Elegy//Harry Potter [3]

2

One night, or early morning, Autumn was shaken awake.

"What? What is it?" Autumn asked, quickly rubbing her eyes.

"Pack your trunk."

Autumn couldn't tell who was speaking. She opened her eyes to clearly see everyone in the orphanage awake and surrounding her bed.

"What are you doing up?" Autumn sat up in bed.

"You need to pack your trunk."

"Why? What's happening?"

"You're getting out of here," Kathleen said.

"What? No. I'm not leaving you all here with Clementine!" Autumn whispered.

"We'll be fine," Faith said. 

The other girls nodded.

"You have a school to get to. We'll all be happy to risk some of our freedom for you to get out," Naomi said.

"You sure?" Autumn said.

"Never been more sure." 

Autumn turned to see Vanessa.

"You realize you'll get into a lot of trouble, right?" Autumn asked.

"We all know. Just go before it's too late."

Autumn took a deep breath then leaped out of bed. She slid her trunk out from under her bed and opened it roughly. She threw in her robes, her clothes, her cauldron, and her wand. She grabbed a sack of Galleons and threw them in as well.

She closed her suitcase and stood it upright.

"Vanessa," Autumn said.

Vanessa turned around, confused. She walked over to Autumn then leaned against the wall.

"What is it?" A small Scottish accent appeared as she spoke.

"You know that I can't mail to them this year, right? You'd only get into more trouble."

Vanessa nodded.

"Wow, one year without any contact with you. It's like a dream."

"I'd bet." Autumn said sarcastically. "But be careful, okay? Tell the girls bedtime stories of valiant girls who would best the evil woman and save everyone, including themselves."

"I wouldn't think to do anything else."

"Give everyone hope, okay? Because I won't be here to help. I'm counting on you, Vanessa."

"No, we're counting on you. Now go before Clementine wakes up." 

Autumn put the final things in her bag.

"Autumn?" 

Autumn looked up.

"One last thing." Vanessa said.

"What is it?" Autumn asked.

"Er, Cayden asked for me to tell you something."

"W-What do you mean?" Autumn asked.

"Before you came back, before. . . it happened. . . she asked me to tell you something."

"What? What did she ask you to say?"

"She said, 'Be brave and remember.'"

Autumn rested her hand on her legs. "Remember? remember what?

Vanessa shrugged.

"Was there anything else she said?"

"No. She seemed quiet before it happened, like she knew it was coming."

Autumn just nodded in shock.

"But, I told the others that, and they just dismissed it. So I wouldn't think too much of it."

Autumn nodded.

Vanessa turned back around then left.

Autumn held her trunk up and quietly dragged it behind her as she walked down the steps. Autumn was nearly out the front door when she attacked everyone in a hug. "Be careful. I love you all. Play it safe, alright?" Autumn wiped a tear away as she turned around and walked into the darkness outside.