𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍'𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 rung throughout the air, signaling that it was time to leave. Multiple students rushed excitedly towards the train, ready to finally go home and be reunited with their family. Some exchanged addresses so they could owl each other over the summer, while others shared one final kiss goodbye with their loved ones. 

Even from the Astronomy Tower, Clayton Kahale found the train to be loud, waking him from his daydreams. 

How long had he been there? It felt like forever.

It was unusually cloudy that day and it even started sprinkling rain. Rain in June was very...abnormal. The small sounds of thunder filled the air as he watched the subtle waves move the water in the lake. Students ran across the campus, hoods over their heads as they tried to not get wet. The rain pattered ever so gently against the water, reflecting the clouds that were stretched across the dark sky. 

It seemed unreal. He had finally graduated Hogwarts with his peers. Despite everything that had happened this year and the past years before, he was thankful that he hadn't been expelled. 

Still, he wasn't ready to leave. 

Although he missed his family, Hogwarts was more of a home to him. So, instead of going down to the train as everyone else did, he continued to get lost in his thoughts. 

Small footsteps could be heard ascending the staircase, which made Clay turn around. 

Rielle Watson looked around, her eyes eventually landing on Clay. "See, I told you he'd be here," she nudged a very unamused Jayden Forbes, who had his arms crossed. 

"Great. We found him, now we can leave." Jayden was already starting to walk down the stairs, but Rielle had stopped him, grabbing a hold of his wrist. She only gave him 'the look,' to which he rolled his eyes, muttering a small, "fine." 

Clay's back faced the two as he paid no attention to them. Rielle walked over to him slowly until she was standing next to him. "Hey, the train is about to leave. Everything alright bubs?" 

He didn't answer, instead, shrugging his shoulders. "Do you ever wish that you could stop time, even for just one second?" 

Rielle furrowed her eyebrows and almost choked on his own laughter. It was so cheesy and pathetic. As the Hufflepuff girl began to talk more with Clay, the smirk on Jayden's lips got bigger.

Someone else had found the three of them at the top of the tower, Emille Ambrose. He and Jayden exchanged a small handshake that the two had made up during their third year. Em narrowed his eyebrows at the two Hufflepuffs, "What's up with them?" 

Jayden rolled his eyes playfully, "Little baby Clay isn't ready to leave yet." The two best friends broke into small giggles, hitting each other playfully as they tried to stop. 

Clearing her throat, Rielle glared at them, almost immediately silencing them. "Well sure, my years at Hogwarts have been amazing, but everything must come to an end sooner or later." 

Clay hated those words more than anything. It pained his heart, almost as if he couldn't control anything. He hadn't really understood why he felt this way, it was just something that happened recently, more than usual.

"I don't think I'm ready to leave just yet though..." he muttered under his breath, hearing Rielle sigh. 

She was trying to think of something, anything at this point to convince Clay that it was time to go. She didn't want to be late and have the train leave without them, but she was willing to help her friend.

She rested her hand on Clay's back, rubbing it softly, "What about your sisters? Surely you miss them and they miss you as well?" He did miss his sisters, but something kept bugging him. Every time Rielle mentioned their name, he could feel chills creeping up his spine and the tears pricking at his eyes. "And your mother and father? They're all waiting for you, Clayton." 

Silence.

Clay didn't move at all. It freaked out Emille and Jayden, the two of them exchanging knowing looks. 

"How about we bring up some of our favorite memories from our past years?" 

Rielle turned around, her eyes brightening as she saw Ivanna Reishy leaning against the wall, smirking. "Ivy! Great idea!"

Jayden flinched slightly at the sight of her, almost releasing a small scream, "Godric- how long were you standing there?" 

She scoffed slightly, standing up on her feet as she walked over to Clay, "Long enough to hear everything. No one told me you guys were having a party, and without me?!" she pouted dramatically. 

Emille narrowed his eyes at her, "It's not a party, Clay is just having a little trouble saying goodbye. Even if it was, no one would even bother to invite you."

Ivanna laughed at her boyfriend's comment, opening her mouth to say something, but quickly being cut off by Rielle. The couple were always quick to throw snarky comments back at one another, but they loved each other nonetheless

"I'll start!" she brought her hand under her chin, thinking back to the beginning of the term. "Oh! I remember. Valentines Day. Jay got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers." 

Rielle sighed dreamily at Jayden, his cheeks going a small shade of pink. Emille nudged him slightly, smirking. 

"Me next," Ivanna smirked at Emille, his face going pale, "My favorite memory was throwing the end-of-term party with Milo." She had always called him that, feeling it was a perfect and cute fit. 

Clay smiled slightly, "Yeah, it was a good party. I enjoyed it a lot." 

"What about you Jayden?" Rielle turned her head, waiting for his response.

He blinked a couple of times not really sure what to say. "My favorite memory?" He started to think about it, trying to remember anything before this year. 

Nothing.

"Hm, that's weird...I- I can't remember anything that happened during third year..." 

Ivanna stared at Jayden, confused. But as she tried to remember more of what happened before their seventh year, she found herself just as confused as Jayden himself. 

"I can't remember anything either..." 

Clay's heartbeat quickened as he turned around quickly, staring at the group. 

Rielle was next, her breath hitched as she placed her hand over her chest, "Why- Why am I still here? I was supposed to graduate 2 years ago-"

 Emille's legs started to feel like jelly as he looked at his friends. It was as if he was under a spell this whole time and he just started to see the world without it. 

He looked down at his hands, shaking in fear as he looked back at Clay, "Please...I want to go home..." 

Clay gulped nervously, staring at Emille. By now, the rain had gotten harder, and it was now pouring. Thunderclouds started to move in as a cold wind blew throughout their faces.

Right now, Clay only had one choice. 

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, hoping for a new ending.

𖤐 ⊹ 𖧧 ָ࣪ ⊹ ࣪˖⁩ ꒦꒷ ʾ˓𖤣 ⌯

Students rushed to the Great Hall, eager to meet up with their friends and catch up. Some of them hadn't seen them since the last term. There were your occasional making-out couple who would always get caught by one of the professors and get scolded for hours. 

Still, it was a fresh new start for Clay Kahale. He was starting his seventh year. 

It seemed unreal. He had finally made it to his seventh year at Hogwarts with his peers. Despite everything that had happened the years before, he was thankful that he hadn't been expelled. 

Callisto Laurier picked at her food, not really hungry at all. She kept having this weird feeling deep down in her gut that she couldn't quite explain. Auden Niyle noticed her unusual behavior. Usually, she was excited for the beginning of the term. 

"What's wrong Callie? You're usually very ecstatic," the Ravenclaw boy tilted his head, frowning a bit." Josette Hinge looked up from her book, nodding her head in agreement. 

"Everything's fine, don't worry. It's just like-" 

"Déjà vu?" 

They all turned their heads to the end of the table, seeing a smiling Vanessa Roberts. Callisto blinked at her, nodding her head slowly, "Yeah..like déjà vu..." 

Vanessa scooted down towards where they were sitting, resting her head on both of her hands, "I feel it too, but it's nothing to worry about, right?" 

Josette nodded once more, "Yeah, don't worry about it, Callie." 

Callie bit her bottom lip, soon, a small smile sprouting on her lips. 

Auden found the smile to be contagious and soon, the group was smiling at each other, happiness soaring through their veins.

Clay had another thing to worry about, unfortunately. He was in his dorm room, searching for his robe. How could he have lost his robe, and on the first day of school? 

He sighed deeply through his nose, almost about to give up. He would be killed if he lost that robe, literally. 

There was a small knock at the door which made Clay's head shoot up. His hands started to shake slightly, his heartbeat fastening as he walked over.

His hand hovered over the doorknob, contemplating on whether or not he should open it.

He shook his thoughts away, quickly opening the door.

He froze as soon as he saw the person behind it.

"Hey dude, I left my bag in here can I just..." Callum Danger drifted off as he looked into Clay's eyes. 

Was this real? 

I mean, was this really happening? 

They were silent for a while before Callum cracked a small chuckle, "What's up Claytinator? You're looking at me as if you've just seen a ghost." 

Clay didn't say anything, instead, tackling his friend into a hug. He could have sworn that there was a stray tear falling down his eye. 

It felt like forever since the last time he saw him, almost like he had lost his best friend.

Callum stumbled back slightly, catching his balance as he patted Clay's back, "Woah, didn't know you missed me that much. We were only separated for one summer." 

Clay stayed silent, clearing his throat as he pulled back.

"Still, it felt like an eternity." 

︿︿︿︿︿︿︿︿︿︿
› 〉🦈 .ೃ stay kool groovy ' 🛸„ ↴
⏤ ⏤ ✎ .ೃ quinn's comatose ↴
╭─ 🖇️,, ⟶ .·. ⊹. ,(^‿^✿) ° .
╰────── ─ ─╮
ngl, that ending made me cry :')

im so sorry for the long wait, please
forgive me. i had the worst writer's 
block ever to exist. 

but i hope you enjoyed the first chapter
sorry for it being so short, it seemed
a lot longer in my head lol

ilysm kithes <3