The final weeks of term pass in a blur. Exams come and go, the castle buzzing with a mix of tension and relief, but Adam finds his own peace in the quiet corners of Hogwarts. He spends his free time saying goodbye to his magical friends—Argos, Aragog and his colony, the diricawls, fire salamanders, puffskeins and so many others.

At the edge of the Black Lake, the grindylows dart around beneath the surface as Adam tosses small treats into the water. Tiny green hands break the surface to snatch the morsels, bubbles rising in thanks before they disappear once more. In the moonlit meadow, the mooncalves blink their large, glowing eyes, nudging his hand affectionately. Near the Forbidden Forest, he waves toward the Dutiful Centaur, who keeps the forest safe from outside harm.

He promises each of them, “I’ll be back next year.”

As the days slip away, his visits to the Room of Requirement with Hermione become less frequent. The castle feels lighter now, as though the assignment are handed out and summer holiday is closing.

When the end-of-year feast arrives, the Great Hall is as resplendent as ever, with floating candles glowing brightly above. The house banners hang proudly, though there are no winners this year due to the exam cancellations and the same with Quidditch. Still, everyone seems cheerful.

Adam finally spots Elara at the Slytherin table, surrounded by her friends. She’s been scarce lately, buried in exams and busy with prefect duties, and he weaves through the tables to approach her.

“How’ve you been?” he asks, stopping just short of the bench where she sits.

Elara looks up, an amused smirk playing at her lips as she raises a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that, little brother? You’ve had quite the eventful year like always.”

Adam chuckles, scratching the back of his neck. “Can’t argue with that.”

Elara shakes her head, her expression softening just slightly. “Take care of yourself this summer, because I’ll be away on a family assignment this time around.”

Adam nods before turning back toward the Gryffindor table, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione are already piling food onto their plates. The hall hums with cheerful chatter, laughter echoing off the stone walls.

At the front of the room, Professor Dumbledore rises to his feet, and silence falls almost immediately. His eyes twinkle as he surveys the students. This year, his speech is brief and to the point.

“Hogwarts is safe once more,” he says, his voice carrying a note of quiet satisfaction. “And for that, we have all of you to thank—for your courage, your loyalty, and your kindness to one another. I look forward to seeing all of you again next term. Until then, take care and enjoy your summer.”

Cheers erupt across the Great Hall, and everyone feels the weight of the year lift off their shoulders.

The following morning sometime later, the castle is alive with the clatter of trunks, the squawking of owls, and the excited voices of students eager to return home. Adam joins Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they haul their trunks down the stairs and out toward the waiting carriages.

As they reach the carriaes, Adam lags behind just slightly, his hand reaching into his bag. Glancing around to make sure no one’s watching, he pulls out a chunk of raw meat and steps closer to the Thestrals. The skeletal creatures blink their milky eyes at him, their bony wings rustling faintly as they accept the offering. One of them nudges his arm gently, and Adam smiles, leaning close to whisper, “Goodbye. I’ll see you guys next year.”

The carriage ride down to Hogsmeade Station is calm, the four of them quiet as they take in the sight of the castle one last time. The towers rise majestically against the morning sky, the lake shimmering in the distance.

When the train begins to pull away from the platform, Adam leans out of the window for one final glimpse. Hagrid stands near the edge, waving his enormous hand, Fang sitting faithfully at his side. Adam waves back, grinning as Hagrid’s voice booms faintly across the platform. “Take care, yeh lot!”

As the Hogwarts Express rumbled steadily down the tracks toward King’s Cross Station, Adam sat comfortably in the cabin, surrounded by the trio. The rhythmic clatter of wheels on the rails mixed with the hum of muffled conversations from neighboring compartments, and the occasional whistle of the train pierced through the gentle buzz, creating a warm, familiar atmosphere. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden glow over their little space as the countryside rolled lazily past in streaks of green and gold.

Ron, sprawled lazily across his seat, one arm hanging carelessly over the side, stared out the window with a dreamy look. His freckled face was calm, and his shoes tapped absently against the floor, keeping time with the train’s steady beat.

“So,” Adam asked, breaking the comfortable silence, “what are you lot planning to do for the summer?”

Ron was the first to perk up, grinning as if he had been waiting for the question. “Oh, Mum mentioned something about a family trip. Don’t know where exactly, but she said we’d all have a blast.” He paused, his grin faltering for a moment before continuing, “Probably somewhere Dad can poke around at Muggle stuff, though…” He rolled his eyes with a mixture of fondness and exasperation. “You know how he is. We’ll probably spend half the trip watching him try to figure out plugs or toasters.”

Adam chuckled at the thought, and Hermione, who had been quietly engrossed in a book, lowered it slightly, a smile tugging at her lips.

“We’re going to France,” she chimed in, her voice brimming with excitement. “My parents have been planning it for ages, and they’re really looking forward to it. We’ll be visiting Paris, seeing the museums, the architecture, the Eiffel Tower—” She stopped mid-sentence, catching the horrified expression that had slowly crept over Ron’s face.

“Museums? Architecture?” Ron repeated with an almost theatrical shudder.

Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her laughter. “And eating lots of French pastries, of course. Croissants, macarons, eclairs…”

Ron’s expression eased into something much more agreeable, and he nodded solemnly. “Well, at least there’s food involved.”

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Adam chuckled softly, shaking his head, but his eyes drifted toward Harry, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet. Harry sat near the window, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, gazing out at the passing scenery with a distant, pensive look. The cheerful energy in the cabin seemed not to touch him. Adam knew that expression all too well—the weight of the school year pressing down on him and the thought of returning to Privet Drive hanging like a cloud overhead.

“What about you, Harry?” Adam asked gently, his voice softer now, careful not to disturb Harry’s thoughts too roughly.

Harry shrugged, barely glancing away from the window. “Nothing much. Same as always. I’ll be stuck at the Dursleys’ until school starts again.” His voice lacked its usual spark, the words coming out flat and dull, as though he were reciting something he had long resigned himself to.

Adam frowned slightly, concern flickering in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a reassuring smile. “Well, what if I told you that you could visit me this summer? At the Morgan estate,” he added with deliberate casualness, as though it were the most obvious solution in the world. “Come around the end of July. We’ll make sure you have the best summer you’ve had in years.”

Harry turned sharply at that, his green eyes wide with surprise and a glimmer of hope. “Visit you again? Really?”

“Of course,” Adam replied with a firm nod, his smile growing warmer. “You can pack your bags, and I’ll make sure your summer’s as far from boring as possible. Maybe we’ll even travel somewhere—visit a foreign country or two.” He grinned mischievously, his tone light and full of promise. “Don’t worry about the Dursleys. I’ll handle everything just like last time.”

“If you’re sure…” Harry said quietly, as if afraid to jinx it.

“Positive,” Adam declared, leaning back with a triumphant smile. “Just promise me you’ll finish your holiday assignments first. I’m not going to wait for you long.”

That earned a faint chuckle from Harry, and for the first time since the train had left Hogsmeade Station, his face lit up, the shadow that always fell over him when summer loomed easing just slightly. It was a small shift, but enough to brighten the cabin. Ron and Hermione exchanged pleased smiles, both clearly relieved to see their friend’s mood lift.

“Well, that’s sorted then,” Ron said, stretching his arms above his head with a contented yawn. “Merlin knows he’ll have more fun with you than at Privet Drive. Poor bloke.”

“It sounds wonderful, Adam,” Hermione added warmly, tucking her book away for the moment. “It’s good for Harry to have somewhere else to go. You’re really kind to offer.”

Adam waved off the praise, though his grin didn’t falter. “It’s nothing. It’s what friends do, right?”

For the rest of the train ride, the cabin buzzed with renewed energy as they fell into easy chatter. They speculated about their upcoming third year at Hogwarts, sharing wild guesses about new subjects and the inevitable trouble they’d find themselves in. Ron, of course, grumbled about the prospect of exams returning next year, prompting Hermione to tease him mercilessly, while Adam and Harry laughed at their familiar bickering.

As the Hogwarts Express finally pulled into King’s Cross Station, the platform buzzed with the usual cacophony of excited students, tearful goodbyes, and the clatter of trunks being hauled off the train. Parents craned their necks to spot their children, while siblings waved eagerly from the crowd. Amidst the chaos, the whistle of the train echoed one final time before settling into silence.

Adam helped the trio with their bags as they disembarked, their footsteps drowned by the clamor of the station. Ron’s face lit up as he spotted the familiar red hair of his family, while Hermione scanned the crowd until she found her parents, both waving enthusiastically.

“Well, see you lot soon,” Adam said, smiling as he adjusted his grip on his trunk. He waved toward Ron and Hermione as they prepared to leave. “Ron, send me an owl about your trip! And Hermione, don’t forget to bring me back something French.”

Hermione laughed, clutching the handle of her bag tightly. “I promise! Maybe something sweet for you to try.”

Ron gave Adam a final grin, his bag bouncing off his side as he jogged to join his family. “I’ll write!” he called over his shoulder before disappearing into the bustling sea of students and parents.

Harry lingered for a moment, hovering by his trunk as his friends departed. His gaze flickered uncertainly to the far end of the platform, where a tall figure in a grey coat—Vernon Dursley—stood glaring, already impatient. Harry turned back to Adam, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.

“You’re serious about me coming to visit, right?”

Adam nodded firmly, the noise of the platform fading slightly in his focus. “Absolutely. Pack light, Harry. I’ll see you at the end of July.”

Harry’s expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. For the first time, there was something brighter in his green eyes—a small spark of hope. “Thanks, Adam,” he said sincerely before turning to grab his trunk.

Adam watched as Harry trudged off toward his uncle, who stood like a looming storm cloud, his glare promising a long, miserable summer. Harry kept his chin up, though, and Adam took that as a victory.

Satisfied, Adam turned toward the exit and spotted the enchanted carriage their family had sent to collect them. Elara, seated inside with her usual grace, had rolled down the window to watch the crowd from a distance.

When she noticed Adam approaching, she smirked, her expression sharp but playful.

“Took you long enough,” she teased, arching a dark brow.

Adam grinned as he handed his trunk to Wimble, their house-elf, who was waiting dutifully nearby. “You could’ve waited inside the station, you know.”

“And risk running into all that chaos?” she replied with a mock shudder, gesturing to the crowd outside. “No, thank you. I’d rather watch from a safe distance.”

Adam climbed into the carriage, settling comfortably across from her as the door closed with a soft thud. Outside, the noise of the platform began to fade as the carriage glided away from the station, propelled by unseen magic.

Elara leaned back against the plush seat with a sigh, her expression shifting from playful to serious. “I’ll be leaving for business in a week,” she said abruptly, her tone calm but weighted. “I’ll be gone until the end of the summer holidays. It’s important work for the family, and it can’t be put off.”

Adam blinked in surprise. “That long?”

Elara nodded, smoothing an invisible wrinkle in her robes. “I’m used to it. You should ready yourself, too. Besides, this might be my last summer away from Hogwarts.” She hesitated, her gaze drifting to the window as the city gave way to open countryside. “Next year is my final year... They’re talking about making me Head Girl.”

Adam’s surprise shifted to pride, and he smiled confidently. “You’ll be brilliant at it. You know that, right?”

Elara’s lips curved into a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I know.” Her voice softened as she looked back at him. “You’ll be alright here without me?”

Adam rolled his eyes, his grin returning. “I’ll survive,” he teased, earning an exasperated eye-roll from his sister. “Besides, I’ve got plenty to keep me busy.”

“Good,” Elara replied, though she still regarded him with a searching look, as if gauging how much trouble he might get himself into.

The enchanted carriage glided smoothly through the countryside, its movements so steady it hardly seemed to touch the ground. Fields stretched out as far as the eye could see, dotted with the occasional herd of sheep or patches of wildflowers, the scene bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun. As they crossed the familiar archway into the Morgan estate, the vast grounds opened up before them—immaculate lawns, towering hedges, and the sprawling castle standing proud in the distance.

Adam climbed out as the carriage slowed to a halt, stretching his legs and breathing in the fresh summer air. The warmth of the day lingered, mixing with the cool breeze drifting across the grounds. He glanced toward the west, where the sun hung low, casting everything in amber light.

Home.

His thoughts immediately turned to the summer ahead. There were assignments to finish, of course, but they were hardly his top priority. He’d spend time visiting his magical friends in the garden—Twiggle, Glimmer, Eclipse, and Ember—and perhaps spend a few days in the hidden sanctuary, ensuring the Basilisk remained calm and content. There were still so many magical creatures there he hadn’t gotten to know properly, and the prospect filled him with quiet excitement.

And, of course, there was Harry’s visit to prepare for at the end of July. With a spring in his step, Adam made his way toward the grand front doors of the castle.