We will go to battle and we will come back home

CJ stared at the woman, unblinking with shock and disgust lacing his features. He exhaled heavily and took a moment. “Duck… Pancakes…” The male retched, lips curving in distaste as he then shook his head. He took another moment, a hand resting flat over his chest as he stared toward the woman. “I just-” He frowned, a hand passing over his forehead. “How could you-” A breath was taken. “They’re just so-” His hand passed back through his hair, exhaling heavily as his brows raised, shaking his head once again. “The petting zoo sounds like a better idea to me.” He nodded once in conclusion, lips forming a thin line as he looked back up toward her.

Autumn had to bite her lip to keep from laughing, she hadn’t thought that he would actually believe her. Feeling like she had to put the poor boy out of his misery she tried to interrupt him, albeit unsuccessfully. “CJ, it is CJ, isn’t it? I was joking, I had no intention of ever turning ducks into any kind of pancakes.” 

“I didn’t say I was, it was just hypothetical. Entirely hypothetical. But just, perhaps say I was curious.” CJ blinked once again, licking his lips as he combed a hand back through his hair.

“But you also didn’t say you weren’t.” She challenged smirking. “Mhm, oh of course hypothetical.” Autumn nodded along playfully trying to mask her features in a serious look. “Then for curiosity sake, my answer would be I hope you’re quick and adept at catching while also transfiguring a room into a petting zoo. Either that or you like duck pancakes.” She gave a shrug of her shoulders grinning. “Hypothetically of course.”

“Hypothetically speaking, how would one reverse a Ducklifors Jinx?” CJ blinked, a blank expression passing over his face as he peered toward the other.

“Why were you using the jinx to begin with?” Autumn questioned with a raised brow and a small smile. 

Closed Starter || @red-likeautumn

“I don’t know what to do Autumn, I-I don’t know how to make things better for her.” He cried hiding his face in his hands. “I-I was supposed to protect her! I promised I’d keep her safe… I should have been there– I should have been there.” 

In the two years that they had been together, Autumn had never once seen Ryan break down this way, not even when his grandmother had passed away. It broke her heart to see him like this and to know there was little she could do or say to help him. Standing up from her position on the chair, she moved to crouch in front of him and gently pried his hands away to take them in her own. “Hey, it’s going to be okay. She’s a strong girl, you helped to raise her that way.” Autumn placed a finger under his chin in an attempt to get him to look up at her. “You got here out Ryan, you saved her from that place. Just like I know you’ll help save her from herself in the aftermath. None of this is your fault.” She pressed her lips to his forehead in hopes of offering some kind of comfort. “You’re there for her now and that’s what matters most.”

“They’re beautiful.” Amilia stated, taking in the varied ornaments on the shelf. Muggles always did collect the strangest things. Granted, they would likely say that about anything in her collection. 

Autumn could see where the witch was coming from they certainly were beautiful. "If only I knew what they were used for."