Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 353

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Once Avery and Mikey had finally picked up her bags from outside the Gryffindor painting where she had left them, they headed down the stairs as Jasper protested loudly. She laughed and smiled in Mikey's direction. He had been right. Jasper wasn't exactly happy that she had just left him up there in his crate while she ran off. Though, she barely gave a second thought to Jasper's complaining. All she could think about was the handsome and sweet Ravenclaw boy that she was walking down the stairs with. She couldn't wait to spend just a little more time with him before they went home for the summer. She was going to miss him. Once they had finally made it to the station, the train whistle blew once more. A signal that the train was about to depart. Avery watched and waited to board the train as people rushed by her. A feeling of excitement washed over her, but with that a sense of dread. She was scared at what was going to happen to her. If her mother found out that she was home and that she was with her grandparents. . . well, things wouldn't end well. All she could hope was that her mother still didn't care about her. Things were better that way. Once they had finally boarded the train, Avery collapsed into a seat and sighed. They were lucky that they had gotten their own compartment. Avery breathed out an audible sigh of relief at that and sank deeper into her seat. She hadn't slept well the night before, so she knew that she would probably end up taking a nap on the long ride back to London. "I can't believe this is actually happening. We're going home for the first time in months, and yet I still don't know if I'm all that excited. My mom would kill me if she found out where I was. Literally and figuratively." Avery said as she rubbed her face. She quickly smiled though and said, "I'm glad I get to spend a little more time with you. I really enjoy your company."

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Mikey followed Avery through the corridors and down the stairs, his arms wrapped around her trunk while Jasper meowed in protest every few steps. He couldn’t help but grin. “Told you he’d be mad,” he said quietly, adjusting his grip on the handle. “He’s probably planning his revenge already.” And gave a small chuckle.

By the time they reached the platform, the noise had become a cacophony of voices, owl hoots and the whistle of the train cutting through the air like an aggressive reminder. Time was moving, whether they were ready or not. He didn’t say much as they boarded, just stuck close by and made sure she and jasper got on. He did however see his trunk and KodoPodo's basket loaded on by a few house elves and was thankful for that. The moment they stepped into the compartment and the door slid shut behind them something in Mikey felt better. It wasn’t just the quiet. It was this shared little bubble of space before the world pulled them back to their separate corners.

He slid her trunk into place and then sank into the seat across from her, his legs stretched out and angled toward her like some part of him still needed to stay close. Her voice broke the silence first, soft but honest. Mikey watched her as she rubbed her face and spoke about her mother, and for a second, he didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know the full story, but the way she said literally and figuratively made his chest tighten. He leaned forward a bit, elbows on his knees, voice quiet.

“You don’t have to be excited,” he said, eyes on her. “You just have to get through it. And you will. And if you ever need to vent or, say things you can’t say out loud to anyone else you can write me. I’ll be there. Even if I can’t fix anything, I’ll still listen.” Then, in typical Mikey fashion, he broke the seriousness with a crooked smile. “Besides, someone’s got to keep you updated on all the castle gossip. I hear the suits of armor are planning a coup if they don't get a beach holiday.” He wanted to keep things lite but also have an honest conversation.

“I’m not really excited to go home either,” he said. “I mean I love my family, I do. But it’s like... Hogwarts is where I figured out who I am a little. Who I might want to be. Back home, I’m just Mikey from Liverpool. With all of the noise and no magic.” His voice stayed soft and thoughtful. “Here, I’m Mikey who does magic. Mikey who has friends. Mikey who... somehow ended up riding the train next to the girl who found his ring and made his summer.” He settled back into his seat, his smile softening as he looked at her again. “I’m glad too. That it’s you. Sitting across from me. Makes the end of the year feel a little less like an ending.” He didn’t need to say he was going to miss her. It was already written all over his face.

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 433

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Avery gave him a smile and laughed a little at his comment and attempt to be cheerful. She thanked him internally even though she didn't have any words to express her gratitude for him to be willing to listen. Maybe now was as good a time as ever to tell him her full story. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but it was even harder to hide it from someone that actually cared. "I think you deserve to know the truth. I've been talking so much about how I'm scared to face my mother, and you have no idea why. It all started when I was eight. Dylan and I had just spent the entire day exploring a new part of the woods, so we hadn't been home. When we got home, we heard raised voices coming from inside the house. When they came outside, it was my mother arguing with my grandfather and aunt. I knew something was wrong or she had done something, but I didn't know what. Eventually she found me and forced me to pack my bags. Then we left. The first time I had ever gone back was just a couple of months ago to basically say goodbye to my grandfather who was and probably still is on his deathbed. Though, ever since that day, I've barely seen my mother. She's always either busy with work or locks herself away in her room when she's home. The last time I even tried to ask her to do something with me she pulled out her wand and threatened to stun me just to 'make me be quiet'." Avery took in a shaky breath. Now it came to the hard part. The part where the truth of how she felt about her life would finally come out in full. "I know exactly how you feel. When I'm home, I'm Avery with a auror for a father and a crazy family history. Most of the time I don't even feel like I can be myself because if I am. . . well, you could say that most pureblood families I've met don't trust me because I'm nothing like them. I'd much rather be free from all the magic and responsibilities than be someone I'm not." She admitted. It felt good to get the truth out. Like a weight she had been carrying for way too long had been lifted. "I'm glad it's you, too. I don't know what I would have done this year or if I would have been able to survive the past couple months without you." She smiled and blushed.

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Mikey didn’t say anything. He just sat there with hands in his lap watching her with a quiet focus. Every word she had just shared landed heavy and he could feel it. There was a part of him that boiled with anger at the thought of anyone making her feel that small and unsafe. But he didn’t interrupt or rush to reassure. Some things didn’t need to be filled in right away with more words.

When she finished he leaned forward a little, his knee brushing hers as the train moved along the track. “Thanks for telling me,” he said voice steady. “That couldn’t have been easy.” He paused, then let out a quiet breath. “It’s kind of funny… When I was little and first learned about magic, I used to wish I had one of those big wizarding families. You know the crests, long robes and ancestral portraits that yell at you. All that stuff. It just sounded… magical, I guess.”

He shrugged, gaze dropping briefly to his worn-out shoes. “But honestly? I wouldn’t trade my dad for any of that. He burns toast and can’t pronounce spell names, but he listens. And he always makes space for me to just be me.” Mikey looked up again, meeting her eyes now. His tone even more gentile. “You’re not broken, Avery. You’re just stuck in a place that doesn’t see how strong you are. But I do. You’re strong. And kind. And one of the most genuine people I’ve met this year.”

He leaned back into his seat again, finally letting the weight in his shoulders ease off. Then he grinned. “I’m gonna write this summer. Like, probably too much. Stupid jokes whatever I think might make you smile, even just a little.” Then he said, barely above a whisper. “You’re not alone.”

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 208

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Avery blushed and smiled. No one had ever told her that before. No one had ever told her that before. Everyone always tried to either comfort her or just give their opinion on what she should do. She was grateful for his understanding. She was getting tired of people telling her that everything was going to be okay when she knew deep down that it wasn't. "Thank you." Was all she could manage out without crying. She wanted to hug him to express her gratitude, but thought against it because she didn't know if that would make things any more awkward between them or not. Avery smiled at his comment. She couldn't wait to write him over the summer. Having someone to talk to that wanted to listen would be amazing and a relief. She barely caught the words he whispered to her, but when she heard them, she felt something lift off her chest that she didn't even know she was there. That's what she loved about Mikey. He made her feel worth something instead of her feeling of constantly being worthless and not worth anyone's time. At least, that's what her mother was basically saying whenever she avoided any conversation Avery tried to start with her.

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Mikey caught her whisper of a thank you. He didn’t try to make her say more. He could see it in her eyes, the way she blinked a little too much, the way her hands fidgeted for just a second before settling again. He just nodded, letting her know he understood. Because he did. He didn’t tell her things would be okay. That wasn’t a promise he could make. But he could show up. He could be there. He would be there.

The train moved softly along beneath them, and for a moment Mikey just let the silence sit. It wasn’t awkward. In fact, it felt… okay. His sleeves were pulled down over his hands now, fingers fidgeting a little with the edges. Then, without really thinking too hard, he stretched out one hand toward her. Not in some huge gesture. Just letting her know he was there, if she needed it.

“I meant it,” he said, looking at her not just her face, but her. “You’re not alone. And you don’t have to earn someone being in your corner.” He gave a small half shrug. “That’s kind of how the corner thing works.” He leaned his head against the wall behind him, eyes flicking toward the window where the countryside seemed to fly past. “When summer gets rough,” he added, “you write me about the good things too, yeah? Not just the bad. Like if Jasper does something weird or you find a book you love or… I don’t know, you see a cloud that looks like platypus.” He grinned slightly. “I want to hear about that too.”

He let that sit a for a few seconds, then said, “We’ll be back before we know it. And I’ve got a feeling next year’s going to be even better.” He said, then just to himself he added. Especially if you’re there. He glanced back over at her then, a hint of pink in his cheeks but his smile stayed the same. It was the kind that said she wasn’t just someone he happened to sit with on the train. She was someone he chose to sit with. And would keep choosing, if she let him.

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 249

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Avery smiled softly when Mikey stretched out his hand as a reassurance that he was there. That he would stand by her side if she needed it. That alone sent a wave of relief over her. She stretched out her hand towards his until they brushed. That simple brushing caused a blush to creep onto her face. She too leaned against her seat and closed her eyes for only a moment and let out a sigh. This was the first time in a long time that she actually felt at peace. When she opened her eyes. Her hazel ones met Mikey's blue and she felt sparks fly. She continued to look into his eyes with a smile as a strange feeling that she didn't recognize came upon her. What had she heard her muggle friend call it? Butterflies in your stomach? She didn't know, but in that moment she dearly wished that she had remembered. Maybe her best friend had said something about this feeling and what it meant since Avery had no idea. No one had ever caused this feeling to happen to her. Something was different about Mikey. he made her feel special and worth something even though she felt worthless while her world crashed down around her and she could do nothing about it. "I will write about everything. That alone will probably be the highlight of my summer. Besides the fact that I'll finally be in my real home." She said as she smiled warmly.

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When Mikey felt the lightest touch of her hand against his it was like the whole world slowed down. The hum of the train, the clatter of the wheels over the tracks, even the barley audible voices from the corridor outside. It all seemed to fade, like the noise had been turned down just for them. He noticed the blush creeping across her cheeks and the way her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. And he felt something twist in his chest not in a bad way. This quiet shared moment, it wasn’t just nothing.

His thumb hovered over the back of her hand for a second, like he was thinking about it but didn’t want to push. He didn’t want to make it into a thing. He was feeling more and more comfortable but still found himself at a loss of something to say so he decided it was just about being there. When she opened her eyes, those hazel eyes catching the light, and looked at him. It felt like the breath caught in his throat for a second. His ears went a little pink, but he didn’t look away.

“And hey... I don’t know exactly what you’re heading into back home. I won’t pretend to. But... don’t forget, yeah? You’ve got people who care. Me included. Even if we’re just a letter away.” He nudged her foot lightly with his, a little tap to break the weight of the moment. Then he leaned his head back against the window, watching the trees and hills blur by like watercolor smudges.

After a moment, his voice came soft again, like he was saying something he’d been holding onto for a while. “Next year’s going to be different. Better, I think.” He glanced sideways at her then, a quiet, hopeful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Especially if I get to sit with you on the train again.” He noticed the change in landscape and realized thew were getting closer to their destination. They would be in London shortly and have to part ways for the summer.

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 200

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She nodded her head as she listened to Mikey. She would never forget that he was only a letter away from being there for her. She couldn't forget that. She knew that the summer wasn't going to be easy, and that things were going to happen that she didn't want to face yet, but as long as people still cared and loved her, she would persevere. A smile lit Avery's face when he said he would like to sit with her again on the train ride to Hogwarts. She would love that. She, too, had a feeling deep down that something was going to happen next year. That thought brought joy and happiness to her. "That would be amazing. It will also be my birthday, so having you there would make it even better." She smiled as she glanced out the window and recognized the familiar scenery of England. As much as she didn't want the train ride to end, she knew that it had to eventually. Everything good always came to an end lately. All she could hope was that whatever feelings she had whenever she was with Mikey wouldn't disappear along with her other good things in life.

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When she said wanted to sit with him again on her birthday it made something in his stomach flip. He tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal, but the redness to his cheeks was probably a dead giveaway so he stared down at his shoes for a moment and played with the hem of his sleeve. “I would love that.” Was all he said.

There were other girls that he was friends with at school of course. Like Bree, Robin and Nyx. All smart, sweet and talented in their own unique ways. It was his friendships with them that made this friendship seem... odd. But he was at a loss as to why. It wasn't like he wanted it to be odd. It just was. When she looked at him, when her voice became softer during their conversations, the fact that she actually paid attention to him... it left this strange uncomfortable pressure that didn't feel bad. The significance of that feeling was entirely lost on him as was the reason it continued to occupy his mind like it was somehow important.

He wriggled in the chair, apparently, all the right words he wanted to tell her about these feelings got stuck somewhere between his brain and his mouth and he was left with was. “It’s weird, you know? I’ve got friends back at Hogwarts, and they’re all great. But... I don’t know. You’re... different. Not in a bad way, I just... can’t really explain it.” He shifted in his seat again trying to regain some composure. The whistle of the train blew and Mikey nudged her foot again, this time with a tiny glimmer of optimism, as if silently assuring her. “Oh look were almost back to London.” He said half relived for the distraction from him babbling like an idiot but mostly sad they didn't have more time.

But perhaps he would understand what he was feeling more over the summer. Or perhaps not. The fact remained, he would miss her. "I'll write you a ton." He said as the train began to slow. Students started milling about in anticipation for the last leg of their journey home.