard to focus. Her eyes often drifted to the window, watching the blur of the passing countryside. Remus, noticing her distraction, put his cards down and spoke softly to her.

"Eliza, if you need to rest, I can make up a bed for you here," he said, his concern palpable. "You don't have to play if you're not up to it."

Eliza nodded, her exhaustion winning over her desire to engage. "Maybe just a little rest," she admitted reluctantly, hating to feel so fragile but knowing she needed to conserve her energy.

Sirius, who had been quietly observing, stood up to adjust the blinds of the compartment for more privacy. "Take all the time you need," he insisted, his protective nature evident as he arranged the seats into a makeshift bed. "We're here for you, no matter what."

As Eliza lay down, the soft murmur of her friends' voices and the gentle rocking of the train lulled her toward a much-needed sleep. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter continued their game quietly, each of them casting worried glances her way, their conversations occasionally dipping into whispers of concern and plans to keep Eliza safe and supported throughout the year.

"Let's make sure this year is as smooth as possible for her," James whispered, setting the tone for their final year at Hogwarts. "She's been through enough."

The train whistled in the distance, marking the start of their journey back to Hogwarts, a journey that would be filled with the usual magic and mischief, but underlined with the shared commitment to look out for one of their own. As the landscape swept by, Eliza's friends remained a constant, vigilant presence by her side, ready to face whatever the year might bring.