Elegy//Harry Potter [3]

3

Autumn walked the dark streets of England alone. The only source of light was from the moon. Autumn debated if she was going to use her wand as a source of light. On one hand, no one was outside. No one could see her or her wand. On the other hand, what if someone was? And she wasn't allowed to use magic anyway. So Autumn decided against it.

Autumn walked for what seemed like ages until she sat on a park bench. As soon as she touched the bench, a loud rumbling sound took her her ears. She turned her head to see a dark shadowy figure just next to her.

Autumn jumped up and grabbed her wand from her worn boot. As soon as she pointed it at the figure, it flew full speed at her. Autumn was knocked back onto the ground. As soon as she saw the creature, it was gone. 

Autumn shook it off and started walking in the direction of the Leaky Cauldron so she could get into Diagon Alley. It normally took a ten minute bus ride, including the stops. Walking three miles was very time consuming -- especially if you were carrying a large trunk.

Cosmo was long gone. He flew away as soon as Autumn opened the cage when she left. She hoped he was getting help or going to one of her friends.

After walking as fast as her legs could hold her, she was nearly there. It felt like it had been days, but it hadn't even been an hour. The sun had just begun to rise.

She walked through the Leaky Cauldron and walked to a desk.

A lady, obviously tired, saw her.

"Hello there, little one. Are you lost?" She smiled and showed a broken tooth.

"Actually," Autumn pulled out her bag. "I was wondering if I could book a room for a few nights?"

The lady nodded then spoke. "Room thirteen is available. That'll be—"

"Actually, Miss Karol, I will be paying for Miss Autumn's room."

Autumn turned around to see the Minister of Magic, Mr. Weasley's boss, standing behind her.

"Oh, dearie me. Minister Fudge. Of course." 

"Thank you, Minister," Autumn said shyly.

"I assume that you've heard about Sirius Black?" The Minister asked as he walked towards the flight of stairs.

"No, sir. I haven't."

"And why is that?"

"I live with Muggles, sir."

"Then the paper here will inform you. Do you know anything about Sirius Black."

"I haven't a clue, sir." 

They started walking up the steps.

"Then the paper here will inform you," The Minister repeated. 

The two stopped in front of a room that had the number thirteen on the door. 

"Well, here you are."

Autumn barely cracked the door when The Minister spoke again. "Autumn?"

"Yes, Minister?"

"Keep an eye on Potter will you?"

Autumn, confused as ever, nodded. "I always do, sir."

Fudge weakly smiled, then walked off. 

Autumn opened the door fully and saw Cosmo near the open window.

"Cosmo!" Autumn exclaimed. "Don't you leave me again. You had me worried sick!"

The bird just tilted his head.

Autumn struggled carrying the heavy trunk into the room, but she managed.

>>>

The same morning, Autumn was surprised to wake up to the sound of a door slamming. Autumn never knew that she even fell asleep; it must've been when she went on her bed.

Autumn got out of bed and noticed she was still wearing her shoes and socks. She looked at the desk at the corner of the room and saw a stack of books. They must be her new school books, as she hasn't bought them yet.

Autumn decided to go downstairs for some breakfast. She grabbed her bag of sickles and knuts and headed down the stairs.

She was greeted by a whole fleet of redheads. Autumn smiled. It was the Weasleys and Hermione.

"Autumn!" Hermione yelled.

Autumn smiled back. "Hello, Hermione. Ron."

"What are you doing here? You never responded to our letters—" Ron started.

"I never got them."

Hermione immediately looked guilty.

"It's not your fault," Autumn rushed to say. "It was just a rough summer."

"Tell me about it," Ron said. "Going to Egypt with Percy was terrible."

Autumn stifled a laugh, seeing as Percy was nearby. Autumn left for approximately five minutes, and Ron and Hermione were fighting.

"I'm warning you, Hermione. Keep that beast away from Scabbers, or I'll turn it into a tea cozy."

"It's a cat, Ronald. What do you expect? It's in his nature." 

"A cat? Is that what they told you? Looks like a pig with hair." 

"That's rich. . . coming from the owner of that smelly old shoe brush. Crookshanks, just ignore the mean little boy."

Autumn was about to intervene when she noticed a familiar face walking down the stairs. Ron seemed to notice too, as he was the one who spoke first. "Harry."

"Harry," Hermione and Autumn said.

"Egypt. What's it like?"  Harry asked.

"Brilliant. Loads of old stuff. . . like mummies, tombs, even Scabbers enjoyed himself."

"Egyptians used to worship cats," Hermione said, daggers in her words. 

"Along with the dung beetle," Ron retorted.

"Oh, Autumn. I heard about what happened, are you alright?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Autumn wondered how he had heard, but nodded.

"Yeah, I'm alright."

Hermione, Ron, and Harry weren't paying attention when Mr. Weasley spoke, to which Autumn was very thankful for. Or else she'd have to explain everything and break into tears again. It had only been weeks -- it was impossible to get over a death of someone close to you in a short amount of time.

"Harry," Mrs. Weasley said.

"Mrs. Weasley," Harry responded.

"Good to see you, dear." 

"Good to see you." 

"Got everything?" 

"Yes." Harry admitted.

"Yes?"

"All your books?" 

"It's all upstairs," Harry told Mrs. Weasley.

"Your clothes?" 

"Everything."

"Good boy."

"Thank you," Harry said sheepishly.

Mr. Weasley appeared from behind Mrs. Weasley. "Harry, wonder if I might have a word?"

"Yeah, sure," Harry said as the two walked away.

"Autumn, dearie, how are you holding up?"

"As good as it's probably going to get," Autumn admitted.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry sat down next to Autumn and they had their breakfast.