Without You

Sixth Year

A lot had changed after that summer.

Whether it was just Autumn's hair length or the way she acted, Hermione did not notice, for they had spent most of their summer together. Autumn also grew closer to Thomas Davies that summer. Only as friends, of course. They'd spend some of their days together, enjoying things that Muggles would enjoy in their own time. As a pure-blood, Autumn enjoyed these moments that her mother or father never had the chance to experience.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Autumn spent their last few days of summer at the Weasley's, where they caught up with each other and began preparing for their sixth year. Autumn noticed the change in the boys; how taller they got and how thinner Harry got. Ron's mother said he looked underfed, and would give him extra food every time there was a meal. During meals, Mr. Weasley would read the Daily Prophet, and just by looking at the cover, Autumn could tell that the wizard world was starting to get dangerous. There were stories about odd accidents, disappearances, and even deaths.

During dinner, Harry announced that he was made Quidditch captain. Hermione, Autumn and Ron were happy for him, applauding to congratulate him.

"That gives you equal status with us, prefects!" Hermione exclaimed, "You can use our special bathroom now and everything!"

The next day, Harry, Hermione and Autumn joined the Weasley on a shopping trip for supplies. Ron's parents waited outside whilst the three friends entered the shop. Autumn went to wait outside with the other Weasley's, glancing at her now-permanently-closed favourite ice cream parlour. She had memories of buying ice cream in her first year, it made her feel sentimental just staring at it.

Everyone seemed to be rushing in and out of the stores, not a single person stopping to speak or greet each other anymore. The people seemed to be aware of the disappearances of wizards and witches. Wondering why her three friends were taking longer than she expected, she walked into the doors of the shop to see that Harry had his wand pointed in the direction of Draco Malfoy, who was standing with his mother. For some reason, Hermione was standing behind Harry and Ron, as if they were protecting her from him.

As Autumn walked in, Draco briefly looked her way before turning to his mother. "Let's get out of here."

"You're right," his mother glanced towards Hermione, "Now I know the kind of scum that shops here, I think it's better we go elsewhere."

Harry and Draco exchanged a glare before Draco and his mother left the store. Draco looked at Autumn with a regretful expression, but was only turned away with displeasure. She advanced to Hermione, asking if she was alright. Autumn had met Draco's mother before, but never knew how ill-mannered she could be.

"He said he'd give flowers to whoever gave Hermione that black eye." Harry said, as Hermione grabbed his arm.

"It's fine, Harry." she turned to Autumn, "I'm fine."

Hermione was always like this. She didn't like making a big deal out of things, but Autumn felt that this was a big deal. This whole summer, she didn't think Draco would have changed that much. But perhaps he did. This whole summer, she had missed him. And now she felt as though the feeling had suddenly faded. Sure, she loved him a lot. But Autumn also loved her friends.

Autumn felt her fist clench into a fist. All of a sudden, she had the urge to punch Draco Malfoy in the face.

They then entered George and Fred's joke shop, which Autumn had never seen until now. When Ron described their business as successful, she never imagined a shop full of customers as she had seen that day. There were so many things to buy around the shop, Autumn then concluded that Hermione's black eye was from the surprise punch telescope.

When Autumn looked around for Hermione, she then realised that all three of them had disappeared. Hagrid and Mrs. Weasley soon found Autumn, asking if she had a clue about where Harry, Ron and Hermione had disappeared to. When the three suddenly reappeared, they explained that they were at the back of the store, and Mrs. Weasley had just missed seeing them.

Autumn raised an eyebrow skeptically, eyeing the three who only grinned at her, as if they were hiding something.

* * *

Harry, Ron and Hermione continued to remain as secretive as they were to Autumn even by the time the summer had ended. All four friends pushed their trolleys to the station, which had been filled with other students departing for Hogwarts.

Harry boarded the train first, telling Autumn that he'd find a compartment for the two of them. He forgot that Autumn, too, was a Prefect. Ron, Autumn and Hermione had to commit to their prefect duties first, which meant they had to join the other prefects in the prefect carriage for a while. Harry found Neville and Luna on the way, asking them if they had wanted to join him in his lonely compartment.

Autumn soon boarded the train, waving goodbye to the Weasley's. She walked down the hallway, walking towards the prefect compartment when a hand grabbed her by the wrist. Autumn turned around completely, a disturbed expression spreading on her face. Draco loosened his grip as soon as she looked up at him in displeasure.

"You haven't seen me all summer and this is how you greet me?"

Autumn frowned, "Did you expect a hug after the way you spoke to Hermione? I've heard everything from them, Draco."

He was silent for a while before he tugged on her wrist.

"Sit with me in my compartment, Autumn." he said, changing the subject, "I've missed you."

"What is wrong with you? Draco, you've changed."

"It's because of Potter, isn't it?" he accused, "It's always been Harry Potter."

The corridor was empty, but Autumn could see the other Slytherins staring and watching from behind Draco's shoulder. They all seemed to be listening in, wondering what was happening.

"I helped Potter last year, because of you. And because I helped him, my father ended up in prison. Imagine how I'd be feeling after that." he gritted his teeth, "I haven't changed at all, Autumn. I've never liked Potter, and it's always been like that. Now come on, Autumn. Sit with me."

Autumn shook her head, taking a step back. "Look, I need to go to the prefect carriage. And I think I'll sit with my friends, thanks."

As Autumn turned away, she left to search for Harry's compartment. She could see that the Prefects had already been dismissed, and she had missed the gathering. When she finally found it, she slid the door open without looking back at Draco. Already seated in Harry's compartment was Neville, Luna, Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione might have overhead Autumn's conversation with Draco in the corridor.

"Where have you been?" Luna asked, looking up from her Quibbler with a smile. She patted the seat beside her and Autumn took a seat.

"Saw you with Malfoy in the corridor," Ron said, "Skipped out on prefect duty. Not like him, is it?"

Autumn shrugged, "I don't know."

A girl soon appeared at the door of the compartment. She seemed to have two invitations in her hand; one for Harry and one for Neville. They had been invited to Compartment C for lunch with the new Potions teacher, Professor Horace Slughorn. The two left the compartment, leaving Autumn alone with Hermione, Ron and Luna. Hermione and Ron took this as a chance to talk to Autumn about Draco. Luna just kept to herself, reading the Quibbler with her strange glasses.

"What did he say to you?" Hermione asked more worriedly than curiously, "Are you alright?"

"He just asked me to sit with him in his compartment of Slytherins, that's all," Autumn laughed, "And I'm fine, Hermione."

"Malfoy seems to have changed a lot during the summer. I thought he finally let go of treating us like rubbish!" Ron groaned, leaning back onto his seat, "But I guess not. I guess he really never changes."

"I think he did change. He has gotten worse." Hermione sighed.

Although Ron and Hermione did not have the intention of saying something to bother Autumn for the rest of the trip, it did. She just couldn't cope with the fact that Draco probably wasn't the same Draco she had liked for the past two years. Maybe it was time for change, and time to move on.

When the friends finally arrived in Hogwarts, Harry was missing. Hermione insisted they enter the school first, before searching for Harry. He must have entered the school already, and it was far too dangerous to go back and search for him now. Besides, the train was leaving for London soon.

Autumn sat with Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table, waiting for Harry to arrive. Thomas was sitting across Autumn, speaking to a couple of girls on his right. He seemed to be popular with girls in the school, now. Harry soon finally arrived with Luna, who scurried across towards the Ravenclaw table. Harry's face was covered in blood, but he didn't seem to notice.

"What've you done to your face?" Ron goggled at Harry, "Covered in blood!"

Hermione raised her wand, "Tergeo!", wiping off the blood from Harry's face.

"Thanks," Harry said, touching his blood-free face, "How's my nose looking?"

"What even happened, Harry? Where were you?" Autumn asked, staring at his normal-looking nose.

He shook his head, realising that the whole Gryffindor table was probably eavesdropping on them right now.

"Tell you later, Autumn."

Later during the feast, it was announced that Snape was the new Defence Against Dark Arts teacher, and Slughorn was the new Potions teacher. Harry groaned loud enough for students at the front to turn their heads. Dumbledore also announced that students travel in groups, and always stay sharp. They never know when he'd make a surprise visit.