Interacting with: N/A Mentioning: N/A Date: 08/03/25

Word Count: 1524

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Avery sat on the back porch of her grandparents' home. The weak rays of sunlight warming her face. It was the dawning of a new day. A day that would change everything. Avery's eyes were closed as she breathed the fresh air. She was home, and had been home ever since Hogwarts had released her. Though being home had brought its own challenges. Day after day she was afraid. Afraid her mom would find out where she was and come after her. Whisking her away from her life all over again and plopping her into a new life where she didn't belong. Avery laid down to where she was on her back with her legs hanging over the side of the porch. The old wood rough against her skin. She had grown taller over the summer. Her legs nearly touching the ground as she lay there. She folded her arms across her chest and closed her eyes. The morning sun too bright for her to keep them open. She was tired, anyway. She hadn't slept well the night before. Thoughts plaguing her constantly. Leaving her wide awake into the early hours of the morning. That was the only reason she had gotten up to watch the sunrise well before anyone else awakened. This time of morning always gave her a sense of peace. Especially when she had a rough time. Avery didn't expect anyone to be up yet. Her entire family, especially her cousin, Dylan, loved to sleep into the late hours of the morning. Except for one person. Her grandfather. Though, ever since that fateful day at the end of her Spring Break, he hadn't been the same. Most of the time he just slept all day or stayed on the couch. A ghost of his former chipper self. All thanks to one certain disease he had let linger too long without treatment. Lucky for him, he had managed to get the treatment in the nick of time, but he wasn't left unscathed. He was left weakened and barely able to walk without a cane. Far different from when he used to explore the woods with Avery and Dylan when they were very little. It hurt Avery to see him like this every day. It was a constant reminder of what had been lost thanks to that horrible disease. She knew that every day her grandfather became weaker. His skin paper-thin and his bones showing through. He was like a walking skeleton, and Avery knew it was only a matter of time before he was gone. Gone forever and never coming back. Avery held in the tears at the thought of losing her grandfather. It was too much. No. Too soon to think about. He was going to be okay. Though every time Avery said that in her head her hope dwindled. Saying that he would be okay was just a way for her to feel better, but it didn't work. It never would. Not when her world was already spiraling and about to crash. Avery was so invested in her own thoughts that she hadn't even heard the soft footsteps and the creaking of the old wood on the porch. It wasn't until the person said something that Avery quickly sat up and shook herself out of her thoughts. "Couldn't sleep?" A tired yet familiar voice asked her. Avery snapped herself upright and looked back. She relaxed when she realized it was only her aunt. A woman Avery had always admired. She was strong, resilient, and had been the mother Avery had never had. Of course her aunt was Avery's mother's twin, so she was basically Avery's mom anyway. The older woman sat down on the edge of the porch next to Avery and gave her a side hug before saying, "I know something's bothering you. Is everything okay?" Avery tensed a little at the question. What was she supposed to say? That everything was great and that nothing was on her mind? That all she really wanted to do this morning was just get up before everyone else and enjoy the sunrise? No. She had to tell the truth. A truth that had been bothering her for some time. A feeling that she only got when she was around a certain someone. And that certain someone was Mikey. Ever since their departure from each other after spending the entire way home together alone on the train, Avery couldn't stop thinking about him. His smile, his jokes, the way he made her feel worth something and that she belonged. That people cared about her. The entire summer they had been sending letters to each other back and forth. Those letters were what had been keeping Avery grounded and stopped her from going crazy from the constant worry that her mother would find her. Avery had other friends that were boys, but those friendships were different. Whenever she was around Mikey, it felt as if the whole world stopped and they were the only thing moving. Like they were the only ones there. She also always got this feeling that she couldn't understand. A feeling when her heart leaped into her throat. Leaving her at a loss for words. "Yeah. I'm okay. I guess you could just say there's a lot on my mind. Especially about someone I met at school this year." Avery sighed out in resignation. Maybe if she told her aunt what was going on, maybe she could explain what Avery felt. Avery's aunt smirked and gave her a knowing look before she said, "I see. By any chance is this all about whoever you've been owling back and forth for this entire summer?" Red creeped up Avery's cheeks as she quickly looked away. Her aunt laughed. "I thought so. Now, tell me about this mysterious boy you've been talking to." Avery shrugged before saying, "What is there to tell? We met at the Spring Ball, danced, hung out. Though he did save my life when I couldn't breathe after having an asthma that became a panic attack." Avery's aunt let out a satisfied sigh before she continued, "That isn't nothing! Tell me, how do you feel about him?" Avery gulped before she said, "Well, every time I see him I feel at a loss for words. And it feels as if my heart is creeping into my throat. Is something wrong with me?" Avery's aunt gave her another knowing look before she said, "No. Nothing is wrong with you." Avery looked at her aunt. Confusion across her face, "Then what's happening to me?" Avery's aunt took in a deep breath before saying, "Have you ever heard the story of how I met your uncle?" when Avery shook her head no her aunt continued, "Well, I had just entered my second year just like you and he had just entered his third. It was an early in the morning. No one was up yet. Not even your mother. I had looked out the window and saw that it was a clear day. That's when I knew it was the perfect time for an early morning walk." She paused. Closing her eyes as she envisioned whatever memory she was telling Avery. "The second I made it onto the Grounds, I saw him. A dashing young man with black hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen. I quickly turned away and began walking. Not wanting to stare. Moment later, I heard someone following me and looked back. At that moment our eyes locked and sparks flew between us. He slowly walked up to me. Our eyes never breaking contact. Not even when we blinked. He stretched out his hand and I shook it. After our introductions, he asked if he could join me on my walk, and the rest is history." Avery cocked her head. Not fully understanding her aunt's point. "I don't get it. What's your point?" "My point is that I believe you have found what I did. Someone that will stick with you through the thick and the thin. I can see it in your eyes. Even though you don't know this because you are only about to be thirteen, but I've lived long enough to know. Whoever this boy is that you're talking to cares about you. More than you probably know. And you care about him." Avery stared at the ground. Realization dawning. Everything made sense. All of the awkward exchanges, the whispered words of thanks, all of it now made sense. Avery's aunt grabbed Avery's hands and said, "See? I told you. Now, when you go back to Hogwarts next month, tell him how you feel, and I guarantee your life will change forever. Not for the worse, but for the better." Avery nodded. Still at a loss for words at the realization of her true feelings being uncovered. She would try to tell him when she got back to Hogwarts. She just hoped she could build up the courage to say the right words. But, for now, she had to get through the last few weeks of summer before her life changed again.

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OOC Note: The person Avery is talking about is Mikey Forville.